You know, it’s kinda crazy, but Dreamcatcher are a group that prove that love and support (and, consequently, hard work and persistence) are the real things that move people forward. I don’t mean just love and support from fans, but from their families and the people they work with.
Their story as individuals, and as a group, is honestly really fascinating, and even if we don’t have all the details, there’s enough to make us wonder if there isn’t a force in this world that brings certain people together. For example, Yoohyeon getting accepted into MBK, going there and leaving the next day to never go back – and her mom supporting her decision of not going back to that company (thank god) – then participating in a dance competition where she met Sua, where they both got scouted by HappyFace, to later debuting in the same group (minx) together and becoming roommates. It’s also worth noting that Sua has been working for this since 2012. Then minx’ (Jiu, Sua, Siyeon, Yoohyeon, Dami) whole journey, having only 2 comebacks (including their debut and one of them being a remake of a dalshabet song) in 2 years, with a concept that truthfully wasn’t fit for their age, and having to deal with all the doubt and uncertainty that came from that unsuccessful debut. It was a really rough start for them to go through as teenagers, but the difference between them and most (if not all) unsuccessful groups is that they were in a company who actually, genuinely, believed in them, and who subsequently made them believe in each other (and themselves) as well.
And if there’s something they took from that time, I’m certain that is that they learnt that they could truly count on each other. An example of this is Jiu (in 2016) openly talking to them about how uncertain she feels about being a good leader to them, to which the rest of the members assure her that she is and that she doesn’t have to carry that burden by herself. Which could’ve made the addition of Handong and Gahyeon extremely conflicting since they didn’t go through the same experiences.
But it’s not like Handong didn’t have her own share of struggles, moving to a foreign country on her own at 19 to pursue her own dreams, being rejected by other companies, until finally auditioning for HappyFace and getting in. All the while dealing with all these changes in her life while being away from her own family.
And Gahyeon, who we know went through other companies, one of them being FNC, until she took part in an open audition and got scouted by HappyFace. It really makes you wonder if it wasn’t all just meant to be.
Handong and Gahyeon could’ve easily felt like outcasts, once the decision to reform and re-debut minx with the addition of two members was made, since neither of them had trained for as long, and since they didn’t share that bit of important history with them. We know well that some groups just don’t click with each other and make sure to make it restrictively business, but it’s quite obvious that all 7 members made the decision to be as supportive as they could be towards one another.
This is seen in the fact that Jiu has said from their debut (as Dreamcatcher) that she never has a hard time as the leader because everyone is really attentive and responsible - which is a huge growth from how burdened she used to feel during minx- it’s seen in how openly they talk about how weird they felt towards each other at first, how some of them found each other cold, and how awkward they felt towards each other in the beginning - and how they look back and laugh about it now – and it’s specially seen in how they don’t hide that from time to time they have arguments, that they give each other time and space to process, and never get other members involved in their own issues with whoever they argued with.
I feel that this conscious decision to be supportive through each other’s struggles, but most importantly through each other’s successes, has really been something that was definitive in making Dreamcatcher what it is today.
Especially when this group debuted with both a concept and sound that aren’t popular in Korea and are quite the opposite of what is expected of female groups. But HappyFace (thankfully) saw the potential and took it slow and steady, because even if they had to take small steps at first, they always made sure to support them and give them the opportunities they could to help them grow.
And I feel that up until this year there was always a certain doubt at the back of their minds, considering that in 2017 they jokingly mentioned that the company would open a restaurant if things didn’t work out, but 2020 has been an undoubtful jump in their careers, despite everything.
It’s been incredible to see Dreamcatcher set a new standard for girl groups in the past 3 years, from having a conscious gender neutral discography, to choreographies that are made to truly highlight their dancing and singing skills, to having a (horror) concept without sexual innuendos. Not to mention their constant choice over the years to normalize same sex attraction, through their covers, by accepting marriage proposals from other women and joking about how many girlfriends and wives they have, etc, and their constant choice to uplift other women.
And in their music, there is a constant message of love and support as well, that that’s what we should seek and give, instead of filling ourselves up with things that only leave us with hate. And you can tell that Dreamcatcher are really doing what they can to leave a good mark on the world, that they want to really give back all the love and support they receive.
Love can come in so many forms and it can be so easy to overlook it sometimes but it’s been really amazing to see how much Dreamcatcher have grown and flourished from all the love and support they’ve received over the years. How being surrounded by people who love, cherish, and support them has given them the chance to be the kind, funny, and warm hearted people that they are.
And if this past year has proved anything is that Dreamcatcher won’t forget each other along the way, that they’ll always be there to lift each other up and celebrate each other’s successes, as well as being each other’s comfort through the tough times. They’ve really found something in each other that makes you wonder if fate isn’t a little bit more than a myth.
In the end, taking away everything superficial, love, support, and faith in them is really what is at their core and foundation as a group, and all I hope is that down the line more people will find out about them and get to know about their story and perhaps feel a little bit at peace for finding so much love in one place
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