LINK: the rose: come back to me
Currently listening to: Snooze – SUGA feat. Woosung (from The Rose) and Ryuichi Sakamoto
RIP Ryuichi Sakamoto
잊지 마라, 세상은 인내심이 그리 길진 않아
(Don’t forget, the world doesn’t have much patience)
남의 논란에 절대 웃지 말길 (웃지 말길)
(Never laugh at other people’s controversies (don’t laugh))
너 또한 그 순간이 올지 모르니
(You never know if that moment will come too)
너의 성공은 목줄이자 족쇄가 될 거고
(Your success will be your leash and shackles)
더더욱 외줄 타는 기분들이 너를 옥죌 거야
(The feeling of walking a tightrope will make you feel even more confined)
A few of my ARMY friends went to go see The Rose: Come Back To Me documentary. It was directed by Emmy winning filmmaker, Eugene Yi. They had a world premier at the Tribeca Film Festival last year where it won the Audience Award Runner-Up and sold out screenings. They were also the official selection at the Busan International Film Festival in 2025. It finally got rolled out in the US on February 13-15 of 2026.
They talk about their journey, starting as K-pop trainee dropouts who formed an indie band in Hongdae, busking on streets. It was sad to see how their own label tried to split them up and even gaslight them. They terminated their contract with their record label (J&Star Company) for not receiving payment since their debut, but were also being countersued while three of the members were serving their mandatory military service. This was causing a rift between the band members because they were facing their own fears and tribulations. During this time, Woosung (Sammy – an American citizen) was working on a song with SUGA from BTS and just when it seemed as if they were going to skyrocket, the news came out that Woosung was a drug user due to his previous arrest—before he was in The Rose—for using marijuana in Korea (using marijuana in Korea is a no-no and seen as bad as meth). Because of this “scandal” all the television stations canceled their concerts and interviews with The Rose in Korea.
While in the military, Jeff developed depression and was seeing a therapist multiple times a week and was prescribed anti-depressants. In the documentary, he shared that a kind nurse was the one who helped him crawl out of his depressive state and instill hope in him.
They made their comeback after their mandatory military service was completed. They signed with Far East Movement’s Transparent Arts as their new record label. They were able to reconnect, make new music, perform at Lollapalooza in 2023 and Coachella in 2024, and sell out large arenas like KIA Forum in Los Angeles.
The documentary was electrifying and moving. It really made people see them as a human and not just another K-pop generating machine. I caught a few of my friends tearing up during certain parts of the movie. The post credit concert scenes were a treat, it was def worth staying for.
I’m so glad I was able to see them perform last year in LA for their Once Upon A WRLD Tour.
FYI: my bias is Woosung, no surprise there. He’s also from Los Angeles.
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