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Versatile artist shifts gears again

Published: 18 Dec. 2009, 20:12

Im Sang-a takes a stroll on the streets of New York. Provided by Sallim Books

Im Sang-a is just full of surprises. She once transformed herself from a well-known musical actress into a popular singer and television actress in Korea. Later, she launched her own collection of Sang A luxury bags in New York. Now, she’s pushing her boundaries again with a new career as a writer.

Im, who also goes by her married name Sang A Im-Propp, was in town last week to promote her new book “Sang A New York Narrative 99-09” and to tell her story.

“Everything that everyone may wonder about me is right there in the book,” Im said at a press conference in Cheongdam-dong on Dec. 10.

The book consists of text and pictures that express her experiences from 1999 - when she dropped everything she had worked for in Korea to go to New York with the aim of becoming a designer - to the present.

“I wrote this to provide readers with a little warmth and hope,” she said. “Especially those living abroad and starting a new life.”

She made her first visit back to Korea after four years on a personal trip and admits that it has been difficult to make regular trips back home.

After having made a very successful debut as a singer in 1996 with the song “Musical,” she released two more albums and also had a solid television acting career in front of her.

“To tell you the truth, when I was a celebrity here, I was always afraid of my fans, and that was one of the many reasons for my departure 10 years ago,” Im confessed. “But when I met my fans earlier today, everyone had such warmth in their eyes. I was very touched. It even made me want to perform on stage again.”

She revealed that her husband, whom she met during her stay in New York, is also a musician. The two have a studio in their home where she occasionally records her own songs.

“I even thought about making a digital album for my fans,” she said. “But with my career as a designer, my husband and I are so busy we don’t have time. We can’t even discuss the topic of a second child, even if we wanted one at this point.”

There is a reason for her hectic schedule. Her products are geared toward an upmarket clientele, and her client list includes top pop singers like Beyonce and Ashlee Simpson, and model Devon Aoki.

But she says this is just the beginning.

“I have about 55 stores worldwide. My target from the beginning was the international market,” the designer said. “I can say that I have only just begun to grasp what to do and what not to do at this point, and I don’t dare say that I am successful.”

She may be a stranger to many younger Koreans, being that this is her first official visit to her homeland in almost 10 years, but all that may change someday.

When asked when she will launch her Sang A collection in Korea, she answered, “I am certainly planning it, but it’s not yet clear. Because this is my home country, I’m more careful about doing business here.”

By Hannah Kim Contributing writer [[email protected]]