Although the life of a pop star is a childhood dream that not many consider to become a reality, for one 21-year-old, Kamden Na, his dream of becoming a K-pop idol has begun to take shape.
Recently appearing on the Korean program “Boys Planet,” a competitive reality show in which 98 boys from around the world compete to become one of the next big names in the K-pop industry, Na, an Issaquah High School graduate, showed how an average teen can make their dreams come true.
At the beginning of his three-month run on the program, Na was quickly noticed as someone with astonishing potential, forming both a name and fandom for himself.
“To be frank, I lacked confidence in the beginning which created obstacles for me to show my true self,” Na explained. “But after realizing the support and receiving the energy, I gained confidence that empowers me to pursue anything.”
Prior to his time on the show, Na lived an average life surrounded by good friends and his twin brother, Kade. It was not until he turned 19 when he was scouted by Korean label, FNC Entertainment, that Na began dedicating a lot of time and effort into developing his dancing skills and pursuing life as a K-pop idol.
In 2020, videos of Na dancing were released on the Chinese app “Little Red Book.” The caption that ran alongside the videos said, “Na Kamden said that he had practiced in the company for about two and a half years, and only began to dance when he entered the company at the age of 19. It’s never too late if you work hard enough.” Not only were viewers impressed by Na’s skills, fellow dancers at his studio were also surprised by Na’s quick improvement under the training of FNC.
When faced with the hard decision of pursuing a life filled with promises of becoming a star, Kamden’s father, Brandon Na, explained how the decision to start anew in a country on the other side of the world was difficult, but ultimately decided, with the immense support of his family and friends, to allow Na to continue with FNC Entertainment after graduating from Issaquah High School in 2020.
On February 2, 2023, the first episode of “Boy’s Planet” premiered. Na was first introduced on the show as a rapper and dancer. Alongside fellow contestant Jay Chang, Na performed the 2022 Korea hit song “Rush Hour.” Many of Na’s fellow contestants were impressed by his musicality and confidence, audibly gasping when Na began to rap his self-written verse. Na earned an initial rating of three out of four stars for his song “Rush Hour.” His partner Chang received four stars.
During the show’s first ranking, Na was revealed to be in 82nd place, out of the total 98 contestants. Many viewers believe that Na would have received a higher score if his self-written rap had been allowed to air, instead of only being available on YouTube.
Throughout the course of the show, Na gradually made his way up in the rankings and found himself to be one of the more successful contestants. Following his first rank of 82nd, Na dodged elimination by rising to 31st place during the first elimination episode, and 20th for the second. Na was able to barely make his way into the semifinals, the top 18.
During the semifinals, Na, along with the other semifinalists, performed their original song, “Jelly Pop,” their main song, “I Shine,” and a tear-jerking ballad entitled “Not Alone.”
Na ended the show in 17th place, just missing the mark to debut in the final lineup. On April 21, one day after the finale was live broadcasted, Na expressed his gratitude for his fans via FNC’s Twitter. Na explained that the reason why he has gotten to where he is, is due to his fans’ continued support and love.
Following the conclusion of the show, Na continues to train with FNC Entertainment, and has been allowed to continually engage with his fandom, nicknamed the dubudans. FNC Entertainment expressed that this is only the beginning for Na’s career and has hinted that there may be possible debuts coming soon.
Originally from the Seattle area, it is clear to see that Kamden Na is a star on the rise. His journey has taught many that no matter where a person comes from, if they work hard and dream big, they can make the leap of life in Washington State to the grand stages of South Korea.
