A Fangirl’s Heart Joins the K-Influencer Academy 2025

Lifestyle May 04, 2025

Attending the K-Influencer Academy 2025 Induction Ceremony: A New Beginning

I’m once again trying for the K-Influencer Academy and this time, I’m more determined than ever.

In 2020 and 2022, I applied for the K-Influencer Academy, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to complete the missions due to my busy schedule. Life got in the way, and despite my passion for Korean culture and content creation, I couldn’t fully commit. But this year, in 2025, I’m giving it another shot with the goal of staying consistent, completing the missions, and sharing more meaningful content that promotes Korean culture to the world.

Attending the K-Influencer Academy 2025 Induction Ceremony in Seoul

On April 29, 2025, I had the honor of attending the K-Influencer Academy 2025 Induction Ceremony. The event was held offline at the Korea Press Foundation in Seoul, and it was an unforgettable experience.

I met fellow international K-Influencers from all over the world, each with their own unique content style and love for Korea. It was so refreshing to talk to people who share the same passion as me. Some of us instantly clicked and became friends! The energy in the room was vibrant, filled with creativity, hope, and excitement for the year ahead.

What is the K-Influencer Academy?

The K-Influencer Academy is a program organized and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It’s designed to nurture global content creators who are passionate about Korean culture, also known as K-Content - from K-pop and K-dramas to food, language, beauty, and daily life in Korea.

Through various missions, workshops, and mentoring programs, participants get the chance to improve their content creation skills, receive feedback from professionals, and even win awards for outstanding content. Most importantly, it’s a platform that helps spread Hallyu (the Korean Wave) to the world through the voices of real fans and creators.

Representing A Fangirl’s Heart at K-Influencer Academy

As the creator behind A Fangirl’s Heart, I’m proud to bring my platform into this new chapter. What started as a personal blog about my fangirl life and adventures in Korea has now grown into a space where I share stories, tips, and honest experiences about Korean culture and content.

Being selected for K-Influencer Academy 2025 feels like a perfect fit for the direction I want A Fangirl’s Heart to grow in - more collaborations, deeper storytelling, and more content that connects fans and curious hearts across the globe.

This journey is not just about me. It’s about all of us who have fallen in love with Korea in our own unique ways.

My Goals for 2025 as a K-Influencer

I’ve learned from my past experiences, and this time, I’m committed to doing my best. I want to consistently create content that is fun, informative, and inspiring for people who love Korea or are curious about Korean culture. Whether it's through vlogs, blogs, short videos, or photos, I want to be part of sharing the beauty and diversity of Korea from my own perspective.

Being a part of the K-Influencer Academy 2025 is more than just a title. It’s a journey. And I’m excited to see where it leads.

To everyone reading this, thank you for your support. Please continue to support A Fangirl’s Heart as I share more stories about life in Korea, Korean trends, food adventures, and all the things that make this country special.

Let’s enjoy this journey together. 💙

@annyeongruth Life as a GKS Scholar Mini Vlog No. 13 I was one of the participants for 2025 K-Influencer Academy and I attended the Induction Ceremony that happened at the Korea Press Center in Seoul. #kinfluencer #kinfluenceracademy #lifeinkorea #studyinkorea #globalkoreascholarship #gks #kpop #kdrama #hallyu ♬ VERY NICE - SEVENTEEN

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Best of Best 2024: My Fangirl Review, Highlights and Goals

Lifestyle December 31, 2024

2024 was definitely much better than 2023

As I am writing this year-end post, I realized how much 2024 has been good to me. Even though there were still struggles emotionally, it wasn't as harsh as 2023. Maybe one of the reasons is I am living my dreams here in South Korea.

I was reading my 2023 year-end post and I realized that I have accomplished all my goals for 2024. Yes, they were simpler and more general but at least I was still able to achieve those things. It wasn't easy. As someone who came from a traumatic experience in 2023, it's not easy to rise up in 2024.

In 2024, I was able to see my top three K-Pop groups - Super Junior, SEVENTEEN, and DAY6. I had a total of 12 events this year. My heart is definitely happy knowing that I was able to afford all of these concerts. This I guess is the year where I had the most concert wherein I was the one who spent for my tickets. In 2019, most of the concerts that I attended were for media work. Free is great (I will still grab the chance if given) but there's this different feeling being able to afford and spend money on the things you love.

Aside from that, I did not expect that I will have some brand collaborations in South Korea especially for a skin care clinic. I just started investing on skin cares this year and I didn't expect that brands will reach out to me for a collaboration. One of the most special collaborations I got is with Xenia Clinic.

Other things that I achieved this year was to grow more on my social media accounts especially on Youtube. From 1000 subscribers, I have reached 2000 subscribers even if I wasn't that much active on uploading full length videos. I didn't track my other social media accounts so I do not know if it grew, but I think it did lol.

And lastly, I was able to get TOPIK Level 4, not at the end of the language class, but before the end of 2024. I didn't take a TOPIK before the language class ended so I maintained my Level 3 until I took the November test. Aside from that, I got an A and two A+ on my classes this semester.

It wasn't an easy journey. I had to balance everything - studies, work, content creation, and fangirling. There were times that I had to give up some of my personal stuff for more important things. But thank God, I managed to survive the year healthily and happily.

In 2025, I am determined to do a lot of things and hopefully God will still join me in this journey and help me as well.

@annyeongruth My 2024 Recap! 🎉✨ From celebrating my first New Year in South Korea to a year of studying, fangirling, and ending it with family. It’s been amazing! These photos barely capture it all. Can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store! 💖 #2024Recap #LifeInKorea #FangirlLife #globalkoreascholarship #studyinkorea #studyabroad #kpop #kdrama #CapCut ♬ original sound - baby🦂

For my fangirl life

My goal is to only buy merchandise that can be used. For example, Wonwoo's Keyboard from the Artist-Made Collection Season 2. I will try to lessen buying merchandise, aside from the fact that I will be able to save money, I no longer have space for albums. My room and dorm are full already. I will still watch concerts this 2025 even if my bias is going to enter the military this year. I just hope it won't coincide with my studies.

For my social media platforms

My goal is to be more active on all my social media accounts this 2025. To be honest, I have neglected my social media accounts this 2024 because I was so busy with school and just appreciating life. I haven't even uploaded all of my fancams. Aside from that, I plan to be more active with brand collaborations this 2025. I will not put specific numbers here but in my mind I know what I number I wanted to reach.

For myself

My goal is to continue having straight As in class. Aside from that, my goal is to also go out more to create contents, experience life, and be able to explore more even if I'm alone. I will focus on my health also this year through exercise, food, vitamins, and even skin cares. I'm getting older and I need to focus on myself too. My inner child is slowly getting healed, now it's time for my inner teens lol.

Aside from that, I will continue to communicate with the friends that I have and met this 2024. I believe that they are the friends that will stay with me for a long time.

Dear 2025

There are things that I didn't write here on my blog which was placed on my vision board and personal diary - but you know what they are. I will work hard to achieve those things so I hope you will be kinder to me also. I'm praying to God that the desires of my heart are also His so that my life will be aligned to what he planned for my life. I am already done with being strong. It's time to be happy.

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UNBOXING: Jeonghan and Wonwoo This Man Album

Collection July 07, 2024

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Theme Song of My Life Playlist: SEVENTEEN Vocal Unit Cheers to Youth

Lifestyle May 30, 2024

It just so happens that it's our first time living today

The first line of this song hits differently. It is so much impactful that just by listening to it I can immediately cry. As we continue living our lives, we always blame ourselves for not being enough. While writing this, I remembered what I just told my friends yesterday, "No matter what I do, I will never be enough. I will always be wrong." But this song reminds me that it's just my first time living in this earth and it's okay.

'Cheers to Youth' is a song released by SEVENTEEN Vocal Unit for their Best Album '17 is Right Here'. I was blessed enough to get to hear this live during their Follow Again to Seoul concert. Because it was my first time hearing it, I didn't get much of the lyrics and I just enjoyed listening to it. Little did I know that the lyrics of this song is the exact thing I wanted to say.

Music Video

Last May 24, SEVENTEEN released the music video for 'Cheers to Youth'. The music video showcases different people with different struggles in life. From being stressed from work to having anxiety of the future, it shows that everyone in the world has their own struggles which led them in joining the T(iny)issue Club. Through that club, they were able to feel a little bit better.

Jeonghan

Based from what I see in the music video, Jeonghan is having a fear of the future. The world tells him that 'forever is a lie' therefore it makes him hard to see the future. No matter what glasses he wears it will still be blurry.

In the end, he removed the glasses and was able to see clearly. Maybe not his future, but his present which he currently is missing because of his fear of the future.

Joshua

For Joshua, he was represented here as a meerkat. If you search for the meaning of a meerkat, it can mean that it's about teamwork. But it can also mean that a danger is coming. From what I see, Joshua is struggling to fit in his workplace. Therefore, he is always on the lookout if somebody will say bad things to him at work.

But at the end, he overcame it and realized that his workmates are there to support him and help him. All work can be easily done when people work together.

Woozi

Woozi is having social anxiety in this music video. He doesn't want to go out to meet real people. Instead, he uses his gadgets to do his errands. Actually, it can also be considered as gadget addiction. But from my perspective, it's more of a fear of being seen my people.

Through the help of the Tissue Club, he was able to overcome this fear and eventually met other people.

DK

DK represents the students who are pressured to do well in school. You can see that he has a lot of books on his desk, studying day and night. With all the stress he feels, he just wanted to be a rock. This is a common feeling of students and it's really hard to get over this feeling.

But thanks to his friends, he was able to overcome it and also tried to go out and experience life rather than just being stuck studying all day.

Seungkwan

For me, I see Seungkwan here as a person who can see a different world than other people. Because of this, people find him weird and therefor being left out. He sees the world in a different perspective which other people cannot.

But through the help of the Tissue Club, he found friends who listen to him and understand him and even join his little adventures in life.

Lyrics

It just so happens that it's our first time living

This is the first line of the song. This first line can definitely give the whole meaning of the song. Everyone can have a mistake in their lives. Everyone can feel afraid. Everyone is allowed to not understanding everything. Why? Because it's our first time living in this world. Everything is new to us. That's why it's okay to not be able to be perfect.

I want to be myself but I don't want to be alone

Even I cannot understand myself

This is a common line I always tell to myself. It's fun to be alone, physically. But I don't want to feel alone. Even if I am doing a lot of things alone, I don't want to feel alone. As an introvert, I always love being alone. I can do the things I want to do. But at the same time, I still want to feel like people care about me. I want them to be with me, may it not be physically but emotionally.

Where could my happiness possibly be? No one can answer that for me.

No one can really answer where our happiness is. Even ourselves will have a hard time answering the question. Mainly because it's hard to define what happiness is. Everyone have different answers to what happiness is.

But this line hits more. As a person who don't know where happiness is, I cannot simply ask other people just like how I ask for directions. It's hard to find happiness when we don't know what happiness really is.

On the way home today, I will tell myself that I did okay

This is the part where I always cry the hardest. Because I never tell myself that I did okay. I wanted special people to tell me that I did well. I wanted to tell myself that I did well. But it's just hard to do that because I have high expectations with myself. My family has high expectation with myself as well. Everybody has high expectations of me and I feel like everything I did is not enough. Therefore it's hard to tell myself that I did well.

Maybe that's the reason why I badly cry when this part comes. It's because these are the words I wanted to hear that I never hear from anyone even myself.

That in this suffocating world, I still found little things that made me smile

Life is hard. And those little things that made us smile, we should treasure it. For me, a simple encouraging post from Wonwoo make me smile. That's why I treasure it so much. If it's hard to find happiness, maybe we can find little things that can make us smile at least. May it be a person, food, show, or whatever form it may be.

Full English Lyrics

It just so happens that it's our first time living today

and though their hurtful words make us hate ourselves more

Let's try not to care

We can sing anywhere with our voices

Cheers to youth

1 2 1 2 3 4!

I get scared when my phone rings

These days, my heart is easily startled

I want to be by myself but I don't want to be alone

Even I can't understand myself

Where could my happiness possibly be?

No one can answer that for me

I talk to my reflection on my turned-off phone screen

On the way home today, I'll tell myself that I did okay

That it wasn't easy but it wasn't too bad either

That in this suffocating world

I still found little things that made me smile

It just so happens that it's our first time living today

and though their hurtful words make us hate ourselves more

Let's try not to care

We can sing anywhere with our voices

Cheers to youth

My, My, My, My, My, My

My cozy blanket wrapping me around with its humble warmth

Gives me hope for tomorrow before I go to bed

The loud alarm that will go off tomorrow morning

I hope I will hate it less than I did yesterday

Even in this suffocating world

Everything will be fine because I will love myself as I am

It just so happens that it's our first time living tomorrow

and though their hurtful words make us hate ourselves more

Let's try not to care

We can sing anywhere with our voices

Cheers to youth

Cheers to Youth

I thank Woozi for writing this song. Whenever I need a good cry, I will always listen to this song. This song is a reminder that we should be kinder to ourselves because it's our first time living. We shouldn't be so hard on ourselves and we should find small good things around us.

Living is hard that's why let's try to make it a little bit easier by not blaming ourselves all the time. It's okay. It's okay.

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UNBOXING: NANA Tour with SEVENTEEN Special Gift

Collection February 09, 2024

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WATCH: Global Korea Scholarship (Embassy Track) Interview

Lifestyle February 05, 2024

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Best of Best 2023: My Fangirl Review, Highlights and Goals

Lifestyle January 01, 2024

2023 was my best yet my worst year

Last 2022, I was writing my best of best recaps in the Philippines. But now, I'm writing it here in South Korea. Who would have thought that after years of planning, I am finally living here in South Korea to study.

The first half of 2023 was the worst for me. Worst than I could have ever imagined. It was the time where I lost trust with everything - self, family, friends, life, God. I lost all my will to move forward. A lot of people know me as someone who doesn't give up easily. But it was that time where I gave up and just let life do whatever it wants to happen in my life. I no longer care. There's no more joy.

Despite the fact of having that kind of feeling, I was still gifted with a lot of special thing making my 2023 also the best year.

Love Fanmeeting in Tokyo

The Tokyo dream came true. After being a KPop fan for how many years already, I never expected that I will be able to attend an event in Japan. I was so frustrated that I wasn't able to attend Seventeen's Caratland 2023. Little did I know, I will be able to watch their fanmeeting in Tokyo.

I cannot share much on what really happened but it will always be my traumatic experience ever. And I hope it will no longer happen to me.

Wearing Hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Aside from the fanmeeting, one of the best things that happened to me this year was moving to South Korea to study for my Master's. I have been dreaming of studying abroad for years now. But as someone who is not financially capable of doing it on my own, I have to rely heavily on scholarships.

Thankfully, I passed the Global Korea Scholarship. And now, I'm here in South Korea.

Comparing my life in the past years, my life was really in both ends this 2023. I also have less fangirling events this year. I know it's for my future but I just can't help but feel sad for my present for always having to sacrifice my now for my later.

For 2024, to be honest, I'm afraid to create more goals as I already feel so bad if I won't be able to reach those goals. But yeah, I'm used to with pains so I'm going to write some goals (that's how contradicting I am)

For my fangirling life

My goal is to watch SEVENTEEN's concerts and fanmeetings here in South Korea. If I will also be given the chance to watch a music show, why not. Aside from that, I also plan to watch DAY6 and Super Junior's concerts here in South Korea.

My main goal is to really see SEVENTEEN, DAY6, and Super Junior.

For my social media platforms

My goal is to continue to post stuff that I want to post. I have to keep reminding myself that this is my platform and I can share what I want to share as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. I am so thankful that I have reached 1k+ subscribers on Youtube but I still aim to reach more people and help them.

For myself

My goal is to reach TOPIK 2 Level 4 by the end of my Korean language class and be able to enter my Master's without any problem. With that, I will be studying even harder to reach this. But at the same time, I will not forget to enjoy life.

2024, I'm not ready for you. Please be kind to me. Please be the year that I can say that you are my favorite year. Please be the best year.

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Reading My Study Plan - Global Korea Scholarship

Lifestyle December 29, 2023

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UNBOXING: Seventeen 2024 Season's Greetings

Collection December 29, 2023

My SEVENTEEN Season's Greetings for 2024 is now ready!

Season's greetings is one of the merchandises that I am really looking forward to at the end of the year. Although it was only last 2022 when I started buying a complete set of season's greetings, I have been looking forward for it since 2017 because of the diary and the calendar.

Before, I was only buying the tingi version of the season's greetings as I am not interested in other items (and I don't have the money to buy the whole set). But now, since I have my own money to spend, I can buy the whole set.

My first SEVENTEEN Season's Greetings was in 2022. While writing this blog, I realized that I didn't write a blog post about my 2023 Season's Greetings.

And now, since 2023 is about to end, I am so ready for 2024 with my SEVENTEEN Season's Greetings.

Inclusion of SEVENTEEN 2024 Season's Greetings

Weverse Special Gift

If you ordered your season's greetings through Weverse on the dates stated, you will have this special gift which is a door hanging photo frame with three unreleased unit photos.

I am so happy when I saw the preview because I can sense some JiHan interaction there. And I was right. There is a JiHan interaction.

Outbox

The outbox feels like a folder. I don't like it and I don't hate it either. It's just that if the courier is not careful with the package, it will easily be damaged.

Message Card

The message card, like the name itself, is a circular roulette-type of card wherein SEVENTEEN wrote a message for Carats. It's just a short message per member.

Desk Calendar

I like this desk calendar compared to with the desk calendar in 2023. The 2023 version is like a flip book so it keeps on opening. But this one, it's a flip type of calendar so I like it better.

Scheduler

Like what I have mentioned earlier, this is the main reason why I love buying season's greetings. The scheduler or the diary serves as my planner for the year to come. I love writing and planning. This helps me keep track of the things I need to do during the day or the week.

Photobook

Of course, every season's greetings have their own photobook. I really love their concept for this season's greetings. They look so fresh especially Joshua. I love his hairstyle the most.

Digital Code Set

The digital code set includes a digital planner and a video. As of writing, I haven't watched the video. But I will, soon. I plan on using the digital planner as well for the contents that I have to do online.

Contents Holder

It's more of like a folder type wherein you can insert some papers to keep them intact.

Postcard Set

Sticker

For the sticker, you can actually use this to design your scheduler since the scheduler is just a plain white notebook.

Time Card Set

I actually thought this was random. But, it was a set. *sorry for not reading the merch description lol* In this set, aside from the photos, you will also know what's their favorite time and why.

Photocard Set

Of course, our favorite merch, the photocards. When I saw the video previews I immediately knew that I will like Joshua's photocard the most since I like his hairstyle. But when the actual preview was revealed, I never thought I would also like Wonwoo's and DK's photocards.

Bookmark

Unboxing of Seventeen 2024 Season's Greetings

To be updated as I am still editing it. :)

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Reading my Personal Statement and Tips - Global Korea Scholarship

Lifestyle December 06, 2023

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Studying Korean in South Korea: My First Term Experience

Lifestyle November 25, 2023

Studying Korean in South Korea is fun and challenging

I have been studying Korean for quite some time now. But I have always been stopping and not really taking things seriously. Although I have passed my examinations in KCC in the Philippines before, I still have some things I wished I knew before I actually started studying the language.

Although I can somehow understand a lot of conversation already, I still struggle a bit with speaking. As an introvert person who doesn't want to go out usually it's hard for me to practice my Korean speaking skills.

If you have been following me on my social media accounts, you would have known that I moved to South Korea to study. I am one of the recipients of the Global Korea Scholarship. Before I start my Master's, I am required to take one year of Korean Language and pass the TOPIK 2 Level 3.

This is how my first term went...

My classmates with my teacher Lee Dong Yeon

I am the oldest in class.

That's the first thing that I can say. Everyone else is born in the 2000s. I'm the only one born in the 1990s. Although there's a huge difference in age, I didn't feel it. I felt like I was one of them.

But to be honest, it was a bit hard communicating. Most of them are Vietnamese and they don't speak English. And since we're still in level 2, we're not yet that fluent in Korean as well. But we're all trying.

The class was fun thanks to our loving teachers, Lee Dong Yeon and Kim Mi Ae. I was able to review the things I learned from the past and was able to learn new vocabularies.

Difference with my studies in KCC

There are a lot of similarities from KCC. But at the same time, I also noticed some differences.

First is the schedule. In KCC, my class is only two times a week but here it's everyday. Making the study pace slower, which I personally like because I was able to understand the grammar and vocabulary more.

Another difference is that we also have time to play games and have some cultural activities.

And the last difference that I noticed is that all the teachers here do not speak in English during class. They do their best not to explain it in English but in pure Korean which I believe is helpful. Although there are times I still need the English translation to understand more.

Moving Up Ceremony

I received an award as one of the students who have a perfect attendance. Because of this, I got a powerbank from the university which I can really use. Inspires me to have a perfect attendance again next term.

Overall Experience

I had a great experience during my first term in studying the Korean language. I believe that I have learned a lot and now am able to create paragraphs in pure Korean.

I still have three more terms and I hope my experience will be the same as the first one.

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Pages

Attending the K-Influencer Academy 2025 Induction Ceremony: A New Beginning

Attending the K-Influencer Academy 2025 Induction Ceremony in Seoul

What is the K-Influencer Academy?

Representing A Fangirl’s Heart at K-Influencer Academy

My Goals for 2025 as a K-Influencer

2024 was definitely much better than 2023

For my fangirl life

For my social media platforms

For myself

Dear 2025

Have you seen This Man?

This Man Album Inclusions

Weverse POB - Photocard and Coaster

Sleevebox

Photobook

CD-R with CD Envelope

Lyric Paper

Sticker

Unit Folded Poster

Individual Folded Poster

Photocard

Unboxing:

It just so happens that it's our first time living today

Music Video

Jeonghan

Joshua

Woozi

DK

Seungkwan

Lyrics

Cheers to Youth

Nana Tour with SEVENTEEN Special Gift

Inclusions

Group Photo & Paper Frame

Postcard & Paper Holder

Photocards

I got interviewed once for the Global Korea Scholarship

2023 was my best yet my worst year

For my fangirling life

For my social media platforms

For myself

This is my Study Plan for the Global Korea Scholarship

My SEVENTEEN Season's Greetings for 2024 is now ready!

Inclusion of SEVENTEEN 2024 Season's Greetings

Weverse Special Gift

Outbox

Message Card

Desk Calendar

Scheduler

Photobook

Digital Code Set

Contents Holder

Postcard Set

Sticker

Time Card Set

Photocard Set

Bookmark

Unboxing of Seventeen 2024 Season's Greetings

Reading my Personal Statement for the Global Korea Scholarship application

Studying Korean in South Korea is fun and challenging

This is how my first term went...

Difference with my studies in KCC

Moving Up Ceremony

Overall Experience

About me

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