LE SSERAFIM’s Sakura Explains The Difference Between Living In South Korea Versus Japan

LE SSERAFIM’s Sakura has a unique backstory, even among K-Pop idols. She rose to fame as a member of HKT48, a Japanese idol group that was her home until 2018 when she took a hiatus to compete in the South Korean reality survival series Produce 48, where she placed second and debuted with IZ*ONE. After IZ*ONE’s disbandment in 2021, Sakura left HKT48 and made her final debut with her current group LE SSERAFIM in 2022 under HYBE.

Having an unusual perspective on debuting as an idol in Japan and South Korea, Sakura shared the difference between living between the two countries on the latest episode of GOT7 BamBam‘s web series Bam House.

When asked about her difficulties adjusting to life in South Korea, Sakura said, “At first, I wasn’t used to doing things very fast. In Japan, I lived in the countryside (Fukuoka). I am used to doing things in a relaxed way.”

After living in South Korea for many years, Sakura admitted that the rapid style of living rubbed off on her. An example she gave was spamming elevator buttons after being unable to wait for the doors to close! BamBam wholly related to her feelings showing that they had both adjusted nicely to their second homes.

The pair agreed that there were pros and cons to both having a relaxed and speedy pace, but Sakura ultimately felt that the South Korean style suited her more.

Watch below the full episode of LE SSERAFIM’s Sakura on GOT7 BamBam’s Bam House. They talk about the differences between living in South Korea versus Japan at the 12:34 mark.