Beol Na-la, or NARA, is a known singer, actress, producer, songwriter and presenter, active since 2005 after her debut in the 2nd generation group ‘Super Junior’. Even if she’s still active as a singer for the referenced group, she is mostly known nowadays for her drama “Sabbatical Serenade”, which earned her countless awards and broke MBC's viewership record. 

However, she was once one of Korea’s sweethearts. Her children’s television series Kid’s Club became the most successful children's show of it’s time, contributing to her rise to fame, especially between 2006-2009. 

During that time, many artists openly showed interest in her. Some names include Tablo, Se7en, and Won Bin. But the most famous was GONG YOO, who said in an interview for The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince:

[video transcript]

Interviewer: The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince was definitely a hit! GONG YOO: [laughs] Yes, yes, it really was. Interviewer: Your name has been appearing a lot in the media and you have gained many fans who even want to know your ideal type. GONG YOO: [blushes] I think they're confusing me with HanKyul. [laughs] I'm not that good at dating in real life. Interviewer: But if a nice girl came along, would you date her? GONG YOO: Yes, why not? [laughs] Interviewer: What would she be like? GONG YOO: I don't like too girly-girlish girls, but I don't really care about style. I actually find aegyo too burdensome, too cringeworthy. I like straightforward girls. Authenticity and inner dialogue are important in people. Interviewer: If you could choose someone as your ideal type, who would it be? GONG YOO: [thinks for a moment] Nara, that idol who hosts Kid's Club. Not necessarily because of her looks… [shakes his hands] not that she isn't pretty, everyone knows she is. But I like her personality, how she manages to be authentic even on a children's show, without acting childish or resorting to aegyo.

Another express of interest to Nara that happened at the time, which still elicits laughter and memes from Shawols today, was with ONEW. In this 2012 interview he recall the 2008 event:

[video transcript, after an hour on Rooftop Radio with Jang Yoon-ju] Yoon-Ju: Have there been any awkward situations involving your Super Junior sunbaes? Or are you as close as you appear in the media? ONEW: [laughs] I think we're closer than we appear in the media, me and the boys… [laughs more, seems to be thinking about something] but there's one member that I still can't talk to. Yoon-Ju: Really? Who? [curious] ONEW: Nara. Yoon-Ju: Why? ONEW: I think I can tell you because it's been four years, but I've never been able to talk to her [laughs]. Yoon-Ju: What happened? ONEW: When the group first started in 2008, they asked me to talk more and not let the interviews get boring. It was my duty as leader to help the group, to encourage other members to speak or change sensitive topics… So, when we were talking on one of the shows, they asked me about my ideal type [laughs, but puts his hand in front of the microphone so it doesn't sound too loud] and I said her. Yoon-Ju: Jinjja? Don't tell me you got rejected… ONEW: The thing was, she wasn't even my ideal type. I only said that because she was popular and would bring visibility to the group; it was the first thing that came to mind. Yoon-Ju: OMO! [started laughing loudly] ONEW: But I forgot that we would be seeing each other at the company. So I spent almost a month running away and avoiding her because I was embarrassed… all the Super Junior sunbaes still laugh at me to this day. Yoon-Ju: So, do you have any advice for new idols? ONEW: [looks at the camera] Never say that your ideal type is someone from the same company as you, unless you're prepared for the jokes, the news, and to face that person.

In an unusual situation, FTISLAND's HONGKI had his interest in Nara publicly announced against his will by Heechul, creating one of the most iconic Chocoballs' moments in Oh My School. See below.

[video transcript,after he challenged Heechul to change his phone wallpaper] HEECHUL: I read an article the other day that according to SsamD, Hongki has dated a famous idol… and I think it's good that he likes to date idols. HONGKI: [visibly afraid of what Heechul is going to expose] HEECHUL: In fact, it's good that you're here, since you told me that Nara was your ideal type and that if you met her in person, you would [Hongki covers his mouth to stop him from talking] HONGKI: [laughing nervously, cheeks flushed] MY BAD MY BAD… FORGIVE ME. NARA: [camera focuses on her, wide eyes] HONGKI: I GIVE UP, I GIVE UP [leaves the hula hoop and goes to sit in his seat] MC MYUNGSOO: [holds his arm] no, you come here [pulls Hongki back to the center] HEECHUL: [laughing] MC MYUNGSOO: [walks over to Nara, holds her hand and pulls her over to Hongki] MC KYUNGLIM: So, now that you've met her in person, what would you like to do? [participants look at each other, laughing softly and mischievously] HONGKI: I'm sorry [nervously laughing] NARA: It's okay HONGKI: I hate you [directed at Heechul] MC MYUNGSOO: Hold hands [they do] [romantic music starts playing] HONGKI: [takes a deep breath] Can I have your phone number? [everyone cheers excitedly] NARA: Ah… look, I'm extremely flattered, but you're kind of Heechul in a different font, so I can't see you as more than a friend [withdraws her hand] [everyone continues shouting, this time finding it funny that he got rejected] HEECHUL: [trying to lighten the mood after exposing his friends] AM I REALLY THAT BAD? NARA: You know you are. [the MCs laugh and she looks at the camera] You know what? I'm going to participate in the hula hoop game too and expose you a little. HEECHUL: I want to see that.

inspired by this game/episode

In the 3rd generation, even though Nara had some scandals and her popularity has fallen significantly, with only a few appearences in dramas and almost all her dedication to Super Junior and her solo music, some idols still cast her as their ideal type. Some examples include Jinyoung (GOT7), Ilhoon (BtoB) and Jooheon (Monsta X).

She is known in the whole k-pop industry for being a good sunbae, but to have a whole group excited to meet you? Watch INFINITE discuss NARA:

[video transcript]

SUNGGYU: We were excited to meet her when we thought we were going to meet on a variety show with Super Junior. Unfortunately, she didn't participate in the filming, so we only met her in person at one of the awards ceremonies. Interviewer: Were you excited? May I ask why? SUNGGYU: People always say she's a great sunbae. Now that we know her, she really is. MYUNGSOO: And when you're a trainee, you idealize the idols you want to meet when you debut… right, Hoya? HOYA: [nervous, blushes] WOOHYUN: We always end up talking about her in the dorm because we love how she sings, dances, act. She is an all rounder… and she's Hoya ideal type. HOYA: [gets up to slap Woohyun]

Even in the 4th generation, NARA's influence can still be seen. Many new idols claim to have watched Kid's Club when they were children, while others have described their experience of participating in the program. One of those kids was P1Harmony’s INTAK, having the chance to declare his long time appreciation calling her his ideal type in the 545 episode of Weekly Idol, when she replaced as host because Eunhyuk was absent.

[video transcript, After they showed photos of Intak, Jiung, and Theo at Kid's Club] KWANGHEE: So everyone who lived in Korea during their childhood went to Kid's Club? JONGSEOB: Not me, I was too young. I was born in 2005 and the program started airing in 2006… but I watched several reruns. NARA: He was born the year I debuted [disbelieved]. KWANGHEE: [eyes wide, jaw dropped]. NARA: Stop that face, we were born in the same year! You're going to make me look old. [P1Harmony boys laugh] INTAK: You don't look old, you're still perfect as always! [tries to correct himself] Your dancing skills are still great. We've been following you since Kid's Club and then with Super Junior… THEO: He always chose to dance like you when we went to practice Super Junior choreography. [members confirm] INTAK: You are a great inspiration [stares at her with puppy eyes] NARA: [smiles and nods] I am grateful KWANGHEE: Are you trying to flirt with her? INTAK: N-no. nO. NARA: [slap the co-host on the shoulder] Of course he's not, I'm too old for that. INTAK: [smiles] JISUNG: WHAT IS THAT SMILE? [annoying Intak] INTAK: I'm nervous, sorry [laughs more] it's just that Nara subaenim was my crush when I was a kid JISUNG: Apparently still is INTAK: [death glare at him] [sigh] I was supposed to be smooth KEEHO: [sarcasticaly] Nice job. Didn't work.

EXTRA

While Seventeen's MINGYU did not say that she was his ideal type, it is worth mentioning that is a known fact on the industry that Nara didn’t give her number to Mingyu after he tried to flirt with her. The members of Seventeen joke about it constantly, especially in live streams.

[video transcript]

SEUNGCHEOL: [reading the comments] Why isn't Hoshi here? He went to see SuJu Kyuhyun-hyung's musical in theatre. MINGHAO: If Nara hadn't refused to give Mingyu her number, we'd be going to all of SuJu's events [pretends to be disappointed] MINGYU: [hides his face] Stop talking about that, AAHHH.

The Miss A interview that caused a stir in the news, including many controversies and fake news about what SUZY allegedly said. Check out the full interview:

[video transcript, ending of the interview]

Interviewer: I actually came here to ask what “The Nation's First Love” is looking for in her ideal partner. SUZY: [blushes] I think I'm looking for someone who is mature and independent; who is relaxed, fun, and makes me feel good when I'm around them. Someone intelligent, so we can talk, and who is attentive and reliable… Oh! And who smells good! [smiles] They don't have to be perfect, just someone who is right for me and who I get along with. I think my ideal type would be someone like Nara, if she were a man. [the girls and the interviewer laugh] Interviewer: Her ideal type is so specific that she can't name any man who fits that description [laughs] SUZY: I think I watch too many dramas [nice save]

Nara herself said she received many letters and messages from other idols and actors over the years, but has never specified their names. Which artists do you think she is hiding from the public?