This article is part of Singapore Airlines’ “Beyond the Cabin” video series, in which cabin crew explore their favourite cities and share how their hobbies enrich their service delivery.
Gan Pin’s memories of South Korea are closely tied to dance. She first visited the country back in 2013, when she represented Singapore as a dancesport (competitive ballroom dancing) athlete at the Asian Indoor Games in Incheon. Today, as a cabin crew member of 7.5 years with Singapore Airlines, she often attends dance classes during her layovers in Seoul – an enduring hobby that has helped her grow both personally and professionally.
During her most recent trip to the South Korean capital, Pin tried her hand at K-Pop dance (a blend of dance forms choreographed to Korean pop music) and buchaechum (a traditional Korean fan dance) – two vastly different genres that highlight the diversity of the Korean dance culture.
“Buchaechum is definitely more elegant and regal. It reminds me of ballet, where the dancers look so effortless. But it was actually hard work trying to look poised while holding up the heavy fans, and doing my best not to trip on the full-length dress!” she recalls. “In comparison, K-Pop dance is more lively and energetic, and the artist’s individuality is expressed through the dance and song. It’s a whole artistic presentation on its own.”
Similar to how dancers spend hours perfecting their moves, every cabin crew works hard on each flight to deliver an exceptional customer experience
It was a hugely memorable experience for Pin, who has dabbled in various dance forms – from ballet and Latin ballroom dancing to street dance – ever since she was five. “I don’t like being defined by a single movement style. Each genre I’ve crossed paths with has taught me something unique and made me the dancer that I am today,” she reflects. “I want to be able to move with the strengths I’ve picked up from each style.”
From K-Pop to traditional culture
Dance is just one of the many things Pin adores about Seoul. “I love South Korea for its colourful culture, food, language and people. If you dig deeper into the Korean culture, you’ll be able to unearth a lot of interesting things about it,” she says.
For starters, there are the friendly locals, who often go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome. “I was feeling quite anxious at Wave Monster Dance Studio as I wanted to do well while representing myself as a dancer and as a cabin crew. It turns out that I had nothing to worry about because Zizi, Jimin, Jessie and Jae Hyun made me feel right at home with their warm and bubbly personalities,” Pin recalls. “We promised to keep in contact and I will be returning to the studio to learn from them during my next trip to Seoul.”
Pin also enjoys sampling Seoul’s diverse culinary scene. “The locals are very serious about their food, so one couldn’t be more wrong to say that all Korean food tastes the same,” she shares.
This extends to the city’s booming café culture, which is renowned for its variety and creativity. “There are really good cafés on almost every street corner in Seoul,” Pin says. “For example, Lovin’ Her Café in Mapo-gu has a very pretty exterior adorned with flowers, which makes it a great photo spot. And if you’re a K-Pop fan, check out the cafés that celebrate different K-Pop idols’ birthdays by putting up posters and photos. These are ideal places for meeting like-minded fans.”
Of course, there’s also no shortage of fascinating places to visit in the capital. “For instance, the Hongdae area is full of youthful energy. It has the vibes of ‘you can do anything here and nobody will judge you for it’ and that feels so liberating. People are there to have a good time, and it shows!” Pin says. “There are so many shops and restaurants to choose from – you could spend a day there and not feel bored.”
Learning life skills through dance
Just like how dancers give it their all when it comes to their craft, so do Singapore Airlines’ cabin crew. “My favourite quote from a famous dancer is ‘hard work never betrays’, and it couldn’t be more true if one wants to excel in dance – or anything in life, really,” Pin muses. “Similar to how dancers spend hours on end perfecting their moves, every cabin crew works hard on each flight to deliver an exceptional customer experience, no matter how challenging the circumstances are.”
Indeed, Pin’s lifelong love for dance has enriched her service delivery. “The audience knows when the dancer is performing at anything less than 100 percent. As such, dance has taught me to always pour 200 percent into whatever I do, and I strive to bring that mindset onto each flight,” Pin says. “After all, customers can feel it when the crew on board are happy and delivering service at their best.”