(Photo courtesy of ABD (BIGHIT))

[Hanteo News = Reporter KIM YEONWOO] “My savior who came to ruin my life.” It is a phrase often used by fans to describe their feelings toward their favorite idols. There are times when content featuring a favorite artist seems far more appealing than studying. But what if that very idol became a teacher, personally reading literature from school textbooks aloud? With just one month remaining until the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), a new initiative that brings literature to students through the voices of K-POP idols is drawing attention.

The audio learning series ‘Literature From Textbooks, Read by Idols,’ jointly planned by the Ministry of Education and EBS, features a variety of K-POP artists, including SEOHEE and SEOYEON of HYBE’s rookie girl group TUIDE, as well as H1-KEY, JEONG SEWOON, Xdinary Heroes, ONEUS, and 82MAJOR. In the series, the artists read aloud and share their thoughts on 30 major literary works featured in high school literature textbooks, including poems, novels, and essays. Rather than simply explaining the meaning of each work, the content incorporates the artists’ voices and personal experiences to make textbook literature feel more approachable.

TUIDE, one of the groups participating in the project, is the first girl group introduced by ABD, a new label under HYBE. The seven-member multinational group includes SEOHEE and SEOYEON and officially debuted on August 24 with ‘SUN KISS,’ the title track of its 1st mini album ‘TUNE & PLAY.’ Having connected with audiences through music and performances, TUIDE is now sharing its voices and perspectives in a new field: literature.
 

Bringing Personal Experiences Into Textbook Poetry

What stands out about this project is that the artists do more than simply read literary works. They connect their interpretations to their own personal experiences.

SEOHEE reads ‘Spring Day’ by poet KIM GITAEK. Drawing on her hobby of capturing everyday moments with a vintage digital camera, she connects her personal experience to the poem and shares how new meaning can be discovered even in scenes that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her personal habit of observing and documenting everyday life meets the poet’s delicate perspective.

SEOYEON introduces ‘To Each Other’ by poet MOON TAEJUN, a work that explores the dual nature of relationships, in which people can offer one another strength while sometimes causing hurt. Drawing on her experience of making beaded rings as gifts for her fellow members, SEOYEON reflects on the meaning of human relationships and connections.

By relating the poem’s potentially abstract message to her own everyday life, she also encourages listeners to consider how the work connects to their personal experiences.
 

Rookie Idols Expand Their Activities Beyond the Stage

For idols in the early stages of their careers, opportunities to connect with the public extend beyond music and performances to variety shows, short-form videos, and other content. TUIDE’s participation in this project adds another point of connection through literary readings and personal interpretations.

It also offers an opportunity for the members to reveal more than the charm they showcase through singing and dancing, allowing audiences to discover their perspectives on literary works and their attitudes toward everyday life.

Being a fan and studying are sometimes seen as opposing activities. The assumption is that time spent listening to a favorite artist’s music or watching their content takes away from time that could be devoted to studying.

However, when a favorite idol personally reads a literary work and shares their thoughts on it, fandom can become more than a distraction. It can serve as motivation to explore something new. A poem that once seemed difficult may feel much more approachable when heard in the voice of a beloved artist, potentially inspiring listeners to seek out and read the original work themselves.

Of course, listening to an idol read literature does not automatically deepen understanding or guarantee educational benefits. What matters is whether the content sparks genuine curiosity about the literary work itself. If listeners use an artist’s interpretation as a starting point to explore the poem’s language and meaning independently, audio learning content can become a bridge between fandom and education.
 

Literature in Your Favorite Idol’s Voice: Could It Open a New Door?

For students preparing for the CSAT, hearing the voice of a favorite K-POP idol may mean more than simply enjoying another piece of content. At the end of an exhausting day, a familiar voice delivering a few meaningful words can offer a moment to catch their breath and find the strength to keep going. Sometimes, the comfort that comes from a few quiet words means more than any grand gesture of encouragement.

Literature from textbooks, too, can take on new meaning when delivered through someone’s voice. A poem once analyzed solely to answer exam questions may instead evoke personal memories and emotions, allowing students to find comfort in its words.

If a favorite artist can become a teacher who helps with studying, and literature can offer words to lean on, being a fan and being a student do not necessarily have to be at odds.

The 2027 CSAT is scheduled for November 19. For students focused on their final preparations, what they need may not be limited to more hours at their desks, but also moments to care for their exhausted minds.

Beyond offering a fresh way to encounter literature from textbooks, TUIDE’s new endeavor may provide a small source of comfort and encouragement for students working toward the CSAT.


yeonwoo38@hanteo.com