I interviewed for the KCON talent relations internship at CJ ENM. The interview was conducted by 2 staff members working on the Los Angeles and New York conventions. I have been following Hallyu for many years now, so I tried my best to convey how my work experiences and long-term interest in K-Pop/K-Dramas/K-Beauty would align with KCON's values and deliverables. The questions themselves were straightforward, but I immediately felt the lack of enthusiasm even before I answered the first question. The interviewers' apathy remained throughout the session regardless of the quality of my answers. I discussed my interview with some other (non-CJ) peers after the interview, and they said it was probably because 1) I did not speak Korean and/or 2) I was overqualified (I was a manager in another industry but have previous experience in talent relations). Unfortunately, this is not the first time I have been treated coldly when interviewing for a Korean entertainment company (the other company I interviewed with does not have a Glassdoor page). I understand how important Korean speakers are to these roles due to the nature of the work, but why waste my time and yours if you did not think I was a good fit? Did they already have someone in mind and interviewed me as a formality? I will not disclose my ethnicity, but is it because I am not 100% East Asian? Does this qualify as xenophobia? I have yet to receive my rejection letter, but I have already accepted another job opportunity. Depending on the artists and speakers who come to KCON this year, I will still consider going again because I always discover something new and meet other fans. However, I will continue doing what I do every year: buying nosebleeds for the concert and maintaining low expectations. I genuinely hope this did not come off as bitter. I am just speaking my truth. I still follow Hallyu culture, but I will not stand for what felt like an unpleasant–bordering hostile–experience for me.