As a member of the longest-running idol group Shinhwa for the past 10 years, Kim Dongwan, who has the most flattering adjectives used on him, says this. Although nothing is certain, but I will stick to my beliefs.
We were in such a hurry during the showcase in July that we couldn't talk, and when we met for the second time we only had a short chat about things I can't remember anymore. This is the 3rd time we're meeting, and somehow it's a little awkward as I press the red record button on the recording machine. Kim Dongwan, who isn't really concerned about whether or not I record what he says, tells me that he had a good night's sleep after having a cup of Italian coffee, and flashes that bright smile of his. It's the smile of the Kim Dongwan style, that demonstrates his clear and brave approach to his life.
The Psychology of Thirty
"Cool is a feeling that you emit subconsciously. But the key is having the right people to give that feeling to. I would say that modern people who strive to be cool are really quite pitiful. I'm not criticising the concept of cool itself, but I don't think there's a need to have to strive to be cool. Especially when you head into your 30s."
Kim Dongwan has been reading Kim Hye Nam's "The Psychology of Thirty". Although all along he has been active first as a Shinhwa member, then as a solo singer, Kim Dongwan - who still gets embarrassed by the look he sported for his debut - has already been in showbiz for a decade and will be stepping into his 30s.
"Somehow 30 seems more like 24 for me. When the regular university student graduates, they head into the mad rush for jobs. I was really behaving more like 20-year-olds for the past few years. Now that I'm heading into my 30s, my friends joke around and start to call me ajosshi."
But he admits that the ajosshi image is a useful tool for him too.
"From oppa to ajosshi, it looks like the ajosshi image isn't too bad. There are many artistes who sport the princely image, and artistes like me who have the more approachable, man-on-the-street image are quite rare. In any case, I look like the man on the street, but I still think like an artiste because my 20s was spent very comfortably. That's why I'm looking forward to serving my military service as a public service officer, then I can take the subway and the bus, just like regular folks do."
I Have Secrets
When talking about his showcase, he says "The director of my management company has a huge network of contacts, that's why everyone came. He's given me a lot of opportunities and unconditional help. He's completely different from me."
"To put it nicely, it's called being diplomatic. To be more blunt, it's called two-face (laughs). Because I'm the only son, I don't really like interacting with people much. Some might say it's a defence mechanism, for me it's just having reservations. But eventually I do reach a stage where I let down my defences and open up my heart and become the approachable village ajosshi. Looks like I haven't grew out of my childhood mentality. (laughs) If it's not genuine I won't want to do it. So I belong to the type of person who can feel the views of the fans."
Standing at the summit, in the spotlight, taking in the cheers and applause from the audience, this veteran continues.
"I've been in rather high spirits recently. I shouldn't be liking Japan so much, but for me I like the Japanese appreciate the old and ancient objects. They feel that there is a spirit in everything, so everything is precious, and they would take care of their things dearly. I really like that, it seems to be telling everyone the value that things accumulate with time."
He then talks about the movie he watched not too long ago, Summer Days With Coo (Kappa No Coo To Natsuyasumi).
"Coo is a kappa (river elf) that has come to the city to look for the arm of his late father who was killed by a samurai. Before he jumped into the river he said, "To the gods of this land. Please allow me to temporarily live here on this land. Please allow me to be able to fish in this river while I'm alive." I was really touched by that scene. I became more thankful for the things in life."
Now when Kim Dongwan rides his motorcycle on the hills, he would say "To the gods of the hills, I'm sorry for making the hills so noisy." It's easy to see his character of hiding his reservations about people and drawing a clear line between work and private life.
We were in such a hurry during the showcase in July that we couldn't talk, and when we met for the second time we only had a short chat about things I can't remember anymore. This is the 3rd time we're meeting, and somehow it's a little awkward as I press the red record button on the recording machine. Kim Dongwan, who isn't really concerned about whether or not I record what he says, tells me that he had a good night's sleep after having a cup of Italian coffee, and flashes that bright smile of his. It's the smile of the Kim Dongwan style, that demonstrates his clear and brave approach to his life.
The Psychology of Thirty
"Cool is a feeling that you emit subconsciously. But the key is having the right people to give that feeling to. I would say that modern people who strive to be cool are really quite pitiful. I'm not criticising the concept of cool itself, but I don't think there's a need to have to strive to be cool. Especially when you head into your 30s."
Kim Dongwan has been reading Kim Hye Nam's "The Psychology of Thirty". Although all along he has been active first as a Shinhwa member, then as a solo singer, Kim Dongwan - who still gets embarrassed by the look he sported for his debut - has already been in showbiz for a decade and will be stepping into his 30s.
"Somehow 30 seems more like 24 for me. When the regular university student graduates, they head into the mad rush for jobs. I was really behaving more like 20-year-olds for the past few years. Now that I'm heading into my 30s, my friends joke around and start to call me ajosshi."
But he admits that the ajosshi image is a useful tool for him too.
"From oppa to ajosshi, it looks like the ajosshi image isn't too bad. There are many artistes who sport the princely image, and artistes like me who have the more approachable, man-on-the-street image are quite rare. In any case, I look like the man on the street, but I still think like an artiste because my 20s was spent very comfortably. That's why I'm looking forward to serving my military service as a public service officer, then I can take the subway and the bus, just like regular folks do."
I Have Secrets
When talking about his showcase, he says "The director of my management company has a huge network of contacts, that's why everyone came. He's given me a lot of opportunities and unconditional help. He's completely different from me."
"To put it nicely, it's called being diplomatic. To be more blunt, it's called two-face (laughs). Because I'm the only son, I don't really like interacting with people much. Some might say it's a defence mechanism, for me it's just having reservations. But eventually I do reach a stage where I let down my defences and open up my heart and become the approachable village ajosshi. Looks like I haven't grew out of my childhood mentality. (laughs) If it's not genuine I won't want to do it. So I belong to the type of person who can feel the views of the fans."
Standing at the summit, in the spotlight, taking in the cheers and applause from the audience, this veteran continues.
"I've been in rather high spirits recently. I shouldn't be liking Japan so much, but for me I like the Japanese appreciate the old and ancient objects. They feel that there is a spirit in everything, so everything is precious, and they would take care of their things dearly. I really like that, it seems to be telling everyone the value that things accumulate with time."
He then talks about the movie he watched not too long ago, Summer Days With Coo (Kappa No Coo To Natsuyasumi).
"Coo is a kappa (river elf) that has come to the city to look for the arm of his late father who was killed by a samurai. Before he jumped into the river he said, "To the gods of this land. Please allow me to temporarily live here on this land. Please allow me to be able to fish in this river while I'm alive." I was really touched by that scene. I became more thankful for the things in life."
Now when Kim Dongwan rides his motorcycle on the hills, he would say "To the gods of the hills, I'm sorry for making the hills so noisy." It's easy to see his character of hiding his reservations about people and drawing a clear line between work and private life.
He Can Still Shine Alone
If you think that Kim Dongwan can't let of the past 10 years which have been nothing short of splendid, just becuase he treasures all things old, you are wrong. "There were times when I used to think that no matter if it's right or wrong, as long as the fans like it, that's an improvement." Now he hopes that the people who attend his first solo concert are not fans of Shinhwa, but fans of Kim Dongwan instead. These are the aspirations he has for Kim Dongwan the solo artiste.
"Singers seem to be born, not made. As an actor, the director and the writers can help somehow, but a singer only has his own talents, voice and expressions to perform his song for that 4 minutes on stage."
"Although we have our management companies, and the producers, I want to go back to basics. Big Bang write their own songs too, don't they? I wasn't born with many attributes that a singer should have, but I do seem to have some natural qualities of a performer. My ability to adapt to the moment seems to be pretty good, even I'm surprised sometimes."
Scheduled to enlist in the 4th quarter of the year, he plans to make his comeback as an actor after he finishes with military service. While being active with Shinhwa, he had previously starred in the movie Spin Kick, the dramas, Children of Heaven; Goodbye Sadness; and The Person I Love.
"I do feel the significance of Shinhwa members being together, and the power that comes from it. But I still wanted to try stepping out by myself. It's every actor's dream to have all the spotlight all on himself. Acting itself is something that possesses its own charm, it doesn't matter if you're the main lead or one of the supporting characters, you can still shine from where you are."
Kim Dongwan says that once he has achieved a certain level as an actor, he will then be able to make music that he wants. Reactions from some fans who like Shinhwa's 9th album and the members' solo albums were mainly of surprise when they heard his 2nd solo album. Kim Dongwan, who is still searching for his own niche in music, says that "there are songs on the solo album that I don't like too."
His First Solo Concert
In September, Kim Dongwan will be holding his first ever solo concert in his 10 year career. Although he has been part of countless concerts before, it's still more nervewrecking to be performing his own music and telling his own stories.
"I don't think I've felt this way with Shinhwa before. It's definitely possible to be in a bad condition suddenly while being on stage alone. That's why I feel that I really need to put in a lot of effort, but at the same time I'm a little afraid."
Kim Dongwan stubbornly zooms in on every detail to make sure things move smoothly. Rather to say that he's nervous about his concert, perhaps we could say that he's feeling emotional and telling himself to be more confident.
"During Shinhwa's performances, we often encountered problems with the sound, which is really important. I've paid extra attention to breathing and voice this time round. And the segments that mimic a radio program. It's not just pure talk, but more of telling stories and getting them on stage to chat with them. Interaction is the main theme of the concert this time."
The fans will be able to hear music that Kim Dongwan likes. "The focus will shift with the music, and there might be a situation where the music I enjoy is different from what the fans enjoy." You could sense a tinge of worry through his words, but it's clear that he will present the perfect stage for his first concert, which will also be his last before enlisting for military duty.
"I think by then I will be able to have more control over my time. Not too long ago someone told me that I should make use of my time during military service to live my life the way I want to, then present a whole new side of me after that. I think my experience will become a form of power for me."
At the end of the interview, Kim Dongwan says "I'd like to live a more mosshike (this word usually means handsome/cool, but in this context I would think it means interesting) life from now on." Most people who've met Kim Dongwan knows that he often uses this word. Even if Kim Dongwan feels that his past 10 years haven't been interesting enough, there are still many people who will tell him otherwise.
Source: interpark & yoenin
Chi trans: jojoyu7@shinhwachina
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@shinhwabiz
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