Kim Jae Duc, former Sechskies member and currently part of J-Walk, was discharged from military service yesterday, and Andy (along with others in the same unit) were there to send him back… to civilization :p
Andy looks looks well rested now. I am happy for him!
see pictures for credits
source: Absolut Shinhwa
Working on his solo album during his spare time in the midst of military duty
Returning as a hip-hop warrior upon his discharge from the army
’6 months to go, gearing up for his comeback!
Shinhwa member and actor Eric (real name: Mun Jung Hyuk) has 6 months to go before finishing his military duty as a public service officer, and at the same time, is gearing up for his return to showbiz activities. Recently, he has been working hard day and night.
A rep of Eric’s, while sharing Eric’s recent updates, said on the 20th that Eric will be discharged from military service at the end of the year and that everyone is looking forward to his return. What’s most striking about Eric’s comeback plan is that he will not only be continuing with acting projects, but he will only be showing off his abilities as a solo artist. The rep said, “These days, he makes use of his time off after work to work on his solo album.”
He added that since Eric takes care of rapping in Shinhwa, “his first solo album will have a very strong hip-hop feel” and that “he’s working very hard to show everyone a different side of Eric.”
While working on his album, Eric is also in discussion over his comeback acting project. The rep said that with 6 months to go, “TV dramas, movies, there are a variety of options open to him. The fans will see him in an acting project upon his discharge from the army.”
Eric is currently serving as a public service officer and was last seen in the 2008 KBS drama ‘Strongest Chil Woo’ before enlisting for military service in October of the same year.
Credits: Sports Donga + Absolut Shinhwa
According to a music industry insider, Eric – who’s currently serving his military duty – makes time after work to write the rap lyrics and feature on the upcoming debut track of newcomer female duo Honey Dew, titled ‘바보 같아’ (‘Like A Fool’).
The reason why Eric has taken time to participate in Honey Dew’s debut track is because being in the same company, he has seen the girls’ hard work for the past 2 years. Moreover, Eric himself recognizes their potential and thus decided to feature on the track. Eric has already completed the recording for his part.
The two members of Honey Dew are 21-year-old Kim Yi Seul and 20-year-old Jo Yeong Jin. Their debut track will be a ballad titled ‘Like A Fool’ and the duo is expected to debut in May.
Credits: bntnews + Absolut Shinhwa
Director: Anand Tucker
Singer Junjin’s management company Open World Entertainment has stated on 9th April that they intend to sue Blue Rose Project, the business operations partner for Junjin’s fashion brand Bigenchilada, for fraud.Jang Suk Woo, the representative from Open World, said that the company had signed a joint agreement in January 2009 to co-operate and co-promote Junjin’s fashion brand but even til now the company has nothing to show for the business, thus their decision to file a suit.
He added, “Since his Shanghai concert in February 2009, Junjin had been meeting reporters to promote the fashion label, promotional clips were also played at his concerts, and he also took part in events such as the Dongdaemun fashion show. He had also invested 30 million KRW (approx USD27,000) in the shopping mall project undertaken by Blue Rose Project.”
“We have put in our utmost efforts into launching the brand, but for the past year Blue Rose Project just kept on telling us work is in progress. In the end, to the local and foreign press, they think that Junjin and the management company – who are not involved in the business operations – have been lying. We will definitely hold them answerable for this.”
Credits: Nocut News + Absolut Shinhwa
“Handsome Suit” is a Japanese movie that revolves around the unattractive Takuro who is the chef and owner of a restaurant. He confesses his love to a beautiful part-time worker but she turns him down and quits. However, Takuro later finds a magical suit that transforms him into a good-looking model.
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If I like you only because of your appearance, would you be happy?
I like people who see the real me.
From ‘Handsome Suit’
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Woohoo! Learnt another one!
Credits: Dongwan’s Naver blog + Absolut Shinhwa
Did you have a theme or concept in mind for this original Japanese album {Find voice in song}?
– First of all, besides expressing my usual distinct style, I tried to mix ‘the style of J-POP that the Japanese find easy to listen to’ and my own style, because this is the first album to be released in Japan. The music anyone can easily listen to is my theme or concept.
For example..what is your own distinct style?
– Difficult question (laughs).. Umm..in Korea I have been a ballad singer so K-pop is what I call my own style. As much as I am the popular singer accepted by Korean people, I also will be one who will be accepted by Japanese people.
What did you want to express in this album?
– As a singer.. I am not perfect yet.. Naturally I want to let everyone know that I have put in a lot of hard work and effort, and also my sincere heart.
In singing, what are you most careful about and what is the challenge you face as a vocalist?
– I was afraid of being thought as {the singer who is poor at Japanese and singing with strange pronunciation} so.. I was most careful about that. I tried practising my pronunciation many times and making my style, voice and vocalization closer to J-pop.
I see… what is the most difficult Japanese pronunciation for you?
– I have some. {Tsu} is difficult. {Hitotsu (One)} or {tsuyoku (strongly)} are difficult (laughs). {Taisetsu (important)} is difficult too. (laughs)
What is the most memorable song in this album for you? Why?
– The first song {Niji no mukou}. This is the title song but it was very difficult to sing and to express my feelings. At first I didn’t think of using it as the title song but the staff eagerly recommended it.. I listened to it repeatedly and then I found it easy to be accepted by Japanese people, even though I was a little puzzled since it is not close to my usual ballads and difficult for me. Thus it became the title song. I had different images of this song when I listened to it before and after. That’s why it is a very memorable song.
As for lyrics, what is your favorite song?
– {Kotoba ni dekinai}. I thought the Japanese lyrics are poetic and wonderful. The first phrase {Mitsumeau jikannno nami ga teno aidakara
koboreteku..} is very poetic and I like the content of the whole song.
Tell me about the memorable and unforgettable thing for you during recording?
- Nothing but difficult!(laughs) It took a lot of time to complete each song because I concentrated on my Japanese pronunciation and emotion. It is as if I had almost fallen down in each recording. That is my most memorable episode.
Well, compare this album to a color. Why that color?
– White. It is the color representing the beginning and from now on I will paint over the white with my color..so..it is white.
You have visited Japan many times. What is your favorite thing in Japan (place, food, climate.. Japan as a whole)?
– I have come to Tokyo many times. Feeling easy and comfortable. I have visited Sapporo to film a PV before. It has beautiful snowy scenery and there are many places to see. I have good memories of the place. I like almost all of the Japanese food. Now I like the Japanese word {kimi (you=k-de)} best (laughs).
Do you have anything you are addicted to now in your private life?
– I have no time to be addicted to anything.. I’ve been busy preparing for this album, recording, the showcase etc… If I have to say.. I’m addicted to this album (laughs).
{SHIN HYESUNG collection~} was released at the same time as well. Tell me about the album and your most memorable song?
– That is literally my best album. You will know my growth if you listen to this because it has most of my songs including my debut song as a solo artist. My most memorable song is.. my debut song {Same Thought}. It’s very meaningful and special to me.
Lastly, give a message to your fans.
– Thank you for always supporting me despite my flaws and for giving me lots of love. I have released my solo album in Japan. This was made with a lot of time. I will be happy if as many people as possible listen to this album. From now on I will do my best to give you wonderful music. Thank you very much.
Credits: Forever HS
Translation: Sakura@Absolut Shinhwa
Source credit: Absolut Shinhwa
ㅋㅋㅋㅋIt wasn’t like this when I took the photo with my handphone ㅎㅎㅎ My expression…..ㅋㅋ
Credits: Junjin’s Cyworld page + Absolut Shinhwa
A fan congratulated Shinhwa on their 12th anniversary, Tony Ahn said that he only realised it when Andy received a lot of letters and packages on that day.
A fan was worried about whether Andy is having a hard time in the army, Tony said that Andy adapted really quickly and is very hardworking.
Tony said that he had to ask Andy to fill in for him on his radio show the last time as he wasn’t feeling well, and he’s very grateful to Andy for it. Andy said that he was really nervous because it was his first time, so he made a lot of mistakes, and he was really embarrassed about it. Tony said that that was inevitable since it was his first time hosting a live radio show, and he didn’t have time to prepare his script so it was fine. He added that that although the listeners may think it’s easy, but it’s really difficult to keep talking for 2 hours.
Andy said that he has already been assigned to the Defense Media Agency for 6 weeks, but he hasn’t really felt that he’s in the army because the people who work with him are people he often meets at the TV stations, and living together with everyone reminds him of the time when the Shinhwa members lived together in the dormitory.
Then they started to talk about how Andy was the victim of a hidden camera prank on his first day, Andy said he was really scared then. That day, Andy waited for a long time before the rest of his colleagues returned from the night shift in a bad mood. The sergeant said that since it was Andy’s first day, he had to do an introductory report to everyone. At that time, Andy didn’t know what to do and was very nervous because there were people he didn’t know, and had to introduce himself 3 times. After that Sergeant Yang Dong Geun told him to perform and Andy couldn’t think of what to perform even after thinking for 1 minute. Everyone looked really angry and Andy didn’t dare to try to be funny. Tony then asked him if he knew why everyone was in such a bad mood, and Andy replied that everyone must be cold and tired from work. In the end Andy did the heart dance for 5 minutes, and everyone maintained a stern expression throughout. Even when he found out that it was a prank, he was still a little afraid and upset when he recalled their expressions.
Then someone said that at the 5th March concert he was seated next to a screaming Andy fan, and asked Andy how he felt when he saw his fans for the first time since he enlisted. Andy replied, he was very moved, and that everyday during the 5 weeks of training he had been reading the letters sent by the fans, now he values his fans even more than ever. Tony then added that there will be more performances like this to come.
A Tony fan said that Andy’s image on WGM left a really deep impression on her. She then asked Andy which female celebrity would be suitable for Tony if he were to be on the show. Andy said that Tony’s a nice guy and he’s romantic, so any girl would do fine. Tony said that he saw the more domestic side of Andy on the show. Andy said that when they were all still living in the US, Tony often cooked for him and sang for him too, and he had learnt a lot from Tony. Tony then said that back when they were both still in high school in the US, they both had dreams of becoming singers and practiced a lot together, and they were so close that they could enter each other’s home at will, and that he can recall the times when the both of them, plus Eric, were studying in the US.
Another fan mentioned that Andy and Tony really have a lot of similarities, from the time they were both in the US until now when they’re both in the same unit. They’ve both started their own companies and groomed newcomers. Andy said that it’s really tough being a producer and that he still has lots to learn. He added that he can only do well if there is mutual trust between him and the juniors. He also said that he himself, as well as Tony, both had some unhappiness with their management company back then, but now that they have to manage their own artistes, they realize how difficult it is to manage the relationship between the artistes and the company.
A fan asked Andy if anyone has visited him lately. Andy said that 24th March was Shinhwa’s 12th anniversary, and he called Eric the next day. Eric said that the 5 members turned up at the entrance of Andy’s camp on 24th March and held hands as they prayed for Andy and said ‘Fighting’. Andy said he didn’t believe a word that Eric said, because the members were all so busy. Tony added that the members of Shinhwa are all very 4-dimensional to begin with, so that could be possible.
Another fan asked Andy what he wanted to say to the Shinhwa members. Andy said that he hopes that everyone will visit him more often. He said that only Eric answers when he makes collect calls from his camp, so it will be nice if the other members can answer his calls too. Everyone doesn’t recognize the number so they don’t answer his calls.
Andy said that he doesn’t usually get to spend much time with Tony, but even so Tony has taught him a lot, so it’s a blessing that he has managed to meet Tony in the same army unit.
Then Tony asked Andy, among all the colleagues such as Boom, who has been the nicest to him. Andy said that everyone has been really nice to him and has taught him a lot. Recently new juniors just entered the unit, and he has also prepared presents for them.
A fan asked Andy whether he has forgotten what he said at the 10th anniversary concert about practicing late every night for the 15th anniversary concert. Andy said it’s for the 14th anniversary concert, and that he has to sleep at 10pm, so it’s difficult to practice late into the night. Moreover, he gets sleepy after eating dinner.
Another fan asked Andy who does he wish to see the most? He said that he hoped to have his parents visit, and that he’s glad to know that his parents’ health are better. He added that he doesn’t actually have that much time to think about things like that in the army.
Credits: AndyTheWorld + Absolut Shinhwa
my personal favorite is this picture
credits : Absolut Shinhwa
