천사의 얼굴

Tomato: It'll be Valentine's Day soon. Some people think Valentine's Day is too commercial, while some say to just enjoy it as a holiday. What do you, the members of K-POP think?

Yoobin: Leaving the commercial part behind, I like receiving lots of chocolate. I don't have any qualms about that.

Joomin: Well, I don't like how it started because a foreign chocolate company wanted to make money. Plus, overseas there's nothing else like it, and so it's not very welcoming to see us in Korea celebrate it like some big festival. But I think the idea of giving women a chance to confess their feelings first is novel!

Youngwon: Valentine's Day, too, is one of many holidays. Having holidays provides an energy in life, and waiting for one feels good too. So, I think it'd be good to set the commerciality behind and just enjoy it.

Tomato: K-POP must've received many chocolate gifts on Valentine's, so who do you think has received the most?

Yoobin: Woohyun!

Tomato: Then, what was your most memorable Valentine's Day, Woohyun?

Woohyun: A girl gave me a bunch chocolates in a red, match box-sized container, and the pieces were arranged into a heart. It was so pretty. That's my most memorable Valentine's.

Tomato: What about the other members?

Yoobin: When I was a high school freshman, a girl gave her all putting chocolates into a glass cup and gave it to me. That day, I was with a relative, and I was bringing it to show them when I broke it. Pieces of glass got stuck in the chocolate, so I had no choice but to throw it away.

That girl's friend lived below us, and she saw me throw away the chocolate and told her. The girl thought I threw it away because I didn't like her, and after that she never even pretended to notice me. ㅠ.ㅠ

I really didn't mean to. I want to take this opportunity to say sorry to her.

Donghwa: When I was in high school, I received a "teddy bear chocolate".

Tomato: Teddy bear chocolate? What's that?

Donghwa: Someone took out all of the stuffing inside a teddy bear and filled it with chocolate, then put a zipper on it and gifted it to me.

Tomato: That's quite brutal, isn't it?

Donghwa: That person said they wanted to give a memorable present, even if the method was a bit cruel.

Tomato: Well, they succeeded—it definitely was memorable to you.

Joomin: One girl gave me my favorite fish jerky and various chocolates in a big box she made herself. I liked the fish jerky even more than the chocolate~

Youngwon: I can't forget when my elementary school sweetheart gifted me chocolate that cost 300 won. It was a small present, but since it was given to me by someone I liked it's more memorable than anything else.

Tomato: Then, what if a woman you don't like gives you chocolates and asks you to go out with her?

Joomin: It'd be fine if she was just giving me chocolate, but if she wanted to date me I'd have to talk to her well. I've had that happen to me before, and so I talked to her and sent her off.

Yoobin: I'd receive the chocolate and then gently talk it out, because I feel like I'd have to appreciate her sincerity.

Tomato: But wouldn't that be leading her on?

Yoobin: Is that so? Still, I have to eat the chocolate she gave to me for her~

Tomato: Lastly, what gifts do you want to receive this Valentine's?

Woohyun: I haven't had anything specific in mind. Just a necklace or ring would be nice. I like accessories like that.

Yoobin: I haven't thought of anything either. Yoobin just wants to receive our fans' love~

Joomin: That's such a fake comment. I want expensive presents~ Just kidding... I think being loved would be the most precious gift of all, too.

What if a woman mistook you for a pervert on the subway and hit you?

Yoomin: I'll answer back with "You touched me first!"

Hwansung: I'd get more angry at her, saying that she knew what she was doing. I think I'd be really mad if I got hit even though I didn't do anything.

Sunghoon: I think like Hwansung, I'd get mad, too. Not all men are perverts, so it'd be really frustrating if she thought I was one.

What if you rode the elevator with a woman, but a malfunction stuck you two alone?

Yoomin: I'll comfort the woman first, and then find a way to escape.

Hwansung: If she's older than me, I'll find a solution with her, and if she's Sunghoon: I'd need to find a way to get out. I think if I even just stare at her without reason, the girl will be scared.

What if you were doing your business (?) in a swimming pool bathroom and were about to leave, but there was only one roll of toilet paper left? 

Yoomin: First off, I'd raise my swim trunks a little and leave. After making sure my skin and swimwear don't touch, I'll find toilet paper and finish my business (?).

Hwansung: That could never happen to me. I always check if there's toilet paper before going if. If there isn't any, I never go in.

Sunghoon: I could never just put on my pants and leave. I'd just sit and wait until someone comes.

What if you fell for a woman from the back and followed her, but when you talked to her she was actually ugly?

Yoomin: I'd say, "I thought you were someone I knew. Sorry", and leave quickly. You'd just get more embarrassed if you stand still for a long time.

Hwansung: I'd do the same as Yoomin. I'll apologize for being mistaken and run away.

Sunghoon: I'd pretend to ask for directions and disappear to where the person said like nothing had happened.

What if a stranger hit you on the head pretending to know you?

Yoomin: The hit would hurt, but if the person was bulky, I'd say "Ah, yes", and pretend to know them.

Hwansung: I'd ask back, "Do you know me?", say I don't know them, and leave hastily.

Sunghoon: I think I'd ask who they are and confirm with them if they were someone with no connection to me. If I don't know them, I'd just say sorry and leave

What if you sang your best on stage, but when you finished the crowd was still?

Yoomin: I think I'd be really caught off guard if this happened for real. I'd leave as fast as a bullet and shake off the awkwardness.

Hwansung: I think the best thing to do would be to leave without saying anything. You can't say "please clap" to an emotionless audience.

Sunghoon: I think the same way. If that happens, the best thing to do is to leave for the next singer. If you stay there, there's even a chance that you'll get booed.

You slept on the bus, and when you woke up it was the last stop. What would you do if you had no money and there were no buses or subways running?

Yoomin: I'd have to marathon to my house. If I spend the night running, my house'll show up someday.

Hwansung: I'd have no choice but to start by walking, and if a car passes by I'd tell them my situation and hitch my way home.

Sunghoon: I'd first get a taxi and ride home, then wake up my family and give the driver his money.

What if a fan came up to you for your signature, but they get the signature of another member right next to you?

Yoomin: Really, this happens more than you'd think. Once, someone approached me at a concert and told me to give something to someone else. It's very awkward whenever that happens, but I just have to pass it by.

Hwansung: I think I'd just stand there with an awkward smile. I can't say anything to the fan or something, so I'd just have to stare in the distance.

Sunghoon: I'd leave immediately if something as awkward as that happened. I can't stand being embarrassment.

On a blind date, how would you deal with a person that you don't like but who likes you?

Yoomin: I think I'd tell them I have to go since it's my birthday, then ride a cab and disappear.

Hwansung: I won't give them a chance to talk to me, and run away after tell them I have another appointment.

won't give them a chance to talk to me

Sunghoon: If I don't like someone, I'll tell them I don't like them. I don't want to pretend I like someone even though I don't or avoid them by lying.

What would you do if you woke up as a middle-aged man?

Yoomin: I'd have to find the reason first. If I had wished to a vending machine like in the movie "Big", I'd find the machine and ask it to change me back to normal.

Hwansung: I think I would be rather bewildered at first, but calm myself down and find a job. I need a job to eat and live, so I need to find one before anything else. Then, I'd think about all the other complicated aspects.

Hwansung, Sunghoon, and Yoomin, the three rascals of NRG, have finally finished working on their 3rd album and plan to have their comeback stage on the 30th. As soon as they arrived at the studio, the three started complaining about how they didn't get any sleep. Come to think of it, their former energetic selves had disappeared, and seeing them weak and lifeless even evoked a slight feeling of sympathy. With the two oldest members, Sungjin and Myunghoon, gone, their thoughts after wrapping up production for their 3rd album can't help but be unique.

"I feel relieved, but also disappointed. When we were working on the album, I was tired and wanted things to end quickly, but now that it's over I feel something's missing. Compared to our first two, it was harder without the two older members, but since I've done this before I think I was able to work on it more comfortably." (Hwansung)

"I'm worried at the thought of releasing the album to our fans. I feel obligated to show an upgrade from before. Since we worked hard, I think the results will be good." (Sunghoon)

"This time around, I did a lot of rapping, and I paid much more attention to my pronunciation than before. We all worked harder than ever for the older members' absences to not show. So, fans, feel free to anticipate a lot." (Yoomin)

Not just that, but Yoomin and Sunghoon, who recently celebrated their 19th birthdays, had to spend them in the recording studio in order to produce the album.

"This year, I didn't even get to eat seaweed soup.[1] Working on the album made me dead tired, so I didn't have time to spare to celebrate my birthday. But I'm thankful that many fans sent me kitty plushies, poetry books, and food." (Yoomin)

"When I woke up in the morning, it was pitch dark outside. I must've been tired because I had been recording until late the previous night. Though I might not have had a birthday party, it's fortunate that I was able to finish work on the 3rd album without a hitch. My birthday will come again next year, but production on this album will only happen once." (Sunghoon)

While they were so busy they couldn't even celebrate their birthdays, the thing that NRG struggled with the most was sleep deprivation. They recorded until dawn, then as soon as they woke up the next day, they practiced their dance and recorded again... Having spent months of their lives on recordings and dance practice, NRG have their hopes up for this album as it is their first after reorganizing.

The track all of the members have affection for on this 10-song album is "Salvation", composed by Chun Myunghoon. It is a crossover hip-hop song with critique of the world and a message of salvation from it. The title track will be chosen between "Salvation" and "Face", which was written by Shin Yeong-jeong and composed by Lee Jeong-hoon, and they plan to show a powerful dance that is distinctly their own and a clean but "techno" image.

NRG await their comeback on October 30. Let's anticipate that this album will be their most NRG-like album, and pay attention to the activities of the 2nd NRG as a group recognized for their skills.

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Translator's notes:

On the evening of the 22nd, Lee Hyundo makes an international call in tears

"Is it true that Daehyun died?"

"Is it true that Daehyun oppa died in a car accident? People say it was on the news this morning."

Early in the morning of March 22, R.ef fans sent the TV Times office phone into flames. A week before, a rumor that Seong Daehyun had died had peeked its head through, but today the phone exploded with calls. PC communication must have been swept up by the rumor.

Another funny happening! The same evening, Lee Hyundo, who was in LA, called sounding close to tears, "Is it true that Jeongsik (Daehyun) died?". It was Chae Rina, who was staying close to Hyundo, who ran crying and delivered the news.

To get to the point, R.ef finished their last recording at 6 P.M., March 22nd, and soon after went to Kimpo Airport, where at 8:30 A.M. they rode a plane to Singapore and arrived safely at their destination. As soon as they took out their travel gear, they notified their company that they had landed safely - they plan to return to Korea on March 27.

Recording lasted until 6 P.M. before leaving to Singapore

Park Chulwoo wore a mask due to his swollen throat

2 A.M., March 22, at the Paju King Records recording studio just hours before leaving to Singapore. Opening the studio door, Sung Daehyun, the man of the hour, was alive, but a little haggard on account of staying up late.

"Staying up all this week has made me out of my head."

The other members are the same. It felt bad to even talk to Park Chulwoo, who wore a mask because his throat was swollen, or Lee Sungwook, whose nerves were frayed having to finish recording on the day of departure.

Nearing the final stretch, they pulled a week-long all-nighter, and even worked intensively on the day they were set to leave for Singapore. Due to this, production on the album is almost finished; the rest—mixing, mastering, and jazz session playing for one song—are technical processes that will be handled in America, with R.ef not directly participating.

The final touches will be finished in America by Kim Gukhyeon, an engineer who participated in the production of Seo Taiji and Boys' 4th album, and their producer Choi Minhyeok. It will take place in Ocean Tower Studio, a spot Kim Gukhyeon found, located in the vicinity of LA.

11 songs themed on love, with rave as the main genre

Gathered an orchestra and the world's top artists

As the D-day of R.ef's second album, to release around the middle of April, approaches, its secrets are being unraveled one by one, drawing curiosity. As its title, Back to the Black, implies, the album's songs seek a "return to retro". To bring a new feel to the retro sound new generations are unfamiliar with, a sound designer—a position new to general audiences—was appointed into their team for the first time in Korea. Additionally, to differentiate the album from the digital music of other dance groups, producers scoured American instrument stores for analog instruments that they would work with.

As expected of the group that first introduced the genre to Korea, R.ef's second album is composed of various types of rave music. About five rave tracks are included on the 11-track album.

"In order to strengthen the color of R.ef's unique rave music, we made unique attempts, like adding orchestral instrumentation or metal guitars. It'll probably sound new."

One of this album's other features is the diverse range of genres, such as US house, hip hop, jazz, techno, and pop ballads, aside from the 5 rave songs. For the jazz song in particular, itself a hard feat for a dance group, more work will be put into it than the title track. While in America, the country's top notch jazz artists will be hired to participate in session recordings; Michael Miller, a famous jazz guitarist famous for his work with Chuck Korea, has already been scouted. They plan to invest generously in scouting A-class musicians.

One song composed by Lee Sungwook, 2-3 written by Sung Daehyun

Choreo and outfits will be prepared at their return to Korea, on March 27

A song composed by Lee Sungwook will be included in this album, which will show how much the group have grown musically. Lyrics will be written by Hong Jaesun, Lee Yongmin, and Sung Daehyun, who all wrote for R.ef's debut, as well as the rising star lyricist Kang Eunkyung. Sung Daehyun wrote lyrics for 4 songs, two to three of which are being considered for the album.

This album's main theme is "love". It includes stories about lovers, self-love, love for a departed partner, and things one would want to say while parting with a lover.

Aside from "Brilliant Love", which serves as a part two to "Heartbreak" off their debut, the rest of the tracklist has not been decided on—only the title of the song "Forbidden U-Turn", composed by Lee Sungwook. Kang Eunkyung wrote the lyrics off of Lee's idea, and it reportedly contains autobiographical lyrics about how he chose to become a singer.

"I can't say that we're a new group—it'd be more accurate to say we've been apart."

Just as the rumors said, Koo Junyeop and Kang Wonrae, who are so in sync it's like they're one singer, have formed a group and are preparing an album. Koo Junyup, all too known from Tak2Jun2, and Kang Wonrae, who brought fun to Park Mikyung's "Eve's Warning" performances as her partner, are already well-known dance machines. No, now it would be right to call them rappers.

"Solo singers can adapt easily to stages on TV shows, but it's hard for groups to coordinate. We can say we're sure we've overcome that difficulty. We're especially proud of our skill in improvised performances."

The two, whose goal is to hear that "they were born with the mission to revitalize dance music," are highly confident in their music.

Proud of their skill of improvised performances

Their group name hasn't been set yet. They plan to release their album in early May. The reason they're being revealed to the world so early is to publicize themselves after they've gotten all the fame they can get.

Koo and Kang's team-up can't be ignored. Their characters can't be something the music industry wouldn't worry about. Furthermore, with their album releasing under Line Production, they've become part of the "royal family" alongside Shin Seunghun, Noise, and Park Mikyung. Fans already know that Kang Wonrae was in Line, but Koo Junyup first came in about 1 year ago. An art school alum, Koo also designed the album covers of his peers. The covers he's designed include Park Mikyung's 2nd album, Kim Gunmo's 3rd album, DJ DOC's 2nd album, and Kim Jungmin's 2nd album. These were all hit albums, but they also drew attention for their unique designs. Kang Wonrae choreographed for all of the "Line family", including Kim Gunmo. Their chronicle of star-related stories is never ending.

The two first met in high school, both attending Gyeonggi High. Although they only became classmates in senior year, they both majored art in college.

While Koo Junyup never loses when it comes to dance, Kang Wonrae has a longer history with the art. To borrow Koo Junyup's words, he's "amazing." Kang first decided he would become a dancer in 6th grade. He picked dance up while his older brother researched through watching TV, and made his brother, who now works as an interior designer, quit dance.

Let's tell an interesting story about Kang Wonrae's family. This story also appeared on a TV quiz show last year.

"Kang Wonrae's older brother is named Kang Wondo. What is his younger sister's name?" (Someone answered "Kang Wonsoong"[1] and got suspected of having an IQ lower than 50. It definitely wasn't a TV Times reporter.)

The answer is Kang Wonmi. Kang Wonrae's father, who recently retired from his position as director of a car company, really loved music. Kang Wondo, Kang Wonrae, Kang Wonmi. The answer clears itself up if you take "Won" out from their names. Doremi. But because he couldn't find a Chinese character with the sound "re", he changed it to "rae". Surprisingly, not many get the answer right.

Want to be received as "cool dance music"

The new style that Koo and Kang profess is dance music that incorporates Miami rap. They're thinking of taking a casual approach without too many bells and whistles. As for their outfits, they're planning to go for a free style. Definitely no uniforms. The group's lyrics are close to "wholesome music,"[2] and their music has an exciting, cumbia-style rhythm.

There is a song in their album, though not the title track, that starts with "the frog can't remember when he was a tadpole, the loach muddies the clear water." It was made to show off Kang and Koo's individual colors. Kim Chang-hwan, known as a hit-maker, directed the whole album. Kang Wonrae and Koo Junyup explained their music with one sentence:

"I think rather than just being good songs, it will be received as 'cool dance music'."

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Translator's notes (marked with small-script numbers in the text)

Wonsoong = short for "wonsoongi (원숭이)", the Korean word for "monkey".

Hamo Hamo, who've proven popular mainly in downtown Seoul, are quickly gaining fans with "Papillon (His Headache Was Freedom)," a classic Miami bass dance track with a bright and easy melody. Behind Hamo Hamo's popularity is the knowledge that Sobangcha's Jung Wonkwan and Kim Taehyung have gained from their many years as singers. Jung and Kim had already set their eyes on former Solid backup dancer Chun Myunghoon; through an audition, they chose the beautifully voiced Lee Sungjin and put their heart into making Hamo Hamo the second Sobangcha.

The name Hamo Hamo was one Jung and Kim had once used while active as DJs, meaning "that's right" in Gyeongsang-do dialect. Chun Myunghoon explained that it's a Korean word which is easy to remember and has a positive meaning, so it also sounds good to the ear. Thanks to their group name, the number of fans in cities such as Daegu and Busan in the Gyeongsang-do Province is skyrocketing, already inaugurating their line of support.

Lee Sungjin, the group's lead singer, had experience as a vocalist in high school and has a bright and cheerful personality. But he says that because his expression grows serious whenever he thinks deeply about something, people sometimes misread him as angry.

Chun Myunghoon, with his excellent dancing and rough-voiced rap, is a recognized dancer to the point where he's received offers to become a full-time singer since his Solid backdancer days. He's responsible for the choreography of their title track "Papillon," including the so-called "dog dance" and the "beggar dance," which playfully combines the motions of asking for food and hitting the back of one's hand. The group's dances strive for uniqueness, so that anyone can tell at a glance that it's Hamo Hamo's choreography.

Lee and Chun, who've both acted in dramas, say that they prefer being the main attraction as singers over being extras. In their debut album, which many hitmakers such as Yoon Ilsang, Joo Younghoon, and Yoo Jeongyeon have contributed to, contains a varied repertoire that's been diligently prepared over the course of a year. Aside from "Papillon," the title track, the Hamo Hamo members strongly recommend "Pang Pang," whose production American arranger Mark Davis helped with; they say they were ecstatic when they first received the song. "Silver Line," which depicts a happening at a ski resort, and "No, Already," a club remake of the Kim Changwan song which adds a quirky rap, are also acclaimed among club DJs and candidates for the follow-up track.

Kim Hwansung

The eardrum rupture incident

Hwansung was born in Gwangju, South Jeolla on February 14, 1981, as the youngest child among one sister. In the 20 years he's lived, he's had many shocking things happen to him. Out of those, the most memorable incident to him is the time his eardrums split. He's gotten surgery and can now hear normally, but we almost couldn't have had the singer Kim Hwansung. Now, let's reveal the whole story. Hwansung's least favorite TV show is Korean Ghost Stories.

Hwansung's hate for the show started when he was about 3 or 4 years old. He and his family were sitting in front of the TV, watching Korean Ghost Stories as usual. He might have been especially scared then, or a frightening ghost might have appeared, but young Hwansung was so surprised that, in a frenzy, his eardrums ruptured. His family turned upside down over their one and only son, and they sent him to the hospital to get a big surgery. Of course, since this was when he was young, Hwansung says he doesn't remember much. But when he imagines what happened, he thinks it must have been horrible.

The youngest runaway (?)

At first glance, Hwansung looks like a model student, but in fact he has himself a distinguished past (?). He ran away from home in his fifth grade of elementary school.

Hwansung was a diligent student ever since he was young, and starting from 2nd grade he received private tutoring. But since he was spending time studying when one would usually play about, he realized he wanted to romp around like his friends. Eventually, his extra classes stressed him out so much that he decided to run away. Hwansung wanted most to visit an amusement park and enjoy the rides, so he gathered some money and aimlessly rode the rides. But it promptly got dark, and Hwansung realized he didn't have a place to sleep. After a while of hesitation, he called his mother and finally returned home after four hours. He says that he was quite immature thinking about it now, but that it was fun and not an entirely bad memory. Who knows—maybe Hwansung might be Korea's youngest runaway.

Memories of his first love

Hwansung first caught the love bug in 2nd grade. He first encountered his first love 11 years back from now. She was named Kim Pyoseon and had long, tied up hair and black eyes. Maybe because her name was quite unique, he still remembers it now. The girl, whose whole face including her eyes was round, was the president of Hwansung's class and even sat next to him in class. She completely stole Hwansung's heart, but Hwansung couldn't figure out how she felt about him. Then, one day, there was a test. Hwansung was struggling with a question when she helped him cheat. The two ended up being caught by the teacher, but through that incident Hwansung grew certain that she liked him. After that, Hwansung made many precious memories with her until she eventually left his life. Even now, his heart warms when he thinks of her.

Moon Sunghoon

His first exam

Sunghoon was born on October 15, 1980 in California, as the middle child out of three brothers. Before he was born, his mom dreamt that she was on a trip—but inside her bag was not travel gear, but a stunningly beautiful gem. Soon after, Sunghoon was born.

The first time he took a test after moving to Korea was in 3rd grade, but his Korean was so weak the letters on the paper merely seemed like pitch black ink. It was then that a student behind him explained the answers to every question, and so he ended up achieving a good grade. He says that if a chance comes where he can reunite with that student, he'd like to thank them.

His day of humiliation

Sunghoon was his school's vice president in elementary school. There was one day where all the students would gather in one room and have to talk. The day prior, Sunghoon had written down what he was going to say, prepared by memorizing and practicing his pronunciation, and then went to sleep.

He might have practiced too hard—he slept in late, and rushing to school he forgot the paper on which he had written his speech. When he stepped on the platform, about to say his piece, his mind drew a blank. His peers laughed as his face reddened and the room fell silent; caught in a rough spot, Sunghoon ended up butting his head on the microphone while trying to introduce himself. The kids couldn't stop laughing, and that day became the most humiliating of his life.

What happened on field day

Sunghoon was was a major joker when he was young, to the point where he'd play until his body gave out. In his first year of middle school, he broke his legs while tightrope walking after the rope broke, and in his third year he had to wear a cast after breaking an arm in a car accident. On field day, there was a relay match between classes, and Sunghoon got picked as the first runner.  Deciding he'd have to foul if only for his class, he grabbed the baton with his bandaged arm and outran the other class's students to first place. The moment he was supposed to hand the baton over, the baton fell from his hands, and Sunghoon's class ended up at last place. He says because of this he got into the class's bad books.

Noh Yoomin

A bloody fight with his brother?

Yoomin was born on November 12, 1980, as the middle child among three boys. Before he was born, his mom dreamt that she saw tens of snakes piled up at a rock while hiking up a mountain; that was her conception dream.

Yoomin grew up in a wild (?) environment, on account of only having brothers. Broken bones and nosebleeds from fighting twelve times a day with his younger brother were child's play. One time while having fun with his younger brother, Yoomin hit his brother because he wasn't listening to him. But on the sight of blood surging from his crying brother's mouth, he was caught off guard and hid in his room. Yoomin says that eventually, his dad found out he had broken his brother's tooth, which got him a massive scolding.

The transfer student who sat next to him

Yoomin's most memorable seatmate was a kid who transferred to his school in 6th grade. Holding the hand of the teacher as they sent off the day as usual was a pale-faced, wide-eyed kid of small stature. He couldn't help but be stunned at her pretty looks, so when the girl happened to sit next to Yoomin he mentally cheered "woo-hoo!". He says from that day on he spent more time looking in the mirror to look good for her. He was quiet and well-behaved and stood up for her if anyone was unkind, though he says it's a shame that they graduated without any outstanding incidents. But recently he met the girl again—she was as pretty and kind as ever, and for the few days he attended that class reunion his heart fluttered.

I hate running the most!

Go Kyeongmin, Lee Dongwook, Kim Youngae, and Kim Youngran are the stylists who transformed H.O.T. from regular high-schoolers into stars with their own, cartoonish characters. Their coordination emphasized boosting the five members' individual characteristics as much as possible.

As H.O.T.'s main target audience is teenagers, the stylists emphasized points that match up with cartoon characters, and made the members into varied "character goods" in line with stationery's popularity among youth. The members were mainly styled in pastel-colored hip hop fashion to give off a playful image. Kangta was refined into a character resembling the manga Slam Dunk's main character in order to set him off in the eyes of teenage fans. Moon Heejun originally had a tough image, but thanks to the stylists' work he was reborn as a cute, comical character.

With Lee Jaewon, who's the most popular among young girl fans, the stylists emphasized his pure pretty boy concept. In their coordination, they've highlighted characteristics such as his white skin and reserved nature. On the flip-side, Jang Woohyuk's coordination accentuates a rebellious image. This is also why he is made to cover his face with a bucket hat—to express this rebellious spirit. With Tony, they've taken into consideration that he is Korean-American and have given him an intellectual image. Taking advantage of his carefree and playful personality, his outfits have been kept as freestyle as possible.

Jeon Jin-guk speaks about H.O.T. / KBS Variety Production Department

Offers 'peer awareness' to teens - has every talent a star needs

Moon Heejun / Kissing? I don't know that stuff yet

A. My contact information. I can't share that information because so many fans camp at our dorm around the clock.

B. I live life thankful of every part of myself because this is the body my parents gave me.

C. I'm still a minor, why should I have had a kiss?

D. That's a delicate matter. I do have one, but it's definitely not Song Jina from Young Turks Club.[1]

E. Strangely enough, my body gets all sweaty after I dance to Candy.

Kangta / The "short legs" teasing gets to me

A. I have a mole on my lower abdomen.

B.  My short legs. Because of this, my peers keep on teasing me by calling me "short legs".

C. With my elementary school seatmate. It wasn't a kiss, just a peck.

D. Kim Jaok. Her smile on stage left an impression on me. I think she's like a princess.[2]

E. When I pick my socks wrong, things tend not to go well.

Jang Woohyuk / Out of celebrities, I like Kim Jaok nuna

A. I have a significant goal I have to make reality no matter what, but I feel like if I say it here people will sneer at me, so I won't. In the future, I'll be reborn as an "all-purpose entertainer".

B. "Ugly Complex". When Young Turks Club sing that song, I feel I can relate to it.

C. How can I reveal that in such a public space like this?

D. I like Kim Jaok too. I like princesses, and that glare she just happened to shoot in the waiting room once was no joke.

E. When I have nightmares, good things always happen, and when I have good dreams strange things happen.

Tony An / I have many surprising secrets, but I can't tell

A. It's obvious not to tell secrets. I do have lots of surprising secrets, but I'll reveal them one by one later.

B. That I'm not good-looking. I should've at least looked like Brad Pitt...

C. I haven't had one in Korea as of yet. As for in America, I'll leave that as no! comment.

D. Kangta. He has a cool, sexy gaze. Please don't take this in the wrong way.

E. I get unbearably cold in the winter, and since I sweat more than usual in the summer it's hard to live.

Lee Jaewon / Insecure of his "scrawny long-legs" physique

A. I look reserved on the outside, but with my friends I'm a real big talker.

B. My small build. I'm a tall 180 centimeters but only weight 59 kilograms, so I feel from now on I've got to eat a lot and gain some weight.

C. I'm 17 years old right now. If I had a kiss I would've been kicked out of school.

D. Insooni sunbaenim. I'd like to be like her, who's steadily active even in her forties, and be a singer who'll be long remembered.

E. If I don't go out wearing shoes, I feel weird all day.

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Translator's notes (marked with small-script numbers in the text)

Song Jina and Moon Heejun had a very persistent dating rumor in their respective groups' early days.

In a single day, over 1,000 fan letters rush to their company's office. They're the sole group where posts related to them gather explosive amounts views on PC communication networks like HiTEL, Chollian, and Nownuri. They've dominated the net to the point where finding posts about other celebrities is near-impossible. Not only is their every move both on-stage and off shared, but rumors and guesses about the group are prevalent too. A fanclub on PC communication fanclub "Oh Bang Jang Gun" meticulously provides news about H.O.T. and also serves the role of leading public opinion.

There were a few instances where Seo Taiji and Boys released new music after eight to nine months of silence and livened up PC communication, but H.O.T. are the first singers since them to integrate themselves into the public view. H.O.T. are also setting audience attendance records for public live broadcasts and events. Not just in Seoul, but also in other districts are H.O.T. gathering audiences ranging from 500 to over 1,000 people, even though they lack an official fanclub. During the MBC Starry Night public broadcasts last December that toured Korea's major cities, H.O.T.'s popularity was unrivaled. Particularly at the Daegu stop, H.O.T. fans flocking in roves waiting for the group's appearance led to two deaths and a number of injuries. Upon hearing the news, H.O.T. had to cancel the performance and hurry back to Seoul.

Damin Planning is the company in charge of H.O.T's portrait rights. The company says that "H.O.T. postcards and posters are so short on supply we can't sell enough of them." Companies that focus on celebrity portrait rights like Wi Productions, Star Focus, and Pudaim are operating in large numbers domestically. These companies produce merchandise targeted towards primary and middle schoolers like postcards and posters, and according to them H.O.T.-related products sell three to four times as much as the few top class solo singers. 

In the commercial industry, advertisers are picking H.O.T. as their "number 1 target." Offers are piling up from over 20-30 companies, and the group have already received down payments of $150 to $250 million won from companies they've signed with. Their appearance fees have been reaching the sky.

"Candy" is dominating the charts of the big 3 TV stations' music programs, and it's the same on music-focused cable channels like KMTV, M.net, and Downtown. It doesn't seem like there's anything in the music industry that can stop H.O.T.'s rise.

[Dance & Music]

Comical motions, "double hammer dance" fever

A sweet, melodic change to their singing style

The boys of H.O.T. have reigned the streets as famous dancers since high school—it's no wonder their choreography is nothing short of extravagant. The members have 5 at least to 9 years of experience at most, and they favor hip hop dance the most.

Right after their debut, H.O.T. offered a stunning performance in the form of "Warrior's Descendants", whose choreography contains 3-4 high level techniques. A hip-hop based group dance with many twisting movements, the main point then was the "fan dance." The five members would dance using isolating motions, then suddenly fall down and spin on their knees. Next was Jang Woohyuk's "eagle dance", a type of electric boogie (in which one follows the beat with slow movements). The movement, like the spread out wings of an eagle, conveys a tremendous strength.

In the follow-up track, "Candy", Moon Heejun presented the "power racer", while Jang Woohyuk presented the "hammer dance"—the key point is the "double hammer dance", which Heejun and Woohyuk perform together. A creative "needle dance" (imitating the motion of being shot by a needle) also shows up here and then. The comical hammer-hit movements that seem to recoil to the person next to them, which match the song's cute mood, have also been key factors in H.O.T.'s rise to popularity. Back in "Warrior's Descendants", H.O.T hit our ears with a unique assortment of raps—Tony's nasally English rap, Kangta's so called "Jeong Joo-young style" twangy rap, and Jang Woohyuk's rock-style shouting built variety and tension. But unlike "Warrior's Descendants", which stood out for its intensity, "Candy" puts softness above everything else. As Kangta and Moon Heejun lead vocally, all of the members contribute to the vocals and rapping, building a solid harmony.

[Fashion]

A flashy, candy-colored pastel style

Mittens and overalls trending big

The promotions of "Warrior's Descendants" had all 5 members wear the same hip hop-inspired, black-colored street fashion. But with "Candy", the group's made a change by using colorful palettes.

This "candy fashion" has recently gotten popular with the young generation, and is the newest fashion item selling like hotcakes.

When a star is born, it's natural for their hairstyle, fashion, and every little move to start a trend. Moon Heejun's sun cap and the mittens and overalls H.O.T. wear have boomed in popularity, thus creating the name "candy fashion" or "H.O.T. fashion."

Like the name implies, "candy fashion" puts candy colors, i.e. bright and cute pastels like pink, orange, and chartreuse on artificial mink to give a soft, comforting feel. The jumpers worn by the group are mostly popular with girls, probably on account of their colorful hues. But individual items like Moon Heejun's sun cap, Jang Woohyuk's bucket hat, Kangta's bag, as well as all five members' oversized mittens, are in with teens regardless of gender.

H.O.T.'s fashion items can be seen from shops in Shinchon, Dongsung-dong, and Myeong-dong, all the way to handcarts, with names like "the Jang Woohyuk hat" or "the Moon Heejun hat". "The doll-shaped claw pins on Jang Woo-hyuk's hat aren't being sold just on hats, but also as stand-alone hair pins," says a shopkeeper in Sinchon, explaining the H.O.T. boom in street fashion, "and hairbands imitating the duck shape on Moon Heejun's sun cap are also popular."

These items differ in price depending on the area and shop, but their cheap costs, ranging from ₩3,000 to ₩15,000 won, make them more tempting for youths to buy. It's also a trend amongst schoolgirls to tie their with colorful rubber bands, imitating Lee Jaewon's babyish and slightly dowdy hairstyle, and the color painting on all 5 members' faces is seeing explosive popularity in ski resorts.  clothing, items, and style are trending en masse, giving a brilliant color to the previously grey winter streets.

Stylist Go Kyeong-min speaks about H.O.T

Every member has a clear-cut image

They can pull off any style of clothing

H.O.T.'s biggest strength is their members' fair, bright skin. Accordingly, they look good no matter what color they wear, from dark blacks to brilliant primary shades. The members aren't all the most handsome faces, but their baby faces and distinct images make them able to pull off even the most unconventional styles. Lee Jaewon's "fountain hair" or Moon Heejun's sun-cap, for instance, may look old-fashioned, but it accentuates their cuteness and gives them each a strong impression. Kangta wasn't given any special accents due to his clean-cut, manhwa character-like image, but that serves to differentiate him from the other members.

Their unique, individual impressions and styles that allow them to try experimental fashions make me say as a stylist that they're the perfect models.

[Their debut process]

Members scouted through newspaper and magazine ads

1 year of "free housing" while practicing choreography

H.O.T. are the idol stars of the future, born from the thorough, perfectionist calculation of their production team. The music industry, too, has now reached the stage where commercial strategies need to be planned through precise market research. One can see H.O.T. as a "character product" created with that marketability in mind. Jeong Haeik, SM Entertainment's head manager, formed a dance group in snatches of time while managing the R&B singer Yoo Youngjin.

"I planned it to be a five member group from the start. There were already many duos and trios in the music scene. I did think of making a quartet, but thinking about the group's on-stage appearance, I figured a five member ensemble would look the most cool and balanced."

Jeong started by printing recruitment ads in newspapers and magazines. The first members he scouted were Moon Heejun and Kangta. It's said that the two most popular of H.O.T. immediately caught Jung's interest. The next member to be chosen was Jang Woohyuk, who won over 700 people to become the 3rd H.O.T. member.

Feeling the need to add a member who can rap in English, Jeong printed an ad in a Korean-American magazine in LA. The two people who passed by sending in their pictures and documents were Tony Ahn and Lee Sunho. Lee Sunho was a middle school senior at the time, and his parents refused to let him join the group, so he quit and only Tony was added. Lastly, Lee Jaewon's scouting completed the framework for H.O.T. Tony, who lived in America, trained by watching videos he was mailed of the other members dancing, and in June he came to Seoul, officialy becoming a member.

The only members without living places in Seoul were the Korean-American Tony and the Gumi resident Jang Woohyuk. Jeong Haeik accommodated the two with meals and lodging in a boarding in Bangbae-dong. Ever since then, Jeong Haeik has done Woohyuk and Tony's laundry and made their food.