KR . ENT

Fidgeting with her fingers, the idol took a deep breath before walking on set, she was nervous because this was the first live interview she did in a while. And an interview that was completely focused on her and her only, being that she’s done small interviews here and there to support the drama she’s currently in. But yet she was a little excited too, this was her chance to bring some light back onto her group hoping that Korea didn’t forget about them.

Bowing to Sungsook as she took her seat, fingers pushing strands of her hair behind her ear and hands resting on her lap. “Ah, good evening. Thanks for having me.” They exchanged greetings, a few small talk and then the questions began, the real questions that Nana mentally prepared for the best she could.

“What made you interested in becoming an artist?”  As the first question was asked, she thought hard and thought back, the answer was a little cloudy because it was so long ago that she joined. “I actually enjoyed dancing more then singing, I also wanted to better myself so I figured I would go for it, I wasn’t the greatest singer but training would fix that, and here I am today with great improvement.”

Keeping her smile and engaging in more small talk, the next question was asked. “Has it been everything you’ve wanted it to be? Is something missing?” This one was easy. “Oh it was, it was everything I ever imagined. I made such wonderful memories. The only thing missing now is another comeback.” That caused a laughter between the interviewer and interviewee.

Next question here we go. “Do you regret anything?“ “Actually, as of now, no. Because I literally am doing everything. Though my groups are on hiatus, I am focusing more on my acting which I never had time for before, and also keeping up on modeling too. If I was just an idol I would of regretting not dipping into something new. But here I am, giving it my all at every thing I do!” Nana honestly felt proud of herself for exploring more into acting, she was a model before an idol, so acting is more new for her and lots more to learn. 

“Do you you feel as if you have achieved all your goals, or do you still have a long way to go?” Another question to make her think and this one was a little more tricky. “Yes… and no. There’s always more to achieve which is what I’m working on now. I wouldn’t say it’s a long way to go either. I want to be an actress that people will instantly think of to hire, my goal is to star in many successful dramas and movies. As for my music goal… well I had my prime, but I really hope soon it’ll get kicking again. I’m afraid my musical talents will fade away if I don’t use them!” She laughed, her lips smacking together some as one leg crossed over the other.

“What is something you wish you could say to your label’s CEO?” “Please give After School and Orange Caramel a comeback. It’s been way too long.” And she left it at that. Short, simple, and to the point. And finally the last question came, the most important one of all, the one to her fans.

“What would be something you would want to say to your fans?“ “I know you guys are waiting for a comeback, I ask you to keep being patient, which I know is hard to ask, you guys been patient enough. We really want to come back to the stage again and I promise we will again soon. Please keep supporting After School and Orange Caramel and I also thank you guys for the support, its you, Play Girlz & Play Boyz that are the heart that keeps us alive. When we do come back, expect it to be better then ever. I love you guys so much, and I’m proud to have such fans as you.” Nana couldn’t help but to get a little teary eyed, her love for fans was no other as she gave them a finger heart before forming another heart over her head with her arms.

As they wrapped up the last question, the idol shook hands with Sungsook and bowed once more and to the staff as well, her smile keeping genuine. This interview really came from the heart and she enjoyed it, probably being her best interview yet. It made her leaving the place with her head held high and full of hope turning to give one last bow and wave, she said her goodbyes before exiting the room.

Current favorite artist?: Demi Lovato

Who would you like to collaborate with in the industry? I would love to collab with Dean, he’s mega talented and his voice is ear candy.

What show do you wish to be invited to? None specifically! I would honestly be happy to go to any one of them.

Celebrity you wish to be close to? Lee Minho.

First thing you do in the morning? Wash my face!

If given a vacation, where would you like to go? Italy.

Write up to three personality traits you think you have. Friendly, ambitious, honest.

What skills do you feel you lack in? One things for sure, I’m not the worlds greatest cook. Is that a skill? Even so, I suck at it. That and I lack in art too.

“What made you interested in becoming an artist? Has it been everything you’ve wanted it to be? Is something missing?”

“To be honest, I had no idea what I wanted to be at first. I always flip flopped around.” He’s quick to respond, the memories easily pulling in as he recalls his youth. “Then it hit me. One day, my parents had told me.. If I found a dream I wanted to pursue, they would help me achieve it. And it just so happened that I would become inspired by the many rappers I loved to listen to everyday. Music was everything to me. It just felt.. Right.” Eyes languidly trail from the people working behind the camera and towards the person interviewing, Lee Sungsook. “Do you regret anything?” He shifts in his seat at the question and looks up at the lights from above, a light hum resounding from his throat. There were many things he could have regretted, but he had said once long ago that he wouldn’t regret anything. Regret did nothing to help; if it’s already been done, why dwell on it even more? Sure he could regret the many mistakes he has made but he wasn’t the type. Instead, he chose to learn from it. Even if he had the chance to redo something he had done, if he had the choice, he wouldn’t take it. You learn from the mistakes you make; they’re apart of you and Hanbin was at a place in his life where he was beginning to let go of the greed and hunger the life of a celebrityl brought. As silly as it sounded to some, Hanbin was at the most, at peace with himself and with where he was in life. He was following his dreams. The only thing left was to keep going up and walking that flowery path he often spoke of.

“No, not at all to be honest. If I had been asked this question three years ago? I might have responded differently but really? There’s nothing to regret. I embrace every single thing that has happened to me. From losing back during WIN and the.. hard times I endured along with it and everything after. Why regret? Why change? It’s been with me since then and it’s helped me become who I am today. I like who I am and where I am as of now.” 

Sungsook nods, ah’s and ooh’s leaving her mouth as she flips through some papers, possibly her next set of questions as she smiles at the young idol; a look that seems to convey an understanding of the young musician. “Do you you feel as if you have achieved all your goals, or do you still have a long way to go?” She asks, eyes lifting from the paper in her hands and towards the male. “I’d like to say.. We’ve achieved some things but definitely a long way to go. It’s almost been a two years since we debuted, we feel as though we still have a lot more to reach up to.” He chuckles lightly, rubbing the back of his neck. “We still kind of have that rookie mindset, you know? It’s humbling that way. I know we recently came back with our title track ‘Love Scenario’ and we’ve achieved so much in such a short time. It’s a huge honor really, but we feel as though it’s not something we can just brag about. There’s so much we want to do that it just doesn’t feel like it’s enough just yet. What we really want is to be able to promote even more in Korea with music everyone will enjoy while still being able to have a sound and look that is unique to us. We want to interact with fans too! Give them more music to listen to. We’re not aiming for charts anymore though, though it is nice, it’s just not something we are focusing on.” 

Realizing he had spoken too much, he pauses briefly, nodding a bit as he waits a moment before continuing. “But truthfully, there’s so much more for us out there. We’ve got a long way to go before we’re satisfied and can say we’ve reached our goals.”

Sungsook nods once more, shuffling the papers in her hands as she looks over at the remaining to questions. “What is something you wish you could say to your label’s CEO? What would be something you would want to say to your fans?” Hanbin’s eyes light up at the question as he lets out a much louder laugh, almost nervous as he puts his hands together, staring straight into the camera. “Ahhh, Sajangnim. Thank you for everything. For the hard work you put us through to help shape us up to who we are today. We promise, we’ll continue to work hard and do our best!” He raises a fist in the air for emphasis, smiling proudly at the camera. “And to our beloved fans, our iKONIC. Without you? We wouldn’t be here. Because of iKONIC, we can be together. Let’s work hard and support one another, okay? Fighting!”

“And there you have it, this was iKON’s charisma leader, B.I here with us today.” Turning to face the camera now, Sungsook smiles, clapping her hands as Hanbin also follows suit, smiling to the camera as well. “Thank you for coming today, B.I-ssi, we hope to have you come back some day again. It was a real pleasure getting to know you.”

Standing up as the camera begins to pan out, the young leader walks over to his interviewer to shake hands, waving to the camera just before the recording ends.

Current favorite artist? Drake

Who would you like to collaborate with in the industry? Twice

What show do you wish to be invited to? Originally it was Knowing Bros. but since I was finally given that chance.. I just want us to do as many variety shows as we can.

Celebrity you wish to be close to? ..There’s too many

First thing you do in the morning? Check the time and sleep so more

If given a vacation, where would you like to go? Europre and /or South America

Write up to three personality traits you think you have. playful, ambitious, resilient 

What skills do you feel you lack in? I feel like I lack in a lot of things still but I’d pick cooking. Does that count? 

even after many interviews, hyuk still gets as nervous as soon as he takes the seat. from the camera, to the lights, to the stranger who’s in charge of hosting. how can he ever get comfortable in such setting? he bows politely to the host, even if he’s already greeted her when he first arrived. the introduction is the same he’s heard so many times, but as always, he doesn’t know where to look at as lee sung sook does her introduction. so he focuses his attention on her, not looking into the camera before it’s his turn to talk. another bow is made, this time for the camera. “good evening, i am artist dean, thank you for having me on entertainment weekly.” as always during interviews, while a slight nervousness transpires, his tone remains calm and poised. the first question is a basic one, one he can easily answer to. “when i was a student, my path wasn’t that at all. i became interested in the hiphop genre and it’s culture, but at first it was only a hobby, a way to evacuate my stress. it’s in that mindset i started playing around with music and before i knew it, i found something i was truly passionate about and wanted to dedicate my life to.” he explains. unlike those kids who always knew they wanted to became celebrity, his calling for music came in his teens. it’s rare that he’s asked about his expectations back then compared to his reality. his gaze drops to the floor as he thinks for a moment. “it’s been more than everything my company and i planned. since my personal goal isn’t the number of sales a song can have, i’m grateful with how well things have been.” he joins his hands together and nods his head slightly to express his gratitude. “since i do music for myself first rather than sales, i doubt i can say anything is missing… however…” he small smile stretches his lips. “i would like to have a full solo concert soon, it’s one of the things that are on my mind right now.” he nods and lets the host continue with her question. he tilts his head slightly before he answers. “rather than regretting… i wished i had acted a little bit differently in the past. a little bit more humbly. life would’ve been a bit more easier if i had back then.” he chuckles, more amused than regretful. it’s not a lie, regrets aren’t something that he really does. what is done is done and stays in the past. “of course, i still have a long way to go. i’ve only released one album of the 130 mood series so far, i still have a long way to go to be able to call this a proper series, i also want to have a solo concert as i mentioned. and even beyond that, i want to present more of my music, and as long as i will have this feeling, i will still have a long way to go.” he nods slowly. there’s still so much for him to be done in this life, unfortunately, that also includes doing his military service at some point. it has become difficult to foresee an imediate future when he’ll be able to disappear from the scene for two yours to do his citizen duty. “my label’s ceo?” he repeats after her, mouth gaping slight for a while before he chuckles. “my mind is suddenly blank” he says, amused. “my ceo… well… thank you for trusting in me and letting me have so much freedom as an artist and person.” he nods. “that’s… what i have to say.” another awkward chuckle is heard. “to my fans… first of all, thank you so much for the love you keep giving me. you are my sky and my stars, it’s only under you that i can shine, so thank you so much for your support, i hope the next album will be worth the wait.” once again, he joins his hands together and bows deeper this time. “this was all the time we had unfortunately, thank you so much dean-ssi`[…]” it’s always when he starts to get comfortable that interviews end. however, it’s still a relief to reach this moment. he thanks the host once more and the viewers too, a bit more brighter than at the beginning of the show. really, he could never get used to this.

Current favorite artist? i have many… lately i like to listen to kendrick lamar, frank ocean, childish gambino and sia a lot. 

Who would you like to collaborate with in the industry? i received opportunities to work with great people, both in south korea and america. if possible, i would like to work with lee hayi again.

What show do you wish to be invited to? a show i think that would be interesting to go to is law of the jungle even if i’m sure i wouldn’t do well over there

Celebrity you wish to be close to? i cannot think of anyone really, but if i do get the chance, i hope baek yerin and i can become comfortable together.

First thing you do in the morning? check my phone

If given a vacation, where would you like to go? anywhere is fine, i haven’t had a vacation in a while. at this point, even jeju would feel like something exotic.

Write up to three personality traits you think you have.  positive, creative, well mannered.

What skills do you feel you lack in? obviously dancing. however, if i have to talk about a skill that i use, even if i put a lot of time and efforts in every side of my performances, i feel like i could do even better to fill the stage. 

Confidence was something that Mijoo had. She wasn’t ever nervous anymore, she was just the person that took everything as it came. She had done this type of interview before, several times in fact. There would most likely be no new questions at all. They were always the same and so were her answers, usually. The only thing that truly varied over time, what she would say to people.  Today, was no different than any other day as she walked in, her hands in her jean pockets before she bowed to the interviewer and the crew around, thanking them for their time for this interview.

But of course, Mijoo, wasted no time at all as she walked over to the chair that was waiting for her and the interview Lee Sung-sook whom was sitting in the chair across from the one that she was to take.

LS: So, Mijoo-ssi, what was it that made you want to become an artist?

 “I remember the moment when I realized what exactly it was that I wanted to do with my life. I was standing on the street with my sister and my cousin and something caught my eye. I had already been accepted into Columbia University and Cornell University for Biological Science. I hadn’t gone yet because I felt like, there was something else missing in my life. Of course, if I went to college overseas, it would have been no problem. I would end up doing exactly what I wanted but it wouldn’t be something that would challenge me, take me out of my comfort zone. It wasn’t about rebelling at all, it just something new in my life that I wanted to experience. Becoming an idol, the training, the patience, the stamina were all things I wanted to do. Entertainers have so many stories that are inspiring of what they have endured just to achieve their dreams. They are especially an inspiration in general. I wanted to inspire others. I wanted to do become an entertainer to inspire and challenge myself to be within the public eye. I loved to dance, I was already on track in school, so I turned my hobby into a passion I wanted to make my passion an inspiration to all. Music is something that has always been special to me, something that could change the world, music and being an artist gives you a voice like no other voice.” Her words came clearly as they always did. Despite her lengthy response, she always wanted to give people the best of her with her replies, she wanted to give them a full picture with her words, her gestures so that they could understand her better with every response. Yes, she had an image, but she did not want her image to be the only thing that people saw in her.

LS: And has it been everything you’ve wanted it to be? Do you feel something is… perhaps, missing?

That was a question that she needed to think of how exactly she was going to word it. It wasn’t exceedingly difficult to answer, it was just—she needed to watch her wording on almost anything. “Has it been everything I’ve wanted it to be? That’s a complicated question to answer… There is not much that I could actually complain about. I think over all, time is something that I still have when it comes to being an artist and I’m sure, as time progresses, I will find what it is that I feel as if I could be missing.”

LS: Do you have any regrets at all?

She could have laughed because really—what was there to regret? Nothing that she could even speak about. “I live with no regrets. That is a motto of mine, I intend to keep such a mentality no matter what.” Mijoo regretted not being able to protect Seo Jisoo before their debut, she wanted so much to tell the truth, to be honest but she had to trust in her CEO, their management and the company in general because what was important was the group’s debut and the security of the group in general. There were some battles she couldn’t enter and come out victorious and that was one of them.

LS: And do you feel as if you’ve achieve all of your goals? Or do you feel as if you have a long way to go?

 “I know that I have a long way to go, there is no question about that. No matter what in life, you will always have goals. Life is truly something that evolved over time, so goals will always change, they will always become more than what they had originally started out to be. I do feel that I have a long way to go but I don’t view it as a long way, but more of a concept as, life is about learning and the more you learn, the more you wish to achieve and accomplish in the world.” A girl of her standard could and would easily be forgotten over time in an industry that changed every few months. She was not foolish enough to believe that she would be like this her entire life span. But—it didn’t matter. Because she knew that her goals were far from being accomplished but Mijoo—she knew that she would and could achieve them in due time.

LS: Anything you’d like to say to your CEO?

There was a bright smile that formed on her face, one that was sincere it all its power. Her head dipped into a bow in a respectful fashion before she spoke.  “Both of you have always been so understanding, you have always had your faith in us no matter what. I know that personally, sometimes, it can be very hard for you to have faith in us but we always will and do our best to never let you down. I have many thanks for your understanding, your faith and your support. I hope to one day, take the lessons I have learned from you and be able to show the world, what I have learned. Also… I would like to ask if I’m allowed to do a few duets with my friends from other companies, please?”

LS: And something to your fans?

 “Please remember to be kind to everyone. You have to be kind before you can be understanding. Smile always, because your smile could be the best part of someone’s day.” It wasn’t just to her fans, it was for anyone and everyone in the world. It was something she believed and needed to remain for all time. Peace was something she craved and the happiness of others undoubtedly.

The interview ended and from the young idol there was no sigh of relief, there was just a genuine smile that she had given to the crew and to her interviewer. She stayed as polite as she could before lifting up from her seat, bowing and waving before she exited the room. This was just another interview that she had done dozens of times. Was she bored of them? No necessarily. But did she think they mattered to some degree? Not really but was just what she thought and that’s all there was to it.

Current favorite artist? Day6 and always f(x).

Who would you like to collaborate with in the industry? Jaebum of GOT7 and Kang Seulgi of Red Velvet.

What show do you wish to be invited to? Busted!

Celebrity you wish to be close to? Oh man, I’m close to so many artists. Yeeun formerly of Wonder Girls. I have loved her solo work and her work within the Wonder Girls as a writer.

First thing you do in the morning? Wonder how I can make today better than yesterday.

If given a vacation, where would you like to go? Santorini, Greece.

PERSONALITY TRAITS: Eccentric, Intelligent,  Kind

SOMETHING YOU WANT TO IMPROVE ON: Singing.

it isn’t often that jimin does interviews on his own.

at least, interviews like this. on the usual, it’d be their leader that takes each question in stride, calm and confident, knows just what to say in the face of even the most difficult inquiries. and when it’s jimin accompanying him, which is more often than not, it’s rare that he ever even opens his mouth, whether it be by lost chances or having nothing to say, with the exception of adding onto whatever’s been said, things directed at him. laughter? easy as breathing. safe, when you’re with six other people.

today brings about a special case—that is, last minute schedule conflicts and recuperating members have left it up to him, and he hadn’t been able to say no. so it’s perfectly plausible that jimin’s a bit on edge. he sits, fidgeting with the sleeve of his sweater in the makeup chair, sejin’s low voice rolling over him from somewhere to his right. yet, despite that small comfort, there’s still the matter of the near jarring sense of loss the silence brings: no sound of play-fighting or laughter to compliment the bustle of staff. no camera shoved in his face, at least for now. today, it’s only him, and them. they’re nice, he knows, right down to the stylist that currently slathers a thick layer of bb cream over his cheekbones. the moment he’d seen him, he’d offered up an incredibly reassuring smile, and it might be the sole reason he hasn’t made any attempt to excuse himself yet. ( aside from sejin flaying him alive, anyway. )

all in all, it’s the need to prove himself and bangtan that gets him through it; he talks himself down as they guide him past the camera crew and toward a set of chairs and harsh fluorescent lights that don’t bother his eyes anymore. the host, lee sungsook, has already found her perch in one of them, and she, too, flashes him a very wide, very pink smile, looking as comfortable and dazzling as usual. he returns it with one of his own, gives her a little bow just before he settles.

“hello, i’m lee sungsook, and today, we’re here with a special guest: bangtan sonyeondan’s jimin! do you want to give everyone a welcome, jimin-ssi?”

one, two—

“…bang! tan! park jimin of bts here with entertainment weekly.” he feels himself laugh, a two-fingered heart taking place of the usual gun-caricatured greeting he’s come to know. the grin he throws to the camera is bright and damn near cheeky, and somewhere in the back of his mind, he wonders why he’d been so worried. “i hope you can all treat me well.”

“of course we will, no worries about that. now, let’s get started, shall we? on a general scale, bts has been everywhere lately, right? it’s no secret that people know all about you, but i’m sure there are fans, new and old alike, that want a more up-to-date picture. are you ready?”

“ah, that’s fair enough." as expected. "go ahead, give it all you’ve got, sungsook-ssi.”

“what made you interested in becoming an artist? was there something that got you interested, or was it just something you wanted to do on a whim?”

“i’ve always been interested in dancing.” the words spill effortlessly off the tip of his tongue. jimin’s always known what he wanted, goes for it without question. and despite how far they’ve come, he’s not the type to lose his bearings; there isn’t a chance that he’d ever forget why he’d gone for this dream in particular. always remember your roots. "back in busan, i’d gone to an arts school doing contemporary dance. i’ve always felt like i wanted to perform, there’s never a time that i didn’t enjoy it. but i remember turning on the television one day and seeing a performance by rain sunbaenim. i sat there and thought, ‘wow, i want to be like that. i want to look just as cool while doing something i love.’ of course, when i eventually talked to my teachers to see what they thought, they’d been a little against it at first. they thought i was fine just where i was.“ something tugs at the edges of his memory. he chooses to keep it to himself, a little less to do with personal matters and all to do with the amount of time they have. "i went to train anyway, and here we are now. they’re some of our biggest supporters, always have been.”

“it’s been years since your debut; you made it, but has it been everything you’ve wanted it to be? do you regret it?”

jimin blinks. the prospect of ever regretting anything thus far has him at a loss, for lack of better wording—if he’d thought, even for a moment, that he’d later give up and go back on his choices, his promises… if he really felt that he’d be unable to withstand it at some point, wouldn’t he have chosen a different path? after all the hardships that bangtan has suffered, both individually and as a whole— “regretting any of this? if you’ll allow me to be truthful with you. rather than saying i regret any of it… at first, it was hard. all of us struggled prior to becoming trainees, and even after; i think there were always thoughts of, 'maybe i just wasn’t cut out for this,’ or 'i should just quit now.’ it’s inevitable when you’re not sure where you’ll end up. people seem to think you’ll automatically do well after debut, too. what they don’t realize is that debuting doesn’t change any of it, and it doesn’t take away those thoughts, not at all.” long nights of sleeping on a cold floor and fears spoken with soft voices resurface, and for a second, he’s lost. but it’s only for a second. “i just mean to say that it’s never what anyone really expects, particularly in the beginning. but to regret it? no, i could never do that. if i can make even one person smile by being a singer, by becoming park jimin of bangtan, then that’s worth everything we’ve ever faced. i’m doing what i love for people i love, with the ones that i’m closest to in the world. i couldn’t regret that. i wouldn’t change a second of it.”

“then i’m glad you’re here with us today, jimin-ssi. with all of that in the past, bangtan’s pretty big now, aren’t you? you’ve all accomplished quite enough to say that there was a storm in america! awards, overseas tours, collaborations, even attending the billboard awards. many people know your name. with all of that underway, do you still think you have a long way to go?”

“billboard is what we’ve wanted to work toward, what our aim has always included. we just wanted to be known, and i think now, we can confidently say that we’ve done it. but i have the mindset that there’s always something to do, something to achieve, because… goals change as time passes. ultimately, i want to show every side of bangtan and have even more people love us. i want to become a group that releases something, and have people say, 'that’s definitely bangtan!’ we want to become a group that is able to do it all.”

“what is something you wish you could say to your label’s CEO?” with a laugh edging closer and closer to bubbling past his lips, he turns to the camera, lip caught between his teeth and looking for all the world like christmas has come early. “ah, hitman bang! you should already know what i’m about to say, because we’ve talked about it so many times: when will we be able to have a sub-unit? army is begging for it. we’re begging for it. you know we’ll be able to do well, so why not soon, huh? why won’t you listen?!” almost immediately, something shifts in his expression, softens even. “i know you’re watching this, so please don’t be angry with me. i’ll be serious from now on. you’ve believed in us right from the very start, haven’t you, bang pd-nim? even when things were hard, you still said that we could do it, that we’d make it. look at us now. thank you for giving me a chance… when the odds were against me. and thank you for caring for us, for pushing us to become our absolute best selves. there wouldn’t be a bangtan in the first place if it weren’t for you. i couldn’t ask for a better ceo-nim. thank you.”

“and the fans?”

“you mean the best fans in the world, right?” the smile working the corners of his lips is sweet, softer still. genuine, and vaguely, he thinks that he’s glad he had this chance. “bangtan wouldn’t have come this far if it weren’t for all of you. you’ve supported us through thick and thin, stayed by our side, and showed us so much wholehearted love that sometimes, we don’t know what to do with ourselves. you became… our strength when we thought we had none. though we’ve tried, i don’t think we could ever come close to showing you just how much we appreciate what you’ve done for us. on behalf of the rest of my members, i’d like to say thank you, our dear army, for everything. no matter when you came to know and love us, we’ll love you ten times more, and i promise, you’ll see us very soon. oh! and don’t worry so much about us. we’re fine, okay? we’re eating, and we’re healthy. no more of that. keep to your studies, worry about yourselves. when you can, make sure to watch us diligently, alright? don’t look for anyone else!”

Current favorite artist? "i’ve been trying to expand my music tastes a lot lately, but owol is the one that first comes to mind. owol, dean, and zayn.“

Who would you like to collaborate with in the industry? "it’d be really cool to work with dynamic duo. (laughs) i know rm hyung’s already worked with gaeko sunbaenim, but it’d be cool for all of us too, don’t you think?”

What show do you wish to be invited to? "i think i’d like for us to go back on running man. it was really fun last time. so long ago, but the members had fun. or maybe james corden’s show! hyung, if you ever see this, make sure you invite us back, okay?“

Celebrity you wish to be close to? "victon’s sejun! i’ve heard he’s my fan by many, and i want to become his fan, too.”

First thing you do in the morning? "first, i check social media. then i wonder why i’m awake, and after that, go back to sleep. once i’ve actually woken up, i get mad at myself that i’ve slept too late. i don't mean to, it just happens.“

If given a vacation, where would you like to go? "we’re lucky to have the chance to visit many different places while we’re touring, but the one place that i’d really like to go to would be… new york.”

PERSONALITY TRAITS: “hard-working. i’m always the first one in the practice room, and the last one to leave. practicing is very important to me. lately, though, i’ve been trying to balance it out, but old habits aren’t something you can just get rid of, right? the second one… maybe… i’m a very honest person. even if i don’t say what’s on my mind with words, you’ll probably see it on my face because i can’t control my expression when i need to most. (laughs) the last one would be—supportive? caring? or, i like helping people out when they need it. if there’s ever something i can do for anyone, i’ll do it. that’s just how i am.”

SOMETHING YOU WANT TO IMPROVE ON: “i’d like to improve in all areas. dancing, singing, and—it’s negative, but i’d like to improve my temper. gain more patience. i believe that you have to put forth effort if you want results, and i feel like i lack… in everything, in different ways. i always thought, if you don’t get the results you want, you just have to work harder. that’s all i can do, work harder and believe i’ll do better in the future.”

Current favorite artist? “LambC.”

Who would you like to collaborate with in the industry? “Kim Taeyeon, BoA, Sam Kim, Baek Ayeon, Peppertones and many, many more. I’m open to do collabs with any artist and trying out new genres.”

What show do you wish to be invited to? “Hm, probably a guest in The Return of Superman? It will be great to go in shows that include busking too, a bit like Wandering Band.”

Celebrity you wish to be close to? “Sam Kim.”

First thing you do in the morning? “Pet my adorable cats, Maro and Hina, lazily.”

If given a vacation, where would you like to go? “There are many places I wish to visit someday, but I feel like going somewhere not too far at the moment, like Jeju-do or Japan. Probably because it’s the closest places I can ask for vacations and be familiar with.”

Write up to three personality traits you think you have. “Hard-working. No doubt about that. It would be a bigger struggle if I don’t make the effort and/or do the extra mile to reach my goals. I would like to think that I’m not there yet. That I need to improve. Always. Ah! My second trait is honesty? Heh, I can be quite bold with my words, but I don’t really like lying or deceiving what I truly am or think. Rather than being honest to hurt people, I believe I am for the reason to get my feelings and thoughts through so that no misunderstandings occur later. For my third and final trait… I’ll say joyful? Smiley? I think that’s self-explanatory if you hang out with me for a few hours at least! Hehe.”

What skills do you feel you lack in? “I think it is undeniable that dancing with forever be a skill I lack in. I also have no desire to improve it. You can ask any of my old dance teachers back in Good Entertainment: I was a lost cause. Aside from the obvious, the current skills I have such as singing, playing the guitar and the piano, and songwriting, are lacking in their own ways. It’s not because we’ve acquired them that it means they are perfect. They have flaws. They will always have flaws. In order to minimize them, I practice. I practice and practice and aim for perfection. Oh! I am confident that I’m capable of writing and compose my own songs, but that confidence doesn’t link itself to how well my skills are.”

+ Include video of you performing:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTZOpBivZtM 

Seoah was familiar with the atmosphere. The staff all stood according to their roles, although a few were more nomads. It was rather chaotic, to say the least. Shouts could be heard from all over the place with murmurs if paying attention to them, not quite distinguishing the conversations everyone was having. She was even part of one, exchanging a quick greeting with the host while having last-minute retouches of her makeup.

And just like that, the chaos surrounding her vanished with a countdown, the red light of the camera no longer blinking and everyone at their distinctive place. The soloist squinted a little, blinded by the lights. Thankfully, a smile was all it took to cover her mishap.

The background was plain. White, to be exact. The host and Seoah both sat on two silver stools situated at the center of the filming set. “Hello to everyone watching Entertainment Weekly! This is your host Lee Sung Sook and I am here today with a face we’ve seen last year, but whose voice echoes through dramas’ soundtracks and collaborations in the beginning of 2018. Let us welcome Juniel!”

Her smile radiated when she bowed at the camera. “Hello everyone! I’m Juniel. It’s good to be here in Entertainment Weekly and thank you for inviting me.” A light chuckle followed her simple introduction. Even if at ease with interviews, she couldn’t deny her evident lack of social skills during those kinds of things. Written interviews would have been a better option, but it was fine. Her attitude showed otherwise. Casually brushing her long skirt and adjusting her posture, she focused on the male beside her who seemed joyful at how she still emitted an innocent vibe.

“Yes! Yes! We’re happy to have you with us today. We haven’t seen you much on screen but your voice was heard in dramas such as Beautiful Gongshim, Shopping King Louie and the most recent being I’m Not a Robot. Not only that! You’ve made a comeback last year with two songs: Last Carnival and I Drink Alone.” Seoah nodded from time to time, acknowledging the efforts of the host since he did his research. “It is correct. I’ve been steadily working on being more active. It might take a while longer, but this year’s resolution is to release more content than last year.”

“Ah~ we can’t wait to see you perform again! We do look forward to what you’ll bring us this year. Already, your collaboration with I’m-ssi is splendid!” The compliments kept coming and Seoah wasn’t sure how to react rather than murmuring a quick “Thank you” while covering her smile. She could sense it widening to an extent she deemed embarrassing to show to the public. It showed too much, she would think. “It is an exciting return. People thought you’ve retired or got married since you were inactive often, which is not true, I believe?” Lee Sung Sook seemed to wait for her answer.

A laugh was all she could muster at the rumors. Seriously, people could really come up with assumptions without foundations. “I doubt I’ll ever give up on singing. If anything, I would have made an announcement. Loud and clear.” She wouldn’t leave without a proper adieu. That would be an insult to her fans. The host nodded at her reply in all seriousness. “Of course, of course! This is how it should be done. But your determination really fascinates me, Juniel, which brings us to the first question that I have for you: what made you interested in becoming an artist?”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t say what but who actually.” Seoah’s hands fidgeted a bit. “BoA sunbaenim influenced my decision to become an artist. Seeing her perform on television had me wondered what it would be to stand on stage and it hit me. I really wanted to follow her steps.” Her confident tone took a drastic turn when she let out a nervous laugh. “Ah, but as you can tell, I didn’t exactly do the same path since dancing isn’t my forte.”

“Oh? I’m sure you can pull off some moves, no?” Her laugh erupted and echoed in the room before she even had the time to cover it with both hands. She was quick to refuse the invitation. “Okay, okay!” The host laughed as well. “I won’t ask further, but I do want to know if being an artist has been everything you’ve wanted to be? Is something missing?”

Something… missing? It took her a moment to think it through. A hum made the silence less awkward while her eyes looked around. “Not really.” Her head tilted a bit to let her hand scratch the back of her neck. “I can’t really think of another job I would love to do as much as my current one. I have aimed to become a singer since little and haven’t looked back since.”

“That’s rather bold of you. To go on a straight line really requires a lot of determination and perseverance. Haven’t you experienced any regrets? Do you regret anything?”

Her legs swayed, her demeanor still serene despite her mind trotting to formulate intelligent answers, which wasn’t a difficulty to her. It was just straining after a long day of practice and photo shoot prior to the interview. But it was with her usual smile that she continued, hiding even the slightest hint of tiredness with it.

“The regrets are rather small to what I should focus on.” The soloist replied calmly. “Of course, I would be lying if I say I didn’t have regrets. There were more related to thoughts once I’m done with practice or with a performance or when I don’t meet my own expectations. It’s more a matter of doing better. I do believe artists strive to do their best every time. It’s the same for me too.”

“With that mindset, you do prove to me and the audience at home how hardworking you are! Tell me if I’m wrong, you must have achieved many goals by now. Do you feel as if you achieved all of them, or do you still have a long way to go?”

“A long way to go, definitely.” Unlike her other answers, this one was the quickest. Her expression became serious after a small nod. “There are still many things to finish or even to begin. I don’t think I’ll be able to complete my list of goals knowing that I keep adding new ones when I achieved some. It doesn’t seem to have an end… or I’m just being greedy.” To lighten the mood, she made the last remark, chuckling softly.

The host seemed to be a good company with his laughs constantly following hers, a relief to the singer. His attention then moved to the cameraman and the director gesturing the little time left for the interview. “Ah! How time flies! It is almost time to bid farewell, but before doing that, is there something you would like to say to your CEO?”

Seoah turned to the camera abruptly. She hadn’t really stared at it since the beginning of the interview since it wasn’t natural to do that compared to having a proper discussion with the host. Grinning, she tilted her head to emphasize her adorable expression. “Let’s go eat again!”

Short and sweet, even shocking the host since it’s all about food. That didn’t stop him to continue in between bits of laughter. “And a little message to your fans?”

Her expression softened with her hands resting on her lap. “My dear Banilla, I do miss you a lot and I hope you are all doing well. Again, I’m sorry for making you wait. I hope you’ve enjoyed the last comeback even if the promotions were short. You are all still so eager to hear something new from me, right? I’ll work hard to surprise you all with great songs in the future, but for now, I hope you all like seeing me on Entertainment Weekly! I would like to thank them once more for inviting me today. See you soon!”

“Thank you to you, Juniel, for being here with us today! Hopefully, we will see each other again with new releases around the corner!”

The camera signaled them to end there since time was running out. “Goodbye!” She waved at the camera with a grin on her face while the host did the same. “And cut!” The usual shout of the director dismissed most of the staff, causing many to applaud. Seoah also clapped her hands as she stood up and bowed to everyone.