[trans] <GQ Korea> 2021 Feb Issue - Minho Interview
source:Â http://www.gqkorea.co.kr/2021/01/21/%eb%af%bc%ed%98%b8-%eb%9c%a8%ea%b2%81%ea%b2%8c-%eb%8b%ac%ec%95%84%ec%98%a4%eb%a5%b8-%eb%a7%88%ec%9d%8c%ec%9d%80-%ec%97%ac%ec%a0%84%ed%9e%88-%ec%a7%84%ed%96%89-%ec%a4%91%ec%9d%b4%ec%97%90%ec%9a%94/
* do not re-translate to other language.
I heard that you had a schedule until this morning, but youâre still lively.
No matter how tired I am, I feel better when I wake up and take a shower. Itâs a routine that starts my day.
Youâre confident that youâre second to none when it comes to fitness, right? I remember what you said in the past.
Itâs not pride, but I know that I have stronger fitness than others. Being full of energy is my strength too.
Besides, it hasnât been long since you got back from the Marine Corps.
Well, I think my fitness did get better. Hahaha.
There must have been so many things you wanted to do. What are you enjoying the most these days?
Iâm spending a lot of time with my family because we canât go anywhere freely. We spent Christmas and New Year together. I think itâs good because I havenât been able to do this since my debut. When I was in the army, I wanted to see my people. That feeling was the strongest.
Thatâs why you showed up to Taeminâs waiting room in the music show on the day you were discharged.
Still in my military uniform. I ran straight from Pohang. All the SHINee members gathered to support Taemin and there were staff members who have been with us for over 10 years. SHINeeâs activities felt vague like a fun, pleasant memory when I was looking back in the military, but it felt real that day. That this is the reason why weâve been together for a long time.
What do you talk about with the members?
Since weâre preparing for our album, we talk a lot about the team. About SHINeeâs directions, the things we need to show.
Are the pieces coming together?
SHINee has often made unique and new attempts in terms of music and style. Some things were derived from what we started, and some were so bold that we asked ourselves âIs it okay to do this?â. But there were prejudices that were inevitable since we are an idol group and we didnât ignore that view either. But now, our members have a consensus that we should show our music colours more clearly by playing to our artistic sides.
I agree. Can you tell me a song that represents that kind of identity by SHINee?
The title track of our 4th regular album, âViewâ, was SHINeeâs turning point. Before that, there was a strong perception that we are a group with a strong focus on performance. But we were able to show the music colours that we pursue through this song. We tried the deep house genre, which was unfamiliar to K-pop at the time. There were concerns but we achieved what we hoped. The album that contained that song has that kind of meaning itself too. Â
Other than music or performance, what do you think of as a scene that shows the group SHINee well?
Itâs hard to define âthis is usâ just by one thing because weâve been through a lot. Instead, if there was to be a documentary made about SHINee, it would be better to have members showing their true sides in the opening scene rather than showing our glorious moments. With me for example, it would show me saying what I want without hesitation. Without worrying, without caring too much about what other people think.
Do you tend to save your words?
I play pranks easily but I try not to spit out my words easily. Iâm more of a listener than a talker.
You spent your time entirely as Choi Minho at least in the army. Have you been yourself as much as you can? Or did you get to see a lot of your new sides?
Both of them coexisted. I had a lot of time to think deeply about myself. I thought about what was good and what was disappointing looking back on the past, and found a new side of myself that I didnât know about while working as Minho in SHINee. Itâs not that something has changed, but I am clearer about myself. I became clear about the things that I can be honest with others and the things that I should be careful about, and understand that what I thought as my strength could be my weakness.
In what way, did you think like that?
I thought that I am an extrovert but it turned out, when I looked deep into it, that I cared more about others than myself. I realized that other people would feel comfortable only if I am too. I was busy being considerate and I was stressed, knowingly or not, because I thought I should be that way.
Minho reminds me of a good and sincere image, but it seems like the circumstances were complicated.
Even I didnât know. I think itâs a part that I have to work on to become a better person than now. Itâs similar to the reason why I am looking forward to my 30s. Iâm curious about what parts of myself that would mature in the future.
Some words that describe Minho are âpassionâ and âtrying oneâs bestâ. When do you think the hottest time for you was?
When I debuted as SHINee, I felt like I was lacking a lot of skills because I was practicing and promoting by blindly following, so I lost confidence. But after our first concert, I was able to feel less anxious and worried. I realized that there are so many fans who support me. The only thing that I was able to think about was that I should try my best. That heated heart is still ongoing. I feel that it hasnât cooled down and has been going on so far.
What does passion mean to Minho? Does it mean that youâre greedy?
Passion and greed. I thought the two words have similar meaning in the past. I was convinced that anything would come true if I worked hard by being greedy (overly ambitious). I think I hypnotized myself because I really wanted to be that way, rather than trying to be reckless. But as I gained experience, I am able to distinguish their meanings. If passion is the attitude of trying my best in what I can do, then greed is when I question myself âCan I really do this?â and setting limits. So confidence is important. If you gain confidence, then you can boost your greed to positive energy.
Are you used to acting and promoting SHINee activities at the same time now?
At first, I thought I would be able to do it even if it was hard. But it wasnât easy like that. Itâs not easy to handle both. I donât want to let it go. This is a homework that I have to work on, rather than complaining that itâs hard or the results are disappointing.
Your first work after your discharge from the army was also acting. You guest starred in the drama âLovestruck in the Cityâ, what was your first line?
âWear thisâ. I canât forget it.
What was it like?
One of my favourite words is âfirstâ. The first time, within many experiences, sticks to your mind strongly. Your second experience is blurry. Thatâs how much it means to be the first. When I first stood in front of the camera after I was discharged from the army, if felt like I was starting anew. It wasnât a difficult scene but I was very nervous. Just like the first time I acted on the set, I vividly remember the situation, people, atmosphere, and the weather of that day.
Even the first scene you ever acted? Itâs been more than a decade.
It was a short drama, and it was a scene filmed inside a tow truck. I donât remember my lines well but the actors next to me, the busy staff outside the car window, the sunlight beating down, the appearance of the first tow truck that I rode in, all are still very clear. Even if you tell me to forget it, it will not be forgotten.
Do you remember the first compliment you heard while acting?
Well, a lot of people around me say good things to me but Iâve never thought of it as a compliment. Itâs because I think I havenât achieved anything that deserves a compliment yet. So Iâll just say that thereâs nothing I can say as my first compliment yet.
Itâs a very cool-headed and a cool answer. Then what are the things that you need to pluck up your courage in order to do it?
There are a lot of everyday things⌠Cooking. I didnât even dare to try it but I was wondering if I could try it before it was too late.
Anyway, somehow you started your social media. You revealed that you didnât feel the need for a social media in an interview. What made you change your mind?
I received so many letters from fans when I was in the army. I read every single one of them and many asked to share my everyday life on social media. I jokingly said that Iâd rather open a personal photo exhibition than having a social media, but I started one because I wanted to give a present to fans who have been waiting for me for two years. But I donât know if I can maintain it well.
Do you record your daily life as much as others do?
Not at all. Itâs what Iâm trying my best these days.
When was the profile picture on your social media taken?
When I was 3 or 4 years old. I thought about all sorts of things even with this. Like, should I upload a selfie or act cool?
