WHAT YOU GOT!?

Do you look at GQ? Of course. Jay-Z was even on the cover once.

Jay-Z? Yes, in America… It’s the same GQ right? Wow, it’s an honor. This is the first time I’ve done a solo photoshoot. All the focus is on me. It’s nice. When I’m doing a photoshoot with the other members, there’s a lot of photos that I look bad in. I look like an MC in some of the photos. It doesn’t seem like GOT7, it’s more like GOT6. I’m just an extra. Honestly all of the members have small faces and long legs… When I stand next to them I look like a watermelon and they all look like apples.

Lies. No it’s for real. Plus I have big nostrils so that’s all you can see. It’s a complex of mine. My legs are a complex too. I’m honestly short.

You’re short? I’m short and my legs are short. That’s already two minuses. I can’t wear skinny jeans. My thighs are too big. But these days I can wear them. I lost 9kg.

Wow. When I was filming Roommate I was a little chubby. So I started to lose weight. I want to lose more but I don’t think I can. My head size stays the same but my body becomes smaller. Like a lollipop.

Three minuses? Haha yes. But I lost some weight so I wanted to show the handsome side of me. Hm… but honestly I’ve never thought that I wasn’t handsome. I’m just me. After I lost some weight, I dyed my hair blond for the first time. I’ve never even thought about going blond, it didn’t seem like me. I called Kangnam (M.I.B) hyung and told him, “Hyung, I’m dying my hair blond! Just like you”. (Laughs)

Why do you talk so fast? I always talk fast. When I’m on break from filming or on a plane, if the person next to me falls asleep I wake them up. “Hyung, don’t sleep and hear me out.” Then, the hyungs say, “Jackson I’m too tired.” It’s hard not to become close to me. I’m the type you can become close to easily. That’s not a bad thing right?

Why is that? Oh you know. Honestly I open up to people easily. So I get hurt a lot, if I’m honest. I always realize that I’m not as close to some people as I thought I was. For examplewhen I’m on a variety show, filming is really fun. I meet great hyungs and noonas, and during filming we act really close, but the next time I see them they’re like, “You worked hard~”. Even though I’m like, “Hyung! Noona!”… Then I kind of get a flashback of the memories. (Laughs) It makes me kind of sad.

Was it different in Hong Kong? Not at all. I was close to everyone in my school. I went to an international school so I had American friends in addition to Hong Kong friends. But here, well, there’s no mercy. (Laughs)

Do you want to change yourself? No. I just think to myself, other people might be uncomfortable around me. In the past I used to high five the director when I was done filming. These days I don’t do stuff like that. Those days, people would tell me, “Are you crazy? Get a hold of yourself”. When I first came to Korea, I was scolded a lot for not having manners, but these days if someone younger says something to me I always say, “You? Can you speak to your hyung like that?” (Laughs) Of all the members I seem like the most Korean now. These days even my dreams are in Korean.

That’s kind of upsetting. Are you close with other idols who are from different countries? We’re really close. Henry, Amber, Miss A noonas, Rap Monster, Bangtan Boys Namjoon, Kangnam hyung, Non Summit’s Zhang Yuan… Honestly I’m close with all of them. But like this I’ll probably get hurt again right? What if they say in interviews that they don’t know who I am when asked if they’re close to me? (Laughs)

Even though you’re so bright, what are you weak towards? I used to show my weak side to a lot of people. I’d tell them all of my troubles. “I’m sad, I’m sad because of this”. But these days I don’t reveal as much. What would I do if everyone I’m close to leaves me? I don’t know how to deal with that well, at least not yet. I think if I figure all of this out by myself I’ll be a stronger person.

That’s kind of sad. What do you hear a lot these days when you go out for drinks? I hear, “Why aren’t you on more variety shows these days?” Also, “Jackson, shouldn’t you be on a reality show? You’re more of an entertainer than an artist”.

How do you feel when you hear stuff like that? Should I have signed with Jo Seho hyung’s company? (Laughs) I don’t know. In the past I really wanted to be in hip-hop. I wanted to be someone like Usher, Chris Brown… I’m still working hard. If I keep working hard then one day it should work out.

You’re filming Cool Kiz On The Block and soon Law of the Jungle will be broadcasting. Yes. I really like entertainment shows. But people only recognize me from shows and don’t know that I’m an idol… One time I was at a restaurant and the owner told the people there to get an autograph from the gagman. But I want to still be on a really real reality show.

Is it okay if everything is revealed? It’s okay. It’s not really me to not be real. I’m sorry to the viewers if I pretend to be something else. It feels like I’m lying. I’m just me. Truthfully. It’s okay if people don’t like me. Of course. It’s not like everyone in the world is going to like me. I’m Jackson. I don’t want to go around with a mask on. If someone doesn’t like me then I’m sorry, but if someone likes me then they’ll really like me. It makes me feel stronger when people like the real me. No, it feels more dependable. (T/N: stronger and dependable sound similar)

It’s true that it makes you feel stronger. That’s right. Back when I was a fencer, I always tried to be someone else, another athlete that I liked. It took me a while but I finally learned that if you try to be someone else then you will never be as good as that someone. You have to challenge yourself, aim to beat yourself, in order to move forward. That’s what I think. I think the same way about how I moved to Korea and started in the entertainment business.

But what about comments… For first time I didn’t pay attention. I don’t know what people are saying in the comments. I don’t really know how to use Naver… People told me to check the comments now that I’ve been on variety shows. And to check the GOT7 gallery. I was always like, “I had fun with hyungs and noonas, why would I care what people say?” So I checked once, they were all, “Isn’t he going to China?, His happy trail is gross”… What’s wrong with my happy trail!

It must have been a shock. Yes. I thought, I should stop being on TV, I’ve only started but it’s already the end. It was really a shock. I thought I did something wrong. I thought about posting an apology on SNS… So I called Kwanghee (ZE:A). I told him, “Hyung I’m having a really hard time…” and he told me, “Hey! Don’t worry about people saying bad things! I’ve seen in all”. (Laughs)

You’re in charge of rap in your team. But you don’t like to diss anyone? I don’t know why people do disses. Of course in hip-hop culture the “I’m the best” feeling is a thing, but I don’t know why people have to diss… Whenever I watch Show Me The Money I’m so nervous. I’m just, ah, oh no, what does he do? Hip-hop is a diverse genre. I want to do hip-hop R&B. Hip-hop that has meaningful lyrics and is nice to listen to.

How is GOT7 doing right now? When we first debuted we came out with a hip-hop idol concept. But these days we have a boyfriend image… (Laughs) The seven of us are really close and we have great relationships with each other. I hope that a concept that everyone likes is possible.

If you wrote a wishlist right now, what would be on the top of the list? I want to be on a reality show. I want it. I’m so hungry, Starving1 Please invite me. And we GOT7 are working hard on our album.

Have you thought of a Korean name that fits you? Jaegeun. Fans typed my name fast and it came up as a typo.

It fits you. It does, doesn’t it? People always tell me I’m cute, I’m babyish, I’m 4D. But I personally think that I’m a real man. Why are you laughing at me?

We have a great saying in German when people are saying or doing something stupid:

"Herr, wirf Hirn vom Himmel!"