◆ Capable hoobaes (juniors) become a stimulant

Q: Even during the era where idols were ignored because of lip-syncing, Shin Hye Sung's ability to sing kept him out of the controversy isn't it. It is also because your ability is recognized that you're able to promote solo up till now. With such a significance, do you feel a sense of responsibility for the hoobae singers. 

Shin Hye Sung: Honestly, it's a really heavy burden. Of course, I'm thankful, glad and it's good, but in comparison to that, the pressure is gradually increasing. Nowadays, there are really a lot of singers who went through long periods of training before debuting and sing well and are really talented. As a sunbae, I would have to show them something wouldn't I. Because of that, I do think that I should try following recent trends. I have always only been interested in "modern rock" but I started finding that groovy music, that feels like they have a cha-cha beat to it, is cool too. On one hand, it has been a great stimulant to me. It made me not become lazy.

Q: You'll immediately be competing with your hoobaes, starting from KBS2 "Music Bank". Recently, on set, when you appeared on KBS2 "Immortal Song 2" for example, was there any hoobae that you took note of?

Shin Hye Sung: Firstly, I don't think it's a competition. I can't pick one or two teams, because nowadays everyone is really good. But, I would like to say this. Nowadays, it isn't just filled with dance singers, solo singers are well-loved too and the music market is becoming more diversified. Thats why that's my task too, with this album? I also have the desire to jump on the bandwagon.

Q: Only in this year, we get to see you through JTBC "Shinhwa Broadcast" but all these while, apart from music promotions, we rarely get to see you.

Shin Hye Sung: It wasn't on purpose. I should be appearing in the general public's eyes through various activities, either broadcast or musicals, but I can't do that. It's not that I'm trying to appear cool and be like "I'm only going to be doing music!". It's simply that I'm not good at other stuffs. Actually, releasing albums and holding concerts, preparing for them isn't easy for me too. Will it really be a help if I insisted on doing things that I'm not confident in, just because I want to grab the attention of the general public? That's what I think.

◆ What is important to me is album and concert, these two.

Q: I was happy when I heard you were appearing in KBS2 "Immortal Song 2", but it was just for one episode. It's a chance to let the seniors who don't know idols well, and also, on the other hand, the teenagers nowadays, who Shin Hye Sung is. 

Shin Hye Sung: The 2 things I'd like to continuously improve on is my album and concert. But it's not just doing only these based on my insistent, this time round, if circumstances allows for it, I hope to mainly appear on programs where I can sing, such as KBS2 "Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook". I'm worried whether I will be forgotten. I want to show how this singer called Shin Hye Sung sings. "Immortal Song 2" is a program watched by people from a wide age group but it was very pressurizing. I thought that as long as I was satisfied with my performance, it's fine even if I was disqualified before winning once, but as it drew near, it didn't turn out that way. I was also worried about what if I couldn't meet expectations. It was very tiring.

Q: Focussing only on music is something welcome but if you look back on past promotions, you did very well too even on varieties. You knew clearly what to be open about and what to close up on, just like a fox.

Shin Hye Sung: Oh~ (laughs) That isn't what it is. I'm not a fox.

Q: That's equivalent to saying you don't miss it. You handled well even in an atmosphere where everyone is mindful of each other. Whenever you received a question on your ex-girlfriend, you would say it isn't polite (to talk about them) and hence got edited out right? It was during a period where, starting with SBS "Ya Shim Man Man", programs that exposed everything were popular, but, different from the trend(?), you maintained silent.

Shin Hye Sung: I knew I would get edited out but I just let it be. (laughs) Personally, appearing on varieties alone, without the members, is really difficult. Previously, with a childish mindset, I thought that if I released an album, it'd be good if as many people as possible heard it and so I did all sorts of promotions, and at some point, variety became a vital part. But those times, if they were enjoyable and an atmosphere where everyone played together, it would be good but somehow it was a tiring time, like how thorns feel. If people enjoyed it then that's good but because it was really very tiring for me, so I slowly lost confidence. That's why people who know me long enough don't even talk about it. Because they know I wouldn't do it.

Q: Even so, it's a little easier now right? "Shin-briefer" in "Shinhwa Broadcast" is really funny.

Shin Hye Sung: It's a program that changed me greatly. But I can't arrogantly claim that "variety is easy" suddenly after doing it for slightly more than half a year. It's a difficult and high wall, what I thought of as a world different from me has become "oh? so that's not exactly it either!".

Q: There is also a side-effect to "Shinhwa Broadcast". I saw your music video this time round and suddenly I recalled your awkward acting.....(laughs)

Shin Hye Sung: Because that was the concept set. It's a character needed in a variety. (laughs) Because the members know that, outside of singing, it's difficult and embarrassing for me in other areas so they help me a lot.

Q: It's also acting when you sing on stage isn't it?

Shin Hye Sung: From a point of view, it is acting but yet, it isn't either. When singing ballads, I don't purposely make an expression because I think "I have to have such an expression". It comes out naturally as I get immersed in the song. For example, when I sing lively songs, thinking that I have to smile slightly can be a form of acting. Whether I'm singing a sorrowful or sad song, I can't purposely force an expression. I'm not a fox to that extent. (laughs)

Q: Has there been new teenage fans after your comeback?

Shin Hye Sung: As it's been a long time since we debut, our fanbase is pretty much fixed but while promoting as Shinhwa this time, there are quite a lot of student fans. It is, of course, something thankful.

Q: What have you prepared for this concert? I went to a singer's concert previously and even though it was someone I've always liked, after about 30 minutes past, I felt like it was getting draggy. Listening to similar songs for more than an hour is really.. (laughs)

Shin Hye Sung: That has always been a worry for me too. After my solo debut, when I was having my first concert, the pressure was really great. As it was all filled with ballads, I thought it was too loose so I think I went totally overboard with preparations then. Even to the extent of thinking beforehand what I should say in between songs. Because I prepared the jokes in between beforehand, so no matter what, it couldn't appear natural. These were the trial and errors initially. That's why this concert, in order not to let it become boring, we made it such that the proportion of music you listen to and music you can enjoy is about the same. On top of that, a year-end concert has to be even more exciting. You cannot welcome a new year in a low mood. Especially because I'll be counting down to 12 together, during the 31st concert. We have to start full of hope.

Q: In that case, the 31st concert, will be welcoming the new year together with Shin Hye Sung?

Shin Hye Sung: Yes, that'll be the case for those coming on the 31st. I did that last year too. That's why, for them to enjoy that feeling, I've sort of prepared a performance. (laughs)

◆ Feeling of thanks towards fans, who allows him to do what he wants to do

Q: The tickets are already sold out. If it's to the extent it was sold out in 2 minutes, that means that there are really a lot of fans isn't it.

Shin Hye Sung: That's why...it...just became like that. (laughs) What is surprising to us is, in polls for things like year-end awards ceremony, we're like number 1 too. That is really surprising. I don't know how it changed later but we went "Wow! How did that happen to us". Honestly, without the fans, we wouldn't be able to promote like that. In our case, we're doing what we like respectively isn't it. We release an album when we want to, hold a concert when we want to, it's all thanks to the fans that we're able to do what we want. How do you hold a concert if no one comes. Also, who will make an album if there's no one who will listen to it. It's the same for the rest of them too.

Q: This album, do you feel how the fan's reaction is like?

Shin Hye Sung: The album is released today but I came out without being able to observe the fans' reactions. Perhaps I only see good things, but thankfully, there are lots of good responses. What I aim for, and the thing that I don't want to lose the most, for a long time, is album and concert isn't it. Nowadays, a lot of promotions are done after releasing a single with 1-2 songs but for me, each album that I release, it's made for the people who wait and listen to it. In future, that thought wouldn't change too because that is something possible only when there are people willing to listen, of course I'm really thankful to the fans.

Q: This album, from the case to the songs, it's all fitting with December, winter. And also, from the intro, till the end, without feeling like stopping it, it keeps flowing all the way till the end.

Shin Hye Sung: That has always been my goal. Not just listening to the title song alone, but the feeling of continuation when listening from start to end. For the previous albums, I've even tried having all the songs continue one after another so that the songs wouldn't stop. Because, just like a movie or a drama, I wanted to make it such that, while giving an imagery that will not break up your focus, you would continue to the next song, even if I cannot give a storyline. I will continue to attempt that in future too. So, at some point, what made the intro or outro important was because the intro is used to give a hint on the album itself, and the outro will sum up either the feeling or thought on the album. Although the feeling or emotions will be different for each person, isn't the feeling of watching a short movie that belongs only to you better? It'll be better if you listen all the way while reading the lyrics.

Q: After listening to your explanation, I'm even more interested?

Shin Hye Sung: That was how it was during our generation. If Seo Taiji released an album, starting from the day before, we'll go and wait, and after buying it, we won't just listen to one song, but listen all the way till the end. And also, we'll look at the lyrics and study it, listen to it till we've memorised it and then listen again. I have such memories but as time passed, it became such that people selected songs and focused on the title song alone. It seemed like the emotion of listening to an album that you've been waiting for from start to finish, the feeling that belongs only to you, has largely disappeared, and that's really quite a pity. That's why no matter what, I'm working hard towards keeping that alive. Kind of like, a stubbornness that belongs to me only?

Q: Since you've spoke about Seo Taiji, there's something I remember. While listening to the album which has "I know" in it, I went to the East Sea. It was during the holidays, and I went there while listening to it on repeat. And even now, when the song is played, I'll recall of the road towards East Sea at that time. If I keep listening to this album while going around, I'll always remember Shin Hye Sung whenever it is December. (laughs)

Shin Hye Sung: Ah, that's really good. Within an experience or memory that belongs only to you, my song is in there through a good feeling. In some way, it is giving that person a memory isn't it. That is really something satisfying.

Q: It's an explanation on songs that makes my heart feels warm.

Shin Hye Sung: Yes, that, in some ways, is the picture that I and 'Shinhwa' hope for. When music or song becomes like that, that is the picture we hope for the most; even if it's not that, whether it's through variety or acting, when looking at something else, if something remains in your memory, that is the enjoyment that we can give so of course I'm happy.

Epilogue After the interview, I was able to talk to Lee Jang Eon, who is the CEO of his management company, "Live Works". "He just smiled. That is an expression of happiness." He said that was Shin Hye Sung's reaction when he was told that the tickets for the end-December concert was sold out in 2 minutes. It is something blissful to have people who can understand your heart even if you do not express it enthusiastically. Behind Shin Hye Sung, who has become much brighter and more confident, there are people who can fully motivate and believe in him. Shin Hye Sung, who can do as much of the music he wants because group 'Shinhwa' is supporting him fully, and who can sing while upholding his pride because of the trustworthy partners and fans, I am jealous of his good fortune with people.