#sm!tv

a small bow at the older man and he finally takes his seat. jongin was informed about the said interview since a week ago. in which he agreed to, knowing it is the right time for him to connect with his fans again. adjusting his position, he rubs his hands together when the whole thing is about to start. 

❛ hello everyone, this is exo kai and it’s a pleasure to finally meet again. please be kind to me. ❜ the interview begins and just like that jongin eases his way to almost everything thrown at him before finally, he heard those questions. quietly sorting his words inside his head with sharp gaze focused on the interviewer, there’s a small pause before he brushes his silver bangs away from his face. admittedly, jongin was quite taken a back but there’s a different kind of sternness in his eyes.

❛ plenty of times i have ╾ i’ve danced since i was young and the reason why i dance is because i enjoy it. regardless of how fun something is, won’t i receive stress if i discover something that lack or i’m not satisfied? won’t i think about what would’ve happened if i’m unable to dance? what if i’m stuck in wheel chair forever? these questions stay inside my head and i try to always think everything in a positive light.. to make a hole to escape from burden now and then. still, there won’t be any reason for me to stop dancing. ❜ jongin notices the weight of his gaze on him and he feels the corners of his mouth curving up almost without his permission.

 ❛ i’m the type that can’t stand doing something that isn’t fun. dancing isn’t something that only makes me happy, so dancing might not be fun when i’m 27 years old. if that does happen.. i think i’ll boldly let it go. but since i was 8 years old, i’ve received as much stress as i’ve felt happiness to this point.. from the injuries, risks, fear, everything. seeing how i haven’t quit dancing yet i think i’ll keep doing it.❜ he's pretty pleased with himself, really. living above your demons isn’t something easy, in fact, he’s still struggling with it. but jongin knows what he’s doing. this is his dream, he’s not going anywhere but move forward.

❛ left to themselves. it’s true that things tends to go from bad to worse. when that time comes, i’d let it go. even if it’s hard, like everyone else i have to move on. even if it takes years for me to do so, just like everything in life, things will pass. i tend to have a lot of tears but ╾ life is life.  ❜  jongin cocks his head and raises his brows, gaze casting down briefly before he has his eyes back on him.  ❛ like this, i’m not someone who’s comfortable speaking about how i feel. i get embarrassed doing this kind of interview ╾ but slowly, i learn to adjust. i grow from my old self and become this new person who’s still learning through experiences. what i’m saying is.. you can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analyzing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've, would've happened... or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move on. i’d like to think that, there’s always a way out. even when it seems there’s none, nothing is impossible. ❜ 

Another exchange was given between him and the interviewer in front of him with a small conversation of itself asking how he was and his current mood. When they cued it was time to commence the questions that were aligned for today’s broadcast, he gave his brightest smile, brushing the sudden nervousness that had seated in his stomach earlier away. 

“Unsurprisingly, the debut of EXO’s sub unit: EXO-CBX has swept the charts and racked up 4 million plus view in the matter of only 3 days and has been met with netizen approval. As a member of EXO, you must be use to this reception right? Unfortunately this same reception has been the total opposite when it comes to  your small screen acting debut on ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’. In the drama, viewers criticized you for your tone, expression and overall acting skills or lack of. Although episode 16 has been met with a much lighter response, many, fans and casual viewers alike, still believe it was a mistake for you to take on a drama. Do you agree with this belief? How have these comments, both positive and negative, affected your acting? Have you considered pulling away from acting to focus solely on singing or have these comments encouraged you to work harder and improve gradually?”

Head nodding and lips pursed, he listened to every word, his thoughts already teaming with answers but.. poorly put together answers and he gave a long hum, forming words and emotions into proper sentences. After a moment or so had passed, his eyes looked up at the ceiling before blinking at the man, keeping his sincere smile as he replied, “I can only say and express my gratitude to our amazing EXO-L’s who have yet to fail us with their strong support and love. As a member of EXO, I can’t deny that we’ve received a lot of reception and feedback overall for our work, however, winning as a subunit had a different vibe than winning as a whole group! Ah- not that that’s bad at all! It just felt weirder and obviously smaller promoting as a three-member group rather than nine.”

The next question required a longer thinking time, his smile not faltering because of the question itself rather, he couldn’t really bring himself to smile like a dork for the entire duration of this interview and also seeing it as unfitting to be smiling brightly at a more serious question. Fingers tapping against his lap, Baekhyun gave another long hum, a habit he’s picked up before answering questions and nodded his head slowly. “I think... As members of an audience, it is one of their free duties to watch and not only praise but criticize good acting and bad acting. Scarlet Heart Ryeo was my first drama that I was able to participate in~ Ah..I’ve made a lot of close friends from there, particularly with Lee Joon-gi hyung. He’s taught me so much about acting while we were shooting together and I’m so grateful for him... I believe that within the span of 16 episodes you can definitely see improvement in my acting.” Baekhyun suddenly gave an awkward laugh, cheeks flushing hotly as he brought his hands to his face in an attempt to cool them down. “I was a bit stiff in the beginning, I’ll admit- It’s so different being in front of the camera instead of behind it or watching the product of the film.” He smiled as some staff members in the back nodded their head in some agreement and he shook his head in another small fit of laughter before dying down, fixing his posture as if to say that he was done goofing around. 

“I did read comments while episodes were still being aired.. A lot of them were geared towards me and my performance ability. Although I’m sure most were harsh to hurt and bring my moral down, it did nothing but boost my heart to try harder~ I think what would have made a lot of new actors insecure and scared of the audience made me stronger. I took every comment, criticism, and jeers to heart and thought. I didn’t see them as extra weight of burden to keep on my shoulders of expectation, I saw them as ways to improve myself. To bring a better me to camera whenever I am given the opportunity to act again.”

He took a break from his long answer, embarrassingly asking the interviewer if he could repeat any questions he had forgotten to answer and laughed loudly when told he had skipped a big portion. Baekhyun thanked the interviewer after he was told again and felt a bit surprised by the overwhelming questions about his acting. He shook his head in disagreement after a second passed by and pursed his lips, suddenly very serious with his tone. “I don’t believe that it was a mistake. I’m not sure if anyone watching is aware... but acting itself is a true talent and it takes a lot of practice and chances to perfect. Being able to practice and work with people who’ve dedicated their lives to acting was, I believe, a great way for me to experience and learn what it’s actually like one on one.”

Greetings, it seemed. Saying it back only to add to the bow he had given the man before him, Jongdae sported a fond smile while finally telling himself to just lay low and relax as he was there. After all, nothing bad would happen to him. Shifting his eyes down, the interviewer pronounced his own words in regards to the first question, giving it a little intro before he could slide into the real issue.

“With the debut of EXO’s sub unit: EXO-CBX, you have been repeatedly praised for your  vocal prowess and acknowledged greatly for how efficiently you were able to pull off the concept alongside your group mates. Do you feel that being placed within this smaller unit has helped you gain more recognition for your talent?” The male asked.

Carefully listening to what he had questioned, Jongdae curled his fingers together, playing some with the fabric of his shirt before he could go into forming words himself. It was surely amazing to hear other people talk about how he had been praised with his vocal ability, especially with the debut of EXO’s first sub-unit: EXO-CBX. He was definitely thankful, but above all blessed, to have been given the opportunity to be apart of this unit the company made real. Even though the concept was slightly different from whatever EXO was put into, the critics in regards to it whether it’d be the outfits, the melody or even the choreography, everything seemed to be positive ever since the day they had debut, reaching and All Kill status, right on the first day. Taking all these details in mind, a curve installed itself within his lips as they soon enough formed a smile, eyes brightening all of the sudden. “Thank you so much.” He mumbled, curving his back some for yet another bow to simply serve as appreciation for the words the other male seemed to share with him. All those positive things...

Tilting his head to the side, slightly, it was rather hard for him to think about questions like this as he didn’t want to sound ungrateful, at any time. His place on EXO was a gift from God himself and he never wanted to come across as someone always looking for more. He was and is completely satisfied with his role and stage they’re in. Despite all this, facts can’t be denied. He surely felt that being part of EXO-CBX had given him slight more recognition whether it’d be due to his vocal power that was equally shown in EXO but also due to his visuals and charisma. His head then seemed to balance back and forth in a convinced nod, lips quirking some. “I do.” He agreed. “I think that being a member of EXO’s first unit brought a little closer to the spotlight, if I can call it that?” A small laugh then escaped him, fingers interlacing together as he faced the male across him. “Obviously, being within a three members group is much different compared to a nine members group. We, as individuals, have much more space to show ourselves as idols. Spread our talent and show the audience we can do. There’s no denying in that.” Sliding his fingers within the front part of his hair, he brushed the locks back some. “I’m blessed that the company has agreed to make CBX something real. Me, Baekhyun-ssi and Minseok hyung are indeed very happy with the result and the fact that this became a reality is just... mindblowing. We weren’t expecting for it to be such a great hit and that’s all due to the fans, honestly. Though, answering the question in a much more straightforward manner, yes. I do think that being part of the unit has pushed me to have more recognition and I’m very glad that people got to see what I’m capable of... talent wise, of course.” Another smile has made its way to his lips as he talked, not being able to mention every other reason due to how the feeling of happiness had just took over him, in that moment, remembering all the achievements they had as a new unit.

“Additionally, what is the biggest difference between promoting as a 3 member group vs a 9 member group? Do you prefer it?”

Another question was sent to float in the atmosphere that surrounded him. The mention of the unit compared to the group as a whole had already left Jongdae to think that some sort of request to have him choose would come, sooner or later. Before he could even say anything else, there it was.

A nervous smile came across his features though his eyes remained in the smile, crinkly shape, as always. Brushing his fingers against his hair as a nervous act, he couldn’t help but to think about it even if he, deep down, knew the answer. Of course, being part of a smaller unit brought its benefits and the attention was surely bigger due to how there were only three members to consider. On the other hand, the chemistry within the nine members was simply irreplaceable and impossible to re-create. It was just like magic.

Yoona listened intently to the question as she nodded every so often, her mind absorbing what was said. ❝ Ahh ... ❞ She smiled as she nodded after the question was asked. With the recent wrap up of The K2, she had expected a question about her acting or something related to the subject.

❝ I am always grateful for positive comments about my acting. I know that I have a lot to improve on and I feel so lucky I got to work with some great actor sunbaes in The K2 especially since it’s been a few years since my last Korean drama. ❞ Yoona took a moment to recollect her thoughts as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ❝ As an idol actress, some people look down on me just because I’m an idol. I know there are a lot of criticisms about my acting and I just try my best when acting so positive comments are always reassuring. Like I’m on the right track and improving. I promise to work hard in the future to be an even better actress ! ❞

Getting to the second question, she chuckled as she placed her hands in her lap. ❝ As soon as I read the script, I was intrigued by the character. Go Anna is a character I’ve never portrayed before and I was very interested in taking on the project. However, with my schedules, it actually took a little bit of time talking with both my company and the production team to decide whether or not I could take on the project. I’m actually really glad that everything worked out and I was able to accept the role. But of course I was nervous, this was my first Korean drama in a few years. I would say the uneasiness was more due to my hiatus rather than my past projects. I know that as an actress, I’m still learning and improving so I try not to let people’s criticisms of my acting in the past worry me while I’m working on a project. ❞

@joongin​

You have always mentioned how passionate you are about the art of dance, but have you ever considered the risks? For example, back in July you issued an apology to fans for being wheel chair bound during a concert performance. To make matters worse, you have been injured a plethora of times since debut and with your laborious schedules only intensifying, one wouldn’t be wrong to say that none of your injuries suffered so far has had adequate time to heal. Does the thought of your injuries hindering your ability to dance in the future scare you? What would you do if you were physically unable to dance?

@ikimhyoyeon​​​

In June of this year, when asked what the secret to SNSD’s longevity was, you responded with, “We don’t have any difficult members". This response caused quite a stir from fans and netizens alike seeing as a former member had departed in 2014 on what appeared to be ‘difficult’ terms. Can you elaborate on your response to the question? And honestly speaking, was your response intended to ‘shade’ the former group member for being ‘difficult’? On the topic of ‘difficult’, what qualities do you think a ‘difficult’ member might possess that would affect the longevity of the group?

@taenacious

Ever since your much anticipated solo debut in 2015, you’ve been praised for experimenting with different musical genres and exceeding expectations with unpredictable concepts.Being a versatile artist has it’s perks, one of them being the reason why many have chosen you over other vocal powerhouses. Besides the aforementioned versatility, could you name one other quality you think you possess that others do not? Furthermore, can you tell us what separates SNSD’s Kim Taeyeon from Solo Kim Taeyeon in terms of style?

@yoonphrodite

Acting in any drama as an idol dabbling in acting is sure to be met with harsh criticism- especially so when an idol-actress such as yourself, prior to your success in China’s ‘ God of War, Zhao Yun’, has had 4 dramas dubbed as flops while acting as a lead actress. You’ve managed to break the mold in Korea, too, with your acting in ‘K2′ receiving praise from netizens for your improvement and effort. How does it feel to read positive comments about your acting? Prior to being given the role, were you apprehensive to take on this drama because of previous attempts being recognized as lackluster?

@missjoohyun​

Despite August 1, 2016 marking Red Velvet’s third anniversary, Red Velvet has yet to have a breakthrough song to propel them into fame. In fact, girl groups of the big three such as JYP’s TWICE who debuted in 2015 and  YG’s Black Pink who debuted this summer, have easily became trends of their subsequent generation. As the leader of Red Velvet, how does the imbalance in popularity of your group vs the other two affect the way you perceive your own budding career? Do you wish Red Velvet was given more public friendly songs such as your previous title track ‘Russian Roulette’? Or would you prefer Red Velvet sustain their unique color despite not becoming trend on first listen?

@91sjh

In your August pictorial for Grazia, you stated the following, “ I wanted to show that I’ve matured through acting. People see me as very upright, and I can be that way, but I can be silly too.” In the drama, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Goryeo” you played  the last princess of Baekje, who abandons her identity in order to carry out a revenge-based assassination on the royal family. Would you say that the character you portrayed was similar to you in that, through acting, you were trying to abandon your identity as the maknae of Girls’ Generation?  In addition to abandoning your identity as just the maknae of Girls’ Generation, have you ever considered pursuing a solo to do so? Why or why not?

@kngsevls​

Despite August 1, 2016 marking Red Velvet’s third anniversary, Red Velvet has yet to have a breakthrough song to propel them into fame. In fact, girl groups of the big three such as JYP’s TWICE who debuted in 2015 and  YG’s Black Pink who debuted this summer, have easily became trends of their subsequent generation. How does the imbalance in  popularity of your group vs the other two affect the way you perceive your own budding career? Do you wish Red Velvet was given more public friendly songs such as your previous title track ‘Russian Roulette’? Or would you prefer Red Velvet sustain their unique color despite not becoming trend on first listen?

@kjxngdae​

With the debut of EXO’s sub unit: EXO-CBX, you have been repeatedly praised for your  vocal prowess and acknowledged greatly for how efficiently you were able to pull off the concept alongside your group mates. Do you feel that being placed within this smaller unit has helped you gain recognition for your talent? Additionally, what is the biggest difference between promoting as a 3 member group vs a 9 member group?

@wendsi​

Despite August 1, 2016 marking Red Velvet’s third anniversary, Red Velvet has yet to have a breakthrough song to propel them into fame. In fact, girl groups of the big three such as JYP’s TWICE who debuted in 2015 and  YG’s Black Pink who debuted this summer, have easily became trends of their subsequent generation. As the leader of Red Velvet, how does the imbalance in popularity of your group vs the other two affect the way you perceive your own budding career? Do you wish Red Velvet was given more public friendly songs such as your previous title track ‘Russian Roulette’? Or would you prefer Red Velvet sustain their unique color despite not becoming trend on first listen?

@04boy