HJ : Kim Hyun Joong
MC: Ms Miyamoto, interviewer
NR: Narration by Ms. Miyamoto
Part 1
NR: Kim Hyun Joong, one of the top stars in Korea, who is a most talented singer while being a representative Korean actor attracting fans. In this program, entitled “Kim Hyun Joong, as you are “, we are going to introduce Kim Hyun Joong, as he is, who has just started new challenges.
MC: I have just arrived in Seoul. I am going to see Mr. Kim Hyun Joong. I will get out what you would like to know about him.
In Keyeast office:
MC: I have excitedly been awaiting him in his office (Keyeast) in Seoul (with a blue box in her hands). Oh, he has finally come ! (In Korean language as she speaks Korean herself) Hello ! Nice to meet you. This is a gift for you.
HJ: Thank you ! May I open it ?
MC: Yes please ! As I heard that you like football very much, I have been wondering what I should select as a gift for you. Well, I decided to choose this one.
HJ : (Finding a yellow football ball ), Wow, thank you (arigato gozaimasu in Japanese)
MC: How do you like it ?
HJ: I am very happy as I like football. It was a bit disappointing at World Cup
(* Korea could not enter the best 8 in the South Africa World Cup) Football is one of the best hobbies.
MC: This ball is a bit small for football, is it OK ?
HJ: (In Japanese) it’s fine.
MC: You speak a good Japanese, don’t you ?
HJ: Yes, a little.
MC: How did you learn Japanese ?
HJ: Ah~~~~ (in Japanese) I lived in Japan for about a year.
NR: I was a bit surprised as he suddenly spoke in Japanese. Let’s start an interview !
MC: In Japan, K pop is very popular now. What kind of impression did you have when you first came to Japan?
HJ: I went to Japan for the first time in 2006. We were invited for an opening event concert of a Korean cable channel ( i.e., Mnet Japan) together with many Korean singers. As many fans came to the concert, it was quickly decided to have a fan meeting for them. 1,500 people got together for us. I was so happy to know that many people support us (SS501) eventhough it was the first visit to Japan, being deeply touched by them. If I put it into another words, I felt as if we received a warm welcome from people where we had thought a desert island. That naturally made me think that I had to work harder. As I had not yet challeded for acting, I thought to elaborate our music, so that we would be able to show ourselves in a much refined way not only for Korean fans but also Japanese people.
When I had a first step in Japan to start our entertainment activities there, I had no knowledge of Katakana nor Hiragana (* both of them are Japanese charactors. There are three type of charactors in Japanese, Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana) Further, I was so buy at work, I could not stuy Japanese. In two weeks after I arrived in Japan, I only knew three words, “ Hello, Good morning “, “Good evening” and “Thank you” .
However, since I had a Japanese friend, I learned a little by little much difficult expressions. For example, we went for drinking , and while chatting on the phone the next moring, I learned an expression “ I don’t have a hangover anymore” , and so on. I still learn Japanese …… not to forget it.
MC: What, do you think, is most difficult in Japanese ?
HJ: For Korean, it is quite tough to pronounce “ zu “ and “ tsu “ properly. Therefore, I had much difficulty in singing Japanese song because of the pronunciation of “zutto”
In Japanese lyrics, there was an expression “ Zutto ( i.e, forever and ever in Japanese)” , I struggled with this word. Do you think that I pronounce it in a right way?
MC: Yes, you do ! I am impressed by your beautiful pronunciation.
HJ: Is that so (in Japanese) ?
MC: Could you kindly tell us about the most memorable place for you in Japan or, an episode if any ?
HJ: The place I like the best is ….. where is it ? the spa town (hotsprings town) not so far from Tokyo ?
MC: Hotsprings?
HJ: Yes, hotsprings …
MC: Hakone ?
HJ: (happily) Yes, I like Hakone. In addition to that, I frequently went to Harajuku branch of “ Jankara Ramen ( *Chinese noodles in soup) “ I went there almost by-weekly. Delicious ! (in Japanese)
*Jankara is a sort of dialect in Kyushu, southen west part of Japan.
*Ramen in Hakata city in Kyusu is famous for its white soup made out of
Pork borne. Jankara ramen is a representative brand of Hakata Ramen.
MC: Is there anything you make it sure to bring with you for work ?
HJ: I always take note PC with me, even for overseas. As I listen to music while moving from work to work, I also carry MP3 as well. I also make it sure to bring Japanese comic books which I really like. I pack into my bag about 30 comic books (for travel )
MC: I actually have been worndering whether I should bring a football ball or comic books …
HJ: (with a big smile )
MC: What Japanese comic do you like ?
HJ: “ NARUTO “
MC: Oh my god! I don’t have any idea about “NARUTO”
For further info for NARUTO, please click http://www.naruto.com/j/
HJ: “ N A R U T O “ ( a bit embarrassed)
MC: Is it a Japanese comic ?
HJ: Yes ( in a laugh) “Naruto” and “ One piece” (* “dress” in Japanese)
MC: In which language do you raed “One piece” ? In Japanese?
HJ: “In Korean version “ (he replied in Japanese)
MC: Oh, it has already been translated into Korean language?
HJ: Yes ( in Japanese)
MC: Well then, I will bring you a Japanese version for you the next time, please use it for your Japanese study.
HJ: I do with Japanese version (replied in Japanese again)
MC: It means that you already have a Japanese version ?
HJ: Yes, though I don’t understand at all (in Japanese)
MC: Then study hard !
HJ: Yes, I do.
PART 2
MC: Senior Yoon JiHoo was so cool ! In acting as Yoon JiHoo, what did you think was the most difficult point for you?
HJ: The character, “Yoon JiHoo” was quite different from myself in reality. Therefore, in order to act as YoonJiHoo, a grandson of the former president, I corrected the way to use chopsticks. In a daily life, I stopped making fun, keeping a reticent attitude in this way. Though I was immature in acting at that time, thanks to Yoon JiHoo, I could make my first step as actor. I appreciate it.
The character, “ Yoon JiHoo” does not express his anger, contrary to Gu Jun Pyo. Even though he is upset, Yoon JiHoo kept his temper: further, even if he feels discomfort, he remains calm. However, he was not always poker face….. Therefore, it was quite hard for me how to express his feeling inside Yoon JiHoo.
I, Kim Hyun Joong, does not neglect making best efforts. I cannot be quiet. I am always doing something. I got scared even with one week leave. Therefore, I will make myself work. Contrary to Yoon JiHoo, I easily loose my temper; I say what I want to say. I quickly solve problems on the spot. I like connecting with people.
On holidays, I always play football. If I have time, I practice with dancers, thus doing a physical exercises. Even on a bed, I’m thinking of future plan; everything is connected with work. If I want to shape up my body, I play football as it works as an aerobic exercise as well. I think that my favorite is also a part of my work.
Sometimes , I take a long sleep if necessary, otherwise I only sleep four hours at most. I like getting things going based on the elaborated planning. I would like to do well both in music as well as drama. Twenty-four hours per day is not enough for me.
MC: As artist and actor, there will be some area you are particular about. Could you tell us to what kind of things you would like to stick to ?
HJ: Well, my experience in acting is only limited to “Boys over Flowers” . I recognized that there were too many things I lack as acor. I should say that I had gotten in acting. As singer, I would like aim the veteran’s level. However, as actor,
I am only a chick, which just came out of an eggshell. I would like to strive for to become an full-fledged actor as earliest as possible.
I always would like to do my best in all the dramas. I would like to be recognized as an actor who never neglects making efforts. I also hope that people would recognize me as one of the most talented singers.
Since I appeared in the drama “Boys over Flowers”, one year and a half have already passed. While exercising, the characters I would like to act come up to mind. For example, I think that I would like to act as car racer while driving. In this way, activities in a daily life leads me to acting. I tend to think that I would be able to adopt this part into acting, and so on. Since “Boys over Flowers”, I observe everything in TV, which, I should say, “people watching”. I watch the characteristic points of the charactors in dramas so that I can make use of them in my acting in future.
MC: Another question I would like to make is when you feel much happy during your busy life. What kind of action make you feel most happy ?
HJ: Since the debut, five years have passed. In these years, I experienced hardships and pleasure (satisfaction) in repeated times. Looking back the things which I thought painful or hard in the past, I feel now that I was happy to the contrary.
Therefore, I assume that there will be a repetition of stress and joy in future as well. I do not want to regret anything. Dramas and CD will remain forever, and that ‘s why I would like to work so that I regret nothing in the future.
MC: Japanese fans have been looking forward to seeing you. I understand that you will be coming over to Japan very soon, right?
HJ: I plan to visit twice or three times to Japan this year. If I have a good luck, I will be able to visit more. In the past years, I went to Japan five times per year. But this year, I could not make it so far. With a good piece of work , I would like to go and see Japanese fans who have been waiting for me.
Since the debut in drama, I have a character in mind which I would like to act. That is the one who express his anger when he is upset. As I already acted the character who controlled his temper, I prefer this time a ma who is rather gross and rough.
Part 3
HJ: There will be always gaps between the characters I act and myself in reality. When I appear in a film or drama, the character does not necessary be similar to myself; I act the character just as he is. To be extreme, I would challenge for even a killer.
MC: Now in a new environment, which area do you like to be challenged ?
HJ: Well, I would like to do something different from others. Though there are people who call me “Hanryu star “, but I do not think so myself. By making a best balance between artist as well as actor, I would like to become a top star everyone can recognize. Now it is difficult for me to realize it . However, I would like to become a star, actively working in the entire Asia as an son as possible, and somehow I would like to help people.
NR: I am much impressed by Mr. Kim Hyun Joong who seriously thinks of his future. I cannot believe that he is still twenty-four years old !
Then Ms Miyamoto (interviewer & narrator) brings the same game console as we saw in “We got married” which Hwanbo noona used for coupling of SS501 (Kyujung and Hyung Joon with two members of Wonder Girls.)
MC: Do you know what it is ?
HJ: Yes, I played it before.
MC: Then, you know about the rules, right ?
HJ: Yes, OK
MC: I am going to tell you why I brought this game console here. I would like to have your autograph on these cute footballs (taking out pink and yellow footballs) for fans.
If you loose, may I have your autograph on these balls?
HJ: Fine !
MC: You have just promised, right ?
HJ: Yes, I have promised ( in Japanese)
Then HJ and MC tried to decide the right of the first draw by Janken.
* Janken starts from “fist” called “Goo in Japanese”
Eventually, HJ won the game.
MC: Sorry, I lost the game, I still would like to have your autograph on them,
plea~~~~se !
HJ pretended that he does not understand what she was talking about.
But he received the balls for autograph with a smile.
MC: He won the game, but how kind he is ! He gives his autograph !
HJ: No, I am not kind enough (he spoke again in Japanese in a laugh )
It is a job for the broadcasting (again in Japanese, a moment of glimpse of our
4D leader ^^)
NR: He may have felt my enthusiastic appeal ? No, it is not true, he has already thought about the gift for audience. Therefore, he autographed so carefully on the balls.
HJ: Now these are gifts for you (in Japanese)
The shooting place shifts to the boardroom of Keyeast where HJ is having a meeting with Keyeast staff.
NR: Kim Hyun Joong, born on June 6, 1986 in Seoul (in the special municipal area), Height 182 cm. Blessed with his figure and an outstanding sense of rhythm, he has been demonstrating a great leadership in putting together the five members with much talents and originarity. In a Korean version drama, “BOF”, he completely acted as Yoon JiHoo, which fascinated not only Korean and Japanese fans, but also those throughout Asia. I met him for the first time today. He was very polite: to my questions, he paid full attention and consideration, answering in a very careful manner.. His pupils were so fantastic that I felt as if I would be absorbed in them.
Part 4
NR: We heard from KH’s two close friends some stories worth listening to:
KHJ’s physical trainer and a dancer (back dancer?)
1st storty from his physical trainer.
TR: I frequently make an exercise with him. One day, we started our exercise with full enthusiasm at the gym where we have a pool, many exercise machines. After a hard exercise of barbell, and running, we challenged for swimming to make 15 returns. Though we started with full energy, just after making one return in a swimming pool, we made an eye-contact, then just gave up.
2nd story from his another friend (dancer)
Dancer: Between TV and private life, HJ does not have two faces, hiding nothing. Till recently, HJ and I lived together. As I am rather timid (frighten by what ???) , HJ slept in the same room. There is a rumour that HJ does not wear anything when he sleeps. It is true! I recognized that it was not a rumour but it is a true story. “ Ye~, it’s true ! “ he repeatedly said in Japanese “ honto (=true)”
NR: The next interview took place in a fashionable restaurant in Seoul. Hyun Joong ssi was so cool ! I am going to listen to more private stories, which you will know for the first time.
Q: How do you spend your time when you are not at work?
HJ: Without exercise, I feel burning with the desire for it. Therefore, I play football every Sunday. From Monday through Saturday, I make it sure to go to gym everyday. In Korea, “Gym” is called “health” .
Q: Were there anything you felt embarrassment when you came to Japan?
HJ: There are different connotations among Japanese and Korean languages. For example, I made a mistake in pronunciation; instead of saying “Doryoku shimasu (make an effort), I said “ Noryoku shimasu” . It’s a mistake of pronunciation, right ? ( he confirmed with the translator next to him) I meant that I would like to make an effort, but due to the mistake in pronunciation, I actually mentioned that I will demonstrate my cabality ( though “Noryuku shimasu” is strange in Japanese) . At that time, it was difficult for me to recognize delicate differences in pronunciation, neither different connotations in Japanese. Therefore, I could not have a smooth communication with people. There is another story about that.
During the first visit to Japan, I asked a stylist to give my a necklace. I used a Korean word, “moccoli” to name necklace. Then I saw a subtle expression in her face.
*If you pronounce a necklace in Korean language in Japan, it implies “erection” in Japanese slang, that’s why the lady was so embarrassed when he only used Korean to name “necklace” .
HJ: So, if you compare vocabularies among Japanese and Korean languages, it is quite interesting (sometimes embarrassing !) I was much surprised later.
MC: If I hear that word “moccoli” from Hyun Joong ssi, I also got embarrassed.
HJ: Ah~~~ I have another story about different expressions between the two countries. When I said “ I went to the health (meaning “ gym” ) “, the guy asked me “ from the morning?” with a surprise. Well, I answered, “ Isn’t that the place you should go in the morning ?”
In Korea, we use “health” to mean “ gym”, but in Japan, this “health” has a different connotation (i.e., the place men receives sexual services in Japan). Anyway, by these embarrassing experiences, I learned differences in culture, languages, and so on.
NR: Now we understand that he had many difficulties while he was in Japan. Before closing this interview, I would like to ask him convey his message to the audience in front of TV.
HJ: For those who are looking “ Kim Hyun Joong, just the way you are” , did you enjoy this program though it is very short time ? Next time, see you in Japan. I will prepare a story which I hope you will enjoy, and a fantastic performance as well. You can have a high expectation ! Thank you !
Then he greeted to MC, staff, and so on “ Cheers for good work”
(* Otsukaresama deshita in Japanese )
NR: Kim Hyun Joong ssi, greeting to staff, putting the chair back to the original position under the table, all of which seems to be so natural for him. So nice to see him !!!
Next time, we are going to attend the shooting spot of 2011 Calendar. More and more to come ! See you again !
Japanese to English translation by lafone / liezle.blogspot.com
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