[TRANS] Arena Homme+ March 2015 Issue - Taecyeon

Taecyeon’s Calluses

With a sneaky expression he joked around with the staff the most mischievously, gaze becoming different only when he entered the shooting. As much as the time he has spent since the early days of his debut with reality program <Wild Bunny> until <Cinderella’s Sister> and also <Three Meals A Day>, Taecyeon have gotten calluses on his feet.

How are you doing while resting from <Three Meals A Day> Winter Season?

I’m spending my time with my personal schedule as well as recording for 2PM’s Japanese album. The 4th album Japanese tour done. Now, we are preparing for our album again.

How is 2PM’s popularity felt in Japan?

Actually, you can’t really feel it other than in our concerts. Different from Korea, not every broadcasting company in Japan has their own music programs that singers have a lot of their own concerts there.

Now you are into your 4th year after your debut.

That’s right. Since I debuted in 2008.

Do you feel anything changing every year? Say for example your determination in performing or your attitude.

That is a sure thing. Thinking about my debut days... (laughs)

2PM, acting, variety field, and MC, you have done all that but surely there is one of those that keeps you balanced, right?

I started with 2PM so even all of the members did not say a thing, we all prioritize 2PM more. Of course, our own individual activities are important too but I think it is definite that we were able to start whatever we do now because of 2PM.

It seems that you have an unwritten aggreement to keep on doing well as 2PM while doing well on your individual activities.

I guess you can put it like that. It’s like we all know it without saying it out loud?

Although you are talking about this all indifferently, there was a lot of things that happened in 8 years. Have you become relaxed and at ease?

My personality has been originally so. I don’t really pay attention to detailed things. I have never thought about having to do this and that just because I’m a celebrity. That’s how I get to be more at ease.

What do you mean by ‘having to do things because you’re a celebrity’?

For example, when you have to pay attention to your fashion and how you look to others. Something like that maybe? At the time of my debut and even now, I think that ‘would not it be better for me to live my life in a way I find comfortable?’

So you are one of those who concentrate on their own self?

True. I’m good at finding my own comfortable path. I’m doing a job that receives attention from many people and there are lots of point-outs and opinions about my life as much as the love I receive. I think there is a difference between following them or not. I don’t follow them when I consider myself tolerable.

Taecyeon-ssi, you proudly wear that unforgetable T-shirt from <Wild Bunny> which was given by your fan as a gift. That one with “Somehow I look like a fool but I’m cool” written on the back. (laughs) You had such character but I was surprised when I watched you in <Cinderella’s Sister>

Aih~ I wonder why. (laughs)

‘Jungwoo’ was so good in the drama though?

That was a workpiece in which I had the most regrets. It was my first workpiece after all. Now that I think about it, I think I really did not know what to do back then. I also think that I would have done a tad better in some parts if I were to do it now. (Moon) Geunyong noona even gave me a lot of advices on things at that time. I’m curious about how I would do now if I listened to them again.

Was there any role in which you be immersed rather comfortably?

No matter what, it’s ‘Donghee’ (<Wonderful Days>). The role was connected to the setting of the drama itself. He held on even when the situation turned bad.

You came from JYP’s audition program <Superstar Survival> which was broadcast in SBS in 2006.

Actually, I did not think about getting into any agency to debut as a singer at that time. I was just like ‘Oh? It must be fun?’ while I was at it. But, I got eliminated at the first episode. I was going to go back to the U.S to study but I got a call from JYP, asking whether I was interested in being trainee. I got into the company, even that I would experience hardships in my youth. After that, I practiced for 2 years and a half, debuted as 2PM which got me here.

Did you discover your talent while preparing for your debut?

Talent? I’m a person with no such thing as talent.

Do you still think so even now?

Yes, even now. I have to work hard.

You received compliments in various fields and received praises from your seniors. Do such thing not become a driving force for you in other activities?

Of course they do. But if you see the bigger picture, my driving force itself came from 2PM after all. Because once again, I’m walking together with 2PM. For example, say I was acting or appearing on varieties but I did not do well at them, then I would get all the curse words with 2PM altogether. I work harder that I will do well and I think it is has to be for 2PM to do well too.

You’re saying that all the members are together as one. Affections and responsibility toward 2PM.

A team with a very great sense of responsibilty. That’s us. (laughs) Sense of responsibility is the most important thing more than anything else. For example, like this. ‘Do not even start anything you can not take responsible for.’

But there are cases where you can choose whether you can take responsibility of things or not, right?

Even so, I have to take responsibility of the outcome. Like, when my personal activities get decided and it ends up overlapping with 2PM’s schedule that my schedule becomes too much, I tell myself not to whine even when it gets very tiring for me.

So you are calm when you have to.

We are.  ‘Know that it’s hard for you but do not whine.’

Because it’s your choice?

That’s right. (laughs)

The older women must like you after your cast in <Three Meals A Day>

We left for world tour in U.S at the end of last year and whenever we went to Korean restaurants, I recalled seeing the older women really liked <Three Meals A Day> and <Wonderful Days> when they watched them.

Though you never thought <Three Meals A Day> doing this well?

‘Farming’ ‘PD Na Youngsuk’ ‘Seojin hyung’ those were all I knew when I participated in the program when it first started. (laughs) We even wrote ‘PD Na, Farming’, just that, on our scheduler. We did not know the name of the program, even more about the guests who would appear on the show.

You must have been taken aback at the first filming. (laughs)

It was really a ‘mental-breakdown’. PD-nim only told us it was going to be a ‘cooking program’. I even found out the name <Three Meals A Day> for the first time on the first day of recording.

It’s like you radiate in a free-formated variety program.

I do? Eheuheuheu. Then it is a relief.

Is <Three Meals A Day> farming version starting again?

Jackson is now pregnant. She should have delivered her babies but since she has not gotten the pain yet... Also, all of the field work in Jeongseon will start on April 5th so I think the filming will start again in Spring...

Haha. So it follows ‘the law of nature’. The filming environment is really different from other variety programs.

There are times when Seojin hyung and I spend 6 hours of filming by doing nothing. We also sleep sometimes. There is nothing like we should speak more since we need to get appearance here in the show. I think, not doing anything specific seems to fit me really well, since I don’t have any sense of variety. If I am to compare <Three Meals A Day> to meals, Seojin hyung is a steak-like-person, Mingki and Jackson are spam (canned precooked meat products) and I am like white cooked rice. When a person is to shine, does not he need another person to make him look shining? My role in <Three Meals A Day> is to make others shine.

If there is no cooked rice, all other delicacies will be no use.

It is really good for you to express it so. I think I need to make the job I’m doing be seen calmly and objectively. Although I cannot receive attention forever, and the opportunity for me to receive it again will come any time. I’m merely working hard while preparing myself for it all the time.

“I’m good at finding my own comfortable path. I’m doing a job that receives attention from many people and there are lots of point-outs and opinions about my life as much as the love I receive. I think there is a difference between following them or not. I don’t follow them when I consider myself tolerable.”

Interview credit to @OnlyOK_
Scans credit to @Baque1227