[TRANS] 150317 'Twenty' Lee Junho Interview by OSEN

‘Twenty’ Lee Junho, “Seeing My Acting Made My Toes Curl”[Interview Part 1]

Resultingly, an exact timing. Group 2PM’s member, Lee Junho debuted as an actor through ‘Cold Eyes’ which was released in 2013. Though he had a late start compared to other members, he got positive results. Despite his brief apperance as Squirrel, the ace of the surveillance team in the movie, he left a strong impression. That was the beginning of ‘Acting-Idol’ Lee Junho.

Movie ‘Twenty’ (Directed by Lee Byeonghun, Produced by영화나무) which is going to be released on upcoming 25th will be his second workpiece. Moreover, it will be his first lead role. The role he plays is Dongwoo, a poor repeater who balances the relationship between his two friends, bold and lively unemployed Chiho (Kim Woobin), clumsy model student Kyungjae (Kang Haneul) and him. Listen to stories about ‘Twenty’ starting with Lee Junho’s “I wonder how it would be if Dongwoo had been more broken.”

-You had a successful debut through your previous workpiece ‘Cold Eyes’

 “I was so shocked that I got praised that much. It was something I couldn’t even imagine. As said by the fans, I appeared for about 7 minutes in ‘Cold Eyes’. I managed to get praised that much even when I only appeared for 7 minutes in 2 hours running time. I think the role itself was good that it made me shine. I’ve always wanted to act. But I didn't have the chance and I didn't have the confidence to go for it. ‘Cold Eyes’ was an opportunity that came with a great timing.

    

-Even though you shot ‘Memories of The Sword’ before ‘Twenty’, ‘Twenty’ ended getting released first. How was the completed movie.

“When I watch the movie through my character, I felt regret. I had been in 3 movies and this is my first lead role so I have many worries. It’s hard and it made my toes curl to keep on watching my acting. I can’t watch the scenes confidently.”

-Is Dongwoo less broken than Chiho or Kyungjae.

“I wonder how it would turn out if Dongwoo had been more broken. Dongwoo is a composed character out of the three but he’ll undoubtedly become a broken figure when they are put together. Woobin and Haneul fought on their own, and I wonder how if I had given more strength to help. There are still a lot of characters which I have not tried. I want to show my potential first and then try various roles.”

-You worked together with actor Lee Byunghun in ‘Memories of The Sword’ and with director Lee Byeonghun in ‘Twenty’. How was director Lee Byeonghun.

“He’s cool. In the beginning, I attempted to start a conversation with the director and I had thought that he’s not happy to meet me then. (laughs) I wondered if he’s shy of strangers but it turned out that his personality has always been like that. He talked about everything without a change of expressions, he is a really interesting person. Later on, I became comfortable around him.”

-Dongwoo went through discouragement for the difference between his ideal and reality. How did you immerse into the character.

“I went through training period since I was 17 until I was 19 years old, it was hard. I wanted to give up. I ever thought that I was just doing it uselessly. But since competition existed in trainee period, I thought about anything but myself. I wanted to leave the company with my own feet but, I felt reluctant. I also thought about my family. I think Dongwoo has it way harder than me. That’s how I immersed into the character. Though our level of hardship is different,  it’s still a conflict between ideal and reality.” 

-You acted as a twenty years old in the movie, you must have got reminded of your own twentieth age period.

“I debuted as a member of 2PM when I was 20. To me, my twentieth age was only about ‘2PM’. Though I was happy that I reached my dream then, mine was not ordinary twentieth age. It became a great happiness for me to be able to go back to that time I passed while shooting for this movie. Dongwoo is also a character that can bring you back to your worries. I think the audiences who are in their 20s will be able to relate through Dongwoo.  Not dark and heavy. I don’t say “I won’t cry.” If I were to go back to my past, I won’t trap myself in it. To think about it now, I was really young back then but I got a strong sense of responsibility from turning into adult at the same time.”  

-If you were to compare the past and the present, are they really different.

“They are really different. My passion and ambition stay the same but they became buried. Let’s say something like “I got edited out on a broadcast”, I don’t know if it’s actually mine or not but my firy personality has disappeared. Before, I would ponder on it when I felt unfair. Now, I’m one to tell stories flexibly.”

-The pathetic twentieth age also appeared in ‘Twenty’. What was 20 years old Lee Junho’s patheticness.

“Everything seems pathetic when I look back at the past. Like when I saw the photos of mine from the past, the trend clothes, styles at that time now look pathetic. ‘Why did I put chains on my pants?’, ‘Why did I wear tank tops?’ those are what come into my mind. I laughed and talked about those fashion in the past while drinking with some close hyungs. There are more embarrassing things but I think I want to talk about this in a talk show in the next 10 years.”

[TRANS] The release of FEEL interview with Genie - Junho

Q. You are greeting your fans through your second album a year after the release of your first solo album in Japan. Please say a comeback comment to the fans who have been waiting for you~

A. Everyone of the Genie family, hello~ This is 2PM’s Junho! After about a year, I’m meeting everyone with my second solo album. I think it becomes more meaningful this time around as I can also meet you through the Korean version of it especially. ^^  Since I really worked hard to prepare it, please give lots of love~

Q. Please introduce the title track FEEL!

A. Yes,  it is a track that mixes the electronic sound of basic trend with the nostalgic melodies from the past 90s’ sensitivity. The song is about someone’s life that usually passes meaninglessly but turns into colorful and beautiful from monochrome days once he meets his loved one.

Q. Do you write and compose all the tracks for your solo album this time as well?

A. Yes, following my first solo album, I also tried to write, compose, even produce this album, if my first solo album ‘Kimino Koe’ was a casual album with only a little bit of power, this album ‘FEEL’ is a really dynamic and lively album which can truly shows myself.

Q. What is the music that can display the self of ‘Junho’? 

A. A continuously changing self?^^ I’m not picky on genres. If you listen to this album from the beginning until the end, it is packed with various genres, starting from dance, rock, acoustic, until ballad.

Q. On July 9^th, the release day of your album in Japan, you achieved triple champion, your comment at that time?

A. My album ranked 1^st on the music sector of Oricon Daily Chart, Tower Record Daily Chart, and HMV Music Show on the release day. My comment at that time… That it’s awesome?^^ I think it only made me think to do even better for the lots of  love I have received.  

Q. You seems eager about solo activities, from solo album, solo Japan tour, Chinese drama OST, even movie casting. Next planning for your activities?

A. I spent this summer being really busy. Solo album and tour, I’ve also started the filming for my new movie ‘Twenty’ recently. Although I have many works, I feel good because I’m rather busy. In coming future, I would like to keep on being busy with working as a singer and actor, I want to grasp them all. Since it will be better for me not to do everything altogether if I can’t do one of them, I want to absolutely do well in both of them. Ah, and it’s planned for me to greet everyone as a member of 2PM soon. It is coming really soon! Please look forward to it. ^^

Q. At last, please greet Genie family.

A. Alright, please end this summer freshly together with Junho’s FEEL! This has been Junho. Thank you.

Source

[TRANS] Oricon Style - Junho

An honest talk that reaches his inner self goes off. Reaching to the current matured side of him as an artist!

—You released “FEEL” album as JUNHO (From 2PM), what are the things you became conscious of while working on this album, a big difference from the previous piece of work?

Junho: I think the important point is that I want to show a musically matured side of me compared to the last time, this one is more dynamic and active, and I made this wanting to show the side of me which I haven’t in the first album.

—The reason and the meaning of “FEEL” as the title track? 

Junho: Because the word “FEEL” came into mind first. There is a word that equally expresses Feel in  Korea (in Japan, it’s Feeling) though, I don’t know for what reason that the word appeared but since then it stayed and wouldn’t leave my mind.

Then I made the title track, I completed a song which can be divided into various parts, one that can have a playful element and one in which a longing can be felt in the chorus. There are many stimulating and straight songs recently but I described it as I focused on properly putting a fashionable element and a melody that can arouse that longing for 80s, 90s’ sensitivity. New stuffs together with a nostalgic music, those are the sound concept of this album.

—You are really experiencing a solo tour, the things you feel with the fans during that influenced you for the title track to be named “FEEL”, don’t they?

Junho: Of course they do! I think it was a chance to motivate me in wanting to have a better concert in a bigger venue, and also a chance for me to be able to upgrade my step musically.

—With the overall theme, do you have a message in common to convey?

Junho: Basically, it’s something that I currently think, and currently feel, although it’s filled with the things I want to convey to everyone, the big theme is “love”.

I think “love” has various forms and emotions, but I tried to express various categories of love in each song. In “FEEL”, there is a line of “To change monochrome days by painting it with colours”, it is the lyric that I like the most from the album and I think that it is the one that express my message the best. A sensation like being shaken out of an ordinary daily life, I’m describing that sensation when meeting a certain person.

—You worked on all of the tracks on this album, but was there any distress during the process?

Junho: Strangely there was almost none of necessarily difficult songs, I really made it with fun. The uniquely difficult one during the recording was “Turn It Up”. It was hard to pronounce the quick rap in Japanese.

—There is a line of The world stops the time in the lyric of “FEEL”, if you could stop the time, when would you go back to?

Junho: We were asked a similar question when we were having schedules as 2PM before, I remember Nichkhun hyung answered (that he wanted to go to) dinosaur era, but I think it would be no fun if I could stop the time. Because, nothing else move except for me. That’s totally no fun (laughs). Rather than going back to the past as the time stops, I think it will be more fun to go to the next 10 years in the future.

—If Junho are to listen this album in the next 10 years, how do you think you will respond?

Junho: It’s cute, huh~ (laughs).

—What do you mean?

Junho: Because I’m likely to keep making music like this even after 10 years, I think it’s obvious that I will be matured along with more various sides of me by then. While I think that my current sensitivity and youthfulness are fresh, on the contraty, I think I’d probably be embarassed to see it as I will lose both of them (after 10 years).

—There is a line of A little devil whom I can’t take my eyes off in the lyric of “Dangerous”, do you think you are a little devil type?

Junho: No, I am not.

[TRANS] Ranking Box - JUNHO (From 2PM) 2nd Mini Album "FEEL" Interview

Solo 2nd piece that shows a bright colored charm. Things he want to convey, a sincerity from his heart.

After a year since 1st solo album “Kimi no Koe”, JUNHO (From 2PM) is back!

Fans’ long-awaited 2nd solo mini album “FEEL” is released on July 9th.

Like the previous album, this second album was also self written, composed and produced, is filled with a sparkling dynamism!

It’s shining with each of the 6 tracks’ exclusive power, up-tempo, medium tune, ballad etc.

An interview of Junho who said, “I want to try variedmusic. I have no anxiety.”

「The things I express are what I’m currently feeling. I don’t want to be particular on the genres. 」


—It’s a work piece after about 1 year though, what meaning does this time’s “FEEL” album contain?

Junho: Following the previous one, I also self-produced this album, I expressed the things that the ‘present self of mine’ feel, the circumstance that currently exists, the way of thinking that I obtain as I get older or my value. While the previous “Kimi no Koe” was casual and refreshing, I think “FEEL” is something that can contain pop and activeness. I want to try listening to varied music, and I want to try making it as well. That’s why I’m trying my best to not be limited by one genre only when I produce songs.

—Because there is a sound transition and the melody is certain, it felt like a good qualitied POPS. Though I think you need a courage to challenge a varied music.

Junho: I have no anxiety. Because it hasn’t been that long since I made my own music and now, the various things inside me are burning to the surface, and I strongly felt that I want to make those into a reality.


—Regarding your self-producing, did you have it smoother than the previous time?

Junho: It was my first mini album that time and I along with the staff were playing it safe but this time although the production period is shorter, we were able to work smoothly. I have never thought that making songs are tiring too. I was able to enjoy in doing it. I’m really satisfied with the result.


—So it’s a work piece which Junho can enjoy while working on it. Do you put much attention into writing and composing the songs?

Junho: Regarding the songs, I always pay attention on whether I’m able to express my own emotions properly through the music or not. I also made the songs with Hong Jisang this time. There are songs which I made the melody until some extent and we exchanged our opinions later on this and that stuff, there are songs that we made together from the beginning. Regarding the lyrics, “Next to you” contains something that I want to convey the most. It’s simply my current story. Because I made it for my family, the fans, or people who love me, I think it will be good if they can be touched with that intention of mine.

—As the production period wasn’t that long, seems like you needed an ability to concentrate. How did you raise that ability of yours?

Junho: Whenever I have the time, I will go to Hong Jisang’s studio. I almost pratically settled to eat there too (laughs). It’s a place that feels like home to me until such extent. Although Hong Jisang is similar to a hyung with whom I have had a good relationship even before both of us became pro, we also have a friend-like-relationship because we spent many times in playing and working.


「Although I can stand being sleepy, I can’t with being hungry (laughs) 」


—Is there a new thing that you realized when you worked on this album?

Junho: I found that I can stand being sleepy but I can’t with being hungry (laughs). And, although this is not something that I only found out this time, I can’t force myself to make a song when I can’t. There were many times when I forced myself to do it, but I eventually abandoned it in the process, just thought of it as an awful song when I listen to it the next day.

[TRANS] Jun. K Comeback Interview with Genie

Q. Please give your comeback comment to the fans who have been waiting since 2PM 3rd full-length album~

A. Genie family, hello~ I’m 2PM’s Jun. K! I was back to see everyone with through my solo album after about a year since 2PM 3rd full-length album. I prepared a lot of things to show a different thing from the one I have shown when I’m together with the members. Please give lots of love~

Q. After 3 years since starting your solo activities by the name ‘Jun. K’ in 2011, you’ve come once again with your solo album. Please introduce the title track NO LOVE!

A. Yes, NO LOVE. It’s a name of a brand I designed on my own with X as the heart, you can say it’s a track graced with that meaning. It’s a track I worked on together with Super Changddai hyung, from our composing team 143v and Kim Eunsoo. I think the charm of this song is how various situations were shown in one music. It’s about the great despair of love put in the beginning and the end of the song, it is to tell the stories about the great reason and the wound from that despair.

Q. Your Japan first solo album ‘LOVE & HATE’ occupied the first place in Oricon and Tower Records when it was released. Your comment?

A. I felt somewhat a little different from the moment I was on the first plave with as a member of 2PM. Actually I have been working hard since December last year for this solo album, fortunately a great result came out, I felt sorry and thankful for everyone who had helped. I actually cried a bit as soon as I heard the news that I was on the first place.....^^ Once again I want to thank everyone!

Q. It became a topic that 2PM members all came to your Japan solo tour which had come to an end. The secret to the heartwearming friendship of this 6th year debuted idols?

A. The members didn’t have any schedule in Japan though, I was very thankful, and happy that they even came to Japan to support me. Even Jinyoung hyung also came to see my final concert and praised me, but I thought I will have to work even harder. Eum... By reaching our 6th year, every member has really many individual schedules but we contact each other more and monitor each other’s activities while supporting that’s why we’re like real brothers now^^

Q. Please tell us your activity plan this year.

A. Alright, first of all although I’m having a break from the busy first half year, I’m planning to work hard on composing songs in order to show a cool look of mine to everyone. Also, I’m currently preparing a lot of things with the members to show our good performance as 2PM soon, please look forward to it! The weather is really hot nowadays, please always be careful~ Thank you. ^^ 

Source: Genie

[TRANS] Oricon Style - JUN. K

Jun. K, who is rising with absolute popularity as 2PM member and lead vocal, releases his first solo album ‘LOVE & HATE’ as Jun. K (From 2PM) this time.

Even in 2PM, he’s a writer, who also composes songs and shows his great talent, and produce the whole thing for this time project!

His strong persistence in music, sharing stories about love views through his journey in music until now.

Rather than pressure, I enjoy it! Be filled with my experiences and thoughts

You released your first solo mini album ‘LOVE & HATE’ on 5/14 as Jun. K (From 2PM). How did you feel?

First of all, it had been 12 years since I started working on music by the time the album release was determined. I thought that to be able to release my own solo album itself is a glorious thing. I dealt with the details in the album of how to express what kind of music Jun. K does, or what kind of artist Jun. K is.

Don’t you feel pressured?

Rather than pressure, I think I enjoy it more. Whether it’s because the passion of the music I’ve kept on collecting until now, or that this is a given chance to be able to express the music I’ve wanted to express until now...

I think this is a really good opportunity and I really want to work hard in order to optimize this opportunity. 

Although you directly wrote and compose the tracks for this album, you are also doing activities for tour and album as 2PM, it seems to be a very tiring schedule.

It was really tiring. But as I have been continuously doing tiring schedules as 2PM until now, I think I was already trained for it ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

This time I carefully made it until the extent of giving my every idea on the composing, mastering, album jacket design, music video concept even the outfits. Even I myself was that busy, I wanted it to be well done ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The reason of ‘LOVE & HATE’ as the album title, is there any theme you’re going through?

‘LOVE & HATE’ is a phrase I had come to think of since 5, 6 years ago, I thought if I ever had the opportunity to release a solo album someday, I’d like to make it with that theme. 

It’s an extremely interesting expression to me, as I give various ideas... I got ideas there for the track and illustration, music video and the jacket. Based on the things I’ve felt and the moments I’ve taken note eversince I was born until now, I’m thinking to put all of them into this album.

The thing you took notes?

When I thought of an idea, I directly wrote it in my handphone memo. I wrote the ideas I got for jacket, lyrics, music video, design, etc, by dividing them into each category.

It feels like Jun. K’s only treasure-chest-phone.

And also, when a song melody came into mind, I even directly recorded it. I also put ideas of songs in my phone. That’s why I always need it and bring it around.

It would be a big problem if you lost you phone.

Rightㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ That’s why I’m always doing back-ups well.

[Trans] Oricon Style Interview - 2PM

Between 2PM’s activities, you guys went to Junho solo concert right?

Taecyeon: You’ve worked hard!

(great applause)

Junho: It’s an unforgettable summer in a life time. I really enjoyed it. I’m very happy because fans gave a great welcome.

Your Japanese has improved too.

Junho: Ayu~ It’s not like that. But, as the tour went on, I could freely learn.

At the concert finale (of Junho’s solo concert) JUN. K and Wooyoung came.

JUN. K: Eventhough I’m happy that I was able to see Junho’s mature side, at that time I also felt the emptiness with the thought of “The tour is ending” 

Wooyoung: Although JUN. K and I saw the concert from inside the box, actually we wanted to enjoy it from the seats with the audience

Junho: I was nervous for the last concert and actually, this year, there’s a part that I didn’t do. That’s why, I want to do it again. By all means, of course I have to pay it off. And next time when I can do it, Taecyeon has to come, it will be good. ㅋㅋㅋ

Taecyeon: I’m sorry. I also continuously wanted to go, but because of the drama filming, the timing was bad so I cound’t go...

JUN. K: Taecyeon sent me a message of “I really want to go but I couldn’t go. I’m really sorry. Tell Junho.”

Junho: Oh? It’s the first time I hear about this ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

JUN. K: Even I didn’t say it sooner, Junho had already known about Taecyeon’s heart

Junho: That’s right. I’m always feeling it.

Taecyeon: It’s a relieve, from Korea I constantly told Junho to be strong.

Junho: Even so, I’m happy because I know Taecyeon hyung was also tired from the drama filming but he still thought about me like that in the midst of that. I was also supporting Taecyeon hyung’s drama filming from Japan with saying “Fighting!”

To Taecyeon, did you catch on Junho’s thought?

Taecyeon: Of course~