You
look like an LA youngster who comes to Cuba for a vacation. You really suit
this free-spirited place.
Really. I really feel that I’m overseas here. The weather is also bright today
(June 10th). The place is also beautiful so I’m feeling really good.
It will be my birthday soon. I wish I can have a party here.
June
24th is your birthday, right? Have you planned anything for the party? Other celebrities often invite more than 50
people and have huge birthday parties. However, I don’t really like such
complicated and huge parties. I prefer a calmer party in which I can eat and
watch movies at home, together with people closest to me. I think I will only
invite around five people for my party.
Who
will you invite? 2PM members
and... Oh? That’s already five people. I wish to invite the hyungs with whom I
work out so I will have to make several parties.
Not
long ago, you released a travel photo book
<Journey, Map that Embraces the Wind> with actor Lee Jungjin. How did the
project begin? I was
talking with Jungjin hyung about a lot of things
when we found out that we have something in common, which is photo and
travelling. We were joking when we said, “Should we go on a trip, take some
pictures and release a book? An exhibit would also be interesting.” However,
the vice president liked our idea so it turned into a business project.
There
are many celebrities who use ghostwriters because they are not professional
writers, did you write by yourself? That’s not the case. The editor-in-charge left
with us and the speech was arranged through interview style in the script. The pictures with both of us in it
were taken by a photographer who accompanied us. I think the book came out well
because the professional helped us a lot.
We
could at least find out who Nichkhun and Lee Jungjin are through the book. If it were a mere photo book, I could just release it during concerts. It’s not only a book that contains cool pictures.
We wanted to release a book that can tell others who we are and how we live. The book does not simply talk about us being
an idol and an actor. Instead, it talks about us as ordinary
individuals with bad and good.
I
bought the book and there was a book-signing coupon inside.
It is for fan
service. Fans are very important to me so I want to treat them well in everything.
However, a line also needs to be drawn. I’d like it to be quiet when I’m having
my personal time or when I have a company so I refuse to take pictures or give
signatures. I believe that a principle is needed.
Not
long ago, you had a bag design collaboration with particular brand. You not
only lent your name but also participated in the designing process. I think it is a meaningless work to only lend my
name. If I had, I would not have been able to say that
I’m the one who made it. It’s not my specialty so I could not work on
everything by myself. I put my ideas first, then I drew and until the product
was completed, my opinions were actively reflected on the smallest things.
I
think your honesty is something that keeps you popular for a long time. At the beginning, it was only my appearance. I admit that. Before JYP audition, I was
nothing but a worriless and irresponsible teenager. I had to change. I desperately
practiced my Korean, dancing and singing because I hated hearing, “you’re
nothing but looks.” I had no choice but to show myself developing little by
little so I wouldn’t hear those words. Fortunately, the fans appreciate my
effort now. More than anything, there are people in Thailand who think of me as
a hero for being a Thai who is active as a South Korean idol so I always feel
responsible not to let them down. I have to be careful with every action I
take.
I
feel you have entirely changed since your debut. In which area do you think
that you have developed? I
think I have become wiser and more
mature. My job is being a celebrity and I’m
a singer but I’m still a person. I realized that it is essential to find what I
want instead of getting buried in my job. Previously, I work to please people but now I work in order to satisfy and make
myself happy.
When
are you happy? I’m a
freeman. I don’t follow strict rules. I still hold what I have to but I try not
to be stuck with the standard. It is frustrating to always follow others. Don’t
I have to be comfortable and natural to appear so in the eyes of others?
But
you will have to put yourself into the standard people expect from you on the
stage though? Don’t people expect handsomeness and charms from idols on stage? They demand those because of my job, not
because of me as an individual. I don’t think that will change.
Your
role is always to be handsome.
Do you become discouraged by your plainness when you have no schedule? I am not. I also have no objection of being
seen with no make-up. It’s just that I don’t go out often. I don’t really like
crowded places so I enjoy being home. I would wear hat when I have to go out
but it’s not to cover anything. When I want to wear a hat, I just put it on.
It
seems that you balance the gap between you as a celebrity and individual well. I love both sides of myself. However, I also
experience self-denial in both.
Dissatisfaction is needed to develop. I never stop asking myself questions and
looking for problems. I do them in order to love myself more. I
think in order to become better, a person must not be easily satisfied with
himself and love himself more at
the same time.
What
about other people?
I think consideration is very important. Through others’ opinion, you can
prevent harmful situations. Although I can’t do that when arguing about
impossible things, I always put others’ opinion ahead of mine in other
situations. I pretend to not know when they are wrong.
Won’t
you be let down so many times like that? Especially in the entertainment
industry. I have learnt the
trick to not be disappointed by most people. I don’t put any expectation. The
entertainment industry is a business run by lots of people. Because of that, I
think we have to concede and be more considerate when working with others unless
it’s a critical matter. It’s common in this industry that when you don’t hit it
off with someone, you will probably not meet him again. When I particularly
have to express my opinion, I will have to see that person constantly. In that
case, I will express my opinion slowly and little by little to change him.
It
is quite sad that you said you don’t have any expectation so you won’t be
disappointed by others.
I became untrusting of people. It seems like it can’t be helped since I work
surrounded by many people. I recently started living on my own but I didn’t
feel at ease that I couldn’t hire a maid. So, I do all of the house chores by myself. It is
difficult and tiring but I love cleaning, fortunately. I also clean the
bathroom myself. I get on my knees and wipe everything clean happily. I also like shopping so instead of ordering
in, I go to buy food myself. Even though I order in, I will also make some
simple dish.
You
said, “I’m lucky” a lot before this interview. Regardless of all your
weariness, do you always think that your life is lucky? Although I made efforts, I think I got where I
am because of my great luck. There are
more people who are better and hard-working than I am but I managed to be where I am now. There is no other
explanation other than being lucky.
Although
you must have gotten a lot of things, is there anything you are not able to
get? I saw an interview in which you daringly declared your ambition to be an
actor representing Asia in the Hollywood someday. I don’t think that can be achieved with effort
only. The opportunity may someday come if I’m doing well at where I am now. It
would be good if I could achieve that with a good luck, but I will have no
regret otherwise. I would still have the experience of trying my best at my
current position. If we’re talking about dream, I would like to release a solo
album someday.
Is
there any object that you haven’t been able to get yet? Haha, a watch. Since a few years ago, I have
vaguely thought about getting a good watch but I’ve been thinking more about it recently. I have a particular watch
in mind. It comes with a leather band and I really like it. Although it’s not
decorated with diamonds or extremely expensive, it can’t be considered cheap
too. It’s a product of I brand. I’m originally the type to think a lot before
buying stuff. I even spent one and a half year thinking before buying my first
car. Though I spend well on food, I can’t buy things if I don’t really like
them.
So
it is not only a mere money issue when you put on a watch. I heard you’re also outspoken
regarding donations. You must have done a lot more donations without people
knowing, right? As the teaching of Buddhism also
says, I think that people should share (with others) what they have. My mother
also does a lot of good deeds in Thailand. She frequently calls me too. She
would say, "Nichkhun, I went to some hospital and I think they need more
beds." Then, I would answer "I think they do. How about we give them
ten of it?" I do not consider that as a waste of money at all.
