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[ENG TRANS] W Korea June 2020 Issue - Shownu & Kihyun Interview

Monsta X is one of the K-Pop groups that challenge themselves in the US market. They left out the typical K-Pop style that the US know. Now before the promotion of their new album in Korea, it seems like they can warm up, radiate and do as they please.  We met Shownu and Kihyun in the silence before condensed energy explode.

Monsta X's new album will come out in May. I heard you adjusted your comeback schedule for a bit.

KIHYUN: Compared to the first plan, we have more time so I think this is the chance to maintain our body condition carefully. From what I hear, if the idol who dances a lot grows older, some parts of their body will become hurt. I'm taking care of my body condition while preparing for the solo dance.

Solo dance? Main vocalist Kihyun does a solo dance?

KIHYUN: Seems like our choreography teacher too keeping the surprise in mind (laughed). "Kihyunnie, your singing skill is outstanding and you can dance, but this is the time to show more impressive things," said the choreographer while making my solo dance part. I practiced until dawn every day.

For Shownu who's good at performance more than anyone, you must be proud of Kihyun.

SHOWNU: Well, I don't think I can look at someone proudly (laughed). Rather than that, I think it's important to think, "Does he look so great." While watching him on music video filming, he's cool. Actually rather than solo dance, it's hard to fill in the atmosphere and that part alone. But Kihyun drove the atmosphere.

KIHYUN: Even though the time itself isn't long when I perform that part, there's no one on the stage but myself. Since it's the moment that I feel alone, the members are supporting me so I can finish it well.

You held 25 shows in the 20 cities over the world for the world tour, did the "Jingle Ball" tour in 6 US cities with 120,000 audiences, ranked no.1 in Oricon Chart Japan, and entered no 5 in Billboard 200 US. Monsta X's global leap is ongoing. You actively released songs in the US last year, how was the experience?

KIHYUN: At the start, we were so worried. Until we released the English album "All About Luv" in the US, we've released several singles last year. But we almost didn't do any performance and we promoted with the atmosphere that was close to pop. We stood on the stage while holding a standing mic, and performed gently without powerful dance.

When Monsta X debuted for the first time, I thought, "That's why their team name was Monster," while looking at your performance's energy, what is the reason why you can't show that power in the US market?

KIHYUN: I think we showed many signature performances of us while promoting, also we wanted to show the proper appearance of "singer". In the consultation process with a US company, we thought we already introduced our "K-Pop" like aside in the US. Luckily, the songs are amazing, and it was nice when the audiences were singing along because all the lyrics are in English. It was a new experience to be connected with the song even without the fierce performance.

While gaining performance experiences and doing tours, is there any special feeling that is different from before?

SHOWNU: Even though it's difficult to express it in detail, the experiences that make us feel the sense of accomplishment on the stage increased. We learn little by little about what we should do to feel accomplished.

What do you do to feel a sense of accomplishment?

SHOWNU: We showed the same performance's theme in the end under the name tour in various places, even though the change that we did was only a slightly different gesture, but we enjoyed the fans' reactions very much.

KIHYUN: Well, even though we only changed something very slightly, the fans knew it. In my case, Monsta X is known as the group who produced "the music that I look at and enjoy to", even the word "music that I listen to" makes me proud. We usually have energetic and passionate music in our album, and we pursue "variety" because sometimes we mix that music with gentle music too and we have a composition in the album. In the US, we have albums that are only full of rhythmical with no excessive music color, so we thought, "Will this one do?" But it received a great response.

Usually, when we try something, we use the method that we are very good at or take the thing that feels familiar. Instead of showing their strength with their powerful or visual performance while debuting in the US, Monsta X chose brave choice by showing us "another side of Monsta X".

KIHYUN: We heard people saying that "Now Monsta X's influence overseas is so big, but why is their influence in Korea isn't that big?". For us now, rather than something like influence or recognition, we're focusing more on the satisfaction of the final result from our music. Of course, we want to achieve great results in Korea as well.

What is the vibe of your soon to be released album "Fantasia X"?

SHOWNU: We included various songs, such as exciting songs, calm songs, rhythmic songs, etc. The scale is way bigger than the style we always show you before.

If you had to point out the starting point of Monsta X's level up after debut when was it?

KIHYUN: I think when we were promoting the song called "Dramarama"? It was at the end of 2017. Also after the first world tour. Those two moments.

SHOWNU: I think the same thing too. We went up for a bit starting from "The Code" album that includes "Dramarama" in it.

Since the first world tour in 2017, you moved around the globe evenly from Asia, the US, France, Germany, Russia, until South America. What made the audience interested to go to Monsta X concert venue?

KIHYUN: Before going, I imagined that there would be many Koreans, who live overseas, coming to the concert. But I was so surprised when I saw 99% of the audience were locals. First, the popularity of Korea and Hallyu itself played a role in it. Because Hallyu became very popular, people from each country watch YouTube, which provides many Monsta X's videos. Inside the big range called Hallyu and K-Pop, we become known. And those who learned about us, get to know that we're okay so when they heard that we came, "Monsta X came here, let's go to their concert!" I think that's the order.

There are many amazing and talented K-Pop musicians. What is Monsta X's biggest weapon that stands out from the rest?

SHOWNU: Passion!

There's no K-Pop group who doesn't have passion, don’t they? (Laughed)

SHOWNU: Even so our team's passion is amazing.

KIHYUN: There are many people who said, "This is the first time I've watched a fun concert like this among idol group concerts". Trust us!

Since his early debut, Shownu is popular for his performance and charisma. Kihyun is fully qualified as the main vocalist, he even challenged himself to do a solo dance (laughed). How about both of you praise each other with nice things?

KIHYUN: Ah, for hyung it's his "physical". Even our dancer friends said, "I want to try dancing with Shownu's body," (laughed). Whether his body is great or not, he's a cool person who's born with that type of body. Shownu's body proportions, the length of his arms that he has even make the dancers want to dance in his body, so I think he really owns a very great physical.

SHOWNU: If I talk about Kihyun, his singing live skill is well known. If you watch him from the side, he's a proper and good person. There's a secure feeling coming from there.

How is Shownu's dance from Kihyun's POV who's dancing is coming at its peak currently?

KIHYUN: Only people who know understand this, but at some point hyung's dancing style changed. Even when urban dance, which emphasized feeling rather than angle, was trending for a whale, hyung didn't get into the trend and kept his own style that emphasized the heaviness and angle. However, at one point, he started to learn fast and nimble style. Among us, we call the calm and quick feeling as chobchob (laughed). When I saw it from the monitor, the dance became more lively because the chobchob vibe that moves quickly, and hyung changes because of his effort.

SHOWNU: I really like to eat and I'm easy to gain weight. For the sake of dance style too, I have to pay attention to weight loss and when I lose it I have to manage it.

There's a cover song video of Kihyun singing "Believer". You just uploaded it for a month but it's already gained 1,5M views. Did you imagine the response would be this big?

KIHYUN: Not at all! I was amazed when the member of Imagine Dragons liked the cover, even other artist commented on my cover. I wanted to try singing it for once since I like rock or energetic types of music.

Shownu mentioned Kihyun's live skill, is it Kihyun's weapon?

KIHYUN: Actually, I'm afraid whenever we release an album. About how hard the live performance would be. What if my lungs burst open, I even almost collapsed a few times on the stage. But I will go until the end. Even if I faint on stage, I want to finish the performance well until the end. I'm confident.

What is the part of your personality that you like and which part you don't?

SHOWNU: I'm an easy-going person. I like that personality of mine. But am I not being open enough, I actively move my body but my personality itself isn't cheerful. I think I don't have to be a lively person since the members cover up the part I'm lacking, but if I become a bit more lively, it won't be bad, right.

KIHYUN: Shownu hyung is a very active person. He likes people, even though we can't do it currently, but he likes going around to eat delicious food. But I don't like the feeling when that kind of person suddenly becomes cheerful. But that doesn't mean he's a quiet person. If we talk about someone who moves a lot like hyung, their personality might be similar to Minhyuk. Ah, between our members, there's someone called Minhyuk. Minhyuk is very...

Minhyuk, I know. I'm thinking of finding Minhyuk's video who's talking anything in this deadline period when I feel weak and low spirited.

KIHYUN: The amazing thing is that Minhyuk isn't an active person. But when he's together with someone, he becomes very cheerful and talks a lot. Meanwhile, Shownu hyung likes to meet people but when he meets someone, compared to Minhyuk, he gives a different vibe.

So he's usually the type of person who "Either moves the body or moves the mouth". Kihyun, what do you think about your personality?

KIHYUN: I like that I'm a passionate person. I'm the type of person who runs to work when he starts something and finishes it. What I dislike from my personality is that I'm overthinking. Since I was a child  when I did something, I prepared the worst scenario first in my head. This is not a good habit. Since I'm worried about the scene that hasn't happened yet. Recently, however, I've become better. This is my flaw. That's why I like the style of a person who passes the situation well like hyung.

What do you want to say to yourself when you were still a trainee?

KIHYUN: There's a good story with the seniors. Sistar noona, K.Will hyung who passed by in the company too said, "That time was a good time". Since it's good, enjoy it more, practice a lot, those are good sentences but..I like my current situation more (laughed). That's why I want to say this. A life that is well-off and more satisfying will come.

SHOWNU: "Practice hard, take care of your health when you're healthy."

Shownu spent his daily life as a swimming athlete in his childhood, it seems like since that time you started to be a sincere and diligent person.

SHOWNU: It's a bit weird to be called a swimming athlete since I swam only in elementary school (laughed). It's like male idols who learned taekwondo in their childhood.

KIHYUN: Hyung is way more sincere recently than in the past. He originally wasn't this sincere, though? But as time goes by, he takes care of himself and tries to live regularly.

I just watched one variety a few years ago where Shownu experienced hypnosis. I don't know how it feels to experience past life and death, but when the hypnotist asked, "What is the thing you realized through suffering and death?", you said without hesitation, "We can't make enemies."

SHOWNU: In the dreaming like condition, I went like what the teacher told me and some particular scenes kept unfolding. That was the first time in my life to say don't make any enemy and I was surprised as well. Maybe I keep thinking about it in my unconscious mind.

But as a person who doesn't talk much, you speak up your mind immediately that time, though? The hypnotist asked, "Idol world is a tough competition, all of them are enemies, aren't they?" Again these words made the atmosphere down. "That's good competition, right."

KIHYUN: Hyung is that kind of person. He hates very much the uncomfortable feeling due to human relationships.

Do you have any interest recently besides music?

SHOWNU: The new album that will be released soon! Also the 5th anniversary with Monbebe. We put a lot of attention since it's been a long time since we released an album. We got a lot of attention for our album that we released in the US and Japan, so we can't feel burdened regarding our Korean album this time. I want to enjoy the Korean promotion together with Monbebe happily.

KIHYUN: Because hyung already told us about the most important story, then for me it's "photo" (laughed). I opened an exhibition too and I enjoy taking pictures of the members. I left it last year but recently I bought a Leica Q2. I started with Leica D-lux then changed to Canon. I received the voting suggestions for Monbebe and Leica was leading the poll. That day I went straight to the store and purchased it.

Before promotion for this album, do you have any target or wish?

KIHYUN: Recently, the only way to meet fans is through online events. While doing that, I feel that as a singer we gain energy from the audiences who are there right in front of our eyes. Looking at fans, performing while going to the front of the audience seat is an absolute job for us but because the world changed and made us unable to do it, I felt different feelings. Rather than having a target, I hope we can resume the activity when we're able to get in contact with people faster.

SHOWNU: Same with me. I want to meet the fans quickly.

Source: W Korea website

English translation: Tim @yookiihyun 

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[ENG TRANS] Monsta X @Star1 Magazine November 2019 Issue Interview - FOLLOW, MONSTA X!

Monsta X met their overseas fans in 20 cities all over the world and wrapped up their third world tour successfully. The group finished the tour after five months and start to do their Korean promotion in full-scale. Monsta X is settling down as global idol through their big international fandom and their collaboration with famous international artists, such as wi..i.am, French Montana, and Steve Aoki. The expectation towards their constant growth and leap is increasing, as a group who broaden their stage to worldwide from Korea. Monsta X, who will start Korean promotion this winter after eight months, will show their improvement through their new mini album “FOLLOW : FIND YOU”.

How does it feel doing a photoshoot together with all members?

Minhyuk: We think it’s more fun and joyful because it’s been a long time since we shot a beauty pictorial together like this, beside jacket album photoshoot.

As beauty models, it looks like you prepared a lot so that the picture for the beauty pictorial comes out well.

Minhyuk: Because we are beauty models, we did many experiments so that our beauty pictorial will come out well. Basically, we pay attention to our skincare routine and looking at the other pictorials as reference for the sake of looking good visually. If we go to the studio for the photoshoot after learning for a bit, we’re able to show the pose more naturally in the studio.

You guys are active as beauty models, is there any Monsta X’s only secret method to take care of your skin at the change of season?

Minhyuk: The very first thing that happens in change of seasons is everyone’s skins become rough and dry. So we pay attention to the basics a lot. Especially, we apply moisturizer cream very carefully. Sometimes before sleep or when we wake up in the morning, we put on peel-off mask while moisturizing our skin. We spray mist occasionally while working to keep our skin moisturized. 

I.M: I’m the type of person who drinks a lot of water. It’s a fact that if you drink enough water, your skin would feel less dry. Also, even on days when we don’t have any schedule and our face is free from makeup, I always apply sunscreen. Even though the recent weather is cool, the sunlight is still hot so we need sunscreen. 

You’re going to have a comeback soon. You might feel nervous since it’s your Korean comeback after a long time, are you fully prepared for it?

Hyungwon: We anticipate it a lot since we will release a new album after 8 months. So we prepared a lot to show people our good side. It’d be nice if you are looking forward to our comeback. Wonho, Jooheon, and I.M’s self-composed songs are included in this album. Wonho’s self-composed song, “MIRROR”, is the song that he and Shownu performed on the recent world tour stage as a unit. I think fans would anticipate this song so much since this time we prepare it as the song that’s being sung by seven people. Shownu participated in writing the lyrics so it adds more meaning to the song.  Also, people will be able to enjoy the album more if they focus to learn the genre of “SEE YOU AGAIN”, Jooheon’s self-composed song, who previously showed various genre of music, and the charms from I.M’s self-composed song, “U R”, after the release of “MOHAE” that he composed in last year album. 

Shownu: Especially the title song “FOLLOW”, you can feel other different charms from Monsta X’s music up until now. The existing powerful vibe of Monsta X meets with a special sound and becomes a song with such a unique color. Besides, it’s certain that if you watch the stage together, you might enjoy Monsta X-like-style with your heart content. We finished our world tour and prepared the album so I felt the development of all the members.

You guys just wrapped up your world tour and prepared the album and it seems like we can feel the members’ development.

I.M: I think it’s true that various experiences allow for broad growth. While doing multiple overseas activities including world tour, I get to feel and learn many things. As we meet Monbebes from many countries, I get the feeling that there are so many people who love us. As much as my gratefulness for them, they make me determined to work hard to show them the good side of me in the future. Of course there are many people whom we haven’t met yet, we have to work hard so we can visit more countries, that goal becomes the stepping stone for our growth. Those reasons helped me a lot to think positively when we make a new album. Working together with international artists for our album influenced me a lot as well. The artists who receive so much love from all over the world like Steve Aoki, French Montana, and will.i.am, pouring great amounts of efforts and passions towards their own music. While watching them closely beside them, I think I know the direction Monsta X will take to move forward in the future. Even though I gained the lesson of musical skills, it went beyond that and made my thoughts about music get stronger. 

You’re receiving so much love from overseas. What is the secret of your global popularity? 

Jooheon: Actually since there are so many seniors who receive so much love from all over the world, it’s a big exaggeration to talk about the secret of our global popularity. But I think the reason why global audiences show their  interest in us is maybe because Monsta X’s music concept or visual. Monsta X is the group with the explosive energy on stage, that’s our attractive point. Our music colour is strong and the performance is powerful so when the fans see us, they’d think, ‘it’s so cool, the stage is full of fun’. Also in visual aspect, because we have solid and sexy vibe, that might be the reason why people love Monsta X.

What is Monsta X’s only method to overcome fatigue, since you guys frequently do world tours?

Wonho: When we are overseas, if the condition is okay, we go to good local restaurants and eat delicious food. It is one of our methods to relieve fatigue. Even though we can’t visit multiple places due to limited time, at least we go to one famous local restaurant and eat popular food. When we do that, it feels like we came for a trip and we feel happy. Also for me and Shownu’s case, we overcome our fatigue by going to the gym and working out.  But the most joyful method to heal the fatigue for us is communicating with Monbebe through live broadcast. Even when we’re overseas, we meet our fans by turning on the live broadcast at least 3-4 times a week. When talking with fans, even though I felt a bit tired or exhausted, those feelings disappeared, it’s so fun.

Are there any charms from each member that you want to take away from?

Kihyun→Wonho: When people think about Wonho hyung, mostly start to think about his muscular and sturdy body and also his work out hobby. But I hope people know that there are so many talents in him. You might already know if you listen to b-side tracks in Monsta X’s albums, there are many easy listening self-composed songs that Wonho hyung produced. The charm I want to take away from him is his skill of producing songs that are full of emotions. 

Wonho→ Kihyun: Kihyun has outstanding vocal and musical skill, but even without those skills, there are so many things that he is good at. For example, since his body balance is so great, when he does sport, he always wins. So even if he doesn’t sing and does things toward sports or physical education, he’ll be great.

Minhyuk→I.M: In front of the hyungs, I.M has energetic and cute appeals, yet on normal days, like when he works on his music or in daily life, he shows sensitive and genuine charms. I think I.M makes people feel at ease since he shows a calm and honest vibe. So I really like his naively honest side that everyone wants to be with.

I.M→Minhyuk: I like Minhyuk hyung’s ability to judge and understand something in a flash. When some problems occur, he grasps the situation quickly and he makes good decisions since he understands the situation.  We trust and follow those decisions as well. Also, he makes people around him feel delighted because of his cheerful and very bright personality.   

Shownu→Hyungwon: Hyungwon is very honest and has deep thoughts. So when we tell him about our worries, he listens well since he focuses on our story, and he gives suitable and wise answers for our worries. We lean on him a lot whenever we worry about something. He’s a friend who has unexpected charms since he is very bold and generous.  

Hyungwon→Jooheon: Jooheon has a personality that makes people around him happy. Because he is always smiling brightly and full of explosive great energy, he draws in a lively atmosphere whenever he goes. Also since he has good social skills, he approaches everyone in a friendly way and embraces those people well.

Jooheon→Shownu: Usually Shownu hyung is a trustworthy and honest person, but he’s also a witty and fun hyung. He has various charms, of course. Because he has warm nature, I think he makes people feel comfortable around him. That’s why it’s so nice being next to him. 

As a group of seven people with various personalities and charms, is there any hidden hobby you want to recommend to one another?

Kihyun→ Wonho: Hobby I want to recommend to Wonho hyung is rock climbing! His physical strength is already good by nature and since he likes physical strength, I think it'll be good for him. Also I want to go to a ski resort together with all members. It’ll be so fun if all of us gather together and ski.

Wonho→ Kihyun: I want to recommend surfing to Kihyun. Because both of us like active sports, I think it will be so great to go to the beach together, surf and eat delicious food.

Minhyuk→ I.M: I.M is good at speaking by nature and his English is great, too, so he has many cases of becoming our representative when we do overseas activity. Based on that, I think speech academy would be fun for him and it matches him well.

I.M→ Minhyuk: I want to recommend swimming to Minhyuk hyung. First, it’s counted as sport, and it’s a hobby that you can do constantly without minding the weather so even when we do our overseas schedule, he can keep doing it, that’s why I recommend swimming.

Shownu→ Hyungwon: I want to recommend jazz dance to Hyungwon. It might look awkward at first, but since he’s tall and has a good proportion, I think he’d look cool if he did jazz dance.

Hyungwon→ Jooheon: Because in daily life I like playing games and enjoying it so much, I think about how I do it together with Jooheon. It will be a nice hobby if we play it while relieving our stress and eating good food.

Jooheon→ Shownu: I want to go to an exhibition with Shownu hyung. Recently there are so many exhibitions, I think it’ll be fun if I silently go there with Shownu hyung, view various artworks and share related stories about them together!

The hardest point in a busy schedule like yours is to synchronize different opinions from the members. How do you guys solve the disagreement or to reach an agreement over a conflict?

Kihyun: At first, of course there are many conflicting opinions since we’re close in age and we always together in most of the schedules. At that time, we told and held conversation with each other openly, we shared about our struggles. I think because the members are not the type of person who scare of telling their honest feeling, it was easy to chat with them. Actually, from my opinion, in reality the only way to solve it is to meet and have conversations with the related person face-to-face. Come to think of it, now we harmonize our opinions naturally even when our opinions clash, based on the times we spent together. We knew about each other very well, so when one member has an opinion, we can sense roughly what the other members think of it. Now we’re very comfortable with each other.

One of Monsta X’s distinct charms is ‘masculine beauty’. You guys have sturdy body from working out so we can’t take out the masculine charm out of Monsta X, but what makes Monsta X more masculine?

Jooheon: Actually, Monsta X is closer to ‘intense wild beauty’ than masculine beauty’. I think the sexy and charismatic side of Monsta X stands out in our  music and visual, also highlighting that appeal. On the stage of our recent songs like ‘Shoot Out’ and ‘Alligator’, the members perform while paying attention to everything such as the gaze or choreography details. Those parts create an intense and wild vibe.

Shownu: We have many charms aside those mentioned. People might know by watching our special stage or concert that we can perform a groovy and dreamy vibe or sweet and soft image. So I hope people will remember Monsta X as the group who can absorb various concepts. 

We want to hear your plan for future activity or for the rest of the year

Wonho: I hope we can promote the soon-to-be-released “FOLLOW : FIND YOU” album successfully. Also after this, we will cooperate for the “Jingle Ball Tour” in the US in December for two consecutive years. So I wish we work hard together with the fans with great stage and nobody gets hurt in “Jingle Ball” concert until year-end stages.

What is your goal for  future activity?

All: We hope we can wrapped up this year well and pay back our fans who wait long with great promotion because it’s been a long time since we comeback with new album in Korea. In 2020, we want to show our cool, more various, and unexpected side of us, including overseas activity. Last year, when we talked about our goals for 2019, none of the members were able to imagine all the great things we achieved this year. We only talked about doing our best and working hard. But since many things came true, we’re praying those aspirations that are beyond our expectation and mind will come true in 2020 as well.

What is the thing you want to say to local and international Monbebes who always support you?

All: We think all of Monsta X’s happiness is made by Monbebe. We hope we can be together with Monbebe for a long time while leaning on Monbebe, sometimes as friends, family, or  loved one like now, no matter where you are and what kind of person you are. We always feel thankful and love you always.

Korean to English translated by: Tim (@yookiihyun)