Q: You’ve became 20 last month. What did you do on your birthday?
On my
birthday, I did a fanmeeting with fans and did a birthday party with the members
at the practice room. Then I also did a birthday party with my family. I got to
blow out candles & receive a flower. I blew out birthday cake candles thrice
in a day.
Q: It’s 20th birthday party, there’s no special treat?
I actually like
surprises. It’s kinda fun if we do it with an American style, like when suddenly
all people gather and shout happy birthday to me, I think that would be good.
Instead of just blowing candles and giving presents, I think of the opposite of
it. Of course it’s not that I dislike that obvious kind of birthday party!
Q: You didn’t get any surprise party this time?
I haven’t gotten any, but
I’ve done a surprise party for other member’s birthdays.
Q: When?
It was during Key’s hyung birthday, the hyungs and I acted as if
we were scolding each other. Just in time we’ve acted out scolding atmosphere,
Key hyung didn’t know anything so he just got into the atmosphere too. Suddenly
we shouted “Surprise!” and congratulated him. Key hyung cried. It really cracked
me up. That’s why it still lingers in my mind.
Q: Was that fun?
It was really fun! Ah, last time on my birthday, the
hyungs did a hidden camera to me. But I’ve known it all since the beginning, so
it wasn’t fun at all. That’s not a surprise.
Q: Compared to 19th birthday, the feeling of becoming 20 must be slightly
different. When we become 20, we think of something different. What do you
think, Taemin-sshi?
Really, when I was 19, I’d think a lot of different,
vague expectations when I became 20. I knew that by wearing suits when we are 20
doesn’t mean there is a lot of change. First, the possibility of doing something
legal has become a lot. Like today, it has become feasible that I could do my
own-powerful photoshoot. Compared to the past, I think my appearance now has
slightly lost the baby fat in me. My personality has also changed. Not sensibly,
but very gradually.
Q: Because we only see the younger one in SHINee, it wasn’t suitable to call
him a man, but Taemin-sshi has already grown up slightly.
“Becoming a man”
and “man” doesn’t match (laugh) (t/n: he joked that the meaning is
different)
Q: Until now, your boy aura is still strong.
Is that so? I actually don’t
know. But fans still say so.
Q: You came to this studio right after you were from Japan right? Come to
think of it, it’s indeed Taemin who’s the only one person among all of the busy
20 year old people in this world.
Me? No I’m not (laugh). I’m just busier
than other people who are the same age as me… But because I’ve lived my life
like this since young, I haven’t thought that it’s particularly busy.
Q: You’ve debuted for 4 years, yet you haven’t gotten any rest?
When I
don’t have any local activities, there will be overseas activities so I’ve got
to practice. I’ve debuted since I was young, so I’ve expected earlier that I’d
be this busy. I don’t have any pressure or find it difficult because I’ve known
it since the start.
Q: If that so, you were such a mature primary student. That you’ve even
figured out all of this before debut!
It’s because I’ve heard a lot from the
hyungs or the noonas talking about the hardships when I was a trainee. So, I go
to practice during break days. It’s not a difficult thing. I just think that
it’s reasonable and interesting. Only taking a break is what fans and I think
that it’s not a thing I can do. That’s why I can’t take a break, and there’s no
reason to complain. I prefer to think of being more diligent. That’s a must.
Q: I’ve heard that you have this aptitude since young. How did you have this
confidence?
I’ve put a lot of interest in dancing since when I was 2nd or 3rd
grade. A person who dances on music broadcasts looks really cool so I want to
work on something that has relation to it (dancing). It was fun to follow the
dance, I thought of going for auditions when I got the chance. I’ve never dreamt
of doing something else. Because I was pretty sure that it was my way.
Q: You’ve debuted when you were 15, and you’ve became the trainee since you
were in elementary, so the period wasn’t short. Did you have any goal to aim as
you debuted that time?
The goal of the rookie award, but I’ve already
achieved that. It was fortunate. After receiving a rookie award stand the goal
by stages. I keep making challenging goals. Winning music dae-sangs, trying to
do acting, I also want to do musicals. There’s also a spot in my heart that I
also want to be a singer-songwriter. I also have interest in all art activities
which didn’t have anything to do with the fine of arts.
Q: What’s with arts?
I seriously can’t draw. Hahaha.
Q: But you really want to do an acting challenge?
Maybe. I’m practicing it
right now. At first, I can’t handle this huge greed. I want to play the role
which has a similar character with mine, and the character which is in contrary
with mine.
Q: What kind of character that’s different from Taemin-sshi’s
image?
Somehow everyone expects my bright, always cheerful, and maknae-like
image. On the other hand, I want to try the contrary image like, serious,
solemn, and so on? Exactly like Im Geum-nim.
Q: Im Geum-nim? Are you talking
about Hwon’s image from
?
Yes. Him! But I
think it doesn’t suit me for now. That’s why I want to try challenging it. I
want to show my solemn image and my capability to be suitable to it.
Q: Do you have any life goal of being 20?
As the time passes, It’s not
that I have lived my life for a long time, time seems to pass by really fast. If
I look back at what I’ve done for 4 years, I think there are so many things I’ve
accomplished, and also the things I couldn’t do. So, I feel that I have to make
up my mind for becoming 20. I’m living the life that’s leaving trace, yet I
still don’t know how to resolve it.
Q: Today was your first time doing a photoshoot and interview all alone after
you debuted as SHINee, right? Hyungs weren’t here so you had to do all the
things by yourself, how do you feel?
I feel more relaxed, like it’s my world.
I feel relaxed on the inside too. Hahaha, I want to be alone everyday.
Q: Hahaha
That was just a joke. If the hyungs were here, the atmosphere at
the studio would be better.
Q: Taemin-sshi, is it a good thing that you’ve grown older?
Of course it
is. You know, it’s only not good because I can’t reserve the bad things?
It
seems that the moments all are about happiness. So I think growing up isn’t a
bad thing. As I’m growing older, I just want to stretch out the good lives. Ah,
there’s also a bad point at the same time.
Q: What is it?
Lately, Key hyung likes to apply an eye cream to me. He’s
been staring at me until there was wrinkles around my eyes. If I say no he would
insist, possibly because I don’t even know how to put an eye cream.
Source/Credit: NYLON Magazine
Korean – English Translation: minhogoon @
livejournal.com