[News trans] FTIsland has taken the place as asia's best hallyu band by debuting in 2007 with 'Love sick' and making many hits such as 'thunder', 'after love', 'love love love', 'severely', 'I wish' etc.

I met FNC Entertainment Han Seong Ho CEO who introduced a new type of idol band amongst the Kpop industry where idol dance groups are the main and produced FTIsland who is the main of the K-band Hallyu wave. I heard from about him about their past, present and about their future.

"I was coming back from a business trip in Japan and saw that the young kids there get loved as a band and lead band music. I thought why don't we have that. Just like how they become dance-singers because of the interest in dancing since young, I produced FTIsland thinking that they will become a band if I train the kids who are interested in musical instruments. I dont know whether I had no fear but I had confidence that they will be '100% success' so I didn't even think about failure."

Just like his confidence, ftisland received explosive love and got 1st at music programs with debut song 'Love sick' for 3 weeks together with their debut. Of course the newcomers awards were theirs. But that period was only for a moment. Ftisland went through big dangerous period with their continuous misfortune. 

"it's hard to get daebak with 1st album but they were doing well with getting 1st for 'Love sick' and 'thunder' continuously. Then because of the weak response for 2nd album, they finished their activities earlier and prepared for drama. But because the drama was suddenly cancelled, there was a unplanned blank period" "After that, there was a member who left and ftisland had to spend the hardest period" while thinking back about that times. 

Because of the great hardship, ftisland's comeback after the long slump gave HSH rep a big touch. 

"Thinking that they won't be able to survive if they don't grab the majority in Asia, we continuously tried to debut overseas, and the result was 1st place once again in Korea with 'love love love', 1st in Japan's oricon chart and the budokan concert really touched me the most. I was confident they will do well but it was really exciting when I saw it happening right in front of my eyes."

They are definitely the best Hallyu band but because FTIsland have the image that they were produced by planning as an idol band, they had to receive a lot of critics on their playing of instruments. Regarding this, Han CEO said "Actually there are critics that say 'they can't play instruments' but they don't think that FTIsland's skills actually deprove" and that "in the case of the drummer Choi Min Hwan, during 1st and 2nd album recording, a famous Japanese artiste praised that 'he has the potential to be top in any country'"

Following that "although the misconception has gone now but in the past broadcast situation where any band could only hand sync, the public only brought up the problem to FTIsland" and that 
"naturally, I think that in order to do a band in Korea, they have to live wearing the clothes of perception. I always tell them that they have to accept it and enjoy it. They will be able to get proper ratings in the future. That's the reason why the members play the instruments themselves during recording even though mo one recognizes them" 

Is it because of this? Responses of people towards FTIsland is changing. Unlike the critical view in the beginning, they are showing responses that they are amazed at how FTIsland's instrumental skills have improved tremendously.

"Many concerts and recordings, I think it's definite that they can only improve because of their hard practice. That has no shortcut or any way back. They had countless towards in Korea of course and also Asia and their skills improved during that. So we have to thank for getting perceptions. If they had no popularity at all, it would have been hard to even have one concert per year."

Although he gives much love to his named 'naughty first son' FTIsland, FTIsland fans show disappointment to HSH CEO for the different treatment with their junior group CNBlue.

Regarding this he says that "There can only be a lot of errors because they are the first of this company. We just added on what was missing from FTIsland during their activities but I think the fans have misunderstood it" and explained that "unlike other artistes, FTIsland wants to be more free and so we let them plan theor concerts themselves. But if there are some parts that are a little insufficient, the fans think that 'the company is not caring for them'"

Since he went through so much to make a successful Hallyu band FTIsland, his goals for them must be big too. But when I asked what is FTIsland's goal, HSH replied unexpectedly that "I want them to do music for a long time".

"Because they are the first band I produced so I think I will be really thankful if they do activities under the name FTIsland for a long time. If they work hard, unlike dance groups, bands can keep performing. So even if they do personal activities in the future, I hope they continue activities as FTIsland."

▶FTIsland's 'Unexpected charm' in HSH ceo's eyes

Lee Hongki="He likes children a lot. To be honest it was quite unexpected. Because he is active and free, I thought he will find children annoying but I was wrong. He complains to me often but the one who plays the best with my child is Hongki. When I see him play with my child, I think that 'he is kind and has the carefreeness and kindness of being able to look at the child's eye level'."

Choi Jonghun="He is really soft and has lots of tears. Jonghun is always the one who cries when they get scolded. When I am scolding, If I see jonghun crying, even though I have some more to scold but he makes me end it quickly."

Lee Jaejin="the fans all know it too but he is always clear about work and play and he knows how to he should act at situations. Unexpectedly, he says what he wants to although he looks like he will listen well. I think he's trying hard to be manly these days. I only saw him as a young boy but sometimes I just think that 'he became a man too.'"

Choi Minhwan="it seems like he will have a lot of aegyo since he is the maknae but he is the most quiet and steady. He keeps his place quietly. He doesn't really have much maknae-like xharaterustucs. If minhwan gets a girl friend in the future, maybe I would get surprised at the different attitude?"

Song Seunghyun="i think he is FTIsland's atmosphere maker. He's very good with making friends. It could have been hard on him for being a new member but I think he has been able to stand it well. He's such a innocent and good kid."
  

        

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