[TRANS] Kim Junsu's interview with Choson Ilbo: “Hyung Army” at my show, I was surprised.

Original musical ‘December’ (script and direction by Jang Jin), which debuted last month, was the hottest topic of the performance world in 2013 as it is entirely made up of Kim Kwangsuk’s songs and features JYJ member, Kim Junsu (XIA Junsu, 27). Initial expectations weren’t the best and the awkwardness of ‘an idol singing Kim Kwangsuk songs’ caused people to think that it would be hard for the musical to be successful. However, success was secured when the 30 Seoul performances sold out 85% of total seats in just the pre-order stage, and the musical will resume in Busan starting February 7th. Kim Junsu’s ‘ticket power’ is clearly visible. On December 24th, I met with him at the Sejong Cultural Center.

“I was surprised when I suddenly heard the loud laughter of ajusshis. It’s the first time I’ve heard something like this in a show I’m doing.” He laughed when I said, “I can see that there are a lot of middle-aged people over their 50s in ‘December’”. Even though memories of Kim Kwangsuk have an effect, people willing to purchase tickets up to 140,000 KRW (approximately $140 USD) would be rare if rumors that “Kim Junsu won’t be in it” spread.

(I = Interviewer; KJS = Kim Junsu)

I: The two prominent actors known for their ticket power are you and Jo Seungwoo. It must have been a risk for you to jump into an unproven and original musical…

KJS: After hearing Kim Kwangsuk’s unreleased song ‘December’, I shuddered and decided that I must perform in this musical. Isn’t this giving back to the musical world, which gave me the chance to sing again, with what I do well? There were no reference videos, so I had to continuously devise my movements and my tone of voice. The hardest thing was the dialogues.”

I: Since you debuted in 2010 with ‘Mozart!’ you mainly performed in ‘song-through’ (only songs) musicals, but there is a lot of dialogue this time. Intonations are distinctive and has a distinctive feel of sincerity.

KJS: Actually, I limited myself in thinking ‘If I can, I will try acting in the future’ but this time that thought is shattered. I gathered the courage to try so I think I’ve gotten a bit more confident. Although my voice the best, I will continue this way in the future.”

I: Do you feel unfamiliar with the emotions of the early 1990s?

KJS: Falling in love at first sight and stealing glances on the rooftop is a foreign feeling. Nowadays people quickly meet through Kakao Talk and break up right? But after plunging into the emotions of that era through Kim Kwangsuk’s songs, I understood that those were actions that came from true sincerity.

I: When you sing ‘Love that is too painful was not love (너무 아픈 사랑은 사랑이 아니었음을)” at the end of Part 1, you received the loudest applause. I could see that you were completely immersed in emotions.

KJS: I’ve thought of controlling my emotions and showing fake emotions instead, but I could not stand in front of the audience and do that. It’s a song that I sing after speaking to a dead person. I poured 100% of my emotions out and sang while crying. I become exhausted to the point that it’s hard to stand up sometimes.

I: It must’ve been hard for you to act as a man in his 40s for the second half as well.

KJS: It really wasn’t an easy feat so I thought of some ideas. I acted childish like I was in my 10s in the first half when I am 25 so in the second half, I looked more mature. The drinking scene in the second half was also tough since I never drank alcohol in reality. In the end, we cut out the drinking scene.

I: Between now and the golden days of TVXQ, when were you happier?

KJS: Now. In the past, I felt like I was living TVXQ’s life and not mine. Now it’s obvious that the audience is supporting me, who is standing on the stage. Musicals are extremely alluring and addictive.

His group, JYJ, has been blocked from broadcasts after leaving TVXQ in a conflict with their previous agency, and the situation is the same today. I asked him, ‘Even so, do you still want to appear on broadcasts?” He did not hide his feelings and said, “I really want to.”

Source: http://news.nate.com/view/20140127n01311

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