Was Kim Heechul like this at first? Previously, she laughed easily, spoke in a high tone, answered a lot of words to every question, and acted nice and kind to everyone like this? Our trip to Singapore with 'Kind Heechul-ssi' starts now. - -Contributing Editor Im Kyung Mi
How do you feel after coming back from the army? It's been a while since you last took a photo shoot, it must be completely different? Ah… I still feel confused, and I like everything. I can't say if we're in Korea, overseas, or in space, since I've only been in the hotel so far, but I'm glad to have time to relax like this. In the past when I did a photo shoot, I found it hard to smile, Now I find it hard not to smile. But I don't know when I can turn stiff.
You seem to be really enjoying your schedule in Singapore.
I'm so happy to have this kind of time. The staffs work well with me too. I like everything except a little rain. It's been so long, so I thought it would take a long time, but it ended really quickly. I thought 'Ah, right. I'm Kim Heechul. I did (the photo shoot) really well. Why am I worried? 'And I feel relieved. Ha ha ha. I'm really happy, so I can smile a lot, relax, and talk a lot.
You've been to (Singapore) many times for concerts, but how does it feel to be here without members? Do you feel more relaxed?
I think this is the first time I can really experience Singapore. When we come to a concert, we can only go to the concert venue and (the hotel). Yesterday I went to an amusement park. I realized for the first time how great Singapore is. And another thing that's different from the past, when I heard that fans were waiting for me at the airport, I really wanted to see them. I was so excited to know that I could see them meet and welcome me. I said, “I want to at least see their faces”, and the manager hyung was really taken aback. In the past, I really hated it when my clothes were torn and my hair was pulled, and felt it was too much. I didn't know I would miss my fans' greetings. I guess you really only seek water when you are thirsty. I feel it again,I have to get attention to live. That's Kim Heechul.
The tone you use to conduct interviews has gone up high. Does your throat hurt? It's okay to speak softly.
I'm fine now. I'm (speaking in a high tone) because I like it, so don't try to stop my desire. Ha ha ha.
Already released from the army. Wow, time flies. But I hear you get angry when you hear people talk about it?
Ah, seriously! I thought the time from our debut to (before enlistment) passed quickly, but why won't 2 years in the fast-flow service army ~
Are you waiting for the day of your discharge by crossing out the date with an 'X' on the calendar? Ai ~ I don't want to do sad things like that. Hehe
You looked really happy on your discharge day with your honor in your hand.
I was sent to public service due to an injury from a car accident, but I know that public service, as a celebrity, will not receive this kind of input. I thought I shouldn't be proud and excited, and wanted to leave quietly. So I'll do simple greetings to fans and reporters there and go. But… It was the first certificate of appreciation I received in my life, so I thought I wasn't able to control my emotions. It was literally the first time I had received a certificate of appreciation. I don't know I'm smiling. I look at the pictures, and think “Is this really me? 'Because I smile a lot.
It's been a long time since your debut. Do you feel that things have changed since your debut?
It's been about 10 years since my debut, and I've seen things change like my skin color and facial expressions. I feel the years when I look at old photos. To be honest… I thought I was cooler in the past.
How do you spend your time while serving in the military?
I haven't thought about accomplishing anything or doing anything in 2 years. I hear other people trying to read a lot, or trying to get a license. I'm just doing my best to stay out of sight, and not cause any trouble. The truth does not change, "If you stay silent, you will at least get the middle position". I followed the phrase (not to stand out) and wore a regular T-shirt and jeans, and used the metro to go to work / return home.
It must be hard to hide your talent. You're a celebrity because you have lots of talents. Do you usually live with the 'celebrity mindset'?
Since the past, I thought 'it's okay to do anything, as long as you act within the bounds of “Law”. “I have debuted as an idol, and am a handsome pin up idol. Ha ha ha. And that truth will not change. It's not like I'm hugging and kissing my girlfriend in front of fans, or getting drunk and creating distractions. I try to live happily as I can, while keeping my boundaries. I have a rule for myself, not to do anything that will not be accepted in Korea. I didn't think “This is acceptable in the United States, why not in Korea? ". So people who have met me must be surprised and say "You are really the same as the one on TV."
What did you learn while in the military? Do you spend time thinking about which area you want to explore next, or what kind of celebrity do you want to be?
In one sentence, "Not falling in love with my job". In the past, if someone came to me and asked me to sign while I was eating, I would be angry and would leave in the middle of my meal. Then complained, “There is a saying that 'Even dogs don't get touched when they eat'” But my mind changed after meeting many people at the county office, and taking pictures and signing for them. Little things for me can be forever cherished memories for them. It was also difficult in the past to go on programs where I had to communicate with people. Now, I find it easier to talk to people, and I've grown friendly. These days, the internet is so advanced that it's hard to have a 'mystical' image. So I also thought about how I should become a celebrity who can communicate well with the public. And I'm not the type to plan and prepare in advance. I just do my best at every moment.
You have a lot of fans. Did they keep following you when you enlisted?
While I was in the army, I lived while having the thought of being a 'celebrity' out of my mind. I left and came back from work by metro too. I went to bed at 11, and got up at 7:00 am to take Line 2 at Konkuk. Pass Sungsu, TtokSum, HanYangDae station arrive at WangShipLee station. And 3 minutes walk from the station is where the Sungdong district office is. I go to work every day around the same time. I'm never late. Because I continued to live like a normal person, I joined normal people and continued to live like one. Of course, I'm careful not to cause trouble for the district office. I don't have any activities except for the radio at the district office, and it's been a while since I deleted my twitter. I think I did well to delete them when I registered. It's too hard to receive too much attention online, so I have no regrets about deleting it. So I asked the fans who (came to the sub-district office) not to come. Our fans are listening very well. After that, they stopped coming. I'm really grateful for their consideration.
I heard the fans listen to you because you are scary?
Aigo, where do you hear strange things like that? Really, fast travel news.
Have you ever watched other artists' stages when you were in the army?
I wasn't interested in other artists when I was (active as a celebrity before the army), and I'm still the same. (When I was doing activities before going to the military), I only monitored my performances. And while I was in the army, I was living under a regular schedule, so I didn't have time to grow interested (in other artists). But I do know some girl group songs. Why are the Nine Muses dolls so good? Songs, concepts. That is the best.
performs Nine Muses and you match. Ha ha ha. By the way, when you see a new idol, do you feel pressured?
No, I sometimes envy their young age, but sometimes I feel sorry watching them debut at such a young age. When I was at school, I had done part-time work, been hit by teachers, and went out with friends. Those happiness you can only feel in a few years that student is precious. Going through the years without meaningful memories. Because of the energy I received at that time, I could be immature, perfect to become a celebrity. Aren't celebrities boring when they grow up? Lee Soo Man knew what I was thinking, so he told me "We don't have to do anything because he picks up and walks by himself, so just leave him (to do what he wants)." I'm immature, but mature enough not to cause trouble.
Are you promising yourself something while counting down to your release day? I just thought more about how I should be careful. "I shouldn't have caused trouble until the day I was released." I didn't feel any pressure to 'achieve' something before being released, but I felt anxious because I wanted to work right away. I didn't know it would be hard to be able to do something I love for 2 years. While living normally, the inside of my heart feels empty.
As you age, you will reach the limit of doing activities as 'Super Junior'. You're in your 30s now. Do I look like I was in my 30s? Ah, I don't want to think about age. I feel that I am at a crossroads. It is now time to decide if I want to be serious or live as a free person. But I feel that being serious doesn't suit me? In the past, while talking with Jung Bo Suk hyung and Kim Myung Min hyung, hyung asked “Do you want to be an actor or a singer?”. I answered "I want to be the best celebrity." They both answered “Yes, I think that's the best answer. That's new. “I went around calling myself the 'universe big star'. This is the perfect character to receive a curse. But I continued with 'If you don't want to see it, don't.' Mindset. At first, I received a lot of curses. But I keep working hard, and went a long way with it, and the public started to realize 'Kim Heechul may seem like that (immature), but he knows to have boundaries'. To be honest, if Lee Soo Man or the manager hyung tried to limit me, I would rebel, but they let me do what I wanted, and fans found it funny. So, I feel responsible and stay away from making trouble.
I heard that guys have different types of girls after they get back from the military. How about you? My ideal type is still the same. Ever since I was young, I like girls who have pretty legs, look great in skirts, and have big neck grooves that show her, have hair (tied up). Fans have memorized this. I have a certain ideal type, but it's weird how I can't be (girl too). To be honest, most relationships end before one month, and my longest relationship is 3 months. I'm the type who finds dating / dating to be tiring. I had fun and played well with my male friends, but with a boyfriend, there's not much you can do, and it's not fun (hanging out with him), so I (used to not) contact (the girl) often. But I think I have aged. While seeing “Dad! Where are we going? “, I'm starting to think I want to have children. I think it's time for me to start dating someone? I don't really see a girl's face though. She just has to be prettier than me.
Omona, isn't that the hardest thing to do / happen?
Haha, is he? But my fans, after watching me like a game character, go around with numbers, and sleep on a pillow, who ask me to go on a date with a girl. I have a lot of fans who are married. I congratulate them (about their marriage), and my fans are worried about my marriage. I really like this relationship like family.
Should we talk about your comeback again? Are you all getting ready for Super Junior's comeback?
While serving in the army, I avoided going to Super Junior's concerts as much as I could. We are proud that we have the best concert, and I'm afraid I want to go stand on stage with them. I also thought, 'Would I be suitable if I stood on stage with them? “'Do I have to be seen? 'And worried. So I asked the manager to ask the members if it would be okay for me to join the concert that was happening right now. The member got angry and said "Why are you asking something so clearly!" I'm really grateful for their reaction. I think of Super Show as the best, and I really want to stand on stage again.
Lastly, can you tell us how you felt during the photo shoot and interview?
In the past, I thought shooting was an easy job. I'm confident about making poses and facial expressions. But what is this? I was embarrassed from the start. The photographer said "okay", "fine", "it looks cool" in every piece, and (in the past) I only heard that as BGM. (In the past), I didn't care what they said, and arrogantly made a pose. Today, I feel ashamed, but they gave me strength.
I heard the adults when they left and came back from the army. The saying is definitely true? I hope that the mindset doesn't change. It must be because today, I realized 'things that I think are obvious' things are actually 'valuables'. Like how the tiger can eat grass for 2 years but still doesn't forget the taste of the meat. I can slowly return to myself. I was worried that my rude personality would return, but I will do my best to keep this feeling of 'thirst' for a long time. Ha ha ha. And from now on, I want to do my best in drama, film, music, in everything. Cosmopolitan readers, let's meet again from now on. Well, Kim Heechul's 'universe big star' interview ends here!
