Kim Hyun Joong VANITYMIX WEB LIMITED INTERVIEW

Interview & Text: Tomonori Nagasawa
Photo: Mitsuru Tamura
Link : https://www.vanitymix.jp/entertainer-talent/kimhyunjoong/

 

I will continue to create music that transcends language barriers, allows people all over the world to sing along, and shares their emotions with each other.

In his latest album “LOVE UNIVERSE” released in Japan in July, Kim Hyun Joong mainly sings songs he composed and wrote himself, as well as songs written by Fujii Fumiya, Naoto Inti Raymi, and Kawashima Ai. Sometimes he expands his perspective to the earth and the vast universe, enveloping the hearts of those who listen with great love. There, we see the typical Kim Hyun Joong, always smiling gently and delivering warm and heartwarming thoughts. In contrast, in “CAGE”, released digitally in Korea in August, he raps with a sharp message on top of a cool song. He shows a different side to the musicality depicted in the album. In November, the Japanese-Korean co-produced drama “Time Without Her”, starring Kim Hyun Joong, will be broadcast on Me-Tele (Nagoya TV Broadcasting) for four episodes. In addition, it has been decided that the complete version will be exclusively and simultaneously distributed on Lemino. On November 9th (Sat) and 10th (Sun), additional performances of “2024 KIM HYUN JOONG CONCERT “THE LAST DANCE”” are scheduled to be held at the Nankai Namikiri Hall Large Hall. With his two styles as an artist and actor, Kim Hyun Joong continues to fascinate those he comes into contact with. We would like to convey his current state of mind in his own words, from the perspective of the drama he is starring in and as an artist.

■Starting in November, the Japan-Korea co-production drama “A Girlfriend’s Absence,” starring Hyun Jun as Eun-Tae, will begin airing in a total of four episodes. Eun-Tae loses his memory of his beloved wife Mai after the shock of her death, and begins a journey to regain his memories using a photo he finds in her home as a clue. During his journey, he meets a girl and the two begin to weave a story of a strange fate… What were your thoughts when you first received the script?

Kim Hyun Joong:　When I first read the script without any prior knowledge, I thought, “What?! A story about falling in love with a high school girl?” Of course, as I understood the story, it was not about a dangerous relationship at all, but rather a wonderful story that moved my heart. However, there was a kissing scene, and I thought that if I didn’t understand the story deeply and act it out, the viewers might think, “Is this a story about a dangerous relationship?” Before and of course during filming, I had various conversations with my co-star, Tensho Amane, about each scene, and we tried to express each other in a way that would not leave any room for misunderstandings for the viewers.

■The underlying theme of the drama “A Girlfriend’s Absence” is “pure love,” but how do you interpret the term “pure love,” Hyun Jun?

Kim Hyun Joong:　I often heard this word when I was in my teens and twenties, but I feel that in recent years, the opportunities to hear the word “pure love” have decreased, perhaps because young people these days are good at showing their individuality or because they feel that there is more diversity in the way they communicate. In light of this, I think of pure love as “unconditional love.” The love that parents have for their children is truly unconditional and infinitely expanding. Moreover, that love is eternal and never fades. I feel that feeling in pure love. Earlier, I said that “in recent years, the word “pure love” has become unheard of,” but that is just a superficial thing. No matter what era it is, no matter how much the times change, as long as people seek love, I believe that pure love is the foundation of their hearts.

■The drama “Away” was filmed in Korea and Japan. From your perspective, Hyun Jun, please tell us what the highlights are.

Kim Hyun Joong:　The best thing about this film is that the Korean and Japanese production teams were able to fully utilize each other’s strengths and characteristics. The story is set mainly in the city of Jeongseon in Korea and Nagoya in Japan. The first time the protagonist meets the girl in Korea is at a train station. The final scene with the girl is set in a reed-filled field at the mouth of a river near the sea in Nagoya. Filming took place in many scenic locations along the way, but I think you can also feel the drama in why they ended up in Japan. How does the mysterious relationship between the two characters become clearer? Enjoy the process along with the colorful scenery in the background.

■Is Eun Tae’s pure love perhaps a reflection of Hyun Joon’s own state of mind on a normal basis?

Kim Hyun Jun:　Eun-tae and I have a lot in common, such as being the same age and having someone to protect. What I learned from playing Eun-tae is not to regret after losing a loved one, but to protect them while we are together. I think I felt that way because I experienced the sadness and emptiness of losing a loved one through Eun-tae. When I thought about Eun-tae’s feelings as I am now, I thought that I should always try to cherish not only the many fans who love and support me, but also my family, friends, and the team members who support me so that I will never lose them. I had always thought that, but Eun-tae taught me that feeling again.

■Hyun Jun, you sing the ending theme song for the drama “A Girlfriend’s Time” in English. Please tell us what you put into this song.

Kim Hyun Joong:　The reason why I chose to write the lyrics in English instead of Korean or Japanese is because it is a drama jointly produced by Japan and Korea, and I wanted both Korean and Japanese audiences to feel the feelings I put into the song, so I thought that English would be the best way to deepen our mutual understanding. I tried to write the lyrics in easy-to-understand expressions that would be immediately understandable when you hear them. I hope that through this song, viewers will be touched by the feelings of Eun Tae, who misses his beloved wife Mai, who is now in heaven.

■The song is based on acoustic sounds and is deliberately simple and gentle, but Hyun Jun’s singing voice conveys the wavering emotions. What about…?

Kim Hyun Joong:　I want people to understand the emotions I put into this song, so I made the arrangement simple so that I could convey my feelings, even if only a little. I would be happy if I could convey even a little of the feelings I put into the song. What I packed into “LOVE UNIVERSE” is really “warm love.” It is because of love that we want to protect the people we care about, and we can live for them.

■As with the theme song for the drama, you also conveyed heartwarming feelings through your songs in the album “LOVE UNIVERSE,” but in “CAGE,” which was released in Korea, you expressed a harsh message to the world through powerful rap. That was a pleasant surprise. Was that the easiest style for you to convey your message to the world today?

Kim Hyun Joong　: That’s right. “CAGE” has two meanings. Even now, wars are occurring all over the world, and people continue to fight. One is a lament that “No matter how much we struggle, we cannot escape from the current global environment,” and the other is a message that “Even so, we are an important part of the Earth, so let’s change this world (into a world surrounded by love and peace) with our own hands.” Humans have been fighting many times since ancient times. It is not only those who are actually fighting who feel uneasy about conflict, but also among us who are watching it. That is why the message is that instead of fighting, we should grasp the meaning, reason, and importance of living from a different perspective, and change the world into one without conflict in our own way.

■Even though your perspective has changed somewhat, that thought was also at the root of the songs included on the album “LOVE UNIVERSE,” right?

Kim Hyun Joong:　What I packed into “LOVE UNIVERSE” is “warm love.” It is because of love that you want to protect the people you care about, and you can live for them. That’s the message I want to convey. In contrast, in “CAGE,” I express it from a perspective that criticizes the world. There are certainly differences in the way I convey my thoughts in the album “LOVE UNIVERSE” and the single “CAGE,” but the underlying thoughts of mine are the same.

■I felt this way after listening to “CAGE,” which is filled with the desire to change the present, but the album “LOVE UNIVERSE” also contains many songs about graduation and departures set in spring. I wonder if Hyunjun himself also put his feelings of taking the next step into those songs.

Kim Hyun Joong　’s album “LOVE UNIVERSE” was created with the pure thought of “Let’s nurture this love” together with my friends who support me. At the same time, I also wanted to get excited with my fans through concerts, which are an important part of my activities, and to sing along with them. In terms of musical approach, I showed the range of my musicality through the various tunes in “LOVE UNIVERSE” as well as the expressions shown in “CAGE”. If we include my past works, I have worked on a wide variety of musical styles up to this point, and have continued to replace and sublimate them with my own colors. Of course, I will continue to find and challenge new musical styles that I have not yet tried, and my musical journey will never end.

■Please tell us about the musical style that is important to you when expressing yourself.

Kim Hyun Jun:　I love band music, and it’s the basis of my expression. I especially love British music. I think this is what all artists want, and I myself also think this, but I have always pursued music that is simple yet trendy, like the music of the Beatles, which will never be forgotten in history. I will continue to create music that transcends language barriers, that people all over the world can sing along to, and share my feelings with, and I want to travel to various countries around the world and share my feelings through concerts.

■I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of music you will share with us in the future. Lastly, please give us a message for the future.

Kim Hyun Joong:　Even now, many Japanese fans shower me with love as a singer and as an actor. In order to continue to meet your expectations, I will continue to try and research various things and try to act in a way that moves people’s hearts. In terms of music, I always imagine and create various kinds of music while simulating in my head, “How will people react if I play this kind of music?!”. Closer to home, there will be an additional performance of “THE LAST DANCE” in Osaka in November. This will be the last time that I will sing and dance on stage, but please don’t be disappointed. I will continue to express myself as a band in the same way as before and fully satisfy you. Please continue to support me. And let’s meet in front of each other again.

 

 

 

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