[trans] 181214 Jessica Interview With일간스포츠 (Ilgansports)
181214 JESSICA INTERVIEW WITH일간스포츠 (ILGANSPORTS)
Jessica, who is expanding a solo singer and as a business woman, said “I have a big picture. It’s not like I’ve engaged on something in particular, instead, it’s a work I’m progress that I’m painting little by little each year. I think I’ve drawn one third of it, but thankfully up until now I think I’m filling my painting in a good way. When years pass, I, too, wonder how this picture will be completed. For now, starting next year there will be many interesting things.”
– You said you are a work-aholic
J: I’m so lucky to work while enjoying it. It’s fun because I’ve chosen a job I like to do, and because it’s fun I can carry it out gladly. Because I enjoy what I do, the quality improves, and because I get along well with my staff I can work hard.
-It’s been a while since you released a single.
J: It’s an event song. Honestly, although I’m constantly working on an album, because there has been many projects I was a bit busy this year. When I’m preparing for an album, I like to dedicate my entire time to it and immerse myself, this year I didn’t have time to do that. But because I’m constantly working on music and receiving demos, I talk a lot with the composers as well. I must release an album next year.
-Is it the first time you challenge yourself with a carol song?
J: I’ve always wanted to sing a Christmas song. When I first heard ‘One More Christmas’ I thought “this is it”. With a youthful vibe, it’s a song that makes your holiday happier. Since it’s an exciting and lifting vibe, I hope people who listen to it spend their holidays happily.
– Do you have any plans for a holiday party?
J: I really wanted to do it. Luckily, my sister Soojung’s and my schedule matched so we are going skiing to the United States. When our times match we go on trips.
– I heard that you went on a vacation with your family recently.
J: It had been a really long time (since the last vacation). It’s hard to gather all of us so when we can we must go on a trip. This time I went right after a schedule but it was really fun. My family and I went to Athens and Vienna, which he hadn’t been to before. Because our parents came it’s different than when it’s just my sister and I, but we still had a great time.
– It seems you’re very relaxed being solo for 5 years.
J: It’s always hard to adapt. Whenever something is new, everything seems harder. Of course, there were many setbacks because it was a new start. I’ve had a lot (laughs). There’s times of despair, and there’s times when you become so discouraged you wish to give up but thankfully my personality isn’t like that. Instead, I’m the type to strive to win. I’m very competitive, and I’m not shaken up by other people’s words. I think ‘Let’s see who’ll win’ and I push myself more. It’s a process that must be done carefully and consciously, not recklessly. I’m following my choices and I’m moving forward towards my future to see how it changes.
– Who or what do you turn to?
J: I talk a lot with the company’s president and our team leader. They give a lot of support to the people around them, it’s not that they cheer for you particularly, but just by sitting by their side I gain strength. I think it’s good that I’m surrounded by people with good energy.
– Isn’t it hard to work as both a singer and a business woman?
J: I think it’s all right. If singer Jessica can express herself through music, brand creative director Jessica can eventually show my identity through products. People ask “Which job do you like the most?” but I’m doing both because I like both. These days there’s many people who do different things too. Of course, I don’t want to do only one thing. What is obtained through various activities is great.
– You have your own brand and you are constantly desired in the fashion industry.
J: I think they are different. People who give us suggestions also say “You are the one who this this, let’s do this together”. Because we understand each other we don’t really collide. And since different regions have different contracts and time periods, it’s good to be able to show different brands in my own way.
– You’re a CEO-like fashionista, but do you personally think you dress well?
J: I don’t particularly think I dress well. I’m the one who knows me the most. Face, body, frame, I know it all very well so I know what looks good on me. Of course I know I have to switch things up. Since I’ve been active for a long time I’ve had many opportunities to try different types of fashion. As I’ve worked with different brands and media, I naturally learned how to dress myself.
– If you had to pick between warm-tones or cool-tones?
J: It depends on my mood. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but makeup artists say that my face isn’t fixed to a single tone and goes well with any tone. I’m not sure what looks good on me but I like that I can show different emotions based on the color scheme.
– Fans say they want to see you with blonde hair.
J: I want to go blonde but it’s hard because my hair is weak. My hair is really thin and it looks healthy right? But when you try touching it like this you can feel how frail it is. I want to go blonde but I’m scared of bleaching it and I’m worried about how damaged it would get if I dye it, so I can’t. I hope the fans can endure it.
– You have a very honest and realistic personality.
J: I’m very down-to-earth. If it doesn’t seem plausible I give up and do something that can be done. I’ve been like that since I was young. When I was a trainee too, if there was a song I couldn’t sing I’d say “I won’t sing it. It doesn’t suit me.” and find another song. I’d rather show the things I can do with confidence. I think it’s a constant trait. People usually put in effort into the things they can’t do, right? In my case, because I know myself well, I think it’s a waste of time and get over it quickly. I’m not always in the right but I trust myself.
– How did you come to sing a contract with the American agency UTA?
J: We held many meetings with different companies but I felt that UTA was different from other companies. It was a company that cared more about my career than business. They considered the future and made a plan, and gave me support. More than anything, they tell me I am young. In Korea, I feel the issue about age because I’ve been active for 12 years, but they tell me “You are still young so let’s take things slowly. There’s many things we can do.” They feel like a warm family.
– Is there a reason for picking a big company?
J: I think there is a leader for every industry. There is a leader for every place in the world, the same goes for the entertainment industry. It’s not something I’d join recklessly out of spite and because I know that country well I wanted to be with the best people in the industry. Thankfully, joining UTA was a win-win situation. They said were also looking for people like me. They told me “You’re a unicorn” because they thought I was perfect.
– I think the expansion of K-Pop is also a huge factor.
J: Yes. I think seeing ‘K-‘ in music, fashion, beauty, etc. is a heavy influence. When I go to a foreign country I hear the word ‘K-Pop Star’. I can’t deny it. Sometimes I hear that people know of me. Not just towards me, but I think a global door towards Asia has been opened.
– You also went to Cannes Film Festival this year.
J: It was a new experience. I went as a guest of a jewelry brand and I was also surprised. When the liaison first arrived I asked ‘Why should I go?’ ‘What I’m I supposed to do there?’ but they told me it was one of the usual events of the brand. I also didn’t know that at Cannes Film Festival important brands held a party and they even invited several people who aren’t movie actors, like influencers, to attend the red carpet event. I was invited to be at the red carpet for 10 minutes but because it’s so wide I thought a lot about how I should stand there. It was a new atmosphere.
– Seeing the actors, did you think of challenging yourself with acting?
J: I have plans of acting. When singing the contract with UTA, we discussed various areas. I hope I get a good opportunity (to act). It’s a time where Asian people are getting attention overseas so I think the response would be good.
– What do you do on days when you don’t have a schedule?
J: I don’t do anything (laughs). I don’t really like exercising. I put resting first and only when I have a trainer I exercise. I really love eating so I just eat well and rest.
– The pictures you took with actress Park Min Young became a big topic.
J: We’ve been friends since pre-debut. We met when I graduated from 3rd year of middle school to my first year of high school (T/L: In the US that would be going from freshman to sophomore in high school). We have a 3 year difference and back then she was a big unnie. When you’re a kid you feel the age difference more strongly, you know. If unnie asked me to dance I would dance. If I came from Korean class I would use what I learned with unnie, when I learned a new word I really wanted to use it. I still remember when I learned the word ‘straight hair’ and I told unnie, she’s someone who has seen me grow up.
– You’re in an open relationship with the company’s president, is it going well?
J: Yes, it’s just that I don’t want my fans to be upset and I don’t want to be loud about it.
– Is there a secret to self-care?
J: Watch the amount of food you eat and drink water. Those are the two most important. If I want to each chicken I only have two pieces. I usually eat half the chicken but if I need to regulate the amount I refrain from it. I’ve never been able to stop eating. Instead I drink a lot of water. It helps digestion. I can’t even measure how much water I drink. My mother calls me a carp (type of fish).
– Did you fulfill the plans you had for this year?
J: I had the goal of being healthy and I’m very healthy right now. I wanted work to be more fun and I had a lot of fun working. Luckily, I had the chance to visit many countries. I said I wanted to have many encounters and I learned from meeting with many cultures and speaking with others. There’s something you can learn in every country. Isn’t it wise to have those kind of experiences?
– Is there something you want to try next year?
J: To mature accordingly to my age. I hope I can expand more and I become the kind of person that expands their horizons. Next year I’ll be 30 and I think I’m ageing naturally. Next year, too, I want to raise B&E a bit more and to deliver a lot of music.
– Is there any content you are preparing?
J: I’m thinking of trying fun things with my sister. Starting from the photoshoot on January, I think we’ll be able to make fun contents. These days we have YouTube, Netflix, and other platforms so now that I think about it there’s many fun things I want to do with my sister.
– We’re also anticipating a new album.
J: This year there wasn’t a lot music schedules but I want to release an album next year. I want to try to concentrate on music a little more for those who are waiting. I hope they can anticipate me next year.
English trans cr; gldn_star translations
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