💬: It seems "style" here doesn't just refer to fashion alone
⭐️: It includes attitude as well. For example, when we were promoting Adrenaline, I wanted to show the image of a strong warrior. The vibe was kind of like a fantasy character in a post-apocalyptic world. On the other hand, while promoting BAD this time, I didn't mean I was actually a bad guy, but within that title I wanted to become one.
So I went for a more intense styling and tried to give off a slightly more cocky vibe with my facial expressions too. It feels like I'm tailoring myself to a specific role depending on the song. I like adopting those attitudes. Of course, that shouldn't carry over into my daily life, it's only who I am on stage.
💬: Then what kind of person is Seonghwa off the stage in his daily life?
⭐️: When I'm out having fun it still feels like I'm a high school kid (laughs). If I see something cute I want to buy it, and I also like things like miniatures. I enjoy taking walks and meeting up with friends too.
💬: It seems the strong character you immerse yourself in on stage doesn't affect your daily life.
⭐️: I'm actually pretty good at switching on and off. I don't get too absorbed in my roles. On stage, I stay in character to fit the performance, but in daily life I naturally switch back from that persona.
💬: If you find joy in creating a persona and immersing yourself in it, aren't you also interested in acting?
⭐️: I would love to do it if the opportunity arose. But I believe it's right to do it only when I'm truly prepared. Although I have participated in a project before, I haven't properly learned acting yet. When the opportunity comes someday and if I'm prepared, I want to try.
(It means) I shouldn't cause any trouble for those who are currently working hard in acting. Me wanting to do it and the audience being satisfied with it are two different things. Ultimately, it's a profession where you have to do well. I want to prepare thoroughly and take on the challenge.
💬: It sounds like right now, you prefer to focus on group activities.
⭐️: That's right. That's part of it too. Right now, doing group activities perfectly is extremely important. I also worry, "What if taking my attention elsewhere affects the team negatively?" Since we plan to promote and we look at ATINY for a long time, I think doing it later won't be too late. I just feel like it is right to focus a little more on team activities right now.
💬: It has already been about eight years since your debut. You've grown beyond comparison compared to back then, haven't you? What is the area where you feel you've grown the most?
⭐️: My mindset. I’m someone with a weak mentality, you know? I still can’t say I’m strong, but during this time I’ve learned a lot about how to overcome things on my own, how to comfort and love myself. Of course, there are still days when I break down.
When that happens, I just tell ATINY that things have been a bit hard lately. It’s not because I want them to notice or do something for me, I just want to share even these emotions with them. I go back and forth between wanting to hide the negative feelings because I’m afraid they might worry and not wanting to hide them at all despite that.
💬: In what areas did you try to overcome things yourself?
⭐️: Self-esteem. I worked really hard to boost my self-esteem. IIt has improved quite a bit now, but back when I was a trainee I felt that the members next to me were so good at dancing, singing and rapping, and also had outstanding looks, so I could never be satisfied with myself. I was supposed to compete only with myself, but constantly comparing myself to the members was eating away at me. Then, after debuting and meeting ATINY, I started to change little by little. I also learned how to love myself. Now, I want to share this story with people who are going through similar struggles.
💬: Struggling with self-esteem is so difficult to overcome that anyone would want to know the secret. How did you manage to so such a difficult thing?
⭐️: You have to acknowledge and accept it. In the past, I couldn't admit my shortcomings, but once I accepted that I was lacking and changed my mindset toward trying harder, my inferiority complex disappeared. The envy and jealousy I felt looking at others disappeared, and eventually only comparisons with myself remained. That is what's truly important.
💬: Have you gotten used to world tours and being under the spotlight?
⭐️: I thought I had gotten used to it but this time, when we headlined the BST Hyde Park festival in London, I teared up on stage. I was just so happy. As I was looking at the fans I thought, "Ah, I'm still not used to moments like these."
Of course, as it something repetitive, there might be days when I get exhausted or feel like I just want to finish quickly and rest. However, even if it's just for one person who came to see us, I try my best. The tears were also because of gratitude.
💬: So is being on stage the moment you shine the brightest?
⭐️: That's right. I feel alive. The stage is our reason for existence. That's why we can't afford to take any concert or any tour lightly. All eight of us share the same mindset of doing our best, even if for just one person.
💬: What aspects did you specifically want to showcase during the last tour?
⭐️: While preparing for my solo stage, I wanted to build an image that is uniquely my own. I thought, "What is an image that only I can show within ATEEZ?" I considered that expressing conceptual and fantastical elements is my strength, so I put a lot of thought into everything, from the costumes to the stage direction. Since the concept was a snake, I prepared a performance where I took off my jacket, as if shedding skin. I thought this was an absolutely crucial part so I was incredibly nervous before doing it. I hoped ATINY would be surprised and seeing their reaction was truly thrilling.
💬: You plan to continue expanding Seonghwa's unique worldview in the future, right?
⭐️: If possible I would like to expand it. "What would a story unique to Seonghwa, derived from ATEEZ, be like?", I have thoughts like that all the time.
💬: Since you’ve been touring the world performing, I suppose you could say you’ve achieved the dreams you held in the past, right? Even so, other dreams arise, right? What is a new dream of yours?
⭐️: I didn't think I would have any new dreams but they keep coming up. It’s fascinating how various dreams emerge one by one, even if they aren’t grand, like wanting to publish a book someday, participate in a fencing competition or play the guitar on stage.
As a team too, in the past we had the dream of making it onto the Billboard 200 chart, and we've achieved that. We also achieved our dream of entering the Billboard Hot 100.
Because of that, a new dream also emerged, that maybe we could win first place on all three major music shows. When we won first place on all three shows with GOLDEN HOUR : Part4 this time, I actually cried. "What we've done all this time wasn't in vain," that's what I felt. "As you live, a day like this actually comes."
💬: You’ve come this far while achieving countless dreams, and a lot has changed along the way. Even so, if there is one thing that hasn't changed from the beginning until now, what is it?
⭐️: It’s that we never do anything half-heartedly. Before a concert starts, I can hear the members’ voices through my in-ear. Right before going on stage, we always say, basically shouting, to not care about how many people showed up today and to just give it our all. When we go on after shouting that, I get goosebumps in that moment. Never doing a single stage half-heartedly, that is the side of ATEEZ that hasn't changed to this day.
💬: Here is the last question. What kind of person is "cool"?
⭐️: You know the saying "a good adult." I would like to express that as a "good person." The word "good" carries various meanings, but everyone can understand it. You can feel it even while shaking hands and looking into someone's eyes. When I was young, I thought someone who looked great on the outside was cool but now I think, "wouldn't a good person be someone who's truly cool?"
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