interviewer: you seem maturer since the last time we met in spring. it’s as if you’ve applied your own choice of lipstick this time rather than your mother’s makeup.
naeun: i hear that a lot these days. i filmed for ‘running man’ yesterday, and just like ceci, it was after a year. following last year, i was paired with senior kim jongkuk this time as well and he said, “you used to look like a very young girl but now you’ve become a woman” (laugh).
interviewer: so what caused it?
naeun: i’m not sure myself. i, too, think i certainly look quite different compared to when i was 20, i was still young back then.
interviewer: when you were 20, you revealed in an interview that you were curious about applying red lipstick. this year you showed an ‘oriental’ image with red lipstick.
naeun: it’s really amazing. i just got goosebumps. (laugh) at the time i never used to put on makeup however, these days my pouch holds nothing but red lipstick. i usually don’t like having makeup on, i prefer going out bare-faced. though when i feel like i should do the bare minimum, i go for red lipstick.
interviewer: and with that very red lipstick you filmed for psy’s music video ‘new face’ which seems to be an important turn in naeun-ssi’s career.
naeun: to be honest i was really worried when i first received the offer. because the role was so different from my accumulated image, and moreover, whether it was the right time to take it up, i contemplated a lot. my company and the people around me thought it a good offer yet i couldn’t decide easily. i also had to consider acting while making my decision. i want to continue acting for a long time, but it’s disappointing that i’m always seen young with a baby face. and so through this opportunity, i thought i could show a slightly maturer image.
interviewer: wasn’t the public response greater than expected? you couldn’t not receive attention.
naeun: it’s not my music video, on top of that, it’s world star senior psy’s work that is seen a lot even overseas. i was so overwhelmed that i continued to worry till the last minute. i exercised more than usual and vigorously managed my health. i’m truly relieved that the response was better than expected. i stressed about it every day.
interviewer: honestly speaking, when we met last year, i saw you as someone with a lot of desire despite having a quiet demeanor. so i thought you would have most willingly accepted the music video offer.
naeun: even though everyone said it was a good opportunity, including myself, i still worried a lot. if it all goes well then that’s great but if it is not received well then i’d blame myself so it wasn’t an easy decision. i don’t regret my choice now. (laugh)
interviewer: surprisingly, you two had great chemistry and all the more, the response among the females was even better.
naeun: that’s really the kind of response i wanted. ever since my debut i’ve heard a lot of things like “the pretty but untalented member, a flower without fragrance” so i wanted to show the public an unexpected image from the one i’ve always held onto up til now. so if they say ‘ah, son naeun is capable of this as well’ i hear it as a compliment. through the new face music video opportunity i wanted to challenge anything and everything, i’ve even gained more confidence. you could say i’ve become courageous.
interviewer: i wonder if you have been able to quench your inner thirst. as people cheer on a pretty person’s beauty, they also consistently demand proof of another talent. isn’t it too difficult?
naeun: it’d be nice to be received without any misunderstandings but i don’t think i have a pretty face. since it’s not a conspicuous face. i know there are people who’d just like me to be a pretty face with an unchanging image. as i’ve said before, i want to be someone that has an atmosphere unique to herself. in the future, i want to slowly reveal various sides of myself little by little.
interviewer: your aura has changed considerably. (laugh) shouldn’t there be a reason for your change, a change that you haven’t realized yourself?
naeun: i debuted at an early age. i was so busy living life as a celebrity that i saw nothing but the reality in front of me. you could say my perspective of the world was very narrow. then the passing winter, i went on a vacation by myself to new york. i booked the flight ticket myself and even though my friend lived in new york i made separate reservations in a hotel and stayed there. while my friend was at school, i went around by myself. as i gained this experience, it slightly widened my perspective of the world. ‘there are people who live differently than i do, there’s a completely different world that exists’ were my thoughts as i personally experienced it.
interviewer: was it fun to travel alone?
naeun: during departure, i was extremely excited. but in reality when i reached, it rained so heavily that it scared me a little. i didn’t even have an umbrella. and suddenly after that there was crushing loneliness and sadness. i specifically booked a hotel with lots of glass windows because i like having sunlight stream in, but being alone in the room with rainy weather made me feel worse. in the end i called my friend over. thankfully the weather gradually got better and i got used to it to the point that i didn’t want to come back. (laugh)
interviewer: you say your view was narrow but isn’t there a goal you want to achieve in the future that you’ve painted in your mind?
naeun: it is clearly there. that’s why i’ve been able to work without going astray. the future isn’t something i’ve thought about on my own, i talk a lot about it with my mother. she has been a source of great strength to me so that i can continue towards my goal. i don’t feel impatient or anxious as in ‘i have to film for my drama now, our new album must come out as soon as possible’ thanks to my mother. i plan to slowly pave my path. even if i’m working, it is only possible to recharge by taking out time for myself.
interviewer: you can only relax if you are confident about yourself.
naeun: isn’t it? i believe that someday i can reach where i want to be. though it might be vague, i do have confidence in myself. i want to be a professional at work.
interviewer: that’s right. you do carry the kind of confidence people have who grow up healthily without a hitch.
naeun: i was influenced a lot by my mother who is a very positive and bright person. i turned out to be lucky. living as a celebrity also helps a lot.
interviewer: apink’s comeback is right around the corner. what should we look forward to this time?
naeun: we’ve been worrying a lot about wanting to show a mature image since all the members felt that apink had to change. but while preparing for this album, we have come to confirm the kind of image and music we want to continue with in the future for sure. it is reminiscent of our original image, we have decided to go back to our roots.
interviewer: there must be times when you feel proud to be an apink member, right?
naeun: when we film for variety shows, there’s always an unchanging description for apink. there’s always a place for us despite the increasing number of girl groups. i think that’s our pride.
interviewer: do you think the current son naeun is doing well?
naeun: yes. (laughs while looking at the manager sitting beside her) seeing him vigorously nod his head like that then it must be true. (laugh) that’s right. i, too, believe i am doing well.
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