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for Sooyoung Choi (sooyoungnews)

[sycsubs]

[ENGLISH TRANS] Allure Korea - June Issue

TOAST! / Sooyoung & Gong Myung

You’re just coming back from throwing the first pitch at a baseball stadium, right? When it comes to baseball stadium, it’s all about beer. But in reality, you’re known as one of the Girls’ Generation members who’s not really good at drinking.

I’m an alcohol trash. (laughs) When i drink my face gets red, and i get sleepy, i have much more energy when i don’t drink.

Then, what kind of person could be your drinking buddy?

Someone i can have a good conversation with. And someone who likes dramas and movies too. Someone who’s really competent in their own field. I find myself wondering “How is this person so good at their job? What are they thinking while living?” Having a drink with someone like that is fun and time just flies by.

So, what kind of role do you usually have at drinking party?

My role is someone who reacts well and makes sure people get home safely. (laughs) Aside from drama set dinners, i rarely drink in large groups. Even in those gatherings i’m not the type to liven up the mood or lead the conversations.

When was the time in your life that you drank the most?

It was when the drama <Not Others> aired for the first time. After the first episode, we all drank together and i was so happy that i overdid it a bit.

That’s a team dinner that actors usually experienced. Do you enjoy those times?

It’s a meaningful time because it’s our last time to be lingering around and get to ‘clink’ glasses with different teams. There are many teams that you don’t see often on set, people who gave great help to the production but you couldn’t get close to. It’s a time where we can greet everyone properly.

What was the set of <Second Shot at Love> like? Sooyoung and Gong Myung are the lead roles that’s also a labelmates.

I call him ‘Myung’ and he calls me ‘Noona’ before we worked together we would just exchange greetings while passing each other. Myung has such a great personality that being on set was so much fun to me.

The drama sounds like a story about ‘Geum-joo’ ‘quitting’ alcohol. What was the story like from Sooyoung’s perspective?

My character Geum-joo and Myung’s character Eui-joon were really close friends while they were in college, but i get cut off by Eui-joon and we meet again later. The writer focused on the story of quitting drinking but it was more the story of wounds and growths to me. Alcohol plays a significant role in that process. I believe everyone has an addiction, it just varies in degree. It could be alcohol, SNS, relationships, or work. All these things that keep us from looking inside ourselves? In <Second Shot at Love> it’s alcohol. It’s a drama that offers comfort and empathy to people who use these things as an escape and can’t face themselves.

Do you have any habits of setting a boundaries by yourself?

Let’s not spend too much time on SNS and my phone. While being on set we have quite few breaks, i always open my script first instead of my phone. And when i’m at home, i purposely keep my phone at a distance. When it’s physically farther away, i look at it less often.

Bad habits can also affect our relationships with people we love. Isn’t this drama also about that?

It show scenes on how people you love can be hurt or affected by addictions that you didn’t even realize you had. What i liked most about Geum-joo is that she had a clear growth. There are a lot of times that we’re so overwhelmed by the world and living our lives without much thinking, we don’t even realize we’re hurting.

It seems like you are attracted to the keyword of “growth”. Has there ever been a moment when you felt like you truly grew yourself as this character?

When i was on the stage in a play. It’s not like “I’ve grown as an actor”, how should i say this, it’s more like become more bold? (laughs) I think working with such great seniors really healed me and gave me strength. That’s why doing the play was the time i liked the most.

If we are looking for something in common in the works that you’ve participated, the roles are often those independent woman. Always seems confident. Do you consider the message of a project when choosing it?

When i read a script, i’m naturally drawn to characters who are independent, enterprising and proactive. I always ask, “What kind of growth does she has?” “What message is this project trying to tell?” I want to tell meaningful stories. In this drama, the director clearly told me “This is a show that sends a message on how lenient our society is about drinking.”

In this drama, is there anything other than acting that you’ve been paying more attention to?

I did a lot of research on alcohol addiction. I also listened to stories from people who do counseling. I heard it’s best for those with addiction to completely quit and develop a new drinking habits.

Haha, at this point isn’t this a public service drama about drinking in moderation?

I think we might actually get a call from related associations. (laughs) our drama is a little bit different from the usual dramas that deal with alcohol so far! For people with bad drinking habits, you might have a lot of thoughts while watching our drama. I hope this drama will let people know that when you’re struggling there are people who will reach out to you. Even if there’s no one like that in your life, while watching you might think “Someone like that might be around me someday?” or “Maybe someone already is and i just haven’t noticed it.”

Still, since it’s a melodrama we hope Geum-joo and Eui-joon end up together! (laughs) What’s one thing you think we need to keep in mind when dating?

I think it’s important to speak kindly. People’s words all carry emotions and once words leave your mouth, you can’t take it back. It’s important to be mindful of your intentions and to speak well.

Have you thought about the feelings between Eui-joon and Geum-joo?

Eui-joon is the one who reaches out to me when i feel completely alone in the world. And when he’s struggling, i’m the one who reaches out to him. I think the charm of their relationship is the strong emotional bond where they became each other’s saviors.

We’ve been meeting you as an actress. How satisfied are you with your career as an actress right now?

From the position of someone who has to be chosen, the fact that i have a project to work on is already incredibly fulfilling. I’m satisfied by the fact that there is someone who want to cast me and who want to work with me. After i finished a project, i used to wait because i didn’t know when the next project will come to me, but now i’m just so grateful that I’m already filming something new.

It’s good to have the next project lined up. Your upcoming role in the <John Wick> spin-off <Ballerina> is also highly anticipated.

It’d be even better to have the next next next projects lined up. I’d be so grateful but i have never experienced something like a next next next project in my life. (laughs)

Ballerina was a bit surreal. Because it’s something i always thought about and had only imagined as a far-off future suddenly came true. It was also scary to go there alone. Rather than thinking of it as a challenge, i only thought of it as an opportunity for me to experience that kind of production. That means the most to me.

[sycsubs]

[ENGLISH TRANS] SOOYOUNG - W KOREA 2025 INTERVIEW

ps. when taking out these translations please give credit to us or this blog. thank you 💗

“THE TEMPERATURE OF SOOYOUNG”

Choi Sooyoung seems to give off a carefree aura.

Though she describes herself as easygoing and simple, she speaks clearly and straightforwardly when it comes to the responsibilities that lie before her. The image of early summer that comes to mind somehow overlaps with Sooyoung, and the drama <Second Shot at Love> in which she transforms into a charming alcohol-lover, premiers this early summer.

Q. <W Korea> We heard that you’re recently very immersed in tea ceremonies.

Choi Sooyoung: Yes, I find it fun. It’s fascinating how the flavor of the tea can change depending on the state of mind at the time of brewing.

Q. Was there a particular moment that sparked your interest?

It’s a habit I picked up while filming <Second Shot at Love>. I wasn’t getting much sleep. I guess there was a lot of pressure.

Q. It was your first title role in a drama since debut, correct?

That’s right. After shooting, I’d come home and feel like I couldn’t turn off the switch right away. So I tried all sorts of things—taking warm showers, listening to ASMR, avoiding reading scripts at least two hours before I sleep. I built a night time routine, and tea became a part of that routine. I savored each drink, and both my body and mind felt at peace.

Q While the tea steeps, people often use that time to process thoughts that are put away from daily life. But unlike that, it became a moment to clear your mind instead.

Exactly. I actually tried not to think during that time. I’ve always been someone who multitasks. I constantly feel the need to be productive, it’s in my personality. But through tea, I think I learned what it truly means to spend time without a goal.

Q. <Second Shot at Love> tells the story of ‘Geum-joo’, a well-known alcohol-lover, who unexpectedly reunites with her first love—someone who absolutely despises drinking, and the romance that follows. From the very beginning, the project felt like it was all about alcohol, and it came as no surprise to learn that the script was written by Myung Soo-hyun, the writer of tvN’s <Rude Miss Young-ae> and <Drinking Solo>.

Writer Myung Soo-hyun’s words capture the full spectrum of human emotion—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. And this piece is no exception. I felt like a rare script had come to me. I remember thinking, “Have I ever read something that reveals every aspect of a character this thoroughly?” At least for me, the answer was no. Geum-joo is an auto mechanic who works hard and there are joys and sorrows that she feels. She relies on alcohol as a form of avoidance, and was forced to confront herself in the place she tried to escape to. From there, she slowly begins to accept who she is, and in doing so, learns to embrace the people around her as well. At a glance, it may seem like a chaotic, comic story about Geum-joo, but if you look closer, you’ll find a detailed and gradual journey of growth. I feel incredibly lucky to have encountered such a script.

Q. What was the process of approaching the character Geum-joo like for you?

First of all, the script was filled with stage directions; shouting, smiling brightly, making exaggerated expressions, and so on. To be honest, it took me some time to fully take in Geum-joo. In real life, I’m very calm. I’m not the mischievous or high-energy type. So there was definitely a period of wandering before the lines started to feel natural. Every actor has a different way of approaching a character. For me, I always start by thinking about the character’s job. You can learn a lot of information from one’s job. Since Geum-joo is an auto mechanic, I imagined she’d be active, unafraid of getting her hands dirty, and likely to be competitive since she was young. But at the same time, I didn’t picture her as someone who would roughly carry around tires or plop down anywhere or stomp around. I imagined her as someone meticulous, someone who handles each car part the way a musician treats her instrument. I thought about how a woman like Geum-joo would set herself apart in an industry largely dominated by male mechanics.

Q. A mechanic who handles cars like musical instruments. Now that I hear about it, I can see the character come to life.

Yes. Honestly, I think Geum-joo would have done well as a doctor, or even an artist. I imagined her as someone who chose this profession because she genuinely loves machines, and is fascinated by how individual parts come together to make a car run. And once I had that in mind, I began to vaguely understand why she couldn’t help being dependent on alcohol. She must have been sensitive, working with machines. She probably worked hard to adapt to a male-dominated workplace, pushing herself to drink alcohol to fit in socially. It made her think she really couldn’t live without alcohol. That thought gave me a somewhat clearer outline of who she is. And the Geum-joo I imagined from the script alone was someone who, on her way home from work, would wear the kind of unique clothes that make people go, “Wait, she dresses like that when she’s off duty?”

Q. In this drama, Geum-joo is another strong, independent female character, like Seo Dan-ah in JTBC’s <Run On> (2020) and Kim Jin-hee in ENA’s <Not Others> (2023). Looking back, have you ever wondered why these kinds of roles keep coming to you?

Because I choose those roles. Of course, not every role is like that. But I’m not drawn to stories where characters are used as equipment. ‘Seo Dan-ah’ was a CEO of a top sports agency who didn’t tolerate mistakes, whether in business or in her personal life. ‘Kim Jin-hee’ was a police patrol team leader who always spoke her mind. They’re all people who try to take responsibility for their own lives. I guess it’s also because of my personality. I don’t like people who are bad at their jobs. (laughs) So, I don’t want to play someone who’s bad at what they do. It’s fine if they’re clumsy at first, as long as they develop. But I think the character should have at least a sense of certainty in what they do.

Q. Those characters also had a very clear sense of what they liked and disliked. Would you say you’re someone who’s also honest about what you want to say and knows exactly what you want?

Oh, not at all. I only started to be aware of that in my early thirties. I started asking questions like “What do I really want?” or “Am I doing this because I like this?” only after I turned thirty. I used to have no opinion, even when choosing the menu for lunch. There were many times where I’d just go along and say “I’m fine with whatever” and move on. I think it comes from spending so many years as a group during my Girls’ Generation days. Maybe I didn’t even realize I had options to choose. One day, Tiffany was ordering coffee and asked me what I wanted. I said, “Anything’s fine.” And she immediately said this, “No. Hot or iced? If iced, how much ice? How many pumps of syrup? Do you want milk? Regular milk or Lactose-free? Oat milk? Almond milk?” I remember thinking, “Why make life so complicated?” But then she told me this—that I need to know exactly what I want, that there are always options, and I have to make a choice.

Q. Did that coffee order incident change you?

Yes, something as trivial as ordering coffee did (laughs). It made me start to become more aware. Since then, I’ve been trying to build the habit of thinking more specifically. For example, instead of just asking for “something to drink,” I’d say, “I’d like an orange juice with a bit of ice.” It starts with little things like that.

Q. Would you say you’re not someone with a strong opinion?

That’s right. I’m usually the type to think, “That person might be right.” But that doesn’t mean I lack conviction. But that sense of certainty just didn’t come all at once. It’s something that formed through a lot of experiences. Last year, I released my first Japanese solo album, and I wrote the lyrics to the title track, “Unstoppable.” There’s a line that goes: “Data of failures and successes. Drawing the highest arc. Let’s pursue the ideal.” Through the many ups and downs I’ve experienced over many years, a kind of data accumulated inside me. But rather than turning into stubbornness, I feel like it gave me freedom. The more time passes, the more confident I become, but in a way that lets me change gears easily whenever I need to.

Q. <Unstoppable> was your first solo album 22 years after your debut. At the time, you wrote this on social media: “At this point in life where I could just fake being a professional and no one would notice, it also hurts to take on a new challenge again, right now. I was scared as much as I was happy.” What was behind those words?

Honestly, if you don’t take any risks, you won’t be exposed. But the moment you try, people will notice. There was a time when I deliberately held back from showing everything. I was scared. When the solo album offer came in, people around me questioned it, “Why now, when your acting career is going so well? And why release it in Japan?” And of course, I asked myself the same thing. Why is this opportunity coming now? If I stay quiet, I can at least fly under the radar. So what do I get in return for exposing myself like this? But in the end, I thought: “Why should I hold back if this is something I want to do?” And I didn’t want it to end with just trying. I wanted to go all the way to being judged for it. Regardless of the outcome, I think I gained so much. After the album came out, I received so many messages. What touched me the most were the ones that said, “That was such a cool challenge. I understand why you did this.” That made it all worth it.

Q. What did <Unstoppable> leave for you?

It made me think deeply and often about making choices. Honestly, I’m at an age where many things change depending on the decisions I make. So I ask myself which choices reflect me the most. I boldly wrote the lyrics of ‘Unstoppable’ that says, “The story I choose,” and yet there are still a lot of things that I’m afraid of. I feel like I'm not a brave person and I learned that I need courage. That was something I felt through releasing the album, and it gave me the energy to film <Second Shot at Love>. To take on my first lead role, that courage was absolutely essential.

Q. Then what kind of courage did you show in <Second Shot at Love>?

I wanted to try acting that truly does something. I think it’s because of my personality. I’ve always been someone who is cautious about putting in too much effort. I always thought, “Be diligent, but don’t work too hard.” Sometimes, I felt uncomfortable watching myself act intensely on screen. At one point, I preferred acting in less intense roles. But while filming <Second Shot at Love>, I wanted to try acting where people could read my feelings immediately from my expressions. Because the acting that makes viewers not want to change the channel means making even one more expression, showing just a little more. I filmed with the mindset of really going all out. After having done this once, I think my fear lessened a bit.

Q. You have big news recently, right? You’re entering Hollywood with <Ballerina>, a spin-off of the John Wick series. The film premieres in North America this June and will be released worldwide. How did you get involved in this project?

Right, when I heard I got cast, I thought, “No way. How could I be?” Honestly, I hesitated a lot. It felt like a huge challenge but also small at the same time, and I found myself worrying a lot in front of that challenge. It was like, “I’m scared of the waves crashing at my feet, so I won’t even go.” That was exactly what I felt. While I was worrying about how the film and the feedback would come out, the one thing that pushed me to take on the challenge was the idea of being completely alone overseas, with no one else around. The thought of facing that head-on by myself was very appealing. As actors, we usually receive a lot of care from people around us. There’s always a car waiting for us in front of the house, people handling tough tasks on our behalf. So we can sometimes forget we’re human. We get a little spoiled. But being an actor means we have to portray people we see around us, yet we rarely get to live our life. I felt I really needed that time to live like a person. So I jumped into this project without looking back.

Q. How was the experience filming alone?

I cried (laughs). Because I wanted to go home. But I kept reminding myself as I put the kimchi, side dishes, and ramen that my mom packed into the hotel fridge, “Sooyoung, now you’re really living here without anyone’s help.” But somehow, I quickly got used to the life there. I went alone to the riverside where people warned me it was dangerous, opened a bottle of wine, and watched the sunset. I’m actually quite simple. I might not have much courage, but once the situation is set, I manage to find happiness there. I’m really a simple and fragile creature (laughs).

Q. Through <Ballerina>, You’re about to meet an audience you haven’t encountered before . Aren’t you curious about how they’ll perceive your acting?

Honestly, rather than curiosity, my first thought was that I must not become a burden to the project. It’s more than enough for me if the audience says, “Who is she?” So, I even went to the set with my hair dyed, which no one asked me to do. When they said actors could pitch ideas about the visual concept, I immediately suggested orange hair and they coolly agreed. At that time, there was a strong momentum in myself, like “I can do everything they ask!” So, I tried to absorb as much as possible on set. I even went to the set, sitting in corners on days without my shooting to observe how things were done. The team found me a bit overwhelming and said, “Yeah, you don’t have to come here,” (laughs).

Q. With two very different projects about to be released, you must be living in excitement right now. If you had to describe your current self in one sentence, what would it be?

There’s a phrase that fits me perfectly; a cheerful pessimist. On set, I always listen to the song “Rule of the Princess”. It’s a song that spreaded as a meme on social media. It goes like, “Yes, life has always been tough, but live like a princess today. What's so tough? Just be a princess. I’m precious, but so is everyone else. Everyone here is a princess!” Listening to that song, I keep reminding myself of these words (laughs). With that mindset, I can handle any situation anywhere.

Q. Lastly, can you share three secrets about Sooyoung?

First, I’m good at organizing. I have a talent of fitting what seems like an impossible amount of stuff into a single suitcase if I set my mind to it. Second, I’m surprisingly easygoing. I don’t overthink or twist things in my mind. Third, I actually don’t have many friends. But I’m so busy every day. I have to clean the house, work here and there, and often tear open the packages I ordered from Coupang (laughs).

[sycsubs]

[SOOYOUNG GLOBAL FANS 2024 BIRTHDAY SUPPORT WIFE QNA WITH SOOYOUNG ♡]

ORIGINAL ANSWER SHEETS BY SOOYOUNG:

FULL TRANSLATIONS TRANSCRIPT:

Name: Choi Sooyoung

Class: College of Medicine. London University. But I’ll be dropping out!

1. When you first saw the script for Wife, what were the charms of Daisy and Clare that you felt? Is there any aspect you focused on to be able to express the character of Daisy? (대본을 처음 봤을 때 데이지와 클레어라는 캐릭터는 어떤 매력을 가지고 있었나요? 그리고 데이지를 표현하기 위해 어떤 부분을 중점적으로 생각했는지 알려주세요.)

At first look, Daisy looks like an elegant and dignified woman on the outside, but she has a secret and has a different charm on the inside in nip and tuck situations. Clare is straightforward, righteous, confident, and she seems like a character who can only be satisfied by letting out what she wants to say, but in reality, she only wants one thing. She is just a daughter who craves for her father's love.

(데이지는 겉보기엔 우아하고, 기품 있는 여성이지만 비밀을 가진, 아슬아슬한 상황에 놓인 겉과 속이 다른 매력이 있었어요. 클레어는 직설적이고, 정의롭고, 당당하고, 하고 싶은 말을 다 해야만 직성에 풀리는 캐릭터처럼 보이지만, 사실 원하는 건 딱 하나에요. 아빠의 사랑을 원하는 딸 일 뿐.)

2. What is the meaning and definition of the word “Wife” for Sooyoung? (수영이가 생각하는 '와이프'의 정의와 의미는 무엇인가요?)

In the past, the meanings of 'sacrifice' and 'dedication' would naturally come to mind but now, those are just images created by time and society. That's why now, I honestly think it's better to leave (the word 'Wife') without a specific meaning anymore. Because regardless of gender, in any relationship, someone inevitably becomes the 'Wife'..

예전엔 ‘희생’과 ‘헌신’이라는 의미가 자연스레 떠올랐는데 이젠 그건 그냥 시대와 사회가 만들어낸 어떤 이미지일 뿐, 그래서 사실 이젠 별 의미를 두지 않는 것이 좋은 것 같아요. 성별에 관계 없이, 어떤 관계속에서는 누군가는 필연적으로 ‘와이프’가 되기 때문에.

3. Can you share a funny behind story that happened during “Wife” preparation/rehearsal/on stage? (연극 와이프를 준비하면서 있었던 일이나 리허설과 무대에서 있었던 재미있는 비하인드 스토리가 있었다면 알려주세요.)

That story when I went out to the stage without bringing my props.. that story when a sticker from the coffee truck got stuck on a prop.. that story when the running time became 5 minutes shorter because I forgot my lines and 2 entire pages were blown off.. and etc.. There’s too many, where should I start?....

소품 안 가지고 나간 썰… 커피차 스티커가 무대 소품에 붙어버린 썰.. 대사 까먹어서 두 페이지를 통째로 날려 러닝타임이 5분 짧아진 썰.. 등.. 너무 많은데 뭐부터 얘기하지?…

4. If you had to choose one, would you rather live as 1959 Daisy, 2023 Clare or 2046 Daisy? (1959년의 데이지, 2023년의 클레어, 2046년의 데이지 중에서 선택해서 살 수 있다면 누구를 선택하실 건가요?)

I like Clare in 2024 because I live in the present, and we have the opportunity to change the time we live in right now.

전 오늘을 살기 때문에 2024년도의 클레어가 좋아요. 지금 우리가 사는 시대를 변화시킬 기회가 있잖아요.

5. We saw that the WIFE team met up with an LGBTQ+ organization before, how important was it to you to speak with people in the community regarding your character in the play? (<와이프> 배역분들과 팀이 LGBTQ단체를 만났는데요 극 중 수영이의 배역과 관련해 커뮤니티 사람들과 소통을 하는 일이 얼마나 중요했는지 알 수 있을까요?)

After talking to them, I felt that Daisy, who was vague, was being drawn (in front of) my eyes to an extent. I've seen a lot of documentaries and movies, but it was really nice to see and converse with them personally.

막연했던 데이지가 그분들과 이야기를 나눈 후에 어느정도 눈에 그려지는 느낌이었어요. 다큐도 영화도 많이 봤지만 직접 뵙고 이야기를 나눴던 게 정말 도움이 많이 되었어요.

6. The keyring on student Daisy’s bag was so cute, it’s very eye-catching! It matched perfectly with Daisy~ Was that unnie’s idea? (학생 데이지 가방에 달린 키링이 너무 귀여워서 시선강탈! 데이지랑 찰떡인데~ 그건 수영의 아이디어였나요?)

It was the assistant director's idea! Both the bag and keyring belonged to the assistant director hehe. Actually, 2046 Daisy was supposed to wear pants and unique accessories, a styling that expresses her individuality a bit more but.. to be able to change back to 1959 Daisy quickly, we had to go for a simple styling. So I was satisfied with the keyring!

조연출님의 아이디어! 가방도 소품 키링도 조연출님의 것.ㅎㅎ 사실 전 2046 데이지는 바지도 입고, 개성 있는 악세서리도 하고 조금 더 자신을 드러내는 스타일링 하고 팠는데... 1959 데이지로의 빠른 전환을 위해 의상을 단순한 스타일링으로 했어야 했어요. 그래서 키링에 만족!

7. 3-line acrostic poem challenge with the word “Wife”! (와이프 3행시 챌린지!)

Wow.. this is really! really a classic! - Clare 2024

This theater will be knocked down! - Suzannah 2046

Pride~! You punk, this is a good word. - Ivar 1988

A Wife Universe where they have everything.

와: 와.. 이건 정말! 정말 고전적이네요! – 클레어 2024

이: 이 극장도 헐릴거야! -수잔다 2046

프: 프라이드~! 이 이건 좋은 단어야. – 아이바 1988

없는 게 없는 와이프 유니버스.

8. Theatre and acting on screen in dramas/movies require different skill sets. Do you think your experience in a theatrical play has changed how you would play a character on screen? (연극과 드라마 그리고 영화에서의 연기는 서로 다른 표현과 기술이 필요한데, 연극에서 생긴 경험들이 앞으로 수영이의 드라마와 영화 속 연기에서 어떤 변화로 이어질 것 같나요?)

The seniors expressed that it was like ‘standing naked on stage’, and at some point, I felt like I knew that feeling. On set, you can take a short break when you feel scared or anxious, but in theater, you have to go through the moment. So I think the theater experience made me a little less afraid and anxious, and I think I became more focused.

선배님들이 ‘무대에 발가 벗고 서는 것 같다’ 라고 표현을 하셨는데 어느 순간 저도 그 기분을 알 것 같았어요. 촬영장은 두렵거나 불안할 때 잠깐 쉬어 가도 되지만 연극은 그 순간을 헤쳐 나가야 하니까. 연극 경험으로 인해 두려움과 불안함이 조금 없어진 것 같고, 집중력이 더 생긴 것 같아요.

9. Among the adlibs that you did as Daisy, I wonder what was the funniest/most memorable for you? (데이지가 했던 애드립 중에서 가장 웃겼던 혹은 기억에 남는 부분은 무엇인지 궁금해요!)

In Act 3, Suzannah pretends to call someone and I look back to overhear the call..? haha. The audience’ reaction was the best.

3막에서 수잔나가 누가 통화를 엿듣나 돌아볼 때 전화하는 척 하는 클레어..? ㅎㅎ 관객분들 반응이 가장 좋았어요.

10. Who do you think will get along with Daisy among Seo Danah, Seo Yeonjoo, and Kim Jinhee? (서단아, 서연주, 김진희 중 데이지와 잘 어울리는 사람은 누구라고 생각하시나요? 이 중에 없다면 수영이가 했던 다른 역할 중에는 있나요?)

I think Seo Danah resembles Daisy the most. Since Danah, too, lived a life wherein she couldn't choose to protect love. Similarly, both of them also come from rich families.

서단아가 가장 데이지와 닮은 것 같아요. 단아도 사랑을 지키기 위해서 선택하지 못한 삶을 살았기 때문에. 둘 다 부유한 집안이라는 것도 비슷하구요.

11. If you could choose to do another play, which genre would you pick? (다른 연극 작품을 고를 수 있다면 어떤 장르나 역할에 도전해보고 싶으신가요?)

Alice in Closer

클로저의 앨리스

(*T/N: Alice is a character who longs to be loved yet is too scared of being hurt. She puts up a bad girl exterior who doesn’t care about anyone or anything. She is a former stripper who falls in love with a man who publishes his first book based on her life of taking off her clothes for money. She watches as the man falls in love with another girl and leaves her.)

12. Many fans from different countries came to Korea to watch Wife. What do you want to say to your Global Fans? (와이프를 보려고 해외에서 많은 팬들이 한국에 왔어요! 글로벌 팬들에게 전하고 싶은 말은 무엇인가요?)

Thank you very much for coming to see me and for taking the time to watch our performance with so many long lines. All my fellow actors & actresses and the crew said that they wanted to show subtitles. I'm always touched by global fans’ love ♡ I'm also touched by all the support, I won't forget it =)

길고 대사도 많은 저희 공연을 이렇게 시간 내어 보러 와줘서. 정말 고마워요. 함께 하는 배우분들 모든 크루가 자막이라도 띄워주고 싶다면서 글로벌 팬들의 사랑에 매번 감동했답니다♡ 모두 서포트에 감동했어요. 잊지 않을게요 =)

13. While doing the play “Wife” over the past months, did you have a daily routine? (와이프를 하는 기간동안 하루의 루틴이 있었어요?)

During practice, we meet from 10AM in the morning and it lasts until 10PM. Even though I didn't have enough time to do my own routine, I developed another routine since I was cooped up in the practice room every day. After going on stage, I have a routine to start my make-up at 4:30PM, use the foam roller at 5:00PM, then I will have my meal at 5:30PM, and at 6:00PM we match our lines for the stage.

연습 때는 매일 아침 10시에 만나 밤 10시까지 연습했어요. 혼자만의 루틴을 가질 시간이 부족했지만 매일 연습실이라는 공간에 틀어박혀 있으니 그것대로 또 루틴이 생기더라구요. 무대를 올리고 나서는 4:30pm 메이크업 시작 5:00pm 폼룰러 5:30 식사 6:00 무대에서 대사 맞추기 루틴.

14. Aside from yourself, among the SNSD members, who would you choose to play a role in Wife? (소녀시대 멤버 중 ‘와이프‘에 출연시키고 싶은 멤버를 고른다면 누구인가요? 그리고 어떤 역할을 주고 싶은지 궁금해요!)

Clare for Taeyeon.. haha I realized the importance of vocalization while playing Clare. I want to hear and see Clare’s wrath with Taeyeon’s vocalization.

태연이에게 클레어..ㅋㅋ 클레어를 하면서 발성의 중요함을 깨달았거든요. 태연이의 발성으로 클레어의 분노를 들어보고 싶네요.

15. Will there be a chance for SONE to get a full group photo of SNSD this year? 2023 was the first time without a SNSD photo in years ㅠㅠ (올해 소원이 소녀시대 완전체 사진을 볼 수 있는 기회가 생길까요? 2023년은 처음으로 소녀시대 단체 사진이 없었어요ㅠㅠ)

You’re right… Even if all 8 of us couldn’t match the time, we are trying to gather up (among ourselves) from time to time. ㅎㅎ I will try my best for a Soshi picture in 2024!!

그러네요.. 8명 모두 시간을 맞추진 못해도, 사이사이 모이려고 노력하구 있어요. ㅎㅎ 2024 소시 사진 노력해 볼게요!!

16. When will we be able to meet you again in another project? (다음 작품으로 우리 또 언제 만날 수 있을까요?)

Even if I start filming, there will be quite some time until the airing period… so I think you have to wait a bit more for my next project.. ㅠ_ㅠ But I’ll try my best to meet you with another project ♡

촬영을 시작한다 해도 방송까지는 꽤 시간이 있을 테니.. 다음 작품은 조금 기다려주셔야 할 것 같아요.. ㅠ_ㅠ 하지만 다른 프로젝트로 찾아뵐 수 있게 노력할게요♡

17. Lastly, what is your bucket list for the year 2024? (2024년의 버킷리스트 무엇일까요?)

Travel a lot and make memories ♡

Thanks to SONE, I made a lot of memories in 2023, so (let’s do it) this year too!

여행 많이 다니며 추억 쌓기♡ 2023에 소원덕분에 추억 많이 생겼으니 올해도!

Edited & Translated by:

sooyoungnews

syoungshine

수영뷘재은

actresschoi

TRANSLATED ANSWER SHEETS TO ENGLISH:

[sycsubs]

[ENGLISH TRANS] SOOYOUNG ON ELLE KOREA AUGUST ISSUE INTERVIEW

Q: We were entering the countdown of ‘Not Others’.

Sooyoung: It’s been a long time since i’ve waited for my own work. After I finished filming i’m the type to let go of it cooly but ‘Not Others’ is different. I hope a lot of people will watch this mother-daughter story and this female narratives drama.

Q: On our last interview, you said “Even if the script is fun i don’t feel attracted to female character that’s being wasted” and we thought that ‘Not Others’ is the best match for that.

Sooyoung: Yes. There’s not much drama that Mother and Daughter is the main character in Korea? ‘Not Others’ is a drama that lower the barrier to entry with a heart touching story that brings out our empathy.

Q: How did you interpret character of the Daughter Jinhee? We thought you must have worries since there were some differences from the original.

Sooyoung: When i first heard that i’m going to do it with Hyejin unnie I thought “How am i going to style myself so that i could look more like her daughter?”. I reflected on myself right away. I realised that trying to look like a daughter is not the result that this drama wanted. So i focused on what a child will look like if she was raised by a cool and hip mother like Eunmi. She’s a faithful woman and won’t lack anywhere she goes but when you get to know her she secretly makes you turn around? (Laughs) i tried to draw a figure that makes you say ‘As expected of Eunmi’s daughter”.

Q: We heard that you’re a fan of Actress Jeon Hyejin.

Sooyoung: The reason i chose this drama was 80% to meet Jeon Hyejin. I met the actress i was a fan of in a drama and that’s not as boss or older sister but as my mom. I thought myself as lucky. If she didn’t have me when she was in high school i think this combination won’t even happen. Every moment on set with her was like a dream to me.

Q: Among the movies and dramas with mother-daughter relationships, such as Greta Gerwig's <Lady Bird> and Michelle Yeoh's <Everything Everywhere All At Once> which ones left an impression on you?

Sooyoung: Mother-daughter stories told by Go Dooshim and Go Hyunjung in <Dear My Friends>, the conversation that Jung Yumi had with her mother who had panic disorder in <Live>… and i like the mother-daughter stories drawn by Writer Noh Heekyung. Even though it’s not a mother-daughter story, i’d like to mention a work called ‘Hillbilly Elegy’, it’s about a mother-son relationship.

Q: Are you talking about Ron Howard’s work?

Sooyoung: Yes. The process of overcome the deficiencies of our parents generation was passed on to their children and the process felt like a growth drama to me. I think we are almost the same. Our parents' parents' generation went through war right? My parents generation grew up embracing the trauma of the war. As the parent generation went through the internal trauma of the IMF, our generation was placed in that lullaby. So I guess certain insecurities and deficiencies have been passed down from generation to generation. Me too. My parents also went through that process, and i tried to be a good daughter but at the same time I tried to treat it as a growing pain. I could relate to that point because it was incorporated into the work.

Q: Oh, you tend to appreciate a work deeply.

Sooyoung: I like that work as a book but i think the film is also well made.

Q: If we look only at the debut, Girls’ Generation activities and acting starts at the same time. However, the break in acting is a bit longer, since when did you feel comfortable and confident as an actress?

Sooyoung: I think it was about 2 years. The time i felt the set as ‘a failure place’ to ‘it’s okay for me to fail here’ took a long time to accept it. I always tried to be perfect. I had an obsession to do better than anyone else since i knew the way an idol turned actress was looked at. I went to an audition once, a casting director said to me ‘you are good but you seems like a person who’s afraid of not doing good’, that’s when i got chills..

Q: You’ve got the point.

Sooyoung: I always afraid of not doing well. I couldn’t focus on my acting since i was afraid that people would say something about my attitude. I was always anxious, conscious even though nobody cares I was wrapped up in the sense of a victim and couldn't be free. I think I trained myself to collect all that waste of energy into one place. So I thought let’s get hate for making up my mind, let’s get some swearing! Let’s be a bit bolder even if my shortcoming goes into the ears of people around me, i’ve been thinking like that for around 2 years now. After I finished <If You Tell Me Your Wish> and <Fan Letter, Please> I gained a little bit confidence. I think ‘Not Others’ is the highlight.

Q: Even though you were expressing your shortcomings, you have so many talents such as singing, dancing, being social and acting. Where does that DNA comes from?

Sooyoung: My mom did some music in the past. My dad is good at talking but i feel like it’s the Girls’ Generation DNA. I realised it recently, the vaguely experiences in my 20s has naturally been embodied into me. So now when i look at the society, in variety shows and on stage i can see myself move automatically because of the things I’ve experienced. In fact, I thought if hadn’t done this work I might be missing out the feelings of my peers. Of course there won’t be a part like that but i get it now. I’m also learning my own experiences and emotions. I feel that my 30s is the time to expand myself by using my past experiences.

Q: It is such a great realisation

Sooyoung: In the past I won’t be able to talk like this. Because my lack of confidence. But now that I’m about to accept failure i just throw it away. (Laughs).

Q: At 2022 MBC Drama Awards, when you received an awards and Yoona in the audience seat was on the screen, you said ‘Yoona, do it now. You have to cry.’ That was a spontaneous comment and it became a huge issue.

Sooyoung: Haha yes. In the past, a single word from an idol would be evaluated as a strict standard. Now, i think the public’s taste has broadened and they accept it in variety ways.

Q: Anyway, because you were born in the early year, you were called as ‘the family tree (age) breaker’ right? Do you have any special feelings as the early year born since the counting age system has disappeared?

Sooyoung: So Yoona who was born in the same year as me won’t have to call me as ‘Unnie’ anymore? And the members in 89line became my Unnies? Uhm.. Even without the counting age system i think we won’t change the way we call each other. Isn’t it great to be a year younger?

Q: You must have many experiences in human relationship since you started your social life early. Who did you trust in that process.

Sooyoung: Someone who’s consistent. Trust someone who has their own beliefs and standards. Taste may change often but I believe beliefs are not easily shaken.

Q: Do you consider yourself as someone who has her own beliefs?

Sooyoung: I’m so consistent that it became a bit boring (laughs). Someone need to have the charm of ‘don’t know where she’ll go’, but I can’t do that.

Q: What is the motto of the consistent Sooyoung?

Sooyoung: These days, i think about the word of ‘Failing Forward’ a lot. Let’s move forward while failing. In the past, i was a hesitant character. I had a lot of worries and anxieties. Now, even if it’s just not good, i’ll go forward no matter what anyone says.

Q: While filming <Not Others>, you must have thought a lot about your family, is your family a someone else?

Sooyoung: Family is a thorough another person and someone else. It’s not someone else in a negative way, but someone else who we need to be the most considerate, the most careful and the most caring in the world. Before i was the opposite. I was more busy taking care of other people than my family. I started living alone in my mid 20s, i think that’s when i started to think about my family again. The person you should respect the most is your family.

Q: We agreed with you. Are many people rude to their families just because they are close?

Sooyoung: Yes. That’s why it’s a problem.

Q: This is the last question. Where is the 33 years old Sooyoung standing now?

Sooyoung: I feel like i’m standing at the starting line. Did it feel like a full zero? I think this is the time where i have been trained mentally to be the most independent, the most subjective and to thoroughly objectify myself. It’s in that sense of zero, fully!

[sycsubs]

[ENG TRANS] SOOYOUNG ON MARIE CLAIRE JUNE 2023

Q. You went to Paris last April for this photo shoot, right? What memories do you have from the days you spent there?

Sooyoung: I’ve had a few chances to go to Paris during my activities, but with the opportunity brought by this pictorial, I was able to visit (Paris) again after a long time and stayed for about four days. Perhaps it’s because I’m lucky when it comes to the weather (laughs), but the sky was so clear and the sun was shining beautifully too on the day of the shoot. Thanks to that, I had fun working and I also enjoyed the atmosphere on the site during my spare time. After working, I went to Switzerland to travel with my mom and sister.

Q. Some moments you experience on a trip can give you inspiration in life for the future. Did you feel anything new while traveling to Switzerland?

Sooyoung: I realized that experience is important. I went to Matterhorn and faced the snowy mountains for the first time in my life, and I was overwhelmed by the magnificent beauty of mother nature. I personally prefer trips in the city, but I want to go backpacking and enjoy nature. Another new experience was paragliding. Before I jumped down, admiration of the scenery and fear crossed my mind. But when I returned to the ground, I was like, ‘Do birds feel this way?’ it was strange, something I’ve never felt in my entire life. It was a trip that made me determined to actively try out things that I haven’t done before.

Q. Coming back after your trip, the drama <NamNam> is about to be released. It is based on a webtoon of the same name which depicts the story of Hopeless Mother ‘Eunmi’ (Jeon Jyejin) and Cool Daughter ‘Jinhee’ (Choi Sooyoung). I think it would have been necessary to have a process of adding new interpretation while still reflecting the original version.

Sooyoung: Jinhee’s job in the webtoon and drama are different. The Jinhee that appears in a drama is a police officer, and we thought that a neat short hair would look good so I didn’t dye my hair red like Jinhee in the webtoon. It was a choice made to bring out Jinhee’s personality in the drama, different from the webtoon. In terms of the development of the drama, there is also an episode wherein Jinhee is only a police officer. I referred to the tone and disposition in order to preserve the unique fun of the original version, but I focused more on the character in the drama itself that I had to express.

Q. How do you feel about waiting for the first episode which airs on July 17th?

Sooyoung: I’m the type to clear my mind once the filming is over and it goes out of my hands, but I’m hoping <NamNam> will do well. I hope this drama becomes a meaningful work for the viewers. Recently, there have been a lot of works that make female protagonists stand out such as <Queen Maker>, <Kill Boksoon>, <Work Later, Drink Now> and there are various genres as well. I hope that <NamNam> which captures the daily life of Eunmi and Jinhee, will also receive a lot of attention, and further help more female narratives to appear.

Q. A lot of people are looking forward to the kind of chemistry that you will show together with Actress Jeon Hyejin who plays the role of Eunmi.

Sooyoung: I like Jeon Hyejin sunbaenim so much. Just the fact that I’m participating in a project with Hyejin unnie makes me feel like I became a ‘successful fan’, and appearing with unnie as mother and daughter makes it an even more special opportunity. I thought that I have to be in harmony with Hyejin unnie in order to act to my heart’s content with her. (laugh) I was at a drinking party with unnie recently, and she said “I’m so happy that I got to act with Sooyoung”. Hearing her say those words made me feel relieved and touched.

Q. I’m getting curious about the chemistry that both actresses will show.

Sooyoung: It might feel strange at first. The relationship between Eunmi, who raised her daughter alone as a single mother, and Jinhee, who treats her mother like a friend, it’s not something common around us. <NamNam> is a work that tells us that there are also mother-and-daughter like this in the world. I think the charm of this drama is seeing Eunmi and Jinhee quarreling and living with complex emotions which are a combination of love, resentment, and respect.

Q. After wrapping up the filming for <NamNam>, you posted on SNS saying ‘Jinhee-ya, thank you for coming to me’. What were you feeling when you wrote those words?

Sooyoung: I was thinking that I wanted to tell a story about a mother through my work. I was lucky to be able to express and act out the emotions that Jinhee feels while looking at Eunmi. It was a point that I wanted to act out someday.

Q. It seems like a work that makes you think about the relationship between a mother and daughter. It may be the most intimate relationship, but like the drama says, they are also like ‘Strangers’ right?

Sooyoung: That’s right. I started living alone in the latter half of my 20s and I was so afraid that my mom might completely disappear from my life. When we met each other again after silently holding out and spending time separately, I was able to truly love my mom. When I was young, my mom cared for me and kept me safe, but now I feel like I should be the one to protect her. I want to know if anything hurts, and I want to show her a lot of good things. We also traveled to Switzerland because my mom often showed me photos of that place while saying, “If heaven exists, is it a place like this?”. I was glad that my mom liked that trip.

Q. Everyone, including mother and daughter, are fundamentally strangers, but there’s also a saying that ‘Only others save us’. Sooyoung, you also have moments where you feel the preciousness of other people, right?

Sooyoung: Of course. There are people who cross the line that I drew in an affectionate manner. They remember the food I enjoyed, or they suddenly give me something pretty as gifts. When someone is willing to give something for me like this, I realize that I have the power to exchange with others. I also want to convey this kind of emotion to the people around me.

Q. I had this thought when I heard that you and Yuri participated as flight volunteers for abandoned dogs on your trip to Los Angeles not long ago.. Sooyoung’s kindness reaches not only people but also animals.

Sooyoung: I heard that there are a lot of abandoned dogs waiting for help from volunteers. I thought that sending many more abandoned dogs to places where there are people waiting for them through planes that fly every day would ease their pain even just a little bit. Even if it's not often, I look into flight volunteer information when I go to places like the US. It was Yuri’s first time being a flight volunteer, and she thanked me for giving her the opportunity to help the dogs. I was also grateful that Yuri was able to feel those emotions and expressed them in words.

Q. It’s not easy to keep a relationship going for more than 15 years, but Girls’ Generation members have already spent that much time together. Not to mention in the closest way. It’s a relationship that started through work, but now, you have become very important people in each other’s lives.

Sooyoung: “When I went to Los Angeles with Yuri and Tiffany this time, every process went smoothly. It was very comfortable because we are used to honestly voicing out if we’re upset about something as well as yielding to each other fairly. We’ve been together for a long time so we know each other well, but I think it’s a blessing that I have friends beside me with whom we still have a lot to talk about whenever we meet. It felt as if we were being compensated for the days we lived intensely together.

Q. Girls’ Generation members, who received a huge amount of love right after debut, are now continuing activities in their respective places. Sooyoung is also solidifying her position as an actress.

Sooyoung: “I used to be shy about saying ‘I’m actress Choi Sooyoung’. Looking back now, I think I had a similar mindset to ‘Forky’ in <Toy Story> who didn’t think of himself as a toy. I was conscious of the prejudiced view about idol-turned-actor and obsessed over a kind of inferiority complex. But now, I have come a long way from such thoughts. I felt a great thirst for this freedom. I hope I can gain a lot more experience and show various faces as an actor using the freedom that I finally found.

Q. Are there more things you want to achieve in the future?

Sooyoung: “I’ve been ambitious/greedy lately. I talked to Yuri and Tiffany about it and they said, ‘It’s my first time hearing such words come out from Sooyoung’s mouth.’ (laughs) I don’t have a specific goal, but I do want to be loved more.”

Q. What is the fundamental reason behind such thoughts?

Sooyoung: “If you were to compare a person to a jar, my jar is filled with water very shallowly. If the amount of water is this little, it’s not an easy thing to share it with someone. I don’t think I’m that big of a person to an extent that I’d share what I have until the very last drop. That’s why I should fill myself up even more. It would be nice if I get filled to the point it overflows so that I can share even more.”

Q. So it’s being filled to be able to share.

Sooyoung: “There are a lot of people around me whom I’m grateful for and they tell me, “Even if you don’t pay me back, I will fill you up.” I wish to become that kind of person too. I want to be more relaxed so that I can give more. Then I will be able to deliver greater love to the people I cherish.”

[sycsubs]

[ENG TRANS] Sooyoung on Elle Korea, December 2022 Issue

Q: You cut your hair.

SY: It’s not my first time having short hair. I had long hair for a long time because it looks new on me. It’s been 5 years since. I was a little down when I cut my hair. It’s like a part of my body has been taken away from me. It felt like everything I wore won’t look good but now that I got used to it, I’m not sure if I can go back to long hair.

 2. Q: This year is special for you. Girls’ Generation complete members promotions for 15th year anniversary, drama “If You Wish Upon Me”, followed by drama “Fan Letter Please” that talks about fan letters to end the year.

SY: It’s lucky for me to be able to act in two dramas in a year. I have a lot of chance to communicate with fans this year and it feels like the last puzzle has been matched, after being able to act in a drama that have relations with fans.

3. Q: In the drama, you acted as top star Kanghee, which is really close to you. When you were acting, is there any embarrassing or candid moments that reminds you of yourself?

SY: It is a character that I’m very familiar with. I can know what thoughts I have while talking, what kind of expressions, what kind of feelings straight away. I understand the character deeply until the director said “I didn’t knew that the character will be in this pain in this situation.” Since this job is a job that will be talked around by people, it’s really easy to get misunderstood by people. What we said or did without much thought in past will be brought up. Whenever that happens, I thought “Even I can’t say no to this?” (laugh). Kanghee is a friend who is used to those situations and she didn’t get affected. I think I’m not the type who explains myself, talks about my hard times or family problems. Of course, Kanghee and I are different but while acting as her, I felt a little freedom. I tried to melt down my humane side, worries and also my unattractive side.

4. Q: Do you write letters frequently in real life?

SY: On Tiffany’s birthday this year, I made a big decision and bought her something that she wanted for a long time. But she was sad that there wasn’t any letters. There’s at least some people around me that want to receive letters, even my mother. I have bad handwriting so whenever I write lyrics or any writings, I used iPad to write (laugh). Since they want to receive it, so I wrote for them. When I write to express myself, I don’t write formally like “congratulations” and “stay healthy”. I want to put my real sincerity in it so if I’m going to write, I won’t write two three words on the card. 

5. Q: I’m sure you received a lot of fan letters like Kanghee. Is there any special writing that stays in your heart?

SY: I keep the letter that I received after the filming for “Fan Letter Please” in my bag and bring it around with me. Girls’ Generation promotions and the filming for this drama overlaps so I was really tired physically. I was worried if I could show my best for the filming that all the staffs and I put everything in. I went to the after party while feeling sorry and weirdly, the youngest filming staff that my eyes always went to her came to me and put something on my hands. It was folded into a heart shape and after unfolding it, it’s a letter filled with sincerity. She said that she went through growing pains with unnies and now that she has grown up, she said that she thought she want to protect and cheer for unnies now. She joined the filming team as the youngest member and everything was foreign to her. The only familiar existence in the filming set is unnie and it was weirdly comforting to her. I cried. I thought that she saw me in my worst condition. Fans don’t just write “I love you” and “thank you”. Their world is in the letter together with the sincere and pretty words that they thought deeply of.

6. Q: There’s a strength to make even those who wasn’t a fan of Girls’ Generation to reminisce about the past.

SY: I was curious how the old fans know my feelings and worries even though we’ve never drink (alcohol) and talk freely together before. I get curious of the cultures of the current generation. It’s nice to have a platform you can influence people with different type of cultures but sometimes, I feel like commons I have with the generation above me has lost as the mainstreams has changed. That’s why I said felt affection and sometimes feels choked up when I watched our promotions.

 7. Q: Your debut song “Into The New World” feels like a cheering song for the girls. Even hearing it after 15 years, it felt like the courage when I was a girl is boiling again.

SY: The lyrics “Please protect the love that will never change, even my scarred heart” is the frame for the latest Girls’ Generation’s promotion. Even the stage for the title song of this album is “Forever 1” has the feelings of “I’m still the same, standing here” but amazingly, I saw the comment, “The song is saying that we are still here without any changes” and got goosebumps. I was excited that our sincerity matched and I felt joy after a long time.  

 8. Q: Do you have any ways to maintain and protect Girls’ Generation’s fans and also the people around you?

SY: I think I just cherish myself. When you put others first, your energy will be drained. When someone tells me their worries, sometimes, I don’t have the energy to listen to them. I don’t want to hurt them so I tried to take some time to charge myself. That’s why I like to be alone and I don’t rush into relationships (in general). But once I get into a relationship (in general), I want it to last long and deeply. I heard this advice at counseling when I was tired from human relationships. When an airplane gets into accident. And emergency oxygen masks are given, who should wear it first? The answer is wearing it yourself first and then help the person next to you. I found self-esteem and fully energized when I have the experience to take the lead when I’m with the members or alone. That’s why we can get together, cherish, take care of each other and also yield each other. In order to protect something precious, you need the time to cherish yourself too.

 9. Q: It’s a process that companied by intense process of loving oneself. You looked like you have no worries as you look cheerful when you’re promoting as a team or actor without any boundaries.

SY: I have times when I doubted myself, “I don’t think I need to be a good person to everyone”. In the past, I always have the thought that when I got cursed, I won’t be the only one who got cursed, members will get it too. But nowadays, the members said that “I hope I will be able to hear what people cursed about you. I want to hear some rumors of how you are doing on the filming set.” It was a joke but it make us take care of ourselves more. Girls’ Generation’s members has been promoting as a team for a long time so, consideration and responsibility are basic for us. If we want to take care of everything while paying attention to everything, we won’t be able to concentrate in our job. Even if you got misunderstood for having a bad expression for a second, but putting on good works and results will let the staff’s job end early (laugh). It’s better to save energy and be faithful to the role given to me than gnawing at myself while trying to be a good person to the majority people.

10. Q: In your previous drama “If You Wish Upon Me”, your co-actor Ji Chang Wook said that “Sooyoung is affectionate and friendly to everyone”. In dramas “My Spring Days” and “Run On”, you played roles that are clumsy but has a warm heart.

SY: It’s the filming site of “If You Wish Upon Me” that made me affectionate (laugh). When I was choosing a work, I looked at the life that was represented from the characters. I focus on expressing that there’s this type of people in the world. Even if the script is fun, but if the female character is being wasted, I don’t get attracted by it. There’s always friends that got kicked away. I can’t ignore it and I want to hold it onto the heart.

11. Q: Today’s pictorial concept was to show Sooyoung’s coolness. When were the times you think you are cool?

SY: When I don’t forget what the people I love said and do for them, when I do things I’m supposed to do silently. I do have some laziness side of me (laugh).

12. Q: It’s the coolness of people who debuted 15 years ago (laugh). You said that “it’s better to live with what you’ve went through” for the life in your thirties?  What kind of strength does your experience gave you?

SY: You will have weapons to take with you. Since I went through it, I think I have the strength to predict the results of it.

13. Q: There’s a lot of juniors who stated Girls’ Generation as their role model for their achievement point. What do you want them to “bring” with them?

SY: People, taking care of people’s heart, it’s an easy generation where a relationship is broken, it’s fast to get over it and it’s also easy to accept something new. It’s good to brush away the relationships that you got hurt from and find new person. “Cutting ties” with someone also means taking care of myself. There must be some good times in between all the hurts and conflicts. If you felt thankful to that person at least once and once thought that you want to take care of that person, even if the situation has changed, go until the end with sincerity and it will last long. I am like this.

14. Q: Something that Choi Sooyoung wants to get eagerly now?

SY: To be able to satisfy my desire as an actress in short period of time. It’s the time where I’m worry about having methods to be able to act till the point I’m satisfied while making good changes to it.  I think the drama I’m currently filming and works that I will be choosing in the future will help me to grow nearer towards my goal and I will do it if it helps me to grow.

15. Q: The sun is setting so it’s getting colder. What kind of winter are you preparing for?

SY: I think many things that happened gave me heartache. It’s a season where I’m thankful that I’m be able to do what I likes and also eat what I want to eat. It’s my 15th anniversary since debut and it’s a special year for both Girls’ Generation and me as an actress but it makes me sorry as an adult that there are people who are suffering. Even though I can’t be very helpful but I have the thought of wanting to be an adult where people could lean on me.

 

16. Q: The young girl has become an adult.

SY: I felt that too when I saw young girls using “Into The New World” as their cheering song. The way they thought of Girls’ Generation’s existence makes me an adult. I have the reason not to do anything that I will be embarrassed of and also the thought of I have to do anything as an adult. This year, just like how I want to have a drink with our fans, I want to listen to other’s stories that live outside my boundaries too.

[sycsubs]

Sooyoung’s Interview with Elle Hongkong, August 2022 Issue:

💗THE HOT 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF GIRLS’ GENERATION💗

The COVID outbreak, which lasted for more than two years, has had a tremendous impact on the Korean showbiz.

Despite the obstacles, Korean celebrities have been adapting themselves to the new situation and bringing joy to the public.

Last August, Girls' Generation, who is known as the "K-pop representative girl group" and "forever Girls' Generation", made an appearance in the popular tvN talk show "You Quiz on the Block".

It was all the rage among SONE.

It had been 4 years since they showed up as 8 in the public. They took their 14th anniversary as an opportunity to share their memories during their trainee days and after their debut with Girls' Generation. SONE were moved by their words and cheered up by their sense of humour. 

💗SY: Thank you 'You Quiz on the Block', for capturing our beautiful and interesting moments. The program was great and I really enjoyed that.

Sooyoung remembered that the pandemic was still unstable around the time of filming.

💗SY: I was very careful and sensitive during that time. If someone had been tested positive, the filiming would have been cancelled. I am thankful that everything was alright.

More importantly, "You Quiz on the Block" is like a "trailor" of Girls’ Generation 15th anniversary. This year is the 15th anniversary of Girls’ Generation. The group will make a comeback as a whole and will take parts in different events, which Sooyoung is looking forward to. 

💗SY: Despite our busy schedules, the passion for the 15th anniversary album is astonishing. Our chatroom is non-stop even during the midnight. Even though everyone is busy and the meetings are very short, all of us are so attentive. I can tell our problem-solving skills and experiences have been reinforced. I am so excited.

Sooyoung keeps us in suspense regarding the plans for 15th anniversary. However, Sooyoung understands SONE's curiousity so she briefly explained the concept of the recent variety show "Soshitamtam".

💗SY: When the production team asked me what I would like to do, I reckon variety show is a great platform for Girls’ Generation to show ourselves and share our thoughts. We can do anything to shape the content in a variety of ways, including reality show, games and documentary. 

Apart from Korean SONE, Sooyoung left heart-warming words for Hong Kong SONE too.

💗SY: I can’t come to Hong Kong now but I am pleased to be featured in ELLE Hong Kong as the cover girl. August 2022 is sowing for a bountiful harvest. Other than the 15th anniversary album, 'If You Wish Upon Me' will be aired in August. I planned to leave some media content for memories and promotion, then I ended up getting an offer from ELLE Hong Kong. It's precious to "meet" Hong Kong SONE through ELLE. Back then, I have a lot of events and concerts so I can travel anytime. I can’t do this now so I am more eager to meet SONE in person. Although I have been to many countries, I can’t forget the enthusiasm of Hong Kong SONE. My members and I have lots of memories here. Hong Kong is a special and an unforgettable city to me. When the situation eases, we will come and meet you all. Please wait for us. Miss you!

💗 Girls’ Generation members - love like friends, love like family 💗

From Sooyoung's perceptual words, we can tell that she is a person who values relationships.

Girls’ Generation is well-known for their family-like friendship. Do they have any secrets of maintaining the friendship? 

💗SY: We not only talk about work, but also daily lives. We are not always in tone. Come to think of it, we don't even know how time flies. We are too lucky. I always think about how to link 'friends' and 'colleagues'. When we were young, we were too close. We could not separate work and personal lives so conflicts arised. However, we have been more mature now. We have rules when discussing work. Even though we are like family, we need to be sincere and polite to deal with everything. For example, we follow the meeting rules set by Tiffany, like baby sparrows following their mom. This prompts us to discuss professionally and respectfully as an artist.

Sooyoung grows up with the members from a girl to a lady. Sooyoung has encountered various obstacles with her members before and after the debut as Girls’ Generation. What is her most unforgettable moment? 

💗SY: the August 5 years ago, the time when we decided to part ways and take a rest, when we promised to gather again and when I left SM, was the most unforgettable. I was shaking like leaving a family which brought me up. I had to cope with lots of changes and challenges. From SONE's point of view, they must be even more anxious, even though they had expected beforehand. I could not say anything further on top of the official statement. I felt sorry that I could not reassure SONE. When I recall it now, the depression during that time was the most suffering and melancholy mentally.

Despite the stress, Sooyoung has some gains. 

💗SY: I love something that can be proved by time, such as photography and poetry. They are works that come with time.

It takes time to prove her decisions along her journey as an individual artist. 

💗SY: The distress at that time was solid. But I believe when the time comes, there will be a chance to show my heart. It will even become more beautiful which will heal all my wounds. I made a promise to myself - I will become a better person.

Sooyoung's career has been more fruitful with her determination and motivation. 

💗SY: Every moment in the past has been the stepping stone to where I am now. I will become cooler and kinder.

Sooyoung never forgets the fact that SONE are the pillars of Girls’ Generation. She often opens Q&A and asks for SONE's wishes on SNS, which shows how she cherishes SONE. 

💗SY: Many people mistake me as being 'not so friendly' when they meet me for the first time. To be honest, I did explain to my fans that 'I am not a friendly person'. I have been in the business for 15 years. SONE finally understands the 'real me'. They always look at me adorably. It makes me feel being loved and liberated. Occasionally SONE remind me, 'Sooyoung, don't be too over'. I happily accept that and learn a lesson. As they know me well, I feel comfortable. However, the more comfortable it is, the more careful I need to be. A deep affection needs greater respect and care.

Sooyoung also wants to create new memories with SONE on the 15th anniversary. 

💗SY: I hope that SONE will enjoy our activities and programs, while getting rid of the longing and the blues in the past. Although our activities are limited, I will try my best to let everyone participate without regret. 

💗 THE JOURNEY AS A SOLO ACTRESS 💗

In addition to being an idol singer, Sooyoung has been focusing on acting in recent years and has earned success. In 2021, she was chosen as one of the 200 actors representing the current and future Korean film industry in an international promotion project called "The Actor is Present - The Korean Actors 200" organised by Korean Film Council (KOFIC). This has been a huge encouragement for her career journey. 

💗SY: It was an unexpected reward. I am very grateful but there's still a long way to go.

Sooyoung replied humbly.

💗SY: It's my pleasure and I’m thankful to gain the recognition. However, as an actress, my projects and proficiency are limited. I’m still at the beginning of the journey. Every time when I review my performance, I worry about what I lack. For example, I experienced the pain of regret, separation, learning and growth last year. Nevertheless, when I think of the growth after the mistake or regret, I would feel less unfortunate. Anyway, I won’t stop. I will observe the strengths of the others and learn humbly by being aware of my surroundings and being open to feedback.

Although acting could be difficult, it is fun. 

💗SY: The most challenging part of acting is to 'convince' the others to trust me as an actress. Firstly, I have to convince the people who offer me the role so that they do not doubt my performance. At the filming site, I need to convince the other actors so they are not puzzled. Lastly, I must convince the audience. It sounds stressful but now I’ve been more relieved. I do not intend to convince anyone because it is kind of meaningless. If you live and breathe like the character, everything comes naturally. It may be difficult but I am still working hard on it.

Furthermore, she has found her vocation since she was recognised by the industry. 

💗SY: The 200 actors nominated in the KOFIC "The Actors is Present" include the seniors who devote themselves to acting, as well as the peers who are charismatic and unique. It somehow encourages me to become a genuine actress. I’m committed to learning how to express myself better.

💗 GO FORWARD EARNESTLY BUT AT EASE 💗

Every project has given Sooyoung different feelings and unforgettable moments. "If You Wish Upon Me", which will be aired in August, has brought new inspirations to her. 

💗SY: This story illustrates the special volunteer team in a hospice, who grants the last wishes of the patients with terminal cancer. My character Yeonjoo, is a nurse in the hospice. She is a bit different from a nurse in a typical hospital. Other than simply providing medical treatment, this role provides mental support, protection and accompaniment to the patients until their last minute of life. It is a very special job.

Because of this, she faced some challenges in terms of body shape and strength. 

💗SY: As I am thin, I need to gain weight and undergo weight training to adapt to the character. Despite my intensive training, I could not reach my body and muscle goals. This drama was an opportunity for me to work out more. Although the filming was finished, I still have my abs and I feel healthier.

Sooyoung has also learnt a lot while working with other actors. 

💗 SY: This drama talks about death but it is not heavy. I’m used to group life as I debuted with a girl group. I felt lonely for a while after I started my solo career. I worked with many great actors in this drama. The chemistry of the team and the atmosphere at the filming site were amazing. I received plenty of positive energy during the filming. I really enjoyed it and I didn't want it to finish.

She hoped that the audience would feel the chemistry as well. 

💗SY: I hope that this drama can deliver a message - There are numerous projects that are relevant to death. But is death that terrifying? Is there only grief? The charm of this drama is letting you know, there will be someone giving you a helping hand regardless of how hopeless your life is.

Considering Sooyoung's passion for acting, is she ambitious for her future?

💗SY: I don't really have a plan. Is this my biggest weakness? I don't really have a dream all the time, unlike someone who runs towards his goal, or feels proud when a goal is accomplished. Sometimes I even find the current road difficult. But it doesn't matter, right? Going forward at ease and being moved by the little things suit me better.

She understood women in this generation not only pursue careers, but also work-life balance. 

💗SY: i’m not really good at this but I am trying to. In recent years, I have realised the importance of "me time". If I didn't need to work, I travelled overseas or went somewhere people could not find me. However, I do understand that pusuring work-life balance may affect others or may become selfish. Completing everything well may turn out to be a burden, no matter if it is intentional or enforced. If I need to give up one of them (work or life), someone will be hurt. So before making a decision, I wish I could think it through 'Can I be responsible for everything? If I decide to do that, I will be perseverant.' This is my all-time promise and what I’m determined to achieve. Finding a balance in my bearable responsibility is a healthy balance to society and me.