[TRANS] The Star February ‘18 - Junho Interview
My Sweet Boyfriend with GODIVA
Valentine’s Day
I want to fall in sweet love with Junho
Each time Junho smiled in front of the camera, the studio filled up with happy screams (?) from our female staff members. Shall we say that you could charge up your sugar levels just by looking at Junho holding the Godiva chocolate? Why did we see this desirable combination just now? Junho himself was flustered and embarrassed by everyone’s fierce reaction. The rumour has it this kind of attitude was even lovelier.
You’re now filming the drama “Rain or Shine” in Busan, right? You really came from so far away to Seoul for the photo shoot. Could I be the celebrity who’s come from the farthest place? That feels nice (laughs). Actually, it didn’t take that long to arrive, but I haven’t slept properly for a few days. We’re in the last stages of our drama filming now.
The character you’re playing in the drama, “Kangdoo,” is a really pitiful person. How did you feel shooting this sweet pictorial with chocolate today? I feel weird whenever I need to go back to Seoul for work while we film the drama in Busan. Perhaps it’s because I get so absorbed into this Kangdoo character, but then I have to go back to my regular life. At first I felt somewhat awkward when I had to smile in the beginning of this photo shoot, but then it got natural.
Do you usually purchase Godiva products? I like Godiva chocolate the most. Whenever I eat chocolate, it’s always just Godiva, I suppose? I quite often received this chocolate as a gift. And it’s a good present to give, too. I often visited their chain shop in Garosu-gil to buy gifts. I especially like the package with lots of small chocolates. It’s nice that each is a convenient mouthful. And of course, it just tastes good. (laugh)
When do you crave for sweets the most? Lately, I’ve had a lot of cravings while filming. After all, when you can’t sleep properly, your sugar levels fall. I want sweets when I work hard, when I need to use my head, when I run low on energy. For almost 5 months while filming the drama, I haven’t eaten my meals properly. Controlling what I eat, I lost around 7 kg. Lately, I’ve begun eating this and that.
If you were to use the phrase “Chocolate it XXXXX,” what would you say? “Chocolate is Love.” Doesn’t sound too good? (laughs) Personally, I like chocolate more than candies. That’s why I’ve liked Valentine’s Day over White Day.
Do you have any unforgettable Valentine’s Day memory? I liked it the most when I received chocolate from my parents. Especially from my dad. My dad is rather brusque, but he once bought chocolate on Valentine’s Day. It was really this rough-looking chocolate a father would buy. I felt really good. I had grumbled a little, saying that mom brought really pretty chocolate, so why dad bought something so ugly, but deep inside I really enjoyed eating it.
Do you have any plans for the oncoming Valentine’s Day? I will probably come back to Korea for a while in the midst of my Japanese tour. I’m going to drop by on my family. I haven’t seen them for almost half a year because of the drama filming. I should go see them with chocolate in hand.
Have you ever confessed to someone you liked giving them chocolate? In junior high? I haven’t done anything like that lately. In my junior high days, I used to flutter just thinking about giving someone chocolate on Valentine’s Day. I think I would get totally absorbed by the festival-like mood. Everyone gives and receives then, you know. If you don’t get anything, you become this unpopular guy. (I think you would’ve received lots.) Of course, I had received it sometimes. It wasn’t much though, around two or three [pieces]? I wasn’t completely poor (laughs).
When we think of Junho, you are famous among women for your warm boyfriend image. We’re curious if you’re really kind when you’re in a relationship or you’re more of a tough guy type? It depends on who’s that other person. I’m the type who adjusts to my partner. If that person is quiet, I calm down as well. If they’re talkative, I end up talking a lot, too. I tend to follow the character.
White Day is coming soon, too. Is there anyone you’d like to give a candy to? Our staff members. Since I go back and forth between countries a lot for my tours abroad, I often visit duty free shops. So I gave a lot of chocolate to our drama staff members. And this time, I want to give it to my staff members who are always next to me. Originally, I’m not good at taking care of those the closest to me, but from now on, I’m going to try (laughs).
I’m curious about your ideal type. Back in the day, I used to have a detailed ideal type. But, to be honest, ideal type is just an external condition. And right now, it’s something the hardest. A person who just feels right (laughs). It’s extremely hard to look for such person. Even if there is someone like that, it’s not that easy to approach them. If I happen to meet such a person more than 3 times, I will definitely try to ask them out. If you meet someone like that more than 3 times, it’s definitely fate.
Recently, you received an Excellence Award in acting at the KBS Drama Awards. Congratulations. Is there anything you couldn’t say in your acceptance speech? I forgot to mention my parents. So I gave them a call the moment the event was over. My parents were watching the award show, I felt so sorry about that. I want to express my deep gratitude to my family. And the fans. I forgot to mention the most important people: my family and my fans. I was so nervous back then, it totally escaped my mind. My hands were so sweaty. Even my medial cleft glistened with sweat (laughs).
You also received the best couple award with Namgoong Min. The kiss on the cheek was rather impressive (laughs). After that, even Min hyung said “To think my first New Year’s kiss is with you. I couldn’t even do that with my girlfriend” (laughs). Even as I was doing it, I wondered if it was something I could do. I think I was as nervous as when I received the award (laughs).
Is there an award you’d like to receive at the next award show? There isn’t anything else I’d like to receive. I just want to be acknowledged by the people. Of course, it’s nice to get a trophy, but I want to become a person who makes people think “If Junho appears there, I must watch it.” If you become a person that others watch because they trust you, I suppose trophies eventually find you automatically.
2PM is already a 10-year-old idol group. Have you ever missed the old “beastly idol” days with 2PM when you watch your juniors? I’m active as a solo artist at the moment, so I have no longing for the stage. However, I do miss being active as a part of 2PM. I don’t know exactly how that will happen in the future because right now Taecyeon hyung is in the army, and all the other members have to take turns with their service. When I watch the activities of junior groups lately, I get to cheer for them even more. Especially, I’ve liked BTS since long before. They are really kind friends who work hard and are good at what they do. You know that once you see how they greet people, even if you get to see them while passing by. I’ve always cheered for them, hoping they would grow big, and now I feel good because they are so successful.
If 2PM gets to promote again as a group, is a there a concept you’d like to try out? I suppose we should go for something glamorous (laugh). There was this song “My House” composed by Minjun hyung, but we couldn’t promote it for more than a week. Our promotion period was cut short because of various circumstances, but the fans really loved it. We also thought that the outfits did suit us well. I think I want to try out a sexy mood concept that would be suitable for our own age group.
Now, rather than “acting idol,” the word “actor” suits you even more. It is hard to focus on both, music and acting. What do these two spheres mean to you? It is everything for me as a celebrity. I’ve always been very ambitious since I was little. So even when I’m acting, I want to stand on stage as soon as possible if I see it; and when I’m performing on stage and I get to see some script, I want to quickly go back into acting. And even so, I don’t want to neglect either. So I think that’s why I’m working even harder at it. I can’t tell if I’m good at it, but I’d like to tell myself that I’m good at working hard. I do acknowledge that I work hard (laughs).
You were really busy in 2017, but I guess it was a special year for you. How would you like to remember 2018? If the year 2017 brought a lot of positive energy, in 2018, I would like to display and spout out myself more. Rather than simply accumulating popularity, I’d like to work more on the things I’m doing right now, and I want to be better at it. It would be great if I could squeeze out all the skills that I have.
I’ve heard that you’re leaving for Japan soon because of your concert. I’ll give you a minute to promote yourself. 2018 is the year when I’m having a tour in winter for the first time. I always used to have my Japanese tours in summer, and this is the first winter tour. Therefore, I think that this tour will be completely different from the previous summer tours. I’m preparing a calm concert program that can move your hearts, so please look forward to it.
Finally, what would you like to say to the fans who love you? I spent a precious year in 2017 thanks to you all. I hope that in 2018 I will be able to repay all the love you have given me.
Kor-Eng: Egle0702
Photos: TUPIEMALWAYS
