jeong yunho, twenty5, cis male, he/him. ─── 3, 2, 1 — action! everyone, we’re here at jincheon national training center, and this time i have with me our national archery team’s very own choi minjun. you might know them for having achieved a perfect score in the 101st national sports festival, but if not, don’t worry. they’re here to field all your burning questions. let’s dive right in.
thanks for joining us today. so, tell me…
how does it feel to have been selected for the national team?
clasping his hands together in delight, minjun gives the reporter a gentle smile. "if i'm honest … it still doesn't feel like it's really happening. like it's not actually real and i'm about to wake up from a beautiful dream any second," he laughs heartily, shaking his head. "no, but really - i am beyond honoured to be part of the national team and i will do my best to represent my country properly!"
what message would you like to send to your fans and supporters as you represent the country on the national team?
minjun nods and considers the words for a moment before turning to look directly into the camera. "i would like to thank you all very much for the support you have given me over the past months and years. your kind words always mean the most to me, so i would like you to continue to cheer me on as i take on this new challenge. thank you!"
amazing. addressing a sensitive issue now: the rumors on “105fm.” could you shed some light on any concerning rumors you’ve heard about yourself?
even when questioned about his least favourite subject, minjun doesn't let his facade crack and keeps a smile on his lips. "i wouldn't necessarily like to give mere rumours a platform to grow and develop into something even bigger, but since it's you," he smirks at the reporter, "i'll make an exception. there are certain people who claim that i'm just a puppet who doesn't have a say in how i present myself to the public, that i'm easily bought … you know, the usual. either way, i don't pay attention to those opinions, really."
… and, i’m sure your supporters want to hear your thoughts.
how do you protect your mental well-being despite the negative attention from 105fm?
"i try to focus on the positive things instead. like the amount of support i receive from my fans online. it's really easy to get caught up in the negativity sometimes, so i think it's important to keep an eye on what's really important."
i see, i see. i’m afraid that’s all the time we have. thank you so much, congratulations, and best of luck to you and your team. to wrap things up, can you give us a quote?
"it may be satisfactory, but that's another word for mediocrity."
na jaemin, twenty4, cismale, he/him. ─── 3, 2, 1 — action! everyone, we’re here at jincheon national training center, and this time i have with me our national archery team’s very own cha eunyeol. you might know them for being a silver medalist in hyundai korea youth archery competition & for his international debut as a gold medalist in the u21 world archery championship. but if not, don’t worry. they’re here to field all your burning questions. let’s dive right in.
thanks for joining us today. so, tell me…
how does it feel to have been selected for the national team?
eunyeol remembers the feeling all too fondly. he never saw it as a goal in the first place if he was being honest. what started out from a simple admiration towards the heartstring leads to him picking up in his now forever passion and all that he cares about is just archery and his love for the sports. recognition from it comes as a bonus and if anything, he had saw this as a stepping stone for him to showcase his passion for his bow and arrows.
"i remember clearly when i went about with the qualifying. my coach didn't even tell me what it was for, you know. just that i should do my best and have fun as usual. i did feel like it was a bit weird since it wasn't a competition or anything. like there wasn't even like other teams there. but nevertheless i performed my best of course. then they told me i got in a few weeks after the qualifying and i said, 'got in what?' and that earned a tight hug from my coach. i mean, i was surprised. never knew that old man had affection in him but i think it was the first time i saw him cried even. i would say i remember the feeling of it; like happiness. but i think my coach was feeling it more for me." eunyeol finds himself laughing recalling seeing that side of his coach at that time.
how do you handle nerves and pressure when competing for the country?
"well.." eunyeol begins, letting his words trail off as he thinks. "not to be that guy really but i don't think i ever get like nervous or anything." he laughs, wondering if he sounded cocky from saying that. "it's just, i like archery so much so i'm always thinking about having the most fun when i'm out there with my gears in hand. i guess you could say, the ways to handle nerves and pressure is to think of the fun you get. the reason why you started the sports and is doing what you're doing now!"
amazing. addressing a sensitive issue now: the rumors on “105fm.” could you shed some light on any concerning rumors you’ve heard about yourself?
"if im being honest" eunyeol starts with a laugh. "i honestly don't pay attention to social media and gossips much. i guess that's a given when i don't use it much myself either..." he shrugs simply. "i think i've been told about the rumors that was made up there? how my family is connected with the mafias or sorts, or that i was a school bully. there were even other rumors about me being an idol before but none of all of that is true really. i'm just a boy from a humble family in busan!" he points out with a grin, taking no inflictions to the baseless rumors. "ask any of my friends in busan, not that i'd disclaim where i study since i don't really want you to bug them and all. but they'll tell you how i'm just a guy who picked up archery in his late high school and before that, i was just some boy who would go to convenience store every day to buy strawberry milk before basketball practice."
… and, i’m sure your supporters want to hear your thoughts.
have you confronted any false rumors from 105fm, and how did you handle it?
"well, like i said before. i was never one to entertain social media and gossips in general so i never really confronted it. when it doesn't get talked and when i don't get bothered by it just from the fact of not knowing such existence, it dies out as it is." eunyeol explains. "i don't think the things i've heard about me has particularly hurt anyone and if it does, then rest assured that i'll be taking legal actions to protect the people that i care for, especially my family. but when you have nothing but facts to back up your past, there really isn't anything to be concerned about. i live a clean life and if people wants a sort of fantasy shaped out of my livelihood, they're free to imagine whatever they want."
i see, i see. i’m afraid that’s all the time we have. thank you so much, congratulations, and best of luck to you and your team. to wrap things up, can you give us a quote?
"look for what you want to do slowly. it's never to late to start something."
