Hyunjin's words, exactly as they are. Full translation of the Hyunjin interview from Marie Claire (Print Edition) March 2025 Issue (with Korean original text)
It is a magazine from three months ago, but...
There were many parts where the content in the print edition did not match the Japanese translation provided in the magazine,
and when I looked into it, I found that it was a translation mixed with the web version of the
interview. ๐ฆ
I felt it was a bit of a waste...
I read the original text for both, and it feels like I have completed it by combining them!
That is the feeling.
From now on, I would like to record the translations of the print version and the web version
separately.
This article is about the print version.
Just like the previous article, Hyunjin's words, exactly as they are.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
How Hyunjin chooses his words,
and how he sees the world.
Because I love that delicate sensibility,
I translated them wanting to deliver his words as they are,
without 'embellishing' or 'over-polishing' them as much as possible.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ฟ Monologue
I don't think the real game has started yet.
I think it's about time for the whistle to blow.
2025 will be the starting point for Stray Kids' new departure.
I believe the 'game' in the true sense has not started yet.
I think the time has come for the whistle to sound.
I think 2025 will be the 'starting point' for Stray Kids to set off anew.
โธป
โ
It's been a while since I reunited with Marie Claire Korea. It's been about three years since I shot my first solo pictorial around early winter 2021.
It's been a while since our reunion with Marie Claire Korea. It's been about three years since I shot my first solo pictorial around early winter 2021.
Wow, has it only been three years? Lately, it feels like something that happened a long time ago.
I think that might have been the pictorial where I looked the prettiest.
We had another opportunity and met again.
Wow, has it only been three years? Lately, it feels like something that happened a long time ago.
I think that might have been the pictorial where I looked the prettiest.
We had another opportunity and met again.
โธป
โก
The cover work we did this time is also the first pictorial you've done as a Givenchy Beauty ambassador. How was the shoot?
The cover work we did this time is also the first beauty pictorial you've done as a Givenchy Beauty ambassador. How was the shoot?
I haven't had many experiences shooting beauty pictorials, so it was very interesting.It focused on makeup that brings out the natural face, excluding elements that decorate such as color, texture, lighting, and concept as much as possible.
I think it might be the first pictorial where I put everything on the line.
On set, thanks to them recognizing the charm of the person himself, I think I was able to do the work I was doing for the first time with ease.
The fact that it's the first pictorial I've shot with a buzz cut also has meaning. (Laughs)
I haven't had many experiences shooting beauty pictorials, so it was very fresh and interesting.
It focused on makeup that brings out the natural face, excluding 'decorative elements' such as color, texture, lighting, and concept as much as possible.
It might have been the first beauty pictorial where I 'put everything on the line'.
On set, thanks to them finding the charm of me as a person, I think I was able to proceed smoothly despite it being my first time.
This was my first time shooting with a buzz cut, so that was also a meaningful experience (laughs).
โธป
โข
Recently, Stray Kids' world tour <dominATE> has been continuing. I heard you will be performing on stadium stages in Latin America, Japan, North America, Europe, etc., starting in March.
Recently, Stray Kids' world tour <dominATE> has been continuing, and I heard you will be performing on stadium stages in Latin America, Japan, North America, Europe, etc., starting in March.
I'm so excited. As it is a stadium tour, I'm looking forward to it even more.When I participated in fashion shows held in Milan and London last year, the number of spectators was the highest among all the performances so far, so I was really excited.
I'm looking forward to seeing how big of a domino will explode this time.
The connection as a device for empathy will also grow.
I think the emotion unique to us that the stage gives will also be extraordinary.
That is also the reason why I do music.
I'm very excited. Just the fact that it's a stadium tour makes me look forward to it even more.
When I participated in fashion shows held in Milan and London last year, I stood in front of the largest number of spectators ever, so I really enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to seeing how big of a 'domino' effect will happen this time.
The connection as a 'device for empathy' will grow, and I think the emotion unique to Stray Kids that the stage provides will surely be something special.
That is also the reason why I do music.
โธป
โฃ
As you can see from the expanded tour scale, Stray Kids has established itself as a globally recognized K-pop artist. With what kind of heart are you accepting that fact?
As you can see from the scale of this tour, Stray Kids has established a firm position as a globally recognized K-pop artist. With what kind of heart are you accepting that reality?
I try to feel gratitude rather than repayment.I'm happy when the reaction is good, and when I get attention for an issue, there is also the fun of contemplating it positively and showing an even cooler side.
I am approaching it with the mindset of showing something completely.
I love the stage where I perform dance, myself echoing in the song, and the audience watching me.
I get goosebumps when the three beats fall into place.
I try to accept it with 'gratitude' rather than 'repaying'.
If the reaction is good, I'm happy, and when I become a topic of attention, I try to take it positively and enjoy the fun of wanting to show an even more wonderful side. I am approaching it with the mindset of delivering something straight.
The stage where I perform dance, my own voice echoing in the song, and the audience watching me as a personโwhen those three things click perfectly, I get goosebumps.
โธป
โค
You have consistently expressed your affection for performances. Even if you perform the same song, the emotions felt at each stage must be different, so I think every moment must be cherished as much as that.
You have often spoken about your affection for performances. You mentioned that different emotions are born at each stage even for the same song, so because of that, don't you feel every moment is special?
That's right. But I don't think I know how to keep memories for a long time.
I'm not the type to leave them in a diary and look back at them.
So I try to remember the moments on stage like our movie.
Like that 'confession shot' back then, when STAY gave me countless well-wishes.
I hope precious scenes come to mind one by one.
The moments I couldn't record are written in the fans' hearts.
I am very grateful and happy for that fact.
It feels like walking through one person's life together.
So I consider the stage a space of dedication where I offer my soul to the fans.
That's right. But I'm not very good at keeping memories for a long time, and I'm not the type to leave them in a diary and look back at them. That's why I want to remember every moment on stage as 'our own movie'.
Like that 'confession shot' back then, when STAY gave me so much love.
I would be happy if I could remember precious scenes one by one later, and if the moments I couldn't write down remained in the fans' hearts, I am just grateful and happy for that. It feels like I am walking through someone's life together.
Therefore, I think the stage is a 'space where I dedicate my soul to the fans'.
โฅ
Pouring talent and effort into work you like, gradually bearing fruit, and furthermore, even receiving loveโisn't that a characteristic of an ideal job? There is enjoyment in that, but as felt through the interview, I think there is also a clear weight.
Pouring talent and effort into what you like and accumulating results, and furthermore receiving so much loveโit seems like an ideal form of a job. Along with that, there is enjoyment, but isn't there also a corresponding weight?
That's right. There are times when I am physically or mentally exhausted.
But I think hardship naturally follows enjoyment.
Since there is the enjoyment that the job I chose gives, I have never regretted it because of the hardship.
I feel that this much is worth continuing.
Since a moral dilemma might arise, I want to overcome it by consulting with the team, not alone.
That's right.
There are times when I am physically or mentally exhausted.
But hardship is part of enjoyment,
and I think that is natural.
It is a job I chose myself, and because there is the joy that this job gives, I have never regretted it because of the hardship. I feel that this level of burden is enough to keep going.
Moral dilemmas might arise, but I want to overcome them by discussing them with the team instead of holding them in alone.
โธป
โฆ
Do you also concretely picture the dreams you will achieve together with the members?
Do you also shape the dreams you will achieve together with the members into concrete forms?
Of course. Naturally.
I don't know if being a team that moves forward together toward a specific goal is the light that satisfies this life or a long-standing newness.
It's been nearly 7 years since we debuted, but since everyone has big ambitions, it was easy to stop.
I think that is a significant driving force for Stray Kids.
I'm going to work harder.
<Answer (Japanese translation)
Of course, I do.
I don't know if the existence of a team that can move forward together toward the same goal is the 'light' in this life, or if it is 'newness', honestly I still don't know...
It's been almost 7 years since our debut, but even so, all the members still continue to hold strong 'ambition'.
I think that has become a major driving force for the team Stray Kids. I want to continue to work harder.
โธป
โง
What kind of story do you want to tell on stage this year?
What kind of story do you want to deliver on stage this year?
It's like runner athletes. A runner is a sport where you have to invest in individual ability and also demonstrate teamwork well.
I felt like I had to think for myself and let a story with a center flow. (Laughs)
So I think the real game has not started yet.
I think it's time for the whistle to blow.
2025 will be the starting point for Stray Kids' new departure.
I want to be an existence like a 'runner'.
A runner is a sport where you have to raise your own ability while also being asked for teamwork, right?
I also thought I wanted to run a story with a core, thinking for myself (laughs).
That is why I think 'the game in the true sense has not started yet'.
I feel like the time has finally come for the whistle to blow.
2025 will be the 'starting point' for Stray Kids to set off anew.
โจ
What is the thing you are most absorbed in at this moment?
What is the thing you are most absorbed in at this moment?
I try to focus on all the big and small things that fill the day.
These days, rather than thinking that I should be someone's comfort, I am focusing on how I should live.
I try to sense the emotions of today well and acknowledge even trivial deficiencies.
In the past, I often thought that I wanted someone to look at me like this.
But now it's okay even without such a gaze.
I think it's important to give yourself a sense of stability.
Big and small things that fill the day,
I am trying to focus on each and every one of them.
Recently, rather than thinking 'I must become someone's comfort', I am focusing my consciousness on 'how I live'.
I want to carefully feel the emotions of the day called today, and I want to acknowledge even small gaps. In the past, I often thought 'I wish someone would look at me like this', but now, it is okay even without such a gaze. I have come to think that giving myself a sense of security is important.
โธป
โฉ
When you focus on work, is there an existence you take as a hero?
When you work on creation, is there an existence (hero) you think 'I want to become like this person'?
There isn't one in particular.My emotions are the most important.
For example, if I am very happy today, I ask myself what the identity of this happiness is.
I want to solve it in writing and express it through dance.
Work starts from such a heart.
So I like artists whose individual thoughts and emotions are visible in their work.
People who keep their own art world.
There is no specific 'hero' existence.
The most important thing is my own emotions.
For example, if I feel very happy today, I try to ask myself 'what is the true nature of this happiness?'. I want to try putting that feeling into words, and I want to try expressing it through dance. I think creation starts from such feelings.
That is why I like 'artists whose own thoughts and emotions bleed into their work'.
I am attracted to people who continue to protect their own world of art.
โธปโช
If there is something you want to achieve within this year?
If there is something you want to achieve within this year, please tell me.
I want to finish the year by doing my best enough to feel that I am admirable myself.
Rather than having done anything smoothly, I want to try bumping into it without regret.Challenges make people solid, don't they.
I want to grow this year too.
I want to finish this year with all my might, enough to think 'myself, you worked hard'.
I want to make it so that I can think 'I tried bumping into it without regret', rather than 'I finished it safely' no matter what it is.
Challenges make people stronger, don't they.
I want to grow even one step further this year too.
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โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ<Impressions>What I felt reading Hyunjin's interview was
the strength to accept great attention and responsibility by turning them into 'gratitude' and 'calmness'.
He does not speak of those thoughts loudly,
but gently offers them like a 'scene from a movie'
at the place called the stage.
I was deeply moved by that modest and careful way of facing things.
I think being able to spin such words is proof that he has continued to look at his 'inside' carefully every day.
Drawing, looking, and speaking,
a person who values 'I want to be like this' rather than 'I must do this'.
And the declaration he spoke of in โง, 'The game has not started yet' and 'Now, the time for the whistle to blow has come'.
Like a runner who keeps running, Hyunjin will probably continue to redraw new starting lines by himself ๐
In 2025, so that I can also hear that whistle sound in the same place,
I would like to continue to quietly receive the calm strength he shows me.