#jung kook magazine

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JUNG KOOK / DECEMBER 2023

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201127 Weverse Magazine

정국 “이 마음이 식지 않았으면 좋겠어요”

방탄소년단 ‘BE’ 컴백 인터뷰

데뷔 초에 방탄소년단을 인터뷰할 일이 있었다. 인터뷰 중에 정국에겐 작은 습관이 하나 있었다. 얼마 뒤 다시 그를 만났을 때, 그 습관은 고쳐져 있었다. 그렇게 그는 자신을 바꾸기 위해 노력했다. 그리고 7년이 지나, 정국을 만났다.

‘BE’의 타이틀 곡 ‘Life Goes On’의 뮤직비디오 감독을 맡았어요. 정국: 처음부터 뮤직비디오를 맡고 싶은 의지가 컸어요. 시놉시스를 다 정리해서 함께 뮤직비디오 만드시는 감독님과 얘기하고, 영상 뽑아서 편집해가면서 하려고 했는데 시간이 많지 않았어요. 그래서 감독님과 의견을 나누면서 작업해 나갔어요. 처음에는 립싱크 장면이 많았는데 그런 장면을 조금 더 빼고 멤버들의 감정선이 들어갈 수 있는 장면들을 많이 넣었고요. 장면의 조합이 쉽게 되지 않아서, 뮤직비디오를 찍을 때 어떤 것들이 얼마나 필요한지 알게 된 것 같아요.

방탄소년단의 유튜브 채널에 올리는 G.C.F(Golden Closet Film)에서 멤버들의 모습을 담곤 했는데, 이번에는 뮤직비디오를 찍었네요. 정국: 촬영 현장에서는 준비된 내용들을 어떻게 찍어야 하는지 다 나와 있으니까 촬영 중간중간에 내가 멤버들을 담아보자는 마음으로 카메라 하나 들고 여기저기 찍고요. 예쁜 곳에서 촬영했으니까 그때 멤버들이 보여주고 싶은 모습들을 찍어달라고 하면 찍어줬어요.

정국 씨 자신은 어떤 모습을 찍었나요? 정국: 저는 그냥 찍혔죠.(웃음) 제가 G.C.F 찍을 때도 안 나오잖아요. 저는 약간 뒷전이에요. 뮤직비디오를 촬영할 때도 카메라 안에 들어가 있을 때는 내가 나를 찍을 수는 없으니까 감독님이 찍어주시는 대로 마음 편하게 있었죠. 제가 찍을 땐 멤버들을 최대한 잘 담으려고 노력했고요. 제 뮤직비디오가 아니라 방탄소년단의 뮤직비디오니까 한 명의 생각이 담기는 게 아니라 멤버들의 상황을, 우리의 상황을 영상을 통해 직접적으로 보여주고 싶었어요. 보는 사람마다 생각이 다르긴 하겠지만 우리도 다른 사람들이 느끼는 걸 느끼고, 같은 상황 속에 있다는 걸.

카메라에 많이 찍히는 사람이지만 본인 나오는 부분에 크게 신경을 쓰지 않네요. 정국: 원래 카메라에 찍히는 걸 별로 안 좋아해서.(웃음) 평소 일할 때 당연히 멤버들하고 같이 있는데, 그때 카메라를 들고 저를 셀프로 찍기 어렵기도 하고. 그래서 틈틈이 멤버들에 대해 담고 싶은 걸 담아요.

사진 찍히는 게 여전히 어렵나요? 정국: 화보를 찍거나 하는 건 당연히 해야 하는 거라서 최대한 열심히 찍는데, 여전히 쉽지 않아요. 그나마 영상 촬영은 괜찮아요. 그리고 수만 명 앞에서 노래 부르는 건 하나도 안 떨리는데, 소수의 사람들 앞에서 말하고 노래 부르면 되게 떨리고요. 무대에선 그런 게 하나도 없는데, 뭔가 조금 불편하다고 생각하는 건 못하는 것 같아요.

좋아하는 일과 어려워하는 일이 뚜렷한 것 같네요. 정국: 음악에 관련된 일들, 녹음, 작곡, 가사 쓰기, 뮤직비디오 촬영 같은 건 다 괜찮아요. 그런데 그 외의 일들은 좀 더 어려운 것 같아요.

‘BE’에 수록된 ‘병’이 일에 대한 각자의 생각을 담았잖아요. 7년 동안 좋아하는 일과 힘든 일의 반복이었을 텐데, 힘들 땐 어떻게 넘어가나요? 정국: 저는 오히려 제 문제를 잘 알고 있어서 괜찮은 부분도 있어요. 해결책 같은 걸 막 찾기보다 경험하면서 하나둘씩 알게 되니까요. 지금처럼 성장하고 달라지고 성격이 바뀌는 것도 주위 환경 때문에 바뀌고 성장한 거니까요. 어려워한 일들도 조금씩 경험하면서 할 수 있게 된 것 같아요.

성장이란 점에서 ‘Skit’이 인상적이었어요. ‘Dynamite’로 빌보드 HOT 100 차트 1위를 한 다음 날 녹음했는데, 데뷔 앨범의 ‘Skit’에서 연습생이 되기 전에 뭘 했는지 말하던 사람들이 빌보드 HOT 100 1위에 대해 말하니까요. 정국: 연습생 때는 형들이 랩하는 걸 보면서 ‘와 멋있다!’ 생각했었는데, 형들하고 맨날 같이 있다 보니까 지금은 그런 걸 전혀 모르겠다가(웃음) 가끔 형들이 쓴 가사나 곡, 아니면 무대 위에서 춤추는 모습, 하는 말들을 보고 ‘아, 맞아. 이 사람이 이런 사람이었고, 그때보다 더 달라졌지.’ 하는 걸 느낄 때가 있죠. 그런 것 있잖아요. 가족들끼리 함께 살 때는 잘 못 느끼다가 얼굴을 오래 못 보거나 하면 보고 싶고 울고 그러는. ‘찐’, ‘찐가족’.(웃음)

‘BE’는 ‘찐가족’(웃음)이 각자의 곡을 내고 조합도 즉흥적으로 짜면서 만들었잖아요. 그렇게 만들어보니 어때요? 정국: 전반적인 밑그림은 회사하고도 상의하고, 저희가 하고 싶은 이야기에 대해 같이 정리도 했어요. 그렇게 곡을 만든 다음에 다 같이 들어봐서 별로다 싶으면 다시 작업하는 거죠. 저희끼리 모여서 “이번에 유닛 누구누구 했음 좋겠냐?” 하고, “어떤 내용이 좋을까?” 같은 식으로 서로 이야기를 많이 나눴어요.

정국 씨가 작곡한 ‘Stay’는 멤버들이 어떤 반응을 보이던가요? 정국: 원래는 제 믹스테이프에 들어갈 곡이었어요. 다른 곡이 앨범에 들어갈 예정이었는데 뷔 형이 제 곡을 듣더니 “정국이가 쓴 곡이 되게 좋다.”고 해서 멤버들이 들었는데, 훨씬 낫다고 하면서 어찌어찌 해가지고(웃음) ‘Stay’가 됐죠. 원래 생각하던 메시지도 ‘우리가 이렇게 멀어져 있어도 그 자리에 머물러 달라.’는 거였어요. 같은 의미를 담은 곡으로 쓴 거다 보니까 ‘BE’에 실린 게 뭔가 기분이 좋았어요. 처음엔 우리는 항상 같이 있다는 마음을 담으려고 영어 가사로 쓰면서 ‘wherever’, 어디 있든 함께 있다는 마음을 담았는데, 그걸 듣고 남준이 형이 ‘Stay’가 낫지 않냐고 의견을 준 게 좋아서 바꿔봤어요. 제가 어떤 가사나 다 잘 쓰는 건 아니니까 제 마음이 들어간 것들을 남준이 형이 정리를 잘 해줬어요.

가사는 절절하다고까지 할 수 있는데, 막상 편곡은 EDM 스타일로 신나요. 정국: 만들면서 팬들과 함께 공연했을 때 모습을 상상했어요. 팬들이랑 방방 뛰는 상상.

팬이 많이 보고 싶은가 봐요. 정국: 상황이 상황인지라 이 앨범이 저희에게 와닿는 느낌이 사뭇 달랐어요. 전 세계가 코로나19를 겪고 있으니까 힘내서 팬들한테 전달하고 싶은 말들도 있으니까요.

팬을 만나면 어떤 모습을 보여주고 싶어요? 정국: 구체적인 모습은 딱히 없는데, 예전에 무대에서 했던 모습들을 보면 표정이 어색하고, 춤도 완벽하지 않아 보였어요. 이런 것들을 계속 보완해 나가는 것 같고, 결과적으로 팬들이 내 모습을 봤을 때 무대를 꽉 채우는 ‘아우라’와 멋이 있다 느끼면 좋겠다는 생각이 있어요.

요즘 활동하는 자신의 모습은 만족스러운 것 같아요? 정국: 아니요. 100% 만족스럽진 않아요. 최근에 ‘Dynamite’로 무대를 하고 퍼포먼스를 했지만 제 부족한 면이 계속 보였어요.

‘Dynamite’의 뮤직비디오나 무대에서의 도입부에서 정국 씨의 연기력이 정말 인상적이었는데요. 코로나19의 시대에 활기차면서도 멋진 느낌을 잡아내서, 이 곡이 어떤 곡인지 바로 설명해주는 것 같았어요. 정국: 그게 뮤직비디오 촬영 첫날에, 제가 제일 먼저 찍은 장면이었어요. 그런데 제가 못해서 맨 뒤로 미뤄졌어요. 그래서 긴장을 풀고 촬영을 할 수 있었죠.

긴장이 풀리면 그런 모습이 나오는 거군요 (웃음) 정국: 네. 긴장이 샥! 풀리면서 컨디션이 탕! 이렇게 돼서 제가 하고 싶은 대로 한 거거든요.(웃음)

스타디움 투어를 하면서 그런 퍼포먼스를 하는 사람이 아직도 촬영에 긴장하고, 하면 또 그렇게 잘한다는 게 신기하네요. 정국: 제가 약간 낯도 많이 가리고, 예전에 노래시키면 못 부르고 그랬거든요. 어른들이나 선생님 앞에서. 지금도 약간 그런 게 있어요. 그래서 제가 ‘아, 이건 내가 못할 것 같은데?’ 하고 한계를 걸어버리면 안 되거든요. 분명히 잘할 수 있을 텐데도.

왜 그럴까요? 정국: 제가 춤도 그렇고 노래도 그렇고, 그렇다고 멜로디를 기가 막히게 잘 쓰는 것도 아닌 것 같아요. 항상 어중간하다고 생각해요. 그런데 저만의 색깔은 또 있는 것 같아서 조용히, 조용히 사람들한테 천천히 한 발자국씩 다가가서 ‘나는 이런 사람이에요.’라고 알리고 싶고. 그냥 뭐, 네.(웃음)

본인이 한 노래나 퍼포먼스를 객관적으로 모니터링하면 본인이 많이 바뀌었다는 걸 확인할 수 있지 않나요? 정국: 많죠. 목소리가 많이 바뀌었고, 키와 골격, 얼굴 형태 같은 겉모습 전체가 다 바뀌었고, 처음엔 모든 게 어색했다 조금씩 지나니까 ‘제스처가 좀 괜찮아졌네. 근데 아직 춤은 너무 정석대로고.’ 좀 지나면 ‘춤은 이제 좀 추고 제스처도 괜찮은데 표정이 어색하네.’ 또 조금 지나면 ‘표정은 괜찮은데 뭔가 아, 한 끗이 없네.’(웃음) 이런 식으로 점점 바뀐 것 같아요. 그다음에 제 행동, 생각들, 꿈, 목표, 그리고 소중하게 생각하는 것, 하고 싶은 것, 이런 것들이 그때 상황에 맞춰서 계속 바뀌어 나가겠죠.

‘BE’에서도 변화가 있던데요. ‘Life Goes On’에서 전체 곡에 음색만 살짝 묻어가게, 흘러가듯 부르던데요. 정국: 네. 전 그걸 좀 중요하게 생각해요. 이 곡에 ‘내 개성을 살려 넣어야지가 아니라 그 곡에 내 목소리를 묻혀 가야지.’ 이런 느낌이 커요. 가사만 봐도 정말 세상이 멈췄고, 근데 너무 슬퍼할 수만은 없고, 삶은 계속 이어져 나가고 계속 흘러가니까, 그런 복잡미묘한 슬픔에 제 색깔을 살짝 섞고 싶었어요. 멤버들이 녹음하는 걸 다 들어보고, 내가 여기서 어떻게 하는 게 나을지 생각하면서 불렀어요. 목소리는 계속 변화를 주면서 어떻게 하면 더 멋있고 깔끔하게 부를 수 있을지 계속 연구하고요. 녹음하면서도, 공연하면서도, 연습하면서도 계속해서 다르게 시도하는 것 같아요.

그렇게 달라지다 뒤돌아보면 많은 걸 했다는 생각은 들지 않나요? 정국: 지나간 일은 신경을 안 쓰는 사람이라. 지금의 저만 봤을 때 지금 필요한 게 뭔지 생각하지, ‘그땐 이랬는데 이만큼 성장했어, 잘했어.’ 이런 생각은 잘 안 해요.

좋은 의미로 욕심이 많아 보여요. 정국: 네. 앞으로도 계속 이렇게 살고 싶어요. 이 마음이 식지 않았으면 좋겠어요. 저는.

방탄소년단으로 엄청난 성공을 했는데도 뭔가 더 해서 늘고 싶은 이유는 뭘까요? 정국: 일단 제가 어떤 사람이고, 어떻게 말하며, 행동은 어떻고 노래는 어떻게 하고, 이런 걸 사람들한테 알려주고 싶어요. 그 뒤에는 내가 하고 싶은 걸 하면서 인정받고, 사람들이 저 친구가 정말 멋있는 친구라는 걸 조금씩 알게 되고, 다시 차근차근 스텝 바이 스텝을 하고 싶어요. 그렇게 한 인간으로서의 정국, 그 사람 자체로 인정받고 싶어요.

방탄소년단으로 엄청난 것들을 이뤘는데도 더 증명하고 싶은 에너지는 어디서 나올까요? 정국: 마음이 그렇게 얘기를 하는 것 같아요. 방탄소년단은 멤버들이 있고, 회사도 있고, 팬분들이 있으니까 이렇게 올라올 수 있었던 거죠. 다만 ‘나 혼자서도 인정받을 수 있을까?’ 하는 궁금함은 있어요. 그래서 한번 혼자 몸을 던져보고 싶은 마음이 있어요. 하고 싶은 것도 많고, 이뤄내고 싶은 것도 많고.

그럼 점점 나아지면서 정국 씨가 도착하고 싶은 이상적인 모습은 뭘까요? 정국: 본업 ‘겁나’ 잘하는 사람.(웃음) 그런 사람들은 다른 걸 해도 멋있어 보이잖아요. 저는 아직 부족한 게 많아요. 제가 더 노력해서 내 노래에 자신이 있고, 아니면 내 춤, 퍼포먼스에 자신이 있고, 그런 부분들이 다 올라가면 뭔가 더 어필하고 끌어낼 수 있지 않을까 해요. 제 개인보다 방탄소년단이 훨씬 중요하고 훨씬 더 소중해서 혼자 뭘 하고 싶은 건 아니에요. 다만 혼자서도 공연장에 가득 찬 관객들 앞에서 3~4시간 정도를 끌어갈 수 있을 만큼 성장했으면 좋겠어요.

본업인 음악이 정말 중요하겠어요. 정국: 그냥, ‘내가 놓지 말아야 되는 것’이라고 생각해요. 질려도, 정말 듣기 싫어도, 귀찮아도 항상 달고 살아야 하는. 전 나중에도 계속 음악을 하고 싶어요. 정말 멀긴 하지만, 음악으로 꼭 증명해내고 싶어요.

MBTI 성격 유형 검사 결과 ISFP라고 공개해서, 그 특징이 뭔지 찾아봤어요. 물론 MBTI가 모든 사람의 성격을 정확하게 알려줄 수는 없겠지만, 성격적인 특징이 ‘호기심 많은 예술가’로 나와 있더라고요. 그 생각이 나네요. 정국: 네. 맞는 것 같아요. 저도 검색해서 성격 정리한 걸 찾아보기도 했는데 재밌더라고요.(웃음)

그래서 이상으로 삼는 목표도 높나 봐요. 아주 높은 곳에 기준을 두고 계속 성장하고 싶��� 하는 것 같아요. 정국: 안개 낀 산 같아요.(웃음) 아직 보이지도 않아요.

그렇게 많은 호기심을 갖고 7년 동안 올라왔어요. 그 모습을 지켜봐 온 분들에게 전하고 싶은 말이 있을까요? 정국: 음... 저희가 지금 일곱 명이잖아요. 그럼 일곱 명이 계속 앞으로 뛰어가요. 그럼 분명히 일곱 명 중에 한 명씩 한 명씩 지쳐서 떨어져 나갈 것 아니에요. 근데 같이 뛰어가는 사람이 한 분 한 분 많아질수록 누가 지치면 끌어줄 수 있잖아요. 그런 느낌인 것 같아요. 그때부터 지금까지 봐주셨던, 우리를 응원해줬던 사람들이 있으니까 우릴 좋아하는 사람들도 계속 많이 생기고, 그 사람들이 우릴 끌어주는 게 아닐까. 그래서 그냥 고맙... 고맙다고밖에 말할 게 없어요. 진짜 그때 우리가 뭐라고(웃음) 좋아하기 시작해서 지금까지 좋아해 주신다면, 응원해주신다면, 우리가 보답할 방법은 음악과 퍼포먼스로 우리를 전달하는 거예요. 그래서 제가 어려워하는 일도(웃음) 열심히 하게 만드는 사람들. 항상 되게 고마워요.

‘Stay’의 마지막 가사가 생각나네요. 정국: ‘우린 함께인걸’.(웃음)

English Translation

Jung Kook “I hope this feeling never fades”

BTS BE comeback interview

I had a chance to interview BTS before, when they debuted. During that interview, Jung Kook had one small habit; when I met him again a while later, he had corrected it. He makes a conscious effort to change himself. And after seven years, I met Jung Kook again.

You directed the music video for “Life Goes On,” BE’s title song. Jung Kook: I was really eager to direct the music video from the outset. My plan was to organize the synopsis, discuss it with the music video director I was working with, shoot and edit them, but we were short on time. So I worked on it while sharing ideas with the director. Originally there were a lot of scenes with lip synching in them, but we took some of them out and put in more scenes that conveyed the members’ emotions better. It wasn’t easy to combine scenes, but I think now I know more about how much of everything is needed when shooting a music video.

You had shot the Golden Closet Films and uploaded them to the BTS YouTube channel, and now you shot a music video. Jung Kook: Once we were on location, we had directions for everything we needed to shoot prepared in advance, so I took candid shots of the members here and there with a camera during the shoot. We were filming in a beautiful place so when they asked me to take pictures of them as they wanted to be presented, I did.

What kind of pictures did you take of yourself? Jung Kook: I was just, in them. (laughs) I’m not in the shot for the Golden Closet Films either. I kind of take a back seat. The director had to shoot my parts for the music video, since I couldn’t film myself, so I relaxed a bit. I tried to make the other members look really good when I recorded them. Since this was a BTS music video and not my own, I wanted to show what was happening with every member and the team, not just one individual’s thoughts. Each person who watches the video might feel different, but I wanted to show that we feel what other people feel, that we’re in the same situation.

You get your picture taken a lot, but you don’t pay much attention to the ones you’re in. Jung Kook: I never really liked having my picture taken. (laughs) And I’m usually with the others when we’re working, obviously, but it’s hard to take a camera and take selfies. So I take pictures and videos of the other members every chance I get.

Do you still find it difficult to have your picture taken? Jung Kook: I put my best face forward when it’s for something I have to do, like for photo books, but it’s still not easy. Videos are okay, though. And even though I’m not nervous at all when I sing in front of tens of thousands of people, if I have to sing or talk in front of a small group, I get super nervous. I never feel that way on stage, but maybe I have a hard time doing things that are a little bit awkward for me.

It seems like you draw a distinction between work you enjoy and work you find difficult. Jung Kook: Work related to music, like recording, composing, writing lyrics, filming music videos and things like that, are all fine. But anything outside of that is probably a challenge for me.

On BE, you each explained your feelings about work in the song “Dis-ease.” You must have experienced a cycle of enjoyable and difficult work over seven years, so how did you get through the hard times? Jung Kook: I actually understand my own problems well, so most of the time it’s okay. I can figure things out one at a time through experience instead of just looking for answers. I’m always growing and my personality changes, depending on my environment. I think I’ve learned to do things I used to find difficult by experiencing it little by little.

Speaking of growth, “Skit” was very memorable. You recorded it the day after “Dynamite” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and you, who talked about what you did before you became trainees in “Skit” in your debut album,talked about being first place on the Billboard Hot 100 this time around. Jung Kook: When I was a trainee, I saw the older members rapping and thought, “Wow, they’re so cool!” But now, after having spent everyday together, I’ve forgotten about all that. (laughs) Sometimes I see the lyrics they wrote, see them dancing and hearing the things they say on stage, and think, “Oh, right. That is the kind of person they are. They’re a lot different now.” You know how you don’t feel it when you live with your family, but if you can’t see them for a long time, you miss them. You might even cry. We’re a real family. Like, legit! (laughs)

Your “legit family” (laughs) each put their own songs on BE and came up with units spontaneously. What was it like making the album that way? Jung Kook: We talked with the company over the outline of the album and organized our ideas together. That was our process for making songs. Then we’d listen to them together, and if we thought they weren’t great, we’d go back and work on them some more. The members would get together and say, “Hey, how about so and so do a unit song this time?” or, “What should it be about?” and share a lot of ideas that way.

How did the others respond to your song, “Stay”? Jung Kook: That song was originally meant to be on my mixtape. We planned to put a different song on the album, but after V heard it, he said, “This song that Jung Kook wrote is really good,” and then the other members all listened, said it was better than the other one, and somehow (laughs) “Stay” made it into the album. The message for the other song was also, “Even though we’re far apart, stay just where you are.” I wrote my song with the same theme so I loved that it was included in BE. At first, I wanted to talk about how we’re always together, using the English word “wherever.” I wanted to express how we’re always together no matter where we are, but Namjoon heard that and said “Stay” might be better. I liked his suggestion, so I changed it. He really helped me to organize my thoughts, since I’m not always good at writing everything I want to express.

One might go as far as to say the lyrics sound heartbreaking, but it’s arranged in EDM. Jung Kook: We imagined we were performing for the fans while we made it, jumping up and down with them.

It sounds like you really miss your fans. Jung Kook: This album really hit us in a different way, with this situation being what it is. Because the world is struggling with COVID-19, we have to keep our heads up and convey our messages to our fans.

What can your fans expect from you when you finally meet again? Jung Kook: There’s nothing specific, but when I watched our old performances, my facial expressions were awkward and my dance moves weren’t always perfect. I keep working to improve myself, so I hope when the fans see me, they think my performance is amazing and that my aura fills the stage.

Are you happy with how you look in your latest work? Jung Kook: I’m not 100% satisfied, no. When we did performances for “Dynamite” recently I kept seeing my imperfections.

Your acting in the intro to your “Dynamite” performance was really impressive. Even in COVID-19 times, you captured a feeling of liveliness and being cool, as though to explain what the song is all about. Jung Kook: Actually, on the first day of filming the music video, I was supposed to film my parts first, but I was so bad that it had to be pushed to the end of the shoot. So,I was a bit more relaxed when the camera rolled.

So that’s what you get when you’re relaxed! (laughs) Jung Kook: Yes, I relaxed, and something went “pop!” and “boom!” inside me, and then I did it however I wanted. (laughs)

It’s fascinating how someone who performs the way you do during stadium tours can feel nervous while filming and yet still do so well in it. Jung Kook: I can be a shy person. When people used to ask me to sing, I couldn’t always do it—like in front of adults or teachers. And I’m still a bit like that. If I start thinking, “Oh, I can’t do this,” then I really end up not being able to do it. Even when I could have done well.

Why do you think that is? Jung Kook: I feel the same way about my dancing and my singing, and I can’t compose a really amazing melody either. I feel like I’m always somewhere in the middle. But then I also think I have my own colors, so I like to quietly, slowly open up to people, and let them know what kind of person I am. Yeah, something like that. (laughs)

But, when you review your songs and performances objectively, you see all of your changes, don’t you? Jung Kook: There’s a lot of change. My voice has changed a lot; I grew taller and my frame and facial structure have changed, too. I could tell how awkward I looked at the beginning, but after a while, I think, “My gestures look better now, but I feel like my dance is too rigid.” And again after a while, “Now my dance is fine and my gestures are good, but I’m making awkward facial expressions.” And later, I say, “Now I got the facial expressions down, but, hmm, there’s no killer move.” (laughs) That’s how I slowly changed. And then my actions, thoughts, dreams, goals, what I value, what I want to do—all these things will change depending on the situation.

You had some changes in BE, too. Throughout “Life Goes On,” you lightly carry your voice and tone throughout the whole song, like they’re flowing. Jung Kook: Right. I think that’s very important. My general feeling was my voice should be woven into the song, rather than bringing out my individual voice. The lyrics say the world stopped, but I can’t keep on being sad, and life continues and flows on. I wanted to mix a little bit of my own colors into that complex, subtle sadness. I listened to how the other members recorded their parts for the song, and I sang while thinking about how I could do it in a way that it would all blend together well. I kept changing my voice exploring how to make it sound better, cleaner. I kept trying new things while I was recording, performing, and practicing.

When you look back after all that change, don’t you feel like you accomplished a lot? Jung Kook: I don’t really pay attention to things that have already happened. I think more about what it is I need right now, so I rarely think, “I got a lot better from how I used to be,” or, “I did a good job.”

You sound insatiable, in a good way. Jung Kook: Yes. This is how I want to keep living, and I hope this feeling never fades.

You’ve found immense success with BTS. What makes you want to keep doing more and keep improving yourself? Jung Kook: I want to show people who I am: how I talk, how I act, how I sing, and so on. And after that, I want to be acknowledged for doing what I like to do, and for people to see what an amazing guy I am. I want to do these things step by step. I want to be appreciated as Jung Kook, as the real me.

What do you think is the source of that energy—the energy to keep proving yourself, even though you’ve already achieved so much with BTS? Jung Kook: I think my heart’s telling me to. BTS was able to climb this high thanks to the group members, the company and our fans. But there’s always the question of whether I could receive that kind of recognition by myself, so I have this feeling of wanting to throw myself at some challenge alone. There’s a lot I want to do, and a lot I want to achieve.

By gradually improving yourself, what kind of person would you ideally want to become? Jung Kook: A person who’s crazy awesome in their field. (laughs) Those kinds of people look cool even when they do something different. I still have a long way to go. I feel like I could be more captivating and draw more out of people by improving any number of things, by trying hard to be confident about my singing, or the way I dance and perform. BTS is way more important and meaningful to me than I am to myself, so I’m not saying I want to do anything alone. But I hope I get to the point where I can perform alone for three or four hours in a venue full of people.

It’s clear that your job, music, is very important to you. Jung Kook: I must never let it go. That’s what I always think. I have to keep it close to me, even if I get bored, or I don’t want to hear it, or it feels like a hassle. I want to keep on making music. It may be a long ways down the road, but I want to prove myself with my music.

You said before that your MBTI is ISFP, so I looked it up. Obviously, MBTI can’t sum up a person perfectly, but it says ISFPs tend to be “curious artists.” Your answer reminds me of that. Jung Kook: That sounds about right. I looked up the personality traits for ISFP too, and it was interesting. (laughs)

Maybe that’s the reason you set your goals so high. You seem like you have high standards and want to keep growing. Jung Kook: It’s like a foggy mountain top. (laughs) I can’t even see it yet.

You’ve been climbing for seven years, staying curious. Is there anything you want to say to the people who have been watching you all this time? Jung Kook: Umm … Well, there are seven of us, and the seven of us keep running ahead. So it’s possible we could get tired, one by one, and drop out, right? But if more people join us, one by one, and run with us, we can support each other and pull each other up if someone falls down. That’s kind of how I feel. There are people who supported us from the beginning who have been watching us the whole time since, and because of them our follower count keeps going up, and they all keep us on track. So the only thing I can say is—thank you. We were nothing special, really (laughs) but they keep on liking us and supporting us, and the best way we can repay them is to give them our all through our music and our performances. They push me to work hard, even on things I find difficult. (laughs) I’m eternally grateful.

Just like in the last line of “Stay.” Jung Kook: “We are together.”

Source: Weverse Magazine ENG: Weverse Magazine

[golden-jeon-jungkook]

Jung Kook x anan magazine

[btsjk-biased]

I was tagged by some amazing creators: @raplinenthusiasts / @cosmicdreamgrl / @jkvjimin / @cordiallyfuturedwight / @yooboobies / @taehyunghobi

Thank you so much for tagging me! I'm so honored! 💜

I created my blog this May. I never would have thought that this little blog could get so much attention. There are so many lovely people here, who are so nice to me. I’m thankful for that. I may not be very creative and productive, but I love making gifs. I feel really out of place here sometimes, but I still enjoy running my blog and decorating it prettily. I hope that the upcoming year will be better, especially since BTS are coming back. And I want to continue making gifs and updating my blog.

For 2024 wrapped I picked my favorite gifsets that I have made from each month since I started this blog.

May

Handsome men in the forest (photoshoots with nature are my favorite)

‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ solo stages

Jung Kook ‘Seven’ interview for Spotify

Glowing

‘Seven’ Campaign Film

Flowers in his hair

Lovely prince

GOLDEN relax room (Spotify)

June

Dreamy (one of favorite concepts from albums)

JK for anan magazine

OUR PRECIOUS 7: Happy BTS 11th Anniversary! (2024.06.13) (this set is really important to me, I tried to match bts solo works by colors)

Jung Kook: BTS Summer Packages (these releses are one of my favorites)

Jung Kook ‘Seven’ x Inkigayo

Jung Kook for Vogue Korea: ‘Modern Hip Hop’

Jung Kook for Vogue Korea: ‘All That Jazz’

Jung Kook for Vogue Korea: ‘1970s Punk’

Jung Kook for Vogue Korea: ‘British Rock in the 60s’ (yeah! I had to make a few separate sets for vogue korea, because look at him! I think british rock set is my favorite out of them)

That flowery shirt on him (coloring this video was challenging to me)

MOTS ON:E concept photo book x MY TIME

JK for MOTS ON:E concept photo book

‘For Youth’: M Countdown (just tried to gently unwhitewash this video, and it turned out to be one of my favorite sets of all time, I really like this outfit on him)

July

I’ll be… lovin’ you right!

Insanely handsome

Are You Sure?! Launch Trailer (tried to combine edits with gifs for the first time)

JK to ARMY: After I met you, I could become an incredible person. It’s all thanks to you. I’m always thankful and I love you. (important words to me, also I tried to get rid of green filter on the video here, it was really hard to do)

7 princes

Jimin ‘Who’

‘Airplane pt.2’: Summer ver.

Jung Kook after Yoongi’s concert

The cutest boxer

August

But I still want you (an emotional song that brings tears to my eyes)

Enjoying some wine

Jung Kook and J-Hope in Love Yourself concert VCR (I love this vcr so much!)

Morning coffee

Relaxing on the yacht

Fun time in the pool

Cutie on the go-kart

Mood

In the waters of Jeju

He is so cute!

September

Happy Birthday, Jung Kook! (I worked on this one the longest and I like it so much, I decided to start making birthday posts in this style, they all are special to me)

Soft Yoongi (chose completely different videos from different years and tried to match them all in one set)

Jung Kook loves snow

Happy Birthday, Namjoon!

Peaceful time on the yacht

Jung Kook in ‘Are You Sure?!’ (it took me so long to make this one, I wanted to have a complication with some of my favorite moments with JK from every episode of the show)

October

Delicate spring look

Happy Birthday, Jimin!

Mint choco

Jin ‘I’ll Be There’ (I’m so happy that he is back! this song means a lot to me!)

Chilly

November

Tender-hearted cutie (I always cry watching this clip, he is too precious)

Jin ‘Happy’

Jin ‘Running Wild’

V ‘Winter Ahead’

December

Happy Birthday, Seokjin!

Checking reactions after performing at TSX, Times Square

The finest Calvin Klein global ambassador

Yoongi (Love Yourself: Tear)

Soft and delicate

Tagging @jung-koook / @heybaetae / @kimtaegis (only if you want to, no pressure) and anyone who wants to do it too!

[kanmom51]

Jungkook interview in Weverse Magazine

20 July 2023

My suggestion is go and read this.

I won't be talking about everything JK says. Just a couple of little honorary mentions from me.

Before I start, I do have to say that this man is absolutely gorgeous.

It's going to be a very sad day for the y/n fans when they finally realize that JK and JM are off the market and with no other than each other.

This here.

The pressure on his shoulders, trying to reach one of his end goals.

"...and then I can be more open about the real me."

You might think I'm being over melodramatic here, but I can't help it. I'm sitting here reading and re-reading that sentence and tears are just running down my face.

JK has always talked about hiding his true self behind a mask. He's been wanting to show us more of himself, his real self, his true self, trying to do that over the years.

That's why TTU hits so hard at times, especially their last Seoul performances of the song.

That's also why my heart broke when he told us in the Japanese interview for Film out, that he has come to realize that he will always need to wear that mask, that he might never be able to show his real self.

And now, again, he's trying to take steps to be able to show us who he really is.

We have said for ages now that JK wants out of the closet. It's that but it's also more than just his queerness. His queerness is part of who he is as a person, part of his identity, but that is not the only part of himself he is hiding from us, and his need to be out of the closet coincides with his need to stop masking himself (an interesting term that I am not using in vain here).

Next point I wanted to bring attention to:

That there folks. I literally just mentioned this in my last post. JK is the artist, he does the art. He has others, professionals in their own fields, that do the business side of things, which includes the promotions.

"I'm a dancer and a singer - I don't know about every single aspect of the business". And he is not only talking about the styling or the concepts here.

It's about what your goals are as an artist. What each and every one of the members goals are, and JK, his goal is this:

He wants out of Korea, I've said this once, I've said it a thousand times.

This photo here I found interesting:

Is this JK grainy, unclear, waiting to clear up, for us to see him clearly, his real self? Or is that just me bullshitting? Lol.

Other than that, did you notice the black and white theme going on?

JK acknowledging the change that we all saw in him since his Feb 23 lives.

Kind of also confirms what we've been talking about. JK is a smart young man and he knows what he's doing. The spoilers, the choices of words of songs during the lives, the JM promoting, not by chance and not done without thought.

And here we go again.

Weren't we talking about that JM.

Clear. Upfront. Bold. Emphasized.

Go read the full interview!

[seoul-bros]

The 50 Best K-pop Tracks of 2023 - Dazed Magazine

Jimin's Like Crazy

his tonality is restless and shapeshifting ......he's deftly mastered yet another genre

Jungkook's Standing Next to You

he is a consummate showman....on SNTY he is incandescent

Agust D's Polar Night

its strings and bluesy bass and guitar - might be beautifully ornate but the reflection it contains of .....society in disintegration is a soberingly ugly one

Also, not BTS, but Taemin's Guilty is on the list

Taemin's searing vocal performance will stamp into your thoughts for a very long time

Post Date: 16/12/2023

[thelensofyashunews]

GRAMMY NOMINATED RAPPER LATTO AKA “BIG MAMA” RELEASES HER THIRD STUDIO ALBUM, SUGAR HONEY ICED TEA

Today, ATL-based Grammy nominated rapper Latto aka Big Mamareleases her highly anticipated third studio album Sugar Honey Iced Tea via RCA Records.

The album is centered around Latto’s Georgia Southern roots and displays her signature raw, witty lyricism over magnetic beats. The 21-track album features A-List Southern artists including Megan Thee Stallion, Ciara, Coco Jones, Young Nudy, Flo Milli, Teezo Touchdown and more.

This album release follows Latto’s major Billboard July cover print issueand the release of the singles “Big Mama,” “Sunday Service,” “Put It On Da Floor” and latter two track’s respective remixes.

The 2023 BET “Best Female Hip-Hip Artist” award winner has brought everyone to her ATL church this summer starting with the original version of the single “Sunday Service” which garnered viral buzz when Latto teased a snippet of the song on her IG a few months prior, giving fans her signature witty bars over a catchy beat. Directed by Hidji World and Latto herself, the video features Latto in various settings including the Bronx with “twenty black suburbans we pull up like Sunday Service” – click here to watch. 

In June, Latto released the remix to her single “Sunday Service” featuring Megan Thee Stallion & Flo Milli and her next single, “Big Mama.” The latter track was dropped right before her two performances at the 2024 BET Awards – one for a medley of “S/O To Me,” “Big Mama” & “Sunday Service” and the other for Usher’s tribute. She garnered two nominations at the award show this year, “Best Female Hip-Hop Artist” and “Best Collaboration.” Latto also headlined ATL’s Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash that same month and made history as the first-ever female headliner. Big Mama showed up and showed out giving a stellar performance to her fans and surprising them with major special guests including Usher, Flo Milli, Mariah The Scientist and more. Most recently, Latto has been nominated for two 2024 MTV VMA awards –  “Best Collaboration” and “Best K-Pop” for “Seven” with Jung Kook.

In addition to music, Latto wrapped up taping Season 2 of Netflix’s Rhythm & Flow as a judge alongside DJ Khaled and Ludacris, which is coming out this year.

With over 1 billion streams worldwide across all platforms and accolades continuing to rack up from her success, Latto has the stage to become a global superstar. Since the release of her hit RIAA-certified and Music Canada certified 3x Platinum single “Big Energy” in 2021 Latto has been inescapable.

She went on to make history with the single as the first female rapper to ever have a #1 record at Pop, Rhythm and Urban Radio with the same single. Overall, she’s also the first female artist in 12 years to accomplish this feat, joining the company of Rihanna (“Rude Boy”), Alicia Keys (“No One”), Beyonce (“Irreplaceable”),  Mary J. Blige (“Be Without You”) and Mariah Carey (“We Belong Together”), the last five to previously achieve this. Since then, she has won various awards including: “Best New Artist” at the 2022 BET Awards, “Best New Artist”at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, Variety Hitmakers “Breakthrough Artist” Honoree, 2023 Billboard’s Women in Music “Powerhouse Award,”“Song of the Summer” for “Seven” with Jung Kook at the 2023 MTV VMA Awards, and “Best Female Hip-Hop Artist” at the 2023 BET Awards.

In addition to all the awards Latto has racked up over the past few years, she was also nominated at the 2023 Grammy Awards for “Best New Artist” and “Best Melodic Rap Performance” (for “Big Energy (Live)”) and has graced multiple print covers in 2023 alone such as Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone “Musicians on Musicians” Issue with Snoop Dogg, XXL Magazine – which included a video component for XXL’s first-ever all female cypher curated bby Latto (that trended on Youtube and went viral) – and a digital cover for Forbes ’30 Under 30’ as the call out for the Musicians section. 

In the summer of 2023 Latto had her firstinternational festival run in Europe that included Wireless Festival (London), Roskilde Festival (Denmark), Rolling Loud Germany, and more. She’s also attended various fashion weeks over the years in New York, Milan, and Paris where shewent shows for Robert Cavalli, Etro, Blumarine, Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, Rabanne, GCDS and more. With the release of her third studio album, this next chapter of Latto’s career will spolight her new music, have creative vibrant visuals and give more big energy from The Biggest.

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Kim Seok-jin, Min Yoon-gi aka Suga, Jung Ho-seok aka J-Hope, Kim Nam-joon aka RM, Park Ji-min, Kim Tae-hyung aka V and Jeon Jung-kook.

BTS - Photographed for Weverse Magazine

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Jungkook spoke to GQ magazine about his Calvin Klein campaign.

Jung Kook says his friends have been supportive.

“They actually liked it,” he says. It has also gone over well with the world’s most powerful fanbase. “I was happy to hear that,” he says, referring to his friends co-signing the campaign, “but I couldn’t be happier that our ARMY loves it!”

“In terms of fashion, I don’t think I can wear anything that fits tight on me anymore,” he says. “And I LOVE ‘all black’ looks, except for anything Calvin Klein Jeans. :)”

[goldenhickeysandramen]

Our romantic maknae 🥰🥰

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JMJK fotos muy de película XD

Kookliet & Jimmeo

Go behind the scenes of Jung Kook’s Dazed cover shoot | Dazed Autumn 23

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지민

BTS 03.06. 05:05

난 네 삼색고양이

Soy tu gato Calico

jimin decorando una pecera para su marino que llamo suga

Jimin foto museo hybe

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072023 Weverse Magazine

정국 “제 스스로가 좀 바뀌고 있는 것 같아요”

정국 솔로 데뷔 싱글 ‘Seven’ 발표 인터뷰

방탄소년단의 멤버로 10년을 살았다. 하지만 정국은 바로 지금, 가장 격렬한 변화의 순간을 보내고 있다. 

언젠가부터 밤에 위버스 라이브를 장시간 하곤 해요. 

정국: 원래 라이브를 할 때 회사에 알리고 좀 준비해서 진행하거나 했는데 그냥 폰 켜고 해버린 거예요. 그 다음부터는 언제든 하게 된 거죠.  

팬들이 보는데서 그냥 잠든 적도 있어요.(웃음) 

정국: 이게 제가 날마다 단순해져 가는 모습 때문인데 별 생각이 없어요. 그냥, 그때 내가 뭘 하고 있는지 어떤 일이 있었는지 가볍게 하는 거에요. 

말 그대로 방탄소년단의 멤버인데, 있는 모습을 그대로 보여줄 수 있다는 게 오히려 놀라운 일 아닌가요? 

정국: 팀 활동을 할 때는 일부러라도 사람을 만날 때가 많잖아요. 집에 들어가면 일 끝나고 확 쉬었는데 요즘엔 그러지 않으니까 생활이 붕 뜨는 기분인 거예요. 한동안 쉬기도 했고, 멤버나 친구를 만나는 것처럼 사람 얼굴도 좀 보고 싶고요. 그래서 다른 사람들 얘기도 듣고 싶었고요. 

‘Seven (feat. Latto)’에 대한 스포일러를 말할 때 “내가 이 얘기를 하면 회사에서 난리가 나겠지?” 하는 식으로 발언해서 지켜야 할 선을 재밌게 건드렸어요. 되게 편하게 얘기하는데, 그렇다고 무리한 발언은 없고요. 

정국: 솔직해야 진짜 내가 될 수 있다고 생각하거든요. 내가 하고 싶은 대로 하자는 마음으로 바뀌고 있는 것 같아요. 제가 행동을 잘하면 많은 사람들이 그걸 받아들여주실 거고, 그럼 저는 더 제 모습을 제대로 보여드릴 수 있으니까요. 

‘내가 이 정도는 해도 되겠지?’라는 판단이 자연스럽게 되는 것 같은데, 일을 할 때의 태도일 것 같기도 해요. 

정국: 그렇죠. 항상 팀의 막내였다 지금은 솔로 곡을 내게 됐고, 혼자가 돼 보니까 일할 때 느낌도 달라요. 사람들이 나를 봤을 때 내가 그 사람들한테 하는 행동에 대한 책임감도, 사고의 중심도 다른 것 같아요. 내가 결정해야 하는 부분도 많고, ‘아 모르겠어요.’ 하고 회피하면 안 되니까요. 팀에서는 제가 먼저 나서지는 않았는데, 지금은 뭔가 해야 하거나 할 수 있는 게 많아진 거죠. 그러면서 자연스럽게 달라진 것 같아요.

회의를 한다거나 할 때 스태프들이 모두 정국 씨만 보고 있거나 하는 상황들이 있겠어요. 

정국: 그럴 때 부담스럽기도 해요. 하지만 제가 전하고 완전히 달라진 건 아니고, 여전히 스태프들에게 의지할 때가 되게 많아요.(웃음) 다만 ‘내가 편하면 안 되겠다.’는 생각을 조금 하게 된 것 같아요. 스태프들이 모두 각자의 일에서 전문가니까 그냥 믿고 맡기고 싶은데, 그래도 내가 생각하는 부분에 대해서는 이야기하고 나머지는 스태프들이 준비해주시는 대로 열심히 하는 경우가 많기는 해요. 나는 춤과 노래를 하는 사람이지, 모든 업무를 다 아는 건 아니니까요. 다만 내가 하는 일인 거니까 조금이나마 제 생각들을 이야기하고 그래서 상황에 따라 눈치껏 융통성 있게?(웃음) 하는 것 같아요. 제가 처음부터 끝까지 다 관리하고 뭘 어떻게 하자고 할 건 아니라고 생각하고, 싫기도 해요. 모두 각자 잘하는 걸 살짝... 교집합시키자는 느낌으로 일하고 있어요.

그렇게 맞추는 게 참 쉽진 않을 것 같아요.

정국: 그렇죠, 그렇죠. 타협을 좀 잘 끌어내야 하지 않을까… 아직 잘 모르겠어요.(웃음) 타협이란 게, 상대방에 대해 인정을 잘하면서 해줄 건 해주고, 얻을 건 얻는 밸런스를 유지해야 하는 게 아닐까 생각하고요. 

최근에 위버스 라이브에서 “내 감을 믿고 해볼 거다. 나중에 실패로 이어질 수도 있지만 그냥 나를 믿어보려고 한다.”라고 했는데, 그 말이 지금 정국 씨 같단 생각도 들었어요. 다른 사람들하고 맞추면서 본인 ‘감’대로 하고 싶은 걸 추구해보는 것 아닌가 싶던데요. 

정국: 맞아요. 

그 ‘감’이 아티스트로서는 어디로 가고 있는 거 같아요?

정국: 뚜렷하게는 없어요. 저는 뭔가… 거대한 팝스타라는 큰 목표만 있지, 다음엔 어떤 콘셉트를 보여주겠다거나 하는 생각은 없어요. ‘Seven (feat. Latto)’도 미리 계획을 세운 게 아니라 방시혁 PD 님이 곡을 들려줬는데 너무 좋아서 “아, 이건 무조건 해야 돼요.” 했어요. ‘Seven (feat. Latto)’을 하기로 하면서 앞으로 제 활동을 어떻게 구상해야 할지 정리가 된 거죠. 이것도 감이에요. 사람마다 그런 게 있잖아요. 듣고 ‘엇... 좋은데?’ 하는 것.(웃음) 참 신기한 게, 곡 장르가 다 달라도 좋은 곡들은 좋아요. 물론 난 좋아서 발표했는데 별로라는 반응을 얻을 수도 있지만 그런 적은 한 번도 없었으니까요. 저는 계속 그렇게 살았던 것 같아요. 지금은 좀 더 체계적으로 감을 잡는 거고, 옛날에는 그냥 아무것도 모르는 상태에서의 감이었던 것 같고. 그래서 생각을 많이 하기 보다 제가 끌리는 걸 하고 싶은 거예요. 

왜 거대한 팝스타죠? 지금도 거대한 팝스타잖아요?(웃음)

정국: 아니요. 저는 그렇게 생각 안 해요. 그냥 욕심 아닐까요? 더 인정받고 싶고 더 잘하고 싶은 욕심? 단순하게, 멋있잖아요. 제가 지금 이 일을 하는 이유예요. ‘한 번 그런 팝스타가 되고 싶다.’, ‘그런 느낌의 감정을 나한테 느껴보고 싶다.’ 내가 제3자의 입장에서 나 스스로를 봤을 때 인정할 수 있는 날이 왔으면 좋겠어요. 그렇게 됐을 때의 모습이 그런 팝스타인 것 같아요. 

카타르 월드컵 개막식에 ‘Dreamers’로 섰던 경험이 좀 비슷한 느낌 아니었을까요?

정국: 이것도 어떻게 보면 감인 것 같아요. 월드컵도 저에게 기회인 거잖아요. 제안받았을 때 ‘이건 마다할 이유가 없다.’고 생각했어요. 근데 ‘Dreamers’ 무대에 대해 좀 아쉬움이 있어요. 사람들은 좋아해주셨지만 ‘내가 좀 더 잘 했으면 어땠을까?’ 하는 생각을 했었어요. 

비하인드 영상에서 “공연은 100%는 항상 해본 적이 없어서 만족은 못하지만 그래도 큰 실수 없이 적당히 괜찮은 무대를 하고 내려온 것 같다.”고 말했는데, 평소에 준비 열심히 하고 무대는 ‘그냥 올라가서 잘하자.’(웃음) 이런 마음가짐이 있는 것 같았어요.

정국: 그 부분은 옛날이랑 많이 달라졌어요. 옛날에는 실수하면 그 순간에 얽매여서 계속 괴로워하고 그랬는데, 지금은 내가 못하면 ‘더 잘해야지.’ 하고 그냥 연습해요. 사람이 엄청 단순해졌어요. 그냥 못해도, ‘못하는 것도 나’라고 인정을 해버리는 거죠. 그러니까 잘하려고 하는 거고. 

무대 위에서 잘한다는 건 어떤 뜻일까요?

정국: 훨씬 더 자연스러워지고 싶어요. 제 몸에 밴 나쁜 습관 같은 것을 별로 안 좋아하는데, 그런 것들이 저한테는 계속 보이니까요. 제 움직임 자체가 한정적이지 않았으면 좋겠어요. 춤 동작을 디테일하게 잘 추고 이런 것보다, 비슷한 동작을 보여주더라도 움직임 하나하나가 다 달랐으면 좋겠어요. 그런 모습이 자연스럽게 계속 나왔으면 좋겠어요. 

‘Seven (feat. Latto)’의 퍼포먼스도 요즘의 생각이 많이 반영됐다고 할 수 있을까요? 테크닉적인 동작들이 많기 보다 동작을 깔끔하게 소화하면서 곡의 분위기를 잘 연출한다는 느낌이 들던데.

정국: 자연스러운 게 좋기도 하고, 힘도 좀 빼고 싶기도 했어요. 여러 안무 시안을 받고선 제가 결정했는데, 퍼포먼스적으로도 좀 가벼워지고 싶었어요. 저만의 차별점을 두고 싶었으니까요. 그러면서도 조금은 무게감을 더할 수 있으면 좋겠고요. 사람들이 무대를 볼 때 ‘오, 저 친구 봐라?’ 약간 이런 느낌을 받게.(웃음)

가볍다고 표현했는데, ‘Seven (feat. Latto)’은 방탄소년단 곡이나 정국 씨의 그간 솔로곡 등과 사뭇 달라요. 지금까지와는 다른 모습을 표현한다는 점에서 어땠어요?

정국: 좋았어요. 이 곡을 온전히 그냥 받아들이기만 했을 뿐, 그 이상으로 뭔가 더 생각하진 않았어요. 그냥 하면 하는 거.(웃음) 

창법도 굉장히 많이 바뀌었는데, 날렵한 팝의 느낌을 내면서 거친 목소리나 바이브레이션을 사용하지 않았어요. 이런 접근을 선택한 이유가 있을까요? 

정국: 녹음하기 전에 일단 가이드 버전을 듣잖아요. 그 안에서 내가 도움을 받을 수 있는 거, 내가 더해야 할 부분과 빼야 할 부분을 생각해서 녹음해요. 제 색깔을 만들어 나가는 건데, 이제는 듣기 좋으면 되는 것 같기도 해요. 거부감 없고, 과하지 않고. 녹음을 할 때 곡마다 어울리는 느낌을 자연스럽게 찾게 되는 거 같아요. 노래 부를 때는 기술적으로 어려운 부분이 있으면 ‘어떻게 불러야 되지?’ 하면서 어려울 때도 있는데 결국 자연스럽게 부르게 되는 거 같아요. 이번에는 녹음하는 동안 짧은 시간 안에 는 게 있는 것 같긴 하고요. 영어 노래를 부를 때의 디테일이 조금 더 생기지 않았나 싶어요. 발음할 때 ‘나 이렇게 소리내는 구나?’ 하는 것도 알게 되고, 어떻게 불러야 할지에 대해 알게 된 것 같아요. 

변화의 계기가 있었나요?

정국: 일단 재밌었어요. 녹음 방식을 바꿔봤거든요. 노래를 녹음할 때마다 끝까지 한 번에 쭉 불렀는데, 그게 도움이 많이 됐어요. 프로듀서가 노래를 한 번에 녹음하면서 제 목소리를 그대로 듣고 “어? (좋은 소리가) 나온 것 같아.” 하고 넘어가는 게 너무 좋았어요. 중간에 다른 작업 없이 계속 노래 부르고, 좋은 게 나오면 오케이 하고, 다시 불러보고. 코러스가 필요하면 그 자리에서 바로 만들어서 불러보고. 작업 과정이 굉장히 빨랐던 게 너무 좋았어요.

여러 테크닉을 많이 안 쓰면서도 고음까지 깔끔하게 내야 해서 오히려 부르기 쉽지 않았을 듯해요. 그만큼 가수로서 가지는 무기가 많다는 생각도 들었어요. 다양하게 노래 부르는 데 관심이 있는 건가요?

정국: 관심이 없다고는 못할 것 같아요. 왜냐하면 다양한 소리를 내고 싶긴 하니까요. 그래서 다른 분들의 노래를 따라 불러보는 건 되게 좋은 거 같아요. 제 상황에서는 목을 잘못 쓰는 거라도 해보는 건 되게 좋은 것 같아요. 잘못된 길이 나중에는 올바른 길이 될 수도 있는 거니까. 하지만 내 게 없어지면 안 되니까 제 색깔을 만들어야죠. 그래서 ‘Seven (feat. Latto)’으로 무대에 서봐야 알게 되는 부분들이 있을 것 같아요. 곡이 나오고 무대에 서고 반응을 보거나 해야 앞으로 내가 어떻게 해야 할지 느낌이 올 거 같아요.

‘Seven (feat. Latto)’의 가사에서 “너의 어깨에 이 세상의 무게를 짊어져”라는 부분이 있는데, 방탄소년단의 멤버라는 건 그런 위치잖아요. 혼자 무대에 서게 된 지금은 어떤가요?

정국: 혼자니까 팀일 때보다 압박감이 더 있는 거 같아요. 근데 성격이 많이 바뀌다 보니까 받아들이는 방식이 좀 달라진 거 같아요. 왜 그렇게 바뀌었을까? 그냥 바뀔 때가 된 거 아닐까요?(웃음) 

왜 바뀌게 됐을까요? 

정국: 내가 왜 사랑을 받는지 이유에 대해 생각했어요. ‘내가 이렇게 사랑을 받는 이유를 나는 잘 모르겠다만 그게 있으니까 사랑을 받고 있겠지?’ 하고 납득을 하는 그런 시기였던 것 같아요. 제가 사랑 받고 있다고 인정을 해버리는. 그래서 위버스 라이브에서 물어봤었어요. 왜 우리를 좋아하냐고. 

“여러분은 왜 (우리를) 응원해줘요?”라고 물어봤었죠.

정국: 네. 그때 이후로 좀 많이 바뀌지 않았나 싶어요. 나를 조금은 인정하게 되면서 ‘항상 저자세일 필요는 없겠구나.’ 하는 마음가짐이 생겼죠. 

사랑받는다는 게 기쁘기도 하지만 더 책임감이 생기는 것도 있을 듯해요. 

정국: 그래서 좀 다른 거죠. 옛날에는 그냥 더 잘해야 한다고 생각했어요. 더 잘해야 인정받으니까. 그런데 이제 반대가 된 거죠. 인정을 받은 걸 아니까, 내가 이 사람들한테 더 좋은 모습을 보여주고 더 열심히 해서 달라진 모습을 보여주고 싶어요. 

그런 마음이 기부 활동하고도 관계가 있을까요? 어린이 환자를 위해 10억 원을 서울대학교 어린이병원에 기부했어요. 

정국: 하고 나니까 기분이 좋아요. 너무. 어린 친구들에게 마음이 쏠렸어요. 그래서 어린이병원에 집중하고 시설들이 만들어지거나 하면 좋을 거 같아서 했는데, 하고 나니까 너무 기분 좋더라고요. 

책임감의 한 부분이 자기 관리인 것 같기도 해요. 위버스 라이브 하면서 식사하는 중에도 먹는 양을 신경 쓰더라고요. 저렇게 야식을 먹는 순간에도 몸 관리를 신경 써야 하는구나 싶더라고요.

정국: 제가 제 마음대로 하는 것처럼 보여도 그리고 되게 단순해 보여도 그렇게 제 안에서의 생각들은 따로 하는 편이긴 하죠. 

그래서 밤에 위버스 라이브로 팬들과 만나는 건가 싶기도 했어요. 뭐든 자유롭게 하는 것 같지만 뭘 해야 할지 생각하니까 그걸 팬들에게도 편하게 보여줄 수 있는 거 같아요. 위버스 라이브를 켜든 안 켜든 운동하고, 빨래 개고, 요리하면서 행복해하고.(웃음)

정국: 모든 걸 놓은 느낌은 아닌데, 외적으로나 내적으로나 좀 자유로워진 것 같아요. ‘이게 나 같다. 진짜 나 같다. 나 이렇게 살아야 되겠다. 그냥.’ 

요리는 언제부터 자주하게 됐나요? 위버스 라이브에서 한 요리들이 화제가 되기도 했는데.

정국: 유튜브로 보다 맛있는 거, 맛있어 보이는 거 해 먹어요. 유튜브 보다 ‘먹어봐야지?’ 그렇게 단순하게 해 먹고. 그게 습관이 되다 보니까 ‘내일은 뭐 먹지? 뭐 해 먹지?’ 이렇게 되는 거죠. 해보고 ‘너무 맛있는데?’ 하면 다음 날 한 번 더 해 먹고. 제가 레시피를 갖고 요리를 하는데, 그때 재료가 없는 게 있고 또 있는 게 있어요. 레시피와는 다른 재료도 있고. 그러면 ‘이거 너무 맛있지 않을까?’ 하면서 넣고 싶은 대로 넣어보는 게 재밌어요.

위버스 라이브에서 공개했던 ‘꼬소한 불마요 들기름 막국수’도 그렇게 탄생한 건가요? 소스 배합이 한 번에 찾을 수 있는 배합이 아닌 거 같은데.

정국: 그냥요. 한 세 번 만들어 봤나? 소스 간만 봤어요.(웃음) 처음에는 일반 들기름 막국수를 좋아했어요. 고소하고, 별로 안 짜고, 살짝은 느끼한. 그러다 ‘뭔가 매콤했으면 좋겠는데?’ 하면서 ‘매운 거? 불닭’. 간장이랑 불닭 맛만 나게 해서 먹었는데 뭔가 밍밍한 거예요. 뭔가 크리미했으면 좋겠다, 꾸덕했으면 좋겠다 해서 막 우유도 넣어봐, 마요네즈도 넣고. ��데 하… 또 뭔가 부족해요. 그래서 불닭 마요를 넣자. ‘우유는 묽으니까 달걀노른자를 넣자. 좀 더 꾸덕하게 하려면 여기에 다진 마늘이랑 양파를 넣자.’ 해서 소스를 만드니까 맛있더라고요. 간장은 그냥 진간장 쓸 때도 있고 양조간장 쓸 때도 있는데 그냥 진간장이 제일 나은 것 같고요. 쯔유는 간장 베이스로만 먹을 때 맛있고, 불닭을 섞을 때는 무조건 진간장, 그 다음에 참소스. 참소스가 아주 좋은 역할을 했어요.(웃음)

인터뷰 때문에 야식 먹을 만한 시간에 만들어 봤는데, ‘단짠’ 조합에 매운맛이 들어 있는데 동시에 새콤한 맛까지 들어가 있어서 계속 먹어도 안 질렸어요. 면 처음 먹을 때 식감도 너무 좋아서, 만들 때마다 여러 가지를 생각하면서 만들었을 거 같았어요.

정국: 맞아요, 맞아요.(웃음) 요리도 그냥 하는 거긴 한데, 한 번 하면 제대로 해 먹어요. 제대로 해서 먹으려면 진짜 꽤 시간이 걸려요.(웃음) 

만들 때 하나하나 간을 보면서 판단했다는 거잖아요? 추구하는 맛이 확실하단 건데. 

정국: 그러니까 내가 먹고 싶은 맛이어야 되는 거예요. 원하는 맛에 최대한 가깝게는 만든 것 같아요. 요리하면서 재료를 맛보잖아요. 그러면 뭐가 들어갔을 때 이런 맛이 나겠다는 걸 좀 알게 되는 거 같아요.

대충 먹자고 하지만 절대 대충일 수 없는 (웃음)

정국: ‘편하게는 하되 대충 먹지는 말자.’(웃음) 쉽진 않아요. 1인분 양을 정해서 소스 양을 맞춰야 하니까. 근데 그렇게 하는 거까진 너무 귀찮아서 조금 낭비를 하더라도 편하게 소스를 넉넉하게 만들어 놔요. 제가 딱 1인분만 먹진 않으니까. 만드는 과정에서 그렇게 조금 편한 방법을 찾죠.

일도 그렇게 하는 걸까요? 편안하게 하는 것 같지만 꼼꼼하고, 원하는 것도 확실하고.

정국: 그렇지 않을까요?(웃음)

그럼 다시 본격적으로 무대 위에 올라가는 기분은 어때요?(이 인터뷰는 7월 6일 진행됐다)

정국: 설레요. 새롭게 시작하는 거니까요. 근데 그만큼 또 걱정이 되죠. 일단 내 게 아직 세상에 나오기 전이니까 이렇게 밖에 얘기를 못해요. 나오고 나서 내가 어느 정도 간을 봐야(웃음), 해봐야 알 것 같아요. 아직까지는 긴장도 되고, 기대도 너무 많이 되고, 내가 무대에 섰을 때 어떤 느낌이 날지 다 궁금한 시점인 것 같아요. 

‘My You’의 가사를 쓴 배경에 대해 ‘가끔 이 모든 것들이 사라진다면 혹은 꿈이라면 어떡할까’ 이런 생각을 한 적이 있다고 했는데, 그런 생각이 들 만한 삶인 거 같아요. 데뷔해서 10년이 지나는 사이 세계적인 스타가 됐고, 10년 만에 첫 솔로 활동을 하고. 

정국: 약간은, 제 현실이 현실이 아닐 때처럼 느껴질 때가 있어요. 가끔  ‘내가 지금 살고 있는 게 현실이 맞나?’ ‘내가 한 게 맞나?’ 이렇게 현실을 약간 부정할 때가 있어요. ‘My You’를 쓸 때도 약간 ‘이게 (현실이) 아니면 어떡하지?’ 하는 생각이 들었던 것 같아요. 

그래서 아미가 생각났던 건가요? ‘My You’가 팬에게 보내는 이야기잖아요. 지금의 현실에서 늘 함께 있는 사람들이니까.

정국: 저는 이제 제 인생에 아미가 없으면 없죠. 그러니까 항상 있어요. 저는 이제 아미와 거의 동기화가 됐죠. 그래서 술 마시고 “저 왔어요.” 하면서 하는 게(웃음) 엄마 아빠한테 술 먹고 전화한 적은 없는데 아미한테는 가니까. 그게 내가 돼버린 것 같아요. 그런 느낌이 너무 자연스러운 거라. 그냥 더도 말고 덜도 말고 서로 좀 특별했으면 좋겠어요. 그분들은 저를 응원해주는 사람들이고, 제 모습을 편히 보여주고, 서로 거리는 멀리 있지만 동시에 가깝고도 되게 편한 사이였으면 좋겠어요.

그럼 아미가 왜 정국 씨를 응원하는지 이젠 좀 알 것 같나요?

정국: 저는 제 자신을 봤을 때, 솔직히 잘 모르겠어요. 자존감이 그렇게 높지는 않은 것 같아요. 그런데도 ‘내 인기가 왜 많을까?’, ‘그냥 목소리가 마음에 들어서 그런가?’ 아니면 ‘춤이 마음에 들었나?’ 그 이유는 진짜 모르겠어요. 왜 내가 이렇게 많은 사랑을 받을 수 있는 건지에 대해서. 그런데 아미는 저를 인정해주고 있는 사람들인 거잖아요. 제가 이렇게 많은 사랑을 받고 있는지에 대해서는 몰라도 그분들이 저를 인정해주는 건 알아요. 그러니까 ‘내가 당당하지 않으면 그렇게 나를 인정하고 응원하는 사람들은 뭐냐’ 이런 생각이 들었어요. 그래서 제 스스로가 좀 바뀌고 있는 것 같아요. 아직까지도 솔직히 잘 모르겠긴 하지만요. 

하지만 사랑을 받는 건 인정하니까 더 돌려주겠단 거군요. 

정국: 그러니까 오케이, 그렇게 된 거죠.

English Translation

Jung Kook: “I’ve been changing a bit”

Jung Kook’s debut solo single “Seven” release interview

He’s been a member of BTS for 10 years. Now, Jung Kook’s undergoing the biggest changes of his life.

You’ve been doing long Weverse Lives at night a lot lately.

Jung Kook: I used to tell the label before I was going to do a Live and get myself ready, but one time I just fired up my phone and did it. Ever since then, I just turn it on whenever I feel like reaching out.

You even fell asleep in front of the fans one time. (laughs)

Jung Kook: That’s because I’m becoming simpler every day. I don’t give things too much thought. I just, you know, keep it casual and shareabout what I’m up to or what’s happening.

It’s amazing how you’re able to present yourself exactly the way you are, even though you’re literally a member of BTS.

Jung Kook: You know, I meet a lot of different people when I’m working with the group, whether intentionally or not. I used to go home and get some rest after finishing up work, but it’s not like that lately, so I’ve been feeling adrift . I’ve been taking it easy, and now I want to be around other people—like hanging out with the other members or someone else. I want to hear from other people.

It was funny the way you walked a tightrope as you were dropping hints for “Seven (feat. Latto)”, saying that “the company will go crazy” if you said anything about it. You just kept it casual and didn’t go overboard.

Jung Kook: I think I can only be the real me when I’m speaking my mind honestly. I feel like I’m changing in a way. Now I think I should do things the way I want to do them. Because, if I do things right, lots of people will accept that, and then I can be more open about the real me.

I guess you’re getting a feel for making a judgment call about what would be appropriate to do. Maybe that’s your mindset when you’re working, too.

Jung Kook: Right. I was always the youngest one in the group. Now I’m releasing my own solo song. It feels different working by myself too. I think the responsibility that comes from how I interact with other people and the center of my thinking have both changed. There are a lot of decisions I have to make that I can’t just sidestep by saying, “Ah, I don’t know.” I wasn’t usually the first in the group to speak up but now there’s a lot I need to and can do. I think I naturally changed as a result.

​There must be times like meetings where the staff all look to you or something.

Jung Kook: Sometimes I feel the pressure in moments like that. But it’s not like I’ve changed completely from how I was. I still end up relying on the staff all the time. (laughs) But I sort of told myself I shouldn’t get too comfortable with things. I want to just trust everything to the staff since they’re all pros at what they do, but there’s still many times where I bring up things I have thoughts on and do my best with everything else the staff puts together. I’m a dancer and a singer—I don’t know about every single aspect of the business. It’s my work though, so I give them some ideas, and then just try to basically stay flexible depending on how the situations looks? (laughs) I don’t expect myself to be able to handle everything from start to finish and tell people what to do, and I wouldn’t want to anyway. I sort of feel like … everyone does what they’re best at and then we allow it all to intersect.

There’s no way keeping everyone on the same page like that can be easy.

Jung Kook: Indeed, indeed. Maybe I need to find a way we can all meet in the middle … I’m not really sure. (laughs)I think it’s about maintaining a balance between giving what you can and taking what you can while properly acknowledging others.

You said something similar on Weverse Live recently: “I’m just going to trust myself and do it even in the future … That might result in failure in the future, but I’m going to trust myself.” It seems like you’re looking to work well with others while still pursing what you want and trusting yourself.

Jung Kook: Right.

Where does trusting your instincts lead you as an artist?

Jung Kook: It’s hazy. I just … I only have one, big goal, and it’s to be a giant pop star. I’m not thinking about what the next concept I pursue is going to be or anything. “Seven” wasn’t something I planned in advance either—Producer Bang Si-hyuk just played it for me, and it was so good, I said, “Oh, I definitely have to do this one.” I figured out what kind of promoting I’d do once I decided to do “Seven.” That’s all instinct too. Everyone’s got it, you know? You just hear the song and say, Whoa … That’s a good one! (laughs) What’s amazing is that it doesn’t matter what genre a song is—if it’s good, it’s good. Of course, it’s possible I release a song just because I like it but it doesn’t get that great of a response, but that’s never happened. I think I’ve been living that way all along. I think now I’m more systematic when it comes to listening to my instincts, whereas my instincts used to come from a place of not knowing anything at all. So I want to do the things I’m drawn to and not overthink it.

Why a giant pop star? You’re already a giant pop star, aren’t you? (laughs)

Jung Kook: No. I don’t see it that way. I guess it’s just my ambition—the ambition to be more appreciated and be even better. In a word: cool. That’s the whole reason I’m doing this. I want to be that kind of pop star someday—I want to be able to really experience that feeling. I hope the day comes that I can look at myself from a third-person perspective and give myself that kind of recognition. I’ll know I’m that kind of pop star once I can do that.

​Did performing “Dreamers” for the Qatar World Cup opening ceremony come close to that feeling?

Jung Kook: I think that’s also instinct, in a way. The World Cup was another big opportunity for me. When they gave me the offer, I thought, “There’s no reason for me to turn this down.” I wish I could’ve done better when I performed “Dreamers” though. People liked it, but I still wondered if I could’ve done better.

You said this in a behind-the-scenes video: “I’ve never been 100% satisfied as you all know by now so I’m not satisfied, but still, I didn’t make mistakes and I think it was alright.” It seems like you always practice really hard and then say you’ll just get up on stage and do a good job. (laughs)

Jung Kook: I’m a lot different about that now than I used to be. In the past, if I made a mistake, I felt weighed down by that moment and tortured myself with it, but now if I do something wrong I just tell myself to do better and keep practicing. I started to keep things nice and simple. If you mess up, you just accept it and say, “I make mistakes too.” That’s why I keep trying to do a good job.

What does it mean to you to do a good job on stage?

Jung Kook: I want to be a lot more natural. I don’t like the bad habits I already developed. They’re all I can see. I don’t want my movement to be limited in any way. I want every single movement I make to be different, even if the dance moves are similar, rather than to get every little movement right. I hope I can naturally give off that kind of image.

​Would you say that your performance for “Seven” reflects that way of thinking? It’s not so much full of technically challenging moves—more you successfully capturing the atmosphere of the song with cleanmoves.

Jung Kook: I like when things look natural and I wanted to do something a little more relaxed. I made my decisions after seeing a number of different proposals for the choreography. I wanted the performance to feel a little lighter. I wanted to show what makes me different. At the same time, I wanted to add some parts that were a little heavier so that, when people watch the performance, they’d be like, Are you seeing this guy? (laughs)

You described “Seven” as being light. It’s pretty different from BTS’s songs and your other solo songs too. What was it like expressing something different from what you’ve done before?

Jung Kook: It was good. I just embraced the song fully. I didn’t think about it much beyond that. Just do it. (laughs)

Your singing style is a lot different as well. You didn’t make your voice sound hoarse or use vibrato, giving off a sleek pop vibe instead. What made you approach it in that way?

Jung Kook: Before recording anything, you always listen to the demo. I think from there which parts I can get help with, what I should add and which parts have to go, and then record. It’s all about making it my own, and once it sounds good, I think that’s enough. Nothing off-putting; nothing over the top. I naturally end up finding the right mood for every song when I’m recording. When it comes to singing, if there’s a part that’s technically hard, I’ll have trouble thinking how I should sing it, but in the end I always end up making the song my own. And I think I improved a lot in a short time while recording this one. I think I learned more about the details to put in when singing in English. Now I know exactly what I sound like when I use English and I figured out how to sing in it.

Was there a specific reason why you changed it?

Jung Kook: First of all, it was fun. I tried switching up my recording style: I sang the whole thing from start to finish every time I did a take, which was a lot of help. The producer heard my voice on one of the takes and said, “Oh, I think we got it,” and we moved on. I loved it. I didn’t do anything else but sing during that time. If something turned out well we said okay, or else I tried again. And if I needed to do the chorus, I sang it right on the spot. I really liked going through the whole process quickly like that.

It couldn’t have been easy to sing. You had to hit all those high notes perfectly without using too many special techniques. It made me realize how many tools you have at your disposal as a singer. Are you interested in singing in a variety of different ways?

Jung Kook: I certainly wouldn’t say I’m uninterested. I want to use my voice in all kinds of different ways. That’s also why I think it’s a great idea to sing along to other people’s songs. I think it’s a really good idea for me to try something new even if I’m technically using my voice wrong. The wrong way could turn out to be the right way later on. But I can’t lose what makes me unique, so I have to find my own voice. There’s some things I’ll only learn from performing “Seven” on stage. I’ll have to wait for the song to come out and get up on stage and gauge the reaction to feel out what direction I should head in going forward.

​There’s a line in the “Seven” lyrics that says, “Weight of the world on your shoulders.” That describes what it’s like to be a member of BTS, I’m sure. How do you feel now that you’re performing alone?

Jung Kook: I feel more pressure now than when I’m with the group. But I think the way I come to terms with that has changed a bit seeing as my personality has changed so much. What made it change like that? Maybe it was just time? (laughs)

What do you think made it change like that?

Jung Kook: I thought about why people love me. It gave me a chance to think about and accept that there must be a reason why they love me so much, even if I don’t know what it is. I could finally acknowledge that they love me. So I asked on Weverse Live: Why do you guys like us?

“Why do you guys cheer for us?” That’s what you said.

Jung Kook: Right. I feel like I’ve changed quite a bit since then. As I started to acknowledge myself, I started to feel like I don’t have to be so timid all the time.

It seems like you’re happy to be loved but at the same time you feel a stronger sense of responsibility.

Jung Kook: That’s the part that’s sort of different. I used to think I just needed to try and do better—that I had to be better to receive recognition. But now it’s like it’s the other way around. I know people embrace me so I want to show those same people a better side of me. I want to work harder and show them something different.

Do the donations you’ve made tie into that at all, like the billion-won donation you made to the Seoul National University Children’s Hospital?

Jung Kook: I feel good about doing that. Really good. My thoughts have been turning to the younger kids these days, so I turned my attention to the children’s hospital thinking it would be good for some new resources and facilities to get built. I’m really happy I could do that.

I think another part of being responsible is taking care of yourself. You’re careful about how much you eat while on Weverse Live. I was impressed how you’re careful about your body even when it’s that time of night for a snack.

Jung Kook: Even if I seem to just do things without much forethought or come across as really simplistic, I usually have serious thoughts going on in my head.

​I wondered if that’s why you hang out with the fans on Weverse Live at night. You seem to do everything as you please, but you’re also thinking about everything you have to do, and that’s why you’re able to show that to the fans so easily. You’re happy working out, folding laundry and cooking even when you’re on Weverse Live. (laughs)

Jung Kook: I don’t feel like I’ve just let everything go but I do feel a little freer inside and out. This is me. The real me. This is how I should be living. Just living.

When did you start cooking so much? The things you cooked on Weverse Live even started trending.

Jung Kook: I watch YouTube and make things that look and taste good to eat. I just see something on YouTube and think, I should try that. That became a habit of mine, so now it’s like, What should I have tomorrow? What should I cook? If I cook it and it turns out really good I’ll make it the following day too. I use recipes when I cook, and sometimes I have all the ingredients, but sometimes I don’t. And sometimes I use ingredients that aren’t in the recipe at all. It’s fun to just put in whatever I think might taste good.

Is that also the origin story of the savory hot mayo perilla oil mak-guksu you described on Weverse Live? It’s not the sort of mix of sauces you can easily figure out.

Jung Kook: Well, I think I’ve made it like, three times? I just felt out the sauce. (laughs) I always liked regular old perilla oil mak-guksu: savory, not too salty and just a little oily. And then I thought, What if it was a little spicy? And then, what’s spicy? Buldak. I tried it with just soy sauce and buldak but it was weak somehow. I wanted it to be kind of creamy or thick so I added a bunch of milk and mayo. But, hmm … Something was still missing. So I said, Let’s throw in some buldak mayo. The milk makes it watery, so in goes some egg yolk. Let’s put some minced garlic and onions in to thicken it up a bit, too. I finished making the sauce and it was delicious. For the soy sauce, sometimes I use the regular stuff and other times I try brewed soy sauce, but the regular soy sauce tastes best. Tsuyu’s great when it’s got just a soy sauce base but if you mix in buldak, it has to be regular soy sauce. Next comes the cham sauce. That really played its part well. (laughs)

I tried making it as a late-night meal because of this interview, and adding something spicy to the already sweet and salty mix, along with something tart makes it the kind of thing you can keep on eating without ever growing tired of it. The texture of the noodle was really good, and when I was eating it I thought you must’ve really thought this through thoroughly to come up with it.

Jung Kook: Exactly, exactly. (laughs) I do sometimes just cook quickly, but when I really need to, I do it properly. It takes a really long time to make something properly like that. (laughs)

That means you taste test what you’re making continuously, right? To make sure it’s what you’re aiming for?

Jung Kook: I mean, it should taste just the way I want it to. I think I got it as close to the taste I was going for as I could. Everyone checks the taste of each ingredient as you go along. That way you learn what it’s going to taste like depending on what you put in.

You say, “Let’s just eat,” but there’s nothing simple about it. (laughs)

Jung Kook: Let’s keep it simple, but don’t just wing it. (laughs) It’s not easy. Because I have to make the right amount of sauce for one person. But I’m too lazy to get that specific about it so I just make sure to make enough sauce and don’t worry if there’s anything left over. And anyway, I don’t eat just one helping. I’m always looking for ways like that to make things a little easier.

Does that apply when you work too? It looks like you’re keeping it simple but you’re actually detail-oriented and have a clear vision of what you want.

Jung Kook: I guess you could say that? (laughs)

So how do you feel to really be getting back on stage again? [Note: This interview took place on July 6.]

Jung Kook: I’m excited. It’s a fresh start. But I’m also nervous for the same reason. That’s all I can say for sure because my thing’s not out there in the world yet. I’ll have to gauge things once it’s out. (laughs) I’ll have to give it a go to be sure. It’s that period of time where I wonder how I’ll feel on stage. I get nervous but also really excited.

​You’ve said that the idea behind the lyrics you wrote for “My You” was thinking about what would happen if everything were to disappear, or if it were all been a dream. I guess you’ve had the kind of life that would make you think things like that. You’ve become a star worldwide since you debuted 10 years ago and you’re having your solo debut.

Jung Kook: Sometimes it sort of feels like my life is surreal. Sometimes I almost can’t believe it’s real, like, “Is this real life? Am I really doing this?” It was similar when I wrote “My You”: What if none of this is real?

Is that why you were thinking of ARMY? “My You” is directed toward your fans, after all. They’re the ones who are always with you in this life.

Jung Kook: My life would be meaningless without ARMY now. I mean, they’re always there for me. ARMY and I are almost perfectly in sync now. When I’ve been drinking, I never call my mom and dad and say, “I’m home.” (laughs) I do it to ARMY though. That’s just the person I’ve become. It’s such a natural feeling. I just want us to be each other’s special someone—nothing more, nothing less. They’re the ones who support me, so I want to be comfortable showing them who I am, and while we might be physically far apart, I hope we can feel like we’re right next to each other, just like friends.

Do you understand a little better now why they support you, then?

Jung Kook: When I look at myself, I honestly can’t tell. I’m not someone with very high self-esteem. Why am I so popular? Is it just because they like my voice? Or maybe the way I dance? I still can’t figure it out—about why I’m loved by all these people. But, you know, ARMY appreciates me. I might not know why all those people love me but I always remember they appreciate me. So I started to think, What’s the point of all those people appreciating and supporting me if I don’t have confidence? I think that’s why I’ve been changing a bit. Even though I’m still not quite sure …

But you’re giving back because you can see that you’re loved.

Jung Kook: I mean, okay, that’s how it happened.

Source: Weverse Magazine ENG: Weverse Magazine

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Jung Kook for Dazed Magazine