2021. 10. 21
: https://www.harpersbazaar.co.kr/article/59495 <The visuals that is shining always, SHINee’s Minho>
Q. You really are busy nowadays.
M “<Yumi’s Cells> that I made special appearance in is currently airing and I have ended the filming for Kakao TV drama series titled <Goosebumps> that will be aired within this year, I am also currently hosting a live radio show <Best Choice> on Naver NOW and I am also part of the casts of a variety show called <Golf Kind>. After listing them out, it seems like I am indeed really busy. (laughs)”
Q. How about the time when you spend alone?
M “Other than my schedules, I exercise to manage my stamina. I play golfs sometimes to relief stress since I can’t play soccer or basketball because of COVID. I like to watch movies at the theaters too but it got even harder to go there right now, isn’t it. The times of me watching movies at home increased over time.”
Q. You have shown the essence of a special appearance through <Yumi’s Cells>. You have left a proper impression with just 2 episodes. Whether or not are you able to attract attention by being a special appearance is something that one would be concern of, isn’t it.
M “It’s actually a key figure that leads the start of the drama. There’s a sense of burden too as it’s a role that opens the show but I really wanted to try it out when I read the script. The original web toon is cute and it was at the moment when I wanted to act in an office genre so I worked hard in preparing and worked hard for the filming too.”
Q. The synchronization level of Chae Woogi in the web toon and the drama is high.
M “I tried my best to keep it as similar as possible with the original work for things that is related to the appearance like how he dresses and how his hair is being done. As it’s a piece of work with a strong fan base, I wanted to deliver the charm of the original work well. I added my interpretation of how Woogi’s in it. The kindness and gentleness in his actions towards Yumi looked really cute in my eyes.”
Q. You look good with the name tag. Have you ever imagine yourself working as an employee in a company?
M “I think I will be a faithful employee who works hard in many job with a strong love for my company regardless of what kind of company I am working in. (laughs)”
Q. How the cells go reckless with their nature, hold each other in check and encourages one another are what make the drama interesting. What kind of cell in Minho holds the main power?
M “I think my reasoning cell is the busiest one of them all. That’s because there are many times where I have to choose between the ideal and the reality. Also, as I do think positively a lot, maybe my positivity cells?”
Q. What is that awakens each and every cells?
M “I think my cells wake up when I am looking at a good piece of work. It would make me go ‘Wow, I want to try things like these too’ or ‘Wow, this can be expressed in this way too huh!’ I receive energy when I look at works at exhibitions or when I am watching a sports match. I gain strength from them. It makes me think that ‘I will work harder to do better things too’”
Q. <Goosebumps> that is about to be released is an omnibus suspense genre that you are challenging for the very first time.
M “I didn’t get a lot of scripts. (laughs) As director Jeong Beomsik expertises in this genre and he is someone with lots of experience, there were lots of things that I could learn. We talked a lot too and he says that the way I, who is doing this for the very first time, approach this is new. He acknowledges the way I express and gave me lots of courage too.”
Q. You are acting for about 10 years now.
M “Even though I have done various works, there’s always this sense of pity felt. I thought that I would be nice if I could do more but that’s not physically possible with my schedule. There’s no change in me wanting to do a variety kind of acting.”
Q. So that’s why you have been doing various kind of activities this year.
M “When I weren’t promoting during my military hiatus, I got to reflect on myself and gain courage while looking back at myself. There were lots of mix emotions felt. I gathered my energy thinking about all of those things that I will want to try after my discharge. This period of time is when I explode my condense energy.”
Q. How are SHINee’s Minho and actor Minho the same and how are they different?
M “If you say that they are the same, they are; if you say that they are different, they are too. If I were to say that I am showing colors of mine and focus on what I do best when I am promoting as SHINee, even when I do my best in acting the role that I chose myself which I can do well, I will surpass myself in order to indulge myself further into the character. That’s why it’s much more difficult. Also, during team activities, I would express the natural side of me through variety shows or various promoting stages but when I am working on a production, the side of me that I don’t even know myself will present itself and that’s what’s interesting.”
Q. It’s the fun of it that you are expanding your boundaries in acting while continuously promoting and hitting your peak as SHINee.
M “The feedback I get from acting is slow. It’s the joy felt when a production that was done with one long breath opens up one day that is charming. It’s different with music.”
Q. You used the word ‘Work hard’ and ‘Unchanging’ a lot. Despite to have been familiarize with many things, is working hard still your goal right now?
M “Of course. I think that it’s a given to work hard always. To always be doing things with the same mind you had at the very beginning. Even though the situation can’t help but to keep changing, it’s my belief to ‘Not lose my initial mind.’ That is why I am always stern and constantly motivating myself.”
Q. What are you most interested in nowadays?
M “I am so into golf right now. I have started playing golf often a month or two before I joined the program called <Golf King> and wondered ‘Why can’t this work the way I want it to work?’ It was fascinating. The ball is just there, why can’t I hit it properly?”
Q. Was it like ‘The thing (golf ball) is just there so all there’s left is for me to do well though, so why?’? (laughs)
M “Yes! (laughs) It’s like ‘Why is my body changing everyday?’ kind of feeling. I can really feel that my body changes depending on my condition. It makes me realize that it’s similar to when I am acting and when I am on a stage. One will focus on that one shot when they play golf, won’t they. It’s the same when I am putting my focus on filming that one scene and doing it in one take when I am acting. There’s a point of contact in that way. It helps me improve my level of concentration.”
Q. Do you tend to keep your intuition for acting in your daily life?
M “I do that most of the time. Apart from the time I am resting, I am always looking for the point of contact when I am moving with my body.”
Q. Is that a method of your own to look for that?
M “I receive most hints in conversations. Each person’s tone of speech and action differ depending on the person one meets, isn’t it. I do think about that quite often in my daily life. Thinking about how can I express in what kind of situation is something I am very used to doing now. Those kind of experiences are being reflected a lot when I am reading and analyzing my scripts.”
Q. The latest post you uploaded on your Instagram was a post to commemorate ‘Armed Force Day.’
M “It was around this time of the year when I got discharged. It was a picture taken before I went for the training and I suddenly thought of it. I got to know that there are really lots of people who are working hard at places that we can’t see after I went and return from the military. I uploaded it with a heart of not wanting to forget about it but there was a mix of humor in it too. (laughs)”
Q. The reactions were interesting.
M “Exactly. The most reactions were them telling me that I can’t go again. I, of course, have no such intention to do so as well. (laughs) Even though once is enough, it’s an experience that will stay in my memories for life.”
Q. I see that this is Minho’s humor point.
M “I think I have moments when I am funny without the intention of being funny. When I try to be funny, it’s not funny. That’s why I don’t try to be funny. It will be ruined if I try to be funny.”
Q. If there’s a special thing you did in order to take the most care of yourself, it would be?
M “I will exercise diligently to raise my stamina and I will learn and try various things. Financial-wise, I am really not materialistic at all. I don’t really know how the kind of happiness felt when obtaining an object feel. However, I am buying golf clubs nowadays. I am kinda surprised myself as this is my very first time doing so.”
Q. I am looking at a rare not materialistic person right now. (laughs)
M “When I got my driving license in my early 20s, I wanted to buy a good car for just this once but work got busy and it made me wonder what’s the use of buying a car when I have no time for it so I gave up. When I came across a good piece of work at an exhibition and have the heart to buy it, I will ask myself what’s the use of hanging it at home when I am just going to sleep all the time. (laughs) Those are what I will think of. I like to gift others with present and use money on them. That’s because it makes others happy.”
Q. We are reaching the end of the year soon. Who do you want to share happiness with?
M “It’s a must to be with your family at the end of the year. I really liked it that I have spent the most time with my family recently. Even when the year is ending, it’s definitely the best to spend your time warmly with your family.“
