https://magazine.weverse.io/article/view?lang=en&num=148
INTERVIEW
SUNGHOON “I feel like this is a job that has a positive influence”
ENHYPEN ‘BORDER : CARNIVAL’ Comeback Interview
2021.05.06
When SUNGHOON talked about practice during the interview, he spoke like it isn’t a hard thing, but just something that has to be done: “I practiced so much for so long that I apparently just got used to it.” That attitude overlapped with the way that, after finishing his photo shoot, he sat quietly with a serious look in front of the monitor for a long time as he reviewed his pictures.
Do you feel different now that you’re an adult?
SUNGHOON: I feel a bit sad about turning 18. I couldn’t have a normal school life like other kids because I was already figure skating. Nowadays I wear a school uniform as a costume a lot and I regret that I don’t have those memories. But I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it, either. I haven’t really grown up, but I guess I want to believe that I have. I want to be more of an adult than I am now, but I think I still act like a kid a lot of the time. I think that’ll change by itself over time.
How are things with 02z, the other members born in 2002?
SUNGHOON: We’re as good as ever. All three of us are really into fashion and we like hip hop, so we talk a lot about what’s new. JAKE and JAY both like cooking, so they cook dinner or make us ramyeon. And right now we’re really into the show Vincenzo. JAKE and JAY started watching it first and kept telling me how good it was and that I have to watch it, so I caught up by watching the episodes in reverse order.
By the way, have you chosen anyone as the 02z leader? (laughs)
SUNGHOON: Well I came up with the idea first, so I guess I’m the leader. The youngest member has already been decided: it’s JAY. He hasn’t accepted it yet, but we already know the truth. (laughs)
I saw that you’re all so close now that you know all these little details about one another.
SUNGHOON: It feels like we’re a family all living under one roof now. I found out who likes what and what makes them uncomfortable, so now I want to give them more of what they like and try to keep in mind what makes them uncomfortable. Now I can tell what any of them will do in any particular situation. Sometimes when we’re messing around or being too loud, HEESEUNG will just say, “Guys”—in a serious voice. He doesn’t get mad at us or say anything bad just because he’s the oldest. When that happens, he tries to lighten the mood by making even more noise instead.
I’m sure you’ve been busy preparing for your performances and comeback, but did you have a chance to take a break with the other members?
SUNGHOON: Well, there wasn’t much downtime, really. I took some small breaks between recording and practicing, and I had one or two vacations. They weren’t long, but it was enough to visit home for a little while. I saw my family and my dog. Gaeul was really happy to see me.
What did your family say about everything you did for your last album?
SUNGHOON: My parents are always keeping up with me. After seeing the photos and interviews in Weverse Magazine and Dazed Korea they said things like, “This looks great”; “That’s a good look on you.” And my sister’s a teenager now, so she’s less interested in me. (laughs)
You won four awards for best new artist during your last round of activities.
SUNGHOON: Even before we debuted, we had no expectations for that year, actually. We were thinking about this year instead. I think I became a bit more confident because we were lucky to have won the best new artist award just a few weeks after our debut. It was great—I only ever saw that on TV, but then I got to experience it in real life.
What did you guys talk about at home that night?
SUNGHOON: The day we won the award—JAY cooks for us sometimes, and while we were eating, we said supportive things, like, “Looks like we’re doing all right,” and, “Let’s keep it up!” Or, “I’m so proud of ENHYPEN.”
Do you ever have moments where you realize how popular you are?
SUNGHOON: It’s hard to feel how popular we are since we can’t hold any concerts or live performances. But I heard there were over 450,000 preorders for this new album, so that gives us some idea.