[Trans] 2PM interview in k-pop boy

| Thai-Eng: Muize @2pmalways | Scans credit: Junsu.kr

In Major Debut’s November Issue revealing 2PM’s goal and expectation of making a debut in Japan
A popular group of 6 members, 2PM will have their first showcase at Ryokoku Kokugikan
We ask them about their anticipation of the debut

How did you debut as 2PM?
Junsu : I was 18 when entering JYP. For 4 years, I had been trained as a trainee before debut. I’m the longest-trained member among us. There was a time when I was about to debut with another group but finally joined the current one and became 2PM. I specially have an interest in music. When I was in grade 9, I got an influence from [That’s What Friends Are For] sung by Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Luther Vandross. So I told to myself [I’m gonna be a star too]

Wooyoung: By the time I entered the company, I was 19. My first audition was when 17 yrs old. Actually, I failed 4 times for the audition. JYP would hold an audition every 6 months. So it took me 2 years to pass. I had been into dancing and the dream of becoming a singer occurred to me when I was around 5-6 yrs. Then I dreamed of being an artist instead after watching Michael Jackson. At the age of 14, I saw the documentary of Park Jin Young and Rain working America and wanted to be like them, to be on top of the world so I joined JYP audition.

Chansung: Because of a TV program, I had a chance to debut. I was one of the contestants of [Super Star Survival] unfortunately, I got eliminated. But after that, JYP asked me to join its trainees so I started to take singing and dancing classes from the beginner level. Before debut, I also made an appearance in a sitcom [The Unstoppable High Kick] while training at the same time. It was tough yet very enjoyable.

Taecyeon: I was living in U.S when I joined JYP audition. I was a trainee at the age of 19 and became part of the group later. Honestly the reason I participated the audition is just to test my ability without any hopes of becoming a super star or anything. But when I passed and had trained for 2 yrs, I started to enjoy it. I’m the type that if I do something, I’ll keep doing it until I reach the top. Being an artist makes me realize that I must try harder.

Scouted in U.S

Nichkhun: Like Taeceyon, I received a chance to debut while living in U.S. Someone approached me. I had no interest in this entertainment industry since I could neither dance nor speak Koran so I was very puzzled. Even more awkward was when being scouted for 2nd time at an ordinary coffee shop. After a little bit of talking, they set up the camera outside the shop and said [Ok, we’ll do an audition here] (laughs) so I plucked up courage and introduced myself in Thai and English. I also sang but it turned out suck (laughs). It was embarrassing but the camera was still on, I had to do it as much as I could. They even played a song very loudly from a stereo inside a car and told me to dance to the song (laughs). If I remember correctly, it was Usher’s. Inexperienced in dancing like me couldn’t dance at all. Having trained as a trainee, I felt [I have to succeed][I’ll get better] more and more

Junho: Originally, my dream was to be an actor so I joined a drama club in high school. But as I kept singing and dancing, I grew fond of it and entered JYP when I was 17. Why JYP? Because Park Ji Young and Rain are my favorite singers. Seeing them working in U.S made me think [My dream should be done under their label]. I’ve learned from many people such Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Chris Brown

- So this is how you guys debut. How did you share responsibilities as 2PM?

Junsu: I’m main vocal. Out of many things, I love singing the most so I keep practicing so that it gets better.
Junho: I want to say that I’m 2PM’s ace but I’m not (laughs). I’m in charge of all stuffs especially acrobatic. That’s why I often get injured
Wooyoung: I’m a vocal but in daily life I’m the mother of 2PM (laughs). We’re living together. To keep our room clean, I always tell the members [Clean up]. That’s what my duty
Chansung: For me, singing and dancing nothing besides those. I’m the youngest (laughs)

Beasts with no beat

Taecyeon: I’m a middleman, am I? (laughs). Unlike Chansung, I’m hyung to the members so they will tell me their needs and I’ll talk to the crew

- Ever been a middleman among any fights?
Taecyeon: Though we’re beast idols, we’ve never been in a fight. Of course, we do have arguments. We’re big but kind (laughs). No fight.
Nichkhun: Right, we’re very close. My responsibility is CM since I have shot many commercial ads (laughs)

- Let’s talk about your solo career. Taecyeon, you acted in [Cinderella’s Sister] didn’t you?
Taecyeon: Yes. I’m the first one in 2PM to make a challenge in acting. I personally think that I didn’t do it good enough. The others will act too in the near future. Please looking forward to it
Junho: When my opportunity has come, I’d like to try acting which I learned back when I was a student

- Being on stage, what are you careful about?
Chansung: First of all, focusing on my own dancing and singing. In my case, I always enjoy dancing lessons so I don’t find it tiring at all. Listening to respectful seniors and set them as role models is my way of practicing singing. My current role model is Kim Bom Soo, a Korean singer

Wooyung: I’ll remind myself that the reason I get tired has nothing related to fans but to personal reason. Thus that feeling will be buried inside me and continue working
Taecyeon: I’m in charge of rapping that’s why I try to convey the feelings by my rapping not by melody in the way it should be

- How were 2PM’s style and directionality decided?
Chansung: Our producer is Park Jin Young hyung. For example, our debut single [10 out of 10 (10/10)] received a guidance directly from him. Next one is [Again & Again] actually there were 2 songs to choose as a title song. He let us decide which one to use. Well, the other song is our latest single [I’ll be back]

Nichkhun: Before composing a song, Jin Young hyung will ask us [What kind of music do you want this time?] and we come up with ideas for him to work based on them

Wooyoung: Mostly, we talk about the concept, clothes, choreography how to make these three well combined

Junho: We’ll choose the closest one to 2PM’s image. Musically, it’s important to have many songs to choose but when it comes to make a final decision, it has to be ones that we enjoy performing on the stage

Nichkhun: Exactly, we’ll picture ourselves on the stage with the songs like [Is it ok to perform like this with it?]

Taecyeon: For Jin Young hyung, making 2PM’s songs is the hardest. It has to be great performance and we must look cool at the same time so it’s hard. First that point should be understood before come up with ideas based on our personal desire

Junsu: We try hard to make you feel our individuality [this group is unlike others] by actively using acrobatic

- Now that you mention acrobatic, in [I’ll be back] pyramid-like moves are incredible. You guys must have worked hard on it
Taeceyon: It’s not that hard because we’ve been doing acrobatic ever since the debut. Acrobatic is our trademark and what we’re good at

Junho: Besides of acrobatic , I want to try Rock if the opportunity is available and I don’t want to make a definition and limitation of 2PM’s style. A group of various styles with a wide range of fans is what I wish we would be.

- Your debut is about to start on this November. Since when did you set a plan to work in Japan?

Junho: Since the debut. [When are we going to Japan?]. Back then, the company had no plan for us to work in Japan. But deep in my heart, I wished [It’d be great to go to Japan]. And now the opportunity has come, I’m very thankful it’s all because of your loves and supports

Chansung: I dreamed of working abroad ever since debut in Korea. When we were told about debut in Japan, I got so excited now that we’ll be able to perform overseas.

Wooyoung : I watched video of Japanese dancers while learning to dance and kept thinking [Amazing]. I’m dying to go to Japan and meet them

Junsu: In Japan, music culture receives high respect, as a singer, that’s cool. My musician friends are jealous of me working in Japan since it’s the place with comfortable environment for musicians

Taecyeon: Many k-pop stars are currently working in Japan. Having seen this gives me a huge inspiration to work all over Asia including Japan

Nichkhun: Same here. After seeing TVXQ, BIGBANG, FT Island debut, I wished there would be our time too. Well, actually, the other reason I want to go to Japan is Japanese toys (laughs). There’s a card game called [Yuugiou Card], isn’t there? I’m dying to have it since 10. And the packages of Japanese snacks are cute. The snacks themselves tastes good especially [Haichuu]. Can’t wait to go there soon

- Do the others like Japanese culture?
Junho: As for drama, I like [Kimi wa Pet (You're My Pet)] and [Gokusen]. L’arc~en~Ciel, Namie Amuro, Arashi for singers

Wooyoung: I like Jazz Hip hop style such Kenichiro Nishihara and the pianist Yuki Kuramoto.
Movies which I like are [Love Letter] and [Jose to tora to sakanatachi]. I also enjoy the drama that Chansung recommended [Hotaru no Hikari]

Taecyeon: I’m impressed by the drama called [Ima ai ni ikimasu (Be with you)]. I find Arashi cool after seeing them singing on a music program

Junsu: I love the song which is produced by Pharrell Williams featured by American musician, who I like, and Teriyaki Boys. There’re many singers that I listen to like also FreeTEMPO

Nichkhun: I’ve watched [GTO] several times. I really like Hikaru Utada’s song [First Love]. The places I want to go are Disneyland and Fuji-San which Wooyoung said he wanted to go and wandering around the town tasting some delicious food

- How did people around you react when they heard about the confirmation of the debut?
Taecyeon: Most of advices are about language like [you have to study Japanese hard]. They always said to debut in Japan, you had to get over the barrier of language and get ready for a new environment. Some of them are jealous that we have more overseas fans

Chansung: Right. I’ve been told [You must learn japanese]. The atmosphere in the company is [Finally! from now on let’s begin] rather than [Congratulations]

Wooyoung: Both of my family and friends are envious of me. It’s not that I’m going there for travelling but to make a debut (laughs)

Nichkhun: My parents in Thailand have travelled to Japan many times. They’re happy about it [Congrats! Then we’ll get to go there more often]. My family will take a flight to Korea to watch us every time we release a new single. Likewise, they’ll go to Japan this time

Junho: I feel pressured a bit. You know, we receive many attentions from the medias though we haven’t done anything in Japan yet. I wonder if we’re going to let you down. If we have supports from Japanese fans, I believe everything will come along very well

- On December 8, you’ll be holding showcases at Ryoukoku Kokugikan, right? Have you started to learn japanese yet?
Junho: Yes, I start with basic vocabulary and always read japanese conversations from books. I also watch my favorite drama [Gokusen] for practicing. But words that they use are pretty….[Shut up!] those can’t be used (laughs). Although we’re beast idols, we have to speak appropriately

- Nichkhun, you’re now capable of speaking English, Thai, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, aren’t you?
Nichkhun: I learned Japanese once when I was 13. I found it hard to learn. But now that I know korean, it’s easier to learn japanese. I hope I’ll be good at it soon in order to be able to speak when being interviewed. I begin with writing Hiragana, Katakana and easy greetings. We’re extremely busy so our japanese teacher have to follow us to where we work and learn Japanese during free time even in dressing room and about to go on the stage

- Finally, please tell us your goal or dream in Japan
Junho: I’m concerned about Oricon chart. But I do hope 2PM will hit the chart so that Japanese people will get to know our songs. If we can make you feel related to our songs then being on chart will follow itself

Nichkhun: We’re rookies in Japan so I want to show everyone who we are and what our stage performance is like to see how the reaction is going to be. Actually, there’re more but I’ll leave it at that because that’s our main purpose

Dreaming of performing at Tokyo Dome

Taecyeon: The bigger dream the better isn’t it? To reach number 1 in the Oricon chart! Because it’s just a dream (laughs)

Nichkhun: If it’s a dream then I who am in charge of CM want to be present in advertising sign board on any buildings in big cities like Shibuya!

Junho: The TV program called [Kouhaku Uta Gakusen] which BOA and TVXQ went to last year. I’d love to participate in the show if we have a chance

Taecyeon: I’ll devote myself wholly to work until we can hold Live Concert at Tokyo Dome someday

Junsu: The place where we can perform big concert is Tokyo Dome? Then my dream is to have a concert there too

Taecyeon: In Korea, when we hadn’t been called “beats idols”, our image was pretty boys. But ever since “beast idols” was born, the number of boys groups presenting their appealing sides has increased. It’ll be delightful if we have such influence and be loved that much in Japan as well