[TRANS] UP2U Magazine Issue #6 - October 2011 "Nichkhun…life, from all angles"

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Nichkun…life, from all angles (Part 1/2)


Angle is defined as ‘point of view’. It is said...for an interesting person, their point of view and way of life are even more interesting. What do you think will happen, if we talk to an Asian superstar in many ‘angles’. The way he sees this world from his angles, the angles that no one has asked about, the angles unrevealed, the angles that people are waiting for, Nichkhun Horvejkul.


In his latest visit to Thailand as Samsung MultiView presenter, Nichkhun has a few exclusive events in line. He had less than 48 hours to spend in Bangkok before continuing his journey to promote the second album in various Asian countries. UP2U magazine was surprised to have had a chance to work with this friendly superstar, and we are grateful for this opportunity. Before the interview started, Nichkhun gave us a friendly smile. He told the staff “I’m very excited, because it’s been a while since I gave a long interview with the Thai media. I miss answering questions in Thai.” I noticed that when he speaks, he would call himself as “Khun” (translator comment: instead of I) and we could feel within minutes that this man is polite and very caring of all the people he works with. The glow or what is called ‘aura’ of this 23 year old shines to every corner of the room. Have you ever met anyone…who sits in front of you and makes you feel like there’s a spotlight on him for the next 20 minutes. He did not come here to sing or dance but he will sit down and answer the questions I’ve prepared. The questions to do with all of the ‘Angles’ of this Asian Superstar that many people do not know and questions that you’ve never heard him answer.


OK then…what can you do while adjusting your eyesight to those new angles? If Nichkhun was here, I guess he would tell you to “Put Your Hands Up”.

Up: You were a presenter for a camera in your latest advertisement. Do you like taking pictures in real life?NK: Yes I do. I like keeping photos and memories. Like they say, only the images you’ve taken are left behind.




Up: What kind of pictures do you take?NK: I have a camera with me all of the time. I like taking pictures in angles that other people don’t (laughs). Because photography is about individuality, I get creative in my own ways. Sometime I put the camera up high, sometime I take pictures from non-eyesight level (demonstrates), some other times I take pictures from a low angle. I’d show them to my friends and they’d ask “how did you do that” (smiles) “did you lie down on the floor or use a ladder? Couldn’t tell.” Like in the advertisement that was just released, I have fun taking photos in weird angles. The Samsung MultiView is suitable for my style of photography. People would wonder what camera I use.




Up: Do you like taking pictures of yourself? There are many self portraits of you on the internet.NK: It is considered a part of Fan Service. If I see something I’d capture and post them. Sometimes I like to take my own pictures and post them. That’s why many of the self portraits are funny. I take photos and edit them too. This camera has an editing function, very convenient. We can edit the pictures ourselves, making our experience easier and more fun. It suits my lifestyle, making me want to take photos even more.




Up: Since you have been taken photos of for countless of time, is there a trick to make yourself look good?NK: If I know where the camera is, I will try to not look at it. The photographer can take a good picture by himself.




Up: Just now, your mother said you visited a hospital before you arrived here.NK: Last week my mother told me about a Breast Cancer project. Thailand ranks first in the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer. I was shocked when I found out and was concerned. So my mother asked me to support this project. I went to the hospital after I arrived to talk and give an interview with her. It was fun.




Up: When you come back to Thailand, reporters from Seoul follow you too. The impression is that you seem to spend time mostly with your family, it looks very relaxed.NK: I rarely get to rest when I come to Thailand. I’m here often but it’s all work. On a good day, if work finishes early, I’ll be very happy (laughs). I get to spend that short time with my family, just a little makes me feel good. It’s like recharging myself. When I come to Thailand I mostly sleep in hotels and rarely at home. My mother or family will come and spend time with me. I really appreciate that.




Up: Wearing a “We love the King” wristband is the one thing many people appreciate and want to know about.NK: My mother bought that wristband and told me to wear it. She told me about its origin and I was touched so I wore it ever since. I feel extremely proud to be Thai. I love the King, like other people. I wear it to any event. I wear it to invite other people to love the King, to express our love for the King. For me, this wristband also represents my love for Thailand. When I’m over there I always try to follow Thai news too.




Up: Your mother told us when you went to Hua Hin with your family, you told them to stop the car. Everyone was confused. What happened?NK: Yes, yes (smiles). We were passing a large flyover, if you go to Hua Hin often you might know. On the flyover said “we” followed by a heart then “the King”. It was adorable. The car already passed and I said stop stop. People in the car were confused. I ran back a very long way to take that picture. I want more people to see this image. I ran until I was panting to take it and posted it on Twitter.




Up: Today you are an idol for young people all over Asia. We’d like to know how idols motivate themselves?NK: I’d think of my family; father, mother, people who love me. Would you believe that no matter how rich, how poor, how talented, no matter what kind a person is, there will always be someone who loves them and gives them support. For me, I know who they are and I’d think about them first.




Up: Has this kind of thought occurred to you for a long time?NK: It was long ago. This was one of the turning points in my life. The 3 years spent as JYP trainee was tough and harsh. It disregarded all my past and presented a new beginning. I had an urge to quit all the time though. If I quit, I’m alright…. but there will be people who are disappointed in me. Working here taught me that if I fail, I’m ruined. But I’m not the only one who falls. Both the body and soul of people I love will fall with me. But if I can run, if I can jump, if I get stronger, the people here (thumps his heart with his fist) will also be stronger.




Up: You have a beliefNK: Because other people believe in me. The many years that I’ve traveled, I’ve met all sorts of people. I think that, deep down, idols do not do live for their own selves. They live for other people, they live to make others happy, they live for those who love them, they live to give more than to receive. Their successes, and the audience’s joy, come from commitment in practice. I did not have that before. I know where I came from. I had to search for it and build it. Because I’m a performer I have to deliver my message, that’s when I must have a belief.




Up: What did the JYP founder, Park Jin Young, say to you?NK: He told me a lot of things and I learned a lot from him. He told everyone in the agency to not waste your time in sleeping, eating or playing around. Our duty is to make the most of our time.




Up: What else did he tell you?NK: Since from the first days I went in, he told me that being an artist, you should not act like a virtuous person.




Up: Why is that so?NK: Because trying to act virtuous is not good. Honestly, entertainers have to build an image: that I’m a good person and all, but if we are not truly like that, our true selves will slip out in images and videos. There are plenty of people following us, what do we have left then. Don’t be that kind of person, just be a good person. A good, honest person. Nothing can bring us down when we have this. Think like a good person, act like a good person. A thief can disguise as a priest and pretend to be virtuous. One day people will find out he is a thief and that will bring him down.




Up: Just like your name, Nichkhun, meaning a person who has virtue as the pillar.NK: I have to thank my father and mother for that.




Up: How hard do 2PM have to practice still?NK: Easy way of thinking, one show is one month practice.




Up: What’s the focus on your work right now?NK: This period I spend more time abroad than in Korea. The group is on an Asian tour in many countries. We have work in Japan, China, and many performances for the promotion of Hands Up album.




Up: Fans would probably like to know how you live when you are on tour.NK: Lack of sleep (laughs). We have to manage our time in travelling, preparing, performing and fanmeeting. Before a song is released, we work very hard. We practice so that it’s runs through our blood. When the time comes everything will work out. Let’s say we practice until it becomes instinct. Our work cycle is practice until 2am, then stay in the recording room until 6am, meet again at 9am, put on makeup, do our hair, then continue working. We sleep for only 3 hours, and we do that for many weeks.




Up: Have you ever thought for a moment why you are doing this.NK: For those waiting for us, for work.




Up: You said in an interview that if you are not working, you would like to relax and walk around in flipflops. Have you had a chance to do that in Seoul or Bangkok?NK: (laughs loudly) Yes, I’ve had. But I cannot get myself to do it (beams). On days that I’m quite free, I’d exercise, hit the gym, or practice and correct in areas where I’m not satisfied with myself. If we think we have time, we should not waste it. I’ve turned into a workaholic. I say this because experience taught me that as a performer, we must be both physically and mentally ready. When we have time we should prepare physically.

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Nichkhun…life, from all angles (Part 2/2)




"If I know where the camera is, I will try to not look at it. The photographer can take a good picture by himself.”

Up: You mentioned about performances twice already, would you call yourself a superstar?NK: A superstar is what other people call me. But for 2PM or myself we are a ‘Performing Group’.




Up: Have you ever talked to Chansung, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho or Junsu about where you would like to set your goals?
NK: We would like to go around the world. We would like to show people in Europe, Africa, America what we have. The one thing I’m really proud of wherever we perform is when fans hold up "Nichkhun" signs in Thai, and these people are not even Thai. Instead they are foreigners who practiced writing and speaking in Thai so that they would be able to say to me “Hello Nichkhun, I love you, I love Thailand”. When that happens, it feels really overwhelming, I cannot put it in words.




Up: When you visited Japan, a Japanese TV station ran a story about how you created Thai Fever in South Korea. Can you tell us about that?
NK: This is something I’m really proud of, very honored as well, because the Korean fans are interested in Thai culture. They learnt how to cook Thai food and to speak Thai so they could greet me in Thai, some made Thai food for me too! But deep down, I think that for many Thai artists, if they’ve had the chances that I had, they would definitely do much better than me. I really believe that. I know where I started from, I started from zero,I had nothing. Some examples such as; Bodyslam, if they had the chance to represent Thailand on the Asian stage or even just in Korea, I’m sure they will be able to succeed. They are talented and I’ve been following them since the first album, or Ben Chalatit, his voice is that good. These people truly have the potential. Koreans love the Thai people, they would go far.




Up: Meanwhile, many Thai teenagers are taking Korean classes because they like K-pop artists. Is there anything you would like to tell them?NK: There is nothing wrong about studying or being interested in foreign cultures. It actually helps open different perspectives about how people from different countries think about ‘this and that’. Something that foreigners think might be different from the Thai. It is an advantage to know this kind of stuff; you would be able to improve yourself and Thailand as a country. In today’s world, people have to open up to be able to know themselves and other people better. I think it is good that they are studying Korean. It is better than doing something that cause harm to others. But the most important thing is that you should never forget Thai culture. We were born Thai, we can study about other country, but we have to be proud to be Thai. People often ask me where I come from, and I would answer proudly that “I’m Thai. I come from Thailand.”




Up: On Twitter you are following a writer named Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho). Do you like to read his books as well?NK: I like one of his books called “The Alchemist”. It’s a story about a journey in search of dreams. I’d like to recommend this book, the faster you can read it the better. Paulo Coelho teaches about how to live a quality life. I like this one quote that says; “A person who is afraid of death is very foolish. Eventually death will come. One should be more afraid about living life foolishly before death.”




Up: What religion do you believe in?NK: Buddhism. Unfortunately I don’t have much time to visit temples, but when I was young I use to be a Buddhist novice. Back then I wanted to play with my friends but when I ordained I felt calm and peaceful.




Up: I can’t help but asking, what would you be doing if, today or in the future, you are no longer a member of 2PM?NK: I would like to take cooking classes (beams). I want to be a chef. Cooking is an art which can be eaten, it is tangible and it can make people happy which is something interesting. I’m thinking that if I have 2 years I would like to seriously take cooking courses. I want to cook Thai food, and might open my own restaurant.




Up: Nichkhun Kitchen?NK: Umm, good idea. I’ll use that name then (laughs loudly). It should be fun.




Up: What are you able to cook now?NK: I can cook some Spaghetti (translator note: in Thai, spaghetti = pasta). I want to cook Thai food but I can’t do it overseas. It’s hard to find ingredients such as; basil, galangal, lemongrass and lime leaves.




Up: Your sister, Sherleen, is interested in the entrainment industry. Is there anything you told her?NK: Yep, I told her that in this industry, to be honest, there are many things that are unreal. There is nothing stable, people might love you today but one day if you do just one thing wrong, some might stop liking you. It is something that you need to be careful of. I always tell Sherleen that no matter what you do, you need to know who you are, where you came from and how much effort you need to put in.




Up: You answered each question quite seriously. Are you actually a lighthearted or a serious person?NK: I have both sides because I wasn’t a spoiled child. I was far from my parents since I was young. I left home and went to study here and there since I was 12. Most of the time I lived in new cultures and that taught me to have responsibility, to have courtesy. So if it is something serious I would be more intense. Many people told me that I’m the most mature in the group. If it’s about work I admit that I’m very serious with it.




Up: Talk about the big hit Hands Up.NK: This 2PM album is very relaxed. There is less choreography than the previous one. We are more confident in expressing them. We are together for a long time so we work smoothly. There is not much somersault too. The concept is to be an entertainer, to entertain the audience.


Up: Now in the music industry, featuring with other artists seems like a trend. If possible who would you like to work with?NK: There are many people. Like with ETC, I appeared in their MV and they invited me to sing with them. They said that they would compose a song for me. Boyd Kosiyabong is another person I dreamed of working with. Another person is Tor Saksit, we talk to each other often. I told him that we should collaborate but each of us is very busy. I have quite a number of projects elsewhere but if possible I would like to release something in Thai, I want to sing for Thai people. The kind of songs I’m thinking of is soft-toned with a piano sound.




Up: You are the person which many people want to meet, to take a photograph with. What about you? Who would you like to take a photograph with?NK: Many people. I listen to Thai music and follow many Thai Artists. I liked Palmy since I was young, since from her first album, but I never have the chance to meet her. I would like to meet her, take some photos with her and ask for her signature.


Up: In 2012, what movies are you starring in?NK: It’s still in the process of preparing, there should be some good news soon. I can’t reveal details just yet, but it’s a Thai movie. I’m appearing in a Japanese movie too, as a guest.




Up: Have you ever met Rain in person or hung-out with him?NK: Yes I have. We went bowling together, it was fun. He is a very nice and disciplined hyung. We talked about work and this and that. He said 2 words that I remembered; those two words were “World Class”.




Up: You are handsome and have a great figure. Have you ever been embarrassed?NK: I have (he whispers). There’s this one time I have so much pimples. It’s better now. I was so stressed, I was like, what’s going on (laughs)?




Up: From zero, you’ve travelled the distance, in life, is there anything that is still a challenge to you?NK: (Sits still thinking) Hollywood. It is something that I think about all the time. It would be my pride to go that far, as an Asian and as a Thai. If I can go there people would know more about Thai people, about Thailand.




Up: If you have to practice harder, prepare more rigorously, suffer from more lack of sleep. You’ll do it.NK: Yes, definitely yes. There are hundreds of obstacles ahead of me before I reach my goal. Whenever the first challenge is ready for me, I’ll attempt it. If I do it and I know that I did good enough, if it’s “hmm… I can handle this”, I’d continue.

CREDITS : UP2U Magazine (SOURCE); attitood@2ONEDAY.COM (TRANS)