You cried a lot during the last live recording of Mnet <PRODUCE X 101>. My heart really hurts during the last moment where the final member was being chosen. I think I cried hard because I was at that position before too. I've never cried even until the <PRODUCE 48> rehearsals. But then during the last live recording, I became more emotional when I saw that my parents were there, right below the stage was standing.
It's a relief that there are more days for you to smile now. The company told me to write some lyrics so it has been fun these days. Actually, it was a secret from my members. (Laughs) Last time, I changed a Japanese song's lyrics to Korean lyrics with a different meaning. They really liked it, so they gave me another chance.
How do you write the lyrics? Firstly, I write down all the nice words that I would wish to use, then keep those words connected. After that, I imagine how would the song be if there was a music video made for it. I think of the background of the music video to match the words that I wrote down, then I do the opposite and match the background one by one with words and various phrases that would suit. For high notes, there are sounds where the pronunciation is hard, so I put in my best effort to be caution for those parts as well.
It seems like you have a lot of interesting experiences. Something that I've been consistently doing is going to the Korean medicine clinic. I started going there to improve my body constitution, because I used to be so skinny that it worries the people around me. But as my food portion increases, it altered my body constitution into a fat type. When I was a trainee, I was able to manage my health well because received enough sleep, but these days, I go to the Korean medicine clinic to manage my health, as there's only so much I can do for fasting diet due to our busy schedules. I like it because I'm able to intake enough nutrients without having to gain weight. It's good for my blood circulation too. But it really hurts when the acupuncture needle pricks into my body. (Laughs)
Writing lyrics, improving your body constitution, seems like it's all a new challenge. Not long ago, I went to watch a table tennis match with Eunbi unnie participated by actress Lee Siyoung unnie, and it was really amazing. While looking at Lee Siyoung unnie's social media, I find it respectable that she consistently exercises, and starts trying new things. I also want to be brave and be someone who tries out challenges like her. I'm usually a person who doesn't really like to step out of my comfort zone.
Is there a reason for that? I've trained this much for dancing, and I think I won't be satisfied with myself if I don't do equally as well in other areas. I think this is why I'm rather afraid of challenges. Even during trainee days, I've always felt that I'm lacking. The people around me tell me that I'm good enough as it is, and it'll only be harder if I push further, hence I could never be satisfied with myself.
I heard that you talk to your fans a lot about these kind of things through letters.I think your fans are able to feel a sense of intimacy with you. Though I do greet them with things like "Have a good day", "How have you been? Have a good day.", I think my relationship with fans would be cliché if I say too much of those kinds of words. Even if I don't say greetings like that, I'm sure fans are already doing well on their own. (T/N by "letters" they mean Private Mails)
So, is that why you tell your stories in detailed, like what they call a 'TMI'? (Laughs) Yes. I wanted to communicate with fans through daily stories as freely as possible. You know, very personal and trivial stories of mine. Fans don't know that my eyes are swollen when I wake up in the morning (so I have to tell them).
Each member has their own style of writing letters. Some of them are like Chaeyeon, some of them send goofy selfies and there are also members who greats eagerly. Ah, thanks to Yena, the members had a great laugh that time. After <PRODUCE x 101>, we decided to express our gratitude to our fans through a letter. But after we sent them out, Yena was the only one who wrote a letter on a completely, absolutely different topic! (Laughs)
What kind of music do you listen to these days to adjust the mood? Can I make a playlist with the songs I listen to the most and share it with my fans? When I'm hooked on any music, I want to introduce the song by making it obvious that it's really good. When it's raining, I pick a sad song, while on a sunny day, I choose a dance song that I will dance to later on.
You surely could. Please reveal the playlist that you want to share with fans. I made one with songs that I've been listening to recently. Especially whenever I listen to Taeyeon sunbaenim's song, it feels as if there's a curtain gently draping over my heart, so I hope that you will give it a listen.
Even when you're explaining the songs, your gaze changes as you're imagining the mood of the song. I think you're good at delving into emotions. Even if it's not a sad situation, I'll tear up when I see my loved ones cry. When I see young children speak with maturity like adults, I end up crying too. I felt the great burden that <PRODUCE x 101> trainee Song Dongpyo was bearing. I guess it was more so since he was the first center yet he wasn't in a stable spot. But I could see how he had an anxious look with his baby-like face and I felt bad for him. It reminded me of Sakura. Sakura had a hard time too after being the center of 'Nekkoya'. It overlaps.
Passing through those days, you're now promoting as IZ*ONE. Not long ago, you appeared on Daehwi's episode of Mnet <Guess My Next Move>. It must've been fun to be on the same variety show with a friend who you spent your trainee days with. Actually, Daehwi and I are completely real friends. The other guests who were watching the side of Daehwi on screen were worried about him like a mother, but I'm his friend who is well-versed about those side of him so I just laughed. We had to film a video during the after-shoot dinner, so Heize sunbaemin said "Daehwi, love you!", but I couldn't bring myself to say it and ended up mumbling "Ehuehuehue". (Laughs)
I think you can write a letter to fans about this as well. These days, I've been telling my fans a lot about me. I think I can write a book just by compiling it up. Sometimes, I write depressing things, but I was able to come this far because of fans who told me "I love you because you're you". Not long ago, the doctor at the Korean medicine center who was giving me an acupuncture saw that I was searching up "How to not be swayed by others". They told me exactly one thing. "Don't compare yourself to others", so everyone, I'm letting you know that I'm recently into colouring books that makes me happy.
