WINNER’s SONG MIN HO Says, “My Sister Dating with One of Our Member? No Way”

It has been three months since their debut. WINNER is a rookie boy group who have just taken their first step, but they have “ease” which is usually rare for a rookie group. Is that because two of the members competed in famous survival audition shows, or is that because they have presented two reality programs even before their debut? The answer seems to lie in their talent and outstanding boldness. We met them, who want to be “the first WINNER”, rather than the “second BIGBANG”.

Q Everybody seems to be talking about WINNER these days. Do you actually feel your popularity?

▲ NAM TAE HYUN_ A little bit. I feel it especially when I see higher number of fans waiting for us in front of YG building or on the day when we take No.1 in music shows, which we had only imagined for a long time.

▲ KANG SEUNG YOON_ I really feel it at a fan meeting or when we directly meet our fans. However, I’m not sure about that in my everyday life. Maybe it’s because we don’t go out freely or have private time these days. My life these days is pretty much the same with the life before our debut, so sometimes I think to myself, “Have we really made debut?”

Q Your debut came later than expected. Weren’t you anxious?

▲ SONG MIN HO_ I was rather hasty than anxious. The more I felt hasty the more I concentrated on writing songs. I think that time was also good, because that made me create a better album.

▲ LEE SEUNG HOON_ I was not anxious. I really enjoyed that time because that was a time for a more perfect album.

Q You enjoying big popularity in Japan, too. How is it like to perform in the country?

▲ KIM JIN WOO_ First of all, I’m honored to have such an opportunity. It’s really fun. Japanese fans speak different language in a different country, but their energy always cheers us up anywhere.

▲ NAM TAE HYUN_ It was really fun to stand on senior YG singer’s stage as a guest performer, and now it is even better to have solo concerts. We can meet many fans on a big stage that we have always dreamt of, and such a time is always a good luck for me, whether it is in Korea or in Japan.

Q You seem to have an outstanding teamwork. What’s your secret?

▲ SONG MIN HO_ After we became a team, we’ve been always together in both hard and good times, which made us build such a strong bond. All the things that we are now going through are the first such experiences for all of us. We are having the same experiences together, and that gives us a stronger sense of being together.

▲ LEE SEUNG HOON_ As we spend more time together, we better understand what the others like and dislike, so chance of making trouble is decreasing. These days, a small conflict among us usually does not become an emotional dispute. Every one of us has become such a precious and important person to the others, so now we know how to respect one another.

Q What is the role of each member at your house?

▲ KIM JIN WOO_ Actually, we fall asleep immediately when we get home, so there are no specific roles for us in the house. Most of the house-chores are handled by our helper. We spend most of our times at YG’s training room and just sleep in the house.

▲ KANG SEUNG YOON_ Rather than having a specific role in the house, I tend to turn into a younger brother from the team’s leader, when I get home. There, the other members become the leader. I don’t wanna play the role of leader in the house. I’m not such a forcing leader out of the house as well, anyway.

▲ LEE SEUNG HOON_I like setting the table for the other ones, not cooking, though. When they are eating things that I put on the table, I find myself smiling like a mom.

Q I’m sure you really wanted BOBBY and B.I to win Mnet’s “Show Me The Money”

▲ NAM TAE HYUN_ I watched every single episode of the show. Eventually, they presented outstanding performances, but you know that B.I made several mistakes in the process of the battle. I believed that he will overcome such difficulties, because that is him. He knows how to turn disadvantages into advantages.

▲ SONG MIN HO_ I felt somewhat sorry looking at B.I, but I also felt his humane appeal. He always looked perfect for me when we were in the training room together, but seeing him in “Show Me The Money”, I found out more of his humane appeal”.

Q Did you expect BOBBY’s victory?

▲ KANG SEUNG YOON_ Not at all. I thought it would be a good opportunity for him, but I never imagined that he could win the show. He is a good guy with brilliant talent, so I hoped he could win. I think he did such a great job.

▲ LEE SEUNG HOON_ I didn’t expect it, too. All the competitors were great, so I thought it would be hard for him to win. When he advanced to the semi-finals, I thought he may have some potential. BOBBY is such a great guy.

Q You’re a rookie but have some advantages because you’re from big label, YG.

▲ KANG SEUNG YOON_ Quite many. We have the well-organized training system, good environment, and great seniors and teachers. All those things help us a lot actually.

▲ NAM TAE HYUN_ The system is of course good, but what I like the most about YG is that the company has a culture of respecting individual’s characters. The company spares no support for the training environment such as recording room and training room, but they also gave us a lot of opportunities as they believe growth and development is our own job. That is why we can create more creative and fee outcomes.

Q Many people think that WINNER is “second BIGBANG”.

▲ SONG MIN HO_ I really thank them for seeing us like that. I think what I can do is making more and harder efforts to have the quality enough to be called the second BIGBANG.

▲ NAM TAE HYUN_  I’ll work harder to become “the first WINNER”.

? Kim Jin Woo 1991. 9.26(23-Year-old)

Q You’re a handsome guy. What do you think about your look?

▲ I think people like my look because I have big eyes. But, everyone has different views on being handsome, so I don’t think I’m the most good-looking guy in our team. I just take it that I’m closest to the stereotype of being handsome. If I evaluate my look myself, I’m embarrassed, but I would say I’m just average.

Q Then, when do you find yourself looking good?

▲ When I’m just out of shower. Sometimes, I think to myself “I’m looking good today”, when I get out of shower and look into the mirror.

Q Who do you think is the handsomest members?

▲ TAE HYUN. He is of course handsome, but what I like about him is his unique feel. Even to a guy’s eyes, he seems to have many special appeals. His special hair style and fashion sense are not something that others can easily have.

Q You seemed to be very innocent and tenderhearted, in Mnet’s “WINNER TV”. Don’t you think you should become stronger if you are to survive in the harsh world of entertainment?

▲ I know. Fortunately, I cry less these days. I was surprised to find myself not shedding tears when I was watching a sad movie. But, recently, SEUNG HOON fell off the stage and was carried by someone on the back. I cried a lot at that time. I didn’t show my tears to the other members, but my heart was breaking. Now, I have to become stronger as the eldest one, for the members of my team.

Q I saw you in Mnet’s “WINNER TV” wandering about roads for more than 3 hours, even though it was only 10-minute distance. Are you really that bad at directions?

▲ I’ve never done such a thing in my life, but I don’t know why I was like that at that time. Usually, I’m good at finding ways. There was a Tokyo Tower sign right out of the subway station, but I missed it. Actually, I would not have known its meaning even if I saw it.

Q When do you feel like going back to your hometown most, after your debut?

Fun time of shooting photography with WINNER, “the hottest idol group” these days. The photo-shoot lasted until late in the night, but no one of them looked tired. Before the interview, I was worried that they might be tired, but TAE HYUN said,  “You can ask us 500 question”. LEE SEUNG HOON even made coffee for me. They were really good guy, qualified for such popularity. WINNER whose members all have special appeals, I really want to see them again for another interview.

▲ When I’m sick or want to be cared. I don’t have time to think about that these days because I’m so busy. Anyway, when I want be cared by somebody, I think about my hometown.

? Lee Seung Hoon 1992. 1.11(22-Year-old)

Q Your calm expression and voice are so charming. You’re quite different from the stereotype Busan guy.

▲ I really thank you for saying that, because I have had a complex about my voice. I’ve always wanted to have a low and deep voice like MIN HO, so I have thought that my voice is not that masculine so far. I feel good that my voice can be another appeal of WINNER.

Q Your stage production demonstrated in SBS’s “I Love Sunday – K-Pop Star Season 1” was very impressive. Are you trying different stage productions for WINNER’s performance, too?

▲ I’m doing it for my team these days, too. At first, I did it just because I liked it, but now, it’s something that I must do, so I feel stressed sometimes. But, I really love the job and confident about it, so the company trusts me and makes me do the work on my own. I will do my best to live up to such expectations.

Q How are your colleagues of SBS “I Love Sunday – K-Pop Star 1”? Who is your best friend among them?

▲ I can’t actually pick only one. I’m still good friends with those who stayed in the same house with me. We really support one another and always ask how each of us is doing. Every one of them is so busy now, so we can’t see that frequently, but I hope we can gather once again someday at the top, after realizing our dreams.

Q You’re called “Influence Lee” among fans. Do you really have the biggest influence in the team?

▲ I know. I have had no nickname so far, but now I have one and I feel good about that. People may think so because I’m in charge of performance more than the other members, but I’m not that influential. I actually need lead by the others in many cases. Anyway, I don’t hate that people see me as such an influential person.

? Song Min Ho 1993. 3.30(21-Year-old)

Q In “WINNER TV”’s physiognomy episode, you were picked as the most-popular guy among women. What is it like in your real life?

▲ That’s true. I’m popular among women, that is, my fans. (laughter). I’m just kidding. I have been popular from my school days. But, these day, I don’t have time to check if I’m really popular or my physiognomy is really like that.

Q You have built recognition from underground music scene. Tell me more about your underground experience.

▲ I didn’t have a big recognition in those days, but I consistently performed and did featuring for other artists. As I was also being trained at YG, I was really tired but really happy. You know, it’s really good to live by doing the job you really love. At first, I wanted to be a rapper, rather than an idol singer. As I went through YG’s training, I have eventually become an idol rapper with my unique color. And as I said in the lyrics, I really like to stand under the spotlight. That always makes me happy.

Q You were the leader of the team in WINNER’s early days. Do you sometimes want to be the leader again?

▲ SEUNG YOON is such a good leader, so I don’t wanna be a leader again. I had some weak points as a leader and SEUNG YOON is good at those things. So I think SEUNG YOON is a better leader. When I have something to say to him, I tell him about that immediately and communication between us is good, so I really don’t wanna be a leader again.

Q You have a pretty younger sister who was a member of a girl group. Who do you think is the best date for your sister?

▲ None of them. No way.

Q Then, let’s talk about each members’ merits to make the best date for your sister.

▲ Mm…. SEUNG HOON’s sense of humor and SEUNG YOON’s warm but strong character? Ah, I’m really sorry but I can’t do this. No one can date with my sister. (laghter)

? Kang Seung Yoon 1994. 1.21(20-Year-old)

Q “Nasi Goreng” that you mentioned in NAVER’s STAR CAST was placed in the top of search word ranking for a long period of time.

▲ I tried it because of my friend’s recommendation, and I eat the dish frequently these days too, because it’s so good. I once went to have it for three days in a row and I also recommend it to my friends. I never imagined it would take a top ranking in the real-time search word list. Next time, I’ll have it with all the other members and post a selfie.

Q You once said in a radio show that you want to try acting once again. What genre and character do you want to try?

▲ I have never thought about any specific character. Now, I have to focus on performance as a singer, but if there is an opportunity someday, I’ll do my best to perfectly act the character that is given to me. My favorite saying goes, “Change is key to success”. That is my motto and I want to make a variety of different trials.

Q What is your favorite among the songs you have written so far?

▲ All of them. You know, there is a saying, “Every child is dear to his parents”. My songs are like my children. I feel special about songs that are included in our album, and songs that haven’t been unveiled yet, too. I really can’t pick only one. That is too harsh for me.

Q How are your colleagues of Mnet’s “Super Star K 2”? Who do you want to support most?

▲ Recently, (Park) Boram sent me a cheering text message. I was really thankful. I chat with them on Kakao Talk frequently. I’m busy these days so I can’t get in touch with them frequently, but they always remember and support me. I always feel sorry and grateful for them.

▲ Maybe someday, when I have such opportunity. But now, I’m just thinking about WINNER. It time for me to concentrate on WINNER. However, when time passes and I have another opportunity, I wanna do it better and harder.

Q You have pretty much corrected your dialect. It must have been difficult to do it.

▲ I have made no special efforts to correct my dialect. I just learned the standard language because most of the people I see use the language. When I’m with SEUNG HOON, my dialect comes out unknowingly again. But when I’m with other members, it just disappears again. I think that is influenced by the people I’m with. I think the best way is to use the language that is natural for a certain situation, not trying to correct it and get stressed.

? Nam Tae Hyun 1994. 5.10(20-Year-old)

Q? Interest in your fashion and hair style is high on-line. Do you have any “styling tip?

▲ I’m very interested in fashion. I want to try many things without any prejudice. When I’m home, I see a lot of foreign collections or famous brands’ runway. My legs are rather thick because I exercised a lot from younger days. I wanna give a tip to those who have the same concern. Wear walkers. You can make your legs look thinner when you wear walkers. When you need new pants, try them before buying. Everyone has different fits. Don’t just think about the waist size, but consider the length and width of the pants. This is my tip.

Q Do you have any difficulty as the youngest member of WINNER? Who care about you the most? And who feels like younger than you?

▲ There is no difficulty. My team does not have a strong hierarchy and the other members are good to me. I really can’t pick only one who cares about me most, rather, we all are close colleagues. I’m not considered and cared as the youngest one and I think that’s better, because all five of us are close friends. If I pick one member who feels like younger than me, that is JIN WOO. When I first saw him, I thought he was the youngest, because he looks so young. Of course he is more matured than me in some aspects, but I sometimes feel like he is younger than me, because he is so innocent.

Q You have many different appeals such as your hair parted in the middle, eyebrows that look like Chinese character of number eight (八), and masculine personality. What is the best among them?

▲ Well, I’m so embarrassed to talk about that myself. I don’t think I have such a handsome face that catches eyes at a first glance, but I believe I have a charming face. I would say people who have seen me once can never forget me. Rather than any specific part in my face is attractive, the harmony between each part creates my appeal.

Q Until when will you maintain your trade-mark hair style parted in the middle? Is there any other style you wanna try?

▲ I’m not sticking with this style. I wanna show you different styles as much as possible. When I grow older, I wanna try a very short hair-cut, which feels more masculine. I let my hair grow long, to grow my patience. Then, I coincidentally found out that parting my hair in the middle looks good on me. So, this hair style made me hitting two birds with one stone, finding out best style for me and developing patience.

2014. 10. 27.