[Male Friend Interview①] WINNER’s KIM JINWOO Says, “I’ve trained at the Seungri Academy and I like GD”

[Male Friend Interview ①] WINNER’s KIM JINWOO revealed that he trained at the Seungri Academy and likes G-DRAGON.

He has created a host of fans by singing “Really really really. I like you”. Now, he is making hearts with his hands as he sings “Love me love me” as the cutest boy of the group. We’ve met with KIM JINWOO, the very definition of a pretty boy. We wanted to go camping, and all the pictures we took of him were like magazine covers thanks to the curiosity and strength in his face.

As part of our “Revealing the charms of celebrities: You can decide when to come but not when to leave” project, we share with you our interview with KIM JINWOO.

*The interview was conducted in a friendly atmosphere as if talking to a friend, and the article is written in a corresponding style.

Jeon Hyo Jin (“Jeon”): I sang “REALLY REALLY” at the karaoke a few days ago. But, I can’t sing it like WINNER does.

KIM JINWOO (“JINWOO”): We do sing in a special way. But it’s quite hard.

Jeon: A member left WINNER, and it became a quartet now. I’ve noticed that you are singing more now.

JINWOO: That is true. Honestly, I did think I was capable of taking on a bigger part in the past too. All the members in our group sing better than me, but I have my ambitions. But we were a team, and we each had a part to play, so I just let things the way they were. I remember being really happy when we were recording “EMPTY”. The chorus part was not my part, but Mr. Yang thought my voice was right for the part, and he let me do it. I was really proud.

Jeon: Whoa! I’m sure a change in vocals was inevitable after WINNER lost a member.

JINWOO: Before we made our comeback as a four-member group, we used to take lessons. I don’t have a powerful voice. I tried to acquire a new vocal tone different from my previous tone. I wanted to sing in a more sophisticated and cool way.

Jeon: What do you sing when you go to a karaoke?

JINWOO: I don’t sing our songs. I like BIGBANG’s songs.

Jeon: What’s your favorite BIGBANG song?

JINWOO: I like all G-DRAGON songs. He is a rapper but he sings too. I really like him. I’ve sang all his songs. My fans even know I’m a really big GD fan.

Jeon: You could sing and rap too just like G-DRAGON. Have you ever tried rapping?

JINWOO: I learned rapping when I was a trainee. Mr. Yang told me to take rap lessons for about three months because he thought I wasn’t confident enough. I gained much confidence afterwards. You can write aggressive lyrics when you rap. YG is actually very systematic.

Jeon: Ok. I get it. YG is systematic. So is this why you wanted to join YG Entertainment?

JINWOO: I’ve never even considered joining another agency. Before I auditioned for YG, I got an offer from another agency but I declined. I auditioned for another top agency, but I got rejected.

Jeon: You got rejected?

JINWOO: No need to make a fuss about it. I just wasn’t good enough at that time. After debuting as WINNER, I met someone from that agency, and I didn’t even tell him I auditioned for his company. I was too embarrassed. But, YG attaches great importance to character. Character is what matters. Of course, you need talent, but that is something you can work on and improve.

Jeon: You grew up on Imja Island in South Jeolla Province. I bet you didn’t have many audition opportunities.

JINWOO: When I was 19, somebody started an acting school in Mokpo. I wanted to learn acting, so I went there. I really liked Choi Jin-sil, so I wanted to act. The school belonged to SEUNRGI, and it was a school for dancing, singing, and acting. At first, I only learned acting. Then, I saw people learning dancing and singing, and I became interested.

Jeon: So you’re a student of the Seungri Academy. Is that what made you join YG?

JINWOO: There wasn’t a direct link, but I did audition for YG through SEUNGRI. I came to Seoul for the audition, and I waited for about six months, and they called me in.

Jeon: Then, you must be really close with SEUNGRI.

JINWOO: We’re not that close. BIGBANG is a group that I really looked up to at that time, and even now.

Jeon: You have been a trainee at YG for four years then, right?

JINWOO: I joined YG in 2010, and I debuted in 2014, so I’d been a trainee for about four years.

Jeon: You started off late for an idol group member. Did you go through a slump when you were a trainee?

JINWOO: Many times. I wondered whether this was the right way to go, and I didn’t seem to improve dramatically. Also, I didn’t have any friends in Seoul.

Jeon: Have you made some friends now?

JINWOO: Now really. I just hang around with the members. But, I am close with iKON members. JAY, B.I, BOBBY, and I started off together. We’re like brothers. I’ve trained a long time with BLACKPINK’s JENNIE. She joined YG around the same time as me. I’ve known JISOO for a long time, and I’m really tight with ROSÉ and LISA.

Jeon: So WINNER and BLACKPINK is like BIGBANG and 2NE1 in the past?

JINWOO: I guess so. We trained together, and we’re like family. We just don’t put up our pictures on social media, but we’re close.

Jeon: BLACKPINK mentioned on TV what YG won’t let them do. Does this apply to WINNER too?

JINWOO: Of course. We can’t go clubbing. It’s not a rule or anything. We can go if we go together, but not individually without telling the agency. We get in trouble if we do. Of course, we’re all adults, and we want to go to clubs. Seniors have some freedom, but we don’t.

Jeon: Do you have restrictions on drinking?

JINWOO: We have to be with our managers. We usually drink in our group house, or when we drink outside, we drink with our managers.

Jeon: How much can you drink?

JINWOO: Compared with the rest of WINNER members, MINO and I drink a lot, and we like drinking. I can drink up to half a bottle of whisky. Soju doesn’t’ agree with me.

Jeon: Do you have a bad drinking habit?

JINWOO: I act really tough. I once got told off by my manager.

Jeon: Aww. You are indeed living the life of an idol. You must want some freedom.

JINWOO: (salty grin)

2017. 9. 9.