[Translation] Winter 2011 Kool :: INFINITE 5,000 Word Cross Talk

CR TO: http://itshysterie.tumblr.com

If you would like to use my translations in any way, shape or form, please contact me first! If I catch my translations floating around without my permission (that aren’t direct reblogs) I will stop translating and posting and keep all the fun interviews all for myself.

This magazine is before Infinite’s official Japanese debut. There is a page of smaller questions about who wants to room with who that I am going to skip for now in liu of the newer magazines and possibly come back to later! Also, this interview/crosstalk is originally written as being “10,000 character”, meaning Japanese character, so I changed it to 5,000 word (which it is ;o;) in the title up there. Next is the February Popolo and Asian Place!

~~~~~

We’re here because of Infinite.

“Infinite is everything to me now.
It’s something I’ll have to protect for the rest of my life, something that I can’t lose no matter what.
We all need each other, and Infinite’s something that’s so important to all of us that the 7 of us being together is just like an undeniable fact.
To the point that it feels like we can’t be apart no matter what.”
— Sunggyu
The K-pop world has started showing some distinguishing candidates for who will be the ones to bear the next generation of the genre. Among them all, one of the groups in the lead is making their Japanese debut just a mere year and a couple months since their Korean debut. Their name, Infinite, is often remembered along with the impressive praise of their 99.9% synchronized dancing. Those skills are catching eyes even within the K-pop world. But despite that flowery first-glance praise, the members themselves are humble, natural and very easy to get close to, even warm and just like any other person you might meet. With their feet set firm in the ground and tightly holding solidly onto each others’ arms they push forward on their own path to their goals.
But then, as you watch their efforts or listen to their thoughts about Infinite, you will begin to notice. Notice the fact that that “99.9%” is not a number of miracle or chance. How will Infinite’s quick advance progress as they continue to strive for the meaning of their name? This is a 10000 character interview looking over the important “now” of these boys with infinite potential who undergo dazzling transformations daily.

—Since this is your first time in our magazine, how about we start with each of you introducing yourselves.
Sunggyu: I’m Infinite’s leader, Sunggyu. I’m the oldest at 22 years old, and I have amazing charisma (laughs). I’m the older brother figure that pulls along the whole group. I would really like all of you to see my charisma on stage, so please support us!

Dongwoo: Hello, I’m Dongwoo. I’m a rapper, and my biggest strength is that I smile a lot. Sometimes I can’t really read the atmosphere of a situation, but I smile the most out of all of the members and I think the fact that I have such a bright personality is my charm point.

Woohyun: I’m Infinite’s main vocal with lots of aegyo, Woohyun! My charm point is… (laughs) that I’m extremely friendly. I can be friendly even with people I’ve met for the first time. Also, I think one of my strengths is that I won’t give up on things easily.

L: I’m L, who’s over flowing with charisma. I have the most confidence in my eyes and my gaze. I can charm a person with one glance… Though it’s embarrassing to say all of this myself (laughs), I think my gaze is like that. I think I’m the most intense of all the members.

Hoya: I’m Infinite’s dance machine, Hoya. I’m good at powerful dancing, and my charm points are my laugh and my eyebrows!

Sungyeol: Hello. I’m Infinite’s tallest member and natural idiot who’s also doing my best at acting, Sungyeol.

Sungjong: I’m Infinite’s magnae, Sungjong. My personality is always bright, I smile a lot, and I have lots of aegyo.

—So all of you were selected to be in Infinite through fierce auditions, but why specifically do you think you were picked?

Woohyun: I think the seven of us were picked because our personalities aren’t very distinct.

Sunggyu: Eh, because our personalities aren’t distinct?!

Woohyun: Ah, because they are distinct, I messed up what I was saying… (bitter laugh)

L: My role in the group is “Infinite’s presence”? So I think it’s because I have a strong presence.

Sungyeol: I was chosen last out of the all of us, but because I joined the group our average height went up. When a group’s average height is taller people’s impressions of that group tend to be better… So I think that’s the reason why I was picked (laughs). I even heard our CEO say that was part of the reason he picked me.

—Why don’t you tell us all your roles within the group?

Woohyun: I’m the person who researches how to make the fans love us more so we can get more power from them!

Sunggyu: I’m the oldest, so I act sort of as the older brother.

L: So you’re basing it off of age (laughs).

Sunggyu: Well, that’s not all it is! I’m the person who takes responsibility and looks over the group!

Sungyeol: That’s exactly right!

Everyone: (agrees)

Sungjong: I think I properly fill my role as the magnae of the group. Just like Sungyeol hyung raises our average height, I lower our average age and am helping to make our group’s image better (laughs).

Dongwoo: I’m in charge of the group’s smiles. Also I’m also in charge of being the group’s source of lips and teeth.

Woohyun: Don’t say weird things like that! What sort of merit is it to the group if you’re in charge of teeth (laughs).

Dongwoo: Ah… So it’s not those sort of things? What do you mean by merit?

L: Rap! Rap!

Sungyeol: Being the second oldest!

Dongwoo: I get it! So things like that. I’m good at rapping, and since I’m second oldest I support the leader and pull the younger ones along.

Hoya: I’m in charge of dancing. Leave the dancing to me!

—What is Infinite to you?

Sungyeol: It’s something that made me what I am and is very important to me. Because Infinite exists I’m here, and because I’m here Infinite exists…

Sungjong: It’s what I’m living for. It’s the reason I’m living right now. If it weren’t for Infinite I probably wouldn’t have ended up as a singer. I think that because Infinite exists I was able to come to be who I am now, so I’m really thankful.

Sunggyu: It was the ‘starting point’ of my music, and everything I have now. It’s something I’ll have to protect for the rest of my life, something that I can’t lose no matter what. We started this together, and the name Infinite refers to the seven of us together. That’s why, if even one of us is missing, we’re not really Infinite. We all need each other, and Infinite’s something that’s so important to all of us that the 7 of us being together is just like an undeniable fact. To the point that it feels like we can’t be apart no matter what.

Hoya: To me, it’s like a friend. These guys really are friends to me, anyway.

L: We’re a group that’s almost like a family. But in reality, we’ve been together more than even families are, so even if one person is missing it feels lonely, and when all of us are together I’m able to relax. That’s why I like how we live in a dorm. In the past there was a time when we got three days off in a row, and just not being able to see everyone over those three days made me want to see them again really badly. Thinking about what everyone might be doing at that time…

Woohyun: It’s my life. It gave me my dream now, in my 20s, which is the most important time of anyone’s life, and it’s the reason I’ve been able to sing. I truly think that it’s my life. I think that in the future, when I look back at my 20s, the fact that I was a part of Infinite will always be burned into my heart.

Dongwoo: It has a lot of meanings to me. It’s what gave birth to who I am now, and it’s a group that helped me find new sides of myself, and the group is who’s been my side all the time, through the good and the bad. And, more than anything else, Infinite is what has helped us seven meet and become so we’re almost siblings like we are now. Because Infinite was formed I’ve also been able to pay back my parents some for all the trouble they went through raising me. It’s also a group that I’ve been able to give good music to the fans through. I could go on about it forever, but it will end up really long so I’ll stop here (laughs).

—After hearing how all of you feel about Infinite and knowing how important it is to all of you, I think I understand how you were able to grow so much in such a short amount of time. What has changed the most between your debut and now? Or who do you think is the member who has grown and improved the most?

Sungyeol: I think L has changed the most by far. In the beginning when I was added to the group while we were trainees, honestly, it was hard to know whether he was even there or not…

Everyone: (cracks up)

Sungyeol: Even though he’s really good looking he just didn’t have any presence at all and he didn’t stand out whatsoever. By the way, after debuting he completely bloomed and is perfectly filling his role as the visual in the center of the group, of all things. He’s really cool!

Sungjong: I think it’s Sunggyu hyung. Since he’s the oldest I think there have been lots of things that have been hard on him since we debuted, but he takes great care of us and he understands each of us really well. I also think he’s grown the most when it comes to singing and dancing skills.

Sunggyu: Thank you (laughs). I think Dongwoo has grown a lot. Before he seemed, even to me as the leader, like an uncontrollable kid (laughs). No matter what we would do he’d be a bit behind the rest of the members… But recently he’s been taking the initiative and been showing some leadership.

Woohyun: I think it might be Sungyeol. Before he was really childish, but recently it seems like he’s become more of an adult.
—What about you, Dongwoo?

Dongwoo: I think that L and Sunggyu hyung have both grown a lot. Recently those two have really been standing out. Of course, they do sing the beginning and most important parts of our songs, but even from a guy’s point of view Sunggyu hyung is sexy. Watching right from nearby I feel like it’s even more obvious.

—It’s been around one year and four months since your debut. In that time you’ve released 5 CDs in Korea and been active in the music world, doing various variety programs, Woohyun was on the music program “Immortal Song 2,” and both L and Sungyeol have been in dramas, so all of you have been busy with various types of activities. Tell us a memory of the most memorable happening that happened in your hectic schedules, whether it’s a happy, rough, or surprising memory.

Sungjong: This happened while we were promoting our song “BTD” from our mini album Evolution that was released in January of this year… In the dance there’s a move we do called the scorpion dance where we get up off the floor. We all lay on the ground like scorpions and all at once get up from that position, but there was one time where a firework was set to go off behind us… When it went off it came down and singed the hair on the back of my head. I remember crying a lot about it!

Dongwoo: Ah, talking about crying… There was one time when Sungjong’s classes at school ran late and he was late to practice. The rest of us all played a prank on him, and I remember how Sungjong completely bawled afterwards (laughs).

Sunggyu: The first time we got first on a music show after our debut is what I remember the best. It was with our song “Be Mine” during September. I was so excited, and I could hardly believe it was happening. All of the members were so touched and cried a lot. By the way, last week we were able to get first place with our song “Paradise” as well!

L: In our fanmeeting celebrating our 100th day since debuting the fans sang a song for us that goes “you were born to be loved~♪”. I was really touched by that, and when it came to be time for me to talk I started crying (laughs).

—Before you guys debuted you made quite the topic with your show “Infinite, You Are My Oppa.” You guys working hard to look after Jiae who suddenly appeared before you as your ‘younger sister’ despite also having to work hard and practice is really memorable. I think it’s a very good program to see Infinite’s personalities and charms, but do you have any specific memories of that time?

Sungyeol: In the fourth episode we went to Muido with Jiae, and there are scenes when we’re playing together. I wanted to run along the beach while carrying Jiae on my back and show off my strength. But my foot got stuck in mud and I ended up dropping her (bitter laugh). Jiae started crying a ton, and I remember just running off to get away from the situation…

Dongwoo: In the very beginning when Jiae came to our dorm I didn’t know anything and was so defenseless. Because of that I couldn’t interact with her well and I’m pretty sure there were scenes where it basically took away from my manliness. When I look back and think of how inexperienced I was I get embarrassed.
—Do you guys still keep in contact with Jiae?

Sungjong: It’s only sometimes, but we keep in contact through texting.

Sungyeol: She contacts us when something happens, like when we got first place. It seems like she enjoys our activities. She worries about us to, and sometimes she’ll send us what she thinks about how we did on music programs.

—Your abilities are all recognized by both older and newer idol groups. I’ve heard that some have even offered to write songs for you or to do collaborations.

All: Thank you…

—Of course you’re all good at singing, but your dance performances claimed to have 99.9% synchronization definitely set you apart. Your sharp “knife dance” and of course your “scorpion dance” that draws everyone in are really amazing, but how do you guys feel about it? Also, how much practice or dance lessons do you have each day?

Hoya: If we have any free time we practice. While we were in training we would practice for around 14 to 15 hours a day.

Sunggyu: I’m extremely happy that people are willing to call it 99.9% synchronized. I think it’s the result of our effort and all of us working our hardest. That’s why when someone will truly say that it makes me feel really proud and I feel like we need to work even harder to make sure we don’t let everybody down.

—Are there any secrets to your practices that you think have let Infinite get to where you are now?

Woohyun: I think it would have to be our teamwork. Also I think that our secret is that in one run through we sweat about ten times as much as anyone else, so if we go through something 10 times that’s 100 times the amount of sweat. ((T/N: How much someone sweats is used to show how much effort they put into their work, so he’s saying they work 10x as hard as anyone else.)) I wonder what else there would be…? Please tell us, Hoya!

Hoya: The secrets behind it? Um~, I think the secret behind our dance abilities would be that we don’t dance just in our practice room, but 24 hours a day while we’re walking along or while we’re in the car.

—I’m interested in the background of what sort of music you all grew up listening to. Tell me about artists you’ve been influenced by or the reason you decided you wanted to become a singer.

Hoya: I decided when I was in my second year of elementary school. I saw various singers performing on TV and thought that I wanted to be like them. Somebody who really influenced me is Yoo Seungjun.
—Is there an artist that you want to be like now?

Hoya: Although there’s not anyone specific, I look up to Usher!

Dongwoo: While I was still a student I had fun dancing and liked it, but when I was in my second year of high school I was really touched watching someone singing… I started dreaming of being a singer from that point on. An artist I like is Omarion. Omarion~! Yay~!

Sungjong: I’ve wanted to be an entertainer since I was in elementary school. When I was in junior high I would do imitations or dances of famous idols at school festivals or events, and I always chased after the dream of becoming a singer. My favorite artist is Michael Jackson.

L: I’ve liked DBSK since I was little. I would always listen to their songs, and even when they headed over to Japan I would listen to their Japanese versions of songs too. They’re like role models to me now, so the artists that I look up to most are DBSK.

Sunggyu: I was in a rock band with my friends in high school, and at that time I really liked our sunbaes Nell, a modern rock band. Now I’m able to work under the same company as the group I’ve looked up to for such a long time. I came to Seoul after watching them for a while thinking that I want to make the same sort of music as them, so I auditioned… and I was chosen! So my role models are of course Nell, and then out of foreign artists I would have to pick Justin Timberlake.

Woohyun: I won a singing competition when I was in preschool, and from that time on I just couldn’t forget how happy that had made me and I’ve always had an interest in music. Because of that I was always listening to music, and deciding that I wanted to be a singer no matter what I pushed towards my dream. I’ve always thought that dreams are always something that can come true. I was influenced by Stevie Wonder a lot when I was in my first year of high school.

Sungyeol: I was originally aiming to be an actor and was preparing to do that, but I also was drawn into singing a bit and started thinking that I wanted to be a singer. I chased after my dream with all of my heart and that’s how I got to where I am today. The artists I’ve had the most influence from are actually two people sitting here with me, Infinite’s Sunggyu and Woohyun.

—Next I would like to get to know all of your characters or personalities, so please give a simple introduction of the member sitting next to you.

Sungyeol: Hoya is, in a way, a greedy guy (laughs). Whether it’s a dance or a song, he takes whatever role he’s told to do and prepares with almost an excessive want and passion. His personality is really manly, and he properly works through everything he’s supposed to do like a sharp knife cutting through things. There’s no doubt that calling him outstanding wouldn’t be wrong.

Hoya: Dongwoo hyung has a crazy personality, but because of his personality being like that it’s hard not to smile when you’re around him. He’s a really interesting friend.

Dongwoo: Did you just call me a friend? It’s hyung, hyung! ((T/N: Korean word for friend (chingu) can refer to someone born the same year as you/on the same level. ))

Hoya: Ah, hyung. (bitter laugh)

Dongwoo: Sungjong is always energetic and his personality is very bright, and he takes care of his hyungs very well. He does things like if any of us forget something he’ll notice and bring it along. He’s a good magnae who is great at cheering up everyone’s moods and the whole atmosphere. He’s the best! Arigatou!

Sungjong: L, like you can see, is the visual of our group that’s almost like a statue. He has almost excessive good looks and many talents like playing the guitar, singing and acting. But in the end his face is definitely the coolest part of him (laughs). He’s my visual hyung.

L: The way I see it, Sunggyu hyung has it the hardest of all of us. For things like our promotions we have our own goals and ideals, and then there’s what everyone else wants us to do, and as the leader he has to work between those two things and keep the balance for us, and he does that really well. If we didn’t have a leader like him, I don’t think Infinite would have gotten to where we are today.

Sunggyu: Yes, this is Sunggyu who was just introduced as being a leader that keeps the balance well (laughs). Woohyun may act strong on the outside, but really… (the other members start laughing) He’s the most sensitive, fragile and in a way, the most immature of all of us. Even more than our magnae Sungjong… Also, because he has such a wide range of emotions his ability of expressing himself is extremely good. Even being a vocal like he is, he has such good expressiveness that I would like to learn from him. He also is very prideful, so he takes whatever he’s given and works his hardest and puts all of his effort into it to get it done so he doesn’t have to bother other people with it. He’s a very cool sort of younger brother.

Woohyun: This is the cool younger brother, Woohyun (laughs). Sungyeol is a very smart guy. He gives his all for everything, and he always uses aegyo on the rest of us, so of course we all love him. I think even for the hyungs he’s the sort of person you’d want to spoil and take care of. Lovely Sungyeol! Though that’s not how he used to be… (laughs)

—Going on now, tell us what you think about the member next to you is cute, manly, or cool.

Sungyeol: The thing that’s cool about Hoya is that he doesn’t say anything and just sits there. But even if he seems really calm like this now, if he even gets caught up on anything just once he doesn’t know what to do and becomes a real kid again (laughs). I think that he has such a gap like that is really cute.

Hoya: Dongwoo hyung is cool because when he gets on stage he’s a completely different person. On stage he’s Infinite’s Jang Dongwoo, and once he gets off stage he’s the country boy Jang Dongwoo (laughs). What we always see is his very friendly, cute side.

Dongwoo: Sungjong himself is just really cute. Everyone already knows this, but even the way he talks normally is full of aegyo. Apparently he’s been like this even since before he joined the company. But on stage when it’s time for his part his gaze changes and he looks more like an adult. Then once he gets of stage he acts all young again… He’s a really interesting kid.

Sungjong: The thing that makes L hyung cool is that sometimes when he’s making a decision or doing some other things he’ll be even more adult-like than our leader. At times like that he all of a sudden is a really cool hyung. When he takes photos they’re like cool pictures that would be in a photo collection. Ah, also there are some times when he’ll use aegyo with us, and when he does he’s really cute!

L: Sunggyu hyung is cute when he’s being a bit careless. When he can’t do something well or he can’t figure something out he’ll scream out things like “What the hell~! Why~!” and when I saw him doing that I thought it was really cute (laughs). He has strange charm that sort of attracts people to him. I want to follow his example.

Sunggyu: Woohyun sometimes, and only sometimes, will use aegyo on me and when he does I think he’s really cute. When he does things like that I just sort of want to bite him (laughs)!

Woohyun: I am Woohyun, who wants to be bitten (laughs). When Sungyeol shows his true self on TV (in his drama) it’s cute, because he really seems like a younger brother who knows nothing of the world and doesn’t bother acting cool. I don’t think I could find a cool side of him even if I washed my eyes and tried searching (laughs). All he has is a cute side! ((T/N: The Korean saying to ‘wash your eyes’ means to clear any prior ideas/things you know and then be able to look around with no things to base judgements off of. So Woohyun is saying, even if he could erase everything he knew about Sungyeol from his mind and was meeting him for the first time, he wouldn’t be able to find anything cool about him. ))

—It’s almost time for your Japanese debut (November 19th)! I think there are plenty of Japanese fans waiting for you. How do you feel right now?

Sunggyu: We’re finally getting to make an official Japanese debut in November. We’ve been looking forward to this for a long time and have prepared for it, so I’m confident we’ll do well. I’m really happy that we’re going to be able to show our Japanese fans ourselves and our music on stage. Please look forward to it!

—Your Japanese debut song is going to be “BTD (Before The Dawn)“‘s Japanese version. I’ve heard it’s a song that was produced by the same people as produced KARA’s “Mister”, Sweetune. Please introduce things to listen for in the song or points in your dance performance.

Sunggyu: BTD is a strong song that lets the listeners feel the tenacity and dark side of a fierce, courageous guy. Our performances on stage also have a bit of a strong and aggressive image. I think it’s a song where everyone should focus on our dancing as a group that we’ve worked hard on specifically for this song.

—How did you feel when you heard you guys would be debuting in Japan with this song?

Sunggyu: I thought it was a good idea, because with this song we’re really able to show our abilities. That runs true for not only our dance performance, but for being able to show our singing abilities as well, so I was happy.

Sungjong: My part is all in English, so I didn’t really have any problems (laughs).

—To wrap this up, please share your aspirations for your Japanese debut and give a message to your Japanese fans!

Dongwoo: We’re finally going to start having activities in Japan. I’m really happy that we’re able to start our international activities in Japan. Although we’ve been able to meet through magazines or interviews up until now, we’re finally going to be able to meet in person so I would like to be able to show you all manly live performances! Fighting!

Woohyun: We’ve met in showcases and concerts up until now, but we’re finally going to make our official debut. We’re looking forward to it a lot, but I’m sure all of our Japanese fans are looking forward to us coming just as much. In order to exceed everyone’s expectations we’ll work even harder and show everyone even cooler sides of ourselves for an amazing Japanese debut. We’ll show you not 99.9%, but 100% of our efforts! To all of our Japanese fans, aishiteru! (I love you!) I’ll love you forever! Be mine! I won’t forgive you if you look at anyone else! (laughs).

Everyone: Thank you for reading!