140616 CNU: "I WANT TO BE CONGRATULATED BY MICHAEL JACKSON EVEN IF JUST IN MY DREAMS" (INTERVIEW)

Q. What do you think you will be doing on your birthday?

A: It's so obvious (what I will do) so I'm not too sure what to say. But if there are no schedules, I will probably spend it with the members in the practice room. In our first year of debut, I celebrated my first birthday with the fans as part of an event. I want to do that again. It was the first birthday party that I had with so many people, and I guess it left a lasting memory. I want to have an event like that again. If I can't do it this year, I'll definitely do it next year.

Q. Your thoughts on celebrating your birthday?

A: What should I do... Our Japanese management company has already congratulated me on my birthday. Overseas they don't calculate birthdays by the year, so they wished me a happy 23^rd birthday. It felt a little different so I thought, maybe I'm old now. It's a chance for me to think about my age.

Q. What do you think about growing up?

A: It's a little unusual and a little special, but to the majority of people out there, being my age is young. But as an entertainer, to singers, my age is when we are the busiest. I have to be more mature and think deeper than my peers, and I have to act older than my age. My fellow peers who are also 24 years old are generously and bravely challenging different things – not that I am not challenging things, but I feel that I have to take them on with more hesitation and after more thinking.

Q. What age are you looking forward to be? Why?

A: 30 years old. There's a song 'As I'm Nearing Thirty' [T/N: By Kim Kwangseok]. When I was in a band when I was younger, the hyungs who did music around me for a longer time told me that if I wanted to do serious music, I would have to be 30 years old. Only after then would I be able to do serious music, so I'm looking forward to being 30 years old. That's why I think turning 30 holds special meaning to me.

Q. What do you dislike hearing on your birthday, and what do you want to hear most on your birthday?

A: I don't like hearing that I have to work on my birthday. Honestly anyone would dislike hearing that. And I want to hear the words 'I love you'. Honestly to say or hear 'I love you' makes me a little abashed, but because my birthday is a special day I want to hear it and I want to express it.

Q. What was your birth dream?

A: I asked my mother what she dreamt of because I didn't know, but she wasn't too sure either. 'A really huge and thick snake appeared. And I think it came into the house?' was what she said. She couldn't remember exactly.

Q. Your most memorable birthday?

A: The first birthday I celebrated after we debuted. I felt it in my bones that I was receiving so much love as I spent my birthday with so many people. The members also secretly prepared a dance for me, so it was really memorable as I felt the love of so many people.

Q. What is the most special birthday present you've received?

A: When I was young, we didn't really celebrate with parties at home. I spent my birthdays simply with my family at home. When I was in my second or third year of elementary school, I had a birthday party for the first time ever with my friends. Of course it is nice to spend my birthday celebrating with my family, but the party that my mother specially prepared for me in itself was a huge present to me.

Q. What present would you like to receive?

A: I want myself to go on a break. I want to gift myself with freedom.

Q. If you were given a break for your birthday, what is one thing you definitely want to do?

A: I've always said that I want to go on a drive. I'm not one to enjoy a holiday, but I like the car ride that will bring me to the vacation spot. Even when we have schedules, I love going to the cities further down in the countryside. I think travelling by car is really nice. It's also nice to stop by the rest stop and buy food. Where would I go on a drive? If I have time, I usually use my elder sister's car to drive around and go to places I went to when I was in school.

Q. What was a wish you made when you were young? Has it come true?

A: It has come true, because I wished that I would become a singer. My dreams have never changed, I've always asked to be a singer. During my birthday I wished that I could become a singer, make my name known and succeed, and I wished it during ancestral rites to my ancestors too. Whenever I had a chance to make a wish, I made that wish. Haha.

Q. Imagine your birthday in 10 years' time.

A: I guess I would be married. When I was young, I hoped that I would get married at 20 years old. I wanted to get married at 20 years old and have grandchildren to look after at 40 years old. Since that is no longer possible, I want to spend my birthday in 10 years' time as one woman's husband, as my children's father.

Q. Is there a star you want to get congratulated on your birthday by?

A: I really like Michael Jackson. Even though it's a wish that will never come true now, I did ever feel that it would be really meaningful even if he wished me in my dreams. Not long ago, Michael Jackson's album was released and I really welcomed it. I think it feels even more so because I no longer see him.

Q. Someone you wish to thank on your birthday?

A: Of course it's my parents. Even though I received a lot of love growing up, I also rebelled against my parents during my stormy period of adolescence. But of course I didn't cause any major accidents. I didn't realize then, but after living apart from them I really felt how precious my parents are. I want to thank them for giving birth to me.

Q. Please say something to yourself.

A: Dongwoo-ya. You're turning 24 years old. Even though you're not very old, and in other ways you're very young, but I hope you become a person who does not disappoint the many people looking at you and your family who loves you. I'll say this one thing. You're doing well now, but I believe you'll do even better. I love you Dongwoo-ya.

Source: Economy Today

Translation Credits: skipfire.tistory.com

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