150522 HIGH CUT ISSUE 150

Musicals these days are full of idols. The musical 'Chess' in June likewise has a cast of 4 idols. 2AM Jo Kwon, B1A4 CNU, VIXX Ken and SHINee Key. It may be the perfect composition to look upon them with prejudice, but they are quite serious. Jo Kwon thinks about 'Chess' "all the time - when I'm brushing my teeth or doing my business". They are so into the role and production that Ken heads towards the musical practice room at 10pm, and CNU gets inspiration for his song production while practicing for 'Chess'. But there is a stone set on the shoulders of these men, and they cannot do anything about this situation. We meet Jo Kwon, CNU and Ken ahead of their first show to listen to them.

Musicals seem to be really difficult. You have to sing well, dance and act. But why do idols choose to do musicals in particular?
Jo Kwon: I've always been a musical person. Honestly there have been many offers but I said I could not do them. Even though it has gotten better, but there are many unfavorable opinions about idols taking on the challenge of musicals. Many idols opened the bottle cap without enough practice so it's overflowomg now. When you get criticism, people can't help but to become judgmental. Those who do musicals without enough preparation, those who do musicals without a choice after looking at the guarantees, and the friends who think "I have nothing else to do so I should eat and live by doing musicals". I felt that these friends made the liquid in the bottle overflow. I wanted to break out of that judgement.
CNU: The perception that comes with the title of idol is a problem that we have to face. I don't want to deny it, or say that I hate it. Instead we should face it, and make people forget (that perception) by showing them more. No matter what, we are idols right at our roots.

This is CNU and Ken's first challenge at a musical.
CNU: I've wanted to do musicals from when I first debuted. Honestly there had been opportunities where the conditions allowed for it, but I had a lot of worries about what should I be engrossed in. But it so happened that we're on break from album promotions and it's such a great production that I ended up challenging it.
Ken: There was pressure when I first heard that we were going to be doing this on such a huge stage. Come to think of it, it's my first time but it's such a huge opportunity. I felt that I needed to do well, and I became nervous. Half confidence, half nervousness?

In the eyes of Jo Kwon, what do you think of the skills of the others? Compared to them you're a senior.
Jo Kwon: Am I good enough to be a senior? (laugh) Well first I told them about the basics. There's something called 'critical audience'. "This is not a concert, but a performance. If you hold your fellow actors in regard, please post in your official fancafe to tell your fans not to scream. Tell them to show themselves to be different from the other fans. (The musical) is going to be different from what these friends have been doing. In the case of CNU and Ken, it's goimg to be their debut production. I"m looking forward to it, but I'm also worried. Depending on how they do on stage, the judgement of the audience will differ. I think it's professional to know how to give up bravely when something is not yours even after you've worked hard for it.

(omitted question for Jo Kwon)

Don't idols date? You need to date to film a love scene. Not too long ago, Baro had a scandal with Kim Yoojung, I think you might have been envious.
CNU: We shouldn't be dating yet. People are seriously funny, Kim Yoojung is only 17 years old, what are they thinking. She's just a young student, how could they think of her that way? I was also watching the match live, and I thought 'wow, they're getting so much screen time' and 'oh they went to watch soccer together'. But the news article mentioned them being in a relationship and the likes.
Ken: I learned how to act out being in love by watching other shows. You know how people tease other by asking if they learned about love through words? It's really like that for me. I dated before I debuted, but we broke up when I entered the company. In any case, idols don't date (laugh).

(omitted question to Jo Kwon)

There are particularly many acting-dols in B1A4. If you were to give them a score?
CNU: When I see what Baro and Jinyoung are doing, I feel so proud. There's many things that I have to learn from them so giving them a score is a little... (thinks intently) Not 10 points, but maybe 5? Am I too stingy? Only that way they will work harder.

(omitted questions for Ken and Jo Kwon)

Let's end off coolly. What do you wish remains after this musical ends?
(omitted Jo Kwon and Ken's answers)
CNU: I hope (what remains) would be a person who does well. I will work hard. (laugh)

Source: @cnumiso0616

Translation Credits: skipfire.tistory.com

Please take out with full credits to source and translator.