Drunk Talk 1 

For my random translations on anything Shinhwa related. Please do not edit the credits when taking out.

[Drunk Talk 1] Shinhwa “20th debut anniversary protected together with the fans, it’s a cause for celebration”

Shinhwa welcomed their 20th birthday. It’s their 20th debut anniversary. Shinhwa debuted in 1998, and has released 13 studio albums in the past 20 years. While the mountains and rivers changed twice, and even through much complications, they have protected the name of Shinhwa, and received a lot of love as they released multiple hit tracks, starting with their debut song, ‘The Resolver’. 

Shinhwa is the longest running idol group that is ‘currently active’ and has continuously promoted for 20 years, without even one member change. There are so many groups that have dissolved or experience member changes to the extent that the ‘idol 7 year jinx’ saying exists, and that is what makes Shinhwa’s 20th year shine even more.

The drunk talk interview was arranged with great difficulty, as Shinhwa was busy with preparations so that they can celebrate their 20th anniversary in an even more meaningful manner with the fans. It so happened that this interview was conducted on ‘Shin-dependence day’ (a phrase that combines Shinhwa and Independence day that fans use to commemorate the end of the trademark lawsuit, falls on 29 May), which was even more meaningful.

This is the official question. How well can you hold your liquor?

Hyesung: The members who can drink really well are Junjin, Andy, and Minwoo.

Junjin: I drink till I’m sleepy. How much I drink depends on my condition that day

Minwoo: For Junjin, if he is with people he likes and the atmosphere is good, he’ll drink all the way till the end

Junjin: I think I could hold my liquor the best in my mid - late twenties (laughs)

Dongwan: Hyesung becomes really pumped up when he’s drunk. The rest of us tend to fall asleep

Eric: I didn’t use to be like this but when I drink, I forgot the password to my house. And also what floor I live on. I’ve been dragged away by the security when I went to press the bell of the floor below. (laughs)

Who are the fellow celebrities you can drink with when all the Shinhwa members are around and it won’t be awkward?

Junjin: Kangta hyung and Jihoon hyung. I think we’re comfortable with all the members of H.O.T

Dongwan: I think that’s why he regrets it. If he wasn’t called to these gatherings, he’d probably have been able to buy one more house. (laughs)

It’s your 20th debut anniversary this year. Please give us your thoughts on that.

Junjin: We all feel the same so let’s have Hyeung hyung speak for all of us

Hyesung: When I was young, I never imagined the six of us would be singing on stage together for 20 years. In my early or mid twenties, when someone asked me, ‘What would you be doing 10 years later’, I replied, ‘I have no idea what I’d be doing.’ But it’s already 20 years. It’s awesome because these 20 years was protected together with the fans. It’s a cause for celebration, it is.

Minwoo: Is the slant steep? Ah, sorry. (Minwoo was doing a wordplay as slant and celebration are the same word in Korean)

You are the longest running idols without a single member change. What is your secret to your 20 years of teamwork?

Junjin: We tend to resolve issues the moment they occur. Also, emotionally, different members take the lead at different times. I think that is even better. Sometimes it’ll be a certain member that takes care of the others, another time it’ll be another member who does that.

Hyesung: All the members have different personalities and that is what lets us work well together, like a well-oiled machine.

Minwoo: All six of us likes Shinhwa. We all like Shinhwa the same way and thats why we can keep on going. If we didn’t like Shinhwa, we would have separated long ago.

Eric: I went filming for SBS’s ‘Laws of the Jungle’ with Andy and Minwoo, and (Kim) Byungman hyung asked if there were idols that have lasted as long as us. He was very amazed and kept observing us. I heard he was amazed that we took care of and understood each other, even without speaking, during and outside of filming. For example, if I’m taking a knife out from my backpack, Andy will come over and put suncream on me, and that was what he found amazing. I think we know what each other wants just by looking at each other.

Minwoo: I’m sure we all feel the same. When we first topped the charts on music shows with ‘T.O.P’. We wanted to try for first place since we’re already doing the work but we didn’t manage to do so for our first album, and only did it with our second album. That moment then is still fresh in my mind. We were living in the dormitory then and I still remember we proposed a toast when we went back to the dormitory. I think that was what made us work even harder.

When were you the most touched, and close to tears?

Junjin: During Guerrilla Concert (from MBC ‘Sunday Night’). It was during our promotions without Andy and I really cried really hard. It’s the same when we first won the Daesang (at a music awards ceremony).

Minwoo: Actually, even though Shinhwa has held a lot of concerts, every concert makes me feel grateful to and touched by the fans.

Junjin: Yes, that’s right. When the concert just starts.

Hyesung: Every concert is touching, despite how many times we’ve held it.

Minwoo: I still remember Hyesung’s tears in 2012, when we held our concert after we completed our military service and ended our 4 year break. It was the opening talk segment and Hyesung cried.

Hyesung: Before going for military service, we said ‘We would come back’, then we got together 4 years later for a concert at the same place. I was grateful the fans came to fulfil their promise 4 years ago, and I also teared up because we could fulfil that promise. I’m sure the other members were crying too, they just didn’t show it.

Minwoo: There are times I tear up when I look at the members. I tear up when I see the members communicating with the fans and performing at their individual positions.

#shinhwa #eric #lee minwoo #kim dongwan #shin hyesung #junjin #andy #shinhwa interview

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