[INTERVIEW] Lee Seung-hwan - Part 2

10: How did you end up joining them?
Lee: I closed down my agency Dream Factory in late September last year. And I told everyone there, a month in advance, to prepare to move to another agency.

10: Is that how actress Park Shin-hye ended up moving agencies too?
Lee: Yes. She ran out from the room crying when I told her and I still remember the sound of her footsteps down the hallway.

10: But wouldn't you not want to let go of an actress like her? During an interview with us, she mentioned how happy she had been at Dream Factory.
Lee: I thought my life was miserable at the time. Of course, just thinking about the musicians and actors I managed made me happy but I was extremely nervous about everyday occurances. And I do think I treated actors at my agency very well. Not just Shin-hye but everyone else too. When they're worried, the staff at our agency would go to console them and watch movies with them. But I didn't think that was enough for them. We had to carry out some sort of strong management but we didn't have the power to. I once heard someone say Shin-hye would just remain as a promising actress forever and that upset me. So I decided it would be better for her to go her own way.

10: Then how will you release your records from now?
Lee: I plan to keep working with Fluxus. And they produced and invested in but I myself will produce and invest in my tenth full-length album set for release during the first half of next year. I do feel more at ease now because I don't have look after a company. Before, my company was having trouble even despite me investing all the money that I was making. But I've become found extreme peace starting October last year. My goal is to live a steady and quiet life till my last day. (laugh)

10: But you say quite a lot of things aimed at society toward society for someone who wants to live a quiet life. I think you've become more active in what happens in the world nowadays.
Lee: I have nothing to lose now. (laugh) I'll hang myself if anyone touches me. (laugh) I'm joking. I didn't really know what was going on in the world when I was young. But I do now and I don't think I should stay put.

10: Have such changes in your thoughts influenced your music in any way? What happens in your life must be reflected into your music.
Lee: Of course. I'm always influenced by the incidents that occur and the music I listen to in between releasing full-length albums. I think my thoughts have influenced the lyrics a lot in particular this time. I usually write down ideas I need for my lyrics and most of them are about such thoughts. So everyone is worried. They say I should write about love to become a hit. (laugh)

10: Aren't you worried you could become lonely living like that? I don't think too many people would be able to related to your thoughts.
Lee: Not really. I do get lonely very easily but I like to stay in at home. Being lonely happens when you a relationship your formed gets cut off. But I don't form relationships these days. (laugh) I stay at home when I'm not doing music and it's actually a lot of fun and there is so much to do. (laugh)

10: It sounds you really do live a quiet life. (laugh) Then how do you plan on going about with your concerts? They're a big part of your life as are your albums.
Lee: There aren't going to be any major changes but I do plan on holding concerts regularly like I did in the past. For now, I have a concert set for December 5 in Busan and from December 24 to 26 at the Olympic Park. But I plan on holding my concerts on a more flexible time schedule since I don't have a company to look after anymore.

10: What sort of person do you hope to be?
Lee: There's the saying, "Risk but do not waver, be calm yet not silent". Plus I'd want my life to be quiet. (laugh) We live in times where kids don't like adults but I hope someone out there will receive some good influence from my music or words and actions. I don't want to be remembered by a lot of people. And I don't want to be in the spotlight. I just hope I will be the boost in helping people, no matter how small the number, come to some sort of realization. And I know I still treat them quite coolly, but I do thank my fans quite a bit. (laugh)

Senior Reporter : Kang Myoung-Seok two@10asia.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr, Lee Ji-Hye seven@10asia.co.kr