[INTERVIEW] Singer Jay Park - Part 2

Jay Park [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

10: "Touch the Sky" that you worked on with The Quiett was the first track to your album. I'm curious how you came to write a song that isn't strong or aggressive but sounds happy, as if you're up in the sky.
Jay Park: I'm the type that tends to think well of things. No matter how hard of a time you're having, it won't last forever, so it's track No. 1 because it contains a good message... To put the listeners in a good mood as soon as they listen to my album. It's feel-good music. It's the type of music I had wanted to make.

10: But "Level 1000" that you worked on with Dok2 gives off a completely different vibe. Its lyrics too are something along the lines of "No pain no gain / You'll live even if you get shot you'll dig an opening even if the road gets blocked" and you've actually been in that sort of a difficult situation. So how is it that you can make feel-good music instead of standing up to say 'I'll show you all something' even after going through what you did?
Park: Hmm... I don't know. Because I try to enjoy life? I think it's possible because I sing, dance and rap. I think it's because I like music.

10: Well no matter how much you want to do feel-good music, what you say and do continues to bring about all sorts of talk. How do you feel about that?
Park: I'm not too bothered by it... I've already been criticized on the Internet so much. (laugh) It's not like they actually know me. I might've been hurt if a friend acted like that toward me but it's all coming from people who don't know me at all. And of course I was frustrated about it in the past. They'd say what is false is true, that's why a lot of people misunderstood me and I wanted to resolve those but now, I don't care as long as the who are close to me know for sure.

10: But it's got to be very difficult to deal with the fact that a number of unspecified individuals don't like you. Don't you still hope that they wouldn't dislike you? You do have a job which is about dealing with a lot of people.
Park: But you can't make everybody like you. Everybody has people they hate and people they dislike. That's personal preference. Some people hate me, some people hate someone else and you can't do anything about that.

10: Don't you need a very strong mentality to think like that?
Park: Hmm... Well I actually had a really hard time when I first came to Korea to become a trainee. I was having such a hard time that I wanted to go back home everyday and I cried while calling my mom all the time for two weeks. Some people laugh at me when I tell them about it because I was 19 years old at the time but I'm not embarrassed to admit to it. I really had a hard time. (laugh) And it was because I wasn't sure of what I was doing. That's why I worked out a lot and even ran 30 laps of a sports field at a time late at night. After that, I came to think, 'I can do anything as long as it's not dying.' I've become more cheerful compared to then. I try to think of bad things with a positive attitude and that I can bear through whatever hard time I'm having since it won't last forever.

10: I think that's why you don't seem to mind seeing success a bit more slowly as long as it happens with the people you are close to.
Park: Life is no fun if you think only about yourself. And it's no fun if you have nobody to have fun with after you've become successful. What fun is there in having fun alone. And what are you going to do if that all disappears later on. (laugh)

Jay Park [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

10: Then what is your definition of success?
Park: Well it's different for everyone. But I think I've already succeeded because from a long time ago, my dream has been to be able to take care of my family and stand on stage with AOM. A few years ago, those were far-off dreams that I had. It was impossible that I'd be able to invite AOM to perform with me at concerts but it's become reality so I've already succeeded.

10: I think your contract with your current agency must be very different from how K-pop idol groups usually sign with agencies in the sense that it seems you have been guaranteed your freedom in music and team formation.
Park: It's the complete opposite. There were certain points we had to agree on before I signed with them but we trust each other so the rest, we discussed along the way. It did seem like they didn't trust me at first in terms of my music but I think they do now, after songs like "Bestie" and "Speechless" and my albums did okay. I think things will become easier the more I show them what I can do and be acknowledged for it.

10: You said that getting a tattoo is the same as singing and dancing. But on top of you being restricted in certain ways when you go on television because of those tattoos, I think your laid-back style of pursuing your singing career may also not be on par with what the Korean music industry seeks.
Park: Well, I'm not going to get anymore tattoos on my arm. (laugh) And I don't think the way in which I want to succeed has to clash with anyone. I do music that I want to do and it doesn't harm anyone. And I'm thinking of pursuing a singing career in the U.S. as well, not just Korea.

10: In Korea, you're not perceived as being fully Korean but rather someone from outside depending on your nationality or where you're from.
Park: That's true. But I can't do anything about being born in the U.S. despite my parents being Korean. I'm just proud of the fact that I'm of Korean blood and when I hear that a certain rapper or musician in the U.S. is Korean, I pay more attention to them. That's why I like baseball player Choo Sang-hoon as well. And honestly, we're all the same people, whether you're Korean or American.

10: Is there anything in particular about Korean society that you're in the process of getting used to nowadays?
Park: There aren't because I've lived in Korea for a while now. It's been six years since I've lived here so I think I've gotten used to all I need to. I used to not be able to drink before but I've learned to while trying to fit in so that shows I've adjusted completely. (laugh)

10: Are there any cultural differences you sometimes feel between countries overseas and the U.S.?
Park: I think every place is different in some way but I adjust to differences quickly now. I had a really hard time adjusting to Korea when I first moved from the U.S. but now I've lived here and there, ate a lot of food, held concerts and met with a variety of fans so I don't really get surprised with what I see now. I just think, 'Ah, this is how things work here.' In a way, whether it be Korea or the U.S., we're all people of one world. If the world came to an end one day, we'd all die. (laugh)

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Reporter : Choi Ji-Eun five@, Kang Myeong-Seok two@
Photographer : Chae ki-won ten@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@, Lee Ji-Hye seven@