Sooyoung and Seohyun Featured in ‘CeCi’ Magazine for Photoshoot and Interview

SOOYOUNG


CeCi: Did you like the stage concept for ‘I Got A Boy’?

Sooyoung: We threw our heels off for the first time in a while. I really liked it. It wasn’t difficult at all dancing. I was jealous, thinking, ‘So this is what it’s like for male singers’. I think all of us are going to say we don’t want to wear heels for our next album, too.

CeCi: Of the responses towards the new song, what things might Girls’ Generation and the general public agree and disagree on?

Sooyoung: Something we agreed on was that it’s more appealing watching the performance, too, rather than just listening to the song alone. There were a lot of opinions regarding the lyrics, but personally, I like lyrics with clear themes, so I have pride in our song. I hope we will release more lyrics that you have to listen to carefully in the future.

CeCi: You revealed your dream of emceeing a talk show through various interviews. Do you normally have a lot of interest in people?

Sooyoung: I have a lot of interest, and I also like conversations. For instance, if something bothers you, there’s a really big difference between talking about it right away and letting it pass or not. Because if you’re asked, ‘What I said earlier, did it bother you?’, you get the response, ‘It honestly did a bit, but thanks for saying it.’ I feel the power of a conversation at times like that, even more so when I’m with my members. To me, Girls’ Generation isn’t simply a place that gives me money or fame, but a place where I study life. Bumping into one another, and adjusting to things one at a time. There’s no better [subject of] study than this. I learn the most things in the small world of Girls’ Generation.

CeCi: If you were to invite one Girls’ Generation member as a guest, who would it be?

Sooyoung: Tiffany. She’s someone who lives a very dramatic life. When you experience many different things, you could become depressed or a realist, but she’s still like the heroine in a movie. It’s amazing. To the point where I get into challenging spirits.

CeCi: It’s been seven years since you debuted. What’s different between 18-year-old and 24-year-old Sooyoung?

Sooyoung: I’ve gained composure. I guess my goal has become distinct? I was just young at 18, so I had a combatant-like confidence. I was also really greedy. Now, all that greed can’t be fulfilled, and I know that it’s something I don’t really need. Even if I’m moving slowly, it’s come to the state where I can observe my surroundings.

CeCi: Is there anything that hasn’t changed since then and now?

Sooyoung: That I’m the youngest daughter in my family. My parents taught me strictly, saying, ‘No matter how famous you are, you’re the youngest daughter at home.’ I sometimes want to unload any annoyances or fuss I couldn’t outside and do whatever I want to without paying attention to other people, but they never let me. At first, I thought, ‘The only place I can enjoy my freedom is at home; they’re so harsh’, but it’s the thing I’m most grateful for to my mom and dad.

CeCi: Is there anything you want to restore?

Sooyoung: There isn’t anything I want to change, because I didn’t have any bad feelings then either. Thinking back, it just seems pathetic. (CeCi: Were you the type who worries?) I was more like a bear. I think celebrities who can’t control their facial expressions are actually very pure people. A person who doesn’t know how to decorate himself or herself. I was an example of that person; however, thinking of the position of a celebrity, it still makes people looking at them uncomfortable, so I think of it as the wrong attitude. It would have been better if I was a little more [cunning] like a fox, but I like Sooyoung as Sooyoung who didn’t know anything.

CeCi: You’re in your mid-20s. When do you gain a realization of your age?

Sooyoung: Lately! I understand my mom’s delight, saying, ‘We were like that back then,’ while watching TV. I really miss the times that came on ‘Reply 1997′ (translator’s note: a South Korean television series). Really, to the point where I wanted to cry. Machines are getting smarter, but I think humans keep getting dumber. (CeCi: It’s okay to think like that after you turn 30.) I know! (laughs) I liked the analog generation of handwritten letters and calling beepers (translator’s note: pagers). I think I’ve really gotten old.

CeCi: Are there any good things about getting old?

Sooyoung: Compared to before, it definitely feels like there’s more weight in my words. And so I’ve gained more responsibilities.

CeCi: What do you want to do the most when spring comes around?

Sooyoung: I want to go on a date riding bicycles. The bicycle part is easy, but the dating part is…. (laughs)

SEOHYUN


CeCi: ‘I Got A Boy’ promotions ended just after a month. How would you critique yourself?

Seohyun: It was the most fun promotion cycle thus far! I think it was a stage where we could enjoy it freely and express ourselves. We would look at each others’ eyes and change our gestures, the lyrics were really fun…. I think we became mischievous after taking off our heels.

CeCi: Starting with the first concert last weekend, you will be continuing on a Japan tour for two months in seven cities.

Seohyun: We had a fruitful start to the new year with a Korea comeback in January, and Japan tour in February. Because I always get a generous amount of energy at concerts, I’m looking forward to it even more. (CeCi: Fans in Korea must feel sad.) While official plans have not been made, I think we will be able to meet with Korean fans in concert, too!

CeCi: Acting, performing on stage, variety shows… what is your next step?

Seohyun: I want to try everything. Because life is still long. (laughs) I get dreams when I see my unnies’ attempts. If I can reach a good opportunity, I want to try acting or be in a musical.

CeCi: The Seohyun promoting as Girls’ Generation – TTS felt more powerful than the Seohyun in Girls’ Generation.

Seohyun: Because it was Girls’ Generation’s first unit promotions, it was really burdensome, but it was really fun! The more I got on stage, the greedier I got. What’s amazing is, I missed a stage with nine members while promoting as three, but once we started promoting as nine, I also missed promoting as three members. You can’t follow the energy from performances with nine members, and there is this carefree fun as three members.

CeCi: Was your role of Girls’ Generation’s ‘proper maknae’ a bit different between the two unnies of Girls’ Generation – TTS?

Seohyun: No, it’s the same. I’m always the maknae. The nagging maknae.

CeCi: Not too long ago, you were exposed on a show that you’re a ‘maknae that drives your unnies crazy’.

Seohyun: We did that to be funny. Like how we always talk. (CeCi: Do you ‘diss’ each other like that?) Of course! It’s usually worse. (laughs)

CeCi: Oh yeah, I want to hear a firsthand explanation about the ‘Girls’ Generation get-together photo’ that was recently revealed. (translators note: the question is referring to this photo)

Seohyun: It’s a photo taken on Yuri unnie’s birthday at our dorm in Japan. We had a birthday party and get-together, but I was a little embarrassed because I have a facial pack on in the photo. Because in Japan we all live together in one house and don’t have individual activities, I think we get even closer. We always start by saying we’re going to talk for five minutes, but end up talking for five hours.

CeCi: In your last interview with CeCi, you said you wanted to experience a lot of new things in the future, but are you fulfilling it?

Seohyun: I haven’t been able to do anything because I’ve been so busy, but life has just become so enjoyable. For some reason, I keep getting more playful, and my jokes to my unnies have increased. Once, when I would get stressed from work, I would have thought of wanting to rest and be free, but I’ve grasped methods of feeling enjoyment while working these days. In the past, I felt enjoyment through efforts, but now it’s natural. I suddenly get surprised on my own thinking, ‘Oh, I find these things fun?’ My unnies tell me that they think I’ve changed often.

CeCi: You’re 23 years old. Do you feel like a real member of society now?

Seohyun: After debuting, I passed each year with the feeling of ‘I’m looking forward to next year even more.’ I had no sense of time. Even when going to music programs, there were about 14~15 sunbaes (translator’s note: seniors), but during this promotion cycle, there were only about 4~5. I get surprised at moments like this.

CeCi: Now, Girls’ Generation is one of those ‘14~15 [seniors]’ to your juniors.

Seohyun: Yeah. We are like the senior citizens amongst them, too…. (laughs)

CeCi: Is there anything you want to never want to lose as, not Seohyun, but Seo Juhyun?

Seohyun: I want to carry on the stubbornness that Seo Juhyun drives at. Oh, and many people think I’m too much like a textbook, but I’m not. There are very carefree sides to me, too. Those are the slightly different sides of Seohyun and Seo Juhyun. I wish Seohyun would turn into Seo Juhyun a bit more. I think that’s what’s happening [now].

CeCi: It’s March. What do you want to do when spring comes?

Seohyun: Drive. The drivers license I got at 21 is becoming one that’s been put away in a chest. 

(CeCi: It looks like you’ll need an open car?) Yeah. A truck is okay, too!

Source: Soshified.com