Interview with JYJ's Kim Jaejoong: “I Listened to My Debut Album Last Night Before I Went to Sleep”

JYJ’s Kim Jae Joong recently released his first solo mini album “Mine” on January 17 to the joy of his many loyal fans. He had a chance to hold a short interview with SBS E! Lets see what he has to say about his experiences in the music industry so far!

# This album is full of rock flavor. It’s surprising to think that an idol group member would go with a rock album for the first solo album.
Jaejoong: “Ever since I was young, I enjoyed listening to and singing along with rock songs. I wouldn’t say I was deeply immersed in it, but I did listen to it often as I grew up. Even when I was promoting as a group or at concerts, or even during project albums, I would sing a rock song. However, even I was surprised that I would release a rock album. (Laugh)”

# What were the members reactions to your pursuit of rock?
Jaejoong: “Yoochun said that he drank alcohol when he heard ‘One Kiss.’ He said, ‘I have to drink some today’ and mentioned that the song calls one to have a drink.. Isn’t that good? There are songs one would listen to to be comforted when one is sad, but there are also times when one wants to listen to sadder songs. To think that this song calls one to have a drink… I’m really happy. Junsu says that he really likes ‘Mine.’”

# It’s already been 10 years since you’ve been in the industry. How do you feel?
Jaejoong: “To be honest, I don’t really feel it. Before, I would think that I would have achieved a lot after 10 years, but now I think whether 10 years is really a long time for a celebrity. To be honest, I listened to my debut album last night before I went to sleep. There really has been a lot of changes. Also, I didn’t know exactly how many Korean and Japanese albums I had, but it’s much more than I thought. I realize then that 10 years did pass by.”

# Yoochun’s the only member who hasn’t released a solo album.
Jaejoong: “If Yoochun releases an album, I will definitely try to help. But, he composes better than me. He’s a genius- a genius. I think that he writes the best songs out of the group. It’s just that he doesn’t write much, but he has a lot of talent. He composes for a hobby, but when he writes one song, it turns out to be a really good song. And just like with language where one starts to forget after practice, even if we all don’t practice with the same intensity, he retains a lot of the language. He’s the type that doesn’t forget easily, but also picks things up easily.

# Are you happy right now?
Jaejoong: “I’m half-half. I have times when I’m really happy, but there are also times when things are unbelievably terrible. That’s life. I have a life that not everyone can have, so I also have experiences that no one have experienced. But still… I’m happy.”