These days, U-Kiss is enjoying performing in Korea. After spending three months in Japan, the group resumed its activities at home at the beginning of September. The members stated that they realized how valuable their Korean fans are to them these days.
“While we were performing in Korea before, we only focused on moving ahead. We didn’t have time to think about how our fans viewed us. But when we started activities in Japan as a rookie, many things came to mind. We could tell our efforts made a difference, as the number of fans increased. After experiencing this, our mindset changed when we came back to Korea. We’re happy because we’ve slowly become popular instead of reaching stardom overnight. We’re realizing many things as we push ahead.” (Soohyun)
“A Japanese fan sent us a fan letter translated through an automatic translation program. The sentences are so awkward, but we’re so thankful for the effort. Through our activities in Japan, we realized the importance of fans.” (Dongho)
“While we were performing in Korea before, we only focused on moving ahead. We didn’t have time to think about how our fans viewed us. But when we started activities in Japan as a rookie, many things came to mind. We could tell our efforts made a difference, as the number of fans increased. After experiencing this, our mindset changed when we came back to Korea. We’re happy because we’ve slowly become popular instead of reaching stardom overnight. We’re realizing many things as we push ahead.” (Soohyun)
“A Japanese fan sent us a fan letter translated through an automatic translation program. The sentences are so awkward, but we’re so thankful for the effort. Through our activities in Japan, we realized the importance of fans.” (Dongho)
It wasn’t an easy road for the boys, as they were homesick during their three month stay in Japan.
“I spent time with the other members to alleviate some of the homesickness. Even though we were very grateful to Japanese fans, I thought about Korea a lot. We only recently realized how grateful we are to work in Korea.” (Hoon)
“I thought three months would be a short length of time, but it was long. We were busy, but I thought about Korea a lot. Every day we spent five hours studying Japanese, five hours dancing and singing, and exercising in our spare time. I worked hard every day with determination. My Japanese skills have gotten a lot better, and our performance and singing abilities have improved.” (Eli)
“I spent time with the other members to alleviate some of the homesickness. Even though we were very grateful to Japanese fans, I thought about Korea a lot. We only recently realized how grateful we are to work in Korea.” (Hoon)
“I thought three months would be a short length of time, but it was long. We were busy, but I thought about Korea a lot. Every day we spent five hours studying Japanese, five hours dancing and singing, and exercising in our spare time. I worked hard every day with determination. My Japanese skills have gotten a lot better, and our performance and singing abilities have improved.” (Eli)
They prepared the entire choreography for the tracks of the new album Neverland, in Japan, as the group believed that the choreography made in Japan would be much more familiar to Japanese fans.
“We always spent time together with each other, and our teamwork has improved. The choreography for this album reflects our good teamwork. We’re getting along well these days.” (AJ)
Both Hoon and AJ, who joined the group later than the others, also got along with the others while working in Japan. Hoon said with a smile, “I was worried because I joined the team late. But everybody takes care of me, so I didn’t feel out of place at all.”
U-Kiss is a group that is more popular abroad than at home. Being fluent in foreign languages is one of the reasons behind the group’s overseas popularity. Eli has an excellent command of English and Chinese, while Dongho is fluent in Chinese, as he spent his childhood in China. Kevin also speaks English fluently, and AJ was even accepted into Columbia University. Needless to say, all of the members speak Japanese. Since they can communicate with fans, they are loved overseas.
“We feel our popularity overseas rather than in Korea. When we go to any East Asian country, the airport is always packed with fans. When we went to the Philippines, there were so many fans at the airport that police couldn’t control them. Honestly, we feel a little sad that we’re not as big in Korea. But we have to accept it because we’re not in Korea. The competition is even more fierce in Korea than in foreign countries. Even though we like being in Korea, we also feel really pressured and burdened to compete.” (Kevin)
“We always spent time together with each other, and our teamwork has improved. The choreography for this album reflects our good teamwork. We’re getting along well these days.” (AJ)
Both Hoon and AJ, who joined the group later than the others, also got along with the others while working in Japan. Hoon said with a smile, “I was worried because I joined the team late. But everybody takes care of me, so I didn’t feel out of place at all.”
U-Kiss is a group that is more popular abroad than at home. Being fluent in foreign languages is one of the reasons behind the group’s overseas popularity. Eli has an excellent command of English and Chinese, while Dongho is fluent in Chinese, as he spent his childhood in China. Kevin also speaks English fluently, and AJ was even accepted into Columbia University. Needless to say, all of the members speak Japanese. Since they can communicate with fans, they are loved overseas.
“We feel our popularity overseas rather than in Korea. When we go to any East Asian country, the airport is always packed with fans. When we went to the Philippines, there were so many fans at the airport that police couldn’t control them. Honestly, we feel a little sad that we’re not as big in Korea. But we have to accept it because we’re not in Korea. The competition is even more fierce in Korea than in foreign countries. Even though we like being in Korea, we also feel really pressured and burdened to compete.” (Kevin)
U-Kiss debuted in 2008 with Not Young. They were actually so young at that time that (ironically) they had to emphasize they are not young. But that’s not the case anymore. They’re popular throughout Asia, and even Dongho is a high school student. Even though they have grown out of their rookie image, U-Kiss has a goal that has yet to be achieved—becoming number one on a music program.
“Am I Easy? has done well but it didn’t claim the top spot. Everybody thinks it did, but it didn’t. We hope we can be number one while doing activities for our second album. We want to be showered with confetti while we celebrate on stage. We might cry if we take first place. We might be so overwhelmed with emotion, unlike other teams. All of us waited so long as a trainee before debuting, and three years have passed since then, so our thirst to be the best has only increased.” (Kiseop)
The boys add that they’ll continue to give everything they have. We’re anxious to see where U-Kiss will be in the future.
Photo Credit: NH Media
Translation Credit: Misun Lee
“Am I Easy? has done well but it didn’t claim the top spot. Everybody thinks it did, but it didn’t. We hope we can be number one while doing activities for our second album. We want to be showered with confetti while we celebrate on stage. We might cry if we take first place. We might be so overwhelmed with emotion, unlike other teams. All of us waited so long as a trainee before debuting, and three years have passed since then, so our thirst to be the best has only increased.” (Kiseop)
The boys add that they’ll continue to give everything they have. We’re anxious to see where U-Kiss will be in the future.
Photo Credit: NH Media
Translation Credit: Misun Lee
