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“Fifty Million People to Recognize EXO is Our Goal”

We can only describe it as a surprising happening. The phenomenon that EXO recently showed was one that was unpredicted from a rookie who debuted just over one year ago. ‘Growl,’ which was released over a month ago is still in the top 5 on music charts and their first album and repackage album sales combined together surpassed way over 700 thousand albums. Debuting with ‘MAMA’ in April 2014, after having a hiatus of around one year, they passed ‘Wolf and Beauty’ and can now say they were a success by certainly stamping the name EXO with ‘Growl.’ And during the time of debut the 12 members that were split into EXO-K, Korean promotions team, and EXO-M, Chinese promotions team, have become one like their cheer, “WE ARE ONE” and showed a performance on the next level. In order to ask them how they were able to grow in such a fast time, met EXO. EXO interviews that will be revealed throughout four days, the last is stories about EXO’s time, trainee period, and goals. With this sorry heart, let’s run by looking at Kai and D.O, Kris and Chanyeol’s sesame-like story.

читать дальшеFree Time
When you guys have free time, what do you usually do in the dorm.
Chanyeol: I shared a room with Tao in the past, and this friend does one man minor roles for fun. He acts like talking like this and then moving over a bit and then talking like that, and then he changes into a different character saying, “Ah, where is this place?”
Xiumin: He doesn’t do that when he’s by himself. When the members are just still or look bored he jokes around. It’s a type of aegyo but, I wish he didn’t do that. The person watching is uncomfortable. (laughter)
Tao: Hahahaha. Hyung does it with me too! We do it in the dorm together all the time? If I go, “Xiumin, let’s do it together,” you go “Uh, okay.”
Xiumin: Then I was bored too.
Tao: There is a fun act that we do together. Let’s show them. (laughter)
Xiumin: What is there to show. It’s always just shooting the gun and dying from a gunshot.

I also heard that you split into EXO-M and EXO-K team to play basketball.
Xiumin: Overall, EXO-M members are friends that liked to exercise since young. As predicted, we played basketball a lot and like it so our stamina is a bit higher. Even if you look objectively, our positions are split perfectly. The tallest Kris is center and fast Luhan is kind of like a guard feel. He’s really good at doing 3-pointer shots. Because Tao is strong, he is the power forward and Lay is also a forward feeling but he’s a bit different than Tao. Because I’m not good at basketball, I am the ball boy. (laughter)
Sehun: I want to first clap for EXO-M’s basketball skills. Kris hyung has skills of an athlete and the rest of the members are all good too. EXO-K members all really can’t play. (laughter) Because the level difference is so bad, we try not to play basketball. The fact that we played a game was when we were trainees.

Trainee Period
Whether it be long or short, you guys all had a trainee period but what influence did that time give to you.
Suho: When you go through the trainee period during your adolescence, you become more cautious and you tend to save your words. Because you have to compete with other friends and in order to achieve the dream of a singer, you end up living a working lifestyle kind of life. Not that I had another job but doesn’t social life always make one tense and give the burden of having to complete something. Because I endured that since young, I think there is a part of me where I’m a little careful in everything I do.
Baekhyun: On the other hand, if you have a long trainee period, your mental strength because really strong. Compared to people who had short trainee periods, I don’t think they go through slumps because of small things. Earlier this year, I went through a slight slump because of singing. It was because I didn’t know how I was supposed to sing. Because I already debuted and I have to show right away, I fell into worries on ‘what should I do.’ However, Suho hyung is not like that and is always maintains his composure. I think because his will power is strong, he can endure not going through slumps. Of course there are bad points too. Hyung’s personality is the complete opposite from me, because we’re stuck in formality, I want to break that.

How are your two personalities different.
Baekhyun: Hyung is the type that seeks practical rules and I am the type that seeks expediency. For example, if there was a math problem and someone taught me how to solve it, I always found an expedience. (laughter) I am the type that thinks a lot about ‘what do I have to do in order to find a faster way to solve this, what can I do to memorize this faster.’ Once when we were showering together, Suho hyung told me that because of me he became softer. I as predicted looked at hyung and thought, ‘a person can be that serious.’ Originally, I was a person that was like a feather that could soar through the sky but thanks to hyung I think I changed a bit.

How were the other members’ trainee periods.
Sehun: I was casted in sixth grade and officially started my trainee period in my second year of middle school. Because it was when I was really young, at first I was a bit confused and starting from my first year of high school I thought ‘I can’t do it like this.’ Because the other people’s dreams are solid and stuff. Starting from then I did dance practice a bit more.
Xiumin: I followed a friend to the audition and luckily passed and joined the company. At that time I was a high school third year preparing for the college entrance exam and because I wouldn’t be debuting right away but would have to go through a trainee period, I thought a lot. But because the only place to trust was the company, I think I just constantly faithfully practiced.

EXO’s Goals
How do you think it’d feel if you suddenly went to an ordinary young man from this situation.
Kris: Because I dreamed of being a basketball player before, to be honest I can be a basketball player again. However if I had to spend my life as a normal person, I don’t think I’d be able to accept that. Most likely everyone will be like that. Because in a foreign country, 4-5 years ago I came to Korea and tried really hard while practicing. If I suddenly lost this job, I think I’d be sad and taken aback.
Sehun: If I were to be honest, I think because there is freedom, there are some good aspects. However, I don’t want to go back. (bashfully laughs) Because I am EXO.

You debuted and now because you officially started gaining popularity, you guys started to get busy. For a while now you guys will be living a life like this, what are the things that you think everyone should keep no matter how hard they are.
Lay: It’s something we do even now but, it’s to not forget to say “thank you” when someone does something for another.
Chen: Proper man of his word. Because even if we really grow older and quit the job as an idol, if we were to show that we’re proper men of our word, we can leave a good image for people.

Baekhyun: I want to make a promise amongst the members. Even if we have a lot of free time, to only go home, to only meet male friends, or to only exercise. To be honest, I don’t think it’s a time for us to be having fun yet. That is my thought but… till thirty five? I wish that no one forgot the ‘person that they wanted to be’ when we debuted because we were so lost in pleasure. I hope no one forgets their own goals. Because of one thing like that, I can’t see EXO falling apart.
Suho: For me, it’s to love EXO members. Not excluding a single person.
Baekhyun: Suho hyung will guide us all towards a good direction. Because he’s always a proper person.

Then what is EXO’s goal overall.
Lay: Right now, rather than a member individually being popular or showing, I think EXO being more known is more urgent. Our Suho, leader said this once, “Fifty million people in Korea recognizing EXO is our goal.” I think we still have a long way to go.

How many people do you think recognize EXO now.
Suho: I think for teens it is nine out of then and for twenties it is six out of ten. (laughter)

Lastly, if you were to define EXO with one word.
Kris: For me, EXO is a pizza. Each member is a pizza slice because all twelve members must be there for us to be one.
D.O: If only one is missing, then it is not perfect.

source: Ize
translation cr; nahbit @ exok-trans

“EXO Baekhyun, Chen's story”

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With Baekhyun and Chen, who finished shooting first, we went out to the studio garden and started to talk while carefully looking through the LP that were prepared as props. Although we can see that Baekhyun is the center of EXO’s “beagle line” just by looking at his eyes filled with curiosity and mischievousness, his eyes that twinkle even more when he talks about his thoughts on singing and the future are a charm that I honestly didn’t know about. On top of that, I think it will be quite a fun time seeing how he who said “rather than being afraid of making mistakes, I think I will get better by going up against it at the actual fight,” will grow.

Baekhyun. I was born on May 6th, 1992. With same-aged Chanyeol, Chen, we are called the 'beagle line,’ but from my perspective I think those two are easier to control. (laughter) When we first debuted, because I was not used to looking at the camera while doing even a short ment, my face was shaking, but because we kept doing it for a couple of months, it is a bit natural now. When I feel like I am lacking something, I monitor people who are good at it and learn. That is why I wasn’t shaking while thinking ‘this is scary what should I do,’ but because instead I let out a war cry, 'I will fight with this!' while looking at the camera, I feel like I was able to overcome it faster. Because I enjoy watching MBC 'Real Man,' I even thought of what I would do if I went out. But because I have a fear of heights… I don’t think it’d be easy if I had to go through helicopter drop training or water repel training, but I will try to overcome it! I can say that I am in the ranking for game skills in EXO. I think because I played a variety of games since young, I am a little better than the other members. One of the computer game genres that I am most confident in is the FPS game. Sometimes I make fun of D.O but I don’t make fun of it so that we get offended but it’s only to the extent where I give him fun nicknames. I think D.O really like’s it when I call him 'dyodoro' from boxer Fedor. However when I call D.O like this, the most important part is that I do it ‘as provokingly as I can!’ (laughter) Whenever I get to have a color stage at our concert, I want to use one pin light and sing a ballad song with the topic of separating with the piano. If I can migrate earthlings to EXO planet, besides singer, a role I want to take is a college student.

Even while tying his shoes, he hums the BGM, while waiting for his turn, dancing to the music playing, Chen is one that matches his nickname of ‘funky funky Chen.’ While having pride in the result of his hard work, while judging himself objectively and while playfully reacting to the members’ stories you can see that he completely understands the true essence of the others’ words and that side makes you assume that he has hidden wick in him. The reason why the words a man with a kinda heart comes to mind is because of that.

Chen. He was born in September 21, 1992. Although I like joking around, I think I am different than Baekhyun and Chanyeol. (laughter) These friends really have the power to talk from morning to dawn. When we film a music video, we really don’t sleep for the whole night but seeing that they went to the end, I was surprised. (Baekhyun: Although I’m the type to get tired really quickly, if I stay still I come back alive. Haha!) The members say that I am ‘funky’ but my funkiness that I think of is my rascal like actions. Because I am in charge of the high notes as a main vocal, I try really hard to always be able to let out a nice tone. First, I start from the low notes and slowly go higher to release my neck from tension. And in order to not let my lips go chap, I go up on stage after taking a drink of water. A while ago I went to Han River for a bit and I was intrigued because a lady asked me, "You’re EXO right? My daughter really likes you.” A few members were with me at the time but the person I think she recognized was…me, really! (laughter) I think it’s thanks to KBS On the first stage I sang 'Really I Didn't Know' with Baekhyun, but because it is a delicate ballad song, while practicing we discussed a lot. While trying to understand the lyrics’ emotions and making it to one, by discussing everything from I’ll sing it like this at this part, you sing it like at that part, the time because 5 in the morning. I like the movie If I can choose one amongst the characters, I want to become Thor. It is because I want to be able to control thunder as much as I want. I call D.O ‘shortie' sometimes but I am no…t afraid of D.O's ice punch. Because the fact that D.O is a shortie is true! (laughter) I have an older brother so I thought what it would be like to have a younger sister, but even if I had a younger sister, I think if she did anything rude I would severely scold her. I would then make her understand why that deed was wrong and reason with her. If I could migrate earthlings to EXO planet, besides a singer, I want to become a college student that ordinarily has a part-time job and raises his own spending money.

source: Ize
translation cr; nahbit @ exok-trans

“EXO Kris, Chanyeol's story”

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Short but strong. Kris’ one word that he tossed in, even if his words are not normal, he is overflowing with confidence. Whether it’s when the members saw a caterpillar and like it was nothing, he said “Let’s eat it!”, or when filming ended and he jumped and laid on the bed saying “Euha, as expected, I’m an action actor!”, laughing Kris is without a doubt, fresh. Kris’ own world where the reason why EXO is pizza is because you have to have all 12 pieces to be one. The more you get to know it, it’s a world the strangely drags you in.

Kris. I was born on November 11, 1990. I was born in China and raised in Canada. I am EXO-M’s leader and am in charge of rapping. When rapping in Korean, the pronunciation is certainly difficult. Usually when I talk, my pronunciation is strong and clear and I try to rap naturally but when I do it, people have said that it is awkward. On I practiced the song I sang with D.O and Chanyeol, Dynamic Duo sunbaenim’s ”Guilty”, a lot and I’m glad the response was good. Apart from rap, I have a lot of interest in writing and composing songs, fashion design, DJing, etc. Out of the lyrics that I have written up until now, my favorite ones are ‘Just one more time one last time’. Cool style starts when one wears clothes that matches them the best. And the mental attitude in wanting to try new styles is important. Ah, in the future, when launching my own brand name, a name came to mind but it is a secret. (Kai: Say it now. What will you do if someone else uses it first?) No. But while it’s really cool, it also connects with me well. A name that anyone could look at and say ‘Ah, this is Kris’ brand’. From a long time ago, I have watched and studied Korean variety programs a lot. But I’m not someone with as good reactions as Chanyeol. (D.O: If you film for a long time, you can get tired but Chanyeol’s concentration is good so he doesn’t get tired. He’s amazing.) I have stood, protecting, in front of the bathroom for 30 minutes before for Tao. At that time I thought ‘Tao is still very young’. But now, since I’m lacking sleeping time, I haven’t been able to do that for him. I can’t sleep much but, my skin is nice… I think I was born with it. (Laughs) In particular, I don’t receive face care and I wash well. I am the type that has a lot of interest in acting. So it doesn’t matter if it’s Korean movies, Chinese movies, or Hollywood movies, I definitely watch them a lot. I haven’t been able to show something worthy of being called acting yet, but like in a music video for the short part that I was able to show, I worked really hard.

Only five minutes. In order to feel Chanyeol’s positive energy, this allotted time is enough. While shooting under the strong sunlight, making the atmosphere more ‘up’ by saying “Think it’s March. Ah~ It’s warm,” is just the basics. Although he’s afraid of bugs, just looking at Chanyeol who shines when he is intrigued that he found a “baby cricket” shows his charm that makes one end up smiling. While mischievously fooling around and hitting D.O with a ‘pak pak’ (t/n: sound of a hit) noise, the reason why his image while be remembered for a while is because whenever a question is thrown at him, his eyes shine brightly.

Chanyeol. I was born on November 27th, 1992. I have a positive personality and I am the type that loves myself. It is thanks to inheriting my parents’ positive energy. Ever since I was young I liked people and with the sociability I raised from the playground, I gained a lot of love! Even now, at a funny timing, whatever action I do, I think the members enjoy it. Lately, thinking about my health, instead of body gags, I’m researching ways to be funny by eloquence. However, if I can’t do what I need to do because I’m hurt, I will be come depressed and stressed. In my third year of middle school, I saw Muse for the first time at Pentaport Rock Festival and fell for them completely. It was really cool that they could make such a cool sound with three members. If I were to go to a rock festival now, I’d probably be shaking my head with everyone and doing 'slam.' I started playing guitar since my first or second year of middle school. Possibly because I taught myself, I formed a hand habit. That is why I don’t just follow a song while listening like I did in the past but I am practicing in the direction where I master the basics. Ah, because my father recently gave me a good guitar for an early birthday present, I keep playing that. Constantly. (laughter) Ever since I was a trainee, I really liked rap but it is true that there weren’t a lot to chances for me to show that. Whenever I find the chance, like at a radio, I am preparing so I can show my best. Recently we’ve been going on variety programs a lot but I met Kim Bosung sunbae on KBS ‘Mama Mia.’ I said I’d register the UFO Association, but I couldn’t yet. It’s because I haven’t seen (Kim Bosung) senior after the recording. The way to always win in rock paper scissors against the members is only by trusting myself. If I were able to migrate earthlings to EXO planet, besides a singer, I want to become a regular college student. Normally I enjoy webtoon , but I have a romance of wanting to become a nice and warm college senior like Yoojung senior and buying food for my juniors.

source: Ize
translation cr; nahbit & zesha @ exok-trans

EXO D.O, Kai's Story

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After the outdoor photoshoot, D.O shyly sat down and focused on caterpillars. “Are your feet this small?’ After seeing the baby shoes that were at the studio, his round eyes got even bigger. He may seem like a baby like this but D.O is actually a ‘real man’. As soon as the group photoshoot started, he went to the center and confidently said “Okay, let’s go”, just like he wanted the members to focus [on the work]. Even if he looks like a kid, his reversal charms can be seen through his indifferent gaze.

D.O. I was born on January 12th 1993. I am EXO-K’s main vocal. I was also in charge of getting hit by Luhan hyung in the EXO music video drama episode that was released not too long ago, this is what the producer decided because he thought it’d fit my image. But my real image isn’t what you saw…. or is it really? Is it really the kind of image I have? The other members always make fun of me. I don’t know why. I have no way to show my dignity so I have to face the members just like always. There are sometimes moments when I have to show my aegyo but it’s really difficult. The meat I grill tastes better than the other members’ so I’ve become in charge of cooking the meat. I don’t have any particular know-how but the more you grill meat, the more you will get this ‘feeling’ you can’t express with words. Ah, I think it’d be fun if I got to appear on KBS 's night time cafeteria, but I haven't found the recipe I'd show there yet. There's a misunderstanding saying I am good at cooking, I actually only enjoy doing so. Even if the members said during an interview that I take care of them well like a mother. (Q. Doesn't it only mean than the members often ask you to cook?) However, when I'm asked to do something, I don't do it. I cook when I feel like it and at that's when we eat together. I really like singing while Chanyeol is playing the guitar. It might be because we’ve started practicing together ever since our trainee days but we get along well. If I change the rythm when singing, Chanyeol will make sure to follow me and if he changes, then I am the one following him. (Chanyeol : There are about 15 songs we told ourselves we’d show the world once we debut). True. ‘Nothing On You’, that we performed on KBS 2FM’s was one of them. I’ve listened to R&B music ever since I was a kid so I really enjoy it. Later on, when we hold our concert, I want my solo stage to only be made of a stand mic and my voice in order to make [the audience] listen to black music properly. I like Chris Brown and Justin Bieber so I often listen to these two singers’ songs. I actually haven’t recovered from the ‘superior orchestra' trauma. I haven't found a special way to get over it yet but I think I'll have to do so by gaining experience.

"Ah! Not too long ago I cried my eyes out while watching a modern dance performance!" Kai’s voice is getting louder. Looking at him getting excited while talking about dancing makes him more look like Kim Jongin who’s just like other people of the same age rather than Kai who’s overflowing with charisma. It was even more obvious while he was posing seriously when D.O came up to him and invited him to make bubbles together, his eyes automatically formed crescents and he smiled. He even joked around by wearing the baby shoes D.O brought on his great toe, finding out that the gap between Kai and Kim Jongin wasn’t easy to see was an interesting discovery.

Kai. I was born on January 14th 1994. I’ve learned ballet ever since I was a kid. Lately, while watching Mnet’s I’ve been wondering what would have happened if I had kept on doing ballet until now. I would have probably gone ‘all-in’ and gone overseas to pratice, right? Since there’s nothing I want to be better at than dancing and singing. If I ever become a ballerino, I want to create a piece in which I’d express how I can’t give up on the woman I love with my body. I am a perfectionist so when I make a mistake on stage, I blame myself a lot. When I’m back at home I go ‘Ah ! Why did I mess up here !’ and such. I love R&B a lot. If I get the chance to be in a unit or have my own solo, I want to show a cool performance with a song that would have a strong beat but would still be calm. I think Michael Jackson, Usher and Chris Brown are really sexy men on stage. (Laughs) I feel like they make the ladies go crazy even with the most common gestures. The members danced on not too long ago. First of all, I think Suho hyung could dance well if he practiced a bit more whereas Chen hyung lived up to his ‘Funky funky Chen’ name by showing his unique sense of rythm. I think he’ll be good at locking in the future. Ah, when I hit Sehun’s butt in , it wasn’t because I was in a bad mood, it’s because there’s another reason behind this. Usually, when you eat someone in the butt, you don’t use the top of your foot. However I hit Sehun when he was standing. So… I ended up hitting his butt. Hahaha. But didn’t I hit him too? Well, I thought of it as a chance that wouldn’t be given to me again anytime soon so I hit him for fun but I ended up hitting him much harder than expected so I was surprised. I’ve been following the Premier League since my first year at high school and that’s how I’ve become a Chelsea fan. This year, if Chelsea doesn’t end up first, I think they’ll get the second place? So if earthlings could emigrate to EXO Planet, I would try to become a ballerino or a football player. If I had to compare myself to an animal, I’d say a jaguar. First because my skin is dark. And also because jaguars are usually slow, once they speed up they make a 180 degree change. I think [jaguars] are similar to me in this because I live pretty leisurely but when I dance, I focus on it more than everyone else.

source: Ize
translation cr; saphira @ exok-trans

EXO Suho, Lay's Story

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Leading a team of 12 people at the age of 23 can be too much for some people. However, Suho who has been a trainee for a long time and thus earned practical experience since his early trainee days, is the type of leader who reacts in a neat way instead of raising his voice. However, when you talk with him and get over that nice and adult-like first impression, you can see a shy, strange and cute boy who nods his head repeatedly. Suho calls himself ‘an unexpectedly fun person’, and this is the reason why we agree with him.

Suho. Born on May 22nd 1991. I am EXO’s leader. I buy food to all the members, but I feel proud when my dongsaengs say they want to buy me food after enjoying what I bought for them. On the other hand, I feel a bit useless when I buy a member something to eat because I thought it’d be tasty and that the said member doesn’t find it good and leaves it untouched. (Laughs). Rather than my speciality, golfing is my hobby. When I was in middle school, it piqued my interest when I was at the fitness center and I even learnt how to play it for 6 months but my skills still aren’t good enough. Since I’m the leader, when we just debuted I was in charge of answering questions about EXO’s meaning and the album concepts, I was seen as a firm and exemplary character. (Lay : Our leader is really serious and works hard in everything. He’s cool.) However, I’m an “unexpectedly” fun person. (Laughs) People who haven’t talked with me and have only seen me being quiet probably won’t know about this but if you talk with me for 5~10 minutes, or if you exchange texts with me, you will be able to know how fun of a person I am ! On MBC EveryOne’s D.O said about my face that “When he’s not moving he’s handsome but when he laughs he gets ugly”, honestly… I acknowledge the fact I’m not handsome when I laugh. (Laughs) If you watch MBC’s , you’ll be able to feel how much I like being together with my fellow members. But when I’m tired and I want to sleep and that the members come into my room one after the other because they have things to tell me, I also tell myself I sometimes need time for myself only. If the earthlings were able to emigrate to EXO Planet, I would like to become a teacher who’d help students by teaching them my knowledge, helping them psychologically and by trying to understand their minds.

Because of his big eyes and long neck that are reminiscent of an herbivore animal, I guessed his personality would be calm and delicate. However, after seeing him on a variety program imitating Kristina with a serious face expression and shouting “Kim~chi~stew~” showed that, as expected, Lay was a twisted person. Seeing him reply actively to any type of question without hesitation and sometimes with a various vocabulary made me look forward to a remarkable character. Even though, of course, no matter how busy or how hard it is on him, the promise he has made with himself to never forget to say “Thank you” will stay the same.

Lay. I was born on October 7th 1991. I was asked ‘What’s the character that should be in the brackets in ‘ka na da ra ma ba sa ah ja cha ka ta () ha’ (T/N : It’s the Korean alphabetical order) before, and of course the answer is ‘pa’. Pa, pa Hip hop~ Yeah~ (Laughs). I am still diligently learning Korean. I’ve heard the expression ‘having swag’ from Sehun and used it once on a TV program. (Laughs). Baekhyun also teaches me a lot of interesting words but lately I’ve learned the word ‘energizer’. I like showering so the longest I can stay without showering is about 10 hours. Because I absolutely have to shower at least once every 10 hours, it could be a problem if water didn’t come out well in our dorm but fortunately, the installation in our dorm is well done so there’s always water. Haha ! I prelly much like all of Stephen Chow's movies. Among these, the funniest one is . I want to have lunch with Teacher Lee Sooman once. If I were to pick the menu [for this lunch] I would of course enjoy pasta or pizza but the CEO will probably prefer something like kimchi stew so this is what I would order. I am in charge of the healing superpower in EXO. Even though I can’t heal the members in real life, whenever something happens I pray for all of them. If earthlings were to emigrate to EXO Planet, I would make them tasty food and eat with them. I want to eat tasty meals with the people I love while living happily.

source: Ize
translation cr; saphira @ exok-trans