

Original Article

Trans by alwaysbyYS

Translations may contain inaccuracies

10. Unknowingly, 5 months have passed since the new start as ‘Highlight’. If you were to give your debut song ‘Plz Don’t Be Sad’ a score.

SDW: 100 points. Although the first bite won’t be filling but thank you for giving us lots of love. Seems like this activity will become a stepping stone for the future advancement of Highlight.

YJH: Me too, 100 points. Really received lots of love, more than expected. Using this as a driving force, seems like we are able to branch out properly next time and next next time. Starting off with a good feeling.

LGK: 99 points. I am hoping for us to do better in the future activities, which is why I gave this score. Until we achieve 100 points, we have to work even harder in order to get that remaining 1 point

YDJ: Then I’ll give 101 points. 100 points is the full mark. (Everyone laughed) The fans that made it possible for me to cast aside all the things that I worry about and also gained a lot of things I’m thankful about from the fans. More than the score we want to give ourselves, I would like to give it to the fans.

YYS: The members all gave very high scores so mine may seem low but (laughs) about 90 points? From the name BEAST to the new name Highlight, there were many changes. There were awkward parts too within this (transit). We could have done better but there is this regretful part that was left behind.

10. Before the first stage of Highlight, what words/stories were exchanged between the members, I’m curious.

YJH: ‘Let’s do it happily. If we are happy, people will be happy too’ we shared a lot of such words.

LGK: To be honest, Dongwoon prepared all the first ment before the start of every stage so he has to bear a lot of pressure for the ment.

YDJ: I would receive a lot of stress alone too next time.

SDW: Even so, in order to bring joy to people, we would hwaiting.

10. Last month, you released the repackaged album ‘CALLING YOU’. It was the first repackaged album after debut.

YJH: To reduce the time that people are waiting for us, we prepared it without a break. In the future too, as long as time permits, I will work hard to continuously compose and plan to look for you guys often.

10. After the new start of Highlight, there are lots of individual activities. Solo, drama, variety, OST… All the members became very busy. Isn’t it tiring.

SDW: More than having lots to do, it is more tiring without anything to do. In the process of moving from the previous company to being independent, we had time to rest. Although I did self discovery and self improvement during that period of time, it is better to have things to do.

YJH: It is better to be busy.

10. Will you monitor each other’s individual activities.

YDJ: During the 9 years, once… (everyone laughs) ah, not even once, (laughs)

SDW: When I see it on TV by chance, I will be like “Oh! You came on”

YYS: To be honest, for drama and variety programmes, because we each have our own schedules, it is difficult to monitor the actual broadcast.

YDJ: If there are 20 parts, it would be 20 hours.

YJH: Above all, because we know that all of us are doing our best so we don’t have to talk about it. (laughs)

YDJ: We know what we are doing

10. Highlight held their first concert in June.

YYS: That venue was also where we had our first concert as BEAST, holding it here once more, there was a new feeling and the excitement was great. I was happy because it was the first time meeting fans for 3 consecutive days.

10. All members of Highlight are the CEOs of your company AroundUS Entertainment. As the leader that guides the company, do you have a principle that you follow.

SDW: Let’s be frugal. (everyone laughs)

YDJ: Let’s live for a long time.

10. Are there any differences from being artistes in a company and the leader of a company.

YYS: Firstly, in the operations of the company, all members are in charge of different areas. Those responsible in each of the different areas would also seek our opinions. Because of this, compared to previous times, the things we have to take care of and think about have honestly increased.

YJH: When there are big decisions to be made in the company, there is a system whereby we need all 5 members to agree before we proceed with it. We need to always think things through carefully in order to protect the company.

10. Previously, we did an interview with the PD of MBC every1 ‘Weekly Idol’, and the production crew pointed out Highlight as the idol that will make people ‘ip-deok (a phenomenon that make people become their fans)’

Highlight: Wa~ Thank you!

YDJ: After our contract ended with CUBE Entertainment, and even during the period when we haven’t settled in any company yet, ‘Weekly Idol’ called us (onto the show) and took care of us.

YJH: In 2014, we worked together with PD-nim since the reality programme ‘Showtime – Burning the BEAST’. We are always thankful. We have a great deal of fondness for each other.

10. Highlight has a great reputation. (When talking) about the members, they are always praises.

SDW: (Towards whoever) we treat them sincerely.

YYS: We don’t act this way to win the favour or let whoever see us in a good light but we are just doing our best in a similar position. It seems like this is an essential effort in maintaining human relationships too.

10. Are you blissful these days.

Highlight: We are blissful!

10. When do you feel blissful.

YDJ: We feel blissful every moment. It is more difficult to point out the moments when we are not blissful.

YJH: When I am together with the members. (silence) Why?

YYS: Please write down (everyone laughed) in brackets

LGK: For me, it’s when I eat delicious food. Especially when I eat chicken. (laughs) Before the start of filming for the tvN drama ‘Circle: 2 Connected Worlds’, in order to appear prettily on screen, I dieted. So, bliss is when I eat chicken and beer when there isn’t filming the next day.

YYS: Seems like there isn’t anything big. Just like what Gikwangie said, it isn’t about the big things, but I feel lots of bliss in the small, trivial things.

SDW: For me, it’s now. When it is about time to get off work. (Interview, the pictorial shoot and after everything else has ended, and going through the last part) I really like such small things. Now, I’m thinking about ‘What delicious food should I eat after this ends’.

10. To the group Highlight, the blissful moments are.

YDJ: The moments when we are promoting. Before the new start of Highlight, there are lots of things happening here and there, there are really many worries. We feel it (the bliss) more, especially during the start of ‘Plz Don’t Be Sad’ promotions, being able to promote is already a very thankful thing itself and we also felt a great relief and bliss at the same time.

10. Is Highlight the ‘Soft on the outside, Strong on the inside’ type or the ‘Strong on the outside, Soft on the inside’ type.

YJH: ‘Soft on the outside, Soft on the inside’ type? (laughs) The members hearts are all really delicate. Even when we are hurt, we won’t show it

YYS: Our personalities are all similar.

SDW: Even so, we have become stronger these days.

10. When leaving the company that you have worked with for 7 years, it seems like there is nothing else you can do other than becoming stronger. It isn’t a simple thing to walk this path alone.

YDJ: To be honest, there are uncertain times where we feel like we can’t overcome it. Because things didn’t turn out the way we expected.

YJH: Therefore, we really say it a lot that it is important for the members to stay together.

YDJ: Just like that Eun? Eun? we encouraged each other and it seems like we won.

10. The highlight of Highlight’s life is.

YDJ: Now. Isn’t the 20s, an age where you can consider it as the youthful part of a person’s life. Although youth cannot be defined by age. But anyways, I think I lived my 20s quite splendidly so it seems like this moment now is the highlight.

YYS: Although it is the highlight now, but it would be great if there is more to come. Different from the highlights in novels and songs, where it ends once it’s out, it would be great if our highlight can go on continuously. So, ‘Among so many of the highlights, when was the most highlight one’ I want to bring this thought with me when I’m being buried (die)” (everyone laughed) When I’m old, and when I look back (on the memories, I can say that) I’m blissful during this time and I’m blissful during that time too~

10. What will Highlight’s appearance be after 10 years.

SDW: 37… Ha.

YYS: We will become a slightly older Highlight (laughs) Till then, if it is possible, we still want to be together with the fans.

LGK: Seems like it’s possible

SDW: About 37 years old, it’s fine.

YDJ: Although you are 37, but we are 39 years old.

LGK: 39 years old, it isn’t that bad.

YYS: In order to meet lots of fans till then too, we need to diligently take good care of our health. (laughs)

LGK: We need to work on the muscles on our lower half of the body.

10. If you have already fulfilled your dreams when you first debuted, what other dreams do you want to achieve in the future.

YYS: When I first debuted, I said that I wanted to become a musical actor and it seems like I have already fulfilled this so I’m satisfied. I have the heart of wanting to create life’s second highlight. I don’t think I can do it alone, I need to do it with these friends. I also have the desire to discover rookies. Want to achieve the dreams that we can’t through them. This is a far-off story.

SDW: For me, the biggest dream is just that the people I love are healthy and happy. No accidents happening to them and no pain, and living just like now in the future too.

10. The reason Highlight thinks why they are able to receive love for a long time

YYS: To be honest, we had fun by ourselves during the promotions and when looking at this, it seems like a lot of people enjoyed it together with us too. More than idols that feel faraway, I think we give off the friendly neighbourhood oppa, dongsaeng and friend vibe so that is why people like us, isn’t it.

10. This is a question that new groups get asked a lot these days. To Highlight that has debuted again for about 1 year, is there a modifier that you want to gain

YDJ: Eum… It seems like we have been thinking about this for a long time.

LGK: ‘Avengers-dol’. ‘Avengers’ is a group of superheroes and they all have different abilities. Because all 5 members of Highlight have different characteristics, it seems like ‘Avengers-dol’ or ‘Marvel-dols’ is good.

SDW: Greeting-dols. (Everyone laughed) As much as that, it has the meaning of long lasting

YYS: We will greet a lot too~

10. During BEAST times and also during Highlight times, the words that you want to say to the fans that have always stayed by your side.

SDW: When I think of the fans, I feel choked up. In order to thank them and repay their great love, it seems like there is nothing else we can do except for working even harder for promotions. Albums, concerts too, we will work even harder to show you better outcomes. We will work hard!

YJH: Rather than repeatedly releasing albums and becoming more comfortable (stay stagnant) as time goes by, we will work hard to let Highlight evolve bit by bit to become better. We will do our best so that the fans, who waited for us and showed us concern, won’t regret.

LGK: Although it hasn’t been long since the new start, it would be great if we could show you even more contents and a better appearance, be it individually or team. Please give us lots of love!

YDJ: Thank you for always supporting us. Now that we have gone through and overcome the painful period together with the fans, I can feel the comradeship. So, the affection will only grow. In order to avoid disappointments, we will show a cool appearance. Please be careful of catching the cold! (Everyone laughed)

YYS: Seems like I can’t express just how thankful I am, by simply saying thank you. So, we will do as well as that (as much as how thankful we are). Thank you.