Korea Elle PREMIERE

May Issue Interview (English Translation)

Why are you so thin?
I am under training for my new movie, Ninja Assassin. It's test shooting right now, on April 28th actual filming will take place.

What? So is not next week?
I will go to Hong Kong for Speed Racer promotion, then I will meet with Speed Racer group in America, and then go to London, last go to Berlin start filming for the movie, Ninja.

It's Berlin again.
Seems like Berlin and I have fate. I can even become Berlin tourism leader. If you want to eat Korean food then contact me. Even though I may be a high class (expensive) tourism leader......Berlin food tasted very good at the first time, but if you eat it often you will feel it's salty. It tasted similar to our country's pig liked food, at first it taste good, now because I feel is salty so I don't eat it often.

Actually, Korea food fits more your appetite, working in Korea is more suitable compared to the salty food and unfamiliar language, so what's your reason for staying Berlin?
You said it right, actually I really wants to live as normal people.

Really? This is the answer I never thought of.
I said IF, right now I better produce a good album, use Japanese, Chinese and Korean language for recording, then go to Japan, China and Korea to promote, have a concert once a year, film a drama, if there is a good movie then shoot one. If like this, I won't have an headache. But I never thought I would come here either. I didn't look back at time, because the chance already in my hand, I can only run forward. If I don't run then I feel I cannot beat myself.

The author of "SangDoo, Let's go to School" previously said "Rain is endless energetic friend, he never rest."
Is ambitious? is energize? If someone said "He cannot", then in my heart I will say, "yes, yes, right, right, I will use reality to answer." I used this attitude to proceed forward.

Who said you cannot before? Say their names.
At the very beginning they said, "Bi, Jihoon, how can he become singer? will he become famous? how can he act? how can he get award? wants to go to American market?" because these, is more need to use reality to answer. Lastly they cannot think of anything else to say then they said "he is good with everything but he looks ugly." I faced this I have no help.

This is too mean....
There are people no matter what they must critize me, no reasons. When there are rumors, sometimes I would think there are someone trying to play trick with me. But even though I had been suffered with rumors, I didn't waste time to hold a meeting and solve that issue. Instead, I spend time to think how to move forward. I want to start fashion brand, manage entertainment business, develop new artists, these I cannot give up. If I hear any bad news or rumors now I just treat it as nonsense, I won't put it in my heart anymore.

Feels like very confident.
Because I learnt many things. I realized if I give return to the people who recognize me, then how much I return, the other party will return back the same. If I received but did not return then that's lying. I use results to show my return. People who goes to America say this right? My album will release in XXX date, my movie will be in theatres in XXX date, just wait, just wait, can't be like this. After is released then is result, do this is the right way. Since my English pronunciation is not good, when it came out there were only couple scenes, look at the trailer only 2 scenes. If I feel appreciate, then I know I may have more scenes, I hold on to the movie's climax. Really, how is Speed Racer? how do I first appear?

Wachowski brothers seems to like you a lot, Taejo is easily been thought as a bad guy. But in the last scene, Taejo's happy expression for Speed scene really can see they treat you good.
They really treat me very good. I think may be because my new movie as a main actor.

First time encounter Wachowski brothers, can you think will be like this now?
Never. I am already like in the baseball game's final run. My movie have chance to become box office's number one. If Speed Racer movie box office become number one then will be the first time for Koreans right? Even though I am a support actor, but other than this, I got a new chance.

How do you grab this chance? Lucky? Hard work?
In Speed Racer, most of the racing scenes are made with CGI computer technology. Sitting in the small model car you can hear the loud shaking noise, if sitting there for like 30 minutes, my back feels like breaking. The machine turns to different directions, you don't act with other actors, is acting alone. I wear headphone under the helmet, the director will signal, 1 for dialog, 2 for dialog, right turn, left turn, good, then 3 for dialog, Hey. Where have u been? What're u doing? I must understand these signals and act under the shaking machine. Other actors will rest after 30 minutes of shooting, some went smoking. When they said "Rain, come out to rest," I answered, "it's okay, no problem."

So your back feels like breaking?
Yes my back really feels like breaking, because of dancing, my joints already not in good condition, I don't want to NG, everyone already feel tired.

"I'm a Cyborg, but it's ok" is your first time to be in the movie, that time feel like you are very cautious, want to shoot a good movie. But now feel like you have confidence, seems like you feel very good.
Is not specially hard, I can do it. I feel it. People said "in the movie see you look very handsome." After the press movie screening, I received a familiar reporter's SMS, "Your English pronunciation is very good, after you appeared in the movie it become more interesting." Actually the press rarely say good things.

During your concerts in New York it was serious, about half of the Koreans said, "Bi's popularity in America are like bubbles." Later when the concerts got cancelled in LA it became more serious.
Say like this is right. I don't have any activities in America, how can Americans know me? There are some south Americans, 70% Asian and 30% know me from youtube. From that time, I feel negative about the attitude of have not make the action yet but already say it to the public. My heart always think no matter is album or concert, say it only when there are results.

So now it represent your results after?
Did they say only appear in one scene? let's see. Did they say your English cannot? let's see.

These seems to be like your attitude's path, can it work? I did it. can it work? I did it.
Because I did it so I feel like my goals become higher and higher. If I don't have confidence then I can't do anything. I want to get box office champion. Once I have a goal then I will work hard to achieve it. Not long ago, Susan Sarandon wrote me a letter to congratulate me into the Hollywood market. At the very first beginning she already treat me very well, she ate with the whole crew. She said I look handsome, knowing me let her understand more Korea culture. She wants me to contact her if I go to New York. She gave me her assistant's phone number. Susan Sarandon is an Oscar best actress winner before.

Feel like you never change.
I don't know what are the changes, I only know how to run forward. Susan Sarandon said to me, if I go to New York, she and her family will treat me to dinner, she wants me to bring my girl friend too. I told her I don't have a girl friend, and asked her to introduce me one. She said is good for English practice and when there are chances she will introduce one, I hope to be friends with her daughter too. If I become more open to people, no matter what they may treat me the same.

Have you ever feel dizzy? Is like riding a Speeding car?
I prepare at every moment, I do my best. So even if I past out I won't feel regret. I did the base ground preparation. No matter is entertainment business, fashion design, or show appearance, all these are my motivation. People may easily forget their treasure of their own work, how many people wants to become a singer, an actor or a "Premiere" reporter.

End.

English translation by Rain-America.com
Source & English translation by Rain-America.com
Pic source : [Korea] Elle / PREMIERE
Credit : kkpark@Rain-America.com