[TRANS] EXO - K @ Donga Interview - From 120501

EXO-K, the 'Boys' Generation' dark horses stealing the noonas' hearts

■ EXO-K debuted only 3 weeks ago and are already planning to reach the top

Flower boy looks, robust singing skills and synchronized choreography

SM ambitiously made a new idol group

“The 2 versions in Korean and Chinese is our competitiveness”

Another big rookie idol group appeared. They have of course the singing skills, perfectly synchronized performances, unlike other rookies they’re even relaxed. They got ready with each step.

EXO-K the idol group with 6 members. They debuted only 3 weeks ago but they’re already planning to reach the singing world’s top and are already quickly and fiercely heading toward it. EXO-K caught the attention as they are the new idol group produced by DBSK’s, Super Junior’s, SNSD’s and SHINee’s company, SM Entertainment.

# “Boys’ Generation? We’re leading it”

EXO-K is one of EXO’s twin groups. They’re divided into EXO-K and EXO-M with 6 members in each group.

To enter the foreign market, they made their debut in Korea and China. The group promoting in Korea is EXO-K while EXO-M is promoting in China. They’re singing the same song in Korean and Chinese.

“‘EXO’ stands for EXOPLANET, a planet that is out of the solar system. It means that we’re stars coming from an unknown planet. It also means that we’re determined to take over the whole world starting from Korea and China. The fact that we have to do as well as the amount of attention we’re receiving is a big pressure but we are confident.”(Suho)

Lately 4 groups entered the market at the same period: B.A.P, BtoB, NU’EST and EXO-K, so the name ‘Boys’ Generation’ even appeared.

They each have different charms and are attracting the fans as a good point but EXO-K seems to stand out as they combine that with a ‘flower boy’ look too. Because of that they also successfully caught the ‘noonas’ hearts.

“No matter what is said, the competitive strength that only we have is of course that we sing in 2 languages. Our title song ‘MAMA’ is different in Korean and in Chinese and it’s refreshing too. It’s leavened with an imposing orchestra which matches our splendid performance too, it’s unique.”(D.O•Chanyeol)

# ”After being casted in the street, practicing was a matter a life and death”

They had training periods from 1 year for the shortest, to 5 years for the longest. Some entered competitions since it was their dreams to become singers since they were young, while some were casted in the street thanks to their ‘flower boy’ look. But the looks still weren’t more important than the skills. Even if they had gotten an unexpected opportunity by being casted in the street, if they didn’t have the talents they were immediately ‘out’.

“After being casted (in the street), I didn’t directly become a trainee. After that you have to pass auditions, we had to pass several auditions too to get until here. Even after becoming a trainee, you have to train a lot.”(Kai)

“From our training period to now, seniors such as DBSK and Super Junior gave us a lot of advice. Leeteuk senior told us ‘You have to unite’, U-Know Yunho senior told us ‘Develop your capacity to dominate the stage’, ‘Increase your lung capacity by singing while exercising’ and things like these, these words really became our flesh and blood, so basing from these advices we have to progress even more.”(Sehun, Baekhyun)

The world they’re looking at while running might be an ‘unknown world’ but the passion they have toward this ‘unknown world’ makes them look like they won’t lose to any rookies.

(Credit: donga / Trans by: emilie @ exok-trans) 

Shared by D.Olips @ EXOdicted.blogspot.com

TAKE OUT WITH FULL CREDITS!