Kathy's Bench

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Kim Hyun Joong @ Singapore for theFaceShop Fanmeet

Credit: @xiaochu1004

[Article] Kim Hyun Joong - Mans up for Solo Debut

Credit: entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5179393

Text & Photos: Joanna Goh

Videos: Teng Siew Eng & Fiona Lin

The pretty flower boy image in Korean drama series -- Boys Over Flowers and Playful Kiss -- that sent everyone head over heels is now a thing of the past.

No longer sporting a dark round wispy mane and all-white princely suits, Kim Hyun Joong lived up to his mini-album's masculine theme and appeared at The Face Shop press conference held in Hotel Michael, Resorts World Singapore, looking heaps manlier and suaver than before.

In town for Break Down's music promotions and his first solo showcase, Hyun Joong arrived in Singapore on Wednesday night to a cluster of local and international fans, screaming his name with each step he took (Watch video here). Apart from enjoying "a very nice lunch at the beach area" on Thursday, the 24-year-old shared that he has yet to visit Universal Studios Singapore because of his packed schedule.

He let on with a tinge of disappointment in his voice, "I really wish that I can visit Universal Studios Singapore after my music promotions today. What made me really happy yesterday was that my staff bought me a 'Best Actor' t-shirt from the theme park."

Decked in a dapper beige suit with matching loafers, xinmsn quizzed Hyun Joong on the prep work behind his new muscular image for Break Down.

While the strapping lad admitted that it was "tough" and he had to do "lots and lots of exercise", he was satisfied with the overall results.

He added that a new "funkier" album with more dance tracks and a wholly different image is currently in the works and will be released sometime around October this year.

Following the success of Break Down which sees Hyun Joong as the first Korean artiste in 2011 to surpass the 100,000 album sales mark, the charismatic chap revealed that he was "under a lot of pressure and stress" while putting together his solo debut.

Commenting on the "unexpected" achievement in album sales, Hyun Joong revealed that he was filled with "lots of worries" prior to its release.

"I had to do most of the preparations alone as a solo artiste and that was a lot of pressure for me. I overcame this when I saw how the fans supported me and how they liked my new album," he said.

So how has life changed for Hyun Joong since going solo?

"As a solo artiste, I have to take responsibility for a lot of things I do. In terms of that, I felt that I have grown into a more responsible person," Hyun Joong quipped in an interview with xinmsn.

Well, his hard work and dedication definitely paid off. The dexterous performer acknowledged his fans' support and would like to repay them by "producing a very nice concert next year". He added that Singapore will be one of the concert stops in early 2012.

[News] Kim Hyun joong @ theFaceShop Asia Tour in Singapore

Credits: (x)Clusive @FB
Article : x-clusive.sg/2011/08/20/xclusive-tfss-asia-tour-with-kim-hyun-joong-in-singapore/

SS501 leader Kim Hyun Joong is back again in Singapore as ambassador of The Face Shop for his ‘ASIA TOUR WITH KIM HYUN JOONG’.

Decked in a beige suit, Kim Hyun Joong was looking flawless as usual as he attended the press conference at Resort World Sentosa on the morning of 19th August. This time around, he is here in Singapore to launch the “FACE IT Power Perfection BB Cream”. As mentioned by Mr Leslie Low from The Face Shop, over a million of the “FACE IT Power Perfection BB Cream” has been sold in a period of 5 months, making it the No.1 BB Cream in Korea.

When asked by the Emcee, Ah Ken of Radio 1003, as to where he went and what he did yesterday, Leader mentioned that he had a very nice lunch at the beach area at Sentosa and he really wanted to visit Universal Studios Singapore (USS), but due to his tight schedule, he couldn’t. He thus wished that after his schedule today, he would have the time to actually visit USS. However, what made him really happy yesterday was when his staff went to USS and bought him a T-shirt that says “Best Actor”.

At this point, Ah Ken randomly added that there is actually a “Best Actor” trophy, to which Kim Hyun Joong replied that he can buy it himself at USS if he visits today. Ah Ken also commented that he is sure Leader will receive the real “Best Actor” trophy one day or his fans will buy it for him and give it to him at the fanmeet later. Our 4D leader obviously replied with a “Now I’m really hoping that one of my fans will get that trophy for me at the meet and greet session.”

Moving on to what he was busy with given that it has been 8 month since his last visit in Singapore, Hyun Joong mentioned that ever since his first visit last year, he’s been really busy with the preparation for his mini solo album and the promotional activities. He expressed that he actually wanted to have a mini concert in Singapore during this visit but his tight schedules wouldn’t allow. Nonetheless, early next year, he’s planning to have a concert in Singapore. Honestly, this is probably an amazing piece of news for all Triple S and Henecians since this information comes directly from the horse’s mouth!

I guess it’s not hard to notice that Kim Hyun Joong actually looks good and despite his busy schedule. Have you ever wondered how he manages to do it? For kim Hyun Joong, he actually doesn’t have a particular skin care regime that he sticks to, but it may be attributed to plenty of sleep and also The Face Shop’s products that he uses. After listening to this piece of advice, wouldn’t it make you want to try The Face Shop’s products to have a picture-perfect face, like Kim Hyun Joong?

It’s also been mentioned in the press conference that a charity auction will be conducted during the meet and greet session later, where his life size standee (winning bid was 2000SGD) and one of his personal cherished items will be auctioned off and the proceeds of this auction will go to World Vision International One Life Fund as part of The Face Shop’s ‘Beautiful Face, Beautiful Heart’ campaign. The said cherished item he mentioned is actually a Limited Edition copy of his first solo album – Break Down. The reason as to why this album means so much to him was because only 10000 copies were produced and this copy that he’s auctioning off, actually bears the serial no. 85 (winning bid was 3500SGD).

The new product line of The Face Shop was also launched:

Singaporean men are not used to using make-up like BB Cream, so what would you do to encourage them to use it?

In Korea, it used to be that men are not used to using beauty products. However, now that there is a shift in culture, men are looking more into taking care of their own skin too, like women. So, Singaporean men can probably start by using The Face Shop products, such as the BB Cream.

How do you keep yourself motivated when the work piles up and how do you relax at the end of the day?

Even though I have a really busy schedule every day, I try to enjoy my work. This is how I find joy and happiness in my working life. I also find joy in having good food, so when I’m here in Singapore, I will try the local delicacies. This is how I keep myself happy and going.

There are some people who actually relax themselves by singing in the bathroom. Do you sing in the bathroom too? Or do you practice dancing?

It’s my job to sing and dance on stage, so when it is my own time to relax, I will prefer not to do any singing and dancing but something else.

If you were to go to USS tomorrow, who would you bring along with you?

If I really get to go to USS, I will bring my staff along with me to have a good time.

If you could create a beauty product, what would you create and why?

If I could create a beauty product, it will be to cater to those with a busy lifestyle, like a mask that you can put on and put make up instantly. It is to save time and I think that such a beauty product will probably be produced within the next 50 years.

What are your top 3 The Face Shop products?

FACE IT Power Perfection BB Cream

E’thym Recharge Essence

Hydrating Mask Pack

For Breakdown, you have the manlier and more muscular image. Was it tough trying to achieve this image and how you go about doing that?

I exercised a lot to prepare for the mini album image. It was tough, but I was happy with the results. I’m going to produce another mini album in October so please look out for it too.

What’s the toughest part preparing for this album?

The hardest part was that I feel very pressured and stressed out because I had to do most of the preparation alone as a solo artiste. However, I overcame it when I saw the support from all the fans and how they liked the new album and the music.

Can you give us some hints of your new album concept and the genre of music?

I can’t release much information here but just to give a little hint, it will be more on funky music that all can dance to and the concept wise will be very different from the previous mini album released.

You’ve acted before, you’ve your own album, what do you hope to achieve this year? Is there something new you would like to try?

In terms of acting and singing, there is still a lot for me to learn and improve on, so before trying on something new, I would like to excel in these two areas first.

How would you describe the relationship between your music and The Face Shop?

Both The Face Shop products and my music make me stand out and it’s something I can express myself with.