Interviews · GOLDEN HOUR Era
Billboard Korea — 'Seven Years Filled With Sincerity' (ATEEZ Group Interview, Seonghwa)
ATEEZ's 7th-anniversary group interview for Billboard Korea's "Billboard Artist" series, built around "filling" and "emptying."
A substantial group interview for Billboard Korea's "Billboard Artist" series, marking ATEEZ's seven years since debut, structured around the concept of "채움" (fullness/filling) and "비움" (emptying). All eight members answer in turn across several questions. Seonghwa's answers include: passion as what "fills" ATEEZ ("열정이 있어 무대를 더 잘하고 싶다는 생각과 욕심이 생기고, 자연스럽게 무대에 더 많은 것들을 채워 넣게 된다"); wanting to empty out his attachment to perfection, describing how an imperfect day or a small mistake used to weigh on him, and now he tries to be satisfied if he gave his best in the process; naming himself — his own sense of pride when he's worked hard — as what fills him back up; and describing his private recharge time as taking walks or spending time alone, finding small everyday happiness.
Seonghwa's Words — English Translation
Billboard Korea's own page also carries an official English version of this interview, but the translation below was made independently, directly from the original Korean text, rather than drawn from that official English version. Only Seonghwa's own answers are included; other members' answers to the same questions are omitted.
Q: What's the biggest element that fills ATEEZ? A: "The biggest thing that fills ATEEZ is passion. Because we have passion, the thought and the drive to want to perform even better on stage comes naturally, and that naturally leads us to fill the stage with even more."
Q: "Filling" is made possible through "emptying." What did you have to empty out in your own growth? A: "I wanted to empty out my obsession with perfection. If things weren't perfect, my mood for the whole day would be bad, and I used to be the type to hold onto even small mistakes and not be able to let them go. So now, even if it's not perfect, I try hard to be satisfied as long as I gave my best in the process."
Q: Then what was it that achieved "filling" for you? A: "Myself. When I've worked hard, and I feel truly proud of myself with nothing to be ashamed of, I feel a sense of fullness. That's what fills me and makes me stronger."
Q: Do you have quiet, private moments of recharging? A: "When I get that kind of time, I do things I don't normally get to do — going out for a walk, spending time alone. I recharge by feeling the small, everyday happinesses."
Q: Pirates, anarchists, outlaws of the Western frontier — ATEEZ's storytelling always features characters willing to cross the line of convention. Does this connect to the team's motto? A: "Whether it's music, dance, or video, ATEEZ has always sought out something newer and more challenging without fear. In that sense, I think the real us and the characters expressed in our storytelling resemble each other."
Q: Do you have an experience of justified rebellion? A: "I'd say heading to the practice room instead of doing night self-study, for the sake of my dream, was my act of rebellion."
Q: Do the members take part directly in planning the visual concept? What gets discussed the most? A: "I participate widely. I give my opinion across various areas like styling and hair, and I also try to listen closely to other people's ideas and absorb them. What matters is whether it fits well with the concept — that part never changes."
Q: What musical characteristics best express "ATEEZ-ness"? A: "Newness. ATEEZ covers a wide range of musical genres, and we put in a huge amount of effort to melt that newness into our own ATEEZ color. I think expressing that in an ATEEZ-like way is what makes something feel like 'ATEEZ.'"
Q: How has your overseas success influenced ATEEZ's musical choices? A: "It gave us diversity. Because of this success, we were able to take the next step, and I think it made us pay closer attention to more genres and styles."
Q: Did your Billboard records become a source of pride, or a sense of weight as a new starting point? A: "It became a source of pride. I think results like this are something our fans create for us. Rather than a weight, I think it became a point of pride for our fans."
Q: San once said, "If we just take one more step, more will open up." What does the team think of that? A: "I hope that one step always stays with us, as an unsolved task. We walk step by step and accomplish things, but there should never come a point where there's nothing left after that. I think even if ATEEZ's original resolve fades a little, I hope the passion stays. So I hope that one step never gets fully resolved. I think it's probably the same for people who've achieved a lot of great things."
Q: Did you ever need to balance what you personally wanted to do with what the world seemed to want from you? A: "I think it's an experience everyone goes through. If you just keep at it, a chance to do what you actually want to do will come eventually. Even if what you're doing right now isn't what you want, if you keep moving forward toward it, the opportunity will definitely come."
Q: On unit tracks like "MATZ" and "YOUTH" — how do you show your individual color while staying in harmony with the team's identity? A: "The song 'MATZ' came out of combining the music I wanted to make with Hongjoong's own color. Since we're both members of ATEEZ, I think our identities blended together very naturally, almost as a given. Also, funnily enough, when you watch us on stage, the eight of us are dancing so differently you'd wonder, 'is this really the same choreography?' But when you look at the whole picture, the synergy is incredible. That shows in our personalities too — we're all different, but when we come together as one, that becomes 'ATEEZ.'"
Q: What does "real ATEEZ" mean to you, and what makes a man "cool"? A: "I think 'real' comes from sincerity. I always want to be honest, and I hope my sincerity comes across clearly. Also, I think you have to have nothing to be ashamed of in front of yourself."
Q: If there's a miracle ATEEZ wants to bring about, what would it be? A: "I want to tell everyone that a miracle will come to them too. I want to become a source of hope for many people, and there are still many miracles I want to bring about as ATEEZ. I hope we keep moving higher, toward the very top."
Q: Is there a field outside of music you're interested in? A: "I'm interested in a variety of areas, including fashion. If the chance comes up, I'd like to greet everyone with a good result to show."
Q: If you had to leave behind just one song to be remembered forever, what message would it carry? A: "I'd leave behind 'Star 1117.' It's the song that means the most to me and ATINY together. I want to leave the message that we were together."
Translated directly from the original Korean Q&A text of the Billboard Korea article linked below.
Official Sources
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Era Context
GOLDEN HOUR Era · 2024 – Present
The current chapter. Continued global touring, expanded solo visibility in fashion and media, and an evolving artistic voice — documented here as it unfolds.