Interviews · GOLDEN HOUR Era
Jinju Ambassador Seonghwa — Hamo TV Interview (Casting Story & Travel Recommendations)
In an extended Hamo TV interview, Jinju ambassador Seonghwa traces his path to becoming an idol back to a hometown dance-club audition and reflects on the Namgang Lantern Festival and the places in Jinju that mean the most to him.
Published April 27, 2026 on 진주덕후 하모TV (Hamo TV), the YouTube channel built around Jinju's city mascots Hamo and Hamo Friend Ayo, episode 120 is an extended one-on-one interview with public relations ambassador Seonghwa about his hometown.
Seonghwa describes himself as a longtime fan of Jinju and says being asked to represent it was an honor. Asked what the city means to him, he calls it "the city that helped me grow into who I am," saying it always carries a warm feeling and is somewhere he wants to keep returning to. He traces his path toward becoming an idol back to his first year of high school, when his school's dance club took part in an audition to select teams for the Gaechon Arts Festival — a casting manager approached him afterward to ask if he'd audition for an entertainment company, the first moment he considered whether he could actually become an idol. He also recalls attending the Namgang Lantern Festival every year growing up, and returning to it the previous year after about seven years away: the atmosphere and the lanterns on the river felt unchanged, but the crowds had grown far larger, now drawing visitors from well beyond Jinju. Among the songs fans love, he singles out ATEEZ's "멋 (The Real)," on which he recorded a verse in his own Jinju dialect rather than following the standard guide vocal. He names three Jinju places that hold particular meaning for him: Chokseokru; the Namgang riverside, tied to memories with friends from his high-school years; and 새벼리 (Saebyeori), where he walked with his mother during a recent festival visit and watched the riverside lighting change color, saying the Namgang was too beautiful for photos to fully capture. He also recommends 진가네 (Jingane), a small, old-fashioned local restaurant, for its seafood pajeon and its pork-and-ramyeon stew.
He credits Hamo and Hamo Friend Ayo with helping more people discover Jinju, recalling two festival visits of his own — once with family, once with friends — that included a drone show he found especially beautiful. He closes with a message to Jinju's citizens, saying the city shines because of them, and a message to ATINY, thanking fans for helping him become ambassador and for sharing photos of Jinju with him when he can't visit himself.
Official Sources
- 진주덕후 하모TV (Hamo TV) Official YouTube — '하모와 하모프렌즈 아요, 성화의 진주 아드레날린 남강유등축제 캐스팅 비화부터 찐 여행 코스까지 공개!' [ep.120], Seonghwa interview (from 2:31) (opens in a new tab)
- 진주덕후 하모TV (Hamo TV) Official YouTube — '[성화투어] 에이티즈 성화가 추천한 진주 필수 코스! 하모X아요가 직접 가봤습니다' — Hamo & Ayo visit the Jinju course Seonghwa recommended (Seonghwa does not appear); names Chokseokru, Namgang Bridge, Saebyeori, and Jingane Restaurant (opens in a new tab)
Photography, video, and audio remain the property of their respective rights holders.
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.
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