NichKhun, Tomo, Hai Mingl and Alaxander all said “Korean is difficult”

[xcherryblossomx.livejournal.com]

*Only Nichkhun related parts are translated.

Naver news : : (NichKhun from 2PM) “I was complained just because pricking chopsticks in the rice, in Korean sticking the chopsticks in the rice was meant for ritual. Right now, I love eating roasted streaky pork(symgeopsul), soy bean paste soup. I felt like becoming Korean.”

Gathering the foreign Idols who work in Korean Entertainment such as 2PM Thai-American Nichkhun (21), A'st1 Japanese Tomo (22), Chinese Hai Mingl (22) and U-Kiss Alexander (21) from Hong Kong.

All of them have lived in Korean for 2-4 years during 2005-2007. They’re all capable of Korean speaking even using slang words. Of course, they can write their names in Korean, name the present Korean president Lee Myung-bak or Ex-president Roh Moo Hyun.

Nichkhun was chosen by JYP Entertainment casting during visiting Korean Festival with his friends in Los Angeles. He said he had to perform dance and sing in front of the Coffee shop and by that time, he still had no clue who Park Jin Yong is.

They all agree that being foreigner in Korean Entertainment is very important in order to gaining popularity in Asia other than Korean.
However, to achieve that goal, the path is not that easy. The most difficult thing for them is to learn Korean and how to pronounce it.
 

Nichkhun said with laugh when he talked about the time he was in Yashimanman- SBS program. “Because I wasn’t good at Korean so I’d being quiet rather than break into the conversation with other talkative members.” He also told that he once used informal word asking Park Jin Yong did he have lunch or even answer him abruptly like ‘Umm’.

It came to the experience in Korea that they were doubt and curious was about Korean Military conscription that their native members have to participate.

Nichkhun who was exempted from military service for his entire life gave his opinion that “The draft selective is the same between Korea and Thai”

When asking their opinion about South and North Korea situation which is getting worse from North Korea’s succession of carried out an underground nuclear test

Khun “I think it’s not different from Thai situation when we had a big protest, Actually, Thai people did not worry about that much but from the foreigner’s view, they thought it was chaos and dangerous.”

Talk about Nichkhun’s “Unexpected” and “Envious” in Korea, he told the interesting story that “I don’t know why having small face has defined the standard of good-looking. I first heard about it when I came to Korea”

And what he envy Korean the most is patriotism when he saw the gathered Korean at Seoul's landmark royal palace attending the Ex-president’s funeral or even the Football World Cup.

They’re all appreciate and thankful for opportunity that Korea has given to them.

Nichkhun also said that “I’m really into the acting and want to make it to Hollywood somedays ” After interview, they’re patting their shoulders, laughing and said in Korean “Let’s hang out, if we own TV program would be nice”
 
source: 2pm-online

Comments

[-ochre.livejournal.com]

IDK what is it with me these days, but I think Jaebeom needs to comment about his Korean language skills too lol.

[jaybomb.livejournal.com]

THIS.

[walnuuut.livejournal.com]

Talk about Nichkhun’s “Unexpected” and “Envious” in Korea, he told the interesting story that “I don’t know why having small face has defined the standard of good-looking. I first heard about it when I came to Korea”

Lol can someone please tell us why it's nice to have a small face in Korea?

[xshinebrighterx.livejournal.com]

because even though most people are really thin, they usually have really big faces with strong features, so a thin face with delicate features = pretty.

[x-xpaox-x.livejournal.com]

Khun's exempted from military services? WHY?
(i'm happy he doesn't have to go anymore but is there some kind of special treatment here? hmmmmmm...)

[xcherryblossomx.livejournal.com]

just like in Mexico I think you have to pick a ball(or something else) and there are 2 options you are either exempted or you serve.

So he didnt get a special treatment, he was just lucky.

[afrahh.livejournal.com]

kind of ot but.. am i the only one who can't go on 2pm-online.com? D:

[xcherryblossomx.livejournal.com]

try this: http://www.2pm-online.com/eng.php
the page takes some time to finish loading

[myiuchan.livejournal.com]

I love Haiming <3 XD

[carrotsandroses.livejournal.com]

Not really a related comment, but wow, I haven't read news about A'st1 in ages.

[walnuuut.livejournal.com]

IKR
Same here

[bwukbwukbwuk.livejournal.com]

Lol honestly, I can't really get the whole formal and informal thing in the Korean language either :/

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

I just realized that all the foreign members are awkward creepers.

Khun, Alexander, Geng... It all makes sense now.

[liliabloom.livejournal.com]

Awkward, maybe. Creepers? Huh?

[its-matteo.livejournal.com]

ugh Tomo is so FINE

[liliabloom.livejournal.com]

I really appreciate it when people take the time to translate, but damn that was difficult to read. D: Maybe they need an editor?

I really want to hear what Tomo has to say, cause he's hilarious. 8DD

[xcherryblossomx.livejournal.com]

I think the problem is that it went from korean>thai>english

Also Im guessing that english is the second language of the person that made the thai-english translation.

[nezumi-kenka.livejournal.com]

Their Korean>Nicole's.

Just putting that out there.

Except Alexander's.
He and Nicole shouldn't be allowed in the same room.

[pickychu.livejournal.com]

Reading this article made me so happy. It's so encouraging to hear that they even struggled with Korean. I just had like, a little breakdown over how hard Korean is and how I'll never be fluent ever. But this lifted my spirits. Thanks for posting :)

[walnuuut.livejournal.com]

:O
OMG gurl are you learning Korean?
That is so cool

[crystalheng.livejournal.com]

I can understand the desire of having a small face but I don't get the small face = good-looking thing. :/

I admire Korea's patriotism too. They love their country so much!

I was complained just because pricking chopsticks in the rice, in Korean sticking the chopsticks in the rice was meant for ritual.
Okay, it took me a while to understand this but the chopstick thing applies to the Chinese as well. And it's not only sticking them in the rice, we shouldn't wave them around, leave it in the bowl, etc too. :3

[-ochre.livejournal.com]

I think it's more of a Confucianism thing more than a Chinese/Korean thing. IDK.

[silent-shout1.livejournal.com]

That U-Kiss guy's eyebrow/face scares the fuck out of me.

[centric-xx.livejournal.com]

he creeps me the fuck out.

[buffalosorwings.livejournal.com]

lol I speak informally to my mom~ I'm such a bad Korean ;___;
TOMO IS HILARIOUS, NEEDS HIS TRANSLATIONS

To clarify

[borninjeans.livejournal.com]

The small face is in regards to proportion. With a few exemplary exceptions, whom we see on TV, most Koreans are rather on the short/short legged side. That paired with rather large heads, create the illusion of of the person being even shorter. Like with babies; their heads are like a quarter of their height, and the proportions lengthen as you get older.
So the rationale is : smaller head = taller looking. And in this day and age, looking tall = beautiful.

Koreans really do have larger heads, especially in infancy/toddler stage. I used to work with childrenswear and we couldn't import clothes from western countries without button-down necklines because Korean babies' heads were too large for the opening of the according age/size. (Of course, there's always exceptions, but it's just general fact.)

[gawibawibo.livejournal.com]

Too bad there's no Tomo here, he's really funny and his Korean is just adorable<3

[eleclya111.livejournal.com]

Tomo and Haiming <3333

[xxsmiiles.livejournal.com]

Where are the American-Koreans? i.e. Jaebeom and Eli :\

[schizofragile.livejournal.com]

I want to see Tomo's answers. ;__;

[oystersauce87.livejournal.com]

I want to read the others' answers.
Hopefully someone will translate

[crystalheng.livejournal.com]

The entire U-Kiss scares me. :X

[czarny.livejournal.com]

lol small faces??? Korea entertainment industry wtf have you been smokin.

[shanny-w.livejournal.com]

It's more like small chin. The V-line is very popular.

[ruginthesky.livejournal.com]

Hollywood huh? That would be something Nichkhun! At first I was wondering if he had a small head or if his shoulders were just too broad/big when I watched my first music video of them. It wasn't until later on on variety shows/Idol Army that I was sure he had a small head and they seemed to adore it so much.