“My career towards music has been very natural. I always knew music was [something] I wanted to do. I also went to an art-centric high school, and [in all honesty] I have never considered any other career apart from being an artist”, Woojin confesses when asked about the role of music in the early years of his life. 

Prior to Woojin’s sold-out concert in London, I sit down with the singer to have a one-on-one conversation with him. Looking à la mode in a stylish white outfit, Woojin seems full of energy and drive even after performing in 10 other European cities, including Milan, Munich, Prague, Berlin, and Paris.

“Are you not tired?”, I ask.

“I am okay. I am really [excited] for this show”, Woojin tells me with a big smile on his face.

As this is Woojin’s first tour as a soloist (the European tour was concluded on August 7th in Barcelona), it must be a very exciting time for the artist. His previous concerts had gathered crowds in the cities that he had already visited, so what about London?

“I haven’t done London [the show], so I don’t know. I will only know how it went after [my performance]”, the singer admits. 

“But do you have any expectations from your fans in London?”, I ask

“Expectations?”, Woojin asks, then continues: “I am curious to see how many of my songs my fans sing along to. Also, I have been waiting for this [opportunity] for a very long time, but because of Covid, everything was happening virtually. Now, I am finally able to see my fans in real life. I feel energised by [receiving] the support of my fans”.

Back in August 2021, Woojin released a beautiful mini-album called The Moment: 未成年, A Minor, which included two lead singles: Still Dream and Ready Now. It is worth mentioning that all the songs on this album were co-written by Woojin and other note-worthy artists, including Hyundo Lee, Jay, and Joosuc. But what was the song-writing process like for the artist?

“Since this is my first mini-album, I still feel very inexperienced and I think I’m learning [the whole song-writing process] on the go. The best time and environment for me to write a song is when I am alone, when a place is quiet, usually at around 3 am”, Woojin expresses his thoughts with a little chuckle. “Working with these [aforementioned] artists was a smooth process. They are actually very famous musicians in Korea, and it was an honour to work with them. They were very considerate of what I like and vice-versa”, he adds.

Although Woojin feels that he isn’t an expert in song-writing yet, he believes that when he does write his own songs, his intuition helps him to decide which songs to release. Many artists include their own experiences in the song-writing process, with the hope that their releases will resonate with their listeners. 

“Because The Moment: 未成年, A Minor is my first release [as a soloist], I chose songs that [depict] my feelings accurately and songs that I was confident with. [However], when I am preparing my next album, I’ll put more thought into what my fans might like”, Woojin admits.

Woojin is not only a talented singer, dancer, and entertainer, but now he will also test his abilities in acting in an upcoming HBO Max series called Beyond the Wardrobe, which will premiere in 2023. The show portrays a story of a teenage girl (Sharon Blanche) from São Paulo, Brazil, who finds a teleportation portal in a wardrobe through which she is transported to Seoul. Woojin will play the role of Kyung Min, a member of a boy group called Act, whom the protagonist ends up meeting. 

“The role I play is very similar to my actual occupation, so acting as a K-pop idol felt very natural to me. However, it was sometimes challenging to get in character since the personality of Kyung Min is very different to my own personality. The character appears as a cold and inconsiderate person, whereas I am not like that in real life”, Woojin says.

Woojin gives off the impression of being a passionate young man. In addition, he doesn’t shy away from being confident either. He says that if he had to pick one artist to collaborate with, it would have to be Shawn Mendes. 

Often, people do not realise that prior to releasing any sort of music, artists spend endless hours in the recording studio. To some, being in the studio and working on their music is a crucial part of their creative process, while to others, being on stage and performing the finished product is even more important. “For me, performing live is vital”, the artist clarifies.

Although the singer is extremely busy with his work right now, he does try to give himself time to breathe too – he finds walking to be a great way to relieve stress. Woojin is also very active on his YouTube Channel where, among other things, he uploads song covers, including Adele’s Easy On Me, Ed Sheeran’s Shivers, and Lewis Capaldi’s Before You Go. 

“As YouTube is commonly used by almost everyone, I find it natural to connect with my fans through my own channel”, Woojin says.

While being on tour, as well as also preparing for the next one (the Latin American tour is coming soon), there are a lot of questions as to whether Woojin will release new music any time soon. 

“It’s actually a secret, but I hope that I will be able to show everyone other sides of me, such as acting. Other projects are also coming your way”, the artist reveals. And as much as I want Woojin to spill the beans about those new projects, he decides to keep it to himself. To those who are going to see Woojin perform live in Latin America, you will certainly experience pure vocal perfection – Woojin’s voice is one of the most expressive instruments he has to offer. 

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

_{*We would like to thank 10x Entertainment and Onion Production for their assistance with the interview and Kim Woojin for answering our questions.}

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, arts, and fashion, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}