[Interview] Jang Min Ho, the Idol Turned Trot Singer

He used to be the member of an idol group, but now he sings trot. He is Jang Min Ho, who is currently promoting his bouncy trot song I Love You, Noona.

Jang was the member of dance group U-BeS from 1997 to 1999. In 2004 and 2005, he was also active as a member of the male duo Wind. He′s dabbled in dance and ballads, and now he′s trying his hand at being a trot singer.

“I was active with groups such as Taesaja, H.O.T., Sechs Kies and NRG. U-BeS’ album was produced by Sony Music, and the first single from the group’s second studio album was written by Joo Young Hoon. It was a group that could’ve made it, but it failed.”

Jang is tall and has distinct features, which helped him model for Lotte’s Brain Gum and Nownuri since high school. He became the member of an idol group after being moderately success as a model, but his hardships began when the group floundered.

“After wrapping up U-BeS, I attended college and worked as a swimming coach until 2001. Then in 2004 I was a part of another group and tried my hand at mainstream music, but the results weren’t very good. I was enlisted in 2007 and was released in 2009. I graduated from graduate school (Performing Arts Major in Dankook Graduate School of Cultural Arts and Design), and tried to get a job as a steward in a foreign airline with my Chinese skills. I wasn’t ever going to be a singer again. But now I’ve released another album.”

Jang met his current manager in grad school, and was persuaded into making a comeback. When he first was approached with the idea of being a trot singer, he was so intrigued he wondered why he hadn’t thought of it before.

“I was worried because not anyone can be a trot singer. But I’m very satisfied with the trot genre. When I sang dance songs, I didn’t feel catharsis while singing, but these days I really enjoy being onstage. Because there are no precedents in which the member of an idol group became a trot singer, I feel more comfortable. And because I wasn’t that famous in the past, I didn’t hear assumptions that I was doing trot because nothing else worked for me.”

He plotted to make the career switch to a trot singer, but it wasn′t an easy road to travel. He had to chase after trot composers and singers to learn about trot music. Im Jong Su, who composed pieces such as The Song for My Wife and Hometown Station, is like a father to him.

Jang is preparing to spread his wings after reaching a turning point in his life as a singer. But his life until now was filled with more hardships than happiness.

“After experiencing a string of failures at a young age, I felt so pained. Thinking back now, I think it was depression, but at that time I was just depressed for no reason. I exercised and learned a new language to get myself out of that situation. When I see idol group members now I worry about them. There aren’t a lot of things former celebrities can do in society. I hope young idol group members grow up with healthy minds as they grow older. They have to prepare for their future thinking that if nothing else works, they should be ready to do anything.”

Now that he’s a trot singer, Jang plans to run full speed ahead without ever looking back. He laughed, saying that he performed twice for KBS’ National Singing Contest, the most coveted stage among trot singers.

“I’ll think my job is that of a trot singer, and I’ll be running forward without ever looking back. Now that I’ve just put on these clothes, I’ll work hard, only looking straight ahead. Because I’m not that young, a lot of thoughts occur to me while I’m singing trot. Nam Jin and Na Hoon Ah aren’t famous for no reason. Senior trot singers pour in their life’s emotions into their songs. I will become a singer that sings healthily at the public’s side.”

Photo credit: Wings Entertainment

Reporter : Oh, MiJung (omj0206@cj.net)
[Any copying, republication or redistribution of www.enewsworld.com's content other than for personal uses is expressly prohibited without prior permission from enewsWorld. Copyright infringement is subject to criminal and civil penalties.]

[Most Viewed]
- Trot Singer Park Hyun Bin Switches It Up With a Ballad
- Jang Yoon Jung Duets with China’s BOBO