[Exclusive]"I've become more timid than before" KISS OF LIFE's Belle, facing real concerns at 22 [StarNews 22nd Anniversary ★ FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

• StarNews 22nd Anniversary Commemorative Interview

This year has not been just a time of running for KISS OF LIFE's Belle. As she stepped onto more stages since her debut, her sense of responsibility grew, and the pressure to deliver good results naturally followed. Her words, "I think I've become more timid than before," reflect Belle's honest concerns about the changes she has noticed in herself compared to the past.

StarNews, celebrating its 22nd anniversary, recently sat down with Belle, born in 2004. She said, "I think this will be a time when I listen to my heart," and spoke sincerely about her thoughts on her own identity and music, KISS OF LIFE's three years since debut, and her solo music plans for the future.

Belle said, "It's hard to believe that I am 22 this year, and it's also hard to believe that StarNews is turning 22," adding, "I want to say congratulations because we have shared so much together." She then expressed her wish to approach things with a more mature mindset as she turns 22 and to continue thinking about how to become an even cooler singer.

This year has also been a time for Belle to look at herself from a slight distance. Not only have her tastes and thoughts changed compared to the past, but she has also grown more determined to objectively examine her own self.

Belle said, "I still feel like a baby. Compared to when I was younger, my preferences have changed a lot, and I think my mindset has matured." She added, "In the past, I didn't spend much time reflecting on myself, but lately, I think I'm trying to look at myself from an objective perspective."

As she spent more time reflecting on herself, changes also came to her attitude toward music. Belle admitted, "I think I have more thoughts and have been thinking more about my music."

So what does Belle think the '22-year-old Belle' looks like? She defines this period as one where concerns, wandering, and challenges coexist, while she listens to her own voice. Belle stated, "It's a time of concern. It is a time of both concern and wandering, but also a time of challenge. As I think about what my color is and what I want to show in the group, this is a time when I listen to my heart."

As she continued her activities, changes also occurred in her own tendencies. She said, "I think I've become much more timid. In the past, there were parts where I was bold, but at some point, I seem to have developed a habit of building walls for myself." She also added, "As I stand in front of the camera and monitor the results, I've lost things and realized my weaknesses. As a result, I think I've become overly cautious." She confessed, "Because I start thinking beforehand, 'Will this reaction come out?' it seems to have become instinctual."

She said that on stage, the pressure to deliver good results has grown stronger. She explained, "I don't get nervous on stage. However, I think there is a lot of pressure and burden to maintain a high batting average for each performance. While I should be able to approach things lightly, it seems the pressure and burden have actually increased."

Nevertheless, Belle did not view these concerns negatively. Reflecting on this year, she found meaning in the fact that it was a time when she could look at herself and grow even further.

Belle said, "Personally, I think I've grown a lot. I had time to reflect on myself, and I feel like I can see my progress, so it has been a fulfilling year." She emphasized, "I hope this was a year where I could proudly say that I did everything I could."

The group KISS OF LIFE has reached its third anniversary since debut. It has been three years since four different people first stepped onto a stage under one name. For Belle, the past time was more than just activities together; it was a period when she accepted the members as family and built the breathing rhythm of a single team.

KISS OF LIFE celebrated its third anniversary last July. Belle said, "We tend to share our inner thoughts with each other without hesitation," adding, "Whenever that happens, I think, 'We are family.'"

Above all, the moment she felt the team's breathing most was on stage. She said that while they might not fit together during practice, when they actually go into filming or onto the stage and see the members perfectly in sync, she feels their teamwork.

He said, "Even if we don't fit during practice, suddenly we become a synchronized dance group when we film. Every time I see that, it feels like we merge when pushed to the brink. Since our hearts are aligned, our bodies seem to align too." He added, "I think the care we have for each other is truly great. Because they are family we met in society, it feels even more special. If there were no members, I wouldn't be able to do this job," revealing his affection for the members.

As their relationship with the members solidified and the team's color became clearer, Belle also had something she wanted to protect. That was her 'longing' for the stage.

He said, "I hope we don't become hesitant. I hope our attitude doesn't change to 'do it if you want, or not.' I hope the will and gaze we show when we stand on stage remain unchanged." He emphasized, "I hope we can keep going up without setting an endpoint, just like at debut. I hope we don't set limits for ourselves."

The music of KISS OF LIFE that Belle envisions also touches on the attitude the team wants to uphold. Regarding KISS OF LIFE's unique music, he said, "It's music where we don't worry about others' opinions. Every time we bring something new, but I think the essence remains the same." He explained, "Ultimately, I think KISS OF LIFE's songs have a positive effect on the public by uplifting their inner freedom."

KISS OF LIFE has established itself as a team that Yeo Reum-eul (CEO) through tracks like 'Sticky' and 'Sweat.' Belle smiled, saying, "I hope we become the Summer Queens." He also added, "What makes KISS OF LIFE attractive right now is honesty. Trends change quickly, but I think we remain honest within them. It seems we are trying to show raw music and visuals."

As the team's color became clearer, Belle's musical role also became more defined. As the main vocalist, he explained that he captures each of the four members' individuality within a single song and plays the role of tying it all together.

Belle said, "KISS OF LIFE seems to create one song by gathering the identity of each member rather than just carrying the group's single identity. I think we play an important musical role in providing cohesion."

Recent activities were also a time to directly experience KISS OF LIFE's color and Belle's musical role. Especially, the moment they won first place on music shows with 'Sweat' remains a special memory for Belle.

He said, "While preparing for this activity, I wondered if we could win first place, but I didn't really expect to. I was so happy and grateful to win first place on 'The Show,' and I felt relieved." He added, "Since it was a title track prepared with great affection, the meaning felt even greater."

When asked about the most joyful activity, he recalled 'Sticky.' Belle said, "The song was good, and everything fit well, including the performance. It was so happy that I cried. While monitoring our stage performance, we were smiling. I thought, 'I wish this could continue,' and tears came."

If KISS OF LIFE has created its own color over the past three years, the next three years that Belle envisions are a time to spread that color even further. Rather than remaining under the label of being a team that Yeo Reum-eul (CEO), he aims for KISS OF LIFE to be a group that comes to mind in any season. Furthermore, directly meeting fans worldwide called 'Kiss' and embedding more diverse messages into their music is the future Belle dreams of for KISS OF LIFE.

Belle said, "Since there are many Kisses around the world, I want to go see them directly. Just as we threw another message in 'Sweat,' I want to keep releasing cool songs with new messages." He added, "I hope to work hard over the next three years so that more people worldwide can become enthusiastic about our music."

KISS OF LIFE has established itself as a team that Yeo Reum-eul (CEO) along with the label 'Summer Queens.' However, the future of KISS OF LIFE that Belle envisions does not stay in a specific season. His wish is for them to be a group that can be thought of through music alone, even when it's not summer. He expressed his hope, "While I am grateful for having an image as a team strong in summer, I want to become a team that people think of KISS OF LIFE in any season, not just summer. No matter what music we release, I want people to think, 'This is KISS OF LIFE's music.'"

After talking about KISS OF LIFE's future, Belle naturally shifted his focus to his own musical future. This year at 22, he began to gradually think about himself beyond the group as 'Solo Artist Belle.'

Belle said, "The music KISS OF LIFE pursues and the music I personally pursue will be very different. Because I was focused on KISS OF LIFE, I haven't thought much about solo Belle, but this year I think I've thought a bit more." He added, "If I were to do music as a solo artist, I want to make honest songs that represent the difficult emotions everyone experiences while living. While music has various purposes, I think it is beautiful when its purpose is healing."

He said, "What kind of music should I make? What kind of image should I have to become a singer that people seek? I keep wondering if I can have my own uniqueness without relying on the members." He revealed, "I think I will do ballads. Songs with honest emotions, perhaps even sad ones. I want to do ballads where we can calmly share and receive empathy."

He continued, "I often write songs when things are hard. That's why I cherish such songs. When I listen to the music I made alone, I feel like I want to do ballads that communicate with the public when I become active as a solo artist." He said, "Not for work, but I want to write songs that I really want to write."

For him, musical inspiration does not come from any specific person. Belle said that his own life itself is the greatest inspiration. He explained, "Life itself seems to give great inspiration. Life contains people, events, and things I can experience. As I go through certain periods and learn and feel things, those things seem to influence my music."

Also, constantly listening to new music is a process of expanding his own musical world. Belle said, "Many songs come out, and I keep listening to them. As that data accumulates, I think my perspective broadens. The more I live, the broader and deeper my musical vision seems to become."

Belle at 22 is still searching for his own answers. While envisioning KISS OF LIFE's next three years, he is thinking about the music he will deliver under his own name and accumulating experiences from life into music one by one.

Finally, Belle conveyed his gratitude toward Kiss. Belle said, "It has already been well over three years since I spent time with Kiss. I will always show my face and work hard to show more than just the present without settling for it. I hope you continue to love us. Please pay a lot of attention to StarNews and KISS OF LIFE's journey."

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*This content was translated by AI.