STAYC's Yoon and Jae-i: The Fierce Determination of the 22nd-Year-Olds Hidden Behind the "Human Vitamin" [★22nd Anniversary Full Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

To mark StarNews's 22nd anniversary, LINE Yoon and Jaeei, the youngest members of the girl group STAYC (born in 2004), who also turned 22 this year, openly shared their heartfelt thoughts, ranging from the romantic ideals of their twenties to the deep growing pains experienced as idols in their sixth year of debut.

With a firm confession that they were tired from being busy but endured because they were busy, and even flaunting the cheerful ambition of "dreaming of buying a car in their 30s and a home in their 40s," STAYC's only same-age duo, Yoon and Jaei.

StarNews met the two individuals on their brilliant, shining 22nd birthday.

For the two individuals who turned 22 this year, the number '22' and their birth year '2004' hold special significance. Yoon stated, "I definitely have an attachment to '04.' It is the year I was born, and many people in the idol entertainment industry seem to favor the number '04.' There was a story about the 'legend of '94,' and after we debuted, someone told us, 'After '94 comes '04.' That gave us a sense of expectation: 'Can we carry it on? Will we continue it?'" He added, "Whenever I need to write a poem or mark a number, I always use '04.' My birth date is the 4th, 2014 (040414), so I have an even stronger attachment to the number '4.'"

On the other hand, Jaeyi expressed affection for the number '2'. He said, "I like the number 2, so I like being 22 years old. I've just liked it since elementary school; maybe the number 2 looks pretty," to which Yoon also agreed, saying, "The number 2 does feel a bit pretty."

She also mentioned the special atmosphere that only emerges when the two '04s come together. Jaei said, "There is definitely a connection between us who are from the same year. There were trends popular at that time and trends known only to the two of us." She added, "Since we belong to the same generation, our trend speed is identical. The other members seem slightly slower; I wonder if their algorithms differ. Because of this, communication and conversation feel more comfortable between us."

Yoon explained, "In our team, everyone uses formal language, but Jae-i is the only one who can speak casually to me. Because of that, I feel a more comfortable vibe when we are together." He added, "No matter where I go, I am always the youngest, so I have high-energy reactions built in. But when I'm with Jae-i, I feel like it's okay not to be on high alert, and she is the only one I can speak freely with," revealing his affection for his friend of the same age.

What if we could go back to 2004 and meet each other as babies? Yoon said, "I liked playing with friends who had a personality like baby Jae-i. When I look at photos of baby Jae-i, she seems lively, dancing in front of people. Since I couldn't have that kind of personality, I hid my talents when I was young, but if I had met baby Jae-i, I wonder if I would have found my dreams sooner." In response, Jae-i said, "If I had met baby Yoon, I think I would have encouraged her by saying, 'Show me your dreams. You're hiding something right now.'"

The conversation continued with a story about her dream from her twenties, which she had previously shared on the radio. Rei, who said her dream was to go out with her parents to a food stall, stated, "I haven't been to a food stall, but I went to places like bars with my mom and dad first. We started having highballs together at places like izakayas."

When he turned 20, Yoon fulfilled his dream of getting a driver's license first. Yoon said, "I passed with a perfect score in one try the month I turned 20 and had my birthday," and recalled, "Last time, I went on a trip to Jeonju with friends from my hometown. We rented a car and drove around together. City driving wasn't easy, but it was fun." He added, "As I drove long distances, I got tired. I thought, 'How does my father always drive so silently and skillfully?' I felt he was amazing. Just a few days ago, I also took a car to visit my family home."

Jae-i honestly admitted, "I haven't won yet. I get scared just by seeing a truck pass by or sitting in the passenger seat. I have the intention to get my license, but I don't think I will drive myself."

When asked about the biggest change compared to last year as he turned 22 this year, Yoon said, "I feel like I've learned a lot more than last year." He added, "I started the variety show 'Office Workers,' and it was my first time doing activities alone after briefly leaving the members. Actually, while I am the youngest in our team, I had never experienced being the youngest outside of the group before. But on 'Office Workers,' I was completely the youngest at the very beginning, so even things like 'the youngest reads all the lines' during script readings were a new environment for me, which felt fresh."

He added, "I learned how to survive as the youngest member during group dinners. To survive, you have no choice but to work hard at something; in the world of variety shows, that means stepping in when seniors are speaking. At first, I found it difficult, thinking, 'Is it okay for me to say this here?' But because those around me said, 'You should do it, it's fun,' I learned a lot about how to survive and how to secure screen time."

On the other hand, Jae-i said, "I felt a desire to learn something new compared to last year. My ambition to learn new things and improve my skills has grown stronger." He added, "Since I don't have any hobbies, I started looking for one for the first time this year. I feel like I've found quite a few hobbies, so I feel like I'm becoming stronger on my own."

So, what kind of year will 2026, when they both turned 22, be remembered as? Jae said, "I hope it won't just be another passing year. Since I felt I learned a lot, I hope to have grown even more next year."

Yoon said, "2026 was a year when I got to know myself more than last year, yet it was also a year that was less intense." She added, "Because I remember living so busily last year, I didn't have time to get to know myself. This year, whenever I had days off, I went traveling. Recently, since I had three days free, I asked my older sister Su-min about a week ago, 'Shall we go?' and we visited Japan." She further added, "As I've started traveling more and visiting my hometown more often, it seems this year was one where I lived intensely as STAYC's Yoon while also gradually taking care of the life of Sim Ja-yoon."

What was the dream of their 20s that the two busy individuals had envisioned? Yoon said, "I thought exactly like a typical freshman college student. I imagined going to university, drinking alcohol with friends every day, playing drinking games, and traveling everywhere," but also confessed, "But it turned out to be just as expected. I ended up staying at home most of the time and only drank alcohol a few times. It was more ordinary than I thought."

Jae-i recalled, "Actually, when I was in school, I wanted to graduate as soon as possible and focus on my life as a singer. Since we were going to school while we were at our busiest, we would come to the practice room after just the first period." She added, "So, I felt sorry for showing you my sleeping face at school, and I thought I looked too pitiful for enduring it. It seems I was more focused on the idea of succeeding in my life as a singer by practicing a bit more during this time rather than having a romantic notion about being an adult."

At an age filled with thoughts and worries, when asked about stress relief methods, Rei said, "I simply book a practice room nearby without hesitation and dance or go out to pursue hobbies or exercise. Moving the body makes the brain move less." She added, "Otherwise, I write. I jot down all the emotions I feel. Looking back later, it's recorded why I was struggling with something, so it becomes solvable."

So, what will STAYC look like in their 30s ten years from now? Yoon said, "In reality, I hope to have a car by then. It's too hard commuting on public transportation right now. I expect that by the time we're in our 30s, we'll have cars." She added, "I hope we will have achieved many things by then. I want the team to remain active for a long time and continue working hard, and personally, I have ambitions such as releasing an album or creating works." Jaei also added, "I hope to be living a stable life too, and I want to still be an artist actively performing at that time."

Although it is a distant future, when asked about what Yoon and Jae-i would look like 22 years later at age 44, they made surprising remarks. Yoon said, "I hope we will have a house by then. In your 30s, you get a car; in your 40s, you get a house," adding, "By that time, my life goal will be less about success and more about living safely and without any major incidents. I think I will have a family around age 40, and I want to enjoy a happy family life." Jae-i also smiled and agreed, saying, "I hope I'll also have a healthy mind and body, build a good family, and live peacefully without any problems."

Yoon added, "At a recent dinner gathering, someone asked me, 'How can you be so clear-headed?' I hope that even in your 40s, you can remain as clear and stress-free as I am now, and that every day feels fresh. Life should not stagnate; isn't that truly what makes life wonderful?"

Finally, as a message of encouragement to his 40-year-old self who has grown safely and stylishly over the past 22 years, Yoon said, "I am grateful that I have managed to survive without any incidents for six years while working in the entertainment industry," adding, "I want to tell myself, 'You did so well. It may be busy and tough, but that's a good thing. So let's just enjoy it now. If you want to live comfortably when you get older, you have to work hard now.'" He conveyed his sincere thoughts with maturity. Jae also patted himself on the back for the self he would become in 22 years, saying, "You've done well so far, so you will continue to do well. Let's endure a bit more hardship."

How does the energy that STAYC exudes on stage now, at age 22, differ from the 'Teenfresh' they showed in their early debut days?

Yoon recalled, "When we first debuted, we didn't know much. At 17 or 18 years old, we didn't attach much significance to each song." He added, "But at some point, I reached a time when the lyrics of these songs really resonated with me. From then on, I began infusing my own identity into the songs."

Continuing, they noted that when comparing their debut era to the current Teen Fresh, there was a noticeable difference because back then, "there was a bit of soul missing. There was a form, but we didn't know exactly what this song was saying." However, they added, "Listening to '2 L0VE' now makes me want to cry. These days, when I hear our songs, I sometimes feel like crying. Although it's still Teen Fresh, the depth of STAYC as a team has deepened, and we feel we can now convey the message we want to share more effectively to people," confessing their matured inner selves.

Rei also added, "In the past, I was faithful only to the concept, but now my understanding of music has deepened, and I find myself thinking about how to express things so they are well conveyed to the public, which seems to be making me show more meaning in my songs."

At 22 years old, the two agreed that the songs they think suit them best are "SO BAD" and "BEAUTIFUL MONSTER." Yoon said, "I think we can perform them even better now. We can pour more soul into them, and it feels like we have finally understood the meaning of these songs. I hope listeners feel, 'Wow, they can do it like this.' These are songs we truly cherish," expressing his affection.

Rei also said, "I think it could have been a bit more poignant; back then, we were just starting our debut and had many things to worry about, so perhaps we didn't express ourselves as much as we should have. I feel like if we did it now, we could do it even better." In response, Yoon added, "But 'So Bad' was created with a pure heart that knew nothing, which might be why people liked it more. That kind of sincerity may have made it even better."

Known for his unique energy and dubbed the "human vitamin," Yoon cited "having a lot of work" as the driving force behind his stamina even amidst grueling schedules. Yoon stated, "Having a lot of work was my motivation. It's tough when you're busy, but being busy gave me strength." He added, "Last year, I went through unbelievable days. Instead of feeling overwhelmed or wondering 'what should I do?', I focused on what was right in front of me. Since being busy is ultimately good, I tried to concentrate as much as possible."

He also shared his honest feelings, saying, "Sometimes, on days off or when I only had practice in between, I suddenly felt too depressed. I was so busy that I wanted to rest, but once I actually did, it felt like everyone on Earth except me was working, and as if I had taken a step away from the world." He added, "Paradoxically, although I was exhausted because of being busy, I think I endured because of that busyness."

So, what are the small but certain happinesses of 22-year-old "human Shim Ja-yoon" and "human Jang Ye-eun" on a complete holiday with no schedule? Yoon said, "Usually, when I get a day off, I book lessons, so there aren't many truly free days. If my teacher is unavailable, that becomes my day off, but normally I practice singing at home." She added, "Recently, I've found the Marvel series universe fun, and I'm watching from 'Iron Man' (2008) through to 'The Hulk.' When I get a complete day, I want to watch all the 'Avengers' series movies and then go see 'Spider-Man.'"

Rei, who loves cute things, revealed, "I've been enjoying 'Love Couple' lately. When I get home, they are displayed all over the bed and in the living room. Recently, I went to a botanical garden to see flowers, and I watch many videos on making miniatures as well." In response, Yoon added, "Since I like making things, there are so many of them at home, and I am doing them one by one."

She also revealed a personal bucket list of things she wants to accomplish before the year ends. Yoon said, "I want to be more active in variety shows this year. Last year I focused on acting, but I really wanted to venture into variety. When I watch TV, I think, 'I could do that too; I want to join in and have fun with them.' As STAYC's Yoon, my scope feels limited, but when I go out somewhere and people say, 'We saw you on the show, Jang Ja-yoon,' my sense of self changes completely. I want to show more of myself in that direction," she affirmed her ambitions.

Jae-i said, "I also have a strong desire to let more people know about the person named Jae-i. Perhaps that is why I seem to be searching for my own color. I am determined to learn what suits me best so that I can shine even more on stage."

Finally, the two left warm messages for global fans and readers. Yoon said, "Thank you to STAYC 04s 'Heartz' for listening to our story, and we hope you find joy in your own lives," adding, "StarNews has always brought interesting and fresh topics over its 22 years of operation. We hope everyone's life is also always fresh and fun." Rei also warmly concluded with, "We hope all those born in '04 achieve great success, and we ask that you continue to follow our journey. Please stay healthy."

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*This content was translated by AI.