[Exclusive]By Day: 'Morning Plaza', By Night: Chanel Show DJ.. "Even No Min-woo works so hard" — Reflections on His Own 'Prime Time' Appearance [Interview 1]

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Even in these days when there are many 'hexagonal all-rounders' among entertainers, is there another star like No Min-woo (40) who has mastered so many fields? His transformation into a Hallyu actor through appearances in dramas such as 'Pasta', 'My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho', and 'Full House Take 2' from a 'handsome idol band' was merely a side note. After growing into a full-fledged actor, he dominated the stage with the musical 'Elisabeth'. In the midst of this, he never let go of his musical roots, forming the band The Midnight Romance in 2020, leading the team as a singer-songwriter skilled in vocals and instrument playing, while also serving as a music producer. And now, No Min-woo has also established himself as a DJ.

His recent activities are even more extraordinary. Earlier, on the 15th, he successfully concluded a three-month journey with the musical 'Eternity', which he had not performed in for a long time. In particular, No Min-woo's unique appearances on KBS 1TV's 'Morning Plaza' and '6 o'clock My Hometown' have captivated not only middle-aged and older generations but also the MZ generation. It was surprising that he served as a DJ at a global luxury brand Chanel party, exuding the aura of a 'chaebol daughter-in-law (?)', yet he continued to display unpredictable 'hard work' day after day, appealing to the tastes of the MZ generation who value individuality.

Moreover, it was revealed that the reason he recently participated in the variety show 'Dojang Kkaegi' was to let the 'regular bathhouse owner' know of his existence, adding to the buzz with its unexpected nature.

Ultimately, No Min-woo, who has risen as the 'variety trend', even managed to reappear on MBC's 'Radio Star' for the first time in 12 years. No Min-woo, who has been spending days too busy to even blink, recently visited the Seoul Gwanghwamun StarNews building to sincerely share his reflections and the process of reaching this turning point.

The decision to appear on 'Morning Plaza' and '6 o'clock My Hometown' after visiting a neighborhood bathhouse carried profound meaning, drawing attention. It was not a move driven merely by a pursuit of buzz, but a reflection of a changed mindset, which inevitably touched the hearts of the public.

No Min-woo stated, "Until then, I only did things I wanted to do. As an entertainer, I should not only rely on fans who love me but also provide opportunities for those who see me for the first time to become fans. But since I only did what I wanted, I wondered if I wasn't being too selfish. So I started thinking differently. I thought, 'I want the elderly to know me, and I want young people to know me.' As a result, I wanted the bathhouse owner who didn't know me to recognize me, I started paying attention to the programs I enjoyed watching, and I felt the urge to work even harder. Naturally, this led to the thought of appearing on these shows. I was the one who first contacted the 'Morning Plaza' production team."

Even the production team reacted with, "Why is No Min-woo doing this?" So, what was the reason for jumping into such a unique move without hesitation? No Min-woo said, "The times have changed. Artists must step forward and show themselves, but don't they need an audience? When I asked where the audience is, they were at 'Morning Plaza' and '6 o'clock My Hometown'. Now, I believe artists must go to find their audience," revealing his passionate spirit.

No Min-woo warmly recalled, "Thanks to that, I also received great healing. I naturally get along well with the elderly, and since I am eight years older than my younger brother (singer Ail), I am used to taking care of babies. All of that is part of me, so when I went to film '6 o'clock My Hometown', my heart felt very at ease."

The reason he has been able to steadily build such a challenging filmography is that his approach was different from the start. No Min-woo said, "It seems I am unintentionally continuing to make my own path. I have never thought about following trends or anything like that. All of my activities are simply an approach to 'making memories' within one frame of life. By approaching it this way, it seems that whatever I do, my sincerity and enjoyment shine through. People watching me say, 'Even No Min-woo lives so hard, I should live hard too,' makes me very happy. Making someone feel that way is truly meaningful. I will continue to live hard while 'making memories' like this in the future. I have been living like this all along, and it feels rewarding that people are now recognizing it. In the future, I want to bring laughter and emotion to your lives," he stated.

Creating the shocking collaboration single 'Black Goyang-i' with Tanaka (comedian Kim Kyung-wook's alter ego) last December can also be seen as part of 'making memories'.

No Min-woo said, "During the COVID-19 era, I received much comfort watching Tanaka. I don't know exactly who he is, but his comedy style was excellent. I think Kim Kyung-wook senior is the person who created the alter ego culture. I wondered if there was anything I could contribute to the joy and hope he gave, and that's how I created the song 'Black Goyang-i'. One day, I remembered the energy of the senior I had actually met once on a variety show, and suddenly inspiration struck, so I quickly worked on the track. Then, I sent a DM (direct message) to the senior saying, 'I want to meet you.' Fortunately, the senior listened to it and said it was great, so we moved forward with the project immediately. In the future, I want to continue collaborating freely like this and make memories with many people," raising expectations.

Truly, by day 'Morning Plaza', by night Chanel event DJ — the blessing of such extraordinary talent seems endless. No Min-woo said, "When I started DJing and thought about where to perform, I felt I should do it in a place that suits me. Of course, many talented people perform in clubs, but when I thought of my existing character, I thought, 'Huh?' Where would fit? Then luxury brands came to mind. So I arranged and created songs with that kind of vibe, and eventually, someone from the industry contacted me."

No Min-woo's dream was bound to become reality because the hidden effort was immense. He said, "I had a vague interest in DJing and started self-studying three years ago. I looked up its origins, created my own tracks, and even traveled to the Netherlands to study by watching DJ performances. But since it wasn't familiar, I practiced for 10 hours at a time out of frustration. I would bring a 1.5-liter bottle of water to the studio, drink only that, and practice standing up, going to the bathroom twice. When I checked the clock, 10 hours had long passed. After working so hard on myself, I was eventually invited to a Chanel event and played my first song as a DJ, which gave me a tremendous sense of accomplishment," revealing the secret to his long-lasting career.

To be continued in Interview 2.

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*This content was translated by AI.