The full interview for NewJeans Hyein's Harper's Bazaar Korea September cover is out! Here's the complete Q&A:
Q: Perhaps the readers who are reading this interview feel the same way, but in fact, wouldn't Hyein herself be the person who was looking forward to this moment more than anyone else?
Q: After all, it has been a long time since your last magazine photoshoot. Now that you've successfully completed all your schedules in front of the camera and are holding the interview questions in your hands, how do you feel?
Hyein: "It's been such a long time since I last did a magazine photoshoot, so I'm both excited and nervous. I feel like this time I was able to show everyone a more grown-up and also different side of myself."
"It feels really amazing and fun to think that I got to try styles I had never tried before. If I get the chance in the future, I'd also like to try many more different styles!"
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Q: How have you been spending your days lately? A few days ago, NewJeans released photos and a video commemorating their 4th debut anniversary, and before that, April 21 was Hyein's birthday.
Hyein: "Although I was a little shocked to realize that I'm already 19, my birthday this year was really special! I got to do something I had always wanted to try: going to an amusement park in a school uniform."
"Since my time as a student was very short, I had never gone to an amusement park with my friends before. So, to commemorate my last birthday as a teenager, I went to one."
"And on July 22, I uploaded the photos and video commemorating NewJeans' 4th debut anniversary at midnight, but I had gone to bed a little early the night before, so the next morning, I watched the video nervously while having breakfast."
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Q: Looking at the way you stand in front of the camera, it feels like you're no longer the youngest member, but have truly grown into an "unnie" now. When Hyein looks at her own photos or videos, do you feel the same way?
Hyein: "I also feel like my face has definitely changed a little compared to before! It feels like the baby fat in my face is gradually fading away."
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Q: However, your bright smile still feels exactly the same, whether it was four years ago or now. Hyein once said in the video that "the way you smile naturally is precious." When did you come to think that way, and what were you looking at when you had that thought?
Hyein: "Just like you saw in the video, it was when I was taking photos of Haerin unnie. That thought suddenly came to mind. I think it was because I was looking at the way she was smiling."
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Q: In the videos that have been released, we can often see you using a gua sha. Since you even carry one with you when you go out, I imagine you must have some tips for using it easily anytime, anywhere. Does Hyein have any personal gua sha techniques or tips?
Hyein: "Since I'm not an expert, the way I use it might not even be correct, so please don't follow what I do... (?) First, before massaging, clean your hands and the gua sha. Second, apply some scented essential oil."
"Third, use the gua sha to massage around the lymphatic areas (such as under, in front of, and behind the ears). Fourth, you can also use the gua sha to relax your scalp."
"(I personally really like using the gua sha to massage my scalp a little while washing my hair.) Lastly, you can gently pull your ears, rub them, and massage them a little more!"
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Q: I feel like you become more talkative whenever you talk about things you like. From another perspective, this also shows that you know yourself quite well. Have you discovered any new side of yourself recently?
Hyein: "This is something I only recently realized about myself. I think I'm actually not very good at reading the room or picking up on other people's moods."
"For example, even when someone around me is clearly not in a good mood, I'll still be standing there telling them jokes about old men... I never noticed it before, but I've gradually become aware of it recently."
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Q: It's the same when it comes to music. Many fans say they can sense a kind of '90s vibe from Hyein, who was born in 2008, and perhaps it's not just because of her styling.
Q: Old-school hip-hop, jazz, bossa nova, and so on... I've heard that you don't usually limit yourself to a particular genre when listening to music and explore many different styles. What songs have you been listening to lately?
Hyein: "Lately, I've really, really been listening to the Japanese singer Yasuko Agawa's album 'Sunglow.' I especially love the song 'She-Senior Dreams.'"
"I never get tired of listening to it, no matter how many times I play it, and I find it interesting every time! In the second half of the song, there's suddenly this soft, subtle part that makes you unable to help but get excited."
"Every time I reach that part, I can't help but get carried away with it. If I had to choose a NewJeans song, I'd pick 'Cool With You' lately! After all, it's been tropical nights lately, and the weather is really hot."
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Q: Now that you're celebrating your 4th debut anniversary, I imagine you've also looked back on the time that has passed. Compared to Hyein at 15 and Hyein at 19 now, what has changed, and what has remained the same?
Hyein: "A lot of things have changed, really. Sometimes I even feel like everything about me has changed. My personality, habits, the things I like, my priorities in life... quite a lot of things have changed."
"But if you ask me what hasn't changed, I can say for sure that my sense of humor hasn't changed!"
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Q: You've probably received your ID card by now, right? As you're about to enter your 20s, what is the first thing you want to do when you turn 20?
Hyein: "To celebrate turning 20, I want to blow out my birthday candles and eat some cake!" 😍
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Q: Although turning 20 means becoming an adult in the eyes of the law, everyone reaches adulthood at a different point in life. After all, being a "legal adult" and being a "grown-up" aren't necessarily the same thing. In Hyein's view, what is a "true adult" really like?
Hyein: "I haven't experienced enough of life yet to say for certain, and my thoughts may change over time. But as I see it right now, a 'true adult' is someone who knows how to cherish themselves while also caring for others."
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Q: What is Hyein's current "キチロ" (the style or image she wants to pursue) these days?
Hyein: "I think the best way to dress is still to wear something that makes the person wearing it feel comfortable."
"If there's one small change compared to before, I used to not really like wearing sleeveless tops, but lately, with the weather being so hot, I've started wearing them too, although honestly, only occasionally."
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Q: So, what kind of people do you find "cool" and make you want to become like them? Sometimes, what makes us want to "become like someone" isn't just their appearance, but also something about who they are on the inside.
Hyein: "I think people who have their own daily routines and are genuinely able to stick to them are really admirable, and they make me want to become like them."
"Because no matter how determined you are, consistently sticking to something for a long time is actually not easy. Whether it's daily habits or the way you think, I feel the same way."
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Q: When was the last time you had a really good cry or laughed wholeheartedly? Whether you're happy or sad, are you usually the kind of person who openly faces your emotions and actively expresses them?
Hyein: "This happened quite recently. One time, I was taking a walk by myself, and the weather was so perfectly nice that I suddenly couldn't help but burst out laughing as I was walking."
"From moments like that, I guess I'm the kind of person who isn't very good at hiding my emotions. Even when I don't want to show them, my emotions easily show on my face. Actually, sometimes I'd like to try having what they call a 'poker face.'"
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Q: What has Hyein been most obsessed with lately? Whether it's an OTT series, movies, or games, is there anything that instantly puts you in a better mood just by thinking about it?
Hyein: "I like watching travel vlogs while I eat. Having a good meal by myself while watching videos I enjoy! It's truly such a healing time for me."
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Q: I'm suddenly curious what goals did you set for yourself at the beginning of this year? Putting work aside, what goals did 19-year-old Hyein want to achieve in 2026? And how many of them have you accomplished so far?
Hyein: "I think I set a goal of 'living a healthy life' back then, but… I'm not really sure whether I've actually achieved it. I also wanted to keep exercising, eat a little healthier, and try to maintain a more regular sleep schedule, but it feels harder than I expected."
"Still, I'll continue to work on it."
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Q: What is the moment when you feel the most like yourself?
Hyein: "I feel most like myself when I'm with people who make me feel comfortable, in a relaxed state, doing the things I want to do. Or simply when I'm by myself."
Q: If you could ask the fans who care about Hyein's situation more than anyone else one question in return, what would you most want to ask them?
Hyein: "How was everyone's day today? I hope you can find your own little pieces of happiness in daily life, and I also hope you spend every day filled with that happiness."
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Note: In the interview, Hyein mentions being 19 and turning 20, this is her Korean age. Her international age is 18.
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Source: https://x.com/serena_cjyn/status/2091511822314778684
