[Exclusive] GoKpop's Interview With KARA & Jay Park

Gokpop was given an opportunity to interview KARA as well as Jay Park a day before the MTV World Stage. The interview was held at Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa on July 13th. Check out what they had to say below:

KARA

Q: Can you tell us about the concept for the stage for tomorrow night?

A: We will do all the hits songs in medley and also the “Let it Go” album, we only previewed it during the concert but we will show it for the first time on TV tomorrow.
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Q: What is being in KARA like and has it change you over the year?

A: We have been in the music industry for quite some time and we started as very junior and have many seniors but now we are in the senior position and had gone through a lot of obstacles and now we are more stable.
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Q: KARA recently became the 3rd Korean act to sell over 1 million singles in Japan. How do you feel about this accomplishment?

A: About the 1 million copies sold, we are very surprised with the achievement as well as happy and at the same time, we will try our very best to upkeep this response in Japan.
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Q: What are some of the difficulties of being in a girl band and why?

A: Well if I (Gyuri) must talk about difficulty, then it could just be keeping on diet and slim figure. We have to constantly watch we eat and always exercise.
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Q: What is your favorite fashion style at the moment and what do you feel about being fashion icons?

A: On the stage, we use to wear something tight and short so during the normal days, we try to wear something loose and comfortable and we would like to be a fashion icon.
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Q: Being in the music industry must be hectic and busy. If you are given one week off, what would you do?

A: We would all like to go out of the country and visit the other part of the countries in the world.
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Q: What are you thoughts on first entering the Japanese market and advice for the other girl groups who also want to succeed in Japan.

A: We are lucky because our seniors already took the Japanese stage and we have no difficulty at all as everything went really smooth and my advice to the juniors will be if you want to perform overseas, you have to know what is like in Korea first very well, then it will be okay.
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Q: What make KARA different from other K-pop girl groups out there?

A: (Nicole) In my opinion, I feel that we are much more professional image on stage and during the off stage, we are able to show much more friendly and outgoing, sort of more comfortable image that fans are able to approach us and feel comfortable with it.
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Q: How does it feel to represent Korea as K-pop ambassador at an international event like MTV World Stage?

A: It is an honor to be able to perform in such a big international event and it is our first time in Malaysia as well as our first time appearing on World Stage. We are hoping to show our best and hope to interact with the fans.
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Q: KARA has been showing a lot of support for your label mate, A-JAX. What is the relationship like between the members of the two groups?

A: It is another creation of the same company and this a boy group after a long period of time so we watch and look after them with great interest as well as give all our support like appearing in their music video.
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Q: Who are some of your musical inspiration and why?

A: Yes we have a lot of idols such as the international stars but we also try to maintain our characteristics and uniqueness in our individualistic concept/in themselves.

JAY PARK

Q: Is there anything that you are looking forward to as you are joining the MTV world stage for the first time?

A: Of course! There are going to be 50,000 people and will be very exciting. I feel the energy, I can imagine the energy is going to be crazy. It is awesome because Justin Bieber is here, KARA is here, Mizz Nina is here. So I think it is gonna be a very very good show and I am very excited to perform for everyone.
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Q: As a solo artists, what is the most difficult time you had encounter?

A: I think it’s just doing everything on my own. Because I am very independent, I don’t like to depend on people so I do writing songs, coming up with the concepts and all sorts. It’s hard but it’s rewarding and it is very fun.
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Q: Having grown up in America, how you think it affected the way you make music?

A: Yea definitely, because I grow up listening to Hip Hop and R&B in States. I didn’t even know how to speak Korean before I came to Korea. Definitely it is like the in between of American music and Kpop. That’s where I put my music in, right in the middle.
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Q: Will you be performing with Justin Bieber during the World Stage?

A: No…he doesn’t like me *joking*. We will be having separate performances.
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Q: Since you have visited to quite a number of places, which is the best place to you?

A: I haven’t gone to a place that I didn’t like so far. I like every single place that I have been to. Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, everywhere I gone so far.
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Q: Having tour in both States and Asia, what do you think is the main difference?

A: Main difference? I don’t know~ People ask me all time, the difference between these fans and those fans but it’s like every time I go to show and they scream, every time I do fan meet and greet, they say they like my music. They support me, but I think the difference is maybe their languages and cultures. The rest are just the same and I appreciate it.
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Q: Any musician or producer you wish to collaborate?

A: There are probably like thousands. For example, I would really love to work with Underdogs, The Stereotypes, Chris Brown, Usher, Drake and a bunch.
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Q: You will be holding “New Breed” concert soon. So is there any hint on wish Asia countries you will be heading to?

A: Hmmm, I don’t even know. I don’t know myself. Whichever country who wants to see me, I will go, I will definitely go.
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Q: Do you have any future plan with AOM?

A: AOM? Yea they are in Korea right now. A couple of people from AOM actually battled with Massive Monkees in R16 and the won. It’s like 5 days ago and I am very happy for them. A member of AOM is coming here because he is going to be my camera guy from now on and we will be putting the videos on the internet from now on.
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Q: Do you have an idea to create your own fashion brand in future?

A: I don’t know, that is probably too far right now. I want to focus more on music and right now I am working on World Stage to put on a good show. For me, for my life right now, I am just gonna focus on making good albums, good music and putting on good shows.
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Q: What is your opinion on how the K-pop music industry can reach other markets on a large scale?

A: Put on good music. I think if you are talented, you put on a good show, good music, it will communicate wherever you go. People will know that “This guy is good, I like his performance, I like his music and he is very talented”. So just be good at what you do.
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Q: What is your wildest dream and your biggest fear?

A: Wildest dream would be maybe to take a bunch of people to vacation maybe like around 40 people, my whole family relatives and friends to wherever, a tropical place perhaps. My biggest fear…probably lose a love one. I was really afraid of the plane for all the while but then all these touring make me comfortable with plane but back then I was like *grab chair* definitely afraid of plane.
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Q:You have make an English Version of “Know Your Name” and “Girlfriend” for repackage album. So is there any difficulties you encountered?

A:Yea “Know Your Name” doesn’t sound good in English so I was kinda sad but “Girlfriend” sounds really good in English I think. So I am really happy for that and also we put a new song in which is called “Carefree”, and that song turned out really well too and I am pretty happy with that.

Special thanks to MTV for allowing us to conduct the interviews!