By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune and other outlets
April 30, 2024
After debuting in 2019, the K-pop quintet CIX has had the opportunity to travel around the world, which the group acknowledges as a fun perk of their job. “I try to explore each city as our schedule allows,” group leader and rapper BX told us. “A tour allows us to take a look at various cities. In that sense, the [North American] tour always provides great memories for us.” Their tour – which includes concerts in Chicago, Montreal, and Mexico City – kicks off on May 12. (For the full itinerary and ticket information, visit here.) This interview was conducted in Korean and translated into English. It has been edited for clarity.
Q: How does the United States compare to how you saw it portrayed in films and TV shows?
YONGHEE: One impression for me was that American buildings are massive. I didn’t find any specific difference though. The U.S. seems like a cool country.
BX: It was surprising and interesting to see the stairs at Times Square, which looked identical as it was portrayed in the movie “Spider-Man.”
BAEJINYOUNG: Rather than picking similarities or differences, I thought that there were a lot of pizza and burger places in the States! It was quite surprising to me.
Q: Where have you visited for work that you’d like to return for a vacation?
SEUNGHUN: I’d love to visit Chicago with my family, eat good food and enjoy relaxing. [Laughs.] Every city has a different vibe, so after every show, I try to explore and take pictures as much as possible.
YONGHEE: I honestly loved every place we have visited, so if I have an opportunity, I’d be happy to revisit anywhere.
HYUNSUK: For me, it’s L.A.! L.A.’s weather is amazing and I liked its free-spirited scenery. If we have a free day during the tour, we love to explore the city we’re in that day.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
SEUNGHUN: Seoul, London, New York, L.A., Chicago.
HYUNSUK: L.A., Tokyo, Bangkok, Dallas, Philippines.
BAEJINYOUNG: Seoul, Osaka, Berlin, New York, Paris.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re in other cities?
BAEJINYOUNG: I usually walk, because I want to truly feel each city’s atmosphere.
BX: I don’t usually enjoy shopping, but during tours, it’s fun to explore and shop at different places. I guess it’s because I’m in places that I’m not too familiar with.
HYUNSUK: Taking photos. Photos are the proof of memories, so I like to take a lot of photos to resonate with that scenery’s vibe for a long time.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
YONGHEE: I’d like to go anywhere if I’m with good people. My travel bucket list would be visiting space.
BX: I want to go to the Universal Studios, explore the park and have a blast with [the group].
Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
SEUNGHUN: I believe it was in L.A. when I opened the hotel room window – I saw people chilling at a huge park. They looked so relaxed and happy, and looking at them made me happy too.
YONGHEE: I feel so happy when I eat good local food. Therefore, my favorite memory would be local food.
BX: The best memory is going on a family vacation. We talked a lot and had great fun. The worst memory would be having a stye in my eye, and it was not a pleasant time.
Q: Which childhood trip stands out?
BAEJINYOUNG: To me, a trip to Jeju Island [in South Korea] stands out as a good memory. I can’t recall exactly why but I just loved the whole trip.
SEUNGHUN: Personally, I don’t enjoy traveling a lot. But if possible, I would love to travel internationally with family to see a soccer game this year. [Laughs.]
BX: For me, every trip with close friends and acquaintances is always fun and memorable, so I don’t necessarily have a bad memory about travel.
HYUNSUK: I still remember visiting a road famous for an optical illusion in Jeju Island when I went there on a family vacation at a young age.
Q: When you are away from home, what do you miss most about Korea?
HYUNSUK: Out of everything, I miss my bed at [our] dorm the most. I also crave Korean food!
BAEJINYOUNG: I guess I always miss food and the familiarity when I’m away from home.
BX: My ultimate favorite Korean food is ox bone hangover soup. I miss it even more when I’m in a foreign country.
Q: Do you work on new songs while on tour?
BX: It’s not too easy to work on music during a tour, so I try to get as much work done before leaving for any tour.
YONGHEE: We would also discuss and share opinions if we have songs for the next album.
HYUNSUK: A tour should take priority while we’re on it, so we tend to not work on new music during that time.
Q: How do you stay healthy on tour?
SEUNGHUN: I try to get as much sleep as possible. Also, I like to wake up early, eat breakfast and run or work out at a hotel gym.
BAEJINYOUNG: When we’re not preparing for performances or performing on stage, I usually eat and sleep well – catching up on some rest!
YONGHEE: I don’t particularly have a special routine. I’d just eat well and take medicine when I don’t feel well.
Q: How have your travels impacted your mindset and work?
YONGHEE: Travel allows me to rest without worries and recharge, which motivates me to work hard again.
SEUNGHUN: If I encounter any touching moment while traveling, I usually express the emotions I felt at the time in the lyrics.
HYUNSUK: I feel calm with new scenery and atmosphere whenever I travel. That helps me to focus better when I work on music. That’s a positive effect of travel.
Q: If you’ve ever gone away for the holidays, which was your best trip?
BAEJINYOUNG: Going skating with family on Christmas day when I was young.
Q: Do you speak any foreign languages?
SEUNGHUN: I can speak a little bit of Japanese and I’m currently taking English lessons, but it’s not easy. If there is an opportunity, I want to study abroad, possibly in the U.S. [Laughs.]
BX: I don’t think I pick up new languages easily because it always feels challenging. However, learning a new language easily sparks interest for me, so I get used to it quite soon.
YONGHEE: I can speak a bit of Japanese and English. I think I learn a new language at an average pace.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items that you travel with?
HYUNSUK: Skincare products.
SEUNGHUN: Shower filters and body mist.
YONGHEE: I always get cellphone roaming service. If necessary, I also pack a voltage converter.
BAEJINYOUNG: AirPods!
© 2024 JAE-HA KIM
DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
One thought on “Go Away With … CIX”