CREATETHESOUND • ARIEL •  PARADOX

BIRTHNAME Im Kijeong

OTHER NAMES

— Kijeong ; his stage name. not very original, mind you, but his choice nonetheless 
— King K ; his name in the underground, which was how he wanted to present himself: as not just a king, but as the king. King K additionally has two different meanings, one being that the K stands for Kijeong, the other that the K is for Korea — aka he’s King Kijeong and the King of Korea
— King Im ; the boys like to joke that King is his English name, since that was his underground rap name, and since it's still one of his nicknames. but Kijeong doesn't answer to it, and he won't accept it as his English name. He says that he'll take an English name eventually. Might even have Sam help him choose. But it's really not his top priority.

NICKNAMES

— Ki, Kiki (hyung) ; all common name-based nicknames
used mostly by the younger members of Paradox (but always that hyung honorific); often used by the GJSN girls, too, because as severe as he somemtimes seems, he has a soft spot for them
— Keke/Kekeke [ㅋㅋㅋ] ; a play on words/sound and his name, and the fact that on the rare occasion when Kijeong does laugh he cackles quietly to himself
used most often by the older Paradox boys (because it's funny), the fans, and the people Kijeong met during his underground days
— Blue ; because of the shade of his hair during a several month stint during his underground days (it was a dark steel blue, and done on a whim at the time)
used liberally by the rappers he knew from the underground, used occasionally by the older Paradox and GJSN members and his own team (the ones that have seen pictures); eventually used by fans and both Paradox and GJSN teams after his hair ends up blue again for a round of Paradox's or a unit's promotions.
— King, Captain, Cap'n, Capitan ; unlike his (ex) "King" stagename, these nicknames are inspired more by his status as the rap unit's leader and as Paradox's leader, as as such they hold different meanings and emotions
used by the Paradox boys, though you might occasionally catch the GJSN girls using them post-debut
— Savage ; Kijeong is known for his fast-paced, brutal raps, his diss tracks (particularly those he produced during his time in the underground), and how quick he is to tear into anyone that stands between him and his goals (or the goals of his team). 
an affectionate nickname, used largely by the older or bolder Paradox boys and GJSN girls (Sieun and Marelaine in particular), and by fans and staff
— the scary/intimidating one ; not to much a nickname as a phrase, and with all the nicknames that go with it; this is largely due to Kijeong's sharp features and his scathing personality. luckily, Kijeong isn't as scary as people are led to believe. he just looks the part (which is, thankfully, usually enough to keep the haters, bold fans, and even some sasaengs at bay.
used frequently by fans (affectionately), and by people just getting introduced to Paradox (casual listeners, new listeners, even idols. can't remember Kijeong's name? he's the leader, that "scary one". everyone knows who that refers to)
— Kkamagui (for crow) ; in the underground, Kijeong initially dressed in dark clothing in order to better hide his identity as he came more into himself and figured out who he wanted to be and what he wanted to present. this nickname was something the crowd and other performers came to call him (as well as Dark Crow) because despite branding himself as King, he didn't initially fit that image because he was still so new to the scene. he dressed dark and with that rough edge to his voice....kkamagui was a good name for him.
used by his old underground friends and adopted by the Paradox boys and eventually the fans
— (Kkama)Guijeong ; a play on his previous nickname and his actual name
used primarily by the underground rappers and eventually the Paradox boys

BIRTHDAY June 19, 1995 
BIRTHPLACE Pohang, South Korea

HOMETOWN Seoul, South Korea

ETHNICITY Korean

LANGUAGES SPOKEN

—  Korean ; fluent (100%) ; native language (though, admittedly, sometimes he struggles when it's sleep-dark-thirty. ....but really, who doesn't?)

—Mandarin Chinese ; advanced conversational (85%) ; Kijeong’s father knew Mandarin for his job and he told Kijeong early on that Mandarin would be an important language to learn. Considering Mandarin is now the most spoken language in the world (even if those people primarily reside in China), he was right. When Kijeong was young, his father had him start taking Mandarin courses to prepare him for the future. Kijeong remembers most of it despite it having been a number of years since his last actual class, probably because he still listens to some Mandarin music and took refresher courses after joining SM Entertainment

— Japanese ; moderate conversational (50%) ; Kikwang also knew Japanese, and even though Kijeong was still trying to master Mandarin at the time, his father pushed him to study Japanese, too. As their close neighbor and a common trade partner, it was a safe move, or so Kikwang claimed. Kijeong took less courses of Japanese than he did Mandarin, so his fluency is lower, but he did watch enough anime to retain key phrases, and he's since taken refresher courses and additional language lessons since joining SM. 

— English ; conversational (30%) ; English is a language Kijeong himself chose to learn (though it was more because he enjoyed bands that only sang in English, and a couple shows that also only spoke English). It’s hard to learn, though, thanks to the rapidly evolving language and all teh slang, so aside from basic phrases and random vocabularly gleaned from movies, tv shows and songs he listens to, Kijeong’s fluency largely comes from conversations (aka Q&A Time) with Sam, Yeram, Youngmi, and the other English-speaking Paradox and GJSN members. He has yet to officially look into refresher courses because he never exactly had a base to refresh anyway, it’s all scattered and eclectic knowledge.

FACE CLAIM Leedo (Oneus)

BACK UP FACE CLAIM Changbin (Stray Kids), Chan (ACE)

HEIGHT & WEIGHT 172 cm & 53 kg

 

APPEARANCE

— Kijeong isn’t short by any means of the word, but, well, he’s certainly not the tallest in the group, and he’s old enough to know that he’s not going to be doing any more growing. Not that it matters, because sometimes the best presents will come in the smallest of packages. With that short(er) stature, Kijeong also maintains a fairly low weight, averaging around that of most of the company’s female idols. And this is not so much because of diets and exercise (though he does enjoy the latter and despise the former), but because Kijeong has a bad habit of locking himself in the studio and conveniently forgetting to eat for upwards of several hours at a time. Kijeong is also slender in a way that suggests lean muscle and a fairly active youth and training period. In short, the physique of an athlete, but one that doesn’t eat the number of calories he burns in a day.

Kijeong prefers a simple sort of attire. For day to day wear outside of the dorms (practice, studio recordings, etc) where he knows he’ll be seen by labelmates and the Paradox members, Kijeong generally opts for jeans and lightweight shirts. He also generally has a lightweight jacket of some kind — a flannel, usually, because then if he’s too warm, it can be thrown into the corner or be tied around his waist and be out of the way. And for general work in the studio (as well as hanging around the dorm on their infrequent spells of time off post-debut), Kijeong will sometimes swap the jeans for sweats or loose sports-oriented shorts, and trade the flannel for something looser. Regardless, always count on Kijeong having a jacket, even if that jacket is a three-sizes-too-big hoodie or a flannel that lives around his waist. (And then, should he not need it, but someone else might… Well, he has it.) Additional rule of thumb: The softer the material is, the more he’s going to like it. The harder/starchier it is, the more likely it is that he’ll find a way to hide the offending garment until it’s existence is little more than a memory. (And then it’s rehomed. Carefully, quietly, discreetly.)

For day to day wear during schedules and the to and from of locations, Kijeong will go so far as to at least make sure his clothing doesn’t have any odd stains, smells, or phrases on them. He makes sure he looks presentable and like he’s a capable representative of Paradox and SM Entertainment. But the fact remains that he just wants to be comfortable. Too much of his time asan idol will be spent in awkwardly bright, garish, or otherwise uncomfortable clothing. So he just wants his own to look and feel nice.

Kijeong doesn’t wear much in the way of jewelry on a normal basis. His earlobes are pierced once each and his outer left helix has a couple piercings, but he generally wears plain studs on the daily and only fancies it up for performances. (He’ll also wear cuffs then, and it’s clear he favors the elaborate, beautiful ones.) Most jewelry is left to performances, though, just because it’s a hassle to mess with on a daily basis.

[In short, his appearance and Leedo’s remain largely similar, though Kijeong has the outer helix piercings and weighs less, because he’s an idiot that prioritizes music over food. Someone, please feed this idiot child. Additionally, the attire. And Kijeong obviously has no reservations about natural hair color predebut or post-debut.] 

 

PERSONALITY TRAITS 

Firebender • Dauntless • Mystic • SlytherClaw  

Gemini-Cancer cusp • Chaotic Good • ISFP-A

 

“i have survived far too much to go quietly

let a meteor take me

call the thunder for backup

my death will be grand

the land will crack

the sun will eat itself”

- the day i leave

 

loyal, showmanship, original, passionate, charismatic, resourceful

Independent, spontaneous, competitive, bold, ambitious, physical, honest

stubborn, private, pessimistic, aggressive, savage, blunt

 

PERSONALITY

passionate, charismatic, showman

While it’s true that Kijeong is technically new to the idea of being an idol — Sam’s been in the industry for almost a decade by the time Paradox begins their debut prep, and even most of the younger members of Paradox have years of training on him — what sets Kijeong apart initially from so many others in the general trainee program isn’t his experience rapping in the underground, but more of his passion. It’s the fact that Kijeong wants so fiercely to be an idol, to share his music and the pieces of himself that he’s discovered in music over the years. While he doesn’t take criticism well, he also won’t take it lying down, and he actively strives to better himself so that when debut comes, he can present the absolute best him that he can. 

Kijeong’s years in the underground, rapper and strutting across the stages Ike he owned them, gave him an impeccable stage presence. He’s a showman at heart, always putting on a show even when his heart isn’t necessarily in it. While not dramatic like some of the Paradox boys,  Kijeong does have a flair for attracting the eye, and he always seems to know just what the people around him want to see when he performs. So he gives it his all — no ifs, ands, or buts about it. 

 

It’s that passion, that willingness to give his all on stage, that makes him such a good leader. He’s charismatic, yes, capable of drawing a crowd and keeping them fixed on him, but more than that, his passion inspires the other members of Paradox to go just as hard, to give just as much of themselves to their music. 

loyal

Due to the whole unfortunate incident of being stolen away by his grandparents during his youth, Kijeong has some odd feeling surrounding the concept of loyalty. On one hand, he’s loyal, fiercely and almost blindly so. His loyalty to Paradox is unshakable. He hadn’t necessarily planned to eventually debut in a group when he signed with SM Entertainment, but that was the hand he’d been given, and Kijeong would be damned if he turned down the boys that worked just as fiercely as he did to pursue their dreams. But on the other hand, it means that his loyalty can be almost...dangerous? at times. Heaven help anyone he catches badmouthing their concepts and ideas. Criticism for their choreography or their lyrics or melodies? You better hope he doesn’t catch you in an alleyway after dark. (On the flip side, it means he also has no qualms with standing up to sasaengs and their behavior. He’s loyal to his boys first and foremost. Then the fans. Sasaengs don’t make his list at all.)

honest, blunt, savage

While Kijeong isn’t necessarily the nicest of the trainees, he is known for his sincerity, especially when it comes to being honest. You might not like what he has to say, of course. Kijeong is often blunt to the point of being brutal. He has little to no tact, and he hates to sugarcoat anything. But he’ll never lie, even to spare someone’s feelings. And he won’t play guessing games or dance around the answer, either. 

Now, that’s not to say he can’t be kind about it. Kijeong isn’t completely heartless. When it comes to the younger members of Paradox, or even the younger members of GJSN, he knows to soften his words and his demeanor. But to most, Kijeong doesn’t bother. An idol’s life will be full of people that want to use them for their own personal gain, and as not just the captain, but the group’s leader, it’s Kijeong’s job to make sure that no one gets their claws into s for any reason. And if that means brutal and sometimes painful honesty, then so be it.

Additionally, Kijeong’s honesty has a more savage side, one that’s seen most often in practice or in private when Kijeong roasts one of more of the boys without hesitation (if they leave him the opportunity, he’s not going to let it go to waste), but one that also appears later on variety shows and lives/vlogs/etc. He exposes s without hesitation, calling them out on silly things and more important things. To fans, to each other. And he completely expects the same, especially from his co-captains. It keeps them all humble.

independent, private, resourceful

Kijeong literally grew up with a family that, in his youth, refused to accept him at face value. He was molded to fit an image that he hated, and given only the barest hints of attention. Kijeong was forced to learn independence early on, because if he didn’t, he never would have made it. It was a necessary lesson, and one that’s helped him well over the years, leading to many of Kijeong’s eventual successes. But even so, it hinders him now. He’s so used to going at something alone that he forgets that he has a support team that actually does its job now. His grandparents love and support him, and his team and co-captains support him, too. But old habits die hard.

Growing up, being private was a necessity, and one that Kijeong was always careful about. His parents didn’t care what he thought or what he wanted. And long as he kept his grades up, they simply didn’t care. He was allowed his fantasies and his fallacies so long as he never dared to share them. Despite eventually moving away from his parents, and then growing up and maturing, Kijeong never really outgrew being private. Even now, he keeps the more important things to himself, wary of those around him in the industry and their motives, though he is trying to be more open about his emotions and things with the boys of Paradox. (Even so, at any given point, no one has any real, definite idea as to what’s going on in Kijeong’s head.) So really, it’s a learning process. A slow one.

Being so private and independent has taught Kijeong to be resourceful, particularly in a pinch. He’ll never measure up to MacGuyver when it comes to physical manipulation, and he’s not quite on the same level as Heechul when it comes to words or emotions and the people around him, but Kijeong does have a way of making things work. Whether that means cobbling together strange ingredients for a stew because the cupboards are empty and the kids are hungry, or making a measly three mics work in an interview even though there’s thirteen of them, or even something as simple as a bit of tape or a bobby pin to fix errant jewelry or a fashion malfunction moments before they’re meant to be on stage performing, Kijeong has a way of fixing the issues that come up. Using whatever he happens to have on hand.

physical

Growing up like he did, Kijeong didn’t get much in the way of verbal affection. As an adult, he’s equally unskilled in offering said verbal affection. He can do it. He knows how to do it. It can be done. But he’s certainly not good at it. Kijeong knows to offer praise where it’s deserved, but he’s much better at more physical gestures. A cool bottle of water after a grueling dance practice, back pats and shoulder squeezes in moments of pride or sympathy and commiseration. Kijeong is good with nonverbal reassurances because he’s not good at expressing himself with words unless they’re lyrics. (Aka 100% would totally write a song to confess to someone.)

ambitious

In short, Kijeong sets his expectations high, not just for himself and for his unit, but for Paradox as a whole. The thirteen of them have an awful lot riding on their shoulders, including not just the expectations that come with being managed by the one and only SM Entertainment, but also the expectations set upon their shoulders by Madame Knag, Heechul, Hyoyeon, and all of the SLJK program’s investors. Being an idol may not be quite the same as being an underground rapper — in fact, it feels like comparing a gem stone in a necklace to an unpolished, dirty hunk of earth — but the knowledge of needing to do better, to be better, is still the same. Kijeong has never forgotten that the SLJK program was an investment, and that they need to continually set the bar higher and higher every comeback in order to not just compete with the NCT program — arguably their rivals — but also their company seniors, GJSN, and especially other newly debuting groups and those seasoned seniors making comebacks. 

competitive, stubborn, aggressive

Being an idol is difficult. Their world is competitive, very much dog eat dog in nature, so in order to not just survive, but thrive, they have to constantly be pushing the bar. The group of Paradox, as a whole, has to be the best. Their music, their melodies, their lyrics, their choreo on point. They have to push themselves, so it’s only natural that after growing up aggressive in the scene, it carries over his his life as an idol. Kijeong competes with the other groups, especially NCT (especially after fans begin pushing that idea of their program being rivals). They’re not rivals with GJSN so much as they are two parts of the same whole, but even then, that competitive feeling remains. They connect, so competing against them is counter productive, but it’s more like Kijeong uses their existence to push himself to be better — ensuing in a competition that isn’t so much man vs man as it is man vs self. 

bold, original, spontaneous

Kijeong has a no-holds-barred kind of style when it comes to his life as an idol. In the underground, he didn’t exactly try a new approach with every rap or performance, or every time he took the stage, but he was known for trying new styles and testing things out. After joining SM and eventually making it into the SLJK program, that still holds true. Kijeong wants to experience everything, and he’s more than willing to steps outside of his comfort zone and try new things if it means being able to push those boundaries and experiment.  

Unfortunately, Kijeong does have a habit of pushing those boundaries without warning, with trying new things with his more personal projects. “Spontaneous” is what the other captains call him. (“Obnoxious” is what just about everyone else prefers.) Of course, Kijeong would never attempt that with Paradox’s music without warning, at least not without telling someone he’s trying something new and then working on it months ahead of time.

pessimistic

It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but Kijeong has a bit of a pessimistic attitude when it comes to...well, everything. He’s not good at hoping for the best and planning for the worst. It’s more like he expects the worst and is then ridiculously surprised when it’s better than his expectations. The other captains have tried to break Kijeong of this habit, but it’s hard when it’s so deeply engrained into his person, stemming from his turbulent youth and adolescence. There’s always going to be that worry, that fear, that things will take a turn for him.

 

 

“i don’t know why

i split myself open

for others knowing

sewing myself up

hurts this much

afterward”

 

BACKGROUND

— Son of Im Kikwang and Min Suhyun, Kijeong was the second-born son of a well-off, high-ranking family. As the youngest child of Kikwang, a military man turned police officer, and Suhyun, no-nonsense work-from-home accountant mother, Kijeong was always expected to follow in his father’s footsteps, just like his older brother.

Im Kihyuk, Kijeong’s elder brother, was born on October 27th 1989, and was the shining example of what good breeding, genes, and a strict home environment could create. At the top of his class, Kihyuk was the standard Kijeong was always supposed to live up to and become, the shining beacon of perfection that Kijeong was meant to emulate at all times. And Kijeong hated it.

But rebellion wasn’t something that was tolerated at the Im family home. Between his father’s strict policies carried over from his time in the military and his mother’s constant presence at home, Kijeong was forced very early on into the role they wanted him to fill, and absolutely nowhere else. And for a time it worked. For a time, Kijeong behaved, not having a reason to act out and not seeing himself making it far without his parents’ influence. Besides, with his father on the Pohang police force, there was nowhere Kijeong could run or hide that would escape his father’s reach. In a city of five hundred thousand people, where it seemed like everyone knew him -- or at least of him -- his father was everywhere. Literally, at times.

So Kijeong worked hard, pushing himself to be one of the best in his class. He brought home high marks in his studies, took up traditionally masculine hobbies and activities to make his parents proud, and put up a front. And it worked. For a while, at least.

began to hit the fan in early 2005 when Kijeong started taking notice of the fact that his peers didn’t have to deal with the same bull he himself struggled with on a daily basis. It started innocently enough, of course, such as seeing his masculine peers joining “feminine” activities like chorus and the baking club. And from there it only escalated. After all, while Kijeong didn’t mind some of the activities he was forced into — he actually kind of enjoyed Chess, and Mandarin studies wasn’t too awful — Kijeong wasn’t particularly a huge fan of some of the activities he’d been forced into, not when he could potentially invest his time in something he actually wanted to spend his time on.a

But that was what his parents wanted, and if Kijeong ever hoped to pass muster and please his parents as much as his elder brother, Kihyuk, then Kijeong’s only hope was to live their lie and hope for the best. 

And for a little while, it worked. If he asked for help, sometimes his parents would stop in to assist, offering advice on how to memorize his Mandarin vocabulary, or assistance with the tones he struggled with. At the time, Kijeong didn’t care. It was just nice to have their attention for however long he could have it, even if their care was more for their appearances than for his benefit. Kijeong had a classic case of being affection-starved, and regardless of motives, any attention at all was better than none at all.

Approximately one year after Kijeong began noticing the differences between himself and his peers, Kikwang’s parents came to visit. It didn’t take long at all for Kijeong’s grandparents to see that despite Kijeong’s best presentation, he wasn’t happy with his schooling or his living situation, and that he wasn't receiving the attention and care he deserved. 

The next couple weeks were a mess. Kijeong didn’t know it at the time, but his grandparents were fighting for some form of custody, determined to take Kijeong back to Seoul with its freedom and opportunities. Meanwhile, his parents were fighting just to fight, unwilling to give up their youngest son and potential accomplishment without some sort of struggle.

Two weeks after their arrival, Granny and Grampy Im packed their bags and returned to Seoul, taking young Kijeong with them.

Seoul was, of course, a hell of a lot bigger than Pohang, and though Kijeong instantly missed the ocean and beaches and the wide open spaces, he also fell in love with the neon and concrete and steel of Seoul, immediately making himself at home within the city that never seemed to sleep. It was a playground he loved to explore as his grandparents established him in the local school and returned to work after ensuring he had settled well enough.

But Kijeong did not settle. While he appreciated the change in scenery and the shift in attitude concerning his desire to pursue other activities outside of school, the fact remained that Kijeong had not been prepared for such a massive shift in scenery. And after years of the bare minimum concerning attention and affection, he wasn’t entirely sure what to do with his grandparents actually caring about him and what he did. They weren’t helicopter (grand)parents by any means, but they hovered and cared more than he was used to, and that was all Kijeong needed to push him toward a rebellion.

His grades began to slip. His attitude changed. Where Kijeong had once been more open and friendly — or had at least attempted to be — he took on more of a biting, sarcastic twist, as if daring others to approach. And when he was approached, Kijeong took care to bite before he could be bitten. Concerned by the change in Kijeong’s attitude, his grandparents put him into therapy. It was in therapy that Kijeong’s life changed forever.

Therapy took place as a community center close to where Kijeong lived with his grandparents. His sessions took place after school, often by about an hour or so, allowing him the time to bus and then walk from school to the building. One day, after arriving early and while waiting as the appointment in front of him ran late, Kijeong met one Kang Yejin. Close in age, the two began talking, and it wasn’t long until they found a common ground: despite Kijeong seeing one therapist and Yejin seeing another, their therapists both liked to encourage their patients to write. And while Kijeong wasn’t quite comfortable with the habit yet, Yejin had already taken the next step and was combining his writing with something he enjoyed: music.

Yejin, Kijeong found out that day, was an aspiring rapper and lyricist. Despite being almost two years older than Kijeong, the two became fast friends, bonding over music and their shared writing assignments. And as 2007 continued, Kijeong and Yejin decided...why not?

With permission (albeit rather baffled permission) from Kijeong’s grandparents, the two boys sought out and began attending shows in the underground rap scene. For the first few visits, all Kijeong did was watch and observe, taking in the boys -- and girls -- on stage, eating up their stage presence and the way they held themselves so securely, so powerful.... And then, days after his twelfth birthday in 2007,  Kijeong took the stage for the first time, donning a large, black hoodie with the hood drawn to help hide his identity. 

Somehow, it was like finding a port and returning home after years at sea.

After that, Kijeong became more careful, donning baseball caps and sunglasses and oversized hoodies, adjusting his clothing and mannerisms to portray not the youth that he was, but someone older and more experienced, someone strong and bold and loud. With his persona in place, Kijeong allowed the audience to form their own assumptions. And assume they did. Under the stage name King K (or KK), Kijeong cultivated a following and a persona within the underground scene, making himself out to be so much more than he really was.

In 2013, Kijeong found himself approached after one such performance by an agent of YG Entertainment. At eighteen years old, he hadn’t thought too far beyond completing his schooling, which was finally back on track and had him set to graduate as one of the better students. He’d always been at least halfway decent at his classes, and after his initial rebellion in 2007, Kijeong had eventually brought all of his grades back up. But beyond that, he’d never stopped to consider what he might want to do after school.

Although Kijeong hadn’t exactly considered being an idol, YG’s scout had planted the idea of idolhood, and it was an offer that Kijeong couldn’t immediately pass out of hand. The next few months, Kijeong continued his underground performances, but he also looked at agencies in Seoul, weighing their groups and their merits against what he saw to be weaknesses. It was a task he took seriously, because for as renowned as he was as a rapper in the underground scene, Kijeong just couldn’t see himself joining a company that would undermine or undervalue his abilities. Of course, Kijeong also had to balance that with his minimal experience with dance and vocals, but even then, it didn’t take long for Kijeong to approach his grandparents.

In 2014, Kijeong began his own sort of training, studying dance practices in order to supplement his otherwise nonexistent dance skills. He couldn’t do much about his voice — he refused to pursue vocal lessons on top of completing his schooling and his active rap career — but he picked up pointers and ideas from videos on YouTube. And in the middle of 2015, Kijeong auditioned at SM Entertainment. 

It took two rounds of auditions — one initial and one geared more toward outlining his abilities not just as a rapper and his potential in the areas of vocal and dance, but in his production and freestyle ability — before Kijeong was offered a contract with the company. Because of his age and the fact that he was nearly an adult at the time, Kijeong’s grandparents supported his choice. (Though, if you were to ask them, they’d have supported him anyway because they knew it was his choice, and that was all they ever wanted for him.)

 

TRAINING

2007 – 2013

— Kijeong’s training technically began back in mid 2007 when Kijeong began attending stages in the underground rap scene. While it was nothing official or professional, Kijeong’s training truly began there, because that was when he started working turning the mush of his written thoughts to verbal bullets to fire. During his six years actively in the circuit, Kijeong learned a number of incredibly important things, including the importance of stage presence, alliteration, and how to best convey what he actually wanted to share with those around him.  

— Initially, it was a bit of a brutal process. Kijeong was young and, while not naïve by any definition of the word, he was unprepared for the stage, even after a couple rounds of watching others perform. But Kijeong is a hand-on learner, and it wasn’t until he worked up the courage to take the stage that his real learning could begin. The other performers weren’t cruel. He was still young, barely more than a child, and despite his best efforts to hide himself, it wasn’t hard to figure out that many of them had years of experience on him.

2013 – 2015

— While continuing his rap performances in the underground, Kijeong began seeking out more information on agencies and companies, and ultimately began teaching himself the basics of dance and vocal work from youtube videos and other online sites with helpful information. This was a tedious two years, because Kijeong was still in school, and despite having his grandparents’ permission to perform, he hadn’t exactly filled them in on being approached by a YG scout. (Not that he wanted to join YG, don’t get him twisted.) So in that same fashion, he tried to keep it a secret that he was teaching himself how to dance.

— It wasn’t until Kijeong attended an open audition for SM Entertainment in mid 2015 that he filled them in on his plans. Literally after being accepted, really. And they supported him. Of course, they did.

2015 – 2016

— In mid June, Kijeong begins in the general trainee under SM Entertainment. He’s not immediately added to the SM Rookies because while his rap skills are extensive, his vocal and dance skills leave a lot to be desired. And that’s okay. It gives Kijeong a chance to adjust to the brutal world of being a trainee. And he does. Adjust, that is.

— Kijeong is placed into dance and vocal lessons, and though he doesn’t immediately progress vocally, he does progress well enough in his dance classes that he’s eventually added to a more skilled set of lessons and to the “official” SM Rookies lineup, prompting Kijeong to push himself even harder. It’s that ‘harder’ that almost proves to be his downfall when, in May of 2016, Kijeong is injured during a dance practice. It’s an accident, and he refuses to view it as anything else (he knows, logically, that none of the others would have intentionally hurt him, even if being a trainee is a vicious and oftentimes cruel affair), but that doesn’t make it any easier on him when one of the newer additions to the lessons forgets their blocking, panics, and runs into him while attempting to get to their place in the choreo. Kijeong and the one that hit him initially go down hard. The others don’t immediately see, focused on their on part, and the next minute or so is chaos as Kijeong tries to get up and another one of the trainees backs up into him, sends them both down. Hands and feet are everywhere. Someone takes a palm to the face, someone else an elbow to the chest, and Kijeong takes a foot to the knee. And then he’s down.

— Kijeong is taken to the hospital where he’s diagnosed with swelling of the knee. It’s not broken, but it will hurt for a little while. Doctors recommend Kijeong ices it for several hours and avoids dancing on it for a day or two until the swelling goes down. And Kijeong listens…for about twelve hours. Because being a trainee doesn’t exactly leave time for rest and relaxation. So within a couple weeks, Kijeong is back at the doctor’s, undergoing a number of stretches and tests before, ultimately, the doctor tells him that while it’s uncommon in adults, it sounds like Kijeong has a case of Osgood Schlatter disease. This time, when the doctor prompts Kijeong to rest and ice his knee, he does. His instructors find out, and they tell Kijeong not to get too far behind. And both his instructors and the doctor tell him to look into a brace for his knee, especially if he wants to continue being a trainee. As uncommon as Osgood Schlatter is in adults, and while there’s the chance it may never completely go away, there was ways to handle the recovery. So Kijeong ices, and stretches, and invests in a couple different braces for the varying levels of pain and difficulty, and he returns to the practice room after a week of missed lessons, braced and ready to go. His progress is initially slower after that as Kijeong figures out what, exactly, he can and can’t do, and the limits of what his knee will allow him, but after a couple weeks, Kijeong falls into a familiar routine.

2017 – present

— In January of 2017, Kijeong is added to the SLJK-B program. He’s relieved to see so many familiar faces (as a Rookie, people just disappeared sometimes, which he knew would happen, but….not so frequently?) and immediately Kijeong finds his place among them. As one of the older trainees in the boy’s side of the program, Kijeong ends up as something of a parental or older brother figure, which he doesn’t necessarily mind, but he’s kind of awkward about initially. He’s never had a younger sibling, and it feels…weird. Still, he gets along well with the older boys, and well enough with the younger ones, even if he doesn’t necessarily know how to handle them. And like all SLJK trainees, Kijeong works hard to show off the very best that he can be.

 

TALENT TWINS

— [ rap cpatain - main rap] [backup: cub-captain]

— rap twin - Changbin [ x x x ] [bu: Suga x x ] ; Despite his age, Kijeong is known for how young his voice sounds, particularly when rapping. Of course, he considers it to be one of his more charming points, particularly when comparing it to how he sounds when singing. Kijeong is also known for the raspy tenor and growl to his voice, and how the sound always has some sort of rough edge to it when he's really into his verse. (Not that this is an all the time thing. He  does know how to tone down his aggression. He just...likes it. Being aggressive.) Fans love his live raps the most for this reason, because it's always clear that he's live and not lip syncing. Additionally, he's known for his speed, for how many syllables he can spit out in a second, and while he's not the fastest....he's certainly up there.

— vocal twin - Changkyun [ x x x ] [bu: Wow x x ] ; Kijeong will never be a main vocalist. Hell, he'll never be a lead vocalist. But he's a good vocalist, at least good enough to hold his own in a group that literally has a vocal focused unit. Like with his rapping, there's often a husky edge to his voice, but the biggest difference between the two is that it's only husky as opposed to more of a growl. (And when it comes to it -- if it comes to it -- Kijeong can always hold his own in a part switch scenario.)

— dance twin -  Chan [ x x x ] [bu: Donghun x x ] ; Dance isn’t Kijeong’s strongest area, especially after the Incident, but Kijeong works hard to not just compensate for what he views to be an inadequacy, but to give off the appearance that he’s at least not the worst dancer in the room at any given point in time. He’s not the strongest but he is strong. If the group had been comprised of different people, a different lineup, he might even be considered a dancer or even a lead. But in the end, Kijeong’s dance abilities are better left to fun choruses of popular songs and idols he likes, and the occasional choreography he picks up from the dance squad. (And their own, but that’s kind of a given).

— speaking twin - Changbin ; Like when rapping or singing, Kijeong has a bit of a growl to his voice when he speaks, though in most instances (when he’s speaking slowly or precisely) it almost sounds like more of a drawl. (It’s when he’s speaking fast that it edges toward a growl.) He’s not loud and aggressive though. It’s more that, like his appearance, he sounds like it. 

— variety twin - uhhh Leedo?

 

SCANDALS 

— [20xx, sometime after debut, but before his first solo/any song where he would get to prove his rap abilities] Paradox’s Kijeong has been called out! (or whatever cliché title you think fits best)

TRUE (ish..ly….kind of?)

Kijeong is known predebut to a degree for being an underground rapper, and while he does sacrifice that career to be an idol, he doesn’t personally feel like it’s a sacrifice because he’s still making music and rapping? He’s just rapping for a wider audience. He’s still writing all his own raps, still helping in the creative process of all of his songs. He’s still doing his thing. But like many underground rappers that shift to pursue being an idol, Kijeong left people behind, including a number of rappers that eventually call Kijeong out for leaving them and his music and passion behind, for becoming a dog of the industry. (If you remember the issues BTS rapline had with that one rapper several years back, that’s kind of what I’m getting at here!) There’s a semi-official article published by an equally semi-reputable site, one that publishes an interview or something with one or more of those rappers, an article that doesn’t exactly call out Kijeong by name, but they do call out “King K” and it doesn’t take long for fans to figure things out. Within a couple days, the less reputable sites (akp, kboo, etc) publish their own clickbait stories, and the headlines start gaining some real attention. In order to combat this, Kijeong initially thinks about releasing a diss track. Cause dammit, man, he’s still human, and they’re attacking his pride. But a heart-to-heart with either someone on his team (his subcaptain or weaklink, or even the whole team) forces Kijeong to rethink. Yeah, he still wants to release a diss track, just because he can, but in response to that other rapper, he decides to prove that he’s still King K, the King of Korean, and you very much. Kijeong releases either a solo song or a super heavy rap track with Paradox or PRDX and forces all doubters to shut up and eat their words

[bonus if the song is either Maze of Memories (because I love that song you don’t understand) or a solo/duet thing that allows him to showcase his rap AND vocals and how much he’s grown as an individual]

 

[20xx, maybe during Clap? or an equally dance-heavy era decently early into their career) Paradox’s Kijeong injured?!

FALSE (again ish...ly….sorta)

Because of how dance-heavy the song is that the team/unit is promoting, and because he’s been experiencing some lingering ache and swelling after practices, Kijeong decides to begin wearing his brace. Initially, the boys are concerned, but Kijeong quickly tells them about the Incident (backed up by a member or two that had been there and remember how he’d struggled back then), and their concerns are eased. However, because he chooses to wear the brace to practice in, he also chooses to wear the brace for performances, just to be safe. So while it isn’t initially noticeable because Kijeong wears the brace under his stage outfit, there comes a performance where he’s in shorts or in too-tight pants, and it’s either visible or he has to wear it over his outfit. So fans comment, and some panic, and it’s not too much later that Kijeong, with permission, takes to vlive or something to ease those worries. He starts off normally, waits for fans to bring it up, then promptly “When I was a trainee, I had a small incident and was diagnosed with a condition that sometimes makes dancing hard. But because I wanted to be an idol, I chose not to give up. While practicing for this comeback, I had knee pain, and because I wanted to give my very best, I decided to wear one of my braces while practicing and performing.” He apologizes for worrying the fans, but says that he feels better and he’s taking care of himself, and he asks them to not worry and to take care of themselves, too. Fans are still concerned, but they’re relieved. Subsequently, in the months that follow, when fans catch Kijeong wearing his brace, they trend cute hashtags and nag at him to make sure he’s stretching and icing it. And Kijeong appreciates it, even if it does embarrass him.

 

LIKES

— cats, food, the ocean, the beach, hip hop, rap, coffee, action and psychological movies, doing laundry, winter, cooler weather

DISLIKES

— spiders, snakes, bees, wasps, bugs in general, bubblegum pop (music), liquor, comedies and romcoms, summer, being too warm

HABITS

— snapping a rubber band around his wrist, popping his knuckles, biting his lip, humming beneath his breath (particularly in the studio or producing)

HOBBIES

— reading poetry & books, photography (initially on his phone, though he eventually invests in a legit camera), collecting cool lighters

FEARS

— snakes, failure, being silenced

SPECIAL SKILLS

— super fast rap, he can eat lemons without changing expression, can tell the members apart by smell

 

TRIVIA

— favorite food: apples

— favorite drink: green tea or water with fruit/veg in it (lemon, orange, cucumber, etc)

— favorite ice cream: strawberry

— favorite number: 3

— favorite word: matryoshka

— favorite color: purple (like a violet or a dark purple)

— favorite animal: octopus. no, seriously, hear him out. [https://pin.it/3HVK1Zp] or cats

— favorite flower: 

— favorite sound: the ocean

— favorite season: autumn

— favorite artist(s): NCT 127, Ateez, Everglow, Exo, Dreamcatcher, Day6

— favorite songs: NCT 127’s Mad City & Cherry Bomb, Ateez’s Wonderland, Dreamcatcher’s Deja Vu, BTS’s cyphers (particularly Triptych), Day6’s Congratulations 

— personal IG, SoundCloud, Youtube, & Twitter: kingkjeong

— ideal type: Initially, Kijeong claims that he doesn’t have one, but he eventually opens up and admits that he’s attracted to people that have a nice smile, treat those around them well, and that push him to be a better person.

— favorite Paradox song: Boom Boom (or Thanks, fight him tbvh)

— favorite P_R_D_X song: Dramarama

— favorite A_A_O song: Shine

— favorite vocal unit song: Habit

— favorite rap unit song: Check In

— favorite dance unit song: Hightlight

— favorite Reverse team song: Queen

— favorite Upside team song: All Night (but later it’ll be Lit)

— Kijeong has never actually taken an MBTI test, but he personally idetifies as ISFP. Even so, it's not always accurate. Kijeong has a careful balance between being introverted and extroverted. He gets energy from being on his own, from down time own his own at night with his notebook or laptop, or practicing alone. But post-debut, he also takes energy from being on stage and being able to perform, seeing all the fans and hearing them cheer for Paradox, for him. It's shard to explain. But technically, he's more IFSP than ESFP.

— In a few years, Kijeong would be interested in getting a tattoo. He’s not sure what yet, but it’ll probably be music related. Or Paradox, because they’re his boys, his family, and he’d want to remember that forever. (So maybe the date of their Paradox debut, and a floppy floppy reverse symbol or something idk.)

— He’s also interested in more piercings. Ear for sure, maybe an eyebrow eventually.

— Will not hesitate to kill a spider with his bare hand. But anything more than 8 legs? Or a horde of ants? You’re on your own. 

— It’s just a matter of time until Kijeong finds a stray kitten while he’s at the studio or practicing late one night and casually scoopsies it and sneaks it into the dorm in his entirely-too-big-hoodie pocket. 

— Kijeong is always careful when he talks about his ideal type (after he reveals it) to be gender neutral. Not so much because he’s being inclusive (though he is), but because he’s harbored a handful of secret crushes over the years, and they’ve never been defined by gender. 

— Kijeong’s social media accounts predate his acceptance into SM. After he’s accepted, he obviously stops updating them, because SM doesn’t allow their trainees to be active on social media. He does, however, use them (twt and ig) to keep in touch with his rap friends, to see what they’ve been doing and stay updating on the scene. Only after debut does he really begin to touch his social media stuff. And even then, it’s infrequent because his time is obviously better spent in the studio.

— Doing laundry is Kijeong’s favorite chore. Something about the repetition of folding and hanging clothing helps to put his mind at ease when it won’t stop racing. 

— Kijeong bruises like a banana and it’s the funniest thing ever because he’ll run into something and one of the other boys will see it and go “that’s gonna bruise” and sure enough, a few hours later there’s a bruise and Kijeong just….sighs. 

— His default breakfast in the morning is an apple and a tall glass of ice water. Sometimes a mug of coffee after that if he has time. 

— It’s not because Kijeong isn’t hungry, but because he can’t eat a whole lot in the morning when he first gets up. It’ll make him sick. So he defaults to an apple (for the natural sugar and energy) and water (healthy and a natural wake up), and then coffee to sip on until either the boys are all up or until he’d ready to go to the studio.

— here

— here

 

KIJEONG SAYS/DOES

— here

— here

 

“more than anything

i want to save you

from myself”

 

RELATIONSHIPS

 

— parents • Im Kikwang & Min Suhyun / 58 & 55 / police officer & accountant / aloof, critical, stern / 3/10

Kijeong hasn’t actively spoken to his parents in...years, it feels like. His grandparents took him in when he was still young, and while Kijeong didn’t exactly make an effort to reach out to his parents, they never reached out to him, either. Kijeong hopes that after debut his parents will finally reach out and bridge that gap but, at the same time, he hopes they don’t. (But a larger part of him still wants them to, afraid because be knows that his grandparents are getting on in years, and he knows it’s just a matter of time until he loses them, until he’s alone.)

 

— brother • Im Kihyuk / 30 / doctor / stern, dedicated, cold / 3/10

Kijeong has spoken to his brother more recently than he has to his parents, but even then, it’s been a while, and their conversations aren’t exactly...friendly? Kihyuk is older than Kijeong, the standard he was held to at home, and he’s everything their parents wanted them both to be, meaning he’s the shining, golden son while Kijeong exists as a failure. And in a way, that hurts Kijeong just as much as being completely ignored by his parents  Kijeong hopes that Kikwang will one day reach out as well, offering praise and pride in what Kijeong has accomplished. But, like with his parents, Kijeong also knows to not hold his breath.

 

— grandparents • Im Seungki & Lee Sooyoung / 81 & 80 / professor & nurse / warm, welcoming, supportive / 8/10

Kijeong loves his grandparents with the sort of ferocity you might expect from a wild animal with her cubs. He adores them, grateful for everything they took him from and offered him instead. They gave him freedom and music, they gave him choice, they gave him family and friends and everything Kijeong had ever wanted. And Kijeong wants nothing more than to pay them back. When it comes up in interviews, he’ll openly admit that his grandparents are the parents he grew up with, and he’s constantly showing them in praises and thanks. But Kijeong also worries about them a lot, especially now that they’re getting on in years. He tries not to show it, not to them nor to anyone else. But he is. Worried. Concerned. 

 

— best friend • Kang Yejin (fc Hwanwoong) / 24 / bartender, underground rapper / confident, cheeky, genuine / 9/10

Everyone has that one friend that they can’t let go of, and Yejin is that friend to Kijeong. They met during therapy, taking to each other and eventually to the concept of being rappers together. While Kijeong had more confidence that Yejin at first, taking to the stage before his friend, Yejin wasn’t too far behind him. At the time, where one went, the other followed. Except when it came to being an idol. Yejin considered it, but decided it wasn’t for him, thought he did encourage Kijeong at every possibly chance, going so far as to help him learn his dances and critique his performances. He was there for moral support at Kijeong’s first audition, and the first person Kijeong called after his second, and again after he signed, and again after joining the SLJK program. Yejin is who Kijeong spends his Friday free time talking to, catching up up with and talking to. And Yejin is the one that Kijeong goes to after all the mv releases, anxiously waiting for his response. While Kijeong pursued being an idol, Yejin stayed in the scene and found a job that would allow him his freedom and his life, and it’s his participation in the underground that makes him one of the few people Kijeong trusts for an honest opinion. He’s Kijeong’s best friend, and that’s all there is to it.

 

— brats • Paradox / ~8/10

On a general basis, Kijeong is protective of Paradox. They’re younger than him, and he thinks of them constantly. Literally, they’re always on his mind, whether in the musical sense (he’s in the studio then, working on music for their group or one of their units, thinking about them), or or in a more practical sense (they’re practicing, and Kijeong’s eyes are on them in the mirror, watching Sam and Koji lead the team through their paces, but also watching the younger members and the weaker individuals to make sure they’re holding up, prepared to call for a break when he sees too many of them begin to falter), or in a more fleeting sense (Kijeong is returning from the studio, and maybe it’s later than it should be, and maybe he’s so tired he can feel it in his bones, but he’s passing a convenience store when he sees there’s a sale on the banana and melon milks that the youngsters all enjoy so much, and even though he knows they don’t need it, he still steps in anyway and buys enough for the team to each have one during a break the next day). They’re always there somehow. They’re his team. All of them. And he loves them.

 

— rap team / ~9/10

There’s no way around it, really. As much as Kijeong loves all of Paradox, there’s really no way to deny that the rap team — his team — are his favorites. Kijeong pushes them hard, and he knows he pushes them hard, and he knows that at times they probably hate his guts. But he also knows that for every bit that he pushes them, they give their all and more. For every one thing he demands, they give more. They give all of themselves and so much more, and Kijeong is so fiercely proud of all of them that it’s honestly a little ridiculous. Kijeong can't pick favorite from his team, and he won’t, so don’t you dare try to ask him.

 

— vocal team / ~8/10

The vocal team is his second favorite of the lot, largely because they work just a shard as the rap team does when it comes to the lyrics and songs. The vocal captain is perhaps the one Kijeong is closest to, but only because they’re closest in age, and because the other captains all feel the pressure a little bit more than their teammates do. Even so, the vocal team works hard to help produce Paradox’s music, and Kijeong is just as proud of them as he is of his own team. But they’re not his team, so...maybe he’s a little biased.

 

— dance team / ~7/10

Kijeong loves the dance squad, too, of course, even if not quiiite as much as his own crew, or the vocalists, but that might also be because Sam is a hard as about the choreography, and Koji is kind of a brat, and Sam won’t put a handle on the male, and the two of them together are kind of like...well, fire and gasoline: an inherent hazard that you never want to mix except in very small, very ontroled doses. (Unfortunately, Kijeong can’t be everywhere, can’t do everything. He relies on the vocal captain a lot to help with controlling both Sam and Koji, even if there really is no tried or tested way of controlling Koji.) But he does love them. He does. They handle all of the group's choreographies, and most, if not all, of the team’s solo choreographies, and Kijeong knows it isn’t easy. It’s a lot of work being placed on the dance team’s shoulders, and while he definitely wouldn’t ever want, to be in their shoes, he also won’t hesitate to admit that he admires them. ….even if he does wish someone would throttle Koji sometimes. (He would, but… Well, a leader can’t throttle their teammates. Not in public, anyway. Not when someone might be watching.)

 

— labelmates & better halves • GJSN /8/10

After training with any of these girls off and on for a year or so before their debut, Kijeong can honestly say that he admires them, and he feels for them in a while that he only feels for Paradox. The girls of GJSN know exactly what they’ve gone through, all the trials and errors, the harsh cruelty of Madame Kang’s critiques, the bitter reality of their situation should they prove to not be enough somehow. They are the only people that know and understand exactly what Paradox went through, and the only people that Kijeong knows he can trust aside from his own team.

 

He feels a particular kinship with Sieun, and despite being a rapper and her being a dancer, they bonded over being the eldest trainees in their respective groups. He feels a kinship with Hyejin for the same reason, for being older than their peers, and because she’s softer than the others, quieter, but no less sincere and sweet. Yeram, too, as the group’s main rapper,  is someone that Kijeong holds dear to his heart, though….perhaps in a slightly different way than the others. In that same way, he admires Marelaine and Ai (though, realistically, perhaps Ai a hair more, just because of how...herself that she is, despite the adversity that faces her in a world tempted by pretty faces and ideal figures).

 

— the queen • Madame Kang / she’s a demon, demons have no age / 4/10

Kijeong does what he can to avoid Madame Kang, no so much because he dislikes her (though he definitely doesn't love her by any means of the word), but because she has a way of taking all of his and Paradox’s hard-earned confidence and trying to break it into jagged,shattered pieces. They’ve all worked damn hard to make it to where they are in the program, to debut, and there’s no way Kijeong will let her take it from them. He may not stand up to her like Koji, or undermine her like Heechul, but he doesn’t take her criticism lying down, nor does he let her undermine all that the team has worked so hard to create for themselves. Yes, she wants the best, but sometimes perfection comes at a cost that no one should be willing to pay. Like health, happiness, and lives.

 

— the “boss” • Kim Heechul / 36 / 5/10

Kijeong isn’t close with Heechul per se, but he does have a bit of an understanding of the elder male. Heechul is nosy and dramatic and can’t keep himself out fo things that don’t concern him, but it’s that inability to sit back and shut up that got him involved with the SLJK program. Heechul is also one of the only people that can undermine Madame Kang and get away with it, and while Kijeong isn’t always thrilled by the things Heechul does, he does understand that Heechul tries. For them. ...even if he is annoying and frustrating at times. He is trying. (And oh, he’s also very trying.)

 

— dance master • Kim Hyoyeon / 30 / 5/10

In the same way that Kijeong understands Heechul and his motivations, he understands Hyoyeon’s. She’s the main dancer from not just one of their senior groups, but from a group recognized nationally as one of The Groups. Kijeong didn’t exactly listen to SNSD growing up, but even before choosing to be an idol, he knew of them. They’re talented, and they’re gone through a lot of struggles to be where they are, and in a way that Kijeong hesitates to trust Heechul, he trusts Hyoyeon. She wants what’s best for the group, and while she can be strict, he knows it’s for their own good. Kijeong appreciates her, even when he’s this close to losing it because of her.

 

— dorm parent • Dong Mingyu / 27 / 6/10

Kijeong...worries for Mingyu. Yeah, that seems like the right way to put it. Mingyu has a lot on his shoulder, from actively trying to parent Paradox, to trying to ensure they’re all fed, to making sure that there’s food in the cupboards for snacks, and clean clothing, and everything else. He’s like the unpaid intern at the office, except Mingyu is paid. Just...not enough, probably. Kijeong does what he can to help when he can, but he’s got other things that require his attention more often than not, including music production and lyrics, and actually babysitting because Koji keeps running off and if Sieun finds him close to the girls’ training room again without a good reason, she might actually throttle him this time, no matter what Hyejin says to calm her wrath. But Mingyu. Mingyu’s a good guy. Kijeong just feels like he had no idea what he was getting into when he accepts his dorm parent position.

 

— manager #1 • Eric Cho / 28 / 5/10

Not every group is going to be best friends with their manager, but it certainly doesn't hurt things to try. Eric, though. Eric is another story, because while Kijeong is sure it wouldn't hurt to try to befriend Eric, he’s not sure if the time wasted to do it is worth it. Eric is stoic and aloof and serious, and while it helps cause he helps keep the more outlandish and troublesome members in line, it’s also irritating because he’s a tough nut to crack, particularly when Kijeong is trying to earn the team some wiggle room on things. Eric does have a soft spot for them, and one that Kijeong exploits only when absolutely necessary, but aside from that, he’s hard to talk to, with a dry humor that tends to put Kijeong on edge more often than not. (They’re too similar, Sam often says, much to Kijeong’s irritation, so it’s no wonder they don’t get along.)

 

— manager #2 • Danny Kim / 27 / 7/10

Danny is the team’s second manage, and the one that Kijeong is admittedly more comfortable with. (And not because he’s so different from him, he’s quick to snark to Sam. ….not that Sam seems to mind. Or even care.) Danny is just...easier, like a more grown up version of Sam, but minus walking into glass doors, and with the added bonus of being more of a jock. Danny is funny and genuine in a way that Kijeong appreciates, because at least Kijeong knows that if he has questions or concerns, he’ll get an honest answer from Danny, even if that honest answer is an “I don’t know” or “Eric knows more than I do.” He’s also definitely the person Kijeong feels most comfortable leaving the younger members with if the captains and sub captains are all occupied somewhere. Danny will keep them safe and occupied. But most importantly, Danny will keep them safe.

 

— labelmates (& rivals) • NCT 7/10

For a short period of time (if you can call about a year “short” anyway), Kijeong trained with a majority of these boys within the general program, and then within the SM Rookies program. By the time he had been moved to the SLJK-B program, a number of them had already debuted, but that didn’t stop Kijeong from chatting with them, or from quietly placing a target on their backs and telling himself that no matter what, he had to be better.

 

On a general basis, Kijeong gets along best with the older members, particularly Johnny, Doyoung, and Jaehyun. And while he’s not on the best terms with Taeyong (he’s kind of soft, and almost too…..lenient? with his crew), he does admire Taeyong’s ability as a rapper and a dancer. He also admires Mark, and he wishes the best for them, even though Mark also has something of a target on his back. After all, as the main rappers of NCT, they’re the ones Kijeong really sees himself competing with.

 

— labelmates • Exo, Red Velvet / 6/10

Having debuted more recently than most of their seniors (aside from GJSN and NCT), Kijeong looks to Exo and Red Velvet as an example of what can be done when you experiment with your sound and find what works for you before carving a space for your name within the industry. He looks up to the rap line of Exo and to the group for their ability to handle all the different concepts over the years, and to Red Velvet for their versatility, and he strives to emulate both. (For the record, he’s met them in passing, but it’s a rare thing, and he knows them more by face/name because of watching their performances over the years, not so much because of actual interaction. On the off chance they. Might meet, Kijeong would treat them professionally, courteously, but he might not try to interact too much because while they’ve been around a while, they’re still kind of like obstacles for Paradox to beat, and Kijeong isn’t sure how to reconcile the two in his mind.)

 

— labelmates • SNSD, f(x), Super Junior, Shinee, TVXQ / 5/10

Kijeong looks up to these seniors more because of how they’ve angled their time in the industry and how they’ve continued to grow and evolve with the times. And, when things got tough, how they stuck together. Even though f(x) might as well be disbanded, and even though TVXQ went through a lawsuit, and their other seniors ave lost member over the years, they stuck together, riding out the time and the year “curses” with a grace and determination that Kijeong fiercely desires to cultivate within Paradox. He wants to be like them, a group that his juniors will look back on in five, seven, ten, fifteen years and go “yes, we want to be just like them.” (Like Exo and Red Velvet, Kijeong knows these groups more through performances and official channels rather than ever meeting them, though he’s seen them around on occasion while in the regular program. Should they ever meet on stage, he’s very professional and cordial and will generally take a moment to not just bow to them, but to thank them for all of their years together and for inspiring him and others like him.)

 

— rap squad • varies / ~8/10

[past and future friendships]

Over the years, Kijeong’s met a number of individuals through the underground that went on to become idols, and others that stayed in the underground. While Kijeong doesn’t talk to them often, he does talk to them, sometimes going to them for questions concerning flow or verse issues in order to get feedback, and sometimes just to vent about issues that only other underground or underground-turned-idol rappers will understand.

 

Additionally, after Paradox debuts, Kijeong doesn’t hesitate to start networking, branching out to meet other rappers in the industry. While he doesn’t get aggressive while approaching, he does introduce himself and attempt to make friends with not just the rappers, but the groups as a whole. (Though, really, it’s the rappers he’s most interested in, and then leaders after that, seeking help with the occasional member and leadership issues that all leaders seem to go through at some point.)

 

WHAT WOULD YOU ADD TO THE PARADOX TEAM?

— Kijeong leans back in his seat, folds folding over his chest. It’s a defensive move, but he’s not defensive in his answer. If anything, he’s proud. “I’m the best rapper SM has to offer.” It’s a bold statement, but Kijeong has seen the other rappers SM has to offer. Taeyong and Mark are the best, but even they don’t measure up. Kijeong smiles. “I’m the best rapper SM has to offer,” he repeats after a moment, proud. “And with the help of my team, all I’m going to do is get better.”

WHAT ARE YOU CONFIDENT IN? WHAT DO YOU LACK?

— “My team.” The question barely finishes before Kijeong responds, sitting just the tiniest bit straighter in his seat. “I’m confident in Paradox. We’ve spent years training, pushing ourselves to our limits and beyond in order to reach where we are today. Our finished product is carefully crafted and polished by every member on our team, and I’m so proud in everyone and how far we’ve come.” He’s quiet for a moment more, thoughtful, then adds, “I’m confident in myself, too, of course. But I wouldn’t be me without them, and I think that’s the most important thing.”

The second part of the question takes a moment more, Kijeong’s expression furrowed. “I’m not the bets vocalist or dancer. Both of those aspects could use some work. But I am working on them. And…” Again a pause, thoughtful, solemn. “I’m not good at being cute or funny. Not intentionally. Sam is better at funny. And the youngsters are better at being cute.”

 

WHICH SENIORS DO YOU LOOK UP TO? WHY?

— “Exo, of course,” is Kijeong’s prompt response. “They’re one of the reasons I decided to audition at SM Entertainment. I also admire Super Junior, Shinee, and TVXQ for how hard they’ve worked over the years, and how they’ve not just overcome all of the obstacles presented to them, but how they stuck together. SNSD and f(x) for their versatility and their drive.” The previous answers had come fast, but the next come slower, thoughtful again, still sincere, but not as practiced. “I admire GJSN…perhaps the most. They understand what we went through to get to this point, because most of them were there for each step. They fought the same battles we did, even if differently. I admire their strength and fortitude, and their …perseverance? Many of them trained for years to be on stage, to be idols, and I admire them for it.” After a moment more, Kijeong’s expression brightens, cheeky and almost smug. “And, I suppose, to a degree, I look up to NCT. But if I want to be completely honest, they’re the group that Paradox could best view as a rival. A lot of Paradox trained with the members of NCT over the years, and while we’re close…” His lips twitch in that smile, shoulder just barely rising. “Every group needs a friendly rivalry if they want to keep pushing themselves to do better. They’re ours.”

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN TEN YEARS?

— That…. That is a question, and one that Kijeong knows, arguably, that he should have been prepared for. And yet he wasn’t. It’s obvious that he’s been caught off guard when his expression, previously confident, flickers before returning. A few years ago, this would have been hard to answer. A few years ago, when Kijeong was still just a rapper in the circuit, or when he was a trainee in the regular program, unsure whether he’d eventually make it or not, this would have been hard to answer. Now… Despite initially catching him off guard, now it’s easy. “In ten years, I’ll still be here.” Kijeong misses the comfort of the boys around him – his boys, his team, all twelve of them. He pretends they’re there, though, aware now of just how hard it had been to go it alone, and how different it is to have a team – a system – of people to rely on. “In ten years, we’ll still be here, all of Paradox, making music together and separately, pursuing our dreams and pushing the bar ever-higher. No matter what we might be doing on our own – solo projects, unit projects, acting, musicals, whatever. We’ll still be Paradox.” His lips twitch again, expression finally easing, lightening. “Yes and no, we are Paradox.”

 

“you might not have been my first love

but you were the love that made

all other loves seem

irrelevant”

  

LOVE INTEREST Seo Youngho (Johnny)

BACK UP LOVE INTEREST Kang Yejin (oc)

PERSONALITY

— In some ways, Johnny is similar to Kijeong in that he looks a lot scarier than he really is. Fans will sometimes go so far as to describe him as “looks like he could kill you, but is actually a cinnamon roll.” And he really is. A cinnamon roll, that is. Johnny is also a sweet guy and a gentleman. He’s good with kids and with the younger trainees (even if his height is sometimes intimidating and a bit of an issue). He treats those around him well, and he cares deeply for his friends. He does have his issues, of course. He’s a romantic at heart — anyone that knows him will be quick to tell you as much — and he’s not very good at not wearing his heart on his sleeve for everyone to see. But he can also be aggressive and boyish when it comes to showing affection, and even his fellow members will complain about headlocks and chokeholds and Johnny not quite knowing when it’s time to take a more gentle approach.

LOVE STORY

— Johnny was part of SM Entertainment and the SM Rookies long before Kijeong joined the company, which was great because it meant he was a fixture among the trainees even as Kijeong got started and began establishing himself and settling in. They didn’t immediately gravitate toward each other, but they did acknowledge each other, and they were respectful.

— It’s only after Kijeong is added officially to the SM Rookie and bumped to the more advanced dance class that he and Johnny begin to talk more. ...and even then, it’s not until Johnny steps on Kijeong during the Incident during practice that they do more than talk cordially together.

— That’s right, Johnny was the one that accidentally stepped on Kijeong during the trainee pileup thing. But he was also the one that went with Kijeong to the hospital initially, feeling a little too guilty about stepping on him and Kijeong’s apparent pain

— A week later (an entire week spent worrying over Kijeong dancing when he should be resting, a week spent watching the other trainee from the corner of his eye), finds Johnny accompanying Kijeong back to the hospital. This time, Kijeong heeds their advice. This time, Johnny takes the doctor more seriously and drops by when possible to check on Kijeong and to help with some of his stretches. Kijeong doesn’t know why Johnny does it….but he appreciates the company. And when Kijeong returns to practice, Johnny’s there to welcome him. And it’s nice. Really.

— The two bond after that, over shared interest in music, over tips and tricks relating to their skills and the betterment of them, and...kinda sorta (nOT REALLY) over the fact that Johnny is a tol and Kijeong is a smol and all the jokes it entails

— But really, they become close enough that it becomes uncommon to see them without each other

— And then Johnny debuts. And at the same time, Kijeong is added to the SLJK-B program. And just like that, things change. The two stay friends, but they can’t hang out or talk like they used to. Kijeong has different priorities in order to debut. Johnny literally debuted. Things are rough. (That's so sad. Alexa, play We Don't Talk Anymore.)

— They next time they meet up, it’s an off day for the SLJK boys. The girls are doing their own thing now, and the boys are asked to vacate the area. But Kijeong doesn’t feel like vacating. He wants to practice, so he gets permission, heads to the company, and is in the process of finding a practice room when he runs into Johnny, who’s not participating in whatever comeback is about to occur (there’s so many NCT units, it’s a little alarming, and Kijeong can’t be bothered to keep track of it all. Only 127, and only because he likes their music and Johnny’s there).

— The two quickly catch up. With nothing better to do, Johnny joins Kijeong in the practice room, the two of theme going over old routines they learned in the Rookie program, and other routines they’re learned since. (Johnny is surprised to find that Kijeong knows NCT 127’s dances. But his attempts to tease backfire because Kijeong can’t be bothered. He did it for Johnny, and that’s all there is to it.) The day is over too quickly, and things move on.

— They don’t get to really meet up again until after Paradox debuts, and even then, it’s because NCT and Paradox’s promotions overlap.

— Still, until then, Kijeong and Johnny keep in touch through messages, the odd text here or there, messages on some app or another, there. Kijeong teases Johnny about his bad fashion choices (“I didn’t choose them! That was the stylists!”) and Johnny teases Kijeong right back (“Look, I just asked that they didn’t give me a mushroom or bowl cut. It could be worse.”)

— Kijeong hypes Johnny when eh can, and Johnny hypes Kijeong, but it isn’t until Kijeong semi-officially admits that he views NCT as a rival that things….get weird.

— “You think of me as a rival?” “Not you specifically. You’re my friend. Just…..NCT. Taeyong. The group against Paradox, and me against Taeyong.”

— and Johnny laughs because there’s really not a competition there, and he says as much 

— Kijeong asks Johnny to choose. He’s only being semi-serious. He knows that loyalties have to go to your group, whether you want it to or not. He’d pick Paradox over Johnny in a heartbeat. That’s just how it is.

— Except Johnny picks him. And Kijeong isn’t sure if he’s being serious or not. He can’t be serious…..right?

— Johnny doesn’t push for an answer, but Kijeong’s still shaken because he has no idea if it’s real or not. Legit or a joke. Goddammit, Johnny, not cool.

— From there, things escalate slowly. Kijeong sees johnny horsing around with Sieun and Youngmi, sees him making goo goo eyes at Youngmi and flexing at Koji (and that’s...weird, he has to admit, even though he’s had his suspicions about Koji and one of the GJSN girls for a while…) and even though it’s a messy process, Kijeong manages to put his affairs into some semblance of order after talking things through (using entirely too many “I have a friends who” statements with either Yejin (who finds it hilarious), and/or Sam (who is...more confused than anything), and/or vocal captain (who…..might be the only one that not only gets it, but offers sound advice on the matter).

— Kijeong and Johnny exist in limbo for a letter while, until Paradox’s (or a unit that Kijeong is on) and NCT 127’s promotions line up and Kijeong is 99.9% sure that Koji definitely has something with Youngmi (or someone) and Sieun is not a romantic interest, and he approaches Johnny….with his heart actually on his sleeve. For once. And probably for the last time ever.

ENDING

— dude responsibilities because I guarantee I didn’t make you cry but >:

— one day I’ll write it out better just to make you cry because you’re whipped for Johnny and I can

— anYWAY, THE ENDING…. look you put Johnny's poor heart through the grinder, this is a classic case of lET THE BOY BE HAPPY thank you very much 

 

LAST COMMENT pushing all my agendas uwu obviously solo stuff for Kijeong is under the solo tab, but made another area for allmy agenda songs and other songs I found that might fit the concept, units, or solos/duet/etc songs for the other Paradox boys! Additionally, like Jisoo, whose quotes were all either INFP quotes or from Iain Thomas’s i wrote this for you series, all of Kijeong’s quotes are from Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey, because her poetry has entirely too much Kijeong feels for me to handle. I'm not entirely sure where Kijeong’s dance incident came from, because initially I was going to give him tendonitis/carpal tunnel because that’s something I’ve dealt with personally and something I still have issues with (cAUSE I’M AN IDIOT), but I mean. I’ve also struggled with Osgood Schlatter, and it’s one of the reasons I’ll never be a dancer. And it was like wELP WHY NOT.  Uhhh and nothing on this page has links sorry. CAUSE NOTHING WANTS TO BEHAVE-- most of the group song ideas you can find linked on the actual app page even though I'm sure you've seen then by now and uhhh his password songs are linked there too

 

SOLO PROJECTS / SONGS

— I Remember (orig. Yongguk ft Yoseob/Daehyun) [solo/duo ft. vocal sub cap’n or main voc #2]

— Streetight (orig. Changbin ft. Chan) (Kijeong ft. Sam?] [SM station]

— We Don't Talk Together (orig. Heize ft. Giriboy) (bside GJSN girl ft. Kijeong)

— Hikikomori (orig. Yongguk) [bside]

— Coming Home (orig. Yongguk) [bside]

— Gal Rae (orig. Bola, Meloh, Jongup) (Kijeong + Koji/Sam & a vocalist) [bside]

— Don't Worry (orig Heedo & Gunmin) [Kijeong & vocal captain?] [SM station]

GROUP PROJECTS / IDEAS

— dance duo! (probs Sam or Koji with one of the leads but could be a fun way for a vocalist or rapper to show off since donghun is actually a main vocal and just badass)

— Colors ver1 ver2 for either vocal unit or a...mostly...vocal? unit? (bonus: it kind of fits your overarching concept)

— dunno if I already linked this but. dance unit yo uwu

— dance unit and a few more willing victims-- look its Exo so I mean it could a prep for SM Town thing one year, and they're paying homage to their seniors uwu

— also could follow that crew and they just do. another thing. maybe. and then an official song that probably has zero bearing on the overarching idea, but is kind of like Stuck was and is more to like showcase their performance skills cause you can't say they don't go h a r d and it would raise the bar fr SM dancers like woah and maybe it's more like an intermission between things idk I'm pushing dance crew and Ateez agenda rn it's 3am hello

— can u smile would be an awesome vocal focus song yo

— here to push my rainy day agenda

— love me like you do (a cover song the boys do one summer, again maybe pre SM Town? could be fun if it coincides with the girls doing cute/fun covers and stuff) like don't they have a show...thing they filmtogether at some point? LIKE MAYBE FILMED DURING THAT?

— special stage idea! (i love special stages I'm not sorry)

— for the girls... (cause I just found it--) maybe dance line and the older girls?

— another special stage!! (maybe it's a unit's sosng/performance and then the boys crash the party midway through idk)

— Fake Love + DNA cover (for the vocal team, because let them be awesome)

— girl like you (orig. Kidoh) (maybe for rap sub-cap?)

— If (orig. Sam Kim) (look I’m not saying Jisoo would write this about Sam, but. that’s exactly what I’m saying.)

— Eden (orig. IZ) (for AAO maybe?)

— No One (orig. Lee Hi ft. Bobby) [GJSN girl ft. rap sub cap’n?)

— A Little Bit More (orig. Jinho & Rothy) (vocal member + GJSN girl)

— It’s You & Good Night (orig Joong Sewoon) (vocal members yo!)

— Blue (orig. Sungwoon) (vocal member)

— Insomnia (orig Euijin) (prob a dance member, cause Euijin is totes a dancer and the song kind of reflects that)

— Touchin’, Jealous, 2U (orig. Daniel) (dance boys, maybe?)

— Attention (orig Jongup) (dance boy ft. Yeram?)

— Now (orig. Jongup) (for a dancer, the weak link maybe?)

— Irresistible (orig. Longguo) (for vocal weak link?)

— Then (orig. Gaho & Villain) (both main vocals or lead 2 & 3?)

— Manitto (orig. Villain) (vocal boy)

— Vanilla Sky (orig Heedo & Gunmin) (vocal & rap subcaptains?]

— Untitled, 2014 (orig Gdragon) (vocal thing?)

— Spark, Home, Awake, etc (orig. JBJ95) (try to tell me they wouldn’t be good SM station songs for various Paradox boys uwu)

— Zelo’s debut songs would be good rap or vocal solos for any of the boys uwu cause he’s also literally a dancer aka perfect solo fodder

— actually can I quietly recommend you look at all the SKz player stuff? Most are vocal or rap focused, so they’d be good SM station stuff

— tbh I have more but I’m so tiredddd it’s bedtime yo

PASSWORD It's funny, but when I was thinking about this so I could like actually muse on it a while I worked on Kijeong (like with Jisoo, rather than struggling last minute like I did with Sieun), the first song that came to mind was Born For Greatness, which is literally just. that. that's the song. after more consideration, I’m adding I’m Still Here (Jim’s theme) from Treasure Planet, for reflecting Kijeong’s antisocial youth, and then his eventually uncertainty concerning….a lot of things. but especially his supposed parents, and then his general attitude at Paradox and Paradox’s fans, their haters, the world at large… and Speechless. this one is more directly geared at his parents, Paradox’s haters, the world at large, literally anyone that might happen to look at him or Paradox wrong, and anyone that might have tried to hold him back during his youth.