PERSONALITY TRAITS: Charismatic, Deflective, Impersonal, Insistent, Loyal, Open-Minded, Ambitious, Eloquent

PERSONALITY:

Kim Jonghyun is shades of gray, no black or white about him. Anything positive one could say about him could easily be spoken of negatively by another. He's a charmer, a politician, an entertainer. He speaks in honeyed words for hours about nothing at all and can slide around questions until you've forgotten what you originally wanted to say. He's incredibly talented at turning tables to talk about what he wants to, and avoiding what he doesn't, often without people even realizing at first that he's done it. He's clever with his misdirections though, always careful to try and make sure his conversation partner doesn't realize they're being led. Some people have tried to make him feel bad about this tendency of his, but he's highly impersonal, so any attempted guilt trips are wasted on him.

However once he does decide he cares about someone he's a good friend. He stands by his friends - even if they may not be in the right. He's staunchly supportive, and since he himself doesn't mind bending a few rules, why should he mind if a friend does it, right? And he's someone who does believe there are always exceptions to rules. Whether it's a loophole or an extraneous circumstance that makes something okay, there's always a way around the law without needing to break it.  And with a persistent personality like his Jonghyun can almost always find those soft spots in the rules and is not afraid to use them. He knows what he wants, so he goes for it, it's as simple as that. And nothing is going to stand in his way when he has his eyes set on something.

BACKGROUND:

Kim Jonghyun came from nothing. Well, that's how he likes to tell his story. Rags to riches: he started in the Seoul ghettos and now works as a lawyer in one of the biggest law firms in Seoul. And while the story isn't a lie, his family did well enough to support three children (though they did all have to pay their own way through school), and though his employer is high profile, he himself is not, serving as a small claims and occasional divorce attorney depending on what the work load looks like.

Childhood wasn't particularly interesting to Jonghyun, who always wanted bigger things, so it's rare for him to speak of it beyond the occasional mention of his siblings (Jongin and Jungah) or how hard his parents worked. It's usually in university where his tale begins. However, one thing of note did in fact happen during Jonghyun's teenage years - he auditioned for SM Entertainment. He'd been thirteen years old and saw a sign for an open audition. He'd always loved singing, and he had a secret love of idols and their lives. Going onstage to screaming fans, getting to sing and perform and be paid for it? It seemed like a dream to the young Jonghyun, so when he had a chance to seize it for himself he jumped. And he missed. The judges told him he simply didn't have the right look to be an idol and to maybe look elsewhere for a career. It was crushing and embarrassing, and Jonghyun only ever told the full story to one person.

Starting university Jonghyun already knew what job he wanted, and spent most of his first year arguing with administration to let him into higher level law classes as he'd learned the basics from books and attending several open hearings during his middle and highschool years. It was here that he met Kwon Hoonmin, an arts major who worked part time in the administration offices filing paperwork in order to afford his tuition. Hoonmin was three years older than Jonghyun, but the two ended up connecting over their shared frustrations with the management system in their university. When Jonghyun finished his first year and had to move out of residence, Hoonmin offered him a place at his own apartment, saying his old roommate was moving in with his girlfriend and he needed someone to cover half the rent.

The rest of university was uneventful. He graduated with honors and spent three months looking for a job before he was finally hired by a large law firm, where he did little more than file papers at first, before assisting on his first case after six months. His performance impressed his supervisor and he began working smaller cases on his own from that point forward. He's been employed by the company for two years now, and he's gunning to increase his workload soon. He still lives with Hoonmin, who works as a sound technician for SBS. His family is starting to get a bit worried that he's been living with another man for almost six years and has never in that time had a girlfriend, but he's doing well for himself so they keep their concerns mostly to themselves.

TRIVIA:

Jonghyun never says he and Hoonmin live together, as he is aware of how odd some people find it

He's a cat person, and loves when people say he looks like one

He's considering "Snake" as a possible stagename as a sort of personal joke if he gets through the show.

Although he'll talk about University a lot, he never mentions the name. This is due to his having graduated from a small, no-name university.

Though he was accepted into better schools, Jonghyun had to pay his own way through university so he made his decision mostly based on price.

Jonghyun has had several summer jobs in his quest to pay for school, including pizza delivery, tutoring, McDonald's snadwich maker, and makeup salesperson

He's impressively knowledgable about several different styles and brands of makeup and is quite good at doing other people's makeup

He's terrible at doing his own makeup

He can't set foot in a McDonald's without feeling queazy, and he will never eat from there

Having run point on a few divorce cases Jonghyun is rather negative about relationships working out long-run, assuming most people fail to truly find happiness.

As is the case with most in his profession, he's ruthless when it comes to getting information. If he wants to know something and someone is being difficult he takes pleasure in seeing how far he can push them before they either snap or cave

He owns a blue pearlcoat 2016 Dodge Dart that he bought for himself as a birthday gift. it's his first car and he loves it like it's his own child. To touch it is to invite pain into your life

For someone who's life motto is supposedly "Less is More" he sure talks a lot

⟪ Please introduce yourself. ⟫ 

"Annyeong, my name is Jonghyun and I hope you'll like me!" He grins cheerfully at the group in front of him, completely relaxed despite it being an interview.

 

⟪ How did you find out about Do or Die? ⟫ 

"My best friend Hoonmin was working on-set at one of Yeonhee-ssi's shows," He nods politely to the actrees, "And he heard her talking about it. He knows i love singing so he brought it up with me when we grabbed dinner later that night."

⟪ Why do you want to be an idol? Are you prepared for everything it entails? ⟫ 

"I don't think it could be more stressful than my current job!" He laughs and leans back in his seat "I work in a law office, if you were wondering. Nothing fancy, I handle small family disputes mostly - sometimes neighbors get involved. But that was not the question, so to answer your question I want to be an idol because singing has always been a huge passion of mine, and as fun as getting cussed out by pissed off mistresses day in and day out is, being an idol is just more appealing, you know?" He laughs again.

⟪ Do you have any prior experience in the entertainment industry? ⟫ 

"Well, sometimes I meet up with Hoonmin when he's on set? So I've seen some shows in the midst of filming, but other than that nothing." He rubs his neck sheepishly. "I know you guys are all about last chances and such, but I thought maybe I could qualify since technically this is my only chance to be an idol? I think I'm too old to start training now."

⟪ Where do you feel you're strong, and where do you feel you're lacking? ⟫ 

He straightens up as if to emphasize his confidence, which is already flowing off him in waves. "Oh my singing is definitely my strong point. I mean, I didn't have lessons or anything but everyone has always said I sound amazing when i sing, and I can get pretty high." He nods proudly. "As for lacking, that would be my dancing for sure. Well, probably anyway. I've never danced before, so I don't really know!" He laughs. "Maybe I have a secret talent for it! Guess we'll have to find out."

⟪ Why should we choose you for Do or Die? ⟫ 

"Hm, Min told me I should've prepared an answer for this question, and I've been thinking about it now for a while. But you know, I'm not really sure! I've got passion, but I'm sure the other contestants do too. I've got charisma, at least according to my friends - and that random judge a couple years back - but I'm sure the other contestants with their years of training have that too. I'm old, and I'm not the most attractive person in the world either. It's why I never could get up the courage to go audition as a kid." The last part was said softly, and all his early pomp was subdued as his eyes looked down to his hands. "I guess... I guess the main reason would be that this is it for me. This is my shot. If you want me to make dramatics to get to the final round, I'd do it. I don't want to call it desparate, but if there's a chance for me to reach those dreams, then I will take it." He looks up, attempting a suave grin, but it was shaky, honest in it's uncertainty. "And don't survival shows thrive on drama?"

ANY LAST COMMENTS: Guess what conversation I was inspired by ;) Anyway I hope you enjoy my very poorly closeted drama instigator. I was going to do someone not as talented but Leo is just too perfect for him really OTL

SCENE REQUESTS: So this was a thing.

PASSWORD: This was the best I could find... he always duets OTL