Okay, so this was my fail attempt at translating Japanese again, but this time Karam's interview.

If anyone has better Japanese than me and would like to shame me, go right ahead LOL

KARAM

The last of the personal interviews, with the role of The Boss' mother, Karam.

This guy who takes care of the others well, let's have the very manly centered guy sum himself up.

Quote: "I, who have always done what my mother wanted me to do, insisted on my own will for the first time."

Interviewer:

Today, I would like to hear you talk about when you were little, please.

Karam:

When I was little, because my parents would go out to work, there were a lot of times when the three of us (brothers and sisters) would always be alone. Taking care of my little brother ever since he was born, I feel like I almost raised him (bitter laughter). In that time, I used to think, "If only I could become an adult right now, I'd be able to take care of him better." Because of that, feeling like an ordinary housewife/housekeeper, I'd do everything, whether it be laundry, cooking, or cleaning. That time, I was teased in school, but since I didn't want to go to another school, when classes were done, I'd immediately go home and be a mother substitute, doing house chores, taking care of my brother and sister. Because of that, it's like my little sister and brother didn't think of me as an older brother, but "someone who raised us." In ordinary houses, brothers and sisters who were close in age would frequently fight, but in our situation, my little sister would always listen to me, and we were really close.

Interviewer:

Ordinarily, when competing for a toy, fighting comes easily.

Karam:

With my sister's and brother's fighting, I was the one to scold them, telling them to stop. When I'd hear from my friends that they fought with their siblings, I'd think..."You can do that?"

Interviewer:

You seemed like a child who was more level headed than others, but before you took care of your siblings, when you were even littler, how were you?

Karam:

I was a completely ordinary child (laughs). A regular child. Or I should say, I didn't have an overly ordinary presence (bitter laughter)...but honestly, I don't have a lot of memories of when I was little.

Interviewer:

Are you saying you don't remember it?

Karam:

Yeah, that's pretty close.

Interviewer:

While you were taking care of your little sister and little brother, it probably left memories of you spending time together.

Karam:

Yeah, that's true. Really, there were many things (to remember).

Interviewer:

From the first time I met you, I've thought that you had a strong sense of responsibility. Has that personality cemented from that time?

Karam:

Yes, it has.

Interviewer:

Well, as for your dreams for the future, have you had time to imagine such things?

Karam:

Not really. I had no time to imagine such things, just tried to please my father and mother. When I'd hear "What do you want to become in the future?" from my mother, I'd say something like a world-renowned lawyer, and she'd tell me to begin working toward that job. When that happened, it's like I'd think, "Okay, I'm going to become a lawyer!" There was a time I was a student council president. When I did that, my parents boasted to every customer who came into the beauty parlor that they worked in, "Our son is the student council president!" Since that was something my mother looked forward to in her life, wanted to add to that, I took studying seriously. And then, like that, I got into a good middle school, and a good high school.

Interviewer:

When you were in middle school, had you still not come across music?

Karam:

I hadn't. One day in 2002 when watching the Korea World Cup, I wanted to become like that, and started playing soccer in my fifth year of elementary school. But I couldn't tell my mother that I was playing soccer, because there were jobs that my mother wanted me to do. That's why I had regular hobbies. So, my friends and I made a team, competed with other schools, and gained a reputation for being strong. In my second year of middle school, we placed third in a local sports meet, and seventh in a national meet. And then my mom found out that I was playing soccer and told me to stop.

Interviewer:

After all that effort of placing seventh nationally, your mother couldn't recognize that?

Karam:

But in that, I felt like she was worried about injuries and my health. Also, since I would only play soccer when I couldn't go without studying, my grades dropped. With that, I decided to quit. At exactly that time, TVXQ's popularity was huge, and then I wanted to become like them. Seeing Yunho, and honestly thinking that he's cool, I joined a high school dance club and began all out dancing. Everyone would go to training camp during the summer vacation. Then when I came out in a dance convention, I was scouted by someone from an entertainment company.

Interviewer:

That's something you didn't think would happen until you were scouted, or thought you wanted to become an artist?

Karam:

Yup. Actually, I went to Seoul to get lessons, and for the first time, my true feelings welled up.

Interviewer:

Did your parents object?

Karam:

They were very worried about me, but they didn't stop me. When I seriously talked to them, they unexpectedly told me to do my best (laughs). Because I was still a kid when I was in middle school, they didn't listen to my opinions or such things, but as one would expect, when I went into high school, I became of an age where I could adequetely tell of my visions for the future, or my opinions. Or at least, I thought so. Up until then, I had done what my mother wanted me to do over what I myself wanted to do, but then I seriously insisted on my own will for the first time. Seeing me like that, and honestly understanding what I wanted to do, she told me, "I will support you."

Interviewer:

And what did your father say?

Karam:

Because my father was very quiet, even scolding was done nicely, and being with him was very comfortable, he was like a friend. But actually, when it came to important things, he would talk to us well.

Interviewer:

Among the things that kind of father has said, are there any words that he left in your memories?

Karam:

Lately it's been like that. Once, he came out in public as if on a job and said, "Society isn't as easy going as you think it is. Because there are lies that are okay to tell, you must learn how to protect yourself as you live." One time, my father had gone with painful feelings, and so it seemed like he didn't want me to end up like him.

Interviewer:

Isn't it what a person says he used to be? He must have wanted you to be able to make your own conclusions and intentions.

Karam:

Yeah. He told me to look closely at reality. Since he had never said anything as serious as that before, I was a little surprised (laughs).

Interviewer:

And lastly, I would like you to give yourself points for your current self.

Karam:

My current self...30 points, I think? Comparing life to a single day, my age is still in the morning. About 9 or 10 o'clock? But as I grow older, piling on experiences, I think the points will naturally rise. With that meaning, in relation to my age, I give myself 30 points.

Interviewer:

If in relation to your life up until now, you've been doing your best will all your power.

Karam:

Yeah. As for the remaining points, I want to get 100 before I die.

Interviewer:

It's like the thought that everyone in the Boss will gain points by experiencing more.

Karama:

All of us right now are wholly doing our best, but we want to grow even more. I think we all feel that we want to grow more.