[Interview 4] Hwang Chi-yeul: "I’m grateful for the Choi Seong-gon resemblance, and I’m learning variety show etiquette"

[Sportschosun Baek Ji-eun] Hwang Chi-yeul is widely known as a versatile singer-songwriter and emotional vocalist, but he was also once seen as a rising variety show star. Beyond music competition programs, he won over audiences with his warm, down-to-earth charm on reality shows such as MBC's I Live Alone.

His variety show side came through once again as a special DJ on SBS Power FM's Two O'Clock Escape Cultwo Show. On the broadcast aired on the 24th, one listener asked Hwang Chi-yeul, "Don't you want to try auditioning again for the choir on Qualifications of a Man?" At the time, footage of Hwang Chi-yeul's past audition for Qualifications of a Man was shown on screen, drawing laughs because he resembled singer Choi Seong-gon, played by Oh Jung-se in the film Wild Thing, which has recently become a meme. In response, Kim Tae-gyun sang Choi Seong-gon's hit song, "I Like You," and Hwang Chi-yeul shot back, "He copied me. Hwang Seong-gon."

Hwang Chi-yeul said, "It was Choi Seong-gon who imitated me," and added, "That was a very difficult time for me. I thought it might become a source of hope, so I decided to do Qualifications of a Man. Park Kalin was seated in front of us, and the participants were walking in one by one, so I dressed up quite a bit for it. But the video was left behind. Trends come and go, and I’m grateful that Choi Seong-gon has brought this back into the spotlight."

Will his variety show persona continue to shine? Hwang Chi-yeul said, "Through Two O'Clock Escape Cultwo Show, I’m learning a lot from Tae-gyun hyung. I think I’m becoming more organized as I learn from him about the boundaries I should keep in variety shows. Even when filming YouTube content, I try to enjoy it, and I work hard whenever I’m given an opportunity."

Hwang Chi-yeul released his summer album I Love Summer at 6 p.m. on the 26th. The album captures the many emotions that summer holds, including love, excitement, heartbreak and longing, all expressed through Hwang Chi-yeul's rich and distinctive vocals. The title track, Us, Summer, is a lyrical song that tells the story of a passionate midsummer love and the longing left behind at its end.

He will also hold a solo concert, Us, Summer, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on July 4 at Nodeul Island Live House. He plans to continue meeting fans through a variety of events in the future.

Hwang Chi-yeul said, "In the past, I used to think, 'I need to work even harder' and 'I need to make more hit songs.' But now, I hope there will be more time for fans to keep smiling and enjoy themselves with me. Even now, one of the most important and enjoyable parts of releasing an album is the fan signing event. As long as time allows, I hold fan signings for five to six hours. Fans come dressed in cosplay and act out scenes, so the events naturally last five or six hours. We’re enjoying it like our own culture."

Baek Ji-eun, silk781220@sportschosun.com