K-Drama/K-PopVideo

Nothing prepares you for Baekhyun’s charm and warmth—and his deep voice!

On his favorite actor Kim Soo Hyun— 'I like the way he cries, he cries like a baby'

Baekhyun in 'The Best Day with Bench'

Baekhyun with Bench founder and head Ben Chan at the end of fanmeet

You enter the room and there’s Korean singer Baekhyun of EXO seated on a couch. He is in white Bench shirt, a black jacket, and light-colored pants.

Baekhyun stands up and flashes his beautiful smile, extending his hand. He is warm but noticeably shy. The first thing you notice is that he is tall, with wide shoulders. His face is tiny, probably no bigger than the normal person’s open hand. He has a face that is both handsome and beautiful with dark brown eyes, a tiny but sharp nose, and pouty lips.

Even if you have seen Baekhyun several times in the past, nothing will prepare you for his charm and warmth. And his deep voice!

You also notice that he has notes on the table—on the names of the people interviewing him and the questions we sent  his team.

He answers in Korean, with an interpreter between us. He is eloquent and does not give one-sentence answers. He explains things patiently and meticulously.

The interview is supposed to last only 10 minutes but runs on to 17 minutes because Baekhyun has so many things to say. Even then, he does not rush you, and continues to answer questions leisurely.

How did he feel when Bench contacted him to be a Global BENCHsetter?

“I feel very appreciative and grateful. Bench is a national fashion brand in the Philippines and as a brand ambassador, I am able to show different sides of me to Filipino EXO-Ls and the fans. Their styles are very basic and that’s the type of fashion I prefer,” says Baekhyun.

He singles out Bench t-shirts and shorts as his own favorites.

“I am very picky about the textures of the fabrics I wear. I cannot wear fabrics with rough textures because they make my skin red. And I think the neck of the Bench shirts won’t become loose with frequent washing.”

With regard to his personal style, Baekhyun looks for a good fit. He has worn a lot of clothes from different brands and through the years, has learned what looks good on him and what doesn’t.

“My style is basic but I add accents like caps, scarves, and different kinds of accessories,” says the singer.

‘I have always wondered why there are two sides to the fans’ 

Baekhyun is very grateful for all the love from his fans. He even wonders how it is possible that they love him so much.

“Hopefully, the love I give back is more than the love they give me. I want to tell them that with all the memories and happiness that they gave me, I want to give them more for a long, long time.”

Baekhyun is perhaps one of the Korean idols who is most active on several social media platforms. He is on these platforms not just to post pictures and updates, but to interact with his fans.

It’s been 13 years (Baekhyun recently marked the 13th anniversary of his debut), but his fans remain loyal and supportive. He lets you in on a secret.

“I have always wondered why there are two sides to the fans. When I am around, they are shy and soft, but when I am not around, they are wild, aggressive, and passionate. This is very funny to me. I really dived into why this is so and I think this is what makes me and the fans closer.”

He adds, “This relationship is not something I consider to be work. I really enjoy communicating with the fans and EXO-Ls. I think what makes this relationship exceptional is that it’s sort of a stress relief for us.”

Baekhyun’s favorite is Pineapple Slice from his mini album 

Among his songs in a career spanning 13 years, Baekhyun’s favorite is Pineapple Slice from his mini album,  released in September 2024. Baekhyun has said Hello, World was his way of reintroducing himself to his audience.  Pineapple Slice is not Baekhyun’s usual. It’s new wave-meets-electronic music of the ’70s, instead of his usual R&B.

“For Pineapple Slice, I took part in the music production and in the making of the music video. It was the first time I  participated in the making of a song.”

Moving forward, Baekhyun promises to be more involved in the creative process of his songs and albums.

Baekhyun co-starred in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo in 2016, and while the drama was successful, he does not see himself going the acting route in the near future.

“I am a singer. Thus, I am busy with that so even if I want to act again,  I really don’t have the time for it right now. As an artist, I am happiest to be on stage performing for the fans.”

His favorites are My Love from the Star and the 2012 historical drama The Moon that Embraces the Sun

Baekhyun’s voice has told many stories through songs that are well-loved and will forever be remembered. His songs have provided comfort to many and given his fans an escape from their daily lives.

In an industry where those who want to be idols train for years before debuting, Baekhyun was a trainee for only a year before joining EXO. He’s part of CBX (ChenBaekXi), which is very popular in Japan.

Baekhyun says he is forever grateful to his parents for giving him this voice, but how does he take care of it?

“I try not to eat snacks at night. I take voice lessons. I have pharyngitis so I really need to take care of my vocal chords. I also take some anti-acids.”

While Baekhyun has not had the time to watch dramas lately because he has been bust, his favorites are My Love from the Star and the 2012 historical drama Haereul Pum-eun Dal or The Moon that Embraces the Sun. What these two dramas have in common is that they star actor Kim Soo Hyun, who happens to be Baekhyun’s favorite actor.

“I like the way he cries, he cries like a baby. His acting and crying are very natural, without any sugar-coating.”

Baekhyun said he loves nature, he is fond of scents related to it.

“I am not into citrus or fruity scents. I like woody scents. After taking a shower, I like a minty scent. It refreshes me.”

He would like to try bulalo

Baekhyun met his fans on Sunday in The Best Day with Bench fanmeet at the MOA Arena.

He said he ate Jollibee during this trip but he would like to try bulalo.

When asked what kind of food he likes, Baekhyun said he is really into Korean cuisine.

“I like tonkatsu as well. I basically can eat any food except cucumber.”

During the fanmeet, he sang Good Morning, Garden in the Air, and  Rendez-Vous. He also sang some parts of Pineapple Slice.

He thanked Bench for the opportunity to meet Filipino EXO-Ls.

“Thank you so much to the fans who spent their precious time to come here. I really wanted to make sure to try and give everyone a happy time,” says Baekhyun.

The author with Baekhyun after the interview, one of her life’s memorable moments

About author

Articles

She is a writer, newspaper columnist, wife, mother and dog lover. She champions animal rights and is an HIV awareness advocate. She's been a K-pop fan since the late 1990s and loves SF9, EXO's Xiumin and most girl groups

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