At eleven years old, he proudly declared that he had read a thousand books. Today, that same boy has grown into JONBSEOB of P1Harmony, an artist who fills the stage with energy and presence. And yet, even after achieving his dream, his bookshelf continues to grow. Perhaps that’s why his lyrics and writing offer glimpses into a world shaped by reading, a world rich with depth and thought. Known for saying he’d gladly accept books as payment and that “there’s no such thing as a book I don’t like,” JONGSEOB’s love for literature runs deep. We sat down with him to talk about the countless books that have shaped his journey.

JONGSEOB, the boy who loved books
JONGSEOB: My parents have always been big readers, so there were tons of books at home. I remember many times pretending to be asleep at night while secretly reading and getting caught. Of course, my parents probably knew all along. (laughs) When I was in elementary school, I spent a lot of time at the school library. Honestly, not many kids went there besides me. (laughs) Whenever I wasn’t hanging out with friends, I’d spend every break in the library reading. I guess most of the kids at school probably knew I was a bookworm. There’s also this funny memory from when I was really young. I once got on a bus holding a book, got off late at night, and accidentally left it behind. (laughs) I even called the bus terminal to try and find it, but I never got it back. (laughs)

Conversations about books with parents
JONGSEOB: I still go to bookstores with my parents pretty often. We usually end up buying different books, but we always make a point to visit the classics section together. My mom reads a lot of classics, too, so I think having so many classic books around the house growing up definitely influenced my taste. My dad’s taste is a bit different, though. (laughs) He mostly reads books about investing and business, which isn’t really my thing. But if one of us finds a book we really enjoy, we’ll recommend it to each other. When I was younger, I used to talk a lot about what I thought after reading books, especially with my parents. Looking back, I think those conversations helped me understand the books better because to explain my thoughts, I had to fully grasp what I’d read. Talking about books with my parents like that has really stuck with me as a great habit.

JONGSEOB’s year-round book wishlist
JONGSEOB: I tend to buy books in batches. Even if I don’t have time to read them right away, I figure I’ll get to them eventually, so I just grab whatever catches my eye at the moment. Recently, I bought about ten books in total, both physical and e-books. I still have a wishlist full of books, though. For example, I recently picked up I Am a Cat because the title intrigued me, and I bought Blue Dot mainly because I liked the watercolor-like, oil-painting style cover. I’m definitely drawn to books that look aesthetically pleasing. Right now, I’m eyeing the collector’s edition set of Exorcism Chronicles. It’s a series where, if you line up the books on the shelf in order, the title appears in Chinese characters. But it’s pretty expensive. (laughs) I’m actually a bit practical when it comes to buying books or related products, though. If it’s something I can display nicely or use regularly, like bookmarks or other book accessories, I usually don’t hesitate to get it.

Print books vs. e-books
JONGSEOB: Personally, I prefer physical books. I grew up reading them, so I think I’m just more used to them. There's something comforting about actually opening a book, flipping through the pages, and placing a bookmark. It's part of the experience, and I think that’s why I feel a special attachment to print. You just don’t get that same tactile feeling with e-books. That said, I do think e-books have their own advantages. When I read physical books, I try not to mark anything, but with e-books, it’s really convenient to highlight passages or copy text. Features like that are definitely a plus.

Pages in JONGSEOB’s daily routine
JONGSEOB: I still try to spend as much time as I can reading, but honestly, I don’t get that much free time. So, I mostly read e-books now. I usually buy and download the ones I want to read in advance, then squeeze in a few pages in between things or while I’m on the go. Unlike when I was younger, I can’t really sit down and read for hours at a time anymore. It’s more like bits and pieces whenever I get the chance. Right now, I’m reading Lord of the Flies and The Three-Body Problem. Lord of the Flies is such a classic, and I like to revisit classics whenever I’m in the mood. I started The Three-Body Problem because someone recommended it to me, and I liked the title. I’ve always loved sci-fi, so it’s been a really good fit for me. I haven’t watched the adaptation yet, but I probably will once I finish the book.

A journey from the present to the past through the classics
JONGSEOB: One of the things I really enjoy about reading classics is coming across expressions or sentence structures that you don’t see much in modern books. I think that’s part of what draws me to them. Of course, the historical context can feel a bit distant sometimes, so it might be harder to relate to certain aspects, but for me, the fun is mostly in following the plot, so I don’t find classics particularly difficult to get through. In fact, while reading, I often find myself thinking, “If I knew more about the time period, I’d probably understand this even better.” So, I end up looking up background information as I go. There are still so many classics I haven’t read yet, so I like to keep picking up whatever catches my eye.

Sci-fi & fantasy, the genres that spark JONGSEOB's mind
JONGSEOB: When I read, I like to picture scenes in my head or think about why a character acted a certain way, like, ‘What was going through their mind?’ That’s why I really enjoy sci-fi and fantasy novels; they give you so much room to imagine. What fascinates me most about fantasy is the world-building and the relationships between characters. There’s this fantasy novel I read called The Bird That Drinks Tears, and at the very beginning, there’s a full map of the fictional world. Things like that really help me get immersed in the setting. It’s one of those unique charms that only fantasy can offer. That said, most of the fantasy I read involves a lot of hardships and danger, so I wouldn't actually want to live in those worlds! (laughs) Still, if I ever tried writing one day, I’d love to build my own world and write a fantasy novel. A lot of the fantasy books I’ve loved involve multiple timelines and characters jumping between different places. It sounds super complex, but I think it would be so cool to create something like that myself.

Books that inspired deeper thinking
JONGSEOB: Whenever someone asks me what the most interesting book I’ve ever read is, I always say The Butterfly of the Stars by Bernard Werber. The storyline just completely fit my taste, and it really sparked my imagination. It’s not a very long or difficult book, so I recommend it to pretty much everyone. More recently, I read The Plague as an e-book and enjoyed it so much that I bought a physical copy afterward. I really liked Albert Camus’s style of expression. Each author has such a distinct way of telling a story, and his really resonated with me. When I was younger, I was a big fan of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. I loved imagining the scenes and the conversations between the characters. I also really liked Don Quixote and Knulp, and I’ve read Demian and Wuthering Heights multiple times since I was a kid. Now that I think about it, most of the books I love tend to leave you with a lot to think about, both from the protagonist’s perspective and from the way the other characters experience the story.

JONGSEOB's dream, signed in the stars
JONGSEOB: One day, I’d love to be invited to appear on the YouTube channel Minumsa TV. (laughs) If I ever got the chance, I’d absolutely say yes. And if I had the opportunity to do something book-related and receive books as part of it... I’d love to get an entire publisher’s collection. (laughs) Each publisher has their own style and selection of translated works, so I think it’d be really interesting to explore that. Honestly, I’d be happy to receive any book, since there really isn’t anything I wouldn’t want to read. But if I had to pick, I don’t usually reach for essays, so if someone gave me one, I’d be curious to try it.

P1Harmony is turning the page together
JONGSEOB: Sometimes I recommend books to other members. I ask about their tastes and suggest related titles, and if there’s a book I really enjoyed, I’ll lend it to them. JIUNG has pretty strong preferences when it comes to books. Lately, THEO has started reading a lot more, so I’ve been having a lot of book talks with him. It’s actually kind of surprising because he wasn’t really a big reader before. (laughs) But now he’s finding some really great books, like The Dallergut Dream Department Store, Memoir of a Murderer, and The Thorn Fish. Right now, he’s reading Torrent. I’ve bought it too, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I’ve heard it’s really good. Honestly, I love being able to talk more about books with the members. I’ve read quite a few myself, so it’s nice to share that experience and discuss things when we’ve read the same book.

If P1Harmony came in book form
JONGSEOB: When I think of KEEHO, a memoir kind of comes to mind. For JIUNG, I’d say essays or poetry collections. Those are the kinds of books he usually reads, plus he actually does a lot of copying by hand, which is different from me. I remember he once mentioned reading books with Confucius and Mencius in them. So honestly, I think Eastern philosophy suits JIUNG better. (laughs) He seems really interested in self-reflection and developing inner strength. THEO... maybe a book on music theory? (laughs) He’s been really into instruments lately. SOUL definitely fits with sci-fi. In my mind, SOUL has this unique and imaginative vibe. INTAK... what would work? Maybe sports-themed novels or medieval fantasy? Honestly, INTAK isn’t really much of a book person. (laughs) But if I had to pick one, I’d say romcom.

Talking about books with P1ece
JONGSEOB: I usually make a note of the books recommended to me by P1ece. They tend to suggest a lot of works by Korean authors, which I really appreciate, especially since I haven’t read that many Korean novels myself. Their recommendations are super helpful. I think it’s because they know my taste well, so they often suggest sci-fi or fiction that really lines up with what I enjoy. It also seems like a lot of them share similar reading preferences with me. I add the books they mention to my wishlist and come back to them when I have time. Honestly, I’m the type of person who tries to read every book that gets recommended to me.

Every book has something to offer
JONGSEOB: I think every kind of book has its own unique charm. With novels, for example, what I find most compelling is the chance to see the world through someone else’s life and reflect on it from my own perspective. Since they're based on fictional stories, they help expand the way I think, especially as someone who works in a creative field. A lot of themes or messages in novels also spark ideas that could be great starting points for new projects. Poetry, on the other hand, often introduces words or writing styles that we don’t really use in everyday conversations or prose. Because of its rhythm and structure, I feel like it has a natural connection to the music I make. I haven’t read a ton of essays yet, but I find them really interesting in a different way. Unlike novels, which are told from the perspective of a character, essays let you see directly into the author’s thoughts. You get to understand how someone thinks about a certain issue or personal experience, and I think that’s fascinating. In the end, I feel like each type of book offers a different lens to think through. I definitely have favorites I gravitate toward, but I wouldn’t say there’s any book I dislike.

The unmatchable allure of reading
JONGSEOB: I can definitely see why some people might find visual media like movies more appealing. There’s something powerful about seeing ideas brought to life on screen. But for me, I’ve always preferred books, mostly because I love the process of reading and then recreating the imagery in my own mind. So, even if a story has been adapted into a movie or a series, I usually try to read the book first. There’s something special about not just passively receiving visuals, but reading, interpreting, and imagining them for yourself. That whole process gives me more room to think and reflect. I also think it helps develop your ability to think critically. And I find it fascinating that the same text can be understood in so many different ways depending on who’s reading it.

Driven by fun, drawn to books
JONGSEOB: For me, the biggest reason I keep reading is simple—it’s fun. I’m the type of person who doesn’t really stick with something if I’m not genuinely interested or enjoying it. Even when I was a kid, I never picked up a book thinking, “I need to gain knowledge” or “This will be useful for me someday.” That’s why, whenever someone asks me for advice about reading, I always say, “Don’t read just to get something out of it.” If that’s your mindset, it’s easy to lose interest in books altogether. That said, there’s no denying that you can gain so much from reading. For me, the main reason I read is because I enjoy it. But even without trying, books naturally offer so many things to feel, to learn from, and to think about.

How books shaped the JONGSEOB of today
JONGSEOB: I’m not really the type to take a specific quote or something a main character said and turn it into a personal philosophy. But having books consistently around me has definitely influenced how I speak and think. Things like my choice of words, sentence structure, and reading comprehension have all improved thanks to reading. From that perspective, I think there are a lot of benefits that come from reading. It also helps me pull from a wider range of ideas when I’m thinking through things. Books have been really helpful as an artist, too. I don’t always write lyrics directly inspired by what I read, but if something stands out to me, I jot it down in my notes. Later on, even if I don’t write a song specifically about that idea, I’ll often use those notes as references. I also remember and draw on the metaphorical expressions I come across in books. So rather than pinpointing one specific aspect, I’d say books and reading have broadly influenced many parts of my life, often in ways I’m not even fully aware of.