Anyone who knows Lee Jeong would know that he is a Virgo. Virgos get labeled as jealous perfectionists, yet they are emotional and never shy about showing gratitude or love. For Lee Jeong, zodiac signs are a way to explain who he is and a way to connect with fans. Among all the personality theories people talk about, from MBTI to blood type, he says zodiac signs feel the most “romantic energetic.” Believing in the timing of the sky and the movement of the stars is his own kind of romance, even in a busy and competitive life.
I still remember how you introduced yourself through your Virgo sign in your one-minute self-introduction clip for “Boys II Planet.”
I thought the astronomy student concept worked well as a character idea that could show both my personality and work style.
I once said, “I may look cold, but I get hurt easily because I am a Virgo,” and fans really liked it.
The marketing team helped set up the overall structure, and the lines I added for fun, like “How about a Virgo?
Come sit next to me if you are down” were things I came up with. (laughs)
Even in your official talent profile, the first keyword is “zodiac-sign super-fan,” so it is easy to tell how much you love zodiac signs.
I honestly never thought I was “too into” zodiac signs before.
Other people think in MBTI terms without even noticing, and I think in zodiac terms the same way.
I grew up reading “Olympus Guardian” comic books with star-sign stories, and my friends and I talked about zodiac signs without even realizing it.
I just assumed everyone cared about zodiac signs the way I did.
Later, I realized, “Wait, was I the only one who actually paid this much attention to them?”(laughs)
When do you usually turn to zodiac signs in your daily life?
When I meet someone who feels like a great match or someone who feels a little different from me, I usually end up asking about their sign.
Most people start with MBTI when they first meet, right?
I listen and move on, and once we talk more and get closer, that is when I ask about their zodiac sign.
When I look it up afterward, the traits match surprisingly often.
The sign that gets along best with me is Taurus.
Do you have your own reason or logic for believing in zodiac signs?
I said this on Weverse LIVE, too, but people are shaped by their environment a lot.
People who share the same sign go through similar stages of life around the same time, so it makes sense that some of their traits overlap.
Of course, not everyone born in that period is the same.
Still, it is similar to how people are grouped as Millenials, Gen Z, and Gen X. People born in the same era grow up experiencing the same events and changes.
Also, in Korea, age is determined by your birthday.
It feels natural that people with the same sign might experience similar things at similar times, and that these experiences, in turn, shape their personalities in similar ways.
Why do you trust zodiac signs more than MBTI or blood type?
I personally feel like zodiac signs match my traits more than MBTI does.
And Virgo feels so much warmer than “INFJ.” (laughs)
It has that feeling that makes people ask, “What is that like?” and I find that really charming.
The idea of reading the movement of the stars and drawing stories from constellations feels totally “romantic energetic” to me.
How do you usually look up zodiac traits or horoscopes?
I searched “Virgo traits” online.
Blogs that summarize everything are the easiest to understand.
Surprisingly, I don’t check horoscopes that often. I actually avoid them when I see them. (laughs)
I get worried they might affect my day.
The moment I feel even a little uneasy, it feels like I’m already swept up by it.
You also talk about zodiac signs a lot with your fans on your social channels.
Since I am a Virgo, I sometimes explain traits like “I get hurt easily” or “I am emotional.”
Sometimes, only the Virgo part gets clipped and posted on social media.
People who see me for the first time might think I am a strange guy. (laughs)
At some point, fans even started calling me straight up “cheonyeo (the first half of the Korean word for Virgo, cheonyeo-jari).” My name, Lee Jeong, is already two syllables, so “cheonyeo” isn't even shorter...
I have never been called that, and it’s funny. (laughs)
What kind of personality traits do Virgos usually have?
From what I’ve read, Virgo traits can even show a few differences depending on gender.
The trait I remember most is their sensitivity and emotion.
They often show who they are through actions rather than words. For me, words are actions too because they are a form of expression and effort.
Virgos are known for being detail-oriented and analytical, and once they start something, they try to finish it. They do not want to miss even small details. Because of that perfectionist side, they can stress themselves out or seem a little sensitive to the people around them.
Do you think you have those Virgo traits yourself?
Yes, and saying it out loud gives me chills because it is exactly me.
When I was younger and took math exams, if a problem was too complex, most people would move on since there were so many questions left. But if I got stuck on number six, there was no way I could skip it.
I kept thinking, “If I skip this, even if I get the later ones right, I’m done anyway.”
Even tiny things bother me when they are out of place. But Virgos are not only sensitive! (laughs)
In short, we are careful and thoughtful.
Which Virgo traits do you want to keep, and which ones do you want to grow out of?
I want to keep the part of me that is emotional.
I like expressing myself and sharing my feelings, and I wish everyone had that trait. The world would be so warm. (laughs)
What I want to fix is the part where I get sensitive because I try to make everything perfect. Sometimes I hold on to things I could easily laugh off, and when I make a mistake, I blame myself for a long time.
I want to get better at letting that side of me go, because anything taken too far isn't helpful.
You are so open about yourself, even when you talk about the things you think of as your weaknesses.
I just like being honest, and I do not want to hide anything.
I already know myself well, and my fans love me the way I am. We are close enough that I feel comfortable sharing these things with them.
How do your Virgo traits like perfectionism and emotional sensitivity affect your work as an idol?
Because I am a perfectionist, I sometimes get a little sensitive when I practice choreography or prepare an album.
I always feel like I can do better, and I want to.
There are moments when I have to be the one to give tough feedback, but when I see the staff working so hard beside me and the members following along with everything, I suddenly get emotional and feel both sorry and grateful.
I sometimes send messages in our group chat like, “Guys, I really love you. We are family.”
But when it feels like we are getting a little too relaxed, I also say, “We cannot be like this.” (laughs)
I know it can be tough, but sometimes a team really does need someone who can speak up.
That is true.
It brings energy back into the team.
When people worry their words might be misunderstood and end up saying nothing, it feels like the wheels of the team stop turning.
If you do not talk about things, they only get worse. People really need to speak because words are actions.
And it is so important to express yourself kindly.
Even on the show EXchange 3, one of the cast said they would not have ended up on the show if they had just heard a simple “I am sorry.” (laughs)
Teamwork was a big part of “Boys II Planet” too.
How do you lead teamwork within a group?
When we are working, what matters most is the performance, not what kind of person I am.
Even though I am emotional, I do not get hurt easily when it comes to work. I try not to think emotionally and focus on communicating to make the stage better.
And because I get hurt easily in general, I try even harder not to hurt anyone else.
Even when I need to say something difficult, I try to say it in a way that does not make anyone feel awkward or uncomfortable.
Does your zodiac sign help you understand yourself better?
For sure.
There are many times when I am not really sure who I am.
Sometimes it feels comforting when someone says, “This is the kind of person you are.” I think that is why people like putting themselves into categories like MBTI these days.
It helps you understand yourself and realize that there are people who are different from you.
I look at zodiac signs in the same way.
Is there a zodiac sign you want to be like or especially like?
Aquarius.
I got close to Kang Min during the survival show, and he is an Aquarius.
Because I am emotional and empathetic, I am drawn to people like that. Kang Min started working earlier than I did, and even after growing up, he has stayed true to his own sensibilities.
He cries easily when he is touched, and he smiles just as easily when he is happy. He is honest and never afraid to express himself.
It takes more courage to apologize as you get older. Still, when he does something wrong, he says sorry without hesitation.
You can tell he never tries to be loved for a made-up version of himself. I find that really heartwarming.
You once said, “Lee Jeong at 1 to 3 am is a different person. That is when I am a complete Virgo.” You have shared a lot of zodiac-related quotes like that. (laughs)
What is the best way to understand Virgo Lee Jeong?
I do not get upset easily, but I really like people who can hold me warmly.
So when I exchange DMs, replies written in that dry, blunt texting style feel cold to me.
I share a lot of everyday, small things with my fans, and when the reply comes back really stiff, I end up feeling a little awkward, like I was excited all by myself.
I do use that short texting style with my friends sometimes, but it feels different with fans. (laughs)
Do you have any zodiac-related events you want to do with your fans?
On "Boys II Planet," Master Han-byul and JUSTHIS once did a counseling segment featuring this fortune reading concept. It would be fun to do something similar, where I read fans' zodiac signs or even their “saju.”
It feels more special when someone you like explains your traits to you, so fans would enjoy it too.
It seems like zodiac signs have become both a way for you to describe yourself and a bridge that connects you with your fans.
Some fans even call me by my zodiac sign now, and I am grateful because it seems to help them understand me better.
If hearing my zodiac stories made you feel closer to me or made things a little more fun, then I am delighted I shared them.
Zodiac signs interpret fate and personality through the movement and shapes of stars.
What kind of imaginary WHIB zodiac sign would you want to create?
I would name it “Whibjari,” with “-jari” being the Korean suffix used in zodiac sign names.
Even if a star shines brightly, I think there are times when it cannot tell how bright it really is when it is alone. And one star by itself cannot form a constellation.
I hope the stars of our members stay close enough to shine on one another, so none of us ever feels like we are in the dark.
Lastly, is there a message you want to share with your fans?
So many people want to shine.
When you look up at the sky, there are countless stars.
It doesn’t matter if I’m neither the biggest nor the brightest—if no one is there to look at my star, nothing matters.
Even during the survival program, I learned that no matter how bright I become, my light only has a meaning when there are people watching me and supporting me as I pursue my dream.