You sure got people talking with that “dododok” moment during your concert.

KIM CHAEWON: When I first got the “join my crew” part, I was pretty embarrassed (laughs) but a lot of people probably got to know both “Fire in the belly” and LE SSERAFIM through that so I’m very honored and grateful.

You also yelled out your “join my crew” line with Yoon Do Hyun from YB at your performance at the Golden Disc Awards in January.

KIM CHAEWON: I was worried it might seem cringey, but Do Hyun just laughed and had fun with it. The whole thing turned out really well. In many ways, that “join my crew” line has become very important to me.

Watching how you keep everything light and fun reminds me of something Lee Tae Kyeong, the director of the ENA show HYE MI LEE YE CHAE PA, said about you: “Everything she does seems effortless,” and, “she’s always herself, and that’s what makes her so charming.”

KIM CHAEWON: I figured out I’m not the kind of person who gets big laughs on variety shows. (laughs) Since I gave up on being funny right from the beginning, I decided to just be myself and have fun. I just went with the flow. I’m really glad that so many people liked it.

You always make things look effortless when you’re on stage as well, like in the “ANTIFRAGILE” performance on Meltin’ FanCam that blew up for the way you were blinking to the beat.

KIM CHAEWON: I prepare everything in meticulous detail right up until the moment I step on stage. And once I’m up there, I try not to think about anything else. Thinking too much keeps me from enjoying it. Sometimes I switch things up once I’m on stage if I feel like it, like in the video you mentioned. I get excited and think maybe I should push it further or try something a little different.

Doing what you feel like isn’t exactly easy, I’m sure. It makes me think of the slam dunk you did in the “Good Bones” trailer for EASY.

KIM CHAEWON: We do seemingly impossible things in the trailer but make them look easy. I’ve never dunked like that in my life (laughs) but doing things like that easily is what the whole attitude of this album is about, I think. Up to now, it was always like, “I’m working hard. Look how passionate I am! I’m pretty good, right?” But I was hoping this time I’d look cool enough without having to do any of that. But even though the lead single is called “EASY,” neither the dancing nor the singing was in any way easy. It would’ve been okay if we weren’t trying to hide all the effort that goes in—the real hard part was making it look easy. It’s not “EASY”! In no way shape or form. (laughs)

I’m reminded of the phrase “the art of letting go.” I was impressed how you moved your feet so quickly while keeping up with the routine and masterfully adjusting your tempo during the line, “My every step, every second makes history, it’s my way.”

KIM CHAEWON: I saw it as a very important part and for that reason I wanted to do a good job with it, so I practiced really hard for it. I wasn’t used to hip hop moves, and we practiced a lot because we had to move in sync with each other. I had to keep thinking about where I needed to loosen up and where I needed to go all out, but I was still trying to put too much into it and ended up making it overly energetic. It was the first time the performance director ever told me, “Try loosening up a bit. You don’t have to go so hard.” It really caught me by surprise. (laughs) I’m just hoping that part becomes a highlight. I thought a lot about different ways of getting that feeling across. I like listening to and singing R&B on my own time, so I had a lot of fun working on the new single. It was a good fit for me. I think each of our distinct vibes will come across better after we perform it more and more.

“EASY” touches on personal anxieties and worries. Did it feel burdensome at all having to stir up such raw emotions?

KIM CHAEWON: Umm … I wouldn’t say I felt burdened or concerned, really. I mean, it’s all real. When I first heard it, I thought it was so us. We’ve often heard people saying that they are jealous or that we have it easy. I can see why it might look that way to people. But I’ve been pushing myself really hard behind the scenes, and that’s what’s allowed me to get where I am today. I really like the message behind this song. It lets us say, We make it look easy, but there’s nothing easy about it. It might appear all sparkly to you, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. No matter what you see on the surface, all of us have our own struggles and issues to deal with. That’s why I felt it was something everyone could relate to. It’s wonderful I can convey such difficult-to-express thoughts and feelings through our music, our performances, and our albums, and I’m really grateful for it. It lets me be more open.

You helped write the lyrics to “Swan Song.” What did you want to say with that track?

KIM CHAEWON: I tried to be honest about what I’ve been thinking and feeling lately. Everything looks peachy on the outside, but the reason we can climb so high is because of the immense amount of effort we put in underneath it all. Honestly, every single album, it’s tough. New issues come up all the time, so no matter how hard you work, it’s always tough. But I guess that’s life. At one point I realized there’ll always be new things to worry about waiting around the corner. When does this go away?  Ah … No, that’s just the way it is. But then I thought, There’s no other choice.  When the going gets tough, I’ll just keep going. I can do this.

What do you do when the fruits of your labor don’t blossom like you’d hoped for?

KIM CHAEWON: When that happens? I’m not too happy about it, to be honest! (laughs) But after everything I’ve gone through with all those people and everything we’ve put into it, it means too much to just throw it all away because of one thing. It would be such a waste if I came apart at the seams over that. Nobody knows what the future holds, but I believe I can push through any challenge I face—because it would be a pity to lose everything I’ve worked for. Plus, I’m a lot stronger mentally and emotionally than I used to be. Even if there’s a bump in the road, we still have a future ahead of us, so it’ll be okay. Just say, This one was a bit disappointing, so I’ll have to really nail it next time. I can use that bump as motivation to keep working hard.

And what about when things turn out well?

KIM CHAEWON: Even then, it’s the same deal. When all goes well, it’s like, Wow, we’re doing great! Let’s keep it up! And when it’s not quite up to snuff, it’s, We’ve gotta work harder and do better. (laughs) It’s the difference between, “Let’s do this!”—and (sighs) “… we really gotta do this.” The feeling’s a bit different, but the idea’s the same.

So the conclusion is the same either way, then? (laughs)

KIM CHAEWON: Yes. Ah, it’s weird (laughs) but I think I want to keep going regardless of how things turn out. There’s so much more hardship than happiness in the world. But the fleeting moments of happiness are enough to make it all worthwhile. That in itself is fascinating to me. I think there will even come a day when I can enjoy the hard times, too. If I can just hang on and endure what I face now, I’ll be happier later on.

At your concert in Seoul last August, you said, “As time goes on, I not only want to become a better artist, but also a good person.” What exactly did you mean by that?

KIM CHAEWON: Well, I’m not quite sure how I can become a good person yet, but I’d like to show people the real me, without any affectations. Sometimes I feel like, no matter what kind of emotional turmoil people face or how they feel about their lives, we’re all thinking and feeling similar things. That’s why I want to show people the real me, and, on top of that, if I show that I’m working hard and I live a good life, I think I can give them courage and hope, too.

You uploaded some everyday photos to Instagram captioned with the song title “the way things go,” as well as a still from the movie The Truman Show where the main character realizes he’s living in a fake world.

KIM CHAEWON: I tried to put myself in his shoes and asked myself if I could step out into a new world if the world I’ve always known turned out to be fake, and I realized it would be harder than I might think. I felt like it would be hard for me to step out into a new world when I don’t know what’s out there.

Despite what you’re saying, it seems like there’s a part of you that always wants to keep moving forward. You made a post on Weverse on January 1 that included the words, “Maybe you weren’t happy every day, but did you still manage to work up the strength to keep moving forward?”

KIM CHAEWON: I’m always moving forward, even when it doesn’t show. Even if things don’t turn out perfect, it doesn’t mean I’m stuck. It helps me learn more about myself and grow. In this line of work, you have to continuously show something new and prove yourself. It’s tough, but it’s also super fun. I keep discovering new things about myself, and when I achieve something through that, the happiness I feel is immeasurable.

Fleeting moments of happiness really do make it all worthwhile.

KIM CHAEWON: I think so, yes. I derive a kind of happiness from this that I’d never find otherwise. And I think I’m very much aware of that. I’ve always loved singing and dancing, and the fact that I can still be this passionate about it even when I’m doing it as a job proves to me just how much I love it. I mean, I guess I just really love what I’m doing. (laughs)