Volunteer Chef Kim: Kim Ryeowook

KIM RYEOWOOK: VOLUNTEER CHEF KIM
By: Henry Lau

I don’t remember when I first met Ryeowook, I’ve known him when I was accepted into the company in 2006 to fight for my dreams by myself in Korea. Even though only less than 2 years have passed, but everytime I think back to my trainee days, Ryeowook hyung’s warm face always appears. I never thought that 2 years later, I would have the chance to be so close with my seniors Super Junior whom I have respected and envied, and to realize our dreams together in China.

HYUNG GOING CRAZY FOR CHINESE

To prepare for SJ-M’s first album, all the members often recorded deep into the night together, sometimes there would be no time to rest for the whole night. Han Geng hyung and Zhou Mi hyung were using any time they get to teach everyone Chinese and correct everyone’s pronunciations repeatedly. Ryeowook hyung had a big part in the album. When he was by himself, he would read Chinese pronunciations labelled in Korean over and over again. Occasionally, he would grab me, who was memorizing lyrics beside me, and ask, “Is this word pronounced this way? It feels weird. Did Han Geng hyung teach us wrong?” Sometimes I wasn’t sure of the pronounciation either, so Ryeowook hyung and I would go to Donghae hyung for help. Donghae hyung would stare at the Korean phonetics and then study his own part over and over again. At then he would push both away and say, “Let’s go find Han Geng hyung and ask.” In the end, it turned into us going everywhere to find Han Geng.

Ryeowook hyung has a very nice voice, his singing is also very good. After adjusting the pronunciation again and again, he would quickly master the song. Even if it is a Chinese song, he can make it powerful and moving; you can’t help but admire Ryeowook hyung’s skills in singing. “The One” is hyung’s favourite song, it’s a song made for 2008 Beijing Olympics, and a song that inspires people to compete in a positive manner and to go ahead bravely. Zhou Mi hyung even wrote the lyrics meticulously; it was very well-written. Everyone liked it very much after hearing the demo. Ryeowook hyung said “Thinking of fans humming us SJ-M’s song while watching the Olympics makes me very happy.”

Ryeowook hyung also especially prepared a Chinese song – “Kiss Goodbye” by Wang Leehom. When hyung sang the song live to our fans, he sang with a lot of emotions and everyone was attracted to his voice and captivated by him.

After our first show ended, hyung secretly told me that he was so nervous that he almost fainted when he was singing “Kiss Goodbye.” He cares a lot about whether the fans enjoyed it or not.

KING OF COOKING IN THE DORM

After coming to China, due to lots of practice, Ryeowook hyung’s cooking skills improved very quickly. When we are in the dorm, we can eat delicious food very often, even at midnight. I heard from Donghae hyung that Ryeowook hyung cooked for the members in the dorm in Korea too, such as peeling apples and making ramen. In China, Ryeowook hyung learned to make some very delicious Chinese food. Hyung is very fascinated by Chinese delicacies, he even studied how to make a shaobing with great interest. Even though Han Geng hyung criticized the finished product, I thought it tasted pretty good, except it was a little hard.

Once, it was 12:00 at night and Ryeowook hyung still hadn’t slept. I found out later that he was preparing breakfast for Donghae hyung, who had an activity to attend very early in the following morning. Hyung is always quietly caring for the other members like this. It makes me think of when I was a trainee, once, I practised in the dance studio really late into the night by myself, and I was so tired that I fell alseep on the floor before I had a chance to clean everything up. Ryeowook hyung, who was also practising late in the music room, saw me sleeping when he passed by and woke me up because he was worried that I might get sick, he also gave me a pack of cookies because I was too focused on practising dance to eat.

In reality, he’s very busy too. But even if he only sleeps one or two hours and is very tired, he still prepares food for the members once practice is finished. Ryeowook takes care of us like a real hyung; it’s very touching.

Ryeowook hyung loves to watch me play the violin, he would say it’s great with tears in the corners of his eyes. Ryeowook hyung, touched by my violin-playing, always easily move me with his sensitivity and kindness. After a major earthquake struck China, after seeing the terrible conditions in TV news, hyung updated his CY while crying. Even though he’s very sensitive, sometimes he acts very stubborn. He dragged me and Kyuhyun hyung, both with no make-up on, to take pictures with him on the plane. And then he posted those rough faces on his CY. How would the fans react when they see it?

CR: xcloudyx @ SJ-M Soompi Thread

PS. i think the reaction is quite good, fans would love you more, dun worry ~lol~
& imagine all of them went to find Hangeng to ask for help with their Chinese =) =)
& when Geng criticised Wookies’ dishes, i’d think of my mommy when she acts like that =)