The Genius of the Dawn: Hyunjin on Dior Sauvage, Art, and His Deepest Obsessions

In a candid "Night Interview" with GQ Korea, Stray Kids' Hyunjin sat down to share his thoughts on everything from his late-night habits to his deep affection for his dog, Kkami. Filmed on the set of his latest shoot for Dior Sauvage, the interview offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the mind of an artist who values both instinct and freedom.

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The Scent of Freedom: Dior Sauvage

Hyunjin noted that the fragrance of Dior Sauvage had been lingering on him throughout the shoot, describing it as a scent he finds particularly impressive. [00:14]

• The Wood and the Sea: He has a long-standing preference for woody and citrusy scents. [00:55] As the weather warms up, he finds himself gravitating toward "cool" fragrances that reflect the blue of a clear sky—a color he chose to represent his current mood. [00:28]
• Identity: Hyunjin views himself as someone who "craves freedom" and acts on instinct. He expressed a wish for fans to remember him through the evocative, bold scent of Sauvage. [01:17]

Into the Dawn: Hyunjin’s Nighttime Rituals

While many prefer the energy of the day, Hyunjin finds beauty in the transition to night.

• The Golden Hour: He shared that he prefers sunsets over mornings, finding the fading light more emotionally and physically beautiful. [01:41]
• Defining the Dawn: For Hyunjin, "dawn" specifically exists between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Once it hits 6:10 AM, he considers it officially morning. [02:12]
• Late-Night Creativity: He often stays awake during these hours, using the quiet to indulge in "useless thoughts" that eventually fuel his creative work. [03:00] During this time, he listens to calm piano music or movie soundtracks, often imagining himself as the protagonist of the film. [02:31]

Obsessions and Affections: STAY and Kkami

Hyunjin was playful yet sincere when discussing his current "obsessions."

• STAY & Meaningful Days: He admitted to being "obsessed" with his fans, STAY, and the desire to live every day with meaning. [03:35] This obsession makes his days feel more fulfilling and his mood brighter. [03:46]
• The Members: He joked about being "bothered" by his fellow Stray Kids members, specifically mentioning Changbin. [04:06] However, he quickly followed up with a smile, saying he actually wishes they would bother him more since they’ve all been so busy lately. [04:18]
• A Heart for Kkami: If he could save only one memory, it would be a video of his dog, Kkami, running around at a dog-friendly pension. [05:05] He also spoke about wanting to take a new family portrait with his parents, grandmother, and Kkami. [04:38]

The "Genius" Artist

Reflecting on his strengths, Hyunjin moved away from his "Pabo-Racha" (Silly-Line) image, playfully declaring, "I am not a fool. I am a genius." [05:28]

• Translating Thoughts to Art: He believes his greatest talent is taking the "brilliant and delicious" thoughts in his head and translating them into colors or words on a canvas or page. [06:05]
• A Message to Fans: He ended the night with a heartfelt shout-out to STAY, expressing a deep longing to perform on stage again and asking everyone to look forward to his future journey with Dior Beauty and GQ. [06:48]