CN Blue (Code Name Blue)

Oh so shy

THE boys in indie rock band CN Blue (Code Name Blue) may be as good-looking as Korean idols come but they are surprisingly shy. At a press conference yesterday, Kang Min Hyuk, Lee Jong Hyun, Jung Yong Hwa and Lee Jung Shin couldn't even talk about the kind of girls they liked without blushing. Guitarist Jong Hyun, 20, said through a Korean interpreter: "Looks and age don't matter. The most important thing is that we're comfortable with each other." His other band members agreed. Nineteen-year-old drummer Min Hyuk said he has a soft spot for girls with whom he can get along well, while bassist Jung Shin said he wants someone who can understand him. The band - which has differentiated itself from other bubblegum pop offerings from Korea with its live music performance - was in town for an autograph session yesterday. Its showcase-cum-fan meeting will be held today at the National University Of Singapore's University Cultural Centre. International influences Fans in Singapore will get to enjoy their unique brand of music, which CN Blue said was inspired by international acts such as Jason Mraz and Maroon 5. Perhaps the showbiz newbies - the boys made their debut last year - have big shoes to fill, considering they are here after recent visits by popular Korean actors such as Lee Min Ho and Jang Keun Suk. Lee Min Ho and Jang Keun Suk had charmed their female fans here with invitations to visit them in Korea after lamenting how single and lonely they were. Showing their inexperience in the business, the members of CN Blue took some time before replying to a reporter who asked how they were going to cosy up to their fans during their meet-and-greet today . Said band leader and lead vocalist Yong Hwa, 21: "We don't have plans yet." Compare that with the response by their label mates FT Island, when the boy band was here in January. The members had cheekily replied that they may end up kissing fans. While no kisses actually took place, the five members of FT Island did hug their fans even though that wasn't allowed at their fan meeting. CN Blue has been dubbed the next FT Island. But if the CN Blue boys are to be believed, there is no rivalry between the bands. Yong Hwa said that they give each other feedback on their performances. The one thing the two groups have in common? They will never call their fans "crazy". Passionate is their word of choice. Said Jong Hyun: "There was this Japanese fan who collected ticket stubs from all our concerts and gave them to us. There were more than 100 stubs in all. "That is our most passionate fan encounter to date. But regardless of country, all fans are equal as they love our music." The band managed to charm a Japanese reporter at the interview when she asked them to say something in Japanese. After awkward smiles all round, Yong Hwa finally nudged Jong Hyun, who spoke softly in Japanese. The reporter squealed in delight. So will they consider dating a fan? We came to Singapore to "date" them at our fan meeting, came Yong Hwa's shy reply. Sources from AsiaOne.