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May 2, 2003
National Space Development Agency of Japan

                  NASDA REPORT NO.130

Part 3 of 3

Interviewer: How did you feel, watching the actual shuttle launch?

Kim: I was really stunned at the tremendous force and the thundering
noise. The observation area is about 5 kilometers away from the
launch pad, so there is a few seconds of sound delay. But you can
feel this tremendous whoosh of vibrations in the air coming at you
like a tsunami wave. You would have to experience those vibrations to
understand. At that time, I felt that this rocket was carrying not
only the dreams of scientists and the adoration of children all over
the world, but also a romantic image for many of us. It left a
longing impression.

Interviewer: Have you had an interest in space yourself for some
time?

Kim: Well, certainly I used to gaze up at the moon and stars in the
night sky, and I used to think how beautiful photos of constellations
looked - the type of general interest that everyone feels. 

Interviewer: Has that changed?

Kim: Not in what you would call a radical change. But instead of
thinking of space as this vast universe, I began feeling more
strongly and naturally that our Earth is positioned in the space.
Astronaut Mohri has said that the Earth is the only place where we
can live, and that makes sense to me. Nothing could be more true! The
more I learn about space, the more precious the Earth becomes. 

Interviewer: Do you have any dreams or goals now for the future?

Kim: I'd like to continue in the same direction I am going today,
because I have met so many great people that I would like to follow.
And I don't think I am the only one to feel this way, but I think
that this set of "encounter," "appreciation," and
"excitement" will
give birth to something. My music was also born from this set, as if
following a natural set of laws. As I said earlier, I would like to
completely envelop the earth in music. That is, I would like my music
to reach 4 billion people. But now I really feel like I am in the
middle of that dream. 

*

Editor's Note

Mr. Kim, who proclaims himself a person of the earth living in Japan,
performed at a concert in December last year held at Tanegashima in a
celebration for the launch of H-IIA rocket no. 4. He seems to be
further intensifying his relationship with space. His fourth album is
entitled Esperanza, which means "Kibo" in Japanese. I don't know
whether he intended to name it after the Japanese Experiment Module
on the International Space Station, but perhaps there is a
connection. Have you had the chance to hear the music of this
international, rather, global man?

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