Under The Gaze

Hwang Intak's warmth and joy frame his reflections on the growth he experienced in 2025 and the mindset he is cultivating for 2026 as he navigates life in the public eye.

- Asha Farisha

Perception is often the story others insist on telling about you, a narrative shaped by their gaze, experiences, and sometimes, their projections.

In a world where social media exposes every moment, and even the smallest choices are circulated and scrutinised, being seen can easily feel like a burden. It is no wonder that many young people admit to feeling uneasy with the very idea of being perceived at all.

As a member of P1Harmony, a rising fourth-generation K-pop boy group, perception is unavoidable. Every smile, gesture, and performance is catalogued and interpreted. Yet despite the scrutiny, the image Hwang Intak leaves is overwhelmingly warm: group member Keeho describes him as bright and endlessly positive, while fans have affectionately dubbed him the "puppy of the group." Playful as these labels are, they hint at something genuinely authentic beneath the celebrity persona.

At 22, Hwang has spent much of his life embodying cheerfulness, as he reflects in #P_riends' Episode 2 of Theo & Intak. Many people see happiness as something to cultivate through conscious effort, thinking with optimism, speaking with energy, and finding satisfaction in daily patterns.

For Hwang, joy feels almost instinctive. “I don't try too hard; I guess it grew on me. Being cheerful is just in my tone and the way I talk.”

It is precisely this natural brightness that makes his perspective so compelling. How does someone who radiates positivity see life, ambition, and the world around him? As the year comes to a close, looking back feels natural, and it seemed like the perfect moment to sit down with Hwang and hear how he has navigated and shaped the past twelve months.