Jo Hyun Jae

(Continuation of interview in “Movieweek”, this post featuring photos from Japanese version of  Summer 2008.  Answers are by Jo Hyun-Jae.)

Korean society is rooted in military culture — this is not an exaggeration.  The mandatory conscription system dissemintes military culture to all levels of society.  There is no doubt that movies about our [Korean] military is widely accepted.

Q.  Jo Hyun-Jae — how does someone like you who have not had military experience play your character?

A.  As a matter of fact…..a killer role does not require someone to have experience of killing. But…..as an actor all I need to do is act.  To understand the role of 1st Lieutenant Yoo I have done a lot of research.  Good thing a film allows me enough time to do preparatory work.  If it had been a TV drama, there would not have been so much time to prepare — the script arrives very late, and sometimes the beginning and end go in different directions.  I can certainly say that a film’s emphasis on details is brilliant.

Q.  Jo Hyun-Jae, you’ve said you wanted to do something on the military.  Has your objective been met?

A.  Of course.  This is dynamic.  The strange thing is: once I wear the military uniform, I feel I’m a real soldier.  One time on set, I put down some food just for a moment, and it disappeared.  I guess military life is also like this. 

Q.  Real guns are used in this movie?

A.  The guns are imported from overseas and then modified, so they are somewhat different from real ones.

Q.  Which is your favourite scene in “G.P.506″?

A.  In the latter part of the movie, the scene in which Cheon Ho-Jin points a gun at me at close range.  Also that mass gunfight near the end — very realistic…..

Q.  What about the special make-up and props?

A.  This movie’s special make-up is classified into 4 stages.  Luckily I only require stage 3 special makeup, but even this is not easy.  Makeup takes up a lot of the time.

Q.  Jo Hyun-Jae, your image is that of a gentle, refined man.  This time you appear in a film with an all-male cast and no actress.

A.  As a matter of fact, I’ve built up a macho image.  I discussed in detail with the director, and the cool and solid image starts to form with the passage of time [in the movie].  The more masculine, the easier it is to express a man’s emotions.  When filming actually began, I could portray a strong soldier with ease.

Q.  This is really a very unusual movie – that fills one with anticipation.

A.  Yes, this movie is in a class of its own.  It took 1 1/2 years from preparation to completion.  Whether the movie is successful or not, I leave it to viewers to decide.  I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in this movie.

The world is a stage.  As an actor, the greatest joy is to perfectly portray another individual.  What impression he leaves in the world is also an actor’s concern.

Q.  How did you get on with Cheon Ho-Jin?

A.  When I was 21, we already cooperated in a weekend drama.  At that time I was scared to death.  After taking part in a drama with my seniors, though, I became very interested in the performance arts.  As long as my seniors are present, I feel endless energy.

Q.  Do you have a role model?

A.  No one in particular.  I respect anyone who has his/her own special style.

Q.  This interview has come to a close.  Please tell us what kind of an actor you want to be.

A.  I’d like to be an actor that people can trust, an actor that makes people forget “who I am”, someone who can act brilliantly.  To be mentioned in this respect is something to be happiest about.

(THE END)

(Credit for photos: Param of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Translation based on Chinese translation in www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!  Edited by wulijohyunjae.)

If you haven’t seen Jo Hyun-Jae’s 2004 short internet film “Joy of love” (directed by E J-Yong), you must watch it NOW!  If you have already watched it before, well, see it again!  I’ve seen it N times and still find it to be one of the best in Korean cinema, a mini-masterpiece!

The photos you see below represent the latest discovery by our inimitable Japanese friends M and U who specialize in finding locations used in JHJ’s dramas.  They then go on a sort of pilgrimage to these various locations and seek out precisely those spots that appear in the dramas.

Guess what the venue used in “Joy of love” really is — a beauty parlour!  So that’s its day job; other times it moonlights as a film set.

(Credit: http://club.brokore.com/sodonyo.  Many thanks!)

“G.P.506″ premiered around this time in 2008.  To celebrate its two-year anniversary, we have translated a magazine article on the movie and Jo Hyun-Jae and his co-star Lee Young-Hun.  The answers are JHJ’s.

Interview in “Movieweek” (Korean version: March 2008)

This interview is about a film “G.P.506″ that depicts mysterious incidents that happen in a guard post on the defence frontline in the demilitarized zone.  Director Kong Soo-Chang, whose last work was “R Point”, decided to cast two young actors, Jo Hyun-Jae and Lee Young-Hun.  The film took a long time to finish and they both felt exhausted, but this was an invaluable experience for them.  The film will be shown in March 2008.  This interview takes place right before the premiere.

Both actors are a little tense.  This is a chance of a lifetime.  For Jo Hyun-Jae, this is the first time he stars in a movie.  For Lee Young-Hun, this is his first commercial film.  How do they project a sense of strong masculinity?

Q.  How did you feel when you first received the script?

A.  Such a script is almost impossible to come across in Korea; it’s so unusual.  I’ve seen other works by Director Kong, and basically I like horror movies.  I’ve always wanted to take part in a military movie that has an all-male cast, so I am very happy to accept the role.

Q.  I feel in the roles in the script and the method of acting, the director’s demand is different from other directors.  How did you meet his demand?  Take the case of Jo Hyun-Jae, your role looks like a very difficult one.

A.  I think I acted according to the director’s instructions, so there was no need to use any other acting method.  In the past I tried to portray the character and did not specifically or deliberately “act”.

In “G.P.506″ Jo Hyun-Jae portrays the pivotal character 1st Lieutenant Yoo who remains silent after the mysterious incidents take place.  Lee Young-Hun plays Corporal Kang, an important character who knows the ins and outs of what happened.  Looks like Jo and Lee have become close during filming.

Q.  A question often asked — What is the most difficult thing during filming?

A.  1st Lieutenant Yoo is someone who has an important function.  In order to be in character, I did not speak much during filming, which made me feel lonely.

Q.  Is it because you’ve become too much in character?

A.  Yes, there is the danger.  That’s why as soon as the film was finished, I tried to forget.  I also started to read other scripts.

Q.  When you parted from your girlfriend, you also tried to find other girls to forget about the past?

A.  (Slight hesitation)  Well, yes…….

Q.  So now you deliberately choose to do a drama full of sunshine?  [Reference is to "3 Dads/1 Mom"]

A.  Since I’ve just made a dark movie, I’d like to have a little sunshine.

Q.  It’s not easy to switch from gloomy to jolly emotions?

A.  That’s why everyday now I go drinking and having fun with my friends — to try to steer my emotions to the bright side.

Q.  Looks like you are very quiet by temperament?

A.  Yes.  I don’t know how to make fun of others.  I’m very shy and reserved in front of strangers.  But it will be different once we get to know one another.  It’s very easy to get along with Lee Young-Hun – he’s very casual and nice.

Q.  As a Korean star, do you have any plans to go overseas to develop your career?

A.  Up to now only my dramas are released abroad.  But if there are chances of cooperation with other Asian countries, I would be glad to participate.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

(Credit for photos: Param of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Translation based on Chinese translation in www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!  Edited by wulijohyubnjae.)

The first two photos are pictorial tributes to Jo Hyun-Jae from his Japanese fans in CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Korean words on first photo say: “JHJ - Congratulations on your promotion to Sergeant!”  The last photo shows fans at JHJ’s send-off to the army on August 5, 2008.  The Korean words on the yellow banner mean “WAITING!”

(Credit: http://cafe.daum.net/nowguswo; http://hyunjaelove.jp; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!) 

From the very beginning to “Seo Dong Yo”. What’s missing are of course “G.P.506″ and “3 Dads/1 Mom” (so you can guess the date of this otherwise comprehensive video.)

(Credit: We thank the creator of this video, http://club.brokore.com/sodonyo, and Bigcat of www.johyunjae.hk for uploading it.)

This is another article by our new Contributing Editor prissymom.

When I was growing up, there were very few Filipino-made TV series and movies, which was why I watched a lot of American-made ones.  And I have carried this viewing preference well into adulthood.  I am not saying that Americans are the best actors in the world; I just prefer their acting.  I find that, for the most part, American actors don’t show overt emotion in their acting, meaning they don’t overact.  And I realize that the one thing I like most about JHJ’s acting is that he doesn’t overact.  It is the one quality that he shares with my favorite American actors.
 
Whenever I read an article praising the acting of a particular Korean actor in a particular drama, I make it a point to watch that drama just to find out what it is about the acting that garnered praise.  More often than not I end up wondering what is so great about the acting because most of the time these Korean actors overact or are self-indulgent in their acting.  I find them very tiring and irritating to watch so I end up dropping the drama halfway through (I watch at least half the series to be fair). 
 
My favorite American actor, Robert de Niro, once said (on acting): “It’s important not to indicate. ["indicate" here means show or display.]  People don’t try to show their feelings; they try to hide them.”  Which, come to think of it, is a very realistic view of people’s actions — we don’t go around wearing our hearts on our sleeves.  So I don’t understand why people praise actors who display excessive emotions and call their acting “great”, while those who deliver a realistic performance (those who know how to control their emotions and know when to unleash them) like JHJ, are criticized for their “bland” and “expressless” acting. (critic’s words, not mine; is there such a word?) 
 
MY IDEA OF A GREAT ACTOR

A friend once described her idea of a great actor thus: “When he cries, I cry; when he laughs, I laugh.”  I disagree.

For me a great actor can even be having fun onscreen but still elicit tears from me.  Remember that scene in “Love Letter” when Dr. Yim fails to join Andrea in going to the countryside?  So instead Andrea goes to the countryside with Eun-Ha.  The two are shown playing with kids; Andrea is even playing a catchy tune on his harmonica.  And yet I become a mass of tears everytime I watch that scene.
 
A great actor can be doing the most mundane things and still make me feel emotional.  Remember that scene in “3 Dads/1 Mom” where JHJ’s character is shaving his father’s facial hair?  It is such a mundane task and no emotion is showing on JHJ’s face, and yet I can feel the different emotions – sadness, resignation, frustration, guilt – emanating from JHJ.  It is one of the most subtle and poignant scenes in that drama.
 
A great actor doesn’t have to be cutesy-lovey-dovey with his/her onscreen partner for me to feel the romance.  Remember arrogant Han Yi-Joon? He is such an arrogant jerk for most of “Only You” and yet one can’t help but fall in love with his character.  Remember stingy Han Soo-Hyun?  Especially during that scene in “3 Dads/1 Mom” when he first quarrels with Na-Young because NY complains that the pear mixture that the three dads prepare for her is too sweet.  HSH is such a childish, insensitive jerk in that scene and yet JHJ makes HSH very human and cute to boot.
 
A great actor doesn’t have to make goofy faces to make me laugh.  JHJ in “3 Dads/1 Mom” makes me laugh in many scenes even when he is acting with such a straight face.  And JHJ as Kwon In-Ho in “Untold Scandal” elicits laughter from me instead of pity for his ignorance and naivete.

Lastly, a great actor is one who doesn’t have to cry to make me cry.  In JHJ’s “Love Letter” there are so many scenes where Andrea isn’t crying at all, but still those scenes bring tears to my eyes.  Remember that scene where he is waiting at the foot of a bridge with Eun-Ha while waiting for Dr. Yim?  When Dr. Yim arrives and Eun-Ha leaves to join the doctor, Andrea has this longing look on his face.  It isn’t an overt mushy longing look, just a subtle feeling you will get from the angle of his head, to the droop of his shoulders, even to the pursing of his lips.  Also his first dinner with Dr. Yim, all the events leading up to it – wearing the blue sweater the doctor gave him, the tamped down excitement waiting for her while holding the flowers and constantly checking his wristwatch, his innocent questions about his mom during dinner.  These two series of scenes and many others are forever etched in my mind and never fail to make me cry, no matter how many times I have watched this drama.
 
Only two actors in the world are able to make me cry in scenes where they are not crying themselves – Robert de Niro in “Awakenings” (1990) and Jo Hyun Jae in “Love Letter”.  Robert de Niro was nominated for Best Actor in the Oscars for his superb performance as Leonard Lowe in “Awakenings” but he did not win (the Oscar went to Jeremy Irons for “Reversal of Fortune”).  Our JHJ didn’t even get a nomination for his performance in “Love Letter” (and for some of his other dramas/movies as well), which I consider such a crime – a crime of neglect.
 
JHJ has all the qualities that make a great actor, and yet he has not yet received the recognition that he truly deserves.  But I take heart in knowing that he has never failed yet in attaining the goals he has set out for himself.  His pace may seem slow to some people, but it is steady and sure.  With his determination, and our support, I know that sooner or later he will get the recognition that he so richly deserves.

A brand new Japanese magazine called “All About Korean Historical Dramas” has just been published on March 2 in Japan.  In it director Lee Byung-Hoon tells his own story about 5 popular historical dramas he directed as well as one forthcoming.

Director Lee’s masterpieces include “Jewel in the Palace” (Dae Jang Geum), “Yi San” (Lee San, Wind of the Palace), “Sangdo” (Business Ethics), ”The Legendary Doctor Huh Joon”, and of course “Seo Dong Yo”.  His new drama ”Dong Yi” (Dawn), starring Han Hyo-Joo, Ji Jin-Hee, and Lee So-Yeon, will premiere on MBC on March 22. 

Several pages are devoted to “Seo Dong Yo”, as you can see from the above photos.  Each section on each drama gives the synopsis of the story, the historical background, casting secrets, scriptwriting problems, interesting anecdotes during production, behind-the-scenes conversations between the director and the actors, as well as the director’s take on the “real” actors. 

Magazine is priced at 1980 yen (inclusive of tax) and comes with a special DVD.

(Credit: EVERjohyunjae.co.kr; www.koretame.jp; http://gall.dcinside.com; johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)

2010.03.01  13:09  by 쪽​빛​마​음 (Translated from the original Korean)

I can only express my agitated feelings this way…..
My eyes are blurred, filled with tears.

Jo Hyun-Jae has finally been promoted to Sergeant! 

On that hot and humid day on August 5, 2008, JHJ entered the army as an actor, coupled with the fact that he was older than most recruits – factors that he expressed concerns about.

Watching him, I felt very complicated emotions, but there was nothing I could do. 

And yet…..photos released during initial training with his fellow soldiers showed a radiant and smiling JHJ.  Also occasional news of him in the army revealed bits and pieces of his life in the military.  

Everything seemed normal – the boys were getting on very well together.  That’s the answer – good! – a load was taken off my mind.

Actually we will never know how much difficulties he encountered.  But at least on the surface he seemed to be doing well, so my worries were unfounded.

And then to become an army dog soldier – he chose the path “not well-travelled”.

Even though he is an actor, he did not opt to be an entertainment soldier. 

This young artist not only possesses a sincere face but also an inner resolve and integrity. 

I will continue to support him – that’s my decision. 

Since he is not an entertainment soldier, he almost disappeared from the radar.  There has hardly been any news of him.  Waiting is tedious and boring, and nothing can be done.

Time passes…..and now he is Sergeant.

Another 110 days to go…..

All the good times he spent with his juniors, all the unforgettable and beautiful memories…..

Please take good care of your physical health as well as your mental health.

Once more…..

Salute!  Sergeant Jo Hyun-Jae!  Take care!  Let us continue to wait wholeheartedly! 

(Credit: http://blog.naver.com; hyunjaelove.jp; johyunjae.hk.  Based on the Chinese translation on johyunjae.hk.  We thank the creator of the video and Ahiru and Ranta for the photos.  Thanks!)

That’s from our sister JHJ website, johyunjae.hk, congratulating us on our ranking on Alexa.  Thanks a million!  We are so flattered! and so moved!  That’s so sweet! and so encouraging!  (So many exclamation marks!  So unlike us!  But we’re on cloud 9!)

As a matter of fact, johyunjae.hk (Hong Kong) is also ranked 1 million something on Alexa.  Of all those JHJ sites I checked, we are the only two ranked between 1 to 2 million.  We are in the same league, so to speak.

The moral of the story is: hard work pays.  No need to blow your own trumpet.  If there is anything worth reading, people will come to your site.  JHJ fans are smart, discerning people — they know when they see something that comes from the heart, and not just from the mouth.

Let’s continue to work together for JHJ.  That’s what “one big happy family” means.  Fighting!

JHJ fans in Hong Kong are getting together on March 6 for a Chinese New Year “do”.  Their parties are legendary — they have been known to last from lunch through tea and dinner to late-night snacks (12 hours!)  Everybody is so excited talking JHJ; nobody wants to leave.  Have a wonderful time, gals!  Drink one to JHJ for us!

(Credit: KK of johyunjae.hk.  Many thanks for posting our favourite photos and using our favourite JHJ song!)

We salute a Jo Hyun-Jae fan who is our heroine — Coffee from Hong Kong whose works appear here (and not for the first time) — photos 2 – 5.  When she first became a JHJ fan, Coffee was just an ordinary housewife - shy, quiet, modest, not at all computer-savvy.  Somehow JHJ has this ability to inspire people to aspire to the impossible dream.  And now, through her dedication to JHJ, she has taught herself to create these beautiful images to share with us.  And not only that, she has even learnt to put Chinese sub-titles on videos, like the recent Arirang videos — and she does not even understand English (but her timing is perfect!)  Coffee is our JHJ fan of the month!

(Credit: first wallpaper by ahiru of carpediemJAPAN, the rest by Coffee of johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)