Jo Hyun Jae

CarpediemKorea (CAFE) has been sending Jo Hyun-Jae gifts every month ever since he entered the army on August 5, 2008. This is the 10th time and the emphasis this time is on snacks.

The quantity may be less this time, but the cost is actually higher. Snacks include French candies, Ferrero Rocha (chocolates), brownies, cookies, crackers, cheese sticks, nacho chips, Pringles (potato chips), beef jerky, and lollipops — all beautifully packaged, complete with multi-coloured ribbons. We think these are meant for JHJ’s campmates.

For JHJ there are the usual ginseng, telephone cards, SCREEN magazine, wet tissues, and something special for the summer — bracelets and pads (made of natural ingredients) to keep off the mosquitoes which could be pestering JHJ when he patrols at night. These CAFE ladies really think of everything!

The weather is very hot in Seoul now and all these supplies will come in handy. And they come with so much love and tender loving care from JHJ’s most devoted fans.

(Contents and photos courtesy of CAFEKorea and CAFEJapan. Thanks!)

In the Korea Fan Meeting DVD, the transition from the Korea Fan Meeting to the Thai Fan Meeting is very abrupt, with no introduction whatsoever. And the Thai Fan Meeting portion has no subtitles. Here is our translation of the transcript of the Thai Fan Meeting on July 4, 2008 (courtesy of CarpediemJapan. Japanese translation by Rei and design by ahiru. Thanks!)

Transcript of Thai Fan Meeting (July 4, 2008) segment:

JHJ (Jo Hyun Jae) MC (female Master of Ceremonies) IN (Interpreter)
JHJ is wearing a light grey suit with an open-necked white shirt.

MC: Hello! (in Thai)
JHJ: Hello! (in Thai)
IN: Can you introduce yourself?
JHJ: Hello! I’m Jo Hyun Jae. Very happy to see you all.
IN: Are you always so shy? You speak so softly.
JHJ: I’m having a little problem with my throat, so I can’t speak too loudly.
IN: Is this the first time you’re visiting Thailand?
JHJ: Yes, the first time. This visit is my first.
IN: You went touring, right? What did you do? How did it feel?
JHJ: I went to Pattaya — to see the sea and watch sports performance. Ate a lot of good food and slept very well too.
JHJ waves.
From the audience (in Korean): How are you?
IN: How are you?
JHJ: (smiles)
IN: Are you very busy in your work?
JHJ: Yes, but it’s all right.
IN: How many days are you staying in Thailand?
JHJ: Two days.
IN: I heard the fan meeting is tomorrow. Did you make any special preparation for this fan meeting?
JHJ: There will be lots of games, and also mention of the environment.(Fans cheer.)JHJ (smiling): I hope a lot of people will participate in the part on the environment. I want to leave a good memory.

MC: Interpreter, everything looks fine. (Gestures with hands to form a smile)
JHJ: Thank you.
IN: Smile
JHJ: Thank you.
IN: Can you say something for the fan meeting tomorrow?
JHJ: I hope to have a wonderful time with the fans at the fan meeting tomorrow. (Smiles shyly.) I hope there will be a lot of people. Thank you!
MC: Say a few parting words.
JHJ: I had a very meaningful time today. Many thanks to all those present.
MC: raipomuyakkon (Thai). Can you say this?
JHJ (smiling): raipomuyakkon.
(Fans cheer wildly.)
JHJ: OK, until tomorrow…..(Looks at IN uncertainly)
MC: Oh, sorry!
JHJ: Thank you! Thank you!

Next day. Different venue. Different MC (male) Same interpreter: IN
JHJ is wearing a white suit with a grey crew neck T-shirt.

IN: Before you came to Thailand, you went to Japan. Please tell us what it was like in Japan.
JHJ: In Japan I had a great reception. The fans were very enthusiastic.
IN: When the fans knew you were coming [to Bangkok], many of them went to the airport very early. What was your first impression when you arrived at the airport? Was the weather very hot?
JHJ: It was hot in Japan too. The temperature is more or less the same. I did not expect so many fans at the airport. It was a great surprise to me.
MC: This morning you planted a tree — a “love tree”. How was it this morning?
JHJ: Because it was morning, I felt very carefree and happy when I was planting the tree.
IN: Well, come again to plant another tree next time. The tree this morning is called “jasmine” (symbolising: blessing, passion, and kindness.) Happy?
JHJ: Yes.
IN: Have you ever had a fan meeting in an opera house?
JHJ: It’s the first time I have a fan meeting in such a big opera house.
IN: Can you talk about your last drama? After you finished that, what did you do?
JHJ: My last drama is “3 Dads/1 Mom”, a very cheerful TV series, with a unique storyline. After that was completed, I had a rest and went on a trip. And then I prepared for the fan meetings and the recording of the CD.
IN: That drama is finished, although it is not yet shown here.
IN: Are there any memorable times on the shooting of “3 Dads/1 Mom”?
JHJ: Well, the baby proved quite a handful, but even then it was still fun. The 3 actors played 3 distinct roles, and we had a lovely time on set. The baby slept a lot in the daytime and went to bed very early at night. When she cried, we had to wait for 3 hours before shooting could resume. Even though it was hard, we still had a very enjoyable time shooting this drama.

After the Thai Fan Meeting segment, there is the last video shot on the day JHJ entered the army on August 5, 2008:

“I’ll never forget all the love you gave me. I will work very hard in the army. Thank you all so much! Please take care!”

The DVD ends with JHJ writing a few words for his fans:

“I shall remember this day forever. I love you.”

Jo Hyun-Jae’s army colleague Nick-onjonglove left this message on CarpediemKorea on June 26,2009:

Jo Hyun-Jae news — not in good health

Hello, everybody! The cookies are delicious. I thank you all on behalf of my campmates.
We are all very well in the army. Thank you very much!
But Hyun-Jae is not well and is currently in the infirmary.
We will send our good wishes and we will go to see him often.
So please don’t worry too much.

(Credit: http://cafe.daum.net/hyunjaelove)
(Translated from the Chinese translation by bpkwon@johyunjae.cn(ING)

We originally published the above post on June 27. Now we have an update from EVERKorea on JHJ’s condition:

Rumor has it that Hyunjae is sick and it makes fans anxious about his health.

He pulled a ligament in his foot [while] on patrol.
The best way to treat the pulled ligament is to take a rest, as you know.
So he has stayed for a few days at the medical corps.
Today [June 27], he returned to his unit.
It is not serious. Don’t worry.

We are concerned about him at the slightest matter,
This news can make you feel anxious.
But Fans’ letter may be better to encourage him than anxiety.
Please send him many letters.

You don’t need a running commentary for this final part of the “Seo Dong Yo” Special. You can see the actors
1. being outfitted for costumes
2. entertaining themselves
3. having their meals
4. being made up
5. wearing their wigs

The restrooms receive a special mention — complaints: too few and too far. It’s easier for the horses which just make everywhere their toilets and workers have to clean up after them.

Costumes are also discussed. The King’s and Queen’s costumes are of course the most elaborate.

Lastly, there is the shooting of the final scene — of the Queen’s death. The director feels the pagoda is out of place, so it is removed, and also a hut. Shooting must be finished before sunset, so the schedule is very tight. Princess Sunhwa has to die several times before the director is satisfied. He keeps telling her: “More emotions.” and “No peeping.” There is no time for dinner. Shooting continues in the film sets indoors. At 11 p.m. they still have not eaten; they have to wrap up the shooting.

They have been working together for 8 months and they have become like a family. When the work is finished here, they will all take up different projects. They will surely miss one another and even the routine. The director says he feels bad about making the actors stay up late almost every night for more than half a year.

In the TV studio again, in closing JHJ and Lee Bo Young thank the audience for their support of the drama. JHJ says he hopes “Seo Dong Yo” will remain in their hearts.

COMMENTS

Jo Hyun-Jae looks remote and “far from the madding crowd” in this show. Sometimes he looks like he would rather not be there. He has just finished filming “Seo Dong Yo” — 8 months of hard work, and probably several weeks of preparation before that. You know how he never does TV shows, except that one time for “Only You”. Of course this time he has to promote the drama, since he is the title character. His part in the drama is greater than everybody else, but his role in this SDY Special is smaller than most. He hardly opens his mouth except when called on. You can see from his eyes that his mind is somewhere else. He is looking breathtakingly handsome, as always, and his jacket is fabulous, in fact, the whole outfit, but he looks out of sorts. Is it because he feels sad at leaving his “family”? All his best friends are his co-stars from previous dramas. Here he and Rye Jin (Giroo) and Lee Chang Hoon (Moraksu) have become inseparable, but once they go their separate ways, it is not so easy to maintain constant contact. That is the nature of the entertainment world. Sometimes we wonder how JHJ could survive in such a world, being what he is. His personality does not fit in at all, but then his talent and his passion for acting make up for everything.

(THE END)

FAMOUS SCENES and MEMORABLE LINES (Continued)

THREE
Dying words of characters in drama:
1. Old King — “My only successor is my 4th son, Crown Prince Mu. Tell the people. Sorry, Jang!”
2. Buyusun — (hallucinating) “Sorry! Spare me!” (to ghosts of Old King and Crown Prince whom he murdered) and then, after being stabbed by his loyal aide-de-camp Heuk Chi Pyeong: “Thank you for putting an end to my suffering.”
3. Heuk Chi Pyeong — after killing his master, he turns the sword on himself: “Where your majesty is going, I’m going.”

THIRD question posed to actors present: MC asks who has had a love like Seo Dong and Princess Sunhwa, a love that is “fated”. There are 2 beeps (that is, two people press the button.) One of these, surprisingly, is the child actor who plays Bumro as a child who says he had a crush on a girl in Primary 6! When asked why they broke up, he says he likes tomboys but that girl is very gentle and tender and he feels “burdened”.

Who is the other person who presses the button? Nobody would own up. Those who are married all say their marriage is “fated” — meaning they and their spouses are destined for each other. MC teases them that they dare not say anything else because their wives are all watching the show.

The King (Seo Dong’s father) says meeting is fate and parting should be natural. He offers a pledge of love: “Living together is a dream. Will love you as if we’ll die tomorrow.”

Female MC says Lee Chang Hoon seems to have a girlfriend and he says “Yes”, but as to whether it is “fated”, he says it has to wait till after they are married to be confirmed.

MC then re-phrases question and asks who is currently in a relationship that he/she feels is “fated”. There is a single beep, but again not sure from whom. Lee Bo Young says she heard the beep, so it has to be somebody near her. MC calls JHJ’s name and he says nothing. So MC presses him: “How about using this opportunity to declare yourself? Be brave and confess.” At which JHJ says: “I didn’t press the button.” MC asks JHJ point-blank if he has a girlfriend and he says NO. MC follows up with: “When did you break up?” but receives no answer.

Then the video leaves the TV studio and a video of behind-the-scenes is shown of extras (who play soldiers) being outfitted for armour.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Part 4 carries on where Part 3 left off. The actor who plays Seo Dong’s father, the King, says he has been acting for 40 years when he plays father and son for the first time with Jo Hyun-Jae in “Only You” and now for the second time in “Seo Dong Yo”. He feels like they are father and son, and even though he feels Seo Dong’s pain and suffering, he never has the chance to take care of “his son”. If they ever play father and son again, he promises he’ll take good care of JHJ (at which our Hyun-Jae smiles very shyly and sweetly and nods in acknowledgement.)

MC says Lee Chang Hoon (who plays Moraksu) looks much older in the drama than in real life. Lee says he’s a young man but in SDY he has to look older, so he feels older too. MC says the scene of Moraksu and Mo Jing embracing on the beach is like a grandfather and granddaughter embracing — to great laughter.

Another actor says he plays a strong man in the drama, but he has his soft side too. He would like to play someone “to be protected” for a change.

FAMOUS SCENES and MEMORABLE LINES in “Seo Dong Yo”
(Watch the faces of the actors when these scenes are shown)

ONE
Love scenes between hero and heroine
Top 5 “goose flesh” scenes:
(That’s what they call these scenes, but we call them romantic and moving and beautiful.)

5. Scene of Seo Dong resting on Princess Sunhwa’s lap
4. Scene of Princess kissing snowman, then feeding Seo Dong (supposed to be rice but it’s congee, since Princess can’t cook.)
3. After a long separation, Seo Dong says princess is too thin and she puffs out her cheeks playfully and they embrace. Followed by scene of wedding night: he touching her cheeks and she touching his cheeks.
2. Scene of Princess bathing in the creek [very high rating in viewership for this episode]
1. Princess repeats after Seo Dong his pledge of love, followed by kiss; then he carries her on his back.

TWO
One-sided love, unrequited love, eternal triangle:
1. Princess Sunhwa, Seo Dong, and Princess Woo Young
2. Seo Dong, Princess Sunhwa, Giroo
3. Yun Gamo, Moraksu, Mo Jin
4. Moraksu, Mo Jin, Bumro’s father

THREE
Dying words of the characters in the drama:
1. The old King (Seo Dong’s father)

(TO BE CONTINUED)

More NG scenes are shown. That of Seo Dong as a slave being savagely horse-whipped by the guard breaks my heart, until the director screams at him: “Why are you hitting him so hard?”

Then there are other NG scenes involving minor characters. The abduction scene of Princess Sunhwa and her maid is bungled when the maid could not be put into the bag (the other bad guys have already carried off the princess.)

In the scene of the stabbing of the Crown Prince in the cave, the assassin cannot find the dagger. And when he is supposed to escape, he takes his time running out of the cave (complaining the tunnel is too long.)

Even minor characters don’t know how to die from being shot. The director himself has to demonstrate.

After all these NG scenes, the actors are asked if anyone has been hurt during filming. Heo Young Ran (who plays Princess Woo Young) says she received 8 stitches from a wound incurred from being dragged by her on-screen brother Buyusun (actor Kim Young Ho) after he discovers her betrayal. The actor says he feels very bad, especially since it happens to a girl and a younger actress. He is so remorseful he takes up smoking again (but has since quit.) The actor who plays his aide-de-camp Heuk Chi Pyeong (Lee Hee Do) says after that scene with Princess Woo Young, Buyusun is going to turn on him. Before the shooting they have come to an understanding and Buyusun is only going to playact. But once shooting commences, Buyusun kicks him in the chin real hard. Good thing he manages to get out of range in time. Princess Woo Young says Buyusun does not realize his own strength. Once he bangs on a table and breaks it in two.

SECOND question — Who thinks his/her part should be expanded or amended? 7 people press their buttons. Lee Bo Young says she is not very happy with her character in the later part of the drama. Princess Sunhwa is at first very vivacious but becomes a rather pitiable figure towards the end. She wants to play her in a more spirited way.

Another actress who plays a minor member of Taehaksa says she’d rather play an empress.

Then the actor who plays Bumro says he’s the only one who can play Bumro, but he really wants to play Giroo, especially the death scene. He re-enacts that death scene as Giroo on the spot.

The actor who plays the King (Seo Dong’s father) says he and Jo Hyun Jae twice play father and son, here in SDY and before that in “Only You”. He feels like they are father and son, but in SDY he is not able to take care of his on-screen son. If they ever have the chance to play father and son again, he promises to take good care of his “son”.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

NG scenes continue. Giroo (Rye Jin) is still trying to carry the unconscious Princess Sunhwa (Lee Bo Young) but keeps falling over. Never realized he’s that weak. In the end, he has to carry her on his shoulder. Lee Bo Young keeps hitting him and muttering: “Am I that heavy?” JHJ as Seo Dong, who is supposed to have passed out too, can’t help rolling with laughter on the ground.

And then it’s NG time for Lee Chang Hoon (who plays Moraksu) who is the butt of the jokes. He has difficulties moaning and declaring his love, and he has such problems reciting his formal speech at the swearing in ceremony. He receives several NGs.

Then it is Bumro and his father’s turn, the latter hitting the former — hard! The father himself (actor Im Hyun Sik) gets several NGs on his own — when he’s “singing” (more like gasping) and kissing Mo Jin and losing his balance (but this time it is Moraksu who can’t resist laughing.)

NGs of the two princesses follow — first Sunhwa and then Woo Young — both very cute. In one scene, Woo Young even uses an English word “check”!

Then other NG scenes are shown — the funniest are those of the battlefield and the horses that have a mind of their own (in one scene the horse walks backwards! It just won’t follow the script!)

The scariest is that of Seo Dong and Princess Sunhwa falling off a horse. You can hear Lee Bo Young screaming from a mile!

(TO BE CONTINUED)

“Seo Dong Yo” was shown on Korean TV from September 5, 2005 to March 21, 2006. This SDY Special was televised live on March 26. Twenty four actors, including most of the principal cast, were present.

The video is in Korean, so if you don’t understand Korean, just watch it like a silent movie (with some tips we’ll give you here.) But you should have no problems reading the body language and watching the action.

You may, however, have difficulty associating the actors in contemporary clothes with their characters in period costume. We suggest you hit PAUSE at the beginning of the video and identify the characters first. To start you off, first row, left to right: Moraksu (Lee Chang Hoon), Princess Sunhwa (Lee Bo Young), Seo Dong/King Mu (Jo Hyun Jae), Princess Woo Young (Heo Young Ran), Buyusun (Kim Young Ho).

The two MCs begin by asking those present how they feel about the end of the drama. Lee Bo Young (who plays Princess Sunhwa) says she still doesn’t feel it’s over and it will take her some time to adjust. Lee Chang Hoon (who plays Moraksu) says he’s the elder statesman on set, and he has to arrive early every day to set a good example to the others. He won’t miss that role.

Then they play a game. Each actor has a button that he/she can press in answer to a question. The FIRST question is: Shooting a historical drama is hard work. How many of you never want to do it again? Answer: 12 (out of 24.)

Jo Hyun Jae says the most difficult part is the script always arrives very late, usually in the morning of the shooting. There are usually one to two books to memorise, so that’s why they get so many NGs (no good — re-take.)

Lee Bo Young says sometimes she has to sleep in her makeup, as there is no time to remove it and put it on again when shooting resumes in the morning.

The actress who plays her maid is worried about her wig, and another actress finds it hard to play dying, since she “has never died before” (in her own words, which elicits a lot of laughter.)

Who gets the most NGs? The actor who plays the Crown Prince. He says the dialogue just before he dies is so long and the intonation so difficult that NGs are unavoidable.

JHJ’s part is the heaviest, so he gets a lot of NGs too. Asked how he recites the script, he says paragraph by paragraph, because often the speeches are too long. Sometimes he also has to resort to using cue cards.

NG scenes of the child actors are shown, with a graphic scene of the child Seo Dong being beaten by Moraksu for misbehaviour that would today be construed as child abuse.

NG scenes of the male actors are shown, and Rye Jin (who plays Giroo) tops the list. The funniest NG scene is that of Giroo trying to carry Princess Sunhwa (twice without success, with Lee Bo Young muttering under her breath: “Am I that heavy?”) In the end, Giroo has to carry the Princess on his shoulder. Notice JHJ rolling with laughter on the ground — his Seo Dong is supposed to have passed out.

(TO BE CONTINUED)