Jo Hyun Jae

JHJ in “Golden Pond”

1998 First appeared on CATV as a member of ‘Guardian’
2000 Drinks commercial
2000 Chewing gum commercial
2000 SBS “KAIST”: Episodes 75-77 as Dong (2000.8.13 – 8.27)
2001 SBS Weekend drama “Father and Sons” as Zondu (2001.7.21 – 10.28)
2001 SBS “That’s Good”: Episodes 1-66 as Ihyonje(2001.11.19 – 2002.3.15)

Let us review Jo Hyun Jae’s first baby steps into the Korean entertainment world.

1998: JHJ first emerged on the Korean entertainment scene as a member of the boy band Guardian and appeared three times on CATV. Due to problems with the production company, the group disbanded soon after they released their first album. (Please see our 6/16/09 post “JHJ in Guardian”.)

2000: JHJ was discovered by talent scouts while practising in a boxing arena. He first appeared in a drinks commercial and then in a chewing gum commercial. After that commercial aired, his looks and deportment became the talk of the town. This resulted in his landing the role in Episode 75 of “KAIST”. (Please see our 6/17/09 post “JHJ’s early works (1)”.)

Unfortunately the reviews were unfavourable, so JHJ was relegated to a supporting role and disappeared altogether after two episodes. He was not adequately prepared, acting for the first time and with no experience, and the script was receieved only a few days before shooting.

JHJ admitted his own inadequacy but refused to give up. In the following year, he practised acting and tried to learn from other actors. He passed the qualifying exam and enrolled in the Drama Department of Myonji University the following year and became a pupil of Professor Jan Mihie.

Summer of 2001: JHJ played the youngest son Zondu in “Father and Sons”. For the first time he was mentioned as a newcomer under the name LEE Hyun Jae. After this drama aired, he gained his first fans and his first fan website was established in Korea. (http://cafe.daum.net/hyunjaelove)

2001: JHJ played the part of Ihyonje in “That’s Good”, the drama that was considered the stepping stone for young actors. It was a considerable role, played for laughs. JHJ felt uncomfortable, like wearing someone else’s clothes. He decided to seriously learn acting skills. He was in the first 66 episodes of “That’s Good” (out of 74.)

2002: Then JHJ appeared for a few seconds in an unimportant role as an art teacher in the SBS Mid-Autumn special “Golden Pond.”

This was followed by a blank period of eight months.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

(Translated and adapted from CarpediemJapan)