Jo Hyun Jae

You may not believe it, but these are all Korean actors and singers currently serving in the military. The Korean armed forces now has so many entertainers in its midst that it can produce several dramas and musicals. I don’t know how many of these you recognize. I can only identify a couple, apart from our Jo Hyun-Jae.

Somehow a lot of them look different without their hair, or rather, with their hair cut short in the military style, and without their star gear (designer wear and what-not.) Not our JHJ, though, who stands out anywhere, anytime, in any kind of wear. He simply shines, and easily outshines all the others.

(Photos from: Morning Today Star News 2009.6.8)
(Credit: http://yahoo.co.kr; www.johyunjae.hk. Thanks!)

In Part 2, set to See Ya’s song “Ice Lady” (which is about love and parting), the story continues with the eloping lovers. Actually the See Ya songs have nothing to do with the dramatic story. The director is really ingenious in coming up with such a storyline that transcends time.

In Part 1 (See Ya’s “Love’s Greeting”) the JHJ character, the archaeologist, discovers a book clutched in the mummy’s grasp. He reads her story and asks the Lee Yo Won character, the forensic sculptor, to restore her likeness. As she works, it becomes increasingly clear that the face that will emerge in the end is hers (in her past self.) No wonder she faints when she first sees the mummy. Lee and JHJ keep having flashbacks in their minds of their past lives long ago.

The lovers in the past come to a tragic end, or rather, the JHJ character is killed by his pursuers. The lady is forcibly taken back to her folks, and she spends her days writing her “diary”. That is the book that is unearthed with the mummy and which tells their love story.

When the JHJ character, the archaeologist, sees the finished head, he understands at once. Lee leaves and he runs after her. His final words are: “The past must not be repeated. I’ll never let you go again. Never!” At least in this life they may have a happy ending. (But I’m not sure, because Lee is wearing a wedding ring. I don’t understand why this little detail is included.)

The two MVs together tell a beautiful and moving story. I like JHJ’s acting here, however brief, only 11 minutes altogether, but it’s like a mini-drama. And the See Ya songs are pretty catchy and melodious. The MVs are supposed to dramatise the songs, but the songs are just background music. It’s the love story (past and present) that is so absorbing and attractive.

(Credit: johyunjae.cn for the Chinese subtitles.)

In 2007 when Jo Hyun-Jae was filming “G.P.506″ and production was halted halfway, he made two rather surprising career moves: one was to model for Andre Kim in his Fashion Extravaganza in Wuxi (China) in July; the other was to star in two music videos for See Ya’s second album.

See Ya is a very popular Korean female group comprising of three members (one of whom has left the group in April 2009 due to a contractual dispute.) Their second album “Lovely Sweet Heart” was released in May 2007, and it became the fifth best-selling album in Korea of that year, according to the Music Industry Association of Korea.

The first single “Love’s Greeting” won awards at the 2007 Golden Disk Awards and the MKMF Awards. “Ice Lady” is the follow-up single which also did very well.

Jo Hyun-Jae’s female co-star in both MVs is Lee Yo Won (who is one of two female leads in “Great Ambition”.) The lyrics of “Love’s Greeting” is about love and promise, but the MV portrays a very interesting and intriguing story. It opens with Lee, a forensic sculptor, driving to an archaeological site which is supervised by the JHJ character, an archaeological expert. Their team has just discovered a well-preserved female mummy in a grave. As it turns out, the story is about their past lives and present lives. Lee and JHJ are lovers in their past lives in ancient times, but they meet with a tragic fate.

The MV weaves between past and present. The scenes in ancient times rather resemble “Seo Dong Yo” in some respects. The two children who are the best of friends grow up to become lovers, but their love is doomed to tragedy because of their different status. JHJ is involved in some action scenes in which he shows his physical prowess, including a leap in the air with a fiery torch. This MV ends on a cliffhanger, with the JHJ character wounded by an arrow in the back. You have to go to Part 2 “Ice Lady” to find out what happens to Lee and JHJ in the past and in the present. Watch out for our post tomorrow.

(Credit: johyunjae.cn for the Chinese subtitles)

If you visit our blog regularly and one day (or maybe even several days) you find no new posts, it’s not because we’re lazy or exhausted. It is because we cannot access our blog! Reasons:

1. One of our editors is based in a country where our blog (in fact, all google.blogspot) is currently experiencing technical difficulties. It’s been a month already and there seems no end in sight.

2. The other editor is going into the wilderness of Alaska in mid-June — for a two-week vacation (more like a retreat!) There may be no wifi.

These problems are beyond our control. It has been suggested that we change our server. But we love google.blogspot and want to tough it out. (If anyone has any brilliant ideas, please write to us at jhjfans@gmail.com)

We can work on our blog everywhere we travel (except maybe in remote parts of Alaska?) but not where we live (hopefully, only temporarily.) (Sigh!)

Please don’t give up on us. We’ll never give up on Jo Hyun-Jae.

(Photos courtesy of Param of carpediemJapan.)

Jo Hyun-Jae modelled for the Korean fashion brand Crencia in 2003. We find it hard to associate the fresh-faced kid here with that other model in the Andre Kim Fashion Extravaganza. (See our 5/19/09 post.) But then in his various dramas, JHJ plays radically different roles and each time he comes across as a totally different personality. That’s what a good actor is all about.

The first video is the creation of our Japanese friend mizutamari. Many thanks indeed! (Credit: http://club.brokore.com/sodongyo). The song is called 어느새 (It) and is by the Korean singer Alex, now very “hot” in Japan too.

The second video is made from advertisements of Crencia’s 2003 fashion line, set to the Gareth Gates’ song “Too soon to say goodbye”. (Credit: Carpediem.) It shows a side of JHJ that some of you may not be aware of. He’s only 23 then, in his “Love Letter” days (as you can tell by the hair), but this young model in the very contemporary clothes is so different from Andrea. Just shows you how talented and versatile JHJ is. And he looks so full of sunshine and spirit! (We apologise for the less-than-stellar quality of the video, but somehow this gives JHJ a rather dreamy look.)

(Photos courtesy of Param of carpediemJapan. Thanks!)

The Korea Fan Meeting DVD has just been released ( a little behind schedule, but good things are worth waiting for.) It is on its way to overseas fans, so we should be getting it in less than a week.

I attended the Korea Fan Meeting in Seoul on July 19 last year. This is the last of JHJ’s fan meetings before he entered the army. He became emotional when he was singing “Like the wind by your side” — just for this one scene alone it is worth buying the DVD!

For a description of the DVD, please see our 4/29/09 post “Korea Fan Meeting DVD coming soon”.

We have a few spare copies of this DVD, and also JHJ’s CD. If you would like to have them, please e-mail us at jhjfans@gmail.com.

(photos courtesy of CarpediemKorea)

TAURUS

Symbol: The Bull
Ruling Planet: Venus
Quality: Fixed
Element: Earth
Basic Trait: I Have
Closest Metal: Copper
Lucky Day: Friday
Lucky Colors: Pastel Shades
Lucky Gems: Lapis Lazuli and Sapphires
Lucky Flowers: Daffodils and Daisies

You push him somewhat and he becomes stubborn. Still trying to make him budge, beware of the violent temper. A Taurus person is hardly impulsive and never gets angry without a reason. In fact, he has perfect control over his emotions. However, when a Taurus does get angry, it is better not to get in the way or you are bound to get trampled. The anger also takes time to come down. He is quite attracted to the opposite sex, but attracting people to himself seems more preferable to him.

One of the typical personality traits of a Taurus is passivity. You can count on him to be there when you need him, but he will never be the one to call on you. At the same time, he will know ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’. Worrying, fretting or getting nervous is definitely not one of Taurus characteristics. It is in his nature to be stable and stoic. He takes his decisions slowly, after careful considerations. Taurus people love their home and change upsets them. Don’t tell a Taurus that he’s stubborn; he’ll never believe it. He thinks himself to be patient, not obstinate.

A Taurus has this amazing quality of bearing emotional and physical pain, even for years, without grieving or complaining. The more the troubles come pouring in, the stronger he will come out to be. A Taurus is nothing if not loyal and dedicated to his family and friends. He has a good appetite and loves food and drinks. He has a funny bone too; it’s just that he prefers broad and slapstick comedy to subtle humor. Taurus are hardly cruel. At the same time, they are seldom broke. Sooner or later, the money will come to them.

A Taurus is not stingy and his pockets, along with his heart, are always open to friends and family. He loves grandeur and he is deeply interested in the various forms of art. Music usually has a very special place in his life. The ideas of a Taurus are always sensible as well as practical. He is not the one to build castles out of air. Synonymous with lasting love, Taurus people are not prone to wandering. They love luxury, but detest waste and extravagance. Last but not least, they are dependable, strong, patient and trustworthy.

(Source: http://www.iloveindia.com/astrology/sun-signs/taurus/index.html)

Well, do you see Jo Hyun-Jae in the above description? Is he a typical Taurus? Or maybe the characters he plays? What do you say?

(Credit: photo by Param of carpediemJapan. Thanks!)

The proposal letter of the King of Baekjae (Seo Dong) for the hand of the Princess Sunhwa in Episode 53 of “Seo Dong Yo” is really a masterpiece. Before this formal proposal, the King of Baekjae and the King of Shilla (the Princess’s father) have tried to negotiate peace face to face, but this is sabotaged by the nobles of Baekjae who engineer a border skirmish. This results in a military standoff between the two countries.

When the King of Baekjae realizes the true situation, he decides to cement peace between the two countries by proposing formally to the Princess Sunhwa. He sends Moraksu as his envoy to the King of Shilla with a formal proposal letter which is at the same time a very personal love letter to the Princess. Below are the contents:

Long ago in Shilla there was a popular folksong called “The Song of Seo Dong”. I am the character in that song, Buyo-Jang, the King of Baekjae. Even as the King of Baekjae, I have never had any second thoughts about our fate of coming together: our sufferings must find fulfilment in love. I love my princess not as a king but as a man. I protect my princess not as a Baekjae man but as her man. I respect my princess not only as her man but as her lifelong comrade. My proposal now is to request that you allow the Princess Sunhwa to be my one and only spouse in my life and to be the Queen of Baekjae. Princess Sunhwa is my beginning and my end. Please grant approval of our marriage. Let the two of us be the symbols of peace and friendship between our two countries.

Due to our different backgrounds and social positions as well as our belonging to different countries, we have to experience a lot of separations and undergo a lot of sufferings. But all the pain has only taught me to understand more clearly how precious my princess is to me. Shilla and Baekjae may be two different countries, but there cannot be a dividing line between our two yearning hearts.

Buyo-Jang
King of Baekjae

P.S.
This is the King of Baekjae’s personal message to the Princess in a letter delivered by Moraksu:

What should I send to represent me to welcome you to Baekjae? I thought about this for a long time and finally hit upon this idea. Remember the little guy who becomes very angry when he finally discovers the Princess’s identity? the little guy who becomes very sorrowful after he realizes he can never be with the Princess? the little guy who writes a folksong out of anger and sorrow? Even though that song is written out of spite, but to me, it’s the song of hope — hope of being together with my princess. It’s the song of desire — desire to be together with my princess. Let this song go in my stead. Let all the people of Shilla know. Let the people, and also the Heavens, grant our wishes. I will pray, and pray. I send this song to you. Miss you.

I’ve watched this drama a number of times and I’ve heard/read this proposal numerous times, but each time I still get misty-eyed. I am so glad Seo Dong and the Princess have a happy ending (of sorts.) They deserve to be happy together. Such a pity that happiness only lasts 13 years!

Have you ever wondered how we could come up with our posts everyday? We wonder too. During these lean times when Jo Hyun-Jae is in the army and there is scant news of him and on a day like this when our brains are in hibernation, we can only offer you this gem we found on CarpediemJapan.

Watch this beautiful MV, get hynotized by the music, salivate over Han Yi Joon, and then start on “Only You” AGAIN.

Here are the lyrics to the Crystal Gayle song “When I dream”:

I could have a mansion that is higher than the trees
I could have all the gifts I want and never ask please
I could fly to Paris, it’s at my beck and call
Why do I live my life alone with nothing at all?

But when I dream, I dream of you
Maybe someday you will come true
When I dream, I dream of you
Maybe someday you will come true

I can be the singer or the clown in every room
I can even call someone to take me to the moon
I can put on my makeup and drive the men insane
I can go to bed alone and never know his name

But when I dream, I dream of you
Maybe someday you will come true
When I dream, I dream of you
Maybe someday you will come true

Don’t we ALL dream of JHJ! Maybe someday he will come true?

(Credit: http://blog.naver.com/hyunjae8740; CarpediemJapan. Thanks!)