Jo Hyun Jae

To celebrate our now SPAM-free status (let’s hope it lasts!) we’re offering you here an exclusive photo from the official fan club website.  The very stylish flash is created by nowguswo and features military photos of JHJ (from “G.P.506″ and in real life), set to the familiar James Bond theme.  Enjoy!

** FOR COPYRIGHT REASONS, PLEASE DO NOT TRANSFER OR REPRODUCE PHOTO**

(Credit: Photo courtesy of http://jo-hyunjae.com and video by nowguswo @ http://cafe.daum.net; uploaded to Youku.com by mandalaywith@ CARPEDIEM Thanks!)

All Chinese know this saying: 外国的月亮特别圓 (meaning: the moon is rounder in the west.)  Of course the moon is the same size anywhere; it’s just that it looks rounder.  And it’s true!  When I first went to live in the U.S.A. in the 1980s, I was shocked to see a very round, very low, very BIG moon at Mid-Autumn of the lunar calendar (around mid-September) when I went into my backyard one night.  How could this be?  And then I realized it was because in Hong Kong I always had to gaze up at the moon through skyscrapers.  But now living in a house, the moon seemed to have descended into my horizon.  The Chinese idiom I quoted at the start of this article has an exact English equivalent: “The grass is greener on the other side.”

I recently saw a movie made in the west (but it seems to be an American/Chinese/Japanese joint venture) – “Blood: the last vampire”, starring Jun Ji-Hyun who used to be one of my favourite Korean actresses.  She goes by the English name Gianna (just one word, no surname.  I don’t know whether she adopted this name for her Hollywood debut or whether she’s always had this English name.)  This film, released in Korea on June 11, 2009, is about Saya, a halfling born to a vampire mother and a human father, who has for centuries been a loner, obsessed with using her samurai skills to rid the world of vampires, all the while knowing that she herself can survive only on blood, like those she hunts.

On the limousine bus to Incheon Airport in early August, I saw on the TV on board an hour-long entertainment programme.  Two segments in particular caught my attention:

1.  Lee Byung-Hyun in ”G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (release date in Korea: August 6, 2009)

2.  Rain in “Ninja: Assassin” (release date in Korea: November 25, 2009)

The trailers of both Hollywood movies are very slick, very cool, very violent.  I saw Lee Byung-Hyun attending the premiere and Rain being interviewed.  So these Korean actors are breaking into Hollywood, or are they?

Let me briefly give you the synopsis of these two movies:

1.  In “G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra”, an elite military unit comprised of special operatives known as G.I.Joe, operating out of the Pit, takes on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer.  Lee Byung-Hyun makes his American debut as the villainous Storm Shadow in this summer release based on some famous comics.

2.  “Ninja: Assassin” follows the career of Raizo (Rain), one of the deadliest assassins in the world.  Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth.  But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them and vanishes.  Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge.

All three movies, made in America and starring Korean actors, fall into the genre of action/thriller/horror.  All three actors are very successful in their own right, big stars in Asia, and they are good actors too.   I have seen practically all of Lee Byung-Hyun’s movies and dramas, even before I knew Jo Hyun-Jae admired him as an actor.  He is especially brilliant in “JSA: Joint Security Area” and “Poisoned”.  But I do not in the least like his 2008 Korean movie, a re-make of Clint Eastwood’s so-called spaghetti western “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” (Lee is ”the Bad”.)  This is the precursor to his role as a villain in “G.I.Joe”.

When I was doing research for this article, I discovered Lee Byung-Hyun speaks 3 languages (apart from his native Korean) fluently — English, French, and Mandarin Chinese.  Really?  If ever I get to meet him, we can converse in two of these.  He also has an English name — Brian (which got me thinking — what English name should our JHJ choose?) and he is an expert in Taekwondo.   Let me quote here an extract from his interview with AMCtv.com:

Q.  Was it strange to make your U.S. debut in such an American movie?

A.  Yeah, a little bit (Laughs.)  But I was hesitant about this project not because of the story, but because of the genre.  In Korea, sci-fi is an unfamiliar genre.  I’ve been acting realistic characters and in realistic films.  So I’m not used to this.  But then I realized how famous this comics is, and especially the characters.  So I’m happy.

Q.  So this is your first time working with huge special effects?

A.  This is my first try.  It was really amazing because even when I was filming I didn’t know it would be like that.  After I watched the premiere, I was a little surprised and shocked.  I didn’t know what I did.

“I didn’t know what I did.”  I’m of course taking this out of context, but somehow there’s something poignant in these words.  Why do all these actors from other parts of the world, so famous in their own country and beyond, believe they must make it to/in Hollywood to be considered successful?  All three movies are at best “B” grade, all summer movies which could do very well amongst younger viewers.  But do they in the last analysis add anything to a serious actor’s CV?

I see Jun Ji-Hyun (or Gianna) as a vampire, jumping and slashing (with her samurai sword) all over the place, in a Japanese schoolgirl’s uniform (to choreographed stunts by the action director Cory Yuen) and I ask myself: “Whatever happened to the sassy girl? or even Daisy?”  She can speak English, good for her, but she can also act, if only she is given the opportunity (or role.)

In the official website of “Ninja”, Rain’s nickname is revealed as “Puppy” (real name: Jeong Ji-Hoon.)  I’m not a fan of his, so I wouldn’t know.  The biography gives a rags-to-riches story of a young man destined for great things.  (I was a little surprised to find out he is only two years younger than JHJ; somehow I had thought he’s much younger, not from his looks but from his actions.)  One thing he said really made me sit up — he was rejected as an actor because he did not have “double eyelids”.  How many Korean actors have “double eyelids”?  Our JHJ’s big eyes are the exception rather than the norm.  So “single eyelids” can make it big in Hollywoood?!  Poetic justice?

All three movies have the possibility of being made into series, depending on their box office, of course.  There is already talk of a sequel for “G.I.Joe”, so Lee Byun-Hyun’s Storm Shadow can carry on his rivalry with Snake Eyes, but his role is only one among many in an ensemble cast.  The ending of “Blood” deliberately leaves a “tail” which could easily be picked up if the producers want to continue with the franchise.  But I read somewhere that the movie didn’t do as well as expected in the box office (which is really all that counts), so all that talk about Gianna being the next big thing may all come to nothing.  All hopes rest with Rain when his “Ninja” comes out later this year, but I cannot recall an Asian actor who can carry a film in the west (even with special effects), however well-known he is in his own country/continent.  Even Jackie Chan has to have a partner in those “Rush Hour” movies.

When our JHJ comes out of the army in June 2010, at least I can be assured he will not take up some English name like Joe or Jay and go west.  No, I can’t see him as a ninja or X-man or vampire.  Yes, I can see him taking on the role of a villain (a multi-faceted one, not one-dimensional.)  After all, he will want to extend his scope and scale the heights as an actor.  He will rise to the challenge; he will fulfil his potential.  Just give him the right role, the chance to display his acting skills.  We are all waiting for that day.

Top to bottom:

1.  The little sister in “Sunshine” — reported to be a 4th generation Korean born in Japan, now 11.

2.  Jin-Sol in “Only You”, also 11 now, still acting in Korean dramas.

3.  “3 Dads/1 Mom” — Ha-Seon at different ages, now respectively 2, almost 2 , and 6.

4.  The young Min-Woo in “Forbidden Love” — now 17.

5.  The young Seo Dong — not much changed, currently on the cast of ”Queen Seon Duk”《善德女王》

6.  The young Andrea in “Love Letter” — now 16, also on cast of  “Queen Seon Duk”《善德女王》

7.  The young Princess Sunhwa in “Seo Dong Yo” — now a very pretty young lady

The girls have all become prettier as they become older, but none of the boys turns out to be nearly half as handsome as Jo Hyun-Jae.

(Credit: maybe http://www.everjohyunjae.co.kr/new_home/  Thanks!)

Sir Joshua Reynolds’ painting “Love me, love my dog”

On the last full day of our trip to Seoul last month, my Japanese friends and I were invited to tour SBS studio.  (Please see our 8/11/09 post “Further adventures in JHJ country (4)”.)  We met several Korean actors, none of whom I recognized.  My friends were very excited over one actor called Andy.

“Who’s Andy?”  I asked.

They rolled their eyes.  “Andy! Andy!  You don’t know Andy?”

“Sorry.  No.”

“Andy is very famous!  How could you not know Andy?”  They were absolutely scandalized.  (Andy is a member of the singing group Shinhwa, I later found out.)

“The only Andy I know is Andy Lau.”

“Who’s Andy Lau?” 

“Everybody in Hong Kong and wherever there are Chinese knows this Andy.  He is the most popular Andy in the world.” (since China is the most populous country on earth.)

This past week my Andy (the Hong Kong actor/singer) is very much in the news because his “wife” has finally surfaced.  Officially he is not married, but over the years there has been constant rumours that he is romantically linked to a Chinese girl in Malaysia and that they may even have children.  He has never admitted the relationship and he has never appeared in public with her (until now.)  He has legions of loyal fans all over the world, and they seem content to buy what he says.

I can understand superstars are under a lot of pressure to preserve their image — that of the eligible bachelor.  I remember for many years the kung fu actor Jackie Chan could not reveal that he is married, with a son who lives in the U.S.A. with his mother (formerly a well-known Taiwan actress.)  His fans are crazy, especially the Japanese fans.  One Japanese girl killed herself when some tabloid “revealed” that Jackie Chan was in fact married.  (They’re simply speculating, but they’re right.)

Some fans (mostly females) are very possessive, even aggressive.  I don’t know what fantansies they are nursing; they seem to want the star all to themselves.  And the star, in order to maintain his popularity, feels obliged to maintain his bachelor status — feeding the fantasies of his fans.  Some stars carry on the relationship with their girlfriends “underground”, meaning secretly.  More often than not this kind of relationship that cannot see the light will die — from lack of air and light.  In extreme cases, as in Andy’s and Jackie’s, the marriage is kept secret for years.  (In Andy’s case, this is a 24-year relationship.)  The woman must love her man very much to endure this kind of denial of identity.

I am so glad Jo Hyun-Jae is an actor and not a superstar.  He is perfectly human, and one day he will meet the right girl and fall in love.  When that day comes, (and I hope it is sooner rather than later), I am sure he will have the courage to do the right thing.  He is a perfectionist, so whoever he chooses will live up to our great expectations.  I trust his taste and judgement absolutely.

Public figures are entitled to keep their private lives — private.  We should respect their privacy, curiosity notwithstanding.  Recently some fans left comments on our blog, expressing their curiosity about whether JHJ has a girlfriend.  We don’t know.  He has not said anything about this.  When the right moment arrives, we’re sure he will let the world know.  After all, he has reached the age when getting married is the natural thing.

JHJ is the only son (and the youngest) in his family.  It is his duty to marry and produce an heir.  I know this is the 21st century but this concept has not changed in Asian countries.  He is very close to his parents and sisters.  In all interviews he has said family is the most important thing to him (that, and his acting.)  He still lives with his parents (who from all accounts are not in good health, but he never speaks about this) and his eldest sister (who is unmarried.)  He is a filial son and affectionate brother, so presumably his marital status will not alter the living arrangements.  In other words, it is likely that he will still live with his parents after he is married.  How many women out there are willing to live with their in-laws?

The other evening at a gathering of JHJ fans in Hong Kong, we took a vote on which of JHJ’s female co-stars made the best pairing with JHJ — and Lee Bo-Young won hands down.  I suspect we were actually voting for Seo Dong and Princess Shinhwa.  Unfortunately Lee Bo-Young is now an item with Ji Sung, and in any case, she is a year older than JHJ (and these things seem to matter in Korea.)  I remember reading somewhere that Lee Bo-Young complained JHJ ignored her all through the filming of “Seo Dong Yo”.  If she does not understand that JHJ can only concentrate on one thing at one time (in this case, acting his demanding lead role), then maybe she is not the right woman for him after all.

Song Hye-Kyo is pretty well-liked by JHJ fans too.  How come nothing happened between them when they were filming “Sunshine”?  Answer: wrong timing.  Song has just broken up with Lee Byung-Hyun, and she is still licking her wounds from the disastrous end of this high-profile romance.  So it’s a case of the right man but the wrong time for Song and JHJ.  And now Song has taken up with Won Bin in another high-profile romance.  Let’s see if it can withstand the pressure of public scrutiny.

JHJ has said somewhere that he’s had three girlfriends.  He did not say whether this was before he made a name for himself as an actor, but it seemed very likely (otherwise the tabloids would have gotten wind of these relationships.)  You all remember that in that every-JHJ-fan-must-see “Only You” TV Special (Please see our 4/21/09 post “‘Only You’ TV Special”), JHJ mentioned:

1.  he once bought lingerie for his 167 cm./49 kg. girlfriend

2.  how he quarrelled with his girlfriend and hit a wall in anger, hurting his hand

3.  he once stayed up all night outside her house (after they quarrelled)

4.  he fought to defend his girlfriend (against no more than two opponents)

5.  he carried her on his back up 17 storeys to her apartment

6.  he worked on his girlfriend’s vegetable garden to show his love for her

Now we don’t know whether these are three different girls or the same girl, but it does show that JHJ is a different man when he is in love.

If you’re wondering by now: “How come this sounds like a tabloid?”  I don’t blame you.  It is scary to have your private life put under a microscope and examined.  We should switch Cs — instead of being curious about JHJ’s love life, we should care about his happiness.  When he finally finds his true love, we should be happy for him.  We should be supportive; we should offer our “blessing” (as they say in Korea.)  Kwon Sang-Woo lost a lot of fans when he got married earlier this year.  His fans obviously don’t subscribe to the doctrine of “Love me, love my dog.”  JHJ fans love his pet dog Shin.  We will love his girlfriend too, right?

(The Chinese have an exact equivalent of “Love me, love my dog”, but more elegantly phrased — 爱屋及乌– literally translated as: “If you love the house, you’ll also love the crows on its roof”, meaning if you love someone, you’ll have to love all the baggage that comes with him/her.) 

Our blog has been inundated with SPAM (too much for us to handle!) 

We have to implement a new system for leaving COMMENTS.  You have to REGISTER first.  And you will need a genuine e-mail address.

Very simple — on the right hand column (bottom) of our site is META.  Under it you will find REGISTER.  Click and follow instructions.

Once you become a SUBSCRIBER of our site, you have to LOG IN if you want to leave a COMMENT.  Most of our regular readers are already subscribers.

If you just want to read and not write, you are welcome.  If you like our blog, we would like to hear from you.

We are sure you will not mind the little extra work if you are a real JHJ fan. 

But if you have a hidden agenda, it will mean you will no longer be able to leave garbage here.

Have you ever noticed that JHJ has such a perfect profile?

Let’s take a look at its right side first:

Now let’s take a look at his profile on the left side:

And now both sides:

Unbelievable, isn’t it? No matter from which side, left or right, JHJ’s profile looks equally perfect!

(Credit for photos: names on photos. Thanks!)