Jo Hyun Jae

Below is a rare interview of Jo Hyun-Jae during the filming of “Seo Dong Yo” (sometime in early 2006, we think.)  He normally doesn’t grant interviews when he is working.

JHJ puts his all into “Seo Dong Yo”

Q. How did you land the role of Seo Dong?

A: Director Lee saw me in “Great Ambition” (Dae Mang) and liked what he saw.  He was very moved and impressed by my acting.  He felt I could convincingly portray a king in “Seo Dong Yo”.  Actually Director Lee thinks too highly of me.

Q. In “Seo Dong Yo”, Jang (Seo Dong) finally becomes King Mu of Baekje.  In real life, if you become a “king”, how would you perform your “kingly” duties?

A. Let all people live well — even though this is an impossible scenario for me.  It is easy to say but difficult to implement, with lots of problems.  I feel if arts/culture and science/technology were to develop at the same time and then combine their strengths……

Q. Which role in “Seo Dong Yo” do you like best?  There are so much dialogue in each episode and they are all so long.  Do you have a secret technique for not forgetting your lines?

A. None in particular; all my co-stars are fine actors.  The most unforgettable thing is lack of sleep.  The workload was very heavy and we spent a lot of time together, so we were very close.  [Editor:  We suspect there is a disconnect in the translation here.  We don't have access to the original; we are translating from the Chinese version.]

Q. You’re now acting in “Seo Dong Yo”.  This is certainly very different from your original role as a singer in “Guardian” when you first entered the entertainment industry?

A. I now concentrate exclusively on “Seo Dong Yo”.  I don’t think about anything else.

Q. Are you able to stand the very heavy workload in shooting, physically.  What about the condition of your skin?

A. The shooting schedule is so tight that even if there were only 20 minutes I have to snatch some sleep.  Because of lack of space, I can only lift weights in the van which is minimal exercise.  And I have to find time to read my fan mail.  So there is no time to take care of my skin.

Q. So the van can be used for sleeping and exercising.  Even then, have you been listening to music lately?  Do you have any favourite singers or songs?

A. Recently I prefer something quieter, like the singer “Spider” who is not too loud.

Q. How about saying a few words to the audience?

A. Many thanks for supporting “Seo Dong Yo”.  As an actor, I will continue to improve on my acting.  I will always do my best.  Thank you!

(Credit: Based on the Chinese translation by Bigcat of johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)