Jo Hyun Jae

HSH is, of course, Han Soo-Hyun in “3 Dads/1 Mom”.  Even though this role is a far cry from Jo Hyun-Jae’s previous ones (all dramatic), you can see there is a comic vein in him.  This is what it means to be a good actor.

(Credit: Name on video.  Thanks!)

Above are the latest photos just released on the Official JHJ Fan Club website.  Actually they are old photos taken at the Hallyu Wood (not “Hollywood”!) Start Festival in Seoul on 2008.5.29.

The news below has nothing to do with JHJ or the photos.

Online websites have reported that Lee Jun-Ki fans are mobilizing to support “Hero” — his MBC drama which started on November 18 and which is currently enjoying a lack-lustre run.  Lee’s fans have mounted their own campaign and have taken out their own advertisements to promote the drama.  In an effort to resuscitate (their word, not mine) “Hero”, the Lee Jun-Ki fan club has turned six public Seoul buses into advertising surfaces for the drama.  The buses have been plastered with Hero’s title and images and are called “Lee Jun-Ki’s bus.”  The ads went up on December 1 and will remain on the buses until the drama wraps on January 13, 2010. The price tag?  In the vicinity of 2 million Korean won (about US$2,000.)

A representative from Lee Jun-Ki’s management company said: “Junki-sshi is incredibly grateful.”  The drama is hoping to raise its 3%-5% ratings now that one Wednesday-Thursday competitor has bowed out (You’re Beautiful), as it heads into its third week of broadcast.  This advertising campaign follows the project put together by overseas fans who folded and sent over 30,000 – 200,000 paper cranes (depending on whom you believe) to Lee Jun-Ki to support the drama’s premiere.

The title of this post is of course the old Ann Murray song “You needed me”, the lyrics of which read like this (in part):

I cried a tear, you wiped it dry
I was confused, you cleared my mind
I sold my soul, you bought it back for me
And held me up and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me

You gave me strength to stand alone again
To face the world out on my own again
You put me high upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me, you needed me

Who needs whom?  The star or the fans?  Whatever, we are certain JHJ will not find himself in such situation.  Even as a boy, he never gave his parents any cause for concern, instead choosing to shoulder the family responsibilities.  As a man, he will not put any financial burdens on his fans or allow them to indulge in worries and anxieties beyond their control.  He knows how to take care of himself, and he expects us to take care of ourselves.  That’s why we like him.

(Credit: Photos courtesy of http://jo-hyunjae.com.  Video from EVERjohyunjae.  Source of story – dramabeans.com.  Thanks, prissymom!)

Every time I come to the U.S., I stock up on cards to send to JHJ.  They have all sorts of cards for all occasions and for all imaginable recipients.  I was browsing the other day when I came upon a “Sympathy” card for someone who has lost a pet and another for your “Unborn Child” (to be sent to its carrier, that is, your wife!)  Americans are so creative and imaginative, also great marketing geniuses.  I prefer cards with as few words as possible, and I have a weakness for “humourous” cards.  But a few years ago I sent a birthday card that jokes about age to an old friend.  I thought it was hilarious but she was not amused.  So now I know it’s better to be sickly sentimental than funny.

I have often wondered what kind of people write these cards.  On the flight I saw a movie called “500 days of Summer” in which the male protagonist is one such writer.  Originally trained as an architect, somehow he ends up writing these sentimental cliches for a living.  He doesn’t take it too seriously which means he still retains some sense of reality.  The greeting card business is big business.  It obviously fills a need in people’s lives.  Some people don’t know how to express themselves, and most people love to feel that they are loved.

Last week I sent this card to Jo Hyun-Jae:

(Cover)

TANGO

CHARLIE

BARETTA

NINJA

MANGO

*********

(Inside)

Military speak for “I MISS YOU!”

****************************

Now I don’t know if they really talk like that in the U.S. military.  I just thought it’s fun.  Since there is no end in sight for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, I suppose cards like this sell very well.  This is a new genre in greeting cards; marketers catch on really fast.

When news of JHJ’s father’s deteriorating health came out a few days ago, I sent him this card:

(Cover)

Sending you positive thoughts…..

(Inside)

…..wishing you tranquility,

and hoping you know

how much you are loved.

The words are set amidst flowers and butterflies.

(Sorry!  I don’t have the gadget to upload photos to my computer here, so I can’t give you pictures of these cards.)

And today I just mailed him this one:

(Cover)

Courage

Strength

Hope

(Inside)

…..as you face

one day

at a

time.

The three words on the cover are framed in green (symbolic, I think) and the inside is just white (no decorations at all.)  This is the barest card I have seen, but I like the words which I hope will bring some comfort to JHJ.

And next week JHJ will be receiving this card from wulijohyunjae:

(Cover)

Each morning

holds the promise

of a brighter day

ahead.

(Inside)

Wishing you

healing days,

hopeful days,

brighter days –

because you

mean so much

to so many.

This card is green inside out: on the cover are new leaves bathed in dew drops (symbolizing regeneration and rebirth, I think); inside are more leaves but these are sketched.

JHJ says he reads all his fan mail.  I hope he understands the simple but meaningful words on these cards.  In any case, I always add my standard Korean phrases: “Take care of yourself”, “Stay healthy”, “Keep smiling”, “Support you forever”, “Fighting!”  I just want him to know he is not alone, that we are thinking of him, that we will stand by him, through thick or thin.

This is the song that the 3 dads sing at Ha-Seon’s first birthday party.

YOU ARE BORN OUT OF LOVE

당신은 사랑받기위해 태어난 사람

dang sin eun sa lang bad ki wi hae tae eo nan sa lam

Do you know you are born out of God’s love?

In your life you have already accepted His love.

당신은 사랑 받기 위해 태어난 사람

dang sin eun sa lang bad ki wi hae tae eo nan sa lam

당신의 삶 속에서 그 사랑 받고 있지요

dang sin eui sarm sog e seo keu sa lang bad ko iss ji yo

Do you know you are born out of God’s love?

In your life you have already accepted His love.

당신은 사랑 받기 위해 태어난 사람

dang sin eun sa lang bad ki wi hae tae eo nan sa lam

당신의 삶 속에서 그 사랑 받고 있지요

dang sin eui sarm sog e seo keu sa lang bad ko iss ji yo

In the Creation God’s love already exists

And matures together with our friendship.

태초부터 시작된 하나님의 사랑은

tae cho bu teo si jan doen ha na nim eui sa lang eun

우리의 만남을 통해 열매를 맺고

u li eui man nam eur tong hae yeor mae leur maej go

Because of your existence in this world

We have spent many happy moments together.

당신이 이 세상에 존재함으로 인해

dang sin i i se sang e jon jae ham eu lo in hae

우리에게 얼마나 큰 기쁨이 되는지

u li e gen eor ma na keun gi bbeum i doe neun ji

You are born out of God’s love

And now you have obtained His greatest love.

당신은 사랑 받기 위해 태어난 사람

dang sin eun sa lang bad gi wi hae tae eo nan sa lam

지금도 그 사랑 받고 있지요

ji keum do geu sa lang bad go iss ji yo

You are born out of God’s love

And now you have obtained his greatest love.

당신은 사랑 받기 위해 태어난 사람

dang sin eun sa lang bad gi wi hae tae eo nan sa lam

지금도 그 사랑 받고 있지요

ji keum do geu sa lang bad go iss ji yo

(Credit:  EVERjohyunjae.co.kr; www.johyunjae.hk. Thanks!)

Now that we’ve got your attention with these gorgeous photos — how about writing something collectively to our dear Jo Hyun-Jae?

Anyone who wishes to send a Christmas/New Year message to JHJ please leave it on this post (or write to us at jhjfans@gmail.com) by December 5.  Remember to include your country and city after your name.  We’ll get messages translated into Korean and send them (along with your original) to JHJ.

We have exciting news to report!  Remember our campaign to write to Mr. Lee Sang-Hoon, the President of  JHJ’s management company Star N Hit?  We just received this e-mail from the Master of EVER:

I heard that you sent messages to Mr Lee.

A few days ago, he told us about it… ^^

He said that he received your message and was really appreciative of your support.

So our efforts have not been wasted!  Many thanks again to those who participated!  We are beginning to like Mr. Lee.

Our wulijohyunjae rep. was in Seoul recently and met with the Master of EVER who:

Korean news reports say “Iris 2″ will start filming in May 2010.  Everybody will return except Lee Byung-Hyun because he will be engaged in another film project (presumably “G.I.Joe 2″.)  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our JHJ gets the plum part?  Mr. Lee Sang-Hoon, now is the time to flex your muscles!  Beg, borrow, or steal — do whatever you can!  But the timing is a little off – will they wait two months for JHJ?

I just heard Andrea Bocelli singing “White Christmas” on TV and immediately thought of JHJ.  His rich baritone sounds just as good to my biased ears.  A sudden fancy came to me – how about JHJ playing a blind singer?  But if he has to close his eyes and hide behind shades, we won’t be able to see his big, beautiful eyes.  If he plays a dumb person, however, he can use his eyes to express himself.  But then we won’t be able to hear his sexy voice.  No, we want the whole JHJ – let him play the top secret service agent in “Iris 2″ (less of the killing machine that the LBH character is and more vulnerable and human.)

(Credit: Photos courtesy of http://jo-hyunjae.com.  Thanks!)