Jo Hyun Jae

According to Korea Central Daily (Joong Ang Daily), Chun Jung-Myung, who was discharged from the Korean military in November 2009, said this on the SBS evening TV show on January 28, 2010: “When I was in the army, Ko Hyun-Jung gave me tremendous strength.  Nuna [Korean for older sister] always took my collect calls, and not just me, she also took Jo In-Sung’s ["A Frozen Flower"] collect calls.”  Then he went on to say: “When I complained she should just take my calls and not JIS’s, she would joke: ‘Then you should marry me.’”  Asked whether he was really considering marrying KHJ, he replied: “I have to ask my father first.”

For the uninitiated, CJM and KHJ co-starred as lovers in the 2006 MBC drama “What’s up, fox?”  Their acting was so convincing that it was rumoured they were dating.  CJM entered the army in January 2008; ever since his discharge last month, he has mentioned KHJ several times in public.

Now KHJ, who plays the villainess Lady Mi Shil in “Queen Seon Duk”, is currently very popular, so much so that she steals the limelight from the lead actress Lee Yo-Won.  The drama’s ratings nosedived once her character dies. 

Are CJM and KHJ an item?  From the way CJM talks, he is obviously insinuating something.  Is it likely that he will marry a divorced woman (nearly 10 years older than him) with two children?  If they are really dating, why not just say it outright?  What’s this silly business about asking his father?

I don’t know whether in Korea a 30-year-old man needs his father’s permission to marry.  And I don’t know either whether a divorced woman with two children is considered a great catch, even if she is a popular actress.  Using KHJ’s name like this is obviously cashing in on her current popularity. 

JHJ in one of his rare public appearances at a social event Hallyu Wood Start Festival on 2008.5.29

And then I thought of Jo Hyun-Jae.  He would never use a woman to promote himself like this.  For one thing, he is too proud to advertise himself like this — hanging on to a woman’s coat-tails.  For another, if he cares about a woman, I’m sure he will make a formal declaration of their relationship.  Insinuation and innuendo are unfair to the woman, especially if they turn out to be just a lot of hot air.

If asked the same question after his discharge, I bet JHJ would not say such and such a woman (even if there was one) gave him a lot of strength when he was in the army.  He would probably thank his parents, his friends, his management company, and his fans.

But then JHJ will probably not even go on that TV show (though he should — viewers need to be reminded he’s back.)  He does not like such shows; he is not good at showing himself off; he is always careful about what to say, especially when it concerns other people.  This bespeaks the kind of person he is — considerate, genuine, reserved, sensitive, low-key, which does not mean he is inexpressive or unemotional.  He only displays himself in his acting; his private life and feelings he prefers to keep to himself.  And his fans support him 100% in this.  Those who prefer otherwise should go to CJM and the like.

I’ve never had any patience with those so-called JHJ fans who authoritatively hold forth on what he should do, how he should change, e.g. speak more, go on more TV shows, give more interviews, generate more news, etc.  If you don’t like JHJ the way he is, are you really his fan?  I like him the way he is.  If he behaves like CJM (whom I don’t really dislike, BTW,) I’ll be gone the next second.

(Credit: Photos courtesy of http://jo-hyunjae.com.  FOR COPYRIGHT REASONS, PLEASE DO NOT COPY, TRANSFER, OR REPRODUCE. )

The Creation
 
When God had made the earth and sky,
the flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals, 
the fish, the birds and bees.

And when at last He’d finished,
not one was quite the same.
He said, “I’ll walk this world of mine 
and give each one a name.”
 
And so He travelled far and wide 
and everywhere He went,
a little creature followed Him
until its strength was spent.
 
When all were named upon the earth
and in the sky and sea,
the little creature said, “Dear Lord,
there’s not one left for me.”
 
Kindly, the Father said to him,
“I’ve left you to the end.
I’ve turned my own name back to front
and called you dog, My friend.”

(Source: http://www.ttlntl.co.uk.  Author unknown)

Photos (top to bottom, left to right):

JHJ at 5 years old with his puppy (1985)
JHJ with his birthday present from CAFE on his 23rd birthday (2003)
JHJ’s pet spaniel Ssing-yi (Ah Sing), taken by JHJ in Dec.2006
JHJ with his army dog Briro in August 2009 and January 2010.

prissymom contributed this delightful poem — dedicated to all you dog lovers among JHJ fans.

(Credit: names on photos.  Thanks!)

Founded in 1996, Arirang is an international TV network based in Seoul, operated by The Korea International Broadcasting Foundation.  As Korea’s premier English-language channel, Arirang TV airs news, cultural programmes, educational shows, documentaries, entertainment shows and more 24 hours a day, in more than 188 countries.

Some of the network’s most popular and longest-running shows include Arirang News, Showbiz Extra, Pops in Seoul, and Heart to Heart.  This video of Jo Hyun-Jae’s military life is featured in “Showbix Extra” in a segment called “Showbiz Runway” on January 26, 2010.

The running commentary is a little grating to my ears — first, because the commentator’s English often puts the emphasis on the wrong words, and second, because of the following:

1. JHJ looking “rather handsome” as a soldier — has anyone ever seen a handsomer Korean soldier?

2. JHJ will be promoted to “surgeon” in March — yes, he did say “surgeon”, but of course we know he meant “sergeant”.

3. “Next year he shall be done with his service” — NOT next year, young man!  THIS YEAR — June 19, 2010!  2 years are already long enough!

Still, it’s not everyday that anyone gets featured on Arirang, so we’re grateful they did this little piece on JHJ.

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

This is the talk show part of the Nagoya Fan Meeting, so put on your thinking cap and try to figure out what Jo Hyun-Jae is saying.  Or (like me) just watch how JHJ maintains his cool between the MC on the right and the interpreter on his left.

JHJ actually doesn’t say much, not 1/2 (or even 1/4) as much as the MC who obviously loves the sound of her own voice.  When he doesn’t know what to say or what to do, JHJ resorts to all his little mannerisms — he dabs his forehead, rubs his nose, bites his lips, but never bats an eyelid (he always looks straight into you, or rather your camera/videocam.)

At the end of the first video, after the MC goes on and on for an interminable time, JHJ’s only response is: “Thank you very much!” (in Japanese.)

(Credit: Videos courtesy of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Thanks!)