Dear Diary (8)
wulijohyunjae | March 25, 2010 | 7:00 am
Since the beginning of March, there has been various reports on Jo Hyun-Jae in several Korean media. They are more or less the same — about JHJ’s impending discharge from the military, all the activities awaiting him, including fan meetings and dramas/movies he’ll work in, and also the numerous fan mail he has received during his military service. (Please see our 2010.03.11 post “Love calls from all over the world” under Category “JHJ news”.)
From the contents of the articles, we figure they originate from a Star N Hit press release. That so many news media published it testifies to JHJ’s popularity. Just because you send something to some newspapers/magazines/websites, etc. does not guarantee it will see the light of day. (I know: I worked briefly in PR; I didn’t last long.) First of all, the contents have to be newsworthy. Second, the agency issuing the press release must be on good terms (often on a personal level) with the media.
A seasoned JHJ fan once told me JHJ has very good press in Korea. In the three years she has covered him, she has not seen one negative report on him. Considering the less-than-astute way Star N Hit handled JHJ’s affairs in the past, we can only conclude this has to do with JHJ’s own upstanding personality, humility, and integrity – in short, he’s a likable guy.
Ever since the Official JHJ Fan Club in Japan announced they’re organizing a 2N3D tour (for members only) to welcome JHJ out of the army in Seoul on June 19 that includes the chance to shake JHJ’s hand, a great furore has erupted. The Japanese fans are of course beside themselves with joy, but other fans feel like second class citizens.
I am a member of the Official JHJ Fan Club, so I can enjoy the privilege. But since I saw him off to join the army on August 5, 2008, I have been anticipating his discharge on June 19, 2010. I am going to the camp at Pocheon anyway, just so he’ll know he’s not forgotten by his loyal fans. I am just going to stand and look at him from afar, but now the handshaking part is an unexpected bonus. If I were JHJ, I would want to go home at once. If I were JHJ’s mother, I would want to see my son ASAP. But JHJ is not just the good son; he is also actor JHJ who belongs to his fans. So he has to entertain his fans before he can go home to see his parents. 人在江湖，身不由己 — this wise Chinese saying roughly translates as “when you are in the world at large, you are not your own master ” (meaning you may not always be able to do what you want.).”
This year several Korean actors and singers will be discharged from the military. I saw a whole list of names, none of which means anything except Jae Hee. Every actor who has been in a JHJ drama is family. Jae Hee entered the army a day before JHJ, so he should be discharged on June 18. His fans will be so glad to see him again, just as we will be so thrilled when JHJ finally walks out of that camp.
I read in a Korean entertainment news report that Lee Jun-Ki will star in a movie with Kim Tae-Hee before taking up his role in the legendary doctor drama (tentatively entitled “Faith”), now with or without Kim Hee-Seon. Some people have all the luck! Didn’t LJK already hold all his fan meetings and release his CD (following exactly in JHJ’s footsteps)? Isn’t he supposed to be enlisting any day now? Or is he going to postpone his military service like Lee Dong-Gun who was originally scheduled to enter the military at the same time as JHJ but kept postponing time and time again, so that now JHJ is about to be discharged and Lee is still procrastinating. I like our JHJ for fulfilling his duties to his country and serving as an ordinary soldier for his entire military service. (I wonder how many actors/singers opted to do that, not many, I would think.) JHJ, we are proud of you!
(Credit: Photos of JHJ taken on set at “3Dads/1Mom” – courtesy of http://jo-hyunjae.com. Thanks!)
BONUS — today’s Countdown photo (again from CarpeDiemJAPAN’s Hart, posted on jo-hyunjae.com. Thanks!)
JHJ has fulfilled his military duties with flying colours and we are all so proud and happy of his achievements.
It will be a celebrated day on June 19th and for sure it’s going to be a fun-filled event. Finally, the day that we are all waiting for is finally here.
looking forward for the return of JHJ.
All the while I thought LDG has started his MS already. Maybe he and his family are still trying to cope with his brother’s tragic death in Australia. There were several news reports that showed JHJ attending the funeral for LDG’s brother. JHJ and LDG must really be very good friends for JHJ to attend his brother’s funeral.
I really envy those who will be there at Pocheon to welcome JHJ back to civilian life. Hope those who will be there will take plenty of pictures and tell plenty of stories to share with us who can’t be there.
prissymom, yes, JHJ attended LDG’s brother’s funeral; in fact, he was the first to show — Jo and Lee are good friends, as are their bosses. JHJ has been criticised for not attending Han Chae-Young’s wedding but went to LDG’s brother’s funeral, even though JHJ and HCY are supposed to be good friends too. A most unfair criticism, to our thinking — JHJ is the kind of person who would rather comfort those in sorrow than add joy to those in bliss. His presence is much appreciated at the funeral but his absence will not be much noticed at the wedding.
wuliJHJ, thank you for sharing ^^ that info with us – i didn’t know that JHJ was criticised for attending the funeral and not the wedding.