Jo Hyun Jae

(Credit: Coffee of johyunjae.hk. Thanks!)

Countdown photo designed by our own prissymom.  This looks like a newspaper headline — read the text.

The photos are from the real magazine KBOOM.  Here are a couple more photos of JHJ in black:

(Credit: Photos from KBOOM and FILM 2.0.  Thanks!) 

And here is CarpeDiemJAPAN’s ahiru’s countdown 50 (Thanks!):

This is the MV created by Ranta to celebrate CarpeDiemJAPAN’s second anniversary last month.  We’ve only just now converted it from a flash to a video.  Even though it’s no longer timely, it’s still worth posting here because the MV is a beautiful piece of work.

(Credit: Ranta of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Thanks!)

Another MV from our talented and prolific Japanese friend Mizutamari — many thanks!  We’ve often marvelled at the fact that Jo Hyun-Jae has made so many ordinary women tap into their creative veins to produce wonderful works that are enjoyed by his legions of fans.

(Credit: Mizutamari of http://club.brokore.com/sodonyo.  Thanks!) 

Hmmm…….what’s in store for me?

Someone actually says she enjoys reading what we write, Ha! so here are more rambling thoughts.

Jo Hyun-Jae Fan Clubs all over the world are gearing up for two important events — JHJ’s birthday on May 9 and his discharge from the military on June 19.  We are not a fan club, but we are well-prepared for both — we have already mailed our birthday present (together with all your birthday messages.)  In addition, we have also e-mailed our B-day wishes to EVER — to be included in the booklet they are compiling for JHJ on his birthday.   So those of you who took the trouble to wish JHJ “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” can be assured JHJ will read your message not once, but twice! 

We have also got JHJ something special and meaningful for his discharge.  If you are interested in what we’ll be presenting to him, please watch out for our birthday post on May 9 and discharge post on June 19.

We really don’t know anything but we are convinced JHJ must have signed up for his first project after discharge.  We’ve examined the list of 2010 Korean dramas and most have already announced the cast.  So what else is left? 

Following is an extract from dramabeans.com that may shed some light:

“The writing pair of Kim Young-Hyun and Park Sang-Yeon were behind one of the biggest dramas of the past year, “Queen Seon-Deok”, so interest is high to see if they can replicate that success in their new series, “A Tree with Deep Roots” [뿌리깊은 나무]. (Other titles they have penned include hits like “Dae Jang Geum” and “Seo Dong Yo”.) 

Adding to the anticipation is the fact that the new drama is based on a bestselling book of the same name which was published in 2006. It was authored by popular writer Lee Jung-Myung, who also wrote the bestselling novel “Painter of the Wind”, which was turned into the critically acclaimed sageuk drama in 2008 starring Park Shin-Yang and Moon Geun-Young.  

“A Tree With Deep Roots” takes its name from a famous poem that says that trees with deep roots do not sway. It takes place [during] the era of King Sejong, who invented the modern Korean writing system in the 15th century. The book deals with a series of murders that occur in Gyeongbok Palace that targeted scholars of the Hall of Worthies (an institute set up by King Sejong for scholarly research). According to the director of the production company, the project has been under preparation for a long time and is taking particular care in building its large-scale sets of Gyeongbok Palace.

“ A Tree With Deep Roots” will begin casting in May, but doesn’t plan to hit airwaves until early 2011.”

This MV is in 2 parts — the first part is BOOM-BOOM-BOOM (black-and-white) and the second part (in colour) is a ballad, perfectly portraying the two sides of Jo Hyun-Jae — tough and tender, cool and charming.

(Credit: jini of EVERjohyunjae.co.kr.  Thanks!)

(Credit: Countdown 55 photo by prissymom of wulijohyunjae; others by ahiru of CarpeDiemJAPAN – this is her “G.P.506″ series. Thanks!)

Scenes from Aug.5, 2008.  What will it be like on June 19, 2010?

The Jo Hyun-Jae world is abuzz with activities these days.  Everybody (who can go) is preparing to go to Seoul to welcome JHJ out of the army on June 19.  Everybody wants to see him for the first time in two years.

For someone who is so low-profile (for an actor) and who has almost disappeared from the public view since August 5, 2008, it is nothing short of a miracle that there are still fans who are waiting for him.  Fans are notoriously fickle — every day new actors break out in the entertainment world.  If you have seen a number of Korean dramas, you will agree that all the actors (and, for that matter, actresses) are attractive, good-looking, and well-proportioned.  There are different types, of course, so you can always find one that suits your tastes.

JHJ is of course the creme de la creme among Korean actors.  His physical attributes and his acting ability propelled him to the front ranks, but, let’s not kid ourselves, he’s nowhere near the top.  Why?  I could write a Ph.D. thesis on this topic — it’s something very near my heart.

But we’re not here to discuss rankings.  In one respect, JHJ outshines most of his fellow actors — he has this quality to inspire loyalty in his fans who stand by him in the two years he is in the military, in spite of the scarcity of news and only the occasional photo/video.   Now that the waiting is almost over, his faithful fans are all gearing up for the big day.

Members of the Official JHJ Fan Club, mostly Japanese, are signing up in droves for the 2 nights/3 days tour to Seoul that will include a lunch and handshake with JHJ.  They (and we – we’re members) are paying through the nose for this privilege.  IF part of the proceeds were to go to line JHJ’s pockets, we wouldn’t mind.  But we suspect the money will just end up on the travel agent’s profit sheet.

Some fans in other parts of the world resent the fact that JHJ seems to be partial to his Japanese fans.  They do not take into account how the Japanese fans support JHJ not just in spirit but also in substance, i.e. they buy all the DVDs of his dramas (much more expensive in Japan than in other parts of the world), his CD, his Fan Meeting DVDs, his souvenirs – the whole lot – in bulk.  We’ve also got all of these but our numbers cannot compare with the Japanese. 

JHJ fans in China are also prepping to go to Seoul in June.  With China gaining in political clout and prosperity, many mainland Chinese are travelling overseas more extensively than ever.  Still, many have never taken a trip outside of China and some are getting their passports for the first time.  Unlike citizens of many other countries, the Chinese need a visa to go to South Korea.  So this is a big adventure for them.  JHJ may have only one drama ever shown on Chinese TV – “Only You” – but this is enough to attract a few dozen Chinese fans to greet him when he emerges from the camp on June 19.

Now JHJ fans in Hong Kong have organized a tour to go to Seoul for that weekend.  I have just heard something that I’m sure will move JHJ, if only he knew.  Some people, either because of work or family commitments, cannot afford to spend more than one day in Seoul.  So these few SUPER FANS are just going for the day — yes, they’ll take the “red eye” flight that leaves in the wee hours of the morning of June 19, head straight to the camp from the airport, and then return home by the late afternoon flight!  They are just going to stand at a distance to take a look at JHJ; they do not get to shake his hand because they are not Official JHJ Fan Club members.

So, if you do not live on the other side of the world, you could consider “day return”.  I never thought of this option before.  I didn’t know JHJ fans could be this crazy!  Calling all JHJ fans!  Last chance!  You can still join us.  Most of us are from different parts of Asia, but we have someone from as far away as Canada in our group.  And our programme consists of visits to various JHJ drama locations, “Seo Dong Yo” village, shopping for JHJ souvenirs, and dinner at Oliva (“Only You” restaurant) and lunch at Baekje Ginseng Chicken Soup.

Someone once said: “Once you’ve seen JHJ, you’re dead!”  That translates as: You’ll become a diehard JHJ fan.  And believe me, he’s MUCH MORE handsome in person!  This is the best chance to see JHJ up close and personal.  He will be so moved to see so many fans right there waiting for him.

(Credit: Photo from EVERjohyunjae.co.kr.  Thanks!)

Our JHJ fan of the month KK has created a MV for wuliJHJ!  She asks if we have a favourite song, and we do.  So here is Bette Midler’s “The wind beneath my wings”, set against some of our favourite scenes in “Sunshine”. 

We got a little dizzy watching this MV over and over again.  Is it because we’re on cloud nine?  or is it because the picture keeps tilting from left to right, right to left…..?  We’re probably just overjoyed!

The Wind Beneath My Wings

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
‘Cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I’ve got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
You’re everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
‘Cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you’re my hero?
You’re everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
‘Cause you are the wind beneath my wings,
‘Cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
So high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
Thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

No matter how many times I’ve seen this segment in “Sunshine”, I still love these kitchen scenes between Jo Hyun-Jae and that cute child actress.  A pity the little girl is not old enough to mend Eun-Sup’s broken heart when her big sister jilted him.  For what?  I still can’t understand.

(Credit: video by KK of johyunjae.hk, set to the song “Red sun, I love you” by the Hong Kong singer George Lam; last photo from cafe.daum.net/nowsguswo. Thanks!)