Jo Hyun Jae

This is the last day of 2010.  To recap JHJ news during this year, we can count them on our fingers.  Of course in the first half of 2010, JHJ was in the army, so it is understandable that only two events are recorded.

1.  Jan.17 — Defense Daily published these gorgeous photos of JHJ with his army dog in the snow.

2.  Mar. 1 — JHJ was promoted to Sergeant.

The biggest event of 2010 is of course JHJ’s discharge on June 19.

This is followed closely by JHJ’s Japan fan meetings in Osaka and Tokyo on Aug. 21 and 22.

Apart from these, the only JHJ sightings in 2010 are at Andre Kim’s wake on Aug.13 and at Seoul Fashion Week on the morning of Oct.22 (which was the day of his father’s death, as it later turned out.)

Then in December JHJ’s Japan Fan Meeting DVD, JFM photobook, and his 2011 calendar are released.

JHJ actually left 5 messages for his fans in 2010 (a record by his standards!)

1.  May 9 — (on the Official Japan Fan Club website, the rest on the Korean Official Website)
Birthday message, thanks fans for presents, looks forward to discharge

2.  Jun. 15 — on pre-discharge vacation, 1st message on KOW, longest and even posts hiking photos (one and only time)

3.  Aug.17 — thanks fans for coming to discharge, preparing for JFM

4.  Sep.18 — thanks fans after Japan Fan Meetings

5.  Dec.24 — Christmas message

Only JHJ fans could survive on such meagre handouts without starving to death.  Any sane person would have jumped ship.  Perhaps you have to be a little “ABnormal”* to be a JHJ fan.  (* We learn this term from our friend B who says there are “normal” and “A-B-normal” people.)  Still, that unspeakable charisma of his and his flawless features and of course his compelling acting have made us captives forever!

May 2011 bring JHJ every success and accolade he deserves!  We also wish him good health, good fortune, and a good romantic relationship!

(Credit: Photos from Defense Daily, Sky, and various sources. Thanks!)

Always #1 in our book – drama or no drama

The TOP TEN Korean dramas of 2010 in terms of ratings are:

1.  King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo (KBS2) – 50.8% in final episode
2.  Chuno (Slave Hunter) (KBS2) -  35.9%
3.  Everybody cha cha cha (KBS1 daily drama) – 32.6%
4.  God of Study (KBS2)
5.  Highkick through the roof (MBC daily drama)
6.  Cinderella’s Sister (KBS2)
7.  Enjoy life (MBC daily drama) 
8.  Pasta (MBC)
9.  My girlfriend is a nine-tailed fox (SBS)
10. A good day for the wind to blow (KBS2)

#4 – 10 all have ratings over 20% per episode. 

With 6 dramas in the TOP TEN, KBS has won hands down in the ratings war.  Even though SBS only has one drama in the TOP TEN, its other dramas like “Bad Guy”, “Prosecutor Princess”, “Dae Mul” are very close behind.  MBC, however, in spite of its 3 TOP TEN spots (two daily dramas), can only boast one other drama with respectable rating – “Dong Yi”.  Many of its dramas, like “Personal Preference” and “The woman who still wants to marry”, although receiving good reviews, have low ratings. And its “Road No.1″ is perhaps the biggest surprise failure of the year (more later.)

Ever since the Korean drama craze abated somewhat about 4 or 5 years ago, tearjerkers are no longer popular.  That is why production companies have to create new love stories, young themes, and action dramas with fast-moving plots and glamourous settings.  2010 short dramas all follow this format; daily dramas still emphasize trivialities of everyday life; and historical dramas are all about fighting and power struggles.  In the matter of topics, 2010 dramas touch on more professions than before, becoming more socially-oriented.  And the big breakthrough is of course the introduction of homosexuality as a central theme, a milestone in K-drama, in dramas like “Personal Preference”and “Sungkyunkwan Scandal.” 

Everybody knows Korean housewives (ajumas) really dictate K-drama ratings.  Ratings sometimes have no correlation to the merits/demerits of a drama.  The 2010 #1 drama “King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo” appeals to Korean ajumas because of its depiction of the rise of the baker king against the backdrop of a family feud, with all the juicy ingredients of partiality towards sons, conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, rivalry between wife and mistress, separation between mother and son, etc. — all elements that ajumas love to watch.  Even though there are no big-name stars in this drama, the ups and downs of the plot are enough to hold the viewers’ interest to sustain its ratings record of 50.8% in its final episode.

“Chuno” is a revenge story, an adventure story, and most important, a good story.  As the opening drama for KBS2 in 2010, it got off to a good start.  The fight scenes are well-choreographed and the stars (Jang Hyuk, Lee Dae-Hee, Oh Ji-Ho) live up to their reputation.  Coupled with its magnificent scenes and melodious music, it is no wonder that it captures the #2 ratings spot.

As in previous years, many K-dramas are adapted from Japanese manga (comics), with varying results.  “God of Study” is a skilful adaptation of a famous Japanese manga – about new theories of learning (“Study is fun” – a game, a sport) and a new perspective on education — and finds an echo in Korean society which accounts for its #4 spot on the Top Ten.  On the other hand, “Michievous Kiss”, based on a popular Japanese manga and starring Kim Hyun-Joong (of “Boys over Flowers” fame) met with a disastrous fate and a ratings Waterloo, with most of the blame falling on the adapted plot and the director’s lack of finesse.

The 2009 mega-hit “Iris” with its superstar Lee Byung Hyun and its multi-million budget started a new trend in K-drama. It is drama shot like a film, with its super-sharp gunfights, explosions, and car chases/wrecks. With its tight-knit plot, gripping story, gorgeous settings, political themes interwoven with contemporary concerns (e.g. reunification of the 2 Koreas), “Iris” sets the standards for new K-drama.  “Athena: Goddess of War” (SBS) is not really a sequel, although it is originally billed as “Iris 2″.  But it carries on with its espionage and terrorism themes and also boasts a cast of glamourous stars (this time with Jung Woo-Sung, Cha Seung-Won, and Soo Ae.)  It started its run on Dec.13 and its 6 episodes shown so far range from nationwide ratings of 25.9% to 18.8%.

The most disappointing drama of the year has to be “Road No.1″.  In spite of a cast of big-names like So Ji-Sub, Kim Ha-Neul, and Yoon Kye-Sang, its single-digit rating is really a shame.  Problem is: it could not decide whether it wanted to be a war story or a love story. As a result, it is a mess and the viewers get lost early on. This again proves a well-written plot is the basis of a good drama.

Best of the best – no ifs or buts

This is not meant to be a comprehensive analysis, just a brief summary.  So we’d better bring ourselves back to Jo Hyun-Jae before you’re bored to tears.  2010 dramas have nothing to do with JHJ who has not been in a drama for nearly 3 years – since 2008′s “3 Dads/1 Mom”.  Now that he has decided on a project (and we don’t know whether it is a drama or a movie), we’re sure it will be a worthy one.  He has taken his time to choose his comeback project (as he should), and he will give it his all (as he always does.)  The KOW message on Dec.28 says: “Now all that’s left is for us to wait for JHJ’s fine acting performance.”  Waiting….. 

(Credit: Information from Korean Drama World.  Thanks!)

Remember Marise?  She’s the fan from Toronto, Canada, who presented our bouquet to Jo Hyun-Jae at his discharge on June 19, 2010.  (Please see June 24 post “The story of the bouquet” under Category: JHJ news / JHJ’s discharge, or click on this link: http://jo-hyun-jae.com/2010/06/24/the-story-of-the-bouquet/ )

One of our own is getting married today!  The first wedding in the wuliJHJ family!  Heartiest congratulations!  May this day be the beginning of a lifetime of love and laughter with your other half, Marise!

(Credit: Designed by prissymom of wulijohyunjae.  Thanks!)

The following video contains clips from the JHJ 2010 Japan Fan Meeting DVD.  Since it is all over the place already, we see no reason to deprive our readers of the privilege of watching it.  What is shown is JHJ rehearsing in Seoul before embarking for Japan and again just before the Osaka fan meeting on Aug.21.

And the following photos show JHJ singing “Tsunami” at the Tokyo fan meeting on Aug. 22 (again from the DVD.)

(Credit: http://blog.naver.com; www.everjohyunjae.co.kr; http://club.brokore.com/sodonyo; www.johyunjae.hk. Thanks!)

The KOW Administrator just left a message:

Reporting good news to you all

It snowed very heavily last night, perhaps to celebrate the confirmation of JHJ’s new project ㅋㅋ

All of you fans are waiting anxiously, right?

JHJ’s new project has finally been decided.

Since the details are still being worked out, please try to understand that we cannot give you a comprehensive account now.

We know fans are waiting most anxiously, so we’re leaving a few words here even if we only have a few scraps of news.

Early next year we’ll give an accurate report of the new project.

We are aware fans are all suffering from the waiting.

Now all that’s left is for us to wait for JHJ’s fine acting performance ㅋㅋㅋ

May 2010 finish well for you all!!!

(Editor: ㅋㅋ means Ha!Ha! in Korean)

[공지] 반가운 소식 알려드리겠습니다

간밤에 눈이 마니 내렸네요 현재님의 작품 을 결정한걸 아시고 축하해주려고 눈이왔나보네요ㅋㅋ
팬여러분들 모두 기다리시느라 힘드시고 고생많으셨죠??
현재님의 작품이 드디어 결정 되었습니다
아직 세부적인 내용은 조율중이라서 자세하게는 아직 알려드릴수 없는점 양해 바랍니다
팬분들께서 너무나도 기다리시기 힘들꺼란 생각에 이렇게 라도 먼저 글을 남기네요
연초에는 현재님의 작품에 대해서 정확하게 알려드리겠습니다.
팬여러분들 고생많으셨습니다
이제 현재님의 연기하는 모습을 본방사수 하시는 일만 남으셨네요ㅋㅋㅋ
2010년 마무리 잘하세요!!!

(Credit: http://johyunjae.com. English translation by wulijohyunjae.  Thanks! )

Star n Hit has sent EVER a THANK YOU note, posted on EVERjohyunjae’s website on Dec.27, 2010:

Did everybody have a good Christmas?

We have received all the presents from EVERjohyunjae fans. 

We have immediately sent them to Jo Hyun-Jae who asked us to convey his thanks.

We also thank you for the presents for SNH staff.

We know fans have been waiting most anxiously.  We expect to present you with a good project.

Once it is confirmed, it will be announced on the official site.

You should receive the news before 2010 is over.

Please wait for a little while longer.

Hope you will have a happy time in the last few days of 2010~~~~

스타엔히트엔터테인먼트입니다

안녕하세요
크리스마스 잘보내셨나요??
에버조현재 팬 분들께서 보내주신 선물들 하나도 빠짐없이 잘받아서
선물받은 즉시 현재님 댁으로 잘 전해 드렸습니다
현재님도 고맙다는 말씀 전해드려 달라고 하였습니다
그리고  사무실 직원들 선물까지 챙겨주셔서 감사합니다
팬분들께서 기다리시느라 많이 힘드실텐데요 좋은 작품으로 여러분께 찾아뵐 예정입니다.
제가 확실해지면 공홈에다가 공지글 올리겠습니다
2010년이 가기전에는 여러분들게 알려드려야할텐데요
조금만더 기다려주시구요 2010년 마무리 잘하시길 바래요~~~~

大家好圣诞节过得好吗??

EverJohyunjae粉丝们送来的礼物，
一个都不拉地收到后
马上就送往了显宰先生府上。
显宰先生也请我们转达他的感谢。
还有，也感谢给公司同事的礼物和照顾.
粉丝们等待得很辛苦吧，预定会以好作品来到大家面前。
确定了的话会在官方网站发布公告。
2010年过去之前，大家应该会知道的吧。

请再稍微等待一下。祝2010年的尾巴过得愉快~~~
 

Normally we would not have published a THANK YOU message to a fansite, but this message contains a key sentence: “You should receive the news before 2010 is over.”  Really?!!!!  There are only 4 days left of 2010.  Is SNH really going to keep us on tenterhooks?  If they fulfil their promise this time, we’ll forgive them for everything!

(Credit: Photo by gra of CarpeDiemJAPAN; Korean and Chinese text from www.everjohyunjae.co.kr.  Thanks!  English translation by wulijohyunjae.) 

(Credit: Designed by prissymom of wulijohyunjae. Thanks!)

We received this breathless e-mail from our Japanese friend M a few days ago: “Just watching TV programme ‘Summary of Hallyu in Japan 2010′ ….. JHJ is SECOND!!!!! …..my letter is read out! …..will post on my site this evening…..”

That’s the video M posted on her site.  This TV programme has a year-end summary on the Top Ten Hallyu (Korean Wave) entertainment news that the Japanese are most interested in.  (This means Korean stars are still big business in Japan.)  Jo Hyun-Jae’s discharge and his Japan fan meetings came in SECOND!  JHJ is still very popular in Japan, no doubt about it, considering he was in the army the first half of 2010 which means no news.

The TV programme is hosted by Ms Tashiro, the MC at the 2010 Japan fan meetings (and also 2008 in Tokyo.)  She is a famous TV personality and the #1 MC in Japan.  The lady in yellow is the interpreter at JHJ’s fan meetings, and the one on the right has interpreted for Park Yong-Ha.  (Not sure about identity of lady sitting next to Ms Tashiro, but M says she seems to be a JHJ fan.)

The ladies are pleasantly surprised and pleased* that JHJ news came in second, beating out other hot topics.  (* M says all are happy [except PYH's interpreter] because they are secret JHJ fans?!)

So, what did M write that made the ladies on the programme roar with laughter?  

Summary of contents:

JHJ’s fan meeting was splendid and wonderful!

Surely you will re-examine the contents of his fan meetings two years ago, and you must also study JHJ’s behaviour and even the characteristics of his fans.

I understand it perfectly.  I love JHJ’s delicate humour.  And I especially love that part of the fan meeting when he casually put aside a yukata (old style Japanese pyjamas) and nonchalantly throws in the air a T-shirt he just folded military-style.  (ED: We all remember this highlight — JHJ’s action is so arrogantly mischievous, or mischievously arrogant, as if he is saying silently : QED (quite easily done!)

I have tried this little act many times at home, pretending to be JHJ.  I think I am a little crazy!  (elicited lots of laughter from ladies)

The conversation between JHJ and the audience was very pleasant too, and he sang four songs.  I could feel his enthusiasm.

Lastly, I would like to say to all of you: I don’t have JHJ’s permission to do this, but I’d like to say THANK YOU on his behalf.  (More laughter!)

The TV programme host said many JHJ fans wrote in and their letters were all very long.  That M’s letter was selected was something of a miracle!  Many thanks, M, for sharing its contents with us!

Ms Tashiro went on to relate several interesting episodes of JHJ.  He has always been taciturn and sometimes staff have difficulty communicating with him.  But this time everybody said he had become more “talkative”.  When Ms.Tashiro asked them how much, they replied: “By an extra 30%!” (and everybody laughed.) 

Now, in case you are wondering what the 2010 No.1 news in the Korean entertainment world in Japan is — you can guess it, can’t you?  It is of course Park Yong-Ha’s death.  If it takes that to make the grade, we’d settle for No.2 anytime for our JHJ.

(Credit: Designed by prissymom of wulijohyunjae.  Thanks!)

From CAFE:

From EVER (Christmas messages from fans collected into 2 books):

EVERKorea and EVERJapan also sent JHJ Christmas cakes and red wine, as well as snacks, clothes, and socks.  In addition, they included Star N Hit in their presents too – for taking care of JHJ (in their words.)

(Credit: http://cafe.daum.net/hyunjaelove; www.everjohyunjae.com.kr; www.johyunjae.hk. Thanks!)