Jo Hyun Jae

Andre Kim’s funeral procession leaves the Seoul National University Hospital on Sunday morning. On the right is Kim Jung-do, the late designer’s adopted son.

The Korea Herald     2010.08.15

Andre Kim, Korea’s iconic fashion designer who died on Aug. 12, was buried at Cheonan Memorial Park in South Chungcheong Province, on Sunday, Aug.15.  Kim chose this site when he was alive because that was where his parents were laid to rest.

The ceremony was held in Buddhist style, following the late designer’s faith. Kim’s adopted son, Kim Joong-do, his wife and their three children led the funeral ceremony. About 200 people attended.

The funeral car, which was prepared in white to commemorate Kim’s favorite color, departed the Seoul National University funeral hall to visit numerous places associated with the designer, including his home in Seoul (where he lived for more than 30 years) and the Andre Kim studio in Giheung, Gyeonggi Province.

Here is another video from yesterday — at Andre Kim’s wake (yes, JHJ is there – at 01:45)

And this is what we will remember Andre Kim for — seen here in rehearsal with JHJ and Park Sol-Mi at July 2007 Fashion Fantasia in Wuxi, China.  May he rest in peace!

The following video is called “Jo Hyun-Jae and Andre Kim” and the second part features photos of JHJ at AK’s wake:

(Credit: News report from the Korea Herald; video by kk of johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)

The following is from the Korea Times:

President Lee Myung-bak will bestow a posthumous medal on Andre Kim, in recognition of his contribution to the country’s fashion industry.

The government “has decided to award the medal of Golden Crown Culture to him,” Lee’s office Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung told reporters. “Kim was a fashion designer who blended South Korea’s unique color and beauty with the West’s splendid silhouette, thus publicizing the country’s fashion to the world.” The medal is the highest one given to those who have contributed to the nation’s culture.

Earlier in the day, the president sent a message of condolences to the family of Kim. Lee sent Yim Tae-hee, chief of presidential staff, to an official mourning altar for the designer in Seoul, according to the spokeswoman.

Andre Kim’s death is as glamourous as his life, if you judge by the Korean stars (and other dignitaries and celebrities) who pay their last respects to him at the funeral home.  They have to run the gauntlet of the photographers who outnumber the stars!  Live in the limelight; die in the limelight — that’s the story of Andre Kim.  Don’t blink – or you’ll miss Jo Hyun-Jae. 

Below are photos of some of the stars who were there.  How many can you recognize?  Some of the women are almost unrecognizable!

How unfortunate that it is on such a mournful occasion that JHJ should make a rare public appearance a week before his Japan fan meetings.  But we’re grateful to be able to see him, even though he looks so sad and sombre (as befits the occasion.)

(Credit: http://yahoo.co.kr; http://nate.com; www.johyunjae.hk; mandalaywith@http://johyunjae.com; names on photos. Thanks!)

A steady stream of dignitaries and celebrities has been filing into Seoul National University Hospital to pay their last respects to the late fashion icon Andre Kim who passed away last evening.  Many actors and singers who had previously worked with Andre Kim in his extravagant and fanciful fashion shows were there.

Among them was Jo Hyun-Jae who was the lead model in Andre Kim’s Fashion Fantasia in Wuxi, China, in July 2007 and who won the 2007 Andre Kim Best Star Award.

The following is from today’s Korea Times:

President Lee Myung-bak also sent his best wishes and prayers in a message to the bereaved.

“Through his world-class fashion designs, Andre Kim spread Korean culture and art to the rest of the world,’’Lee’s message said. “He received love and respect from many citizens for his continual donations and volunteer work. I send my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pray that Andre Kim will rest in peace.’’

Andre Kim’s cortege will leave the hospital Sunday for a funeral ceremony. The procession will pass by the house he lived in for 30 years in Apgujeong-dong and his atelier in Sinsa-dong. His remains will be buried in the Cheonan Memorial Park in Gyeonggi Province.

(Credit: names on photos.  Thanks!)

SEOUL (AP).- Andre Kim, one of South Korea’s best-known fashion designers, has died. He was 74. [Editor: 75 by Korean reckoning.  He was born 1935.08.24.]

Kim died Thursday, August 12, 2010, several weeks after being admitted to Seoul National University Hospital with pneumonia, hospital official Oh Dong-seo said.

Kim was his country’s most iconic designer, as famous for his glitzy fashion shows featuring top celebrities as for his distinctive personal style of wearing all-white garb and heavy black eyeliner.

Born Kim Bong-nam to a farming family, he launched his fashion career in 1962 when South Korea was emerging from the ruins of the Korean War of the 1950s. He later opened “Salon Andre” in central Seoul.

As Andre Kim, he offered glitz and glamour, and his elaborate, sometimes futuristic gowns were exhibited in shows from Paris to Sydney. His last show was held earlier this year in Beijing.

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We remember Andre Kim here for choosing Jo Hyun-Jae as his lead model in his Fashion Fantasia held in Wuxi, China on July 12, 2007.

Here are some videos of Andre Kim directing JHJ and his modelling partner Park Sol-Mi during rehearsals in Wuxi:

And this is the end-product of the above – our favourite segment of the show which we call “Love Story”:

(Credit: news from Associated Press; names on photos and videos. Thanks!)

This MV is made from photos taken at the Andre Kim Fashion Extravaganza in Wuxi, China, on July 12, 2007.  Jo Hyun-Jae, who was working on “G.P.506″ at the time (hence the crew cut), took advantage of the break in filming to be the lead male model of this show.  His female partner is Park Sol Mi of “Winter Sonata” and “All in” fame.  Don’t they make a handsome couple?

(Credit: www.johyunjae.hk; http://gall.dcinside.com.  Thanks!)

You all know that during the break in filming of “G.P.506″, Jo Hyun-Jae took on an unusual assignment.  He was the lead male model in the Andre Kim Fashion Extravaganza which was staged in Wuxi, China, on July 12, 2007.

That was the first time JHJ set foot in China (not counting Hong Kong) but, hopefully, not the last.  His legion of fans are growing with the showing of “Only You” on Hunan TV in November-December 2008.

My favourite part of the Andre Kim fashion show is something that I call “Love Story”.  There is definitely a story in there somewhere (in the video at the start of this post), acted without words and accompanied by a haunting song.  You have to exercise your romantic imagination.  The clothes are beautiful; the music is beautiful; above all, the lovers are beautiful, especially our JHJ.

Jo Hyun-Jae was the lead male model in the Andre Kim Fashion Extravaganza which was held in Wuxi, China on July 12, 2007. His female partner was Park Sol Mi (“Winter Sonata”, “All In”.) We don’t know what you think of Andre Kim’s garments, but after watching his shows before and after this one, we can confirm that the only model who can wear his clothes is our JHJ.

(Credit: names on photos. Thanks!)