Jo Hyun Jae

Another couple of MVs on JHJ’s Crown Prince in his 2002 drama “Great Ambition” (Daemang) – Many thanks to Korean fan whose name appears at the end of the videos!

.

TUDOU

YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeCriHOSVF0

.

TUDOU

YOUTUBE: YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYTV9Yucq38

.

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

We absolutely adore JHJ as the Crown Prince in “Great Ambition” (Daemang) – 2002.  Many thanks to the Korean fan (see name at end of video) who created this MV!

TUDOU

YOUTUBE:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJE7mRNLdmE

(Credit: http://blog.naver.com; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)

“Great Ambition” (Daemang) is a 2003 SBS drama.  And now they are releasing the international edition (with English subtitles) on Feb.19, 2011.  This is the first time Jo Hyun-Jae and Lee Yo-Won collaborated in a drama.  JHJ’s role then was originally very small and insignificant (his name is not even on the list of actors), but it was later expanded due to viewers’ interest.  His Crown Prince takes our breath away!  Could it be that with the imminent showing of “49 Days”, SBS is cashing in on people’s renewed interest?  If they are, they’ve succeeded because we’re getting this DVD (although we already have one with Chinese subtitles.)

(Credit: www.yesasia.com; http://blog.naver.com; carpediemJapan; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)

Jo Hyun-Jae’s old dramas are being shown over and over again in different parts of the world.

3 Dads/1 Mom — on Japan’s KBS World (from November 1, 2010)

Only You — on Japan’s food channel FOODIESTV (from October 6)

Great Ambition (Dae Mang) — on Taiwan’s GTV (from October 2) 

v

(Identical videos -  first one is YOUTUBE, second PHOTOBUCKET – take your pick.)

The following dialogue occurs at the end of “Great Ambition” (Dae Mang), when Jo Hyun-Jae’s Crown Prince is about to return to his kingdom to reclaim what is rightfully his — to ascend the throne.  This is his last conversation with his travel companion Park Jae-Young (lead role played by Jang Hyuk.) 

CP (Crown Prince)                           PJY (Park Jae-Young)

CP:   You really don’t want to go back with me?

PJY:  No, I’d like to return to my village.

CP:   Can’t you pretend this country is your village?  Won’t you stay by my side?

PJY:  You do what you have to do and I’ll do my thing.  Maybe we’ll see each other again someday.

CP:   What is your village really like?

PJY:  A place where everyone has his/her own business, no distinction between high and low, everybody understands one another, all leading simple lives without being laughed at.

CP:   Is there really such a place on earth?   What you have described is Utopia!

PJY:  In reality there’s no such place, that’s why it’s called Utopia.  I think we’re very lucky.  If we live in this ideal world Utopia, we won’t know what to do next.  Now is not yet the time, so there are many things to do.  That’s why we’re lucky.

Well, there’s something philosophical in there for you to contemplate.  Even though JHJ only has a small role in “Great Ambition”, his presence is felt throughout the drama.  His role as the Crown Prince really caught the eye of the Korean TV-watching public and propelled him to fame.  He never looked back after this.

(Credit: http://blog.daum.net; http://hyunjaelove.jp; http://blog.naver.com; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)

This video shows Jo Hyun-Jae in his Crown Prince role in “Great Ambition” (Dae Mang, SBS 2002.)  But he is not dressed in his imperial robes, only in the garb of an ordinary man — still looking as regal as ever! 

The 22-year-old JHJ, in his first small role in a big production, manages to hold his own among the more experienced actors.  You see him here in the company of Jang Hyuk, one of two lead actors in the drama, and he does not look like a newbie at all.  He manages to capture the Crown Prince’s innocence, ingenuousness, ethereal qualities, and curiosity about life and the world to perfection.

(Credit: Photo courtesy of carpediemJAPAN.  Thanks!)

The two videos are identical: the first is YOUTUBE and the second TUDOU.  If you can see YOUTUBE, fine, but if you are in a country where YOUTUBE is blocked, then watch the second video.

Every time I see Jo Hyun-Jae as the Crown Prince in “Great Ambition” (Dae Mang 2002), I marvel at the fact that this is his first “real” role in a drama.  He does not at all look like a newbie on the set.  Every appearance is a miracle, especially when he is wearing his regal robes.  The final smile is so sweet, so serene!

(Credit: Video from Cafe.daum.net/ilovejhzz.  Photo from CarpeDiemJAPAN. Thanks!)

The next day I learnt to use the FF function on my remote. The first time JHJ appears (in Episode 12?) he brightens up the scene immediately. He’s wearing a sort of pink garment which would look sissy on any man except JHJ. He later appears in yellow and bright red (in the imperial robes of the Crown Prince.) I read somewhere that:
1. When JHJ went for his screen test, the director asked him to put on the costume of the Crown Prince. One look and the director said: “You’ve got the role.” Nobody could look more regal than our JHJ.
2. JHJ’s role is originally very small and his character is supposed to die very soon. But his initial appearance aroused so much interest that the director/scriptwriter had to expand his role, which is why his Crown Prince is still there at the end of the drama — to take possession of his kingdom.
3. The director of “Seo Dong Yo” saw JHJ in “Great Ambition” and it made an impression on him. When he was casting for the role of Seo Dong, he insisted on using JHJ, even though no actor so young has ever had such an important role in a historical drama of such length.
4. Some Korean fans remarked (tongue-in-cheek) that if the Crown Prince really looked like JHJ, Korea would still have the royal family today!

JHJ’s role in “Great Ambition” is very small, but every time he appears, he sucks the oxygen out of the room (in a manner of speaking.) All the other actors and actresses pale in comparison. And JHJ was only 22 then. Enjoy these photos. Next time I’ll tell you more about my favourite scenes in this drama.

 The Crown Prince in his imperial robes The first appearance of the Crown Prince in the drama

The innocent look

The Crown Prince in disgrace (that’s why he lets down his hair)

The Crown Prince in yellow

Near tears (remembering his deceased mother)

Every inch a prince