Jo Hyun Jae

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all the fathers among JHJ fans!  Are there any?  Happy Father’s Day to the fathers of all JHJ fans and to your children’s father!

This is the first Father’s Day without his father for JHJ.  I don’t know whether they celebrate Father’s Day in Korea and I have no idea whether JHJ is a sentimental person.  But this was the day he was discharged last year (June 19, 2010).  I remember thinking then he must have wanted so much to go home at once to his ailing father and his mother.  Instead he spent several hours meeting his fans and the media.  This Chinese saying came to my mind as I was watching JHJ up close and personal : 人在江湖, 身不由己。(meaning: When you’re in the world at large, you cannot always do what you want.)

In the year since his discharge, JHJ has bonded with his Japanese fans again at the Japan fan meetings, experienced a death in the family, endured a blank period of several months before acting in his comeback drama “49 Days” AND recording a song on the OST that is still in the Top 100 (2 months after its release!)  49D may not be JHJ’s best work, but his Han Kang is without doubt one of his most successful characters and he has gained many younger fans with this drama.  His reputation has been enhanced and he should be very much in demand now. 

I’m hoping SNH can strike while the iron is hot and manage to sign up some good jobs for JHJ.  JHJ has said many times that he wants to try different kinds of roles, even playing the villain for a change.  He has also expressed the wish to challenge the musical — I find this very exciting.  JHJ has certainly become more mature and confident – one clear sign of this is he is speaking more at interviews.  Reporters used to dread interviewing him because he speaks in monosyllables (after thinking for several minutes.)  Now he even takes the initiative to disclose his own thoughts and feelings.

B and I used to play a game – writing JHJ’s messages.  He so rarely leaves a message and he writes more or less the same things every time, always starting with the weather in Seoul and ending with “Take care and be healthy and happy.”  We could write 70% of any JHJ message, the rest is just filling in the blanks (depending on the current topic.)  But we can’t do that anymore — he is writing longer and more interesting and substantial messages (minus the weather), and he sounds more unpredictable now.

So unpredictable that his openly declaring he wants to fall in love has fans speculating whether he is preparing us for the inevitable announcement or whether he in fact already has a girlfriend.  How could anyone like him be still unattached?  Especially since Korean girls can be quite aggressive and are not shy about taking the initiative.

So what will next year’s Father’s Day bring JHJ?  Fatherhood?  Not so fast, right?  Well, maybe fathering a CF, a film, another drama?  Surely these are within the ability of ACTOR JHJ.  Remember that Korean fan who quoted from James Dean a couple of weeks back.  This time she is quoting Charlie Chaplin:

I remain just one thing, and one thing alone, and that is a clown.
It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.

Substitute the word “actor” for “clown” and there you have JHJ.  The word ”politician” now has such negative connotations that it may be an insult comparing JHJ to any one of that class, but you get the idea.  Today we celebrate ACTOR JHJ on Father’s Day, now that he has become a Young Head of Household (what Koreans call a son who becomes head of family on his father’s demise.)

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(Credit:  1st photo designed by ahiru of CarpeDiemJAPAN; 2nd from http://johyunjae.com;  http://blog.daum.net/zero 1114/13725533; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)

Our Contributing Editor prissymom has done her homework — this is what we can expect from Korean dramas in the second half of 2011.  Anything here for our JHJ?

This is in answer to jhcwhite’s question last week as to what other upcoming Korean dramas haven’t cast their lead male yet.

Drama Title: ONJO BIRYU
Broadcast Station: MBC
Genre: Sageuk/Historical
Short Background: Onjo and Biryu are the 2 sons of Jumong (founder of Koguryo) and Soseono.  When their eldest half-brother, Yuri, became heir to the throne of Koguryo, Onjo and Biryu left their father’s kingdom.  Onjo settled in Wiryeseong (present day Hanam), while Biryu settled in Michuhol (present day Incheon).  When Michuhol proved to be difficult to settle, Biryu and his people went to Onjo and demanded that he be made king of Shipje (which means Ten Vassals; Shipje is the kingdom Onjo founded).  When Onjo refused, Biryu made war on his brother. Biryu committed suicide after losing the war; his people then joined Onjo’s kingdom, which was then renamed Paekche (meaning Hundred Vassals).  Note: This background information is not the synopsis provided by the producers but a result of my research on the topic “ONJO BIRYU”.
Cast: none yet

Drama Title: SHOWER
Broadcast Station: KBS
Genre: modern drama
Short Description:  SHOWER is a story of a family and those around them who embrace love and pain.  Scriptwriter is Noh Hee kyung (“Goodbye Solo” and “The World They Live In”).  Note: the drama will focus on the relationship of 3 sisters.
Cast: Han Ji Min and Jung Ryu Won as the 2 female leads

Drama Title: FAITH
Broadcast Station: SBS (but some reports say MBC)
Genre: Fusion Sageuk/fantasy/action
Short Description: “Faith,” set in the Goryeo Period (918-1392), tells the story of medical officer Kang-chan (lead male character). Kang-chan eventually becomes a “신의” – an honored physician due to his exemplary medical practice.  The drama covers Kang-chan’s life from his early physician stage to Kang-chan achieving his “신의” status. While working at the Kwangsewon private medical institution, Kang-chan gives hope to the people and a new life (from Asian Mediawiki).
Cast: Kim Hee Sun (as the female lead), Lee Phillip, Kim Seung So, Lee Min Young
PD: Kim Jong Hak (“DaeMang”, “Legend”, “Sandglass”)
Note:  Lee Jun Ki was originally cast as lead male but he had to drop out because  he had to start his military service.  Kang Ji Hwan was cast to replace LJK but had to drop the project also due to some problems with his former management agency and the Korea Entertainment Producers Association.
Additional Information:  The drama is slated for 16 episodes, will be filmed in 3D and has a budget of 3 Billion won (although I don’t know if they still have the same budget after all the delays).

Drama: TO THE EMPEROR
Broadcast Station: SBS
Genre: just based on the title, I am assuming historical
Short Description: none available
Cast:  none yet

Drama:  JEON WOO CHI
Broadcast Station:  None yet
Genre: Fantasy/Action
Short Description: Jeon Woo Chi (name of the main character) is based on a classical novel of unknown origin dating to the Joseon era that tells the story of a free-wheeling, mischievous Jeon Woo Chi.  JWC swallowed the gumiho’s fox bead, which gave him powers of Taoist magic. He uses those powers to save the poor, oppressed people and becomes a hero.  In 2009, a movie was made based on this character. In the movie, JWC was trapped in a scroll after he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit.  Centuries later he is released from his entrapment to help fight against the mysterious creatures that have been appearing in modern-day Korea.  The glitch: JWC is more interested in chasing after women than those strange creatures.  Note: I don’t know if the drama will follow the original JWC novel or will take off where the movie left off.
Cast: None yet

Drama title: MEDICAL COLLEGE
Broadcast Station: None yet
Genre: Modern drama/medical
Short Description: none available yet
Cast: Choi Ji Woo

So far, these are the dramas that I am aware of that have not cast their lead male yet.  I see some that are interesting like “Onjo Biryu”, “Faith”, and “Jeon Woo Chi”.  I like these 3 as possible projects for our JHJ not only because the lead male is the main character but also because the roles (as described) will give JHJ the chance to show off his versatility as an actor.  Plus, in these dramas, he will be required to do action sequences, which I would love to see since he is really very good in his action sequences in “Seo Dong Yo”, “Forbidden Love”,  and in the SeeYa MVs.

I don’t like the sound of SHOWER, because it will be like another “49 Days” where the story is focused on the female characters.

Of course, we should not confine our speculations to the dramas listed above because there are plenty of dramas that are” not reported way ahead of their airdate.  Some of the dramas listed above have been in the “upcoming” list since 2009 (“Faith”), while some were reported last year (“Onjo Biryu”, “Jeon Woo Chi” ).  The first inkling we had of “49 Days” was in December 2010 but it aired way ahead of the others reported before it.

I firmly believe that JHJ is up for a project (another drama preferably) that will focus on his character.  “49 Days”, for me, is JHJ getting his feet wet again after a 3-year hiatus from acting.  In my opinion, in “49 Days”, his whole being got truly and decidedlydrenched and not just his feet, both literally and figuratively. Literally – he had that shower scene, remember?  Figuratively, he was so immersed in his Han Kang character that he convinced many people of different demographics that a HAN KANG can truly exist in this world.

JHJ has done all the hard work to make a successful comeback.  I only hope and pray that SNH will be up to the task of snagging for our dear JHJ a follow-up project that is truly worthy his talents.

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(Credit: Article and photo by prissymom.  Thanks!)

On our last night in L.A., I was working on our blog in the study and my husband was watching TV in the sitting room.  Suddenly I heard him yell: “Come quick!  Your idol is on!”  I took a few seconds to leave the computer.  I thought it was my tennis idol who lost in the French Open a couple of days ago.  But it was Han Kang on the TV screen!  OMG!  49D is showing here in LA?  It’s a channel called SBS LA18, with English subtitles.  The episode ended with the backhug, quite late in the drama, which meant they’d been showing this for several weeks.  49D and JHJ are all over the world!  I wonder where else they’re showing 49D on TV.

My son came home for the weekend, and one of the first things he told me was he met a Korean business associate recently and asked him if he knew JHJ.  Answer: No!  I said I bet his wife or girlfriend knew; men are not into actors.  He also told me his former H.K. classmate (now also in the U.S.A.) LKY was watching 49D.  I exclaimed involuntarily: “I love LKY!”  “But you never used to like him!”  “I do now!  He’s got great taste!”  My son laughed and rolled his eyes.  Afterwards I marvelled that he not only could say JHJ’s full name but also remember 49D (when I couldn’t remember whether I mentioned it to him or not.)

My mother-in-law is in hospital (incurable illness – old age) and my husband and I had to go see her everyday.  One day I didn’t go (tons of work to do) and next day my sister-in-law asked nonchalantly: “So what are you so busy about?” (as if it’s any of her business.)  I wanted to shout: “JHJ!  That’s what!”  Instead I said: “We had a gas leak at our house.”  It’s not been easy to maintain our other home all these years.  Every time we come back, something has gone wrong.  Appliances break down even if they are not used: our TV, refrigerator, washing machine, water heater, garage door … all took turns to malfunction.  Old houses have a lot of plumbing problems.  Two years ago we had a big leak that took US$5,000 to repair.  I didn’t even sweat because I remembered what my dear late father always said: “Problems that can be solved by money are not problems.”

This time it was a gas leak — took two plumbers half a day to change pipes and valves for another 4-figure sum.  Good thing we were here because the gas technician said it looked like gas was trapped in the wall.  She had a gadget that went CLUCK-CLUCK-CLUCK when it detected gas.  There could have been an explosion and we would be in big trouble.  Reminded me of that time a few years ago when a leaking pipe flooded our bathroom and 1/4 of our bedroom on the day I was due to leave (of course postponed.)  If it had happened a day later, our whole house (and neighbourhood!) would have been flooded and we could be in deep waters.  I feel so lucky; God is looking out for me. 

Which got me thinking: if you feel your cup is always half full instead of half empty, you will feel much happier.  Which got me thinking about JHJ and 49D: even though 49D will never be my favourite JHJ drama because JHJ’s screen time is not as much as I’d like and his role is not as central/pivotal as I’d like, a lot of people like it and Han Kang is one of JHJ’s most likable characters.   JHJ has made a tremendous impact with his portrayal of Han Kang and he has made a successful comeback with 49D, for which I am thankful.

To return to the issue of sisters-in-law, I remember a few years ago at a gathering of JHJ fans in H.K., the question of JHJ’s marrying came up.  I said even though he might be the most desirable guy in the world, no young woman nowadays relished buying one getting 3 free.  By that I meant whoever married him would have to take care of his sick parents and also live with his unmarried older sister.  Only B agreed with me; the others all argued if you loved someone enough, you’d do anything for him.  In theory, yes; in practice?  One to four is a far cry from one to one.  Nothing strains a marriage (especially the beginning) as much as a crowded household, among which you are the new kid on the block.

Have you ever wondered why JHJ does not have a girlfriend?  In an early interview he owned up to three, all before he hit the big time.  They were probably those he mentioned on the “‘Only You’ TV Special”, including the one who’s 167cm and 49kg for whom he bought the lingerie.  His girlfriends were all in Seoul, “from South of the Han River to North of the Han River.”  I have a theory: JHJ is too good-looking, better looking than even some of his female co-stars.  Now in his profession he works everyday with beautiful women whose beauty is more often than not man-made.  If you’ve seen the BEFORE and AFTER photos of NGR, you’d be astonished at the skills of the Korean cosmetic surgeons.  Where can JHJ find a natural beauty like himself?  When Kim Hee-Seon’s daughter was born and she did not at all resemble her, she said the child looked like her father, but she probably looked like the real KHS herself before she went under the knife (many times.)  Being a filial son, the future Mrs. JHJ must be approved by his mother (and accepted by his sister with whom he is very close.)  As fans, we have to “love him love his dog”, Oops! I mean his girlfriend/wife, though some will be alienated and will desert him.  If and when JHJ has a girlfriend, I hope he will announce it and not hide the fact or, worse, lie about it (like some Chinese superstars who lost my respect for not respecting the women in their life.)

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(Credit:  Photo should be from JHJ’s 2008 photo album and not what it says on it.)

Love all your stories!  Love all your husbands/boyfriends/sons (even the jealous ones)!

So, EVERYBODY is a winner!  EVERYBODY deserves a prize!

Prizes will be mailed from Hong Kong on June 13.

We already have the addresses of some of you.  We need your address — nia, charlene, Ka Ja, jhcwhite, and moongirl.  Please e-mail us at jhjfans@gmail.com BEFORE June 11.  And Jelly, which of your addresses do you want us to send prize?

We thank everybody for participating.  You have made us smile/misty-eyed/laugh/gooey….. Many thanks for sharing!

And to those who haven’t found your “JHJ” yet, you will — when the right man comes along at the right time and the right place.

We’re writing to tell JHJ about this exercise.  We’ve selected parts from each story to be translated into Korean, so JHJ will know his fans from the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia/Australia, Canada, U.S.A., Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia all have such wonderful husbands/boyfriends/sons.

PRIZE WINNERS — PLEASE CHECK YOUR E-MAIL.

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COMPETITION CLOSES AT END OF TODAY (JUNE 8).

*  Doesn’t look like there are that many supportive husbands/boyfriends and what not, so we’ll close this earlier, say, June 8?  *

First posted on May29.  Will be carried forward everyday till deadline of June 10.  Keep those heartwarming stories coming!

Apart from JHJ, that is.

My husband reduced me to tears a couple of weeks ago.  I was preparing dinner and he was working on the computer.  When it was my turn to use the computer, I saw on the screen a news report of “49 Days” from a Chinese website on Korean entertainment news – something I already translated the day before.  I didn’t think anything of it and switched to our blog.  Ten minutes later my husband walked into the study and asked: “You saw 49 Days?”  “What?” “You didn’t see what I left for you to see?” “Oh! Was that you?  You checked up on ’49 Days’ for me?”  With that I got misty-eyed.

My husband has only watched two Korean dramas in his life – “Jewel in the Palace” (Dae Jang Geum) and “Seo Dong Yo”, the latter because he wanted to understand what it was about JHJ that could make his wife (who is so snobbish in some ways) a star-chaser – something she utterly despises before.  After finishing the 55 episodes, he made some cryptic remarks like: “Baekje fits the real estate agent’s criteria for the perfect property – location, location, location – everywhere is within walking distance – the palace, the academy, the pier, etc.” and “Now I know the saying ‘The walls have ears’ originated in Baekje – every time some secret is told, someone outside is evesdropping.”  He didn’t say anything about JHJ, but I suspected he became a Lee Bo-Young fan (because he asked me if I had anything else featuring LBY – I gave him a DVD of a movie.)

I’ve always said star-chasing is a family affair.  It’s so time-consuming and emotion-draining that you need the support of your spouse (and son and brothers in my case.)  From time to time my brothers (in different parts of the world) would ask: “How’s your other son?”  During JHJ’s MS my real son enquired more than once: “When is Jo Hyun-Jae coming out?” (He actually got his full name correct!) and he downloaded JHJ’s 49D OST songs from itunes for me (his Mother’s Day gift.)  My husband never complains when I monopolise the computer.  I suspect he’s secretly pleased someone is occuping my attention so I won’t have time to nag him!

I know I am very lucky and I thank God everyday for all these wonderful men in my life.  I am especially thankful when I remember that fan from Taiwan (who translated some of our earlier posts for another website) whose husband almost beat her up when he discovered her passion for JHJ.  She was just doing what all of you are doing – searching for news of JHJ on the web – but he treated her as if she had committed adultery.  He shut down all her contacts with other JHJ fans and forced her to disappear from the JHJ scene.

And then there is the Korean fan who (true story – told to me first-hand) who has to hide the JHJ souvenirs and photos whenever relatives visit, although she is single and lives alone.  Whenever they have any fan activities on weekends (like preparing gifts for JHJ), only those unmarried fans can take part or help out; the ones with families have to be home.  Being a JHJ fan seems to be a guilty secret which is something beyond my comprehension.

When I think of that super JHJ fan from Thailand (my friend S) whose bedroom is divided like N. & S. Korea at the 38th parallel – her side all full of JHJ photos and souvenirs – I do not blame her husband for calling JHJ “bad guy”.  No man likes sharing his wife with another man, even though he is beyond reach in another part of the world.  And my friend B’s husband is totally clueless about what occupies his wife all the time, even when she goes on fan meetings with me.  Such a trusting man!  When B spares a little time for him, he is so grateful.  Such a sweet man!  And I must include that fan from California whose husband helped her choose a birthday present for JHJ, even making a sensible suggestion.  With husbands like these, who needs …..JHJ?

“49  Days” has come to an end.  Feeling a little lost?  Still suffering from Han Kang fever?  “What to do? What to do?” as NGR is always saying.  Well, gals, we have to come back to earth and start focusing on reality again.

Now Father’s Day is next month.  We want to organize another competition.  We’d like to hear from you stories about how the men in your life support (or not) your love for JHJ.  We want to salute our long-suffering husbands (or boyfriends), even fathers, brothers, sons.  We want to show our appreciation for their tolerance, patience, and indulgence.

I don’t know what the prize is yet.  I have to rummage in my treasure chest of JHJ souvenirs (much bigger than Song Yi-Kyung’s!)  I have plenty of goodies; I have to see what I can bear to part with.

Again, don’t worry about your English.  But please be truthful – this is not an exercise in creative writing.  I am very good at detecting sham.  If you have more than one story to tell, please feel free to do so.  DO share with us how the wonderful men in your life assist, abet, support, encourage/discourage, reinforce, participate in ….. your star-chasing.

Deadline is June 10.

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(Credit: Photos from http://gall.dcinside.com.  Thanks!)

A couple of weeks ago I met with the computer guy P in Hong Kong.  I wanted to improve the look and functionality of our blog.  I collected some suggestions beforehand and e-mailed him first to let him know roughly what I wanted done.

What we really need to improve is SEARCH — it’s difficult to find things on our blog, even for me.  I had no experience and I never expected we’d grow so big (in terms of material.)  Our CATEGORIES leave a lot to be desired.  For example, when “49 Days” first started, I put everything in “JHJ drama: 49 Days” which rapidly ballooned to over a hundred posts in no time.  It was then that I realized I should have used sub-categories like “49 Days: Preview and Synopsis” and “49 Days: Ratings”, etc.  I tried going back to re-categorize the old posts, but it was so tedious, especially since my broadband is really “narrowband” (so s-l-o-w!)  I gave up in frustration after a week or so,

First of all P upgraded our version of WordPress to the current one.  From time to time (too often) WordPress would say: “x.y.3 version available – please upgrade.”  I only did this once, much to my regret, because upgrading means everything goes haywire and everybody is locked out, including ADMIN!  Anyway P upgraded without consulting me, so what could I say?  I found I had to cope with new features which I don’t like since I’m a creature of habit.  The worst thing is now spacing is unpredictable: so often I can spend a whole hour just wrestling with the computer over double spacing.  That’s why you now see those dots on the side – my ingenious way of getting round the computer’s over-ruling my double-spacing.  It hurts my sense of perfection, but it’s the lesser of two evils.  (B just taught me a way to hide those unsightly dots — make them white!  So now you don’t see them even though they are still there.  Man, or rather, woman is smarter than computers!

The most noticeable thing is additions on the SIDE BAR (right hand column.)  Now we have RECENT COMMENTS (which works) and MOST POPULAR POSTS (which doesn’t, at least I don’t think so.)  At first P put HIT LIST which I had him changed.   Maybe that’s the way it’s called but I don’t like the implications.  As far as I can tell, the MOST POPULAR POSTS have not changed at all in these two weeks or so!  I may take it off soon since it is a distraction.

P added TAG which I don’t know how to use.  I don’t understand how it is different from SEARCH on top right.  And even that is behaving in a strange way.  I tried it out a few times.  I typed in “49 Days OST” and out came a list of posts, many of which had nothing to do with 49D OST!  Same with TAG.  I tried asking P (by e-mail) and he came back with something that’s too brief to be intelligible, so I didn’t feel like bugging him again.

I asked P to add PAGES and he put 1,2,3,4,…..at the bottom.  You have to scroll down to the bottom of each page to find them.  He also added something called RECENT POSTS at the top, next to ABOUT US.  He said that gives a summary and readers can continue if they are interested.  But why are the posts old ones in May and not the latest?  I may have to contact P again but I’m a little scared of these techies.

P calls JHJ “J9″ because he can never remember his full name – he only remembers his name starts with J and it has 9 letters in it.  He must be very amused ajumas such as B and I are so crazy about J9.  I think he found using my netbook almost an insult, but he’s very patient with this near-computer-illiterate ajuma who had to take notes of everything he said.  B was there and she was trying to help.  She’s teaching me something and suddenly we heard P (whose chin was resting on the back of his hands perched on the window sill of my hotel room looking out at the view outside – he’s so bored) roaring with laughter.  I think B made a mistake and P must have thought we’re the short-sighted leading the blind.  He’s not really laughing at us; he’s actually a good-natured guy.

Afterwards at the hotel lounge (the least I could do was treat him to tea – apart from paying him, of course) we were having a very pleasant conversation, during which his cell phone rang a number of times.  Only later did I know it was his girfriend calling; she hung up in anger the last time because he didn’t go at once when she summoned.  I felt very bad but P said it’s no use calling her now because she would have turned off her cell phone.  Suddenly B and I looked at each other and we burst out laughing.  We were both thinking the same thing — JHJ on “‘Only You’ TV Special” when he talked about how he and his girlfriend quarrelled and she wouldn’t take his calls.  So I asked P if he had to go to see her afterwards to patch things up and he said he’d wait till the morning.  Aren’t you going to wait outside her place all night? I teased P and winked at B (she of course knew I was still in my OYTVS mood – JHJ “sitting” outside his girlfriend’s house all night because “How could anyone stand all night?”  Ha!Ha!Ha!)

Just as computers have a mind of their own, computer guys do things their own way (without telling you.)  I’m grateful to P for making one big improvement to our blog — now you can join as SUBSCRIBER only if you are HUMAN!  P added I-forgot-what-it’s-called, so now to be a SUBSCRIBER, you have to be able to do arithmetic and you have to be approved.  I didn’t know this at first, and when I saw the number of subscribers did not grow by the dozens like before, I was very gratified not to have to keep deleting them.  Then one day I scrolled down the USERS list and found something called UNAPPROVED USER which I promptly deleted.  After doing this for a few days, I suddenly realized maybe I was deleting real JHJ fans.  So I e-mailed P and asked him what UNAPPROVED USER meant, and he said I had to approve them.  Now why didn’t he tell me in the first place?

And now to LOG IN, you have to do some simple arithmetic.  It’s not so simple to me — I’m OK with addition and subtraction, but when I first saw *, I wasn’t  sure if that is “multiply” or “divide”, so I took a chance and got it wrong!  THAT CAPTCHA IS INCORRECT!  I felt so insulted!  But at least now we’re not getting any UNAPPROVED COMMENTS that sell this and that, and we needn’t fear ads from porn sites anymore.

Honestly I’m not sure our improvement is an improvement.  I have to say technically our blog is very unsophisticated.  That’s because I am not at all technical-minded and I can only cope with something simple.  I hope you agree with me that substance is more important than style.  I wish I could say what JHJ is always saying: “I will appear before you in a new image.”  Our new image may look a little better than before, but we’re still the same under our skin.  As long as we’ve got JHJ, we’ll look as good as he does.  5555!

It was Song Il Gook’s mother Kim Eul Dong (SIK of “Jumong” “A man called God”, etc. fame), a famous actress in her own right, who had high praise for JHJ in SDY – “Very handsome, like a pretty boy who has stepped out of the comics”.  Characters in comics always look larger than life, more beautiful than real people – except in the case of JHJ.  These photos are proof!

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

This has not been a good week for me.   I found out my mother’s caretaker has been abusing her (at least verbally); my mother-in-law is hospitalized (again!); I’ve been told our blog is just ….. a blog!  The last of course pales in significance compared to the first two, which is why I’m telling myself it’s not worth getting upset/uptight about.

Four years ago my Japanese friend M already told me that the world of JHJ was very complicated, that one would “disappear” if one did anything not in line with the powers-that-be.  I didn’t think much of it then since I was just an ordinary fan and I was far removed from the upper echelons of the JHJ world.  Now I am still an ordinary fan but circumstances have made it possible for me to rub shoulders with the big girls.

I am on good terms with them – with both of them (or so I thought).  I don’t take sides. They are competing to be #1, and I am content to stay on the sidelines.  I even thought I was friends with one of their Masters.  We have a cordial, civilized relationship.

Then last month I took on one of the big girls.  Actually I just asked a simple question, but I must have touched a nerve.  I now know what I did was very un-Korean, although it is just normal behaviour in the west.  It unleashed a long, on-the-surface very polite (polite form and all that) but actually quite scathing response.  I’ve had it translated and a Korean has read it and confirmed my understanding of its contents.

I won’t go into details.  Suffice to say I was told “wulijohyunjae” is just a blog, and, as such, does not qualify to represent anyone.  When I first started this blog, someone (yes, that same IT professional who told me I was the only person she knew who didn’t know how to send photos by e-mail) said mine was just a “blog” and hers was a “website”.  I asked her the difference between a blog and a website, and she launched into a string of technical jargon that succeeded in thoroughly confusing me.  I have since asked a lot of people who don’t seem to think there is any difference.  Anyway, this big girl from the land of JHJ says “wulijohyunjae” has not made the grade because hit rates don’t mean anything; blogs that do not require LOG IN are inferior to those that do; visitors to blogs such as wulijohyunjae are just “passers-by”.  (Now you have to understand the Korean language never calls a spade a spade; they use a lot of euphemisms but I can read between the lines.)

I wish I had never mentioned Alexa.  I made it very clear that I wasn’t boasting, that I just wanted to let them know that JHJ has fans in many different countries in the world, some places where no one would imagine he could reach.  In my reply (yes, back and forth) I ask if she seriously believes that our “area of influence” (her term) is not as great as those “websites” ranked several million below us. (which she ignored in her next reply.)  I query their ignoring the many international fans on our blog, and she tells me authoritatively that we are not a representative fan site since we are not “official.”   I never claim that wulijohyunjae is a fan site/club, OK, we’re just a blog.  Of course we’re not official, but are they? are the others?  Who made them official?  Yes, they were once official but they have been “de-officialed” when the KOW was established (everybody knows this.)

She said “wulijohyunjae” is just my personal blog, that it represents my personal feelings and thoughts, that’s all.  Yes, I have my own take on things JHJ, but I told her of all the JHJ blogs/websites, “wulijohyunjae” is the least personal in the sense that you don’t even find my name or position on it, unlike the others.  I don’t call myself “Master” because I detest the term.  What makes these Masters think they are above the rest?  Just their own egos!

To me all JHJ fans are equal.  The only difference lies in the quality and degree of their love for JHJ and how much they are willing to give of themselves for him (not just money.)  But to them “All fans are equal, but some are more equal than others”.  (Apologies to George Orwell for paraphrasing his famous line from “Animal Farm”.)   I said they’re just playing the “small circle game” (Chinese saying); they and their subsidiaries are just “cliques” – a small group of people controlling everything.

I told her point-blank that the main difference between wulijohyunjae and them (they and their subsidiaries) is: we are INCLUSIVE and they are EXCLUSIVE.  I deliberately do not require people to LOG IN before they can read our posts because I want as many people as possible to get to know JHJ, so I make it as easy as possible for them.  Visitors to our blog can freely express their opinions/views/thoughts/feelings, and many have made great contributions.  I also told her our “passers-by” pass by every day, some even several times a day.

In her next reply she just repeated everything three times over (complete with 100 polite phrases.)  I told her in my very first e-mail that I’m a straightforward person and I will write directly and simply.  But she still beats around the bush.  Why can’t she just tell me to go to hell?  I would, if circumstances are reversed and I feel she is out of line.  I think I tread on her sore foot (Chinese saying).  I bet nobody has dared to challenge her/them before.  But what the heck!  They have no right to monopolise him — JHJ belongs to all his fans.  He is no longer just a Korean actor — he is an international star!

I may have become a pariah in the JHJ world.  So?  What if they don’t include me in anything?  I can still admire him from a distance.  I can still write to him (and I did).  I can also write to SNH (and I did.)  And I got both letters translated into Korean.  But my translator tells me SNH would most likely throw my letter into the wastepaper basket.  They have probably never been told to shape up (very politely, of course.)  Well, it’s their loss.  If they won’t listen to constructive criticism or accept any suggestions, they are not worthy to take care of our JHJ.  Anybody with commonsense knows an actor without fans is like a fish out of water.  An actor with many fans from outside of Korea can sometimes reinforce his position in Korea (Park Shi-Hoo of “Prosecutor Princess” is a case in point.)

In the midst of my worries over my mother and my mother-in-law, I ask myself: “What am I doing fencing with people like that over something so silly and trivial?  Have I totally lost my sense of perspective?”  But listening to JHJ’s song “Even if I can only live for one day”, my other self tells me: “Even if I can only last for one day, I’ll keep working for JHJ because he’s better and bigger than these people, and if it were left to them, he would just be a frog in the well.” *    (* ED: Reference is to the Chinese parable about a frog which lives in a well and which thinks the whole world is the sky that he can only see from the bottom of the well.)   “Wulijohyunjae” may be just a blog but our “passers-by” are living, breathing human beings who sustain JHJ with their true hearts, and nothing they do can take this away from us.  So there!

(Credit: Calendar design by ahiru of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Many thanks!)

P.S.  jhcwhite, I haven’t forgotten I owe you an answer about JHJ’s management companies (MC), and this seems as good a place as any to say something about this touchy topic.

These things are not documented and Koreans don’t talk about them.  Everything is hush-hush (delicate matter, I suppose.)  I had to do some checking and I also consulted my friend B (walking/talking JHJ encyclopaedia, remember?)

Here are the facts (as far as I know) :  After SDY ended in March 2006, JHJ’s first known public appearance was at his birthday party organized by CAFE in May.  Then he went to Hong Kong in September to attend a Tiffany event (opening of their flagship store or something like that), but mainly to meet Eric Tsang (famous HK actor/productor) who wanted to sign him for a re-make of the 1987 Chow Yun-Fat classic “An Autumn’s Tale”.  Nothing came of this, however, because of financing problems.

Soon after JHJ returned to Korea, news broke in late Sept. that he had broken his contract with his MC Star J (very big company that he’d been with since almost the beginning of his acting career.)  Star J sued JHJ for 800 m. KRW (which is miniscule compared to other similar lawsuits.)  The case went to trial, but the outcome seemed to be that JHJ did not have to pay because evidence was given that Star J did not offer JHJ enough support when he was under contract to them.

In Nov. 2006 JHJ went to Japan for 3 fan meetings.  He was already with his new company (a precursor of Star N Hit – forgot name, sorry! also STAR something.)  This is very strange because this contract must have been signed by JHJ’s old MC Star J.  Why should JHJ honour this contract?  Some arrangement between old and new MCs?

In 2007 JHJ filmed “G.P.506″ under new MC and also “3 Dads/1 Mom” in 2008.  Somewhere along the line (I forgot exact date, sorry!) his MC changed its name to Star N Hit — same people, same set-up, everything’s the same except the name, plus the joining of Mr. Lee from JHJ’s old MC (where he also managed JHJ.)  JHJ has said more than once that Mr. Lee is like a big brother to him.

Nobody knows exactly what happened between JHJ and Star J, and he never talks about it.  But at the Korea Fan Meeting in Seoul in 2008, one of the questions that fans asked JHJ was to list his joys and sorrows.  JHJ said the saddest thing in his life was to be betrayed by someone he trusted.  He did not elaborate, but I suspect it had to be about his break-up with his old MC.

I met with a representative of the Official Japan Fan Club in 2009, and she told me SNH was not a big MC but medium-sized.  JHJ is the biggest star in SNH, so I suppose here he has the freedom to choose his projects (whereas in a big MC actors have to do what they’re told.)  Perhaps if JHJ had stayed with Star J, he could have become a much bigger star than he is now (at a price.)  He has obviously made his choice, and I hope he is happier now.

The last word on “49 Days” *

I was going to leave these comments on the OPEN FORUM, but they got longer and longer as I got more and more worked up.

Let me state categorically that I am first and foremost a JHJ fan, so I am naturally biased in his favour.  I have seen a couple of Lee Yo-Won’s previous dramas, and I have a soft spot for any actress who has worked with JHJ.  I don’t know any of the other actors in “49 Days” (49D).

I am not a K-drama fan (I haven’t watched that many.)  I am a film buff.  I don’t like soap operas.  I don’t watch TV series in general.  The only one I’ve watched in its entirety is “The West Wing”.  I’ve also watched several episodes of “Desperate Housewives” because I can’t decide which one of the four women is my favourite.  (I’ve eliminated one.)

When I first heard that JHJ has chosen “49 Days” and I checked out what it’s about, I was very excited.  I have faith in JHJ’s judgement and 49D does not sound run-of-the-mill at all.  It did cross my mind that perhaps JHJ was influenced by his father’s recent demise to choose this comeback drama with the theme of life and death.  I was a little concerned that the transcendental subject might go over the heads of the Korean ajumas who make up the bulk of the audience.  But ratings aren’t everything, and I’m sure JHJ will carry the day.

I was not happy about all the advance publicity and promotion centering on LYW, NGR, and JIW.  No wonder this prompted doubts about whether JHJ is really the #1 actor, or #2 or even #3.  I know the reality of the entertainment world.  If an actor’s MC (management company) is big and has clout, it can secure plum roles for him/her.  Not only that, they can get written into the contract how many minutes per episode the actor will appear, how much publicity the TV studio will focus on him/her, what other perks like singing OST he/she will get, etc.  So when LYW’s head is biggest on the official posters, well, it’s obvious she’s the star.  And when NGR’s head gets bigger, oh well, she’s a rising star.  JHJ’s MC is ….. the less said the better (Sigh!)  JHJ can only rely on himself.  I was not worried.  I knew once JHJ takes centre stage, he can eclipse everybody, anybody!

BUT JHJ is never given the chance to take centre stage in 49D!  Never mind the story is really focused on NGR; never mind the script is tailor-made for LYW; never mind JIW gets the plum role of the Scheduler; never mind JHJ’s screen time is less than his role warrants.  I can forgive all the demerits of the drama, but I cannot forgive the scriptwriter and the director for WASTING our JHJ!

I ask very little of K-drama – just that it can retain my attention.  If I nitpick on every flaw, every inconsistency, every illogicality, I won’t be able to finish a single drama.  I have no intention of discussing 49D in general here – it’s not worth my time.  In any case, many of you have expressed excellent opinions and insights on the OPEN FORUM.  I just want to say this: all through the run of 49D (10 weeks) and now four days after its close, I am still boiling with indignation, tinged with a large dose of regret, that JHJ’s comeback drama should have ended with a whimper, not a bang.

From Episode 1 I was already nursing the fear that JHJ’s Han Kang might be peripheral.  Well, he’s not; he’s actually very important in the development of the plot.  But the treatment he receives is peripheral – by this I mean not only does JHJ gets less screen time than he deserves, he is not allowed to display his awesome acting ability to the full.  There are numerous examples, but just to cite one glaring instance here: When HK rushes to the hospital on hearing of JH’s death in the final episode, there is one very brief (maybe 3 seconds) close-up shot of JHJ’s face.  Can’t the camera linger for a few more seconds on JHJ’s face?  We all know how he can cry (tugs at our heartstrings) and this is just about the most emotional moment of the drama.  But no, camera cuts away immediately to I-forgot-what (left no impression on me at all.)

Throughout this drama JHJ has not been given full rein to act to his heart’s content.  The second half of Episode 19 is all about SYK and SYS reconciling their differences, scene after scene, shot after shot, lovingly, lingeringly portrayed.  JHJ has not been accorded the same courtesy.  Most of his scenes are short (to the point of abrupt), many of his lines are brief, and he does not get any long, developed segment at all.  Yes, there’s the HUG, the backhug, the piano scene…. and oh! that magnificent tirade against BSB, but none is more than a couple of minutes (even though to us they last an eternity.)  I’m sure JHJ acted his heart out but a lot of the film was left on the floor of the editing room (figuratively – of course now everything is done on the computer.)  I’d like to be the SBS cleaner so I can sweep up and save all these treasures.

A bigger, more efficient MC would have stormed the SBS Production Unit and threatened this and demanded that for their actor.  I’m getting all worked up again when I remember even in a light comedy like “3 Dads/1 Mom” there are scenes like JHJ looking for his “daughter” in the supermarket and talking to her on the videocam, scenes where JHJ can demonstrate to the full his enormous range of expressions, scenes that are one-shot (no editing.)  The emotions that JHJ is able to arouse by the purity, the subtlety, the intensity of his acting is unparalleled in K-drama.

Except for 2 or 3 episodes, JHJ is not given the opportunity to do his job properly in 49D.  He seems to me like a thoroughbred reined in by its rider.  He can easily beat the rest of the pack but is deliberately held back.  Episode 20 is an anti-climax.  I don’t like the ending one bit!  Not because JHJ doesn’t end up with either NGR or LYW.  JHJ never gets the girl anyway in most of his dramas, except for “Only You” and “Seo Dong Yo”.  Not because NGR dies and JHJ is heartbroken – death is not the most tragic thing in life. (The Queen also dies in SDY and I cry buckets every time I see that forlorn look in JHJ’s eyes, but there her death is natural and meaningful whereas NGR’s death in 49D is unnecessary and meaningless.)  What I don’t like are the pretentiousness, the pseudo-philosophy, the holier-than-thou attitude of the scriptwriter So Hyun-Kyung (SHK).

The concept of the 49 days traveller is not new and certainly not something conceived by the scriptwriter SHK.  It’s borrowed from Buddhism and just given a dramatic spin in this drama.  Quite apart from all those soul and body shifts and rolling in and out, the Scheduler with his wild gestures and constant shouting has taken up plenty of precious screen time.  And then at the end to cheat, yes, cheat with the so-called “reversal” smacks of artistic dishonesty to me, or, as one Korean so aptly put it, “emotional terrorism”.  NGR can die (K-dramas specialise in healthy young people inexplicably stricken by an incurable disease) but not like this.  All that banal sermonising about “living every day as if it were 49 days” and “life goes on” is so superficial (and not even novel) that it’s downright laughable.  People watch K-dramas for entertainment, not to be preached at.  We have priests for that!  It’s not whether it’s a happy ending or sad ending or open ending, but it cannot negate everything that happens in the rest of the drama.  As it is, it’s a contrived ending – just to be different, to surprise (maybe “spite” is more appropriate) the audience, to confound all expectations, to puncture all speculations.  I didn’t shed one drop of tear.  No, I cried in my heart for JHJ – for the unforgivable waste of the talents of a splendid actor.

And yet the most ironic thing is this: In spite of not being given his rightful due, JHJ manages to outshine everyone in 49D.  Even though his character is not fully developed, Han Kang fever has swept the world.  49D will never be one of JHJ’s best, but Han Kang may end up as one of his most memorable characters – simply because he makes so many women swoon!

Another unexpected bonus to come out of 49D is JHJ’s song “Even if I can only live for one day”.  No advance publicity, no promotion – and yet, played at the HUG, it has become the most popular track on the 49D OST.  Except for JHJ fans who have heard him sing on his CD and at fan meetings, everybody is pleasantly surprised, maybe even SBS.

I have no desire to watch 49D again, (having watched every episode twice already), except the JHJ parts.  (I’ve watched all JHJ’s other dramas N times.)  You all know about Director’s cut?  I’m going to try to get a Coffee’s cut (you know, those JHJ parts of 49D that Coffee so painstakingly edited for us every week).

* Not really – you can say what you want.

(Credit: Photos from http://tv.sbs.co.kr/49. Thanks!)

A few days ago I was feeling a little down from the reality of fan club politics. On the same day, however, we’ve had a record number of subscribers (that we judge to be genuine) and also many messages (comments and e-mails) that say nice things about our blog.  Well, you win some; you lose some.

I’ve always believed that a certain kind of actor attracts a certain kind of fans.  The few fans that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting are all like JHJ — quiet, modest, principled, a little starry-eyed, somewhat 4D.  That is why it comes as a shock to me that some are not as altruistic as we.  I left the rat race long ago.  I have no intention or interest to jockey for position in the JHJ world.  It is all very childish and silly to me.

When I first started this blog (on a lark) in February 2009 with my ex-partner who has since decamped, I was near-computer-illiterate.  One of the key players of a dominant JHJ website paid me this compliment: “You’re the only person I know who does not know how to send photos by e-mail.” — after I mailed her hard copies of the trip we took together in 2008. (She’s an IT professional.)

People are funny creatures: if you’re inferior to them, they can take pity on you, but if you are superior to them, they are green with envy.  They probably think this blog will fold within a few months, especially since google.blogspot (original webhost) was blocked in May 2009 in this country where I’m currently residing.  I could not access our blog at all; I had to use something called a proxy server.  It was so difficult keeping the blog going; I had to enlist my brother’s help (he lives in the U.S.A.)  But I never thought of giving up.

It was then that I knew who my true friends were.  B introduced me to a computer guy who transferred our blog from google.blogspot to our current webhost WordPress, for which I’m eternally indebted to her.  B and I subscribe to the same philosophy: we believe JHJ news, photos, videos, etc. should be shared, since we want more people to know him.  We work very hard to try to keep JHJ in the public eye.  During those lean months when JHJ was in the army, I literally hung in there by the skin of my teeth.  I could barely keep up with one post a day.

Then in early 2010 (I think – can’t remember exact date) my brother told me our blog was ranked 1 million something on alexa.com.  “What’s Alexa?”  I had no idea, and many of you probably don’t either.  Alexa.com is an internet service that measures how many internet users visit a site on a daily basis.  The top 3 sites, as you can guess, are Google, Facebook, and Youtube.  We’re actually ranked nearer to 2 million than 1.  “Is that good?” I asked my brother.  He was incredulous: “Big Sis, do you realize how many millions of websites there are in the world?  Yours is a one-actor blog, and a Korean actor at that!” And a Korean actor with no news, I might add. 

I honestly don’t care about such things.  I am not competing with anybody.  I am just happy doing something for JHJ.  When our blog was transferred to WordPress, the computer guy asked if I wanted a counter put in to display the number of visitors to our blog each day.  I said no need: even if there were only 10 people reading our blog, I would still carry on for as long as I could.

I believe in the virtue of humility, but I’m gloating now!  Our blog is ranked 629,544 today (May 15.)  Is that good?  You bet!  The next JHJ website is ranked 2.5 million below us.  The website that claims to represent the land of 1.3 billion is 4.3 million places below us.  Others are ranked 16 million, 19 million, nearly 27 million….(Every site’s ranking has risen in the last 3 months because of “49 Days”.)  What is my point? 

1.  JHJ is really something!  He is popular in so many different parts of the world.  It is a minor miracle that he has both Arab and Jewish fans.  Of course JHJ is the attraction.  People come to our blog because of him.

2.  We must be doing something right if we’re reaching more people than any of the other websites – older, bigger, richer, better staffed, with more resources.  Hard work pays!  We work quietly and diligently, and we’re doing good work for JHJ (even if I say so myself.) 

I’m saying this loud and clear to those people who are breathing down my neck — Remember the Beatles’ song ”Can’t buy me love”?  Money can’t buy you everything.  Boasting won’t get you anywhere.  Statistics don’t lie.  The Bible says: “The last shall be the first.”  And Pride and Envy are among the 7 Deadly Sins, and oh! so is Sloth.  Instead of spending your time stabbing people in the back and doing petty things to spite them, why don’t you work on your website and do some good work for JHJ?  ”Oh!  We love JHJ!  We love JHJ!” gets you (or him) nowhere.   

More than once I’ve asked myself: What on earth am I doing getting involved with people like these?  Why do I have to suffer at the hands of such people who are really beneath my notice?  Why don’t I just give up and enjoy life?  Will the JHJ world be poorer without wulijohyunjae?  And who cares?

Well, I do!  I care about JHJ.  I care about his fans who have said kind words about  our blog.  I care about L and D who are fighting shoulder to shoulder with me.  The good guys don’t always win in real life, but they go down fighting.  And we’re not going down!  We’re way up there – head and shoulders above the rest!  5555   (55 is Ha! Ha! in Thai, taught us by varandhorn — See? you learn many things running a blog!)

(Credit: Photo from http://tv.sbs.co.kr/49 – M’s Diary – Many thanks!)

The other day I was walking home from the post office when I passed a small shopping mall.  I heard the music before I saw the dancers.  They were celebrating the “grand” opening of the shops on the 2/F – a dance performance on the pavement!  Normally I would never pay attention to this sort of thing, but I stopped and watched for 15 minutes.  They were doing the fan dance and the 16 ajumas (in colourful costumes) were all older than me (no kidding!) – some with a shockful of white hair!  They were obviously having the time of their lives, and they were all going through their motions very seriously and smoothly.  And the six old men in the “band” were also enjoying themselves.

My casual glance focused on one of the dancers.  Her hair was all white but she had this sweet serene smile on her face all the time she was lithely swaying to the music and gracefully swinging her fans.  She was all concentration but she looked a little dreamy.  They finished their number after about five minutes and took a break while other performers took over.  This old lady did not join the other chatty ajumas; instead she sat on a bench by herself, still with this half-smile on her face.  She just sat there quietly with her bright eyes and pink cheeks (not from make-up).  She must have been quite a beauty in her youth.  And I noticed she was making movements with her fans.  Then it was time for them to perform again and she sprang into action all at once.  All the time the others were gabbling, she was silently rehearsing by herself.

Do you think I’m crazy if I say I actually saw JHJ in this lady?  Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching “49 Days” and am totally tuned in to this transfer of soul and body business.  She really reminded me of JHJ.  What I like most about JHJ is his serenity, his quietness, his soothing presence.  He is always so calm, cool, composed, collected, content with himself and his lot.  He keeps to himself; he keeps his distance (even from fans); he keeps his feelings in his heart.  He takes his art very seriously; he is a perfectionist who always gives his best.  There is an unspeakable sweetness about him that is not in the least effeminate.  I love that faraway look in his eyes, as if he’s out of this world.  When that look is focused on you, you feel you’re the only woman in this world.  Gazing into his big beautiful eyes, you can see his beautiful soul.  (And he’s handsomer in person than on the screen.)  This is the kind of man a woman can spend a lifetime with.  In a flashback in Ep.16 JIW says to LYW: “Just thinking of spending the next few decades (rest of my life) with you makes me suffocate (unable to breathe.)”  I can say the same about him (or his character) - he is so loud, always shouting, treating women like dirt – I get a headache just watching him.

From the Korean dramas I have seen, it would seem men can be rough with women (i.e. if art imitates life.)  The characters that JHJ has played all have a chivalrous attitude to women – very respectful, very protective, and most caring –  what Koreans call “pure-love male”.  Han Kang fever is sweeping the world — every woman wants to be Shin Ji-Hyun, even if she is just a wandering soul.  The real HK AKA JHJ is a very polite, considerate, refined, and gracious young man, a real gentleman who is always bowing and smiling.  When you see him up close and personal (like shaking his hand at fan meetings), you need all earth’s gravity to keep from swooning and collapsing.  I’ve had more than one minor heart attack!  And the most surprising thing about our JHJ is: he doesn’t change — not with age, not with time, not in appearance, not at heart — same tranquill look, same gentle manners, same delicate features, same sonorous voice, same earnest attitude, same bashful modesty, same wide-eyed wonder, same child-like (not childish) innocence, same genuine guilelessness, same artless spontaneity, same steadfast integrity, same single-minded dedication, same idealistic outlook, same pure heart.  You are an endangered species, JHJ!  Don’t ever change!  We love you just the way you are!

As you turn 31 tomorrow, dear JHJ, I wish you all the very best that life has to offer, but most of all, I wish you love.  I pray God will grant you your wish of falling in love — with a good woman who is (as the Chinese saying goes)  動如脫兔, 靜如處子, literally translates as “sprightly as a rabbit on the loose, and quiet as a virgin.” (you get the idea)

.         .         .         .         .         .         .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

- to those JHJ fans who are mothers

- and to the mothers of those who are not

- and especially to Mrs. Jo (the most blessed of mothers in this world!)

PLEASE DO NOT TRANSFER OR REPRODUCE PHOTOS.

(Credit: Photos from http://jo-hyunjae.com.  Thanks!)