Jo Hyun Jae

“3 Dads/1 Mom” is currently showing on TVB HD Channel in Hong Kong

July 30, 2010  Yonhap News (Hong Kong)

Recently in Hong Kong Hallyu (Korean Wave) is again on the rise.  Hong Kong’s major TV networks are competing with one another to show Korean dramas.  The various media (newspapers and magazines) are also publishing articles on a daily basis on Korean culture, art, cuisine, and travel.

“Oriental Daily” published an article on July 27 and 28 by Chan Man Hung, Head of the China Business Centre of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in which he evaluates Korean culture and economics.

The title is: “Hallyu rising, supersedes Japan”, and in the article Chan mentions Korean cosmetics have now surpassed those made in Japan and have become a major Korean product.

He says in the past Korean cosmetics are way behind Japanese products, but in the last ten years they have developed by leaps and bounds.  On the other hand, Japanese brands have become stagnant.  According to Chan, Korean brands develop so rapidly because of creativity.

Korean cosmetics are immensely popular in the Asian market.  Myeong-dong in Seoul is the best place for Asian tourists to shop for cosmetics.  Chan emphasizes that Korean cosmetics have become major products in Hallyu, along with Korean fashion, skincare products, Korean dramas, and K-POP.

Chan also says that Korean manufacturing industry - whether it is Samsung, Hyundai Motors and other big enterprises or famous brand names – all emphasize creativity and change and integrate with local culture to develop new markets in every part of the world.  He also points out Hong Kong should learn from Korea in this respect.

Apart from this, in July alone, Hong Kong and Macau media have published more than 30 articles on Korea, introducing Korean culture, cuisine, shopping, and travel.

According to statistics released by the Korean Consulate in Hong Kong, up to April 2010 the two big TV stations – TVB and ATV – have shown 24 Korean dramas.

inkyoung@yna.co.kr (translated into English by wulijohyunjae)

For the benefit of those who cannot read either the Korean or Chinese subtitles in the video above, the only pertinent things said are:

Jae Hee on JHJ: “Most people think of him as rather inflexible, but actually after a few drinks he opens up and talks a lot and is really interesting.  He’s very comfortable to be with.”

Eugene on JHJ: “Not as sharp as I imagined, but comfortable to be with, like the boy next door.”

The one thing that JHJ says towards the end which makes everybody laugh (and which is branded as JHJ type of humour) is: “Short drama scripts are usually produced very slowly.”  His remark is in response to what Eugene says about their being kept in the dark about the identity of the father.

JHJ describes “3 Dads/1 Mom” as the kind of drama that you’d like to watch after a hard day at the office, that would make you relax and have a good time.

(Credit: http://chinese.yonhapnews.co.kr; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)

Recently photos of Korean actresses BEFORE and AFTER cosmetic surgery were somehow leaked and aroused a furore in the entertainment world.  Among the list are some of Jo Hyun-Jae’s co-stars which may come as a surprise.

Left: BEFORE; Right: AFTER

Han Chae-Young (“Only You”) — double eyelids

Lee Bo-Young (“Seo Dong Yo”) — major makeover!

Hong Soo-Hyun (“Only You” #2 actress) — eyes?

Ko Hyun-Jung (“Queen Seon Deok”) – paring of jawbones and eyes? (And she was Miss Korea too!)

And this is our JHJ –

As a child:

And as a man (at different ages):

And now:

Is JHJ looking better and better as he gets older and older, or what?

.

(Credit: http://enjoy.eastday.com; http://nate.com; www.johyunjae.hk; last photo from http://jo-hyunjae.com.  Thanks!)

I was exchanging notes with the Master of a major JHJ website who confided she found it harder now running her site than when JHJ was in the army.  At least during those two lean years she could use materials about military life, but now those are irrelevant.  The Master of another website confidently predicts news of JHJ’s comeback drama will be announced in July and he will visit her country this year.  Everybody expects JHJ news will be all over the air once he is discharged, but if they know JHJ at all, they should not be fuelling their own fantasies.

Every day on the KOW I see entries like “Good Morning, JHJ!”, “Signing in”, “Have a good weekend, JHJ!” from the same old people.  Of course they have every right to leave such messages — it’s a free-for-all on the KOW.  My own habit is: first check FROM HYUNJAE – nothing! (not that I expect anything), then NOTICE (nothing!) and NEWS (if anything, a day later than everybody, and only in Korean), PHOTOS (nothing!), TO HYUNJAE (“Good morning”, etc.), ONLY FAN (“Signing in”, etc.)  Original high hopes of KOW are again a figment of our imagination.

And I see all these speculations about JHJ’s comeback drama in practically all websites.  One goes as far as writing scripts for him — so many unpublished writers among JHJ fans!  What is the point of opining he should be in this drama or that drama? (as if we have any say!)  Some people are seriously delusional about their influence.  Who knows more about choosing scripts than JHJ and his manager?  If there has been no announcement so far, it is because a decision has not been made.  Period. 

JHJ fans come and go.  Someone who has been a fan since 2005 told me she woke up one morning in May and the passion was gone.  She could not even work herself up about his discharge.  I suspect the girl’s in love!  She must have found a boyfriend!  I’m sad JHJ has lost a diehard fan, but then I see all these new names on other websites, and even in ours.  Well, you win some, you lose some.  Good thing most JHJ fans stay forever.  (Depends on how you define “forever”!)

P.S.  From the Japan Official Fan Club website – Administrator’s message on July 29 (translated from Japanese):

JHJ has started his singing practice in preparation for the Japan Fan Meetings in August.  The music director said: “Everything is going very smoothly – JHJ is much better than expected.”  In spite of the two-year blank period, JHJ should have no problem picking up where he left off.   What will JHJ be singing for us?  We’re looking forward with great anticipation!

Joo Ji-Hoon and Lee Jun-Ki starred in a musical in the military when they became entertainment soldiers.  Now if our JHJ were to become an entertainment soldier, surely he would be the star of a musical too.  But instead he persisted in being a dog soldier!  With his looks…..that is something difficult to understand!

(Credit: Poster designed by prissymom of wulijohyunjae; 2nd poster - from Dramabeans – supplied by prissymom; P.S. from http://jo-hyunjae.com. Thanks!)

Andre Kim

According to Korean news reports, the famous Korean designer Andre Kim has recently been hospitalized because of deteriorating health.  He is currently undergoing treatment in an isolation ward for the seriously ill.  Ever since his fashion show in Beijing in March 2010,  Andre Kim has been in and out of hospitals. 

Born in 1935, Kim was the first Korean designer to have his own show in Paris in 1966.  He has always been in the front ranks of fashion in Korea and has received numerous fashion design awards.

Of course, we all know Andre Kim because Jo Hyun-Jae was his lead model in his July 12, 2007 fashion extravaganza in Wuxi, China.  We wish Mr. Kim a speedy recovery.  Below are a few of his designs modelled by JHJ and his partner Park Sol Mi (of “Winter Sonata” and “All in” fame.)

Korean Drama Ratings 

According to the latest ratings released by the two top TV ratings investigation companies in Korea, TNMS and AGB NIELSON:

- “King of Baking Kim Tak Goo” (KBS2 – 30 episodes from 2010.06.09), starring Yoo Shi-Yoon (2010.07.22 TNmS rating: 38.4%)

- “Dong Yi” (MBC – 50 episodes from 2010.03.22), starring Ji Jin-Hee (2010.07.20 TNmS rating: 29.4%)

- “Road No.1″ (MBC – 20 episodes from 2010.006.23), starring So Ji-Sub (2010.07.22 TNmS rating: 7.5%; AGBNielson rating: 5.7%)

- “Coffee House” (SBS – 18 episodes from 2010.05.17), starring Kang Ji-Hwan (2010.07.20 TNmS rating: 9.7%)

- “Bad Guy” (SBS – 17 episodes from 2010.05026), starring Kim Nam-Gil (2010.07.22 TNmS rating: 8.9%)

The surprising thing is the #1 drama in terms of ratings does not have big-name stars.  “King of Baking Kim Tak Goo”– what an unlikely name for a hit drama!  “Road No.1″ looks so promising with So Ji-Sub and Kim Ha-Neul, but its single-digit rating is most disappointing, coupled with unfavourable reviews and harsh comments by netizens.  Same with Kang Ji-Hwan’s “Coffee House” which has been variously criticised as “flat” or “boring”.   And “Bad Guy” which started off with 17 – 18% , very respectable, has now dropped to 8.9%.  With its lead actor enlisting soon, it can expect an early demise.

From these ratings, it seems there is not always a correlation between big-name stars and ratings.  Viewers always love a good story.  We hope JHJ will pay careful attention in choosing the script of his comeback drama.  The plot makes or breaks a drama – a good plot will always bring out good acting.  We have great faith in JHJ’s acting; we just hope he can find the proper vehicle to showcase his talents. 

Another observation is — historical drama is still very popular in Korea, as witnessed by “Dong Yi’s” nearly 30% rating (consistently high.)  Historical dramas usually have bigger budgets, better scripts, more experienced directors, top actors, more resources, etc. = more audience.  So maybe JHJ should consider doing another historical drama (even though he has sworn off such after “Seo Dong Yo”.)

(Credit: First photo courtesy of http://jo-hyunjae.com; second from Param of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Thanks!)

I first saw the news article on a Korean website at 8:15 a.m.  SCREAM!!!!!  I blinked several times — to make sure I was seeing right.  Maybe there’s something wrong with the translation.  No! Key words “expose muscular upper torso” were still there, whichever way they’re translated.  I took a deep breath to calm myself.  I put it aside for the greater part of the morning.  I didn’t want to deal with it.

By mid-afternoon, the “news” was already published in every JHJ website in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan…..including the KOW!  I held off for as long as I could.  I finally had to translate the piece into English – for publication the next day.  We’re all dying for news of JHJ – but NOT for this kind of news!

This is Andrea!  This is Han Young-Woo!  This is Seo Dong!  Surely he does not have to do this? or does he?  In all the big-budget and high-profile Korean movies I’ve seen in the last few years (movies [contemporary or costume] that are shown at various prestigious film festivals all over the world), the actors and actresses have to (almost without exception) strip and perform the sex act (like in a porn movie.)  It is true that some scripts require these sex scenes, but does the act have to be performed in its entirety (leaving nothing to the imagination)?  And not once, but sometimes several times.  Someone tells me that’s what the Korean movie-going public expects from its actors.  If that is true, I hope JHJ never acts in a Korean movie again. 

The news says this is a “surprise move” on JHJ’s part.  Well, it is certainly a surprise to me.  JHJ has always 惜肉如金 (Chinese idiom that translates roughly as “cherishes his flesh like gold”.)  He has never shown much flesh in his works – I think those scenes can be counted on the fingers of one hand.  The ones that immediately come to mind are — the morning after in “Only You”, the scene in bed in “Joy of Love”, and those of JHJ in swimming trunks in “That’s Good” when he still hasn’t lost his baby fat (10 years ago!)

If you think I’m over-reacting when others are salivating, let me tell you the reaction of other like-minded fans.  I talked to two and exchanged e-mails with one (all from different parts of the world) — one was shocked, one sighed, and one cried.  And I read a funny comment on a Japanese website – “So shocked! my cell phone fell down the toilet!”  As for me, after the initial shock wore off,  a deep sadness settled in.  I trust JHJ enough to believe he’s not doing this photo shoot for that men’s magazine just to show off his newly scultped body.  It must have been a business decision necessitated by the entertainment world reality.  It is not enough to be a good actor.  You have to make a splash.

(At the request of EVER which relayed SNH’s request, we have deleted the article “Actor JHJ” and all mention of its contents.  Our original instinct was right — it was something private and should not be made into news.)

Why should JHJ suddenly take it into his head to appear in a men’s magazine?  Last year when those JHJ souvenirs went on sale, we asked the Japan Official Fan Club rep why the belt (because it’s so expensive and few people wear belts), and she said Mr. L’s friend had a factory which manufactured them!  We felt then that it was a nonsensical business decision.  Maybe this time it’s Mr. K’s magazine, who knows?  In any case, the Chinese expression:  人在江湖，身不由己 comes to mind.  (Translation: When you are in the world at large, you are in the grip of forces beyond your control.) 

So, we can now look forward to seeing some flesh in August.  Please, please, please, please, please — let the photos be in good taste!

If you don’t know what I’m raving about, please see yesterday’s post “Farewell is the beginning of meeting again”.

(Credit: Photos from Param of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Thanks!)

DISCLAIMER: This is not a complaint.

Remember the story of Joseph interpreting the Pharaoh’s dream in the Bible – 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine?  Well, we’ve had 2 years of famine followed by 2 weeks of plenty, and then…..famine again!  I’m referring of course to news of our Jo Hyun-Jae.

The two years JHJ was in the Korean military have been understandably bereft of news.  This has been over-compensated for in the deluge in the two weeks following his discharge on June 19.  So many photos, so many videos, so many news stories!  And then…..silence!

We’re told JHJ’s first public activity will be the Japan fan meetings in Osaka and Tokyo in August.  So what is JHJ doing?  Is he prepping for these?  Is he going to surprise us with new songs?  Is he shooting a new photo album?  Or is he (as a fan confides to me her dream) learning Japanese?

Hope you like these photos.  It is almost impossible to find any photo of JHJ that has not been recycled 100 times.

In the KOW I see fans getting impatient with JHJ’s silence* (See below.)  This reminds me of the real-life story of a friend of mine.  She’s been going out with this man for 7 years — not her ideal type but whom she hopes to mould into her ideal type.  I keep telling her she has to love him for what he is, not what she wants him to be.  So you can guess how the relationship ends — in a split up, initiated by the man. 

JHJ is what he is — if you don’t like him for what he is, you don’t really like him at all.  You can’t expect him to be high-profile, to be making waves, to “expose” himself on all sorts of occasions — because that’s not him.  He is probably studying scripts at home.  Nothing will be announced until everyone has signed on the dotted line.

So we have to learn to live with the silence.  You can be assured JHJ is not wasting his time.  Just because he does not tell us what he is doing does not mean he is doing nothing.  But have mercy on people who are running JHJ blogs.  I’m racking my brains about how to fill this blog.  I don’t want to publish any more recycled discharge news and photos.  I’m sure readers are saturated with these.  Well, at least I managed to fill another post — for today!

* P.S.  We’ve had some of the comments (in Korean) on the KOW translated (the Chinese ones we can read) and are shocked to find some fans are very vocal and aggressive, putting undue pressure on JHJ, to the extent that the Administrator had to answer them.  For example,

What are you doing everyday, JHJ?  How long are you going to rest?

Even if it is just one word, one glimpse, one hair…..let us see you.

We are tired of waiting.  Can we stop the countdown now?  Give us some news!

and more such gibberish…..

KOW Administrator replies: ” Please be patient.  JHJ is working hard to appear at his best before you soon.  Announcement will be made as soon as possible.”

Speechless!!!  Are we “little green frogs” now?  (Please see other post today “With a cheerful heart…..” for explanation of this term.)  Are we no longer mainstream JHJ fans?  Whatever happened to the matured, well-educated, well-bred, polite, patient, devoted, self-effacing, uncomplaining JHJ fans?  Are you still there? 

(Credit: Photos from Param of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Thanks!)

The following is from our Japanese friend Makky (Master of the JHJ site club.brokore.com/sodongyo): 

July 7 is Star Festival in Japan.

We Japanese celebrate like this — we write wishes on strips of paper called Tanzaku.

My members are all writing wishes about Hyunjae.

Many people write they hope he will get to star in a wonderful new drama and have great success.

One lady writes with great courage: “I want to go out with him!!!”

We have a lot of fun!

Many thanks, Makky, for introducing this Star Festival to us!

The following is from the internet:

July 7 is called Tanabata or Star Festival in Japan. People celebrate the day at home and in schools. Many cities and towns hold festivals and have Tanabata displays decorating the main streets. In some regions, people light lanterns and float them on the river, or float bamboo leaves on the river.

The festival traces its origins to a legend that the Cowherd Star (Altair) and Weaver Star (Vega), separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year — on the seventh day of the seventh month. Tanabata originated more than 2000 years ago with an tale called Kikkoden. Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi.  After they got together, they were playing all the time and forgot their jobs. The king was angry and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king allowed them to meet only once a year on July 7.

In Japan people write their wishes on narrow strips of coloured paper and hang them, along with other paper ornaments, on trees or bamboo branches placed in the backyards or entrances of their homes. They then pray hard that their wishes will come true. The most common Tanabata decorations are colourful streamers. Streamers are said to symbolise the weaving of threads. Other common decorations are Toami (casting net), which means good luck for fishing and farming and Kinchaku (bag), which means wealth.

The Tanabata festival is thought to have started in China. It was transmitted to Japan during the feudal period and combined with traditional local customs to become an official event at the Imperial court, with different localities developing their own distinctive ways of celebrating.

(Editor: The Chinese celebrate the same festival on July 7 of the lunar calendar, and it is sometimes called Chinese Valentine’s Day.)

(Credit: http://club.brokore.com/sodongyo; photos from Gra; text on Star Festival from http://www.lbcma.org.uk.  Thanks!)

You must have all heard/read about the apparent suicide of the Korean actor Park Yong-Ha in his home on June 30.  He’s just 33 – what a waste!  I am not a fan, but I rather like him.  I remember him from “Winter Sonata”.  He had a big role in the hit drama “On Air”, for which he won the Male Lead Award – Special Drama in the 2008 SBS Drama Awards.  He also had several best-selling albums under his belt; he was especially popular in Japan.  Who knows what pressures these Korean stars are subjected to?  Who could imagine what goes on inside a human head and heart on the brink of despair?  Park obviously couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  May he rest in peace!

My first thought when I first saw the above news on the internet was: “God rest his soul!”  My second thought was: “Oh, God!  Hope JHJ doesn’t feel pressured by all his fans’ expectations!”  His fans are so looking forward to his comeback drama, and he has been asked over and over again in interviews about what’s in store that I’m sure he must feel a little stressed.  If anything has been decided, Star N Hit should announce that ASAP.  But meanwhile, JHJ should just rest and relax.  After all, two years in the army is not summer camp.  After he is recharged, then he can start working as an actor again.  He needs a little time to make the switch from soldier to actor.

We should be patient.  We’ve waited for two years; what’s another two months?  We all know JHJ’s style — slow, maybe a little plodding, cautious, conscientious, discreet, meticulous, prudent…..He will surprise us with something brilliant in his own good time.   

My third thought was: “Who’s going to take over Park’s role in ‘Love Story’ now that he is gone?”  That’s the Korean drama that is going to be a re-make of the 1996 Peter Chan classic ”Comrades, Almost a Love Story”, starring Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai.  When it was first announced that this Hong Kong movie would be re-made into a Korean drama, I felt it would be a great role for JHJ.  He would have no trouble playing the poor boy from mainland China who migrates to Hong Kong and gets involved with the girl (also from China) who has ambitious plans.  But maybe there is a problem — JHJ is too good looking, too refined, to be convincing as the country bumpkin (at first anyway.)  But then I’m sure his acting ability will be able to overcome this handicap.  Isn’t it ironic that good looks could sometimes be a handicap?

I’d like to share something with you about a wonderful girls’ night out on our recent trip to Seoul.  On the evening of June 18 (just before JHJ’s discharge), we went to Oliva for dinner (reservation made long ago.)  Oliva is the Italian restaurant in “Only You”.  The whole restaurant was filled with JHJ fans (all from Japan apart from us.)  We were a little late (because of traffic jam) and as soon as we entered the restaurant, we just uttered one word: “Wulijohyunjae!” (our reservation) and we were led to our own private room.  On the way we saw some of our Japanese friends in another room (big party!)  We took some of our members (who were there for the first time) to tour the place and saw more of our Japanese friends (at another party.)  We had a great time and talked nothing but JHJ the entire evening, especially anticipating the next day (which lived up to our every expectation, as it turned out.)

(Credit: Park Yong-Ha photo from the internet; JHJ photos from http://jo-hyunjae.com. Thanks!)

Now that South Korea is out of the FIFA World Cup, perhaps it’s a little late to write on this topic.  But my recent trip to Seoul for JHJ’s discharge brought me an unexpected bonus and an interesting experience.  L and I went with three of her Korean friends to a football match — South Korea vs Argentina on June 17.  We went to the Seoul World Cup Stadium (built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup – it can hold more than 68,000 people) and sat there watching the match on the big screen, along with thousands (stadium all full.)  200 such stadiums were opened to the public in Seoul (or was it all over Korea?) for this purpose during the whole World Cup month.

(Left) That’s my Reds T-shirt.  (Right) A family of 4 - the children wearing the little red horns, all lit up!  But the kids were fast asleep by 9:30 p.m.

We had to make preparations beforehand.  I was told I had to wear something red.  The Korean football team is called Red Devils.  I had nothing red, so I bought a 2010 World Cup T-shirt from a street vendor in Myeong-dong.  I almost got horns too but desisted at the last minute because it’s a little daft!  Those two little red horns that you wear like a headband are really cute – they can even light up!

We arrived at the stadium a little after 7:30 p.m.  The stadium was already more than half full.  A stage had been set up on the field and one famous Korean singer/group after another performed to a jubilant crowd, many of whom sat on the grass in front of the stage.  The singers had worked the crowd up to fever pitch when the match began promptly at 8:30 p.m.

(Left) The crowds on the field; it’s like attending a pop concert.  (Right) Pop group performing before match began.

It is not an exaggeration to say the whole country was behind the Korean football team (which, you may remember, reached the semi-finals in the 2002 World Cup.)  The completely full stadium was roaring every few minutes, and soon they reached a natural high.  They have a ritual, a sort of rhythmic chanting and clapping - it’s clap, clap…clap, clap, clap!  followed by a gesture – extending both arms forward with forefingers pointing and thumbs up (like a gun) – twice - shouting “Great country of Korea!”  Everybody got caught up in the fever – soon I was doing the same thing, and it’s a lot of fun!

Another ritual is — going to a football match is like going on a picnic.  The Korean girls brought with them two big shopping bags of fruit and snacks — at least 6 different kinds of fruit, all cleaned and diced (watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, cherries, grapes, pineapple….) and mouth-watering snacks like smoked squid, beef jerkies, chips, some kind of chewy cake…..what else did I eat?

We were so busy chanting and chewing that it was a shock when the first goal (by the Argentinians) went in at the 16th minute and another one at the 33rd minute.  But the mood was still optimistic, especially after Korea scored its first goal near the end of the first half.  The uproar was deafening!  The cheering was endless!  Everybody was so worked up! 

(Left) The cheering crowd.  (Right) The red dots are the little red horns.

They decided to leave at halftime (to avoid the crowds), but all the way to the metro they were watching the match on their cell phone, so we could see and hear everything.  We stopped a little in a park nearby, but when we saw the two more goals that Argentina scored in rapid succession at the 76th and 80th minutes (sealing Korea’s fate : 4-1), we decided to call it a night.  It was sad to see the sudden change in mood in our Korean friends.  They are a proud nation, and the Korean football team is their heroes.

I feel sorry for Korea being eliminated in the round of 16 by Uruguay, but that’s the nature of sports — you win some, you lose some.  I am glad to have had the chance to participate (if only for two short hours) in their time on the world stage.  It was an exciting and enchanting experience.

JHJ said he watched this match during his leave.  Did he watch it at home? or, like me, in one of the stadiums?  Watching it with nearly 70,000 Koreans is a totally different experience.  You share their ecstasy and their agony.  I was rooting for them the whole time, even though Argentina was clearly the stronger team.  If they end up as the eventual winner, then Korea has nothing to be ashamed about.  Korea, fighting!

(Credit: JHJ photo from EVERjohyunjae.co.kr – Thanks! Others are ours.)