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  One goes as far as writing scripts for him — so many unpublished writers among JHJ fans!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!)

This is my favourite “Only You” video of late — for 2 reasons:

1.  I first watched it before I started to cook dinner, and I could see Han Yee-Jun was not any better as a chef than I was (which was a great consolation!) and

2.  After dinner I went for a stroll in the park, and everything reminded me of those scenes in OY of the family picnic in the park that showed another side of HYJ.

(Credit: kk of johyunjae.hk. Thanks!)

This photo is from CarpeDiemJAPAN’s Param’s private collection.  This is a giant billboard in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and the year is 2003.

We’ve always wanted to use this photo but somehow can’t fit it in anywhere, so here it is — our favourite JHJ photo in our favourite part of Tokyo.

(Credit: name on photo.  Thanks!)

Now you know where wulijohyunjae’s signature JHJ photo came from!

(Credit: ahiru of CarpeDiemJAPAN.  Thanks!) 

“Wild” is a word that I would never dream of associating with our JHJ.  He has been variously described as calm, tranquil, serene, etc.  But wild?  No, not a word that I would use to describe our JHJ. 
 
And yet looking at his pictures below, the first word that came to my mind was WILD…..  See for yourself….. 

The photos are beautiful even as stark as they are.  In fact, their starkness is part of the appeal of the photos to me.  The photographer successfully captured JHJ’s air of innocence, but when I look at JHJ’s eyes in these photos I sense storm, mystery, fire, passion, and yes, wildness.
 
I especially love photos 1, 2, 3 and 4.  Photo 1 conveys sheer wildness trying to get out of the innocent facade; photo 3 mixes innocence with mystery.  Photo 4 is a mixture of innocence, fire, passion and storm, challenging the onlooker to come closer, to delve deeper.  But my favorite among the lot is photo 2; with just half of his face showing in the picture, JHJ is still able to convey such a myriad of emotions.  The lines of his lips speak of innocence.  His eye conveys storm, fire, and passion brewing beneath the surface, also mystery and wildness.  His tousled hair and the black streaks in the background add to the “wildness” effect of the photo. 
 
Looking at these photos I am struck once more by JHJ’s chameleon-like quality – a quality that will surely stand him in good stead when he resumes his acting career.

And the photo below is our contribution — WILDER!

(Credit: First set of photos from kk; last one from CarpeDiem.  Thanks!)

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!)

Page 1 (Right)

After almost two years, on the stage again!!
Immediate report on Jo Hyun-Jae’s latest after his discharge.

Page 2 (Left)

Jo Hyun-Jae
First exclusive interview by KBOOM after his discharge

KBOOM Special Interview Story   Vol. 52

Two years ago Jo Hyun-Jae entered the military at the height of his popularity.  He has now ended his long stint in the military and returned to his fans.  He still has his lovely smile and gentle image, but now he is more manly and solid compared to before.  Sounds of “Mature man” floating in the air…..

Page 3  (Part before interview)

KBOOM Special Interview Story   Vol. 52

Looking at oneself now, one should see something different.

About two years ago, in the summer of 2008, to fulfill his duties to his country, he said GOODBYE to his fans and entered the Korean military.  Time passed not for actor Jo Hyun-Jae but for an ordinary man.  On June 19 he reappeared before us again as actor Jo Hyun-Jae.

When he left the camp at Pocheon that day, numerous fans rushed forward to greet him.  JHJ was truly amazed; he had never imagined such a scene.  He immediately stood at attention and saluted his fans and the media, as well as proclaiming “The resurrection of actor Jo Hyun-Jae”.

Two years seem short but are actually very long.  In the fiercely competitive Korean entertainment world, existence is precarious.  Or rather, to put it in an objective way: even those stars who used to be so popular will be considered passe when they resume their entertainment activities after two years’ military service.  But not Jo Hyun-Jae.  From pining for his discharge to today, there has been a noticeable increase in his management company staff and fans.  Offers and invitations have been pouring in since Spring and are still continuing.

From October 2008 to today, it has been exactly two years since JHJ graced the KBOOM cover.   Even though he was very busy just before his enlistment, JHJ gave KBOOM an exclusive interview.  And this time, he smilingly assented to our interview almost immediately after his discharge.  He will resume his activities as an actor in the latter half of this year, and he plans to hold fan meetings overseas in order to reward his fans. 

Interview follows.  (Please see our July 23, 2010 post: “KBOOM interview” under Category: JHJ interview.)

(Credit: Photos from Param of CarpeDiemJAPAN; text based on Chinese translation in www.johyunjae.hk.  Many thanks!)

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!)