BYJ read the Beauty Of Korea

Oct. 31, 2009

Source: 10Asia
2009.10.05 12:24

Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon at the Tokyo Dome event for his book "Discovering the Beauty of Korea" held September 30, 2009 [BOF Korea]

A Korean cloth-wrapper, a samulnori (traditional Korean percussion group) and Mr. Bae Yong-joon went onto stage at the Tokyo Dome. A celebratory event was being held at the dome on September 30 for the publication of “Discovering the Beauty of Korea”, Bae's essay on traditional Korean culture experience published September 23 in Korea. Like the previous day’s event for the premiere of animation “Winter Sonata~ Another Story~”, 45,000 fans filled the seats but the atmosphere was much more serene with traditional Korean music playing in the background.

Photographs of the actor in his photo essay [BOF Korea]

After a video about Korean culture, such as Kyongbok Palace, traditional Korean-style houses and pottery, was shown to the audience, Bae appeared from beneath the stage with a stone pagoda from Miruksa. He greeted the fans saying, “I wrapped up a long, one-year journey. It is a relief to be able to tell you I had a good time.” Of the book “Discovering”, he explained: “The book contains pictures of how I changed while experiencing the beauty of Korea throughout my journey. I was born and raised in Korea but I never really knew the beauty of Korea. By experiencing it, I felt the passions I had forgotten about, come alive within me again.” Then he recited a passage from “Discovering”, a collection of thoughts he wrote down at the Miruksa Temple in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, which drew a big applause from the audience.

Next, lacquer artist Jun Yong-bok, who taught Bae about lacquer in the actor's book, came up on stage and shared an anecdote from their production process. “It was impressive how he tried to learn how to lacquer with no gloves on, at the risk of getting lacquer poison on his hands.” To which Bae replied, “I thought how dare I put on gloves when he doesn’t wear them. And even if I caught lacquer poison, I thought that would be a learning experience too.” Bae went on to share his affection for traditional culture. “I learned how to combine tradition with modern lifestyle while not throwing tradition away. And I think that is going to inspire me on how I live in the future." Bae shared another anecdote regarding his experience making kimchi for the winter season with hanbok designer Hyo-jae Lee. “Preparing kimchi for the wintertime with other people can be fun and festive, so I'm thinking about doing it every year with my close friends. But I felt like a housewife because the smell of pepper powder stayed on my hands til the next day.”

Bae Yong-joon reads a passage from "Discovering" [BOF Korea] On stage, Bae also wrote a postcard in Japanese for the fans he calls “family” and put them in a mailbox. He recited a letter he had written in his book which said: “I came back from a long journey. Every time I saw, heard and ate something good, I thought of my family members first. I want to keep on sharing the same dreams with my families.” To this, the fans responded by taking out the traditional Korean cloth-wrapper they had received when entering Tokyo Dome, tied it into a knot and waved while calling out, “Mr. Yong-joon.” Bae responded to the fans’ cheering by riding in a palanquin which circled the first floor of Tokyo Dome. And appearing on the stage for the last time, Bae promised the fans, “I will do my best to live as a shameless member of your family by living as a true person."

The event focused strictly on traditional Korean culture. Staged in between were performances by various artists, including Korean fiddle player Eun-il Kang, Sookmyung Gayageum Orchetra, Korean Traditional Percussion Institute. The fusion performance of a Korean fan dance, B-boying dance and Korean traditional music received a huge reaction from the fans. A proclamation ceremony for “2010~2012 Years to Visit Korea” was also held at the event, as Bae is the publicity ambassador for the cause. Mr. Cham Lee, chairman of KBS (Korea Broadcasting Station) and Mr. Kwon Chul-hyun, the South Korean ambassador to Japan joined Bae in a fan lottery event and presented the winners with plane tickets to Korea and Korean culture experience tickets. The event’s admission ticket was sold at 8,000 yen per person and seats were randomly assigned. The fourth print of “Discovering” has been sold out in Korea and initial 50,000 copies of the book have been sold out in Japan on advance order.

Reporter : Choi Ji-Eun five@10asia.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr, Lee Ji-Hye seven@10asia.co.kr
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Trans Of MC Kim Tei's Blog

Oct. 31, 2009

Original : (Kim Tei Official Blog) /blog.brokore.com/kimtei (26th Oct 2009)
To Chinese : Snow / www.byjfamily.net
To English: cam / www.baeyongjune.com/

Ms Kim Tei was the female MC at the Tokyo Dome on the 29th and 30th Sep 2009.
Snow has translated a number of her diaries from the past events held at Tokyo Dome.

[Snow : MC Kim is based in Korea. MC Mr Miyamoto came to Korea to conduct the interviews as they were delayed due to YJ’s health and his early return to Korea.]

Meet Again

Today I went to see the filming of Mr BYJ’s interview.
Come to think of it, it’s my first time seeing him outside the events.
I had met him previously at the opening ceremony of Gosireh.
However it was because I was the MC.
Apart from work, I think this is my first time actually meeting him.
(ah, Mr BYJ is working ＾＾).

I brought Seokbin (Kim Tei’s son) with me


Is tae wang yummy to chew Seokbin ssi?

After seeing Seokbin
Mr BYJ said “ he’s adorable”, “he’s adorable” several times.
No, he said it several dozen times ＾＾.
At the end even BYJ held him.
(as soon as the female staff outstretched their arms, Seokbin went for them immediately) .
It was a very happy day for Seokbin.

I was concerned about disturbing Mr BYJ at work.
I also didn’t take a photo with him.
Mr MiyaMoto came to the filming of the interviews as well.
Remembering past events at Tokyo Dome once again.
The fan meeting was only like yesterday.
Almost a month has past …..


Kim Tei official blog（15th Oct ）

I can’t say this is the diary of the events held at Tokyo Dome.
But based on my memories, I am hoping to recall a few details with you all

this photo was taken from the original article in the magazine
many things came to mind
firstly this photo
from 30th

when Mr BYJ was reading out the winning numbers of the draw
I was beside him reading out the numbers softly in Japanese
It was not in the script for Mr BYJ is to read out the winning numbers

Naturally happy if winning something from the lucky draw
Hearing your number / name called out was even better
Even for the ones not winning anything, hearing his voice was quite satisfying.
Is it right? Only my guess.
(it’s not a topic ＾＾；)

Followed by the last scene on the 29th
MC actually did say :”Finally from this image …”
However, after that , BYJ and CJW appeared together again
This scene was designed to surprise everyone
When BYJ rose from the circlar stage elevator
He was gazing at the emotionally moved families

Do you remember when the stage elevator started to go down?
Mr BYJ was giving the hand signal “go up”
While looking at the screen and translating at the same time I said “ stage elevator, it looks like he wants it to go up”
Without me having to say that, everyone understood perfectly ＾＾
BYJ had the microphone in his hands
But it is not necessary to speak when holding a mic
Holding a mic is “when one wishes to say something”
But when one wishes to say something without a mic, I will run across with a mic ＾＾

Balloon time
I said to Mr BYJ : “if you wish to say something I will translate”
Perhaps words can’t express his gratitude
We all understood the mood at that moment without expressing them in words.
 
Kim Tei official blog（7th of Oct)– Diary 5

Today, should I continue with the diary of Tokyo Dome?
Let’s talk about what happened on the 29th September
Do you all recall Mr BYJ was joking about when a child actor addressed him as “Ajeossi” (uncle) ?

[cam: the child voice actor who plays Jung Yu-jin’s younger sister said : “dubbing was fun, however this was my first time meeting Ajeossi Yong Joon and Onni Ji Woo (everyone laughed).” Source : http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=650294571]

At that moment, Mr BYJ said:
“ these words, were they translated?”
If it was literally translated
Everyone would burst out laughing
Perhaps it was because there was no reaction from the audience
He looked a bit worried
in fact, addressing Ms CJW as Onni (older sister)
and Mr BYJ “Ajeossi” (Uncle)
is a little unfair
given that he had cut his hair shorter
he looked younger
I can’t follow children’s mind
however because of the “Ajeossi” speech
No, because of Mr BYJ’s trying to get to the root of the word “Ajeossi”
The atmosphere was easing up a little
As for his families
Wasn’t the look on his face when he was questioning the word “Ajeossi” really cute?
Ah, what am I trying to say?

Not only this time
Mr BYJ always listens earnestly to others when they speak
completely absorbed in their words
The first time, when there was a fan meeting in Korea
He was doing his final handshakes with the families
I was asked to translate on the spot
At that time, he was also listening and comprehending everyone’s words
His attitude has left a deep impression on me.
However he does not know Japanese
But he listens to each word from each one of them
Perhaps after that fan meeting
Mr BYJ remembers the word 頑張ってください (gambatte kudasai) fighting.

Kim Tei official blog（7th of Oct ) Diary 4

How long can this diary for the Tokyo Dome last?
No special topic to report …
Everyone was waiting, I feel conscience stricken about it
This week I will just continue with what comes to mind…

Today I will mention the meeting on the 30th
Do you recall the moment when Mr. Jun appeared on stage?
Mr BYJ stood up from his seat
and walked across to greet Mr Jun
and then wanting to lead Mr Jun to the middle seat.

How can it be?
The middle seat is for Mr BYJ.

I talked softly to Mr BYJ in Korean
"This seat is for Mr BYJ
Mr Jun's seat is over there".
Mr BYJ appeared not to comprehend and looked apologetic
and did not sit down right away.

Incidentally,
it’s like I could see the light shone peering through from YJ
Ah, I sit on the far side, then Mr BYJ and Mr Jun can just sit in the middle.

At the event
one needs to pay special attention to where to stand and where to sit.

New photos????

Oct. 30, 2009

Seen these photos but don't know when and where it was taken.
Anyway thanks to Ayaka of truelovebyj....

Source: http://truelovebyj.com
~ Transfer from BYJ STUDIO ~ by AYAKA

BYJ Danced in Hip Hop Club

Oct. 29, 2009

So happy to heard that my "Honey Baeb" Yong Joon ssi can at least dance a little, LOL...

Source: Translated and posted by Suehan in
BYJ Quilt/ Freeboard # 14663 last Oct. 20 '09

Hi everyone,

Korean entertainers appeared on the MBC program, “Come and Play’ on the 19 th of October and shared their experiences with BYJ. Boonseongbae nim posted the clip on the café byjintoronto website and I reposted it below with a brief description. Please enjoy.

Ko, third from the left wearing glasses and a black t-shirt, said that he and Park Jin Young are close friends and that PJY visits his store often. One day, Park showed up with BYJ and they all went to the hip-hop club where PJY frequently attends. He saw BYJ dancing there and then mimicked how BYJ danced. He said that BYJ’s hair was long at that time making him move his hair to the back of his ears while he was dancing.

Lee, second from the right in the sailor clothing, said that he played an online game with BYJ in the PC room. He said that BYJ’s management company and his management company both went to the PC room to play Starcraft. Lee was able to attack BYJ’s virtual house.

(Shin, fourth from the left and right next to Ko, shared his experience with Park Yong Ha)

The first person from the right said that he appeared in BYJ’s movie, “April Snow”.

Koh Young Wook so cute mimicking the moves of BYJ...

Koh says he went clubbing with Bae Yong-Joon

http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?sec=ent10&idxno=2009102102063512328
jesskim@asiae.co.kr jesskim@asiae.co.kr

Article Date October 21, 2009 02:16

Actor Bae Yong-joon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Koh Young-wook, member of formerly hit group Roo'ra, said he has been to a club with top Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon.

Koh made the remark on MBC's entertainment show "Let's Play" broadcast on Monday, saying that he went to a hip-hop club with Bae who was friends with Park Jin-young, founder and CEO of talent house JYP Entertainment.

"Park and I were also close so he used to come often to my club, but he once came with Bae and we all went to a hip-hop club," Koh explained, imitating Bae's dance moves.

Rapper Lee Ha-neul of group DJ DOC, who also appeared on the show, shared his experience with the actor, saying that he once played Starcraft with Bae. "I fired a nuclear bomb to his team," Lee taunted.

Member Gil of hip-hop group Leessang, however, said everyone is below him since he appeared in the movie "April Snow" which Bae starred in.

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
<Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved>

Thanks to Boonseongbae nim of Cafe BYJ in Toronto, Suehan of BYJ Quilt,
Jessica Kim of 10Asia and TinyPic for the Video from MBC.

A Public Notice From BOF For The Family

Oct. 28, 2009

Hi Everyone,

I'm back, he he he, so happy that I'm back... Thanks God our computer was cured, LOL.
I miss BYJ so much and everyone. I was so left behind in any thing, so lots to catch up and to reply.... and I apologize to those who sent me messages and comment that I didn't replied right away.

Now I have to repost here first the notice in KOB for the "family" yesterday about the condition of BYJ.


Kwon Ohkyeong posted this on the Talk Box of BYJ's official home.
And Joanne in BYJ Quilt/ freeboard #14674 - Oct.28 '09

[BOF Public Notice] To dear family

10/27/09

To: dear family


How are you. This is BOF.

In these days, we make generous smile at beautifully tinted autumn leaves, even while straightening up clothes due to cold wind.
Do all dear family spend bountiful Autumn?

We are to say in the public notice, just because there have been many family who are worried about and interested in Mr. BYJ's health since he came home from Japan.
After returning from Japan, Mr. BYJ is taking a plenty of rest and getting treatment as directed by a hospital.
Fortunately, he has improved a lot thanks to dear family and he appears to be far healthier than before.
Nowadays, he exercises a little by little for speedy recovery of health, and he works on planned schedules a little by little.
Until he completely recovers his health, not only he himself of course, but we also will work hard with our best efforts in the future too.

Our hearts feel sorry for unexpectedly causing many dear family worry.
Hoping that you watch Mr. BYJ's quick recovery with warm interests from now on also, we wish all dear family also pay attention to health and have active time in cooled down weather.

Thank you.

Respectfully, BOF

KEYEAST - To Merge With Subsidiary...

Oct. 18, 2009

Source: Keyeast inc. news from press release

[KEYEAST]KEYEAST (054780) decides to merge
with subsidiary,BOF

2009.10.16

BOF, will continue on as the leading management company.
The new entity will not issue any new shares and keep the share ratio at 1:0.
Synergies between the companies are expected to maximize goal achievements.

Asian cultural content company KEYEAST (054780) merged with its subsidiary company, BOF, on October 15, 2009.

BOF is the leading entertainment company focusing on management and promotions of actors and artists in several projects representing top talents such as, Bae Yong Joon, Lee Na Young, Choi Kang Hee, Park Ye Jin, Hong Suh Yeon, E Jiah and Bong Tae Gyu.
Recent projects over the past year have recorded over 180 billion won in net income for the management company.

* BOF Financial Status (Unit : 1 million won)
Assets Debt Net Assets Revenue Net Income
Based on audit report for 2008 11,957 10,382 1,575 17,988 122
Based on 1st half report for 2009 9,479 7,197 2,282 10,158 707

KEYEAST and BOF respectively, 3,545 won (par value 500 won) and 30,796 won (face value 10,000 won). The calculated merged share ratio has been rated at the price per share of 1:8.5722073.
KEYEAST retains 100% of shares of the merger without issuance of new shares at the ratio of 1:0.

KEYEAST President, Kim Ki Hong
"BOF's management and KEYEAST's dynamic culture/entertainment content business will power the new entity with a merging of its integrated management resources, more stable revenue and profitability, cross-sales network to maximize cooperation and create synergies."
"The synergy of business and profit expansion is expected to lead to improved corporate value in enhancing the value for our shareholders."

KEYEAST recently finished the successful merge with the Japanese company, Digital Adventure, in the first half of the year to secure a profit valuation of 95 billion won, published Bae Yong Joon's photo-travel essay "Discovering the Beauty of Korea" and along with the Korea National Tourism Organization launched the OFFICIAL travel business of Key To Korea with great interest and momentum.

KEYEAST inc.

Thanks to miemi of BYJ Gallery for the photos

[INTERVIEW] Bae Yong-joon At 10asia

OCT. 16, 2009

Sources:
http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2009100917073135089
http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2009101318223057073

Editor in Chief : Beck Una one@10asia.co.kr
2009.10.15 00:28

Korean actor and author Bae Yong-joon at the publication event for his book "Discovering the Beauty of Korea" held at Tokyo Dome on September 30, 2009 [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Since some time ago, we started to think of Bae Yong-joon as a set face. During the two years after MBC TV series “The Story of the First King's Four Gods” aired, what reminded us of his presence were a few commercials and the frequent tourists who visited from across the ocean.

Therefore, the opportunity to have a conversation face-to-face with Bae Yong-joon, the guy with the exact same smile on panels in the streets of Myungdong, was all the more interesting and rare.

This is a record of the interview held after the event celebrating the publication of his photo essay "Discovering the Beauty of Korea" at Tokyo Dome on September 30. What was originally a short tea-time talk turned into an interview that lasted much longer than an hour.

The whole time, Bae created moments of "actual communication” -- those which cannot be written down but only expressed through either a smile, question, joke or a serious look. We hope this record becomes the first key to opening the door to the “human Bae Yong-joon” that we all thought we knew but, in fact, did not.

10: There are people who expect you to expand your career into the global market and everything in our generation is flowing toward digital. But when we look at you, we get a feeling that you are rather going against such currents. Why are you more interested in Korean things rather than global ones, and in working on a book which is, in nature, closer to analog than digital?
Bae: I always felt bad when my family [meaning his fans] would visit Korea to see me and all they would see is the set. And after I finished shooting “The Story of the First King's Four Gods”, I was lying in the hospital when I started to wonder about several things including 'What is it that surrounds me that got me where I am today?' The present is a sum of the past and I reflected back upon that past because I wanted to learn how I had spent that time and what got me where I am now. Also, I don't think there is anyone who is not interested in their own culture, but I thought, if we expand just a little bit more on that interest, we can enjoy our culture and even improve on it too. Ultimately, I think looking back on the past is the answer to creating something new.

10: What I realized here in Japan is that your presence is so much greater than it is in Korea.
Bae:Honestly in Korea, (pointing to journalists) people here don’t give me the credit. (laugh) I think the public can only react to how the press makes them react. The reason I started to ask that the word "Hallyu" not be used is that I think it’s better to go in the direction where it seems we are exchanging our cultures rather than using a one-sided word like that. The articles written in Korea are all read and written in Japan also. So if we think a little more about what’s best for our country, and for ourselves, I think we'll be much happier.

Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

10: But there seems to be some difference in your popularity in Korea and Japan.
Bae: You mean to say that I'm not popular in Korea, right? (laugh) But I have enough family [fans] in Korea too. In fact, I teared up because I felt so sorry and heartbroken for people who came to the Tokyo Dome event from Korea.

10: You wrote postcards for your fans at the Tokyo Dome event celebrating the publication of “Discovering”. Are such events your own ideas?
Bae: Yes, I can’t dance or sing for them even though my heart wants to because I don’t have the ability to deliver [my feelings] in such ways. And I can’t show them my acting. So the postcard was one of the tools I used to deliver my feelings and express my thoughts. I actually wanted to talk to them in Japanese, but when I got sick with a fever running as high as 40 degrees, I forgot everything I had studied.

10: Besides the fact that you published a book, it was impressive how you set traditional Korean performances on stage at the event, like the haegeum, samulnori and traditional dances. But you probably need to have some sense of duty or responsibility in order to promote traditional Korean culture and encourage cultural exchange in such ways.
Bae: Without a doubt, I think someone may be leading me on to do this in some parts. And the funny thing is, it’s my families that make me think those thoughts and have those feelings. When I hear people say, “You are really incredible because you did such and such”, I feel like I both want to and have to do more. When I first came to Japan a few years ago, a Korean-Japanese person started crying and thanked me, and at that moment I thought, “There must be something I can do, however meager it may be. There’s going to be stuff that I need to do and do more of.” I know I actually don’t have to feel that way, but I do and I can’t help it. Nobody is making me -- I think it's just in my nature.

10: Even so, you couldn't have written what you wrote in “Discovering” if you didn't have a close interest and affection for traditional culture. What was most difficult for you while writing it?
Bae: If you count the time I studied, it took about a year and a half to complete the book. I started with buying all the books in every field that were out in stores and studied them. I had to research everything and wonder whether it was all accurate information and whether the information was told differently elsewhere. So for those parts, I met with the masters from each field and wrote what I learned from them, based on the trust that what they said is accurate. I always carried a recorder with me to record their ideas and thoughts, and I would listen to them again when I got home. But since I am not a writer, it was very hard to express my feelings and thoughts. I didn't get much sleep for about three months, and the publisher ended up having to proofread and revise it in three days because I was holding onto it until the very last minute. So there are some typos in the book.

Korean actor Bae Yong-joon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

10: Despite all that trouble you went through, did you feel a different sort of joy from writing compared to when you act or take pictures?
Bae: When I’m acting, there definitely are times that I really feel something is there, although it’s not very often. I think it’s the same with writing. There are times when I look at what I wrote and go, “Wow, how did I think up something like that?” (laugh)

10: Which part, for example?
Bae: The passage I recited at the Tokyo Dome event about the random thoughts that came to mind at Miruksa Temple. And the part where I wrote that the emotion of “human affection” is deeply penetrated into our food, clothing and shelter. I actually said to myself, “Wow, did I really think that!” (laugh) But I don’t think I'll be able to write another book in the future. It's so hard. That's why I said I'd focus on photographs if I publish another book but it's also because with this book, I’m quite disappointed with the photos. I took the photos first and wrote later while working on the book. But when I started writing, I realized I needed certain photos. So I wrote down which photos I needed, but I stayed up night after night writing and couldn't go back to take those pictures.

10: You included a lot of photographs that you took yourself in the book but it's necessary to do a certain amount of studying to reach the level of becoming a photographer with professionalism.
Bae: The technical aspect of photography isn't actually that difficult. What I feel is important, is the sensibility. I use the camera to take pictures, but it’s my really heart and not my fingers that press down on the shutter. When my heart allows that moment to be captured, that brief moment is when I click on the shutter so I think sensibility is more important than technique. And I don’t do much digital work. I use film because when I use a digital camera (pointing to a photographer in front of him), I press away on the shutter like that. Thinking that one of them would turn out alright. (laugh)

10: You usually don’t really expose yourself but in the book, there are many pictures of you joking and goofing around with people.
Bae:I could never write this book without exposing myself. I’m not a professional writer, so I couldn't make that stuff up. So who I am on the inside came out just as it is. After I had stayed up all night, I would send a text message to my staff and colleagues saying, “I’m going to sleep now. Feel like throwing up.” Or sometimes I would just text, “Barf!” (laugh)

10: What kind of person are you seen as in every day life by people around you and your acquaintances?
Bae: I’m a straightforward person. If someone makes a mistake, I talk about it right way and that’s it. But if the mistake is repeated, I get angry and scold them. So they're scared of me, but still I think they trust me and rely on me a lot.

10: I heard you’re planning to publish an English edition of “Discovering”.
Bae: I’m planning on printing an English version and I want to make one in braille too. The braille version would be produced for charity, not for sale. But the trickiest thing about printing braille is figuring out how to express the photographs.

Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

10: Can you tell us the reason your agency and BOF International, the Japan subsidiary of KIST where you are the biggest shareholder, merged with Digital Adventure? And how that is going to affect the tourism business in Japan?
Bae: To be honest, I’m really not interested in business. There was a period when I was, but I think there are too many limits in what I can do so I don’t think it’s my kind of work. Now -- I don’t know how long I’ll be an actor -- but I want to be a farmer, a lacquer artist and sculptor.

10: Do you really have a detailed plan about becoming a farmer?
Bae: I don’t have a detailed plan but when you say it out loud and dream about it, I think it comes true. So I constantly talk about it if there is something I want to do. This is the first time that I’ve made it public in front of reporters about wanting to become a farmer, but it’s been about five years since I started talking about it. And I’m very interested in the environment too. I’m reading books to learn about farming, but you don't achieve anything in your life on your own. It also doesn't happen overnight so sometime in the future, I believe I am going to be surrounded by people who share my dreams.

10: You don’t seem all that interested in business, yet you keep presenting a variety of ideas. What personally inspires you?
Bae: I think everything comes from books. When I was a kid, I was very shy so I read a lot of books. And for a while, I didn’t have any time to read. But then I started staying home almost all the time, so I started reading again. And like I wrote in my book that you can learn a lot of things at museums, I get a lot of ideas from past cultural heritage, or what we call traditional culture.

Bae in front of animation illustration for "Winter Sonata" [BeckUna/10Asia]

10: What is your average day like?
Bae: It's not fun. (laugh) If I went to bed early the previous night, I wake up around 7 or 8 in the morning. If I was up working late, then I would get up around 10 or 11 a.m. and have a cup of tea. Then I would work out for about an hour, take a shower, read books... Sometimes I make pottery and lacquer too.

10: You shot a commercial with the famous tagline “You are a man who has everything”. Can you tell us about the things that you think you lack in or need, and what kind of life that you want in the long run?
Bae: What I need -- a wife? (laugh) In the book, I wrote about “The Gateless Gate” which is tended to by Zen monks. In order to enter the Gate, you have to fill yourself with a lot of things to rid yourself of them. When I thought about that while I was sitting at home, I realized the owner of that space was the furniture, not me. So I thought, some day I will get rid of all this and have less and less of everything. That time may come sooner than expected, and I think I may be much happier living with the feeling that I lack in some things rather than having a lot of things and living the high life. So I’m thinking about cutting down and getting rid of a lot of things.

10: You were already a star before “Winter Sonata” became a hit in 2002, but you became a top star throughout all of Asia after it. Does your current life sometimes still seem surreal to you?
Bae: Not really. To tell you the truth, it’s been that way ever since I debuted so there is nothing that I'm not used to. The difference is that now when I go somewhere, people from the travel agency bring people to where I am. Oh, but that doesn’t mean that I go to strange places. (laugh) So it doesn’t matter, but I am a little disappointed about the lack of freedom.

10: You’ve been through some changes during the past seven years. So even acting for the same role in dubbing for the animation version of “Winter Sonata” must have felt different.
Bae:I actually was a bit hesitant at first when I heard about the animation. I was convinced that doing the same work was -- I’m sorry to say this -- not going to be interesting or exciting for me. But when I got home and read the script from the beginning, I suddenly felt like I wanted to be in love. It’s embarrassing to talk about your own work like this, but I realized once again that “Winter Sonata” was a really good drama. How can anyone take over someone’s heart like this, so completely? I wanted to re-live those emotions and act again. So I said I would do it right away, but it has been seven years and there are some things, like my voice, that have changed. But I try to just go back to that same moment. I also believe I can.

Korean actor Bae Yong-joon [BeckUna/10Asia]

10: For some time, when choosing your work, it looked like you were trying to avoid roles that gave off a sweet or soft feeling, like the role you played in “Winter Sonata”. What sort of changes made you feel like you wanted to be in love again?
Bae: I had never traveled on a trip after making my debut and started shooting dramas. I was always on set. When people asked me what I did in 2002, I would say “Winter Sonata”. When they asked what I did in 1999, I would answer “Did We Really Love?“. So those dramas weren’t just work for me, they were a part of my life. I think my heart opened up a little when I went on this trip and felt a lot of things. I had planned to go to Chuncheon by myself to take pictures before I got sick. I had never felt this way before, but I think I started thinking those things and gained the will to do so from working on the book.

10: A lot of people are probably wondering what your next work or next step will be. As an actor, is there something specific that you desire?
Bae: Actually no, not “as an actor”. I have no plans about becoming a certain kind of actor or going to Hollywood. I just want to do my best every moment with what I am given.

10: Having been to cultural heritage sites like Miruksa Temple, you must feel that time, such as a thousand years, is fleeting. Have you ever thought about what you would be if you were born a thousand years ago?
Bae: Umm… I thought more about the different kind of life that our ancestors would have lived. The reason I thought about it is because I heard that it took over a year of planning and then over two years to restore Miruksa Temple. Which means it is that difficult to restore even with all the modern science technology that we have. So I thought a lot about how they could have built such architectural structures back in those days. And how much time they had in discovering themselves having just books and nature around them -- no TVs or newspapers. And I think that could be the reason a human’s abilities improved. So then I thought, if we keep trying ourselves, we could leave behind an improved culture for out future generations as well.

10: Then in thousand years, if people were to write about a person named Bae Yong-joon, what would you want written about you?
Bae: (After contemplation) Seriously, I haven’t thought about that yet. I don’t know if people would write about me, but I’ll think about it and let you know over the phone.

Editor in Chief : Beck Una one@10asia.co.kr
Reporter : Choi Ji-Eun five@10asia.co.kr
Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@10asia.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr, Lee Ji-Hye seven@10asia.co.kr
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The DATV Red Carpet last Oct. 1, 2009

Oct. 13, 2009