This is a repost article from: Asahi Newspaper (Japan) - 11/28'09Translated and posted in BYJ Quilt/freeboard by cloud nine
Different eyes to look at Yon-sama
Bae Yong Joon, who has captured Japanese women’s hearts at a single stroke
with his drama “Winter Sonata”, is still active extensively.
“Winter Sonata” has now been made into an animation
and his essay “A travel following the beauty of Korea”
was published in September in both Korea and Japan.
As he contributed to the wide introduction of Korea to Japan,
there are many Koreans who think of him as a private ambassador.
On the other hand, not a few Koreans have strange feelings
about the popularity of “Yon-sama” in Japan.
In Korea, even if people love some entertainer
they hardly follow the stars to such pl*aces as hotels and airports
that have nothing to do the performance.
A few years ago, when Bae Yong Joon was enthusiastically received
at a Japanese airport,
the fact itself became big news in Korea.
It is also strange for Koreans that BYJ’s popularity hasn’t gone down in years,
because Koreans get excited about things quickly and loose interests quickly too.
Quite a number of Japanese, once they have become the fans,
will be loyal fans whole life long,
while many Koreans’ love would last as short as three months.
In Korea so called mini-series of drama is broadcasted for three months,
so is the popularity of actors.
Koreans have different views of Bae Yong Joon from Japanese.
They appreciate his sincerity that he gives much thought and make every effort,
his character as a perfectionist, his out-and-out self control.
His image is more like a business person than an actor.
He is totally involved in the casting, direction, production
and even copy right issues of his work.
I myself have been to his press conference a few times,
and had a clear impression that rather than an actor
he is “a noble looking business person with good education”.
My colleague shares the same idea.
Some journalists even say that
he is “an actor who appears more authentic business person
than actual business men.”
In other words Yon-sama is one of a kind among the Korean actors.
He might be called “a professional business person”.
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