BYJ will publish a wine travel book

[Exclusive News Trans] Background of ‘Bae Yong Joon’s Wine Travel’
which will be released soon

translated inEnglish: Suehan /Suehan's byj blog (thanks a lot sis)
original in korean: CHOSUN.com
by Choi Bo Yoon, 2010.09.13 14:12

▲ Kim Young Ho, CEO of Ilshin Spinning and Bae Yong Joon

Hallyu star Bae Yong Joon’s version, ‘Drops of God’ will be published early next year.

Bae Yong Joon has been known as a wine lover and will visit world-famous wineries like ‘Romanee Conti’ to meet famous wine makers, and will publish a wine travel book. He will describe various stories relating to the wine.

Bae Yong Joon already has been well known as a wine expert in the wine industry, no less than a wine critic. It became a topic due to the fact that Bae Yong Joon’s image was used as the main character, Tomino Itse appearing as a wine critic in ‘Drops of God’ which has sold 4,400,000 copies in Korea and Japan..

The Wine industry is already excited about the news that ‘Bae Yong Joon’s wine travel’ will be published. Because wines, wine specified shops, wine bars, etc that Bae Yong Joon introduces in his book will be popular and become famous places for the Japanese tourists. There is an analysis that the weak wine industry due to the economic recession will become active.

▲ Romanee Conti that Hallyu star Bae Yong Joon visited.

Bae Yong Joon’s culture experience book, ‘The Journey to Discover the Beauty of Korea’ was published and more than 100,000 copies were pre-ordered in Japan. It received a favorable review in Japan and foreign countries as well as Korea.

Behind Bae Yong Joon’s ‘Special Global Plan’, there is a big support from CEO Kim Young Ho of Shindong Wine who exclusively imports Romanee Conti Opus One. Kim Young Ho, who is CEO of Ilshin Spinning, imports wines and is also known as a lover for music and art, not only wine.

CEO Kim studied architecture at Pratt Institute which is a world famous art school in New York and he set up a gallery at Ilsan Spinning company building with the art works that he collected since the 1970’s. At the Ilsan Spinning company building in Yeouido, the art works of contemporary artists like Jean-Philippe-Arthur Dubuffet, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Donald Judd, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andrew Warhola were displayed. It also includes the great artwork, ‘Ilshin Yeouido 91’, of the famous Italian sculptor Mauro Staccioli.

The new company building in Hannam-dong, which recently opened, is called ‘an art building’ because the art work of contemporary artists are displayed and it has a music hall which is used for chamber music concerts. The seats of the music hall were made with fine quality and each seat is worth about two hundred million won. They were designed by a famous artist. In the middle, LED curtain wall shines luminously and draws the attention of the people who pass by. CEO Kim also planned this building.

CEO Kim Young Ho and Bae Yong Joon, who is known as a Hallyu star, developed a relationship several years ago and have exchanged opinions on all cultural areas. Recently, CEO Kim reviewed the planning of the Wine Travel when he was with Bae Yong Joon, and arranged meetings with the world-famous wine makers in Chile, Romanee Conti winery, and Napa Valley, USA. Bae Yong Joon plans to travel with the sommelier, Lee Joon Hyuk of Shindong Wine, in November starting with USA.


suehan: for your reference, I’m reposting the picture of when YJ visited CEO Kim’s building in Hannam-dong last year.




BYJ considering to buy a house.

[News Trans] Bae Yong Joon is considering buying his first house.

English translation by: Suehan/Suehan's byj blog

Source: Sports Chosun; 2010-09-12 17:34



Bae Yong Joon is considering buying his first house which is drawing attention because he has only leased houses until this time. He leased a house in the Golden Villa in Samseong-dong, Seoul for the last four years, and recently has been searching for the right house to move into. On the 13th, his agent said, “He is thinking of moving within this year and is looking for an apartment or villa nearby. He is choosing his house with painstaking care because it just may be his first house.”

It is very unusual that he doesn’t own any houses due to the fact that he once paid almost ten billion won in taxes alone and he is also the major shareholder of Keyeast. His company’s revenue for the first quarter in 2010 was over 8.1 billion won. Most entertainers either buy their houses or invest their money in the real estate market for investment purposes when they start making money. His agent responded to that, “It seems that he is more interested in business management than the real estate market.” I asked him if the purchase of this home would lead to a future spouse. He responded waving his hand, “What are you talking about? I’m very sorry that he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

Presently, both his house and office is located in Samseong-dong and is less than ten minutes walking distance. He plans to move secretly in order to protect his privacy even though it looks as if he is going to prepare his home in the Gangnam area near his office.

On the other hand, Bae Yong Joon didn’t decide his next project since the TWSSG of MBC. His agent said, “He will be appearing as a cameo role in the new drama, “Dream High” which is produced by Keyeast, JYP Entertainment, and CJ Media together. It will air next year in January. He is reviewing his comeback work in various ways from a movie to a drama.”

Reporter, Lee In Kyung; best@sportschosun.com

http://news.nate.com/view/20100912n07578