This is taken from the book Ways to Love Yonsama



original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / <a href="http://happiebb.blogspot.com:80/2007/08/ways-to-love-him-acting-coach.html">bb's blog</a>
pics added by: bb


Chapter 1 – Unconditional Love - from His Days as an Unknown
Kim Jae Yeop, Acting Instructor

Studying and Playing Together in a Brother-Like Relationship

Because my role, from here on, will be to continue to be at YJ’s side and to support him, it is for this reason that I have continued to decline all interviews related to him. I hope to continue working together with YJ for many long years ahead.

But in 2005, when KBS broadcast the program Photo Documentary in November, featuring YJ, I received a request from the BOF management office saying, “Please agree to do the interview.”



That was the first time I spoke about YJ.

I met YJ in the spring of 1994, when a senior at school introduced us. Through all of his projects, we played together, studied the projects and roles he played in together, and I have acted as his semi-adviser through the years. We analyze the character role he will portray and practice the dialogue together. I also show up at filming sites for monitor checks.

Even during his private time, I often see him during the Chuseok and New Year holidays, and now and then, I also see his family. The relationship we have is that while he is my junior, at the same time, he is also my younger brother, and a friend. Because YJ only has a younger sister and no older brother, he thinks of me as his true older brother, and maybe that is why we became even more intimate.

When I was attending graduate school, he would come visit me in my room, where I would do the cooking, or when he was filming FL, we would go skiing together at Yong Pyong Ski Resort. After skiing, we would return to the hotel room to read the FL script and sometimes practice lines. We really studied together, played together, felt everything together, and lived like brothers up to now.



YJ has never once forgotten my birthday since we met. He has always sent me a gift and a card.

He is really a person that exerts himself treating me with sincerity and devotion.

Just When I Thought He was a Player…

At the time I met YJ, I was already a full-time instructor at the Stargate Academy located close to Dosan Park. BYJ was one of the approximate 30 students in the class. Among the students, there was also Kwon Oh Joong, (Damo), who debuted at the same time as BYJ and the two were close friends. They were originally friends from the start, but their management offices were different and each of them came to Stargate Academy to study, and just happened to run into each other.

As I was teaching the basics of acting, I became especially close to YJ. Because he was still an unknown, he probably attached himself to me with lighthearted feelings. You can see in him, a part of him that is also very friendly.



Around the time we met, we went water skiing and fishing together. Fishing was my hobby and BYJ said he wanted to try it also so it was decided that we would go fishing together. We went skiing in the winter also.

When we were together, we talked a lot. Outside of class, we went to see the ocean together, to Gangnam, Hanam in Shinsa Dong, and often along the riverbank under the big bridge. Drinking canned coffee from the vending machine, we would also talk to each other about complicated matters. We also talked about difficult, heavy subjects.

Of course, we talked about women but those conversations are a secret (laughs). This is so YJ can continue coming to me and talking to me freely. If I talk too much about various subjects, he will end up losing the space to visit openly.

When he was filming AS, there was a time that BYJ said this in the car. “Hyeong, it’s already been 13 years since I met you, hasn’t it? The months and years really fly by. Hyeong, when you met me, what was I like?”

I first met BYJ when he was still probably about 22 years old.

I thought, “This fellow is really handsome.” Then in the beginning, I had the strong impression that he was more interested in playing around rather than studying acting diligently. But I quickly discovered that was a misunderstanding.

YJ is really competitive, a fast learner, and the other students, who started the class together with him, could not keep up with him.

I teach classes using a Spartan-style. Even with my style of teaching, BYJ showed an almost shining strength of will and stood out among the other students. It almost looked as if he enjoyed the Spartan-style of teaching.

YJ also read many books.

For example, when he began fishing, he brought 10 books, dropped his line in the water, placed the book next to him, and studied the book while he fished.



When he took up photography, it was like he did the same thing. While flipping through the pages of a book on photography, he would tinker with the camera, and research. He really seems to love books.



Before YJ debuted, he worked part-time as a staff member at a movie company. When I see how famous he has become up to this point, there are some people that will say, “He was just lucky.”

But I do not think it is luck. His competitiveness and guts that went along with the strict guidance stood out conspicuously among the students I taught. It is due to that strength of will and guts that, I believe, created the BYJ we see today. And he was a person that closely examined his abilities, one by one. YJ had the elements to become the major star he is now.

Riding the Subway During FL

During the time of FL, YJ lived in Gongdeok Dong, Gangnam and there were times I would stay at his house.



At the time, YJ was under contract to the Actors Palace management office, and one day, after finishing work at the office, we decided to go to YJ’s house together.

Then, I offered, “Let’s not go in your car, but let’s ride the subway.” Since FL was a major national hit, BYJ was already very popular at the time.

So he must have hated the idea, and BYJ said this. “Do we really have to ride the subway?”

I persuaded him saying, “As an actor, you have to experience riding the subway at least once.” We then rode the subway together and headed off toward his house.

Not long after we got on the subway, several male high schoolers sitting nearby caught sight of YJ, “It’s BYJ! BYJ!” “You’re wrong. Why would BYJ be riding the subway?” as I heard them whispering among themselves.

When we got off at Gongdeok Station, this time a female student followed behind us. Later in talking to her, she said she sometimes came from Busan to visit her friend in Seoul. BYJ was wearing a baseball cap at that time, and just as he was in FL, because he was wearing baggy work type pants, she confirmed, “There’s no doubt, it’s BYJ!” and followed after him.

That female student called out after him, “BYJ-san….” YJ turned around and talked to the female student for a bit.

The female student opened her wallet to show the photo of YJ inside. She really was a fan of YJ. Maybe because she was such an enthusiastic fan, she was able to instantly recognize YJ.

Because I especially wanted YJ to experience directly this type of fan’s love at least once, riding the subway this one time was a great success.

The Hidden Tuition in My Wallet and Charitable Contributions to the Poor

I have the most memories of YJ around the time of FL.

When YJ was appearing in FL (1996-1997), I was attending graduate school, but I ended up taking a leave of absence because I did not have tuition money. When YJ found out that I did not have tuition money, he said he would always put in just enough money in my wallet for me to pay the tuition. It was like he was always loaning me money.

But YJ was careful not to hurt my pride and could not bring himself to say, “Do you want me to loan you the tuition money?” so he was waiting for me to ask him, “Can you help me out?” so he said.

When he revealed this to me several years later, it was the first time I heard the truth… When YJ told me about this, I was moved by the warmth of his love and thoughtfulness. In the end, I was unable to come to a decision as to whether I should turn to him for help, and continued taking a leave of absence from school.

YJ is always taking care of everything around him and not just only me. I think it was around the time of AS, he saw fans watching the outdoor filming and he said this.

“It is cold outside, so please make arrangements for the fans to be indoors someplace. I am worried about them.”

Around the time of FL, he donated 20-30 million won to disadvantaged youths. At that time he said this. “Being able to do that, fills me with such good feelings.”

Then I told him, “One day, you’re going to do something even bigger.” The truth is YJ was already actively donating to charity from the time he was an unknown.

The reason he said he did it was because, “Doing good deeds really made me feel good.”

I thought that he was a man of high standards. He did not boast or publicize the fact that he made charitable contributions and did volunteer work.

Good deeds and charitable donations even if done only for show, are not easy to do. Because he has a benevolent spirit and a heart full of love, he is able to do these acts. From YJ, I learned to have such a heart and attitude.



Because we were able to learn from each other and been able to have come this far, I think of what a wonderful relationship YJ and I have, and I personally, am very proud of this.

What He Worried About in Winter Sonata

I think it was about the time that WS started filming, around December 2001, we went to Sydney Australia together. YJ had a CM filming to do in Sydney, and invited me saying, “Hyeong, let’s go together.”

In Sydney, there is the NIDA acting school (a famous acting school which counts among its graduates, Hollywood stars, Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, and Nicole Kidman), which he thought I would surely want to visit. YJ asked me to go to Sydney together with him, and visit the school with his manager.

On the flight together to Sydney, we talked about various things. During the long 11-hour flight, we didn’t sleep a wink. Especially when we started talking about the WS synopsis, we couldn’t stop talking.

YJ’s biggest concern was in the beginning of WS when he had to portray Jun Sang as a high school student. Even if he wore a high school uniform, would he be able to convincingly portray a young, high school student? At that time, YJ was almost 30 years old. I tried to reassure him saying, “As long as you wear a uniform, you’ll be all right!” He was very worried.



When it comes to a role, YJ will seriously ponder it, and aim for perfection. He is overly perfectionist and will freeze up on the set, and there are times when he is unable to show his relaxed natural self.

Even during the filming of FL and HWRL, I accompanied YJ to the filming sites where he had frozen, and I advised him, “All you have to do is show them your natural self. Just relax. Give it your all and empathize with the character.” By my saying that, everything turned out well.

Was it because of me that things turned out well? Oh, no, that was not my intention as my purpose was to always advise and to point the direction; I believe that YJ found his acting voice while he himself was acting on the set.

Around the Time Preparations for the Photo Album…

You remember YJ underwent a body sculpting program for a photo album. Even during that time, I was amazed at the complete self-control he showed in aiming for perfection.



For example, even during acting practice, the time comes for dinner, right? It’s only natural that we all want to have dinner together. But YJ orders his manager to go out and buy me my dinner only and prepares my favorite menus to order from, as he does not eat dinner.

I would kid him a bit saying, “You want to try some of this?”

But he said, “No, I won’t eat it.” YJ in those days would not eat anything after 6 pm. He was adamant about this.



When it comes to dining, because YJ is wealthy, it may be thought that he is always having sumptuous meals which is not true.

YJ once said this. “If I can share a 10,000 won (about 1,300 yen) meal together with someone, that’s enough for me!”

YJ himself has not spoken much about this to the mass media, but because he experienced difficult periods over a long time, and if needed, he can go on living a normal lifestyle while being very grateful for what he has. This is the real BYJ.

Pronunciation Training Until Morning for Untold Scandal

When he was practicing his lines for the movie, Untold Scandal, YJ was having difficulty with pronunciation and came to me asking for the “pronunciation chart”, which I made the acting students practice.

Then he said, “Today, I only want to practice pronunciation.”

YJ began at 7 am with a cork in his mouth and continued until 4 am, the next morning saying, “Hyeong, I’ve finished them all,” coming into the room where I was sleeping. That day we were studying together at YJ’s house in Cheongdam Dong but I fell asleep first.

I was surprised to hear YJ say, “I’m already finished.” This was because a regular student would take 1-2 months to master one page of that “pronunciation chart.” His concentration is amazing. Once he decides to “undertake” something, he always completes it.

During AS, he practiced in my room at the Stargate Academy. There were times he practiced 10 hours a day, and even times when he practiced until dawn. YJ really has guts.



I would also visit him on-set, and during AS, I visited Samcheok once a week to see YJ, and check the monitor.

YJ’s “Bad Acting”…

YJ says that his acting still has a long way to go. “Hyeong, acting is really difficult,” he said.

I think that it’s important that he thinks his acting still has a long way to go. The fact that he thinks such a thing is because the possibility exists for him to improve even more. Actors who end up satisfied with their performances, stop growing as actors. There are actual actors who think this way.

But YJ is different. He is persevering because there is still more to do. But as he continues his efforts, YJ’s psychology has changed without his knowledge and improved, with the result being, I believe, that even his acting has shown more depth.

I think that of all of YJ’s projects up to now, WS displayed his strengths the best.



This is followed by FL. Untold Scandal also broadened YJ’s inner world, and was a project that was successful in changing his image.



There are people that say that YJ should appear in more projects, but he makes the effort to put much preparation into each and every project. When you try to put in a lot of preparation, it is natural that you can’t appear in many projects. That is why I think the current pace he keeps is fine the way it is. The way he thoroughly prepares before embarking on a project is, I believe, the natural way for an actor to proceed.

When an actor takes on a project, he identifies with the character he will portray. If he can’t identify with the character, he cannot play the role.

So if he were to portray two or three roles at the same time, he would not be able to develop into each of the characters. It is not as if he is acting with a flick of the wrist, so by acting in several projects at the same time, or appearing in projects non-stop, the character would appear different everyday, because I think, changing one’s personality is not a simple thing to do.

It is my hope that YJ will continue to appear in excellent projects. There are still many strengths and great qualities he possesses that he has yet to reveal and to find a project that will make full use of his strengths, it is my hope that we will continue to strive together.

For example, I think that YJ should try appearing in action films and dramas also. He is born with a natural athletic skill which he could show in action performances.

If the need came up for him to perform an action or sports that he has never tried before, there is nothing to be concerned about as he is a quick learner. In the new drama TWSSG, he will be able to show us his actions, but the best project for him would probably be a melodrama with action scenes.



Because YJ has both a strong will and guts, I think that his career as an actor will continue smoothly.

Contents of BYJ’s Acting Course

The course I teach is divided into four levels.

In the very beginning, we start with emotions training. I teach the ways of getting into a character’s emotions by awakening the senses that are asleep in each student.

This is followed by pronunciation, voice delivery, and breathing techniques.

The third level is the art of narration and dialogue training. I make two people act in a play.

Then the final level is the actual exercise. Using an actual camera that is set up as if filming a movie or drama, students are required to act in front of the camera.

The basics are taught five days a week, attendance is required daily, and after 3-4 years, various subjects are assigned.

Spiritual coaching is also offered. Earlier I described the story of how I made YJ ride the subway when he became famous, this is an example of spiritual coaching.



I am also strict about tardiness. If anyone is late, I will send that student home. A professional is punctual about time.

I also inflict corporal punishment. I will hit students on their bottoms. I make incoming students sign a pledge that states, “I will accept corporal punishment” and sometimes I will show them photos of students who are receiving corporal punishment.

I tell these students, “If you are prepared to say you will accept corporal punishment, then I will teach you.”

Those students who say, “I refuse,” I have them leave at once. We do not have to accept every student unlike compulsory education, since they came knocking on our door out of their choice. It is hard to show results if students aren’t prepared to accept corporal punishment because they want to learn.

In this connection, YJ was never given corporal punishment. YJ once said, “Hyeong, because I’m a good student, maybe I was never hit?” (laughs).

The Secret to How BYJ Became a Star

In addition to YJ, I have taught about 150 students up to now. There is Son Ye Jin, Ji Sung, Han Hae Jin, (1% Miracle), (Be Strong, Geum Soon), (Jumong), Soh Yi Hyeon, (April Kiss), (Resurrection), Yoon Sae Ah (Lovers in Prague), Nam Sohn Mee (Love Letter), and so many more. Even when Ji Sung was in the army, he called me when he was on leave and we had a drink.

The new stars in BOF are also studying here. I have not publicized the fact that, “I taught BYJ, it was I that created BYJ.”

Everyone, including BYJ, seems to think I am the emergency number in the entertainment world, the SOS signal to turn to for guidance. I am able to quickly perceive an actor’s individuality and strengths to create a suitable image for them and in return, they support me.

Other actor schools only seem to teach techniques. But actors cannot become stars by acting technique alone. Image is important. Actors who have studied at other acting schools may have mastered acting techniques but then end up taking time to create their own image. There appear to be actors agonizing over this.

I, of course, teach acting techniques, in addition to improvisation, and to quickly make the transition from newcomer to star, we work together on creating an image with the students.

Is this student the sexy type? The innocent type? Or the career woman type? Would they be suited for TV or films? If it’s films, would it be horror or action films that they’re suited for? By matching that actor’s characteristics, I help create his image. “Because you have these strengths, you should develop these areas more” is what I advise them.

Then I publicize their image in the mass media by concentrating on a “color” in their image to quickly increase their popularity and to guide them to stardom.

My Dream of Creating an Actors School with BYJ

Building on my previous years of experience, I am now planning to create a full-scale actors school within the next several years. At the earliest, the school would start in 2008 and the latest date would be in 2010.

We are already in the concrete planning stage. YJ is also interested in the education of the next generation and has said that he would like to lend a helping hand. I also think how nice it would be to operate the school together with him.



In offering an explanation of the type of school it would be, like a special military unit, a Spartan-style school where students would learn language, horse riding, dance, and such over 2-3 years while living on campus. The school would be located in Gyeonggi Dong. The reason it will not be located in Seoul is that if the school is not in a somewhat isolated environment, students will not be able to concentrate.

Like the actors school NIDA that we visited, we would like to make our school an international school. We would like to match the curriculum to the working needs of each actor’s native country, offering specific, long-term useful lessons.

As for instructors, we plan to contract with specialists in every field necessary for the education of actors. In addition to acting instructors, there will be plastic surgeons, dentists, and specialists in the beauty and cosmetics field…. We also plan to offer spiritual training.

We plan to educate about 40 new students a year; these select students will be thoroughly educated. Just as the NIDA graduates are proud of their background, I want to establish a wonderful school that students can be proud of, one that they can say with pride, that’s my alma mater.

It is fun work teaching students. I am always grateful at being able to do this work. I believe that educating actors will play a very important part in the future of hallyu. As time goes on, we would like to develop numerous programs which will support hallyu and be the force to lead the way.

From bb's blog. Thanks to sweet sister for the translation

sweet sister's working really fast and furious to bring us the next chapters! i received chapter 2 from her already! thanks much much, sweet sis! also wanna take the chance to let you know that the chinese fans have translated chapter 1, and everyone loved it! hee, they're wondering when the next instalment would come...

and like i'd said earlier, this book had created some controversy amongst fellow fans, especially the japanese fans, so it's really up to you whether you wanna read it or not. but... while there's a possibility there could be some exaggeration or even half-truths in the book, i still think chapters 1 & 2 are worth reading.

except for the last part, where it did seem as though PD jeong was doing light promo for his future work which he's likely to introduce to the japanese market.

chapter 2 is an interview with director jeong ki song... actually i've found a few variations to his name, including jeong gi song, jeon gi sang and also jeon ki song. not quite sure what's the right way to romanize his name.

PD jeong was one of the two directors who were working on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salut_D%27Amour_%28drama%29"]love's greetings (Salut d'Amour)://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salut_...ut d'Amour)://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salut_...ut d'Amour). yup, wuri yong joon's debut drama back in 1994. it aired on KBS from november 1994 and ended its run on TV in april 1995. and oh, the other director on that drama was director yun suk ho, the same director who had brought us the beautiful four seasons, including our beloved winter sonata! anyway, PD jeong was the one who had 'discovered' wuri yong joon and made a last-minute decision to cast him as the male lead of the drama.

incidentally, you can also read about wuri yong joon's debut story here.

original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / bb's blog
pics added by: yours truly, me!!


Chapter 2 – Obsessive About Acting, "Actor's Love"

Jeong Ki Song, Director
Love's Greetings (Salut D’Amour), Papa, Six Degrees of Separation

In That Moment, Thought He Had Star Qualities

BYJ appeared in the debut drama, Salut D’Amour, which Yun Suk Ho, who was hired by KBS the same time as I was, planned and cast. Salut D’Amour was a drama about youth and from a production view, the goal of the drama was to discover new talent. The first drama before Salut D’Amour was Tomorrow Love (Yun Sok Ho, producer) with Lee Byung Hun and Koh So Yeon, (who co-starred with BYJ in Barefooted Youth).

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The second program, Salut D’Amour was the sequel to the first and I was searching for a promising new star that would replace Lee Byung Hun.



Sung Hyun Ah was already cast as the lead actress. But it was taking time deciding on the male lead. The reason was that we were not finding the type of newcomer to fit the image we had in mind.

We were looking for someone different from the tough macho male that Lee Byung Hun portrayed; someone you would find anywhere, a bit indecisive, a “regular” male. It was the type of character that anyone would feel close to.

We auditioned about 20-30 male newcomers through production offices and acting schools but we just couldn’t seem to find anyone we liked. As we were doing this and that, tomorrow was the day that script practice had to start, we had to stop fooling around and decide today on the male lead, as that day had finally arrived.

Up until then, we had met a Seoul University student for which we had lukewarm, half-hearted reactions and whom we were going to cast, as the decision had been nearly made.

But at that time, I received a phone call from a production representative operating an acting school next door to KBS. The caller said, “Can you meet one more person? He’s the last one.”

But I replied, “We’ve been holding auditions the whole time, so I’m worn out.” “If we can’t use him right away, then it’s no use meeting him.”

Despite my saying this, the representative said, “He’s a really good kid,” so because the representative strongly endorsed him, we decided to meet him and waited for him. That was where BYJ showed up. That was in 1994.

The moment BYJ opened the door and walked in, I thought that anyone who saw him could see that he had the makings of a star. He had a slim physique and was handsome. Plus he had the exact image of the kid I was looking for! This excited me. That moment when he appeared was like the precise moment a comet appears.



But taking a closer look at BYJ as he approached, I had to change my initial impression since it differed slightly from the first glimpse I caught of him. There was nothing to complain about his physical looks, but I felt that he was a little different from the image we were seeking.

Hmm, I wondered, as I thought while staring at YJ, when someone offered the suggestion, “What about changing glasses?” “What about changing to square green glasses?” someone said. Then YJ left the room and several hours later returned wearing square glasses. Having done that, he exactly fit the image we had in mind.

The end result was that we decided to use YJ in the lead role on the spot and directed him to begin script practice immediately. This was because filming was scheduled to begin several days later. To YJ’s manager, I remember telling him later, “You saved us.” *bb: you can click http://bp1.blogger.com/_XVKjPue3X3s/RtLghlRXW-I/AAAAAAAAHXQ/S2JlSQYzHgk/s200/book.jpg"] here to read about his audition.

Back then I could not predict that YJ would become a major star in the future as he is now. But I did feel that he would probably become a star to lead the next generation of Korean dramas. This is because YJ had more than enough for the makings of a star. It was not only his good looks, but this is something I discovered as filming progressed, as an actor, he was able to firmly control himself. He was an actor that made thorough efforts to complete the roles that an actor had to perform. For a newcomer actor to be so thorough in his role was unusual at that time.

“Unable to Understand” Indecisive Yung Min

Salut D’Amour was a drama which reminded me of my college life and was planned to show the realistic struggles of college students during their youth. The students that appeared in the drama were good looking but not unrealistic heroes like pictures of our past selves, in nostalgic memories, they may have been ill-equipped and awkward, but they were doing their best at the time to live, that was the depiction of daily life I wanted to show of the college students without exaggeration.

Then during the filming, I tried to show the images of the students against the background of quiet images.

To achieve this, I directed YJ to act naturally and not overact. The character of Yung Min that YJ portrays is not a strong hero but is an indecisive type, a college student found anywhere, which is what I kept reminding YJ of several times. So that viewers could see themselves reflected in Yung Min, YJ could not emphasize the character’s manliness and I requested that he play him naturally and softly, a point which I put quite a bit of emphasis on.

YJ, at the time, said he could not understand a character like Yung Min, and expressed his discontent. He likes Robert DeNiro’s Once Upon a Time in America, hardboiled American movies. It is the exciting story of men who lived through violent times. That is why he probably thought that he wanted to perform in a meaty role himself.



But I felt that type of exaggerated manly characterization had been done so many times before that I was almost sick of them, so in Salut D’Amour, what I tried to portray was the image of a delicate male rooted in reality; this was the image I tried to stress and direct.

Immediately after YJ began filming, his acting was, not surprisingly, stiff. But in the end, YJ acted his role with love, and he was able to express the sensitive nature of his character. I also think I succeeded in creating the new actor, BYJ, into an actor with a sensitive image!

Absolutely No Need to Scold YJ

Filming began in the fall of 1994 and this happened one day shortly after. YJ was dissatisfied with his acting and the NGs continued. It was then that I stopped filming and called a 10-minute break. Then YJ came over to me looking indignant, “Director, do you know how hard I have been practicing?” he said, and showed me his script. The four corners of that script were all torn and tattered.

He seemed to think I was angry. But all I wanted to do was simply take a short break. Then I told him, “I know how hard you’ve been practicing. I’m not displeased with the efforts you putting in. It’s just that if you calm down a bit, you’ll do better,” I told him.

This is how ardent YJ was from the time he was a newcomer. So when things did not go well on the set, he seemed to feel a great deal of stress. He was a perfectionist actor.

It seems that Director Yun Suk Ho yelled at YJ because his acting was not up to par, but I did not have to scold him. I knew that because he was still a newcomer, it was to be accepted that things would not go well for him. Even if things did not go well, I was ready to accept such things when I cast him in the role. *bb: you can read about how wuri yong joon was scolded here and http://www.baeyongjune.com/zboard/view.php...&no=8"" target="_blank">here

Because I cast a totally green newcomer, his limitations were also my responsibility. When I thought of how much effort that a newcomer was exerting, I could not bring myself to pressurize or scold him. Even if the same scene repeatedly caused NGs, but as long as the actor came to the set fully prepared, then I would be willing to accept the situation for what it is. Even if a scene took 10, 20, or 50 takes, I would not get angry.

But if there is no reflection over an error by an actor, or if NGs are caused due to inadequate preparation before arriving on the set, I will deal with it rather strictly. I will strictly scold actors or pressure actors who do not sufficiently prepare before arriving on the set. I do this because it inconveniences the other staff members.

Advice Given on “Diverse Emotions”

As for advice, when YJ was acting, he would make the effort to express the emotion of that moment from his heart and he did not experience that much of a hardship over drawing out emotions. But deep emotions – expressing the differences in anguish and displaying diverse pent-up emotions seemed to be difficult for the newcomer BYJ. Such feelings such as happy yet sad, angry yet loving, he found difficult to express.

Then I advised him when he had to express diverse emotions, to decide what the most important emotion was first, then express that, and then follow that by expressing the other emotions. When you try to express various emotions all at once, things do not turn out well.

When it comes to advice that I gave YJ, this was about the only time I gave him any. YJ read his script and came prepared so that his work was generally acceptable. That is why everyone who has watched YJ’s performance in Salut D’Amour, will see that it was mainly newcomer YJ himself, who thought of and created his performance in Salut D’Amour.

YJ, during Salut D’Amour in every spare moment would be staring at the script. Even in the car while we moved from set to set, he would immediately read the script. On the set, he would not exchange casual talk with the other actors or staff or play around.

His position was that as the lead role, he would fulfill his duties first and then when that was done, he would appear with everyone only when necessary. He put all his effort into confronting his role. He was humble and there was nothing conceited about him.



Certainly, it can be said that YJ needed to work hard at the time. This was because his acting was not skilful. But then I did not think it was bad either. I did not hear such talk about him either. Instead, when he was appearing in HWRL and Hotelier, there were more people saying that he was better than expected. When we worked together, YJ himself took hold of the character’s emotions and sufficiently acted them out so that I was happy with his performance.

I believe that YJ has the nature to be an actor. But that nature is different from the nature to be an entertainer. There are very talented actors who become popular by appearing on variety shows, but I do not find it difficult to say that he has an actor’s nature. But that is fine for him. As an actor, he will probably be able to fulfill all his duties adequately. I think that is fine the way it is.

First CM “Spicy Ramen”

During the drama filming, the basic rule on the set was that conversation was allowed only when necessary and if it related to the filming. But whenever YJ had good news, he would always come to tell me his good news. I think he was always concerned about me. Maybe it was because at that time, out of all the actors, I have to admit, I had the most affection for YJ.

This incident occurred.

YJ received his first CM offer. It was from Nong Shim also known in Japan as the instant ramen manufacturer of “spicy ramen”. YJ reported to me happily, “I received a CM offer.”

I urged him to appear together in the CM with Kwon Oh Joong, whom he co-starred with in HWRL. Because he got the CM job due to Salut D’Amour, if they appeared together, I thought it would be a chance to show their gratitude to the manufacturer and fans. Just as I had urged, YJ appeared in the CM with Kwon Oh Joong.

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Kwon Oh Joong was about the same age as YJ (he was one year older) and the two of them became actors to earn money while being fellow newcomers. The two were very close friends at the time.

*bb: here's a pic of wuri yong joon with kwon oh joong's son... probably from a few years back... please don't ask me if they're still close, i've absolutely no idea.

Lover-Less and Playing Billiards

He called me “Kamdok-nim (director-sama) and I called him YJ.

During filming, YJ and I would talk the very minimum as necessary, and when filming ended, we would sometimes meet, telephone each other, or talk about the next project and future activities. We rarely talked about the drama that just ended.

Even though we met, we are not the type to become animated over idle talk. While dining and exchanging a bit about everyday stories, we would each talk about our favorite movies.

I have been watching films from a young age and when I went through my Alfred Hitchcock phase, I went through every suspense movie ever made, and in college, when I majored in French literature, I watched many films at the French Cultural Institute. About that time, when I began thinking how worthless Hollywood movies were, I came into contact with French films, and received a culture shock. In particular, I like Leos Carax, Les Amants du Pont Neuf (Lovers on the Bridge)

If you are YJ’s fan, then you know very well that he likes movies. Even back then, he spoke of wanting to become a film director. *bb: you can read more about it here

We also played a lot of billiard together. It’s not that YJ or I like billiards, but that there was nothing else to do (laughs). It was Christmas one year, and the two of us played billiards. The two of us didn’t even have lovers, so we met in the afternoon and then parted briefly, and then met again in the evening to play billiard, what a sad memory I have (laughs). Both of us were just silent, not saying a word playing billiards.

How good were we? I was a beginner but YJ was fairly good. In Korea, “four ball” style of game is played (2 balls each of red and green for a total of 4 balls is used to start the game. A beginner is allowed 100 points. An expert is ranked at 300 points and above.) I had 200 points and YJ got about 350-400 points. We didn’t bet much but we did bet on the cost of the games sometimes. Of course, because YJ is so good, I was the one that usually lost.

Deep Affectionate Image in “Six Steps of Separation” Draws Raves

After Salut D’Amour, YJ appeared in the long-running drama, Sunny Place of the Young. Sunny Place of the Young was similar to Salut D’Amour in that YJ played a naïve, kind-hearted college student. Then his role fell in love with Jeon Do Yeon who played a rising author.

During the filming of Salut D’Amour, he appeared in another drama, Six Degrees of Separation with Jeon Do Yeon, who was also cast and co-starred in Sunny Place of the Young.





Sunny Place of the Young was not on the air for long, and the two of them did not have very important roles or any scenes in the drama together, so there were no worries about these factors affecting Sunny Place of the Young. *bb: click here for the wrap-up party of sunny. you can also click here for more interesting tidbits about sunny.

Six Degrees of Separation was the story of two people who each broke up with their lover and were left heartbroken, who then befriended each other and grow closer. YJ as Kyon Min received favorable reviews from viewers for his deeply loving portrayal.



YJ’s fans also seemed to favorably rate his first attempt at a shower scene. YJ was not known for having a very muscular image, up to then, but he displayed a surprisingly, inverted triangle-shaped, fine upper torso. I wanted to show that YJ was not just an actor locked into one image until that time. This was done as a type of service to the fans.

YJ Captures Lee Young Ae in “Papa”

YJ and I talked about doing the next long-running drama together after Salut D’Amour. Then just as we were discussing it, I got to know Lee Young Ae’s manager. I received word that Lee Young Ae wanted to appear in my drama. At the time, Lee Young Ae was also a newcomer and just a bit senior to YJ. With my past experience involving these two, it is hard to believe that the current big stars, YJ of WLS and Lee Young Ae of Dae Jang Geum co-starred without any difficulty in Papa (1996).

Papa was the story of a divorced novelist played by BYJ and Lee Young Ae was his ex-wife, who was an employee of a film company. At KBS, majority opinion believed that the drama would be interesting but fears were also voiced because it was a story about a divorced man and a woman, the subject matter itself was considered too serious and the story would go nowhere or end up too solemn.



Then we used a filter on the screen to soften the images. The story did not end with the couple falling in love, marrying, and then deciding to divorce because the emphasis was placed on the start of confirming their love again.

YJ played the man called Hyun Jun whose novel will be made into a movie by his ex-wife, and while he still loves his ex-wife, he reconfirms his love and agonizes over this because of his indecisive nature. To this, YJ was heard complaining, “This character is entirely different from my own personality.”

Yes, that is true. YJ is masculine and strong and the indecisive personality of Hyun Jun and YJ did not match very well. But I think that even indecisive people fall in love and that this type of people may experience things more deeply. Such personalities can appear weak but in reality, I thought they had the strength to close in on the truth.

Both YJ and Lee Young Ae did their very best on the filming set of Papa. Filming for a drama requires more than 30 scenes be filmed in a day. 24 hours a day is not enough time to film. Once filming starts, there are times when filming continues for 36 hours non-stop without sleeping or resting. There are times when two hours are spent on travelling, and then we go straight into filming again. Many times we regretted that we were unable to get the shots that we wanted because of time constraint.



Despite this, YJ and Lee Young Ae concentrated on their acting in order to perform their roles. Both of them had personalities where they were sensitive and attentive to each other and it seemed that they were helping each other as they acted. Since there was hardly any private time, I do not think they even dined together.

But several years later, Lee Young Ae in an interview was asked who she would like to co-star with again, and she replied, “It would be BYJ.”

I wonder what YJ thinks. I do not know, but because “Will respond when asked”, is YJ’s way of loving, perhaps one day we will see the two of them co-star again. *bb: click here for more of what wuri yong joon's female co-stars have said about our sweet cupcake!

Director Yun Sok Ho is a Neighbor

For the first month of filming during Salut D’Amour, director Yun Suk Ho and I filmed together. Yes, we were together from episode one. He was also intimate with YJ. So when director Yun also cast YJ in WLS, it was not like I was the go-between. About that time, I was busy preparing for another drama.

Even now director Yun and I live in the same condo building. We often run into each other at the supermarket. Also, we run into each other at the neighborhood park, and I don’t know why but oddly, I seem to run into him unexpectedly at the strangest places.

Is it because we hit it off? Though we meet, we don’t particularly talk about our projects. It’s not that we don’t get along (laughs).

Certainly director Yun and I have very different filming and acting styles. I have been cautioned by my seniors that I place too much emphasis on visual images, but not as much as director Yun Sok Ho. He possesses the unique ability to tell a drama’s story using beautiful visual images. Currently, his abilities are being acknowledged even in Japan.

On the other hand, I am of the opinion that, “Dramas need to have good scenes” and this is the reason behind my filming. These could be scenes with visual images and dialogue, tension-filled scenes, or action scenes. I think dramas combine these various elements and should draw viewers into them. The mission of a drama should be to offer more good scenes and not just visual images. As for me, it is more enjoyable to make a drama that has plenty of good scenes.

Even in my private time, I do not watch dramas and films that do not have interesting scenes. I feel I have to watch these as part of my film studies, but I end up switching the channel within a minute. I can’t stand watching boring dramas. That is why when I film a drama, even if it is a love comedy; I make it a point to include a lot of plot development that keeps you in suspense and your heart pounding.

Important Things When Producing a Drama

I have produced many dramas up to now and the important thing when filming dramas is to listen to everyone’s opinion. Then I have to be flexible. If I am inflexible, I would not be able to listen to the opinions of many people.

For example, YJ was an actor who desired to film his appearances modestly, but when he had an opinion to express, he would insist on it also. When I was able to accept his opinion, I would, and when I was unable to accept his opinion, I would carefully explain my reasons to him. By doing that, YJ would laugh, tilt his head to one side, and then he would continue acting according to my directions. <i>,font color="orange">*bb: hee, are you imagining the way he tilted his head, just like me when i was reading this part? so cute hor?</font color></i>

Then if he understood, he would say, “I agree” and if he didn’t understand, he would say, “I can’t agree” and we would discuss the matter again. If it is something of a serious matter, I will usually accept an actor’s opinion.

My personal opinion is that when filming dramas, it is important to always pursue something new. In Salut D’Amour, YJ was not your typical hero and as I tried to portray him in the image of a sensitive and modern college student, which was not done up to then, since I originally dislike sticking to common-place types.

I try to make the camera move along with the actor’s movements. There are many directors who will place the camera in one spot and make the actor move toward the camera, but I will have the actors move as they wish, and I will have the cameras follow them, which is my method of filming.

YJ as the Lead in My Movie!?

On July 3, 2005, I terminated my employment with KBS after agonizing a long time whether I should quit or not. My family now lives in Texas but as an employee of a Korean TV station, I am unable to spend any time with my family. If I am no longer working then I can always go to the US to see my family.

Even after I finished filming, My Girl (December 2005), I visited my family for one month.



After quitting KBS, I signed a contract with the production company Calista to direct only. My many years as a salaried employee were long and there are times when I feel like I have been thrown out of a warm environment into the cold, but it is nice to have the freedom.

Right now I am planning a new project and I am thinking of using Japan for the location shooting. Nothing has been decided yet, but I would like to go to Japan as soon as possible and start filming.

After that drama is completed, I would like to try my hand at making a movie. Attempting a new movie at this age is a little late for me, but I think my previous experience will be useful. Like the Korean-Chinese joint project big action movie Musa The Warrier, I would like to film a movie based upon a myth. I would like to cast YJ in my movie, but this would depend on each of our schedules.



It is my hope that Korean dramas and movies will continue to be viewed favorably worldwide. The Korean wave began in Japan with the existence of BYJ, but the real Korean wave is only beginning to take place, as we producers tackle this problem.

All I Can Do is Watch Over YJ Now

It is my nature to seek out new things and now the only talk I hear about YJ from other people is, “He seems to be tired” or such talk. I do not feel that YJ should be indebted to me for discovering him. It was my job to discover new talent and it was not due to my efforts alone, as there were many directors such as Yun Sok Ho, Lee Eung Jin (FL), and Jun San (Sunny Place of the Young) who guided YJ to where he is now.

If I had the chance to meet him somewhere, I would like to tell him, “If you are tired, a good way to relax is to go fishing”, but all I can do now is watch over YJ.

It has been years since we have worked together and YJ has his own life now and that is the way it is. If someone you once worked together with was stuck in the same place, I would not be happy about it either.

If I were able to send him a message, I would like to tell him to relax a bit. Even in the past, he had a strong compulsion toward “perfectionism” which I think he still has not escaped from even now. When he is free from that compulsion, his acting should become “lighter.”



Then I would like to tell him not to try and do everything himself. YJ will try and attempt to do all the scenes himself in a drama, even if the scenes are dangerous. He probably does this out of love and responsibility for the drama and role.

Of course, it is a good thing to be diligent about your work, but I have heard numerous stories of injuries during important periods, causing disruptions to the drama production schedule. For example, during Barefooted Youth, YJ was performing a special martial arts practice and failed to land correctly and broke a bone.

From the standpoint of the performers, these types of injuries cause major problems. Humans are not expected to know everything or to do everything, and actors are not expected to do things which do not come naturally. The dangerous scenes are best left to the stuntsmen. Actors should stick to what they do best. There is no need for anyone to do everything himself.

In looking back, I am glad that I was able to meet YJ. In the midst of a jam-packed schedule, I unexpectedly encountered him, and though it was a short time we spent together, the memories still live on even now. I think of how lucky I was. The Japanese fans may like WLS but please also consider Salut D’Amour.

Because of Salut D’Amour, there is WLS and because of Salut D’Amour, there is BYJ.

p.s. don't miss out on those bold links that i've added for you throughout the passage. some of them link to great stories and postings about my cupcake, stuff that you might not have read previously... enjoy!

From bb's blog

I suppose most of you would have read sweet sister's translation of the first two chapters of the book ways to love yonsama, ya?

the controversy aside, must say i thoroughly enjoyed reading those first two chapters. sweet sister has been (feverishly?) working at the remaining chapters too! i've already received chapters 3 & 4 from her! our dear sweet sis, do take care and must rest, ya? am extremely grateful for everything you've done and shared.

but i've gotta be honest and say this... can't say i like chapter 3 as much. well, there're tidbits of info that i did enjoy, but somehow the tone of this uni professor who had taught wuri yong joon at sung kyun kwan uni just somehow didn't come out right. some parts were as if he were paying lip service, or trying darn hard to please the fans.

incidentally, he'd mentioned a certain female classmate of wuri yong joon's in this chapter, and this was what sweet sister had written to me: Keep in mind the professor's remarks about the female classmate because she is in the next chapter 4 and she refutes the professor's comments.


original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / bb's blog



Chapter 3 – From Afar, Concern for Each Other, "Teacher-Student Love"

Ahn Sang Hyuj, Professor
Sung Kyun Kwan University

Always Had Gratitude for His Surroundings

When BYJ was a first-year student, I was giving lectures on the Principles of Images, where he always sat toward the front of the room and listened with an extremely open attitude to my lectures. Maybe it was because of the strong feeling that he felt that he had to be an example for the other students.

His academic performance was also good. As a first-year student honor student, he should have also received a scholarship. *bb: click here to read about how shy wuri yong joon feels about receiving scholarships... btw, am sure you know that he has donated all the money from the scholarship awards he's won, right?

Outside of the lectures, we also had other events. He often came to my research office and we often met at parties. BYJ would also attend many student drinking parties.

He seemed to enjoy the noisy, drinking atmosphere.

He seemed to have a strong desire to take the lead in getting the party started.

We hosted the MT (Membership Training = mixers) 2-3 times and BYJ brought his manager who supplied the liquor so that everyone could have a good time. There was also a time where he bought a whole pig for a BBQ. I thought how valuable his relationships with the students must be to him.

He acted after giving much thought as to what would make everyone happy. BYJ is always like that, thinking about the people around him. It was as if the overflowing love within him was like a busy gift being distributed to everyone around him.

I think he did not stop at just being 'the number one star in Korea', but succeeded in becoming the 'international star' that represents Korea, because he did not always think of himself and acted thinking of others around him.

Even after he had been drinking, and I was watching him talking to other people, BYJ’s attitude was pleasant. He had an imposing presence and there was practically nothing he would shy away from, or anyone he would put on airs for, since he presented his true self. He had a strong sense of obligation. He is special from other students.

In the Sung Kyung Kwan Film Department, there were many other celebrities attending at the same time as BYJ. But BYJ did not have the self-importance that the other celebrities possessed. The other celebrities had the arrogance to convey the impression, “I’m doing this university a favor by attending,” but BYJ did not give that type of impression. Clearly, he gave a different impression from other celebrities. He was friendly, warm and modest.

BYJ also always had the position of being thankful for his surroundings. I think, BYJ himself, did not have a favorable impression toward the other celebrities for their arrogant attitude.

Do you think that I am stressing only BYJ’s good points because BYJ has become a big star? It is not that, but because he made such a good impression on me, all I am doing is speaking honestly about him.


Bloodshot Eyes at His Entrance Exam Interview

The truth is when BYJ applied; I was the one that personally interviewed him.

BYJ enrolled in 2000 as a special film major in the Film Department which was established in 1998. That is why his student ID number should have begun with the numbers '00'. The interview was held in January 2000. Even now, I still remember that time quite clearly.

BYJ had his hair cut short like an athlete and his eyes were red and he appeared to be fatigued. When I asked him, “Are you busy with work?” he replied, “I agonized over what to say at the interview that I couldn’t sleep for three days straight.” His words, to my surprise, touched my heart a bit. *bb: click here for an old article on this.

That is because, besides being a famous star, for him to apply for the entrance exam like a high school student who has just graduated, and he had such a modest, unsophisticated appearance. You could sense assertiveness in his use of language also, in his person….in his watery gaze, it is hard to describe in a few words, the amazing atmosphere of that interview.

BYJ has the air of giving vague answers, which I mean in a good way because you can never tire of looking at him. Just when you are caught up in an image of him, and you are gazing at him intently, another different image of him comes to mind…. The pleasant atmosphere that he manages to create is probably due to the results of his efforts but I think it is due to the natural abilities he was born with.

Because of that atmosphere, I was a bit hesitant to ask him questions and thought to myself, what an extremely attractive person he is. Of course, even with that, I did not think that he would become the huge star that he is today.

At that time, BYJ had taken a break from his show business activities. Perhaps he had wanted to take time to recharge himself. When I asked him what his motive was for applying to the university, I felt his desire to learn was considerable. His dream was to become a film director and his ideal director was Stanley Kubrick of “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

This interview was my first meeting with BYJ but, of course, I knew about him from watching TV. But there was one professor on campus that did not know who he was. He was in the office next door to me and is an English literature professor who apparently did not watch much TV. There is a slightly amusing episode that occurred between that professor and BYJ.

One day, BYJ went to that professor’s office to inform him that he would not be able to attend the professor’s lecture because of a work commitment. But because the professor did not know who BYJ was, he yelled at BYJ without giving him a chance to explain saying, “How can you do such an inconsiderate thing!”

But when the professor got home and told his family what happened at work, his wife said, “If BYJ came to see you, you need to get his autograph. Instead, you went and yelled at him!!” and it seems the professor got a considerable scolding from his wife. That was the first time the professor became aware of how popular BYJ is.

BYJ, in his heart, must have been amazed, “This professor doesn’t know a thing about me,” (laughs).


Students as Close Friends….

BYJ associated with a wide range of students, but in particular, he was close to returning students (students returning from military duty). Perhaps this was because they were closer to his age and easier to talk to.

Then there was one female student, Lee Jya Eun, who was very concerned with BYJ and always tried to help him. She was a serious student and called BYJ oppa and thought of him as a real older brother.

Maybe it was because she was the eldest daughter, but it looked like she treated BYJ with maternal feelings. Even in his private life, she often gave BYJ advice saying, “You shouldn’t be doing something like that.”

Perhaps BYJ may have felt that advice was a bit of a burden. Lee Jya Eun did not force her one-sided opinion onto BYJ, since it appeared that the two of them exchanged candid opinions, but from BYJ’s view, that type of advice may have been at times welcome and other times unwelcome.

BYJ was aggressive when it came to concerning himself in the affairs of other students, but this was done so that other students would not come into his personal space.

Unless it was for some extraordinary reason, BYJ did not open his personal space to anyone.

BYJ understood this. I thought that it was a bit sad to see him like this.

There are probably many people who are concerned as to whether Lee Jya Eun and BYJ are still in contact with each other even now.

I wonder myself what the truth is (laughs).


Ewha Women’s University Mini Trip

We invited BYJ and some Ewha students to eat pheasant meat. *bb: incidentally ehwa uni is one of my fave areas in seoul.

Ewha students are, for Korean men, a dream match. BYJ also seemed to be enjoying himself.

The exquisite pheasant meat was found in the famous agricultural area of Gyeonggi Dong, in Namyanju City, and I invited some Ewha professors and students along with BYJ. When I asked BYJ, “Would you like to dine with some Ewha students?” he immediately said yes.

There were 5-6 female students. Whether it was a matter of pride or not, but no matter how good looking a celebrity there may have been on that trip, not one student approached him on their own. Seeing what a major star BYJ has now become, those students may be now regretting their lost opportunity.

Joking aside, we all rode in a large auto and noisily took off like it was an excursion. BYJ was dressed casually and had a lively conversation going on in the car with the students. He seemed really relaxed and seemed to be having fun.

Usually, when it came to women, he seemed to have a certain wariness, nervousness around them, but during this one time, that caution was removed and he seemed to be dealing with the students easily. *bb: i somehow have my reservations about how the professor would know much about this, since i doubt he had much opportunity to see wuri yong joon in a social setting... shrugs...

Speaking of women, there was once an executive associated with the university’s endowment foundation, with a second year junior high school daughter that came to the university asking for BYJ’s autograph, saying his daughter was his fan. Since it was his adorable daughter’s request, he couldn’t ignore her wish and end up looking bad in front of her either. After agonizing over what to do, he came to me requesting, “Can you get his autograph?”

I talked this over with BYJ who gave his consent and immediately signed a photo of himself and got me out of a jam. Even in complying with one fan’s request for an autograph, he sent his love. If it was another celebrity, they would have signed just a colored piece of paper, but BYJ was always signing a photo of himself the size of which was at least the size of two business cards.

Since he was signing autographs at that time, I also had autographs signed to give to my relatives (laughs). Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of us taken together.

When I look back now, I regret that I did not take a photo of BYJ and me. My brain wasn’t working then. It is too bad.


Refusing Preferential Treatment

I believe that BYJ was able to enjoy a rich college life but after attending up to the first semester of the second year, he ended up taking a leave of absence from the university.

The first year is generally devoted to general education courses so he was not able to progress to his film major courses. During the first year, he attended the lectures with so much interest that it was unfortunate he had to stop.

But the university could no longer extend his leave of absence and so it could not be helped. Sung Kyung Kwan University also offers classes online, so if he were to attend lectures on the Internet, there was talk that his graduation credits would be applied that way.

But he withdrew from the University. Knowing that his actions would have a big impact on the other students and that there would be publicity, he felt that preferential treatment would be inappropriate. It seems he thought that to have the University change its policy just for him would be damaging for his image and the losses would be greater than just not receiving a college diploma.

Of course, he can still return to school even now. But he is too busy and, it seems that returning to school will be difficult for a long while.

But while he said he was busy, BYJ did visit this research office once. I don’t remember when it was but, saying he went abroad, he bought me a souvenir. It is a Mont Blanc pen. I was really happy. Not that it is a luxury item but that he remembered me.

When one becomes a popular actor like him, there should be many other benefactors and staff members that he should be buying souvenirs for. Instead, he went to the trouble of buying a souvenir for someone like me, whom he only spent about a year together with at college, and then he personally came to deliver it.

I was amazed at the man, BYJ’s extent of his thoughtfulness and his caring.

He also dropped by to visit me before the filming of Untold Scandal began. We talked about various things such as the sword-fighting practice, how he thought he looked strange with the topknot and how it didn’t suit him but the director liked it. I think that was the last time I met him. After that, as everyone knows, he suddenly became very busy, so he had no time to show up at the University.

Lately, he is too busy and probably doesn’t have the opportunity to reunite with a nostalgic person like me. If he were able to have such times to meet, his life would be better, but unfortunately, life does not work out that way.


Creating Precious Bonds

He was unable to graduate college, but it seems that BYJ has a strong love for his alma mater.

In 2005, he made a large donation so that the Film Department could hold its graduation, Fried Screen Festival on a large scale. This is probably due to the fact that he has a wealth of assets but I believe that at heart, he is a kind person. He has a strong sense of obligation and, even now, I have heard that he keeps in contact with several film department classmates. *bb: click here to read more.

To BYJ, I would like to send a message to tell him to please cherish those people he shares memories with. When you are living your life, running at full speed, you will end up losing sight of your own life. On the road to success, even when one walks it, one can lose precious people along the way without being aware of it.

But we need to realize that life is precious – for example, I believe that it is important to cherish forever those rare bonds that we encounter during our college days, with people we were compatible with, and those people that we walk together in life with. I think to live with such bonds in place is more important than being any international major figure.

That is why I am concerned even now whether he has formed any successful bonds with others. If he is negligent about this, the years will advance and unknowingly, life’s unhappiness will spread. This is what worries me.

There was a time when we were drinking together and he looked unexpectedly lonely. I do not know why he looked that way to me but if he had a family, I think he would be able to have peace of mind.

But for BYJ to marry would be considerably difficult and not a simple thing. When you are that successful, it would be difficult to accept someone. To accept everything about a complete stranger, to love and to trust is a very difficult thing to do. *bb: i thought this was a weird statement. if he is to decide to marry someone, surely she would no longer be a stranger no more, right? we're no longer living in the olden days of ancient matchmaking, ya?


Role Model for All

Previously, I said that BYJ has various images so that one does not tire of him, but during his high school days, it seems he got into a few fights and as for acting, he began it as a part-time job in order to become a film director.

In addition to that side of him, he seems to have the makings of an entrepreneur. Previously I saw the news where the stock he invested in skyrocketed, but it wasn’t because of luck; it was probably because he had the foresight as an entrepreneur.

He has the sensitivity of a writer. I hold the strong image that he is a sensitive guy. Sometimes I hear talk that BYJ is difficult, but I think that his sensitivity is prone to misunderstandings.

There is a part of him that feels that he must always be a role model which I think causes him considerable pressure. Now that he is a major star, he must feel this pressure even more so, as his lifestyle depends on his existence and there are many employees in the production office. Still, it must be trying on him.


Obstacles to Success

Why is BYJ popular?

If we were to evaluate him based upon a general psychological analysis, we look at two major parts in our understanding of images, that part which satisfies the inner ideal, and the part which satisfies the exterior ideal.

Other stars will persist in satisfying only the exterior ideal by trying to become momjjang and building up their bodies, photographing to look good, and working hard at such things, but BYJ is striving to satisfy even the inner ideal. As seen in the viewer wishes, “We want him to remain as this kind person,” “We want him to remain a devoted man to the one he loves,” he is endeavoring to become the ideal man that viewers want.

Because of this, viewers are satisfied to be his fans, and can support him with peace of mind.

If an actor has a certain factor which matches what the times dictate he will then become popular. In other words, an actor has to present elements that viewers can empathize with.

For example, in BYJ’s case, he is aggressive in his aid to relief victims, or his praiseworthy appearance of returning to college to study after once being in the workplace. Once enrolled in college, he shows himself to be friendly and sociable mixing with the other students.

From all these pleasant scenes his entire image is created. This is the image the modern viewers have been desiring.

It can be said that for BYJ to present the elements that current viewers can empathize with is a wonderful accomplishment for him as an actor. That type of image is important in obtaining the popularity of viewers, and in BYJ’s case, it may be said that acting is a secondary concern.

BYJ appears to be popular with the Japanese housewives, but the reason he is popular with them is because of the reasons I just gave along with many other elements that he presents which they love.

This is just conjecture, but for example, perhaps a housewife cannot get something from her husband that BYJ is able to supply, or perhaps she keeps a deep secret hidden away in her heart like the image of her first love during school days.

I am extremely proud of the fact that I taught BYJ. Life is something that passes so very quickly like a dream and it has all passed so quickly where I found it incredible and I asked myself, did I really do this with BYJ, did we really do that together?

But I am glad that I met him and that I was able to connect with him even for a brief time, and to be able to converse with him.

BYJ’s greatest achievement is clearing the path for Korea and for widening the road for Koreans to appeal to the world. This is quite an achievement and in England this is called a peerage which is what I think he deserves.

Anything that has occurred after this is like the after-sales service period and you must not expect more of him than what he has already done.

He has risen as far as he can, BYJ has reached the summit, but there are probably those vindictive type persons who also want to see a reverse in his fortune. I am worried about this.

When a person of achievement suffers a financial setback, it is the ways of the world to exaggerate the collection of debts and try to grab the debtor by the back of the neck.

When the danger of such a situation arises, BYJ will need someone to protect him from the discord. Without such protection, his achievements will be considered a temporary event and laid to rest in the darkness.

In order for BYJ to make a major launch out into the world, he needs close friends that will protect him like strong, great trees from the dangers that come sweeping toward you like a tsunami.

It is my wish that there will be people surrounding him and supporting him so that there will not be a reversal of fortune.


bb: sweet sister also said she's not quite sure of the right way to romanize the female classmate's name. it might be Yi Jae Eun...?

p.s. here's a clip of him in uni...

uni clip

Posted by bb on Quilt

original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / <a href="http://happiebb.blogspot.com:80/2007/08/ways-to-love-him-acting-coach.html">bb's blog</a>
pics added by: bb


Chapter 5 – Entrusted with the Care of His Skin, Reliable Love
Noh Eun Hye, Massage Therapist & Owner
Meridian Massage

The First Time I Touched BYJ’s Skin

The first time BYJ came to my office was March 2002, around the time when WLS had just ended its broadcast. Until then, it appeared that he was undergoing skin care treatments elsewhere but since his skin condition was not improving, and his physical condition was not as desired, he paid a visit to my office.



It seems that BYJ did not believe that meridian massage would really produce any effects. That is because he arrived for his first appointment more than three hours late.

Normally, when a client is ten minutes late, I will cancel the appointment and I will not perform the massage, but because I am a BYJ fan, and despite the fact that he arrived three hours late, I ended up performing the massage for free.

The first time I touched BYJ’s skin, I thought that it had lost a bit of its elasticity. Perhaps he had done some strenuous physical activity.

BYJ must have felt that massage was beneficial after actually undergoing it. After his first visit, President Bae Seung Woong of BOF, immediately came to the office to make an appointment for BYJ. After that, he came twice a week for about two years.

I thought that BYJ was a very warm hearted person. There are people who say that he looks cold but that is not true. He was very thoughtful about the smallest detail and treated the people around him with deep love, and was friendly to everyone.

But when it came to work, he had also had a strict side to him and I remember thinking that a professional is different, and that I should take a lesson from him as I felt a feeling of tension and determination to do better myself.

When he was coming to my office for his treatments, BYJ once kindly said this about our office in a newspaper interview.

“When I filmed WLS, there were many times that called for late night filming and caused my skin to flare up which was a big problem. But since I began meridian massage treatments, perhaps the circulation of the blood has improved, but my complexion color has also improved, and the skin problems have also disappeared.”

For him to praise our services through the press was unexpected and I was very grateful to him. I felt that BYJ had given his trust to me and I was happy.

But the important thing about meridian massage is that treatments be continued, and it was very difficult for BYJ to keep his appointments, and after three missed appointments, he stopped coming for treatments. I have heard that he has now hired a freelance masseuse.

It is unfortunate that I am no longer able to see him or to feel BYJ’s warm love, but BYJ has gradually grown busier so this is something that cannot be helped.

The newcomers in BOF and those people close to BYJ are even now clients of this office, so I believe that BYJ still trusts in me and my skills.


Facial and Body Massage Treatments

BYJ and other celebrities usually receive the facial and skin care massages. The men will also get a shoulder massage. Very few people will get a full body massage.

A meridian massage is done to basically to improve the circulation of the blood and to eliminate waste matter from the blood vessels and the body, and to promote overall wellness. It also has effects on one’s diet.

My motto is to exert my utmost effort for each of my clients, and I do not use any machines. I use 'hand meridian massage' along with acupressure.

For example, in a facial massage the muscles near the mouth and the jaw line can be corrected, with the excess fat also removed from the jaw line. For those people with mis-aligned faces, this can be corrected immediately. The effects of a facial massage can be experienced through a TV monitor. It is for this reason that I believe many celebrities have continued to patronize our office over the years.

It takes physical strength to perform massages where endurance is combined with technical ability, but I am doing what I like and having fun at the same time.

Because we cannot perform many surgical operations, we request that appointments be made and we will perform massages on the first 15-20 appointments made daily. Celebrities are not given preferential treatment by ignoring appointments.

Among my celebrity clients, I think my first one was Uhm Jung Hwa (sister of Uhm Tae Woong).



The second one was singer, Kim Yoon Ah (vocalist with the popular group, Jaurim). Kim Yoon Ah read the article about me in 'Bazaar' and became a client.



There were others like Lee Seung Yeon (played Chan Woo’s first love in FL), Kang Dong Won, Bi, Sung Yu Ri of Finkl (heroine of 'Snow Queen'), and singer, Lee Hyori have become clients of this office as a result of hearing talk about us.


Pain That Brings Screams!

Let me discuss exactly the type of surgical operation we perform.

First, when you first arrive, you will enter the massage room and be asked to remove all of your clothes. You will also be requested to remove all accessories
such as rings and neck accessories. BYJ often wears a pinky ring, and of course, such types of rings will be requested be removed.

Our staff will give you an elastic gown to wear, and you will be requested to lie down on the bed.

Cleansing must be done before the massage is started. If a client is wearing makeup, a cold, water-type makeup cleanser is applied to remove the makeup,
followed by a scrub to remove all impurities from the pores.

After all facial dirt is removed, the massage is begun. First, the earlobes are raised and the jaw line is drawn back while lightly massaged.

Next, a massage tool like a wooden rice scoop is lightly pressed diagonally to the area around the nose and mouth. This is followed by the area around the eyebrows, under the eyes and the corner of the eyes, and the flat part of the forehead is rubbed. The scalp surface is rubbed with the fingers with a strength that the client finds pleasurable.

If the cheeks are well formed, the cheeks are pinched between the thumb and middle fingers a number of times. For an angular face, if the angular area is massaged from the bottom to the top, the effect will make the face line come alive. For those with mis-aligned faces, the jaw area is pressed with the thumbs of both hands to try and bring it to intersect.

After softly massaging the cheeks, forehead, and nose, next the facial lines of the nose, eyebrows, cheeks, and along the jaw line are firmly rubbed using the fist. This is about a 20 minute procedure. First-time clients let out screams at the pain but after 2-3 visits, I think one becomes used to the procedure.
Did BYJ scream at the pain?
That is a secret (laughs).

When the massage is completed, a cold towel is wrapped around the face to relieve the burning sensation. The surgical procedure takes about one hour in its entirety.

If a client arrives at the office with a puffy face, then the neck and shoulder massage will be done first before the facial massage. Then the facial massage will be done as I previously described.

Where once meridian massage was once strictly for celebrities and wealthy women, now young men and women have become clients. Our office does not accept only male clients like BYJ.

There are also many clients from Japan. Since we received a write up in a magazine in Japan, we have many clients from Japan because of that article. It is our goal to carefully massage each and every one of our clients, and along with my husband, who was my classmate from elementary school; we would like to expand our business.


*********************************************

p.s. i guess during the time wuri yong joon was suffering from breakout and all, his stylist and makeup artist must have been really helpful. in fact, i think they must have been highly effective too! coz most of the time, he just looks near-perfect and impossibly arresting!



p.p.s. incidentally, just in case you're wondering, in acupuncture terms, meridian actually refers to the channel of pathways in the body along which vital energy flows. essentially meridian massage is abit like acupressure where the masseuse uses her hands and fingers to knead and massage the vital points of the body, and in this case, the face.

Posted by bb on Quilt

original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / bb's blog
pics added by: bb

Ch. 6 - From Nature "A Healing Love"
Makeup Artist, Jung Saem Mool


BYJ is Like the Color Gold

Many Japanese visit my beauty salon when they learn that BYJ is a client. They undergo the various treatments we offer such as makeup, aesthetics, and hair care. It seems they come to the salon with the hopes of unexpectedly running into BYJ. Even though they do not see him, I hope that they leave our salon satisfied with our beauty services.

I first came to be charge of BYJ’s makeup when he was appearing in Sunny P*ace of the Young (1995) which is quite a while ago.

I did not study makeup in college as a specialty and because I had many friends in the theater department that I would help out with their makeup, whenever they had a performance, this became my opportunity to seriously study makeup. Within the flow of things, I gradually began doing the makeup for professional actors and became in charge of makeup for BYJ. The truth is that BYJ’s manager at the time later became my husband, which was the connection I shared with BYJ. You can never tell about a person’s fate.

Putting that aside, the first impression I had of BYJ when I took charge of his makeup was how I thought he was an actor with terrific appeal. He is very masculine, yet that masculinity also has a soft side to it. When he flashed that smile, “Ah! He really has a lot of appeal,” as my heart pounded talking to him.

I originally loved drawing pictures and I imagine the faces of my clients, who come to have their make up done, as 'living canvasses'. Since faces are not paper and are living organic matter, I sense a person’s inherent attractiveness, that distinctive appeal which cannot be expressed in words to get inspiration,
to then create the makeup.

The actors each have their own individual colors, and because many actors frequent this salon, I am strongly inspired by their unique colors each time they visit, and my creativity takes off from there.

It seems that there is talk that BYJ views Sung Woo Sung as a rival, who is also a client of ours, but that is news to me.



All the actors each have their own various individual colors which they probably acknowledge with each other. I do not get the feeling that they are out to win against someone. I believe that they are not out to become the greatest actor in the world, but are making efforts to become the only actor in the world.

*bb: mmm... i seriously seriously doubt wuri yong joon would see JIS as a rival... and in case you didn't know, this is the guy from the classic with syj and also WHIB with sjs.


If BYJ was a color…let’s see, maybe he would be the color gold. Like the color of the sun’s rays.



Light changes its color depending upon the object it shines on. Also, color changes from one moment to the next depending upon the morning sun, afternoon light, and evening light. Because BYJ has so much charm, he is able to change into different colors so I think the color gold like the sunlight suits him if he were a color.


While BYJ is Being Made Up

When I am applying BYJ’s makeup, I am careful to make it appear understated.

For example, his eyebrows are almost never groomed. It seems that in Japan, men have their eyebrows nicely groomed, but in Korea, it is generally the norm to leave the eyebrows natural. That is why we leave BYJ’s eyebrows natural the way they are.



I am especially careful about his skin tone. I am careful to protect his natural skin tone and to make it appear bright and healthy.

When I apply makeup, the important thing is to make it seem as if you are not wearing any makeup, and to eliminate any unnecessary lines. Though you may be wearing makeup, the trick is to look as if you are not wearing any, and to make it look understated. It is also important to make the pores look smaller and to remove any angles from the face.



Hair styling is also very important. A hair style can express the image of a role and a specialist hair designer, who is not me, is in charge of hair styling.





In Japan, it seems that the Min Hyung hairstyle in WLS was very popular, that was a hair style created by our salon. I heard that Min Hyung’s hairstyle wig sold for 26,000 yen at Japan’s Tokyo Hands. Is that true? (laughs). It is an honor for the style to be that popular.



While we apply their makeup, we talk about everyday topics with the actors. When we see them early in the morning, we ask them, “Have you had breakfast?” Or such ordinary conversation such as, “Would you like some tea? Would you like something to drink?” “How have you been recently?” The rest of the time we talk about casual topics and exchange jokes. We almost never talk about work.

Because BYJ seems to be a typical Korean male, he does not talk a lot. Perhaps it is better to say that he rarely talks. Also, there is a silent understanding that any conversations I have with the stars are not to be revealed.

Over 100 actors are clients of this salon and I cannot talk about any of the conversations I have had with any of them. I ask for your understanding.


When BYJ and I Don’t Agree…

I cannot say that my opinions about makeup always agreed with BYJ and the other actor’s wishes.

When that happened, we would each very carefully exchange opinions before resolving differences. I would express my opinion and make sure it was in line with the actor’s wishes.

If a compromise seemed impossible and if I thought an actor’s wishes was headed in the wrong direction, I would give my opinion as precisely as I could.
By doing that, most actors would agree with my opinion.

But even if an actor and I do not agree, I am not the type to strongly insist on my opinion. I do not get emotional but I listen to what the other person has to say, to grasp all the elements and to remain objective so that I can carefully explain my opinion.

"All I’m wishing for is for you to stand out from the other actors by expressing your own beauty. You don’t want to appear the same as the other actors, do you? I want to create makeup that lets you stand out from the other actors."

If I speak to them from my heart, most of the actors will usually accept my opinion.

When I am asked how I can stay unemotional, with experience comes the tendency for anyone to become overly confident about their own emotions, so I am taking that as a warning sign to not become like that.

Anyone can become conceited and in no time, without one being aware of it, become distorted in their thinking. I do not want to become such an artist.

Rather than forcing my opinion on someone, I first listen to their opinion and make every effort to correctly understand their wishes. I think that by honestly listening to the various images the actors present and absorbing them is the road to making me an artist with breadth and depth.


When I’m Feeling Down, Makeup Soothes My Soul

This is not limited to BYJ, but when the actors come in to have their makeup done, and if I think they are not feeling well, this also affects me deeply. I watch over them with heartwarming expressions and make efforts to try and lessen their suffering even if only for a bit.

Anyone can experience difficult times. Especially for those people known as stars who I come into close contact with, I feel that they have a very sensitive and frail side to their natures. They have emotions where, if you touch them, they would break.

Even their viewpoints are unique. I think their viewpoints are wonderful and awesome. There are so many things that I learn from them.

But perhaps because of their sensitive and naïve natures, there may be many times where they suffer emotionally. That is why it is important for the people around those suffering to heal them. At worst, serious illness can result and the body’s ability to fight off viruses can be affected.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to learn so much from them and for the stimulus they have given me; I hope that I have shown them how thankful I am by doing their makeup which has been inspired by nature.

Nature refers to the laws of nature, nature’s energy, the cycles of nature, or in concrete terms, such things as the sky, trees, flowers, the ocean… From such things in nature, I have received endless healing.

It is from this healing nature that I draw inspiration, as I apply makeup to all the actors. Without inspiration I cannot force myself to apply makeup, so I try to express a lively beauty coming from nature’s energy. I believe this is what an artist must do.

I am not in favor of defying nature, anything artificial, or counterfeit. Even when I am doing an individual’s makeup, I retain their original coloring and respect their natural appearance.



When the actors come to have their makeup done during difficult times, I heal them through my makeup, which draws inspiration from nature, and can give them good energy.

My makeup, which draws inspiration from nature can heal them and give them good energy. If I have good energy, I should be able to do this. No matter how badly off someone maybe, if they are around me, they can become healthy. I firmly believe this.

A makeup artist is in the business of constantly pursuing beauty so my inner world must be enriched along with having good energy. If I make the efforts to enrich my inner world, then I should have a good influence on those clients who come to have their makeup done.

We also receive a good stimulus from those clients who come to have their makeup done and have our inner world enriched. It is an influencing effect and beautiful relationship, isn’t it? That is why I treasure the relationships I have with all those people who come to have their makeup done by me.

Within this whole wide world, to live in this country called Korea, and the fate to encounter BYJ at my salon in Cheongdam Dong, Seoul, when I think about it, it seems like a destiny meant to be a miracle. I must treasure this.



I probably am not conveying my feelings well but if there are any individuals whom I have met, and whose beliefs have changed for the better, even if it is just a small change, then I would be so happy that my heart would probably burst.

That is the same feeling at how I also serve BYJ. Taking inspiration from nature, I hope that he feels the healing qualities that I am trying to convey.

Posted by bb on Quilt

original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / bb's blog
pics added by: bb

Ch 7 - Making His Surroundings Happy 'A Smiling Love'
Dentist, Kim Soh Kyung

BYJ’s Original Teeth and Smile Are Beautiful



Ever since our dental office was introduced as the 'dental office that Yonsama frequents' our office has begun to see Japanese tourists as patients.
In the beginning, the tourists would take souvenir photos in front of our building and leave, but then after a while, they began knocking on our door
so that we have hired a Japanese-Korean coordinator who is responsible for interpreting and managing the Japanese patients. The doctors and nursing staff are all studying Japanese.

Generally for cosmetic treatments, the teeth are straightened to look more attractive and protruding teeth are repositioned. We also offer teeth whitening treatments. This is not a one-time treatment as periodic visits will ensure a continued beautiful smile.

BYJ also makes periodic office visits to ensure that his teeth get the best care.

Entertainers seem to have the need to be very careful about their teeth, more than the general public. Though they may have had treatments five years ago,
going by today’s standards, this may be insufficient and treatments may need to be redone.

For example, there are the treatments to whiten the teeth one shade whiter than the last time or the western style of positioning the teeth toward the back of the mouth. Standards of beauty change with the passage of time. Showing such concern for their teeth is also tied to improving an entertainer’s image.



The BYJ that everyone loves was originally someone with a beautiful smile. By nature, he had beautiful teeth which he made the effort to look better and continued to manage well. Since he has a great smile, I think that he should smile more with self-confidence, in broad grins.


The Power of a Smile to Make People Happy

BYJ’s smile is very beautiful and warm, but many times it is just an understated smile.



I do not think that it is a matter of him lacking self-confidence in his mouth. Asians generally tend to smile small so that their teeth do not show, and many times they laugh with the lips closed, don’t they? This is because to laugh with the mouth wide open, hahaha is considered rude or crude.

Then what is truly considered an 'attractive smile'? Ten years ago at the International Aesthetic Congress in Brazil, I presented a paper on the Smile Beauty Index. To determine what type of smile was the most attractive, smiles were ranked according to a numeric value.

lips = corners of mouth, the degree the mouth opens
gums = condition of gums and color, glimpse of gums when smiling
teeth = shape of front teeth and color

And so forth the list continues with ten items adding up to a score of 100 points to make up the Smile Beauty Index.

For example, if the corners of the mouth go up when smiling, then the score improves. Whether the front teeth can be seen or not will affect scoring. The best score is when all ten teeth, both upper and lower can be seen.



At the Smile Clinic which I opened, in addition to the whitening treatments and teeth straightening treatments, I also offer training so that the corners of the mouth rise up when a person laughs.

To create an appealing smile like BYJ, we offer facial exercises. It is not enough to just treat teeth because it is our belief that by treating the entire face, your expression brightens and you gain energy in your everyday life. This is what I propose in my 'smile design'.

I think that a smile has the power to move people. To those people around you it says, 'That person is sending me a good message. I wonder if he’s feeling a sense of familiarity, will he treat me kindly?' while brightening the surroundings. A smile can bring people a sense of joy and can bring them happiness too.

If everyone can bring to mind BYJ’s smile, I am sure you will quickly understand. When you see BYJ’s love strewn smile, aren’t you filled with happiness?



If you make others around you happy, then that happiness comes rebounding back to you. Working people should increase their chances of finding success.
Just as we see BYJ has found success. That is why I think that smiles should be considered very important whether they are a part of one’s life or a part of everyday life.

A smile is different from just laughter. An amusing incident that brings forth loud laughter is laughter, since it is a passive reaction to one’s surroundings. You can make someone uneasy and have a negative effect on them, if you look and laugh at someone and that person ends up thinking, 'Is there something wrong with the clothes I’m wearing?'



A smile is created by the individual. It is an active thing. It is created by an individual and is able to send out a wonderful message to one’s surroundings.

So it is important to know whether it is possible to create an attractive smile brimming with love like BYJ. If someone has an inferiority complex that prevents them from having a nice smile, it would be better to overcome that inferiority complex through cosmetic dentistry. This is also connected to achieving success in life.

When it comes to who has the most beautiful smile, I would like to say BYJ, but I think it is the Hollywood actress, Julia Roberts.



The corners of her mouth rise up sharply and her beautiful straight white teeth are exposed to the fullest when she smiles. Her big grin is perfect and I think that she firmly captures everyone’s heart when they see her smile.



Namul Helpful for Healthy Teeth

When asked about the smiles of the Japanese, the smiles of Asians including Japanese, look small, calm and soft. Asians can smile broadly like Julia Roberts
but they prefer to have smaller smiles to be charming.

But young people nowadays laugh loudly without holding back, like Julia Roberts, which makes the need for cosmetic dentistry even more necessary.

I do not know if it is because the Japanese do not chew their food enough, but it seems that their jaws appear to be small. This is due to consuming too much soft foods and too many small meals. While their jaws have shrunk, their teeth size have remained the same size, and have been unable to align themselves cleanly along the jawbone, resulting in many cases, where the teeth grow in overlapping in the front and back of the mouth, and on the left and right sides. The need for cosmetic dentistry can easily occur from such a condition.

Let me point out one food that is helpful to dental health.

It is namul found in Korean cooking. Namul is made from edible wild plants, bean sprouts, and greens and contains a lot of fiber called cellulose so that while you eat them, they stimulate the gums. Cellulose also has cleansing action, which means it also acts as a dental polisher to beautify the teeth’s’ surface. Thorough chewing benefits the gums, teeth, and jaw.

Bibimbap which uses namul is also good for the health of teeth.



I think I also told BYJ about this. I urge all of you to eat more namul and bibimpap just like BYJ.

On the other hand, sweets are bad for the teeth. Please be careful not to overeat sweets.


The Reason for So Many Show Business Patients

The reason why we have so many entertainment industry type patients coming to our office for dental treatments is that one of the founders, Park In Chul,
was a college friend of management agency, BoA’sSM Entertainment president, Lee Soo Man. The two were such close friends that they used to be in a band together.

Then all the entertainers in SM Entertainment started coming to our office for treatments and then, in no time, others followed. I believe that BYJ was urged to visit our office by someone else.



Teeth are very important to entertainers. If they do not have confidence in their teeth, then they cannot have self-confidence in their smile and will only be able to create small laughter. There will also be times where this will affect their acting.

There will be many times where close-up photos will be taken and it is very important to have a confident smile. To achieve this, teeth straightening and whitening treatments should be done, and it will be necessary to eliminate the inferiority complex about the teeth.

Usually, entertainers will deliberately try and emphasize their strong points and when taking photos, they know which angles are the most flattering, or they have the tendency to pose with their best side to the camera.

But doing that makes the photos look unnatural and stilted. In order to move naturally and to smile, it is necessary to have a mouth that inevitably changes.



Our Smile Clinic has treated some 200 famous entertainers as patients and recently, we have been often using the short term teeth straightening method.
We are able to correct teeth within a week and there are even methods where the braces are invisible. Techniques have advanced a long way.



Because of such dental advances, it is easier than before to obtain a warm, loving smile like BYJ. As a 'smile designer', I would like everyone to reconsider the importance of a smile.

Posted by bb on Quilt

original in japanese: Ways to Love Yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / bb's blog
pics added by: bb

Ch 8 - A Lesson Learned in Solitude 'To Love Love'
Jinwi Buddhist Temple Head Priest, Kim Dong Ho

Yong Joon Studied at a Temple Deep in the Mountains Where Boars Appeared



BYJ arrived alone to visit this Jinwi Temple on March 1, 1991. You may ask why I clearly remember the exact date and that is because he was requested to submit a document, 'a letter of application' when he enrolled at this Temple.

There is no requirement that an applicant enrol at the beginning of a new year. An applicant may enrol at anytime. The date that YJ wrote was March 1, 1991.

On the application there are details such as date of birth, parent’s names, birthpla*ce, current residence at that time (Dongdaemun-Gu, Yongdu 2-Dong, Seoul) and telephone number. There was information to be completed on schools graduated to be filled in, but I see that YJ submitted the application with only the minimum necessary information completed.

This Temple had a square footage of about 13,000 tsubo (10 acres, 42,000 sq. metres) at the time YJ was here. Even that was a considerable size but we have now grown to 36,000 tsubo (29 acres, 119,000 sq. metres). The buildings that YJ stayed in were demolished eleven years ago and rebuilt so that the current buildings are not the same buildings as the ones during YJ’s time.

The building that YJ stayed in was an L-shaped two-story building, and YJ’s room number 205 was on the second floor. All the rooms are private rooms.

*bb: oh how interesting!! remember jaeho's cap? it's also 205!



When YJ was here, there were more than 80 rooms total. The bathrooms and bathtubs were communal and they were only located outside the building in the mountains. For children such as YJ who were used to the conveniences of city life, this condition may have been a hardship.

But despite that, this Temple was very popular back when YJ was here. As you can see, the Temple is located deep in the mountains. Previously, we used to see boars coming down from the mountains. That is why the Temple’s remote location was given as a good reason to give up all temptations.

Within the 4-5 series of buildings, there were 70-80 students studying for entrance exams that were either arriving or leaving here. Among those students are those who went on to become the backbone of government serving in the Foreign Service, and as public prosecutors, and judges.

There must be several hundred such people who went on to play an active role in society.

It is not for that reason that I say this, but I think that it is very praiseworthy for young people to give up all enjoyable pleasures to decide to come here to this Temple to study. Studying for the entrance exams is a battle with the self on how to contain your own ambitions and sexual desires with endurance, above all, being the key to success. Putting aside the end results, as a servant of Buddha, I am grateful for the young people that visit the Temple, with the desire to study after first discarding all worldly thoughts.


YJ was a Lonely Soul

At the Jinwi Temple, we still receive people who come to stay for self-study in preparation for the Foreign Service civil service examination, law studies to become judges or public prosecutors, and other legislative and administrative studies. I believe that YJ def