Ms. Lee Geunmi had interviewed BYJ in Japan in April for the Korean magazine, Monthly Chosun. Before the magazine hit the streets, she had posted the following message on her website. Following postings are related to that interview

Translated by Joanne of BYJ's Quilt.

From the Ms. Lee Geunmi's homepage.

Ms. Lee wrote an interview article on BYJ on the May 04 issue of Monthly Chosun. On her posting on BYJ's official home board, she advised people to read this posting for her feeling about BYJ during the interview
How was BYJ?
4/20/04 02:01

How was BYJ?
This is the question people ask me most frequently in these days.
Even before they hear my answer, the questions continue.
-Was he really handsome?
-Does he seem smart?
-Does he seem to be good-natured?
-How did you feel?

Because it seems that those kind of questions will continiue for the time being in coming days, I decided to write about what I felt about BYJ on my homepage. The truth is because that magazine was issued already^^

First of all I feel good because I was able to interview an actor who is considerably difficult to make arrangement (for the interview), and it is memorable also that I even went to Japan where I've never been to before to interview thanks to him.

First of all, to answer the very primary questions,
-Was he really hadnsome?
Of course handsome, with killing* atmosphere, (*expression of extremely good), with good voice. What is it for to speak any more, You are only get envious. Could I have the occasion again to meet more handsome-looking man than him and to talk sincerely facing each other in my life in the future? Unless I make arrangement with the same level entertainer.

-Does he seem smart?
He seems to be smart. I could not think of him as an entertainer who just does only acting. Probably because he has above the standard knowledge in the photography linked to his major in the University, I felt as if I met a man in the professional career. I felt that I would not get bored if I talked with him for a long time (different from people in the style of single answer). I felt that he has the definite vision for the future along with the conviction on his work.

-Does he seem to be good-natured?
He did not seem to be unlimitedly good natured. He tells himself that he is introspective and does not particularly enjoy meeting people, he seems to posess the characteristics of those people. Clear-cut personality, that is, he seemed to have the decisiveness to be able to say 'NO' at the time when he has to say 'No.' Before that, he seems to be earnest in every matter and basically have the heart to communicate the feeling with the opposite party. Thus far, I had met and interveiwed at least 30 entertainers and he is the actor whom I felt best about. He had the will to be definitely faithful during the period of interview.

BYJ met me on the 3rd day after entering Japan and he did not feel well before leaving Korea. On that day when I went there, he was in the condition of extreme exhaustion as he was giving the relay interviews with the Japanese press from morning, he answered with his best effort to me whom he met at 5:30 in the afternoon. He had the considerable spirit of professionalism. He was qualitatively different from those entertainers wh would say, "Please write as you'd like." Judging from those facts, he seems like a style with decisiveness.

-How did you feel?
Just because I was not given much time, I did not have a wink to think about the star in Asia, top star, handsome man, and etc. I only paid attention to how effectively I would carry interveiw in short period of time. When I met the ex-President or Revron Jo Yonggi (Mark Jo), I also thought only that way. That is not because I am a professional but because it is sor of self defense which I have to helplessly put in motion because I had request form the media (Monthly Chosun) which would mercilessly cut off (articles) if they are loose even just a little bit.

That's why I actually did not have much time to appreciate how handsome he looked. His fans had written on fanpage the expression of "he is like a person in the heaven." However, probably because BYJ answered as a professional with the very professional expression when he interviewed with me, I rather had the feeling of doing an interview with a professional in a field and could not feel that I was doing the interview with the most handsome man, ㅋㅋㅋ* (*mischievously laughing) Did my sensibility dry up? Look at the handsome men like stones~

The truth is that, before the interview, when BYJ came to the powder room to change his outfit, I saw him and already amazed at him. First of all, the feeling that he is slim & tall as well as robust. However, his face was small and tender, he gave off the feminine and masculine charm simultaneously. At the time, I just thought "Ah, BYJ," but when he smiled broadly while giving interview with the Japanese press, I admired inside of me, 'it is truly the bright smile.' After watching continuously his appearance of giving interviews to the Japanese reporters, when he met me, BYJ held my arms with two hands and shook wildly saying, "I am really glad to ohave an interview with Korean reporter." The professionalism to assume himself to be a sincere and frank interviewee rather than a top star. I felt considerably favorite impression.

I frequently visited BYJ's homepage while I was writing an article titled 'Azumma fans of the flower-beauty man,' and after being infrequent for a while, I collected the data as I freqently made connections to BYJ's homepage again before current interview. Not only that the BYJ fans in high intellectual level have collected all sorts of information about him very well on his homepage, but also as they summarized very well about their feelings on BYJ whom they saw places like the autographing session, etc. I was able to know roughly what kind of man he was.

Before I interviewed BYJ, there were 2 questions which I was most curious about.
-Didn't he feel anxious as he had gaps in the entertainment business where there are severe ups and downs?
-As he was a star from the beginning, has he ever worried if his populariyt might possibly fall.

BYJ said that he does not pay attention to both. It is considerable internal training. it is an impossible matter without tremendous sense of self-confidence. Has he been relaxed because the directors in Choongmooro and the producing directors of the broadcasting stations always call him no matter how long gaps he has for 1 year or 2 years. In a word, I envy him personally from the aspect that he is able to have the commercial value to that degree. A person being sought after by here and there although he returned after going somewhere for about 2 year, Actually there are not that many of them around me.

There was a question I asked BYJ after getting permission ahead of it. The question was if he personally wrote the articles on his homepage and the staff photos of the 'Scandal...' Truthfully, it was very hard for me to ask this question, BYJ questioned back laughing, "Then, who would write them?" Some people around me (I will not say who) argued about the writing BYJ left on his homepage. Most people judged that there was no way he could write that well. There were many friends who said that there was a person who would write BYJ's postings for him. When they insisted that, I had read his writings in detail and I was confident that BYJ himself wrote them.

It was because there was some deficiency in the spacing of the words and he made mistake in some words which people who were not a professional writers would frequently write wrong. In addition, there sometimes mixed the colloquial expressions in his writings. When I told BYJ we had such argument while we analyzed his writings posted on his homepage, BYJ only said "Aweful. You even do the analysis," and did not show the unpleasant expression. Again tremendous internal training. When I asked a woman the similar question in the past, i was stunned to hear her, "I have to twist the neck and throw away people who talk like that." According to the confirmation later, that woman really had someone write for her. If there is something guilty, people tend to get excited~

During the interview there was a moment when there exploded the hearty laughs and it is because of this statement of mine.
"Many women feel substitute satisfaction through the male entertainers in their peaks. I see that there is no need for marriage too soon. I want you to get married late."
In that moment, the managers and staff laugh Hahaha~
At that moment, I only delivered the messate of Asian women who are attracted to BYJ. Although those women had not sent me telepathy, I thought that they were be like that^^ If BYJ gets married now, the favorite feeling would reduce in half. Rather than a faithful ordinary man who became the husband of a women, wouldn't it be better to stas as long as possible as a lonely and mysterious man. Just out of that sort of thoughts...

The characteristic of the way BYJ talks was that he would not put himself up in the front. For example, when he mentioned the people who came from Japan to see him at the Baeksang Arts Grand Awards ceremony, he expresses like "There were people who came from Japan." Thus, he did not talk with the expression like "those people who came from Japan to see me." In nearly everywhere he was likely to appear in the sentenses, he talked taking himself out, there arose the sense of the modestsy and faith. Thus when I wrote the article also, I tried to keep that points alive in case of dialogues.

When it was over 30 minutes, manager Yang Geunhwan notified, "there left 3 minutes," and when I said that "Ah, I had to do more...," BYJ also felt wanting saying, "I also don't like this." If only I had about 2 hours, it could become a really wonderful interview...We ordinarily have to interveiw for over 2 hours...

When I was about to leave after observing the interview with TBS TV, Mr. Yang had advised to go after greeting with him. (this personality of not looking back after finishing the business, it showed up even in front of the handsome man...). Only by then, BYJ loosened his tie and was sitting a little comfortably. When I said I was leaving, he asked "when are you going back to Korea?" When I said that I would leave the day after tomorrow, he first offered "let's do more interview to sqeeze time tomorrow during the day." However, because I could not contact him on the next day to my wanting, I could not do any more interview. This part, I feel very sorry. I do not know who is responsible.

The general impression of BYJ is that he is comfortable and relaxed. He also responded in composure and relaxation to the interviews with Japanese press. He did not have the shallowness which is frequent found in the entertainers. A female producing director of the NHK satellite who had chosen the'WLS,' said that the reason for Japanese women to like BYJ is because he has the 'dignity' along with the handsome outer appearance.

BYJ who is 33 years ole in Korea way of counting age, there was the dignity and charsima which is difficult to come from the men at 33 years. Where did the such internal training come from? I may have to have more close-up interviews to be able to find the answer to that.

Anyway, as I said before, BYJ was the interview with much sense of meeting a professional in a certain field.

Those self-called 'TOP's in the entertainment business I have met thus far were layered with the shallowness + self-admiration, BYJ was different because he had the dignifity entirely far from those, and the fact that he was very sincere.

If I have an opportunity, I have a thought that I would like to write the BYJ Study by close-up interview. Although it would be possible only if his side allows me. Anyway, I came back receiving the quite good impression. That is because he did his best while he was meeting me. As I came out of the hotel, I thought about where that dignity was coming from, and first of all, BYJ was sort of speaking somewhat slower than the other people.

As I have met many people who were standing at the peak, the most pleasant people are the humble while smart ones. In addition, with dignity. If you ask me to name people with such virtues among the people I have met thus far (coming to my mind at first), they are Park Youngjoo, CEO of Yigeun Industry and Oh Myeong, head of the ministry. What about gettin the same impression from BYJ as I got from those people? Is it because I are too much absorbed in the handsome man? However, at least his sincerity deserved the pretty good mark. As I had written, I am only talking that all was good. There are people who would make me feel bad after I met them. Actually when I came out of the hotel, I talked similar to what i wrote here to Cult who accompanied me.

Although the Cult, photographer, agreed that he was wonderful, she said that he was not her type. However, when she met Hatbitchoom, I was told that she said, "When we took photo, at the moment he embraced my shoulder, I felt that really this man was faithful to each and every moment. Because I got the impression that he did not causually embrace the shoulder but did it with all his earnest." Hm~ She had such feeling becasue she was at the similar age after all? When I took photo with him, I only worried that my face would come out too big...

Anyway, BYJ interview, other than the somewhat short period of time, it was good. More than anything, it was good because I was able to confirm during the interview the 'good feeling' his fans have been talking about.

That's it. As everything was good, please do not ask me any more~

To read about her interview article that appeared in Monthly Chosun, please go to

http://www.joonsfamily.com/index.php?name=...iewtopic&t=1036

From HerMes. Posted by Jangmi on its News section.
Translated by Joanne of BYJ's Quilt

[Monthly Chosun] June 04 Postscript on the exclusive interview on BYJ-Explosive interest from Japanese press and domestic and foreign fans.
● The Japaense press had transferred the article of BYJ exclusive interview on the Monthly Chosun.
● Launching magazines related to Korean dramas like bamboo after rain.

● Asian fans read the Monthly Chosun article as it was translated in English and Japanese.

Written by Lee Geunmi, a free lance writer (gosus@dreamwiz.com)
................................................................................
........................................
Swarmed by requests to transfer the article from the Japanese press

After the BYJ exclusive interview was published on the May issue of the Monthly Chosun, the reactions was really explosive. First of all there came many inquring telephone calls from the reporters,『How were you able to meet Mr. BYJ who would not grant interview very well』

Last January when I requested an interview to BYJ, who was chosen as the「Top 100 Korean brands」on the supplement to the January issue ot the Monthly Chosun, Mr. YangGeunhwan, his manager said,『We cannot grant interview at this time because he is not active (professionally)』 In the end of sending book and getting in touch continuously, I got a phoe call in early April,『Please interview him in Japan』

Since the BYJ exclusive interview was published, the Japanese press, in particular, showed hot interest. The「Monthly Modern Times (月刊現代)」, a current issue magazine ini Japan had made a special contract with Monthly Chosun to carry and edited BYJ exclusive interview in its June issue. Mr. Kim Kyeongcheol, Korean correspondent for the「Monthly Modern Times (月刊現代)」, while requesting several supplemental report to this writer, informed me that『With the trasnferring the BYJ's article inn the Monthly Chosun as the momentum,the「Monthly Modern Times (月刊現代)」decided to priint 50,000 additional copies for its June issue』Recording second place in the ranking of sales, the「Monthly Modern Times (月刊現代)」currently prints 150,000 copies.

When this writer asked t『Isn't it risky to print additional 50,000 copies just because of BYJ's article alone』, Mr. Kim Kyeongcheol, told me like this.

『At present the most popular news maker in Japan is BYJ taking all the in and out of country together. The main reader level of our magazine is over 40 th (years old) and they are enthusiastic about BYJ. The decision (additional copies) was made because we thought it is amply possible to sell them』

Mr. Kim told, 『the「Monthly Modern Times (月刊現代)」reported trivially on the general election or impeachment of the President in Korea』and 『At present, Mr. BYJ is enjoying mighty popularity to the degree to increase the level of interest in Korea by the Japanese people』

『Until now the Japanese press did not have particular interest in the situation inside Korea. At present they are only interested in the North Korea issue and the 6 party meeting to resolve the nuclear problem ( of North Korea). Only person the Japanese press show interest is BYJ. Although Won BIn, Jang Donggeun, Ahn Jaewook are also popular among Korean actors, they cannot be comparable to BYJ』

He also added this words,『Different from Korean people, the Japanese people enjoys the paper print media, not the internet.

In Japan, the articles related to BYJ are overflowing

Although there were additional requests from the Japanese press wishing for transfer BYJ exclusive interview, the Monthly Chosun just mad a contract with the Monthly Modern Times alone. At the request by the Lady Chosun, summarized version of the BYJ exclusive interview was carried in its May issute. Then there were Japanese entertainiment magazine which inquired their wish transfer the article in the Lady Chosun.

This writer told these requests from the Japanese media to Mr. Son Ilhyeong of IMX who is in charge of the management for BYJ's activities in Japan. However, president Son was rather worried about the explosive interest from the Japanese press.

『In Japan, there are overflow of the articles related to BYJ at present. Too much exposure rather becomes minus to the BYJ's image. It is the reality that the magazines related to Korean drama are launching without discrimination as BYJ gains popularity. There are media who reported with ill-feeling on BYJ in Japan. We plan to counteract legally to the press for the violation of the portrait right against the media who use the photos without permission.』

President Son Ilhyeong, saying that some of magazines in Japan had already carried summarized Monthly Chosun articles, confirmed the articles on the Japanese press via fax.

Kang Heebong, Korean Japanese, who is an editor of a Japanese entertainment magazine called 'I Love Korean Dramas', even came to Korea and requested this writer to write my opinion of reporting on BYJ. As the magazine called 'Life & Dream' in Korea also requested to write the postscript on BYJ report, I worte for two places.

Although over one month was passed since the book was published, there are many people who ask this writer questions like 『Is BYJ really handsome? Does he feel smart? How is his personality?』 As I could not answer to the questions one after the other, I left the postscript on the reporting on this writer's homepage and that article spread in no time through the internet. After all there was a request from the Japanese magazine to carry Postscript on BYJ reporting I posted on my homepage. However, it was written in the format of the miscellaneous note, I rejected that request.

『Please get BYJ's autograph so that I can present to my wife』

There were numerous request (?) to this writer to obtain BYJ's autograph. As there were particularly many men who requested 『My wife is a BYJ fan and please get his autograph. I want to live proudly for one year』, I felt the changing picture of customs between husband and wife.

As the friends who live in the rural area sent me their news with the letter messages on the cell phone, 『i have read BYJ article. You must feel really good』, I could realize the responses in Korea also was great.

More than anyone, the people who showed hot responses were BYJ's Korean fans and foreign fans. As soon as the pop-up for the May issue was posted on the homepage of Monthly Chosun on April 18th, they posted on BYJ's official homepage (www.byj.co.kr) the cover page of the May issue of the Monthly Chosun and index carrying BYJ's photo. The fans who saw the cover and index jumped their feets up and down saying they wanted to read the article soon and on the next day they scanned and posted the entire article on the homepage almost at the same time the magazines were distributed to store. However as the writer requested not to post on official homepage until the article is posted on the Monthly Chosun's homepage, they exhibited the maturity of taking down the article right away.

While the article was posted on the homepage, the fans showed interest by attaching tens of replies.

{First I want to give you this word that how much I was pleased and joyous after reading such a long interview article for the first time. I also excited not too little at the long interview I met after a long time as Yongjoon-nim is known not to give interview often. } (visionmix)

{I give more thanks to you because of the fact that it was more useful than any articles ro information particularly as we were able to hear much on the thoughts of BYJ.} (memoryj)

{It has been rare to see interviews which could deliver these sincere thoughts and heart. I feel that we always have been thirsty at the trivial stories unrelated to that person himself. various peripheral questions all the time. I think it is just the meaning of the interview to be able to read his thoughts and to get the feeling that we are closer to him through the interview like this. It seems that your viewpoint to approach itself is different from the articles on the general woman magazines because yours is magazine for the intelligent people with long history after all} (style)

The foreign fans posted many writings, 『I aksed dometic friends to buy the Monthly Chosun and mail to me』

The foreign fans also sent greetings of appreciation.

As the content of the interview with the Monthly Chosun became known to the overseas BYJ fan pages, the foreign fans also showed big interest. Ms Hosaka Ai, a Japanese fan, sent me an e-mail, 『I satyed in the New Otani Hotel for 3 days when BYJ came to Japan. I only saw BYJ riding in a car very briefly because I did not get the lottery for the fan meeting, I am satisfied to see a man I miss. After divorcing my husband after 30 years' marriage, we got reunited after watching WLS. When you come to Japan, please see me. I will guide you the tourist spots 』

Ms. Jeong Soohyang, a Korean Japanese, who answered my reporting as I happened to meet her incidenlty at the New Otani Hotel in Japan, frequently sent me to this writer's mail the news about the Japanese fans. There was a news that the postscript on the report in Japan I posted on my homepage was translated by a Japanese fan and it was hit over thousands.

The postscript on BYJ reporting left on this writer's homepage, spread on the internet in no time as soon as a famous domestic entertainment portal site posted it. Along with it, there were times when the writings 『Why did the Monthly Chosun interview BYJ』wallcovered this wirter's homepage and one protesting e-mail saying『I am anti0Chosun and why did the Monthly Chosun reported on BYJ』also came.

As the BYJ exclusive interview article was posted on the homepage of the Monthly CHosun on May 18th, a BYJ fan who has ID 'Jandolbat,' right away translated this article into English and posted on BYJ's official homepage. Because there were requests from the fans in the various Southeast Asian fans they wanted to read it in English at the news that BYJ related article was published in Korea.

Each country fans left variety of greetings of thanks after they read the article. A BYJ fan called Yokee (yokee), a Malay, personally left a posting on this writer's homepage 『thanks you so much for the interview』

Although the Korean Japanese Jeong Soohyang requested her wish to translate the article into Japanese for the fans in Japan, I e-mailed her that it is not possible yet due to the contract with the Monthly Modern Times.

The viewing rate of the 'WLS', which is on air at 11 PM on every Saturday on the groundwave on NHK at this time, continued to increase from the 9.2 % for the first episode so that for the 6th episode on the May 8, it was 13.6 %. Despite the adverse conditions that it is rerun for the third time Japan and the (airing) time at 11 Pm on Saturdays, the viewing rate is continuoulsy rising.I went ahead of the 12.9 5 by 'Shinsengumi,' a long-run period drama on NHK airing at the golden time at 8 PM on Sunday. The Sankei newspaper reported that in the situation that the dramas cannot exert power at present, the active one is the 'WLS' alone.

Although there are floods of requests to appear in the works and CF from Korea and Japan, he is composedly deliberating in the manner of his discretive personality.●