From City of Yongjoon. April has posted this on its freeboard.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW-Power of BYJ
[Chosun Daily]11/19/04 Entered : 06:47 00' / Modified : 07:19 36'
BYJ "for the unexpected huge love, I thank you all"
BYJ, "It seems that the Japanese fans who are older than me are purer"
"So much love that I am not able to deal with...nevertheless frankly speaking I feel lonely"
'Yon-sama' BYJ (32), who has changed the topographical map of cultual exchange between Korea & Japan with a big hit of the 'WLS' in Japan had an exclusive interview with Chosun Daily in the evening on 18th. I met in the office at the BOF,BYJ's agency, in Nonhyeon-Dong, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul and he told, "I was not able to expect that I would earn such a popularity in Japan. I thank everyone who sent me love from Korea & Japan". Having been breaking off contacts with the outside for over 6-months, he told on that day, "I feel great responsibility because I have received too much love. I am exploring ways to return something back to society including establishment of (non profit) corporation". Mr. Bae will hold tone after another the Hand Printing Event of the Blue Dragon Film Award on 19th and launching and opening ceremony of the exhibition for the photo album 'The Image Vol. 1' on 20th.
For one year in 2004, 'Yon-sama' BYJ became a social phenomenon piercing through both countries of Korea and Japan going back and forth over the Hyeonhae* Straight. (*Straight between Japan & Korea between southeast Korea and southwest Japan) In particular, his status in Japan has been impossible to be defined with only one word, 'star'. He was the source (epicenter) of the 'Korean Current', which is said to be the biggest for the hot winds blown from Korean Penninsula since the Chosun Communication Envoy in 400 years ago, and since the airing of the 'WLS' on NHK, people have reacted heatedly to one word he would post on his initernet homepage, and small gazes or one gesture he showed in commercial films. The economic effect ,created by the Japanese tourists who come to Korea in order to find the BYJ's 'traces', is considered to reach upto several hundred billion Won.
Nonhyeon-Dong, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul in the evening on 18th. In front of BYJ's BOF office, which is a renovated home, two teams of 3~4 Japanese women were looking toward the inside. Those women in 30~40th, saying that they are friends, appeared rejoyced while they were taking souvenir photos among themselves, even though they told, "we are waiting for 20 minutes".
In the office, young emplyees were busy. To the small reception space, where hung a round wall clock showing the current time of Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, & Los Angeles, and the green artificial bamboo tree was creating the woods like atmosphere, BYJ appeared wearing a black hat and dark green leather coat. Although he has been perfectly cut off from exposure to the mass communication for the past 7 months, he gave comfortable feeling and was relaxed once in the place of personal meeting. Would it because that he prepared his mind to appear in front of people at the Hand Printing Event commemorating the Blue Dragon Film Award on the 19th? We had conversation going far over the appointment time, and rarely for him who has been extremely reluctant to show his ordinary appearance, it was O.K. to take the photo of him in a comfortable personal appearance. (he asked parden because he could not take off hat as he has not made up his hair).
The office staff, who were busily moving in the office due the business of photo album to be issued on 20th, said greetings to him without hesitation calling hime 'Yongjoon-ssi'. This is the actual site 15 people are running regardless of days or nights for the BYJ project.
-It seems that you have lost too much flesh on your face during the physical exercise, have you recovered by now?
"(Grinning) Am I not pretty good now? I am in the process of recovery a little by a little. When I went to my regular beauty salon to begin shooting after finishing body building, they could not recognize me. By the way, unless the face becomes sallow like that, one cannot create Chinese character, King Wang(王)* (*six-pack) on the abdomen. When I was doing the very last shooting in Thailand, there was an episode when I was trying to eat some fruit because I lost too much flesh in my face, I ended up eating over 70 Mangosteen."
-In Japan, they count as the reason for the 'Yon-sama' syndrome, the pure love image displayed through BYJ-ssi. They says that the love like a Children's storybook of the beautiful young boy has comforted people.
Why you have invited yourself the difficult process of changing in to the muscular man?
"It was really necessary for me to challange against a certain limiting situation, and also against myself. The dieting was really difficult. It seems that I felt rather comfortable during the moment of doing physical exercise. As I was doing a dieting to get rid of fat and to create muscles, because I could not take sugar and salt, I had suffered from the muscle spasms and sleep disorder. One day, I could not sleep a wink so that I told my trainer, Im Jongpil-ssi, "I only kept my eyes closed throughout the night", when he said, "even then your muscles have rested, let's go to exercise'"
-As the 'WLS' syndrome is tremendous, have you thought about to get out of that 'pure love' image?"(With both of his hands way up straight) Why would I get out of the work I have recieved love (because of it)? While I say that, it does not mean that I would continue to say in that memory, and I have different memory in all characters, and when I think of them after time passes, they are even marvelous. When I think about film 'Scandal', I would even ask myself, 'How I was able to act that playboy performance?' 'Have I possess such aspect inside of me?'".
-In 'WLS', what is your most favorite scene? The Namyi Island, a shooting site, has become a tremendous cultural spot.
"That is the place I also want to go see again. The scene I like the most is the one where Joonsahng and Yoojin in their high school period would play making snowmen there. Aren't they veery cute and pure?"
-There showed up a villiage which take after the stage of the 'WLS' in Japan.
"I have also read it in the Chosun Daily. Saying a small villiage called Gakamigahara..I was very happy and thankful."
-Have you expected the response to 'WLS' in Japan? Why do you think it gained such responses from the Japanese people like that?"I have not expected that at all. The drama was popular in Korea and also in other Asian countries. Wouldn't the reason for it to enjoy the most sensational popularity in Japan was because the environment surrounding those people was lonely and dreary? It seems that they wanted to feel the hearts toward the old things. In fact, isn't the world too lonely?"
-For this one year, you became a huge international star. You have also received the tremendous love. Despite that, are you lonely?"Although I am receiving very much love...(silence), frankly speaking, I am lonely. The thought comes to me that I have bear too many things on my shoulders. Although I try to enjoy or to get rid of the loneliness, it does not work very well."
-The passion of the Japanese fans seem amazing. What is the characteristic of the Japanese fans? Is there any plans for them?"They speak the Japanese very fluently. Haha, it is a joke. Basically the family who treasure me are warm and pure. The people who are way much older than I frequently show further purer appearance, so that they make me think a lot. I plan to visit Japan soon. Now, I think of my fans as 'family', either in Korea or in Japan. I have a plan to create a place where the family from Korea, Japan, and the other Asian countries would meet, communicate, and share their difficulties and joys. When there is bad thing in Korea, the Japanese would come to help and if there is a bad thing in Japan, the Korean people would go to help, how wonderful it would be?"
-What kind of plan in detail?
"It is not yet in the stage to make it public...As I have received too much love, I think that I have to return it back to society in whatever ways. I have a plan to launch a (non-profit) corporation (foundation?) inviting the elders who have many worldy experiences. We are examining a plan to be able to use it for helping the needy people in various region."
-There is pretty many proposal (of love) from Japan, and don't you have any plan to appear in the Japanese dramas?
"I was not able to do that many work even in Korea yet. Also the Japanese language is somewhat like that ...( meaning that he has language problem) I am not ready yet for me to appear in the Japanese dramas."
-What is the reason for you not to appear in the NHK Red/White Game?"uhm...It is not the thing I am able to do well, That of the variety show...," (He spared his words here. He appeared to worry about if he would be shown to be arrogant at the slightest slip.)
-I heard that you are fond of sports. What kind of sports do oyou play in ordinary days?
"I play a little bit of golf. My record is in low 80th. I have done the fighting sports too...Once in a while I envy the sports players. It is because they have an honest result from the efforts they themselves pour in."
-In regard to the management of figure, do you have any secret formula for ordinary time?"The exercise is the one I have to do basically, and to tell you the truth, how one eats is more important. During the process of preparing for the photo album, I ate much of the chicken breasts, and while I continued to chew the tough food, muscles have developed around the chin. Hense, I was astonished. Because I worried, 'What happens if the facial shape changes as the muscle develops there?'. Thus, from then on, I rather ate after grinding the chicken breasts and vegetable in a blander."
(He honestly confessed the process of training himself to the degree of cruelty until he puts out into the world his photo album 'The Image Vol. 1' to be issued on 20th. While he was talking about the story of being hungry while he was dieting with extemely limited carbohydrate in order to build muscles, he showed very much awkwardness even while he was laughing Haha.)
-What is the fact that people have most misunderstanding about BYJ?"A while ago, I happened to meet a person for the first time and he said that he got the impression that (I was) 'too particular and cold'. In fact, I have an aspect that I am not able to act warm-heartedly to people I see for the first time. Also the impression itself is sharp, cold, and too rational looking unless I smile. However, that person is now saying that 'you are so funny' whenever (he/she) sees me." (Actually, he answered to me smiling continuously saying, "the interview is interesting". He even said, "isn't there anything more to ask about me")
-You are rumored to be an actor who has high standard of your own whenever you did your works."I have been like that in the past. I had idea about me that I was always wanting, and was afraid to show myself readily to others. I had been trying over and over again to show the new things by putting in and making more. However, my current feeling is like this. 'Because these are the only ones I have, I will show a little by a little my change by 1%, 2%' As I think like that, I seem to become a little bit relaxed."
-Doesn't BYJ's personal goal aim at a larger stage going beyond Japan?
"I have never made activity taking Japan as a goal. In order to act in the other countries, one has to learn the country's language and culture by experiencing them. In order to show the natural acting through that process, there needs much time and effort. But I have heart of wanting to show myself to many regions not only to the Asian region with good works."
-I think that as a person majoring the Study on Video Image, you might have different thought from others on the 'Korean Current' hot wind which is striking the East Asia"It is not desirable for me myself or several stars to stand in the center of the Korean Current hot wind. The cultural contents of Korea have to continue on the Korean Current hot wind. It seems that the Asian cultures do not have much feeling of heterogeneity each other. Just like that the products would stay long in market if producing ability is excellent in the manufacturing sector also, the cultural contents must bet to win or lose with power of works."
-The 'Oe chool ' by Director Huh Jinho is your nest film. I think that you had much burden while selecting the work as much as you become an international star. What standard have you chosen it with?
"The trust in the Director had worked greatly. From the perspective that breathing & rappart between the actor and the director is important, I have been hoping to have a film with Director Huh Jinho. As much as I know his characteristic sentimental code and cinematography with sensibility, I wanted to shoot a film which would appeal to heart. I wish to try an acting which would linger on for a long time through this movie. I have not considered the international popularity. I believe that it is the appropriate choice at this time in the career of my acting life."
-What on the earth the 'Star' in the 21st Century?
"Although they say now is a digital era, I think that in the contrary, the sensibility is important as time passes. Isn't the image or sensibility move the industry after all? Although the things called media do the role of making image, it seems that their effect is bigger only when the truthful heart accompanies it. Although scale of the entertainment is getting bigger and it is getting up-to-date, rather than being a star who is depending on this mechanism, I will maintain my stance of continously developing my own capability and talent. I feel that it is very important to face fans with truthful heart."
-You have a career which is a little different from other actors. You had started with working as a staff in a film company and is there any aspiration which would astonish the world?"I will continue acting. I also want to direct films. There are really so many things I want to do even though they are not so great that they would astonish the wolrd."
Reported by Choi Seunghyeon,vaidale@chosun.com
Following was posted by April.
The above content is an article reported on A4 page in 11/19/04 (Friday) issue of Chosun Daily, and On A5, there is an article 'Japanese people, they went home after spending 240 billion Won in this year' , several photos, and articles with small titles, menu table of BYJ-method low-caloric diet, and 'BYJ's partners'.
On the photo with BYJ's autograph, he wrote, "Dear every family, I thank you from the bottom of my heart as you keep the same place without ever changing."