2009 March GQ Magazine Interview (2009.02.23)

“What’s boiling~”

Lee Jun Ki said that he has changed. How can anyone change like that, but as we look upon what he’s been through, he’s definitely not the same. He once confessed that he didn’t know how to handle his sudden stardom in the past. No one in their 20’s can live with passion as much as Lee Jun Ki does in his life. A hot blooded actor has many things to achieve and wants to be at his best all the time, that’s why he always boils up, ready to erupt.

Q: What did you see out of the window today?

Jun Ki: I saw only walls, and I also have blinders up. Even when I want to look out and take a peep around, I cannot do so. Being in 4th-floor privacy, no matter how you look at it, it’s like being in prison without bars.

Q: I don’t know why, but I think it suits you somehow.

Jun Ki: I just want to be alone. Like if I feel like watching movies, playing games, surfing the internet, searching for data, and working out and stuff, I’d be able to do so.

Q: I thought you would be busy.

Jun Ki: Let’s see, if I cross out the 3-hour sleeping time. What do I have? I used to sleep a lot, but when I have things to do, I ended up having insomnia. I always run after time, and crave for more time, things like that; reading gossips, searching Naver and those activities. Being an actor is no different from a life of study. Looking at the surroundings and people’s lives, this kind of life is alright for me.

Q: I don’t really get how it would be alright. But I heard that an Aries would be good at adjusting oneself.

Jun Ki: True. I’m an Aries. Originally, I’m the type of person who doesn’t talk much and is not so friendly. Moreover, I used to look down on people lower than me. I was that style, but I have changed a lot.

Q: But people don’t change…

Jun Ki: I know that, too. How can anyone change? But I did nonetheless. I became famous so suddenly. People look up to me in a certain way. So, I tried to change who I was. It’s good for me both as the actor, Lee Jun Ki and as a human being, Lee Jun Ki.

Q: The popularity from the King and the Clown was so overwhelming. Why did you choose to get rid of that in the following production?

Jun Ki: Even when they’re not trying, young actors absorb their characters and people look at them that way. If you let that go, then it’ll become a minus. Even though it’s hard, I like killing my character identities, and making the new characters over and over again. So, the audience could see the efforts, I don’t know if they do, but…

Q: You’re being hot on screen in the most part. Last year’s Iljimae, too, we can see the efforts you put in.

Jun Ki: That’s why I get angry a lot. I want to be admired as an actor, so I don’t want to rest at all. It’s not only me; the staff had to work hard, too. That killed me, because I was the one who was being praised. I used to hate the compliment “being smart/bright” a lot. I get applause because I’m an actor.

Q: “Hot” actor, “hot” acting, it’s always like that. Is there any inelegant moment?

Jun Ki: I still have little experience in acting. It’s not right to say that the audience indicates how well I act. But I receive their response, too. I’m greedy as a young actor. I want to use my energy while I can. I want all my managers to be as convenient as possible. Trendy or mellow dramas are more profitable and able to attract the female fans, but a guy in his 30’s would be more appropriate in that role. Isn’t he? As I look into the mirror, I don’t think I have such quality. After I return from the army, then I would want to be in some mellow drama.

Q: What do you think about F4 drama?

Jun Ki: The managers want me to do a drama like that. But I don’t want to. I prefer a role that I enjoy, the role that I cannot miss out.

Q: Very rigid of you to say that. Not only your acting ability, but also when you receive an award, you always give a powerful speech. It seems like you give a speech based on the award you receive.

Jun Ki: Yes, I am like that.

Q: This kind of feeling is like the people in demo. I don’t like this, I’m like that. Is it?

Jun Ki: Right. Hahaha! I want to be proper and accurate. Like… how should I act in each circumstance? I care about those things. Be playful during a play time. That’s why I did “Oongie Abeoji” at the SBS Awards.

Q: During such a performance, it’s like you wanted to show the audience that you can do it.

Jun Ki: Yes. Hahaha!

Q: As you grow, what have you accomplished?

Jun Ki: I gradually become shameless. I have to because being an actor means you have to be able to act. If you don’t act, then what would you be doing?

Q: There are some actors who can act (be fake) in real life better than in the roles they play.

Jun Ki: That’s why I have to hold a fan meeting, so that I can open up to the fans, and so that they can understand me.

Q: Being 28?

Jun Ki: Yes. I’m 28 (Korean age) years old. I think being at my age is a charm. I can be awkward (or inelegant), because I am an actor and that’s a burden. I used to go to the shooting scene, work and come back. Now, I’m just being myself, I also swear.

Q: When were you most peaceful?

Jun Ki: When I gained weight.

Q: Lee Jun Ki gained weight, too?

Jun Ki: I gain weight easily. Right now, too, I gained 2 kg. I’m practicing singing; I see Hyun Jin Young-shi and think that if I gain weight, my voice would become better. So, to be able to sing better I gained weight. Anyway, it’s my resting time (no drama) it’s normal to gain some weight. But my voice isn’t getting better, only the weight I gained. I think I have to lose weight faster.

Q: Losing and gaining weight must have been stressful. What do you worry about these days?

Jun Ki: Not long ago, I had some worries, but its ok now. I want to stock up on both a successful career and fortune. So, I…

Q: Pile up on a successful career and money, how nice?

Jun Ki: Yes, it is nice. If not nice, I’d be retired then. But I have to control myself from falling into it (success). Previously the problem with my agency was like that. No one noticed it, but it had been a rough year for the entire year for me. I had a few months where I couldn’t even laugh. All the hardship I had, finally it came from things I had done.

Q: If not an actor, how can we imagine Lee Jun Ki?

Jun Ki: Right now, you can’t. Even though I’m an actor; I also want to be perceived as an artist. There are many things I want to do. So, I’m worried a bit.

Q: No time for love, then?

Jun Ki: Even though I have to experience some romance, work holds that down. It’s always with manager, manager, and manager. We’d all be sitting at the bar, drinking and talking about work. It’s like a guy thing.

Q: That’s tiresome.

Jun Ki: It happens to be that way.

Q: What do you expect from a woman?

Jun Ki: Well, love is a relaxation. As each other’s “other half”, I like a girl that can tolerate me. I am not sure, we’ll see.

Q: What can a woman expect from you?

Jun Ki: Um… Financial status?

Q: Besides that, do you have anything to add?

Jun Ki: Financial status. Hahaha! Is it alright?

Q: No. Let’s just wrap up. What kind of man are you?

Jun Ki: Well, what kind of man am I? Previously, I used to be rough and easy going type. Now I don’t really know.

Q: Will you let us know if you’re in love?

Jun Ki: Sure.

Korean to English Translations by: CheonHye of Lee Jun-ki Crunchyroll Fan Group

Magazine scans credits to: dcjunki

source: LJK group @ multiply

 

 

 

Tough Competition For Kim Bum’s First Love

In order to find a suitable actress to play as So Yi Jung’s (Kim Bum) first love in “Boys Before Flowers, the production company Group Eight has began a series of selection processes as early as one month ago. Out of all the interviewees, they have filtered and after rounds of selections, two finalists remain. But there is one major headache for the production team as they are unable to decide on the final actress, given their equal strength.

This tough competition is likely due to the fact that whoever gets to play a role in “Boys Before Flowers” will get substantial media attention, as can be seen from supporting actors such as Lee Si Young, Jung Eui Chul, Gook Ji Yun, Lee Min Jung etc. Furthermore, with the high viewership over 30%, the production team is also cautious to which the actress is suitable to play as So Yi Jung’s first love.

As scheduled, this character will make its appearance in episode 18, which is to be shown on the 3rd March. Although the character image has been completed about one, two weeks ago, the actress has not been finalized.

The production team said: We are only one week till the airing of episode 18 and we need to finalize the actress within this short period.”

Well, this is what you get when a drama gets too popular. But it brings me to wonder what will happen if this is only a sub 10% viewership drama? Will the actors need to undergo such stringent and rounds of selections? Anyway, I’m curious to see who is it as well. On a side note, Lee Min Jung was really hilarious in last nights episode, when she was captured into the ballroom.

credit : Hanfever

Intense Competition to be Yi Jung’s First Love

If you have been keeping up with KBS2TV Boys Before Flowers, you would probably have been hoping for more scenes between Yi Jung (Kim Bum) and Gal Eul (Kim So Eun) and most importantly a happy ending for them. But before the rumored happy ending, Yi Jung’s first love which was hinted subtly in episode 13 in a conversation will be making an appearance soon to create sparks between them both. Group Eight had started holding auditions more than a month ago to find the perfect first love for Yi Jung (another classic example of making changes to the script on-the-fly to accomodate us viewers).

Although Group Eight have managed to whittle down the candidates to just 2 girls, it has been difficult to make a final decision as each have their own pros and cons. Because of the fact that Lee Si Young had managed to made a name for herself in the limited amount of episodes with her bad girl role, competition has been intense in the auditions to be Yi Jung’s first love.

Considering the high ratings and popularity of the drama now, Group Eight has to decide carefully for the actress to fit the image of Yi Jung’s first love. Yi Jung’s first love will make her first appearance on 3rd March, next Tuesday in Episode 18. The concept and style of the character has been decided 1, 2 weeks earlier but the girl has yet to be chosen as yet.

Kim Bum expressed, “Am very curious exactly what interesting story surrounds this first love”, while Group Eight said, “There’s only slightly more than a week before episode 18 so we are getting ready to decide on who is going to play Yi Jung’s first love.” Netizens will probably go crazy when the actress name is finally announced.

source: coolsmurf

Kim Joon and Gook Ji Yun for Omphalos

There might be lesser hype on Kim Joon and Gook Ji Yun who has less of a part as compared to the rest of the cast but thanks to the high popularity enjoyed by KBS2TV Boys Before Flowers, it has helped them to become more recognizable among viewers and especially advertisers.

Kim Joon plays Song Woo Bin in Boys Before Flowers and is very much an under-developed character (the yo-yo-yo accent doesn’t count) compared to the other F4 members. Gook Ji Yun is the leader of the JinSunMi trio, Ginger who terrorizes Jandi whenever she appears on screen but is otherwise rather insignificant and has not been seen since the ski resort scenes. But the drama has opened up doors for them and both recently inked a 1 year deal with Korean casual fashion brand, Omphalos to be their main models for 2009.

According to a Omphalos representative who explained their decision to choose them, “Kim Joon projects a confident and positive image while Gook Ji Yun also fits in nicely with our brand’s image.” The both of them filmed a commercial and photoshoot on 3rd February where they had acted as a couple for the brand’s Be Love campaign. Before the shoot begun, the staff held a surprise party for Kim Joon whose birthday fell on the same day.

Omphalos sure has some fate with Boys Before Flowers as Lee Min Jung who currently plays Goo Joon Pyo’s fiance in the drama was their main model for 2008.

credits: allkpop

Actress-singer-director Gu Hye-sun to publish a book

Gu Hye-sun adds to her already multi-hyphenated resumé, joining celebrities like Tablo and Horan by taking on writing.

On the episode of music variety program Lee Hana’s Peppermint that was recorded on the 24th, Gu revealed, “In between shooting for Boys Before Flowers, I’ve been writing stories. I’ll be putting together a collection that pairs my illustrations with the stories.”

The project is 90% completed, and is shooting for publication date at the end of March, after Boys Before Flowers ends. She said, “I don’t know if it will be good, but I wanted to pursue what I wanted to do.”

credits: star news
translations: dramabeans

fly to the sky’s comeback performances

Eventhough it is said that decennium is fly to the sky’s last official album, fans are still so excited to watch their comeback performances and that includes me (eventhough it looks like im counting down the days until their last perforance….so sad),This might sounds funny to others but until now i still cant accerpt the fact that Fly to the sky will be “taking a break” according to Brian, im still hoping that that “break” wont lead to a real break up of Fly to the sky…i will stick to what Brian have told that they are not disbanding, they are just taking a break

Ariel Lin hospitalized for eight days; suspected to have had an operation

Credits:
Source: Liberty Times
Translated by: indescribable @ http://asianfanatics.net/

Caption 1: Ariel Lin was asked, was she hospitalized for brain surgery?
Keeping mouth closed and not replying, only whispered and said: “Thanks for the concern.”

Caption 2: Ariel Lin was caught by people and suspected to have had brain surgery, going out yesterday to participate in the management company’s Spring Festival party. Papa Lin considerately escorts her in his car.

Ariel Lin hospitalized for eight days; suspected to have had an operation
Ariel Lin gives brilliant performances in drama series, having just become the [Golden Bell Best Actress] last year, yet at 26 years old this year, due to an inherited health condition, she had to go to the Veterans General Hospital for brain surgery! Ariel Lin’s mother has a history of small strokes, reporters have tracked and investigated, discovering that Ariel Lin had been discharged from the hospital two days ago (the 16th) in the morning; regarding the illness, her manager Zhou Mei Yu denies having an operation, first saying that she “is in Japan”, later changing it to “in Taiwan”. Yesterday Ariel Lin went out to eat dinner escorted with Papa Lin driving the car, and regarding the illness, she just casually said “Thanks for the concern.”

Ariel Lin began to financially support her family at age 17
Ariel Lin has a fresh and clear memory of when she was in high school, her mother suddenly had a stroke, and at age 17 she already picked up the responsibility of financially supporting the family, recognized as an obedient and filial daughter. But perhaps weakened from constant overworking, two days ago she was seen by people to have brain surgery at the Neurology Center in the Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Reporters found out that there are records of her living in the hospital from February 9 to February 16. What do the nurses from the ward say about surgery, or the illness? They are unwilling to talk much about either, just saying that “her information will not be disclosed”.

Papa Lin picks her up and drops her off to attend Spring Festival party
On the morning of the 17th, reporters witnessed Ariel Lin wearing a ponytail and sporting large sunglasses, stepping out of her new home at Guang Fu Nan Lu with her female assistant, getting onto Papa Lin’s BMW car, arriving at the [Tien Chu] restaurant on Nanjing West Road, participating in the management company’s Spring Festival party. At 2PM, once Ariel Lin got out of the restaurant she put on a face mask, and went with two female assistants to the nearby BODY SHOP to buy essential oils, and then taking the MRT subway to return home. Before arriving at a station, Ariel Lin hurriedly picked up a bottle of a health beverage to drink, putting one foot right into the yellow line area, carelessly violating the rule of no food or drink allowed inside the subway. Inside the subway car, when the female assistant was chatting with her, she constantly stroked Ariel Lin’s head.

Manager stresses just a health check-up, denies operation
Before Ariel Lin went home, reporters approached her with concern about her health status; was she hospitalized for surgery? She kept her mouth closed and did not answer, hiding behind her female assistant the entire journey, finally saying “Thanks for the concern, I really cannot say anything!” at the end. But reporters have inspected the photographs, and have discovered that when Ariel Lin tied up her hair in a ponytail, although obvious signs of a brain surgery could not be seen, but the hair on the back right of her head was slightly more thinned compared to the back left side, making it a possible indicator that scissors have been used. However, Ariel Lin’s manager Zhou Mei Yu stressed three more times that “there is just no such thing as her being hospitalized and having an operation at all”, and regarding Ariel Lin’s whereabouts for these few days, at first she said “in Japan”, later saying that “she is in Taipei, there’s a secret announcement”. Regarding the records of being hospitalized at the Veterans General Hospital, Zhou Mei Yu said that she had telephoned to inquire about it, and the hospital said that “there were mistakes with the health examination information before”.

Caption 3: Ariel Lin is claimed to have had brain surgery, staying at the Veterans General Hospital in the single-occupancy room 38 on the 17th floor, the room very close to the nurse station, with a tightly guarded entrance. Just linger one step by the door, and the nurses will immediately come forward to question.

Caption 4: After the meal, Ariel Lin takes the MRT subway with her female assistant.
 When the two women were chatting, the female assistant stroked Ariel Lin’s head nonstop.

jumper’s debut performance

Jumper, the kpo duo that andy of shinhwa produces just made a debut performance at KBS’ music bank performing their single “yes”

fly to the sky’s new MV “go away”

Fly To The Sky, “This 8th album is our last official album”

Duo Fly To the Sky, who celebrates their 10th anniversary with 8th album ‘Decennium’, revealed that this 8th album will be their last official album but assured fans that, they will not be disbanding.

They will end contract with current management company but will continue to work on as a project group and release more albums in the future.

Fly To The Sky members HwanHee (27) and Brian (28 ) spoke up to the speculations that they will be disbanding after their 8th album.

The 2 members said, “The 8th album will be our last official album. We will end our contract with our current management company with this album and concentrate on our solo activities. Even though it is not confirmed yet, Fly To The Sky will still continue to release singles, mini, special album in the name of Fly To The Sky.“

They also revealed each of their solo activities to come.

Brian, “I will start the filming for a movie in America Louisiana from June. I still cannot reveal what scenario and what character I will be working on in the movie. And following that, my solo albums will not be mass music but CCM music albums.”

While HwanHee said, “I will release a solo album in October. People had thought that I will release ballad albums but to say the truth I don’t like ballads. I’d like to do R&B and dance songs. And for acting, I have seen through some of the scripts going around, and I will continue to work harder and decide on my next acting project soon.”

When asked what they think about having to compete with each other if they release their album the same time, Brian said with a smile, ” I will probably tell HwanHee ‘Your music is better’ while inside I will say ‘I have to win #1′. But I guess we will not have the situation that we will compete with each other if we release our solo music at the same time. And we will continue to be on good terms and in the name of Fly To The Sky.”

HwanHee added, “Through this 10 years, we have both developed and grow through our own competition as Fly To The Sky – some visible to others and some not. After our 7th album, we are back with our 8th with more confidence. And because this will be our last official album, we ill probably have promotional activities for a longer period of time.”

source: kbites

i hope they wont be disbanding eventhough this will be their last studio album…actually this is one of my fears that my most favorite artist in world would part ways. it’s so hard for me to imagine that fly to the sky will be disbanded.this news really made me soooo sad, i know that this thing might happen to them, but im not that ready yet:(