He's HOT!

Courtesy of Pinky Ring

Remembering Won-nim on Chuseok

GQ Yong Joon

Brokore Magazine No.13

Special Features:

☆　The two years Brokore spent with BYJ

☆　BYJ returns with "TWSSG"!

☆　Articles on the two leading actresses of the drama.

This issue will be on sale from Sept. 25.

Look out for it!

Won Quilt!

Lovers of Lord Won collaborate!
Panel created by Japanese fan Pinky Ring.

Two Asian Leaders Talk About Asia and the World

Excerpt from the booklet “The Making of “super stars” by Leslie Kee“Asia is One”

Interviewer: Why did you (Pres. Sohn) decide to support Leslie’s “Super Stars” project?

Sohn: The work I do in my own company originally started with my wish to have the Japanese people see Asian content. The reason I wanted them to see them, is because I wanted them “to understand”. Because the Japanese media only introduces a small part of what is going on in the world, the people can see very little of the real life. If they are able to see just a little more of what is really going on, perhaps we can understand each other. I thought TV dramas would be a great means of making this possible. It’s not like competing with the west -I think Bae Yong Joon also thinks similarly on this – I think under the influence of modernization of Asia, we are forgetting the wonderful customs and values that have been carried on from the past. This trait is most evident in Japan, as they were the first to westernize. From a cultural perspective, the fact that I’m wearing a suit today is actually unnatural. It’s not just clothes – if we were to think about food, there must have been a cuisine that is appropriate for Asians. I sometimes think that we are even beginning to forget that we are Asians. There is a tendency to think that “becoming more like white people” is a standard in attaining beauty, and with “global standards” too, the idea is to go in line with the standards created by the Americans and Europeans. I think by becoming conscious of the fact that we are Asians, we can broaden our perspective, and we might be able to realize who we are. For this very reason, I think Asia should interact on a dynamic level. Leslie’s “Super Stars” project was initiated with his conviction that “neighbors should help each other”. He wanted others to feel this way, and it made me want to participate in this project because I truly empathized with his idea.

…… (omit)

I: What do you think is the meaning of Asia becoming one?

Sohn: I suppose if I were to put it simply, there are such ideas like creating joint works, but my idea is a bit different. Moreover, it’s not something on a political or diplomatic level – I only want to do facilitate things more on a cultural and a private level, say involving people’s sensitivity. It’s not about saying “NO” to things outside of Asia, either. In the end, it all connects to the world anyway. But before we go out to the world, we have to begin by loving one’s self, one’s company, one’s school, and one’s country. If we were to stretch this a little further, there is a unit called Asia.

Leslie: First, “Asia is One”. I have neither the charisma nor the ability to say “World is One” at the present. May be if I built up on my career for another 10 years, and I made a lot of acquaintances throughout the word, I maybe able to say so as an artist, but I don’t think this is something I can say very easily.

Sohn: For example, before the trend of Korean films, Hong Kong films which were the rage of the 90s became a content on a worldwide level. But Asia is still only looking towards the west. I think that kind of attitude is self-deprecating, and does not do any good. We must become more confident. In Asia, we have many beautiful people, beautiful scenery and wonderful talent. We should reassess them by Asian standards and not by the standards of the west.

Leslie: I think Asia’s standard is improving greatly over the past few years.

Sohn: It is full of energy, to say the least. Even with its great history, countries like China are changing dramatically. There is a certain unstableness, but potential counterbalances this. I hope many talented people like Leslie will have more and more opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.

Leslie: Yes, I hope so.


(translated by flowerbossa
If you are interested in sharing this post with others, I would appreciate it if you would notify me in advance. Thank you!)

From Asia Tour

Kang Jun Sahng

Will be taking a break...

Hello everyone, I hope you had a joyous holiday season!

Although I was able to enjoy my holidays with my family, I have to confess that I have been feeling quite tired lately, and at this time, I feel I need to take some rest.

So, please understand that I will be going off-line for awhile...
I will miss you all very much, but you will always be close to my heart!

Take care and be happy♪

Thank you everyone ♪

I would like to thank every one of you for sharing a wonderful year with me.

Have a merry Christmas, and a happy new year ♪

Introducing GOSIREH's Master Chef

Master Chef Chung Hyun Su introduces a seafood chige served at Gosireh.
This dish is not spicy - it uses miso, and has a gentle flavor.
He explains that it increases metabolism and helps cure hangovers.
A great menu for the holiday season ♪

(From Japanese women's magazine "LEE")

I just went over to KOB and to my joy, found out that Korean sister Gaulsan is translating the ASIA TOUR DVD for us! Since it is always so much better to translate from the original source, I think all of the English speaking family would benefit from her translation. Therefore, I will stop my project, and I hope all of you will go to KOB and enjoy Gaulsan's translation.

To the sisters who have e-mailed me, thank you for waiting...

Thank you Gaulsan♪　I look forward to reading your version, too!

DVD 2005 BYJ's Asia Tour

I am planning to transcribe (translate the Japanese subtitles) of the ASIA TOUR DVD for my English speaking friends. Because this is entirely a private project intended for my friends, please contact me by e-mail if you are interested in receiving a copy. (click my profile f0r my e-mail address.)

Hopefully, I can complete this before Christmas^^
Happy Holidays ♪

Chan Woo

Celebrating the showing of "First Love" on KBS America!

CD of the Month♪

A collection of Italian opera arias by my favorite soprano, Maki Mori.

☆ English site.

Care Compagne ～ Italian Opera Arias

1. 　O luce di quest’anima (Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix)

2. 　Care compagne... Come per me sereno (Bellini: La Sonnambula)

3. 　Il dolce suono... (Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor)

4. 　Qui la voce sua soave (Bellini: I Puritani)

5. 　Una voce poco fa (Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia)

6. 　È strano... Ah, fors’è lui... Sempre libera (Verdi: La traviata)

7. 　Quando me’n vo’ (Puccini: La Bohème)

8. 　O mio babbino caro (Puccini: Gianni Schicchi)

Maki Mori, soprano
Shuya Okatsu, conductor
Wroclaw Score Orchestra

[Recording] 22-25, June 2006 Great Hall of the Polish Broadcasting Company in Wroclaw

☆ Listen to samples.　

☆ For more info on the diva, please check my previous posting.

Marriages and More Marriages

Excerpt from Sohn-san's blog Dec. 1

(Sohn-san starts out by saying,one of his valuable staff left the company to be married.)

There is another one who’s getting married – my best friend of many years, who’s probably sound asleep at my house while I’m still here in my office. This is going to take place on Christmas Eve. My friend and I both belonged to the film club in Sungkyunkwan University, and he's the one that made me realize that I should not become film director ( I had never thought that it was not possible…). I had passionately told him that “one day, I will become a producer to your films” – it turned out that I never became a producer, but as for him, he did become a film director.



This morning, when I looked through the internet news my messenger updated, I found articles announcing his marriage. Ahh, he needs to get a proper photo taken, I thought, but most of the articles more or less featured the bride-to-be, Moon-san, and he was mentioned as someone becoming her husband. So I guess it doesn’t matter that much.



People should not give up their dreams. We all face hard times, but I believe we can overcome them if we hang on to our dreams – or rather, I want to believe that.

My best friend was able to make his first dream a reality. He chose not to take a job even when he didn’t have any money, but it’s wonderful that it all worked out. I don’t know if getting married was one of his dreams, but if so, it’s going to come true very soon, so congratulations on that, too. I’m happy for you, really.

But. But come on, please tell me when you are planning to finish the script for your next film after “Save the Green Planet”. And let’s try to be clear on when you are planning to move out of my place, too.

I hope both of you will be always be happy with each other…

☆　Sohn-san also added the following in the comment section:

I got a call from Yong Joon last night, and he was taken aback that he did not know anything about this. He was upset that it was all kept a secret from him. But the wedding will take place only with their families participating, so even I’m not invited. I asked if they couldn’t make me a relative under the name Jang Il Hyung, but Moon-san only laughed. I guess I’m really not being invited…

Enters the King Part III

VOD at Chosunilbo:

http://japanese.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2006/11/29/20061129000046.html

Enters the King Part II

Enters the King

Bae Yong Joon Holding a Hat