Oh my gosh....how can you not adore this guy....
he was in London when they did this interview. very intelligent guy, worth adoring talaga!
Magazine interview > Ju Jihun (JJH) – Folding wings of freedom
Ju Jihun – folding wings of freedom
For JJH the 8 long months, filming TV drama Goong has been like walking a long arduous road, making him really worn out. Finally he has his own free time. Now, he’s not a Hwang taeja (prince), not an actor, esp not even a model, but just a 25 year-old youth (actual age is 24 yrs, but in Korea consider as 25 yrs). This young man’s looks is just too adorable. He is like a galloping horse..constantly taking photos of the beautiful London scenery with his digital camera, and doesn’t even want to take out his earpiece..listening to music non-stop.
Although he’s not a fussy person, yet there is a meticulous side to him, ie when he selects clothes and fashion. Being able to personally enjoy London fashion .. that to JJH is the ultimate enjoyment.
“Standing there at a road corner.. eating a hotdog.. a special feeling .. ” JJH is just like a kid .. standing there amidst the throng of human traffic .. gazing with bright alert big eyes ..all around him .. sitting in a quiet and elegant restaurant enjoying a traditional English meal .. or rushing into the cd shop ..next stop V&A museum with the international fashion exhibition showcasing the summer range. JJH loves the English fashion style of understated practical classy elegance of London fashion and was so busy taking off and trying on the clothes .. and said that if whichever lady tries on the clothes, she will shine as if radiating the sun’s rays ..
Fashion is almost like 2nd nature to JJH and a part of his life. To the fashion conscious .. JJH is able to evoke their emotions when he walks the runway .. memories of a long-lost first love .. painful recall of the hurt and need for motherly love and concern (sorry .. don’t understand what the writer is trying to say here)
The 7 days 6 nights trip is definitely too brief to get to know/understand London well ..but whatever, to be able to experience the ever changing weather, constantly shifting emotions .. these are already moments to be treasured ..
A true actor
Before 11 January 2006, Korea had never seen a princely role/character, and yet JJH was given this chance. To a rookie actor, what should actually be a difficult role with no predecessor comparison turned into a blessing.
This character is just too dynamic, which left viewers with a deep impression of JJH personally. To a newbie actor, it usually takes 3 or 4 projects before viewers are familiar and will accept, yet JJH has with his first project the ground-breaking <Goong> become famous and having won over viewers over a wide spectrum, is now in the public eye.
But JJH feels confused/troubled, and even a little uncomfortable. “After the drama ended, I kept thinking. I feel this present (high popularity) status does not belong to me. I am not mouthing casually, but speaking from my heart. I did what I did because I wanted to do it and not because I wanted to get famous. But it has now dawned on me that this is the truth .. in the entertainment world, an actor and a star are the same. The drama just ended not too long ago, but to me it feels like half a year has passed, it just feels too long. Actually I like to walk in the streets listening to my music, sit in some comfortable place having drinks, but it seems that this is not possible for me any longer. So many things are changing for me, I can’t move with free will, but I have to accept this. I feel confused now. Of course, to those who love and support me, I feel very grateful. Don’t know whether the viewers’ expectations of me will get higher and higher?”
While filming the drama, JJH had bad dreams almost daily. The nightmares caused him much suffering. Be it at home or whilst travelling on the road, he would usually would wake up from his sleep, still memorizing his script. He had never been so intense before, but luckily he had a happy ending. The viewers are now eagerly awaiting to see what new role or portrayal JJH will be presenting in his next project.
As regards his performance, JJH lives by his personal motto : “Acting is life”.
“When I was filming the drama, many people asked me how I felt. I couldn’t answer. Because filming stretched over such a long period of time, Goong no longer was a project, it became part of my life. Example, if we asked people what they did in their Senior High 1st year student, what would their reply be? Maybe the answer would be “I didn’t do much”. To me, this is exactly what Goong is. 3 months earlier, I was talking with Chae Gyung, and then she went overseas. To me, Goong is a project that I will naturally and automatically have memories recall. I can confidently say, no matter whether I acted well or badly, in Goong I was Shin, and Shin was me.”
”At first, I thought I was just talking on some character role called Shin. But at some point, I totally abandoned this thought – I felt I WAS Shin.” JJH mulled and said, “I hope to be an actor. I was a model for 3 years but I never said I was a model. It will be the same in future. But acting wise, although I am still a new comer, I really hope that someday I can become an actor, a true actor.”
“One morning I watched DVD “Fiery Saviour?” and discussed movies with the director for over an hour. The director said that the instant Denzel Washington walked into the fire-truck (ambulance?), he became Carson (?) (character in that movie). Perhaps that is not being an actor, that’s pure craziness, to become someone outside of oneself, with total immersion into character.
JJH wishes to learn from everyone their many human strengths/advantages and creditable traits, and because of the movie that morning, Denzel Washington became his idol.
JJH is now facing a headache choosing his next project. He has to make a decision sooner or later, but the decision process is troubling. “At the moment, I am without inspiration, but still I have to grow (as an actor. How I wish I can reveal my personal depth and do long for performances without scars (not to fail in any future project). I don’t know how long it will take to achieve this standard, but then growth/development without setbacks would be meaningless, so sometimes we need setbacks and heartaches during this development stage.”
Knowing that he is facing great public pressure, JJH does feel anxious. But he also knows what he has to expect, as he moves on and puts in extra effort.
“I want to be an open/positive/optimistic (?) person. I will work hard. I hope to put in 100% into my performances, and if I don’t I will feel as if this precious path of my life has struck a wrong chord.”
A brave/strong male indeed
As everyone nows, JJH was formerly a model. There’s something about him that the ordinary actor lacks. “Previously from the aspect of a spectator, you feel that the actor is projecting an image or something. On the other hand, a model has an awareness or something that is slowly being projected across. If actors are firecrackers, then models are dry ice> Modelling is not making sure the clothes fit the body, but rather that the body accommodate the clothes. There’s more room for self-expression, and if the clothes are too large or too small, all it takes is a personal feel to get adjusted.
Fashion is ever changing and the roles are diverse, and I never feel any sense of rejection when changing into different clothes (ie comfortable in whatever role he’s in). Perhaps this is an advantage which modelling has given me.”
JJH is a much sought after top model whom producers and photographers are eager to work with. He is able to project totally different moods and images, with makeup and camera angles, and is well known in the modelling arena.
“Maybe it’s coincidence, but I happened to start in such a terrific career, and the people I worked with are top class in their fields. I felt I was in a good place. I depend on “eye power” (the image a model projects with his eyes and postures) and thought I could remain here. But I wasn’t strong enough. It’s a rocky path that everyone has to go through with age and youthful emotions creating setbacks. It was from these setbacks points that I started from.. just like the tv dramas. You pick yourself up after the 1st setback, 2nd setback. Perhaps my 1st setback was too painful - I stumbled and almost fell. But my survival instinct is very strong – won’t admit defeat. I’ve been earning and supporting myself since I was 20. Of course I also bring money home, and I pay my younger brother’s school fees. I feel I will not fall easily.”
JJH is hardworking, practical and self-motivated. He doesn’t succumb easily to mental fatigue. ____ _____ Ting Dong ? (think this is a well known entertainment area but I’m not familiar) surely has parties daily, but JJH doesn’t want his value/worth to be accredited from that source. JJH is increasing his worth and value through his personal hard work in his own way, which will draw others to seek him out.
Heard this from a crew who knows JJH well..”Right from the start of his modelling days, JJH was not like the others. Firstly he is very intelligent, and knows how to organize his time. Others are happy to loll around but JJH must always find something to do. JJH always with a book in his hand is one of the deepest impressions.” JJH has indeed read many many books. To him, during the economic downturns, books were a source of mental inspiration, substituting actual cultural experience. That book reading habit of yesterdays is still with him to this day.
“I am now reading a Japanese novel. The initial void in my heart is now bigger. I think that Japanese authors are very “dry”.”
“Whether reading a novel or watching a movie, Korean portrayals of emotions are meticulous and no matter how, there is always follow through closure. But Japan .. is not like that. Example, “Ah.. I like that child ..” – this is the closure. Not ..”I love you very much..” but .. “I.. think I have fallen in love with you .. “
Amongst the many books I have read, this is this novel “Meeting on Tuesday” (Taiwanese edition - “Last 14 sessions of Tuesday class”). A respect professor with diagnosed terminal illness, wrote to his students, inviting them for class discussions every Tuesday. The deepest impression I recall is that “when you are sad, maximize the pain”. I was 23 and at a low point in my life when I read that book. There was a modelling junior who was feeling depressed. I didn’t say encouraging words to him. Instead I told him to go drinking, and to throw up all his pain if it became unbearable.
If I fall into depression, first I will let myself plunge right to the bottom. Then I will slowly slowly pull myself back together and rise above the sadness.
For most people experiencing sadness and pain, they struggle fiercely to escape this feeling. This just like drowning, the more you struggle, the more water you swallow. Actually to know pain and sadness on a superficial level with no closure is not a good thing. This novel made me realize that actually there are others in the world with similar thoughts to mine.
Just as he admitted, JJH is one with a instinct to win. Being at the top during his modelling days, and in his 1st tv drama impressively creating an unforgettable character – these could all be due to his fierce fighting spirit.
“Yes, I have a fierce fighting spirit. When I was young, there was this outstanding boy. He was interested in many things, was full of curiosity, and always .. like pondering 4 steps before making a chess move .. watch before he spoke. I especially didn’t want to lose to him, so I read voraciously and listened to music constantly, just to surpass him.”
Although his fighting spirit is strong, JJH also knows his own limits. It is on these cornerstones that he has built up his self-confidence.
“During Goong, I kept thinking how I was going to act well. Even if it is a minor scene, I would still put in my best efforts – a look, the feel and portrayal of a emotional scene – I give meticulous attention.
Although I am articulate, I am hopeless in penmanship. When I need to write, I become like a person without brains, and so I took up a writing course.”
JJH knows the importance of learning, and turned setbacks into directional focus for his self-development.
Coupled with his fighting spirit, JJH is also self-opinionated. However since becoming an actor, he’s started learning to say “It’s alright .. no problem .. kwen cha na ..”
“There are 2 types of actors..those who kill their partners.. and those who support their partners. If I were to make a suggestion to my co-star and she did not agree, then we would have to find common ground in order to fine tune our individual performance. Fulfilling both is always better than just pleasing one person only, right? I feel that I have undergone training in this aspect through my performances.”
JJH claims to be a practical astute person. Does this adorable fellow have any faults/unfavourable/negative sides?
“My modelling fees are much higher than my model friends, and so I always pick up the tab when we go drinking. I am an exact person where the bill is concerned, and don’t like to tip. I don’t know whether this can be considered a fault/negative side? “
Romantic Youth
JJH’s greatest goal is to have a blessed family, to be a loving husband and father. His greatest wish is that his children would continue /still be able to discuss things with him freely and without reservations when they get to be his present age (25).
His whole family is living in a comfortable home, having games, sports, soccer matches in good weather – this is also in his future plans.
So, what type of person would his wife be?
“I like the knowledgeable/gracious/charming type of woman, happy/cheerful/bubbly, passionate about her work, knows how to love and take care of herself.
I had a one-sided romantic feeling before, which can also be considered as a kind of love.
I like touching people as I possess a very strong sense of physical expression. When I was young, my mother was like that.. every morning, she would urge me to get up and at the same time, she would hug and cuddle me.
So I don’t have any adverse reaction to physical touching. I hug my friends (male or female) in greeting. But I got a shock when I watched tv .. that kind of body contact can really create misunderstandings. Actually I don’t have any personal wayward ideas at all.”
(Smile) .. If I think I have acted wrongly, I will control.. But it’s just like.. if you’re hungry, you’ll want to eat.. if you’re tired, you’ll wish to take a nap ..
If I have a girlfriend, I’d kiss her, be with her every day, give her piggy-rides on my back..but of course, we are still an Asian society with certain values passed down.. and should be aware of time and place .. and if we are subject to possible scrutiny, then it’s better to behave with decorum.”
JJH’s romanticism is freedom.. freedom from public scrutiny and opinion, freedom to act without restraint, freedom to tour, freedom to love. Since young, it’s been his unceasing wish to have freedom, and when he has his happy family, he also wants true freedom
Walking along the streets of London, standing in front of the store, JJH involuntarily said..
“Can’t be that type of actor shown through the camera … need soul."
TV drama Goong catapulted JJH right before the public. Now, 25 yr-old Ju Jihun is standing at an actor’s threshold, welcoming/savouring the public attention. (End)
