Please support me again when I return (Part 1)

This is an English translation of Jo Hyun Jae's interview with "Korean TV Drama Magazine" (October 2008 Issue) by misa123 first published in EVERjohyunjae on 2008.10.26

Please support me again when I return!

Interviewed just before he joined the army.

Jo Hyun Jae, the Korean actor who has become extremely popular in Japan as well for his work in Love Letter (2003, MBC), Seo Dong Yo (Ballad of Suh Dong; 2005 SBS), and other performances, saddened many fans when he enlisted in the army with dignity on August 5, 2008. In late July, just before he entered the army, he held a precious interview with Japan's mass media in Seoul. Perhaps it was the mixed emotions as he prepared to enter the military, but Jo Hyun Jae, who is known for being taciturn, seemed even more incommunicative than usual. But with an occasional smile, he answered with sincerity to each and every question for the sake of his Japanese fans. We are looking forward to seeing Jo Hyun Jae again two years from now.

There will be a blank period, so I thought a song would be a nice idea.

—When you appeared at a July 19 fan meeting with short hair, the fans were surprised, weren't they?
**I was told that I was done with my formal appearances, so I went ahead and cut it. I guess I wasn't done (laughs). Today I didn't have any choice but to come to work with my hair short. But when I'm not working, I think I'd like to always keep my hair short like this. It's easy.

—It seems that the song you sang at the time of the fan meeting is going to be released.
**I hadn't originally planned for it to be released. I had just finished the TV drama Three Daddies with One Mommy (2008, KBS) and as I was preparing for the fan meeting I thought about what I could do that would be special. There will be a blank period in my career for a while, so I decided that it might be nice to leave them with a song, and I rushed to prepare it.

—You are very good at singing, and it made me think that it would be great if you became a singer as well.
**Well . . . . I don't think it's something you can do just because you want to, but if the fans want me to, I wouldn't mind singing for them. It would be for my fans to listen to. But it would be tough for me to just concentrate on singing like a normal singer would. I have my acting as well. But I think there is meaning in creating a chance to record a new song and let everyone hear it.

—There is only a short time left before you enter the military. How do you plan to spend your time in the army?
**If I have time, I think I'd like to study, but from what I've heard from the people around me, it seems that's probably going to be impossible (laughs). I've heard that everyone goes in bent on studying, but in the end, they can't do it. Until now, I've been busy with work and I haven't been able to lead a very well regulated life. So I'm setting a goal for myself of coming back healthy. If I lead a better-regulated lifestyle, I should be able to get into shape. Also, until now I've been working as an actor, but I think it's worthwhile to take a step away from that for once. I hope that I will get in shape and return feeling refreshed.

"Shall I take a shot?”—the role in Seo Dong helped me grow

—The popularity of Seo Dong Yo in Japan seems to know no bounds. It must have been a very meaningful role for you as well.
**First, to play the lead in a historical drama is a big challenge at a young age like 26. It also meant a lot that I was able to work with the master of period pieces, director Lee Byung Hoon. Thanks to that, I was able to properly learn how to act in a long-running historical drama, and although it was hard work, by the same token it allowed me to progress as an actor; it was a piece that allowed me to grow. It was an extremely meaningful piece in my acting career.

—What was the number one reason you decided to take the part in Seo Dong Yo?
**I thought it was going to be tough to appear in a long historical drama at this age, but director Lee Byung Hoon told me that he had been wanting to cast me for a while and had been watching me closely. He said, “I know it's going to be tough, but please give it a try with me!” That was a big part of the decision to take the part—believing in that kind of director. It was also because I felt that the character of Seo Dong was appealing.

—What aspects of the character did you find appealing?
**The path that Seo Dong followed as he grew was appealing, coming from humble beginnings and overcoming adversity to become a king that ruled the nation. Seo Dong himself was a person revered by many, so it was also enticing to play such a prominent person and I thought, “Let’s give Seo Dong a shot.”

(TO BE CONTINUED)