Drinking interview with Kang Ji-hwan (Part 1)

I told ya I’d have some goodies coming up, didn’t I?

IS Plus is one of those lighter entertainment news/gossip sources, but one thing I like is their series of “drinking interviews,” which are pretty much exactly like they sound: The reporter goes out to eat and drink with a star for a long interview.

This interview came out last week (May 29), and I’m splitting it up into two parts since it’s so long. Reading it, I have to again note how refreshing it is to see a big star like Kang Ji-hwan being so baldly honest. He doesn’t shy away from being truthful, when most other stars have been trained in the “polite answer.” For instance, many are taught to give vague platitudes like, “I was fortunate that things worked out well for me” or “The ratings don’t matter, it’s the work I enjoy,” or “I can’t take credit for that.”

While I believe some actors truly don’t care, I’d bet a fortune most do, so it’s enjoyable to see Kang Ji-hwan frankly admitting he cares what people think about his work, wanting box-office (or ratings) success, and being okay with giving himself credit when a job is well done.

 
“After four years, I’ve left behind ‘Geum-soon’s husband’”

The power of Level 7 Civil Servant is impressive. It doesn’t fold under impressive competition, and this weekend it looks to break the 4 million mark for total viewers. It left Old Partner far behind and has pulled in the top score this year. In the center of this A-list storm is Kang Ji-hwan (32, born Jo Tae-kyu). In the film industry, there are more and more people recognizing him and his rise.

Overflowing with confidence, and sometimes told that he seems arrogant, this man has a striking appeal. Because of his abundant curiosity, he’s earned a nickname for being curious. I spent six hours sharing eight bottles of soju and studying Kang Ji-hwan. Right now this man seems clear-headed, but a lot of alcohol flows through his veins.

 
“The distributors say that Korean government agents are scary”
 

When talking about Kang Ji-hwan, one drama not to be left out is the 2005 series Be Strong, Geum-soon. It was so popular, the broadcast station couldn’t leave the drama alone with ratings above 40% and extended the broadcast three times. Naturally, Kang Ji-hwan became famous.

However, things weren’t always so good. He took on a bit part as Han Ji-hye’s boyfriend in his debut in the 2003 drama Summer Scent, and because of a contract problem with the broadcast station, he had to quit You’ll Find Out (2004). He also had the novel experience of appearing as a sticker photo in More Beautiful Than a Flower as Go Doo-shim’s dead son.

He did grumble with his manager, saying, “Others take the elevator, so why are do we have to walk upstairs?” but his positive energy began to show itself gradually. With the success of Capital Scandal and Hong Gil Dong in Japan, he’s risen another step to being a Hallyu star.

His two films Invited and Rough Cut met with better-than-expected results. He says, “I said I would give acting a try until I turned thirty, and if I didn’t make it by then I would quit, but like a lie my turning point came to find me at twenty-eight.”

If you retired at 30, what would you have done?

Kang Ji-hwan: I would have continued studying design, or run a business. I’m the eldest of two children and I should get married, and I wouldn’t want to be financially incompetent.

Was Level 7 Civil Servant’s initial goal for 7 million?

We said that in keeping with the “7″ in the title, but our real number was 3 million. We didn’t want to hurt our investors. I’m so relieved that we were able to earn back the money for those who invested believing in me and Kim Haneul.

What do you feel about beating films like X-Men, Thirst, and Star Trek?

The nice thing to say would be that we were fortunate, but it felt good. [Laughs] I was curious whenever a competing film would come out, so I went to watch all of them every Thursday matinee. When I saw X-Men, I called Haneul to tell her, “It’s okay, I think we’ll win,” and Thirst is aiming for a different target audience. I was extremely pleased to hear that U.S. distributors had been asking, “What kind of movie is Level 7 Civil Servant?”

Audiences burst into laughter at the scenes where you say, “Look here, bleep” and “that bastard director.”

That was unexpected. I feel both sorry and thankful to Ryu Seung-ryong sunbae. In the pojangmacha scene, I was too centered on establishing my emotions that I couldn’t look after my sunbae. The scene where I collapse after saying, “I used to be innocent” was an ad-lib, but he accepted it all. If it had been me, I probably would have scolded me a lot. He quit drinking alcohol and drank soda instead, but he’s a sunbae who works with you all the way.

You go back a long way with Kim Haneul. When you were starting out, you shot a CF for an international phone together.

I was her school friend in that. Following the drama 90 Days’ Time to Love, this is our third project together. Of course, Kim Haneul didn’t even remember that I was the guy in her CF. These days, she teases me saying, “You’ve sure grown up.”

If you’re that close, wouldn’t you develop romantic feelings?

That’s not an easy thing. Haneul went down to Gangwondo today with the movie staff. I’m very fortunate with female co-stars like Sung Yuri, Han Ji-min, Han Ye-seul and others, but I don’t know how I should act to start dating them. [Laughs]

Do you drink alcohol?

If I get along well with a person, I can stay up all night. A few days ago, I met with a film company CEO, and that night I drank until I blacked out. I’d do shots and if the people next to me put down their glasses I’d get upset, and I like moving to second and third rounds. Two years ago, I was sharing a table with Seol Kyung-gu sunbae and he suggested having a drink, and the next day I was in a cold sweat because I couldn’t remember a thing.

Is your introspective personality because of image control?

When I was just starting out, I was overly cautious and timid, but after drinking freely with the staff once, the next day the set felt really comfortable. I thought, “This is right,” and made an effort not to avoid drinking gatherings after that. I found I could increase my drinking tolerance.

 
“I’m a hottie in Dobong-gu”

One of his drinking habits is to leave his empty bottles scattered around. This day, too, he grabbed the hand of the ajumma who’d come by to collect the empty bottles. Kang Ji-hwan says, “The workbooks of bad students are blacker” and explains, “I have to see the empty bottles like trophies in order to enjoy my liquor more. It feels like something’s left behind.”

 
When you were in school, what kind of student were you?

I was class leader every year between second and sixth grade, and I was even president of the whole school. From middle school, I started to on a slightly shaky path, and by the time I was in high school, I’d progressed to hanging out in soju rooms. [Laughs] I often went to a bar for students in the early evenings.

 
He said that if he could have a time machine, he’d like to go back to middle school and make lots of memories. He’d spent so much time alone that it felt like a disappointing gap in his life. On the other hand, in grade school he made his rounds to all the classrooms organizing a performance of “The Little Fire Engine.” At the time, he took the role of Kim Tae-young, but made his friends audition.

 
Looking through the internet, I saw you even had the nickname of Dobong-gu’s Hottie.

On the day that I shot a CF with Haneul, MBC’s Section TV program came to do a segment. Maybe the PD waiting for Haeul was bored, but he asked to interview me. He asked, “Do you think of yourself as a hottie,” and I answered, “In Dobong-gu I am,” and that bit aired with its own caption.

How did you come to take the role in the art film “Invited”?

After I was cut from You’ll Find Out, I stopped getting work. I wanted to act, but I couldn’t get cast and it drove me crazy. At the time it was going from a blank slate to a lead role so I dove in. The production budget was 130 million won [about $100,000], and I didn’t know it would go on to get such good reviews later on. It was a movie that helped a lot when shooting a daily drama.

I heard that it was your idea to do the train station promotion this time, taking it all the way to the Jeju Island appearance.

For some reason, I don’t like how other people work. I like doing my own unique methods, and I met with ordinary people holding the “Level 7 Jackpot” signs at the station. At first I was afraid and embarrassed, but I then I became immune to it. [Laughs] Next time, I want to try doing it on the way to a screening event in Ulleungdo or Wando.

Your personality stands out.

It’s because I got my start later than others. Back for the musical Rocky Horror Picture Show, I even once got a henna tattoo like the main character in From Dusk till Dawn. To get permission from the director, I deliberately matched the timing for when he passed by, then I took off my shirt and put on a real show. If I hadn’t had confidence in my dancing and singing, I probably wouldn’t have gone that far. [Laughs]

Your activities in Japan feel different.

Outside of fanmeetings, I also seek out gatherings for fifty or so people. I take cell phone pictures for fans one by one, and I spend all day hanging out and having fun. We don’t try for that mysterious vibe. If they like me, what can’t I do for them?

It seems like you’re the type who loves yourself.

More than loving myself, I think I have a strong sense of pride. When I was going to acting classes, every month they would have us do monologues, improv, self-introductions and such and score us from 1 through 150 and post it on the wall. I learned then that if you didn’t prepare you’d be shaking on test day, but if you had even one card up your sleeve, you could stand tall.

What type of character do you want to take on in the future?

I definitely want to try a villainous psychopath role. An actor is drawn to characters whose emotions go through a lot. I’m trying to discover a type of character that “only Kang Ji-hwan can do” but I haven’t been able to figure that out yet.

Have you ever had a drama register nearly zero in the ratings?

90 Days’ Time to Love, Capital Scandal, and Fireworks all were in single-digits. I was fully immersed in my characters, but people disregarded it, so I felt really upset and frustrated like crazy. I felt guilty for not being a star and wanted to beg forgiveness of the producers and my co-stars.

Have you ever been uncast for something or had a role taken away for nepotistic reasons?

I’ve come close a couple times, but never uncast. If a PD was deliberating over a problem like that, I requested an open audition, to go up against him. Every time I look at a script, the image starts playing in my head. I have confidence that I have the skill to beat anybody when it comes to character analysis or ad-libbing.

Who have you made the most promises to?

I was most annoyed by people who said, “Ji-hwan, hurry and become famous so you can help me.” If they really value me, shouldn’t they hold out their hand when things are tough? There are a lot of people who eat sirloin steak when things are good. The people who are with me to the end are those who eat ramen with me when things are tough.

 
Part 2 of this interview coming shortly…..

Via IS Plus

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64 Comments

  1. NOOOOO! He’s MINE!
    you already got Yoon Kye Sang and Lee Jung Jae, so move aside!! :D

    But thank you for translating the article. I love Kang Ji Hwan!! ( flashing the sword toward Javabeans )

  2. Big star? Sorry, Never heard about him until now!! ^________^ Haha…”X-man”!!

  3. JB, this will get Samsooki’s blood pressure rocketing, along with several others.

    Better prepare for the ‘mine, mine’ run of comments….lol

    Thanks for the lengthy translation post. Hope you get some rest after your trip.

  4. JB, thank you for translating and for posting KJH interview. i love him since Geum son. i look forward to the second part. hugs.

  5. I have a strange urge to watch “More Beautiful Than a Flower” to see his sticker photo. hahah

  6. I really enjoyed that! Thanks! :)

  7. I love this. I love him. Sigh..

  8. I’d eat ramen with Kang Jihwan any day! Thanks for translating! Great to see such a down to earth and intimate interview with such a great actor.

  9. That’s a good idea – interview over Soju shots. You get more honest answers when they’re relaxed… and buzzed. Do these long interviews just involve alcohol, or can it be over coffee too? What if the celeb doesn’t drink alcohol? I’m just curious…

  10. “The people who are with me to the end are those who eat ramen with me when things are tough.”– I totally loved this!

    I haven’t seen any of Kang Ji Hwan’s dramas but I will definitely check ‘em out. The guy is very open and his responses very sincere. Very interesting personality.

  11. I think I’ve seen every single thing he’s in (except for this new movie) and I really want to wish him congrats for the success of his movie!
    His talent is finally being recognized

    :)

  12. Thanks, JB, for doing all this work before your trip, just to give as something juicy to read. :D

    @ Jihwan

    I haven’t had to time to watch MBTAF yet, but the Noh Hee Kyung / Kim Myung Min combination makes it a must-see.

    @ Samsooki

    KJH: “I definitely want to try a villainous psychopath role.”

    All right…even (not yours!) Hwannie is waiting for Jajangmyun Space Odyssey. :P

  13. thanks for translating the interview. i like how honest he is.

    in the last pic, what does the sign say?

  14. I really like his truthful nature about how people should stick with you through the thick and thin, friends should stick with you whether you are well-known or a mere newbie/nobody in the world.

    best wishes for more future successes for Kang Ji Hwan

  15. I am quite disappointed with myself….. I clicked the link…. I just couldn’t help it… ;)

    Thanks for the interview… it was a fun read.. even more so with the great pictures!
    He seems so honest and fun.. quite a drinker too.

    Now waiting for part 2…. :D

  16. These interviews seem kinda of dangerous(?) hehe. Imagine an actor who can’t hold his liquor will spill when when he’s drunk. Maybe that’s what they have in mind.

  17. hahaha, that makes me smile. thanks javabeans

  18. Thanks for translating the interview!

    And I didn’t realize you title some of your images. My mouse was hovering over the first picture and then “MINE” popped up! kekekeke :)

    Now I feel compelled to go through all your old posts and see if you have any hidden messages…

  19. Omo, he is so sweet and cute, I want to drink with him :D

    Thanks for translasting

  20. Not fair, you already have Yoon Kye Sang and Lee Jung Jae.
    Remember JB, sharing is caring.

  21. thanks for the article, jb……..
    didn’t know that 90 days, CS and Fireworks were in the single-digits in terms of ratings……
    CS is a surprise since it’s my favorite out of all the dramas he’s done………
    I thought the story was extremely well-written, directed and acted!

    looking forward to part II of the interview and also what JH’s next drama role will be……….
    —————————–
    hi jinkzz!!! ^__^

  22. i’m giggling just from looking at these pictures hahaha.

    cute that he called kim haneul after watching wolverine hahahaha

  23. I love him! He’s great! Thanks for the post! ^_^

  24. Whoah!!! Anything about Ji-Hwan ssi will drive me out of my lurker status.

    OMG, OMG, OMG! This is the scenario I dream myself to be in with my(OUCH, did I just recieve a a fierce spinning back kick???) Kang Ji Hwan! If he offered me a drink, I’ll meekly respond with my name, hanjanman yo. And then we’d be on du jan, se jan, ne jan until we’re counting byeongs! Ji Hwan ssi and me, we’re really on the same radar. We do have a connection(Samsooki and bspanda, are you reading this?).

    Looking forward to the 2nd part JB noona. Hope you don’t make us wait too long.

  25. Thanks for this goodie, Javabeans.

    Can anyone shed some light on why he changed his name from Jo Tae-kyu to Kang Ji-hwan? I know many actors do this, but to my “limited knowledge of Korean name” ears, one name does seem THAT much “better” than the other. (It’s not like his name is Kim Sam-sooki.LOL)

  26. 8 bottles!!! Geez! That put a warm glow on that lovely face…..Love soju myself, but can only handle 2 bottles at best.

    It’s refreshing to read an unguarded/unscripted interview!

  27. NO!!!

    You are SUPER GREAT in CAPITAL SCANDAL. If only you know.

    People who didn’t know or heard about him has MISS such a big talent and deal in K world.

  28. ^Ditto, he was fantastic in Capital Scandal, still my favourite amongst his other projects. ^^

    He’s always been so frank… especially when he talks about his expectations of himself. But he’s been doing great lately. He’s been on a successful streak with 2 great dramas, 2 great movies… luck’s definitely on his side nowadays..

    Can’t wait for Part 2!

  29. My kids favorite meal is ramen. Now I know why … they want to be like KJH.

    Thanks for the interview. Love him love him … he’s so adorable, please don’t get married yet … the adorable thing goes away …

    Thanks!!!

  30. i love kjh..i love kjh….i love kjh…thank u dramabeans…

  31. love it love him love it love him LOVE KANG JI HWAN!!!!
    One of the best and most humble people!

    *really wants to see Level 7 Civil Servant NOW*

  32. OK JB, i give up, i give all KJH & YKS to you, you can have them all to yourself… :P
    thanks for the recap n interview, can’t wait for part 2…

  33. thanks for the article translation Javabeans….As always, love Ji Hwan’s honesty when answering the questions as well as his humility.

    K4Ice… i saw 7 grade last week and i really enjoyed it

    Hi Lidge

    …can’t wait to see what ji hwan’s next project is going to be.

  34. Mwahaha, Beans, just so you know, I am not giving up my Jihwan without a fight!

  35. THANK YOU!! I love KJH, just rewatched Rough Cut. I can’t wait to see My Girlfriend is an Agent… KJH is soo honest, that’s what makes him more appealing. Very true to himself, and so amazingly hot!

  36. i love him <<33 espescially hong gil dong :) ) my fave!

  37. thank you for sharing this interview……

  38. Ok not even read any of the comments yet, will do after I post this….
    Wwwwaaaaahhhhh!!!! (must hold myself back from uttering the m–e! word – so hard!). Had read another translated ver of this in Soompi – but Javabeans you rock! How can one not love KJH even more after this honest interview. Love him. See I did not use the ‘m’ word phew!

    ‘I definitely want to try a villainous psychopath role. An actor is drawn to characters whose emotions go through a lot. I’m trying to discover a type of character that “only Kang Ji-hwan can do” but I haven’t been able to figure that out yet.’

    SAMSOOKI!!! – He’s talking about that role in YOUR space odysessy!
    He must have heard about it in this blog! (if only eh?) Now remember I had volunteered way back, a couple of Open threads ago, to be on set dresser/make up artist to KJH AND Binnie OK?

    Now back to reading comments…..

  39. @12 hjkomo
    “…………Hwannie is waiting for Jajangmyun Space Odyssey”
    hehe my thoughts exactly!

    @24 hanjanman
    ‘…..Ji Hwan ssi and me, we’re really on the same radar. We do have a connection(Samsooki and bspanda, are you reading this?).”

    Hey hey hanjanman – I thought you were on my side to protect KJH from Samsooki’s delusional thoughts on his and KJH supposed “connection”! Look
    where that got Samsooki – hunted down. Now you too have a connection? @_@ Well as long as you know that KJH and I have a unbreakable connection then it’s ok. :P

    Speaking of which, where is Samsooki? Was expecting to see the creative genius of Jajangmyun Space Odyssey to appear here? Hmmm was he that scared of JB’s threat? Not likely…..
    Ooooh I know!
    He has now taken a leave of absence from his day job to fully commit to working 24/7 on finishing the script so KJH can start filming ASAP!!! So considerated our PD Samsooki!!!

  40. I lvoe Jihwan!!
    He is my favorite actor…and man since Capital Scandal,

    He is so natural, simple, intelligent, ordinary…and handsome :)

    Thanks for the interview.

  41. Huh!? He’s the eldest son? I remember reading that he’s the youngest child & is well known for his filial piety..
    .

  42. funny thing about the “be strong” drama, it was the first drama i’ve seen with him in it and it was over 1 week of non-sleeping to finishg the 165? episode drama
    my mom was watching it too~ insane
    i really really like his personality
    he’s similar to me in a lot of ways as i can’t watch my mouth in what i say
    and i LOVE TO DRINk although im a total light weight and i do get upset when people put down their glasses to do “more important things”

    :D
    great guy great actor!

  43. I don’t see Samsooki’s comment on this article. Oh..well, I guess he’s not about to give up KJH so easily ^^

  44. I liked him in Hong Gil Dong, but I haven’t seen him in anything else. I love the way his personality shines through this interview, though. I feel like he would be fun to hang out with, not a boring moment. Thanks for translating the article!

  45. Oh your poor tiny liver !!!

  46. Keenly waiting for Part 2 of the interview. Thanks JB.
    I dont know what’s in the second half, but in this section he mentioned many of his lady co-stars fondly, but he did not even mention Han Hye Jin his co-star in Be Stong Geum Soon, even though it was that drama thta shot him to fame.
    I notice the same thing for his other interviews as well. Hmm…I feel sad…they dont seem like good friends …they can’t get along? Their screen chemistry was great….I got hooked on the drama & I am still watching it on Tv in Singapore. This is a repeat telecast airing on weekends. I hope to see them act together again, hopefully soon.

  47. omg, this KJH interview just made my day! thanks javabeans!

  48. I like the last answer…”through thick and thin…”

    And I had no idea Kang Ji-hwan was not his real name. lol. :p

  49. @ bspanda and hanjanman.

    Just you watch, Samsooki will suddenly pop up, with something SO profound we will all be dazed.
    Now is he busy scripting ”Jajangmyun Space Odyssey” or researching his ”Adoption Case for Hwannie”

    Better prepare…….lol.

  50. Thanks for sharing! At least I get to know more about KJH now!

  51. There is something really special about him. He has these very intelligent, playful and curious eyes. There is also something arrogant, humble, boyish and manly all at the same time which adds to his attractiveness and versatility. Sometimes you have actors who play really cool guys in a drama or movie but when you actually see them in an interview they are really boring or conventional because they really are that boring in real life or because they are being so careful due to their carefully constructed PR image. He is so refreshing as a human being and an actor both in US or in Korea.

    I hope he doesn’t change with more success since I would hate for him to go the way of Bae Young Joon for instance who is entering Micheal Jackson stratosphere.

  52. YAY! It took me almost 2 days, but I found a way to beat the system!! JB says that:

    “By clicking this link you are hereby relinquishing “Mine!” claiming rights to Javabeans, not that you had a shot against her fierce spinning back kick in the first place, but just so y’all are clear on that”

    Then we will give up our rights. HOWEVER, if you click on “comments” HTML link, you will end up here: http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/06/drinking-interview-with-kang-ji-hwan-part-1/#comments

    …….which is where I am now, able to read the whole thread, and never having clicked on her burdensome and sorrow-inducing Terms of Service html link!

    lawyer training = loophole discovery = samsooki + KJH (mine!) FTW

    Looks like all y’all gave up on Kang Ji Hwan. LOL. Suckers!

    ****

    I wonder how I am going to make an evil KJH. I don’t want to make excuses for him.

    i.e., “oh, he was abused as a child that’s why he is evil now.” or, “his upbringing has made him indifferent to others.”

    Those are cop outs. if KJW is going to be evil, he has to be evil because he has thought about it, and he chooses to be evil. That’s the strongest kind of bad guy, the guy who could be good if we wanted to be good, but decides that being bad is better for him.

    If KJW wants to play an evil character, then his motivation has to be because being a bad guy is worth it. That kind of character doesn’t have to be crazy insane, or a loser, or a stock evil laughter with mustache, but a thinking, breathing, conscientious bad guy who feels pain and joy, knows what it is like to love and be loved, and still chooses to be a bad guy because it means more to him to crush others than it does to save them.

    Nice! Holy moly, that’s one scary bad guy.

  53. LOL @ samsooki’s comment.. NICE !!!

  54. @ Samsooki

    “HOWEVER, if you click on “comments” HTML link, you will end up here:”

    ROFL! You just figured that out? o_O :P

    A psychopath doesn’t choose to be evil. He just is. :)

  55. @ hjkomo,

    Are you saying that KJH wants to play an actual psychopath?

    I know that’s what he apparently said, but I’m not sure that’s what he meant. If that’s what he meant, and, separately, if he doesn’t want to play a bad guy by choice but a psychopathic bad guy, then I’m going to yank him from my drama.

    I can’t empathize with psychopaths, and so I can’t write one because I don’t know why they do what they do.

    Alternate for bad guy then – Won Bin. He would play a soft-spoken, articulate and thoughtful, intelligent evil guy. And he would cry when he is sad, he would smile and laugh when he is happy, he would lie as if he is telling the truth, and he would thoughtfully crush all those who stand in his path, because in a world where it is he or them, it is always them who goes first. I saw Autumn Tale recently online, and I liked what I saw. Strength comes from the eyes….

  56. No, no, no!
    KJH’s still recovering from his traumatic experience. He doesn’t know what he’s saying…
    Just make him a bad guy then. :D

  57. @ Samsookl and hjkomo.

    How to keep you all sort of happy including KJH, with the role of psychopath in Samsooki’s drama.

    As you are heading sci-fi, could you not have him medium term toxin infected (until cured by your hero), by inhalation (alien pollen), consumption (contamination or poisoned, at space cantina) or result of getting fanged by alien bug.
    Can swing from good guy to raging psychopath, semi recover, plead for help, relapse then recover on discovery of antivenom. At least this way you can avoid the emotional cripple scenerio.

  58. By clicking the Comments link instead of JB noona’s link, does that mean that Samsooki still has full Mine! claiming rights whilst I have forfeited mine? But how could I not click JB noona’s link when I sooo wanted to know more about my idol? Does that mean that I have been weak? Does it mean that I love KJH less? Noooo, JB noona, noooo!!! You tricked me!!!

    @ bspanda

    You’re right. We should join forces against greedy and deluded Samsooki. BTW, did you also click on JB noona’s link?

    @ B.B.

    I like your alternative to an emotionally retarded KJH space psychopath. But with contamination or poison, wouldn’t that make the character transform into something grotesque ala Bruce Banner into the Hulk? I just don’t want to see KJH in a less than attractive light. Couldn’t he just have a curse borne from coming from a little planet called Earth, originating from the sins his forefathers committed in the ancient kingdom of Silla or Baekje?

  59. @ Samsooki
    haha how did I just know you would use your legal skills aka loopholes to get your way into this thread? It took you 2 days though!!! That is shocking and hence your claims of ‘KJH M- -E’ are (still) shaky.

    ahem now you are starting on Won Bin too? Careful……

    @ hanjanman
    “You’re right. We should join forces against greedy and deluded Samsooki. BTW, did you also click on JB noona’s link?”

    Yes! Am totally with you in joining forces (how could I not when you so graciously willing to share KJH). As for your latter question my official response is………… Also I read JB’s ‘warning’ to mean I could not use the M-word in this thread and this thread only! So far I have done that. :P Hence well…KJH is well…..you know :)

  60. Glad his film is doing so well. Hong Gil Dong was a big help for his career. I truly only noticed him on that drama, but the first thing I’ve seen him from without realizing it is Summer Scent .

    Before Hong Gil Dong, I also watched his small part in Save The Last Dance as the doctor crush and lead role on Fireworks (but this drama seemed too cliche even though I loved his character on that). After watching Hong Gil Dong, I saw stars potential on him and began to search out for his other dramas. One I had to buy at YesAsia because it was never subbed is Be Strong Geum Soon. I found out it was the drama that made him popular. I love his cute and emotional side on that drama. Currently rewatching the 165 episodes again with my mom. I guess the newest work I’ve seen from him is Capital Scandal since I skipped it when it first came out. Feel bad that people didn’t recognize his talents there because that drama is awesome and his child-like enthusiasm is a must watch.

    Really want to watch his new movie with Kim Haneul. Sounds like Mr and Mrs. Smith. :)

  61. LOVE IT…WHAT A GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR ME…

    huh, I miss him…

  62. Ngie, i am watching it here in singapore on saturday afternoons too.. it’s coming to an end and I cant wait to know if my romeo and juliet couple will come together or not…….

    HGD was a great boost that turned him from a fringe actor into a big, recognisable one. I hope he gets his pyschopath role, he is such a good actor he’ll do well in it. he is different from other idol like actors (the BBF actors, anymore??) and is even better than kwon sang woo, I think…. he’s my favourite ” old ‘ actor along with hwang jung-min..

    i cannot wait for Rough cut and My GF is a secret agent to come here = )

  63. Ngie, i am watching it here in singapore on saturday afternoons too.. it’s coming to an end and I cant wait to know if my romeo and juliet couple will come together or not…….

    HGD was a great boost that turned him from a fringe actor into a big, recognisable one. I hope he gets his pyschopath role, he is such a good actor he’ll do well in it. he is different from other idol like actors (the BBF actors, anyone??) and is even better than kwon sang woo, I think…. he’s my favourite ” old ‘ actor along with hwang jung-min..

    i cannot wait for Rough cut and My GF is a secret agent to come here = )

  64. fraulein@ #63, I agree with you…. he’s definitely my fav actor.
    BSGS will have a happy ending. I watched certain episodes so many time on youtube and I always feel so invlved with the characters, that shows how graet the acting is, especially Han Hye Jin & Kang Ji Hwan as a couple.

    You can watch “Rough Cut” at the website below:

    It comes in 2 parts

    http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=47674552

    http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=47690090

    Hope you can open the link.

    Happy watching

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