anyone else see the interview with him on KBS’s Entertainment Weekly (it was #1298)? All of a sudden, thanks to I.R.I.S., he’s the “it guy,” as he put it with a laugh. He looked very dashing wherever they filmed it, making use of a balcony and spiral staircase. They showed images from the cool photo shoot with wife Namju and old clips from his career. He talked about marriage (smartest thing I ever did) and being called an ajosshi at 41 (“they’ve been calling me that for a decade”). Wish I could provide a link!

@Artemis,

I can’t stop laughing at the re-subbing of Engrish.

@nycgrl,

thanks for the youtube :* links. ^^

The first kiss needs to be seen from the very beginning. That is, from BYJ kidnapping and locking SYA in the lift onward – so full of power and emotion. It is like a most violent act turning most sweet and swoony, as with the responses of all those hotel staff. I had a quick look at YT but couldn’t find one that has the whole lot, what a damn!

Winter Sonata never gets my fancy but I just love Hotelier with a passion!

“How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor” is one of them. I really loved that drama for Bae Do Na and CSW. It was fitting that he didn’t get the girl in that drama but their friendship chemistry and dialog was what made the drama for me and not the love angle. I also thought it was fitting that Bae Do Na saves the guy (in this case the 2nd lead).

@skelly -
“There was a kiss in Hotelier? I can’t remember one! ”

There were in fact two and they were much more satisfying that the YB kiss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOhYNZB4nuk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaM11vr0ceU

I never understood why Winter Sonata was so much more popular in Japan than Hotelier. I thought Hotelier was the better drama of the two but then again I don’t understand all the weird incest angle and why Autumn Tales was so popular in Korea either so I’ll chalk it up to different culture’s sensibilities.

I too was impressed with him on Hotelier and have seen most of what he’s done. He has the every day man quality that allows him to take a variety of roles.
(I personally find his smoky voice sexy.)

He’s an actor who does both drama and comedy very well. He doesn’t always get the girl, even when playing the lead; that gives me the impression that his ego is in check.

I am so looking forward to this movie..

@24 nycgrl – I agree with you about the Engrish in IRIS!!! Would it really kill them with that budget! to hire a couple of unknown American Actors? It’s funny when WITHS2 corrects it in their subtitles.

IRIS: Is there anything movement?
WITHS2: Are there any new movements?

IRIS: Is there any signals or communication systems?
WITHS2: Are there any signals from any communication systems?

Gah, Lee Byung Hun speaks better English than the Americans in this series. LoL.

ahhh, the memories! the music! must watch again soon.

@nycgrl, thanks for the historical perspective on how racy this was for its time.

@epyc, you must be british. lolz at “lift kiss” ::swoon:: sounds sooo much better than what i (american) was going to say. ^^

Yup, check out Hotelier. This is also one of my all time favourites – BYJ and SYA at their very best. Like what paula said, you never look at hotel staff the same once you’ve seen this. I am a BYJ-SYA shipper and can’t swoon enough of BJY’s love-at-first-sight-no-hold-bar actions…. but Kim Seung Woo always get my tears whenever I re-watch this scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvIDCvSzfak

Three and a half minutes of thinking, walking, thinking and walking only to realise how he has lost the girl on his OWN making!!

“BYJ does the impossible and his character Frank is the first 2nd lead male–and maybe the only– who actually gets the girl. All hail to the power of yosama! He moves mountains, splits the sea and gets the girl as the 2nd male lead.” This is the main and prime reason of Hotelier’s CHARM to me and many other women out there LOL! Mind you, despite the City Hall kiss in Ep 14 reigns in my book, I’d say the lift kiss in Hotelier is close behind as the second. It is just HOT even by today’s standard.

not very interested in war movies..pretty much im not a fan of action films but anything that Cha Seung Won is in ill watch.
hes just so handsome and dreamy!