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Joo Ji-hoon signs with Keyeast

He’s not due out of the army until November of this year, but it looks like Joo Ji-hoon (Goong, Antique Bakery) is already preparing for his comeback. Army duty can do a lot to wash a slate clean; it’s the Korean equivalent of earning your stripes as a man, and when your public image is tainted, it does the double duty of serving as penance for crimes committed.

Joo has signed with Keyeast, Bae Yong-joon‘s management company, joining the likes of Kim Hyun-joong, Lee Na-young, Choi Kang-hee, and Lee Jia, just to name a few. I know it’s a management company’s job, and Bae Yong-joon is as much a brand name as it is a person, but I have this strange image in my mind of Bae Yong-joon collecting stars like little playthings. Perhaps his role in Dream High is coloring my impression. But if that drama’s confirmed one thing for me, it’s that Bae should stick to being the behind-the-scenes puppetmaster. There is no denying this man’s brilliance in turning stardom into cold hard cash, but his performance leaves a lot to be desired. And I say this having been on the bandwagon in the nineties. It just…ain’t 1998 anymore, is it?

Regardless, it’s all good things for Joo Ji-hoon fans, who can expect a fully-manned comeback, with lots of press and a slew of new projects. Time to start making your wish lists for the drama gods.

Via Seoul NTN

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What's with the perm?

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yeah.. the pama sucked.

Oppaaa. Please no more ahjumma perm pleaseeee..

Oh my I'm hi.. happy hi.. :)

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For a sec there I thought you were being sarcastic over his, um, high problems way back when. XD

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Oh No.. I was and am proud of him to admit his mistake, while most of the other atrist just tried dodging the bullet and not listen to their parents word. "drugs are bad!!

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no to ahjumma perms in general... FOREVER!!!

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I am Waiting Your new drama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Fighting

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... And Perhaps Love started playing on my ipod as soon as i saw this news. Good luck to JJH. I am actually rewatching princess hours these days, i need a feel-good drama.

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Goong really did have a uniquely fabulous soundtrack.

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second that!

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Goong's OST is one of my favorites. I even made ringtones from A Dancing Teddy and Bok Jang Bool Ryang :)

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I am excited to see JJH acting once again. Hopefully he'll choose a good drama as his comeback project.

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true, i hope he takes advantage of his newly clean slate. i REALLY REALLY like him as an actor. GAAAAH

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He's a decent actor, and he's very charismatic, I hope he chooses a good project--- I'd watch!

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I actually thought he was just a pretty face with barely decent acting talent when I was watching Goong, but after watching Antique Bakery I upgraded him into the oh-so-he-is-actually-a-pretty-good-actor level. I was like in the middle of the movie before I finally realized that it was him - but his looks and mannerisms were so different, hey! :D

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and he gets even better in The Devil....taking me by complete surpirse with the change from his wooden Goong days

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Good news. :) Thank you, Yon-sama!

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Talk about change. He even looks like a different person. I really couldn't even recognize him.

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I think this picture is from before his army duty because the poster from the background is from the last movie he did. That's what I guess.

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Is this a picture of him, really? It must be the angle or the perm. Holy cow!

He actually looks rested and ready to go.

I really loved him in AB. So different from the character that stole my heart several times in Goong. Those pictures of him in Thailand were stunningly beautiful...

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I just google imaged "Joo Ji-hoon Army" and there a bunch of pictures with him in the arny cut.

http://mundohallyu.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/hasta-dentro-de-2-anos-joo-ji-hoon/

It's not in English, but I think it says his release date is auspiciously 11/11/11. Kinda cool.

He is still beautiful, though, without his hairs...

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You're right.... his release date is 11/11/11.... a strange coincidence, don't you think? LoL

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This makes my heart happy. ♥

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AHhhH!!!! This news makes my day, thank you for posting! <3 Joo Ji-hoon coming back to making films and dramas is a dream come true. :) I'm glad that going into the army was able to help his reputation!

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AHHHH! HE IS SOOO HOT! <3 He comes second on my sexy list<2 first is of course Kim Jae Wook <3
ANTIQUE TIME!

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oh yaaaaaay! this is going to be a damn fine year i can say! J <3 J <3 H !!!

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aaaand i have my *stoopid* moment of the night.

maria, reading your comment. "J loves J loves H???"

...O_O

what's that? *smack!*? ...yeah, i deserve that. :P

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aaaand i have my *stoopid* moment of the night.

maria, reading your comment: "J loves J loves H???"

...O_O

what's that? *smack!*? ...yeah, i deserve that. :P

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in Dream High I started to think...errm Kim Hyun Joong is doing acting lessons with Bae Yong Joon... so this is the whole explanation of his bad acting... hope JJH after the army won't try to take lessons from him

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Don't put the blame on others for his lousy acting. Kim Hyun Joong was a lousy actor before he joined Keyeast.

Bae Yong Joon wasn't a lousy actor and he has won awards for his acting before.

There were a few fans accounts of him during his cameo role in Dream High. He still needs Bae Yong Joon to teach him how to act.

You should be grateful that there is such a noble person who is willing to take Kim Hyun Joong and teach him how to act. Other agencies will only look at the dollar.

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Sooo...JB, given your thing for perms, how are you feeling about Joo Ji Hoon's?

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I don't know how to react to this. I like him as an actor and am happy to see him back, but at the same time what he did was really bad...

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I won't comment on how bad his crimes were, but I still don't get why going into the army makes everything alright again. How is doing what is required by everyone a penance?

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Bae Yong-joon is such an egocentric fella if you visit keyeast site you wil know what I mean his main goal is to promote himself

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Didn't you know, every Pinky needs the Brain.

Pinky: Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?
Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!
Brain: We must prepare for tomorrow night.
Pinky: Why? What are we going to do tomorrow night?
Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!

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Perhaps, but Keywest's specialty is in promoting their actors as Hallyu entities. Joo Ji Hoon still has an international fanbase that cares about him, and Japanese investors will still be interested in a JJH project (Tokyo Tower Redux?) Keywest can facilitate that while JJH rebuilds his career domestically.

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I hope there will be strong mentors in Keyeast to keep JJH clean for the better. Anyone can find a 'high' other than narcotics to fulfill one's desire, it just takes creativity than an easy way out.

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Keywest seems to do a good job managing press around their actors. Still, it's up to JJH to manage himself. I think he still owes debtors so he isn't going to screw up again.

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From what I read, JJH did not use drugs too frequently. In addition, the drug he did use isn't technically "addictive," though users may develop a mental/emotional dependency on it. I think he will stay clean.

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I was just thinking about him the other day! Great news. Now if only they actually did a Goong 2 I would be satisfied. In this way I love Japanese dramas. What they did for Nodame Cantabile was amazing - a drama, 2 specials and 2 films. What more could you want?

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Yeah, they do have sequels quite easily, it seems. I just watched the second Nodame movie a few days ago and felt really happy/grateful for the dedication they had shown to completing the story. Wish we could have this fulfillment with kdramas, as well.

Good luck to JJH with his comeback! Hopefully his acting skills haven't suffered too much and won't fall to KHJ's level...

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Just so you know, many creative people have taken drugs, including but not limited to Shakespeare, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Mark Twain, and Edgar Allen Poe.

I'm not advocating drug use, but using drugs doesn't make a person evil, and rarely are they used to call down a muse. There are deeper problems at hand when a person chooses to try drugs, and JJH said he only used them a few times and was clean at the time of his court date.

There are a lot of interesting statistics that go along with drug use, for example, 95% of drug addicts that are incarcerated in the United States have a previously undiagnosed learning disability. What does this say about society at large?

In conclusion, before judgments are made by our fellow beanies, perhaps some compassion could be used.

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Totally! I don't know if it's just a different perspective or a different system in general, but I didn't see his drug usage to be all that bad to the point of condemnation. In fact, a lot of celebrities use drugs, American or not. And a lot of people in society use drugs as well. I'm not saying it's a good thing or anything, I'm just in the same boat as Brookeeve, a little compassion can definitely used. Besides, everyone makes mistakes.

On a side note - dang it's almost 2 years already! Time flies.

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This makes me so very very happy! I am glad he is having a comeback!

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Well, and kindly, said.

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JOO JI HOON!!!!!!!!!!! Has it been 2 years already?? wow time sure flies by fast. I do hope he makes a strong comeback. Good luck to him!

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Yepyepyep! Come back & I'll be waiting fr u. As a mom of ex-experimenting youth(no more), I can only be supporttive for those willing to start over. All the blessings for him ;o)

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I think a wise move on either one's behalf. BYJ sees a performer who has continued to perfect his craft through live performances showing the entertainment industry his sincerity and who has strong potential in other Asian markets. And if anyone knows how to market the hottiness of JJH, BYJ does. As for JJH, he'll have the master of self-promotion get JJH the best of the best. Awesome pairing.

For those on the fence about JJH and his acting, you do need to see Antique and Kitchen.

I've been pushing this guy on my friends, but they can't get the Goong-icy images out of their heads.

Can't wait!

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Thank God

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please PLEASE kill that hair before you come back! >____<"

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Keyeast is good at promoting their stars.Choosing the right agency helps. Just look at KHJ.On the other hand , an agency like YG does nothing to promote Goo Hye Sun.

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Everyone commits mistakes and therefore must be given a chance.. I have no knowledge of his exact drug use but I think for such a promising actor who gave us so much pleasure from Goong, The Devil, Antique Bakery and The Naked Kitchen who's been banned from several TV stations from doing dramas and no clear picture if he can revive his stardom is enough penance.

Its good of BYJ to gave this chance, he must have gotten wind of JJH's sincerity and desire to come back equipped with discipline and theatrical skills honed doing Voyage of Life while serving military duties.

Goodluck Joo Ji-hoon!!

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this is surely one great news of this new year!!!!!!!!!! yay!!!! I can't wait to see you back, my baby!!!!

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I'm so happy for him! I really like him as an actor and I think he deserves a second chance. Can't wait to see his next project!

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shrewd move on both JJH and BYJ's sides. I hated JJH's acting in Goong, but after hearing he's better in later works, I'm pretty curious to see what his next project will be.

As for BYJ, with his status as a prince of the Hallyu wave, forming his own company, his role as heavenly prince and king (who happens to be the reincarnation of that heavenly prince and also the historical King Gwanggaeto the Great) in The Legend (his first drama since Winter Sonata and the last role he played before Dream High), and his role as a collector of potential idol stars in Dream High - I can't see him as a normal human being of flesh and blood anymore.

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Any actor will knows that their career lifespan in entertainment industry will not be able to last long. That's why you have singers turned actor, or singers turned MC,etc. What he did was to move to the production/backstage jobs and to discover new stars. He is being realistic that he can't be popular forever and is giving the younger stars a chance to shine. Is this unhuman?

What kind of move from him is considered normal human being of flesh and blood?

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Looking back, I worded things all weird. What I really meant by not seeing him as a normal human being is that he has become this sort of ethereal being to me. He seems preternaturally polished. It's really hard to articulate the feel I am getting from him.

At this point in his career, if he were to take on a role, I can't imagine feeling emotionally connected to him and I can't imagine him playing the role of a normal human being with parental issues, like his role in Winter Sonata as Kang Joon-sang. He will need to play some higher being, like a president or maybe the archangel, Michael, or a priest!

That's just my feelings of course.

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"Looking back, I worded things all weird."

Oh not at all! The Japanese housewife in me totally sees Yongsama as a prophet, and I'm READY to go on his Pantenerun mother ship!! :D He's not so much an actor as he's an aura, and for me he's mesmerizing in a way I still don't understand.

Yongsama is first and foremost a businessman. Before Winter Sonata, he was already wealthy due to his investments and he was viewed as maybe past his ratings prime (Bae Yong Joon in the 90s was one of the first young actors to have a buff gym body; so when we gawk at Song Seung Heon, understand THAT also started with BYJ.)

He markets himself brilliantly in that he fully understood how to transform himself into a true and exclusive idol for the middle aged set. In a way, this was groundbreaking because he doesn't have a Johnny Boy relationship with those women as pre-teens and teen, yet he was strangely able to build on the same idioms. The blankness necessary for women to build their fantasies. The media control. Cultural ambassador. The Winter Sonata panchiko machines. A kind of "domesticated foreigner" posture that transcended his gaijin status. He's somewhere between Michael, Liberace, and Fabio, but really Yonsama is Hallyu Oprah.

To see what he can do for your career, consider Lee Ji Ah.

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BYJ has always been sort of a product. After the Hallyu thing he was in a position to ignore it , exploit it, or hide. He kind of does all three. His persona is kinda sexless, where you get that ethereal vibe, vacuous, yet earnest, competent and
repressed. Before he started in the business he wanted to be a director, he got dragged off the lot into acting totally on his looks. He might be ready to leave it. But how does one put down such $$$$$ baggage without causing financial loss to hundreds of folks involved. Replace yourself with KHJ and the like???????
Rather blank slates. I wonder, as he does, how far a small country can develop a huge entertainment empire. I wish him and JYP luck.

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Pat and belleza, you guys said it perfectly! I can't even imagine another actor like BYJ.

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What sucks is how going into the military won't solve MC Mong's problem. Although I don't know what'll happen if he does get proven innocent after the case, I'm sure that MC Mong won't come back for a very long time. Military duty for your country. Yeah. Definitely a big deal in South Korea. Oh well, Good luck to Ji-hoon.

And the puppet master comment was funny. XD

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woah time flies it seems like only y-day when he left & the photos u posted here JB were still fresh in my mind & he's dues this year to come back? a 'plaything' :) for Bae yong hahaha i kinda agree!
happy for him i liked him in Gong!

oh i loved that photo of kim ji hoon on this page which reminds me i'm counting the days of his come back!

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btw nahhhhh i don't like his perm!

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crazy...I swear he just went away. Is it just me?
Time flies in drama-land.

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oh i missed him +_+
and he looks so different and adorbs with curly hair
your description of BYJ is making me think of professor slughorn >_> maybe a bit more good looking mmm.

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I thought of Professor Slughorn too. Ummmm... are we nerds?

What is even worse... in Secret Garden.... I keep thinking Evil Mom is like Dolores Umbridge. All sorts of cutesy hair bows and pearls and whatnot. Of course their eeevil is totally different.

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I love him since Goong and stilll do.
JJH fighting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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good for him, after the drugs thingy, he didnt appear anywhere, so it's great to see him come backing like that, just hope he doesnt dp anything like that again and i hope more fans recieve him well...

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1) every man deserves a second chance; unless he disrespects himself again, I will forgive him

2) you sure it's not a wig??? how can men in army duties grow long hair?

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Thanks for posting this JB, I love him in Goong, Antique and Kitchen. You right JB he also has a huge fanbase in my country thanks to Goong which up to this days still get a rerun. Drug problem is a huge issue in my country too, but we have a lot of celebrity make a comeback without received severe criticism, a big different when it comes to sex tape scandal though.

For those who haven't watch Naked Kitchen, you should, though the story suck but it's worth it for the make out scene between JJH and Shin Min-ah :)

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Key east is becoming the new it club for stars cept a good amount are just pretty with no substance :)

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weeeeeh! This is really good news.

I followed all his work - Goong, Mawang, Antique Bakeshop, Kitchen, Don Juan and Voyage of Life musical. He improved a lot, and I can say he's one of the good actor out there. I'm excited for his comeback. Jihun, see you in November. Fighting!

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Wow, time really flies - I thought he'd be getting out sometime autumn next year!

But yeah. Idk about Key Wesy, I'm just excited about Ji-hoon coming back.

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lol, Key Wesy. It's not even Key West but Keyeast.. my mind really flew away haha.

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Great news to hear! He's a talented actor and I believe he needs a second chance. Looking forward to seeing him on screen again!

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Joo Ji-hoon... wow, after disliking him in Goong, I recently finished Devil loving him so much that I ended up watching Antique just to see him even though I don't watch yaoi stuff. I am happy to see him back :)

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I'm also sort of two minds about this. I want to be happy about this... but this announcement is coming when he still has 11 months left before he's discharged. That's sort of pushing it. If this announcement came three months before his discharge rather than almost a year, I doubt I'd be anything other than happy for him. It's no secret that he went into the army mostly to lay low and rehabilitate his image, but this certainly doesn't feel like someone trying to keep a low profile. I guess if he's so obviously just bidding his time, it makes me wonder how sincere he is. It's easier for me to root for someone who is actively trying to do better, rather than someone who's just putting on a good show.

But who knows. Maybe he's really trying and I don't want to be grudge him any good fortune if he is!

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wow, it doesn't seem that long ago when he enlisted, time sure flies.

you know, i think he'd actually been a good choice for personal taste. that being said, something comedic for your comeback project, please...

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Hopefully his time away from the spotlight was enough for the public to forgive him for his past mistakes. He's was on his way to being a good actor and hopefully we can see him some future projects.

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Thanks! This is good news for me ^^

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Let me be shallow...and say any drama with some kissing scenes.

Real ones I mean :-) not the panoramic 360 degree turn that makes me dizzy kiss.THERE.

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Wow..........BRAVO-BRAVOOOO ^______^

I am glad to hear about him (this currently news) and I really expect that Joo Ji Hoon will have a good project for his new drama this year, ofc. (nods)

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BYJ is not a good actor. in terms of acting he is a mere rookie and that is reflected on the awards he got. I guess, Korean judges are fair to give him only a new comer award for Untold Scandal.

nevertheless, I am happy with Keyeast share performance. however, with JJH joining Keyeast, it gives me some compelling reasons to exceed as an investor because personally, I do not like High Dreams (as compared to High School Musicals) and I find it hard to assess the risks of a former drug addicts.

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when u're in KeyEast you cannot be better looking than The boss..
I somehow like JJH in Mawang..

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I don't think BYJ is vain just does not want to feel poor again.
He does not come from $.

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