Jo Hyun Jae was born in Seoul, South Korea on May 9, 1980. He's a Taurus Monkey. He is known to be a very private person and not much is known about his childhood and early life. In an interview with Sports Seoul, he said it was his choice to leave school and "I wasn't interested in studying and I felt school was meaningless for me. I felt I'd be better off working instead. My family was poor but it wasn't because they couldn't pay the tuition that I stopped schooling. It was my own decision to do so. I don't regret it to this day."
When not filming a TV drama or movie, Hyun Jae maintains a low profile, only venturing out for the rare promotion or fan meeting. Although Hyun Jae appears to be shy and unassuming, his words contradict his appearance. He said in an interview "When I meet someone appealing to me, I tend to express myself actively by saying often that I like her." (Source: "Mask" interview, EverJohyunjae, English section.)
This paradox is part of his personality, expressed in shyness and a straightforward approach to people. When asked about the character Andrea in Love Letter in the above referenced interview he said, "Well... The way he talks, and his hard life, the loneliness, the way he loves... how he cannot express his feelings but keeps them buried inside, those things I can identify with." Hyun Jae's shyness is one of the the his attributes that attract. One may want to "mother" him while longing for intimacy.
Hyun Jae's ability to be all things to all people allows him to choose roles of a diverse nature. He does not repeat himself and takes his time in selecting his next role. One only needs to read the fan forums to see that although he is out of site, he is never out of mind. The main curiosity is what will he do next, and more importantly when.
Hyun Jae's characters are complex and expressive. His athletic hobbies serve him well when choosing roles that require physical ability such as fighting and swordplay in Seo Dong Yo and Gumiho. Although he does not speak Japanese, and I'm sure he is learning quickly with all his trips to Japan recently, his Japanese dialogue in Star's Echo was convincing, as was his playing piano in the same drama.
His performance as a pastry chef in Sunshine Pours Down was persuasive. While watching the drama, I wanted to eat cake. For Only You, the director instructed him to be a jerk, and he was, but with a great deal of sensitivity.
Hyun Jae's portrayal of Andrea, the conflicted Catholic priest in Love Letter, was convincing. Although church doctrine as defined in the drama may not be completely accurate, Andrea's feeling of abandonment and desire to replace his mother with the church and love of god, all the while longing for the love of a woman, was expressive and touching. Paradox and conflict permeate the drama. I can't even begin to comment on the ending, "Let's love again." Whatever point the director and script writer were trying to make can be left up to the viewer.
In August of 2008, Hyun Jae entered the Korean army for a required two-year commitment. I'm told that entertainers have an easy time in the military, being placed in a special unit where their talents can be used to their best advantage. Let's wish him the best of luck during his time in the military. I'm sure he will serve his country with dedication and pride.
Notes:
As of this writing, letters can be sent to Hyun Jae at this address.
ON-STARS (Attn; Jo Hyunjae ) Yongsan-Gu, Hannam-Dong 271-7, 3rd Fl. Seoul , Korea
Physical Attributes:
Height: 180cm = 5' 9" Weight: 65kg = 143 lbs
Hyun Jae's family name is spelled Cho or Jo; his first name can be spelled Hyeon-jae, Hyun-jae, or Hyun Jae. There are no strict rules for hyphenating Korean names and is a personal preference.
Chinese and Western astrology traits:
Monkey: They are quick-witted, innovative, and they have a total and intense belief in themselves; they are very intelligent and possess a very clever wit; because of their extraordinary nature and magnetic personality, they are always well-liked.
Taurus: Patient and reliable, warmhearted and loving, persistent and determined, placid and security loving. Less attractive traits can be jealousy and possessiveness, resentfulness and inflexibility, self-indulgence and greed.
