This sketch of our favorite K-actor was made by Zoe of the People's Republic of China, a very good friend of the Sorrybunch, webmasters of HJTalk. Thanks Zoe!!!
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.”
—Starting in the first half of Seo Dong Yo there were a lot of action scenes. Did you do anything in advance to prepare? I went to an action school and trained there. In a lot of the wide shots, I was able to act in the scenes without a stunt double. It took a lot of work, even for an action drama. There were a lot of scenes on horseback too. Because there wasn’t much time, I was only able to practice riding a little bit, and then we started filming . . . .
—Wasn’t it scary? Horses are not machines, so they move however they want to . . . (laughs). During the shoot, that was difficult.
—When playing a king, what kind of things did you pay attention to? I had to be very careful about the phrasing for a historical drama. The character of Seo Dong couldn’t be either too strong or too weak, so I always had to stay calm. I thought I should show the dignified side of the king, so I developed the role in consultation with the director.
—What was the hardest thing about filming Seo Dong Yo? The filming schedule was tight, so it was really tough. Just like Dae Jang Geum (2003, MBC), the story of Seo Dong Yo centers entirely on the main character. So out of the whole shoot, I appear in about 80 percent of the scenes. . . . The schedule didn’t even allow me to go home. I was on set the whole time. . . . I’ve said this many times in interviews, so I think you all know this, but I was trying hard to eat well during the filming. It was very hard physically as well. When I think that I might have given a better performance if I’d been stronger physically, I regret it a bit. But a lot of other actors commended me on handling that schedule, and gave me a lot of compliments. They encouraged me, saying, “You have great strength!” But looking back after some time has passed, I realize that the difficulty I had at the time benefited my performance. An actor has to learn how to perform even under difficult conditions. It was extremely difficult, but it was a very meaningful project for me.
There are fans supporting me—this is fate too
—There was a line in Seo Dong Yo that said, “You can avoid ‘fate,’ but it is ‘fate’ that makes you charge down that path.” What are your own thoughts about fate? Hmmm. I can’t say personally, “This is fate,” but if you make an effort to work toward your fate, I think you can get close to it. The fact that there are fans who support me the way they do is amazing. I think perhaps that is fate. I’ve made an effort too, but I think that it is because the fans support me so enthusiastically that I am here today.
—Seo Dong was overflowing with charisma, and was impetuous in love as well. Which would Jo Hyun Jae choose, work or love? (After chuckling) That question is like asking a child, “Who do you like more, your mom or your dad?” Well. . . . (facing the reporters) who do you like better, your mom or your dad? (laughs) Personally, I couldn’t part with either of them. (One reporter answers, “I like my mother better,” and everyone laughs.)
—Jang (another name for Seo Dong) invents many things. Is there a memorable episode for you? There were a lot of things, like swords, but . . . I’m not sure what to say (he’s a bit flustered).
—It seems that you were so in synch with Lee Chang Hoon, who played Mok Rasoo, and Ryu Jin, who played Sataek Giroo, that they called you the “three brothers.” Do you still wear the hat that the three of you had? We really were like brothers. Lee Chang Hoon, the eldest of the three of us, gave us hats, and we were the only three people who had them, so everyone was jealous of us. I still have it at home. Even looking back now, it was really fun. During that time, I couldn’t buy clothes or shoes. I was too busy, so I was always wearing warm-ups. I used to wear that hat almost every day. It was because I could hardly ever go home. If I dropped by the house, I would quickly wash my face and then head out right away. . . .
—You also seem to have a special connection with Jung Wook, who played King Wi Duk. You played father and son in Only You (2005, SBS) as well. Yes, I think that I have some special connection to him. I think we have some destiny that has brought us together and allowed us to perform together this way.
—Do you place a lot of importance on that sort of connection to people? I would like to value those connections . . . . Actors and directors are always very busy, and it’s hard to get together, so I can’t do it diligently. But in my heart, I value them and thank them.
—For those Japanese fans who haven’t seen Seo Dong Yo yet, do you have any advice about what to watch for? When you watch Seo Dong Yo, in the first half, Seo Dong seems to have a stubborn side, but gradually he abandons that part of himself and becomes a great king. I think it’s interesting to watch that process. Also, his encounter and split from Princess Seon Hwa , and the heartrending aspects of Mok Rasoo and Sataek Giroo are good too, I think. The conflict with Sataek Giroo is also interesting, and so is the friendship with Mok Rasoo, who he looks up to as a teacher.