By: LazerKim What’s up for today? No updates about Kim Hyun Joong!! What I have is an update about his friend and co-artist at BOF Lee Min Ho, who is currently visiting his fans in the Philippines, as Lee Min Ho is the official endorser of Bench!! He arrived safely in Manila November 15 yesterday afternoon. Apparently the F4 members, which of course Hyun Joong is one of the members, has so many huge fans in my country since BOF was aired in my country in 2009 which has gained a top TV rating, and had been aired several times by different local TV network. I can now guess, his latest drama Faith might be shown in my country probably very soon!! I want to cry, because the news made me miss Hyun Joong even more!!!
Since Lee Min Ho is in town, he reminded me about BOF again! I remember how Hyun Joong enjoyed the company of F4 members while filming BOF since he was the main ice breaker within the group! After the filming of BOF, the F4 members revealed how they gained many product endorsements as a group and individual endorsements as well. The F4 image proved an excellent impact to the general public and was able to set trend specially to the young generation. The F4 member’s togetherness may be short lived since the four of them went to back to their reality life on separate ways to their original career after the filming, but they shall always be remembered.
F4 MEMORIES
Lee Min Ho was asked what he thinks of Hyun Joong, this was during the filming of BOF and here’s what he said about Hyun Joong:
LMH: ”Hyun Joong is very cute, funny, and very down to earth. I enjoyed working with Hyun Joong since we have many scenes together, that we always laugh together. He’s much fun to be with!!”
During the promotion of BOF on its final episode in Japan, each of the F4 members were asked what they can say about each other, here’s that brief responses from F4:
Kim HyunJoong said “Lee MinHo has been admitted to the hospital thus not able to join us. This is my first drama and I have met these admirable friends who are good in acting. I will copy their acting style little by little and make it into my own!!”
In addition, Hyun Joong said making the others laugh, “Though Kim Bum’s role is a Casanova, he is not a Casanova. Kim Joon hyung’s role is a regulator in F4, he is similar to that image in the drama. However, he is good at getting away from work and sneaking away. He has a mind of a swindler!!”
Kim Joon said “Kim Bum is a friend who has many points to learn from and Kim HyunJoong is handsome but plays a lot of pranks and I knew he is shy with strangers but he is energetic.
Kim Bum added “Kim Joon hyung is someone who is good at sneaking away and we were having a hard time because we always are not able to sneak away. Kim HyunJoong is a good colleague and friend. It is fortunate meeting with good people. There was once where Kim HyunJoong brought a camera and took funny photos and said that he will blackmail us.”
Hyun Joong’s final words: “Thank you for loving me even though I’m still lacking in many ways. I hope you can keep the last broadcast today deep inside your heart. As much as the many fans of this drama all over Asia, I will work hard to become an admirable actor and singer.”
BEHIND BOF
Now talking about BOF, the other night I spent going over with news articles back in 2009-2010, and I came across a news article from allkpop entitled “Kim Hyun Joong Leaving DSP.” I was surprised that there were about over a thousand comments from that specific article, and as I dig in dipper to the comments, some fans were blaming Hyun Joong as he signed for BOF saying it was the root of all the fiasco! Others were saying he was selfish to think only for his future and leaving his group. Then someone was trying to cover up for Hyun Joong by dragging another member’s name, which for me, it doesn’t make sense. It may be too late to react on other fans comments, but let me just put this on record, since I’m writing like a diary of Hyun Joong’s life.
First of all, it was not Hyun Joong’s idea to be cast for BOF. As Hyun Joong respond to Kang Hodong he said: “The DSP president asked me why I don’t want to do it. So I said that I will do it and took the audition.” This was not the first time that he said he was not interested with acting at first. He also said it in 2009 at Guerrilla Date, he was hesitant in taking the role for BOF since he doesn’t have experience in acting. In his documentary he said the same thing, but when he started filming the drama, it was only then Hyun Joong realized he can be an actor. And he was quite successful as an actor, in fact there were offers to him as an actor for another drama after BOF, but he declined the offer since he wanted to go back to his group and get done with their last album.
Second, many fans had misunderstood Hyun Joong’s words and one of those is this, as he was asked if he was intending to go solo after filming BOF, and he replied “Going solo? I’ll walk till the end with my SS501 members”. And Hyun Joong did, he walked with his group till the end of SS501 contract in 2010. I think right from the very start the members already knew that DSP will not renew their contract. As I trace back the company history, none of their managing artist’s contract was ever renewed or extended, based on their records. If you were Hyun Joong wouldn’t you be worried about your future if this was the case? No one would take the five of them, what would you do?
Whoever among fans said Hyun Joong was selfish, I would say they were the ones who were selfish because they do not want these guys to grow by themselves and establish their own names without depending on each other. And besides fans do not decide for their idol, they have their own life. I don’t think Hyun Joong would reach this status in his career if he stayed with his group. Another comment from that article said, “Hyun Joong will not last long and he will collapse in less than a year!” Now I’m sure she’s eating her own words!!
TRADE MARK
The other day there was an update about one of Hyun Joong’s member pertaining his upcoming album, as the member said “I’ll be greeting my fans with a scandal next year.” I laughed at this news article, whatever he meant by his statement at least he’s trying to turn the negative to positive approach. As I read the comments, there’s one that caught my eyes as she said something like, she’s glad the allkpop finally used this member’s name without the trade mark SS501!! I agree with her, all five members had gone on their separate ways to establish their own individual name. It doesn’t help at all if media or whoever would keep on attaching the trade mark or group name to their individual names.
Hyun Joong said this in one of his interview, “I would like to get out of the shadow of SS501.” These words again was misunderstood by some of his fans. First, Going solo would mean establishing his own name through his own effort and not using other name just to sell out his own craft. Second, Hyun Joong has been trying his best to create his own music without adopting what he used to do, but to create something new to contribute to the music industry. Hyun Joong will never forget where he came from, at the same time he cannot develop himself further if he’ll just be doing something from his past. Hyun Joong as I always say, is very realistic type of person, he doesn’t live by the past but for the present to look forward to the future. That’s him.
One of the members, the youngest confirmed in an interview with Sports World that the group will return even with the recent division into separate agencies and careers. He also stated that a future album from the group may possibly be released in 2011. We’re now reaching towards the year end 2012, yet nothing happened. The more they talk about such plans, the more Hyun Joong rise up to stardom. I believe these three members are talented, just remain focus to their individual activities as soloist.
IMPACT
Few months ago before Kyu Joong decided to enlist himself at the military training, there was a noise from some fans calling for SS501 to re-group or re-unite. This was not the first time, in fact it happened almost all the time. I was thinking then these fans doesn’t know that it’s not that easy, not even a joint stage is not easy. And every time I read such post calling for the members to re-unite and have the album ect. I start asking myself, are these guys really desperate? Are the members not good enough doing their solo activities? For me this is just short of saying “you’re better off with the group instead of doing solo!” I think the members needs their fans support as soloist more than ever, so for the fans of SS501 support your individual bias and be happy with their solo activities instead of calling for re-unite, I think is the best.
It’s barely two years since the group split up, have the members gone tired of doing solo in that short period? Let’s face it, the other members have not gone up yet! Hyun Joong may have hit the stardom but this guy is still aiming for his target and has plans until he gets to the gates, in three years time. Apparently he’s still enjoying his solo activities in full energy and enthusiasm. And when Kyu Jong was enlisted, the noise came to an end, and that’s good.
It may just be co-incident that almost every time Hyun Joong has significant event in his activities as solo and would turn out to be a success, I have noticed some fans would just popped out and call for a re-unite!! It somehow gave me the impression that some fans are not really happy about his success. Well, who cares anyway, since majority of his fans are happy about every success he gained. Someone even said, that Hyun Joong’s building blocks is planted on the sand!! Maybe others could not just accept the fact that he’s already up there and still rising up.
BEHIND THE LINE
Last year as I was watching the old video clips of SS501, I kept asking myself as to why Hyun Joong was given minimal songs to sing, as if he’s just at the chorus line!! Normally he would start the song for a few lines then he’ll be at the back, then I found out there were two lead vocalist. I’m just lucky that most of the video clips of SS501 were focused on him even he’s not singing!
It’s because it was only Hyun Joong whom I wanted to see. Although no matter where he would stand, he still outshine the others. Even at their first few TV appearances at talk shows, Hyun Joong would just sit but if he’s being asked and responded, there’s always laughter from the audience even I did not understand what he said, I laughed too, because of his cute expression!!
There’s another video clip of a talk show from Japan with his members, again he just sit still while the other member talks in Nihongo, but I couldn’t take my eyes on Hyun Joong and he has such charm even he’s sitting around. But as time passes by, I think he felt more comfortable and that Hyun Joong became the apple of the eye of talk show host. Honestly, I think the wisest decision ever made by himself is to go solo, otherwise that hidden talent will forever be kept at the back of the line with his members. We wouldn’t know he’s that good, we wouldn’t know he is indeed a hidden innovator and a Hidden Star.
I will never forget how Kim Hyun Joong shake the entire continent upon getting out from his shield and showed how a bright star he shines.
Before I go please be reminded that Happy Camp shall be aired tomorrow November 17, don’t miss it!!
LazerKim here writing
