Interview with Jae Hee

Fan?s World 2007, 9th Issue ? interview with Jae Hee

Topic: Jae Hee, gives you a romantic feeling.

He has two names, as an actor, his biggest forte is perhaps he is expanding his own acting skills in this territory with maximal limitations. At the very beginning, he started his acting activities in the youth television series ?School 2? with his real name ?Lee Hyun Kyun?; afterwards when he participated in ?3-Iron? directed by Kim Ki Duk, he re-appeared in front of the audience as ?Jae Hee,? and he was able to step unto the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival. At the ?Delightful Girl Chun Hyang? phase, his image changed to become humorous and lively. Perhaps the truth really is this, the more roles he acts out, the more his image will become blurred in the hearts of the audiences. Right now, he is again displaying a completely different demeanor in the television series ?Witch Yoo Hee.?

Part 1 Key Point: I know what I want.

After a brief 2-year rest, thanks to ?3-Iron? he won the Best New Actor Award. Furthermore, after he finished acting in ?Delightful Girl Chun Hyang,? he again found very exuberant popularity. But his daily schedule is not considered busy by any means. No matter if it is in real life or acting, he is always able to maintain his own rhythm, calmly deciding, because he knows very well what he should do.

Q: After ?Delightful Girl Chun Hyang,? you refused to repeat yourself, so you choose the movie ?The Art of Fighting.? Because this period unknown to the public was relatively long, you want to strengthen your own popularity even more, right?

A lot of people often ask me, ??Delightful Girl Chun Hyang? stimulated your popularity, why did you suddenly reject your activities and quieted down, and then perform with movies with depth?? If I want to take advantage of an opportunity to gain even more fiery popularity, then I should show up more, participate more in all kinds of activities. But I don?t want to become a celebrity, I just want to act well, shape-up my own acting skills. I feel that winning that much popularity through ?Delightful Girl Chun Hyang? is enough; excessive greed is on the contrary not good. I thought that I better first let myself calm down, and then display a new image, this will be relatively good.

Q: This looks like you're not that kind of impatient person, your personality is rather calm.

Yes. Before I was also pretty impatient, later on I felt that it wasn't necessary. Do what I want to do, live leisurely, actually this is even more helpful towards my acting skills. Once I came to grasp this, I become calm.

Q: When you feel nervous what do you do, do you have your own secret solution?

Not caring about anything, and sleep. My personality is bluntness, if I want to say something I won't ever bury it inside. Only when it's spoken will I be happy, if I'm still unable to work off my anger afterwards, then I'll sleep. Now it's as if I've once again returned to my original life path.

Q: When is your "time of release?"

Refuse all the activities, all the way until the filming for "3-Iron," I was playing for approximately two years. I debuted very early, I started activities during high school years. All day long I pretended to act, but that actually really isn't anything. Once I realized, if I continue to go on like this, not to mention eating rice, perhaps in the future I won't even have congee to drink, I decided to temporarily not put on a play, until I was able to do something else. So then I didn't do anything, I only played, or I went to get a temporary job

Q: Then two years later, have your acting skills improved?

It seems like it. Before I didn't have a chance to examine myself, I felt all day long I lived a life with people pursuing after me. Those two years gave me the opportunity to reflect on my own position, and what I need to do in the future. A lot of people do as one pleases right? But I'm not like that, I work hard to demand myself to be frank. After going through this period, I deeply feel that the times when I'm displaying myself and displaying my roles have become even more natural.

Q: After "3-Iron," why did you choose the television series "Delightful Girl Chun Hyang?" After filming "Delightful Girl Chun Hyang," what changes have there been in your life?

After I finished acting in "3-Iron," my acting skills received acknowledgement. Now I already don't need other people to recognize that I'm a celebrity. As for changes, the bigeest would be the pay, *laughs* after that would be the scripts that come to find me have increased.

Q: Television series "Delightful Girl Chun Hyang" and "Witch Yoo Hee" are both comedy dramas, but movies "3-Iron" and "Art of Fighting" were both category(?) films. Have you ever had this kind of concept, that is to say, "Television series should be light, movies should be heavy?"

As I see it, although television drams could be filmed to be very interesting, but there exists limitations, violence, rousing of emotions, language, so all these aspects have a lot of restrictions. If the subject matter of the movie is very unique, then it requires a script and atmosphere that conforms to the subject matter, a telvision drama is completely unable to be like this. If you do the exactly the opposite, then you will write off a lot of elements, and the television drama is finished. Right now it seems like, with the exception of "Hourglass," I feel that successful works are very few. So I personally feel, it's still best if television dramas are filmed as one pleases, let the audience feel comfortable watching. If you want to act in a category(?) film, then you can only choose movies, not only can it completely bring out the strength of your acting skills, it can also broaden your repertoire.

Q: The question below might be a little rude, do you like television dramas more, or do you like movies more?

You might not be satisfied with my answer. I feel that movies and television drams each have something that is commendable. Movies can be more comfortable, so you don't have the pains on the body. Television series often challenge the limits of your body, so it is very hard. A lot of times it still requires you to act impromptuously. On the contrary, movies can be as one pleases, no matter if it is the role or the acting, they will all be pondered over rather deeply. I can display what I want to display, so movies are easy to generate depth.

Q: Til now, which role do you think is most like Jae Hee yourself?

There isn't any. Although there are similar places, but there aren't any roles that are completely similar to me.

Q: If you don't become an actor, what would you do?

A swindler, haha. My mind is very simple, I am glib, my face isn't considered ugly. This is the most perfect conditions for being a swindler, a lot of people say that about me. *laughs*

Q: I really want to know how the people around you evaluate Jae Hee?

Inconceivable. Although it looks like I'm very naive, but when it's time to use my brain I'm still pretty agile. Everyone is like this, far-away he/she looks really good, but after you understand him/ber there are a lot of scary things.

Part 2: Love Expert's Emotional World

The same as all adult men, he likes to discuss with friends - dating skills with females and dueling skills with men. Truthfully he doesn't have a mysterious imagination like that of others. When he is displaying his acting skills, no matter if it is a model part in a fashionable television drama or a distorted person in a category film - when he performs he's always lifelike, it feels like as if he is displaying his real self.

Q: What kind of guy is Chae Moo-Ryong in the television drama "Witch Yoo Hee?"

I am a person aspiring to be a cuisine chef, my cooking is excellent. At the same time, he's also a love coat, the clothes he wears have a lot of feeling, he that type of men who's really well-liked by the women.

Q: In order to act well Chae Moo-Ryong this role, did you do any special preparations?

Perhaps it's taking into consideration the performer's self-respect. This time I am acting a cook, but I also don't want to use a substitute, so I could only learn cooking myself. Before the drama started filming, I spent two months time in XingLuo Restaurant banquet department receiving training, I went to work and got off of work at the same time with the real cooks. RIght now it can be said that I am very good at making steak, Italian spaghetti, the methods of Western-style food. Of course, my learning is still mainly focused on cutting the food, it's different than what people see on TV. *laughs*

Q: You like to go shopping, you also excel in cooking, you possess feminine characteristics of warmth, then do you have more female friends than male friends?

Does that matter? When I was in high school, my friends were practically all guys, after I treaded into society, during the period of when I was filming dramas or movies, it changed that my dear friends are female in the majority. What's really strange is that, every time I dine together with someone, almost all of the time it's with a female.

Q: What style is your ideal woman?

Of course it's better if the appearance is pretty, as for the personality, I hope that she can possess things that I don't possess, this is convenient for complementing each other. For example she'll hide words needed to be said inside, she'll always be able to first retreat a step no matter what kind of situation it is, she won't directly giving a response, and finally she'll find an opportunity to slowly discuss it.

Q: If we simply talk about appearance, what type do you like?

What type I like is still not easy to say, however what type I don't like is extremely defined. I especially dislike long hair, perhaps other people feel that long hair appear innocent and cute, but I feel that it's very rustic. In addition, those who don't pay attention to their clothes, I also don't like girls who wear jeans casually bought from somewhere. Only tWilhose who know to dress up herself will appear cute.

Q: Will you be like in "Witch Yoo Hee" impart dating secrets on your girlfriend?

Definitely not, my principle is to not get involved in other people's love life. Dating is a matter of two people, regardless of whether it is quarraling or reconciliation, it should always be resolved by two people themselves. Only by this way, can they deepen their mutual understanding, their relationship will also become even better.

Q: It seems like you really are a dating Ph.D, you yourslef should be really good at dating right?

When I don't have work, I will be like as if I am serving a princess to use to utmost to attentively treat her. But once I start work, my work comes first, even to the point that we don't even see each other, I don't call her, so women often are not able to persist for long. Rather than saying that I am good at dating, it would be better to say I am rather good at figuring out women's mentality. Whether or not a woman cares or doesn't care for me, I can tell with one glance.

Q: If you can see it, what will you do?

I will directly go to her and ask, "Are you not satisfied with me?" This way, some people feel very awkward, but there are also some people who becomes more comfortable on the contrary. I don't like keeping everything inside, I also don't like beating around the bush, when I run into someone I like I will be very frank. If (her) clothes are worn very strangely, I will ask, "Why did you wear it like this?" If her hair style is good looking, I will say, "Your hair is so pretty." In short I'm very frank, and also very direct.

Q: Is your blood type O?

Yes, it's O type. However, I don't really believe in blood type. Just two years ago, I still always thought that I was B type. When I was filming "Art of Fighting," I got hurt and went into the hospital, the results of the examination showed O type. "No way, I am type B."

Q: In actuality when you were dating, have you ever been drawn by other women?

Yes, but I will restrain myself. Women are all perceptive, if men do something for them, they will display good feeling; men then are all visionary, if they see acceptive and ideal women, then they can't help but be attracted. However, that is only a short feeling, immediately afterwards it will appear, what kind of women do I like right now? Considering all this, often I can restrain myself. Although in the end the script for "Witch Yoo Hee" still hasn't come out, and I also didn't know how the result in the end was going to be, but in my heart, the ideal ending should be that Chae Moo-Ryong introduced an even better man to Yoo Hee, because he is a love coach, he himself should go back to his previous girlfriend's side.

Q: Among the female entertainers, with whom do you have the closest relationship with?

Gong Hyo Jin. (She also starred with Rain in ?Let?s go to School, Sang-Doo.?) What's coincidental is that she starred in the television drama "Thank You' that broadcasted at the same time, every Friday they will broadcast viewing rate, and then we can talk to on the phone.

Q: Is there competition between you two?

As long as I give my biggest effort, I don't care that much about the viewing rate. However she hasn't acted in a television drama that has recieved high viewing rate, so I hope things will be even better for her.

Part 3: Style is most important.

Honestly, Jae Hee is really very skinny, furthermore, his face color is very pale, his skin is also very dry. There are practically no worried expressions on his face, unhurriedly, after he very interestedly finished the box lunch, he naturally started talking about his own story. The world can be busy revolving, but by his side, it is very peaceful. On him, there is a very strange calm, under any circumstance he will not throw away his own beat.

Q: You're so skinny, do you eat everyday?

I can't eat very much. The filming schedule for "Witch Yoo Hee" was especially nervewracking. There was almost no time for eating and sleeping. Originally it was also like this, after filming a television drama, you will become a disabled person. *laughs* Other actors will basically also lose about ten pounds or so.

Q: It seems like you're a lot more skinner than before, you purposely lost weight right?

*laughs* If I say this out the ladies might get mad. My physique is very unique. As long as I don't exercise, no matter what I eat, I will still not gain meat. If I exercise a lot, then my muscles will come out. Recently because I need to prepare for a new work, so I especially didn't exercise. Unconsciously I just became like this. I really like to wear Dior's clothing, originally when I wore it I didn't feel that it was uncomfortable, but compared to normal build, my arm is too long, so I need to train my muscles to be a little burly.

Q: Using exercise to train your body? Where can we see that?

That was still back when I was filming "3-Iron." Because the role needed me to do large-size exercising. When i was filming "Art of Fighting," because there were exercising scenes, I did a lot of exercising. My body became so fat that it was not okay, the director could only let me stop. That role must appear very weak, but I completely wasn't like that. "Art of Fighting" originally even have showering scenes, during editing it got completely taken out.

Q: If you search websites by entering ?Jae Hee,? it will automatically give ?Jae Hee?s height,? ?Jae Hee?s hairstyle,? etc. words.

On TV, it shows my height a lot taller than my actual height, the fans are often perplexed, and a lot of people come to ask me. Actually to say accurately, my height is 177.5 cm. With regards to ?Jae Hee?s hairstyle,? for my Chae Moo-Ryong role in ?Witch Yoo Hee,? I had to change my hairstyle according to the role, it appeared extremely strange. The hair stylist said that it needed to give off a natural look, so she flattened my roots, pressed my hair flat to the best of her ability. She even cut it short for me, this way it will appear more spirited.

Q: On online websites, there are a lot of funny questions, a lot of people say you and Johnny Depp looks alike, how do you see it?

I?ve heard a lot of people say that, to say that I look like Johnny Depp of course I?m very happy. Not only are his acting skills outstanding, but also when he chooses works he?s also very care free.

Q: Other than Johnny Depp, which other actors do you also like?

Bruce Willis and Collin Farrell. Everytime Bruce Willis appears very happy, he makes everyone?s feelings good, Collin Farrell?s appearance is very interesting, right? As a fellow man, I hope that I can have interest.

Q: Perhaps the reason is because of the roles, do you feel that the clothes you wear now are more stylish than before?

This is all stylist Chae Han Hee(?)?s credit. Before I?ve worked with a lot of stylist who have all told me that my build is too skinny, it?s hard to work with, the measurements of the clothes are not easy to handle. So it was really hard for me to find clothes fitting my build. Ever since I met up with Han Hee hyung, I no longer had this kind of worries. He is also able to find suitable clothes for me, even personally accompanying me to buy them.

Q: Normally what kind of style of clothing do you like to wear?

I practically wear jeans everyday, the most clothing in my wardrobe is jeans. A little while ago, I organized it a little, and found that just jeans along I have more than 30 pairs. Sometimes when people see me wearing jeans they?ll get really mad, asking me why I always wear this kind of clothes to attend this kind of public event, I felt it very unbelievable. Other than jeans, have you seen any other clothes that are well accepted by the masses and are so good looking? I feel that there isn?t any event that cannot be attended wearing jeans. Jeans? uses are really very extensive, it can be worn at a serious time and it can also be worn during resting time. Actually when I choose clothes, the most important standard is to see if it?s comfortable to wear, so that?s why I like jeans the most, I feel very dear to it. You just have to wear a short-sleeved t-shirt with jeans and you will appear very stylish, long-sleeved dress shirts are also not bad, especially the sleeves that can be folded and buttoned up are even better. Normally I really don?t like to wear formal clothes, occasionally I will wear formal clothes out, people can?t even recognize me. Even if I wear formal clothes, I only wear black colored ones, like those checkered clothing I feel a little unfamiliar.

Q: Are there any clothes that you definitely won?t be willing to wear?

If the dimensions are too big, the pants will seem very puffy, the same with shorts. When I was little, my legs practically had no hair, if I wear shorts then other people will say I look like a woman.

Q: In order to define your own style, what do you think is the most important?

Self-confidence and decisiveness, right? As long as I see things that are full of competitive nature or things that especially lay stress on details, then I will want to try it all.

Q: Do you have your own idol of style?

Collin Farrell. Although it seems like he doesn?t really excel at wearing clothes, but nevertheless his casual freedom rather lets people feel that he has a lot of style. Johnny Depp and him has some similarities. His clothes always make people worry, it?s very possible that he casually took clothes from someone?s home and walked out.

Q: From when you were little to now, when were you most rustic?

Look at pictures from a year ago. I feel that at that time I was very rustic, it seems like every time it changes seasons I have this kind of feeling. With the exception of winter?s jackets, practically every time it changes seasons I have to buy new clothes. My t-shirts have never been worn for up to a year.

Q: Then, where do you shop for the most part?

When I buy clothes, I never rely on name brands. The most important thing about shopping is whether the clothes is good or not, whether the price is high or not is not important. The place I often go is East Gate(?), especially Hello Apm?s ?Blue Boy(?).? There you can always find very new styles of jeans, and the prices are relatively appropriate.

Q: Can you give some suggestions to everyone as to how to wear clothes?

Anyone has undershirts, sports shirts, and pants, but very few people mount jewelry on the clothes. If there are some certain bright spot, then that will allow the clothes to appear to especially have style. Pants are also not simple pants, whichever place appears to be special ? actually you can tell with one look. Also black waterproof shirts will make people?s age lean towards the big side, but if you add a t-shirt with form inside, then it will appear lively. When you wear clothes, if you want to attract people?s attention, then you need to special bright points, this is brown leather shoes. I think that leather shoes can reflect men?s style, if one has all kinds of different leather shoes, then it easily forms one?s style.

Q: Have you thought about your own image 30 years later?

Thirty years later if a man in his twenties envies me, and is willing to imitate me, then I will be perfectly satisfied. In addition, as an actor, it doesn?t matter whether I?m on the television screen or on the big screen, as long as my appearance will make people feel that the whole frame will explode, then how great would that be. I hope that I myself can become that kind of actor, as for daily living..... hm, I hope that I will always be able to give the person that I love romantic feelings.

Credits: Jae Hee baidu + http://www.jaehee.idv.tw + (English translation) heart2heart@soompi.com