You can find full translation in Dongbangdata.net. These articles are must read translations for all JYJ’s fans.
Part 1: http://wp.me/p1sH4n-2OB
Part 2: http://wp.me/p1sH4n-2Qa
Part 3: http://wp.me/p1sH4n-2TrPart 4: http://wp.me/p1sH4n-2UC
Part 2: http://wp.me/p1sH4n-2Qa
Part 3: http://wp.me/p1sH4n-2TrPart 4: http://wp.me/p1sH4n-2UC
Below is only Yoochun’s parts.
Part 2: Challenge and Courage
[Omitted]
6. Park Yoochun, on achieving is acting dream at SungKyunKwan
Park Yoochun’s appearance as an actor came through his meeting with the drama “SungKyunKwan Scandal” in August, 2010. Perhaps the fans would have wanted Yoochun to appear in a romance drama that would showcase his handsome looks and tall stature. However, Yoochun’s first pick was a period drama, and there was a lot of doubt surrounding this decision.
“When I decided to pick a period drama to debut as an actor, I felt a bit doubtful myself. I heard many people ask, “Can he really do it?” and so I too, thought a lot about “Is it necessary to start off with a period drama?” After a discussion with (Baek) Chang Joo, I decided “it doesn’t matter if my first drama is a period piece or a modern piece, as long as it is a good drama” and gained confidence.
“I’ll do whatever I want to do, but will give it all of my passion”
Stepping out onto this path, truthfully, he should have been preparing himself for “SungKyunKwan Scandal.” However, this wasn’t a simple shift in mindset. He spent a lot of effort familiarizing himself with the traditional tone and pronunciation, and analyzed many roles, taking a thorough approach in getting ready to act. He recorded his practices on his Ipod, repeatedly listening and trying out different accents, working his hardest.
“Everyone has a different style of character analysis. The director and staff may have their own expectations on how the character of Lee Seon Joon should be portrayed, so eventually I discarded the opinions of others and played the role in the way that I wanted. When I first started practicing, the vocal tone was very high, and it became lower gradually. I think that allowing myself to play the role in a way I wanted was a big help. Since I’m the one acting, if I did it in a way that other people wanted me to, then it wouldn’t be me anymore. This is different from accepting advice from others.
This is how I created the character of Lee Seon Joon.
It was in this drama that he had his first kiss scene. “Although some viewers might wish that the scene where he kisses the female lead Park Min Young lightly on the lips was more intense, like how it was in the book, I felt that this was as much as Lee Seon Joon could do in terms of expressing himself.” He jokingly added that actually Park Yoochun, like the fans, had wished for a more passionate kiss scene as well.
“A kiss scene isn’t any different from any other scene. Although there are many staff on set, but I don’t think much about the fact that they are looking at me while shooting, and I did not feel nervous. Before the scene, I could smell peppermint in her breath and I all I did was think, “Oh! She brushed her teeth!” (laughs)” The kiss scene was wrapped up naturally, and fortunately, without many NGs.
Becoming a strong actor with great skills!
Although he has never taken formal acting lessons, Park Yoochun, who has matured with every drama, has coolly shed the stereotypical doubt that comes with being an “singer-turned-actor.”
“I guess I’m naturally talented? (Laughs) I’m kidding. I trained with co-star Kim Kap Soo. He taught me many techniques, such as how to enunciate similar words such as “horse” and “speech” (T/N : Both pronounced as “mal” in Korean” )differently, as well as practicing in front of the mirror. I didn’t take any other vocalization classes. Although these classes can be very helpful, but perhaps it’s because I have been working from a young age and the experience has been quite a big help towards my acting. Pulling from my experiences and putting it into my acting gives me a great boost of confidence.”
Just like a self-fulfilling prophecy, the combination of the gentle words from the surrounding people and confidence is the recipe for a successful drama. In this drama, the contributions of Park Min Young, Song Joong Ki and Yoo Ah In are not to be neglected as well. “Excluding activities with the members of JYJ, this was the first time I was working with friends of the same age. I’m really happy that I managed to get along well with Park Min Young, Song Joong Ki and Yoo Ah In,” he recounted.
At the end of that year, he received the greatest gift – the KBS drama best rookie actor award. Although he had swept numerous awards as part of a group, this was his first time receiving a rookie award as an actor so it was especially meaningful.”
“I really didn’t expect it, but when they called my name, I was shocked, happy and grateful. Images of my parents as well as the staff that worked hard alongside myself appeared one by one. Furthermore, I was able to do a celebratory performance with the rest of my JYJ members so I was very happy. After the awards show, we all went out for grilled cow intestines, it was truly an unforgettable way to spend the last day of December.
[Omitted]Part 3: A Continuous Voyage
13. Park Yoochun, on meeting Song Yoo Hyun of ‘Miss Ripley’With the success that Park Yoochun gained through ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’, he next appeared in a traditional romance drama, and the MBC drama of May 2011, ‘Miss Ripley’, became his stage.
When talking about ‘Miss Ripley’, the first phrase that comes to his mind is “sense of burden.” Somehow, this sense of burden had gradually increased due to pressure and anxiousness.
As this was the 2nd drama, after he had made his entrance into the acting scene after ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’, Park Yoochun found himself constantly shuffling between the thoughts of “I have to do well” and “I have to surpass myself.” Also, he found it difficult to blend his own personality into that of the perfect man Song Yoo Hyun. “The pressure of having to excel in everything including languages, sports and the piano created a great sense of burden. I am imperfect, but had to play a perfect man so it was really difficult. I constantly wondered if I could portray Song Yoo Hyun the way the producers wanted me to, so initially, I thought a lot about how I should be playing this character.”
Pushing the sense of burden aside, and once again heading in passionately
External environmental factors, such as the pouring rain that put an end to all filming schedules, took a toll on Park Yoochun. If he were to really pick that to the bone, the toll came from the ‘expectations he placed on himself’.
“Due to the success of the first project, I had a sense of greed, of wanting to do even better, and this created a lot of pressure on myself. I can say this now because it was in the past, I don’t understand why I had put so much pressure on myself then. Furthermore, there were so many senior actors present, it would be a lie to say that I was not discouraged at first. Moreover, there were many environmental factors that affected the balance of emotions on set. It wasn’t because the shooting hours were long and they often had us working overnight, but we had great anticipation for this project that kept falling short and the sadness as a result of this made it tiring.”
But through working with his seniors as an actor, he was able to gain a valuable lesson.
“To be able to work with seniors like Jang Yong (who plays Yoo Hyun’s father) and Choi Myung-Gil (who plays Yoo Hyun’s stepmother), made me very happy. Initially they felt a little scary, but it wasn’t like that at all. It was at that time that I started to feel like I was truly acting. After the end of the shoot, they would approach me first and even suggested that we have a meal together, and I was truly thankful,” he said, expressing his gratitude.
He did not forget the fans as well. “The power of the fans was great as well. Unlike ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’, probably because ‘Miss Ripley’ is a modern day drama, there was less of an immediate reaction as compared to ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’. But after every episode, fans would upload their sincere thoughts online, and show their support.”
What ‘Miss Ripley’ Had Left Behind
Through ‘Miss Ripley’, Park Yoochun managed to show a mature side of himself as an actor. When analyzing his character (to the writer), he said, “Although he has many scenes, it still feels like I never truly managed to express all of Yoo Hyun’s true emotions. Looking at it, he had somehow become a passive character, when in fact, when observing the role, it can be seen that he has more of an active personality. The decision to take over his father’s business was an active one as well, so when he found out that the woman he loves and was lying to him, he should have taken a more active role in trying to resolve this.”
Also, when asked to pick his most memorable scene, he chose “The scene where Yoo Hyun tells Jang Miri that he had known about her lies from a long time ago, but was only pretending not to know,” and explained that, “Even though that scene had about 7-8 pages of lines, it was especially easy to memorize, and to the audiences it was a great scene, probably because it managed to address many questions that the audiences would have had.”
Through this drama, Park Yoochun also nurtured the ability to grasp the essence of a scene.
“Now, when reading a script, it feels like the key scenes just pop out for me. I will first think about the scenes that need practice and checking, and also know that I need to set the right mood and emotion beforehand.”
Another hot issue from ‘Miss Ripley’ was the fact that Park Yoochun had sung for the OST, ‘An Empty Space Left For You’. When it was released, the song swept the OST charts, and became the most popular OST in Asia. “Junsu likes this song as well, for both the lyrics and the tune. He likes the lyrics and melody so much that he’ll sometimes sing it for me. I play the piano instrumental for him when he does that.”
The decision to appear in this drama, and the preparation for this drama had been difficult, but looking back, Park Yoochun treats everything as great memories while not forgetting the lessons he had learnt through the hardships, and once again gives us a radiant smile.
[Omitted]Part 5: Our Growth
[Omitted]
22. Park Yoochun, on returning with ‘Rooftop Prince’
“Miss Ripley” was not the only challenge, and Park Yoochun, who had been maturing as an actor, embarked on a new challenge in March of 2012, showing comedic acting with SBS’s “Rooftop Prince.”
Park Yoochun, who made his debut in the acting word in a period drama, played the fantasy period character with a comical side, “Lee Gak”. Through Lee Gak, Park Yoochun managed to shine with his true worth. With just 3 dramas, he cemented his position as an actor, and his reputation as a “lead-character grade actor” spread. Park Yoochun did not have any greed, but simply aimed to “enjoy the moment”, and managed to immerse himself in the character.
“I totally let myself go. I only thought about Lee Gak, and that’s why I managed to act out the role. I didn’t think about how to make myself look cool, and simply focused on (the character of) Lee Gak. In fact, some scenes had to be edited because the expressions had been too realistic.”
On set, he didn’t back away as well. If there were any questions, he would ask around for answers to his questions on acting. “When appearing on this drama, I managed to get into character very naturally. I used to get nervous, but not anymore. If I don’t know how I should be expressing the scene, I would just go ahead and ask others.” It’s almost as if it was only through “Rooftop Prince” that he became a true actor.
A set that taught me about the joys of acting
As he was injecting life into the character of Lee Gak, he also felt passion towards acting, and managed to bring even more to the role. Even though he faced a lot of difficulties during the shoot, but because he had tasted the true joys of acting, he revelled in it. “In the drama ‘The Greatest Love’, Cha Seung Won had a line about ‘overcoming’, and I felt that this was actually not part of the script. I was really curious about how he had come up with that line. I feel like I can only act if I get into character, and immerse myself into the role. It was only then that I realised that this is probably what Cha Seung Won did as well. Previously, it was only about reading the script, but now I can inject a bit more meaning into the lines, and this makes acting more enjoyable.
The good working relationship he had with the co-actors helped as well. If shooting was delayed, he would go for steamboat and drinks with his co-actors. When shooting with Jung Suk Won, Lee Min Ho and Choi Moon Shik, he could not help but laugh. He recollected, “When shooting with the trio, they would be well prepared and all I had to do was to get into character and do my part. We got along very well so I enjoyed the shooting a lot.”
Abandoning his stereotype?
Park Yoochun, who dabbled with various genres such as period dramas, melodrama and comedy, challenged melodramas once again. In the MBC drama “I Miss You” which started on 7 November 2012, he played the role of the manly “Han Jung Woo”. Just by looking at the cast list, there was already a great amount of anticipation from the audiences. He would once again transform with this drama.
“After Rooftop Prince ended, I wondered about how it would be if I abandoned all preconceived images (of myself), and Han Jung Woo appeared. After looking at a summary of the plot, I was touched, and felt that this character could give me an 180 degree transformation, and an opportunity for a change in image had finally come. Even though I felt touched and pressured at the same time, but it was so different from previous characters that I have played so I was quite confident that I could play the role well.”
The issues Park Yoochun faces with acting are now more concrete. He happened to read an interview with the actress Jeon Do Yeon, and this ignited his passion for acting.
“In the interview with Jeon Do Yeon, she spoke about Ha Jeong Woo, saying that she ‘was surprised that he managed to cement his place as an actor so quickly.’ This was a line that had a variety of meanings. How am I different from Ha Jeong Woo, and why he is able to adapt to acting so quickly? When I see someone who is good at acting, I can only be envious. What should I do to act that well, and what should I do to take control of the right emotions… I’m really envious, he’s really cool. I feel that as an actor, you will shine brighter if you don’t pass up on any opportunities to grow. Even if you’ve stagnated for a while, just shake off the dust and push yourself forward, and you will be able to stand in front of the audiences as a better actor.”
Although he is very strict with himself as “actor Park Yoochun,” he is definitely one of the acting talents that everyone is talking about. In fact, he was also sought after to play several high profile, popular characters.
“When a role that I didn’t pick succeeds, I would think to myself ‘That was definitely not a role that was suitable for me.’ ‘If I were the one playing the role, then it wouldn’t be as successful as it is now.’ This is what I tell myself. Of course, I would be determined to find an even better role as well.”
How many points does he give to his acting skills?
Then how does Park Yoochun rate himself on his acting in his various fateful drama productions?
For ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’, he gives himself 60 points (out of 100) for his role as Lee Seon Joon. He’s really hard on himself. Saying that his popularity at the time wasn’t just because of him, but more because of the actors who appeared in the drama with him, Park Yoochun explained, “Lee Seon Joon was a character who received more help from Song Joong Ki, Yoo Ah In and Park Min Young than from my own acting skills, so I don’t give myself high marks for him.”
Song Yoo Hyun of ‘Miss Ripley’ received an even lower score of 30 points. He didn’t give himself high marks because it was a melodrama that required a lot of emotions, and because there were many difficulties during the filming process. Park Yoochun looked back on the experience and said, “My desire preceded my lacking preparation so I didn’t enjoy the process and my acting ended up being very bad.”
For Lee Gak in ‘Rooftop Prince’, he gave himself a much better score of 80 points because he really got into his role and enjoyed the filming process. He says that he had a great feeling about the show after the first filming schedule.
Now there is Han Jung Woo of ‘I Miss You’. His expected marks are 90 points. With a serious expression, Park Yoochun said, “In the past, I would also tell myself ‘I have to do well,’ but now, I can feel the need to do well in every part of my body,” and expressed his wishes and desire through his clasped hands. His face showed the acute sensibility of a true actor.
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23. Park Yoochun, on his four-country Asia tour, “They love Actor Park Yoochun!”
After ending ‘Rooftop Prince’, Park Yoochun embarked on an Asia Tour. It wasn’t with Kim Jaejoong and Kim Junsu. He met with his overseas fans by himself. Though he was modest in his explanation as he said, “I felt pressured and ambiguous about meeting our overseas fans as an actor and not a singer. It felt like the time wasn’t right yet,” the response he received from his Asia Tour was explosive.
Regarding the fans who sent him their undying support, he said, “They love seeing me both sing and act. I talked a lot about both my music and my acting during the Asia Tour. Now, I want to show them the music I’ve been working on. I’m planning on pursuing solo activities next year.”
To Park Yoochun, who wants to show his overseas fans various sides of himself, overseas activities such as tours in Asia, Europe and South America, are like a form of vacation for him. Other than the time he spent going out to taste the famous food of the region, he would stay inside and watch dramas or read comic books. Of course, it was to help him with his acting.
Park Yoochun was able to feel the love of his fans deep in his heart during his Asia Tour. He was able to find out what aspects of his acting his fans loved most, and what scenes were most popular. He also received a lot of support from his fans. Not only this, but he built friendships with his fans by making them food and playing games with them.
“To be honest, we get flustered as well when we come face to face with fans. But when we meet a fan who’s red in the face and so nervous that she doesn’t know what to do, I find myself reaching out for a handshake and thanking them for their support. All of these moments are like vitamins to me.”
Alcohol can’t be forgotten when reminiscing about the tour. After successfully completing his Asia Tour, he went through 50 bottles of liquor with his staff members to commemorate the event.
A time of taking a break and being deeply moved
He would sometimes go to the pool with his manager, who had been in the Marines. As a lover of water, Park Yoochun would always go to the pool, no matter what hotel he was in. He would shake off the pressure he’d feel from holding a tour, and re-energize himself in the water.
“I swam a lot during the tour. My manager used to be in the Marines, and my bodyguards were really good swimmers as well. It’s not that I’m a great swimmer, I just like water. When I get to a hotel, there isn’t that much to do so I usually listen to music, write or sleep, but I got addicted to swimming during this tour. Because every hotel has a pool, I learned how to swim in the butterfly form, and I had so much fun with all the freestyle and backstroke races we had. It felt like all of the stress I felt disappeared in an instant.”
For him, ‘airport fashion’ has always been a point of pressure. Though he wants to dress comfortably because his flights are so long, he can’t because there are so many eyes watching him. Though he tries to hide his face with sunglasses, his fans capture his every move with cameras. Park Yoochun made an honest confession as he said, “These days, I always prepare in advance.” It’s a moment that shows just how human he is.
Looking back on his Asia Tour that had him greeting his fans as an actor and not a singer, Park Yoochun sent his fans a message of heartfelt gratitude and love. “To be honest, I’m not very good at conveying the gratitude I feel for my fans. But I didn’t hold back on this fanmeet tour because I was filled with so much gratitude and love. We cooked together, I fed them, and we played games with rubber hammers. Time flew by as we talked about things related to my dramas that our fans were curious about. I was very sad about the short amount of time I had with them, and I returned to Korea with that much gratitude in my heart. On top of the fact that our overseas fans are physically separated from us, they don’t have many opportunities to see us on broadcasted shows, so I always feel so bad about that. That’s why this was such a more meaningful and precious time for me. I saw these fans and naturally pushed myself that I needed to work harder and do better because that was all I could do for them.”
[Omitted]Part 6: JYJ, according to JYJ
[Omitted]
27. Park Yoochun, According To Park Yoochun
Park Yoochun takes a level-headed view when it comes to the “human Park Yoochun”.He starts out by saying “He’s the worst”, then continues, “Both my character and my actions are careless. I am stubborn and self-centered, and get lonely easily, so there always needs to be people around me. I am someone who needs help.” This was how he rated himself. Even in response to a question asking him to praise himself at this point, his response was, “Being able to survive till now in this field with no particular strengths, being able to continue continue doing my thing, I think it’s rather commendable.”
He said that it was because of the help he received from the people around him, that their is anything about him to be praised at all. “Just because you want to do well does not mean you will be able to do well. If I were alone, I would not be able to accomplish anything. I do not have the confidence of being able to live like that again should I be reborn. I am someone who has been able to make it only because I have been fortunate enough to meet the right people.”
No such thing as setbacks!
Park Yoochun gets particularly emotional at the word “family”. For his working mother and younger brother, he had to step out into the harsh world since he was in his first year of middle school. During his days in elementary school, he was a mischievous child who was obsessed with sports just like most of his peers. He spoke of how he once received acupuncture treatment for a ligament injury he sustained from Taekwondo, and ended up liking acupuncture so much he would feign illness and go to the oriental medicine clinic. He also got angry as a child when the price of the drinks at the stationery shop in front of his school went up. His voice broke, and he underwent puberty, while he was in elementary school as well. He also had painful memories of being at the receiving end of a group beating because his voice broke earlier than his seniors’.
When he was in high school, Park Yoochun took on the path of singer both for his dream and for his family. In 2004, Park Yoochun made his debut with TVXQ, while he was still a high schooler. They attained high popularity, and Park Yoochun stood on solid ground. However, he had to experience a time of hopelessness that felt like an endless tunnel, when they broke off from their ex-agency, SM Entertainment.
Following that, Park Yoochun endured hardships with Kim Jaejoong and Kim Junsu, before the grasped onto a faint gleam of hope, and began their new lives as JYJ in 2009. However, things did not go that smoothly. Someone said to them, “Isn’t the money you earned as TVXQ enough to last you your entire life?”. Park Yoochun said, “If that were the case, I would not need to take up loans. At that time, I needed a house for my younger brother to stay with me after he returned to Korea. Because I did not have enough money, I took a loan and paid for the house with that. At that time, I got by without having my own car.”
Step by step, he took each step with passion, and that is how he became the Park Yoochun of JYJ he is today. Park Yoochun as a person is showing his various colours as he sings and dances and acts.
Filling his father’s empty space
In the midst of all that, he was struck by the biggest sadness in his life. It was an unexpected sad news. His father left this world in March of 2012 due to a chronic illness. However, Park Yoochun was unable to see his father through the last stages of his life as he was overseas. Because it overlapped with his filming for “Rooftop Prince”, he was not able to cry his heart out, nor mourn.
“I would fall into the pits of sadness the moment I thought about how there was no place for me to reply on, so I comforted myself. I felt like I was about to go mad, but even if I wanted to leave and go somewhere, I felt apologetic to the company and the members.”
Currently, Park Yoochun lives with his mother, his brother, his aunt and his cousin. His love for his mother and his brother is exceptional. Aside from being a son and an older brother, he plays the role of a husband to his mother, and the role of a father to his brother. Although there are times he dreams of leading a normal life, he still feels the sense of responsibility from his role as the head of the family.
Park Yoochun’s mother often says “As long as no accidents happen to me, I have no worries.” Faced with the loving heart of a mother that wants the best for her son, Park Yoochun reminds himself that he wants to do ‘even’ better.
“At her words, I feel an even l more ambitious. I would like for us to live a carefree life in an even better environment. If Yoohwan could have a bigger room, if Yoohwan could have a separate dressing room…” The sense of responsibility he feels as a bother is deeply engrained in him.
The exceptional love he has for his family can also be seen from words like the following, “I want to continue working even after I return from the army, and start a family and have kids when I get older, so that my mother’s wrinkles will become fewer. I also hope that Yoohwan will find a nice girl and fall madly in love. Having a drink with him and watching him (fall in love), I think the drink then would be the best tasting ever.
“I hope my first child will be a girl!”
Park Yoochun will be turning 30 in a few years, and getting married is another of his dreams. Thinking about the future, a smile appears naturally on his face.
“I often talk to my mother about my future girlfriend and marriage. The type of daughter-in-law that my mother wants is the kind who has an air of the daughter of a rich family. Not in the sense of having materialistic wealth. Rather, it’s the sense that she would have learn better if she had grown up in a good environment. I want to get married before I turn 35. I am not particularly concerned about age gaps. That being said, I think it might be a little embarrassing if she were too young. I think someone who matches well with me when we’re together, and looks lovable would be alright. I feel like my mother has become more uneasy after my father passed away. The fear that we might leave this world without being able to experience the normal happiness that people usually experience. I want to hurry up and live happily to show her.”
The family that Park Yoochun hopes for is not that special. “Buying a bad of oranges for my wife on my way home from work. Taking the entire family out to eat on my off-days. It would be great to experience the happiness from leading an ordinary life!”
Park Yoochun, who has a blissful expression on his face while talking about his future family, hopes for his child to be a daughter. He also showed his side as a strict father. “I will allow my daughter to date, but I will have someone follow them, and keep watch so that they don’t go into motels. (laughs) As for sexual education, I think I will leave the responsibility to my wife.” With that, he even went on to talk about his future sons-in-law and daughters-in-law.
“I am not particularly concerned about the background of my daughter’s guy, as long as he loves my daughter. I hope it is someone who is truthful and honest and someone who knows how to respect the adults. And I hope he knows how to drink a little. As for my daughter-in-law, I hope she has a lovey-dovey life with my son. It would be hard on her since she’s marrying into another family, but I hope she can find the happiness and that and live happily, I hope it will be a woman who is sharp and sensible enough to share her husband’s burden. I am not sure when this will come true, but it makes me happy just talking about it.”
A guy who knows how to enjoy leisure
Park Yoochun usually enjoys spending his time watching movies or TV, but he also likes travelling, and sometimes prepares his own camping gears and leaves Seoul.
Recently, he has been obsessed with fishing.
“My father used to like fishing, so I used to follow him since I was young. When fishing at sea, it is fun to pull the fishing rod in, and then releasing it. And when freshwater fishing, there is also fun in leaving the fishing rod there and sitting silently till there is movement from the fishing rod. Both are fishing, but the feeling is different. Recently, I have also had thoughts of buying a small boat in order to go fishing at sea.”
He, who likes swimming and the sea, also enjoys the pleasures of life on a yacht sometimes. He explained that the yacht was a present for the people around him, “I felt that buying a yacht was rather extravagant, but it’s simply because I like the sea so much. When I said I was riding jet skis, the staff were also worried, but they said that after seeing how happy I was when I went to the beach, they could not find it in them to tell me to stop. It is also like this with the yacht. I like taking the people around me to eat good food, and if there are nice places I want to bring them there with me as well. When I take them out on the yacht, they forget their daily lives, and rest and have fun like children. I like just mindlessly passing time on the yacht. I also like enjoying the sea on the yacht at night. In future, if I find someone I really like, I want to go out to see with her.”
Park Yoochun also enjoys drinking and chatting with the people around him. Kim Jaejoong, Kim Junsu and the managers, are some of the people he enjoys having conversations with.
“I don’t spill my guts, but on days when I feel really annoyed, I arrange to have a drink and talk to my manager about things that I am not able to talk to my family about. Although he is younger than me, we have shed tears in front of one another, and is a friend I rely on.”
He also formed a friendship with Lee Tae Sung, whom he acted with in “Rooftop Prince”. He introduced Lee Tae Sung as such, “He is a senior and a friend who is very talented. More than anything, he is a senior who knows how to make others happy.”
Park Yoochun is known for liking alcohol and being able to hold his liquor, but his own principle is “to never drink until (he is) drunk”. “I make it a point not to get drunk because I do not like the dizzy feeling that you feel when you lie down when you are drunk. it feels like the ceiling is spinning.” He also revealed that he was fell asleep hugging a toilet bowl.
He does not hide anything, but also does not go out of his way to show off himself. This is the face of Park Yoochun, a young man of 27.
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[Omitted]
29. Everything about JYJ according to their manager
The relationship between a celebrity and their manager is often compare to ‘a needle and thread’. A manager plans and supervises all scheduled activities for his or her celebrity and they form a relationship that cannot be dissolved. This is why it would be fair to say that managers know everything about their celebrities. We asked Jang Jae Ho, who is the head of management for JYJ, on some ‘behind-the-scenes’ stories of the members.
Jang Jae Ho began working as a manager at the end of 2004. He first met and worked with CEO Baek Chang Joo during his time at entertainment agency A from 2005 to 2006 However, that entertainment agency shut down and he moved to a different agency for a while, before changing jobs under the belief that management wasn’t for him. But when CEO Baek Chang Joo created C-JeS Entertainment, Jang Jae Ho was given the offer to work with JYJ and he returned as a manager in 2010.
Regarding his first meeting with the members of JYJ, Jang Jae Ho stated, “Because they were top stars, I found myself putting some distance between us because I thought it would be hard to approach them.” Even Jang Jae Ho had the preconceptions that top stars are cocky and self-centered. But when he actually got to know the members of JYJ, he was surprised to find himself thinking of them with the affection he would give his own younger siblings.
On the day they first met, the members warmly greeted him as though they knew he’d be coming and said, “We’ve heard so much about you.” Team Manager Jang hadn’t known how to approach them, so he was grateful for the warm welcoming the members gave him, calling him ‘hyung (older brother)’.
“Though they are stars who are so popular and have so much at their disposal, they really are just like ordinary younger brothers. Younger brothers who are well-mannered, innocent and kind. They’re the people who helped break the prejudice I had against top stars. I realized that not all top stars are the same.”
The reason why he couldn’t help but love the members of JYJ
The biggest reasons why Team Manager Jang Jae Ho couldn’t help but love the members like his own younger brothers are their ‘honesty’ and ‘manners’. They’re so mature in the fact that they always take care of those around them. And no matter what happens, they take up any and all challenges that come their way, showing off a ‘manly’ side of themselves.
There are some top stars who give their managers a hard time, refusing any and all suggestions made by the managers regarding things like future productions. But JYJ have never said, ‘No’ or ‘I won’t’ to their manager. When their opinion happens to differ from their manager’s, they give an explanation for their stance and say, ‘This is what we think.’
Team Manager Jang describe JYJ as ‘the perfect team’. This is because three people with different characteristics are able to get along and work together to create a greater synergy effect. He gave them a thumbs-up and said, “They really are the best team ever!”
“Jaejoong’s taken the role of the eldest brother while Yoochun and Junsu act as bridges, and each fulfills his role perfectly. None of them try to rely on other people and they are always talking and trying to understand each other. It may be because they’ve been together for so long, but they’re able to silently understand each other with a single expression.So sometimes, they will warmly embrace each other without a word and give each other comfort.”
Always sorry for not being able to facilitate regular activities
Team Manager Jang Jae Ho has always felt sincerely apologetic to the members when it comes to the fact that they are faced with various restrictions in appearing on broadcasted programs. Even when they’re given offers to appear on televised programs, they are constantly in a state of anxiety that it might be cancelled in an instant. He wants to get JYJ on TV for the people who love them. He’s always felt bad about not being able to facilitate regular activities for the members.
There are times when he feels a sense of regret when a production that the members of JYJ rejected does well with another actor. But both Team Manager Jang and the members have no real regrets. They just think, “I guess it wasn’t my luck to take.”
“When the members make a choice, I immediately come to the conclusion that it was the best choice. Because they’re doing what they love, and nothing they love could be bad. Of course, there are times when I feel a sense of regret when a production we missed out on does well, but we just end up thinking, ‘It just wasn’t for us.’ And then we say to ourselves, ‘We’ll greet the fans next time with an even better production.’”
As JYJ’s manager, Team Manager Jang Jae Ho hopes that the fans will never change in their love for the members for a long time.
“I hope that many fans will continue to love the members of JYJ, even when they’re old. So that the members are never lonely.”
Team Manager Jang likes to sometimes think about what it would be like for the members of JYJ to get married, have children and bring their families together to create a bigger, happier family. He hopes that his imagination will become a reality for the members.
“The past two years have been filled with hardships, happy moments and sad moments. I hope that our future is filled only with laughter and joy. As long as the members stay healthy and can always say ‘I’m happy’, there’s nothing else I could ask for.”
———————————————————————-30. [C-JeS's insight] A continuous 1,000 days of adversities, we will survive
“When we crossed one mountain, we were met with yet another one. We’ve been running so fast and so hard non-stop.”
This was the comment made by CEO Baek Chang Joo, the head of C-JeS Entertainment, about the past 1,000 days working with JYJ.
“Counting it in years, this is our fourth. We’ve been running non-stop for the past 1,000 days. It’s unbelievable, to be honest. So much that when I look back on what’s happened, I almost can’t believe some of the things that have transpired.”
There were many positive successes for them as they ran hard and fast for the past 1,000 days. But CEO Baek Chang Joo hasn’t let this get to his head and faced every day with the mindset of starting fresh.
“There are still so many mountains that we have to climb over. We’re not in the position to be satisfied with what we’ve done and say, ‘We’ve done so well.’ I tell the members of JYJ over and over again to not let it get to their heads, to not get complacent and to work harder.”
CEO Baek Chang Joo took his first step in the entertainment industry when he began working as the manager for singer cum actress Eom Jung Hwa. Since then, he has worked with stars such as Koyote, Lee Dong Gun and Kwon Sang Woo.
He was met with a crushing hardship during the time he was a manager of Kwon Sang Woo. He found himself facing legal punishments after losing in a exclusive contract lawsuit. In 2010, AVEX unilaterally announced that they would halt JYJ’s Japanese activities and mentioned CEO Baek Chang Joo’s family in their reasoning, causing misunderstandings about CEO Baek to arise. But CEO Baek stayed silent amidst the rumors of his private life.
“Even just mentioning such things could have caused more confusion than necessary. I believed that I could do nothing but show them my sincerity through my work. What’s important was my work, but the rumors. I’m not the kind of person who cares about rumors. All I need to do is my work. I only gave my side of the story to my close friends. I believed that there really was no need to tidy up those rumors because I’m just someone who stands behind JYJ to support them. The truth of what happened with Kwon Sang Woo will be revealed in time. I always tell the members of JYJ, ‘No matter what, don’t get swept up by rumors and only speak when something has actually happened.’”
CEO Baek Chang Joo’s business philosophy is, ‘Don’t work to chase after money, chase after your work and money is sure to follow.’ When coming up with various activities for JYJ, he does not first look at how much profit he will gain; he considers himself as only a helping hand to JYJ.
This kind of mindset is what convinced the members of JYJ to place their trust in CEO Baek. CEO Baek and JYJ’s trusting relationship is simply explained by their ‘lack of contract’. CEO Baek took on the management of JYJ in 2009 without a separate contract between the two parties. CEO Baek and JYJ have kept the promises they made with each other in the beginning for the past 1,000 days. This would have been impossible if not for the strong sense of trust they have for each other.
“When I do my work, I think of myself as a member of JYJ, not as Baek Chang Joo. That’s why I focus more on the actual work than the potential profit. This, as well as the fact that we don’t have a written contract, is only possible because of the faith we have in each other. To be frank, contracts aren’t necessary for celebrities. The members of JYJ left SM Entertainment though they were bound by a contract. I didn’t think it would be right for me to draw up a contract with them in that situation.”
When asked about the vision of C-JeS Entertainment, CEO Baek Chang Joo smiled and said, “I don’t have any lofty aspirations. Though I don’t know where the end of this road is, our goal is to survive. There are still so many obstacles we have yet to overcome.”
Then what are JYJ to CEO Baek Chang Joo?
“They’re like my kids. Jaejoong is the oldest, Yoochun is the middle child and Junsu is the youngest. That’s what their personalities reflect. There are times when I feel like I’m their dad, and other times when I feel like I’m their mom. When I look back at our time together, they feel more like my younger siblings than my real brother does.”———————————————————————-
31. Introducing JYJ’s family
The people who helped Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu be born again as JYJ. JYJ are eternally grateful and sorry to these people. Amidst the envy and jealously surrounding them, they reached a hand out to JYJ. Grasping on to that hand, JYJ are now experiencing a new life.
JYJ, according to the management team
JYJ are amazing people who will always say that we managers have it the hardest and when we’re done with our work, they never forget to thank us before anything else. They are people we can always count on, having never once been late to a meeting with us. When we’re having a hard time, they are the greatest source of strength for us. They are truly amazing people who make us feel a sense of pride, deep in our hearts, when we’re working together.
“JYJ, they are true men who we can count on!”
{The management team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “They are people full of sincerity and positive hope. They are the people I care for the most because they love their artistes with all their hearts.”
Yoochun: “Managers are people who deserve to be treated with respect. I hate people who look down on managers. I’m always grateful because they always sacrifice themselves to help us.”
Junsu: “I’m proud of them. They’re like family to me, working hard for us and giving up their personal lives.”
Jaejoong: “They are people full of sincerity and positive hope. They are the people I care for the most because they love their artistes with all their hearts.”
Yoochun: “Managers are people who deserve to be treated with respect. I hate people who look down on managers. I’m always grateful because they always sacrifice themselves to help us.”
Junsu: “I’m proud of them. They’re like family to me, working hard for us and giving up their personal lives.”
EPISODE: Most of the time, we act more like siblings than managers and celebrities. We work together all day, almost 365 days a year. But so many funny and interesting things happen to us on a daily basis. There are so many happenings that it’s almost a problem. No matter what we do, we’re happy because we’re with JYJ. We’re sure that there aren’t any other managers who go on trips with our celebrities and who fill their stomachs with delicious food every time like we do. We’ve traveled to Misari, Yangpyeong, the Western Sea, the Eastern Sea, the Southern Sea, resorts in Southeast Asia, Australia and LA. We’ve always gone together to fill our stomachs with delicious food like Korean beef, course dinners, eel, fowl, and traditional food, bought for us by JYJ in good spirits. They say that they feel happy, even just from watching us eat.
JYJ, according to their recorded music team
Each of the members have their own unique talent. Kim Jaejoong doesn’t miss out on even the smallest of emotions and is able to put that in his music. Because of this, he knows how to express even the slightest change in his music. Park Yoochun says that he admires Yoo Jae Ha and it might be because of this that he has a classical element in his take on pop music. Because of this, he’s a musician we’re eager to work with as a solo artiste, since we have yet to do that. Kim Junsu is a musician with charming vocals, something we don’t really need to explain for others to know. He’s quick in understanding music so it takes less time to work through the music and record it when we’re working with him. With all these unique characteristics put together, JYJ is a team whose energy bubbles like a volcano. The members’ individual talent and love for music comes together as an energy that complete’s JYJ’s unique color. Just like how the fans love the members’ unique and charming color, so do we.
“Musicians with a unique talent!”
{The recorded music team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “They are people who believed in our talents and helped make those talents shine. Then they would take a step back and pretend they didn’t have a part in that, raising us with praises.”
Yoochun: “I always feel bad because I’ve yet to release a solo album yet. When we’re working on music, they always come so prepared. I always feel happy when I’m in the recording studio because it feels comfortable and homely.”
Junsu: “They make everything we talk about come true. When I was producing for the first time, they gave me a lot of help. The only reason I was able to create 12 tracks for my album, even though I wouldn’t be performing on a broadcasted stage, was because they believed in me.”
Jaejoong: “They are people who believed in our talents and helped make those talents shine. Then they would take a step back and pretend they didn’t have a part in that, raising us with praises.”
Yoochun: “I always feel bad because I’ve yet to release a solo album yet. When we’re working on music, they always come so prepared. I always feel happy when I’m in the recording studio because it feels comfortable and homely.”
Junsu: “They make everything we talk about come true. When I was producing for the first time, they gave me a lot of help. The only reason I was able to create 12 tracks for my album, even though I wouldn’t be performing on a broadcasted stage, was because they believed in me.”
EPISODE: This is something that happening while recording for Kim Junsu’s solo album. We looked into the booth during the recording of ‘Fever’ and it drove our tiredness away. Something that we’d never seen before as engineers was happening right in front of our eyes. Most singers stay in place when they’re recording, whether it’s a ballad or dance track. But Kim Junsu was dancing so passionately that the microphone stand was shaking. Imagine the surprise and elation we felt watching him!
JYJ, according to their Planning and Evaluation Office / Overseas Concert Business Team
Whenever we go overseas, we can feel just how popular JYJ are. Such amazing superstars have never once asked us to treat them as such, and have never acted differently from what they’re feeling on the inside. They’re undoubtedly amazing artistes when they’re working, but they’re like family members who take care of everyone when they’re not. Because our sector has no women, they treat us like their brothers outside of the stage. This is why we’re always happy when we’re with them.
“JYJ, modest superstars!”
{The planning and evaluation office / overseas concert business team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “Whenever we go overseas, I can clearly see that these guys have a really hard time. It’s because of them that we’re able to greet our overseas fans.”
Yoochun: “I could understand just how hard their work was when I set off on my solo fanmeet tour. They really worked hard and prepared a lot for me. They make exact preparations for what I need to do when I’m overseas, so all I need to do is go over there and do my work happily. I feel so reassured.”
Junsu: “I could feel that they place their artistes over any potential profits. They are the people who create various contents so that we can communicate with our fans. Though our company is relatively new and there are obstacles blocking our way, we were able to successfully hold concerts overseas, thanks to their passion.”
Jaejoong: “Whenever we go overseas, I can clearly see that these guys have a really hard time. It’s because of them that we’re able to greet our overseas fans.”
Yoochun: “I could understand just how hard their work was when I set off on my solo fanmeet tour. They really worked hard and prepared a lot for me. They make exact preparations for what I need to do when I’m overseas, so all I need to do is go over there and do my work happily. I feel so reassured.”
Junsu: “I could feel that they place their artistes over any potential profits. They are the people who create various contents so that we can communicate with our fans. Though our company is relatively new and there are obstacles blocking our way, we were able to successfully hold concerts overseas, thanks to their passion.”
EPISODE: There were many variables affecting our future with JYJ. Not only are their outside influences, but there are times when the forces of nature (like when hail had the roof tarp of the Jamshil Stadium fall down) startle us into silence. When we hold rushed meetings on whether or not we’ll be able to hold a concert, JYJ always say it’s alright, that we did our best and that we needed to think of the next best step forward. We felt a great sense of camaraderie when that happened. They’re not just parrot-like singers who do nothing but sing on stage, but they are artistes who look at the entire stage, themselves and the future of the company when looking for what to do next. Even if they get sick on the day of the concert, they stand on stage for their fans and pretend not to be sick at all. When they should be resting in the waiting room, they would give 100%, 200% or even more of themselves when they got on stage. Watching JYJ like this sometimes brings tears to our eyes.
JYJ, according to their PR team
Though they are always the best, they always do their best. And they will always work hard for their career. Never do they let it all get to their head, and they never have a moment of laziness. Their biggest weapon is the unlimited talent and skill that they can use whenever they need it, and their biggest strength is that they have ‘affection’ much stronger than any normal human being.
“JYJ are the best!”
{The PR team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “They are people who love their artistes as much as our management team. They are also the team who probably feels the most stressed, but they’re able to control their emotions and they know best how to make what the artistes want to express a reality.They never stop working to figure out what the artiste wants, and they work to help us express ourselves to the public.”
Yoochun: “I can feel that they’re always working hard for us. They’re always working hard, so much that they may look like workaholics. Sometimes, I worry that they might be stripped empty because they’re doing such hard work for us.”
Junsu: “They help us feel even better when something good happens, and they comfort us like nothing’s wrong when something bad happens. I’m so grateful to them because they are always full of energy when they work and they sincerely care about their company and artistes.”
Jaejoong: “They are people who love their artistes as much as our management team. They are also the team who probably feels the most stressed, but they’re able to control their emotions and they know best how to make what the artistes want to express a reality.They never stop working to figure out what the artiste wants, and they work to help us express ourselves to the public.”
Yoochun: “I can feel that they’re always working hard for us. They’re always working hard, so much that they may look like workaholics. Sometimes, I worry that they might be stripped empty because they’re doing such hard work for us.”
Junsu: “They help us feel even better when something good happens, and they comfort us like nothing’s wrong when something bad happens. I’m so grateful to them because they are always full of energy when they work and they sincerely care about their company and artistes.”
EPISODE: Maybe it’s because they’ve had it pretty rough… JYJ have gained the wisdom of looking at the bigger picture. They also have the strange ability to catch even the smallest lie, even if it was a white lie for someone’s good. Because of this, they like it when we talk to them and discuss things with them. JYJ are great people who will help others solve any problem as long as they are truthful. When they work, they think about things from a position lower than their actual one and they always listen to what the other person says. So even when we don’t agree on something, we all get together to create the best results. They have professionalism and a sense of humor, so no matter where we go, whether it be a media event or a photoshoot, we always hear the same thing. “How can the atmosphere in a company be this great? Everyone’s so happy. We’re so envious.”
JYJ, according to their financial team
They’re great celebrities who really are like family. We’ve spent a lot of time working in this industry, but we’ve never seen celebrities with such talent also be such great people like them before. They’re such personable celebrities who always greet us warmly whenever we see them and who buy us delicious meals whenever they come to the office.
“A single-minded devotion! I see no one but JYJ~”
{The financial team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “They’re the team who are most envious of us. They often tell us, ‘We’re sending all this money to you. We’re envious.’ Of course, they probably mean it as a joke but can you imagine how conflicted you may be if you saw all that money? (laughter) They’re the grateful people who play the role of the comforting mother in the nest that is C-JeS.”
Yoochun: “They’re warm-hearted people, just like mothers. They are grateful people who are always happy to see us when we see them at company dinners.”
Junsu: “They’re the people we do and should trust most. They look very open and comforting, and treat us just as warmly as they look. They must have a hard time keeping the company ticking, but I’m grateful that they always greet us with bright faces.”
Jaejoong: “They’re the team who are most envious of us. They often tell us, ‘We’re sending all this money to you. We’re envious.’ Of course, they probably mean it as a joke but can you imagine how conflicted you may be if you saw all that money? (laughter) They’re the grateful people who play the role of the comforting mother in the nest that is C-JeS.”
Yoochun: “They’re warm-hearted people, just like mothers. They are grateful people who are always happy to see us when we see them at company dinners.”
Junsu: “They’re the people we do and should trust most. They look very open and comforting, and treat us just as warmly as they look. They must have a hard time keeping the company ticking, but I’m grateful that they always greet us with bright faces.”
EPISODE: When we work overtime, we always listen to JYJ’s music. If it’s right before an album’s about to be released, we beg the recorded music team to give us a demo tape. Of course, this isn’t possible due to security reasons. But we always end up disappointed, like fans would, and just listen to all of JYJ’s released songs on an infinite loop. Their songs always sound so new and good to us, no matter how many times we listen to them. We tell each other that the song sounds better today than it did yesterday. We’re the sector who talk to JYJ the most on the phone but see them in person the least, so maybe we’re venting our frustration at that by listening to their music?
JYJ, according to their advertising team
JYJ is a group of people who are able to be controllers for each other. They know more about each others’ emotions and needs than their own, so they’re always in sync. They’re at their best when they’re together, so much that we’re sure there couldn’t possibly be a better combination of people. Their teamwork is amazing.
“JYJ, amazing teamwork!”
{The advertising team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “They work hard for JYJ’s gains and image, and to keep the company going. They are the people who play a major role in our agency’s finances.”
Yoochun: “They are a grateful team who think of our image and also bring in profits for our agency. We haven’t worked with them for a long time, so we’re still in the process of getting to know each other’s styles.”
Junsu: “They are the only team who was able to get us on TV and placate our frustrations over ‘broadcasted activities’. And they are the team who got me the nickname, ‘PenzalQ Thank you!’”
Jaejoong: “They work hard for JYJ’s gains and image, and to keep the company going. They are the people who play a major role in our agency’s finances.”
Yoochun: “They are a grateful team who think of our image and also bring in profits for our agency. We haven’t worked with them for a long time, so we’re still in the process of getting to know each other’s styles.”
Junsu: “They are the only team who was able to get us on TV and placate our frustrations over ‘broadcasted activities’. And they are the team who got me the nickname, ‘PenzalQ Thank you!’”
EPISODE: The Tony Moly advertisement was created through ad-libs by the members. The director asked the members to be natural, so Jaejoong and Yoochun began making ad-libs with the personas they played in dramas, but Junsu was unable to come up with a sufficient ad-lib and looked lost, creating a funny scene. The scene was initially set to be the B-cut but it came out to be so amusing that it became the main advertisement. We think this natural ad-lib was possible because the members are always happy when they’re together.
JYJ, according to their US branch
JYJ is the group that proved the potential and awareness of Korean pop music all over the world. They have everything like talented sense, artistry, sophistication and vocal talents, but they’re also personable and passionate as they face the world, and it’s easy to see why people all over the world love JYJ so much. Our relationship with JYJ is more special and precious than that we’ve had with any other celebrity. We’re very proud to know that we were able to showcase their charms in the wide yet narrow US market.
“You are the true champions~!! I♥U
{The US branch, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “They are able to take on the work of many. They are experiencing amazing successes in their field.”
Yoochun: “They’re comfortable and friendly people. We’ve been working with them for a long time, since our worldwide album. They work so hard for us.”
Junsu: “They are the people who helped us get better opportunities in the US. Not only this, but they are the forerunners in getting JYJ’s name out in the US market. They are the people who keep us anticipated about new projects, and they are the team who continue to challenge us.”
Jaejoong: “They are able to take on the work of many. They are experiencing amazing successes in their field.”
Yoochun: “They’re comfortable and friendly people. We’ve been working with them for a long time, since our worldwide album. They work so hard for us.”
Junsu: “They are the people who helped us get better opportunities in the US. Not only this, but they are the forerunners in getting JYJ’s name out in the US market. They are the people who keep us anticipated about new projects, and they are the team who continue to challenge us.”
EPISODE: This is something that happened during our trip to Peru for JYJ’s South America tour. The members had to use a separate exit to get in their car because of the hundreds of fans who had gathered at the airport, and they swiftly moved to their hotel. But there were hundreds of fans waiting there already as well. Hotel guests and workers who didn’t know who JYJ were kept asking around to figure out who JYJ were, and they all said that it hadn’t been this bad, even when Justin Bieber or the Jonas Brothers had visited. What was surprising was that 90% of the fans who had gathered were Peruvians, but they were all singing JYJ’s songs from memory. They would even greet us warmly in Korean when they saw us and told us that they were JYJ fans. Seeing this proved yet again that JYJ aren’t just artistes, they are their own culture.
JYJ, according to their design team
They say that even whales dance when praised. They are grateful people who nurture our passion with great feedback and constructive criticism. They are like Harry Potter to us, giving us a wand and dreams. The charm that spills out of their photos and videos gives us high efficiency.
{The design team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: “They are the people ho gift us with nature. They are talented people who can make even a trash can look like a garden. They always make us look prettier and better.”
Yoochun: “When I see the photos they’ve created for us, I’m always left amazed. All I can be certain about is that they’re so talented. They have a great sense for what they do. And I’m always grateful because they work so hard.”
Junsu: “I’m so very grateful to them because they designed my first solo album just the way I wanted it.”
Jaejoong: “They are the people ho gift us with nature. They are talented people who can make even a trash can look like a garden. They always make us look prettier and better.”
Yoochun: “When I see the photos they’ve created for us, I’m always left amazed. All I can be certain about is that they’re so talented. They have a great sense for what they do. And I’m always grateful because they work so hard.”
Junsu: “I’m so very grateful to them because they designed my first solo album just the way I wanted it.”
EPISODE: We showcased JYJ’s clothes in the ‘My Room’ corner during the ‘Membership Week’. The mannequins were the standard Korean size, but dang it, their clothes didn’t fit the mannequins. The members’ god-given bodies put the mannequins to shame, and us in a conundrum. Yet again, we saw just how different JYJ’s bodies are to ours, and we can still remember the small sense of respect we felt. Ah, we really need to stop eating so much!
JYJ, according to their MD team
When talking about JYJ, we couldn’t possibly find another word to describe them other than ‘amazing’. In the Fall of 2011, when their Japanese activities were non-existent, a flood of people gathered in overseas and domestic concert venues. Though we’ve worked in this industry for over 10 years, we’ve never felt such exhilaration. They’re truly an amazing group.
“JYJ, these amazing people!”
{The MD team, according to JYJ}
Jaejoong: They are the people who have created yet another JYJ. Thanks to them, we’re on fans and blankets. Maybe there will be spoons, or mirrors in the future… (laughter)”
Yoochun: “We were able to see the raw talent of the MD team at our ‘Membership Week’. They’re always creating new products and creating bridges between us and our fans.”
Junsu: “They are the people who approach us with new ways to communicate with our fans. We did a photoshoot for a calendar, and I think a really funny product will result from it. They’re a team with amazing ideas.”
Jaejoong: They are the people who have created yet another JYJ. Thanks to them, we’re on fans and blankets. Maybe there will be spoons, or mirrors in the future… (laughter)”
Yoochun: “We were able to see the raw talent of the MD team at our ‘Membership Week’. They’re always creating new products and creating bridges between us and our fans.”
Junsu: “They are the people who approach us with new ways to communicate with our fans. We did a photoshoot for a calendar, and I think a really funny product will result from it. They’re a team with amazing ideas.”
EPISODE: For their ‘Membership Week’, JYJ were faced with a slightly awkward situation of having to dance without a background in front of many staff members for a media facade. We were worried at first, but they danced like professionals to befit the 3D effects of the final product. I don’t think we need to add that they also closely monitored their work. That’s when the thought crossed our mind that JYJ were real professionals. It’s kind of awkward meeting with JYJ at times because we’re an all-male team, but we really want to say this. J (Let’s do our best), Y (Forever), J (Till we die)… haha.
Staff members, who are like family to us
Though they aren’t official co-workers in C-JeS, they are a family who have been with JYJ for the past 1,000 days. They are the staff members! They’re like family to JYJ as they’ve always gone wherever JYJ went. Hair stylist Kang Ho from ‘Kang Ho The Red Carpet’ has been with JYJ for almost 10 years, since their debut. JYJ’s hairstyles were all completed by the hands of Kang Ho, who is like an older brother to them. Makeup artist Moon Joo Young is the amazing person who was in charge of JYJ’s first schedule! Noh Mi Young, who is in charge of styling the members on stage! Jung Hae Jin, who is in charge of dressing JYJ for their time on TV and the big screen! And the bodyguard team who always work hard for JYJ’s safety and sometimes enjoy time off with them!
“JYJ, they are true professionals!”
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32. December 2011, we climbed Odae Mountain
In December of 2011, JYJ and the family of C-JeS Entertainment headed to Mt. Odae in Pyeongchang of Gangwondo. The agency’s celebrities and co-workers came together to climb the mountain ‘as one family’! It was a ‘family MT’ full of human affection with them helping each other along and taking photos together at the top of the mountain. Here are stories from their winter MT told by Team Manager Jang Jae Ho and the members of JYJ.
The Mt. Odae MT as told by Team Manager Jang Jae Ho
The Mt. Odae MT was created to strengthen the ties between everyone who had come together under C-JeS Entertainment. We skied at a resort near Mt. Odae and climbed to the top of the mountain. Going up the mountain, Jaejoong was at the front of the group, walking as fast as if he was walking on a level ground, and everyone had a hard time keeping up with him. It was especially hard for me because I had to stick right next to him. At night, we had a great time cooking meat and drinking together. We were so drunk that we couldn’t tell who was who. Haha! The whole experience made me think that we needed to go to a MT once a year, no matter how busy we get.
The Mt. Odae MT that Kim Jaejoong remembers
The members of JYJ, Song Ji Hyo, CEO Baek Chang Joo and everyone who works with us got on a minibus together, and it really did feel just like a family vacation. I became a DJ in the minibus and we stopped at an expressway service area for snacks. At one service area, we were ‘found’ by a group of students on a trip together, and our bus was surrounded by so many people that I was sure it would flip over. When we arrived at the ski resort, we were so surprised to see the bus of the same students. I tried snowboarding for the first time at the ski resort and everyone had a great time. On the second day, we all had a drink and talked about our love lives, and it was great to see that everyone felt more comfortable with each other.
The Mt. Odae MT that Park Yoochun remembers
We were originally planning on going to Mt. Seol-ak, but we ended up going to Mt. Odae because it had snowed too much. I really enjoyed snowboarding with our coworkers. Chang Joo is a great skier. When we got to our rooms, we played games with our 30 or so co-workers. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as much as I did then. Though we played a simple game where we split into teams and had the people who lost at a game of rock, paper, scissors take a drink, the amount of cheering that went on rivaled that of the World Cup. We shouted, argued that our side had won, fell over laughing and hugged each other. On the second day, we all shared a drink together and opened up to each other. We all had a great time. On the morning of the next day, we all met up for breakfast without washing up, and we burst out laughing at the sight of each other. I think the memories of that trip will stay with us for a long time.
The Mt. Odae MT that Kim Junsu remembers
Above all, I shared a lot of stories with our co-workers and members. It really felt like we had become a family. I still remember the happy memories of us all squished in a 25-seater minibus, so closely that our shoulders were touching, on the way to Mt. Odae. We acted just like students going on a trip together, singing and revealing each other’s secrets. The CEO personally paid for all our climbing clothes and shoes, and the outfits were so over the top that others might have mistaken us for climbers going to Mt. Everest. People who shared rooms climbing a mountain together. I think it’s a very meaningful activity. It became an opportunity for us to get to know each other better.
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Part 6 JYJ, according to JYJ
33. 1000 Days, Our Fans Stayed by Our Side
There’s something special about JYJ fans. It’s because of an affection that came from a situation where just sending their passionate love to their stars wasn’t going to be enough. They had to endure unfair ordeals, they had to take sides and at times, they had to fight against an unjust reality.
The members of JYJ know of their fans’ pain more than anyone else. Kim Junsu said, “Being a JYJ fan is proof that you are doing something amazing.” Kim Jaejoong identified his fans as an absolute presence in his life as he described them as, “People who have changed me the most in my life as a celebrity.” Kim Junsu shared the same thoughts with him and said, “I’m where I am now, 100% because of the power and strength of our fans. I want to do anything and everything for them, for every day I feel they deserve from me.”
At times, fans have the ability to make their stars take action. Kim Jaejoong is of the opinion that, “Stars are created by their fans.” He stated, “There are many instances where all rumors, discord amongst the members, and reconciliations start because of the fans. The fans are a stepping stone that helps us grow and become closer with each other.”
Park Yoochun shared similar thoughts about his fans. However, he seemed cautious as he stated that at times, he worries when he faces the growing voices of his fans. “I know about their feelings for me, and I’m always grateful to have them. But there are times when I wish they could understand different situations with a more open mind. The reason why I work is for our fans, and I know very well that I receive so much love from them that it’s really not enough for me to repay them by just working hard at what I do. For me, fans are people who move me deeply just by thinking of their presence.”
Are Sasaeng fans considered to be fans as well? Regarding that dilemma
Though they are called fans, ‘sasaeng fans’ are people all of the members find difficult to accept as their fans. As soon as they heard the term ‘sasaeng fans’, the members all frowned. Their soft words became dry and rough. Park Yoochun tersely replied, “I’ve never considered sasaeng fans as our fans.” He continued to open up about his personal thoughts about them as he added, “If I ever get the opportunity, I’d like to ask them why they became sasaeng fans.” Even Kim Jaejoong, who would smile when he thought of his fans, looked subdued when he talked about ‘sasaeng fans’. “I think we’re the only celebrities who, even nine years after our debut, still suffer because of sasaeng fans. That makes me feel conflicted. I’ll be turning thirty soon, but I feel as though my life is being severely meddled with…. This really isn’t right.”
Kim Junsu shared the same thoughts as the others. “Sasaeng fans are the kind of people who purposely crash their car into ours, just so they can see our faces. Getting angry at them? I never regret it. Because they would still act the same way, even now.”
Memories with the fans 1 – ‘A Sweet Fanmeet’
JYJ met with their fans in March, 2011, approximately four months after their World Tour concert in Seoul in late-November, 2010. The fans visited the Seoul Jamshil Indoor Gymnasium in the spirit of meeting their boyfriends when they attended they fanmeet two days ahead of White Day.
The day’s event, which was planned to create unforgettable memories with the fans, was the first ever JYJ membership event. When the members appeared on stage, the 7,000 fans expressed their joy through shouts of enthusiasm.
The fanmeet was created around the themes of ‘Meeting’, ‘Quickening Heartbeats’, ‘Familiarity’ and ‘Confession’ to express JYJ’s affection and interest in their fans. There were a variety of events set up for the members to have a great time with their fans, including a team challenge with the members’ managers, a ‘ideal fan World Cup’ game to find out each members’ ideal girl, as well as a ‘Talk Time with Guests’.
JYJ performed a total of seven songs, including ‘Empty’ and ‘Be my Girl’ from JYJ’s worldwide album <The Beginning> , and ‘Found You’ from the OST of Park Yoochun’s first drama <SungKyunKwan Scandal> and was met with applause and cheers from their fans. Guest star Kim Sung Soo from COOL praised Kim Jaejoong as he stated, “Though I haven’t spent a lot of time with Jaejoong, he’s someone with a pure heart.” Park Yoochun’s younger brother Park Yoohwan elicited laughter from the audience when he replied, “Jaejoong,” to the question of which JYJ member he wanted to look like most. Actress Shin Young Suk, who performed ‘Golden Star’ from Kim Junsu’s favorite musical <Mozart!> attended the event and received a thunderous applause from the fans in attendance.
As this was an event held during the White Day season, the members of JYJ prepared candy at each exit to express their gratitude to their fans. As the event was also held right after the 3.11 earthquake in Japan, the members also spoke soft words of comfort for those affected as they stated, “The situation in Japan is dire because of the earthquake. We pray that our fans are safe.”
After the performances were over, JYJ promised to meet their fans soon and unfortunately had to say goodbye to them. The memory of the fanmeet, which was an unforgettable moment in everyone’s lives, still shine brightly in the members’ minds, two years later.
Kim Junsu shed many tears during the event. He reminisced, “We were singing ‘Fallen Leaves’ on stage and when I was singing ‘The flowers bloom’, my vision was filled with our fans. At that moment, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.”
Kim Jaejoong said, “It felt as though we had moved from a chilling cold to a warm room. It felt as though we were really making a connection with our fans. That was the first day I’d ever felt true happiness.”
Talking about their future fanmeet plans, Park Yoochun confessed his off-the-wall wishes as he stated, “I think it would be nice to go on a vacation by train with the fans if we ever get the opportunity. I want to go to space with our fans as well. I wonder if there are JYJ fans on the moon? That would be nice.”
Memories with the fans 2 – Photo exhibition ‘Mine’
An innovative idea that no other idol star had thought of before! It was only possible because it was JYJ. JYJ’s photo exhibition ‘Mine’ in Jongro-gu’s Insa Gallery in Seoul was held for ten days from the 12th of August, 2011 and the idea itself became a great sensation.
The photo exhibition showcased photos that captured the members’ daily lives and records from JYJ’s world tour across ten cities in Canada, the US and Asia.
CEO Baek Chang Joo explained, “Because we had limitations on our broadcasted activities, we didn’t have that many opportunities to showcase the successes of our ten-city world tour. The special photo exhibition was created because of this. We believed it would be a great memory for the domestic and overseas fans.”
Kim Jaejoong didn’t hide back on his amazement at his agency’s initiative. He stated, “Because there were limitations on our domestic activities, we created a variety of events to meet with our fans. Our expo and photo exhibition were created on those grounds. I was deeply moved by the initiative of our agency to pursue such events.” He continued to add, “It can’t be ignored that our agency is a business. There needs to be a profit. A profit needs to exist so that the agency can promote its artistes. But C-JeS Entertainment worries more about what the fans want than gaining profit.” Park Yoochun also expressed his thoughts as he said, “We have to find something new for the fans before they even realize that they want something new.”
Like so, three members always keep their fans close in their hearts. For the photo exhibition, they carried a camera wherever they went for two weeks and captured their stories and daily lives through a camera lens. Kim Junsu said with determination, “There’s something I felt yet again through the photo exhibition. It’s a fact that everything we’re doing now is only possible because of our fans. Whenever there’s something we can do for our fans, we need to do it without any hesitation.”
Memories with the fans 3 – ‘The Day’
‘The Day’ is the conclusive volume of JYJ’s story. It is a 90-minute documentary film that contained the honest confessions of the members about their daily lives, dreams and happiness. It was something new that no group could easily choose and it was a definite act of fan service. As an event that would have been hard if it hadn’t been JYJ, the event amazed those around them yet again.
But they were met with many hardships during the process of getting the documentary to the big screen.
“It’s started again.”
This was the thought that passed through Kim Junsu’s mind when he heard that the theater that had promised to screen ‘The Day’ unexpectedly cancelled their decision. He looked back on the ordeal and said, “I thought it was ridiculous that we couldn’t show a video capturing our daily lives.”
‘The Day’ was actually a documentary that was set to air on the cable channel QTV. Even when the plans to air the finished production were suddenly scrapped right before the airing date, JYJ believed that another opportunity would soon come along. Though they then turned to the cinemas for their next attempt, they were hit by reality yet again. But JYJ didn’t give up, and another opportunity came their way. Another theater made the decision to show the movie.
The results of JYJ’s determination and the fans’ patience was ‘The Day’, which was released on the 23rd of February, 2012. The film then went on to break a new record. 110,000 people flooded the servers as soon as ticket reservations began, and the documentary became the movie with the highest rate of reservations with all the seats selling out!
At first, it was planned for 19 cinemas to screen the movie 110 times, but another extra 30 screenings were added to repay the fans for their support. ‘The Day’ attracted a total of 24,138 viewers across the first four days after its release, and beat out its rival movies to come out on top.
Representatives of the movie industry were amazed by JYJ’s ability to dominate their field. Though the film was screened in a small number of theaters, the response it received was explosive. Add the fact that each screening was sold out.
Kim Jaejoong visited the theaters every day with the other members to greet their fans. Kim Jaejoong described the elation he felt at that time as he said, “We were met with thunderous applause and cheer.” Every sold out screening made the members happier, but also increased the pressure they felt. Park Yoochun said, “I felt very pressured. And that pressure kept increasing.” It was a pressure they were sincerely grateful for, for it motivated them to keep finding ways to repay the fans for their endless love.
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34. JYJ’s amazing gift, ‘Membership Week’
There was yet another thing that would have been difficult had it not been JYJ. To repay their fans for the love that was given, JYJ planned a new kind of exhibit that took a plunge and broke the cookie-cut mold of previous fanmeets. This was the ’2012 JYJ Membership Week’, which was held at SETEC in Daechi-dong, Seoul from the 28th of June till the 1st of July in 2012.
As soon as the stage was revealed, domestic and overseas entertainment representatives, as well as fans, were extremely surprised. First of all, the sheer size of the event was mind-boggling. 3,000 pyeong of space was used to hold 3 exhibitions and resembled a museum that contained anything and everything to do with JYJ.
What was most surprising that admittance into the exhibition was free. Even if JYJ wanted to repay their fans for their love, there had never been an event in which all programs were open for free. Even though it had cost 3.7 billion Won, not just 100~200 million Won, profit was not a concern for them, which was baffling to many. JYJ offered this ‘large-scale event’ and ‘amazing gift’ to 15,000 Korean fans and 7,024 Japanese fans.
Not only this, but the event broke the record for the most number of Japanese tourists entering Korea for a single event. Regardless of age, whether they were businesswomen who had taken a leave or mothers who had brought their daughters along, Japanese fans came to Korea for JYJ. The analysis was made that an economic effect of 10 billion Won was created through the event, giving JYJ the opportunity to prove yet again that “This is what a true star can do.”
With a large amount of production costs and six months of preparation invested, the event was filled with many things to see. Fans were able to see, touch and experience ‘everything about JYJ’ and said, “This is something we could have never imagined.” Seeing the fans so happy made the members feel like they had conquered the world.
Looking back on the event, the members couldn’t hold back on their excitement. Kim Junsu said, “We couldn’t have been any happier because our fans were the main focus of the event, not us,” and “It was great to hear that most of the hotels in Seoul were filled.”
The members will always be happy to have created a ‘tailored fan service’. Kim Jaejoong said, “We gifted fans who wanted to see us act with movies and dramas, and fans who wanted to hear us sing with music,” and “It felt like our fans were hungry, so we wanted to make sure they felt full.”
Park Yoochun, who was unable to appear in the first day’s events because of an eye infection, remembered the next day’s fanmeet and had a satisfied smile on his face. He said, “Like how our ‘Membership Week’ was planned naturally while talking with Chang Joo, we never really seek for something new but that’s always what we end of doing.”
And their promise to their fans
Whenever fans and stars are together, they always shine. This is what JYJ want. When talking about their fans, Kim Junsu and Park Yoochun said, We hope that the fans stay where they are, keep looking out for us and give us strength.”
Kim Jaejoong took one step further and ‘read’ the hearts of their fans. Saying “This is what the fans must want from us,” this is the ‘Fans’ wish list’ that Kim Jaejoong predicts.
“Even if we date, we should marry when we’re older. Not to age too fast. Not to stay active in overseas markets too long but to be recognized. Never wear ‘shoe lifts’ even when taller idols make a debut. For me to wear as many accessories as I want to when I act. For Yoochun to never get a buzz cut. For Junsu to not gain weight again.”
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35. JYJ’s Wish Tree
With 2013 coming up, the three members revealed their personal ‘wish trees’. They all sincerely wished for their friendship with each other and the love from their fans to stay the way it is and never change.
(Kim Jaejoong) In the new year, I would like to be more active as a singer for our fans. I will work hard to gift our fans with music that will be pleasing to the ears. This year especially, I learned just how precious the other members are to me. I learned just how fortunate and happy I am to be with them, and to have them stay by my side. I hope for us all to be healthy this upcoming year, and I’d like for our fans to not get married. haha!
(Kim Junsu) I want to appear on broadcasted programs with the members and sing with them under the name of JYJ. I’d like for our worldwide album to be loved in many more countries than before. I’d like for all the dramas and movies Jaejoong and Yoochun appear in to do well.
(Park Yoochun) I don’t have a specific New Year’s wish, I just hope that the weather won’t be too cold in Winter. Because of the drama I’m currently appearing in, I will be spending a lot of time outside, filming till January, 2013, and I hope I’ll be able to survive the cold.
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36. What 1,000 days mean for JYJ, and the next 1,000 days
The past 1,000 days spent shared with fans under the name ‘JYJ’ have not been a short amount of time for the members either. Kim Jaejoong had a sincere expression on his face as he said, “It was a time for us and our fans to grow.”
When asked whether he would describe the time as ‘turbulent’, Kim Jaejoong gave a positive response by stating, “Because it’s already done with, I’d like to remember those times as a positive memory. I’m sure that the next 1,000 days will be more ‘turbulent’ than it’s already been. Those ‘turbulent’ times may bring good times or bad times, but I’d like for it be a good kind of ‘turbulent’ future we spent together with our fans.”
The next 1,000 days that Kim Junsu envisions is more specific. Kim Junsu promised to actively pursue more activities as he said, “I’d like for the next 1,000 days to be a time for us repay our fans for all the love they’ve given us.” He continued to say, “We’ll be releasing a worldwide album in the US next year, and I’d like for us to have no regrets, whether the album succeeds or fails. Though the past 1,000 days have been hard for us, I believe that the next 1,000 days will be better for us. I’d like to experience those new moments with the members, and our fans.”
Kim Jaejoong and Park Yoochun didn’t forget to talk about the military service they must all fulfill.
Park Yoochun smiled and said, “If we keep walking calmly and surely like we’ve done till now, I think we’ll be able to live a happier live, even after we return from our military service.” Kim Jaejoong’s goal was more specific as he stated, “I’d like for us to work hard so that our fans will be able to think ‘JYJ have returned from their military service more mature than before’ when we come back. I’d like for us to show them a large spectrum of things before we go so that they won’t get bored of waiting for us.”
The near yet far future that the members of JYJ wish to experience together with their fans already has the members dreaming with hopeful expressions on their faces.———————————————————————-
37. [epilogue] JYJ’s next 1000 days will be more amazing than before
It is evident what passionate men they are. On stage, JYJ’s passion resembles that of a bubbling volcano. Offstage, although JYJ are very approachable and easy-going, their hearts are full of an energy that cannot be stopped. JYJ is standing at a position that cannot be surpassed. These 1000 days that they’ve been through began with “hardship”, then “challenges”, and finally concluded with “accomplishment”. It was not an easy process. 1000 days that would have been difficult to bear even for any other top star, they made it through because they are JYJ. After these 1000 days, JYJ is steadily moving on and securing their own spot.
During the interview with the JYJ members, there were moments when they would laugh, times when they would be serious, and times when they would tear up. The reason why they were able to continue the interview, telling their stories for 4-5 hours without resting and not feeling tired, is because of how much these stories mean to them. The members, each with different characters, showed their various charms both during the interview and the photoshoot. The different characters that each member has is a reason why JYJ is able to shine so brightly.
Leader Kim Jaejoong brings with him an air of warmth wherever he goes. He has a deep affection for people, and is a guy who listens attentively to what the other party has to say, before sincerely sharing his stories. That is the reason why Kim Jaejoong is suited to be the leader of JYJ. He is someone who will not hesitate to reveal his true emotions and thoughts. Additionally, he is also a guy who has the special skill of being able to make the other party open their heart to him. He is Kim Jaejoong.
Park Yoochun is mellow. He does not get flustered even when sensitive questions are asked. He has principles which are unexpected from a star who has been at the top since his debut. Hardship makes people grow, so it is no surprise that Park Yoochun has grown into a tough guy. Park Yoochun, who carefully takes care of others without saying much. He comes straight out of a mellow drama.
Kim Junsu is always laughing. He is a guy who is full of energy be it in his career as an artiste or in his life. His voice itself is music, would often sing during the interview as well. Being able to sit across Kim Junsu and hear Kim his voice, which can usually only be heard on stage, will be an unforgettable memory for the people who were fortunate enough to be at the scene.
1000 days have passed for JYJ, and there are many more to come. A JYJ that we did not know of, a JYJ that we want to know more about, everything that we have to learn more about JYJ is right here.
JYJ’s never-ending story will continue in the future.
Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoochun, Kim Junsu! The trio of JYJ will continue to run forward with all their might.
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38. Special Thanks To…
JAEJOONG
These past 1,000 days were full of happiness as we were connected through our hearts though we weren’t always together. I’d like for us to keep loving each other, even after 2,000 days or 10,000 days. Let’s stay together for a long, long time!
These past 1,000 days were full of happiness as we were connected through our hearts though we weren’t always together. I’d like for us to keep loving each other, even after 2,000 days or 10,000 days. Let’s stay together for a long, long time!
YUCHUN
You were all such a great source of strength for me since I became a part of JYJ. Thank you for always believing in us and cheering us along. I hope that you keep supporting JYJ, and we’ll repay you by working hard at what we do. Thank you, and I love you.
You were all such a great source of strength for me since I became a part of JYJ. Thank you for always believing in us and cheering us along. I hope that you keep supporting JYJ, and we’ll repay you by working hard at what we do. Thank you, and I love you.
JUNSU
The unending love and support you’ve given us for the past 1,000 days has taught me so much. The past 1,000 days have been so precious to me. We’ll fill the rest of our time together with great moments. Thank you so much, and I love you.
The unending love and support you’ve given us for the past 1,000 days has taught me so much. The past 1,000 days have been so precious to me. We’ll fill the rest of our time together with great moments. Thank you so much, and I love you.
BIG THANKS TO DONGBANGDATA.NET FOR TRANSLATING
Source : [The JYJ magazine: The story of 1000 days]
Translated by : dongbangdata.net
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