Tuesday, August 12, 2008

[08.08.12][trans] Magazine TMap - Junjin

Junjin: The unstoppable Junjin who is moving forward with a vengeance. Whose real name is Park Choong Jae.

The charismatic Shinhwa member whose forte is in dance. The Baby Bird who calls Shin Hyesung Mommy Bird. An all-round sportsman with a strong desire to win at everything that he does. Unfortunately, he has had to battle all kinds of injuries and pains too. He hopes to be the king of all dancers. "Junstin", who has been misunderstood for copying his dance moves from others, possesses radiant good looks and a dark (+comic) idol with a soul that can't stay still.


Park Young Chul - Father and Son

Junjin's father, more commonly known as Charlie Park. He was a model for school uniforms in his younger days, and then moved on to become a dance choreographer and a saxophonist. After Junjin joined Shinhwa he often joined the group in their performances, and now he's also an artiste under the same management company as Junjin. Park Young Chul discovered Junjin's natural gift for dance, and has coached him since he was in fifth grade. In high school, Junjin started to practise at the park late into the night, and after being recommended by his high school senior Kangta, he made it through the auditions to get into SM Entertainment.

Apparently at that time, Park Young Chul didn't control Junjin much, but if he made mistakes more than 3 times, he would tell Junjin, while holding a pole in his hand, "Do you think you were wrong? If you don't like it then try to block the blows", and start hitting him.

When Junjin was only a child, Park Young Chul squandered the family wealth, and Junjin's birth mother left the family with Junjin's uncle and aunt. Junjin was thus raised by his grandmother while his father worked, making it hard for father and son to meet. Growing up in such an environment, Junjin grew to become an introverted child. However, Junjin's stepmother apparently helped to search for the whereabouts of his birth mother and even made arrangements for mother and son to meet a few years back. The love that his stepmother has given him has changed him for the better. However, on hearing that his birth mother now has another son almost as old as Junjin, he chose not to meet his mother again in order not to have his half-brother go through the pain he had to experience. Now all Junjin wants is to own a big house where he can live with his family.


Shinhwa - Mommy Bird and Baby Bird

The idol group where each and every member has achieved success in their solo careers. Amongst them, Junjin was actually the first to kick off his solo activities. He once joked on a programme, "Once upon a time I actually had more CFs then Eric does." Junjin was able to shine even from then simply because he seems to be suited for variety shows. On KBS's Dream Team, he broke records and displayed extraordinary athletic prowess.

Though he goes by the name Junjin, he forms a part of the BM Club (Boon Myeong Club - Real Name Club) with Shin Hyesung (Jung Pil Gyo) and Kangta (Ahn Chil Hyun). On variety shows, he's capable of showing off his charismatic idol side, and yet be able to create comic moments. The Lecaf CF, in which he has to run through the desert, provided the launch pad for his role in MBC's Nonstop 4.


Han Ye Seul - Junjin the Actor

Actress, who acted with Junjin in MBC's Nonstop 4 and KBS's Gumiho. On top of that, Junjin is now appearing in SBS' Yashimmanman Season 2 with Nonstop 4's Yoon Jong Shin, and has also acted opposite Lee Wan, the younger brother of Gumiho's Kim Tae Hee in SBS's Let's Go To The Beach.

Junjin took up his first acting role in Nonstop 4, and was subsequently awarded one of the lead roles in Gumiho. Unfortunately, Gumiho did not fare well, and Let's Go To The Beach was even taken off air prematurely. Junjin overcame his fear of water for his role in Let's Go To The Beach, but after this, his solo career came to a temporary stagnant phase.


Kang Ho Dong - A Lifetime of Twists and Turns

MC, who is currently seen on Yashimmanman Season 2 with Junjin. Junjin appeared on Kang Ho Dong's Golden Fishery as the youngest male guest ever, and talked about his unfortunate childhood and panic disorder. It is indeed rare for a young man to have to go through such tragic events. As a member of the longest-running idol group in Korea, Junjin has excelled in singing, acting and variety. Despite his glamorous appearance, unfortunate events have plagued his life. He developed a fear of the water after nearly drowning when he was young; he fell on his head during a variety show and suffered internal bleeding; and recently news have surfaced that he may suffer blindness in his right eye. He was even blackmailed for some photos that was taken while he was unconscious.

As a result, between Shinhwa's 5th and 7th albums, Junjin suffered from a panic disorder, causing him to think about leaving showbiz and even suicide. Put nicely, he is a goodlooking idol who doesn't let his sadness show. In a more severe tone, he is in fact an idol who could explode anytime.


Junstin: His Alter Ego

A nickname given to him by netizens who felt that the title track from his new album, Wa, seemed to be too similar to Justin Timberlake's style. When this nickname first surfaced, Junjin's fans were worried that he would get mocked at during his activities. In contrast, Junjin enthusiastically embraced his new alter ego, and became an in-demand guest on variety shows. In fact, there are many ways that Junjin doesn't feel like an idol. He has acted in several dramas that didn't do well, and as an idol he has been plagued by scandals. He seems to be an idol with many unfortunate experiences to commiserate with.

'Junstin' became an opportunity for Junjin to display his other side as an ordinary person, while staying the good looking and funny dancer that he is.


Yoo Jae Suk - The Idol of the Variety Circuit

MC, currently seen on MBC's Infinity Challenge with Junjin. Though Junjin hasn't been officially acknowledged as a regular member of Infinity Challenge, but starting from The Money Bag Challenge, Junjin has been appearing on all episodes and even on the Olympic Special. One could almost call him the 6.5th member. Moreover, he has gained even more exposore on Yashimmanman Season 2 and MNet's High School Girls 4. His appearances on these variety shows help to promote his Junstin identity, and his work on Infinity Challenge has earned him recognition for his talent in this field.
MC。

In The Money Bag Challenge, as an idol he displayed impeccable comic abilities and timing - sometimes slyly tricking the rest and sometimes putting on his most pitiful look - completely in line with the 'below average' concept of Infinity Challenge. On Infinity Girls, he was chosen as the kingka out of the Infinity Challenge guys, and coolly took on all mocking from them.

It seems that the somewhat naive Junstin image has led to a new era for Junjin. Of course whether he will continue to succeed as a singer, actor and variety entertainer remains to be seen. No matter what, Junjin will continue to survive in showbiz, because whether it requires him to be comic, suave or pitiful, viewers will get to see him.


Source: magainet&oceans
Chi trans: jojoyu7@shinhwachina
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@shinhwabiz

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