Sunday, September 11, 2011

[11.08.30] Kim Dongwan broke up with his girlfriend because of ‘Hedwig’

Shinhwa member Kim Dongwan (32) and the actor Kim Dongwan are two different people altogether. Although he’s an idol star with the popularity that has hordes of fans running after him, when one meets him as an actor, he is all seriousness. After completing his military service late last year, he chose to work on the musical ‘Hedwig’ and the drama special ‘The Vertex’. He challenged himself with ‘Hedwig’, the transgender role that’s not easy even to veteran actors, and then went on to play the independence activist and poet Lee Yuk-sa in the Liberation Day drama special ‘The Vertex’. The route he has chosen to take can’t get any further from the recent trend of idol stars playing the male leads in sweet romantic plots. “I like the expression ‘actor of life’. It’s not wrong to say that acting should be natural like living. This year, my goal is to complete the outline of the actor Kim Dongwan.” With his shock confession about breaking up with his girlfriend, whom he dated for a short while, because he was too focused on the musical, shows that he has completely gone into ‘actor mode’.

Q: ‘Hedwig’ and ‘The Vertex’ are difficult projects. How did you come to the decision (to work on those projects)?
A: I chanced upon these two projects after I completed my military service and had a thirst for acting. I was even more attracted because these two characters are strong and difficult to portray. As much as it was difficult, I was looking forward to the opportunity for me to grow and develop. Of course it was difficult. I’m just thankful that the opportunity came my way.

Q: You played a transgender in ‘Hedwig’.
A: Actually in my acting projects so far, bits and pieces of Kim Dongwan come through every now and then. But in ‘Hedwig’ I can’t show even one second of myself. Because he’s a transgender. His gestures, expressions, how he blinks, all these have to be done like a woman. I put in so much effort that even though the performance has ended, I sometimes get shocked when I find myself still moving like a woman. Moreover men usually sit with their legs apart, I was like that too but after ‘Hedwig’ I often sit in a coquettish manner with my legs together.

Q: You played the role of the poet Lee Yuk-sa. Were you interested in poetry or history to begin with?
A: No. I didn’t have much interest in poetry and when I was still studying my least favorite subject was history. Although I know the name ‘Lee Yuk-sa’, I didn’t quite know who he was. At first I was attracted by the interesting script. As I was acting I realised, “This is how you learn about history”. It would be an exaggeration to say that I’m conscious of history but I will think about why future generations must know about history. Because we have to know about the people who protected the way we live now and we have to live with dignity.

Q: You seemed to have become more serious than you did before you went to the army.
A: Rather than becoming more serious, I think I’ve become less impetuous. I take things more easily too. Even if I see injustice I control my anger better than before. Haha. Before going to the army I was always impatiently thinking that I have to achieve something quickly. But after completing my duties I can’t achieve anything if I’m impatient. The fundamentals are the important things. So when I have time, I read and I travel, and I think about things a lot.

Q: During the filming of the drama, did your colleagues see you differently because you’re the singer Kim Dongwan?
A: No. It was like that in the past, but now they see me as their colleague. When I was filming for ‘The Vertex’, the feeling of camaraderie was even stronger. Compared to miniseries, one-act dramas are filmed under even harsher conditions. Perhaps because we all have to overcome the difficult filming together, everyone treats me with ease as a fellow actor.

Q: I can feel that your ambition for acting has become stronger.
A: This year I would like to be recognized as an actor. That’s also why I chose to work on ‘Hedwig’ and ‘The Vertex’. I’m at an ambiguous age right now. I’m not a newcomer and it’s been some time since I started acting. It’s strange for me to take on a young idol role too. I have no other way than to rely on my acting abilities.

Q: You’re a big senior among the idols. Thoughts of yourself back then must surface when you look at the idols these days.
A: When I see the juniors I think to myself, “It was really hard for us then”. Haha. Although we suffered because we didn’t get to sleep, there are more fun memories than difficult ones. Actually back then we’d take time off from our schedule to go out to drink and play. Things like work were instead like the remaining stuff.

Q: You’re already in your 30s. It should be time to think about marriage.
A: I want to get married at 35, and have a child born in the Year of the Goat, like myself. But I don’t even have the time to meet girls. To be honest before taking on ‘Hedwig’, for a short while I was dating someone I was introduced to. But because I was too focused on the musical, we drifted apart, and things naturally ended.

Q: I also hear that Shinhwa will be making a comeback next year. It’s already been 13 years, what’s the secret to the group’s longevity?
A: The members are all hot-tempered so we fought a lot. But we’re also impetuous people who can’t hide things so we’d just meet and work things out. The most important thing is not to take sides. We aren’t people who think highly of ourselves and try to split the group. Looks like that’s why we haven’t split. Haha.

Q: Shinhwa Company has been established too.
A: It’s a company that belongs to us, where the members are the major shareholders. President Mun Jung Hyuk (Eric) has worked very hard. We don’t know if the company will turn out well. Maybe we might even fight from the start. Even so, with Eric’s leadership, I think things will go well. I smile just thinking about our activities next year. It’s going to be really interesting. Not too long ago, Junjin and I were just saying, “As Shinhwa, let’s not just make do with things, we have to play like we’re crazy.

Q: What are your plans for the rest of the year?
A: Before starting on Shinhwa activities, I’m thinking of doing another acting project. I’m mulling over a few drama scripts now. I want to act about life. It will even better if it’s a drama like “Three Families Under One Roof” (an MBC morning drama that ran from 1986 to 1993), that talks about the lives of ordinary people.

Credits: ISplus + Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.28] Dongwan’s Naver blog: 2011 (2 updates)

#1
No matter how much you might have disappointed me.
Have I left you…

#2
I have to go meet the dolphin as soon as possible!

Credits: Dongwan’s Naver blog + Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.27] Eric’s Twitter update: About finding the right girl.



eric mun
나여깄어요! 언능나타나줬으면 좋겠다.의심하지않고 단번에 알아볼수있었음 좋겠다. 바로 알아봐주지못해 미안해지지않게. 우리나라사람인지 아닌지는 바로알수있으면서 내사람인지 아닌지는 확인해봐야만 알수있는것도 웃기다. 그냥말투에, 그냥표정에 모든게묻어났음좋겠다

I’m here! I hope you can appear right away. I hope I can recognize you at once without any doubt. Don’t feel sorry if I can’t recognize you straightaway. While I can tell right away whether or not you’re from our country, it’ll be funny because I’ll have to find out whether or not you’re mine (meaning: whether or not you’re the one I’m looking for). I hope I can find out everything just from the way you talk, just from your expression.

Credits: @miclarge1 + Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.26] Kim Dongwan, “My goal is to get married in 2 years’ time”

Singer Kim Dongwan shared his worries with Osen in a recent interview, “I would like to get married in 2 years’ time, but I’m worried about whether I’ll meet a nice girl.”

“After I get married at 35, my next goal is to have a child born in the Year of the Goat, when I’m 36. Lately my biggest worry is whether I’ll meet a nice girl. As I get older, I become more picky instead, and I’m also worried about whether I’m a good man that nice girls want to meet.”

Sharing his difficulties, he added, “Actually privacy is very important to me, and I prefer work to love. I’m more like a cho shik nam* (herbivore guy) who enjoys things like having meals cooked for me. When I do surveys, the results indicate that I’m a cho shik nam. Even if I’m in a relationship, I’m a “boyfriend who’s like a sister”, I have a lot to talk about and I share very minor details. I try to change but I’m born with a character that’s hard to change.”

Since young, his ideal type has always been “girls who are likable”. He said with a laugh, “Rather than a girl with a distinct personality whom everyone finds pretty, I prefer a girl who leaves a good impression, without double eyelids, who’s a little indistinct. But lately I haven’t had the opportunity to meet girls. I get recognized so it’s not easy to go on blind dates either, I really don’t know what to do.”

Kim Dongwan recently played the poet Lee Yuk Sa in the MBC Liberation Day drama special “The Vertex”, and has earned praise for his sensitive portrayal. He is also wrapping up a successful run of the musical “Hedwig” in which he plays the titular character. He will continue with acting activities in the 2nd half of the year, and will make a comeback next spring as part of Shinhwa.

Credits: Osen + Absolut Shinhwa

*cho shik nam (herbivore guy) is a slang term that comes from a new phenomenon in Japan that refers to men who do not show off their masculinity. They’re passive about sex and relationships because they’re too busy and aggressive when it comes to their own hobbies, interests, which are often considered “childish.” They’re “rebels,” don’t have money-driven careers and don’t really care about pursuing women.

[11.08.25] Dongwan’s Naver blog: 2011 (main page updated)

‘Ordinary Existence’ is a collection of essays written by Lee Seok Won, leader of Korean modern rock group Sister’s Barbershop.

============================================

Do you really not love yourself at all?
Stop eating supper, please.

-
Lee Seok Won
‘Ordinary Existence’

Credits: Dongwan’s Naver blog + Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.22] Dongwan’s Naver blog: 2011 (main page updated)

Friendship is in the end no more than:
” . . . a lie which seeks to make us believe that we are not irremediably alone.”

-

‘How Proust Can Change Your Life’
Alain de Botton

Credits: Dongwan’s Naver blog + Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.22] News photos: Andy sending Boom off as he completes military service

Will be Andy’s turn very soon!!

Meanwhile, welcome back Boom! It’s 1999 all over again!

null

credits: Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.21] Minwoo’s FB photo upload: With Dong-dwig

The star of Hedwig Dongwannie~
Watched his final show yesterday, and enjoyed myself from the start til the end, I was really happy from the bottom of my heart^^
You’ve worked hard, Dongwannie~

A friend commented: So pretty

Minwoo replied: I’m afraid that I’m going to date Dongdwig. Heh. It’s been a long time^^

Credits: Minwoo’s FB page + Best Shinhwa + Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.21] Eric’s Twitter update: Psalm 64.


Psalm 64.

Credits: @miclarge1 + Absolut Shinhwa

==============================

(New International Version)
Psalm 64
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.

3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.

4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
they shoot suddenly, without fear.

5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, “Who will see it?”

6 They plot injustice and say,
“We have devised a perfect plan!”
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.

8 He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

9 All people will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him;
all the upright in heart will glory in him!

[11.08.18] Eric’s Twitter update: Response to a netizen



eric mun
그마음 쭉이어가주시고 예슬이 응원해주시기바랍니다. 제입장에선 여배우가 (cont) tl.gd/cffmcs

I hope you will keep this thought in mind and support Yeseul. From my perspective, Yeseul isn’t the only actress, and honestly I’m not scared of the powerless salaried on-set staff either. I only wanted to highlight the standpoints of the cast members and staff who are of a lower level compared to the lead actress, and clarify the groundless accusations against them. Although Ye Seul did make a mistake, but since no one can be perfect I hope as a fan you can be her source of strength right til the end. For me, at today’s gathering I plan to speak to her in private and give her a harsh lesson as her oppa, and just like before I’ll accept her again. Since she’s already back, even on the set the staff won’t be looking at her in a bad light. All has been cleared up. The upper echelons at the TV station and the production company, unlike us, is another story altogether. I hope that you can see this incident simply as a girl who made a mistake, had an argument with the people around her who were upset and then resolved things; and that this won’t be exaggerated and misunderstood. ‘Spy Myungwol’ has encountered many ups and downs, and ratings are very low, but everyone on the set, including Ye Seul, will once again work hard together to make it work. The reason is because of the people, even though there may not be many, who love and watch the drama. We hope there will be no more disruptive rumors made by external parties, to keep us all going strong.

Ps– This is all for the disagreement and reconciliation in this incident, and I hope it won’t be brought up anymore. I’m sorry but I have to retweet this again. Any further misunderstanding and speculation will only serve to dampen the morale of Yeseul – who has returned with a heavy heart – and the other cast members and staff who have decided to accept her and move on. Just think of this simply as: a girl’s mistake – the aggrievedness of the other colleagues – the girl’s apology – a chiding from the oppas – reconciliation, that’s what the truth is. Please stop speculating! Let’s just film the drama!!

RT @mylovesunToT: @miclarge1 Please just stop it.. I don’t know if those were heartfelt words but she’s someone you work together with, and honestly I don’t see anything other than you playing up to the staff and director to gain their favor. Though she’s already being criticised heavily by the public, you still have to interfere to this extent. I’m unimpressed by your disregard for your fellow colleague.

Credits: @miclarge1 + Absolut Shinhwa

[11.08.18] Eric’s Twitter updates: 2 responses to fans

*Background info: A screencap of a fake KakaoTalk chat between Eric and someone from the production team talking about the controversy made it to a news article (which I can’t locate).


정혜진
@ 오빠 사람들이 오빠자화자찬한다고 올린 카톡캡쳐 믿어요ㅠㅠ그거보는데 너무속상해요 오빠가한거아닌데ㅠㅠ트위터에라두 아니라고말해주면 안되요?ㅠㅠ

eric mun
@ 오늘 많은 일이있었나보네요? 카톡글은 이미 예전부터 신화카톡올려오던거랑 글씨체랑 배경부터 달라서 조작판정나서 기사내렸다고 전달받았는데 아닌가요?회식제의는 명월씨5시에 도착한다하여 진행하려했지만 바로 방송국에 사과하러가서,내일할겁니다^^

Fan: Oppa, people believe that self-praising Kakaotalk screencap ㅠㅠ I’m really upset looking at that, it’s clearly not Oppa ㅠㅠ Can’t you say on Twitter that that’s not real? ㅠㅠ

Eric: Looks like I have lots of work today huh? The font and background in that KakaoTalk is diffeent from the Shinhwa Kakaotalk chats that I’ve uploaded from before so it’s confirmed to be fake. I was informed that there would be a news article (for clarification), isn’t there one? The dinner gathering was supposed to be held once Myungwol-sshi arrived at 5pm, but she went straight to the TV station to apologize, we’ll have it tomorrow instead^^

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ys. jeong
@ 소신있는글 잘 읽었습니다. 한 국민으로서 이 물의에 대해 적쟎이 판단도안되고 시끄럽고 짜증스러웠네요..글속의 제작환경개선에 대한 세가지관점 혹는 초점을 들으니 많은 부분 납득이 가기시작합니다. 좋은글이었습니다.팩트를 가르쳐주어서.

eric mun
@ 제 견해는 틀릴수 또는 다를수있지만, 무엇보다 제가 말하고자했던 현장스텝과 작가님에 대한 오해를 풀기위한 "팩트"들은 사실입니다. 어떻게 증명해야할진 모르겠지만 그냥 믿어주세요~

Fan: I read your heartfelt message. As a citizen I couldn’t understand this big fuss and I found it noisy and annoying.. Because I noted the three views or points about improving the drama production environment, I started to understand many parts of it. It’s a well-written essay. Thanks for showing us the facts.

Eric: My opinion could be wrong or different, but more that anything else the “FACTS” that I was trying to say, to remove the misunderstanding against the staff and the writers, is the truth. I don’t know how to prove it, but please believe me~

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Credits: @miclarge1 + Absolut Shinhwa