Kim Jae-wook in Hedwig, prepares for army duty
by girlfriday
Here’s a look at Kim Jae-wook‘s fantastic transformation in drag for the Korean adaptation of Hedwig And the Angry Inch, the rock musical by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask. He’s been starring in this stage adaptation since May 14, and has announced that June 19 will be his last performance, due to his impending enlistment in the army.
Wah, not another one!
Kim Jae-wook is a 1983er, which means he’s 28 this year (and 29 in Korea), so totally due for the army. I don’t know why, but that took me by surprise. I thought he was younger than that, though he did debut post-college, and post-indie-band-days. His band Walrus self-produced an album earlier this year, and he had two big roles in the past drama year — wasted in Mary Stayed Out All Night and a breakout in Bad Guy.
Kim said of having to leave Hedwig early: “The moment I read and heard Hedwig‘s music, I trembled, and I had the feeling that I had to do this, so I feel regret [in having to leave the project]. Though I’m leaving to defend the country, I’ll do my best till the end.”
I guess we’ll just have to wait two years to see him back in dramaland. Sniff.
Via Osen
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1 Biscuit
June 3, 2011 at 9:18 PM
O.M.G.
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sleepypanda
June 4, 2011 at 1:32 PM
really thats what I ve said the moment I saw him !
O.M.G !!!
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2 Akosirhenz
June 3, 2011 at 9:18 PM
omo .. i'll surely miss him :((
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3 Oshi
June 3, 2011 at 9:19 PM
Why KJW why?????? :'(
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4 Jkkn
June 3, 2011 at 9:20 PM
When I saw the title, I was like... Harry Potter? Lol
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mncc
June 3, 2011 at 10:54 PM
i couldn't contain my laughter upon reading your comment! :)) haha
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djinni
June 4, 2011 at 4:11 AM
hohohomg... my head filled with kjw as hedwig... pwahahahahah~ so. wrong.
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...
June 4, 2011 at 5:08 AM
me too! haha!
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luvtriangle
June 4, 2011 at 11:15 AM
It did'nt hit when i saw the title..but when i saw ur comment, i just burst out laughing..LOl
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Fasiris Fay
June 4, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Me too! Once a fan, always a fan :D
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5 Kangling
June 3, 2011 at 9:22 PM
she'll make a pretty drag from waist up and the second pictures, he totally got the look for a girl group.
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6 Pat
June 3, 2011 at 9:22 PM
Great face BAAAD legs! hahaha. Will miss him so, had no idea he was 28.lovely man. KNG and KJW both gone:(
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7 Severine
June 3, 2011 at 9:23 PM
Oh no! I wanted to see him take the lead role in a drama, but now I have to wait! :'(
I wish him the best of luck, though, and hope he'll return to us safe and buff in two years. I'll be waiting patiently-ish.
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8 Anvesha
June 3, 2011 at 9:27 PM
WHAT is he wearing in the last pic??? o_o
ANYWAYS, he is going to the army?! He looks too young for army.. or may be he wasn't in enough dramas before he became big.. and he is leaving already.. tsk tsk
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9 Noypi
June 3, 2011 at 9:28 PM
Although it's disheartening to see such great actors leaving for duty one after another, I do look forward to their return... and the GREAT thing about that is that they'll ALL be returning right after each other! :D
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10 Cas
June 3, 2011 at 9:31 PM
omg! Rationally, I understand and accept. But, reason put aside...why?!?!?!?
However, best of luck to him until he returns! hopefully with a lead in a new drama? :D
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11 Natalie
June 3, 2011 at 9:39 PM
Holy crap. Look at those blonde locks O.O
Best of luck to him in his military duty. I'm eager to see him as a lead when he gets back!
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12 Shia
June 3, 2011 at 9:53 PM
He is completely beautiful!
But anyway, whenever I start to like an actor-BOOM!-2 years without seeing them!~~ I will miss him!
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13 Noelle
June 3, 2011 at 9:57 PM
Gawd he makes a pretty drag queen. Ru Paul be jealous ya'll.
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tildy
June 3, 2011 at 10:32 PM
And, what!
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vanillasalt
June 3, 2011 at 11:47 PM
hahaha! He would totally win on Ru Paul's drag race (reality TV show about who is the best drag)
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Shiku
June 4, 2011 at 5:44 AM
He would win hands down and he is the only one i have seen that looks good in drag from waist and up
even wearing highheels LOL
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Steamy Bun
June 4, 2011 at 7:59 PM
Condragulations Kim Jae-Wook, you are the winner of Rupaul's Drag Race! You win an endorsement deal with Absolut Soju and membership to the League of Drag Queens, effectively exempting you from army duty as a member of the third sex.
Humph. I WISH.
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Rina
June 7, 2011 at 6:20 AM
LOL! I had to stifle the giggles at work and pretend to be coughing. But I think that only made it more apparent.
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14 hamsandwich
June 3, 2011 at 10:02 PM
waaaaaaaahhh!!! T-T but MAN does he make a excelent hedwig! they should totally make a korean version of the movie with him as the lead when he gets.... back... sniff.. in TWO... sniff YEARS!
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hamsandwich
June 3, 2011 at 10:06 PM
OH NO I just realized what will happen to his hair!!!
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imoan.naomi
June 4, 2011 at 1:52 AM
That was totally my first thought when I heard "army enlistment". But who knows, he could be a total fox with a buzz cut.
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hamsandwich
June 4, 2011 at 7:59 PM
oh, you know he will, it is kim jae wook after all...
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15 jyyjc
June 3, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Oh.My.God. I was waiting for him to be in another drama T______T
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16 GrandmaFran
June 3, 2011 at 10:06 PM
wow.
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17 Jaeminuf
June 3, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Neck up - can't imagine a more perfect Hedwig. Neck down - waaaaaaaay too muscular for Hedwig. All in all though, other than the flapper Hedwig (that one didn't get executed so well), he's a simply divine Hedwig.
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18 ladida
June 3, 2011 at 10:14 PM
He looks so awesome on that stage. I love that last picture, and the second one is best; he doesn't even look like the stereotypical man in drag, but like a woman wearing too much makeup!
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19 soserious
June 3, 2011 at 10:24 PM
omg. at the outfit and his hair.
but sniff. i'm totally going to miss him. loved him in 'Bad Guy', 'MSOAN', and 'Antique Bakery'.
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Lorlena
June 4, 2011 at 3:17 AM
...and Coffee Prince. He was so cute there...
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Christy
June 4, 2011 at 4:54 AM
Jang Geun Suk is going to be so jealous of that hair and outfit, LOL!
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Lorlena
June 4, 2011 at 6:20 AM
Maybe he will replace him on the show? ;) He did say sometimes ppl mistake him for a girl.
http://www.allkpop.com/2010/06/jang-geun-suk-was-mistaken-for-a-woman
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Rina
June 7, 2011 at 6:41 AM
I can totally picture JGS as a blond and in drag! Wait didn't JGS go in drag a few years back for a music awards show and noone recognized him until he posted online about it?
As good as KJW looks in drag, he can't outdo the prettiness that is JGS.
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20 lala
June 3, 2011 at 10:39 PM
like him so much!
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21 Raitei
June 3, 2011 at 10:42 PM
He actually looks very pretty in the 1st and 2nd pic...but I can't ignore his biceps and legs. +_+
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22 watchumlots
June 3, 2011 at 10:45 PM
Shouldn't those photos of him dressing like that be sufficient to get him out of military duty?
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paula253
June 3, 2011 at 11:44 PM
LMAO! perfect
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ck1Oz
June 4, 2011 at 3:21 AM
rofl....oh lordy.Isn't it illegal to be gay in Korea?
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23 mellowyel
June 3, 2011 at 10:47 PM
He's 28? Wow I thought he was younger too. And he looks awesome in drag. Oh well. See you in two years my friend.
Just checking: we still have Kim Soo-hyun for a few more years, right? Right???
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24 Christy
June 3, 2011 at 10:58 PM
Gosh, he's one classy drag queen! If only I can watch this musical. :(
Two years sounds like eternity. We'll all certainly miss him!
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25 Mandu
June 3, 2011 at 11:13 PM
what theater is Hedwig And the Angry Inch playing at in Seoul? I couldnt find it online.
Thanks!
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oi
June 4, 2011 at 1:53 AM
check here for more info:
http://www.soompi.com/forums/topic/152398-kim-jae-wook-%EA%B9%80%EC%9E%AC%EC%9A%B1/page__st__1320
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26 yuna
June 3, 2011 at 11:14 PM
oh my.... i'm gonna miss you wookie!!! *sighs*
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27 kaigou
June 3, 2011 at 11:15 PM
I've seen the live version of Hedwig, back when it was still running off-off-broadway, and it's a powerhouse role. If only there were a recording of the live production! If he's been able to handle the demands of that role (above and beyond the simple crossdressing aspect), then he wasn't just somewhat wasted in MSOAN, he was criminally wasted -- because he's got chops on top of chops.
Two years? Really? *sob*
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28 Mockerfab4
June 3, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Wow, he looks gorgeous in drag! I hope the make a film adaption of this awesome musical in Korean. I want to see Kim Jae-wook reprise his role when he gets back from military duty. ;)
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29 5lt
June 3, 2011 at 11:34 PM
n i thought i could still see him on screen for another year. dang, we haven't seen enough of him yet. anyways, is it just me or he does look delicious in drag? :P
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30 luvmydramas
June 3, 2011 at 11:47 PM
Maybe not the best pics to go off to the Army --hehe
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fun²
June 4, 2011 at 8:09 AM
Lol... so true. Not the sort of last-project-before-national-duty-calls that you'd want to greet your new comrade-in-arms with.
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31 Ash
June 3, 2011 at 11:55 PM
Is it weird that I still find him sex even in drag? haha. How can I wait 2 years for Kim Jae Wook and Hyun Bin? And now Jae Hee is hurt? Bad day, bad day....
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32 Verónica
June 4, 2011 at 12:06 AM
I can't stop staring at that man's face, it's beyond ethereal. And he looks amazing as drag...!! Too bad we'll miss him for two years!!! :(
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33 whoopeeyoo
June 4, 2011 at 12:11 AM
I was surprised too! I mean, he's 28? I never thought in my life! NOOOOOO, another one is leaving us. T_T Two yearssssss.
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34 Joy
June 4, 2011 at 12:43 AM
Am I the only one that's not too upset here? I'm already looking forward to the mandatory post-army ab shot.
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35 Ladymoonstone143
June 4, 2011 at 1:13 AM
OH NOOOOO..............
I noticed him in Coffee Prince and was so inlove with him and KNG on Bad Guy...at least I get some fond memories of that drama ( of them eating ice cream..:))
Wow....2 years.....well...when they all come back (Hyun Bin, KNG, Lee Jun Ki...and him, kdrama will be sizzling and I be having raccoon eyes due to watching too much dramas...lol
Goodluck KJW...
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36 ani
June 4, 2011 at 2:54 AM
ommo!!!he's hot even as a girl O__O. (*ahem...m not looking at the legs)
BUT...for a guy he's totally HOT...HEAD TO TOE >_<
i first saw him in Coffee Prince and fell in love for a lifetime <3
i have to say, he has a splendid bone structure....like a beautiful chiselled face and a hot body(booty?) to boot...*drooo.....ooool* n his photos are like wow.
To have smone like him a model...heh! i wont be able to keep my hands off him :D
its sad i won't get to see him- i can't believe he's really old enuf for army duty O.O- but hey...on the better side...
k-drama laws state that when an actor gets back from army-duty and stars in a drama....we get to see muuuch moooore than just a pretty face...right!? *bring it on...him. nekkid. in shower....-oh, i'll wait a lifetime for you, honey *:P
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37 Toya
June 4, 2011 at 3:55 AM
he has nice legs o.o
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38 ngy
June 4, 2011 at 5:14 AM
seems a few artistes went to army at their highest talented period..hmm..
wonder if that's a good thing? let's see how it goes..
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39 Linda165
June 4, 2011 at 5:40 AM
Damn those cheekbones!!! He's gorgeous!
Please be safe.
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40 xelie
June 4, 2011 at 5:54 AM
omo! he's so gorgeous! he can easily beat any real-life diva.
love those pics, esp the one in fur coat. it totally suits him, kekeke.
wish him safe for his 2 years in the army...
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41 Min
June 4, 2011 at 6:56 AM
NOOO!!! :(
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42 ccricket
June 4, 2011 at 7:02 AM
he's prettier than I am.
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43 Lisa Purba
June 4, 2011 at 7:08 AM
I'm gonna miss you, pretty pretty boy!!
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44 Einna
June 4, 2011 at 7:19 AM
OMG! He looks so damn fine as a woman waist up (especially the curly hair and fur coat), but he needs work on those legs. They're just too manly.
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45 Banu
June 4, 2011 at 7:51 AM
whahah he looks awesome as a sexy chick but his muscles is to big to be a girl XD.. anyways.. Auww another star leaving to army..TT gonna miss you.. good luck Jae-Wook.. FIGHTING!!
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46 Olivia
June 4, 2011 at 8:19 AM
His friend Joo Ji Hoon wil be out in November ?.
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Rina
June 7, 2011 at 6:44 AM
Wow...I can't beilieve it has been 2 years since his drug scandal. I wonder if all this time away from the cameras has helped him rehabilitate his image with the public.
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47 Liz
June 4, 2011 at 8:50 AM
LMAO, thanks to the pictures I'll have a nightmares for weeks!
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48 lalalyn
June 4, 2011 at 10:11 AM
even if his face can be mistaken for a irl when in drags but his body is way off.....
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49 purexorange
June 4, 2011 at 10:37 AM
This guy is great, but he gets put in shows that seem to HAVE great potential (bad guy) but it falls out in the end unfortunately...or shows where its the right cast (mary) but the story sucks.
Hope he gets a better chance to show his skills in the 'right'drama
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50 Sayuri
June 4, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Noooooooooo! Why? Why? Hyun Bin and now him? Please don't take my Kim Jae-Wook away. I promise, I'll be a good girl.
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