A king’s welcome for Legend’s king Yonsama
by javabeans
Bae Yong Joon arrives in Japan to an adoring crowd of approximately six thousand fans, many of whom spent the previous night at the airport to await their cult leader idol star. Other cast members (including Moon Sori, Philip Lee, Park Sung Woong and Lee Jia) were also on hand, albeit mostly ignored in favor of Yonsama. The 2008 Taewangsashingi [Legend] Premium Event takes place in Osaka on June 1.
May 30, Osaka Airport.
Tags: Bae Yong-joon
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1 Minny
May 30, 2008 at 1:32 PM
I loved Dam Duk and Sujini in the drama.
One of my favorite dramas :)
Oh btw Yonsama has such a perfect smile :)
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2 belleza
May 30, 2008 at 1:32 PM
I don't have an opinion of Bae Yong Joon as an actor. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE Yonsama!!!! Neither my mom and I can explain it; he just has an . . . aura. Haley Joel Osment sees dead people, we see his aura.
Feeling you ajuhmmas of Japan!!
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3 it's all good
May 30, 2008 at 1:44 PM
OMG! If I hadn't read the title, I would have thought that was a woman.
No opinion...never seen him act.
Have resisted Winter Sonata like plague.
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4 Di
May 30, 2008 at 1:48 PM
When I first saw that top picture, I was getting a woman's vibe. But no, it's Yonsama. *bows down* Never really seen any of his work though, not to my tastes. But I must admit, there's something about the guy.
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5 belleza
May 30, 2008 at 2:01 PM
After watching Winter Sonata, I finally understood John Lennon. No really!
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Jennifer J.
June 26, 2013 at 9:09 PM
So true!
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Jennifer J.
June 26, 2013 at 9:10 PM
So true! It's charisma
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6 didiellza
May 30, 2008 at 3:09 PM
haha ta doo i thought at first the person on the picture is a women then I red Yonsama then .... aaaah.... that is Bae Yong Joon. Resently I saw "The Legend" and it was worth watching it. Didn't accept he would fit the character but he surpriesed me and did a good job!
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7 invisibelle
May 30, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Heh, I have to agree with belleza (nice screenname, btw!)... I really did not want to like Bae Yong Joon because of all this crazy popularity, but... he just has this uncanny charisma. It's pretty irresistible.
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8 ladychick
May 30, 2008 at 3:37 PM
BYJ as an actor:
Have to say, BYJ's acting skills have improved significantly over the years.
I watched many of his earlier dramas, including Winter Sonata.....I couldnt stand Winter Sonata with its slow melody and his face was like....frozen without any emotion. I fast-forwarded most of Winter Sonata....
Then I saw The Legend and he was so much better.
BYJ as a person:
I dont know him personally but I have loved his handsome face for as long as I remember :). His face has been the sole reason for me to watch all of his dramas.
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9 Jo
May 30, 2008 at 3:45 PM
wait? it's a guy? I thought he was a woman! no kidding....geeezzz....someone please give his stylist a raise.
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10 leanie
May 30, 2008 at 5:20 PM
lmao "yonsama"
bae looks so feminine it's starting to get disturbing :|
and whoa love the new banner! is that korea's little sister i see on the top corner? so pretty!
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11 anna
May 30, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Obasan united!
I adore them; I'm not sure why, but I think it's adorable.
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12 Suzy
May 30, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Ewwww... gives me the shivers.
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13 Stella
May 30, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Just like Rain...
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14 pandapop
May 30, 2008 at 7:15 PM
You know, the very last picture, I thought that guy (in grey t-shirt) was the real BYJ.
who is he?
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15 epyc
May 30, 2008 at 7:18 PM
BYJ has a certain charm that makes him irresistable. I like him best in Hotelier, my of my top favorites but WS is far too draggy and melodrama for me.
Leanie, I agree with you that it’s starting to get disturbing that he's so feminine these days. It's time for his stylist to do him another makeover.
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Jennifer J.
June 26, 2013 at 9:15 PM
Is he gay? He is feminine loves cooking no girlfriend or wife. I still love his gentle kindness and smiles no matter what. Irresistible smile gentle elegance charisma.
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16 shro
May 30, 2008 at 7:34 PM
why do ajamuhs love BYJ? is it weird for a 17 year-old to like him?
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17 blue_rose
May 30, 2008 at 7:48 PM
is it just me or he really look quite different from his role as Frank in Hotelier??
I can't put my finger on it but........he does look quite feminine now as that King in TWSSG. Not to my taste but I am very curious of how the transformation happens?
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18 Javabeans
May 30, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Stella, i think it's probably more accurate to say that Rain's been channeling BYJ recently. When he first grew out his hair and started wearing a ponytail, my first thought was how remarkably he resembled Bae Yong Joon.
I agree that Yonsama has some mad charisma as a public figure, but I've never been wowed by him as an actor. In fact, the opposite. Funny how that works.
Gray vest and long hair = Philip Lee
Gray t-shirt = Park Sung Woong
(It does kinda look like we've got three pretty ladies and one manly man, doesn't it, instead of the ratio being the complete reverse?)
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19 yelibean
May 30, 2008 at 9:51 PM
i have no comment because i have never seen any of his work..
I wonder why he is so famous in Japan though..has he done any work in Japan? or is his fame based only on his work in korea?
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20 Row
May 30, 2008 at 10:13 PM
As an actor:
I've seen Winter Sonata, which was supposed to be the reason for his massive appeal and popularity in Japan (to ajummas really). I'd say it was okay but no particular impact on me, especially when compared to Autumn Fairy Tale (I cried throughout the end). In fact, him and CJW playing high schoolers were clearly unbelievable. He was better in Hotelier, though, but nothing really special like Rain/Bi in that movie Cyborg (he was really playing his part as a crazy patient) and A Love to Kill (you'd hate Rain there but would also understand him).
As a person:
Again, nothing particularly interesting. But since I don't know him personally, I cannot say anything.
His appearance:
Appearance, as everybody knows, is important if you are an actor. He is no doubt goodlooking but a little too feminine for me. Probably because I'm a girl who appreciates the beauty of a masculine looking actor (for instance So Ji Sub LOL!).
Summary:
I do not understand his appeal at all.
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21 Nonbirira
May 30, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Winter Sonata was first broadcast in Japan on NHK in 2004 and has had an incredible impact on Japanese society. It was so popular that it was aired twice in the same year (which was very unusual - first dubbed, then subtitled), and ignited a red-hot Korean boom. Anything related to the series or Korean culture became extremely popular - including Korean food, Korean language learning and tours to Korea to visit sites related to Korean dramas.
Four years later the Korean boom is still going strong. There is a cable TV channel devoted solely to Korean dramas and Korean TV dramas can easily be found on any regular TV station. There are MANY serious Kdrama fans/fanclubs. Many middle-aged ladies study Korean and can read it a bit. Korean restaurants continue to be very popular (influenced by the popularity of Jewel in the Palace as well) and my local supermarket has a much larger selection of Korean food that it used to. I can even buy kimichi based soup stock to make "traditional" Japanese nabe (soup/stew) as well as kimichi-flavored potato chips.
Although it may sound like an exaggeration, Winter Sonata has been credited with doing more to melt the cultural & political barriers between Japan and Korea than anything else in recent history. Personally, I think that's a fair assessment. I was introduced to Korean dramas through the NHK broadcasts and the mania was INCREDIBLE! It has certainly influenced the way the average Japanese person views Korean society and culture. And I don't think there is a person in Japan over the age of 15 who wouldn't recognize Yon Sama or the drama's theme music if they heard it... (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit...)
Sorry, didn't mean to make this sound like a wikipedia entry! It's just that Yon Sama really does have special status in the Japan. On the Osaka TV talk shows this morning, they were saying that tickets for today's event were being sold by internet auction for up to $3,000! (Originally $85.) I'm sure tomorrow's news will reveal that someone paid even more than that!
(Personally find Yon Sama much more appealing than Bae Yong Joon! Just too girly right now!)
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22 shro
May 31, 2008 at 12:45 AM
isn't BYJ really old?
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23 din
May 31, 2008 at 1:16 AM
*LOL* javabeans. your captions killed me! XD
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24 Orange
May 31, 2008 at 3:58 AM
He is looking so gay to me, even his mannerism.
Wonder when he will put on his bra?
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25 Aimee
May 31, 2008 at 6:06 AM
I've seen everything the guy is in and I love him! I agree with some of the previous comments, there's just something about him that's absolutely irresistible and I can't put my finger on it. Everyone in my household is a fan - from grandpa & granny to lil' sis. I mean come on, the korean wave wouldnt be as huge as it is now if it werent partly for him and winter sonata. The japanese are so lucky!
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