Lee Min-ho at first of four overseas fanmeetings
by javabeans
Speaking of Japanese fanmeetings, another rising Hallyu star, Lee Min-ho, held events in Japan last week; the two-parter occurred in Tokyo first (November 23), then Osaka (November 26).
Even considering the immense popularity of Boys Before Flowers (and the popularity of its source material, Hana Yori Dango), it’s rather astonishing that Lee Min-ho attracted a total of 8,000 fans with this set of fanmeetings on the strength of ONE role; Boys Before Flowers was his first widely known project.
To offer up a point of comparison, Jang Geun-seok is more famous than Lee Min-ho, has been active longer, and has a number of movies and drama roles (leading and supporting) in his filmography, and his recent fanmeeting commanded the respectable number of 2,000 fans. (Note: I’m not making any comparison about their abilities as actors. I think both are adorable and talented and have big futures ahead of them.) Lee Min-ho’s numbers don’t quite rival top Hallyu-stars-in-Japan like Song Seung-heon, Yonsama, or Park Yong-ha, but 8,000 puts him in the same general tier.
(His prior roles are mostly small youth dramas like Run Mackerel, I Am Sam and Secret Campus. In fact, such is Lee’s popularity in Japan due to Boys that even Japanese broadcasters will be showing Secret Campus, which was one of Lee’s first roles as a 19-year-old. When Korean broadcasters decided to capitalize on Boys‘ success by re-airing Secret Campus, Lee said he was embarrassed to have people watching him in a younger, greener performance from three years ago.)
At the fanmeeting, Lee sang the song “My Everything,” which he recorded for the Boys Before Flowers special edition OST and videos (watch and listen here). Lee made an effort to get close to as many fans as possible, even climbing on a crane to get closer to those farther away. A Japanese fan said, “I didn’t expect to be able to see Min-ho-sshi up close, but I was touched that he greeted fans one by one and met their eyes individually.” Because of his attentiveness (and a “high-five event” wherein he high-fived fans until his hand went into convulsions), fans started call him “Angel.”
He didn’t mention a project by name, but promised, “In order to fulfill your expectations, I’m taking a lot of care to choose my next project. I’d like to greet you again in a new role soon.”
Initially only planned for two installments, due to fan request, the fanmeeting series was extended to four; Lee will follow the Japanese event with fanmeetings in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Via Sports Chosun, Mk.co.kr
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Tags: fanmeetings, Lee Min-ho
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1 Snikki
November 30, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Oohh, Tokyo is the place to be! I hope somebody I like -- Gong Yoo perhaps -- holds a fanmeeting in March!
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2
November 30, 2009 at 6:26 PM
8000... wow... I just hope they don't steal away my future husband. o.O And before anybody goes and ruins my dreams and says "NO! HE'S MINE! MWAHAHAHA!" please bear in mind that a girl can dream...and plot...and rub her hands together with an evil grin on her face. He's MINE!!!!!! -echoing- o.O
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3 more
November 30, 2009 at 6:47 PM
He is sooooooooo overrated. :(
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4 langdon813
November 30, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Cute boys abound tonight! :-D
THANKS JB!!
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5 Javabeans
November 30, 2009 at 6:56 PM
^ I won't argue with you since I can see why some might think that and of course everyone has his/her own opinion... but I will say that personally, Lee Min-ho is one of the only super-hyped actors who I actually think deserves his hype. He's a really good actor and he not only met the expectations of his role, he exceeded them. My MOM (who never follows trendies or pop culture) told me that a highly respected (60something) novelist and cultural critic wrote after BBF ended, "Ah, where goes the zest of life now without Gu Jun-pyo?" Boy was a veritable phenom!
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6 langdon813
November 30, 2009 at 7:02 PM
I'll tell you what...when he snatched his hand away from his mom and unfolded those long legs out of that limo to go kiss his girl (talking to her in his head with every step), I was DONE. I'll buy anything he sells from now on.
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7 Two Cents
November 30, 2009 at 7:10 PM
I agree that Lee Minho did a good job portraying Gu Junpyo in BBF and he was really the only redeeming quality about the Korean production of BBF, but I have to say, in my humble opinion, that Jang Geon Suk is a much more talented and versatile actor and has a lot more charisma and that "je ne sais quoi" star quality about him. If I were a passionate enough fan to actually attend a fan meeting and had to choose between the two, it would be Jang Geon Suk all the way. That is not to say that I dislike Lee Minho. He is talented in his own right and cute in a really dorky kind of way, but Jang Geon Suk blows me away.
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Lili
November 21, 2011 at 7:21 PM
@two cents
" I agree that Lee Minho did a good job portraying Gu Junpyo in BBF and he was really the only redeeming quality about the Korean production of BBF, but I have to say, in my humble opinion, that Jang Geon Suk is a much more talented and versatile actor and has a lot more charisma and that “je ne sais quoi” star quality about him. If I were a passionate enough fan to actually attend a fan meeting and had to choose between the two, it would be Jang Geon Suk all the way. That is not to say that I dislike Lee Minho. He is talented in his own right and cute in a really dorky kind of way, but Jang Geon Suk blows me away."
i dont know whether my reply to two cents will ever see the light of day but i 100% agreed with him/her, honestly.
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8 D
November 30, 2009 at 7:18 PM
@ langdon813
where do i signed up for the club? ;-)
it was a toss between LMH & JGS ( i watched Baby & I last night - super cuteness there).. but i think it has to be LMH, for now...
(not that i think any less of JGS)
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9 a little taste of heaven
November 30, 2009 at 7:24 PM
geez....remind me why i want to live in america when all the hotties r in asian?
give me LMH or give me JGS!!!
@Langdon mind clueing me in with what ur saying?
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10 pear
November 30, 2009 at 7:27 PM
seeing lee min ho made me want to revisit your BBF recaps, which i did. then i clicked on one of the episode summaries and saw a picture of the mom. i don't know why, but that woman stills scares the crap out of me!
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11 Carrie
November 30, 2009 at 7:43 PM
I still *heart* LMH. Such a cutie and such a fab actor. I think he has immense talent. Can't wait to see what he is going to pick next... It's been too long since we've seen that sweet smile of his!
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12 Molly
November 30, 2009 at 7:58 PM
I loved Lee Min-ho as Gu Jun-pyo, curly hair, dorky smile, and all. I hope he wears his hair curly again someday soon though! I can't see him as anything but Jun-pyo; it's hard enough seeing him as Min-ho. ;) I just wish that someone had coached him on the pronunciation of "every-THing" in his song. His voice in the song was so calming, so deep...then the "TING" came. I can't wait to hear more of his voice though; I really liked him as a singer as well.
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13
November 30, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Wow - lots of fan meetings everywhere!!! LOL =) I loved LMH as GJP - I think he did a fantastic job and really could not picture anyone else in that role. I do think if he can keep up the good acting - he's got a great future ahead of him.
So I'm way too old to be a true fan of his, but LMH keep up the good work. He's a cutie.
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14 jacq
November 30, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Luv Love LOVE him as Gu JunPyo! He was undoubtfully superb in BOF and his acting was spot on. I can't wait to see him in another drama. Keep that adorable smile going!! <3
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15 Porcelain
November 30, 2009 at 8:06 PM
LMH... JGS... LMH... JGS... LMH... JGS... LMH... JGS... LMH... JGS... LMH... JGS...
brain decombust... too much hotness in a day!
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16 Icarusfalls
November 30, 2009 at 8:13 PM
If only he'd come to the U.S... he would definitely see that many fans or double as many fansll!!! He was the only think that made BOF watchable... unfortunately I couldn't finish the series even for him...
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17 sue
November 30, 2009 at 8:14 PM
LOL i don't know why but i don't find him very attractive! there must be something wrong with me!
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18 ripgal
November 30, 2009 at 8:27 PM
JGS or LMH? JGS for me any day..
But here's the big BUT, JGS has got loads of acting experience (leading and supporting) and has worked with A LOT of veteran actors before... whilst for LMH, only the one and only (not to mention, atrocious) BBF. Comparison just isn't fair hehehe...
I'll wait until LMH takes up a meatier and more intense role..
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19 Emily
November 30, 2009 at 8:30 PM
LMH was the saving grace of BOF. I think he did a great job but I am still waiting to see him act in another drama or movie to see if it was a case of him fitting the role of Gu Jun Pyo or if he could play another type of character equally well.
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20 alba
November 30, 2009 at 8:31 PM
aw he is such a cutie! and so very sweet to his fans. but i do think he's overrated. his acting is good but there are room for improvement. i want to see him take on a more challenging role so he can live up to his hype. i still love him to bits though, but 8000 fans for ONE role? what a phenomenon BOF has become! i'm happy that he has become so much more famous then before BOF. but in the future i'd like to see him at his full potential.
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21 Mino fan
November 30, 2009 at 8:39 PM
LMH has a fanmeeting in SINGAPORE in December!!
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22 rose
November 30, 2009 at 8:43 PM
@ 7 Two Cents-
We must be related or something because you completely wrote what I thought but couldn't put into words! Haha :) I too, without a doubt rather be at JGS fan meeting.
LMH is a total hunk and a respected actor but no way can he even be compared to JGS. The only thing that made BBF for me was LMH. So obviously I like the guy, but he has yet to prove himself as more of a versatile actor.
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Lili
November 21, 2011 at 7:27 PM
read somewhere in tabloid that the 8000 fans are the total of 4 fanmeeting, so average per meeting was abt 2000.
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23 langdon813
November 30, 2009 at 8:45 PM
@ 8 D
Hey, you want in, you're in! The only requirement is that you're old enough to feel pervy about crushing on these young guys! 8)
@ 9 a little taste of heaven
Sure thing...but with regard to what? The club? :-)
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24 Nanaee
November 30, 2009 at 8:50 PM
well... i will choose to see LMH instead of LGS if i got to choose one to see... cos at least he wears normal clothes.. and I think i will feel like I saw LMH that i like. LGS tends to wear strange clothes... which makes me think... is that really the LGS that i saw and loved in that drama... i love LGS in many drama but every time i see his pics outside of the drama... he just blows me away with his choice of clothing...
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25 iwasing
November 30, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Is it just me or I find Minho a bit chubby this days???????I think he needs to step back from overly indulging himself and time to see some muscle.I really wanted him to have a muscular body like those top Korean Stars!!!!!!!
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