[Self-Account] Under The Camera, An Underappreciated Jewel Left To Self-Admiration–Walking Into The Person Kim Jeong Hoon
Author: Yuri
Someone, in the split of a second, shook loose Yu’s unwavering attention that had only rested on Kangta oppa at that time, with his distinctive way of survival, immense intelligence, innate courage, melancholic vocals, charming smiles, quiet and low-keyed personality, sensitive nature, non-conformist living style, once and again convinced Yu.
This person is whom many young gals, currently on the bandwagon of watching Korean dramas, shriek in their greetings and call out warmly as Prince Yul.
Yet, Yu must admit, this person in fact, has never for a second given Yu any inkling of Prince Yulness in him. The feeling Yu had of him still lingers in that image - always a blonde-haired young Korean lad whose eyes glisten with tender affections & haunting loneliness.
Now numerous fans inquire me about matters concerning him. Many girls queried excitedly, "Sis, you’re a Korea-craze fan? Then surely you know Kim Jeong Hoon? Ah, it’s that Prince Yul!"
Towards these young girls, I think, I see the necessity to and also should talk about the Hoona in Yu’s eyes, the Prince Yul as everybody sees him, the underappreciated youth who’s left to self-admiration in Yu’s heart - Kim Jeong Hoon.
First Encounter with Hoona — Kim Hyun Sung’s Haeng Bok ( Happiness )
Kim Jeong Hoon has a very much distended Korean face. The impression many have of Korean faces is that all of them are unflatteringly flat, but in reality there’s still a number of people who have the same skull and face shape as Kim Jeong Hoon, being puffed up at the front and back too, rounded and suitable for any hairstyle. That’s why at that time, Yu together with Mom who likes him as well, called this seemingly furry and warm lad Hoona.
Going back in time to the scene where I first met him — bright and beautiful sunshine painted the computer room in school while I surfed the Korean websites as was my habit, in search of the latest Korean MV. Out of nowhere, the name Kim Hyun Sung jumped into my field of view. This name was exactly the same as that of Yu’s ex-boyfriend.
Clicking on Kim Hyun Sung’s Haeng Bok…
A boy was roller-blading and, in a bid to dodge a girl who was charging towards him, he fell down. While he was feeling grouchy over how in the world did he meet such an ill-mannered girl, he saw her once again, in front of a ticketing booth window at the MRT station. So, the boy thought of all ways and means to make things difficult for her every single day, brought a bagful of coins to make her count, or gave her a ten thousand dollar note to change. The girl slowly grasped the ways to deal with him, the boy watched on as the bagful of coins got dumped into a coin counting machine and he was so annoyed that he actually vomited. The girl tapped the window fretfully, the boy flashed a smile out of the blue, a prank sparked off love…The boy noted down the date and venue of the extreme sports competition for the girl, hoping that she could come, the girl happened to be working on that day so she told him she’s going to wait for his triumphant return, however, the boy was admitted into a hospital because of his injuries and after his discharge, he discovered that by the window of the ticketing booth sat another girl. A few months later, the boy thrust a ten thousand dollar note through another ticketing booth window. The astonished girl lifted her head, and once again, saw that impish-looking face grinning at her…
At that time, this young lad’s signature expression is his smiles bearing a natural air of aristocratic charisma and that playful yet teasing sparkle in his eyes. At a Korean boutique in Chang Chun, this youngster’s photograph was displayed on the most eye-catching spot, beside his picture was Jeon Ji Hyun and another guy. I had originally thought of him as merely an actor in music videos, but understood from my Korean friend, this young lad is called Kim Jeong Hoon, a member of Korean pop duo UN and starting from his debut, he has been placed among the ranks of Korean heartthrobs with flower-like good looks, possessing radiant and charming smiles that capture many Korean girls’ hearts. Thus, what attracted Yu initially, a crying shame to say, wasn’t his captivating voice, but rather his natural flair in acting that impressed first before his vocals.
High Intelligence Quotient Zero Self Confidence — A Legendary Figure Entwined with Contradictions
Upon mentioning about Jeong Hoon, all my Korean friends gave a unanimous reaction: concealed smiles — a slight disdainful facial expression — "He got the brains" a reluctant compliment. Such contradictory three-steps response. On the surface, he appears to be full of confidence yet within he’s extremely fragile.
Neurotic + Prank Playing
Capricorn guys plus having AB blood group are somewhat sensitive, Jeong Hoon is indeed such a person, but perhaps also because he’s the youngest, Korean families’ youngest child has always been more or less "a devilish imp". Those past years for Yul, there were no means to watch entertainment programmes and what’s more, under the circumstances where variety in such shows was few, every single matter concerning him, all could only be acquired through ways such as paying close attention to Korean news online, discussions in forums and descriptions from Korean friends.
Viewing some brief interviews and video clips, Jeong Hoon is never a person who loves the camera focus, just merely playing tricks on Jung Won by imitating his mannerisms of talking from behind while they were endorsing Union Boy; behaving very intimately with the female actress during the sidelights of their MV filming with the deliberate intention to annoy Jung Won; in the interesting tidbits that came as a bonus to their double CD album, Jung Won and he were living together, each having completely different habits and customs from the other, he always beat Jung Won at brain teasers, even strutted his stuff during their grocery-buying trips at the super mart, cooked tastier bean sauce noodles than Jung Won’s, must stand in front of Jung Won whenever they danced…
Neurotic, and petty too.
It’s said that neurotic people are actually very much lacking in self-confidence inside though at that time, it looked as if he should be the type with overflowing confidence. However, in the midst of all that prank playing, his proud and aloof nature was indistinctly revealed in unknowing ways.
A Rare Genius Among Korean Artistes
Yu thought, Hoona’s high IQ image has gradually faded away, many who only know him through variety shows and Goong at present, if they’re unaware of his background and experiences, would find it very hard to associate him together with high intelligence quotient. As a matter of fact, this is merely his policy of adaptation through "conciliation" in order to survive in this circle, indicating that he no longer wants to bear the burden of a high IQ image, how he wishes to conform with ease and become an artiste of the masses.
As a student that entered dentistry major in the medical school of Seoul University with top number one results, he once had a bright and promising future ahead of him. Yet the brainy, high IQ Kim Jeong Hoon abandoned his academic studies for a singing career which on the outside, he seemed courageous and had a mind of his own, but in reality it showed a sort of strong ambition that this man possesses.
His maxim: strives his very best
Never thought that he would trend on this path, the glamourous lifestyle of an artiste goes entirely beyond his wildest imagination, thus he really desires to have more bouquets of flowers, to make the cheers last longer. He believes that just like the time that he sat for the entrance exams to Seoul University, he could carve out a niche in the entertainment circle successfully.
UN had always been crowned with the prestigious title "High IQ pop group" because of him. In numerous programmes, Jeong Hoon earned everyone’s esteem with his incredible intellect. Each time, people would all ‘wow’ and gasp with admiration, particularly astounded by his memory power. In last year’s programme Searching For Primary School Classmates, there were also some peers who remarked that he has the most extraordinary brains, yet in fact, he was no more keener on learning, that year when he took the entrance examination of Seoul University, he made it by virtue of burying himself in an intense revision battle for two months behind closed doors at home, even suffered from depression as a result.
Yu has always thought that, it’s precisely Hoona’s high IQ which leads to his unsociable and eccentric character.
Jeong Hoon’s Days As A Student
Melancholic, distant, unconventional — a prince of Adonis beauty.
He’s very gentle and charming, yet gloomy and indifferent.
He was once the supporting model in Andre Kim’s fashion show, but he was troubled over his pretty boy good looks.
You thought that he loved to flaunt himself, actually he devoted painstaking efforts to it, but instead his deliberate pretension became so unnatural within the camera frames, many fans who love him unto death, couldn’t even bear to watch Hoona acting rapturous and high before the cameras, they felt that, Hoona seemed very pitiful in this manner.
Hoona rarely appeared on variety shows in his early days, as his athletic abilities scored an absolute zero. Well, can’t really say it’s utterly bad, since he’s superb at playing snooker, however, he’s an out-and-out non-swimmer, taking an awfully long time to learn swimming.
It’s exceedingly hard to imagine that a young lad like him, with a sunny appearance, 1.78m in height and a fine build, why he has such incredible intelligence, yet dreadfully terrible in sports.
A reporter happened to query that very year, if you hadn’t become a singer, what would you be doing. Despondency once wrote on his face, "Well, maybe I’d still be schooling…"
In truth, he was born with a melancholic, unsociable and peculiar disposition, a lone soul left to admiring his own aloofness from material pursuits, exuding charms unstained by worldly norms. Unusual life experiences made him even more low-keyed and enigmatic in his ways.
When Jung Won enumerated meticulously his countless good friends in showbiz, Hoona remarked coolly, "Jung Won is my one and only mate in this circle."
At that time when UN was dissolved, Yu had been thinking, if they parted ways, for Jung Won who has long ago blended into the workings of the entertainment circle with skill and ease, he would never be starved of attention, yet Hoona, indifferent and unyielding as he is, what sort of posture should he adopt before returning to this merciless battlefield again.
He just refuses to believe in others easily, nor does he see the need to be believed by others. Yet he makes a distinction between trust and belief. Thus Jung Won is the one and only person he has ever trusted. Every pop group member would always say this upon their break up, "Now, standing alone on this stage, the feeling is so strange and unfamiliar, in the beginning…."
Like that, Yu could imagine the sense of helplessness within Hoona is certainly much more intense than others. Feeling empty inside, even once lacking the self-confidence to carry on surviving in this circle, the awkwardness he experienced all these years in showbiz, gradually made him develop a fiercely wary mentality.
Awkward Situation = A Cautious Heart On Guard
The most unfortunate, however, was UN’s management company playing a less than influential role in Korea’s music industry, and Hong Kyung Min, with his career down to the pits during those few years, was possibly the only one that could be regarded as an artiste under its wings. Under the attacks of SM pop group tactics at that time, many singer groups from smaller companies like UN’s faced immense threat. That’s why numerous such groups, just slowly faded out of the music scene without even a chance to declare their breakup. Yet, drawing on the bit of popularity accumulated along the way and the "High IQ duo" impression that had always stuck on people’s minds, UN managed to keep themselves going until 2005. Being such a singer in a company like this, he had planned to throw himself wholeheartedly into the challenges abound on this tremendously competitive and spine-tingling battlefield, however, chances were far beyond his grasp. UN, talented yet remaining largely unrecognised, were seen as B-listed singers all along though Jeong Hoon ended up displaying a different flair from another side of him in hosting radio programs. This reduced him to a passive and awkward plight within the Korean entertainment circle.
Thus, for various variety shows and interviews, he armed himself with a heart of intense wariness, never failing to solve each and every difficult problem earnestly, posing as someone of incomparable intelligence. His solemnity even seemed a bit overboard, hence he usually gave others a very negative impression, diplomatic and being a "show-off". For instance, there was once a conversational type of variety program that wove in some brain teaser segments, should he lose out by accident, he would insist on doing it again on the show next time. When the MC inquired for the reason, he responded in all seriousness, "I failed last time, couldn’t take it lying down, so I went home, pondering over this again and again, this time round, I’m not going to lose once more for sure!"
Many have watched Love Letter dating 050604 - 050611, in the revenge taking section, certainly everyone remembers the part where he related his reason for challenging Tim, "No matter what I’m a ballad singer too, my songs are really popular there in my hometown, seeing him hum along and harmonise with the chords earlier just pissed me off!" Furthermore, his behaviour on XMan had somewhat revealed an apparent attitude of guardedness in the games segment and the way he dodged the cameras, as always before anyone could pounce an attack on him, what with using a thin shred of dignity that was left in him, he would first gag the other fellow.
He takes on a disguising posture of calmness and composure at all times.
If you perceive him as just jesting in some sort of manner, then it indicates that you still fail to understand him, in all truths, this was precisely the way he thought and acted as well, without any deliberate pretense in the least bit, everything exactly as he had contemplated in his mind.
Yet, a man such as he, to be lacking of self-confidence inwardly is merely because he has never truly appreciated his own capabilities and talents, as a matter of fact, he already possesses the innate abilities to survive in this circle.
Voice and Acting Skills — The Most Invaluable Assets in His Life
Those who are familiar with UN, all know about the zeal and desire Hoona has towards performing; as for the others that have watched Goong, none expected he could actually sing so well like this.
He, essentially possesses two tremendously precious treasures — a voice and an acting flair.
UN pop duo — A Showcase of Talents
First and foremost, he’s a singer.
He has thick nasal sounds, particularly suitable in the portrayal of love ballads in typical Korean mainstream melodramatic fashion, for example, SG Wannabe use exactly this kind of vocal styles in singing.
In fact, his vocal groundings are superb, as well as being someone who really can sing brilliantly, his voice, also strikes a chord with the listeners very easily. Whenever he croons, his facial expression constantly reveals his complete engagement, all that he comprehends of the song and his own innermost feelings, he pours forth into his performance.
Sentimental tenors, deep and rich basses, graceful baritones that flow as his mood dictates, his vocals handle an assortment of melodies with utmost skill and ease. Most of the time, a singer falls short in delivering another’s songs appropriately, however, when Jeong Hoon performs the songs sang by Kim Hyun Sung, a senior whom he holds in high esteem, it’s as if he is singing his own, precise and vivid, he could recreate them bearing his signature feel.
He croons with his heart and soul, "tempting" people to experience the song in a deeper sense willingly, and able to appreciate his feelings as a singer as well as the emotional content he wishes to express. In fact, Yu felt that, though in terms of their musical achievements, he wasn’t a match against Buzz Min Kyung Hoon, but techniques and abilities wise, he wasn’t below par compared to Kyung Hoon, moreover, both share quite a number of similarities.
Only that it’s such a pity, for UN’s song compilations in albums 2 and 3 were still good enough, the most remarkable Yu deemed as their album 3.5, by the time albums 4 and 5 came to pass, UN was heading towards a dead end. Their management company couldn’t spare any efforts to select and produce great songs of quality for them, on top of that, they even lacked the financial means to launch aggressive promotional campaigns for them nor did they have the confidence on fashioning them into the most accomplished singers. That’s why, their lofty aspirations of advancing into and conquering China fizzled out, and not because, this pop duo had inadequacies in their abilities.
Their dancing couldn’t make the mark, too simple, swaying and moving as they fancied, lacking artistry, without even a trace of modern sophistication or elaborate trivialities in their choreography, as they were kept from knowing the latest developments in dance techniques.
If one see album 1 as merely the starting point, then UN were in a elevating status during 2, garnering popular support and experience from 1 and 2, 3 marked a period when UN sprinted forward in their careers, many often heard and well-known songs, all were taken from UN’s album 3, for instance, Miracle, Crazy For You, as well as the classic A Lifetime of album 2. For album 3.5 that reached a pinnacle, the two went solo in their music briefly, apart from causing oversensitive fans to speculate if they had the intention to go on separate ways, still for the most part was listening to their different vocal presentations from their solo works: Jeong Hoon’s deep feelings, Jung Won’s passion.
Coming to this point, one just have to mention about Hoona’s song Yuri ( Glass ).
This is what Yu regards as Hoona’s most successful song, thoroughly displays every finer attribute of his voice, and the very essence portion of his identity as an artiste. In SBS’s Popular Music Live, he stood alone for the first time on stage, dressing in red, like a prince of deep and tender feelings, pouring out completely his heartfelt emotions for his beloved princess. Throughout the entire song Yuri, nary a shriek was heard, everyone listened to his singing voice in silence, all were amazed by his maturity and composure.
Prince Yul in Goong — Rebirth of Kim Jeong Hoon’s Artist Career
Like a dazzling firebird, Kim Jeong Hoon in Goong, he’s no longer a singer, he has completed the transition from a singer to an actor wonderfully.
In truth, that moment he stepped out of Seoul University, he had in his mind to learn theatrical acting.
His first drama work was DMZ Demilitarised Zone that came with a high expectation tag. Yet, it didn’t achieve the desired results, even ended its showing dismally.
He has so much love and passion for his music career, after all in his heart, that stands in the zenithal position.
However, since things turned out contrary to his wishes, "I hope to live out a different self," this was the remark he made before acting in Goong.
That’s right, only by becoming an actor, then would he be able to live out a different self each and every time.
Henceforth, he did it with a thirst for success that permitted him no turning back, and also being exceedingly industrious, plus his prodigious brains.
It is said that at the drama lines recital sessions before the filming of Goong, the director was the most pleased with his performance. Till now, the veteran actors unanimously consider that, he’s someone having much potential in acting.
Goong chalked up a highest 28.8% ratings record, America’s authoritative magazines declared that Goong pointed to the future of Korean dramas, its male supporting actor’s shining radiance surpasses that of the male lead, Kim Jeong Hoon becomes synonymous with Goong…
All these, are the distinctive achievements Goong had as one of the most highly anticipated TV dramas in 2006.
And Prince Yul, also brought to fulfillment Kim Jeong Hoon the singer who has been feeling lost and hesitant all along.
"All my friends said, ‘Heard that you’re going to portray a prince? Not bad eh, don’t you simply hope to be a prince?’"
Though as it is in reality, Yul and he are unalike in their innate characters. Still, the personality and charisma he possesses, all are undoubtedly the living counterpart of Yul.
The greatest point of similarity shared by Yul and him — sense of contradiction
Unceasing heartaches that he couldn’t end, to make a choice between living and loving, the illusion of friendship and love…that makes Yul this character, becoming a contradictory figure of tragedies from beginning to end.
However, as luck would have it, Kim Jeong Hoon triumphed, his artiste career, the misgivings and wonderful dreams he had when he entered this entertainment circle, his courage and resoluteness, finally reaped its first harvest.
The fruits of success are sweet and bountiful, moreover, beyond one’s imagination.
For a time, he came to be the male artiste having the greatest numbers of internet searches; he was perceived as the image of male perfection by young Korean girls; he was hailed as Korea’s gentlest man; no fewer than ten sizable discussion forums were dedicated to him in China…
At the beginning of 2006, Prince Yul Kim Jeong Hoon emanated immense brilliance, and once gave rise to a situation where he was on equal footing together with Lee Jun Ki of The King and The Clown — an unsurpassed myth in showbiz.
Unchanged — An Underappreciated Youth Left To Self-Admiration
Enrolling into the performing arts school of Chung-Ang University to undergo formal acting training, Jeong Hoon once again resumes his schooling identity as an exemplary student. Though Goong brought him the flowers and accolades that he could only dream of in the past, the road ahead is still long and winding.
Watching The Second Story by female singer RAN lately, he acted in the MV alongside Choi Sung Jun.
Even compered a concert organised by MNet in Japan recently, enormously well-received.
Now as it is, acting to him, seems to have become part of his being.
It’s hard to distinguish if he’s acting or breathing and living.
As if he has been that way all the time, a natural and vivid form.
It’s plainly seen, the accomplishments he has achieved for all the efforts he puts in.
Nevertheless, though such feats are made, there is no intrinsic changes to his personality.
Facing the cameras, his facial expression still remains as either dreadfully over-confident or low-keyed without any vigour.
However, with an added touch of maturity and more poise, he begins to exude an aura and decorum of a celebrity artiste. This is his genesis.
Then, just as usual, he keeps his heartwarming and sunny-looking signature smiles.
The reason for being able to adapt to his roles skilfully, is just merely because they come with complicated acting within his innermost being.
Perhaps, the greater the sheen of dazzling radiance in the day, the greater the sense of loneliness and gloominess in the night.
The more joyful before the crowds, the more distraught behind the crowds.
From beginning to end, he’s a prince of contradictions; from beginning to end, he’s an underappreciated youth who’s left to self-admiration.
Perhaps, after a number of years, he will change…
PS: Yu and Hoona
At that time, the Yu who was so head-over-heels smitten with Hoona, yet there were moments that he was neglected.
For instance, when the blog underwent renovations, it just slipped Yu’s mind to put up his photographs.
Nonetheless, Yu still firmly believes herself to be the one who comprehends Hoona very well, being able to read and decipher exactly what’s going on in his mind.
Though, he has this and that kind of shortcomings.
And indeed, these flaws cannot be concealed by his brilliance.
And indeed, it is until Goong, that people start making an effort to forget his failings incessantly.
But within Yu’s heart, he’s still that remarkable young lad with this and that kind of shortcomings.
Because in Yu’s eyes, he’s a mortal, rather than an idol.
Yu will watch him coyly, will study him objectively, will behold him passionately, will contemplate him cool-headedly, will regard him approvingly, will eye him indifferently…
Yu cannot be counted as following and standing by him at all times, but always understanding and reading him, even regard with contempt those fans who are besotted with him solely because of Goong.
Despite knowing that to think in this manner is somewhat insolent.
Then again, for Yu, he’s never Prince Yul as seen by other young gals, but rather only as the Hoona in Yu’s eyes.
Credits:: gincatvio@ohmyhoon.com + kamin@ohmyhoon.com + joye@lovejeonghoon + baidukimjunghoonbar + kimjunghoon.multiply.com
