ways to love him: producer kim
dang dang dang, time for another chapter of the book, ways to love yonsama!yup, we're at chapter 17 now, and it's an interview with the producer of that KBS photo documentary series on hallyu star. some of you fans may be 'old' enough to remember this one. yong joon was the first to be featured in this series, and that program was aired back in november 2005. as usual, thanks much much for your diligence, sweet sister!
oh my, you've practically translated the entire book!! we're almost there now... fighting!
original in japanese: ways to love yonsama
translated into english: a sweet sister / bb's blog
pics added by: yours truly, bb!
Ch 17 – Japanese Korean 'Love Link'
Producer, Kim Jin Hee
Showing Appeal of Hallyu Stars
from the Fans' Perspective
The Photo Documentary TV program began as a project born out of my thinking that there were very few programs that focused on the stars who led the hallyu boom while the hallyu boom was drawing attention. There were programs that did general analysis on the hallyu stars but there were very few programs that attempted to uncover the question, “What is the appeal that these stars have?”
There were many programs that pointed out the problems with hallyu stars and I thought I would purposefully make the program a love-filled, one-sided tribute that would pursue the question of why these stars became popular, while presenting it from the perspective of the love-filled fans. There were hardly any such programs as this. I feel that the hallyu stars are loved by everyone and deserved to be praised for their qualifications.
The first subject of Photo Documentary was BYJ. The reason we chose him as the top batter was obvious. There is no need for an explanation.
Preparations for the program took more time than other programs would normally take. Preparations began several months before the November 2005 broadcast date. I think that we notified BYJ’s management of our project intention about 3-4 months prior in July-August 2005.
After the program writer, Kim Soh Yeon, sent the draft to the management office, the writer told everyone connected to BYJ, “This project is worth BYJ’s involvement,” making a strong appeal. The writer also brought attention to the project by using an entertainment reporter to petition on our behalf.
We also continued to directly contact, of course, BYJ’s public relations department in BOF, a number of times. Despite this, approval was finally received a month before the program was to begin airing.
In September before approval was received from BOF, we were already in full-scale preparations for the program, so if the program was not going to become a reality, it would have been very heartbreaking for me as a producer. I think that luck played a big part in the program becoming a reality (laughs). It felt like I was walking a tightrope. Sometimes I am asked the question, “Why did you not interview BYJ?” but the original premise for this program was that the star would not be directly interviewed.
There are plenty of entertainment programs where the star himself appears and talks about himself. In our Photo Documentary, we used the method of presenting the people who know the star as a way of presenting various approaches to the star. It was our intention to present the star as plain, unadorned figure.
I have seen BYJ at press conferences, but I have never interviewed him in a one-to-one situation. He has a large entourage and is always surrounded by reporters, so it would be very difficult to meet him on a one-to-one basis. Without having had the opportunity to interview him on a one-to-one basis, I would not have much information about him.
Seeing him only at press conferences would not give me enough information. But since I have had only that much contact with him, you can say that I have no biases against him which I think, turned out to be a good thing in producing Photo Documentary.
Broadcasting Many Unreleased Photos of BYJ
Photo Documentary aired many photos for the first time that were never, up to now, published in magazines and such. The majority of the photos were borrowed from Cho Se Hyun (published The Man in Bungei Shunju, July 2004) and Kim Tae Hwan, who photographed BYJ’s photo album.
In addition, I asked my acquaintances, “Please gather for me any BYJ photos you might have!” in order to borrow the photos.
We collected many photos showing different images of BYJ, but we did not use any photos where he looked affected (posed), photos that looked like a poster, or where he was smiling. Instead of using such photos, we used photos where BYJ showed a never-before-seen attractiveness or a natural appearance.
For example, there was a photo of him shoveling snow from the roof of a house or another photo of him while he was intently reading a newspaper. We used many photos of him where he was engrossed in something and was unaware of the camera taking his photo.
I think that we were very fortunate in having everyone’s assistance on this project. I am not saying this because we forced everyone to cooperate or because we were going to broadcast on KBS, but I would like to think that the project came about because of the wholehearted requests I made.
Speaking of photos, BYJ also loves taking photos, doesn’t he? When I hear stories about him and cameras, I think of how much he must really love photography.
During the filming of Untold Scandal, director of filming, Kim Byung Il brought a rare, special model Polaroid camera which he had bought overseas to the film set, which BYJ eyed and began wanting for himself, so BYJ ended up ordering the same one from his favorite camera store so he could get one for himself. When it comes to cameras, perhaps you lose all sense of reason (laughs).
A Strand of BYJ’s Hair on His Glasses!
In addition to the photos, we also used BYJ’s personal items, which mean, of course, his glasses.
First of all, I wanted to use his glasses on the program by any way possible. But it was not a case of just using any glasses, but glasses that were used during the filming of WS, AS or for some promotional event, I wanted to collect the glasses according to the scene they were used in.
When I asked BYJ’s stylist, she saved us by lending us 10 pairs that were representative of the looks we wanted.
When I asked the stylist what his favorite pair of glasses was, she said it was the sunglasses that he wore when he exercised.
When we had discussions with the stylist, BYJ was in the US at this time, and so the stylist took out the same sunglasses that he had worn right up until the time he left for the US; there was a piece of BYJ’s hair stuck between the lens and the shank.
There was something funny about this.
It felt like I was seeing an instant where the well- known perfectionist BYJ had relaxed his guard.
The strand of hair was removed and discarded for filming purposes but if the Japanese fans were to find out that it was discarded, they might be mortified. I am sure that BYJ’s hair would have commanded quite a high price at auction. When I think of that, I guess it was wasteful to throw it out. I am joking (laughs).
The additional documents were also obtained by physically walking around to collect them. In order to borrow things related to BYJ, we had to make requests from here and there to scrape things together. Now, when I look back on it, at that time when we ran around frantically collecting things, maybe it was because we were utterly mad.
Also, it seems that BYJ has a considerable obsession about his clothing.
What impressed me was the consideration he showed the clothing store sponsors. For stars who appear on TV, there are many stores that supply clothing free of charge which many stars accept as a matter of course, but it seems that BYJ cannot accept this practice.
For example, if there was a store that offered even one free muffler (scarf), he would personally go to that store himself, and purchase goods in excess of the value of that muffler he received and then go home.
When it comes to stars receiving love from many fans, there is the receiving type of love and the type that becomes thick headed at exerting oneself. What a gesture it is to politely return each and every thought that is expressed. This is not something that can be easily done
BYJ Cooks Like “Omoni”
Instead of having BYJ himself appear, we had those people close to BYJ and who had contact with him, speak about BYJ. Negotiations with these people were not that difficult.
As to who we wanted to appear, we first prepared a list of selected names and that we had thoroughly consulted with the BOF management office. Based on that, we also planned to move forward with the collection of the materials.
First, we talked to Im Jong Pil, the fitness trainer who often visits BYJ at home, stylist, Hong Eun Kyung, and photographer, Kim Tae Hwan.
The common thread that ran through their stories was how much BYJ loved cooking. He cooked at home and liked to entertain guests at home. It seemed that when he cooked, he did not like anyone helping him, as he did everything himself from start to finish, serving everything with feeling from the heart. When BYJ is cooking, they say that his experienced hands are almost like those of “omoni (okasan, mother).”
There are probably many people who think that BYJ lives in a tremendous palatial mansion. The truth is that I also imagined that, but surprisingly enough, he lives modestly. Because he lives alone, he probably does not need that much space, but honestly, when I heard that, I was a bit surprised.
In a corner of his living room, there was a stack of books piled high, and in another corner, there is a kitchen where he can readily prepare meals.
After interviewing the people surrounding BYJ, the impression they left me with is that they are all very honest. Im Jong Pil, Hong Eun Kyung, Kim Tae Hwan, they are all well-mannered, and responded sincerely and cheerfully during the interview.
Im Jong Pil greeted me by bowing at a 90 degree angle.
Hong Eun Kyung became famous as BYJ’s stylist but does not deck herself out in designer brands, and she will wrap a 2,000 won (about 260 yen) muffler around her neck. She is simply unaffected.
I did not get the impression that BYJ associated with these people simply because he worked with them. He associated with them as close friends in an atmosphere where everyone was like a part of a happy family. Because they were relationships where they were like family members, the people surrounding BYJ perhaps come to resemble BYJ.
Though I have never met BYJ in a one-on-one situation, he showed a very sincere response to our program.
Feelings for BYJ as a Lover
While Producing the Program
BYJ sent a calligraphy autograph he wrote to Photo Documentary from the US. This was before the program title was decided as Photo Documentary when BYJ had signed the autographed to Star Documentary-sama, so the end result was that we could not use it in the broadcast, but I was very moved by how neatly it was written.
He added beautiful lines drawings to the letters also.
This may be a trivial matter, but I felt that for even such a small thing such as this, I could feel the sincerity of the love revealing itself toward the recipient of the autograph.
Even during the editing process when we were looking at the photos, I surprised even myself at the times I was moved by the photos. There were so many photos that are better than the other stars. While I was viewing these photos, I began to get sucked into BYJ’s appeal.
After the program aired, we received word from BYJ’s management that they wanted a list of all the people that were interviewed on the program. When I wondered what they were going to do with such a list, it turned out that BYJ was going to personally send a thank you gift to all persons.
I have reported on many big stars up to now, but I have never heard of such a story as this. BYJ’s thoughtfulness is extraordinary.
Since BYJ has become a major star, there are voices heard here and there praising him. But rather than believing the praise that others say about him, I have taken a second look at him after actually seeing him with my own eyes, and experiencing his personality so that my impression of him has greatly changed.
I do not know if it was because BYJ seemed like a distant figure before the program was produced, but while viewing the photos and coming into contact with his personality, along the way, my feelings for him changed where I began to think of him as a lover…. I think I began gathering the data on him with that feeling in mind.
BYJ Has Become the Link
Between Japan and Korea
When the program aired, the general viewer reaction was favorable and we received many grateful comments. There were many requests to re-run the broadcast and so the program was re-run about 4-5 times.
Unfortunately, due to copyright issues, we were unable to post it on the Internet. Photo Documentary is a wonderful record of a time when the hallyu stars shone.
BYJ’s autograph and the master tape used during filming (original tape before editing) are all kept tightly locked in storage. We have to be careful that they do not leak out and so we must protect them.
As a result of taking on the subject of BYJ in the program, I feel that I have undergone a great change internally. One reason is that I have come to understand the reason why the Japanese women love BYJ.
It seems that in Japan particularly, BYJ has many elderly women fans. Young people no matter what country are drawn to people who exhibit exciting speech and conduct. That is why BYJ’s attraction cannot be understood. I think that the elderly are deeply drawn to the honest, pure, kind, and warm way that BYJ shows love.
I often go to Japan for filming purposes and my view regarding the Japanese has also changed.
Until I produced the program, when I heard the Japanese say the words, sumimasen (excuse me) and arigato (thank you), I thought that the Japanese were only saying these words out of habit, superficially without really meaning them. But I have come to feel that this is not the case.
I have come to understand the feelings of the Japanese, and my understanding of the Japanese language appears to have changed also. This was also a big change for me internally.
Now, I am deeply grateful to the Japanese hallyu fans, and it is my wish that it would be nice if their love for BYJ could continue on for a long time.
posted by bb @ 12/15/2007 03:48:00 AM
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