[PHOTO] Numero TOKYO October 2012

Credits: Numero TOKYO, Jang Keun Suk Forever
Photographed by Leslie Kee

[MAGAZINE/INTERVIEW] Numero TOKYO October 2012

– deep emotional range –
Even an adult can’t help but fall in love again…
Jang Keun Suk’s attraction; mysteriousness and beauty.

You’ll see his crazy world never before shown to anyone. Jang Kuen Suk, who released his first album “Just Crazy” at the end of May in Japan, got a No.1 ranking on Oricon daily and weekly chart. It means he became the first solo foreigner artist in the history of music in Japan. He has a clear and beautiful voice we can’t help but get lost in. Listening to songs into which he puts a lot of emotion, we tremble all over with the rhythm. It’s a moment when his new creative talent sublimes. Who on earth is this 25-year-old young superstar? A close-up of the real face of Jang Keun Suk, the most mysterious and attractive guy who is gifted with remarkable talents inside.

He is only 25 years old, but this year is his 20th anniversary since his debut. Jang Keun Suk has succeeded to become the most popular Hallyu star, with superb acting skill he has gained from his experience as an actor and born artistic sense. Now, he’s taking the first step in becoming a singer. His free spirit helps this new challenge.

Looking back over the past 20 years, Jang Keun Suk started his career as a model when he was 5 years old. Then, he debuted as a child star on TV when he was 10 years old. Whenever he went for shooting, he brought a big bag and used expressway bus from his home in a rural area to Seoul, all by himself. As his parents daringly had his son do anything by himself, it encouraged his self-reliance. He had wanted to study abroad since elementary school and went to New Zealand for studying English when he was at the first year of high school. He planned to attend the school until graduation, but he went back to Korea to accept an offer for appearing on TV. Since then, he’s pushed forward with his work as an actor.

A while later, the trial which every child stars would experience also came to Jang Keun Suk. There is a jinx that says “Actors who have career as a child star never succeed”, which means it’s hard for them to break away from the fixed image. For him, especially he has a long career as a child star was not exceptional. He experienced hard times in his late teens. When he was 20 years old, he appeared in the drama “Hwang Jin Yi” and it became his turning point. He was selected as the first love of the lead actress. Contrary to viewers’ expectation that young Keun Suk can’t play the role, he did quite well. The success helped him to become more mentally mature. And he gradually succeeded a transition from a child star to an adult actor and expanded his range of acting. Movie “The Happy Life” in 2007 and Drama “Beethoven Virus” proved his acting skill and he won the Newcomer Awards for each work. He eventually got rid of the image as a child actor.

In 2009, he had a chance to act his perfect role in Drama “You Are Beautiful”. He played Hwang Tae Kyung, a leader of a popular pop band, who is a very sensitive and very difficult person to get along with. He perfectly performed this bossy character and after YAB, he’s become increasingly popular. Without exception, as soon as it was broadcast in Japan, he’s became a big hit and getting a ticket of his tour is very difficult to obtain now.

 espite of the success of his tour, a dilemma occurred to his inside. Most of the songs he sings at the tour are those of which his characters on dramas sing. Since then, he gradually began to think that he wanted to sing his original songs. Then, he debuted as a singer in Japan, with a single CD “Let me cry” released in April last year. He set a new record for the first solo foreign male artist who topped on Oricon chart with his debut single. Furthermore, he released his first album “Just Crazy” this May. It contains various songs from rock music to ballad. It’s really a high-level of completion which shows his many talents.

He talked about the album as follows. “I first thought I wanted to make my own album when I was 23 years old. Honestly I had a dream to be a singer when I was a kid, but in Korea I was satisfied to be appreciated as an actor. However, while I was singing songs of my characters, I gradually came to think that I want my own! My dream to release my album came true this time. I’m more than happy to be on stage as a singer who has own songs from this tour”.

He describes that the title “Just Crazy” reflects “his real self” perfectly.

“When I wonder what is happiness for everyone, it might be thought that everyone feels happy every day. Every day is a new day. As for me, when I wake up in the morning, I feel very happy thinking about what will happen or who I will meet today. Our life is so short that I put a message in the title saying ‘Let’s do whatever you want to try, not you have to do. Let’s enjoy your life like living in CRAZY WORLD.’”

Then, we asked him what inspires him most to be crazy. He replied immediately, “It’s my album. It’s my first album in my life and all songs were selected by me and I love them all. And to keep trying to achieve my goal to conquer the world also inspires me”. Then, we asked him about the moment when he becomes crazy in his private life. He answered shyly, “Well, I’m crazy every day. Lol. While working, if I think it’s ‘work’, it’s absolutely ‘work’. On the other hand, if I try to enjoy it, I feel happy at that moment and I think it has a different meaning. Work and play is totally opposite like black and white, but by just changing our view or way of thinking a bit, we can enjoy working as well as playing. And this thought encourages me to be crazy”.

It’s because he approached the work with a feeling that he tries to enjoy everything, he has confidence in the album. He said, “Every song reflects my life”. Interestingly enough, there are similarities in songs “Let me cry”, “Abracadabra” “Tomorrow” and “In my life” which he wrote the lyrics and music. All the songs include a word, “fly”. This word implies his view of life?

“I want to become ‘a free man’ more than an artist or a singer. I don’t think it necessary to restrict what we should speak in interview to keep the image of an artist. As long as it isn’t impolite to others, I want to show all my view of life. That’s why ‘fly’ might have a meaning of ‘freedom’. My goal to conquer the world doesn’t mean to gain more money or expand my business to the world. Rather it means I want to meet, talk and drink with various people living all over the world. If there were Doraemon, I would ask him to give me wings with I can fly to the world freely. Lol”.

His saying that he wants to be treat people in the world frankly reflects his belief “I’m a human before I’m an artist”.

“People consider me as an artist, but I’d rather want to be considered as an individual, ordinary person like everyone. It might be my view of the world is different from yours, but I eat the same food as you. I also enjoy eating. Of course, I feel lonely, too. I’m living with such various feelings like everyone. That’s why I use Twitter and my apps on smart phones to share ‘the world I see’ with you. In this way, as I open my heart to my fans first, I believe they also open their heart and we can feel an intimate connection with each other”.

It’s Jang Keun Suk who follows the path he believes in. To our surprise, he had never thought what he wanted to do until he turned 20 years old.

“As I started to work in showbiz when I was 5 years old, I have more memories of staying at TV stations than those at school. I always cared about what seniors around me thought. That’s why I had not had my own idea in those days. However, when I turned into 20 years old, I began to think if there was my own will in my life so far. I want to be a good actor. But at the same time, I want to care about my own life. Since then, I’ve started to think ‘fly’ and ‘free man’. It might be a bit slow, but now I can search for my new life by myself and finally enjoy my own life”.

When it comes to the story he got No.1 ratings both as a single and an album on Oricon chart, he told us an interesting episode. “When I knew the news I got a No.1 ranking on Oricon single chart, I was in Hong Kong. At first, I thought it must be a fraud. Lol. Someone must have posted a fake news on the Internet as a joke. I can’t still believe I also got the No.1 with my album. I’m sure I got the No. 1 ratings not because of my effort only. I made it because a lot of fans and staff united together and supported me. For me, this achievement means more than No.1 ratings. As I want everyone to listen to my good songs, I bought 50 copies of my album at TOWER RECORDS in Shibuya (I paid for them out of my own pocket), autographed on them, and gave out them to passers-by while walking around. Lol”.

He’s been active in various areas such as Actor, Singer, MC, DJ and Director of movies. He’s quite versatile. He said, “I want to be an artist, not just a celebrity. The important thing is I have something to express inside me. I don’t want to act like a robot. Whoever has something to speak or tell can become an artist. For example, when I write lyrics as long as I use my own words, it becomes my song. No matter what genre it is, the most important thing is what I want to express myself. I think there’s no longer a big difference”.

Talking with him, we felt his solid vision as an artist.

He always keeps his antenna fully spread out to catch immediately what he wants to do. Then, he expresses them freely. He stands firm in his own convictions even if he faces new challenges. “I just do what I want to do. So, I never feel pressure. If I feared pressure, I wouldn’t try to do anything”. Hearing his reliable saying, we can’t help but feel his unlimited potential that he will surely accomplish his goal to conquer the world.
[END]



Credits: Numero TOKYO, via Jang Keun Suk Forever
Photographed by Leslie Kee
English translation: tenshi_akuma

[Video] Just Love JK, Cri Show 2 in Taiwan Promo

Text Translation: “Jang Keun Suk will come to Taiwan”.
Jang Keun Suk: Just love JK, hello everyone, here is Jang Keun Suk. Do you miss me? So let’s meet in September! (xxxxx)





CREDIT:  sukkiefanncusa @Jang Keun Suk Forever

[INTERVIEW] Jang Keun Suk: Numero Tokyo interview (rough trans)

Numero Tokyo interview rough trans: Q: In Jang Keun Suk's mind now, how your 30s, 40s would be? A: although success in entertainment industry is very important, but more important is to build a family. Wanna get married, have a lots of kids always present in my mind. Having a family certainly would give me more responsible feeling, and I will drink less. When I'm tired from work, looking at their picture I would get the encouragement 'to take care of you I must fight'. Right now in a family with Mom, Dad and Suni, when I'm tired, thinking of them would make me strive. But with no love relationship, marriage partner is... over... hahaha (laugh) Q4（1）：现在的张根硕描绘的30，40代是怎样的？A：虽然在演艺界的成功非常重要，但比这更重要的是建立家庭。想结婚，有很多孩子的愿望一直都有，有了家庭，一定比现在更有责任感，酒也会少喝. 我想，在工作累了的时候，看着家人的照片“为了守护大家我必须加油”会成为一种激励。现在是和父母及小纯三人一匹的家庭，疲惫的时候想着他们奋斗着。可是没有恋爱的时间，结婚对象就……以上。哈哈哈哈（笑）(neineilove)

Numero Tokyo interview rough trans: Q2: Actor, singer, businessman(?) what field you're using to conquer the world? A: All. Using all fields successfully to conquer the world is my dream. 'maybe one day stepping back from entertainment field' thought has never crossed my mind. Becoming actor singer looking for new dream, one side continuing my acting career, another side challenging new projects, this is where I stand... Q2(译）：演员，歌手，实业家将会以哪个分野进军世界？A：全部。以全部分野进军世界取得成功是我的梦想。“或许有从演艺界引退的那一天”这样的想法一次也没有过（爱你～）。作为演员歌手为寻求新的梦想，今后将一面继续演艺生涯，一面挑战新事业，这是我的立场原则 (neineilove)

Numero Tokyo interview rough trans: Q5: to become an artiste (or singer) how do you accumulate experience? A: every moment is an experience. to act in a variety program is a kind of experience. To do shooting for the programme, in the car going to TV station looking at the scenery is also an experience. Searching the meaning from all things, taking a step toward maturity... Q5(译）作为一个艺术家（或译“歌手”）今后将如何积累经验？A：所有的瞬间都是经验。出演各种各样的电视节目是一种经验，为了拍摄这些节目，在去电视台的车中看到的沿途风景也是一种经验。从所有的事物中寻找出它的意义，向着成长的下一个阶磴迈进。（25岁的思想家哲人）

credit: shiro (@shiro401) 

[ARTICLE] Jang Keun Suk @ Codes Combine Autograph Session

釜山光复店@张根硕 签名会速写（摘译1）登场，不是普通活泼的20代青年，而是韩流明星范，张根硕的登场令光复大道一带轰动。他此时身着的CC T恤，在签名会之后狂卖。2楼在自己的签名下写上“空彩（空签）”，跟着店内播放的自己的歌随意唱着，感受到他活跃的性格，如果熟识了一定很愉快有趣。


 签名会速写（摘译2）在一旁看着张根硕的签名会，感受到的是他对粉丝真的很好。一直带着满面的笑容不断地问候聊天，说天气谈釜山，令人心暖。签名后还对着外面等待自己的粉丝们打招呼。在见过的艺人中是最积极且正散发着能量的明星。


现场两日前开始排队的韩鳗和日鳗，由于一些通过代理人卖号码牌和趁便钻入的人，使得韩鳗们没有得到号码牌，而日鳗中排队两天得到号码牌的人，因为觉得愧对韩鳗，心里也很难过。察知这种情况后，小张在肩头僵痛，饮食难咽的身体状况下，紧急增加20个名额，

Translation:


Upon arrival, we see not just a bubbly 20yr old, but a star representative of Korea, JKS stirred a sensation on the street of Busan during the CC autograph session. The sales of CC tshirt he wore sold crazily well after the autpgraph session. on the 2nd level, after signing he wrote "empty sign" (not sure what this means), after which the store played his music which he sang along, we could feel his dynamic character, if we know him better, it would definitely be more fun

I was at the side watching JKS sign, i could feel he really treat his fan really nice. He was smiling all along and would casually greet (his fans), talking about the weather of Busan, really warms the hearts. After the autograph session, he even waved to the fans outside (who were waiting for him). He is, amongst the stars i have seen, one shining star who exudes positive energy
Sunday at 10:50pm · Edited · Like · 9

There were Korean and Japanese eels who started queuing 2 days ago, however, some who got numbers through the agent managed to "cut queue", resulted in some Korean eels who could not get the number (for the autograph session), and there were some Japanese eels who queued for 2 days and got the number, felt really bad for the Korean eels. After getting to know this, JKS, who is nursing a shoulder/neck pain, and not having good appetite, immediately decide to add another 20 eels for the autograph.


translation credit: Hazy lee @ ECI
credit: weibo

[ARTICLE] Jang Keun Suk @ Numero Tokyo [English Trans]

Trans: <Numero Tokyo> Editor's blog

Part 1 - especially for all to see Making one-shot

A book full of JKS on sale 28 Aug, comes with a 20-page specials of JKS

From Leslie Kee (photographer)'s planning, through injecting much emotions, finally, this is printed and on my desk.The shooting took place in end Jun. After 2 months of editing work, i was totally captured by JKS, his talents and amazing power to attract, i could feel it every moment whilst editing...

To us, he absolutely is a SUPER STAR, "although i am treated as an artiste, but i hope everyone could agree that i am just like anyone else. Although we live differently, but we all do eat, and do feel lonely at times, go through various emotions, that, we all get to feel" he said. only 25 years old, he has a determined "go straight" attitude to face his future plans.

He also shared with us plans that are currently in progress. every SHOT that were captured during the shooting, and his private precious personal digital diary are shared in the book. All of you must try to read it personally.

The following picture is the last SHOT of the production, specially ~

From head of editor

Part2: beloved Geun-chan

Finally a dream come true, produced a <booklet of JKS>; this stunning production, is in the form of a small magazine> thank you ~so touched.

Knew JKS 2 years ago, a chameleon full of changes, who gets crazy with FANs. When playing BGM music in the car, will definitely include his music. Even his fan club pages, it's so beautiful that i can't stop looking.......{skipped some parts}...........i was truly captivated by him during the shooting. How to describe? An amazing cuteness that is beyond words.

He would fully cooperate during the whole process - from shooting, the interview or changing of clothes. The whole place is filled with his energy and robustness, even after the shoot, you would want to be with him, still. For a long while, i have not had this kind of feeling as an editor (forgot my own role, coz too attracted by him). When i think back, the Japanese manager ever said, his attractiveness is not just "female killer", he is simply a "killer". In a moment, you will be deeply attracted by him.

part 3 i summary: the photoshoot was completed within amazing time, and whats more amazing is tgat he is perfect. the concept meeting was a short n simple one but once jks gets into the shooting mode, he coukd very quickly grasp what the pose n expression e photographer has in mind in a very natural manner. such talents is what truly makes him a star

tranlation credit: Hazy Lee @ ECI

[TWITTER] Codes Combine Interview

@codescombineluv: This is at the site of Codes Combine FW(Fall/Winter) shooting!! Both 2 actors, Jang Keun Suk and Go Jun Hee, are in an interview~~ It's very cheerful at the interview site~~

eng trans: sa_sha26
credit: codescombineluv

[VIDEO] Yahoo! Jang Keun Suk Crazy Mission Diary! [Eng Sub]

Mission 1: Distribute 50 of his albums to people.




Mission 2: Dance "Gangnam Style" at Shibuya






Mission 3: Taking picture with high school girls and kids. 






Video credit: Yahoo!
Translation: sa_sha26

[PHOTO] Jang Keun Suk @ Lotte September 2012 Calendar

Credits: Lotte Duty Free

[MAGAZINE] Jang Keun Suk @ Numero TOKYO October 2012

Credits: http://nikkan-spa.jp/278914, modelpress via Jang Keun Suk Forever

[NEWS] Jang Keun Suk and Baby Moon Mason Reunite for First Time in 5 Years

jang Keun Suk has reunited with his movie co-star, Moon Mason.

After starring in the movie Baby and I together in 2008 as father and son, the two hadn’t seen each other in five years.

But the two were reunited, according to photos uploaded on Moon Mason’s homepage on August 26. 

Titled, ‘‘Father and son’, Mason & Jang Keun Suk finally reunited after 5 years’, the pictures showed a series of the two stars striking various poses together.

Turns out the two recently made separate reservations for the same restaurant on the same day. 

After finding out, Jang Keun Suk went and sought out Moon Mason and his family where they held a mini-reunion of sorts as they shared a meal and stories in a happy time together. 

Jang Keun Suk was said to even refer to Moon Mason as his son as the two reunited with Jang Keun Suk even saying to Moon Mason, “When did our son grow up this much?”



source: http://enewsworld.mnet.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=13370
Photo Credit: Moon Mason’s homepage

[PHOTO] 8/25/2012 Busan Codes Combine autograph session (3)

credit: Jang Keun Suk Forever
Source: http://sweetishpoet.blog.me/100165685383