Friday, August 26, 2011

[Article] Kim Hyun Joong shines bright in Philippine visit

Credit: ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/okpop/kim-hyun-joong-shines-bright-philippine-visit-022116639.html

Korean hallyu star and Yahoo! Asia Buzz Awards veteran winner Kim Hyun Joong personally greeted the Philippine press and his fans on August 25 as part of his Asia-wide promotional activities for "Break Down", his first mini album.

As previously reported in Yahoo! Philippines OMG!, Kim Hyun Joong fans have been counting the days to his Manila visit. In fact, Filipino Triple S and Henecians, as Kim Hyun Joong fans are called, have created several consolidated efforts to show their love for Kim Hyun Joong including fan chants, welcoming (and farewell) committees, and a lot (and I mean a lot!) of fan gifts.

Kim Hyun Joong initially became popular in the country for his portrayal of the unrequited lover Yoon Ji Hoo in "Boys Over Flowers". His fans also know him from his previous reality TV stint in "We Got Married" where he was "married" to an older Korean singer named Hwang Bo.  His latest drama starrer, 'Playful Kiss' generated high ratings for GMA7 during its local run. Aside from acting, Kim Hyun Joong is also known for his singing and dancing talents as leader of the idol group SS501. "Break Down" is his first release as a solo performer.

Kim Hyun Joong is known to his fans by a myriad of titles or terms of endearment.  The more popular Kim Hyun Joong titles include "Leader" for being the leader of idol group SS501, "4-D" or "4-Dimensional" for his many out-of-this-world quips during interviews, and "Walking Statue" for his near perfect physical form.

During his press conference held at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel, Kim Hyun Joong revealed that he indeed deserved these titles.

Kim Hyun Joong as 'Leader'

Kim Hyun Joong's commitment to perfecting his craft, which includes singing and acting, is apparent when he expressed that "being a singer and an actor at the same time is a great task for me." He further expressed that: "In my official album, I was involved in the whole process including jacket design, lyrics, melody…all in all and with your love, this will be a great success."

Asked about his upcoming projects, Kim Hyun Joong revealed that he is working on a second album due out in October and that he will start an Asian concert tour by December. Without being prompted, the star showed his leadership when he expressed that he will try to include the Philippines as a stop in his Asian tour. He also mentioned plans to do a drama and perhaps a movie in 2012.

Kim Hyun Joong as '4-D' or 'Four-Dimensional'

Kim Hyun Joong is known for his propensity to give unique and slightly kooky responses to interview questions inspiring fans to tag him as "The 4-D Idol". So, did he exhibit "4-Dness" during the press conference? The answer is a resounding "Yes!"

When asked about which music video was the most memorable for him, Kim Hyun Joong expressed that he worked hard on all of them. However, after a fan shouted "How about Kiss Kiss?" Kim Hyun Joong offered his sweet smile and said "Well, I'm telling the truth, 'Kiss Kiss' was the lowest budget music video" eliciting laughter from the press.

Kim Hyun Joong also exhibited his "4-Dness" when he tried to give his microphone to his translator who had some problems with his. Kim Hyun Joong even went as far as trying to fix the microphone by taking it apart. Exactly who is the star here? You or the translator? There is indeed something 4-D yet extremely lovable about that gesture.

Kim Hyun Joong as 'Walking Statue'

There's no denying it. Kim Hyun Joong is one of the finest Korean stars of this generation. His tall physique, glowing skin, stylish blond hair, and perfect profile lives up to the title "Walking Statue".

Wearing a semi-formal black suit with leather details, Kim Hyun Joong can just stand in front and it will be enough to satisfy his fans. There are stars that look good in photos but look ordinary in person. This cannot be said of Kim Hyun Joong. If you think he looks good in photos, you should see him in person. Photos simply do not do him justice.

Kim Hyun Joong's 'Hi Five Touch Event'

Kim Hyun Joong's "Hi Five Touch Event" at Ayala's Trinoma Mall was a real success as 500 Filipino fans got to run up to the star and give him a "hi-five" or in Filipino, an "apir!"

This unique fan event, the first of its kind in the country, reveals an innovative way for fans to interact with their favorite stars. It was touching to see that Kim Hyun Joong worked hard in giving each and every one of his 500 fans a warm smile and a personal "thank you (very much)". He took special care of little girls who went to see him. Indeed, Kim Hyun Joong has surpassed the expectations of his Filipino fans.

Today, August 25, 2011, will be treasured in their memories as the day they finally saw (and/or touched) a walking statue!

Photos by Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images

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