See YOO in Dec.8.2009

It's Time For Rest

Aricle sr:baidu

re-posted@yoohouse by SantaLF

Before I wrote this article, I had a look again at a copy of last year’s Esquire December 2006 issue, which was really quite well written. Just about one year after, “Esquire” wanted to have another article about an interview with Gong Yoo, but not the kind where we sit down together with a tape recorder, but to go to Jeju Island with GY for a short trip together, and write my feelings about the experience, now I have been sitting in front of my computer staring blankly for a long time, because all the words that come to mind are the words which seem to be the words which were already used in last year’s article, and retrieving a copy of last year’s article in my computer confirmed that the words are the same, my impressions of GY this time are exactly the same as they were last year.

Man changes as time changes, nobody is an exception, and only the degree of change may be different. Is it then that in one year’s time, this man called Gong Yoo did not change at all? From his experience as an actor, the Gong Yoo from one year ago is completely different from the Gong Yoo now. Of course, it was during this year that the character of Choi Han Kyeul in the 2007 Korean trendy TV drama – “The No.1 Shop of the Coffee Prince” completely made him into a real star.

Borrowing from words I used last time, Seo Gun in “One Fine Day” is similar to Gong Yoo’s image, but in CP, there is a feeling from beginning to end that “the role was written for Gong Yoo, isn’t it ?” like I was watching the real Gong Yoo I know moving about in the TV screen. Based on the current circumstances, Choi Han Kyeul is the image of what all the ladies in Korea would like their men to be, physically handsome and cool, wealthy and capable, he may seem a bit cold, but actually deep inside nobody can be more thoughtful, morally upright, it looks like Choi Han Kyeul is even more like Gong Yoo himself [than Seo Gun was].

Actually, for this trip to Jeju Island to do the photo-shoot, the first objective is to work, the second objective is, given that we have been busy the whole year, I was hoping to take this as an opportunity for us to catch up with one another. I was really looking forward to this trip to Jeju Island, but because of the anniversary issue of the magazine, I just completed 13 days non-stop work going around Asia and America, I was extremely tired and sleep deprived. Gong Yoo was already on his rest period and asked by the photography team to stay in Jeju Island for a few days, I thought I will wait until he flies back to Seoul as it would be better to call him then and ask him questions to confirm the things I want to talk about by telephone, so that I can catch up with some sleep with the cool sea breeze on the Jeju Island seaside, drinking wine on the one hand and chatting with him on the other hand telling him I’m already regretting , “Life is lived in the midst of regrets, a life lived without mistakes is meaningless.”(This refers to GY’s quoting this line in the 2006 article to explain GY’s approach to life.)

He is like my good friend, not someone who only calls when there’s something urgent, but tries to see things from my viewpoint; he first asks me what my arrangement for our interview is, using his magnetic low voice like a friend to remind himself of the agreed time for our appointment. When the time to talk has come, he did not show any tiredness from his trip,I directly asked him “Through “Esquire” tell everyone what you want to do.” “Do you want to increase my burden?” after 40 minutes of talking since we started,

actually, he was the only one talking, all I said was “Yes” , “It’s like that” expressing my agreement with him, unable to get any other words in during the interview. This soon to be 30, 29 year old man, is surprisingly having trouble with life , a professional actor suddenly becoming a popular actor, the more he could not come to terms with this process, the more difficult it will be. The beginning of this year was the most troubled period in his life, one of the biggest problems for him was that he was unable to feel any joy in acting, and a fear started to grow in him that acting will merely become a means to earn a living, he began acting when he was 20, and later he felt that at the beginning he was too young so he approached things too simply, but like what most people concluded after CP ended, the 2% lacking was borne out of his innate urgency which manifested into a fear, so that nobody could have been happier with the success of CP

[NB: see Side Note below], and he even told me : I would like to thank all those who told me these words – “Do not give up your dreams, become the passionate Gong Yoo once again and rise to the challenge of your next work”. Talking about all the people who worked with him in CP whom he now cannot see regularly, he feels a sense of loneliness, if you say that his concern in his previous works was to meet his own individual expectations, this time he was able to comprehend during the filming process that how you influence the people you work with, the director and the production team, to work together in unison is what is most important, for this he is very thankful. Of course, it would be difficult to be satisfied if this standard is also used to choose his next work. He looks like he wants to pick up a pen and write on a piece of paper

“I will not let my passion wane …”

and a man able to write those words is indeed a man who has passion. As an actor, soon to become 30, his passion for his work is not lacking, this is what moves me the deepest about him, because his passion is something I am genuinely in awe of on the one hand, but on the other hand, concerned that it must not suddenly be extinguished, to maintain the energy there needs to be constant recharging. Other things don’t matter, what matters is that one is doing what makes one happy, the person that he is that is able to take all kinds of pain, this quality is a necessary element that a star of this generation must have. I’m not sure who told him that you only need 2% lacking, no matter whether in the past or one year ago or now, there is nothing lacking, he is truly an epitome of the best of Korea’s youth. While there may be a degree of doubt about this for some, I firmly believe in this.


[Side Notes: Not sure if something may have been missed in the translation from the original as this 2% seems to come out of nowhere so not sure of the context it is being used. But I presume one interpretation is that he may have set high standards for himself so he only needs to lack 2% to consider it to be a failure, as artists like him are prone to perfection.]

Chinese->English Translation by ariesw@yoohouse

re-posted@yoohouse by aalhl

pic. sr:sidus

...............YOOgals Chat.............

Queenine said " OMG...reading the article unnie angel made me sad again just thinking of 2yrs without a glimpse of this guy...iTS just so unbearable.
runs off to *hide* inside the closet to *sob* getting such respect as this from a writer proves that BABY YOO is really a rare GEM...simply one of a kind. A TRUE "EMBODIMENT" of "PERFECTION"
...gosh i just cant get over this sensation. BABY YOO is the only actor i respected this much and no one else. dang IM SO PROUD TO be his fan...Proud to be a YOOGAL.
unnie angel and ariesw...once again you make my gloomy day brighter...love you.muwaaaaah"

Angel said "It's so true queenie.. baby YOO is indeed a rare GEM. The writer really admire and respect baby YOO. I love each and everything that the writer wrote about YOO. It's so beautiful. Like you I'm trully proud to be a YOOgal. Anyway, I hopewill translate the 2006 article as well (She thought that it was already translated) and we will see what the writer say about YOO last year."

Val said "AGREE Queenie, he's a rare GEM, and I'm so PROUD to be a YOOGAL. Never felt urging to be a fan of any actors before. But I'm really proud to be GY's fan now."

YEHbaby said "i think Baby Yoo is the type of person who doesn't want to cheat his audience. if he no longer finds joy in acting, and just go through the motions to earn a paycheck, he would feel terrible about it. he wants to live and do things with passion. i find this very inspiring, for how many of us can truly say we work because of passion? how many of us hold jobs we merely tolerate to keep our ricebowls and pay the rent? too many."

Angel said " That is so true Yehbaby. I also feel that baby YOO is a person who would like to tell his audience/fans true first hand information. I believe he also mention in one interview before that he act because of his strong passion for it.. and only after he get married and have a family, then he will consider acting as a work to earn paycheck."

YEHbaby said "i am just really happy that he is finally earning the recognition he richly deserves now. whether he wins the award on Sunday night or not, critics and viewers alike have truely sat up and taken notice of Gong Yoo - the true and passionate actor. that is the biggest reward already. Baby Yoo has so much talent. he just needs to believe in himself a bit more. that would make up his 2%" lacking.

Angel said "yes.. doesn't matter if he wins or not this Sunday, he's already earned his success and rewards. He certainly have to have more belief and confidence in himself."

OC said "Goshhh...very long article for me !!! but it's worth to read it. baby YOO very smart & have a some latent to answer the Question. His answer from deepest of his heart not make for celebrity. no doubt why i have to re-read his msg. everytimes when i thinking of him."

Angel said "yep.. he's our Mr. Smart Guy, and Mr. Honest, Mr. Sincerity, and the list goes one.."

Natedao said " The writer says GY is more like Choi Han Kyul:more thoughtful, morally upright...wow...w he seems have a fasinating insight into BaBy YOo(except you,unnie mommy!), describes him so cleary to my eyes and what i'm going to say that isn't Mr.Choi Han Kyul in CP whom many people(me counted)suddenly fall for him? .... That means Mr.Gong Ji Cheol himself who we're completely in LOVE with?"

Natedao said " his passion for his work will not be eaten up! I still want to watch his great performnace again! i can wait next 2 yrs.. unnie mommy, i really love this writer and also your friend, ariesw for translating. this guy just ensures me with his factual content what i see, i think, i feel about GY, he's down-to-earth sort of person who is worthy for our Admiration...i'm raising up my right hand agree with him and...two-thumbs up on my left hand and...nodding my head
nothing eles i can do with any part of my body now except my Heart! hahaha..."

Unnie Euchan said " thanx mommy and ariesw for the translation this article is really touching,it shows the different side of Yoo the Yoo whos always been humble and passionate in his work and with this article I think it is safe to say that GY has a very deep personality and his perception in life is already mature.i do agree that GY is very similar to CHK that’s why playing his character comes to him naturally"

FayGong said" Thank you again my angel for posting it and for for the translation. It is very nice to know that whatever change that came about to the man we so admire and adore was when his passion for acting was rekindled when he did Coffee Prince... he will have to deal with his “star status” though. Being hounded by paparazzi and having every action magnified by the press or his detractors are just some of the irritants that comes with being famous. But such is the life of a celebrity and the sooner that he come to terms with that the easier his life will be. It is one thing to get acclimated with fame and glam and another to be consumed by the system so there’s nothing wrong with being used to popularity and actually enjoys the attention and the accolades as long as he keeps his feet well planted on the ground. This is when the role of his parents and how they raised him becomes evident and I’m sure that in time; he will come around and will be able to handle his changed stature."