Prince of Asia defends his dignity, conquers the world, nears 20 years in showbiz

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

A Korean men's association has recently filed a legal petition to suspend screenings of "You're My Pet," a film the group has taken offense with due to its portrayal of male-female relationships. In the movie, gender relations are shown on par with that of a pet owner and her dog, they claim, calling this is "an insult to men's dignity as human beings."

In the film, a highly-educated single woman in her 30s played by Kim Ha-neul lives with a younger dancer played by Jang Keun-suk. In exchange for accommodation and food, the young dancer calls the woman "master" and loyally obeys her. The movie is based on a Japanese comic book that was hugely popular in Japan and Korea.

Upon hearing the news, Jang, 24, said, "Why wouldn't you be able to be like a pet if the woman is older, more capable, and the whole dinner menu changes when you please her?"

He said that men shouldn't take umbrage due to feelings of wounded pride. "You aren't always charming if you stay proud all the time," he said.


However, the film can hardly be said to have broad, cross-spectrum appeal. As a romantic comedy that lacks traces of both, it is expected to gain a following among Jang's fans but may struggle to find mainstream success.

"When I first read the script, I thought it was perfect for me," said Jang, who sings, dances and courts favor throughout the flick. "The slick and playful character matched my personality so much that I didn't have to think too hard about it."

Next year marks Jang's 20th year in showbiz. He debuted at the age of five as a clothes model.

"My childhood was quite different from other people, but I would do it all over again if I was given the choice," he said. "I was able to travel to many places and meet so many interesting people because of my job as an actor. I love the fact that I can try my hand at a number of different roles and challenges."

Jang is being touted as one of the newer Korean Wave stars following the huge success of the TV drama "You're Beautiful" in Japan and China, but he said his growing popularity does not interfere with his normal life at home.

"I freely walk around the streets and I go to university like a normal student," he said "If you stay at home all the time, how can you stay in touch with the world and gain the kind of experience you need in order to expand your horizons as an actor?"

"You need to be able to meet and communicate with people and observe how they interact, which can be invaluable to improving yourself as an actor. I think part of my job is to constantly study how people live," he added.

Showing his limitless ambition, he described his future goals as first conquering Asia and then becoming a global star.

"This is the way I approach things," he said. "If I were all talk and no action, I wouldn't be able to respect myself. So I set myself high goals and try my hardest to reinvent myself in that way. I never take anything for granted, whether it is my singing and recording or acting ability, because I want to be a household name in Asia and the rest of the world."

source: The Chosunilbo

Comments

[kissuholic.livejournal.com]

Jang Geun Suk, you precious thing, i adore you so much <3333

[devilstay.livejournal.com]

Is the movie any good? I absolutely adore the Japanese series, so I was just wondering.

Also the men complaining about this movie are just >_<. The reason the main girl, is more comfortable in a pet/master relationship with a man, is BECAUSE as a highly-educated, professional women she does not fit the stereotype of a female house-wife, and is constantly having to pussy-foot over her boyfriends ego, about their difference in wages, jobs etc. In order to keep him around.

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

No clue. I hear it hasn't been doing fantastically sales wise, but movie adaptations of manga tend to be horribad.

[akasuke.livejournal.com]

i've seen the japanese version called 'kimi wa petto'if im not mistaken. there wasnt any objection at that time relating to this matter.wonder why it suddenly has. anyway why are the koreans reproducing many japanese dramas/movies nowadays? anyway i usually prefer the original compared to the reproduction in other languages (i.e boys over flowers japan version vs korean version)

[xxqod.livejournal.com]

I like this guy so much. The things he says are just <3

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Ahjumma of Asia more like.

[frostedpopcorn.livejournal.com]

I knooooow, if only he'd go back to the glorious You Are Beautiful era (not the helmet hair though). *sigh*

[uledy.livejournal.com]

hehehe

[frostedpopcorn.livejournal.com]

ORACLE OF TRUTH. Somebody who knows the benefits of a noona, c'mere boy.. No seriously, I love him for saying this and all men being butthurt about this film can just go and cry in a corner - if it was about a female being a "pet", nobody would protest as much as people raising a fuss now.


_{Okay and now get a haircut and I can stan you again. Please. It's been so long.}

[one-dreamery.livejournal.com]

wtf who is this guy why is he so awesome where has he been all my life

[crucifiedhearts.livejournal.com]

are you being serious or no? i don't care what anyone says, i love him soooo much <3

[o-o-mai-o-o.livejournal.com]

they should be petitioning against his ahjumma hair instead, it's getting more and more tragic.

[o-o-mai-o-o.livejournal.com]

he was soooo hot in Beethoven's Virus, why did he become like this D;

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

He's slowly morphing in to an Older woman.

[letsrelapse.livejournal.com]

this. While I think he can /sometimes/(more often than not he looks like a ahjumma) work that scruffy, boho look, he was on fire in Beethoven Virus. Bring back the shaved head I say! And this is coming from someone that likes long hair on men D:

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

I know, right?! I would cry happy epic fangirl tears if he cuts his hair back to this:

[unlickdbearwhlp.livejournal.com]

I've seen Beethoven Virus, and I could've sworn up and down that I've never seen anything with Jang in it. Damn, that haircut makes a helluva difference.

[farda.livejournal.com]

his hair looks so glorious in a ponytail.

[letsrelapse.livejournal.com]

"In the movie, gender relations are shown on par with that of a pet owner and her dog" um. Isn't that the point?

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

after seeing that gif, i think they should just ban his face. what a scary face.

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

homaygass! your username! O_o

i was like, why is sungjong a scum? and then i realise it's meant to be sungjong's cum. haha!

[weerainbow.livejournal.com]

I really like his thoughts on expanding his horizons as an actor and how he feels he should make opportunities to interact with real life and communicate with people. It's true. How can someone emulate life if they're not living it?

[velveteenkitten.livejournal.com]

He said that men shouldn't take umbrage due to feelings of wounded pride. "You aren't always charming if you stay proud all the time," he said.

A-fucking-MEN!

[seouldew.livejournal.com]

I don't give a shit. I wanna see that movie so bad ;A; the japanese series was the bomb diggity.

Jang Geun Suk ♥

[emeraldxdew.livejournal.com]

*sigh* more reasons why this man is ~perfect~

[chunsakuma.livejournal.com]

I couldn't even read the article tbh because that sweater blinded me with its hideousness.

[shintotchi.livejournal.com]

LOL

[kerynr.livejournal.com]

I like you. (But pls, no more wavy hair.)

[uledy.livejournal.com]

will omona ever stop talking about how jks's transformation from bv to bof???? he's looked this way for a while now and it'll only really die out once it becomes less popular in japan...so...stop grumping about it. i think he looks sexy either way

[karavanuemura.livejournal.com]

Obviously, it'd be MEN who would freak out with the issue. Speaking of their e-go-s.

[catscomics.livejournal.com]

I found it funny that when the Japanese series was shown no men in Japan have said a thing. Men whining about this kind of stuff just makes me look down on them more.

[hoyah.livejournal.com]

:) jang geunsuk doesn't take this drama too seriously - i like that. he has such a down to earth attitude sometimes, with so many of the things he says. it's nice

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

Sorry the Magic Stick does not give rides. That is how he planned on doing this global take over, right?

[siobhangx.livejournal.com]

He said that men shouldn't take umbrage due to feelings of wounded pride. "You aren't always charming if you stay proud all the time," he said.

Every time I think I can't love this guy more...