Fan Club Goodies

All About LEE, BYUNGHUN

Article translated by Hyc from Chinese text by Ping

All About Lee Byung Hun - A to Z

Understanding Byung Hun - 26 factors

All About LBH

Awards
Already entering 15th year of his acting career, Lee Byung Hun had won numerous awards for dramas and movies.
Here is the list of awards won by him since 1992
Dramas
1992 - KBS new actor award for Tomorrow Love
1993 - Outstanding new actor award for Police
Movies
1996 - Daejong Movie New face award from movie Runaway
After that, he experienced some moments of failure in his acting career and felt defeated.
2000 - Best Actor at Pusan Critic Award; Lee Byung-hun/Song Kang-ho for JSA
2001 - Blue Dragon most popular star award for JSA
2003 - Best Performing Actor at the 39th Baeksang Awards for All In
2005 - A Bittersweet Life Best Actor at 25th Korean Critics Awards
2005 - A Bittersweet Life Best Actor 13th Chunsa Film Art Awards
2006 - A Bittersweet Life Best Actor at 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards

Blood Type
His blood-group is O, - strong will, warm-hearted, good leadership- BH is tolerant and not rigid in his behavior.
He is a strong leader and has unusual charm, which matches with the O type basic character.

Childhood
According to his classmates, he was a courteous and humble boy. At that time, when his younger sister took part in CF modeling activities, he would hold her hand and walked with her. The reporter commended him as a lovable youth. But BH laughed and talked about his childhood mischievousness, playing baseball with his sister in the street and often breaking windows of some houses. The first movie he watched with his mother, "Papillon", stirred up his interest as an actor.

Debut
In 1991 BH joined KBS14th actor training class and participated in the drama "Asphalt my hometown", although it's a performance, but there was no true acting. His first real acting was in the 1992 drama "Tomorrow Love", which was about campus life and love of university students. It was very popular. BH once commented that his performance in "Tomorrow love" was somewhat clumsy, and felt slightly embarrassed. Now the drama receives appraisal and it’s a good drama about young people.

Education
Finished Primary, Junior and Senior High school, and Hanyang University (Major in French Literature).
After that he had interest in acting and joined Graduate School of Chungang University (Major in Theatre and Cinematography)

Fanclub
Official Korean Fan Club (Byunghun & Rubeurs), home page www.leebyunghun.com
Due to his popularity in Japan, The Lee Byung Hun Official Japanese Fan Club was set up,
home page www.byung-hun.com.

Goods
Commodity adaptation. Selling ceramics is a new attempt in South Korea, also selling them in Japan BH's individual commodities are mostly sold in Japan, no. 1 in the Amazon www.amazon.com commodity preorder list, proving his popularity. It's regrettable that problem arises when there is no legal approval from his management company to sell some products, and they had strongly protested the issue.

Hobby
He loves to collect caps and travel. When taking photos, he likes to wear his favorite cap. He likes traveling and posted his photos at his Japanese blog, and received good response. He mentioned that, "It's an extremely interesting new thing, the blog." The blog is closed now.

Idol
In 2003 he became buddy to Jacky Chan, his idol since childhood. "Jacky Chan was my first diary topic, my idol, became buddy after chanced meeting. At first it was just social collaboration, but after 2 years of maintaining closer contact an alliance was formed." Will they work together in some project?

Jinx
Before filming he likes to drink coffee to add to his alertness. "A Bittersweet Life" director Kim admitted that he also liked coffee. The movie set staff had to prepare coffee for them.

Killer Smile
Killer Smile-A well-known fact, showing pure white teeth, refreshing smile, and Dunkin doughnut cf In 2001 while doing the cf, he ate 60 doughnuts, and finally it was ok. The smiling look exactly matched the advertisement requirement. "The doughnut is very delicious." At the cf location, many school girls were gathering there to watch the shooting.

Love
For the past 10 years, there were not been many known love affair. The only publicly announced one was in 2003 with "All In" co-star, a difference of 12 years affection, last for 1 year and ended in June 2004.Their Italian photographing for a magazine/Visit to Taiwan and other social activities had also vanished altogether. His 2004 June report explaining his regret for the split is a courteous way to protect the other party, clearing any doubt on speculated reports of the split.

Music Video
To Heaven - Showing tenacious charm, most memorable scene is the sudden kissing of the girl to escape the police chase, the "musical recording" inspired enormous response. "Immortality Love" 1, 2 was done in different version. In April, 2005, BH edited the Music Video for "A Bittersweet Life" OST using scenes not shown in the movie, showing his caliber.

Nickname
When he first started acting, he was called "Big Culkin" because he resembled American child star 'Macaulay Culkin' when he was telling jokes. When his works unceasingly increased, gradually showing his charisma, he got the name 'James Dean', both similar in their physique, rebellious and intense gaze. But BH is already going beyond Asia to the European market, possibly one day foreign actors are called "BHXX"!

Old & Young
This year BH is 35. It could be said it’s the peak of an actor's career. When he was young, he was a youthful star that speeded up ones heart beat. At 30 he was a renowned actor. The maturing seems not to affect him at all, in fact the changes adding more to his unique and amazing charm.

Partner
Many actresses have co-starred with him at least twice.
Choi Jin Shil - Who Drives Me Mad, The Fragrance of Love, The Asphalt Guy aka Legend Of Car God
Shim Eun Ha - Beautiful My Lady, White Night 3.98
Lee Mi Yeon - Addiction, Harmonium in My Memory
Choi Ji Woo - Beautiful Days, Everyone Has Secrets
Kim Ha Neul - To Heaven, Happy Together
Lee Young Ae - Legend of Car God, Joint Security Area

Quantity
There are about 40 pieces of his work, from the earlier dramas to movies, including guest appearances in drama "I do", "Sunflower", "The Return of Sally" and "Road".

Red Carpet
This year May 2005, he made it to the Cannes film festival and walked the red carpet. His movie "A Bittersweet Life" was in the invitation list of the 58th Cannes film festival non-competition section. He visited France together with director Kim and Shin Min Ah. On May 16 at the premier of his movie at the film festival main theater, he was a bit tense when he entered the arena. But when the show was over and during photographing at the press conference, his cheeky and lively personality resurfaced.

Sister
His younger sister was 1996 Miss South Korea Lee Eun Hee. Before that, she was a model for children cf. Lee Eun Hee's childhood feature was already etched in people's heart. When Lee Eun Hee, whose facial feature resembled Western European- participated in 1996 Miss South Korean pageant, her invariable beauty was still deep in people's memory. There is a difference of 7 years between brother and sister. Beauty runs in the family, some said it’s not fair, but actually it’s the blessed fortune that one envies.

Turning Point
In 1991 his first youthful appearance drew immense response from the public. But he experienced failure when he ventured into the movie world. "Who Drives Me Mad", "Runaway", "Their World" and "Elegy of the Earth" and other work were not well-accepted and received lots of criticism. What Lee Byung Hun got in his attempt at movie was totally different from the result of his TV dramas. Until "JSA" in the year 2000, his acting career took on a new prospect. His portrayal of a lost soul in human nature received good appraisal, followed by "Bungee Jumping of their Own", "Harmonium in My Memory", "Addiction" and others, showing his acting skill.

Unknown
Did he cut any album? He used the 1999 TV drama "Happy Together" OST "Tears" as the theme song of his album; his low and rich voice is full of charisma. Now this album is difficult to get in the market, but several websites provide free listening services.

Voice
BH’s voice is very well known, low bass, projecting masculine charm and quietly romantic. His voice is an asset in his acting, and this resulted in his being invited to do the background vocal recording for cartoon animation.

World Star
Right now he's getting ready to enter into Hollywood. Recently he had signed contract with CAA. The "Asian James Dean", this unsurpassed commendation of him, going beyond Asia, and becoming an international star. The speculation of him conquering the American market seems to be a very close possibility. (note: his current agency is Endeavor)

X-file
This involved the private lives of stars, which raised the concern of the whole nation. The untrue speculation and rumors caused much confusion to those who were affected. Regarding the X-file, BH posted a message in his dot.com, giving his opinion about the matter showing his super star quality.

Yet
He is one of the Hallyu stars whom enjoy the highest fame. Since “A Bittersweet Life” he’s been resting and waiting to enter into Hollywood. How far would he go to achieve his ambition? Or is there still no concrete plan? These are all the anticipation of his fans.

Zodiac
BH's birthday is on July 12th, zodiac sign is Cancer. In the second half of 2005, Cancerians will be enjoying harvesting time after working diligently. It’s time to take the initiative in love. Economy wise, it’s time to think about changes in the commercial territory, widens his horizon and accumulating life's experiences. A momentous setback, take a break, and advancing towards his goal.