Joo Won: My Favorite Man

Actually, I've already written a Joo Won write up via MS Word and had it saved on my laptop. I should be posting that one here but I realized the whole thing was 7 pages long. So, err, I don't think anyone would want to read such long post.

I knew Joo Won first in his debut drama, Baker King, Kim Tak Gu, way back in 2010. I was a fan of that drama but I hated the antagonist so much! Joo Won was that antagonist, Gu Ma Jun. He stole the love of female lead, Eugene's character (my reason for watching the drama in the first place) from the protagonist, Kim Tak Gu (played by Yoon Shi Yoon). They even got married in the middle of the drama. I hated the turn of events so much that I dropped it, like a hot potato. Until now, I haven't finished it yet.

BKKTG is the first korean drama which got 50% of viewership in 3 years, after Jumong. It made Yoon Shi Yoon and Joo Won, who were both rookies at that time, overnight stars. Even though both were praised for their performance, it was Joo Won who obviously garnered more attention from the viewers. However, some of the critics felt otherwise, they criticized Joo Won as overacting. 

                               

Because I hated him so much on his first drama, I didn't bother looking beyond the role and the actor playing the character. So I didn't remember him after BKKTG. However, when I watched him in a drama for the second time, Level 7 Civil Servant, playing the role of Han Gil Ro, I thought he was so namja, haha!

And when I say namja, I mean that he seems like very much experienced with adult stuff, hahaha. I don't know why, it must be because of his role that's always clingy and touchy to his girl. But I liked him as Gil Ro nevertheless.

Then came the time when I read a comment somewhere saying he's actually gay in real life. Whut! Gay? Seriously?! I was so surprised to see that, it broke my heart. I wondered what made that anon to say such so I watched one Joo Won clip (1N2D) on youtube. I observed it and dang, I said to myself, "He's gay.".

After that 'he's gay' incident, I could hardly watch L7CS without having a crazy conversation in my head, 

'Is he gay?'
'No no no. He can't be gay. He's so namja!'
'But he acts gay in real life.'
'I don't want him to be gay!' 

Yes. It went like that but I kept watching anyway because I liked his character so much. So much that I didn't want to let go of him, I wanted him to stay as Gil Ro. 

Of course, the drama ended, and I felt sad. I was starting to miss seeing Joo Won act and him being possibly gay didn't matter anymore, I wanted to see him act again. So I googled him and found his other dramas: Ojakgyo Brothers and Bridal Mask. I've heard of these two dramas even before and read some good reviews, but OB is a 50+ episode drama and Bridal Mask is an action drama, so I didn't really give either a shot. But when I started to miss Joo Won on my screen, I risked and watched OB first. 

                      

                        

I love OB so muchhhhh! The drama that I still keep on rewatching even until now. This is Joo Won's second drama after BKKTG and this as well, rated very high with almost 40% viewership. He played Hwang Tae Hee, the lonely and cold police officer who eventually fell in love with our not-so-typical, spoiled brat heroine, Baek Ja Eun (played by Uee). 

Joo Won was so perfect in this drama. He was the perfect son, brother, officer and of course, the perfect boyfriend. And even though this was only his second drama, I could really see how his acting improved so much after BKKTG. I think OB is one of his dramas that he acted the best. It probably helped that he has good feelings for Uee. 

Both were cool to admit that they liked each other at one point but didn't take it any further because of other commitments. They are actually my ultimate ship. I knew there must be something going on behind the camera for them to act that realistically. So Joo Won being gay momentarily vanished from my mind. These two remained to be good friends until now though, so I'm happy nonetheless. 

After OB, I watched Bridal Mask. I don't really like action dramas, but Joo Won made me watch it. And OMG!! It was epic!!!! And Joo Won? Joo Won was phenomenal as Bridal Mask! It was his first lead and a titular role at that, and it was also the most expensive drama of the year so imagine the burden Joo Won had to face, plus, he was still considered a rookie with only a year of acting experience. But knowing Joo Won, he accepted the role to challenge himself, even though his hallyu status was at stake.

You see, the drama is set in the 1930's during Japanese Colonial Period, so expect that the drama would somehow depict some violence of the Japs during those times. It is a story of a man named Lee Kang To (Joo Won), the most hated Joseon traitor and how he became the hero fighting for freedom, behind a bridal mask. 

I fell haaaaaard for Joo Won here. He was badass, sadistic, ambitious, obviously not your ideal guy (and obviously not gay). So different from all his other characters. It was like watching another Joo Won, a whole new Joo Won. He was really amazing in it!!! I marathon-ed the 28-episode drama in just two days, I almost didn't sleep. It was the best drama and the best acting I've ever seen. 

Joo Won's crying scenes were so realistic you'd get goosebumps, seriously. He proved his talent as an actor through this drama. Good thing, the drama had very high ratings, leading to tag Joo Won as the 'Ratings Man' with three consecutive high rating dramas. 

   

     

    

I wasn't able to immediately moved on from the drama, I rewatched it again, watched BTS clips, read interviews of the cast. They were truly daebak! And it's the best drama I've seen in my whole watching of Asian dramas! 

Then still I couldn't get enough of Joo Won, I watched his variety show, 1N2D. I didn't know the show's concept, all I wanted was to see Joo Won. He played the role of the maknae and he was so much adorable! He was so cute but at the same time so hot. I don't have any idea how he could do that. 

Through 1N2D, I got to know the other side of Joo Won, totally 180 degrees turn from his roles on screen. I thought he has some kind of a twin because it just doesn't make sense that this lovely maknae in 1N2D is the same guy who played Lee Kang To, Gu Ma Jun, Hwang Tae Hee and Han Gil Ro. And I'm not the only one who feel this, most of the ifans appreciate Joo Won's chameleon acting skills and his diversity in every role he has taken. 

He loves to eat.

And eat.

And eat more.

Just keep on eating.

 And eating...

He fears insets.

Or eels.

Or maybe just anything.

He's pretty competitive.

He can't drink alcohol. 

 He hates the taste of it.

Though he doesn't admit it, he does aegyo, A LOT.

I don't know how he does it, but he always lucks out on games.

But gets wrong answers for general knowledge quizzes.

He has his own way of doing things.

Of course, he does silly and embarrassing stuff too.

This is how he sleeps.

And this is how he looks in the morning.

He shies away from girls.

He never loses his focus and is a very good observant.

Unknown to many, but Joo Won has freaking amazing dancing skills.

Haha no? But really, here.

I also found out that he sings. And damn, his voice is simply amazing! He was a musical actor before he debuted in BKKTG. He was quite known in the musical stage, even with his young age. He got his first role in Altar Boyz musical immediately as the lead. Then, he got involved with other musicals such as Grease, Singles and Spring Awakening. Here are some of his photos during his musical days. 

Then just when I thought Joo Won is perfect already, I saw this interview of him...

He was disappointed with his self for changing his perspective towards girls and relationships. He promised when he was young that he'd love without conditions, that he'd love purely, but that seemed hard when he became an adult and started setting standards on what kind of girl he should date. There was a girl he really liked but he thought that girl didn't meet his standards so he took her for granted. He got so busy with his work that he even forgot the girl's birthday. He didn't get the chance to even greet her and he hated his self for being such a jerk. That was the time he decided to let go than to keep hurting her.

I cried watching this interview. He looked so pure, innocent, honest, fragile, ahhh I don't know boys like him still exist. I know he's an actor and he could just be faking tears, but you can really see in his eyes that hes hurt and he didn't want to cry but he couldn't help it. If you've watched the whole interview, you'll understand. 

I became a HUGE fan since then. I watched everything he has taken part of. I read all his interviews. I listened to his voice repeatedly. I tried to know more about him as much as I could. 

I've watched dramas for years already and I've seen so many actors. I had liked most of them but no one that I avidly followed... until Joo Won. He's not only a good actor, he has even a better personality off cam. I may not know him personally, but I am sure he has a kind heart. 

Honestly, I think of Joo Won as the boy version of myself, not in the acting department but in how we view life. It's like having the same mind, the same thoughts with him. The way he talks, his choice of words or how he does interviews, too sincere to think it's just PR. It's like, in his every answer, I say to myself, 'That's how I'd answer that question too.' He's a positive thinker but he knows anything can happen. He wants improvement, rather than change. He enjoys being an actor but doesn't want to be a celebrity. He wants to get known not for popularity but for recognition. He wants to be a man not a boy. He loves simply because he wants to be happy. 

I know someday I'd grow tired fangirling over Joo Won (well that's what always happen with my previous celeb crushes) and I might even not want to remember any of this. I will have my own life that I won't bother checking his whereabouts, updates, or even his new projects. I would totally forget that I had loved a Joo Won in my life. But I want to remember this moment, I want to remember that someone has become my inspiration to be a better person and to always go for my dreams and for that, I'm forever thankful.