Jun Il Woo in Europe
9 May 2009
Following the final broadcast of Return of Iljimae on April 9, Jung Il Woo embarked on a European vacation. Elle Girl followed him to London, England, for a photo spread of Bean Pole fashions. Jung also did a write-up – much like a journal entry – for the magazine. Photos and a summary of the information he provided are below.
April 2 was Jung Il Woo’s last day of filming Return of Iljimae. For a week, he spent his time in such solitude that it got dull. Jung had previously said that he wouldn’t take a step outside of his bed after filming, but that didn’t work out either. Iljimae was still affecting his reality although he no longer wore the costume. Return of Iljimae’s finale, episode 24, aired on April 9. His heart didn’t pound as if it would pop out. Instead, there was a feeling of something escaping from his body; he likened the feeling to having an ice cream that you were saving melt in the dazzling sunshine.
Jung got his hair cut two days before leaving for London. Since his next project hasn’t been chosen yet, he only got 10cm cut from the long hair he grew for Return of Iljimae.
Jung was able to tolerate the 12-hour plane ride well by listening to music by the Arctic Monkeys and Dynamic Duo, as well as reading a book by Okuda Hideo. He enjoys reading Okuda Hideo’s light-hearted books, and it was difficult to suppress his laughter on the plane. After the plane lands, he collects his luggage and exits the gates to be greeted by blue skies.
It’s London. From this moment, I shall spend my time in anonymity
This was Jung’s third time in London. He prefers quiet, restful places where nobody takes notice even if you walk around swinging your arms, such as Japan’s Daikanyama or Switzerland’s Berne. However, in times like this when he just completed a production, Jung prefers to wander senselessly where there is a surging crowd of people. It’s his method of trying to shed the character that is stuck in his body. It’s his “homework” during this vacation, but he questions whether or not he can really let go of Iljimae, who was part of his identity for seven months.
When Jung got up and looked at the time, it was just before 6am. After only washing his face and putting on a tracksuit, he exited the hotel. The morning atmosphere of the city that has gone into Easter holiday is as solemn as the fog that has descended all the way to the ground. He jogged to the Thames River. Going past Westminster and Big Ben, he passed only a man hiking with his dog and a student walking with music as loud as if it was on speakers. Jung continued running without rest until the London Eye. Stopping, he sat on a bench and listened to his latest musical addiction – Craig David’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water” – before getting up. Although he wanted to keep going to the Tate Modern, it was enough running for the day.
Later, he met up with a friend residing in London. They became close friends during middle school but haven’t seen each other in almost a year since his friend now studies footwear design at London College of Design. (Il Woo’s nickname in middle school was Il Goo – his friends made ‘Goo’ the last syllable to each of their names.) The two friends will be soon be travelling to Jung’s next destination, Berlin, together. Jung is looking forward to his first time going on vacation with a friend.
They walked from the entrance of Covent Garden towards the British Museum. Jung visits this place everytime he comes [to London], not only because he’s impressed with the scale and quality of exhibitions, but because there’s a cafeteria that he likes to the right of the first floor entrance. He feels like he can distance himself from the busyness of London by sitting to drink an Americano at one of the long, white, bar-like tables. While his friend check out an exhibition on the second floor, Jung gets through half of his book. He appreciates the light streaming in from the transparent ceiling.
Afterwards, they took a red double-decker bus to a neighbourhood with brick lanes. Walking along, Jung saw posters all over the place and sneakers hanging from electrical wires. Although he has visited London twice before, it’s the first time he saw its vintage side. He put away his earphones because he felt that the walk would be meaningless without opening his eyes and ears to the experience. Standing in an alleyway, Jung pledged to slowly allow himself some of the time that had been shut off to Iljimae.
With ambition that is neither overflowing nor lacking, I must once again take a step forward.
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Post time 11-4-2009 09:22 PM
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