On Friday, June 13, 2014, a press conference for Japan premiere commemoration was held in Tokyo. In the beginning, a 20-minute clip of the drama's highlight was broadcast on the screen to have the audience satiated with the world of "Beautiful Man." Afterwards, Jang Geun Suk, IU and Lee Jang Woo came on stage, receiving loud cheers from 200 fans invited through lottery. With smiles in a friendly atmosphere, the three opened up about the episodes during the filming and their resolutions for the following day's fan meeting.       

MC: Firstly, please introduce yourselves.

Jang Geun Suk:  I am Jang Geun Suk, starring Tocco Mate in drama "Beautiful Man." Hello.

IU: I am IU, who plays Botong.

Lee Jang Woo: I am Lee Jang Woo who plays David Choi.

MC: "Beautiful Man" will premiere on June 27 on KNTV. What was your impression upon hearing the news of Japan premiere? 

Jang Geun Suk:  It was broadcast in Korea last year, and I was hoping to show it to Japanese people quickly. After waiting for a long time, I am very glad to have a chance for everyone to taste the greatness of this drama.  

IU: I am looking forward to it very much. After hearing that it would premier in Japan in in June, I came to reflect on the drama again. Because it's a very cute and charming production, I think it will be loved by everyone here as well.   

Lee Jang Woo: From the beginning, this piece was produced not just for Korea but with foreign audience in its scope. That's why I look forward to its Japan premiere. I hope to receive much support from everyone in Japan.    

MC: Please share about the similarities and differences between the roles and your real life. 

Jang Geun Suk: I think my role is completely the same as myself. (Laughter from the audience) I played a beautiful man, but it was just as I was. (Laughter) I felt it was exactly same as myself. The characters were really similar. Each of the 10 women I met, I created a new character, and acting that out was very fun. And there was one strange incident. It was the first time after a long time to have my hair cut so short, after around 5 years. When I walk the streets of Japan in this short hair, it seems no one really recognizes me. So I am thinking to let it grow long again (Laughter)

MC: So you want everyone to notice you on the street, right?

Jang Geun Suk: They don't recognize me at all, not even a bit.

MC: That's kind of lonely for you, isn't it.

Jang Geun Suk: Sometimes I feel free. But it also feels lonely...

MC: I see. That's the sensitive heart of a man. I haven't seen you in a while ,but Geun Suk, you are beautiful.  

Jang Geun Suk: Thank you. (Audience: Applause)

MC: IU and Lee Jang Woo, please comment on the similarities and differences with your roles. 

IU: My role Botong in Korean means "normal," a very general person who can be found anywhere. First I was greedy, thinking "I can play this role very well." When I actually got into the role, she was a lovelier and purer character than I thought, so it was very comfortable to act. Botong loves only Mate for 10 years, and is a passionate woman who bets her life for love. I would not be able to love that far, so that would be our difference. 

Lee Jang Woo: I play a role called David Choi. It's a character that has many differences from myself. David always felt attraction to Botong, but Botong has constantly been attracted to Mate. He is someone who holds such pure love. Even in filming, due to such roles, IU's attention was fixed on Jang Geun Suk and she would not look at me. That was very cold (Laughter). I felt very lonely, so I am thinking not to play this kind of role next time (Laughter)     

MC: I want to ask Jang Geun Suk. What was the most impressive scene which you have special affection toward? 

Jang Geun Suk: In the drama, there is a scene where I confidently tell a woman, "Am I really that beautiful?" I think it's a line that representsトッコ・マテ-really well. Now I want to ask everyone here how you would answer this question. Am I really that beautiful? (Audience: Big applause)

MC: IU, please tell us if there was anything impressive during the filming.

IU: During the filming, Jang Geun Suk's fans always sent catering cars to the site. Many people sent catering cars even from Thailand or Vietnam, so it felt a little mysterious. We enjoyed them deliciously, so by the time filming ended, all three of us gained a little bit of weight compared to the first half of the shooting. (Laughter) It was something I felt thankful for.   

Jang Geun Suk: I gained more than 5 kg. I was wondering "Is it ok?" but I noticed that it was not just me. Since the other two casts also gained weight, so I felt relieved. (Laughter)

MC: We heard that it had been 10 years since Lee Jang Woo and Jang Geun Suk co-starred. How was the first co-starring opportunity in 10 years? 

Lee Jang Woo: When we met each other this time, both of us matured than before, which was refreshing. Something welled up in our hearts. Geun Suk said to me, "형(ヒョン), (an expression for an older brother) we really worked hard to make our way here."    

MC: Why did Geun Suk say that to Lee Jang Woo?

Jang Geun Suk: Because we have really diligently lived this far. (Laughter) (Coming back to a serious face,) It was our first meeting after 10 years. To continue in such a job as an actor for a long time I think means a severe battle with oneself. After fighting such battles for so long and meeting each other after 10 years with both of us as main actors, I felt that I gained a very trustworthy colleague. While filming the drama, we looked at the photos we took together 10 years ago. We felt the importance of taking care of our faces, and agreed, "Let's diligently work on our facial care." (Laughter)     

MC: Please tell us what you are preparing for tomorrow's fan meeting and its spotlight.

Lee Jang Woo: Since Jang Geun Suk is holding many concerts in Japan and IU is a singer, we are preparing some songs. In fact I am also preparing to sing some songs, and hopefully I can sing with Japanese lyrics. But Japanese is not easy. Both of them are good at Japanese, but I am good at Chinese. (Laughter) I cannot sing in Chinese, so even though it will be in Korean, I diligently practiced the soundtrack for the drama. I am looking forward to it.     

MC: Lee Jang Woo is very good at singing, right?

Jang Geun Suk: It's not comparable. He is really good.

MC: You are staying humble but you yourself think you are good right? 

Lee Jang Woo: Yes (Laughter) (Audience: Laughter)

IU: Among the episodes in the filming, we are planning to talk about the ones that haven't been released. Also there are programs fans can join, so I am very excited about it. (Laughter)

But I think the highlight is Jang Woo's singing.   

Jang Geun Suk: It's been several years since I met people in Japan for a drama-related event. What's different from an individual concert would be the excitement of meeting everyone as the drama's character. Wearing Tocco Mate's outfit for the first time in 6 months, I hope to deliver inspiration to everyone.

Above all, I think Lee Jang Woo's singing will be the special stage.

MC: Lee Jang Woo, the hurdle is being raised higher. (Laughter)

Lee Jang Woo: I may not be able to wake up tomorrow morning. (Laughter)

MC: Mate is called not by his name but as a "beautiful man." If you are to be called not by name but by a nickname, what kind of words would you prefer?

Lee Jang Woo: My dog's name is 장군이(Jang Guni). Jang-gun means "general." I have been told by my father since childhood, "Become a big bowl like a general." So I would like nick name "Jang-gun."

MC: You want to be called as a general. Everyone, let's do it.

Audience: Jang Guni-!

Lee Jang Woo: Thank you. (Laughter)

MC: What about IU? 

IU: Of course, it's nice to be called a pretty woman or a beautiful lady. But there are so many such women in the world, and many more are being born even in this moment.

So I would like to be called a "lovely woman." This word expresses the whole person, so I would like to be called in that way. 

Jang Geun Suk: (Toward IU) that's the best.

MC: What about Jang Geun Suk?

Jang Geun Suk: If I express it in Japanese, "Jang Geun Suk-like Jang Geun Suk." Whatever I do, I like to be called "Jang Geun Suk-like Jang Geun Suk." It could be something normal, or something psycho, or something strange, but including all of that I want to be said "that's just like Jang Geun Suk."

MC: In each fan meeting, Jang Geun Suk has a phrase to mesmerize fans. Please share with us "The One Word from Geun, 2014 Version." (The audience applaud.)

Jang Geun Suk: That's so difficult, suddenly.... (after thinking for a while, suddenly bursts into laughter by himself) These days I spend some time studying Japanese, and a world I memorized recently is "shout." To Unagi (Jang Geun Suk's fans), I want to shout "I love you." (Singing) "I want to shout that I love you♪ I shout ♪"  

MC: How about Lee Jang Woo, do you have "The Word for 2014"?

Lee Jang Woo: I shout~ ♪ (Audience: Laughter and applause)

MC: Lastly, please share some comments.

Lee Jang Woo: I hope many people can join tomorrow's fan meeting for "Beautiful Man." I also hope that the drama could receive much interest.

IU: It's been a long time since I came to Japan, but I am happy to know that many people are anticipating for "Beautiful Man." It's a very cute and lovely drama, so I hope many people can watch it.  

Jang Geun Suk: Through drama "Beautiful Man," I hope to showmany images of Jang Geun Suk in his 20's. Through this drama, I hope you can fully enjoy Korean contents. Please expect a lot from tomorrow's fan meeting.

Lastly, "Am I really that beautiful?" (Audience: Laughter and Applause) 

(Photo: Kiyori Matsumoto, Translation: Hannah Wong)