Out and about with Lee Min-jung
by javabeans
These days, Lee Min-jung is super-busy with a new television project, Midas, and the drama set was to be the location for the following interview. But a last-minute delay gave her an unexpected half-day off, and rather than conducting the interview right there, she and the reporter headed out into the sunny, almost-spring day for a stroll. With script in hand, Lee Min-jung talked as she looked among the shops and cafes of Seoul’s upscale Apgujung neighborhood.
The setting: Rodeo Street in Apgujung. Lee peered in through storefronts, where bystanders and other shoppers came out to steal glimpses of her. She explained that she enjoys going out shopping with her friends, but hasn’t had the time to do so recently.
A clothing store caught her eye, so in she went to look at the offerings, holding up shirts to herself and trying on scarves, hairpins, and sunglasses.
Lee describes her clothing style as diverse, liking dressy clothes but also finding comfy tracksuits good for everyday. She doesn’t like to overspend, though, probably a product of working part-time jobs to earn her university tuition fees.
She related a story from her childhood where she’d saved up from allowances and money earned from doing odd jobs, enough to build her savings account to the tune of 5 million won by the time she was in her first year of high school. “I gave those savings to my mother to buy a house, but I haven’t gotten it back yet. Hahaha.”
A particular street food stand caught her eye, a favorite for ddukkbokki, soondae, and fish skewers. “It’s so delicious it brings tears to my eyes. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve eaten from a street stand.”
A few patrons started to gather around, pleasing the owner, since her presence was attracting customers. As she paid, he shyly asked her for an autograph, and after signing she turned to leave and burst into laughter. The reporter looked over to see her checking her cell phone, amused: “Hahaha. I just stopped for a moment, but I’ve gotten several text messages from people saying they saw pictures of me eating ddukkbokki. From Choi Jung-yoon unni to my best friend. Phew, how scary.”
Onward to a cafe, one of the places she likes to frequent. Seeing her face, the part-time employee’s face reddens to recognize her, and the place lowers the music so she can converse with the reporter.
Turns out that Lee Min-jung is an avid music fan, and she spends most of her free moments between shoots listening to music. Her mother was a piano major, and she’d taken lessons from a young age. She calls her music taste eclectic as well, from Damien Rice to Metallica to Chopin. “These days, I like Far East Movement. They were No. 1 on the Billboard chart recently. I like Big Bang, too, and music that G-Dragon and TOP do together.”
Asked what she’d like to do if she had a spare moment in her busy schedule, she answered, “I’d like to go to the park with my friends, with kimbap that we made. I once went to a park with friends before and ordered pizza there, but people wouldn’t deliver there. At the time, I’d heard that food was delivered to a prison for a CF shoot. How could someone deliver to a prison, but not to a park? Hahaha. I remember arguing about it for a while.”
Lee Min-jung made her television debut in 2005, and the previous year was the biggest of her career thus far. With Boys Before Flowers and Smile, You bringing her into mainstream public conscience, she had her breakthrough with the movie Cyrano Dating Agency, which brought her New Actress awards from the Blue Dragon, Grand Bell, and Director’s Cut Awards.
Despite that, she describes having difficulty with the sudden rise, perhaps due in part to the relatively late start she got in her acting career; she attended auditions while her university friends were applying for jobs.
“It’s as though I’d run diligently, so when I arrived at the finish line, people applauded and told me I’d run well. But for me, it was so difficult I was panting and gasping for breath. More than applause, what I needed immediately was water, but it felt like nobody thought of that… I should be saying, ‘I’m happy that things worked out well,’ but it doesn’t seem like my time yet.”
She adds, “It’s very awkward to be the focus of people’s attentions. When fans ask me for my autograph, I find myself asking, ‘Do you know me?’ and worrying things I’d never worried about before, like, ‘People are looking at me. Do I look too ragged today?'”
She explains that because her surroundings have changed, her relationships have inevitably changed as well. But rather than trying to insist she has to do a good job, she told herself, “I have to learn how to be grateful. I decided to be an honest, well-mannered person.”
She’s still coming into her own as an actress, and says that it’s hard to know where the end of the line is for her. What she wants is for people to hear her name and remember her projects, thinking, “Ah, Lee Min-jung was really good in that.” (Most likely, she was.)
Via Sports Chosun
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Tags: interviews, Lee Min-jung
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51 striker
March 6, 2011 at 11:30 PM
She's so adorable!!!! (>_<)
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52 JD
March 6, 2011 at 11:50 PM
OMG, I didn't know Lee Chun Hee and Jun Hye Jin were dating!!! Now they're getting MARRIED!!!!!!
XD;; Sorry, I felt like posting this somewhere and since Lee Min Jung was also from Smile, You.. hahaha
btw, was i the only one who saved lmj pictures? :X
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Cecile
March 6, 2011 at 11:58 PM
I save every single picture that come along with every single article of her,
Gosh those food stall, i really should considering saving my money to buy ticket and visit Seoul :-D
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53 kai
March 7, 2011 at 12:01 AM
love you LMJ and JKH
I will wait them joy new project together when JKH retune from military service.
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54 Oopz
March 7, 2011 at 12:07 AM
LOL at arguing over delivery problem with the pizza man,.
Girl is indeed so cute >.<
With personality like that she look like she gonna make a really good wife and mom in the future,
Anyway she did a great job at MIDAS^^
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55 red
March 7, 2011 at 12:16 AM
one of my favorite actresses ...and i only ever liked 3
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56 jujin
March 7, 2011 at 12:40 AM
She very pretty and very nice (^_^)
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57 GLLOW
March 7, 2011 at 12:50 AM
I very really like her in smile you and other project..unni Fightinggggg in 'MIDAS'
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58 Kkuri
March 7, 2011 at 12:52 AM
So beautiful **_** LMJ
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59 pooh
March 7, 2011 at 12:58 AM
OMO!!!!SHe look like an angel.
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60 polla
March 7, 2011 at 1:04 AM
I like to see her in the corner and i like her style of dressing it makes her charming.
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61 wannida
March 7, 2011 at 1:10 AM
Her smile really beautiful :)
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62 XMEN
March 7, 2011 at 1:17 AM
I can say is she’s so gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!
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63 hitsugaya
March 7, 2011 at 3:05 AM
omg the shoes! i love em all!!
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64 cancerb
March 7, 2011 at 3:12 AM
The whole sprint theory pretty much show how much she value her life, not by her achievement,reward or whatsoever but how far has she given his effort in the process. Now thats a real great work ethic *thumbs up*
Will follow up to MIDAS as soon as it subbed^^
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65 jomo143
March 7, 2011 at 5:05 AM
Doesn't she look all grown up all of a sudden?
She has so much poise with all that attention on her all the time. It's got to be difficult to keep the feeling of being threatened out of your expression.
I don't know how these celebs do it.
Every time I watch a movie like Hard Day's Night, when they show the Beatles running for their lives, and people hitting the car windows as they drive away, I get all panicky. Can't imagine being in the car!
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66 calix
March 7, 2011 at 5:29 AM
this girl is the reason why i can't concentrate on my exam!
there's really somethin' about her that i haven't saw from other korean actress, she's ...., i really don't know what exact word to use,
stay purdy and keep your feet on the ground min jung stay healthy and always wear those smile ^^
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67 Selli
March 7, 2011 at 5:49 AM
So it IS possible to be loved by everyone!! XDDD
I saw her in Cyrano, and she was wonderful ^^ She isn't the best actress yet, so her acting wasn't really what impressed me that much, but she just kind of sparkles XD
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68 malia
March 7, 2011 at 9:03 AM
She's so pretty and seems so nice. And of course she's an awesome actress. That girl has it all :)
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69 happyjack
March 7, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Possibly the first time in the history of this blog that an actress has had no one post anything negative about! Either we're maturing as people, or she really is that likable. For me, she IS instantly likable and drop-dead gorgeous, to boot. Her eyes have so much life and she radiates a happy, positive energy. Wherever she goes, I'll gladly follow...
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70 oi
March 7, 2011 at 9:45 AM
oh my...those heels...so high and pointy
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71 maryta
March 7, 2011 at 10:05 AM
I SO SAD THAT MY FAVORITE ACTOR TO GO TO THE ARMY!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU Hyeon Bin
BE CARE OF YOURSELF
WE WAIT FOY YOU
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72 jcl
March 7, 2011 at 6:20 PM
What a great half day off! Wish I was one of her close friends..nice shout out to my G Dragon/TOP and BB : )
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73 O-oneone
March 7, 2011 at 7:48 PM
you are so Beautiful ^^^^^
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74 ic_020046
March 7, 2011 at 7:50 PM
LMJ SHHI I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I HOPE YOU WILL GO TO VISIT JKH OPPA IN MILITARY...COMING SOON
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75 yimyam
March 7, 2011 at 7:53 PM
cute cute cute >>>.lee min jung onne
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76 UOON
March 7, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Miss you!!!unni
You have beautiful smile :)
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77 TOMMY
March 7, 2011 at 8:00 PM
pretty girl *_*
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78 Nikki
March 8, 2011 at 5:49 PM
This girl needs to do a Hong Sister's drama. That would just make my year!
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79 Obsidian
March 9, 2011 at 3:00 AM
She's gorgeous and she like Big Bang and GD&TOP's music? I'm sold hahaha
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80 Cam
March 9, 2011 at 7:38 PM
AW! ^________^ I really love her when I enjoyed watching her in that drama "You, Smile", of course!
She is very beautiful with her natural beauty and down-to-earth, mm! =) I expect that I would like to meet her in South Korea someday!!!!
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81 stv
March 16, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Lee Min Jung has been well known for her beauty since her teens. In her high school days, she was known as one of the "Gangnam's Five" which recognized her as one of the 5 most beautiful girls among high schools in the Gangnam district. Quite interestingly, all five girls ended up becoming famous celebrities in Korea.
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82 Eddie
July 28, 2011 at 6:24 AM
I loved her in Smile, you. The acting was superb in that drama. Moreover, I think she has the best butt in the business along with Han Ga-In!
P.S. I'm a guy ;)
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83 wannzell
October 27, 2011 at 10:34 AM
does anyone know the model of handphone that is being used in Midas?
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