[News] JKS’ popularity in Japan surpasses Bae Yong-jun

Source: China Entertainment Net 中国娱乐网
Date: 22 June 2011

Japan is now clasping JKS in its hands
(i.e. treating him in a cherished manner)

Reputed Japanese magazine “AERA” has a special report entitled “Whether JKS has surpassed Bae Yong-jun”, which analyzes JKS’ high popularity in Japan at a deeper level.

According to the magazine, not only does JKS have fans in their 40s and above who have experienced the earlier Hallyu wave, he also has young fans in their teens and 20s, and seems to have surpassed Bae Yong-jun (BYJ) who has been at the forefront of the Hallyu wave since 2004.

Based on dramas such as “You are Beautiful” (YAB) and “Marry me Mary” (M3) which aired in Japan, JKS has accumulated extremely high popularity, and YAB even set the record of having been broadcast 3 times on Japan television. Already quite well-known from his earlier roles such as “Hwang Jin-yi”, JKS’ frequent activities have resulted in him becoming the most popular new-generation Hallyu star in Japan.

“AERA” thinks that the difference between JKS and BYJ is that in addition to his dramas that have upped his popularity, JKS has also demonstrated his singing prowess as the lead singer in M3.

In fact, JKS is already officially a singer. His debut single “Let me cry” sold 57,000 copies on its first day of sale and rapidly shot up to the top of the Oricon chart, becoming the second solo male singer in 30 years to reach this position.

The magazine also did an analysis of the similarities and differences between JKS and BYJ. Similarities include a smiling face, an appropriate physique management programme, selection of characters and treating their fans like their family. The difference is, the age range of BYJ’s fans is not as wide as JKS. The magazine states, “Although there is a slight connection to age, it is also related to their drama. JKS has acted the role of a singer in his drama, at a time when K-pop is on the rise, thus winning him even more fans.”

JKS’ popularity in Japan has actually surpassed beyond imagination. To use the words of a Hallyu fan in Japan, “Just the name Jang Keun Suk alone is enough to make the items sold out.” And this has happened before when JKS was on the cover model on “AN AN”. Any product, as long as it is connected to the name “Jang Keun Suk”, will become a popular product. The fan also said, “JKS’ popularity in Japan is alarmingly high. Not only is he very well-known, his fans also have a high degree of loyalty towards him. If one has to choose the most popular Korean star in Japan now, the answer that comes to mind is Jang Keun Suk.”

Having been seen as surpassing BYJ, the pioneer of the Hallyu wave, JKS has been given the name of “Keun-yang” (i.e. Master Keun). Now, Japan is watching the progress of his charm.

[END]

张根硕日本人气超过裴勇俊 被封‘根大师

日本现在正把张根硕捧在手心里。

日本著名时事周刊《AERA》里记载着一篇题为“张根硕，是否已超越裴勇俊”的专题报导，从深层意义上探讨了张根硕在日本的高人气。

该周刊说，“张根硕不仅拥有经历过韩流热潮的40岁以上中年粉丝，还有十几二十岁的年轻粉丝，好像已然超越了2004年来引领韩流风尚的裴勇俊”。

张根硕凭借《原来是美男啊》，《玛丽外宿中》等连续在日本播出的电视剧，聚敛了非常高的人气，《原来是美男啊》甚至创下了在日本电视台3次重播的记录。之前因《黄真伊》等作品中的演出，张根硕已然有了一定的知名度，再加上频繁的活跃，使得他已经成为了日本当地最炙手可热的新一代韩流明星。
《AERA》认为张根硕和裴勇俊不同的是，不仅凭借《原来是美男啊》，《玛丽外宿中》等电视剧开创人气市场，而且还在《玛丽外宿中》挑战主唱角色，显示了自己音乐上的不俗实力。

实际上，张根硕也已经是个出道歌手，首张个人专辑《let me cry》推出第一天就创下57000千张的销售量，火速登上ORICON排行榜首位，成为历史上近30年来第二个登上这个高位的个人男歌手。

周刊另外对张根硕和裴勇俊的相似点、不同点做了分析。微笑的脸，周到的身材管理，角色设置，把粉丝当成家人等是两人的共同点，不同的是，裴勇俊的粉丝层面并没有张根硕的广。周刊表示：“虽然和年龄也有点关系，但和出演的作品也是有关系的。张根硕因为在电视剧中扮演过歌手的角色，正好赶上K-POP的热潮，赢得了更多的粉丝。”

张根硕在日本的人气，其实远远超过想像，用日本某韩流粉丝的话来说：“光是张根硕这个名字，就可以令东西卖断货”。于此相符的，张根硕担任封面人物的《an an》杂志就曾经出现脱销情况，任何商品，只要跟“张根硕”这个名字发生联系，就必然是人气商品。该韩流粉丝还说：“张根硕在日本的人气非常惊人，不只是知名度高，粉丝们的忠诚度也很高。如果要选现在日本最火的韩国明星的话，都会不假思索地选张根硕” 。

已经被评价为超越开创日本韩流时代“勇大师”裴勇俊的张根硕，因此被冠上了“根大师”的称号，现在，日本正在注视着他的魅力行进。