SEOUL — Thousands of Japanese fans flocked to South Korea Friday to see an exhibition dedicated to boy band JYJ and meet members of the K-pop group who have taken Asia by storm.
JYJ has invited 7,000 Japanese and 15,000 South Korean fans to an exhibition center in southern Seoul featuring performance costumes, trophies, film footage, pictures and favorite items of each member.
Holograms of the three band members were placed to guide fans and explain the show.
“This event was organized for the fans … I hope they create many good memories here with us,” said member Hero Jae-joong at the show launch Thursday.
The group, which is also winning a fan base as far away as Latin America, will personally meet the Japanese fans on Saturday and South Korean fans Sunday.
According to the band’s publicist, the Japanese fans paid an average 50,000 yen (US$630) for a three-day tour to South Korea after winning a draw held among 15,000 JYJ fans in their country.
“JYJ doesn’t visit Japan often so I came here myself to see them,” said Saori Oka, 22, who flew in from Fukuoka.
“Of course I plan to come next year and I’m thankful such an event is being held to show the items, photos and footage of all three members.”
Naoko Kikuchi brought her daughter with her from Kanagawa.
“It’s fun and touching to see all the members here … If I get chosen in the draw again next year, then I will definitely come back to see them,” the 40-year-old told AFP.
JYJ began performing as part of the five-member group TVXQ, which debuted in 2003 and sold more than eight million records at home and abroad. It held sellout concerts in countries like China, Thailand and Malaysia.
But TVXQ broke up in 2009 amid legal disputes with its agency.
Three of them — Hero, Micky Yoo-chun and Xiah Jun-su — went on to form JYJ and released their first album “The Beginning” in October 2010.
“Japanese fans paid an average 50,000 yen (US$630) for a three-day tour to South Korea ”
that’s equivalent to P27,000.00 x 3 ( with my 2 daughters) plus shopping and miscellaneous allowance,
P150k is not enough, must work and save doubly hard, but to attend a JYJ concert is still my top priority.
Japanese fans must be all financially stable to spend a lot of money for JYJ.
You’re right krissy, those Japanese fans have ample resources to express their support for JYJ, good for them.
@kris@jyj1214
Very lucky Japanese fans…and I’m thankful for all the support they give to JYJ.
Why can’t they be more direct and specific in their headlines? “Should be Japanese fans hop plane to Seoul for a chance to meet JYJ!”
“to meet K-pop boy band idols”
Yes, you’re right sis , and it’s much shorter to type ” to meet JYJ ” ,
and i have never heard any K-pop boy band idols having an activity like this, for sure no boy band/idol can afford to do so, only true artists and matured/fulfilled gentlemen like Jae – Chun-Su can.
Mismo!
These news reporters always fail to give JYJ the recognition & credit they duly and fully deserve, tsk!tsk!
what a culture!
I’m liking all the news articles so far. JYJ are getting a lot of attention thanks to this Fan Expo. Kudos to C-JeS and the team as well.
Reblogged this on luminarytriad.
Please vote Jaejoong, Yoochun, Junsu at http://www.kpopstarz.com/poll-vote.htm. One day left and the gap is closing. Thank you.
voted^^
voted ^^,
Reblogged this on dreamalexia.
“Japanese fans paid an average 50,000 yen (US$630) for a three-day tour to South Korea ”
I thought CJES and JYJ flew all the Japanese fans in for free. Also, paid for each to stay in an hotel during their stay for the membership week. Can someone tell me if I am correct or wrong in my understanding?
um, no the event itself was free at a cost of over 3 million, and they offered discounted travel packages. but to fly 7,000 people and put them up in a hotel for four days would cost as much as a gdp of a country. Even Oprah took sponsers to fly 500 people to Australia and that is on top of the Australian government chipping in.
i think the admission fee to enter the event and the FM were the free ones… i mean they make the tour package for the Japanese fans as part of the event, so they can travel n attend the event cheaper and already have a complete sets (hotel, transportation, plane tickets) so the fans didnt need to buy the plane tics n arrange the hotel, transportation, etc by themselves while attending the event. this is also smart n kind act too i believe since usually Jfans do all the arrangement by themselves if they want to attend an Kpop event in SK =)
@Jaeftw and @one_nee thank you for replying to my question!!
hm… average monthly expenses for living in tokyo is around 150,000 yen, so 50,000 might not be a big deal for them.