[Article] Kim Hyun Joong Journey To The Self

By : aprilstarr

The first time I saw Kim Hyun Joong quotations in his photobooks, I thought they were there basically as photo verses , the typical embellishments of photography -from captions below to being embedded in the picture. Some observers call them proof of HJ 4Dness because they found phrases attributed to him as unusual, unexpected and witty repartees. But If you know Hyun Joong, these are more than just clever phrases. I realized these quotations are actually snippets of his honesty and courage as a young explorer of life. He looked at life like a journey and meant to travel it well. Life for him meant having been offered many conveniences and prescribed ways to succeed but he first choose to examine what life has to offer.

Hyun Joong ‘s young mind and body started the journey of self awareness. He examined the important events in his life. He valued how his childhood inspirations had guided him in giving shape to a previous amorphous or shapeless dream. He knew the importance of friendships and what he had to do to stand by it and to protect it. There was a point he had to deal with his inner demons, were his decisions right when he was at the edge of being an adult? Right or wrong, Failure or not , he felt it was best that it was an action that had to be made.

From his own pronouncements, he accomplished many of his objectives and moving on to achieve some more. Was there a dilemma along the way? There were, but he made his own adjustments, choices and eventually commitments. But more importantly he pursued its execution.

This is Kim Hyun Joong’s journey to the self. This is his direct experience of the self, who he is, and what he wants to be. How many young people can do a daring confrontation, to create their own template of where and how they want to go forward. To create their own pathway and not leave it to chance or right connection. Whatever resulted to also charge it to experience. Though he was into formal education he is also a graduate of the school of hard knocks where life’s negative experiences taught him more and gave him stronger armor to boot. The thing with Hyun Joong is he doesn’t deny it; he embraced it. In fact, he basked in its full glory. He even flaunts it.

His journey is not finished. It has just begun. There will be more choices and options to explore and more decisions to make. But from the looks of it his probing allowed him to see his purpose of life –the one that revolves around and fulfills his deepest yearnings –his music and his performances.

The life and the journey Hyun Joong makes is not all serious endeavor, even in his stature now as a Hallyu star he enjoys the freshness of the fruits in the market or the surprise find of a 1000 won in the elevator. He feels exhilarated by the wide field and the wind blowing away his sweat where a favorite sport is played. He finds the effects of travel revitalizing and liberating. Or reminished eating a sandwich in one hand while the other held a book. How about free to be one’s self drinking soju with bosom buddies? Ahhh, to be also enveloped by the clouds and use the grasses of the earth as one’s bed,Hyun Joong, smiling and loving life’s simple pleasures.

Now adulthood catches up –Hyun Joong looks ahead to his life events –having a family, perhaps eventually also moving out of his music comfort niche already mastered to more challenging fields. His journey would be a tapestry of brilliant hues woven from dreams, yet made real by a steady mind, loving yet hopeful heart and spirit that knows no limits.