If you were Japanese and wanted to learn Korean, who would you wish to teach you Korean?

Of course, none other than Bae Yong-joon aka Yon-sama.

Korean actor Bae Yong-joon, who is a mega star in Japan, can now teach you hangul and other aspects of the Korean language.

This Korean actor will be a cartoon character in the game, but Bae Yong-joon himself has lent his voice for the game. In addition to that, another incentive for crazed Japanese fans will be the ability to unlock pictures of the real-life Bae Yong-joon with each ascending level. Getting a glimpse at the hallyu man, what could be a better way to force yourself to learn Korean?

The DS software is slated for release in Japan on September 19th, but don’t worry kiddies, you don’t have to desperately clamor to understand Japanese to learn Korean with Bae Yong-joon because Nintendo has plans to translate the game for other markets.

“Learn Korean with Bae Yong-joon DS“

What? Why doesn’t he help out his own countrymen? Are we missing the boat here?

The school in Sri Lanka, which Bae Yong-joon donated 100 million KRW in order to restore, has been completed.

The hallyu star donated a total of 300 million KRW, to help fund the restoration of earthquake and tsunami damaged cities in Sri Lanka and other Indian Ocean coastal areas.  Of the 300 million KRW, 200 million KRW was dedicated to aid the victims of the earthquake by providing food, relief aid supplies, temporary shelter and temporary playground for the children, for a span of 6 months. The remaining 100 million KRW was used to fund the restoration of the middle school in Sri Lanka, damaged by the tsunami.

According to World Vision, Bae Yong-joon’s donations helped resolve the restroom problem of the middle school in Weligama, Sri Lanka, building one boys restroom and two girls restrooms for the students. In addition, for the shortage of classrooms, an additional 10 classrooms were built, with four out of the ten classrooms being used to teach special subjects such as dance, music, English and home economics. The hallyu star also provided backpacks, school uniforms and school supplies for the entire 563 students enrolled in the school.

When Bae Yong-joon was asked how he felt about having a school built in Sri Lanka, in his name, the actor stated:

I wanted to return all the love I received from those in Asia by giving back to many more people, which is why I decided make a donation to take part in the World Vision project. I’m proud but even more grateful that the project turned out so well and to see the little children so happy.

Aren’t his fans all ajummas in Japan?

This isn’t the first time the actor has donated to a charity program to help those in need.

Looking exactly the same as last year, Bae Yong-joon came out of his oxygen chamber for the 2008 MBC Drama Awards. The Michael Jackson wannabe was on stage with hosts Shin Dong-yup and Han Ji-hye on December 30th.

At next year’s MBC Drama Awards, there will be no surprises- he will have the same ponytail, black glasses and suit. Let’s see how long this look lasts.

Doesn’t that look delicious? A foot along side a scrumptious looking bento lunchbox?

Well, Bae Yong-joon has outdone himself. The ajummified actor is offering a cast of his foot for Christmas. And who wouldn’t want a feminine foot hanging on your wall?

Of course, we already know that the ajummas would probably preserve his spit in a bottle if they could. Basically, these fanatics would go to any length to get a piece of Bae. These are the same people who bought out Bae Yong-joon’s kimchi in 30 minutes in Japan and sent him an inflatable doll to speed up his recovery from a hand injury.

Next time, he should offer a cast of his male parts so that we can confirm that he is indeed a man (and not Michael Jackson).

Arriving by helicopter, Bae Yong-joon was recently awarded the Hwa-Gwan Order of Culture Merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on October 18th. The 35 year old promised to promote Korean culture to the world through dramas, his restaurant business and other cultural activities. We know that all of the proceeds going straight into his own pockets.

Not to be left out, designer Andre Kim and singer Jang Nara were also presented at the ceremony to receive the Bo-Gwan Order of Culture Merit and Today’s Young Artist Award, respectively.

In case you didn’t get enough pictures of the man, Bae Yong-joon attended the wedding of Park Sung-woong & Shin Eun-jung on the same day.

At the wedding of Park Sung-woong& Shin Eun-jung

Bae Yong-joon will be lending his face to Korean cosmetics and skincare brand, “The Faceshop,” on a 1 year contract. The ajummified Hallyu actor was chosen for his legions of fans all over Asia.  If the Faceshop wants to appeal to an older crowd of women who are willing to buy anything of his, then they made the right choice. However, if the brand wants younger and more hip customers, they have completely missed the boat.

Beginning in November. Bae Yong-joon will model for the Faceshop’s 5th Anniversary advertisements.

Lee Bo-young is the model for the women’s skincare and makeup for The Faceshop.

Talk of the upcoming nuptials were circulating like wildfire on the internet that Lee Na-young had to throw water on the issue by publicly denying the whole thing. The rumors started last year and have been so out of control now that the wedding date is believed to be set for October 25th at a hotel in Seoul somewhere.

But…

We know that Lee Na-young’s management company is BOF, which is also the same as Bae Yong-joons. And according to the new x-files floating around, we also know that it’s a badly kept secret that the couple are also playing house.

So what to believe?

Should Lee Na-young have just swept the rumors under the rug by not saying anything? Or did she make things worse by publicly denying that they will get married? – meaning that she has indirectly acknowledged that they could be together? Hmmmmm….

Oooh, I can hear the stampede of the ajummas…..

Another money making scheme is underway.

Restaurants, kimchi, animation, new drama (see below) and now this – a travel book of Korea.

Bae Yong-joon will be putting together a travel guide of Korea for his fans (who else would buy the book?). In it, pictures taken by the ajumma milker will featuring the “tastes, beauty and warmth of Korea.” This is supposedly Bae Yon-joon’s personal project for profit.

News of the travel book has already caused a tidal wave of 1500 ajumma fans with suggestions on how to improve the book. But of course, it doesn’t matter if Bae Yong-joon listens to them or not. Because, regardless of what he does, the voracious fans will just eat it up.

The Bae Yong-joon travel book will go on sale in early 2009. The actor has also obtained rights and will likely start production of a new drama, “Drops of God,” based on the hit Japanese manga on wine. I’m sure he will start selling “Bae Yong-joon” wine too.

At the rate Bae Yong-joon is going with his uncanny resemblance to the “king of pop” Michael Jackson, perhaps we will find the Hallyu actor in a wheelchair too?

Besides looking like Michael Jackson (but without the voice), what is Bae Yong-joon not showing?

Well, if you have been keeping up with the money machine’s news in the past few weeks, you will know that he is opening up another restaurant in Japan, selling 100% Korean chongguk kimchi in Japan, lending his voice to the animated series for Winter Sonata and now hoping that gracing his presence will bring in more people to see fellow BOF family member, So Ji-sub’s new movie, “Movie is a movie.”

Will it work? Knowing that the ajummas around the world would do anything for him… who knows.

Bae Yong-joon recently had surgery on his shoulder but his arm is in a cast? Not sure how you can have a cast on your arm if the shoulder was injured. Can someone explain this?

After the press conference in the afternoon, actor So Ji-sub plays the casual card by showing up in jeans and cornrows for the V.I.P showing of his new movie, “A Movie is Movie,” directed by Jang Hoon.

Eugene, Lim Su-jung, Choi Kang-hee, Lee Jin were at hand to show their support. Also making a rare public appearance to support fellow BOF family member was Bae Yong-joon.

The action flick is the story of a real gangster (So Ji-sub) who wants to be a movie star and a movie star (Kang Ji-hwan) who plays a gangster. “A Movie is a Movie” sweeps into Korean theaters on September 11th 2008.

Check out the trailer below:

At the earlier press conference with fellow co-star Kang Ji-hwan, both stars seem to mirror each other’s movements.

(left to right: Choi Kang-hee, Eugene, Lim Su-jung)

(left to right Lee Jin, Sung Yuri)

So Ji-sub

Why a cartoon? Wasn’t the drama enough? Does Bae Yong-joon have to milk everything possible from his ajumma fans? (Even though we know that the ajummas will gladly give all the milk they can!)

Bae Yong Joon and Choi Ji Woo have agreed on taking part of the animated series of their ever popular drama “Winter Sonata” scheduled for airing in 2009 in both Korea and Japan.

With director, Seong Baek Yeob of “Oseam”, writer Kim Hyeong Hwan of “Superstar Mr. Gam”, and producer Lim Jeon Hyeong of “The Legend”, this all star crew will joint produce this new feature with Japan.

It looks like Yon-sama fever will be spreading like wildfire all across Asia once again.

Listen to the Winter Sonata (Drama) OST