LEE JOON
GI
FESTIVAL
ASIA TOUR
THE
STRONG
AND
INTERESTING
CONNECTION
BETWEEN
LEE JOON GI
AND
MALAYSIA
|
|
 It might be surprising for some to
learn that the enthralling Lee Joon Gi and Malaysia have a strong and
interesting connection through two of his television series, the amazing 2016 SBS
Time-Travel-Historical Fiction-Romance series, Moon Lovers-Scarlet Heart
Ryeo and tvN’s groundbreaking television series, the 2023 High Fantasy-Mythological-War epic, The Sword of Aramun. If one may add, that wonderful connection might extend to the other countries in the 'Malay Archipelago' or Nusantara which encompasses Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. The multihyphenate actor-martial artist-singer-dancer-model will soon be heading for his first visit to Kuala Lumpur for his Festival Asia Tour on 22 September 2024.   When Moon Lovers-Scarlet Heart Ryeo was launched, it was broadcast simultaneously in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North and South America, and elsewhere. The SBS’ television series was pitted against KBS’ historical television series, Moonlight Drawn By Clouds which also aired at the same time. Unfortunately, the ratings of the former were not as high as the latter’s. Many local and global viewers were shocked and had inquired as to why Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo had lost in ratings to what they considered to be the less interesting Moonlight Drawn By Clouds in South Korea. Elsewhere in the world, Moon Lovers-Scarlet Heart Ryeo was doing fantastically well. One has to be reminded that it is wrong and misleading to judge a piece of work based on the 'dubious' South Korean drama ratings which, like India, is based on the metre system.    The most significant fact is
it called attention to the vastly differing Kdrama preferences of the South
Korean and the global viewers. One does not need a work of scholarship to
explain this: What’s good for the goose is not neccesarily good for the gander.
Moon Lovers-Scarlet Heart
Ryeo, an adaptation of the highly popular Chinese television series, Bu Bu Jing
Xing, dominated overseas viewership. Fortunately, the global response proved
that Moon Lovers-Scarlet Heart Ryeo is an amazing television series. Having an
amazing impact, global viewers began taking an interest in Chinese as well as
Korean history.
  The most earth-shattering news
in 2016 was that the globally popular SBS television series
commanded 73% (Wikipedia - not 70%) of viewership in MALAYSIA and SINGAPORE (among the 4
South Korean broadcasting stations in ONE). Since Moon Lovers-Scarlet
Heart Ryeo dominated three-quarters of the viewership, what does that mean for
Moonlight Drawn By Clouds?  The spirits of fans soared. It must be emphasized that Moon
Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was the NUMBER 1 Korean drama in Malaysia &
Singapore in 2016. It was an eye-opener for the South Korean television
industry. The drama rating system in South Korea is imperfect.        
Lee Joon Gi, an amazing
actor, and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, a spectacular television series,
won many local and international awards, accolades and recognition. Lee won an
international award, the Best Actor Award from KKTV, Taiwan, to name but one stunning
example.
    And what's more, the amazing
series captivated 2.5 billion Chinese viewers (Note that, Wikipedia). Furthermore, in North and South
America, it was the second most popular drama in 2016, and in their drama charts, Lee
Joon Gi and IU were the 2nd Most Popular and 3rd Most
Popular Male and Female Actors respectively.
  It also came as a pleasant surprise that Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo was the FIRST South Korean drama to be listed in Fandometrics: Three out of Three Stars. Other wonderful awards and tributes followed.                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Lovers:_Scarlet_Heart_Ryeo          More importantly, the crucial 73% is like the red thread of fate that connects Lee Joon Gi with Malaysia (and Singapore). One must not forget that an intriguing part of the Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo story which involves Queen Yoo, Wang So’s mother, is important to this narrative. She plots to murder Crown Prince Wang Mu, the
eldest prince, with poisoned tea and Princess Yeon Hwa got wind of it.
Hae Soo, played by IU, inadvertently hands the poisoned tea to
Wang So, the Fourth Prince, who is consumed with passion for her. It is
unfortunate that instead of giving honey to him, she gives him poison.    
Some may find this question trivial but it is not. Which Malay
song (Malaysian & Indonesian) best represents this part of the story?
Madu dan Racun (Honey and Poison), of course.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ssSH4nTPg
If Lee Joon Gi and Moon
Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo have this interesting and strong connection with
Malaysia, no matter how nebulous some might think it is, what about The Sword of
Aramun?
Well, the connection is even
stronger.   
It’s strange but true – Saya, the name of one of the identical twins of The Sword of Aramun is connected to the Malay language, the official language / medium of communication in Malaysia.
  Saya means Me, Myself and I
in the Malay language. 
The word Saya can be used in uncountable
ways. Some simple examples are listed below.
Saya cintakan mu. I love you. (Romantic
love. Mu = short form for kamu)
 Bapa sayang / sayangkan saya. Father loves me. (Family love) Saya sayang kamu. / Saya sayangkan kamu. I love you. (Family love)  Saya sayang diri saya. I love myself.
 Saya sangat kacak. I am very handsome. Saya sangat kacak. Saya is very handsome.  If Saya is strongly connected to Malaysians, so would his
identical twin brother, Aramun, the epitome of heroism, righteousness and goodness.
 In the unique fantasy television series, the twins, who are
purple-eyed and purple-blooded Igutus, have the mixed blood of their parents - the red blood of a Saram mother and the
blue blood of a Neanthal father. Being twins, they both share an enduring love for
Tanya, the High Priest.
Aramun is the quintessential hero or superhero.  Saya represents the majority of human beings who have positive
and negative qualities. He can be heroic at times. Perhaps, the hero too resides
in us all. It would be unsurprising that Saya might be a superhero-in-waiting.   Now, which Malay song would best represent Saya and Aramun’s romantic love? Rasa Sayang, a Malaysian folk song.
 tvN / DISNEY PLUS     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi-Jvj9HPnI
Allure did a pictorial spread on Lee Joon Gi and Shin Sae Kyeong, who portray Inaishingi-Aramun-Saya, the identical twins, and Tanya, the High Priestess, in The Sword of Aramun respectively. The spread in the September 2023 issue, was published ahead of the tvN broadcast and the streaming of the television series by Disney Plus.
Shin Sae Kyeong appears to
have worn a dress with a long band of cloth which falls to the back of her legs. The strip of fabric looks strikingly similar to that of the Iban dancer's (warrior) outfit. Was the distinctive design of the dress inspired by the skilful Iban dancer's clothing?    |
|
