Kathy's Bench: 12/01/2011

Hallyu star Kim Hyun Joong will be holding his first fan meet of the year on January 21st at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. And although there is a fee to get in, it will only cost fans around $17 USD.

It’s been announced that the entrance fee will amount to roughly $17 USD per attendee. Rather than being held at a small-scale venue, the fan meet is being held at Jamsil Stadium, which can seat over 7,000 people.

The fan meet will be different from ordinary fan meets and the format will feel more like a talk show. Kim Hyun Joong will also be performing ten songs total from his first mini album ‘Breakdown‘ and his second mini-album ‘Lucky‘. To be honest, the fan meet is no different from a small concert.

Korean artists who use the facility and all of its lighting and sound equipment charge an entrance fee of anywhere between 40~70 USD, but Kim Hyun Joong is not even charging half that. He may break even if lucky, but will most likely lose money over the event.

Key East Entertainment‘s Music Business Director Kang In Suk remarked, “Honestly, the fan meet is no different from a small independent concert, but we are proceeding because Kim Hyun Joong requested that we do it this way. We will not be making any money, and we are thinking of it as a special service for the fans.”

The fan meet was also scheduled abruptly without much notice, and the reason for that is Kim Hyun Joong will be spending a lot of time in Japan this year promoting his music. He did not want his Korean fans to feel disappointed, and is starting the new year off right by greeting them first.

Kim Hyun Joong’s love for his fans does not stop there. A large corporation had proposed to do a promotion with the singer, but Kim Hyun Joong refused. Director Kang explained, “He did not want the fans to spend their money so that he could earn some more money.”

Since his debut with SS501, Kim Hyun Joong has been known for being unique and being a man of his word. And even at super stardom, he has not changed a bit. He is aware that it is the fans that made him into who he is today, and his love for them is unparalleled.

Director Kang remarked, “From the agency’s point of view, we know the company could benefit a lot more if he would give in, and it’s too bad. However when I look at him as just another person, he is truly a real, unwavering man of his word,” and gave a thumbs up.

Meanwhile, it was recently discovered that the singer also donated over $80,000 to a good cause without even telling his agency. Compared to other celebrities that announce their charity work through press releases, Kim Hyun Joong is an admirable young man.

Kim Hyun Joong is a celebrity who is making his agency spend money for his fans. For one reason or another, he will bring tears to the eyes of original Hallyu star Bae Yong Jun, the head of Key East Entertainment.

Tip: Muriel

Source & Image: MyDaily via Naver