日本では知らない人がいないほどのスターである星野源、果たして韓国ではどれだけ人気があるのだろうか？ 残念だが、ほとんどの人は知らない。 日本の寿司、日本酒、アニメ、そしてトヨタなどは有名だが、普通の人々は有名歌手や俳優を知っていることは珍しい。
日本人が韓国の俳優や歌手を知っていることに比べれば、非常に低調だ。
理由はいろいろあるが、ニッポン放送やエンターテイメント産業がグローバル化をあまり望んでいないようだ。 韓国のように世界市場を最初から狙って作業される作品や歌手が珍しい。
そして韓国人にとって日本の歌手や作品があまり話題にならない。 新海誠監督の程度がある程度大衆的だ。 それさえも若年層を除けば、年配の方々は全く知らない場合が多い。
星野源の場合、やはり日本文化に関心がある人は知っているし、すごいファンになったが、ほとんどの人は知らない。
日本について専門家だと思っていた私もやはり星野源は最近知った。 年のせいか、桑田佳祐、中渕剛などの歌や新海監督のアニメ主題歌などを聞いた。
星野源を知ったのは偶然周りから勧められたドラマ「逃げ恥」を見て関心を持つようになった。 まず第一印象は、演技も少しおかしくて小さくて弱く見えるイメージだった。 どうしてあんな人が歌とドラマを全部平定したの？ しかも新垣結衣と結婚までしたの？ が一番最初に挙げた印象だった。
ドラマでの役割のため、草食系男子のイメージが強かったというが、公演を探してみてもそれほど活発な性格ではないようだ。
何よりも韓国人として一番大きな衝撃はイケメンではない歌手が俳優まで主演を占める場合だ。 韓国の場合、アイドルがドラマの主演までして「イケメン公式」が常識だ。俳優の主演なら、顔を考えるのが韓国の文化だ。 コメディー物で意図的に個性派俳優を使う場合もあるが、あくまでも主演を務めても彼のイメージは助演の感じだ。
なぜ星野源が人気があるのか、1週間ほど彼の歌と演技を見て分かるようになった。 歌を聞くと最初はぱっと来ないが、だんだん中毒になっていく。 演技も同じだ。 ぎこちなかった彼の演技が私に同化してくる。
星野源を韓国のコメディアン、ユ·ジェソクとよく例える。 外見が似ているからだ。ユ·ジェソクは韓国の国民的スターだ。 謙遜でいつも配慮する姿のためだ。 星野源も同じキャラのように感じられる。
外見ではアンダードッグだが、彼の人生は真正性が感じられ、応援をしたい気持ちが強くなる。 普通の人の姿をした彼がもっと親近感を感じるのは、普通の人と大差がないからだろう。 とてもハンサムな俳優より小市民のような彼の姿に応援をする人がますます増えることを期待する。 韓国でファンが1人増えたことを知らせる。（Qの希望）

In Japan, Hoshino Gen is a star known to almost everyone, but how popular is he in Korea? Unfortunately, the majority of people in Korea might not be familiar with him. While Japanese sushi, sake, anime, and Toyota are well-known, ordinary people in Korea are not often aware of famous Japanese singers or actors. The interest in Japanese culture among Koreans is relatively low compared to Japanese awareness of Korean actors and singers.
There are various reasons for this, but it seems that the Japanese broadcasting and entertainment industry is not as inclined towards globalization. Unlike Korea, where works and artists are created with a global market in mind, such instances are rare in Japan. Additionally, Japanese singers or works do not gain much traction among Koreans. Even someone like director Makoto Shinkai is somewhat known, but apart from the younger generation, many older individuals may not be familiar with him.
In my case, who considered myself knowledgeable about Japan, I only recently discovered Hoshino Gen. It was due to recommendations from people around me and after watching the drama "逃げ恥" that I became interested. Initially, my impression was that he seemed a bit odd in his acting, and he had a small and weak image. How could someone like him excel in both singing and acting, and even marry Aragaki Yui? That was the first impression that crossed my mind.
Due to the role in the drama, he had a strong image of being an herbivore man, but even attending his performance did not portray a particularly lively personality. More than anything, as a Korean, the biggest shock was not that he was a handsome man, but that a singer could take on leading roles in acting. In Korea, it is common for idols to take on leading roles in dramas, adhering to the standard of good looks. Moreover, if an actor takes on a leading role, evaluating their appearance is a common practice in Korean culture. Even in comedy shows, intentionally using eccentric actors is not uncommon, but their image remains that of a supporting character, not a lead.
I was able to understand why Hoshino Gen is popular after spending about a week listening to his songs and watching his acting. Initially, his songs didn't grab my attention right away, but they gradually became addictive. His acting had a similar effect. His initially awkward performances became endearing and relatable to me.
Hoshino Gen is often compared to Korea's comedian Yoo Jae-suk, mainly due to their similar appearance. Yoo Jae-suk is a national star in Korea, known for his humility and considerate nature. Hoshino Gen also gives off a similar feeling in similar situations. Despite his unconventional appearance, his life exudes authenticity, making one feel a strong desire to support him. It is perhaps because he doesn't stand out too much from ordinary people. Rather than being an extremely handsome actor, the fact that people find support in his seemingly ordinary, sensitive appearance is what sets him apart. I hope that the number of fans in Korea continues to grow, and I announce that one more fan has joined from Korea.(Q's hope)