Maybe most of his dramas aren't that popular in Korea but they sell to overseas market thanks to him and that's almost as important.

Saying Bae Yong Jun is popular because of Winter Sonata is the same of saying BoA is popular because of her music. Well, duh, he's an actor, of course he's popular because of his work. His movies are also VERY popular in Japan and he is THE biggest korean superstar in Japan, much bigger than BoA.

And there are others korean bigger than BoA in Japan like Cho Ji Woo...

I'm sure he's much more popular than she is. His latest album outsold Boa's album in Korea and in China (I'm not sure about Taiwan but much probably). Please, Girls on Top sold 117k in Korea and his latest album sold over 400k. Plus, he is worth much more.

I don't agree with most of that.

Try to remember that this isen't a popularity contest, it about SHAPING the world. Changing something. If the only thing an artist did was to help other artists break into a new market, I don't really know if that's major "shaping" of the world.

No, it was only Full House. As I said, his last drama had pratically 0 news outside of Asia.

After thinking about it, I'll agree with you here. But I don't think he's MUCH bigger. I think they're just bigger.

I didn't say BoA's album outsold Rain's in China. I just said that Rain's album wasn't the best selling album in China, which you stated.
Firstly, Rain didn't even release a Korean album in 2005, so there's no use in comparing a 2004 album (It's Raining) with a 2005 album (Girls on Top). Secondly, he didn't sell 400k, his album sold aorund 180-190kish. Only SG Wannabe sold more than 400k in 2005. Thirdly, since It's Raining is a 2004 album, I'll compare it with BoA's 2004 album, My Name which sold more than 200k. That means BoA outsold Rain in Korea.
"Plus, He's worth much more"?? In CMs? Can you please clarify?

Which part? I think there were 2 different ideas there.

RAIN is some nasty blah.

He's so not as 'hot' as people make him out to be. xD
I think that he thinks he's going to be well received or something in the states..
But ... no. Just no. xD

No, it IS a popularity contest, half of the people in there didn't REALLY changed the world, so...

~

The album was for 2004 but it was on the 2005 list. Boa's MY NAME... was also on the list. I have it somewhere in my computer, I'll try to find it...

Yes, in CMs and such. Plus, he does the biggest tours in Asia.

Oh, and about being the best-selling album in China. Yes, I can't be sure about that because there isn't an official list for China but there was an article stating his album was the best-selling. I'll also try to find it. I'm pretty sure it outsold BoA's album, but I don't have anything that state that, so..

I think the album was more like best-seller, and not best-selling as I did read the newspapers that year as Jay Chou sold more than 3 million of his 2004 album and Stef Sun sold at least 1 million for hers.

Just going back to this for a bit:
Not really. An equivalent to your statement would be "Ayu is popular because of her song 'M'" or "BoA is popular because of her song 'VALENTI'". Music is a profession, while Winter Sonata is just a part of it.

RAIN is a JOKE. Who's goin to listen to rain in american? the asian americans? the ones that listen to asian music already? he isnt even goin to target new people. i hope he fails miserably

That's pointless. I mean, BoA was just a product till not long ago, the same way RAIN is now. Neither of them have almost no power in their carreer. So I think Bae Yong Joon being popular because of Winter Sonata is the same as BoA being popular because for her music, till not long ago BoA was just the one whe who sing the song, she didn't really did anything beside that and promote the song. And that's exactly the same he did, he was there just for acting and promote the product.

And anyway, his last movie was also very popular in Asia and Japan...

That's off-topic, anyway.. :x

Well not really. Yeah, they follow directions from their managers and what not, but they also have input to their ideas. Plus, she's writing her lyrics (don't know about Rain), so she does have some power. Besides, she even owns 100,000 shares of SM....