Oba-san riot at Winter Sonata star's public appearance

[El Guapo-san]

Anybody got photos?! I love this country.....now just imagine if that had happened to Erkel.

J. Vlach

10 fans of S Korean actor Bae Yong Joon injured at Tokyo hotel

TOKYO (Japan Today.com & Japan Times) — Ten fans of popular South Korean actor Bae Yong Joon, who has rocketed to fame in Japan for his leading role in the hit South Korean TV drama "Winter Sonata," were slightly injured Friday in a jostling incident at a Tokyo hotel where he was staying, police said.

The incident took place around 12:30 p.m. at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward when female fans hoping to get a glimpse of the 32-year-old Bae ended up jostling with each other, the police said.

The 10 women were treated at a hospital for light injuries such as bruises and sprains, they said. The 10 were all between the ages of 43 and 65.

Bae, appearing at an event held in Tokyo after the incident, said he hoped the fans did not sustain serious injuries.

The incident caused organizers to cancel or tighten security for some of Bae's engagements for the day, according to a Japanese management agency.

Bae arrived Thursday afternoon at Narita airport where he received a tumultuous welcome from an estimated 3,500 people, mostly female fans, some of whom had stayed the previous night just to get a possible vantage point.

He is here to attend the opening of an exhibition of his photos and outfits in commemoration of the release in Japan of his photo collection titled "The Image Vol One"

Bae, known affectionately as "Yon-sama" among Japanese fans, is scheduled to stay in Japan until Monday.

Yoshie Ryu, a pharmacist in her 50s, spent the night at Narita airport to wait for his arrival.

"He is so handsome," she said, wearing a T-shirt with Bae's photo printed on her chest, holding his poster cut in the shape of a heart. "He looks so pure, graceful and gentle. No Japanese men are like him."

"I'm so happy -- I could die now with no regrets!" sobbed Noriko Fukawa, 48, after catching a glimpse of the star.

"Winter Sonata," which depicted a love story about two high school sweethearts who were separated and later reunited after a chance meeting, triggered a South Korean TV drama boom in Japan.