Korean Entertainment News Update (siri 2)

katt

June 19, 2008

'Beautiful Sunday' at the Park Inferno
Park Yong-woo gives it all in a convoluted thriller

katt

June 20, 2008

Despite Increasing Applications, Korea Accepts Few Refugees
  

Actor Shin Hyun-jun, World Refugee Day PR envoy  

Some 11 million refugees worldwide roam beyond their countries' borders because of persecution at home. On the 8th World Refugee Day on Friday, the Justice Ministry revealed that 1,951 people have applied for refugee status in Korea since 1994 when the country began accepting applications to May this year.

But Korea granted refugee status to only 76 applicants, the lowest number among the 30 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Refugees for the entire OECD number 2.5 million, over half of which are in the U.S. (840,000), Germany (610,000) and the UK (300,000). Korea lags behind Japan (1,840), Iceland (260) and even Slovakia (240).

Korea's poor record on refugees is due to a lack of interest at the government level. The United Nations installed the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 1951 but Korea only joined the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees in Dec. 1992 and began accepting applicants two years later.

Only 96 applied until 2000 but applicant numbers have since soared to 717 last year alone, and there have been calls for special measures to protect refugees. The vast majority of applicants -- 96.6 percent -- come from Asia (1,133) or Africa (752), with the top three countries being Nepal (374), China (302) and Burma (192).

Refugee applicants receive a G-1 visa which must be renewed every three months. They are not allowed to work and are not covered by health insurance, and even those who are granted refugee status enjoy no employment or living support programs.

Applicants also say that Korea's deliberation period is particularly long; over 60 percent of the 1,951 applicants are still waiting. Deliberations alone once took eight years, the Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea says. Only eight government officials are charged with refugee affairs -- two in the Justice Ministry and six at Seoul Immigration. The ministry says the process takes so long because of a shortage of staff.

In Canada, the government operates a Resettlement Assistance Program, sort of a fund for refugees, and provides lodging, basic necessities, employment assistance and health checkups. In France, refugees who pay a quarter of their income can stay and eat at 28 state-run facilities for refugee families. They also receive support for basic living, childcare, larger families and elderly family members.

It's no exaggeration to say that Korea has no such support programs. A Justice Ministry official confirmed the lack of institutions and budgets for refugees and applicants. An official with the South Korean branch of Amnesty International blamed Korea's poor reputation on refugees to its view of refugees as a mere immigration affair, rather than seeing the issue from a human rights perspective.

But the Justice Ministry says that as more are granted refugee status following deliberations, Korea's acceptance level is not short of the global standard. Korea's recognition rate (15.5 percent) is lower than that of the U.S. (37.4 percent) and UK (17.1 percent), but higher than that of France (10.2 percent), Germany (6.8 percent) and Japan (6.2 percent).

Some applicants to Korea have been able to win refugee status through lawsuits even after being declined by the government. The Seoul Administrative Court said among the single case filed in 2004 and 51 through last year, a fifth had won. "It's difficult for refugees to prove the persecution they claim to have suffered at home," a court official said. "Courts tend to grant recognition based on consistent and concrete testimony and arguments that do not contradict facts relating to the country in question, even without hard proof."

Cha Gyu-geun of the Justice Ministry's National and Refugee Team said, "It's true -- budget support and interest are insufficient in Korea due to its short history with the issue, but efforts are being made to establish a world-class refugee protection system."

Source: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806200009.html

katt

June 20, 2008

Rain Heads to Japan from Berlin Movie Shoot



Actor and singer Rain (Jung Ji-hoon, 26) has been in Berlin filming a movie, but he will be flying to Tokyo, Japan on the 30th for a free admission meeting with his fans at JCB Hall. His agency, J.Tune Entertainment, recently posted photographs of the celebrity on his website (http://www.rain-jihoon.com).

Rain is in Berlin, Germany, for the filming of the upcoming Joel Silver & Wachowski Brothers flick, "Ninja Assassin," directed by James McTeigue. They are running on a grueling schedule, spending over ten hours a day in action, hoping to wrap the shoot by the end of this month or early June.

Rain's agent in Berlin said that during the day off that the celebrity gets per week, he spends it resting at home or sometimes ventures out to watch a movie.

"Rain is making preparations for the fan event in Japan whenever he has the time," his agent added. "He's very excited to stand in front of his fans again."

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1530373_11858.html

katt

June 19, 2008

Jeju Island Full of Interest

By Oleg Kiriyanov
Contributing writer


A woman diver walks to a place to collect mollusks

Jeju Island is arguably the most famous resort of South Korea. On the one hand this fact makes it easier to write a story, but on the other makes it more difficult ― so many facts and impressions have already been told.

Let us start with some general information. Jeju Island is Korea's biggest island (about 1,770 square kilometers) and situated to the south in the subtropical belt. That means its flora and climate is quite different from the rest of Korea.

Well, Jeju has an unbelievable number of different attractions, all of which have equal rights to be called the symbols of the island: South Korea's highest mountain Mount Halla; women-divers who are recognized as a living national treasure; horses which have live here since long ago; dark pigs; mandarins; volcanoes; and shamans ― to name just a few.

In general Jeju can be also called "the island of interesting places" ― both artificial and natural. If you decide to see them all, say goodbye to your friends and your job for at least several weeks. So the places of interest are numerous but it does not mean that all of them are worth seeing.

Personally, Jeju is remembered as the island of museums ― you can find ones dedicated to green tea, Teddy Bears, stones, chocolate, sex and health, modern art, ethnography, natural history and so on.

Among them, at least four museums are definitely worth visiting.



First of all is the Museum of Miniatures. There you can see a very good, detailed and very close (in appearance) to the original models of famous buildings of the world including the Eiffel Tower, Sydney's Opera House, Moscow's Kremlin, Beijing's Imperial Palace, London's Big Ben and many more. Funny photos are guaranteed ― a good chance to feel like a giant when the building of the U.S. Congress is of a similar height as you.

Then find time to see the Museum of Health and Sex. It appears that the word "health" in the name of the museum was added just not to make it too provocative. But at the same time it shows such delicate topic as sex in a very scientific and at the same time interesting way from different angles ― from philosophical to medical and historical. But remember: the museum is off limits for those aged under 19. It is understandable, as some explanations, models and even photos are too, well detailed, at least for kids.



At the same time your kids will definitely forget their grief for not being taken to the "adults only" museum when you bring them to the Museum of Chocolate. It shows the history and the modern state of the chocolate-making process. You can observe it with your own eyes live, as the museum has its own chocolate factory where all the stages of production can be seen through windows. The museum also has a shop where visitors can buy products from the factory.

We have already mentioned women-divers as one of the most famous symbols of Jeju. To see all aspects of the life of these living national treasures, visit the Museum of Women-Divers situated in the northeast of the island.

The story about Jeju will not be complete without mentioning some interesting places created not by human beings but by nature. Definitely No. 1 here is Mount Halla, the former volcano standing in the middle of the island. As it is the highest peak in South Korea (1,950 meters above the sea level) it requires considerable effort to climb to the very top. But if you manage to do that, the unforgettable landscapes are guaranteed ― especially the crater itself.



The other natural wonder of the island is also the crater of a former volcano, standing on the seashore. It has a very poetic name, the Sunrise Peak (Seonsan Ilchulbong). It is also one of the most popular places in Korea to see the rising sun as it appears above the sea's horizon. To add some points to your scores of the peak, it should be mentioned that UNESCO registered the peak as a World Heritage.

On the seashore of Jeju City, in the northern part of the island, you can see another famous place, Yongduam or the Rock of the Dragon's Head. It does resemble the head of that mythical animal.



Among another places worth to be mentioned are the famous Manjanggul lava tubes (also among UNESCO World Heritage sites) through which the lava ran in the middle of mountains when Mount Halla was an active volcano; a funny human-made bush labyrinth Kimnyeong Miro where you can lose some time until you find the right way out; and two "mysterious roads."

The roads have a more terrifying name ― "goblin's roads." Due to an optical illusion of the surrounding landscape, cars moving downhill roads look like they move uphill. So all visitors check whether the roads really go down: people usually either stop the engine and let the car roll "upward," or put a round object (a bottle, can, etc.) on the road to see it roll in the "wrong" direction.

Probably it would be correct to say that Jeju has too many interesting places. So if we were to try and write even a few sentences about all of them, it would take a book. You can find on the island almost every imaginable places ― volcanoes, beaches, mountains, botanic gardens, museums, small islands, monasteries, and caves, alongside outdoor pursuits such as scuba diving, mountain climbing, yachting, and paragliding. Or you can just lie on a beach and be completely sure that the life is beautiful.

If you want to visit Jeju, get some detailed information about those interesting places and decide what to see or do before you reach the island. Otherwise it is easy to become lost among the numerous attractions.



Source: The Korea Times
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/06/135_26180.html

adikkeluangman_

Sung Si Kyung’s last concert: sold-out
June 19, 2008



Sung Si Kyung’s last concert before he enlists in the compulsory military service was sold-out, proving his fans’ endless support for him.

The concert entitled “Encore! Sung Si Kyung Concert, Listen to Si Kyung’s Last Story” will take place on June 28 at 7 pm at Yeonsei University’s outdoor stage. This concert is the final leg in Sung Si Kyung’s nationwide tour that started on April 26.

“I can’t express how thankful I am (for the sold-out concert). For the past 8 years, fans have given me much love and I hope that while I’m gone, I won’t be forgotten. I’ll be doing my best to give a great concert so as to leave it as a good memory for everyone,” Sung Si Kyung expressed.

Source: Hankooki + krnloop

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Naul: “Hye Jin, I love you so much”
June 19, 2008



Brown Eyes member Naul expressed his love to her girlfriend Han Hye Jin in Brown Eyes’ 3rd album entitled “Two Things Needed for the Same Purpose and 5 Objects,” which was released on June 19.

In the “Thanks to” section of the album jacket, Naul wrote, “My beloved parents, beloved (Han) Hye Jin, I love you so much and thank you.”

The two started dating in 2004 and did not worry being seen together in public. In December 2007, Han Hye Jin sent off Naul for his compulsory military service.

Source: Chosun + krnloop

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AJOO back with &#8220aparazzi”
June 20, 2008



AJOO, who debuted in February with “First Kiss,” is releasing his 1st mini album called &#8220aparazzi” on July 3. Its title track also goes by the name of &#8220aparazzi,” which, according to an official from STAM Entertainment, is a trendy dance song and shows off AJOO’s mature vocals.

Also included in the album is the ballad song “On My Knees,” which AJOO composed.

“Like taking my pictures where I show who I am, I put in my music my thoughts and feelings. I worked hard to bring music that is fresh and that goes with the global music trend,” AJOO expressed.

Source: Newsis + krnloop

katt

June 22, 2008

Treasure hunting hits the small screen

"Indiana Jones," "National Treasure," "Tomb Raider" and "The Mummy" drew in crowds with their treasure-hunting plotlines, proving that action, suspense, money and a dash of comedy are a winning combination.

This time around, Korea's major broadcasting channel MBC decided to capitalize on that foolproof formula with their latest Monday and Tuesday night drama, "Night After Night." In this detective story, celebrities Kim Suna and Lee Dong-gun play an unlikely pair of treasure hunters.

Actress Kim Suna, who rose to fame in the MBC drama "My Lovely Sam-soon" (2005), brings her tomboy persona to the role of a tough Cultural Heritage Administration cop. Pretty boy Lee Dong-gun, 27, takes on the fitting role of a womanizing arts scholar. The two team up to solve the crime of the century, falling in love along the way.

At the press conference held last week, Kim hinted at the comedic squabbling to come, stating: "Lee Dong-gun and I spent about four to five hours filming in the hot springs."

"I didn't want to hit him," the 32-year old actress explained, grinning. "But I was so overheated, my hand just went out."

She was referring to a key scene in the upcoming drama, where Lee's character catches Kim's in the nude while she is taking a dip in the hot springs. The outraged Kim slaps Lee. In fact, she hits him so hard he ends up falling over backwards into the water.



Lee, who was sitting next to Kim during the press conference, winced at the memory of the painful incident. Set to play an antiquities expert, this heartthrob first won female audiences over in the hit SBS drama "Lovers in Paris" (2004). His good looks and suave personality got him supporting roles in several melodramas before he started to make headlines in romantic comedies like "My Boyfriend is Type B" (2005).

Now, he gets to play a well-versed and slightly devious partner to Kim's rough and no-nonsense cop.

But will this drama deliver? Screenwriter Yoon Eun-gyung peddled the storyline as an educational experience, stating, "Our drama will put the unfamiliar topic of cultural assets in layman's terms for the masses."

While that sounds like a noble cause, it may lack the punch needed to beat out heavy-hitter "Sikgaek." The epic SBS drama topped viewer ratings charts last Tuesday.

Sikgaek's solid plot and top-notch actors drew in audiences, and it will prove hard to lure them away with cultural assets, unless it involves high-flying action, suspense and razor-sharp humor.

Judging from the preview, however, the upcoming miniseries looks more like a slapdash comedy than a tension-building mystery.

What it might lack in excitement, however, it promises to make-up for with accuracy. Lee Hyun-ju, the international and public relations team representative for the National Museum of Korea, said that "Night After Night" is the first drama to film at the museum.

"They filmed in the exhibition hall, in the museum lobby and in the scientific preservation room with a preservation specialist," she said.

Lee added that the museum has never been featured in movies or dramas before.

According to Lee, the museum staff has been providing advice on cultural assets. She also tipped off those who want to catch Lee and Kim in action.

"They film at the museum on Mondays," she said.

The drama starts airing tonight on MBC at 9:55 p.m.

By Jean Oh ([email protected])

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

katt

June 22, 2008

Baby-face beauty trend makes traditional makeup look old
  
For a couple of years now, "dewy and natural" has been the buzzword in the country's make-up market, with cosmetics companies competing to churn out hit products for trend-fixated consumers. Naturally, celebrities have been the ones to lead the trend. The guiding rule among showbiz people has been to make their faces look transparent and radiant on the screen, far from the mask-like heavy make-up and bold colors that was run-of-the-mill for so long.

The makeup trend has also been influenced by the increasing preference for "dongan (young or baby face)" or "saengeol (no makeup)."

What started out as a couple of celebrities with baby faces getting a lot of media attention quickly caught on with ordinary people both male and female. Today, saying that someone has a baby face is one of the biggest compliments you can give.

In fact, numerous pageants have taken place throughout the country to find truly baby-faced people. The winners, which included a woman in her 50s who looks like someone in her 30s, were becoming near-celebrities and appeared on TV shows to share their tips for taking care of such a young-looking face.

"People in the industry started to realize that just putting on a lot of make-up is not the best way to look really good," said Lee Hye-jin from Laneige, a popular make-up brand of Amore Pacific, Korea's leading cosmetics firm. "They were discovering that revealing the natural beauty of the face with the least amount of make-up and focusing on sheer-face make-up, not colors, was better."

This has led to people paying more attention to basic skin care and going to the dermatologist more, instead of trying to hide imperfections with heavy make-up. Or even when wearing make-up, Korean women these days tend to try to make it look less obvious. Instead of looking too groomed, they want to look more natural.

The face



The traditional practice of putting on liquid foundation and then powder has long been outdated.

Instead of fully covering up facial imperfections, trendy women now pursue the "natural and dewy" look. So, shimmering creams that give a more glowing look to the face and can be used as the base or be mixed with foundation have become a "must-have" item. Also, a popular item is highlighters that specifically give glow to the t-zone.

But since this spring, the trend has changed somewhat. "What we call semi-matte - more matte than the excessively dewy look that was popular last winter, but is still moist on the inside and radiant - is now in, and we expect (the trend) to continue for at least for a year and a half," the Laneige representative said.

For a younger-looking face, milky peach and pink blushes, either with or without shimmer, have become fashionable. Also, although the desire for lighter and whiter skin is usually strong in Asian countries, including Korea, bronze make-up has been rising in popularity here as summer approaches.

Bronze make-up items, including powders and highlighters, help people to seem to have tanned-looking gold or copper- tone skin. "Gold is the main color for this summer," Nam Kyung-hee from Christian Dior Cosmetics said. "Blending well with your skin, they help your face look healthy and glowing."

The eyes

Last winter was all about strong smoky-looking eyes using dark green, brown and gray eye shadows. This spring, on the other hand, pastel toned hues such as pink, violet and light green have been favored.

For eye make-up, no single tone is in for a season, as was the case years ago. Unless a color is totally out of season, it has become more important to match the eye make-up with the shade of the entire make-up. Experts say that it is usually best to match the tone of the eyes and lips.

It looks like shimmering gold is the color for this summer. With bronze make up, natural-looking gold or brown eye shadows are expected to be popular. "The combination of white gold, warm gold and bronze can create metallic-looking eyes that look mysterious and strong," Nam said.

"Rather than putting on too much color, one should focus more on giving a shimmering look to the eyes and emphasizing the eyes with an eyeliner," Lee said.

Instead of drawing a thick black eye line, however, people are recommended to use a brown liner, gradually gradating the colors from light to dark. For lashes, use a volumizing mascara to naturally accentuate the eyes.

The lips

Matte-red lipstick is out and so are the greasy-looking glittery lip glosses.

The natural aesthetic also works for lip products. Colors that are not so strong are better for this season. "The whole point is to look natural, so try putting less color to the eyes and lips," Lee said.

From peach to pink to gold, makeup artists recommend a moist but not too glittery lipstick or lip gloss. Plumping lip glosses can also be useful for more full-looking lips. "A shimmering golden pink or beige tone can make the lips look soft but still splendid," Nam advised.

By Koh Young-aah ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

katt

June 22, 2008

Summer Concerts

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter


Korean R&B duo Fly to the Sky will perform at Welch-Ryang Auditorium
at Ewha Womans University July 12-13

Party Away the Sizzling Nights

The sizzling hot season is here and for those who want to spend a refreshing time with music, summer-themed concerts can be a good way to party the night away.

Fly to the Sky (FTTS), one of Korea's favorite R&B duos, is holding summer concerts. The 26-year-old Hwanhee and 27-year-old Brian chose "Vacation" as the title for their concert, and the performance will indeed give people a break from the stressful and hot day.

FTTS released their new album "Recollection" last April. Comprised of their favorite songs of the 90s, the group refreshed the already well-known works of fellow singers with their signature deep voices and R&B tones. At the concerts, the two singers will offer songs off their new album for the first time on stage, along with numbers from their previous seven albums ― some of them rearranged with an acoustic or jazz twist.

The "Vacation" concerts will mark the start of an Asia tour, which will continue across China, Hawaii, Thailand and Japan.

FTTS' concerts will be held at the Welch-Ryang Auditorium, Ewha Womans University July 12-13. Tickets cost from 55,000 won to 77,000 won. Visit http://ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

If you want a more exciting party-like concert, join MC Mong and Uhm Jung-hwa. The two energetic singers will perform on separate days at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel's outdoor pool Riverpark.



MC Mong will be the first to start the poolside party on July 12. The concert will captivate fans with the 28-year-old's trendy music, easy-to-follow dance moves and also a 30-member crew of VJs and DJs who will boost up the energy. Beside the music, there will also be fireworks, water cannons, and other fun features to enjoy.

The fever will continue the next day with Uhm Jung-hwa, one of Korea's sex symbols. Uhm will release her 10th album next month, after a two-year hiatus. According to her agency, the 36-year-old's new album will feature her distinctive songs with a hint of disco. She is expected to play songs from her new album as well as previous hits.

Uhm Jung-hwa made her debut in 1993 as a singer and gained popularity as Korea's "Madonna." With sultry songs and dance moves, not to mention her sense of style, she later transformed into an actress, starring in several movies including "Seducing Mr. Perfect" (2006) and "Princess Aurora" (2005).

Tickets cost 77,000 won. There is a special package priced 125,000 won that offering a one-day pass at the swimming pool, pool buffet and concert. Visit http://ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 542-5903. Guests must be 19 years or older to join the concert.

Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/06/135_26279.html

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

June 20, 2008

[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(36)]
The Korean Wave and Korean-Americans

The epicenter of the Korean Wave was East Asia, but gradually Korean popular culture has reached the shores of other continents as well.

Although its popularity in non-Asian regions is not as pronounced as it has been in East/Southeast Asia, the growing interest in and visibility of Korean popular culture in different parts of the world signifies its emerging position in the global cultural landscape.

In this increasing dissemination of Korean culture, the role of overseas Koreans is noteworthy since they are usually at the center of the consumption of their culture in foreign countries. Before the emergence of the Korean Wave, it was mostly introduced to the local population by Koreans living in other countries.

Since the Korean Wave has grown internationally, overseas Koreans have become crucial forces behind its promotion, as they are probably the most enthusiastic and closest followers of Korean pop culture in most non-Asian countries.

Korean-Americans' role in the spread of the Korean Wave deserves attention. Their residence in the United States, the center of the global pop cultural industry, their close connection with Korea and their extensive travels enable them to effectively take part in trans-Pacific cultural exchanges.

Some of them, including Korean "yuhaksaengs" (students who study abroad), have been creative forces behind the Korean Wave as they became successful pop stars or influential producers in Korea. There have also been indications that they may become effective bridge-builders between the Korean and U.S. entertainment fields. A few Korean-Americans have had promising receptions in Hollywood in recent years.

Since the United States is the most coveted market for ambitious Korean entertainers and production companies, Korean-Americans' success and their potential mediating power in Hollywood are considered significant. Let us focus on their roles as consumers, disseminators and creators, and discuss how Korean-Americans have been involved in the trans-Pacific flow of Korean pop culture and what that means to the pop culture world.

It is common for immigrants to make an effort to retain their heritage. Often they consume news and cultural products from their countries of origin. Hence, long before the emergence of the Korean Wave in Asia, Korean-Americans had extensively enjoyed Korean pop culture, at least in metropolitan areas where access to it was relatively easy.

Ethnic media including TV, radio and newspapers, as well as ethnic video stores, proliferated in big cities where Korean-Americans have been concentrated and provided a variety of cultural information from Korea on a daily basis. In this sense, Korean-Americans' consumption of Korean pop culture is not a new phenomenon.

However, the success of the Korean Wave attracted new groups of Korean-American followers (such as the U.S.-born young Korean-Americans who previously showed little interest) and facilitated the circulation of Korean pop culture beyond the boundaries of ethnic Korean-American communities.

Their consumption is related to several factors. The first is the increasing availability of Korean pop cultural products and the amazing speed of information sharing. As mentioned earlier, in U.S. metropolises a variety of ethnic media is available depending on the region and the size of the ethnic media market. In addition, various ethnic businesses such as ethnic video rental shops, bookstores, and different types of ethnic cultural spaces (including cafes, clubs, clothing stores, hair salons, etc.) contribute to Korean-Americans' easy and extended access to "homeland" popular culture.

Then there is the internet, which offers completely new possibilities. Through the internet, simultaneous and interactive consumption of pop culture has become possible. For instance, some Korean-Americans consult with their friends and family in Korea for their selection of pop cultural products through online communication and are actively involved in cultural spheres through their online interaction. (Many young Korean yuhaksaengs have blogs or home pages on the Web, which are important sources of transnational connections and cultural flow. They also tend to actively participate in various online communities.)

Information is shared at the speed of a click, and the delayed cultural gap caused by time lag is a matter of the past for the internet generation. Korean-Americans who are not familiar with the internet may still rely on traditional sources, such as ethnic TV or newspapers. Yet the speed of information transmitted by those media has also accelerated, so they are not far behind in getting the latest news from Korea, either.

katt

Second, the development of communication technology and transportation has reduced the distance between Korea and Korean-Americans not only in a physical, but also a psychological sense. Visiting Korea has become much easier than ever before and contacts with family and friends in Korea have increased significantly through phone calls, online chatting, and home page postings, as well as actual visits.

Thus, despite geographical separation, Korean-Americans and Koreans have multiple means of reducing the gap. The common cultural references created by the shared consumption of Korean pop culture across borders provides a foundation on which they can construct a sense of a transnational community.

Third, for some Korean-Americans, their consumption of Korean pop culture is related to their search for an identity and a community. As minorities, many Korean-Americans experience a sense of marginalization. Even those born and raised in the United States often feel that they lack full-fledged cultural citizenship in the United States.

Moreover, it is difficult for Asian-Americans (including Korean-Americans) to find a positive role model in the "mainstream" U.S. media because Asian-Americans have long been almost non-existent or portrayed stereotypically. In this light, Korean popular culture could provide them with a way to learn about their heritage and, to some extent, a reference base on which they could build a sense of identity and belonging.

Korean-Americans also take an important part in the dissemination of cultural information and products across the Pacific. For example, ethnic Korean TV channels, which are mainly geared toward Korean-Americans, unwittingly attracted non-Korean viewers. Indeed, when the Korean Wave became a phenomenon in Asia, the programs became important sources for curious viewers to get a taste of Korean pop culture.

Moreover, at school or at work, Korean-Americans expose their friends, classmates and co-workers to Korean culture. Among the younger generation, in particular, the dissemination of cultural information is a natural and widespread practice, so young Korean-Americans and yuhaksaengs are pivotal in the spreading of Korean pop culture among American youths.

The main groups of people who show interest in Korean pop culture are usually other Asian-Americans. Like many Korean-American youths who are knowledgeable of Korean pop culture, many young Asian-Americans are also well-informed of what is going on in their countries of origin.

If the Korean Wave has been big in their countries of origin, Asian-Americans youths tend to develop interest in Korean pop culture through their transnational connections and sometimes seek information from their Korean-American friends. Hence, the popularity of the Korean Wave in Asia is transmitted to the United States through transnational Korean/ Asian populations.

Korean-Americans' dissemination of cultural information and products does not flow only one way, however. They also disseminate American pop culture to Korea - from food to even drugs. In particular, the yuhaksaeng and their family members (especially mothers) play a key role in the trans-Pacific cultural flow because they are truly "footloose" transnationals who frequently cross national and cultural borders.

The role of overseas Koreans as creators is not as clear-cut as their roles as consumers and disseminators. One the one hand, it is undeniable that Korean-Americans have been crucial creative forces at least in certain genres of Korean pop culture. On the other hand, it is arguable whether their contribution to and role in Korean pop culture is truly creative rather than merely an interpretation and dissemination of U.S. (to some extent, Western) pop culture.

Since the 1990s, Korean-Americans and yuhaksaengs have left remarkable footprints in Korean pop music. R&B, hip-hop and rap were either introduced to or popularized in Korea by Korean-American musicians starting in the mid-1990s, and many Korean-American and yuhaksaeng musicians have been the leading voices in those genres ever since.

The limited opportunities Asian-American musicians face in the U.S. pop music industry, combined with the Korean music industries' active recruitment of Korean-Americans (they are viewed to be more familiar with the previously-mentioned genres), resulted in their proliferation, especially in groups such as H.O.T., G.O.D., Drunken Tiger, Shinwha, and S.E.S., just to name a few.

Solo acts such as J, Lee Hyun-woo, Lee Jung-hyun and Crown J are also from the United States. Additionally, transnational Koreans educated in American institutions or strongly influenced by the American music style have played a crucial role in the construction of Korean music trends. Seo Tae Ji and Boys, Cho Pd and Psy belong to this group.

Moreover, some aspiring actors and actresses who face serious obstacles in the United States due to the lack of opportunities and role models for them have headed for Korea and become successful. Some even gained international fame in Asia due to the Korean Wave.

katt

They have then utilized their success in Korea/Asia as a stepping stone to enter the U.S. market as a Korean or an Asian star. Kim Yunjin, who appears in American TV series Lost is a good example of this.

As these examples demonstrate, Korean-Americans have played an important part in the making of contemporary Korean popular culture. However, if we ask whether they are truly creative agents of Korean pop culture, the answer is somewhat dubious because, thus far, what they have done is not too far from disseminating information (for example, hip-hop and rap) from the United States to Korea.

They largely remain students or imitators of Western artists in the same genre instead of independent artists with their own voices and styles. Of course, this maturation will take time and it will be interesting to see if they can come up with innovative cultural products. Until that is accomplished, the evaluation of Korean-Americans' creative role in the Korean Wave remains open-ended.

Korean-Americans and other Asian-Americans have long tried to establish their niche in the U.S. cultural scene. In recent years, such efforts came to partial fruition as the visibility of Asian-Americans and the representation of their own voices, based on their unique experiences and heritage, began to improve. The U.S. media's increased featuring of Asian-Americans is partly related to domestic changes such as multiculturalism and the increased purchasing and cultural power of Asian-Americans.

Perhaps more importantly, the media conglomerates' interest in the Asian market, the hottest media market in the world in terms of its potential and size, propelled the increasing presence of Asian/Asian American entertainers.

The interest also facilitated Hollywood studios' selection and appropriation of Asian themes. They shot films on Asian locations, added more Asian characters (though many of them still stereotypical), and even remade successful Asian films and texts (including animation and comic books).

Asian and Asian American stars are hired as lead characters in movies because of their marketability in Asia and beyond. In this environment, Korean/Korean-Americans actors, actresses and other cultural workers have increasing opportunities to expand their horizons in the United States and eventually in the world market. Yunjin Kim, Rick and Karl Yune and John Cho are just some names with whom U.S. audiences have become familiar. In Wolverine, the upcoming X-men spin-off film, Daniel Henney will test his luck in the U.S. market as well. Then there is Rain (Bi), whose Hollywood film was recently released and another is in the making. In the fashion world, too, a growing number of Korean/Korean-American designers have begun to attract the mainstream fashion industries' attention (take Doo-Ri Chung, for example).

The door has opened, although still only for a selected few. But such a possibility is a crucial one, and how this opportunity is seized and how the momentum can be developed into a system of reliable networks could determine whether more Korean/Korean-American faces and voices can be represented in the global media.

Of course, the success of individual entertainers is not equivalent to the success of Korean pop culture. It is possible that they could become mere tools for Hollywood to more effectively sell its products to Korea and Asia. At the same time, however, it is true that they have great potential to become significant bridge-builders and cultural agents between Korea and the United States (and the East and the West) and even creators of global pop culture.

Considering the fact that we are living in a transformative time in which Western cultural hegemony continues to linger, but, simultaneously, local/regional cultures' power and influence are growing, their potential is indeed quite great. If this potential materialized, Korean/ Korean-Americans may contribute to the spread and development of the Korean Wave in a new way.

By Park Jung-sun

Source: The Korea Herald

katt

June 23, 2008

Yoo Ji-tae Awarded at Japan's 'Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia'



Actor and director Yoo Ji-tae received the "Special Mention Award" at the "Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia" which was held from June 6th to June 15th.

Indie Story, the distribution company for the Yoo directed film, "Out of My Intention," announced that Yoo was given this award for his passion of short films and impact on the Asian short films industry.

The Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia is a branch of the original Short Short Film Festival (SSFF) which focuses on short films made throughout Asia.

Yoo's "The Bike Boy (2003)," "How Does the Blind Dream (2005)" and "Out of My Intention (2007)" were all shown at the festival. Last year, Yoo was invited to be a judge for the Competitive Films program and this year, he was invited to speak at their film seminar.

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1530666_11858.html

[ Last edited by  katt at 23-6-2008 11:59 AM ]

katt

June 18, 2008

Kim Dong-ryul抯 Classy Music Delights Fans and Industry Alike



Korea抯 music industry has been plagued by a series of song thefts, which compounded the problem of a steady drop in album sales. However, there is a bright spot amid the gloomy prospect for the Korean music industry.

Singer/songwriter Kim Dong-ryul has inspired over 10,000 fans at his latest concerts, which took place on June 13th and 14th at the Olympic Park in Seoul. Titled 揔im Dong-ryul 2008 Epilogue Concert,

katt

June 19, 2008

Dead B-boy Put to Rest



A member of the famed B-boy club Last Mass, who hung himself in his apartment on Monday, was put to his final resting place on Wednesday. Known only by his last name Yang, the 23-year-old dancer抯 death is still wrapped in mystery.

Although Yang left a video image of him hanging himself on his mobile phone, no suicide note was found that could shed light on why he had decided to end his life. The Suseo Police Station investigating the case said that Yang was despondent after his injury forced him out dancing, which caused him to commit suicide. However, Yang抯 family has maintained that the young dancer had no reason to take his own life. There has yet to be an official police announcement on Yang抯 motive.

An agent for Last Mass said in a phone interview that Yang抯 cousin had stressed that the death was not due to Yang抯 depression over his injury. Yang had bad knees, but the injury was not so bad as to be fatal to his dancing career. The agent has said that Yang had given up on being a professional break dancer after he left Last Mass six months ago and begun to show new interest in studying the Japanese language. Yang had reportedly gone to a Japanese language institution in the morning of his death as usual.

Source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/e ... _detail.htm?No=7733

katt

June 20, 2008

Brown Eyes Roars Back to Top of Music Charts



Brown Eyes, the Yoon Gun and Na Ul duo, has released Thursday their third album 揟wo Things Needed for the Same Purpose and 5 Objets

katt

News Index PAGE 20

June 23, 2008: SS501's New Single 'Lucky Days' Climbs to No.2 Spot on Oricon Chart
June 23: Highly-Anticipated Film 'Crossing' Adapted into a Children's Book
June 23: Namie Amuro and TVXQ to Perform Together at A-Nation Concert
June 18: [Junior Herald] Actor Mun Jung-hyuk comes back as a *masked assassin
June 24: Director Im Wearied by 'Reckless' Korean Filmmaking
June 24: "Enemy" scores strongly with Korean Public
June 24: Survey: Celebrities who Go Well with 'Hallyu Street' in Shinjuku, Tokyo
June 24: Romance missing from Korean films   
June 24: Female Singers Return for Summer
June 20: Japanese directors scout shooting sites in Seoul
June 25: Celebs get their hands dirty down on the farm
June 25: 慘ung Fu Panda

katt

June 23, 2008

SS501's New Single 'Lucky Days' Climbs to No.2 Spot on Oricon Chart



The popular male vocal group SS501's third single "Lucky Days," which was released in Japan on June 18, climbed to the number two spot on the Oricon Daily Single Chart on the same day.

What makes the feat so significant is that all of the songs in the single album were written by a Korean composer.

The album includes the title song "Lucky Days" written by composer Hwang Seong-je and "Summer Blue" by Lee Joo-hyeong. The Japanese version of "A Song for You," a number which had previously only been released in Korea, is also included in the group's latest single.
SS501's management agency DSPent said the group will focus on its promotional activities in Japan until early August. Member Kim Hyun-joong, who makes a regular guest appearance on "Just Married," a popular segment of "Sunday Night Entertainment," will travel back and forth between Korea and Japan.

SS501 plans to hold three concerts from July 12 to 13 in Tokyo and two concerts from July 16 to 17 in Osaka.

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1530851_11858.html

katt

June 23, 2008

Highly-Anticipated Film 'Crossing' Adapted into a Children's Book



The soon-to-be-released film "Crossing" has been made into a storybook for children.

The film's PR company, Coming Soon, recently announced that the book will be released on June 23, four days prior to the opening of the film. The company added that the storyline of the film was adapted into a book for children and the whole family.

The story of Crossing revolves around a North Korean husband and father named Yong-soo (Cha In-pyo) who crosses the Chinese border to find treatment for his wife's illness and ends up in South Korea. Desperately searching for his lost father, his son Jun-yi journeys across China and Mongolia.

The book's publisher FantaWorks said unlike the film, which aims to portray the characters in an entirely objective perspective, the storybook portrays the reality of North Korea from young Jun-yi's point of view. The book also compares North Korean words with those of South Korea, including football terminologies. The book also contains impressive illustrations based on scenes from the movie.

The publishing company said the book, which tells the tragic realities of a divided nation, will be educational for young students.

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/culture/1530874_11676.html

[ Last edited by  katt at 23-6-2008 03:32 PM ]

katt

June 23, 3008

Namie Amuro and TVXQ to Perform Together at A-Nation Concert



Korea's popular male vocal group TVXQ will perform with top Japanese female artist Namie Amuro.

TVXQ and Amuro will perform together at the annual "A-Nation" concert which was first launched in 2002 by Japan's largest entertainment agency, Avex.

Amuro's management agency announced last week that the artist will be performing at this year's A-Nation concert. It will be her first outdoor performance in six years. Amuro will take part in eight concerts starting with the first at the Miyazaki Prefecture. She will also perform at the Ishikawa Prefecture, Aiichi Prefecture and Osaka as well as Tokyo.

Namie plans to release a compilation album of her best hit songs on July 30 and begin a five-month concert series starting in October.
Meanwhile, TVXQ has been invited to perform at the A-Nation concert for the second consecutive year.

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1530878_11858.html

[ Last edited by  katt at 23-6-2008 03:37 PM ]

katt

June 18, 2008

[Junior Herald] Actor Mun Jung-hyuk comes back as a *masked assassin

Actor Mun Jung-hyuk comes back as a *masked assassin KBS' in KBS' new drama "Strongest Chilwoo" ( 최강칠우 ) starring Mun Jung-hyuk and Goo Hye-sun began airing on Tuesday, June 17. Strongest Chil-woo, which is being compared to SBS' drama *in progress "Iljimae" ( 일지매 ), is another heroic, *historical drama where the main character Chil-woo fights for *justice and stands up for the *commoners.

Chil-woo, played by Mun, was raised by a *foster father and works as a *low-ranking officer by day and *transforms into a masked assassin by night. The setting of the story takes place in the Joseon Dynasty and the plot covers historically recorded factual incidents from the period.

The action scenes of Strongest Chilwoo are less *cruel and less serious than traditional sword fighting historical dramas that viewers are *accustomed with so the drama has been o f t e n t i m e s misinterpreted as a fusion piece. " The drama has no relation to fusion. The actions scenes might have spread the *notion but our story is fitted to a typical historical drama,"said director Park Man-young at a press conference.

Being Mun's first challenge in traditional drama, it is up to the viewers to judge if the new hero has enough superpower to win over people's heart. "In difficult situations, we always look for someone to rescue us from the situation. And we want that someone to be among us. That is where Chil-woo comes in," added Park.

By Yoo Bo-lam ([email protected]) <&#53076;&#47532;&#50500;&#54756;&#47092;&#46300; &#51088;&#47588;&#51648; '&#51452;&#45768;&#50612;&#54756;&#47092;&#46300;' &#51228;&#44277;