Korean Entertainment News 2011

katt

July 7, 2009

TVXQ Wows Japanese Fans at Tokyo Dome  

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Pop group TVXQ held their first solo concert at the Tokyo Dome, Japan, July 4 and 5. It was a dream come true for the group, who had dreamed of performing at the venue since their debut, Yonhap News reported Monday.

Their fourth Japanese live tour, entitled "The Secret Code,'' drew more than 100,000 fans over the two nights in Tokyo, proving once again the five-member group's star power in the neighboring country.

The group, comprised of Xiah, Micky, Hero, Max and U-Know, started the concert with ``Secret Game'' and continued with hits like "Why Did I Start to Like You,'' "Nobody Knows'' and "Mirotic.'' Singing 32 songs during the pair of three-hour and 20-minute shows, the members also offered separate solo performances, from rock numbers like "Wild Soul'' by Max, to a special duet song made just for the concert ― ``COLORS, Melody and Harmony'' by Hero and Micky.

"We have finally arrived here at the Tokyo Dome and we are so happy, it feels like a dream. We were very bad at speaking in Japanese when we first got here, but now we can not only communicate, but also express our feelings through music. We think we have grown a lot,'' TVXQ was quoted as saying by its agency, SM Entertainment.

The group held a total of 21 concerts around nine cities in Japan, drawing more than 300,000 fans.

Japanese newspapers like Nikkan Sports News and Sports Nippon wrote articles about the concert, mentioning that the "Korean group was in the middle of the Japanese music industry'' and that TVXQ marked the "triple 300,000,'' which includes selling more than 300,000 copies of their single, 300,000 copies of their official album and finally drawing more than 300,000 fans to their concerts.

The group's recent 28th single release "Stand By U'' shot to No. 2 on Japan's daily singles Oricon Charts, behind Arashi's 27th single "Everything'' released earlier this month.

The group will join other Japanese pop groups at the summer music festival ``a-nation,'' which will be held in cities across Japan Aug. 1-30.

Credits; [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/07/201_47987.html

katt

July 7, 2009

S. Korea to enhance rights of entertainers following actress suicide

By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will move to enhance the rights of entertainers by limiting the duration of unilateral management contracts following the social uproar over the suicide of a popular TV star, the country's fair trade watchdog said Tuesday.

   The issue of unilateral contracts received considerable public attention following the death of Jang Ja-yeon in March. A suicide letter allegedly written by the actress, who played a supporting role in the hit TV drama "Boys Over Flowers," accuses her former manager of forcing her to attend drinking parties and to provide sexual favors to influential producers and executives of entertainment companies.


Data picture

Police have recently arrested the manager on suspicion of physical assault and threatening Jang. The accusations against him are not an isolated incident, as a recent poll conducted on 2,000 entertainers showed 19 percent of respondents saying they have personally been propositioned for sex or knew an associate who received such an offer.

   The survey, conducted by the Korea entertainers union, showed that 62 percent of respondents claimed they were hurt professionally by turning down such a request, with some being threatened and physically abused.

   The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said it has established a new standard contract to better protect entertainers and limit the power of talent agencies who have been accused of forcing aspiring singers, actors and actresses to sign de facto slave contracts.

   The changes, established after receiving requests from umbrella groups representing both actors and singers, ban contracts exceeding seven years, which have been cited for limiting the ability of entertainers to switch management agencies. Most existing contracts exceed 10 years, with heavy penalties being imposed for entertainers that decide to quit before the expiration date.

   Long contracts have also been the source of numerous disputes between entertainers and talent agencies. Under the revised rules, an entertainer can automatically end a contract after seven years even if there is no clause on duration. He or she can extend the agreement if there is mutual consent.

   Other revisions will remove clauses that compel entertainers to notify agencies of their whereabouts throughout the day, which infringes on personal privacy. "In the future, an entertainer does not need to follow rules that limit their private lives and can take legal action to end an unfair contract," an FTC official said.

   He added that the new rules make it compulsory for talent agencies to get written consent from entertainers if they want to trade an actor or an actress. Entertainers can, in addition, engage in various economic activities as long as such measures do not affect their main careers.

   The FTC, meanwhile, said that the new standard contracts and related rules will be sent to talent agencies and managers, with the regulator to take measures to ferret out non-compliance and violations.

   Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr

katt

July 7, 2009

Ku Hye-sun Draws Crowds with Her Paintings



Ku Hye-sun talks to the press at her art exhibition in Gallery La Mer in Insa-dong, Seoul on Wednesday. /Newsis

Ku Hye-sun is becoming popular as a painter after rising to stardom as an actress in the Cinderella tale drama "Boys over Flowers." Ku's exhibition titled "Tango" has been at Gallery La Mer in Insa-dong, Seoul since last Wednesday. On display are 50 works including the illustrations in her novel of the same title and paintings made shooting the hugely popular KBS drama.

She said that after the drama ended, sometimes she completed two or three works a day. Asked what she thinks about being an actress, short film director, novelist and painter now, she replied, "I feel uncomfortable with being called a painter. I'd rather like to be regarded as a person who likes drawing." "Painting is not my main job, and I'll focus on acting from now on," she added.

Yet the exhibition sees about 700 visitors on weekdays and 1,000 on Saturday, according to her agency YG Entertainment. All proceeds are to be donated to charity. The exhibition runs through Tuesday.

Credits: englishnews@english.chosun.com

katt

July 7, 2009

Song Hye-kyo, HK’s Favorite Korean Star

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter



Residents of Hong Kong selected actress Song Hye-kyo as their favorite Korean star.

Song topped the popularity ranking in a survey conducted on 1,145 Hong Kong citizens at the International Travel Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from June 11 to 14, according to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Tuesday.

In the survey which allowed multiple replies, 40.4 percent picked the 27-year-old actress, who gained popularity there through soap operas "Autumn in My Heart" and "Full House."

Actress Lee Young-ae, the star of the drama "Jewel in the Palace," who took first place last year, took second this year, with 40.2 percent.

Trailing her were Jun Ji-hyun, also known as Gianna Jun with 31.2 percent; Bae Yong-joon, better known as "Yonsama" with 16.2 percent; singer and actor Rain with 14.4 percent; and actor Ji Jin-hee with 12.9 percent.

The surveyed people also said if they have a chance to visit Korea, they'd like to visit Seoul, followed by Jeju Island and Gangwon Province. Those who have traveled Korea said they liked shopping the most, as well as the food and natural scenery.

Credits: rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

July 6, 2009

Police arrest ex-talent agency head linked to death of actress

SEONGNAM, South Korea, July 6 (Yonhap) -- Police arrested a former talent agency head Monday on suspicion of assaulting and threatening popular actress Jang Ja-yeon, accelerating their investigation into whether he forced her to provide sexual favors to high-powered officials.

   Identified by his surname of Kim, the suspect and Jang's former manager was served an arrest warrant by the Bundang Police Station in the city of Seongnam, south of Seoul, three days after being extradited from Japan. Kim had been in Japan since December last year, prolonging his stay while attempting to fly to another country.

   Around 7:20 p.m. the Suwon District Court issued the arrest warrant for him out of fear that he may flee. The police plan to grill Kim, 39, on allegations that he threatened and coerced Jang to provide sexual services. Jang committed suicide in March.

   Police said that with Kim now in custody, they will resume the probe that was suspended for some 70 days due to insufficient evidence and a lack of witnesses. Bunbdang Police Station chief Han Poong-hyun said, "We will clear all the suspicions involving the case, with Kim's statements and supporting evidence gathered up to now."

   Jang, 30, hanged herself at her house in Bundang south of Seoul on March 7, her death shocking the nation as the young starlet had just begun to gain popularity from her supporting role in a popular TV series. In a suicide note, Jang claimed she had been forced to serve and provide sexual favors to high-profile entertainment figures and journalists, prompting a nationwide scandal.

   Police will later summon the nine unspecified figures if they are first able to establish facts related to the allegations, Han said.

   The accusations were not the first to implicate the local entertainment industry in abusing young female actresses. Financial watchdogs have been looking into contracts signed between entertainers and their agents, whose terms they say are close to "enslavement."

   On April 24, police announced interim investigation results and wrapped up the probe without interrogating any of the people mentioned in Jang's suicide note, saying they had difficulty confirming the allegations without questioning Kim.

Source: yonhapnews.co.kr

katt

July 7, 2009

'Swallow the Sun' to Capture Love, Revenge

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter


The new drama “Swallow the Sun” offers first-ever scenes from South Africa.
With Ji Sung, front left, starring as the tough Jung-woo aiming for revenge,
the program will air starting Thursday at 9:55 p.m. on SBS. / Courtesy of SBS

A passionate tale of lovers follows in the heels of "The City Hall," the Cinderella story of public officials with a happily ever after, tonight on SBS.

The new drama "Swallow the Sun" is about young and headstrong protagonists risking their lives for success and love, and also to make Jeju Island one of the most popular cities in the world along their journey.

"Sun" made a buzz months before the actual airing due to its cast, which includes Ji Sung ("New Heart," 2007), and former member of the now disbanded girl group Fin.K.L., Sung Yu-ri, and also the makers of the program, producer Yoo Chul-yong and writer Choi Wan-kyu.

"We chose actors with potential and spirit. They are not only great in acting, but also considerate to everyone working on the set. We have traveled around to bring the best and viewers will get to see the spectacular scenery of Jeju, Las Vegas and even South Africa. We are ready to receive both compliments and critique," Yoo was quoted as saying by SBS.

Indeed, SBS and the drama crew have been stressing the series being filmed in various locations, including Africa, where no other Korean drama has been filmed until now.

The two drama makers proved their star power with the hit drama "All In" in 2003, starring heartthrob Lee Byung-hun ("The Good, The Bad, The Weird," 2008), and Song Hye-kyo ("Full House," 2004), and their collaboration is one reason many are waiting for the first airing.

"Sun" revolves around three main characters: Jung-woo, Su-hyun and Tae-hyuk. Jung-woo, played by Ji Sung, lives his life as a poor orphan until he saves the rich and powerful Jang Min-ho's life. His life takes a turn when he swears to serve Jang and his son Tae-hyuk as a servant, but when Tae-hyuk, played by Lee Wan, starts to demand more than Jung-woo can handle, he starts to wonder if he can continue. Things get complicated when Jung-woo is suddenly sent to prison instead of Tae-hyuk, and his journey for revenge and love begins from the cold ground of his cell.

"I remember the scene where I had to ride a truck and shoot with my gun the whole day. There was also an underwater shoot where I had to stay in the water for more than eight hours, and my eyes started to swell up," Ji Sung was quoted as saying to SBS. The 32-year-old actor trained hard to look the part of the strong and tough Jung-woo, and he said it was all for the best.

"The directors and staff tell me that the harder I train, the easier the viewers will understand my character, and I agree," he said. Another must-see feature is the renowned Canadian circus troupe "Cirque du Soleil," which will offer scenes from behind the set and during the show, the first time in the troupe's history. Actress Sung Yu-ri was the first actor to ever lay foot on the troupe's stage as part of a drama.



"Sun" is actually based a novel written by Kang Chul-hwa, a novelist and also the head of drama production company New Port Pictures. "The book was inspired by a love story I heard during my visit to Jeju Island. I traveled to the island about 120 times, and then Africa, and also casinos to finish the book," Kang said in a separate press statement. Kang added that the title also changed many times to match the story.

"The sun represents many things depending on the characters: For Jung-woo it's success and family, while for Su-hyun it's to become a famous show director. Finally for Tae-hyuk, it's his love toward Su-hyun. We added the verb 'swallow' to bring the determination of the characters trying to fulfill their dreams," said Kang.

Yoo also mentioned that the strong title was one of the reasons why he chose to recreate the book into a drama." It was a page-turner and I just had to remake it into a television series. I hope the viewers appreciate my decision throughout the airings," he said.

Meanwhile, the press conference for the drama had been scheduled Tuesday, but was canceled due to suspicions of H1N1 flu among the crewmembers. "The production team arrived in Incheon last Thursday from Las Vegas. There was a staff member who felt sick and tests confirmed that he had swine flu. Thus, we decided to cancel the press conference and further shoots for the time being as we cited the importance of the health of our staff," the promotion team of SBS said through a press release.

The drama will air on schedule, July 8 at 9:55 p.m. on SBS.

Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

July 7, 2009

TVXQ Wows Japanese Fans at Tokyo Dome  

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Pop group TVXQ held their first solo concert at the Tokyo Dome, Japan, July 4 and 5. It was a dream come true for the group, who had dreamed of performing at the venue since their debut, Yonhap News reported Monday.

Their fourth Japanese live tour, entitled "The Secret Code," drew more than 100,000 fans over the two nights in Tokyo, proving once again the five-member group's star power in the neighboring country.

The group, comprised of Xiah, Micky, Hero, Max and U-Know, started the concert with "Secret Game'' and continued with hits like "Why Did I Start to Like You,'' "Nobody Knows'' and "Mirotic.'' Singing 32 songs during the pair of three-hour and 20-minute shows, the members also offered separate solo performances, from rock numbers like "Wild Soul'' by Max, to a special duet song made just for the concert ― "COLORS, Melody and Harmony'' by Hero and Micky.

"We have finally arrived here at the Tokyo Dome and we are so happy, it feels like a dream. We were very bad at speaking in Japanese when we first got here, but now we can not only communicate, but also express our feelings through music. We think we have grown a lot,'' TVXQ was quoted as saying by its agency, SM Entertainment.

The group held a total of 21 concerts around nine cities in Japan, drawing more than 300,000 fans.

Japanese newspapers like Nikkan Sports News and Sports Nippon wrote articles about the concert, mentioning that the "Korean group was in the middle of the Japanese music industry'' and that TVXQ marked the "triple 300,000,'' which includes selling more than 300,000 copies of their single, 300,000 copies of their official album and finally drawing more than 300,000 fans to their concerts.

The group's recent 28th single release "Stand By U'' shot to No. 2 on Japan's daily singles Oricon Charts, behind Arashi's 27th single "Everything'' released earlier this month.

The group will join other Japanese pop groups at the summer music festival "a-nation,'' which will be held in cities across Japan Aug. 1-30.

Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/07/201_47987.html

katt

July 7, 2009

Asia featured at Montreal fest
50 Asian films to feature at fantasy event

By Patrick Frater



Official Website fantasiafest.com

HONG KONG -- Japanese and Korean films take the biggest bow this week at Fantasia in Montreal, reputed to be the biggest fantasy festival in North America.

The event, which has been extended by two days to include its bulging lineup, opens Thursday with Miike Takashi's "Yatterman" and includes 50 Asian movies in its 115 title presentation, running from July 9 to 29.

Asian highlights include the North American premiere of Park Chan-wook's "Thirst," South Korea's Rotterdam prize-winner "Breathless" by Yang Ik-june, Ning Hao's "Crazy Racer" and a 13-title special section documenting the history of Japan's erotic film genre or "pinku eiga" aka "Pink Movies."

Source: hollywoodreporter.com

katt

July 8, 2009

Tale of ambitious young adults



With a slew of bankable summer blockbusters charging through the box office this season, it is about time a television series of epic proportions spiced things up on the small screen.

SBS' new Wednesday and Thursday night installment, "Swallow the Sun," promises to do just that.

The latest collaboration between "All In" duo director Yoo Chul-yong and scriptwriter Choi Wan-gyu, "Swallow the Sun" repeats blockbuster-making history, spinning a gargantuan tale of ambitious young adults with big plans and big dreams for Jeju Island.

The scenic island, Las Vegas and South Africa serve as the vast playground on which a star-studded cast that includes "New Heart" star Ji Sung, former girl group Fin.K.L hottie Sung Yu-ri and "Stairway to Heaven" actor Lee Wan play out this mega adventure.

A finely chiseled Ji Sung, who also starred in the hit series "All In" (SBS, 2003), sloughs off his "New Heart" charm for the rugged and rebellious skin of Kim Jung-woo.

Taking on the role of the illegitimate son of a gangster and a female diver, Ji Sung mastered scuba diving, boxing and taekwondo prior to extensive filming that took him from Korea to South Africa and Las Vegas. "I remember riding the truck all day off the beaten path, firing a gun, for the chase scene that unfolded in Africa," Ji Sung recounted unforgettable moments in a press release from SBS.

"For the underwater scene, which was the first one I filmed, I was in the water for eight hours," he recalled. "At one point my eyes got puffy. I swam with one hand and grabbed the gills of a sea bream with the other, struggling for life." "I think I will remember both scenes for a long time."

Behind the scenes, the tough and travel-heavy schedule took its toll on the drama's production crew. According to a press release from SBS, four crew members were diagnosed with the human swine flu virus after flying in from the United States in early July.

Prioritizing national health concerns over the drama, the press conference slated for Tuesday was cancelled and filming was temporarily halted. "All four are confirmed cases of the A (H1N1) virus," said an SBS representative over the phone.

When asked how they were faring, the representative stated that though they showed symptoms of high fever, they were not immobile and that one crew member was fully recovered. In regards to the health of the cast, the representative answered: "They are fine."

According to the press release, after wrapping up filming in Las Vegas the production crew returned to Korea on July 2. One crew member tested positive for swine flu and was placed in the Incheon National Quarantine Station. The following day the production crew joined the film crew in Jeju Island. After receiving tests at the Jeju Island public health center, three more crew members were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus on Monday.

According to the SBS representative, the crew member that was placed in the Incheon National Quarantine Station has made a complete recovery. "Filming may resume, at the soonest, on Thursday," stated the SBS representative.

The first episode was pushed back a day and was replaced by a special that aired yesterday. According to the press release, because plenty of scenes were filmed in South Africa and America, there are no setbacks to the broadcast of the drama for the time being.

Based on the original book authored by the production company's president Kang Chul-hwa of Newport Pictures, "Swallow the Sun" will air its first episode tonight on SBS at 9:55 p.m.

By Jean Oh ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr

katt

July 8, 2009

Yu-na Invites Davichi to Ice Show  


Kim Yu-na

Davichi, a famed South Korean pop-ballad duo, will join Kim Yu-na, the reigning figure skating champion, at Ice All Stars 2009 to be held in Seoul in mid-August.

IB Sports, Kim's agency, said Wednesday that Davichi will sing "Don't Stop the Music" during Yu-na's gala show program. "Yu-na and Davichi will also appear together in the finale and on the encore stage.''

In a similar ice show in April, Kim featured her fantastic figure skating skills to the live music of Big Mama, one of the country's top girl bands.

Davichi, also a girl duo, was quoted as saying, "We are excited and glad to perform with Yu-na, who shot to the world top.''

The August ice show, scheduled to take place Aug. 14-16 at Olympic Park in southeastern Seoul, has drawn keen attention as five-time world champion Michelle Kwan of the United States plans to join Yu-na in the ice show.

It will be Kwan's first action since she quit the sport due to a hip injury in 2006.

Credits: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/07/135_48101.html

katt

July 8, 2009

Ahn is overall favorite among Koreans


More on Ahn Sung Ki [wikipedia]

Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, 57, was chosen as the most likeable among Koreans according to the Gallup poll released Tuesday.

Ahn received 9.2 per cent of fan support to claim the top spot. The actor known for his wholesome image and a filmography which spans almost half a century since his start in the business as a child actor also grabbed the most votes on the same poll in 2004.

Trailing behind him were other top actors with Song Gang-ho (6.3%) and Jang Dong-gun, Seol Kyung-gu, Shin Sung-il, Jung Woo-sung, Hwang Jeong-min, Kim Su-ro, and Jeong Joon-ho following in that order.

Kim Hye-su was the sole female representation ranked at number 10.

Rank based on age groups showed a different result with Jang Dong-gun coming in at the top spot among those in their teens and 30s while Seol Gyung-gu was picked as a favorite among twenty-somethings.

Credits: [email protected] via koreaherald.co.kr l news.yahoo.com

katt

July 6, 2009

Kim Kyung-ho Back from a Slump



Korea’s representative rocker Kim Kyung-ho has come back with a new album, “Alive.” Just as the album title implied, he was fully alive and kicking at a club performance held in the Hongdae neighborhood in late June. He was glad to be performing again, as he suffered a big slump last year when he discovered that he was suffering from a rare affliction called avascula necrosis of femoral head. He underwent surgery late last year, but didn’t recover physically or emotionally for quite some time. Nonetheless, Kim had a chance to think about his music career and his fans, which gave him hope and strength to continue music.

Although Kim wanted to release a regular album, he instead chose to introduce a mini album with only six songs. He didn’t want his fans to wait for an album much longer. The title song, “Want to Bring You,” is perfect for Kim’s wide vocal range, and “Face to Face” features a strong rock beat.

Kim is currently preparing for a joint concert with Park Wan-kyu on July 25th. It’s going to be an exciting performance rarely seen on TV, and a chance for everyone to feel “alive” again.

Source: KBS Global

katt

July 7, 2009

Kim Jun Gearing Up for Solo Debut



Kim Jun, a member of music band T-Max and F4 of drama “Boys over Flowers,” is getting ready for the release of his first single, “Ready OK.” Fans are already going wild over the music video trailer of “Ready OK,” which was released earlier this week on online portal sites. Kim’s single collection album will go on sale on July 9th.

Instead of the gentle image he had in the hit drama “Boys over Flowers,” Kim shows off his tough masculine side with powerful dance and rap. Making the music video even hotter is the guest appearance of Kim Hyun-joong, who co-starred in “Boys over Flowers” as sensitive Yoon Ji-hoo.

Kim’s first solo piece “Ready OK” features his exceptional rap skills and attractive voice, as well as his potential as a lyric writer, which was put to good use in “Ready OK.”

Source: KBS Global

katt

July 8, 2009

TV Personality Kim Ji-hoon Nabbed for Taking Ecstasy

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter


Singer Kim Ji-hoon

Singer and TV personality Kim Ji-hoon was arrested Wednesday for having allegedly taken several pills of ecstasy and smoked marijuana, according to the Seoul Eastern District Court.

This is the second time he has been arrested on drug charges and Kim has reportedly admitted to all suspicions.

According to Gwangjin Police Station, Kim swallowed several pills of ecstasy, prohibited in Korea, in January at a club in southern Seoul. A former fashion model, whose name was not disclosed, is also suspected to have taken drugs with him, the police said.

Kim was first arrested on the same charges in 2005 but did not receive a jail sentence. The most recent charges have put the career of the former lead singer of pop groups "Two Two" and "Duke" at risk.

He has recently appeared in a series of TV programs portraying himself as a "bad boy husband" character. TV network SBS, which airs the show "Jakiya" (Darling) said it had cut all his scenes for the Friday show.

The case is the latest in a series of celebrity drug scandals. Actor Ju Ji-hoon, fashion model Ye Hak-young and actress Yun Seol-hee were arrested last month for taking ecstasy tablets and injecting ketamine last year.

Ju received a six-month prison term suspended for one year, 120 hours of community service and a 360,000 won fine. Yun, who was charged with smuggling, received a three-year jail term while Ye received a 30-month jail term suspended for four years, two years of probation and 200 hours of community service.

Credits: bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

July 8, 2009

Lee Seung-ki's Popularity as Singer, Actor, Entertainer Skyrockets



Singer Lee Seung-ki, 22, has seen his popularity soar recently. Lee has been appearing in the SBS TV series "Brilliant Legacy" on the KBS TV2 show "Happy Sunday," and has released a digital single called "Will You Marry Me?"

The series "Brilliant Legacy," in which Lee plays a leading role, has topped viewer ratings for six weeks in a row among all TV shows. Over the past two weeks, the series recorded viewer ratings of 39 percent and is just a step from hitting the 40-percent mark. Lee's role in "Brilliant Legacy" is his first leading role, and it has recently drawn the spotlight for portraying a romance with actress Han Hyo-joo.

The KBS show "Happy Sunday," on which Lee is also active these days, has recorded viewer ratings of over 30 percent for the third straight week. Though it trails the SBS TV show "Good Sunday" in terms of overall ratings, the viewer ratings of one of its segments -- "One Night And Two Days" -- has remained above the 30-percent mark for three weeks in a row. On July 5, the show's ratings remained at 19.4 percent -- lower than the 24.7 percent recorded by "Family." However, the "One Night And Two Days" segment recorded 30.57 percent.

Lee's digital single "Will You Marry Me?" which he released in June has topped the mobile phone caller ring charts and online sound charts. It has topped Nate's caller ring chart since late last month, and has remained at the number one and two spots on Cyworld's real-time music charts.

Lee's popularity is rising in the TV commercial market as well. Lee's agency, Hook Entertainment, said Lee has recently signed six deals to appear in TV commercials as a result of his popularity as an actor and that he continues to receive offers.

Lee is to release his 4th studio album next month. His agency said the singer will finish recording his new album late this month after finishing filming the drama. "His efforts and preparations made so far will gradually bear fruit," said the agency.

Source: KBS Global

katt

July 8, 2009

Celebrities to be Commended by Military



Celebrities currently serving their military duty will be awarded commendations from the Army Chief of Staff. Singers Psy (real name Park Jae-sang), Sung Si-kyung, and Kang-ta (real name Ahn Chil-hyun), actors Yang Dong-geun and Jae-hee (real name Lee Hyeon-kyun), and comedian Hong Dong-myeong will be honored for faithfully fulfilling their services to the country. Psy and Sung are applauded for boosting the morale of fellow troops and elevating the status of the military by taking part in various military PR events with their army band members. The commendations are given to Kang-ta, Yang, and Jae-hee for participating in a military musical called, “Mine.”

Psy will be awarded at a cultural center in Gangwon Province on July 10th, just one day before his discharge. He had to serve the military term again after he was found to have served unsatisfactorily the first time. So it meant a great deal for Psy to be commended for faithfully fulfilling his military responsibility the second time around. The dates of award ceremonies for other celebrities are yet to be announced.

Source: KBS Global

katt

July 4, 2009

Bong Joon-ho's Latest Challenge in 'Mother'
Kim Hye-ja marvels in an overwhelming thriller

Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

Small country town, Korea. Do-joon (Won Bin, returning to the screen after four years of military service) is a pretty-faced young man, treated as a village idiot and perpetually causing minor havoc with his ne’er-do-well friend Jin-tae (Jin Gu). Do-joon's devoted mother Hye-ja (Kim Hye-ja) is left to clean up the aftermath.

Then one day everyone is stunned to find Do-joon arrested for the murder of a high school girl Ah-jung (Moon Hee-ra). The evidence seems incontrovertible, but Hye-ja launches her own awkward investigation into the murder case, hoping to nab the real culprit. However, everyone in the town, including Hye-ja and Do-joon themselves, seems to harbor some dark secret, threatened to be uncovered by her sleuthing.

[img]http://image.ohmynews.com/down/images/1/qhyunkim_385414_1[675070].jpg[/img]

While the film's plot and set-up superficially resemble Bong’s based-on-real-life police procedural “Memories of Murder”, “Mother” is even more emotionally shocking and devilishly manipulative of the viewer’s expectations.

Director Bong spares no authority figure in his searing indictment of contemporary Korean society, all the more effective due to the black-comic tone it assumes -- from “Animal Farm”-like depiction of greedy, corrupt lawyers, to the horrific sexual exploitation of Ah-jung, in which even her demented grandmother is actively complicit.

And yet he continuously undermines the viewer’s desire to identify villains and heroes. With the possible exception of Ah-jung and the photo studio owner Mi-sun (Jeon Mi-sun), our responses to the characters oscillate, sometimes very uncomfortably, between sympathy and disgust. Bong captures with amazing fidelity, the sleepy, off-kilter rhythms of a country town but, like David Lynch in his more boldly metaphoric “Blue Velvet,” Bong never loses the sight of festering corruption and inhumanity that pass for “normality” in such settings.

Unlike Kim Hyung-gu, responsible for the warm tones and golden-yellow color scheme usually associated with Bong’s films so far, the new DP Alex Hong (“Taeguki”, “The Foul King”) emphasizes cold, sharp blues and austere compositions of natural landscape that at times dwarf the characters.

With the help of DP Hong and the master production designer Ryu Seong-hee (“Old Boy”, “I’m Cyborg But That’s OK”) Bong communicates much information and insight through sheer visual language, without any reliance on spoken dialogue or written exposition. You see Hye-ja noticing a young tree jutting up forlornly as she comes back from the police station, or a one-page-a-day calendar dancing and flipping its sheets in a frantic ascension to the future as it is licked and scorched by flames. Long-time collaborator Lee Byung-woo contributes another masterful score, combining Latin dance rhythms with Fellini-like circus music, simultaneously gently comic and darkly mocking.

[img]http://image.ohmynews.com/down/images/1/qhyunkim_385414_1[675069].jpg[/img]

While “Mother” is a great showcase for Bong Joon-ho’s seemingly bottomless directorial talent, it would not have retained half its power if not for Kim Hye-ja’s marvelous performance in the title role.

Kim Hye-ja is absolutely riveting from the frame one, as she seemingly wanders out of a forest and begins to dance, her face a horrid mask pregnant with mysterious knowledge and inarticulate emotion, as she screams and laughs silently with one hand covering her eyes. Kim Hye-ja’s performance in this film is the Korean equivalent of seeing Lucille Ball cast as Queen Eleanor in “Lion in Winter” and she blasts Katherine Hepburn out of water. In a word, it is an amazing experience.

Won Bin brings both tenderness and an unexpected level of chilling seriousness to his role. Yoon Je-mun as the sympathetic local cop, newcomer Song Sae-byeok as his funny-scary, martial-arts-obsessed partner and Jin Gu as the alternately calculating and cruel petty gangster are all excellent in their supporting roles.

Make no mistake, “Mother” is not a feel-good commercial hit of the summer.

It is the kind of movie that leaves you spent, stunned and even devastated. Aside from being an unusually powerful thriller blessed with the maybe-twice-in-a-lifetime great performance from a veteran Korean actress, “Mother” is also an awesomely ambitious artistic statement that cuts deeply into the true nature of love and devotion.

The absolutely frightening yet unmistakably sad “crazy dance” that ends the film, taken with a violently shaking hand-held camera, is like a primal scream from the depth of human heart, excavated by a filmmaker who dares to dig deeper into the subterranean layers of Korean psyche than almost any other filmmaker at work today. It will haunt you long after the movie is over.

☆☆☆☆

Source: ohmynews.com

katt

July 9, 2009

Ministry appoints goodwill ambassador



The Ministry of Unification has appointed Jeoung Jun-ho as its new goodwill ambassador.

“Mr. Jeoung’s bright and positive image is just what the ministry is looking for,” the ministry said in a press release last Tuesday. Jeoung was appointed yesterday during a ceremony celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Settlement Support Office for Dislocated North Koreans in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Source: INSIDE JoongAng Daily

katt

July 9, 2009

Actress interviews artists as part of OnStyle program



Kim Hye-soo will be participating in an art donation campaign organized by the cable channel OnStyle. In a documentary program titled “Style Meets Art,” Kim plays the role of “passion linker,” talking to renowned artists in Korea and around the world about their lives and love of art.

The actress will also be creating some of her own art pieces, which will be sold through auction later in the year. The profits will all go to the Korean National Commission for Unesco, where they will be used to support art and culture projects as well as young artists in developing countries. Style Meets Art airs in October.

Source: INSIDE JoongAng Daily

katt

July 8, 2009

Regulation Limits Entertainer Contracts to 7 Years

Korean entertainers who are feeling the "seven-year itch" with their current employers will now be able to sign contracts with new agencies without having to deal with unpleasant feuds.

The Fair Trade Commission says its new contract guidelines limit the amount of time anyone in the entertainment industry can be held to a contract to a maximum of seven years. This also means entertainers will not have to renew their contracts with the same agencies after a seven-year employment period.

Critics of the regulation argue that it bears too much resemblance to a California Labor Code known as "The Seven Year Statute."

Source: Arirang News via english.chosun.com