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July 21, 2008
Kwone, Son to Tie the Knot on Sept. 28
The actor couple Kwone Sang-woo and Son Tae-young are getting married on Sept. 28. "I thought she was a good person with an innocent heart after I saw a program on TV where she wept while talking about her past, |
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July 14, 2008
Film 揅rossing |
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July 16, 2008
Rain Cited in Forbes
The Forbes online version cited Rain (real name Jung Ji-hoon) as one of the world抯 top stars in its article |
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July 17, 2008
Kwon Sang-woo to Wed Actress
It抯 been reported that Kwon and former Miss Korea Sohn have been dating each other since early this year.
According to one of Kwon抯 close associates, he said that he has met his soul mate and wants to get married as soon as possible. The Kwon-Sohn couple has already started making their wedding plans. The two are obviously ready for marriage and think it抯 a waste of time to wait any longer.
An entertainment industry insider says that the Kwon-Sohn union is probably the biggest surprise of the year, because it hasn抰 been that long since Sohn had broken up with rapper Cool K late last year. The breakup supposedly was a serious blow to the actress抯 emotional state.
However, the couple抯 agencies have maintained that they had not known about Kwon and Sohn抯 wedding plan, let alone the seriousness of their relationship. Kwon has announced that he will explain about the whole situation Friday night.
Sohn started acting after she finished third in the 2000 Miss Korea Pageant. Her recent appearances include TV dramas 揑ljimae |
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July 18, 2008
FA Kang Ho-dong Courted by Agencies
Kang Ho-dong, former traditional wrestling champion and today抯 hottest show host, is courted by numerous agencies as his contract with Phantom Entertainment has expired Thursday. Some industry insiders say that this talented free agent could demand at least 2 billion won or 2 million dollars for signing a representation contract.
Together with Yoo jae-seok, Kang is Korea抯 most admired and sought-after show host. They supposedly get paid more than $10,000 per episode of the shows they host. Kang currently hosts three highly popular shows with one more program lined up for later this month. Even if he doesn抰 get any pay raise, his monthly income from the shows would well exceed $100,000 dollars, and it could go even higher if the shows continue to be successful.
Broadcasting stations are also keeping their eyes on what Kang will do, because each station has a separate contract with Kang. If he signs with a new representative, the TV stations also have to draw up new contracts. One industry insider says that Kang may stay solo without a representative until this fall.
Source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=7847
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NEWS INDEX page 30
July 20, 2008: "Kimchi Western" debuts amid great interest
July 21: Kwon Vows to be a Passionate and Devoted Husband
July 21: KBS to Broadcast 'Save Energy' Special Live Program
July 21: Epik High Member Tablo to Publish Short Story Collection
July 22: Actor-turned-snapper can’t live without film (Cho Min Ki)
July 21: "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" does great at Korean B.O.
July 21: [MOVIE REVIEW] 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird' aspects of English subtitles
July 15: Comedienne Kim Mi-hwa Debuts as Jazz Singer
July 22: Korean film industry tunes up stage musicals
July 22: "Red Cliff" drops in second weekend
July 22: Jeon Ji-hyeon and Dongbangsinki in a commercial film
July 22: Wedding bells for Ryoo Seung-beom and Kong Hyo-jin not until after November
July 22: Taeyang Invited as Opening Act of Alicia Keys' Seoul Concert
July 22: Rain to Make Comeback Through Fan Meeting
July 22: Stars Offer Trendy Tips Through Programs
July 22: On top of the latest singles chart is five-member Korean vocal group Dong Bang Shin Gi
July 23: [TV review] Good blurs with evil in sisters’ revenge tale
July 22: Yeom Jeong-ah and Bong Tae-gyu, a couple in "Working Mom"
July 22: Jeong Il-woo in first episode of "Keke Island"
July 22: Eom Jung-hwa's biggest support, brother Eom Tae-woong
July 22: Kim Min-hee becomes a new fashion icon in drama world
July 22: Han Go-eun donates for aiding North Korea
July 23: E-Hyo Lee Chosen as Korea's Most Powerful Fashionista
July 23: Singer Kim Jang-hoon 'Thanks' Japan in His Mini-Blog
[ Last edited by katt at 24-7-2008 07:10 PM ] |
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July 20, 2008
"Kimchi Western" debuts amid great interest
The much-awaited Korean movie The Good, the Bad, the Weird based on a spaghetti Western and nicknamed a "Kimchi Western" after the nation's signature spicy national dish, is expected to be the hottest pick of local theatergoers here but viewers overseas seem to want to get a taste of it as well.
The film, directed by Kim Ji-woon and inspired by Sergio Leone's spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, the classic 1966 film starring Clint Eastwood.
The story line follows three Korean men and their entanglement with the Japanese army, Chinese and Russian bandits, accompanied by many exciting action scenes set in Manchuria in the 1930s.
The movie was screened in the gala section at the Cannes film festival this year and it is reported to have received a standing ovation.
Derek Elley, a writer for the entertainment news magazine Variety, said in a review: "a Kimchi Western that draws shamelessly on its spaghetti forebears (Italo-Western) but remains utterly, bracingly Korean."
A scene from 'The Good, the Bad, the Weird'
And as if it reflects the good reviews, the movie has been garnering interest from foreign countries even before hitting local theaters.
The distributor of the film, CJ Entertainment, announced a deal with the New York-based Independent Film Channel on July 15 to distribute The Good, the Bad, the Weird in five major US cities including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago next year.
The release is slated for the first half of 2009, and will start off with the five biggest markets for a total of between fifty and a hundred screens nationwide.
The U.S. is not the only country that will show the film. The Good, the Bad, the Weird is also being exported to 11 other countries such as the United Kingdom, France, China, Singapore and more.
The movie stars three of Korea's most endearing actors: Jung Woo-sung, Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun, and has broken all domestic records in terms of budget and number of takes for shoots.
Set in the 1930s when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule (1910-45) and a network of independence fighters were stationed outside of the country, the movie tells a story of three “good, bad, and weird” guys on a wildly exhilarating cross-desert chase, while local Manchurian tribesmen and Japanese soldiers complicate things.
The film was released locally on July 17 and English subtitles are available at CGV Yongsan, Seoul (www.cgv.co.kr).
By Han Aran, Korea.net Staff Writer
http://www.korea.net/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20080718003
[ Last edited by katt at 22-7-2008 10:32 AM ] |
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July 21, 2008
Kwon Vows to be a Passionate and Devoted Husband
Actor Kwon Sang-woo, who held a press conference on July 18 regarding his recent wedding announcement to actress Sohn Tae-young, said, "I really feel like a grown up person now."
On his bride-to-be, the popular actor said he was touched by her shedding tears on camera and felt a deep sympathy towards her. He added that she was a good-hearted and down-to-earth person.
The two actors met while having dinner with mutual friends. He told reporters that although he is normally a shy guy, he mustered up the courage to call her to ask her out on a date.
He also said Sohn was a very devoted daughter who even brings laughter to his home.
The actor said he proposed to her while on a hot air balloon ride during a trip to Australia with close friends.
The two top actors have set a wedding date of September 28. The ceremony will be held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1535831_11858.html |
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July 21, 2008
KBS to Broadcast 'Save Energy' Special Live Program
KBS 1TV has produced a special live program entitled 'The 2rd Oil Shock - Save Energy' that will air on July 23 at 5:15 p.m.
The program, which will be hosted by announcers Seo Ki-cheol and Lee Ji-ae, seeks ways for the whole country to save energy to overcome the latest oil shock.
The program shows how riding a bicycle to work from south of the Han River to Yeoido will save 1,800 dollars a year. The producers plan to test the feasibility of commuting to work by bike during the program.
Citizens and celebrities will take part in the program to promote nationwide energy saving. Comedian Song Jun-geun will take on the challenge of going for a day without using any fossil fuel.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1535832_11858.html |
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July 21, 2008
Epik High Member Tablo to Publish Short Story Collection
Tablo, a member of popular vocal group Epik High, will publish a collection of short stories in September. The singer says the stories will be about a diverse range of cityfolk.
Tablo, who graduated from Stanford University's English Literature Department, recently told reporters that most of his works are short stories he wrote back in college. His upcoming collection will be a compilation of ten of his English short stories which he is currently translating into Korean.
The singer admitted that he was once a middle school dropout and far from being a star student. However, he was pointed out as one of the most promising writers when he was a university student.
He said he was admitted into university thanks to his past experiences as a school newspaper editor and contributing writer.
Tablo says he received an award for literature from one of his favorite writers, Stanford University Professor Tobias Wolfe, who he says is widely acknowledged as the "Hemingway" of our generation. The singer explained that the short story, which he received the award for, is about a giant rat that sneaks into the New York apartment of an aspiring film director and completely changes his outlook on life.
The title of his upcoming book has yet to be finalized.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/culture/1535830_11676.html |
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July 22, 2008
Actor-turned-snapper can’t live without film
Actor Cho Min-ki [JoongAng Ilbo]
Actor and photographer Cho Min-ki is the type of man who loves to share his interests with others.
He prefers to travel alone to unfamiliar places and he often falls in love with the people he meets and scenery he sees. The photos he brings home help him to share his travel adventures with others.
Cho’s first camera was an old-fashioned classic, a non-digital shooter. It pales in comparison to some state-of-the-art equipment that many professional photographers use today, but this doesn’t lessen his passion for his art. Over the past 14 years, Cho has created a significant portfolio of pictures that add insight into the different stages of his life.
The public know Cho best through TV shows and soap operas. He began taking photographs in 1994 as a budding actor and has two solo exhibitions under his belt so far. “I love taking shots of nature and kids acting natural,” said Cho.
His Web site (www.minkizio.com) hosts 1,870 photographs from such diverse locations as the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, Ethiopia and Pyongyang.
A photo by Cho Min-ki taken in Pyongyang, North Korea, last year.
Provided by www.minkizio.com
Cho has also posted photos taken on location while he was filming the SBS drama “Iljimae” and the film “The Cut” (2007), among others. He plans to post photographs taken during a recent trip to Hong Kong and Macau very soon.
Cho held his first exhibition at Insa-dong’s Gallery Ssamzi in central Seoul three years ago. It was called “Cho’s Photograph Travel Log” comprising travel photographs and diary excerpts from his first travel book, “Happy to Have Found You.”
Cho combined photographs from the book and previously unreleased snapshots from his travels in his latest exhibition. “I was afraid my photographs would be downgraded to mere pictures in a book and therefore took a chance at holding my own exhibition,” said Cho.
His second exhibition, “Love and Ambition,” in 2006 was a collection of photographs taken on the set of a soap opera with the same title. “The focus was on the similarities between the characters in the drama and the personalities of actors playing the different roles in the story,” Cho said.
Cho was included in an exhibition with two colleagues who share the same passion for photography. In April 2007, Cho showcased his work at the Seo Gallery in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, along with comedian Chung Jong-chul and singer Park Ji-yoon.
The exhibition, “Three People, Three Colors,” was divided into three sections: heart-warming scenes, children and nature. The money raised at the exhibition was donated to help underprivileged children. He maintains close relations with Chung and the actress Kim Min-sun. They frequently discuss new camera equipment and share ideas.
Like a true veteran cameraman, Cho spoke of his preference for DSLR cameras, such as 1Ds Mark III and 1Ds Mark II. He said he was particularly fond of classic cameras because they allow greater control over exposure, distance and angles.
Cho opened his own studio, “st. zio” in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, in June. “In the past, I took photographs of messages provided by nature, and now I hope to relay my stories through photographs. “This studio is the first step I’ve taken toward reaching that goal,” he added.
The studio also provides Cho with a comfortable working space and a place to store the basic equipment needed to take decent photographs. Cho’s three-floor studio is equipped for weddings, advertising and catalogues.
“I put a lot of effort into getting the right equipment and creating a useful working space that will allow me to take the photos that I want to share with the world,” the actor said. Cho continues to try his best to work as one with nature through his lens.
He takes his camera with him everywhere, and says he has learned about the world through the camera lens as much as he has through acting.
His success as an actor perhaps derives from the inner motivation that’s evident in his love of photography.
By Lee Hyeon-taek JoongAng Ilbo [[email protected]]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2892600 |
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Monday, 21 July 2008
"Good" does great at Korean B.O.
Written by Han Sunhee
SEOUL -- Kimchee Western "The Good the Bad the Weird" dominated local theaters on its first weekend after opening Thursday on 700 screens.
Key investor and distributor CJ Entertainment reported Sunday that the pic attracted 1.55 million admissions in the three days from Thursday to Saturday, which amounts to box office of $9.77 million. The company also announced that 680,000 tickets were sold at 816 screens alone Saturday, anticipating that opening-weekend admissions including Sunday will surpass 2.2 million.
Pic is the fastest to cross the 2 million mark in South Korea this year. No. 2 "Public Enemy Returns" surpassed 2 million ticket sales in its eighth day of release. Pic also scored the highest opening-day B.O. in South Korea this year with $2.52 million from 400,000 admissions.
The year's previous opening day record holder was "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which was released May 22 and saw 212,000 admissions.
Pic's opening day was the third best on record, following "D-War" in 2007 (470,000 admissions) and "The Host" in 2006 (450,000).
Source: Variety Asia, image from empas.com
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6514/ |
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July 21, 2008
[MOVIE REVIEW]
'The Good, The Bad, The Weird' aspects of English subtitles
"The Good, The Bad, The Weird," a $17-million oriental Western by veteran filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, topped the domestic box office in its opening weekend, selling a record 2.19 million tickets in four days since its release on Thursday.
The strong performance was widely expected, not least because the blockbuster project included Korea's three most bankable actors -- Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho and Jung Woo-sung.
What's notable is that the movie has also signed on for a rare deal: English subtitles. Although only CGV Yongsan theater provides the Korean movie in English subtitles, it seemed a welcome change for a growing expat community in Korea.
The English subtitle for "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" is part of the program that CGV, the country's biggest multiplex chain, kicked off earlier this year with "A Man Who Was Superman," starring Jun Ji-hyun ("My Sassy Girl"), targeting non-Korean audiences here.
CGV's decision to screen the movie with English subtitles also reflects the movie's grand scale and distinctive genre. Set in the 1930s Manchuria, the action-packed film weaves a tale of three peculiar characters -- a bounty hunter, a gang leader, and a train robber -- who scramble to grab a hidden treasure across the expansive desert in a series of wild chases.
On Friday, nine non-Korean audiences watched the film, with the help of CGV and CJ Entertainment, which distributes the film, and afterward shared their feelings, which revealed a couple of widely ignored points about Korean cinema.
The general consensus of the foreign audiences in question was that not enough Korean films come with English subtitles, missing precious opportunities to connect with expats living in Korea and, by extension, a broader group of audiences outside of Korea.
What is happening, at least for those who love to watch Korean films, is that almost all Korean movies get released here without English subtitles, and potential viewers have to wait for several months to rent a DVD, which mostly come with English subtitles.
The current DVD-oriented system produces a significant delay for Korean movie fans in and outside of Korea, so more movies should be released in a way that offers a chance for the foreign community here and tourists to enjoy Korean movies, they said.
Anne Ladouceur, a Canadian who runs a website for the expat community here, said that not enough people know that some Korean movies are available in theaters with English subtitles. In fact, neither production houses nor distributors pay much attention to the need to provide such bilingual services on the assumption that demand is too weak. But the local expat community is growing fast: more than 1 million foreign residents are currently living here, according to government estimates.
Ladouceur said she did not fully understand the background story in "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," concerning the Japanese colonial period, but the movie was enjoyable, and the camerawork for the chase scene was "fascinating."
Brad Ficek, who works as the head coordinator for the Camp Adventure program in Korea, said that action sequences in the movie were brilliant. "My favorite part is the opening," Ficek said, referring to the train robbery scene where the key characters encounter each other, setting off a series of breathtaking chases and lethal showdowns.
When it comes to characters, Song Kang-ho, who plays the weird train robber in a hilarious fashion, turned out to be more popular than the other two actors.
Although the action sequences toward the end were a little "too much," few predicted the final conclusion of the film, giving the non-Korean audiences a welcome twist in plot. In addition, the quality of the English subtitles was good enough to deliver a number of Korean jokes, the group said.
The movie is being promoted as a hybrid Western as many scenes feature characters brandishing their guns and riding horses in a desert, but nine non-Koreans were struck by the Asian characteristics of the movie.
"It was not a Western. This movie is actually set in Asia. You've got the guns, and cowboy hats, and guns, but it's still Asian. And it has a very Asian flavor to it and has an Asian sense of humor," said Ladouceur.
Currently, only Yongsan theater of CGV (www.cgv.co.kr) provides the English subtitle to the movie, but CGV plans to screen more English subtitled movies, such as "The Divine Weapon" and "Modern Boy" in coming months.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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July 15, 2008
Comedienne Kim Mi-hwa Debuts as Jazz Singer
Respected comedienne Kim Mi-hwa debuted Tuesday as the vocalist of jazz group “Freeism” at the jazz café Once in a Blue Moon in southern Seoul. Dressed in a stylish white mini dress, Kim said that “Freeism” was formed because she wanted to do something fun. The name “Freeism” is meant to capture the free spirit of jazz.
Kim performed for 30 minutes, showcasing her surprisingly accomplished vocal talent. Kim and Freeism sang “Fly to the Moon” adapted to the bossa nova style and Korean traditional pop “I Only Know Love,” as well as the songs from their album. During the show, Kim’s husband, Professor Yoon Seung-ho of Sungkyunkwan University, surprised her with a saxophone performance.
Freeism is a six-member Latin jazz band composed of music students. They plan to hold concerts titled “Jazzy Day” and present new and dynamic performances. The band also plans to join Kim in her many volunteer projects and play for the socially marginalized at orphanages, prisons, and hospitals.
Source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/e ... _detail.htm?No=7848 |
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Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Korean film industry tunes up stage musicals
Written by Han Sunhee
SEOUL -- South Korea's film industry may be struggling through a painful downturn, but its stage musicals biz is on the upswing. And a flood of new tuners adapted from local movies is accelerating that growth. Musicals have been a part of Korea's entertainment culture since "The Phantom of the Opera" became a huge success in 2000. At that time, the tuner market was worth less than $30 million a year. But in 2002, almost 100 musicals were presented, expanding the market to an estimated $110 million -- or half the country's entire live performance grosses.
"I've been working for the film industry my whole life," says Kim Mi-hee, co-prexy of pic company Sidus FNH. "But these days, audiences are responding much better to musicals than films. The musical industry has huge possibilities insofar as it attracts talent and money."
High-visibility foreign musicals such as "Mamma Mia!" "Miss Saigon," "Aida" and "Beauty and the Beast" have all played to long runs, attracting more than 200,000 admissions each.
Investors began paying attention to musicals when it became clear that tuners often involved less risk and faster cash circulation than film production. The musical market passed the $200 million mark in 2006, according to industry estimates, making it one of the most profitable forms of popular entertainment in Korea.
Initially, the Korean musical boom was focused primarily on licensed import properties. But those are now dwarfed by the number of homegrown works, exceeding 100 per year. More than 20 musicals are bowing each month in Seoul alone, with a market share for original works of 56%.
Construction is under way on several permanent theater venues across the country, with seven being built in Seoul alone. Some of the capital's oldest movie theaters, dating back a half-century, are being converted into live musical houses.
"Big multiplex chains have a monopoly on the profitable movies, and the old theaters like us can't compete," says one theater owner. "That's why we decided to shift to musical theater."
One of the most salient features of Korean musicals is the number of properties based on local film titles -- dubbed "movicals" in national media.
Hit releases like "Waikiki Brothers," "Dancing Princess," "Radio Star" and "Singles" have made the leap from screen to stage. Later this year, blockbuster "The Harmonium in My Memory," "200 Pounds Beauty" and recently released drama "Beastie Boys" (aka "The Moonlight of Seoul") will get musical makeovers.
Not surprisingly, several film companies have taken the plunge into musicals. Movie major CJ Entertainment has been a key investor in stage tuners from the beginning. Among more recent converts is Cineline 2 ("My Father"), which is producing an original musical concept called "Falling in Love."
The most active film company, however, is Sidus, which holds rights to film-based movicals such as "Singles" and "My Scary Girl."
Sidus directly collaborated with talent from the legit sector last year to produce well-received local musical "Shine." This year, the company has increased cross-pollination between its divisions by simultaneously developing a new project, "The Sword of No Name," by pic helmer Kim Yong-kyun, for both screen and stage.
Based on the same historical story of original musical hit "The Last Empress," the film is being watched closely by industry observers due to the attachment of actor Cho Seung-woo, who acquired heartthrob status in Korean stage versions of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and "Man of La Mancha."
With the growth of the industry, investment funds specifically geared to musicals have emerged. In 2007, the number of musical-related funds increased to 21 from five the previous year, with available coin climbing from $28 million to $50 million, according to asset management sources. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the launch of a $10 million investment fund for live performances, as a collaboration with venture capital firm IMM Investment.
Increased stage activity has helped offset the employment crisis for Korea's actors, many of them idled by the film sector slump.
However, not all musicals are profitable.
"Most investment is usually focused on big-budget imported musicals," an industry source says. "The best theaters compete to attract those works. Meanwhile, original musicals on a smaller scale have to struggle to make ends meet."
And of course even the big shows can flop. "We need various efforts to improve the currently inflated industry," continues the source. "We should start with rules concerning ticket prices and the theater rental system. The Korean musical industry needs a reliable infrastructure."
Source: Variety Asia
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6521/ |
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Tuesday, 22 July 2008
"Red Cliff" drops in second weekend
Written by Patrick Frater
Mega-budget Chinese actioner "Red Cliff" fell steeply in its second frame in those Asian territories where it faced fresh competition and held up well in its China home. Cumulative total now exceeds $45 million.
China Film Group reported that pic had surpassed the RMB200 million ($29.2 million) cumulative landmark by the end of the second weekend on release, but did not specify comparable weekend data. (In the pic's four-day opening weekend CFG said that pic scored $15.8 million from a major, wide-release.)
For South Korea, producer Lion Rock reported second weekend gross of $1.46 million from 302 screens. That is a 74% drop compared with opening weekend when it scored $5.6 million, according to distribber Showbox.
Pic was pummeled by the stupendous opening of CJ Entertainment's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," which enjoyed an estimated 2.2 million admissions (for an approximate gross of $15.4 million) over the four day weekend period.
Lion Rock reports a Korean cume after 11 days of $7.6 million. Showbox sources in Korea told Daily Variety that cume had hit 1.27 million admissions – which would point to a possibly higher cume edging $8.9 million.
In Hong Kong the Mei Ah/Edko-released Chinese historical actioner suffered a 57% drop, behind a super-heroic perf from "The Dark Knight. The Woo-helmed "Cliff" took HK$4.54 million ($571,000) from 35 locations and holds a cume of $2.45 million after 11 days. Screen average over the weekend was a still strong $16,300.
For Taiwan, where "Cliff" is handled by Fox International on behalf of CMC, Lion Rock reported weekend activity of $600,000 for a cume of $3.8 million. Again that makes producer figures on the conservative side of numbers communicated locally. CMC told Variety that pic had claimed a further NT$22 million ($725,000) on Saturday and Sunday. That lifted the cumulative total to NT$140 million ($4.61 million.)
In Thailand, where "Cliff" is handled by Sahamongkol, it scored $230,000 off 59 screens on its second weekend, for a cume of $770,000.
In Singapore, where it is handled by Scorpio East, it claimed $403,000 over the four day weekend. That compared with a previously reported $756,000 in a three days plus preview total in the opening session. Cume in Singapore according to Lion Rock is $1.4 million through Sunday.
Pic opened in Malaysia, through Golden Screen, with a $203,000 total from 43 screens.
Source: Variety Asia
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6528/53/ |
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July 22, 2008
[ChanMi's movie news]
Wedding bells for Ryoo Seung-beom and Kong Hyo-jin not until after November
The two stars have been very open in their dating through vacations and church going together. However, Ryoo Seung-beom will be a special guest actor in the movie "Dajimawa Lee" directed by his own brother Ryoo Seung-hwan. This action movie is produced in a huge scale so Ryoo Seung-beom will be helping out his brother in this big project starting this August.
If his special casting is definite, he will be filming until this November. Ryoo will be concentrating on this movie, so there won't be any news of wedding bells ringing.
Ryoo's part will be as a gangster who in the end comes to aid justice. He will also be acting with a Ho-nam dialect, thus it will a new challenge.
Source:
http://cynews.cyworld.com/servic ... 8102376121&w=cy
http://www.hancinema.net/chanmi- ... ovember--14662.html |
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July 22, 2008
Taeyang Invited as Opening Act of Alicia Keys' Seoul Concert
Taeyang, a member of the popular male vocal group Big Bang, has been invited as the opening act at Alicia Keys' upcoming concert in Seoul.
According to Sony BMG Music, Taeyang will be the first Korean artist to make a guest appearance at Alicia Keys' concert, which will be held at the Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on August 7.
The superstar singer is known for being scrupulous when it comes to selecting guest performers for her concert. For her 2004 Seoul concert, Keys chose Gumy as her opening act.
Taeyang said it was an honor to be invited as the opening act, saying Alicia Keys inspired him greatly when he was an aspiring artist.
Taeyang released his first solo album in May last year and gained popularity as a solo artist as well. Keys, who debuted in 2001 as a composer, lyricist and musical producer, is the winner of five Grammy Awards.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/entertainment/1535973_11692.html |
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July 22, 2008
Rain to Make Comeback Through Fan Meeting
By Karen Song
Korea Times Intern
Pop singer Rain
Top Korean actor and singer Rain is returning to local and Asian music fans with a fan meeting this coming Sunday.
"Rain will hold the meeting at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park this Sunday at 3 p.m. and meet his Asian fans. This event will be the start of his comeback here in Korea and other Asian regions," J. Tune Entertainment, the 26-year old singer's agency, announced Tuesday.
About 3,000 seats of the venue are expected to be packed with not only local fans, but also those from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.
The fan meeting, dubbed as "Summer Vacation with Rain," will be hosted by famous Korean host Kim Jae-dong.
Rain recently finished shooting the U.S. film "Ninja Assassin" in Berlin. He also appeared in the Wachowski brothers' movie "Speed Racer" last May. Now he is back in Korea busy recording songs in a studio in Gangnam, Seoul. Rain will also be producing his new album, which is expected to be released this fall.
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http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/07/178_27989.html |
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