SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- Actor Kang Ji-hwan's declaration to start a so-called "one-person management agency" for himself has sparked massive interest in talent agencies run by stars themselves.
Kang said during a meeting with reporters Thursday that he is preparing to set up his own management agency so he can fully focus on his acting. The 35-year-old actor is currently in a legal dispute with his former management agency over his alleged violation of his contract with the company.
The "one-person management agency" concept began to emerge in the local entertainment industry as the Asian-wide boom of Korean pop culture known as "hallyu" increased in popularity.
Bae Yong-joon, Korea's early-stage hallyu star, was the first to run this form of company. After earning explosive popularity for his lead role in the Korean TV drama series "Winter Sonata," Bae founded Keyeast Co. in 2004 and made inroads into Japan and other Asian countries. He later expanded the business, employing top stars such as So Ji-sub and Lee Na-young while the company continued to represent Bae as a celebrity.
Lee Byung-hun, who is also popular in Japan, set up his own management agency in 2006 called BH Entertainment, named using his initials. Just like the case of Keyeast, Lee is not the only entertainer represented by BH, as the company employed Bae Su-bin, Jin Goo and Han Chae-young from the early stages. But Lee is the boss, so he can make his own decisions on which TV programs or movies to appear in and what opportunities he wants to take.
One of the most successful cases is that of Ryu Si-won. The TV actor, who earns more than 10 billion won (US$9.5 million) annually from his activities as a singer in Japan, systematically manages the brand "Ryu Si-won" through his own management firm, "R's company."
Other stars who have their own management firms include Jang Keun-suk, Choi Ji-woo, Kim Tae-hee, Jang Na-ra and Yoo Jae-seok.
Top stars are eager to set up their own agencies because it allows them to make their own decisions and collect all they earn instead of paying a percentage to their agencies. "I founded a company because I know myself best," Jang Seo-hee told Yonhap News Agency. The actress founded Jang Ruicy Entertainment early last year to make full use of her popularity in China. "I wanted to pioneer my own path in which I can develop as an actress."
Actress Yoon Eun-hye, who started The House Company entertainment agency jointly with her father, said in a media interview that she had to appear in TV shows or movies that she didn't want to when she belonged to her former management agency. "Now, I'm happy because I can choose which work to do as I like."
But to some celebrities, running their own management agency can be a new headache.
Actor Jang Dong-gun has been credited for stably running his own management agency, cultivating younger stars such as Hyun Bin and Shin Min-a. In September, however, Jang shut down his management agency due to difficulties in financial management and entered SM C&C through a merger with his company. SM C&C is a subsidiary of SM Entertainment, one of the big three management agencies in the country.
Celebrities' managers agree that entertainers starting their own companies are often surprised to know that it cost a lot more than expected to manage such an agency. It is for the same reason that such stars as Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Rae-won recently closed their own companies and signed contracts with new entertainment agencies.
Management agencies advise celebrities wanting to set up their own agency to employ a CEO and brace themselves for the typically enormous cost of running one.
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun is set to visit Japan to attend special pre-release screenings of "Masquerade".
According to the film`s official website in Japan, Lee will attend special screenings ahead of the Japanese official release at three theaters in Shinjuku and Roppongi in Tokyo.
The film will be released in Japan on February 16 under the title "The Man Who Became the King".
A photo book accompanying the film will also be published in Japan on February 8th featuring the top star.
"Masquerade" is recorded as Korea`s all-time fourth highest grossing film with 12,255,464 tickets sold nationwide.
Celebrity couple Lee Hyo-ri and Lee Sang-soon were picked among netizens as the most durable-looking pair.
An online survey was conducted by a PR company promoting the American film “Silver Linings Playbook.”
The question asked was “Which couple looks as if they could go long distance?” After the two singers, came another set of Lees: actors Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung. They shared second place with fellow actors Yoo In-na and Ji Hyun-woo.
Meanwhile, Hallyuwood’s latest couple singer Rain and actress Kim Tae-hee were ranked third.
Lee Hyo-ri and Lee Sang-soon are in their third year together and on Jan.17, the two were spotted at the concert of mutual friend and singer Kim Dong-ryul who is one half of the duo Verandah Project, to which Lee Sang-soon belongs.
Associated Press/Kin Cheung, File - FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2012 file photo, South Korea actor Lee Byung-hun poses for photographers after an interview for his latest film "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" in Hong Kong
HONG KONG (AP) — Lee Byung-hun says he had to train hard to do justice to his character in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation."
The upcoming sequel to "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" has his character Storm Shadow rising from the dead, which required the South Korean actor develop a stronger build.
Lee says, "I try to make (my muscles) bigger and look stronger, because he survives death" and wants revenge.
He trained rigorously and followed a strict diet, which he said proved difficult while filming in New Orleans.
"New Orleans has a lot of good food," he explained, and he couldn't visit the city's bars either.
Fans will be able to see the results of his hard work in 3D when "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" opens in March.
VIP Preview for 'The Berlin File' Brings in Big Names and Big Expectations
CJ E&M enewsWorld Lee, JinHo Translation Credit : Erika Kim
Lee Byung Hun, Jung Woo Sung, Super Junior, Lee Jung Jae and Go So Young walked the red carpet on January 23.
Though the stunning array of stars made the red carpet look like one for a splendid awards ceremony, it actually took place for a VIP preview. The preview of the film The Berlin File, in fact.
The red carpet event and VIP preview for The Berlin File was held on January 23 in Seoul. The two-part event was hosted by MC Kim Tae Jin, and featured director Ryu Seung Wan as well as the film′s leads Ha Jung Woo, Han Seok Gyu, Jun Ji Hyun and Ryu Seung Bum.
The scene boiled hot with its grand scale and the passion of the 2,000 fans gathered for the event. The fans filled the venue an hour before the event was due to start, and welcomed the cast with warm applause when they appeared on the red carpet.
Ha Jung Woo said onstage, "I believe this is the most exciting and fun moment for an actor who has just finished shooting his film. I′m very thankful that so many people have been showing their support," while Jun Ji Hyun added, "You′re all so expectant; I hope the film continues to be loved until the end."
Han Seok Gyu said, "In 1998, when the film Swiri premiered, I toured the nation with 50 rolls of film. Now, movies can premiere in 800 screens at the most. This means that Korean films have become grander in scale, and I′m thankful that so many people have shown their love for Korean films. I believe our film will also satisfy our audience."
Director Ryu Seung Wan backed down, saying, "It′s not very good to have high expectations," but still he said with confidence, "It′s a film in which great actors put on some great acting. It will be better if you enjoy how the actors put on their acting."
In the red carpet event that followed, over 60 top stars set the scene on fire with tumultuous cheers, including Lee Byung Hun, Jung Woo Sung, Go So Young, Lee Jung Jae, Super Junior′s Choi Siwon, Kangin and Yesung, Hwang Jung Min, director Kim Hyun Suk, Park Sung Woong, Song Ji Hyo, Ma Dong Seok, director Lee Hyeon Seung, Crying Nut, Jang Gwang, Lee Chae Young, Roy Kim, Jung Joon Young, Park Yoo Hwan, Park Chul Min, Lee Gun Joo, HelloVenus, NU′EST, Kang Sora, Seo Ji Seok, Jung Yu Mi, Son Dambi, director Min Gyu Dong, Jung Kyung Ho, Shinhwa′s Andy and Min Woo and 2NE1.
Hwang Jung Min said, "I′m thankful I′ve received an invitation to such a great event," while Super Junior′s Choi Siwon said, "I came here thanks to the invitation of Ryu Seung Bum and Ha Jung Woo hyungnim (big brother)."
Jung Woo Sung said in surprise, "I came with an invite from director Ryu Seung Wan. The preview seems as grand as the reviews and expectations for the film."
IGN was one of the media outlets lucky enough to visit the set of G.I. Joe: Retaliation way back in October 2011. With the sequel's release now two months away, we can finally share with you a bit of what we saw. Our full set visit will run closer to the film's March 29 opening.
The nature of the facility used for filming outside New Orleans must remain a secret (like Uncle Sam-level secret). A number of scenes for the sequel were shot on these converted soundstages, including a scene that will soon be seen by filmgoers as part of Paramount's pre-release promotional push for G.I. Joe: Retaliation. There will be a four-minute preview of the film attached to worldwide IMAX, RealD and digital 3D showings of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters on January 24. The preview will run throughout the entirety of Hansel & Gretel's theatrical engagement.
We were able to screen the preview early followed by brief chats with G.I. Joe 2 director Jon Chu and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. (Look for those interviews in the days ahead.) The four-minute preview is from a protracted ninja battle sequence in the Himalayas, a set-piece that's an homage to the famous "Silent Interlude" issue of the Joe comics. It sees Snake Eyes (Ray Park) and Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee) dueling in the mountain lair of the Blind Master (RZA), the ninja who mentored them in their youth. The battle spills out from the monastery onto a cliff side before leading into a full on zip line chase sequence and mountainside battle between Snake Eyes, Jinx (Elodie Yung), and the red-clad villainous ninjas.
"To me, that 'Silent Interlude' is amazing and beautiful and I think the comic book really changed how we saw G.I. Joe," said Chu during a break in filming. "So in a way we want to do that for this generation of kids. I do not know how much kids today know about GI Joe, probably not as much as I did growing up. To reestablish that and to show this isn’t just a fluffy movie, but that it actually has some meat to it. Even though there are crazy ninjas flying off things there is a cool sort of darkness to that which is also fun."
We saw part of this fight sequence shot during our day on set. During a pause in filming, Park said he and Lee "wanted to make (their fights) real. Like it's two brothers fighting, there's a lot of aggression. Instead of flashy-flashy and doing flips in the air, we wanted to tell the story throughout the fight as well. There's a lot of good moves, a lot of great choreography that we worked on." Lee said that he and Park are "both much more comfortable [with each other] now. We know each [other] and how we move. His specialty and my specialty. In this movie, he has a lot of fights. Of course, we've trained a lot together, but we need to train separately, also. We have other fights."
Yung told us that she "did all the swordplay and fights. I was really nervous. I trained about a month before we began because I had never done swords before. I did a bit of karate -- I’m a black belt -- so I know how to move. But when I arrived there I realized I hadn’t used the swords, and it’s really difficult."
For his part, Park couldn't wait to slip back into costume as arguably the most famous Joe of them all. "I have the signature guns on my side. I'm the man with the toys. I love it. I love playing Snake Eyes. It's a great challenge and I love doing it. I've been training since the release of the first movie, back in '09. I was just like, 'Right. Ok, they're gonna start the sequel to this pretty soon.' So the last two years all I've been doing is Snake Eyes. ... When I see pictures of myself as Snake, I become an even bigger fanboy of myself as Snake. I really like it. I feel lucky to be playing the part in this movie."
We saw a couple of other scenes being shot, including an exterior chase and fight scene between Dwayne Johnson's Roadblock and Ray Stevenson's Firefly. (And we even got to handle some of the weapons, include Roadblock's signature .50 caliber machine gun.) D.J. Cotrona, who plays Flint in the movie, was also on set that day. "The Flint character we have in this film is similar to the classic Flint personality-wise," said Cotrona. "I think the way the movie goes, it kind of gives you an intro to this guy. Kind of how he got into this unit and how he turns into the Flint that we've seen a lot more of in most of the other G.I. Joe stuff."
"The great thing about this is that, while it's all G.I. Joe, we have two really great stories underneath. You have the strong, hardcore military stuff with all the things you want to see and much more and then Snake Eyes' journey is kind of separate in the beginning. It goes much further into his individual journey and everything you would want to see there," said Cotrona. "But they do come together in a really cool way in the second part of the film towards the end. They all kind of merge together. It's really cool You almost get three movies. You get the hardcore military G.I. Joe thing. You get a really amazing Snake Eyes action-based ninja acrobatic amazing fight thing and then they come together. Everybody mixes it up together."
Korean actor Lee Byung Hun departed for Japan on January 28th to participate in promotions for his film ‘Masquerade’ which was a big success at the South Korean box office last year.
‘Masquerade’ will go on air in over 90 cinemas all over Japan. When Lee Byung Hun arrived in Japan via Japan International Airport, he was greeted by over 200 fans and media reporters waiting at the arrival gate. The airport was left in a standstill due to the human traffic, with Lee Byung Hun basking in the warm affection showed by his fans, displaying his super popularity in Japan.
The fans had waited patiently for Lee Byung Hun as it’s been a while since he visited Japan with a new work. Many prominent local media agencies like ‘Daily Sports’, ‘Fuji TV’, and many more were also present at the airport to capture footage of Lee Byung Hun, and compete with each other for a close-up interview with him.
Lee Byung Hun will attend a press conference on the 29th, before participating in events like fan meetings, photo taking session, and many others. He will then have interviews with Japanese media agencies on the 30th, before flying back to South Korea on January 31st.
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