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February 27, 2013
Henney meets injured sea lions, seals
Korea JoongAng Daily
Actor Daniel Henney has plunged into the project of saving our oceans at the San Pedro Marine Mammal Care Center.
In line with the Korean InStyle magazine celebrating its 10th year in March, Henney was picked as one of 10 local celebrities to take on a charity project.
For his part, the Hallyu heartthrob cleaned up the ocean around his home in the United States.
With the beauty brand La Mer as his supporter, Henney took time to meet some injured sea lions and seals and picked up rubbish at a marine animal shelter in California early this month.
A representative from the magazine said that despite his busy schedule promoting the films “Shanghai Calling” and “Last Stand,” Henney spent five days as a volunteer.
The model-turned-actor of Korean descent said he took a lot away from his volunteer efforts.
“After seeing the polluted ocean, I realized that we need to educate the public about the importance of clean waterways,” he explained. |
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February 28, 2013
Sooyoung is too friendly for her own good
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Amidst the rumor linking Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung to actor Jung Kyoung-ho, a TV program went into just why the girl group member continues to be the target of rumors.
SBS’ “A Night of TV Entertainment” devoted its program, which aired Feb. 27, to the reason why Sooyoung kept finding herself linked to various male entertainers.
While denying that Sooyoung was seeing Jung, the show said the fact that Sooyoung had a vibrant personality helped her make friends fast, which often works against her in the industry and fuels many rumors.
“Because of her personality, a lot of people talk about her,” said a spokesperson for the singer. “It’s something she’s working on.”
Before being linked to Jung, whom she goes to the same church with, Sooyoung was rumored to be dating Hallyu actor Won Bin. She denied both allegations. |
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February 28, 2013
Kim A-joong to volunteer in Africa
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Actress Kim A-joong will take some time off to head to Africa and help the needy before she decides on her next project.
Kim will leave for Liberia on March 11 accompanied by SBS’s “Hope TV” on a joint project with the organization Save The Children.
She will spend 10 days in the African nation along with other celebrities like Yoon Si-yoon.
At home, Kim has always been a do-gooder. Not long ago, she joined her fan club members in paying a visit to a facility that cares for single moms.
Since her last rom-com “My PS Partner,” Kim hasn’t taken on any new projects. |
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February 28, 2013
'Stoker' will be shown in 38 nations
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Homegrown director Park Chan-wook’s first Hollywood piece “Stoker” is set to be shown in some 38 nations around the world.
The movie’s distributor 21st Century Fox said that following its world premiere yesterday in Korea, the film will open in Hong Kong and Thailand.
It will open in the United States today before screening in England, the Philippines, Indonesia and Argentina among others.
Written by actor-turned-screenwriter Wentworth Miller (star of “Prison Break”) and co-produced by Ridley Scott and the late Tony Scott, “Stoker” centers around teenager India, played by Mia Wasikowska, and her volatile mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman).
The story unfolds as the girl’s father (Dermot Mulroney) dies in a car accident and is replaced by India’s mysterious Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), who moves in with India and her family.
Critics are raving about the film, and Park is being heralded as a second Hitchcock. |
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February 28, 2013
'Running Man' is next Korean film to go international
Cho Dong-oh’s latest action flick is first to get full Hollywood funding
By Yoon Hye-sun, Park Eun-jee Korea JoongAng Daily
“Running Man” sets a milestone in the Korean film scene via its collaboration with Hollywood studio Fox International Productions. Provided by 20th Century Fox
In the midst of Koreans’ growing presence in Hollywood as directors and actors make their debuts there, “Running Man” by Cho Dong-oh is set to take up the baton.
The film about a man fleeing false murder charges is the first domestic movie to be fully funded by a major Hollywood studio, Fox International Productions.
“We were very impressed with the concept of trying to make a film that would be pushing the action quotient all done in a realistic way within Seoul itself,” said Sanford Panitch, head of the production company, during a press conference on Tuesday.
Top: Fox International Productions President Sanford Panitch, left, said that the studio keeps an eye out for films from unfamiliar places, including Korea. Abovet: From left, actors Lee Min-ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Cho Eun-jee and Kim Sang-ho, and director Cho Dong-oh promote “Running Man.” [NEWSIS]
“The father-son story very much appealed to us all as the emotional core to the film. For those two reasons, ‘Running Man’ felt like a good start for us.”
Panitch stressed that the Los Angeles-based company is looking to observe global film-making culture, unearth local talent and forge lucrative relationships with prominent film professionals outside of the world’s film capital.
In a testament to his expanding strategy, Fox International Productions has so far made financial commitments to 50 non-English-language films in more than 11 countries.
It also previously made partial investments in Korean hit “Hwanghae” and Park Chan-wook’s Hollywood debut film “Stoker.”
Cho said he thought that the U.S. company was impressed with the uniquely Korean sentiments expressed in the film and that he felt encouraged by their respect for a foreign culture.
“When I first met with Fox, I didn’t feel like I had to change the story just because we were receiving financial support,” he explained.
Protectionist measures implemented by the government initially stood in the way of the collaboration, Panitch said, but the company worked around the restrictions.
The Korean Film Council also helped to expedite the process. From 2007, the organization has offered tax rebates to foreign production companies that decided to invest in coproduction with Korean professionals.
“This movie is not only important for developing future business relationships with Hollywood, but also helpful for creating new job opportunities,” said Kim Eui-suk, chairman of the Korean Film Council. More than 430 people worked on the production of “Running Man” for about five months.
Panitch said that it was not until Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” that Hollywood grew more comfortable with movies in different settings told in unusual ways.
“I think that was the catalyst for any people in Hollywood to turn their eyes toward Korean films,” the CEO said.
After watching Bong Joon-ho’s “The Host” and Kim Ji-woon’s “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” with his colleagues, Panitch came to believe that there is a lot to learn from Korean cinema. He thinks that the emotions, styles and energy in Korean films are completely unique.
“At the same time, if we think there’s an opportunity for the film in the other parts of the world, we’ll certainly take advantage of that, including showing the film to U.S. audiences,” Panitch said.
The company also hopes to announce its support for a second Korean film soon.
“We have a number of projects in development in script stages and are working with some other, very talented directors,” Panitch said.
“Running Man” will hit theaters in April. |
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February 28, 2013
Park Chan-wook’s ‘Stoker’ an exquisite gothic thriller
The Korea Herald
A spider crawls up the leg of 18-year-old India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) early in Park Chan-wook’s English-language debut, “Stoker,’’ and she regards it passively, intrigued.
There’s a creepy intruder in the Stokers’ handsome, isolated estate, but it’s India’s Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), whose existence India was unaware of until he arrived following the death of her father (Dermot Mulroney) in a mysterious car accident. Dashing, cultured and oozing melodramatic evil, he’s an homage to Joseph Cotton’s Uncle Charlie ― a murder in a suit jacket at the dinner table ― from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt.’’
Park, the celebrated South Korean filmmaker of stylistic, hyper-violent revenge tales (“Oldboy,’’ “Lady Vengeance’’) has long drawn Hitchcock comparisons. In “Stoker,’’ he makes them explicit, with references not just to “Shadow of a Doubt,’’ but “Psycho’’ and maybe even “The Birds,’’ if we can agree that Hitchcock forever owns violent attacks in phone booths.
A scene from Park Chan-wook’s “Stoker.” (20th Century Fox Korea)
The plot outlines of “Stoker’’ from the screenplay by Wentworth Miller, a TV actor and star of “Prison Break,’’ share some of the basics of the nifty “Shadow of a Doubt’’ and countless other thrillers, but it’s emphatically a Park film. In his first Hollywood movie, there isn’t even a slight dip in his brilliant, colorful compositions (with his usual cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung), his grisly flesh tearing, or his extreme warping of genre.
But the question with Park (whose “Oldboy’’ will later this year be released as a remake by Spike Lee) is whether his genre contortions are purely for the fetishistic pleasure of seeing characters and bodies ― movies ― mangled and bloodied. “Stoker’’ certainly relies too much on its heavy Gothic atmosphere, but it does add up to something ― particularly because of Wasikowska’s deft performance.
“Stoker’’ begins in a lush montage of rhythmic freeze frames of India, with an ominous police car in the background, ruminating in a voice-over about her nature: “Just as a flower doesn’t choose its color, we don’t choose what we are going to be.’’ The foreshadowing sets the tone for a pulpy coming of age story, where India’s transition into womanhood comes via incestuous desires and buried corpses.
With stringy black hair shrouding her face, India is a dour, intelligent introvert ― a kind of Victorian shadow of Wasikowska’s Jane Eyre. She doesn’t like to be touched, not even by her mom (Nicole Kidman), and her acute sensitivity picks up the whispers at her father’s funeral, the thundering tick of a metronome and (in one of the many heavy symbols of India’s maturation) her loud cracking of a hardboiled eggshell, rolled on a table.
Charlie has an immediate, eerie interest in India. He stays at the house, and a lurid triangle forms between Charlie, India and her mother, Evelyn. Evelyn throws herself at Charlie, who all the while is eyeing India. Visitors like India’s aunt (Jacki Weaver) quickly disappear, some on screen and some off.
(AP) |
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February 27, 2013
Wonder Girls’ Hye-rim to join English radio show
By Bae Soo-min, Intern Reporter The Korea Herald
Hye-rim from popular girl group Wonder Girls will star in the K-pop segment of EBS FM’s new English radio program “English Go Go.”
The singer will join the show every Wednesday for the live video webcast portion of the program. According to EBS, Hye-rim will sing different genres of music including dance, ballads, and trot in English.
The K-pop segment will allow listeners to participate in the program. Once every month, listeners will be able to call in to sing popular English pop songs in Korean.
Having lived in Hong Kong for 14 years, the singer is fluent in four languages, English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean. Hye-rim will be involved in translating Korean lyrics into English.
On Tuesday Hye-rim showed her enthusiasm for the upcoming show on her personal Twitter, writing “Hi everyone! I’m starting a radio show from EBS called, ‘The Wonder K-pop!’ It’s held every Wednesday, at 6 p.m. (Korea time)! Please join me!”
“English Go Go” will feature Kim Seong-won from KBS 2TV Gag Concert, 1Kyne from hip-hop group Electroboyz and magician Kim Jong-su.
Featuring MC Sun Kim and co-host Peter, EBS’s FM “English Go Go” introduces listeners to a wide selection of English content from Monday through Saturday. |
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February 27, 2013
JYJ Donate Revenues to UNICEF
Writer: Jeon Ji-young KBS Global
Boy group JYJ are to donate the whole of their revenue from their activities as promotion ambassadors for a Hallyu Expo in Japan.
JYJ, who were selected as promotion ambassadors for the ‘2012 Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo (KBEE)' held in Osaka, Japan, last November, have been actively engaged in promoting exchange and commercial co-operation between Korea and Japan.
JYJ also participated in the “UNICEF Awoo Doll Campaign” held in the KOTRA headquarters in October last year and the opening ceremony of KBEE in Osaka recently, becoming icons for reconciliation and business exchange between Korea and Japan.
JYJ were cited by the Minister of Knowledge Economy for their devoted work as ambassadors for KBEE in the midst of a busy schedule that includes drama shoots and overseas performances. JYJ member Kim Jae-joong said, “I was delighted to take part in a bilateral exchange between Korea and Japan through the KBEE last year. Now I want to have the chance to help the needy people.” He said, “I hoped to give a helping hand to the children of the world who are struggling with famine and poverty through donations to UNICEF.”
Park Dong-eun, secretary-general of the Korean Committee for UNICEF said, “JYJ have not only raised awareness of the needs of others by participating in the Awoo Doll campaign, but also surprised us by donating the whole of their revenue from their work as ambassadors to UNICEF.”
JYJ’s UNICEF fund donation ceremony is to be held at the UNICEF Korea Committee office in Changsong-dong, central Seoul, at 2 p.m. on March 5. In the ceremony, Kim Jae-joong will donate the fund as a representative of JYJ to UNICEF. |
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February 28, 2013
Leeteuk talked about the enormous popularity of Sistar in the military
By Ahn Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
Leeteuk of Super Junior, who is currently serving military service, talked about the enormous popularity of girl group Sistar in the military, saying the group leagues ahead of the rest.
In an interview with SBS’s Night of TV Entertainment aired on Feb 27, He named Sistar when asked to pick his ideal type of girl. “I didn’t know you were such a big star here. I respect you guys,” he said in a video letter to the girl group.
He is now performing in the military musical “The Promise” with fellow military actor Ji Hyun-woo and Kim Moo-yeol. Ji said he gained weight and Kim mentioned his actress girlfriend Yoon Seung-ah, saying she attended the first performance in the same interview. |
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March 1, 2013
Lee Young-ae's New Role Is All About Kids
The ChosunIlbo
Actress Lee Young-ae, who disappeared from the limelight after surprising fans by suddenly getting hitched in 2009, recently moved to a countryside home in Yangpyeong, just east of Seoul, built to raise her twins in a clean, natural environment, and started a business specializing in infant-care products.
Lee said she and her husband are enjoying their life in the countryside. Her spouse is particularly fond of the rural surroundings as it reminds him of the neighborhood on the outskirts of Chicago where he grew up.
"I'll resume acting if I see a script I really like," said Lee, who gave birth to a boy and girl in 2011. However, she said her children are currently the main focus of her life.
"As an actress, I used to think it was important to have a wide-ranging spectrum of experiences," she said, adding that she is now more selective and socially responsible. "Now my desire to help create a better world for children to live in has become my main criteria for choosing a script."
"In the past, I focused only on the character I was set to play, but nowadays I'm very concerned about the impact the film will have on my children and on society."
Lee said her fans should not expect to see her starring in violent movies or playing villainous characters anytime soon. She said she discussed with her husband what she could do to create a better world for children, drawing on her popularity from starring in the Chosun dynasty court cook story "Jewel in the Palace," and decided to open a business dedicated to organic products for infants.
As well as promoting environmentally friendly products for young toddlers, she hopes to share her child-rearing experiences with other moms. |
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March 1, 2013
Actor Park quizzed over assault case
By Kim Jae-won The Korea Times
Actor Park Si-hoo enters a police station in western Seoul, Friday, to be questioned over allegations that he sexually assaulted an aspiring actress after having late night drinks. The 35-year-old star said that he would tell the truth about what happened on the night of Feb. 14. Yonhap
Famous actor Park Si-hoo finally appeared Friday at a police station in Seoul to be questioned over allegations that he sexually assaulted an aspiring actress.
Appearing at the police station at 10 a.m., the 35-year-old star said he will tell the truth of what happened, withdrawing from his initial stance of persistently disregarding the summons by the police.
“I am sorry for causing concerns. I will unveil clearly what exactly happened,” Park told reporters.
Park was accused of sexually assaulting a 22-year-old aspiring actress on Feb. 14. According to police, the woman claims Park sexually assaulted her after they had late night drinks.
Park admitted he had sex with the woman but claimed it was consensual in a statement released through his management agency.
Police said the investigation will focus on whether Park used physical force against the woman, adding it will take time to investigate the allegations thoroughly.
“The result of the investigation is open to the all possibilities,” a police officer said.
The case is drawing huge attention from Park’s fans and the public. Netizens are split on the issue _ half say Park is lying, while the others say the woman made a false accusation to get money from the actor.
Another actor surnamed Kim, 24, was also accused by the woman of sexually assaulting her on the same night. Kim was also questioned by the police.
Park gained popularity for his roles in television shows including “Iljimae” and “The Princess Man” and starred in last year’s thriller “Confession of a Murder.” |
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March 1, 2013
'Miracle in Cell No. 7' draws 11 million viewers
By Claire Lee The Korea Herald
Local film ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7’ drew 11.09 million viewers in just 38 days after its release, official data showed Friday. This makes it the seventh highest grossing movie in Korean film history, beating Kang Woo-suk’s 2003 drama “Silmido.”
A scene from ‘Miracle in Cell No. 7.’ NEW
A heartwarming comedy about a mentally challenged father (played by Ryoo Seung-ryong) wrongfully imprisoned for murder, the film drew 4.6 million viewers in its first two weeks of release.
The plot of the film develops as the man forms genuine friendship with his inmates in the cell; the criminals make a plan to help him see his young daughter.
The film’s box office performance outdoes last year’s hit “Gwanghae: The Man who Became the King,” which broke the 11 million mark in 48 days, and 2009 disaster film “Tidal Wave,” which hit the same record in 51 days, according to the state-run Korea Film Council. |
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March 1, 2013
Jackie Chan reveals old Korean flame
By Ahn Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
On a visit to promote his latest movie “Chinese Zodiac,” Jackie Chan reminisced about his days in Korea and an eight-year relationship he had with a woman here.
The international superstar lived in Seoul between the ages of 18 and 20, working as a stunt double before he rose to fame.
“I could have married her if it were easier to talk long-distance back then,” Chan said on MBC’s “Knee-Drop Guru.” “One day I got stuck at a nightclub because of the curfew, and while there, I fell in love with a woman at first sight.”
The two continued their relationship after the actor returned to Hong Kong.
“At that time, I had to go to a telephone office to call her,” Chan recalled. “I used to say ‘Honey, is it cold there? Kiss-kiss.’”
The couple eventually split up because of the distance.
“We parted ways because I was too busy and was on tight budget so couldn’t afford the international calls.” |
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March 1, 2013
Guns, nukes and yawns
New season of KBS TV spy series Iris is a dud
By Kwon Mee-yoo The Korea Times
Zo In-sung, left, and Song Hye-kyo in a press event for the SBS TV drama, “That Winter, the Wind Blows.” / Korea Times file
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Jang Hyuk in “Iris II”
It initially appeared that "Iris II,’’ the new season of KBS television’s high-budget spy series, had all the makings of a successful show.
It boasted a cast dripping with A-list stars; exaggerated, Michael Bay-style explosions and gun fights; expensive cars; exotic foreign locations; beautiful people in Armani suits toting shiny guns and furturistic mobile devices; and complicated love lines.
All the boxes seemed to have been checked ― except for the one on quality writing.
It has becoming increasingly clear that Iris II, which made its season premiere on Feb. 13, will never live up to the original series that was the most-watched television show of 2009.
According to Nielsen Korea, the latest episode of Iris II that aired on Feb. 28 managed only a 10.1 percent viewer rating, lower than shows on rival national networks SBS and MBC in the same time slot.
Despite its lavish budget, estimated to be 20 billion won (about $18 million), and a prolonged production period, Iris II has been exposed as a poorly-executed show. Social media networks erupted in sarcastic cackle after one episode showed a slew of South Koreans dressed in fancy black suits doing exercise drills in a snowfield, some holding what appeared to be plastic BB guns.
A reliance on melodrama was expected the moment the show’s producers cast actor Jang Hyuk and actress Lee Da-hae in the lead roles ― as the two had been previously cast as lovers in the 2010 hit drama "Chuno.’’ The comments on social media and online message boards also suggest viewers find the love-side of the plot to be cloying and too predictable.
In the latest episode, South Korean superspy Jung Yu-geon, played by Jang, goes missing while pursuing a shady organization with possible North Korean ties and is presumed to have been killed in action. His colleague and love interest Ji Su-yeon, played by Lee, collapses in tears. These type of scenes have become almost obligatory in any Korean television show or film related to spies and North Korea.
With viewer responses being lukewarm to the high-wire action that opened the series, the producers have said the show will now progress as something closer to a melodrama than a traditional spy thriller. Of course, the writers will have to find room to squeeze North Korean nuclear weapons and war-mongering between the tear-jerking scenes.
It remains to be seen whether Iris II’s desperate changes will prove to be a smart decision. Korean viewers already seem to have found their favorite melodrama in SBS television’s "That Winter, the Wind Blows.’’
Starring hallyu stars Song Hye-kyo and Zo In-sung, the drama is a remake of the 2002 Japanese hit show "I Don’t Need Love, Summer,’’ with Song and Zo playing two damaged people who fall in love. The viewer rating for its latest episode was 13.9 percent, according to Nielsen.
As with Iris II, "That Winter’’ debuted on Feb. 13, but has yet to concede its top place in the ratings. MBC television’s "7th Grade Civil Servant,’’ another spy drama but a comedy, has beaten Iris II in viewer numbers on most weeks as well.
An interesting aspect of the competition between Iris II and That Winter is that it doubles as a bragging-rights contest between director Pyo Min-soo (Iris II) and veteran screen writer Noh Hee-kyung (That Winter). Pyo and Noh formerly partnered in a number of television hits including “The World That They Live in” (2008), “Solitude” (2002) and “Foolish Love” (2000). |
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March 2, 2013
Actor facing rape charge sent home after interrogation
The Korea Herald
Park Si-hoo appears for questioning at the Seoul Seobu Police Station on Friday. Yonhap News
Actor Park Si-hoo returned home after nearly 10 hours of questioning by police on Friday over allegations that he sexually assaulted a 24-year old aspiring actress last month.
“Although there is much that I would like the say, I have clarified (my position) enough with the police,” Park told reporters, saying the truth will come out.
Park’s friend identified as his surname Kim, who is accused of sexually harassing the woman, also returned home after receiving investigation with Park.
The well-known hallyu star is accused of raping the woman, whose identify is withheld, on Feb. 15. The alleged victim said the 35-year-old actor raped her while she was passed out.
Both Park and Kim deny all allegations.
Police said there was no immediate plan for to summon them again, and that they were looking into the log of text messages exchanged between the alleged victim and her friend.
From news reports |
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March 2, 2013
Veteran Talent Scout Goes Extra Mile to Find Budding Stars
The ChosunIlbo
Top stars like IU, Kara's Goo Ha-ra and miss A lead the K-pop scene at different entertainment agencies, but all have one thing in common: being spotted by Lee Ji-young at JYP Entertainment.
Over her 10-year career, the casting manager has earned a reputation for her on-target instinct in identifying new stars.
"This is my 10th year looking for new talent in showbiz. I have probably seen more than 200,000 people in auditions," said Lee, who started her career at SM Entertainment in 2004 before moving to JYP a year later.
Others discovered by Lee include 2PM, 2AM, 4minute's Kim Hyun-a and Nam Ji-hyun, and Sistar's Hyo-lyn and Da-som.
"People say having a flamboyant personality is important to becoming a star, but I disagree. There are so many stars who were timid when they were younger and in training. I cast young people with special talent in one of three areas -- singing, dancing or looks. miss A's Su-zy was the only person who had all three. The star's other qualities can be nurtured later," said Lee. "Once a recruit passes the audition and becomes a trainee, then I take personality very seriously. A positive and sociable personality is very important as you have to spend so much time with the trainees for years."
Lee travels around the country and the world on her quest to discover the next star. "I sometimes feel sorry to see young children who audition 10 or 20 times with a vague fantasy of becoming a star. I always hope to see improvements in subsequent auditions, but that doesn't happen most of the time. People need to specifically identify their weaknesses to improve, but many think passion is enough," she said.
Outside of her standard audition work, Park also does on-the-ground recruiting on the streets and in schools. She often visits middle and high schools to find boys and girls known for their singing or dancing skills and holds individual auditions with them.
And the process doesn't stop with recruitment. Lee said she often accompanies her recruits to their first television appearances. "I cry my eyes out every time because I know how much they've gone through over the years as trainees," she said. |
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March 3, 2013
K-pop stars dominate TV dramas
By Kwon Mee-yoo The Korea Times
K-pop stars Nam Ji-hyun, from girl group 4Minute, Kim Dong-jun, from boy band ZE:A, and Kim Yeo-won from Jewelry, pose for cameras in a press event for the new season of KBS television’s drama series, “Love and War,” at the broadcasters headquarters in February. / Yonhap
It takes talent and a lot of effort to shine in K-pop, where the bar in singing and dancing ability seems to be set higher than ever. And as if this wasn’t enough, they better be able to deliver a line when plugged into a soap opera.
An increasing number of television dramas are depending on young pop singers to give them a boost in viewer ratings, which means that the members of boy bands and girl groups have to find time for acting lessons between their grueling schedules. On the three national television networks — KBS, MBC and SBS — there are more than 20 dramas featuring these young singers-turned-actors.
KBS television’s big budget spy thriller “Iris II” has cast B2ST’s Yoon Doo-joon and MBLAQ’s Lee Joon in the roles as secret service agents. Competing against them for living room eyeballs is 2PM’s Hwang Chan-sung, who appears on MBC television’s “7th Grade Civil Servant,” also a spy drama but more of a romantic comedy.
In the popular SBS television melodrama, “That Winter, the Wind Blows,” Jung Eun-ji, from girl group A Pink, plays a girl who is in love with Zo In-sung’s main character, Oh Soo.
While their experience in acting may be shallow, many of these K-pop stars are being asked to carry weighty roles. Girls’ Generation member Yoona is one of the few singers who has proved she can act, and she generates massive buzz whenever she is about to appear in another drama. Apparently, broadcasters are doing their best to discover the next Yoona.
The country has a long list of entertainers who both sing and act. Kim Dong-wan, member of the boy band Shinhwa, whose popularity peaked in the late 1990s, is now starring in KBS daily drama “Cheer Up Mr. Kim.” Eugene, a former member of the now-disbanded girl group S.E.S, is appearing in MBC’s weekend drama, “Hundred Year’s Inheritance.”
Park Jung-a, former Jewelry member, is now a full-time actress and starred in “My Daughter Seo-young,” the popular drama that finished on a high note on Sunday.
In the old days, broadcast stations openly recruited new actors every year. But the recruitment system was abolished in the early 2000s and producers had to find new ways to source young actors. The boom of K-pop groups and the increasing number of them has fueled the influx of singers into acting.
They are more well-known than some new faces and learned acting as a part of their training, so it’s no wonder producers and directors want to cast them for publicity purposes.
With their popularity overseas, K-pop singers also contribute to the international sales of dramas. Last year, KBS drama “Love Rain” was sold to Japan for $10 million, which was the second highest price for a KBS drama, thanks to Yoona and Jang Keun-suk, another “hallyu” star.
However, K-pop singers’ domination of the acting scene could choke budding actors and actresses who stick to just acting from the beginning.
“More and more idol stars appear on television dramas and they dampen the spirits of acting aspirants. This vicious cycle could degrade the overall quality of Korean dramas,” an official of the Korean Broadcasting Actors Association said. |
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March 3, 2013
Actress holds rare, unique fan meet
Korea JoongAng Daily
Kim Ah-joong brought fans to a facility for unmarried mothers in a rare domestic fan meet early last week arranged to mark the ninth anniversary of her debut, her agency said Saturday.
“Before celebrating the anniversary of the debut on March 12, Kim Ah-joong spent meaningful time with fans who have steadily supported her,” said the agency, Namoo Actors. “It was the first time in four years that she met with local fans.”
Her fan clubs, Cocoa and DC Inside Kim Ah Joong Gallery, volunteered with Kim at a facility for unmarried mothers where Kim frequently donates her time.
Kim, 30, starred in the sexy rom-com “My PS Partner” as Yoon Jeong who falls in love with Hyun Seung (played by Ji Sung), a stranger with whom she has phone sex after accidentally dialing the wrong number.
The movie has attracted more than 1.8 million moviegoers since its release in December, according to the Korean Film Council. This month, she will embark on an overseas volunteer mission in Liberia as part of an SBS program, “Hope TV,” the agency said. |
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March 3, 2013
Preview of Lee Hi album hits the net
By Ahn Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
Leading up to Lee Hi’s first mini album, YG released the intro track, “Turn It Up,” on Friday along with a third teaser image on its blog the next day.
Ahead of the new teaser, YG triggered netizens’ curiosity by uploading the first teaser that read “March 1?” “March 7?” and “March 21?”
The March 1 event turned out to be a release of the intro track through YG’s official blog and YouTube, where it has received more than 740,000 views, fast approaching the million mark. Tablo of Epik High wrote the lyrics for “Turn It Up,” which talks about Lee’s journey from the competition show to the intense training at YG.
In the new teaser image, 16-year-old Lee is seen applying red lipstick while wearing lashes in the shape of musical notes, signaling the growth into maturity of the not-yet-legal musical talent. What is fueling more buzz in the virtual sphere is a phrase “It’s Over” written in red lipstick, raising speculation as to what Lee could be implying. Stay tuned to see what she will bring on March 7 and 21, the other days YG specified in previous teaser images. |
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March 3, 2013
What food do hallyu stars eat?
'Star' lunch boxes raise interest in Korean food
By Chung Ah-young The Korea Times
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Suji Kim, head of Suji Kim’s Dosirak Art, one of the leading “star lunch” suppliers / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
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From top, paintings of lunch boxes for actor Jang Keun-suk, singer Rain, K-pop group Big Bang and singer Park Jae-bum made by Suji Kim / Courtesy of Suji Kim’s Dosirak Art
Fans want to impress their favorite stars by giving them special gifts. Some fans give their idols luxury items, as K-pop singer G-Dragon’s fan club did, while others present heartfelt handmade crafts, such as folded-paper cranes, to show their loyalty.
Among others, what is the most necessary for stars seems to be simply “feeding” them as they have no time to eat under their hectic schedules. Most stars skip their meals or eat unhealthy fast food.
Lunch boxes beautifully adorned with beads and laces and packed with healthy, organic foods which are favored by stars are emerging as the popular presents for the hallyu (Korean wave) stars. Such gifts are not only gaining popularity in Korea but also abroad.
Suji Kim, CEO of Suji Kim’s Dosirak Art in Seoul, one of the leading “star lunch” suppliers, started the business as the first of its kind in 2010. It was a niche market of a catering business utilizing the hallyu stars and Korean foods.
The tailor-made lunches called “dosirak (lunchbox) art,” which are similar to Japanese bento boxes, were popularized by Kim after she made the first lunch box for Kang Ho-dong, a wrestler-turned-entertainer at the request of one of her acquaintances.
“It’s fascinating that many hallyu fans are getting to know what kinds of Korean foods are loved by their idols. It’s naturally promoting Korean foods globally. In that sense, I am very proud of being part of it,” Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times.
A growing number of international fans from China and Japan are making the orders for special meals for Korean stars. The popularity of sending meals to stars went viral thanks to the lunch boxes ordered by a Japanese fan for U-Know Yunho, a member of TVXQ, who starred in the musical “Goong” in 2010. When asked to make special meals, she created a package reflecting the musical, which is about an average high-school girl marrying a royal prince in the monarchical state. What she called “prince dosirak” was decorated with fabric pieces of “hanbok” (Korean traditional costume) on its cover. It created a buzz among hallyu fans after staff posted complementary messages on Twitter.
From top, “bulgogi”-topped salads; seafood rice; chicken
and eels; and lotus leaf-wrapped rice are popular dishes for “star” lunch boxes. / Courtesy of Suji Kim’s Dosirak Art
What do stars like to eat? She said that fans know well what kinds of food their stars like the most.
Most boy band members like meat and many hallyu stars prefer Korean food to Western because there are fewer opportunities to eat Korean food during their overseas activities.
She made special meals of eels and beef ribs for actor Jang Keun-suk while “tteokgalbi” (grilled meat patties) for K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation, “hanu” (Korean premium beef) skewers for movie star Won Bin and little “gimbap” (rice rolls with seaweed) for singer-turned-actor Park Yoo-chun.
“I want to show that rice can be a great present. There is a Korean saying that rice is a source of strength,” she said.
She originally intended to make finger foods in the lunch boxes because of its small size and colors but she dropped the idea and instead decided to include just what Koreans ordinarily eat into the meals. “Bulgogi”-topped rice or eel rice are popular dishes for the lunch boxes, she said.
Kim cares much about cooking rice in various ways to diversify the tastes and provide more nutrition.
She said that her lunchbox presents reflect Korean traditional culture of communal eating. The meals are made not only for the stars but also for their staff.
Thus she makes some 100 meals at a time on average, which is hard to be done by an individual. She had experience in preparing large amount of meals before this project because she ran a small restaurant near a valley in a suburban area. “I have always been interested in cooking for others. Accidently I came to run the restaurant for a while. Then I found my talent and hobby in cooking for others. That experience of running a restaurant is my asset for this job now,” she said.
The special designs tailored for stars create synergy making the receivers feel special, she said. The reactions from the recipients of such meals are beyond pleasure, with one saying “it’s hard to eat such a beautifully adorned artwork.”
She is not just keen on the quality of foods but also the decorations of the boxes which are tailor-made for each specific star. For example, when a singer comes back from a long hiatus, a fan requests her to make the thematic decorations for the singer. Then she designs a figurine or painting of the star on the cover of the box. Every single box is an artwork adorned with beads, flamboyant fabric patches or laces.
“It takes more time and money but the handmade decorations are our trademark adding to the meals,” she said.
Kim tries to make low-fat food because most of the stars are concerned about their weight and she selects food that can taste good even when it gets cold.
“My primary policy is to make the foods for them similar to homecooked food with mother-like attention. They might miss their mother’s meals because they are busy out there,” she said. Kim makes it a rule that she has nothing to spare when buying top quality ingredients such as organic ones.
“Our recipients are top stars. Their foods should be top-quality. They are promoting the Korean culture and at the same time our foods,” she said.
She has recently opened a cooking studio in Samcheong-dong, Seoul to teach people who want to learn “dosirak” art. Also she will launch programs for foreign tourists from China and Japan to make Korean foods soon.
“As hallyu stars are popular in Asian countries, we are expecting more and more Asian fans are getting interested in Korean foods through their fans. I think Korean food has the potential to be reinvented in various ways, like our ‘dosirak,’ in other countries,” she said. |
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