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Sunday, July 9, 2006
Big-budget historical dramas popular
Seoul Broadcasting System's epic drama "Yeongaesomun" garnered over 20 percent of viewing rate Saturday with its first episode that depicted the historical battle between Goguryeo (37 B.C.-A.D. 668) and China's Tang Dynasty (618-907) at Ansi Castle.
This is the first of 100 episodes that will dramatize the latter period of Goguryeo, which was the first to be established and developed into the largest, of Korea's three ancient kingdoms.
The $40 million-budget drama is competing against another much-hyped TV drama "Jumong" also set in the same era. However, the drama declares that it is more thoroughly based on the historical facts, although there is not much of record on its hero, Yeongaesomun (played by veteran actor Yoo Dong-geun).
"Yeongaesomun"
The drama will shed light on the heroic side of Yeongaesomun who has been painted more as a tyrant that seized power through a coup, than a general who waged seven battles successfully against the invaders of Tang Dynasty. On the other hand, "Jumong" is based more on imagination since it tells a story of founding myth of the kingdom. Jumong (played by Song Il-guk) was born between the heavenly emperor and the god of water, and was named so for his exceptional archery skills.
Introduced in May, the 60-episode drama (14th will air tonight) of Munhwa Broadcasting Company has seen its viewing rate soaring near to 40 percent, boosted by its legendary character and concoction of romance.
"Jumong" will be aired overseas starting in September, as it has been sold to five countries, including Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, at the Shanhai TV Festival last month.
"Yeongaesomun" and "Jumong" will face stiff competition for viewers when Korean Broadcasting System's "Daejoyoung," also set in Goguyreo, will begin airing in early September. Featuring another veteran actor Choi Su-jong as general Daejoyoung from Goguryeo, who founded Balhae Kingdom (698-926), the large-scale drama will also be aired on weekends.
After the demise of Goguryeo by Tang Dynasty, Daejoyoung founded Balhae whose territory spanned over the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, eastern Manchuria and the Russian Far East.
The last to join the Goguryeo fad is "Taewangsasingi," currently being made and scheduled to be unveiled in October. The 20-episode drama will chronicle the history of Goguryeo Kingdom from the beginning through its heyday, highlighting the reign of King Gwanggaeto.
The king, played by none other than Bae Yong-joon, the pioneer of Korean Wave, who will return to TV screen for the first time in six years, is credited to have expanded Goguryeo as far as Manchuria.
As for the identical setting in Goguryeo, some attribute it to the fact that drama writers have exhausted stories set in Joseon Dynasty, as most of the past historical dramas were based in the era.
However, it is hard to deny that the heated dispute over the history of Goguryeo between China and Korea has peaked interest in the era, leading to the making of these dramas.
The last time for a television drama set in Goguryeo to be produced was mid-1960s.
Writer Lee Hwan-gyeong of "Yeongaesomun" openly stated that one of the reasons the drama was made was to counter China's claim over the history of Goguyreo.
Nonetheless, there are voices of concern that these dramas," which combine historical facts and figures with fictional plots, might result in biased understanding of history, especially when there is not much historical documents or records on Goguryeo.
The grand battle scene at Ansi Castle from "Yeongaesomun," enhanced by computer graphics and presented with kind subtitles on historical, military glossaries, was spectacular, but has stirred controversy among viewers. Many questioned why General Yang Man-chun was reduced to a supporting role for Yeongaesomun when the historical record said Yang headed the battle into a victory, shooting the emperor of Tang in his eyes with an arrow.
(glamazon@heraldm.com)
By Hwang You-mee
Source: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SIT ... 10/200607100026.asp |
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07-09-2006
K-Pop Concerts Go International
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Shinhwa, 6-member K-pop boy band, perform Saturday
before thousands of Chinese fans during their sold-out
concert at the Shanghai Grand Stage in Shanghai, China,
the first stop in their "State of the Art 2006" Asian tour.
This summer, K-pop stars are escaping the heat by going abroad. But, instead of relaxing on a beach or traveling, they will be working hard to entertain foreign fans with spectacular concerts in Asia and the United States.
Shinhwa, one of the most popular K-pop groups among foreign fans, has taken its "State of the Art 2006" tour overseas. Indeed, the six-member group held a successful concert in Shanghai, China, last Saturday.
Around 10,000 Chinese fans turned up at the Shanghai Grand Stage to see the group perform their best-known dance songs and romantic ballads. With ticket prices starting at 100 yuan (11,800 won) to as much as 1,880 yuan (223,000 won) for VIP seats, organizers said the concert had been sold out since May.
Having began their Asian tour last May with two sold-out concerts in Seoul, Shinhwa's next international stop is Thailand with a concert at the Arena Hall, Impact Arena in Nonthaburi, a Bangkok suburb, on August 18.
There are also plans for concerts in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan later this year.
Shinhwa is currently busy promoting their 8th album, "State of the Art."
Another popular K-pop boy band, TVXQ, is also holding their first major concert in Asia this weekend. "TVXQ's Rising Sun 1st Asia Tour 2006: Live in Malaysia |
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July 10, 2006
'Hanbando' Role Was Patriotic Duty for Cha In-pyo
Driven by nationalist beliefs and the scenario of another Japanese invasion, the W10-billion (US$1=W942) movie 揌anbando (The Korean Peninsula) |
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Lee Wan抯 Fan Meetings Draw 2,000 Japanese Fans
2006-07-11
Actor Lee Wan has recently held his first fan meeting in Japan, heralding the birth of
another hallyu star.
The actor met with his Japanese fans twice on July 10 at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel
in Tokyo, drawing some one thousand fans, and will hold another fan meeting on
July 12 in Osaka.
Hosted by anchor Shirai Kyoko from Tokyo Broadcasting System, the meetings were
held in the form of a talk show, with Lee answering his fans |
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July 11, 2006
Guns blazing, in a Korean sort of way
July 12, 2006 ㅡ Artistic Korean films have been increasingly successful overseas. Park Chan-wook and Im Kwon-taek are well known in film circles in the West, and their films also perform reasonably well at home. Korean comedies and horror films also do very well at the domestic box office. But there's one place Korean filmmakers have as yet not conquered. From "Thunderball" to "Terminator," big-budget action is still Hollywood's home turf. High-octane summer action is what cinematic America does best, and with scant exceptions ("Swiri") this is still the case.
So a film like "Typhoon," a straightforward spy flick, has an uphill battle to get itself taken seriously. But this is a surprising and rare effort, with no expense spared on such diversions as a high-speed car chase through the streets of Busan, a few jungle shootouts, a thrilling seabound climax and more. Unfortunately, it's also got the plot holes and utterly unbelievable villanous schemes of the typical Western spy flick ? but if you can suspend disbelief for a Bond film, you'll make it through "Typhoon" just fine. A particularly Korean twist has helped "Typhoon" make waves in the United States, with positive reviews in major newspapers, including The New York Times and Chicago Tribune.
As the film opens, a dastardly North Korean and his gang of Vietnamese thugs has stolen a set of targeting components for nuclear weapons. Though told to leave it to the Americans, the South Korean intelligence agency dispatches a former Navy SEAL, Kang Se-jong (Lee Jeong-jae), to Vietnam to recover the devices and unmask the man behind the heist.
This turns out to be Sin, a.k.a. Choi Myeong-sin (Jang Dong-gun), whose dreams of a fiery apocalypse derive from being denied asylum and orphaned at the North Korean border while Chinese soldiers attempted to repatriate him with his parents and sister. This sister is still alive, and when Kang tries to use her as a bargaining chip he learns the responsibility his country bears for their suffering. But any hope of a happy ending for Sin dissolves when the full scope of his plot becomes clear.
For all its wonderful explosions, "Typhoon" also handles its drama fairly well ? the flashbacks to the hopeful lives of Sin and his sister at the Austrian Embassy, and the subsequent dashing of those hopes, are artfully filmed and effectively acted despite the children's young ages.
Some foreigners may cringe at the film's pro-unification "blood over borders" sentiments, but compared to other recent abominations, "Typhoon" is downright sophisticated. Kang acknowledges that he understands Sin's suffering, and he often disagrees with his countrymen's methods ? but there is never any question of his allegiance, and he never wavers in trying to bring Sin to justice. It won't please everyone, but it's a relatively moderate point of view.
It's not a seminal work of cinema. But in "Typhoon," friends out to find a good popcorn-crunching rental for a hot, muggy Seoul summer night have a Korean alternative to "Mission: Impossible III." And that's enough.
by Ben Applegate <ben@joongang.co.kr>
Source: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200607/11/2...0091009101.html |
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Jul 12, 2006
Ahn Jae-wook to Hold Summer Camp for Fans
Actor/singer Ahn Jae-wook will hold a summer camp for his Korean, Chinese and Japanese fans from August 4 through the 6th at a fitness club on Jeju Island.
Some 550 fans from ten Asian countries will participate in the 2006 Forever Summer Camp.
Marking its tenth anniversary this year, the camp will become a truly multinational event with more than half of the actor's fans coming from Japan and the rest from South Korea and the Chinese-speaking regions. Ahn will give a mini-concert and hold various sports event with his fans.
Ahn's agency said this year's camp will be larger in scale than previous events to celebrate the tenth anniversary of summer camps and that the actor himself is very committed to the event, which presents him with opportunities to meet with his fans.
Ahn, who is currently filming the KBS TV2 Monday-Tuesday series "Mister Good-bye" will wrap up filming on July 18 and leave for Japan on the 26th to play in friendly baseball matches against a Taiwanese celebrity team on the 27th in Tokyo and against a Japanese celebrity team on the 28th in Osaka.
Source: http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...5387_11858.html |
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Jul 12, 2006
SS501 to Hold First Concert
The five-man group SS501 will hold its first concert at the Olympic Park in Seoul on July 22, its agency DSP Entertainment said Tuesday.
Subtitled 揝tep Up, |
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S. Korean singer shines big in Japan
July 12, TOKYO, Japan -- South Korean actor Ryu Si-won who has emerged as a star singer and actor in Japan successfully ends his first live tour concerts in Japan. He travelled to seven cities where thousands of Japanese fans gathered to greet and cheer him. (Yonhap)
Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engservices/5500000000.html
---------------------------------------
Ryoo Shi-won Enraptures Fans in Japan
Actor/singer Ryoo Shi-won, 34, gave a concert on July 12 at the Budokan Hall in Japan--his long-cherished dream--as part of his seven-city tour. During the concert, Ryoo made a deep bow to his audience, saying his dream had finally come true. When he looked at the audience, his eyes were full of tears, moving the hearts of some 10,000 fans who came to see his concert.
Three years after his debut in Japan, Ryoo performed only songs with Japanese vocals at the concert, with the repertoire including three of his brand-new singles and songs from his three full-length albums. The singer received curtain calls twice, and even after three and a half hours the audience wouldn't let him go. While saying good-bye, Ryoo spoke both Korean and Japanese, thanking his audience. After he left, a video message appeared on the screen, making his fans burst into tears.
Ryoo's audience collectively sang his hit songs "Promise," "Sakura" and "Summer Dream," and even followed the rhythm of the dance song "Let's Get Together."
Ryoo won popularity in Japan for his kind personality, modesty and frankness. At the concert, Ryoo spoke fluent Japanese, and when he heard a new word, he asked the audience to help him. He also showed his fans the photos he had taken in the seven cities he had toured, and shared his impressions. Every time he spoke about a new city, his fans shouted out, "We like you," in their local dialects.
Ryoo even used a camcorder to film every placard his fans had prepared, reading what each placard said. The most noteworthy placards read, "Marry my daughter," "Give me your email address" and "Take me to Korea, put me in your suitcase."
His upfront and open personality captivated the audience, especially when he made deep bows onstage and admitted his mistakes whenever he sang the wrong lyrics. Ryoo is famous for being particularly meticulous about his hair, but he said at the concert, "I don't care if my hair gets wet with sweat today."
Fan Shinakawa Noriko, 41, said Ryoo's gentle smile looked very honest and that he has completely spellbound her. Another fan, Shimada Noburu, 41, who brought to the concert his wife and young daughter, said the concert was the best even in the eyes of a man, and that Ryoo looked charming and cute when he danced.
Ryoo抯 parents and younger sister also attended his concert. His mother said it was the first time she personally saw her son dance onstage. She added that she was proud of him because he looked more confident than during his concert last year at Budokan.
The entire auditorium was full of sunflowers after the concert, and some fans even painted sunflowers on their faces and brought sunflower-shaped balloons to confess their love for Ryoo and his hit song "Sunflower."
Source: http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...5527_11692.html |
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Jul 13, 2006
Yoon Seok-ho抯 Seasonal Series Dramas to Become Films
Two KBS hit dramas, "Autumn in My Heart" and "Winter Sonata," will be adapted into movies. Poibos, an entertainment company, said Wednesday that it signed an agreement on Monday with KBS Media to buy the copyright to "Autumn in My Heart" after securing the copyright to "Winter Sonata" in May.
Culture Cap Media, a Poibos associate, will produce the film versions of the dramas. The company has produced "My Little Bride" and "Jenny & Juno."
"Besides selecting a production company, no plans have yet been made in relation to making the movies," ibos said. "We haven't decided who we will cast and whether we will change the story or not."
The dramas, produced by Yoon Seok-ho and written by Oh Soo-yeon, gained great popularity across Asia, making Song Seung-heon and Song Hye-gyo, who played the leading roles in "Autumn in My Heart," and Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, the two stars in "Winter Sonata," rise to stardom in the entire Asia region.
Other dramas waiting to be made into movies are KBS' "Old Miss Diary," and MBC's "Hello, Francesca" and "Taeneung Training Center."
Source: http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...5511_11692.html |
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July 13, 2006
Cinemas Showcase Heroes, American- and Korean-Style
May and June were a time for all-American heroes in the nation's movie theaters. Every kind has been represented: from super secret agent Ethan Hunt in "Mission: Impossible III" (Tom Cruise), via Storm, who can kick up a typhoon in "X-Men: The Last Stand" (Halle Berry), to the triumphal return of Superman (Brandon Routh). With their super- or at least preternatural powers, they saved the world and made a killing at the box office in the process. But in the first week of July with the release of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," the Hollywood superheroes handed the baton to the homegrown variety. "Hanbando (The Korean Peninsula)" signaled the entry of the more ordinary Korean heroes, with their more human flaws. The outsider historian Minjae (Cho Jae-hyun) in "Handbando," monster-battling Gang-doo (Song Kang-ho) and family in "The Host," to Ga-pil (Lee Mun-shik) from the film "FlY, DADY, FLY," who endures special ops training and the violent gang lifestyle for his family.
Korea's species of hero has no amazing abilities and may not even be very good in combat. Often timid and lazy characters, they lack the traditional heroic qualities but once they set their mind on something, they stick with it till the end. Gang-doo from "The Host" is an unattractive fellow discarded by his wife and living at his father's house, but he risks life and limb to rescue the daughter he loves, dashing madly into the waters of the Han River. Minjae in "Handbando" has been fired numerous times for his stubbornness, but he risks everything to find the Seal of State.
Why are Korean heroes all too human? For one thing, there is the lack of technology and money for special effects. "The individual capabilities of the nation's film industry workers is not lagging behind Hollywood. But we lack the system and experience to realize our abilities. In the end, it's a money problem, |
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Actress Lee Young-ae holds Autograph Session in Japan
2006-07-14
Actress Lee Young-ae, the female lead of the Korean drama 揓ewel of Palace |
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July 14, 2006
Ha Ji-won to Play Famous Chosun-Era Entertainer
Ha Ji-won will be taking on the title role in the upcoming KBS miniseries "Hwang Jin-I", about a famous Chosun-era gisaeng or female entertainer. The first episode will be shown on Oct. 11.
"After looking at a lot of top stars for the role, we recently signed a contract with Ha Ji-won," the producers said Friday. The actress goes head-to-head with Song Hae-gyo, who also plays Hwang Jin-I in a movie of the same title that starts filming at the end of the month. Ha reportedly thought about turning down the part, citing the lack of time to practice the geomungo or six-stringed Korean zither and other skills of the accomplished all-round entertainer.
But she changed her mind when the first episode originally slated for September was postponed. Ha's agency Soft Land says Ha will study geomungo, dancing and even tightrope-walking starting this month, having said that she wants to do whatever she can herself instead of relying on a double. The drama depicts the life of Hwang Jin-I from her early years through when she became a famous gisaeng through the lens of a modern sensibility. Stories including her attempt to seduce great 16th century scholar Seo Gyeong-deok and their subsequent student-teacher relationship will be portrayed against beautiful scenic settings. The drama will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays in 30 episodes.
englishnews@chosun.com
Source: http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0607140030.html |
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Sunday, July 16, 2006
Forbidden love in 'One Fine Day'
If Romeo and Juliet had not been the son and daughter of mortal enemies, and if their families had given their blessing to these young lovers - Romeo might have found himself a prettier girl, and Juliet would possibly have tired of her shilly-shally lover anyway. Consequently, the love story that has endured through the centuries, simply wouldn't have happened.
As evidenced through many love stories in history, the rule remains the same: A forbidden love is always more powerful and naturally arouses more empathy.
MBC primetime drama "One Fine Day" follows this rule faithfully. Only this time, the scenario eclipses Romeo and Juliet - the tragic romance sprouts between brother and sister.
Geon (Gong Yoo) and Ha-neul (Sung Yu-ri), who are
reunited after losing touch with each other for 15 years,
come to realize that their mutual affection is something
more than that of a brother and a sister.
The two main characters of the drama - Geon (Gong Yoo) and Ha-neul (Sung Yu-ri) - are devoted siblings who lose touch with each other for 15 years. Although they are not blood-related, Geon and Ha-neul are legally siblings due to the marriage of their father and mother. After the death of their parents, the young Geon and Ha-neul are sent to an orphanage where they tearfully part with each other. Adopted by a new family, Ha-neul's hellish life begins with a mother who regards Ha-neul as her dead daughter and a brother who is obsessed with her.
Then one day, her "real" brother Geon comes back to get her, just as he had promised, and as she had imagined a million times in her dreams. But slowly, the two loving siblings begin to realize that their affection for each other is something more than that of a brother and a sister.
Watching them, viewers begin to fall into the trap again. As much as they want to deny it, this forbidden love is too tempting to ignore.
The love between "fake" siblings is one of the most frequently used tools in Korean TV dramas. Through the use of this effective tool, Song Hye-kyo and Song Seung-heon of "Autumn Fable," and Kim Ha-neul and Ko Soo of "Piano" had all drawn tears from millions of female fans.
Tragic, maybe, but unless female viewers all have a distorted vision of love, the romance between brother and sister should disgust them and not make them cry. So, why does this repeated tool always work so well with females?
First, there is a need to understand the Korean term "oppa." Literally meaning "big brother," the term is used by women for their big brothers or older boyfriends.
According to socialists, females only began to call their boyfriends oppa from the 1990s. Before the term became a frequent appellation, women called their boyfriends "jagi," meaning "honey" or "sweetie."
Although feminists are critical of the term due to the somewhat male-dependent implication, oppa well conveys a female fantasy about an elder brother to take care of them affectionately. By calling their boyfriends oppa, women hope for a dependable man who will become their big brother as well as a lover. Arousing men's masculine fantasy to protect women, the word gives pleasure to men also.
So naturally, a desperate romance with a big brother is always tempting for female viewers. At the same time, they are put at ease knowing that the hero and the heroine are not blood-related. And even if they were, this is only fiction so they can enjoy their fantasy on the screen, safely distanced from the reality of a social taboo.
But coming dangerously close to the territory of incest, the fascinating plot must be supported by a strong tool to purify and justify the romance.
So far, "One Fine Day" has been doing a good job at this part by shoring up the drama with episodes of the hero and the heroine's angelic childhood memories. Watching the naive children who had never imagined their future tragic romance, viewers are convinced that their love was "meant to be," and that Geon and Ha-neul are mere victims of ill fate.
"Love is as common as grains of sand on the beach. We wanted to add another corny and heart-rending love story to the list," the drama's director Shin Hyun-chang said.
True to his words, "One Fine Day" is enjoying a steady popularity among female viewers as the corniest love story ever.
But despite such merits - including actress Sung Yu-ri and actor Gong Yoo's evidently improved acting - the drama is showing signs of decline in popularity just a week before its ending.
The drama, which began with a fast tempo showing the tearful process of the two main characters' parting, reunion and growing feelings for each other, has begun to slow down with repeated misunderstandings and make-ups.
And with the focus too much on Ha-neul and Geon, other characters aren't very convincing. Without much explanation about the other characters, the two separate love triangles centering on Ha-neul and Geon seem almost ridiculous.
As witnessed in the past, many Korean dramas have lost fans near the end of the series due to the loosening plot and repetitive situations. In order to keep the female fans glued to the TV screen every Wednesday and Thursday night, "One Fine Day" must come up with convincing tools to decrease the ongoing tension between characters.
Many female viewers want this forbidden love to go on.
(hayney@heraldm.com)
By Shin Hae-in
2006.07.17
Source: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/htm...00607170013.asp |
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07-17-2006
'My Wife Is a Gangster 3' Takes New Direction With Hong Kong Actress
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Stars from "My Wife Is a Gangster" say that their film is totally different from the previous two films of the series during a news conference held in Namyangju, Kyonggi Province, Friday. From left are Cho Hee-bong, Shu Qi, Lee Bum-su, Hyun Young and Oh Ji-ho. /Reuters-Yonhap
NAMYANGJU, Kyonggi Province _ Local gangster comedy "My Wife Is a Gangster (Chopok Manura)" was a huge hit in 2001, drawing over 5 million moviegoers. But as goes with many sequels, the 2003 sequel was disappointing and commercially unsuccessful attracting less than 2 million viewers due to its cliched storyline and jokes that did not distinguish it much from the original.
So what are the makers of its third installment to do, but attempt to infuse something totally new in the upcoming film. The first obvious change is Shu Qi, popular actress from Hong Kong, well known for such films as "City of Glass" (1998), "The Transporter" (2002) and "Three Times" (2005).
Shu replaces South Korean actress Shin Eun-kyung who played the leading character of a housewife and a tough female boss of a gang. Shin starred as the gangster wife in the two previous serials.
"When I first read the scenario, I didn't feel too stressed as it was a totally new movie (compared to its previous films)," Shu Qi said during a news conference held at the Seoul Studio Complex in Namyangju, Kyonggi Province, where the film was being shot. "You will experience something very exciting in the film."
"Basically, as I can't speak Korean, my role in the film is totally different from Shin's roles," she answered laughing when asked about the differences between her and Shin抯 characters.
Directed by Cho Jin-kyu, "My Wife Is a Gangster 3" revolves around Aryong (played by Shu Qi), who flees to Seoul as her father抯 gang is engaged in a severe conflict with another gang in Hong Kong.
The scene she filmed that day involved Aryong having breakfast in an apartment with Korean gangsters whose mission was to act as her bodyguard, but they find themselves in an awkward situation, finding out another night that she is not just a pretty daughter of a boss of a Hong Kong-based gang but also is good at martial arts.
Director Cho, who made the original, said that the film will be like a comic action version of "Roman Holiday," and he avoided using typical formulas often used in the genre of a gangster comedy.
"Personally, I really like 'Roman Holiday.' This film will be like its comic action version," Cho said half-joking. "I'd like to avoid such scenes as gangsters |
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2006-07-12
"Spending my birthday with family due to the heavy rain," Lee Byeong Heon's 36th birthday
Actor Lee Byeong Heon is spending his 36th birthday on the 12th with his family.
Lee Byeong Heon initially had a movie filming scheduled on his birthday but was canceled due to the rain. He decided to have a birthday party with his mother, younger sister, uncle, and other family members at his house located in the city of Kwang Ju of Gyeonggi Province.
Personnel of Fantom Entertainment, the management company of Lee Byeong Heon, said, "Lee Byeong Heon was disappointed he could not attend the birthday party his fans prepared on the 9th. He also had schedules for filming on the 12th but was canceled due to the rain so he decided to spend his birthday with his family."
Meanwhile, it is said that Lee Byeong Heon received presents on the 9th from fans in and out of the country. Approximately 200 fans that gathered to celebrate his birthday gave him presents such as a beam projects, home theatre system, and a jazz bass guitar.
Lee Byeong Heon was not able to attend because of the filming of 'Yeoreum Iyagi (Summer Story)' (Produced by KM Culture, Directed by Jo Geun Shik) but delivered a video message showing his appreciation and thankfulness to his fans.
Lee Byeong Heon plays the professor Yoon Seok Yeong who sets out to seek his first love Seo Jeong In (played by Soo Ae). Approximately 40% of the movie has been filmed.
The movie 'Yeoreum Iyagi (Summer Story)' has already been contracted with the Japanese distribution company 'Espio' at 4 million USD marking a smooth start.
[Copyright © 2006 Goodday News/Goodday E&I Inc. All rights reserved.]
Source: www.broasia.com, thanks to serendipity at Timeless LBH for the highlight. |
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Jul 18, 2006
Lee Byung-heon Falls Victim to Malicious Rumors in Japan
Actor Lee Byung-heon has recently fallen victim to malicious rumors about Korean stars in Japan. The popular Japanese weekly for women Josei Seven wrote on June 21 that Lee was secretly dating a Japanese woman and traveling with her from Seoul to Taiwan.
In the article entitled "Another Summer Story," named after the movie "Summer Story" which Lee is currently filming, the magazine wrote that the actor met his "girlfriend," a 30-year-old former flight attendant, months ago at a party in Tokyo and that the woman was slender and had long hair. The magazine added that since meeting her, Lee has refused to have blind dates with other women.
In response, Lee's agency, Fantom Entertainment, dismissed the article on July 18 as completely groundless and vowed legal action against the magazine.
The agency added that the article's description of Lee's dating was "astounding" and that it would have ignored it altogether had it not been for numerous inquires from Japan asking if the rumor was true.
The agency's CEO, Song Wan-mo, said that the Japanese media have been publishing many malicious articles about South Korean stars recently, and that he will not condone the incident involving Lee in order to send a strong warning message to Japanese journalists.
Regarding the negative attitude in Japan toward Korean celebrities recently, Song said Korean actors and singers need to take stern measures against "evil acts" in Japan and manage their reputation thoroughly to ensure sustained popularity in the neighboring country.
Source: http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...6337_11858.html
[ Last edited by katt at 18-7-2006 03:33 PM ] |
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July 18, 2006 19:27 KST
Korean Wave Star Takes Love Affair Rumor to Court
Korean Wave star Lee Byung-hun has decided to take legal steps over rumors of a love affair reported by a Japanese magazine. The star's agency Fantom Entertainment is up in arms over a report in the women's magazine Josei Seven that says the actor was seen with a 30-something Japanese woman and the two went on a romantic trip to Seoul and Taiwan.
The magazine, picking up on Lee's next movie "A Summer Story," titled the report "Another Summer Story." It said the woman the actor is seeing used to be a flight attendant, and the two met at a party in Tokyo a few months ago.
Fantom says the report is "100 percent fictitious." The agency put up a notice at Lee Byung-hun's Japanese homepage and immediately hired a Japanese lawyer after reading the report. "At first our plan was to ignore it and move on, but after the magazine came out, we received a lot of inquiries from Japan, so we decided it wasn't an issue we could just leave alone," a staffer said. "It is unfortunate that there have been attempts to tarnish the image of a Korean Wave star using reports that bear no relation whatsoever to the truth."
The Korean entertainment industry is anxious over negative publicity in the Japanese press, citing recent gossipy articles about Choi Ji-woo's alleged bad behavior on set. The pieces alleged that Choi declared the set of the TBS soap opera "Rondo" a smoke-free zone and claimed the mood throughout shooting was unpleasant thanks to the actress. TBS issued a lengthy statement denying the claims.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
Source: http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 7/200607180011.html |
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Shin Seung-hun to Return with 10th Album in October
2006-07-19
Singer Shin Seung-hun will return to Korean fans with his 10th album scheduled to be
released on Oct. 9, some three years after he released his ninth album in February
2004. He is also planning to hold a concert that will serve as a showcase at Jamsil
Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 14 and 15.
Having devoted himself to working in Japan during a stint away from Korea, the "king
of ballads" will try his best to entertain Korean fans in the second half of this year. In
Japan, he will release a single album before the end of the year and his second
feature album next February.
Shin is now shutting himself up at home to write songs for his new album. As a
singer-songwriter, he has composed all the songs for all his albums. 揑 have
completed 14 songs now. Due to the recent rain, I wrote many slow-tempo pieces.
But now I am trying to write some upbeat pieces, |
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Author
Post time 10-7-2006 01:31 PM
