[KFILM] REMAKE OF JOHN WOO’S ACTION CLASSIC UNVEILED
When the Korean remake of John Woo’s seminal, genre-defining shoot’em up, “A Better Tomorrow” rolls out in multiplexes all over Korea during next month’s Chuseok holiday, don’t expect a faithful update.
Song Hye-sung, director of such searing melodramas as the critically acclaimed “Failan” and “Rikidozan,” says that the focus of his version was the dramatic portrayal of loyalty, family, friendship, and the always popular theme of male bonding.
“When I decided to get on board the project, I watched the original film again and although it was still the exhilarating action picture it was when I first saw it as a university student in the ‘80s, there was something lacking and that was drama,” Song said during the film’s official unveiling on Wednesday in Seoul.
“So I decided that would be the driving force of our remake because I would like audiences to expect our film to be not just an action film but a dramatic film.”
Song quickly added “people are talking about the film as if it’s going to be this big action spectacular but what they will get is a strong dramatic film that also happens to have action. The action is just an incentive. The drama in the film is the driving force. The scenes not involving gunfire aren’t an intermission in between action sequences.”
The remake stars Joo Jin-mo, Song Seung-hun, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Han-sun with a plot that, for the most part, retains the basic framework of John Woo’s 1986 original, according to the film’s producers.
Like the original, the main focus of the story involves the contemptuous relationship between two brothers ― on the opposite sides of the law.
Kim Hyeok (Joo) is an illegal weapons dealer, while his brother, Cheol (Kim), is a rookie detective assigned to take his brother’s operation down. Both share a tragic past as defectors from the North.
Meanwhile, Song Seung-hun has the unenviable task of taking on the role that Chow Yun-fat made famous. He plays Lee Young-choon, the hot-headed life-long friend of Hyeok who ends up penniless after being betrayed by a fellow crime syndicate member in Jung Tae-min (Jo).
According to director Song, it was three years ago that producers first approached him with the prospect of remaking the film that made international stars out of Chow Yun-fat and the late Leslie Cheung.
It was a tall order for Song to take on as he had never helmed an action picture before. So at first, the notion of taking the project seemed a little too tall.
“At the time I flat out refused,” Song said.
“A large part of my refusal to get on board was because the original was such an iconic film that defined a specific era. At the same time, however, the gravity of the project pulled me in and I thought even if I got blasted by fans of the original, I thought I could do it justice if it was done right.”
The film’s four leading men, too, felt the weight of pressure on their shoulders in following some tough acts.
On stepping into the shoes of veteran Hong Kong actor Ti Lung’s role for the remake, Joo Jin-mo said he was a fan of John Woo’s original as a teenager but avoided seeing it again when he agreed to star in the film.
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| Kim Kang-woo (from left), Song Seung-hun, Joo Jin-mo, and Jo Han-sun pose for photographers during the official unveiling of their new film “Invincible,” a remake of John Woo’s 1986 action classic “A Better Tomorrow.” |
“I stayed away from watching it before shooting began because I was fearful that if I did revisit the film, I would end up emulating the performance from the original,” Joo said.
“My character in this reboot is a complete overhaul and a reinterpretation. I’d like to watch the original now that we’re done filming and compare.”
Kim Gang-woo, who plays the role the late Cantonese pop star and actor Leslie Cheung played echoed Joo’s sentiments of describing the Korean remake as more of a reboot than a remake.
“The weight of pressure to deliver a film on par with such a famous film was lifted when we saw the final cut,” Kim said.
“The characters in our version carry added dimensions that are revealed in layers that show various emotions at play which was lacking in the original. Because of that, we were able to gain even more confidence that we made a good film.”
With the release of the original, the film’s director John Woo pioneered a new form of stylized action.
It was chock full of meticulously choreographed, operatic gunplay that thrilled audiences like never before.
It featured Hong Kong soap opera star Chow Yun-fat, virtually unknown in the West, brandishing a pair of guns clad in a sleek black Armani trench coat, rocking Ray-Ban aviator shades, topped with a toothpick in mouth.
The image he created instantly shot the lanky leading man into superstardom, becoming the iconic figurehead of the fabled golden-era of Hong Kong action cinema in the 1980s.
The Korean production, made with a modest budget of 10 billion won ($8.4 million), was filmed in China, Thailand, and Japan with Busan as the film’s main setting.
Joo and Song later spoke of the difficulties they experienced shooting key action sequences.
“The most difficult time I had while shooting was on location in Thailand for a scene which required me to run through a puddle of water that seemed like it had been there for about 100 years,” Joo joked.
“We ended up shooting that scene longer than everyone had anticipated and by the end of the day I had to be treated for a skin infection from being exposed to that puddle. The staff also got infected and had to be treated.”
For Song, it was negotiating a jump from a three-story building, landing on top of a car, and rolling off onto the jagged asphalt that was the most difficult.
“Our stunt coordinator asked if I wanted to have a go at it but I was quite fearful of doing it myself. I really wanted my stunt double to do it for me,” Song said.
“But when I turned to director Song for approval of my decision, he was quite adamant that I needed to do it myself.”
credit: Song Woong-ki (kws@heraldm.com)
[HALLYU] PARK YONG-HA LAID TO REST
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Singer and actor Park Yong-ha has been laid to rest at a private funeral attended by close family and friends.
The remains of the late star, who was cremated around noon on Friday, arrived at Bundang Memorial Park in Gyeonggi Province located south of Korea’s capital of Seoul.
Actor So Ji-sub, carrying Park’s portrait in his hands, led a procession of family and friends toward the burial site where song “STARS,” from Park’s last album, was being played in the background for the Buddhist ceremony.
Park’s parents were not present for the service however — Park’s father, diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer and his mother, who had previously lost consciousness over the shock of losing her son, had attended Park’s coffin rites yesterday in wheelchairs.
Among the mourners were many of Park’s celebrity friends including Park Hyo-shin, Kim Won-joon, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Min-jung and Kim Moo-yeol.
Actress Park Si-yeon, who had starred in Park Hyo-shin’s music video with the late Park, sobbed out loud crouched down, unable to contain the grief of losing her close friend.
Ryu Si-won, who arrived at the cemetery just as the service was wrapping up, also shed tears as he bid farewell to Park whom he had described as being “like a younger brother.”
Ryu had been set to stay in Japan till next week to take part in concerts and racing competitions but he pushed back the events and flew into Korea today morning.
“We trust that Park Yong-ha will always shine by our side… We will no longer be able to see him but we promise we will always stand by you and love you for a long time,” an official at Park’s agency said.
Numerous Korean celebrities had paid a visit to Park’s wake service for the past two days including Lee Byung-hun, Bae Yong-joon, Choi Ji-woo, Kim Ha-neul, Kim Bum, Yoon Eun-hye, CNBLUE, Eugene, Gummy, Kangta, Kim Jin-pyo, Lyn, Psy, Song Seung-heon and U-Know Yunho.
So Ji-sub was present throughout the three-day wake service and up until the burial ceremony, often seen sobbing over the sudden and unexpected loss of his best friend.
Best known for his role in Asia as Sang-hyuk in the smash hit TV series “Winter Sonata” (KBS2, 2002), Park had led an active acting career in Korea since his debut in 2004, last starring in drama “The Slingshot” and film “The Scam” last year.
He had also branched out to singing, which was particularly successful in Japan. He won an award at Japan’s Golden Disk Award for four years straight starting in 2005, making him the first Korean to win and award at the event and the first to win four times in a row.
His music career in Japan continued to flourish even after he set up his own agency YONA Entertainment in 2008 — his fifth full-length album “STARS” released in June this year reached No. 16 on the prestigious Oricon weekly chart.
He had kicked off a three-month long 16-city tour on June 19 to promote “STARS” when during a brief visit to Korea to check up on his ailing father, Park committed suicide by hanging himself from the cord of his camcorder charger early on Wednesday. His mother found him dead in his apartment around 5:30 a.m.
Sources close to Park said he recently had been having a very hard time juggling his career, his company and family problems.
Although many suspected that Park had been suffering from depression and severe stress, local police ruled his death as “a suicide taken on impulse” after drinking the previous night and claimed there were no emotional or financial issues involved.
credit: asiae.co.kr
[HALLYU] PARK YONG-HA COMMITTED SUICIDE
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Police have officially announced suicide is the cause of singer and actor Park Yong-ha’s death. Park was 32.
Chief investigator Kwak Jeong-hee at Gangnam Police Station gave a briefing on Wednesday afternoon, declaring that Park died of suffocation early in the day after hanging himself from the cord of his camcorder’s charger that he had hung to the top of his bedpost.
Kwak however, dismissed reports claiming that Park took his life from depression or problems he had related to taking sleeping pills for 14 years. “We were able to confirm that he had recently taken some pills although we do not know if it was after he got home last night. Nevertheless, it is unrelated to the cause of his death,” Kwak explained.
Police were also unable to find any indications of financial or health related issues nor discover a memorandum on his recent thoughts or a suicide note.
However, for the past few days Park had confessed to his acquaintances that “both work and life are tough,” asking to talk again after he had organized his thoughts.
Also, upon arriving at home past midnight after yesterday after drinking, Park had apologized to his father, close to tears, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I should be the one in pain, not you.” Park’s father has been diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer and Park, a devoted son, was in agony over his father’s illness.
Kwak added that the actor had taken sleeping pills on several occasions after finding difficulty in falling asleep from having to juggle his business as the CEO of his own agency YONA Entertainment, creating new businesses and pursuing his singing and acting career.
“Based on the testimonies, we are assuming that Park committed suicide on impulse after drinking from stress over his father’s illness, his business and entertainment career,” Kwak stated.
Park was discovered by his mother at 5:30 a.m. at his house today after he had taken his life. Police presume Park died around 3:00 a.m.
Park, who debuted as an actor in 1994, gained popularity throughout Asia after appearing in “Winter Sonata”, a drama that first started the Hallyu craze, alongside top actors Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo.
He also led a successful singing career in Japan where he placed several albums within the top 10 ranks of the Oricon charts and won four consecutive Japan Gold Disc Awards.
Most recently, he had been set to star in the small screen adaptation of legendary Hong Kong pic “Comrades, Almost a Love Story,” across actress Yoon Eun-hye.
He was on a brief visit to Korea this week while on a three-month long 16-city tour in Japan starting last week.
Below are excerpts from the Q&A session of the police briefing.
Q: Had he drank a lot when he took his life?
A: He was under the influence of alcohol when he returned home after midnight on the night of his death. According to his father, he did not drink a lot but a little.
Q: Did you carry out an autopsy?
A: The family of the deceased do not want one. This means that they too do not have any questions over the cause of his death.
Q: Why did his mother open the door to his room at such an early hour?
A: His mother goes to sleep early and Park often went home late. So it is his mother’s habit to open the door to her son’s room early. She had opened the door early today too.
Q: Was he under a lot of stress over his father’s illness?
A: Investigation showed that Park treated his parents well and was the type who is affectionate. He had told his acquaintances many times that he is extremely distressed about the process of his father’s fight against the disease.
Q: He was said to have taken sleeping pills over an extended period of time.
A: It was never stated that he took them for an extended period. It has not been confirmed whether he took sleeping pills on May 30 but he did take a few recently. But it has nothing to do with the cause of his death. The cause of his death is suffocation.
Q: Did he not have any financial issues?
A: We do not investigate into one’s financial standing when dealing with a death.
Q: Are you sure there was no will?
A: We looked at the notebooks and belongings in his room but we could not find anything which could be considered a will.
Q: Was he suffering from depression?
A: There was no indication either that he had health issues or was suffering from depression.
Q: What about love issues?
A: Nobody has said he had such issues.
Q: Has the case been closed?
A: We handed over the case to prosecutors regarding his body we did not carry out an autopsy on. We have also handed over the body to the family of the bereaved and the case has been closed.
Q: Did you investigate into his phone call records?
A: We got hold of his mobile phone but he had deleted records of his calls. I think he did it himself. The text messages were still there.
Q: Why did he come to Korea when he’s on tour?
A: He visited because of his father’s illness.
Reporter : Ko Jae-wan star@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>
[TVXQ] HERO JAEJOONG IN SHOCK OVER PARK YONG-HA’S DEATH
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Hero Jaejoong is said to be in shock after hearing about the suicide of actor Park Yong-ha.
Multiple media sources reported that TVXQ member Hero Jaejoong, who is currently in the United States, was in distress since he had talked on the phone with Park just the day before his death.
“Jaejoong and Park had a special relationship — something beyond the typical friendship. We know that they had a telephone conversation on June 29th,” a source close to Hero Jaejoong said, although adding he was not sure what they talked about.
Jaejoong, currently in the United States to work on his new global album, will be unable to visit the hospital in time.
Park was found hanging himself from the cord of his camcorder charger at 5:30 a.m. in his house. His body has been placed at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital.
credit: asiae.co.kr
[HALLYU] KIM HA-NEUL TO CANCEL JAPAN SKED FOR YONG-HA’S DEATH
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Korean actress Kim Ha-neul, who has been in Japan since last weekend, will be rushing back to Korea upon hearing of actor Park Yong-ha’s sudden death earlier this morning.
The actress, who held a sold-out fan meeting in Japan over the weekend, had other schedules planned for the week.
“She decided to cancel the rest of her plans in Japan and rush back,” an official at agency J. One Plus Entertainment told Asia Economic Daily over the phone on Wednesday.
“She was so shocked that she could not say anything. I think his death is harder for her to accept because Park Yong-ha was a bright and cheerful person,” the official added.
Kim and Park had starred together in the hit TV series “On Air” (SBS, 2008).
The official added that many fellow actors, including So Ji-sub, are heartbroken over the news of Park, who was found dead in his apartment around 5:30 a.m. He had hanged himself on the cord of his camcorder charger.
Kim will be arriving in Seoul later this afternoon.
Reporter : Park So-yoen muse@
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@
[HALLYU] WINTER SONATA ACTOR PARK YONG-HA FOUND DEAD
Park Yong-ha, a Korean actor and singer, was found dead at his home in Seoul early Wednesday morning in what appeared to be a suicide, police said.
Park’s body was found at his home in Nonhyun-dong, southern Seoul, at around 5:30 a.m. by his mother, police said, noting that he appeared to have hanged himself. No suicide note has been found.
According to his family, Park said “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” last night after massaging his father, who is terminally ill with stomach cancer.
His family and acquaintances said Park had been severely distressed by his father’s disease.
The 33-year-old actor and singer, who debuted in 1997, is widely known across Asia for his role in the 2002 hit drama series “Winter Sonata,” and has also released song albums.
Last month, Park was cast as the leading role for a Korean television drama, which is a remake of the popular 1996 Hong Kong film, “Comrades,
Almost a Love Story.” The shooting was set to begin in July. [Yonhap]
credit: Joongangdaily.com
[HALLYU] KIM HA-NEUL HEATS UP JAPAN FANMEET
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Hallyu star Kim Ha-neul has successfully wrapped up her first-ever solo fan meeting in Japan over the weekend, according to her agency J. One Plus Entertainment on Wednesday.
J. One Plus explained in a press release that the actress held a fan event titled “Kim Ha-neul’s Love Letter,” which was hosted by Yamaha A&R and held at Tokyo’s Ginza Yamaha Hall on June 26. Tickets for the event are said to have sold out in 15 minutes after going on sale on the Internet last month.
“Entertainment industry officials in Japan have completely fallen for Kim Ha-neul’s chameleon-like charms,” an official at J. One Plus was quoted as saying. “We believe she will be easily loved in the Japanese market and we will carefully look over all the offers we receive.”
The actress, who flew into Japan Haneda Airport last Friday, was mobbed by hundreds of fans who showed up at the airport and conducted exclusive interviews with seven local media outlets including Asahi TV.
The following day, before the fan meeting, Kim held a press conference which was attended by some 100 major media outlets.
During the fan meeting, Kim told the host she “was so nervous that [she] could not get any sleep” the previous night. She entertained fans with details about her family, her debut years and anecdotes from shooting “My Girlfriend Is An Agent,” “On Air,” and “Road No.1.”
She also performed two songs, “First Love” by Korean singer Lee So-ra and “Goodbye Day” by Japanese singer Yui, and handed out logo-imprinted umbrellas, hats and badges to fans as a gift.
Unlike most promotional events of male Hallyu stars which are usually attended by middle-aged women, Kim’s fan meeting attracted many women in their twenties and male fans as well.
Kim, 32, has enjoyed steady popularity in Korea since her debut in 1996. She has starred in numerous hit TV dramas and movies, including SBS TV series “On Air” last year and hit film “My Tutor Friend” in 2003 with fellow Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo.
Her most recent comedy action pic “My Girlfriend is an Agent”, co-starring actor Kang Ji-hwan, placed her onto stardom throughout several countries in Asia including Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong.
She currently stars in MBC’s war drama “Road No.1″ alongside actors So Ji-sub and Yoon Kye-sang.
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credit: asiae.co.kr
[HALLYU] HAN HYO-JOO THANKS FANS FOR GIFTS
Han Hyo-joo‘s fans sent her gifts, because they were worried about her health.
They sent bug bite medicine, snacks, and red ginseng.
She thanked her fans and told them to be careful of the hot weather.
Han looks so cute in her pictures!
Source : news.nate.com/view/20… ( Korean )
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[HALLYU] KIM NAM-GIL RECEIVES MILITARY DRAFT NOTICE FOR JULY 15
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Korean actor Kim Nam-gil, who is currently starring in SBS TV series “Bad Boy,” has been notified to enlist in the army by July 15, as part of fulfilling the country’s mandatory two-year military service.
“It is true that Kim Nam-gil received a draft notice for July 15,” an official at the show’s production company Good Story said in a phone call with Asia Economic Daily on Tuesday. “But he is in the middle of shooting the drama… We cannot say that he will be going to the military on July 15 no matter what.”
The official further explained that broadcaster SBS and Good Story are trying to delay his military entrance date until the shooting for “Bad Boy” wraps up.
The 20-episode Wednesday/Thursday evening drama, which premiered on May 26, is scheduled to run until the last week of July.
Recently, actor Lee Jun-ki tried to defer his military entrance date as well, in order to finish up shooting for film “Grand Prix” and upcoming blockbuster TV series “Faith.” He eventually pulled out from both projects when he was unable to do so and entered the army on May 3.
Kim, 29, made his debut in 2003 and has appeared in notable dramas such as “Be Strong Geum Soon” (MBC, 2005), “Goodbye Solo” (KBS2, 2006) and “Lovers” (SBS, 2006).
He became a household name last year playing the role of Bidam in MBC’s historical drama “Queen Seon-deok” alongside top Korean actress Ko Hyun-jung.
source: asiae.co.kr
[HALLYU] KU HYE-SUN TO SHOOT FOR A TV SERIES “THE MUSICAL”
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Korean actors Ku Hye-sun, Choi Daniel and Ock Ju-hyun have left for Broadway to start shooting upcoming TV series “The Musical.”
They will be filming their location shoots in Broadway of New York, which will show how the three characters first meet each other in the city.
Ku, who plays the role a medical student dreaming of becoming a musical actor, will be making her much-awaited comeback to the small screen since starring in last year’s smash hit TV series “Boys Over Flowers.”
Choi, who rose to stardom after appearing in the popular sitcom “High Kick Through The Roof” (MBC, 2009-2010) has been cast as a genius composer while singer and actor Ock will portray a diva in the musical world named Bae Gang-hee.
“Musical,” a story about the passion and romance among the producers, songwriters and actors in a musical production, will shed light on the world of musicals.
The show will be written by noted writer Kim Hee-jae who penned the hit films “Silmido” and “Another Public Enemy.”
Reporter : Ko Jae-wan star@
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>
[HALLYU] YOON EUN-HYE TO STAR IN A TV REMAKE MOVIE
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Korean actress Yoon Eun-hye has been chosen as the female lead of a Korean remake of the popular Hong Kong movie “Comrades, Almost a Love Story,” according to the show’s producer Verdi Media on Monday.
Yoon will be playing the role of Yoo Chae-hwa, a Korean residing in China, in the remake tentatively titled “Love Song” alongside Korean actor Park Yong-ha, an official at Verdi announced through a press release.
The official added that the actress’ return to the small screen is already creating buzz not just domestically but also internationally — Verdi has been receiving inquiries regarding the publication rights for “Love Song” since all of Yoon’s previous works had been received favorably in Japan and other countries overseas.
“Comrades,” starring top Hong Kong actors Maggie Cheung and Leon Lei, was the top-grossing foreign film in Korea when it released in 1997. The movie is an epic love story between two Chinese mainlanders who meet and fall in love in Hong Kong.
The remake is set to begin shooting in late July and scheduled to hit the small screen at the end of the year.
Yoon Eun-hye made her debut as a member in the girl group Baby VOX in 1997. She has appeared in numerous variety shows and entertainment programs after leaving the group in 2005.
She rose to stardom after starring in the smash hit TV series “Coffee Prince” and in “My Fair Lady.”
She is currently helping out children in Africa as a part of a UNICEF campaign titled “Never Alone” with SS501 member Kim Hyun-joong.
source: asiae.co.kr
[HALLYU] JANG GEUN-SUK HOLDS JAPAN FANMEET WITH PARK SHIN-HYE
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Korean actors Jang Keun-suk and Park Shin-hye, who starred in the hit TV series “Minamishineyo,” held a sold-out fan meeting in Japan over the weekend, according to the show’s PR manager Man Insight.
The two actors met with some 4,000 Japanese fans at the fan meeting, held at Tokyo’s C.C Lemon Hall on June 26, Man Insight said in a press release.
The fan event, held twice at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., was organized by major Japanese entertainment agency AVEX. Tickets for the two shows reportedly sold out in five minutes.
“‘Minamishineyo’ is very popular among young fans in Japan,” an executive at AVEX was quoted as saying. “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there hasn’t been a Hallyu drama that has caused this much craze in several years.”
The series, which was first introduced in Japan through Hallyu-exclusive cable channel KNTV, will air on Fuji TV as part of the “Hallyu Alpha Summer Festival” starting July 20.
Jang, 23, has appeared in several notable television dramas and films including “Beethoven Virus” (MBC, 2008) and “The Case of Itaewon Homicide” (2009).
He became a phenomenon in Korea and throughout Asia after starring in the hit TV series “Minamishineyo” (SBS, 2009), in which he portrayed an eccentric lead singer of idol group A.N.JELL.
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source: asiae.co.kr
[100624/HALLYU] LEE JUN-KI TO STAR IN A MUSICAL
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Korean actor Lee Jun-ki, who is currently serving in the military, has been cast in an upcoming musical production tentatively titled “Voyage of Life,” according to a press release by the show’s PR manager on Thursday.
“Life,” co-produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theatre Association, is a special production commemorating the Korean War.
Cast members include current military officers and several Korean actors serving in the army including Lee, Joo Ji-hoon and Kim Da-hyun.
The story was inspired by two real-life incidents that occurred during the Korean War — the Jangjin battle, considered one of the most horrific defeats during the War, and Heungnam Evacuation Operation, where 14,000 refugees were rescued by a cargo ship.
“Life” will be helmed by noted musical director Kwon Ho-sung with legendary musical producer Yun Ho-jin as chief executive director.
Lee Jun-ki, who shot to fame after starring in the 2005 hit film “The King and the Clown,” entered the military on May 3 after he was notified by the government to report to the military.
At the time, he tried to defer his entrance date in order to finish up shooting for film “Grand Prix” and upcoming blockbuster TV series “Faith,” but eventually pulled out from both projects when he was unable to do so.
He has been serving his mandatory two-year military duties at Korea’s Defense Media Agency.
“Life” will run at the National Theater of Korea from August 21 to August 29.
source: asiae.co.kr
[100624/HALLYU] JANG GEUN-SUK OFFERS STAR POWER FOR KOREA’S TOURISM
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Hallyu star Jang Keun-suk will be offering his star power to help promote Korea’s tourism as a celebrity supporter for the “2010-2012 Visit Korea” campaign, according to his agency Tree J. Company on Thursday.
Tree J. explained in a press release that the actor, who attended the “Inspiring Night in Korea” event organized by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), was one of the five people who were selected for the campaign and received a pendant from Korea’s First Lady Kim Yoon-ok at the ceremony.
Earlier this year, Jang was also appointed by KTO as the publicity ambassador for the city of Seoul.
“After I became the publicity ambassador for Seoul, I showed video footage of the beautiful city to my overseas fans during my Asian tour,” the actor was quoted as saying. “Now I think I need to promote various places in Korea, not just Seoul.”
Jang, 23, has appeared in several notable television dramas and films including “Beethoven Virus” (MBC, 2008) and “The Case of Itaewon Homicide” (2009).
He became a phenomenon in Korea and throughout Asia after starring in the hit TV series “Minamishineyo” (SBS, 2009), in which he portrayed an eccentric lead singer of idol group A.N.JELL.
The “Inspiring Night in Korea” event, which took place at Seoul’s Changdeok Palace, was attended by some 1,000 people including veteran actor Yoo In-chon, who is now Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and top Korean actress Choi Ji-woo, who promotes KTO’s “Smile Campaign.”
source: asiae.co.kr
[100624/HALLYU] LEE DA-HAE TO MAKE BIG SCREEN DEBUT
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Korean actress Lee Da-hae will be making her big screen debut in an upcoming historical movie, according to the movie’s producer Sang Sang Entertainment on Thursday.
A press release from Sang Sang announced that Lee will play the female lead named Ara in the film “Song of Springs,” based on the novel of the same name written by novelist Kim Hoon, opposite Lee Sung-jae and Ahn Sung-ki.
“Springs” will be helmed by famed director Joo Kyeong-joong, who won best director at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for “A Little Monk.”
“Springs” has already been sold to Japan and China after garnering attention for Japanese producer Satoru Iseki taking part in the overseas distribution and marketing for the film.
Lee has appeared in several dramas since her debut in 2001. Her most notable works include her role in “Lotus Flower Fairy” and rose to stardom in Korea and throughout Asia with “My Girl.”
She recently played the lead female role alongside Korean actors Jang Hyuk and Oh Ji-ho in the hit KBS historical drama “The Slave Hunters” which recorded viewership ratings in the high 30 percent range.
Filming for “Song of Springs” will begin in the summer and the premiere date has been set for around the summer of next year.
source: asiae.co.kr
[100623/HALLYU] LEE BYUNG-HUN TO APPEAR ON ABC’S “GOOD MORNING, AMERICA.”
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Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” one of the most popular programs broadcast on the American public network, according to the actor’s agency BH Entertainment on Wednesday.
BH announced in a press release that Lee will represent Korea as a cultural figure on the morning show featuring a special segment commemorating the 60-year anniversary of the Korean War titled “Long War,” set to air at the end of this month.
The special will focus on the developments and changes that has occured in the country since the war as well as featuring interviews with leading figures in the country including Korean President Lee Myung-bak, C.E.O of Doosan Park Yong-mann and actor Lee Byung-hun.
ABC interviewed Lee Byung-hun on his success in Korea as well as his venture into Hollywood — he made his debut in the U.S. film industry through action flick “G.I. Joe” last year.
Considered one of the most successful actors in Korea, Lee has numerous dramas and films under his belt.
He recently finished shooting the upcoming thriller “I Saw The Devil” alongside Korean actor Choi Min-sik.
“Devil” is about a secret agent (played by Lee) plotting revenge against a serial killer (Choi) who killed his fiancee. It is scheduled for release in Korea this summer.
source: asiae.co.kr
[100622/HALLYU] HAN CHAE-YOUNG MEETS WITH HOLLYWOOD AGENCIES
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Korean actress Han Chae-young appears to be eyeing for a Hollywood debut, recently meeting with several major Hollywood agencies including CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and William Morris, according to her agency BH Entertainment on Tuesday.
An executive at BH told 10Asia over the phone that the actress, who left for the U.S. earlier this month, had meetings with several agents and producers who had shown interest in the star.
The executive explained that the meetings were “not auditions,” as reported by other media outlets, and that they are currently waiting for results from the meetings. Specific projects will be discussed if and after Han and one of the agencies decide to sign a contract.
Born Kim Ji-young, the 29-year-old actress grew up in the suburb of Chicago and speaks fluent English. She was reportedly discovered by a famed Korean comedian during her visit to Korea and put her college plans on hold when he suggested that she try acting.
She made her acting debut in 2000 through horror film “The Record” and shot to stardom throughout Asia with the success of TV series “Delightful Girl Choon-hyang” (KBS2, 2005).
Last year, she made a special guest appearance in the smash hit drama “Boys Over Flowers” (KBS2, 2009) and starred in the film “Good Morning President” alongside top Korean actor Jang Dong-gun.
Han was planning to make her international debut with the film “Soulmate,” which was to be co-produced by Korea and New Zealand production companies, until the shootings reportedly got cancelled.
An increasing number of Korean stars have attempted to break into to the U.S. entertainment market over the past few years including actors Lee Byung-hun and Rain who both starred in Hollywood films last year.
Female pop group Wonder Girls also started promoting themselves in the U.S. since last summer and even placed their debut single “Nobody” on the Billboard Hot100 chart. They are currently carrying out a 27-city tour across the country.
source: asiae.co.kr
[100622/HALLYU] JANG GEUN-SUK ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF HK FANS
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Korean actor Jang Keun-suk proved to be a major Hallyu force as he attracted thousands of fans to his Hong Kong fan meeting over the weekend, according to his agency Tree J. Company on Tuesday.
The actor, who has been visiting various Asian countries since March, met with some 2,000 fans at his fifth fan meeting titled “2010 JANG KEUN SUK Asia Tour in Hong Kong” on June 20, explained Tree J. in a press release.
News of Jang’s arrival on June 17 brought out swarms of fans and reporters to the Hong Kong International Airport, prompting the local police to escort the Korean star out to the car.
The actor attended a press conference on Friday, answering questions in English and Chinese and performing the song “What Should I Do” at the request of reporters, and met with some 2,000 screaming fans at an autograph signing session the following day.
The two-hour fan meeting, held Sunday at Hi Tec Star Hall in Kowloon, Hong Kong, opened with a deejaying session and featured a Q&A time with fans as well as a True/False quiz show.
“This may be hard to believe but I am deeply moved every time I meet fans from far away through fan meetings,” the actor was quoted as saying. “I was very surprised at the autograph signing because I didn’t think that many people would show up to see me for just a short time. I am very sorry that I can’t come more often, but I think I made fun memories during my Hong Kong visit.”
Jang, 23, has appeared in several notable television dramas and films including “Beethoven Virus” (MBC, 2008) and “The Case of Itaewon Homicide” (2009).
He became a phenomenon in Korea and throughout Asia after starring in the hit TV series “Minamishineyo” (SBS, 2009), in which he portrayed an eccentric lead singer of idol group A.N.JELL.
Jang will be taking part in the club festival “South Africa in LOUNGE H,” which he organized, at Seoul’s Walkerhill Hotel Gayageum Hall later tonight. He will be cheering on the 2010 World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Nigeria, which airs in Korea early tomorrow morning.
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source: asiae.co.kr
[100621/HALLYU] KIM HA-NEUL IN A ONCE-IN-A-DECADE DRAMA
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The prospect of having to wear shabby clothes and a grubby face in upcoming war drama “Road No. 1″ did little to daunt actress Kim Ha-neul who thinks its script is one that comes along “once-in-a-decade.”
The 32-year-old actress made the remark during a press conference held at Sangmyung University in Seoul on Friday as she responded to reporters’ questions about how she decided to take on a role in the 20-part TV series set in times of the Korean War.
“I had strong belief in the director and upon reading all 20 episodes of the show, I could see how solid it was, to the extent that I wondered whether I would get to see such a script in the next 10 years,” Kim said.
“I knew I would be wearing less make-up but I was also attracted to the character because of what a strong and confident woman she is…… I figured I could look much more beautiful if I did a good job of portraying her character,” Kim explained.
In the series, Kim plays Soo-yeon, an aspiring doctor studying to enter medical school. She starts treating wounded soldiers with the breakout of the war.
Kim is joined by Hallyu star So Ji-sub for the role of Jang-woo, her life-long lover who is believed to be dead after fighting with a punitive force to make money to support Soo-yeon’s dream, returns alive.
Former boy band G.O.D member-turned-actor Yoon Kye-sang plays Tae-ho, an elite general who steps into Soo-yeon’s life as she recovers from the pain of losing her past lover.
The series has been garnering much hype ahead of its airing on June 23 due to its star-studded cast and blockbuster scale — it was produced on a 13 billion won budget over six months after three years of planning.
It was also sold to major Japanese media group Hakuhodo Media Partners, according to its producer Logos Films in mid-April, although they had finished shooting only 60 percent of filming was complete.
Directors Lee Jang-soo, of drama “Stairway to Heaven” fame, teamed with Kim Jin-min to film “Road No. 1.”
Logos is set on selling the show to other regions throughout the world which took part in the war such as the Americas and Europe.
source: asiae.co.kr
Here’s the trailer of Road No. 1:
credit: DeletedMVs@YT
KU HYE-SUN SHEDS HAPPY TEARS FOR MEETING YOONA
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Korean actress Ku Hye-sun, a self-proclaimed fan of Girls’ Generation singer Yoona, recently cried tears of joy when she met her celebrity crush for the first time on a TV show.
During an appearance on KBS2 TV’s celebrity talk show “Win Win,” which aired Tuesday, the actress explained that she is a big fan of the popular girl band member.
“I really love Girls’ Generation member Yoona these days,” said Ku on the show. “I got her mobile phone number through the group’s choreographer and we exchange text messages but I have never met her in person.”
Then when Yoona appeared on the set as a surprise guest, Ku was so excited and ecstatic that she started shedding tears and remarked, “This is awesome, I can’t stop crying.”
Yoona commented, “I couldn’t believe that Hye-sun would text me because she likes me.”
Ku, who had originally planned to debut as a singer, started acting in several TV dramas and became a household name throughout Asia after starring in the hit KBS drama “Boys Over Flowers” last year.
Known to many as also a talented artist, novelist and scriptwriter, she recently made her directorial debut with her first feature film “Magic” which premiered at the Jeonju International Film Festival in April.
source: Asiae.co.kr
[100607/HALLYU] LEE NA-YOUNG TO STAR WITH RAIN A NEW TV SERIES
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Korean actress Lee Na-young has been cast in upcoming KBS TV series tentatively titled “The Fugitive,” making her first small screen comeback in six years.
According to various industry sources, the actress is set to play the female lead opposite Rain, who is also returning to the small screen for the first time since starring in the 2005 SBS drama “A Love To Kill.”
Lee’s agency remained cautious about the news, however, saying they are “in negotiations” but has not yet finalized the deal.
“Fugitive” will be directed by noted television producer Kwak Jung-hwan and written by Chun Sung-il, the duo behind the recent hit TV series “The Slave Hunters.”
Lee, 31, first rose to stardom with TV series “Ruler of Your Own World” (MBC, 2002) and was last seen on the small screen in “Ireland” (MBC, 2004).
She has also starred in several notable films such as “Please Teach Me English” (2003) and “Maundy Thursday” (2006) and “Someone Special,” for which she won best actress at the 25th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
cre: Asiae.co.kr
oh i love her~ She’s such a versatile actress. You wouldn’t think that she’s been in the business for quite a long time. And for her age (31), she established a name for herself. Bravo~!!!
[100528/KDRAMA] SISTER OF CINDERELLA CONTINUES TO REIGN
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KBS TV series “Sister of Cinderella” continued its reign atop Wednesday and Thursday nights, beating out its competitors in the same time slot.
According to figures released by TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Friday, “Cinderella,” two episodes away from finishing its run, recorded viewership ratings of 23.2 percent on Wednesday and 21 percent the following day, posting an increase by an average of 4.1 percent from the previous week.
The show recorded slightly lower ratings on AGB Nielsen Media Research but has shown a growth by a mean of four percent from last week. The drama brought in TV ratings of 20.2 percent on May 26 and 19.4 percent the next day.
This week’s episode focused on Ki-hoon (Chun Jung-myung) trying to figure out the real intentions of Eun-jo (Moon Geun-young) and the two go on a search for Kang-sook (Lee Mi-sook) who is staying in Pohang.
New SBS drama “Bad Boy,” which premiered this week, scored passing ratings — in the 10 to 12 percent range on both charts.
“Bad Boy,” starring Kim Nam-gil and Han Ga-in, is about a man and a woman who dream of climbing the social ladder by wooding the children of a conglomerate family but end up falling in love with each other.
cre: asiae.co.kr
I must admit that I haven’t seen this drama yet cause I am not yet finished with my Oh My Lady marathon but I would definitely watch this. Since the rating is so high and the things that other people say about how good this kdrama really is, I am looking forward to it. Plus, Yesung’s song “IT HAS TO BE YOU” is playing on the BG i guess (not that sure, since I haven’t watched it yet). ^^
[100527/HALLYU] CHAE RIM TO APPEAR IN CHINESE VERSION OF ALL ABOUT EVE
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Korean actress Chae Rim will be making a special appearance in a Chinese remake of her hit TV series “All About Eve,” according to her agency Sidus HQ on Thursday.
Sidus HQ announced in a press release that the actress will be playing a beautiful and accomplished anchorwoman in the Chinese adaptation of “Eve,” a former girlfriend of a male character set to be played by Korean actor Jang Hyuk. The role had not existed in the original Korean drama.
“I was so happy to hear about a remake because ‘All About Eve’ is one of the dramas that I cherish,” the 31-year-old actress was quoted as saying. “So I am incredibly glad and happy to appear in it. I think this drama means more to me and feels special because it is based on a Korean drama and stars a Korean actor.”
The original version, which starred Chae Rim and top Korean actor Jang Dong-gun, was a smash hit when it aired in Korea a decade ago.
For the Chinese remake, Jang Hyuk will play the role of a producer of a broadcasting company who helps those around him while Chinese actress Dan Zhu and Cheryl Yang will be two news reporters who fight for the top position in the company.
Director Mai Da Jie, who will helm the Chinese series, highly praised the Korean actress, saying “She is like a diamond — she looks adorable and innocent on the outside but has strong, powerful acting skills. I think that is the secret to her huge popularity in Korea and China.”
Chae Rim, whose full name is Park Chae-rim, has appeared in more than a dozen television dramas since she debuted in the early 1990s. Some of her best-known works include “KAIST” (SBS, 1999), “All About Eve” (MBC, 2000), “Oh! Pil Seung, Bong Soon Young” (KBS2, 2004) and most recently “Oh! My Lady” (SBS, 2010).
The Chinese adaptation of “All About Eve” is scheduled to air on China’s Zhejiang Satellite TV starting September.
cre: asiae.co.kr
[100524/HALLYU] KIM HA-NEUL TO HOLD FAN MEETING IN JUNE
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Korean actress Kim Ha-neul will hold her first-ever solo fan meeting in Japan on June 26, according to her agency J.One Entertainment on Monday.
J.One announced in a press release that the actress will be flying to Japan in June for the event titled “Love Letter” to hosted by Japanese company Yamaha A&R at the Ginza Yama Hall in Tokyo.
“We have gotten a lot of questions regarding the fan meeting,” stated A&R. “Many of the fans are excited for the actress to visit the country.”
“I am really looking forward to meeting my Japanese fans. I am working hard in preparing for the event and hope that I show my best for them,” Kim was quoted saying.
Kim will sing two songs, reveal never before seen footage from her dramas “On Air,” “Road No. 1″ and from her movie “My Girlfriend is an Agent,” hold a surprise event, and shake hands with her fans.
A representative from J.One’s overseas marketing team explained, “The interest for Kim Ha-neul is growing. She is being acknowledged for her 10 years in the entertainment industry for her classic look and acting skills.”
Kim, 31, made her debut in the industry as a model in 1996. She starred in numerous TV series and movies including “Romance” and “On Air” and hit movie “My Tutor Friend” alongside Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo.
She is currently finishing up the production of MBC TV series “Road No. 1″ alongside actors So Ji-sub and Yoon Kye-sang.
cre: asiae.co.kr
Honestly, she has been my personal fave among hallyu stars of her generation. I love how she handles every roles she portrays. She’s an asset to KR Movie and drama industry.
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