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February 14, 2008
Rain grabs leading role in Hollywood film
Rain, Korea's foremost entertainer recently dubbed one of the world's most beautiful people, has clinched a leading role in a Hollywood flick scheduled to begin shooting later this year, his U.S. promotion agency was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
"Ninja Assassin," to be directed by James McTeigue, will mark the first time for the 26-old singer and actor, whose real name is Jeong Ji-hoon, to play a leading role in a U.S. movie. He will make his official Hollywood debut in May with a smaller role in "Speed Racer."
"This is such a huge opportunity for me. It seems like a dream," he said at a press conference in Seoul.
Rain emerged as a worldwide star when Korea's pop culture, especially its pop music and television dramas, became hugely popular several years ago in Asia and other regions.
Riding on the "Korean Wave," known in Korea as "Hallyu," Rain was named one of the "100 Most Influential People" by Time Magazine in 2006 and one of the "100 Most Beautiful People" a year later by People Magazine.
Rain recently concluded a contract with the William Morris Agency (WMA), a New York-based talent agency that represents entertainers such as Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Russell Crowe.
"We're a business with a number of artists who are really international artists, and we look at Rain as the same," said John Mass, a WMA vice chief. "He's not just popular in Korea or Asia, but he's popular throughout the world."
Rain began his singing career after releasing his first solo album, "Bad Guy," in 2002, a huge success that was followed by other popular albums. He launched his acting career when he starred in the South Korean television drama "Full House" in 2004 and the movie "I'm a Cyborg and That's Okay" in 2006.
February 15, 2008
Rain recognized for enhancing Korea's image
Pop star Rain will receive the 2008 Korea Image Stepping Stone Award in recognition of his contribution to promoting a positive image of Korea through his music, the Corea Image Communication Institute announced Monday.
Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is one of Asia's most successful and well-loved artists, and has recently clinched a major role in a Hollywood film,.
The institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Korea internationally.
The awards ceremony will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Grand InterContinental Hotel on Feb. 19, during which the heartthrob singer/actor will perform.
Also joining the event will be last year's awardee, maestro Chung Myung-Whun, who will perform with violinist Dennis Kim, cellist Song Young-hoon and violist Hung-Wei Huang.
Rain began his singing career after releasing his first solo album, "Bad Guy," in 2002, a huge success that was followed by other popular albums. He gained worldwide fame when Korean pop culture, particularly pop music and television dramas, became hugely popular several years ago in Asia and other regions.
He launched his acting career with starring roles in the Korean television drama "Full House" in 2004 and the movie "I'm a Cyborg and That's Okay" in 2006. In the same year, Rain was named one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine and one of the 100 Most Beautiful People a year later by People Magazine.
Rain recently concluded a contract with William Morris Agency, a New York-based major talent agency that represents entertainers such as Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Russell Crowe. He will make his official Hollywood debut in May with a supporting role in "Speed Racer," a family movie written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski (of the "Matrix" trilogy).
The 26-year-old star has also been cast in a major role in "Ninja Assassin," which will be produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski Brothers, and directed by James McTeigue ("V for Vendetta").
"This will mark the beginning of the second chapter of my life. It is an opportunity that I never want to miss," he said during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday.
Last month, he lent a helping hand to the nationwide volunteer campaign to clean up an oil spill on the west coast, and donated 300 million won ($32,000).
By Lee Yong-sung ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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Korean news updates are copied and credited to the original source (please refer link at the end of each article). The updates posted by katt are mostly duplicated from soompi.com (the Kdramas/movies - News thread) with permission. Thank you. katt/rubie
February 15, 2008
Actor Kim Stars in Japanese Movie
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Actor Kim Rae-won
Another Korean heartthrob, actor Kim Rae-won, 26, is stepping up his activities in Japan.
Kim stars in a Japanese movie named "Hanakage" (Flower Shadow) directed by Hayato Kawai.
He plays an elementary school teacher who falls in love with a Korean-Japanese jewelry designer played by Mirai Yamamoto. Filmed in both Korea and Japan, this movie depicts international love.
Kim debuted in MBC's teen drama "Me" (1996) and is known for his role in the TV romantic comedy "Rooftop Room Cat" (2003), in which late Jeong Da-bin starred as his counterpart. He also appeared in movies like "Mr. Socrates" (2005) and "Sunflower" (2006).
He currently shoots Korean TV soap opera "Sikgaek" (The Grand Chef) based on Huh Young-man's popular cartoon. "Sikgaek" will be aired in April on SBS.
Meanwhile, SG Wanna Be, the Korean R&B trio, sings the main theme for the movie. Sport Hochi, a Japanese paper, reported that SG Wanna Be's "Arirang" was chosen for the soundtrack, since the group performs actively both in Korea and Japan.
The group were greatly impressed with the move which they felt had something profound to say about the nature of love.
Yamamoto, the leading actress, was deeply moved by the music and said that the movie and SG Wanna Be's music met through destiny led by love.
The trio debuted in 2004 through "Wanna Be+" and released albums "While You Live" (2005), "The 3rd Masterpiece" (2006) and "The Sentimental Chord" (2007). The group is known for having high album sales.
SG Wanna Be previously held four concerts in Japan, the most recent one this January.
The movie will be in theaters March 8 and SG Wanna Be will release their Japanese album "I Love SG Wanna Be" March 19.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/02/139_19003.html |
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February 17, 2008
[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(10)]
Korean Wave brings drama to the Nile Delta
Mohamed Abdel Baki sticks to the radio for two hours every evening like glue to listen to a language family members and friends fail to identify.
When he tells them that the thing that keeps him entranced for hours is the Korean Program, they ssunshine at the "bizarre" interest he has developed over the last few years.
"Some of these people are narrow-minded," Mohamed, a 44-year-old civil servant from Cairo, the capital of Egypt, said. "They just don't know that in a few years' time Korean could be one of the leading languages in the world."
Abdel Baki is part of a trend that has started to seep out of intellectual and educational circles in Egypt and into wider society over the last few years. In this Arab Middle Eastern country of 76 million people where jingoism is sometimes mixed with people's religious feelings and loyalties, a love of the culture of Korea, a country thousands of kilometers away, has started to creep into the hearts of many.
A brief stroll into the streets of Cairo, where vehicle drivers never stop honking their horns and worm their way through narrow lanes, can show how highly Korea is viewed here. A visitor of the city may be surprised to see an endless array of Korean cars, such as Hyundai, Kia, and Daewoo. Here, where the roads are uneven and rush hour stretches on for ages, these Korean automobiles are reckoned to be enduring and economic.
The glass windows of cell phone shops and call centers, ubiquitous sights in today's Egypt, do not have a paucity of Korean products either. For many shop owners, Korean cellular phones like Samsung and LG are best sellers and to their customers they are exceptionally good products.
"Korea is a model for Third World countries that can be accepted by everybody here simply because it doesn't threaten us," said Emad Aisha, an assistant professor of international studies at the American University in Cairo. "It's a self-made country that was able to advance towards industrial-technological excellence without losing its cultural authenticity: without Westernizing," Aisha added.
This may be one reason why friction -- so common with the introduction of a new culture -- is not significantly felt when Egyptians are exposed to Korean culture, despite Egypt's dominantly conservative society, where Muslims make up 85 percent of the population and Christian Copts make up the remaining 15 percent.
Three years ago, Egypt's second largest university, Ain Shams University, opened a new department for Korean studies. The number of students who applied for the new department astonished everybody at the College of Languages, where the department was opened.
General Education Certificate graduates flocked in hundreds to the college to study Korean, echoing a generally-held belief that the heyday of English and French is long gone in this country, which the British occupied for over 80 years and the French occupied for three.
"These students know very well that to learn Korean or any of the other languages of East Asia is to be able to make a living in the future," said Makarem el-Ghamry, the dean of the College of Languages, where the Korean Language Department was opened. "The importance of any language is linked to the importance of the country that speaks this language and Korea is very important nowadays."
To the dismay of many, el-Ghamry could enroll just 30 students in the department every year. A lack of funds and space makes her unable to accept more students, but demand is growing.
Inside the classrooms of the department, the students prick their ears and listen attentively to the teacher, a native of Korea, explaining one of the rules of the Korean language.
The students seem to enjoy what they were being taught greatly. The glare that appeared in the eyes of many of them, however, referred to something that was far deeper than just enjoyment.
One, Omnia Magdy, is actively discussing one of the rules with the teacher. She keeps using Korean, winning the admiration of both the teacher and her colleagues.
"Everybody is waiting for the countries of East Asia to become the biggest economic powers in the world," Omnia, 20, says. "So why shouldn't I prepare for this by learning the language?"
Omnia, a 3rd grade student, spent 10 days in Korea herself in 2006 as part of a group of students who got the highest grades at the school. She spent the 10 days with a Korean family and was dazzled by the similarities between the Koreans and the Egyptians.
"I never felt away from home," Omnia says. "The Koreans are as conservative as us and they have their own habits which they cherish exactly like the Egyptians do."
Why the surprise then, when a TV series, "Winter Sonata" was broadcast here two years ago, produced a groundswell of acclaim by viewers in this country, which is often referred to as the "Hollywood of the East"?
The series, which offered more than a complex love story, intriguing plot twists and memorable scenes, being directed craftily by Yun Seok-ho, captivated both men and women in Egypt and inspired people to look further into the Korean materials they had at hand in search of something similarly touching.
The series opens with Joon-sang played marvelously by Bae Yong-joon, and Yu-jin, played by the talented Choi Ji-woo, as two high school students who fall in love for the first time. Their ill-fated love, however, suffers a cruel blow, as the hero soon dies in a car accident, leaving the heroine heart-broken and dispirited.
Ten years later, Yu-jin finds herself working on a ski resort project with Min-yeong, who looks exactly like Joon-sang. Oddly enough, he courts Yu-jin's high school rival, Chae-lin, excellently played by Park Sol-mi. Yu-jin's uncontrollable attraction to Min-yeong jeopardizes her engagement to her childhood admirer, Sang-hyuk, played by Park Yong-ha, who in conspiracy with Chae-lin, tries everything to separate the two destined lovers.
When the truth comes out that Min-yeong and Joon-sang are the same person and worse still, the suspicion that Joon-sang and Yu-jin are half-brother and sister, everyone involved is thrown into untold confusion, resulting in grief.
Bae Yong-joon, extremely smart and handsome, has many fans in Egypt. Some of his admirers have even formed a group and called it the "Bae Yong-joon Bond." |
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"Korean dramatists are so creative," says Sarah Maged, another Korean Language Department student. "They take a piece of real life and put it into their work, and that is why they never fail to mesmerize everybody."
But the thing that Sarah, 19 years old, likes the most about Korean series, apart from the wonderful scenery, the romantic themes they discuss and the fine language they use, is that they "can be watched by all family members."
She is of the view that because Korean series have little or racy content, they are most welcome. A recent movie in Egypt that contained lesbian references caused a stir, and religious scholars filed a legal suit against the director Khalid Yusuf.
"When there's a Korean series, I don't hete to invite my wife and children to watch it with me, knowing that their morality wouldn't be damaged by what they see," Abdel Baki, the 44-year-old Korean Radio fan, explains. "But what we see in the series is a reflection of the nature of the Korean people, which is very peaceful, and this is what makes them very appealing to us Egyptians."
Similarities abound between Egypt and Korea. Both countries have been invaded and both have struggled for independence. The two countries are of strategic value in their respective regions, which are beset by crises. They both play an influential role in defusing regional tensions.
Economic relations between Egypt and Korea have evolved remarkably over the last 10 years. In 2006 trade between the two countries was $830 million, while in 2007 it was $1 billion. The Korea International Cooperation Agency plays an important role in bolstering relations between the two countries through projects in the fields of education and technical and vocational training.
The number of Korean tourists visiting Egypt is increasing rapidly. In 2006, 40,000 Koreans visited Egypt, up from 27,000 in the previous year. The number is expected to reach 50,000 soon.
The other much acclaimed Korean TV series here was "Autumn in my Heart." When the series was broadcast on national TV here a few months ago, audiences were glued to their televisions as it won their hearts.
The talented young cast, along with beautiful locations, made this tragic love story a piece of television artistry that captured the hearts of everybody in Egypt. Even after the series ended, many still remember the events from the story, which seem to have left an indelible mark in the memories of Egyptians who like to identify themselves as belonging to a romantic culture.
"It was extremely wonderful," says Sarah, a 2nd grade student at the Department of Korean Language. "It was actually one reason why I am dying to travel to Korea one day and visit the filming locations presented in the series.
A short time ago, Sarah watched another Korean drama, "The Coffee Prince," which revolves around the love life and dreams of four young people who meet together at a cafe. The four young people find themselves drawn to the gourmet coffee business where they also find love and new hope.
She says if this series is broadcast in Egypt, it would be "the greatest thing Egyptians could watch."
"This is a culture that has every reason to prevail and be embraced warmly here," Abdel Baki said. "The Koreans have wonderful, soft power and they can carve a niche for themselves everywhere using it."
Although Korea is becoming increasingly popular here, it is in no way equal in popularity to China, which has entered every home in Egypt. In this country, where dependence on imports of all types is hitting an all time high, the sight of a Chinese seller knocking on the doors of apartments to sell his/her cheap wares is a common occurrence.
Some people say the fact that Korea does not flood the local market with cheap articles is to Korea's advantage because this way Korea has distinguished itself as a quality producer who does not pose threats to the national economy.
"The Korean success story could wash off onto all Korean cultural products -- language, cuisine, clothing, etc," Aisha said. "Unlike China, Korea doesn't threaten us economically because there are no cheap Korean goods pricing out domestic competition and no Korean labor (undercutting us either)."
But this is not the view Abdel Aziz Badawi, a 35-year-old security man at a major company in Cairo, holds about Korea.
Badawi, who lives in a village in the Governorate of Qaluibia, about 60 kilometers south of Cairo, and earns 350 Egyptian pounds ($63) a month, bought a Samsung cell phone a few years ago. He says the cell phone was wonderful, but it was expensive. He bought it for 900 Egyptian pounds.
"And when it broke down, I couldn't find spare parts for it," Badawi said. "China, on the contrary, adapts its products to the needs of the market. The majority of the people here are poor and China gives them cheap products to buy. What does a quality expensive product mean to me when I don't have the money to buy it?" Badawi asked.
China produces everything Egyptians could need. It produces praying rugs for Muslims to use in their prayers, all types of ready-made clothes and even lanterns children can play with during the fasting month of Ramadan, a time of the year when Muslim abstain from food from dawn to dusk.
That is one reason why observers think this "distinguished" Korean culture would take a long time to reach the average Egyptian. They say, for Korean culture to win through, the Koreans need to employ more efficient marketing strategies.
"Marketing is the buzzword in fact," says Mohamed Tharwat, an Egyptian scriptwriter who is currently preparing a movie on Egypt's first President Mohamed Naguib and the July 1952 Revolution, which ended the monarchy in Egypt. "Although Korean arts are magnificent, proper marketing is lacking."
Tharwat who watched the Korean dramas that were broadcast here, compared them with "The Bold and The Beautiful," a popular American soap opera broadcast in Egypt about eight years ago. He said before the American drama was broadcast, there was a lot of advertising for it on TV.
"So when it was broadcast, people were already waiting for it, hence the success," Tharwat said.
Abdel Baki, however, thinks that genuine things do not need marketing because they "speak for themselves, and very loudly at that."
"Countries like Korea will prevail after all this noise comes to an end," he said. "Korean culture has authenticity and this speaks for itself."
By Amr Emam
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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February 18, 2008
Actress Yang Mi-kyung to Publish Essay Collection in Japan
Actress Yang Mi-kyung will publish her essay collection in Japan.
The essay collection entitled 'With Love' will be published on February 27th. In her essays, Yang candidly reveals her thoughts on being a mother and wife and on her life as an actress. The essay collection also contains the special 'Daejanggeum' or 'Jewel in the Palace' interview as well as related photos.
Yang has been working hard to promote Korea's palace cuisine and dishes in Japan. She even has an official fan club in the neighboring country.
Yang also introduces a book she authored on 60 poems written by her favorite poet entitled 'Yang Mi-Kyung's Poems Read with a Heart' and a previously written essay collection entitled 'If You Want to Live A Happy Life.'
In 2006, an album containing 13 of her favorite ballad songs performed by male artists as well as three poems she personally recited was sold out immediately after it was released.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1508021_11692.html |
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February 18, 2008
[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(11)] Korean culture is part of Hong Kong life
It took place only a couple of years ago, but to many Hong Kong people -- who are used to a fast-paced life and are best known for their forgetfulness -- that night has already become so distant that it feels like it was from the past century.
That one particular summer night in 2005, millions of Hong Kongers abandoned their favorite malls and best-loved recreation -- shopping -- for nothing but a TV show. And it wasn't even a local TV drama: it was the Korean costume drama "Jewel in the Palace," the moving tale of Daejanggeum, played by Lee Young-ae. It was the night when the Korean Wave hit its climax in Hong Kong.
That night, shopping malls and restaurant operators witnessed a rare decline in their business. The popular Korean TV series became the most-viewed TV series in Hong Kong television history, pulling in nearly 3 million viewers. Lee suddenly became a superstar in this former British colony.
Imperial cuisine as featured in the TV series became de rigueur at many newly opened Korean restaurants. The impact also extended to tourism, where packaged tours featuring the filming location of "Jewel in the Palace" and the tasting of "authentic" Korean cuisine were fully booked for a period of time even after the show finished airing on TVB's Jade channel.
But such extreme enthusiasm for Korean culture among Hong Kongers has become history. Although there have been other mini-waves, like Rain, who conquered the hearts of many young girls, none have matched the power of "Jewel." Hong Kong's largest TV station, TVB, which brought "Jewel" to the city, insists that Korean dramas such as "My Girl," which was broadcast in 2007, and "Couple or Trouble," which has just finished airing recently, have been performing strongly, taking 80 percent of ratings. However, the TV station declined to admit if fewer Korean TV dramas have been imported in the recent couple of years.
Nevertheless, Hong Kong box office records provided a very honest indicator of the recent trend. In 2006, 15 Korean films were shown in Hong Kong, with "Daisy," starring "My Sassy Girl" star Jun Ji-hyun and directed by "Infernal Affairs" co-director Andrew Lau, topping the list, claiming HK$3.3 million ($420,000) at the box office.
Coming second and third were "Sad Movie" (HK$2.6 million) and "The Art of Seduction" (HK$2.5 million). In 2007, however, only eight Korean films opened in Hong Kong, down by nearly half compared with the previous year. Leading the box office was "200 Pound Beauty," claiming HK$3.8 million. But the movies in second and third place, "Hearty Paws" and "I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK," made only HK$1.6 million or less.
"Indeed the Korean Wave in Hong Kong has died down in the recent couple of years," says Benny Lau, who was among the first in the Hong Kong media to track Korean pop culture.
"Since the actual outbreak of the 'Korean storm' in 2001, the wave kept going stronger until it reached its climax in around 2005. The popularity of a foreign culture in Hong Kong comes and goes and in fact, to my surprise, the Korean storm has lasted for much longer than I expected."
Lau had been the host of "Korean Storm" on a local radio station since 1998, when the Korean Wave tested Hong Kong waters with "Christmas in August." The popularity of the program soared with the arrival of new Korean pop icons such as Park Ji-yoon, whose "Adult Ceremony" became a great hit in Hong Kong and a hot pick at local karaokes -- although most Hong Kongers did not speak the language -- at that time.
Two years ago, Lau became the producer of local pay-TV station Cable Entertainment News' Korean entertainment news and the host of "Korean Entertainment Weekly," keeping himself on the frontier of the Korean pop scene. His website, also known as Korean Storm, has over 50,000 registered members.
Hong Kong people reacted strongly when the Korean Wave hit the city because, according to Lau, Hong Kongers are obsessed with the latest trends and anything that is new out in the market.
"When Korean pop culture first landed in the city, it was something completely new to the local people. It was something that had never happened before," he says. "Many TV viewers wanted to travel to Korea just to visit the filming locations of some popular TV series like 'Winter Sonata.' Bae Yong-joon became the hottest idol at the time."
The recent slight decline in the popularity of Korean pop culture in Hong Kong, as Lau concludes, has a lot to do with the Korean entertainment industry itself. He argues that no matter how popular songs and films are, the core of the Korean force lies in its TV dramas.
Indeed, when TV stars Song Seung-hun, Song Hye-kyo and Won Bin first became household names in Hong Kong, it was all because of "Autumn in My Heart," which was a huge phenomenon in 2000.
"Latecomers like Bae or Rain, and even Jang Don-gun earned their strong following in Hong Kong also because of their TV dramas," says Lau. "These TV dramas shared one major characteristic: They managed to conquer the hearts of a rather mature generation of women, who prefer watching TV dramas that can manipulate their emotions, that can make them cry." In fact, 80 percent of the registered members of Lau's website are women aged 25 or above.
The story has changed in recent years, however. "Many of these stars have left TV and made their attempts in the film world," says Lau. "One very important thing that we must acknowledge is that those who like watching them on TV might not want to buy a ticket to see them on the big screen. At the end of the day, TV is free."
Although the supply of Korean TV dramas didn't really stop after these stars moved on to the film world, the new ones didn't appeal to the original batch of Korean pop culture fans. "The new TV series feature only young idols, and the storylines are created for teenagers rather than the mature generation of fans," Lau observes. |
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When it comes to films, however, Lau believes that many Korean movies do not meet the tastes of Hong Kong filmgoers.
"Korean filmgoers have very different taste from their foreign counterparts," he says. "Films like 'Taegukgi' did extremely well in the local Korean market because it was about Korean War, a very national topic. But to foreign filmgoers like Hong Kongers, it isn't the kind of story they are interested in. What Hong Kong people like the most are smaller films that are light-hearted or have a heart-wrenching story line."
Winnie Tsang, director of film distributor Golden Scene, is among the pioneers responsible for introducing Korean cinema to Hong Kong mainstream audiences. Although her company imports international films -- such as classics including "One Fine Spring Day" and "Happy End" to the recent box office hits "200 Pound Beauty" and "Cyborg" -- she admits that Korean films haven't been performing well in Hong Kong.
"Audiences, especially Hong Kong audiences, need quality and new films that are stimulative. Some films that I have imported like 'The Host' did well in the box office because it was a seriously good film, although it was not a big hit. But other films were not good enough," Tsang says.
"Hong Kong audiences are very impatient. Unless it is a great film they would not want to sit there to see a slow film. They prefer fast-paced films. And they are influenced by Hollywood cinema heavily. Even if we distributors do not do any promotion for a Hollywood film, it might still work because Hong Kong people keep a close eye on what's going on in Hollywood. But when it comes to Korean cinema, it needs more press coverage and we have to do a lot more work to make the film work."
She continues: "There are certain kinds of films that would work in Hong Kong. Take 'My Sassy Girl,' for example. It had tremendous success because there was no such kind of film in Hong Kong. But if it was a crime film, Hong Kong audiences might not be interested because they can choose Hong Kong crime films."
Tsang believes that the recent decline in the Korean Wave has many contributing factors. "There haven't been major hits among the TV dramas. There is a lack of new stars and those established ones haven't been producing much recently, like Bae," she says.
Gilky Wan, manager of film distributor Deltamac, says that Hong Kong film distributors have been importing less Korean films in recent years. "Indeed many Korean films do not perform in the box office," says Wan, adding that the weak performance has scared the distributors away.
"People have the impression that Korean films follow a more or less similar formula. Therefore, despite the fact that they are quality productions and they feature a strong cast, people are not as passionate for Korean films as before. Also, there aren't many big productions in recent years."
Lau believes that the cooling down of the Korean Wave has to do with the performance of the entertainment industry in the local market. According to a recent report in Forbes quoting figures released by the Korean Film Council, "only one in 10 movies turned a profit ... out of a total of 112 films produced, only 13 were successful enough to do more than break even on expenses."
The Forbes report also wrote that the market share of locally produced movies dropped by 7 percentage points to merely 51 percent, where only three of the top-grossing movies were made in Korea.
Anthony Fung, associate professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong's School of Journalism and Communication, is currently researching cultural policies in different countries in Asia, including South Korea. He has also noticed the decline of the entertainment industry in the domestic Korean market in recent years.
This can affect the export of Korean cultural products, which could in turn cool down the Korean Wave. But it doesn't mean that Korean pop culture will vanish from Hong Kong for good, he says.
"In fact, Korean idols are still popular among young people in Hong Kong. The so-called cooling-down effect can merely be applied to the mass media or advertisements," says professor Fung.
"We see less Korean pop culture these days only because there has been less coverage in the mass media and the new idols do not have the same level of popularity in the eyes of advertisers. There is less exposure, but it does not mean Hong Kong people are sick of Korean pop culture."
Indeed, Korean pop culture has become part of daily life in Hong Kong.
Korean TV drama regular Grace Wong, an advertising and marketing executive, went skiing twice in Korea in just three months. She admits that she and her friends prefer watching Korean TV dramas to Japanese ones because they are light-hearted and comical, and traveling to Seoul has become a regular activity for her and her husband in the past three years.
Although there has been less of a frenzy for Korean pop culture recently, to Wong, it doesn't make any difference. "People are very used to Korean culture," she says. "It is no longer a sudden boom like the past which drew a lot of attention all of a sudden. It's already part of our lives."
Apart from watching TV, Wong also uses Korean products: her TV set at home is from Samsung and one of her favorite skincare brands is Skin Food, which she bought in bulk during her recent trips to Seoul. She also reveals that she keeps ginseng tea and kimchi in her kitchen.
Wong says that Korean TV dramas, especially costume dramas, have introduced her to Korean culture. "I always like eating Korean food but it is the dramas that have taught me the ancient culture and history, like 'Jewel in the Palace,'" she says. "The dramas have also introduced me to Korean pop songs. I have bought three greatest hits albums because of the TV dramas."
"Korean culture has been integrated into Hong Kong culture," Lau says. "From mobile handsets to online games and cuisines, 'Made in Korea' has become a brand. Thus Korean pop culture will remain in Hong Kong."
In the long run, says professor Fung, Korean pop culture could achieve a similar status as Japanese pop culture in the eyes of Hong Kongers. "It will not go away completely," he says.
Lau says that compared with other Asian cities, the entertainment industry in Korea is still energetic. "Trends come and go. Just like Japanese pop culture, there has been high and low times and when there was an emergence of a big star, the wave hit Hong Kong again," he says. "Thus, all we are waiting for is another star or another phenomenal TV series to be exported out of Korea. Then, there will be another Korean storm."
By Vivienne Chow
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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February 18, 2008
Rain Receives Image Award
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Rain
Now world-famous, K-pop singer and actor Rain, 25, is to receive the 2008 Korea Image Stepping Stone Award for promoting a positive image of Korea through popular music.
The Corea Image Communication Institute, which holds the "CICI Korea 2008," designated Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, as this year's awardee.
Led by president Choi Jung-wha, the institute is established to promote Korea globally.
The K-pop icon debuted in 2002 with his first album "Bad Guy." His four albums recorded a big hit around Asia. He also appeared in TV dramas like "Full House" (2004) and the movie "I'm a Cyborg But That's OK" (2006).
With high popularity in Asia, Rain starred in a Wachowski brothers' movie "Speed Racer" to be released in May worldwide.
He recently signed a contract with WMA and announced his next Hollywood movie, "Ninja Assassin," in which he will play the lead role. He also plans an international album release this year.
The singer/actor was named one of the "The People Who Shape Our World" by Time magazine in 2006 and one of the "World's 100 Most Beautiful People" by People magazine last year.
The youth section of the award for under 19-year-olds, Korea Image Budding Youth Award, went jointly to figure skater Kim Yu-na and swimmer Park Tae-hwan.
Kim Yu-na recently missed the Four Continents figure skating championships held in Korea because of an injury. She will vie for the queen of figure skating in the World Figure Skating Championships 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden in March.
Park, known as Korea's "Marine Boy," graduated from high school last week. He is in training for the coming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Previous prize awardees of the Stepping Stone Award include maestro Chung Myung-whun, Cheonggye Stream and Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General. Pianist Kim Sun-wook won the first Budding Youth Award last year.
The "CICI Korea 2008" ceremony is to be held at a hotel in southern Seoul, Tuesday. To celebrate, the Preceding recipient Chung Myung-whun will have a chamber music concert and Rain will perform as well.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/02/139_19124.html |
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February 19, 2008
Leading Female Stars Enter a Battle of Generations
Four female leading stars, each representing their respective generations, will heat up the TV screen in 2008.
First up is 40-year-old Korean talent, Choi Jin-Shil. She will star in the MBC weekend drama. She returns to television from an 8-month hiatus after finishing the drama which is an intricate love story about a bright and cheerful woman named Hong Seon-Hi and a top star named Song Jae-Bin, that all begins at their high school reunion. Movie star Jeong Jun-Ho is to play Choi Jin-Shil抯 counterpart.
Son Ye-Jin is a top star in her twenties, highly reviewed as the next talented star after Choi Jin-Shil to return to the television screen. After her role in the 2006 SBS drama , Son Ye-Jin makes a huge transformation in this year抯 movie , receiving recognition in the entertainment industry as an excelling actress. Her next production is , an MBC drama to be aired beginning in May is about the passion of local news reporters in their pursuit of the truth and the complications involved with the selection process of reporters. The drama is attracting much attention as Son Ye-Jin plays Kim Eun-Hye, a character based on a former MBC reporter.
Kim Jeong-Eun is a beautiful actress in her thirties, and regarded as one of the most talented actresses on the TV screen to return in June. Kim Jeong-Eun is to star in the drama , a production by CJ Entertainment. This will be her first debut after the 2006 hit drama. Kim Jeong-Eun抯 counterpart roles are to be played by Lee Seon-Gyun and Ji Hyeon-Woo, two male stars capturing the hearts of women in their twenties and thirties.
In the latter half of 2008, Korea抯 top teen star Moon Geun-Yeong is to return to television. Moon Geun-Yeong chooses the SBS drama to make her comeback in 5 years. This drama takes place during the Joseon Jeongjo period, portraying the life and love of two artistic geniuses, Shin Yun-Bok and Kim Heung-Do. Moon Geun-Yeong raised the interests of television viewers, as she plays the part of Shin Yun-Bok, a woman disguised as a male.
The four top stars become the center of attention as they begin to make their appearances on television sets once again.
Source: Tour2Korea.com
http://english.tour2korea.com/02 ... =3000&strPage=1 |
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February 19, 2008
Actress Kim Jung-hwa to Star in KBS 2TV's 4-Part Drama Series
KBS 2TV has produced a unique drama in which four short one-act dramas come together under one common theme. Actress Kim Jung-hwa will take on the role of the heroine of the four different love stories.
The drama, entitled 'Things We Do That We Know We Will Regret' will be aired from April 12 to May 3. The drama is made up of four different kinds of love the heroine goes through. Each love story is a one-act drama in the four-part series.
Management company Sidus HQ said Kim will star in the drama as In-ah, who goes through a fairytale first love in her 20s and goes on to experience different kinds of love in her 30s and beyond. Each love story will be portrayed in different genres, including melodrama, romantic comedy and human drama.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1508352_11692.html |
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February 19, 2008
Reporter-Turned-Actress Debuts in 'Night and Day'
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Actress Seo Min-jeong
New actress Seo Min-jeong is attracting attention for her supporting role in the critically acclaimed film "Night and Day." It was recently revealed that Seo used to work as a reporter at the Kwangju Ilbo.
"Night and Day," directed by Hong Sang-soo, received praise from critics and audiences when it premiered in the 58th Berlin International Film Festival last week. It was one of four Asian films competing for the much-coveted Golden Bear award.
The film revolves around a successful artist, played by Kim Young-ho, who faces arrest for smoking marijuana and flees to France. He meets an art student, played by Seo, who introduces him to another beautiful art student, played by Park Eun-hye.
Seo started working as a reporter for the Kwangju Ilbo's culture desk in August 2004. Last year, Seo went to France to study. While studying there, she heard about an audition for a supporting role in Hong's film. She tried her luck in the auditions and was cast in the film.
Seo was overwhelmed by the experience of walking the red carpet in Berlin. "I never dreamed that I would step on the red carpet in my lifetime,'' she said.
After attending the Berlin film festival, Seo returned to France to continue her studies.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/02/139_19212.html |
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February 20, 2008
Kim Jung-eun to Narrate 'Wednesday Special' on KBS 1TV
Actress Kim Jung-eun, who recently starred in 'Forever the Moment,' a film about the heartbreaking real life story of Korea's national women's handball team, will narrate the moving story of China's young Olympic athletes in a special documentary.
Kim will narrate the upcoming Wednesday special documentary on KBS 1TV entitled 'Reaching for the Gold Medal - The Young Athletes of China.' The documentary will air on February 20 at 11:30 p.m.
The program is about the story of young athletes in China working hard to win medals at the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing. For the poor young children of socialist China, winning an Olympic medal is one of the only ways to bring honor and wealth to their family. Medalists receive a house as well as a high-level government post from the state.
Viewers can get a glimpse of the harsh realities of the Chinese athletes, who endure difficult training sessions without proper gym clothes and get through long days with just a single bowl of porridge to ease their hunger.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1508495_11692.html |
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February 20, 2008
'Chaser' gives reprieve to K-cinema
 
"The Chaser (Chugyeokja)," a Korean thriller directed by Na Hong-jin, has sold about 800,000 tickets in just five days since its Feb. 14 release, taking it to No. 2 in domestic box office charts behind Hollywood flick "Jumper."
But the chase seems to be already over. According to ticket website Max Movie, "The Chaser" topped ticket reservations as of Tuesday, taking a 41.3 percent share. That translates into an easy victory for the Korean film in the coming weekend.
The show-stealing box-office performance of "The Chaser" came as a surprise. After all, it is a small-budget film, and its main actors are low-profile compared with those in other Korean movies in recent months. And the lengthy running time of 123 minutes is not a factor associated with stronger ticket sales here.
Defying all its negative aspects, "The Chaser" is now emerging as a major hit film in the first quarter. Critics hail the movie's breathtaking pace; viewers have expressed their pleasant surprise about the film's sheer excitement.
Following the filmmaking traditions of well-made thrillers, "The Chaser" exhibits a tight plot, impressive acting and relentless speed.
Director Na has made two fine choices in setting up his film. First, he ignores the motivation of the murderer. Social conditions are not treated as an important driver; instead, a critical view is presented against the authorities, who have lost their role and function as protectors of the public. Second, the overall anger about the incident is expressed through Jung-ho, an ex-detective played by Kim Yun-seok ("Tazza: The High Rollers") in a very personal fashion.
Jung-ho is now a pimp, but he confronts a strange situation in which many of his girls are simply disappearing. He finds a clue about the case when he goes after another missing girl named Mi-jin and even comes across the murderer, Young-min (Ha Jeong-woo). But the police do not care about Jung-ho's concern about Mi-jin, and everything begins to break down at a fast pace, sparking a wave of overwhelming emotions.
Meanwhile, the movie's production house, Bidangil, said it signed preliminary sales contract at the Berlin International Film Festival which ended on Feb. 17. After two screenings for buyers at the film market, "The Chaser" secured contracts for sales in France, Greece, and Hong Kong, as well as Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Bidangil said.
"French distributors competed to get the right for 'The Chaser' and American distributors also showed strong interest in the movie itself and in remake rights," said Seo Young-ju, president of Fine Cut who is in charge of the movie's overseas sales.
The advance of "The Chaser" offers a reprieve to Korean cinema which has struggled to defend its position against the onslaught of Hollywood blockbusters. In recent months, many Korean films starring high-profile actors tanked at the box office, raising concerns about the overall competitiveness of the domestic film industry.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected]), posters from CINE21
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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February 21, 2008
'The Chaser' on Demand at Berlin Film Festival
'The Chaser,' a Korean film about a serial murderer, was sold to France, Benelux, Greece and Hong Kong at the 58th Berlin Film Festival's film market.
After two unofficial trade shows for buyers at the Berlin Film Festival market, the film was sold to French and Hong Kong film distribution companies.
The film was also sold to 'Seven Group,' the largest media company in Greece as well as 'Cine Art' in Belelux.
Show Box said production company Circle of Confusion, which collaborates with the Wachowski brothers, also showed great interest in film director Na Hong-jin.
'The Chaser' is the story of a serial killer and a former detective who chases him. The film opened in Korea on February 13th and made it to the second spot at the box office in its first week.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/society/news/1508714_11773.html |
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February 20, 2008
Popular TV Entertainer Assaulted by Mental Patient
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
No Hong-chul
Popular TV entertainer No Hong-chul, 29, was attacked in the corridor of his apartment building in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul Tuesday night by a 20-something man with a history of mental illness, police said.
The offender identified as Kim was apprehended on the scene by police.
No was immediately taken to a hospital in Sinchon, Northwestern Seoul. According to the hospital, the celebrity's left ear had a three-centimeter cut and he had injuries to his neck and back.
"It will take at least two weeks for him to fully recover," said Kim Young-jin, a doctor at Sinchon Yonsei Hospital. "He underwent surgery Tuesday night to stitch up the ear. The pain he feels is not that severe, but he should receive intense treatment for some more days."
According to Gangnam Police Station handling the case, No arrived at his apartment around 8 p.m. after shooting a TV program. The entertainer, who thought Kim was one of his fans waiting for him, greeted him first, but the stranger suddenly punched and kicked No for no particular reason.
The offender told police that he attacked No because the popular comedian would hurt his father. Police requested a mental checkup.
"If possible, I would like to return to my work immediately," No told reporters at the hospital Wednesday. No said he did not want to punish him since the offender was not in his right mind.
Meanwhile, Gangnam Police Station released Kim Wednesday morning, saying the investigation will continue without physical detention at the request of No.
No, a key member of MBC TV's hit "Infinite Challenge," is one of the guests invited to the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Lee Myung-bak next Monday.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/02/117_19303.html |
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February 21, 2008
Attack on TV Star Renews Old Fears
No Hong-chul
A violent attack on popular TV entertainer No Hong-chul just two months after actress Lee Seung-shin was assaulted by a stalker has again struck fear in Korea's entertainment industry.
Police said that a man identified only by his surname Kim waited for No in front of No's apartment in Apgujeong, Seoul on Tuesday night and beat him when the entertainer returned home.
No suffered a cut to his left ear and a bruise on his face. He is now receiving treatment at a hospital in Seoul.
The attacker was arrested on the scene after a neighbor who witnessed the assault called the police. The attacker reportedly was carrying a knife in the pocket of his jacket.
Police said that the attacker told them that he recently had to quit his job because of mental illness, but they are still questioning him to discern his motive.
Attacks on entertainers are not uncommon in Korea. Entertainers can be easily targeted due to the nature of their job and they can hardly protect their privacy from determined individuals.
In 1972, singer Na Hoon-a, who was recently at the center of public attention due to ugly rumors regarding his private life, was assaulted during a concert by a man who leapt onstage with a broken bottle. Na suffered an injury to his face.
Na's attacker claimed that rival crooner Nam Jin put him up to the task, but the same man also attacked Nam three years later. Nam suffered yet another attack in November 1989.
In July 1998, actress Do Ji-won was kidnapped by a man and a woman who threatened the actress with a knife in the parking lot of a sports center in Seoul. The couple stuffed Do in the trunk of a car and drove around for five hours before releasing her after extorting W14 million (US$1=W946).
Another actress, Lee Ji-hyun, was also kidnapped by strangers in September 2006. She managed to escape after two hours.
Several other Korean entertainers have been attacked by ardent fans and stalkers. In 1999, a fan of Moon Hee-jun, a member of top boy band H.O.T., sent a threatening letter along with a razor blade to Kan Mi-youn, a member of popular girl group Baby V.O.X. who Moon was rumored to be dating.
In 2000, Kim Chang-wan had his nose broken by a stalker who had trailed the singer for 13 years. Also in December 2000, Yoon Kye-sang, a member of now-disbanded pop group GOD, received a poisoned drink. Yoon's mother drank the drink and had to have her stomach pumped.
More recently in October 2006, U-know Yunho, the lead singer of the popular group TVXQ, was taken ill after drinking juice that had been laced with glue.
Source: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 2/200802210012.html |
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