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S-Kush as composer
March 11, 2008
While Stony Skunk member Skull is fulfilling his 2 year military training, his partner, S-Kush (Kim Byung Hoon) is going to be active as a composer and will adopt the name “Kush” while he is at it.
“Kush wrote and composed Gummy’s 4th album title song ‘I’m Sorry.’ His compositions will not be limited to Gummy and he will also be making songs for other YG singers,” YG Entertainment revealed.
Source: Sports Korea + krnloop
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May Doni on Wonder Girls member Sunye
March 11, 2008
May Doni revealed in a recent interview with Newsen how Wonder Girls member Sunye helped her during their stint in “99% Talent Development Project Challenge,” where both got in as trainees of JYP Entertainment. Born in 1991, May Doni was younger than Sunye by 2 years.
“During the show, my mother helped Sunye with her clothes and she also helped me a lot when I practiced singing. At that time, I was only in elementary and she was in middle school and the 2-year gap was probably the reason why we’re not that close. But now as I look back, I have many good memories of her. I’m very glad that I’ve known Sunye,” May Doni said.
Source: Newsen + krnloop
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Lee Hyun Do, “Kung Fu Panda” OST producer
March 11, 2008
Singer, producer and former Deux member Lee Hyun Do participates in the OST of the Hollywood animated movie “Kung Fu Panda.”
He is producing the movie’s theme song “Kung Fu Fighting,” which is a remake of the 1974 hit by Carl Douglas. This is also the song that Rain is singing for the movie’s OST.
Meanwhile, it was also Lee Hyun Do who produced Mighty Mouth’s digital single “I Love You,” which features Yoon Eun Hye.
Source: Yonhap + krnloop |
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[color=#F4A460"]Sunha, “Album of the Month”
March 11, 2008
The Ministry of Culture selected Sunha’s album “Fahrenheit” as March’s “Album of the Month.” A commemorative plaque was given by the Ministry last March 4 and was received by DSP Entertainment’s representative,
Sunha expressed her gladness for getting the recognition and desire to show people of her talent through more performances.
Since 2006, The Ministry of Culture has been recognizing singers’ albums for their artistic value and whoever gets the award each month, is supported by the Ministry when it comes to the album’s promotion.
Source: Nocut + krnloop
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[size="4"]Jinu & Kim Jun Hee’s married life ends
March 13, 2008
[Iimg]http://aycu11.webshots.com/image/47770/2003583723118358367_rs.jpg[/img]
Jinu (37) of the hip hop duo Jinusean and his wife actress-singer Kim Jun Hee (32) have mutually agreed to file for a divorce after about 2 years since their marriage in May 2006.
“The divorce was filed due to irreconcilable differences and they have been separated since late last year. Jinu’s experience in separation has totally left him in pain and he is in the US to cope with it,” YG Entertainment, Jinu’s label, announced on the 13th.
Source: Yonhap + krnloop
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Yoo Young Jin praises BoA & TVXQ
March 13, 2008
 z
SM Entertainment’s hitmaker Yoo Young Jin (38) praised BoA and TVXQ in an interview with Yonhap News and said that the former has surpassed his expectations and how hard-working TVXQ is.
“BoA’s special ever since I gave her her debut song ‘ID eaceB.’ I made that song and although I let her listen to the demo track, I hadn’t arranged how it was going to be interpreted. We recorded the song 3 days later and the result was beyond what I had envisioned. BoA’s ability to interpret a song is excellent. BoA is still evolving,” Yoo Young Jin said.
“TVXQ’s been flying back and forth between Korea and Japan and in a year, they get to rest for only a week. The group’s vocal abilities have improved quickly considering how tired the members are,” Yoo Young Jin evaluated.
He also shared during the interview that he occasionally teaches TVXQ members on writing songs and advises them that writing songs is not about wanting it to be the title song of an album.
Source: Yonhap + krnloop |
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Thanks to kdramafanusa-soompi.com for the highlight
March 14, 2008
Internationally-acclaimed Korean movie to be remade in U.S.
Poster of 扴ympathy for Lady Vengeance |
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March 12, 2008
Korean actress Kim gains spotlight in the U.S.
Despite having been an established actress in her native Korea for almost 10 years, Kim Yunjin抯 star is still on the rise. Her career in Korea started out with parts in TV dramas and quickly advanced into film with her debut in the groundbreaking Korean film Shiri (1999).
It was her role in this blockbuster that earned her star status and she was cast in other Korean films such as Gingko Bed (2000), Iron Palm (2002), and Diary of June (2005).
In 2004, she scored the role that would allow her to break through on the Hollywood scene |
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March 14, 2008
Korean Films Win Recognition in Europe
Korean films are gaining increasing recognition on the international stage, winning numerous awards and honorable mentions in various film festivals.
Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" received an Honorable Mention at the FantasPorto 2008, the 28th edition of the Oporto International Film Festival, which opened March 9 in Portugal.
The film takes place in a mental hospital, where a girl who thinks she's a cyborg falls in love with another mental patient.
Park is one of the most acclaimed directors in Korea today and is famous for his "vengeance trilogy," which includes the films "Old Boy" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance."
The film "Breath" by director Kim Ki-duk is a story about a death-row inmate who falls in love with a married woman. It won the Jury's Special Award in the Orient Express section for Asian films at the festival in Portugal.
Also attracting attention overseas is Director Jeon Soo-il. His movie, "With a Girl of Black Soil," has won several awards at festivals in Spain and Switzerland, as well as from the International Federation of Film Societies.
Korean films are also being shown at the 10th Deauville Asian Film Festival, which opened in France on March 12.
Veteran director Lim Kwon-taek's 100th film, "Beyond the Years," with themes of love and nostalgia, was chosen as the opening film.
Jeong Yun-su's film, "Cross Scandal," which involves two couples who get caught up in affairs with each other, will close the festival on March 16.
Arirang News via Digital Chosunilbo, image from donga.com
http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 3/200803140004.html |
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Park Hwayobi, 6th album comeback
March 13, 2008
Park Hwayobi is coming out with her 6th album entitled “Sunshine” on the 18th after temporarily stopping activities due to an operation she had on her vocal cords last August. To start off her comeback, she is holding an album launching event on the 14th at Club Circle located in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.
Park Hwayobi, who for about 3 months only communicated through writing, feared that her voice will change after the operation but she has expressed that it seemed that her voice returned to like when she had her 1st album in 2000.
Her 6th album’s title track is an R&B song entitled “A Man Doesn’t Know.”
Source: Sports Khan + krnloop
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Shim Eun Jin & Lee Chun Soo, in love!
March 14, 2008
After denying rumors in June 2007, Feyenoord soccer player Lee Chun Soo (27) and singer Shim Eun Jin (27) have indirectly admitted that they are in a relationship. It was their close friends and Shim Eun Jin’s label that confirmed that they are a couple.
“The two have been in a relationship for nearly a year now. They’re doing well and Lee Chun Soo didn’t hide the fact that they’re dating,” according to close friends who were interviewed by Star News on the 14th.
According to Olive 9, the label of Shim Eun Jin, her drama “Dae Jo Young” and contract with the company already ended and she plans to go on a holiday and visit Lee Chun Soo in Netherlands to show her support.
Moreover, Shim Eun Jin had somewhat slipped a clue on her boyfriend in an entertainment program. She was asked if she has a boyfriend and Shim Eun Jin replied, “He’s not a showbiz celebrity.” When one comes to think of it, Lee Chun Soo is not a showbiz celebrity but is a sports star. So if she were asked “He’s not a showbiz celebrity but a sports star, right?” then she would have had no choice to confirm something.
Source: Yonhap + krnloop
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Lexy comeback
March 14, 2008
After transferring to SB&W Entertainment, Lexy is back and releasing an electronic hip hop album entitled “The LEXY” on the 24th. Lexy was very much in charge of the album for she worked on it as a producer and director.
When asked what the album is about, Lexy replied with, “Not just Lexy but a new Lexy music that people will witness.” For this album, Lexy brought hip hop to a new level and combined it with electronica, R&B, Euro dance and ballad. The album, which contains 11 tracks, includes the electronic hip hop song “MA People,” as its title song, and hip hop ballads “2 People” and “Let Me Dance.”
Meanwhile, 2 tracks from the album will be released on the 17th in online music sites like Melon, Dosirak and Cyworld.
Source: Yonhap + krnloop |
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March 15, 2008
Louis Vuitton Opens Biggest Flagship Store in Hong Kong
 
South Korean actress Choi Jin Woo and actor Lee Jun Ki at the grand opening party at Louis Vuitton's flagship store in Hong Kong on Friday. [Photo: yule.sohu.com]
French luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton opened its biggest flagship store in Asia in Hong Kong on Friday, inviting many stars, including Chinese Hollywood actress Zhang Ziyi, to attend its grand opening party.
Several other domestic and foreign celebrities attended the opening, including Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat, Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh and Japanese soccer star Hidetoshi Nakata.
Source: Crienglish.com
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2008/03/15/[email protected] |
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March 14, 2008
Footballer Lee Dates Singer
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Star footballer Lee Chun-soo, 26, and singer/actress Shim Eun-jin, 27, admitted Thursday that they have been dating for one year.
Shim's management agency Olive9 said in a press release that the two have been "meeting with amicable feelings for about a year."
The agency also confirmed that the former member of pop group Baby V.O.X. recently visited the Netherlands, where Lee runs as a midfielder for Feyenoord Rotterdam.
The two were romantically linked as they were spotted together several times in Seoul, which they denied. Shim previously said in a TV program that she had a boyfriend "who is not an entertainer,: apparently referring to Lee.
Lee, a two-time World Cup player, has made headlines for making unexpected visits home during his playing season. He is also known to have dated actress Kim Ji-yoo, a former Miss Korea.
Shim announced a solo album in 2005 after her internationally popular girl band was disbanded and recently made a successful acting debut through the epic TV series "Daejoyeong."
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/03/178_20763.html |
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March 13, 2008
SS501 Makes a Comeback
The hot idol group SS501 has made a comeback after a year of hiatus. Having released the single album 揇閖 |
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March 13, 2008
BoA and TVXQ, Natural-Born Singers
Yoo Young-jin, singer-turned-songwriter for SM Entertainment's singers, was full of praise for BoA and TVXQ.
In a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, Yoo was asked which pop artist had displayed remarkable growth and potential. He answered, "I believed BoA to be unique even as I gave her "ID: Peace B," her debut song...When I brought her the demo tape, the song was still rough and a bit unclear but at the recording three days later, she sang it with such clarity. It turned out better than I had originally imagined."
He went on to explain that BoA had a "keen sense" when interpreting a musical piece. "She knows when to add rhythm and where the song needs to be sped up in tempo. Even now, BoA continues to grow," he added.
During recording sessions with TVXQ, Yoo Young-jin said that he could "sense how much contemplation the boys put into their music."
He commented, "[They] only have a week-long break during the year as they work in Korea and Japan. It's exhausting but their vocal skills have grown exponentially in relation to their age."
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1513190_11858.html |
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March 16, 2008
Ticket sales for local thriller movie top 4 mil.
Ticket sales for a local thriller movie have surpassed the 4-million-mark despite stiff competition from Hollywood blockbusters, the film抯 distributor said Sunday (March 16).
Showbox-Mediaplex said "The Chaser" reported ticket sales surpassing the key milestone on Saturday after hitting the silver screen 31 days ago.
This, it said is eight days faster than "Forever the Moment", another recent release about Korea抯 women handball squad in the 2004 Olympics. Forever the Moment is the only other locally-made movie to have reached the 4-million-mark this year.
The Chaser, directed by Na Hong-jin and starring Kim Yoon-seok and Ha Jung-woo, is an action-packed, fast moving story about a serial killer who stalks women masseurs and a man determined to stop him.
The distributor added that as only people over 18 can see the movie, the solid numbers are testament to the film抯 ability to grab the attention of audiences.
The Chasers performance is doubly noteworthy because it hit the screen at about the same time as U.S. films like 10,000 B.C. and the Jumper, it said.
Source: Korea.net
http://www.korea.net/news/news/newsView.as...Day=&page=1
March 17, 2008
Blockbuster 'Chaser' Attracts Over 4 Million Moviegoers
The Korean blockbuster film 'Chaser' (directed by Na Hong-jin, Bidangil Production Company) has attracted more than four million moviegoers since its release on February 14.
'Chaser' has become the second Korean film to attract more than four million moviegoers this year after 'Forever the Moment.' The former exceeded the figure only 34 days after its release while the latter took 39 days to exceed the four million mark. The figure is more significant for 'Chaser' as it is rated R.
Film distributor Show Box said despite the release of Hollywood blockbusters like 'Jumper' and '10,000 B.C.,' box office ticket sales for 'Chaser' have not gone down. It added that the film is expected to break the box office record of 'Forever the Moment.'
Starring Kim Yoon-seok and Ha Jeong-woo, 'Chaser' is an action thriller with a strong social message. The story revolves about a former detective turned pimp who chases a serial killer over a span of 24 hours.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1513608_11692.html |
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Monday, 17 March 2008
Fine Cut picks up United pair
Written by Patrick Frater
HONG KONG -- Recently launched Korean sales company Fine Cut has expanded its slate with a pair of pickups from United Pictures, a new shingle headed by a trio of leading Korean producers. United Pictures is a production and financing company set up by Lee Tae-hun ("Sympathy for Lady Vengeance"), Shim Bo-kyeong ("JSA: Joint Security Area") and Eugene Lee ("Happiness") separately from their own production labels.
The two pickups include "Antique," which is an adaptation of a Japanese manga about four roguish chefs working in a bakery. A Zip Cinema/Soo Film/United Pictures production, pic is helmed by Min Kyu-dong ("Memento Mori").
The other pickup is "Go Go 70s." Film features "Tazza the High Rollers" star Cho Seung-woo as the leader of 1970s band Devils, which led Korean rock music out of the dark ages. Directed by Choi Ho, pic is produced by United and Shim's Bokyungsa outfit.
Both pics are currently in production and will be released in Korea through Showbox/Mediaplex.
Fine Cut was launched last month in Berlin by former Cineclick Asia topper Suh Young-joo and has already had B.O. and remake deal success with actioner "The Chaser." Pic has sold more than 3 million tickets for a gross exceeding $18 million.
Source; Variety Asia
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/5700/ |
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March 17, 2008
Daring Movie Tells Plight of N.Korean Refugees
Amid growing interest from the global community in the Chosun Ilbo documentary "On the Border," another Korean film about North Korean refugees is set to be released in May.
"Crossing" is the first Korean feature film to deal with the miserable reality faced by North Korean defectors, including laborers in a logging camp and teenagers who survive by begging and stealing. The 2006 movie "South of the Border" dealt with the story of separated North Korean lovers, but "Crossing" focuses on the refugees' struggle to survive.
"Crossing" is a heartbreaking human drama about a man (Cha In-pyo) who escapes from a mining village in North Korea's North Hamgyong Province to find medicine and food for his family. Later the man's 11-year-old son leaves home to find his father.
The work is based on the true stories of dozens of North Korean defectors, including some involved in the March 2002 incident in which 25 defectors pushed their way past Chinese guards into the Spanish Embassy in Beijing.
Production on the movie was kept secret because parts of it were shot on location on an 8,000-km route stretching from China to Mongolia, as well as out of fear of threats from the North to the safety of interviewees and staff. Actor Cha In-pyo had to promise to reveal nothing about the film until shooting was done.
It took more than a year to interview people and gather information before shooting began. North Korean Kim Chul-yong, who was a member of North Korean arts propaganda squads and defected to the South in 2001, helped out as an assistant director. He also participated in the making of "South of the Border."
The movie cost W4 billion (US$1=W997) to produce, which is the average budget for a commercial film in Korea. The producers did everything they could to minimize the budget, but they had little luck finding investors and had to keep postponing shooting. While the topic is important, it's not one that generally appeals to young viewers so the movie is less likely to succeed at the box office.
Things turned around when new investment and distribution company Vantage Holdings decided to shoulder almost half the production costs. Vantage also invested in the latest hit thriller "The Chaser." Kim Sun-yong, the youngest son of former Daewoo chairman Kim Woo-jung, is a shareholder and board director of Vantage.
The film was directed by Kim Tae-kyun, whose filmography includes the 2001 movie "Whasan High School," "Temptation of Wolves (2004)" and "A Millionaire's First Love (2006)." The producers will hold a press conference on Tuesday to reveal the story behind the production and release the teaser trailers.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 3/200803170011.html |
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March 17, 2008
Actor Song Il-guk Marries Judge
Actor Song Il-guk (37) and a 32-year-old Busan High Court Judge identified only by her family name "Jung" held a private wedding away from the media spotlight at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul on March 15.
Officiated by the President of Chung-Ang University Park Beom-hoon, the traditional Korean-style wedding ceremony was attended by one thousand guests. Jazz artist Yoon Hee-jeong and singer Park Ae-ri from the National Changgeuk Company of Korea performed nuptial songs for the bride and groom.
The bride passed the bar exam while doing the doctorate course in the code of civil procedure at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Law. She finished her mandatory training at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in January and became appointed as a Busan High Court Judge in February. Song and Jung were introduced by a mutual friend. They tied the knot after two years of dating.
Song's acquaintances said the actor did not want to make the wedding a public affair, as the bride was not a public personality like himself.
After returning from their honeymoon, the newlyweds plan to settle down in Busan.
Song is the son of veteran actress Kim Eul-dong. He made his acting debut on MBC TV in 1998 and has since become a household name by starring in numerous successful TV shows including 'Terms of Endearment,' 'Emperor of the Sea' and 'Jumong.' His most recent appearance was on 'Lobbyist' on SBS TV.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1513592_11692.html |
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Min Hyo Rin releases a digital single
March 14, 2008
The story behind the teaser poster of Min Hyo Rin is finally out!
Today marks the release of her digital single 揟ouch Me, |
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Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highllight
March 16, 2008
Korea's copyright industry taps into global market
The Korean wave spurs strong growth in the sector
A scene from the Korea-produced performance, Jump
BoA and Rain are two names that many Asians identify Korea with, much like the way they do with America抯 Britney Spears.
If Samsung and Hyundai were synonymous with Korea in the past, films such as "Old Boy" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" have given the nation new titles like "Powerhouse of Innovative Films."
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
"The Host" is a 2006 film that drew more than 13 million viewers nationwide. When released overseas, it recorded sales of some $7 million. This was the equivalent of exporting 5,600 units of luxurious Hyundai sedans.
Movie poster of The Host
What started as the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, which swept across Asia, the Middle East and even parts of South America, Korean culture is now making a leap in the copyright industry.
The copyright industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. It covers various sectors of film, music, gaming, animation and character industry and their development, production, distribution and consumption.
Because of its creative nature and the contents |
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March 17, 2008
Blockbuster 'Chaser' Attracts Over 4 Million Moviegoers
The Korean blockbuster film 'Chaser' (directed by Na Hong-jin, Bidangil Production Company) has attracted more than four million moviegoers since its release on February 14.
'Chaser' has become the second Korean film to attract more than four million moviegoers this year after 'Forever the Moment.' The former exceeded the figure only 34 days after its release while the latter took 39 days to exceed the four million mark. The figure is more significant for 'Chaser' as it is rated R.
Film distributor Show Box said despite the release of Hollywood blockbusters like 'Jumper' and '10,000 B.C.,' box office ticket sales for 'Chaser' have not gone down. It added that the film is expected to break the box office record of 'Forever the Moment.'
Starring Kim Yoon-seok and Ha Jeong-woo, 'Chaser' is an action thriller with a strong social message. The story revolves about a former detective turned pimp who chases a serial killer over a span of 24 hours.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1513608_11692.html |
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March 17, 2008
[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(23)-HERALD INTERVIEW]
Ryu Si-won says it's all about adapting to Japan
The increasing popularity of Korean pop culture throughout Asia has led some Korean entertainers to spend more time each year in Japan or China than in their mother country. Examples include Ryu Si-won and Jang Na-ra.
"I find staying in Japan as comfortable as on Jeju Island or in Busan," said Ryu, a singer and actor whose popularity in Japan rivals that of Bae Yong-joon, who is known by his Japanese fans as Yonsama. "Of course I miss my Korean fans and friends," he told the Korea Herald
Looking back on when he launched his career in Japan four years ago, he said that Korea's image has soared in Japan over time, thanks to the unprecedented popularity of Korean pop culture. "I heard some Korean people living in Japan say they've become more proud of being Koreans because of those Korean stars. I'm so proud to hear that, as well," said Ryu, 35.
The multi-talented star, however, doesn't want to be called a Hallyu (Korean Wave) star anymore. "Hallyu's success story is not indicative of individual Korean stars' popularity in Japan and elsewhere outside Korea. In fact, Korean pop culture, as a whole, is gradually losing its competitive edge in Japan." continued Ryu.
According to him, Japanese broadcasters have recently done less coverage of Korean stars than they did a few years ago. "Korean Wave, as a new cultural trend, helped me a lot when I made my debut in Japan, but from now on, the key to the success of Korean entertainers in Japan is tailoring their work to that locale," emphasized Ryu.
In fact, his efforts to fit into Japanese market have been recognized as a perfect example for younger Korean entertainers targeting overseas markets. "I didn't want to take advantage of the Korean Wave from the beginning, so I decided to make everything Japanese-friendly, as if I were a rookie Japanese entertainer, rather than a Korean star," said Ryu, who speaks pretty fluent Japanese during his concerts.
Having debuted here in the KBS drama "Feeling (Neukkim)," Ryu shot to stardom with another KBS show called "Propose" (1997), for which he won the Most Popular Actor of the Year award. Although his singing talent had not been known until his debut in Japan, Ryu surprised even his most devoted Korean fans when he became the first Korean male 'singer' to top the Oricon Daily Charts on the day of the release of his single "Sakura" in 2005.
"Do I prefer singing to acting? It's hard to tell. I love the feeling of intimacy a concert creates between me and my fans, but I also love acting because it allows me to tell a lot of different stories," Ryu continued. His fourth album, "With You," topped the Japanese HMV's (a leading specialist retailer of music) album-booking chart last May, and took the second spot on the Oricon Daily Charts a month later.
Meanwhile, he also pursued his career as an actor in Japan. The star of "Beautiful Days" (2001) -- an SBS drama that became a huge hit in Japan when it was aired on NHK in 2004 -- made his debut in a Japanese soap opera with the NHK drama, "Dondo Bare (Getting Clearer)," in which he played the role of a Korean star staying at an inn.
Since last year, he has been appearing on the TBS weekend drama "Joshi Deka! (Female Detectives)," which features Pinko Izumi and Yukie Nakama as a pair of women detectives. Both as an actor and singer, his popularity in Japan has become something of a phenomenon.
Earlier this year, Ryu was selected as the best "ideal boyfriend" in a weekly entertainment survey conducted by the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. According to the survey, Ryu was ranked tops in the category of "the actor most women wish to date."
"He is very smart, as far as acting is concerned," said Pinko Izumi, the veteran Japanese actress who stars with him in "Joshi Deka!" "While shooting the drama, he was always surrounded by so many female fans. Now I can see why."
The Korean Tourism Organization, a state-funded group which promotes Korean tourism around the world, estimates that he alone attracts more than 10,000 Japanese tourists to Korea every year. This is why he was appointed by the KTO as goodwill ambassador to Japan three years ago.
"I'm honored. I will do my best to promote Korea and Korean culture in Japan," he said. Last year, a Japanese travel agency introduced a package including a visit to his old family house in Andong in North Gyeongsang Province -- an old, traditional Korean-style house that even Queen Elizabeth visited during her time in this country in 1999.
"It's something I should appreciate my ancestors for," he said. "My parents (his father, who guided the queen in Andong, along with Ryu, died four months ago) were so conservative and strict about etiquette education," explained Ryu, whose trademark politeness and gentlemanly manner appeals to his fans in Japan and here.
Ryu is the only Korean artist who is a licensed international race car driver, and he has a stable of fast cars and racing bikes. He also had a cook book published some years ago, and loves to cook.
"Racing is more than a hobby. My career as a professional racer also means a lot to me," he said. "Currently, I'm also in love with my DSLG camera. I'm still learning, but I hope I can publish my own photo album someday."
Ryu, who finished his fifth regular album recently, is scheduled to give 30 concerts in 18 Japanese cities starting in May. "I've been too busy to take a sightseeing trip in Japan. But I'd love to visit Mount Fuji and enjoy famous Japanese hot springs," he said.
By Lee Yong-sung ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highllight
March 17, 2008
Actress Ko to Return as President in New Drama
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Actress Ko Hyun-jung
Actress Ko Hyun-jung will return playing the role of a female president in a new drama to be aired on SBS in July.
Ko will take the leading role of Seo Hye-lim in "Daemul'' (Queen-maker), a drama based on the comic book of the same name by Park In-gwon.
The drama revolves around a female prosecutor who fights against social injustice and tenders her resignation after arresting a mogul who masterminds organized crime in political circles. Then, after working as a lawyer who advocates human rights, she earns a reputation as caring for people, she then runs for, and is elected, president.
An official of the drama production company said that the drama will focus on the making of a female president. "The script writer says 'daemul' means the 'great person' in the drama,'' he said.
The drama will also co-star Kwon Sang-woo, who will take the role of Ko's counterpart.
The soap opera consisting of 20-24 episodes is expected to cost 10 billion won to produce.
The production team has already shot the scenes for the presidential inauguration ceremony on Feb. 25 when President Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated. The production team will go on a location in Japan in April.
A former 1989 Miss Korea runner up, Ko made a successful comeback to the entertainment industry with the 2005 TV series "Bomnal'' (Spring Day) after her divorce. She starred in "Yeouya Mohani'' (Hello Fox),'' a mini-series in 2006.
She enjoyed stardom after starring in the 1995 TV series "Moraesigye" (Hourglass). She announced her retirement that year upon marrying Chung Yong-jin, a nephew of Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee and vice president of Shinsegae Department Store. The marriage ended in 2003. Ko also acted in the film, "Woman on the Beach'' in 2006.
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Source: Korea Times
Images: Starnews |
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Post time 15-3-2008 03:17 AM
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