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Thanks to the highlight by kdramafanusa at soompi.com
March 19, 2008
Korean actor Choi Min-soo to co-star with Robert De Niro
Actor Choi Min-soo
Korean actor Choi Min-soo will co-star with Hollywood stars Robert De Niro and Andy Garcia in the film "Street of Dreams," Korea抯 Yonhap news reported Tuesday (March 18).
"Street of Dreams" is a 40 billion won co-production between U.S.-based FR Productions, Korea抯 Hyun Jin Cinema and Japan抯 Wides Japan. The film will be produced by Fred Roos, the producer of 揟he Godfather: Part II" and "The Godfather: Part III."
Hyun Jin Cinema has produced Korean films such as "Holiday" and "My Wife is a Gangster 3." Wides Japan has previously made "Deep Love" and "26 Years Diary" that showed the story of a Korean-Japanese man who sacrificed his life to save a Japanese passenger in the subway.
"Street of Dreams" is based on the true story of Montana Joe, a legendary Japanese-American gangster in the 1960s in the United States. Choi will play the role of Montana抯 Korean friend, Eddie. This will be Choi抯 first Hollywood movie.
According to FR Productions, De Niro has been cast as an Italian mafia leader. De Niro, who has won two Academy Awards, is known for remarkable performances in "The Godfather Part II," "Taxi Driver" and "The Untouchables." Garcia, who also appeared in "The Untouchables," "The Godfather: Part III" and the "Ocean抯" series, will also play a mafia boss against De Niro.
So far, however, no actor has been cast in the leading role of Montana. Large-scale auditions are scheduled for the role in April and May in Japan.
Raymond De Felitta, who was nominated for an Academy Award for a live-action short film "Bronx Cheer," will direct the film. Roger Towne, who won an Academy Award for "Chinatown" in 1975, wrote the script. "Street of Dreams" is slated for release in 2009.
Source: KOREA.net |
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March 20, 2008
Super Junior Member to Light Olympics Torch
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Hangeng
Hangeng, member of K-pop group Super Junior, will take part in the torch lighting ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the singer's management agency SM Entertainment announced Thursday.
The 24-year-old Chinese national was chosen through an online poll conducted by Coca-Cola China, a sponsor of the Olympic games (www.icoke.cn). Han ranked first place for the Beijing region, and the Olympic Organizing Committee approved the choice.
"Hangeng was chosen for the role because his efforts in publicizing China and encouraging cultural exchange through his active career in Korea and other Asian countries were recognized,'' SM Entertainment was quoted as saying by Yonhap News.
Hangeng and torch lighters representing other regions of China will take part of a national illumination event in August. The singer will light the torch August 6-8.
At 5 p.m. on the 24th Hangeng will take part of an event hosted by Coca-Cola China in Shenzhen, China. It will celebrate the appointment of the torchbearers, and Chinese gold medallists of past Olympic games as well as prominent social figures will attend. The ceremony will be aired as a recorded program through CCTV-5 and Guangdong TV, official broadcasters for the Olympics.
"I am very happy and honored to chosen for the role,'' said Hangeng according to SM Entertainment.
[email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/03/178_21087.html |
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“MTV Ultimate” on YG Entertainment
March 20, 2008
MTV Korea is airing the success story of YG Entertainment, the label that houses big names in the Korean music scene like Se7en, Gummy and BIG BANG.
“MTV Ultimate” is airing episodes on 3 major labels in Korea and Yang Hyun Suk’s YG Entertainment is first in line. The episode will showcase YG’s 10 years in developing hip hop and urban music in Korea.
Yang Hyun Suk’s company did not rise to fame in an instant. In fact, YG Entertainment’s first group called Keep Six was not able to appeal to the public. He then earned success with YG Family’s first generation artist Jinusean and later with hip hop group 1TYM and hip hop and R&B singers like Wheesung, Gummy, Big Mama, Lexy, Se7en, BIG BANG and Stony Skunk. These artists are collectively known to be the “YG Family.”
MTV Ultimate’s episode on YG Entertainment will be aired on the 22nd at 10:50 pm, followed by Lee Soo Man’s SM Entertainment on the 29th and Park Jin Young’s JYP Entertainment on April 5.
Source: Yonhap + krnloop
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2 members left LPG
March 20, 2008
Han Young and Soo Ah, members of the 4-member female group LPG, left the group.
“2 members of the group already left LPG. Han Young is going solo and Soo Ah will first concentrate on her postmodern studies at the Kyunghee University and then go on a solo career. LPG 2 will be born with two new members along with the original members, Yun Oh and Yoon Ah,” an official in LPG’s label said.
The official also added that as LPG members are either Miss Korea contestants or Super Models, they are looking for the most suited new members of the group.
Source: Yonhap + krnloop
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Rich on his girlfriend
March 22, 2008
Last March 19 at the Changjo Concert Hall in Seoul, Rich attended a production conference of the musical “Our Town,” wherein he was casted as the lead. During the said press conference, he revealed the story behind the song “EJ’s number (010-4555-10XX),” which is a track from his 4th album that was just released last month.
“The song’s sad story is the same as the story of my girlfriend. The song’s title is composed of the initials and cellphone number of my girlfriend who died of Leukemia.
“In the musical, I play the character ‘Sangwoo’ whose wife died after giving birth. I also had a similar experience. 4 years ago, my girlfriend died because of Leukemia. The last scene in the musical reminds me so much of her. Now I remember a lot of memories of her. During those days, I was very sad and could do nothing but take a break from activities but now, I want to do my best in this work,” Rich said.
The musical starts its run on April 3.
Source: Health Korea News + krnloop
[ Last edited by adikkeluangman_ at 22-3-2008 07:41 PM ] |
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March 18, 2008
Lee So-yeon, "Couldn't sleep at first main role in drama"
Lee So-yeon revealed that she has not been sleeping from stress of her first main role in a drama. She revealed this at a press conference in Seoul for the production of the SBS drama "Why Did You Come To Our House".
She said, "I'm very nervous for my first main role. The movie I was in after last year's "Highway Star" didn't do so well, so I thought carefully about my next work".
"I chose this because the character is very fun and daring. I realize how big my role is while filming little by little. This overwhelms me". She also said, "I can't sleep because of stress. The directors and actors are helping me to adjust. I will do my best".
The drama will be aired after "Bichunmoo - Drama" on the 28th, and it tells the story of Jo Ki-dong (Kim Ji-hoon) who marries into a rich house for money. Lee So-yeon plays Han Mi-soo, who is on the verge of marrying Jo Ki-dong.
Original article at news.naver.com
English translation by hancinema.net |
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March 23, 2008
Directors from New Zealand, Korea make movie magic
It's not every day that an Oscar-nominated director comes to town -- especially one from New Zealand. So, when that happened recently, it was a good opportunity to throw a film party.
The director in question was Taika Waititi, who won international recognition after his film "Two Cars, One Night" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2005.
The recent event was also the perfect opportunity to bring together moviemakers from both Korea and New Zealand to discuss possible future collaborations.
"It's a very bright future, and I think this year will be a bumper year, in terms of actual projects under way," said New Zealand Ambassador Jane Coombs to The Korea Herald.
One perfect example of this collaboration is the Korean feature called "Laundry Warrior" by Lee Sng-moo, slated for release sometime this year.
The $40-million movie stars Geoffrey Rush, Kate Bosworth and Korean actor Jang Dong-gun.
"There are some Korean filmmakers who are working with New Zealand filmmakers on two other co-production projects which we hope will be done this year," she said with optimism, adding that there are others in the pipeline.
Coombs said that what she finds exciting is the real collaboration that is happening: "It's not just filmmakers going to another country and using those services; it's actually a genuine creative and business collaboration."
Korea Film Council chairman and movie director Lee Hyeon-seung sees a bright future for joint ventures between moviemakers from Korea and New Zealand because, as with "Laundry Warrior," collaborations could sell worldwide, including in the United States. That's why he's been working with the Korean government to establish a fund to bring together artists from both countries, to strengthen that relationship.
Lee is well known for his movie "Siworae," (Il Mare) which was remade in Hollywood as "The Lake House" starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.
The reason that moviemakers from both countries work so well together, Lee said, is their "common sense of humor and other commonalities."
While the Korean government has been slow in signing the Korea-New Zealand Co-production Film Agreement, filmmakers have picked up the pace and started working together anyway.
The party at the Coombs' residence featured two films by Waititi.
The first was "Two Cars, One Night," which is about two boys and a girl who cross paths in the parking lot of a rural pub in Te Kaha, New Zealand. What at first seems to be a relationship based on rivalry soon develops into a close friendship.
Good news for those who saw this flick: Waititi is currently working on full-length feature version.
The second was "Tama tu," which is about a squad of Maori troops in Europe during World War II who silently entertain themselves in a destroyed house as they wait to be part of the coming battle.
When asked if Lee and Waititi will be hooking up for a movie, the New Zealand director said that this is highly possible.
Separately, Lee is working on his new movie -- a thriller. The name of the film has not been decided yet, but it looks like another gem.
By Yoav Cerralbo ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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March 14, 2008
Actress Moon So-ri's "tent lecture"
Moon So-ri lectured about short films to a night class for the disabled on the 14th at Seoul Marronier Park.
It was the 73rd day of the night class in a tent on the street.
Because this school is not approved by the Seoul Education Office or Ministry of Education, it does not have a budget. Through the help of others, the "tent lectures" will be held in a new place.
Original article at kr.news.yahoo.com
English translation by hancinema.net |
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March 21, 2008
Singer Youn Ha Will Star in Japanese Film
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Singer Youn Ha
Singer Youn Ha will appear as the heroine of a Japanese movie opposite one of Japan's biggest stars, her local management agency Stam Entertainment announced Thursday. The 19-year-old will star in "Gondono Nitsuyobi" (This Sunday), a human drama directed by Genmochi Satoki.
Youn Ha had previously appeared in a Japanese short film in 2005, but this will be her first commercial feature. She will play the role of a Korean student studying in Japan who, while juggling various part-time jobs, becomes involved with a mysterious man.
The singer will act opposite Somegoro Ichikawa, 35, a renowned Kabuki movie star in Japan. He is famous for being cast at age 14 as the youngest ever Hamlet for a theatrical production of the Shakespearean play. Here, Ichikawa is known through the films 'Welcome Mr. McDonald" and "April Story."
"Youn Ha went through vigorous training because Japanese films require performing subtle emotions," said Stam Entertainment. "She is particularly focusing on portraying the coming-of-age aspect of the film. She will be delivering lines in both Korean and Japanese."
"It's a story about two people communicating and sharing perspectives, overcoming national, generational and gender differences,'' the director was quoted as saying, according to Yonhap News. "The film depicts humanity through humorous situations, times of woe and warm friendships."
The film is currently going into production in Nagano, Japan. The cast and crew plan to move the shooting location to Korea at the end of the month.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/03/139_21146.html |
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S. Koreans in shock over actor's link to Sydney stabbing
March 23, 2008 - updated
CONDOLENCES TO LEE DONG GUN & HIS FAMILY IN THEIR TIME OF BEREAVEMENT
SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans were stunned on Friday when they learned that the brother of a top local actor was killed in an apparently gang-related crime that took place in Sydney earlier this week.
Australian press reported that a 19-year-old South Korean man died on Thursday after being stabbed by two men believed to be members of an Asian crime ring. A 20-year-old friend of his was also attacked and is in a critical condition.
The midnight incident was captured on a number of surveillance cameras in downtown Sydney, the reports said. The two suspects were charged with murder.
South Korean police said Friday that the victim who died in the crime was the younger brother of Lee Dong-gun, a 28-year-old South Korean actor who commands great popularity here and throughout Asia from starring in a number of hit movies and television dramas. Such South Korean works are widely distributed in the region.
Lee and his parents hastily departed for Australia on Thursday, according to his aide in the entertainment business.
Source: [email protected]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 0321006500315F.HTML |
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March 22, 2008
Murdered man was actor's brother
A South Korean student who was fatally stabbed in an attack in Sydney earlier this week was the brother of a top local actor, police in Seoul said today.
South Koreans were stunned to learn that the victim was the brother of Lee Dong-Gun, a popular actor, with internet sites flooded with messages of condolences from Lee's adoring fans.
Lee's 19-year-old brother died in the attack in the city centre in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Two men were later charged with the murder, as well serious wounding of a 20-year-old man, who was a freind of Lee's brother. The friend remained in hospital with a serious stab wound to his upper body.
Lee's brother and his friend were both studying in Sydney.
Lee, 28, and his parents flew into Sydney on Thursday. They broke down in tears after being told by Sydney police that the brother had died, news reports in Seoul said.
"He loved his brother so much. He was very proud of him. Whenever the brother returned home for vacations, he spent most of his time with the brother," an unidentified friend of Lee's was quoted as saying by Go News, an internet news provider.
Lee is one of the most popular South Korean actors and has starred in a number of hit movies and television dramas.
NSW police said the two South Korean students were attacked after an argument between them and a group of men near the World Square shopping centre, on the corner of Pitt and Liverpool streets, about 1am (AEDT) on Thursday.
The two men charged over the attack, 18-year-olds Michael Lee and Ivan Wong, both of Carlingford in Sydney's north-west, appeared in Parramatta Bail Court yesterday via videolink.
They faced charges of murder, causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, and common assault.
Neither applied for bail and it was formally refused. Both are due to reappear at Central Local Court on March 25 for mention.
Source: AAP/AFP via The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2 ... 099.html?s_cid=rss_ |
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Horan & Alex to go solo
March 22, 2008
Clazziquai members Horan and Alex are going on separate projects for now.
Horan joined the acoustic project group Ibadi as a vocalist for its 1st album entitled 揝tory of Us |
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March 24, 2008
A Whole New 'Destiny' for Song Seung-hun
A poster for 'Destiny.'
Song Seung-hun used to play sweet, gentle parts, mainly in sad melodramas that squeezed copious tears from his women fans. But in his first work after being discharged from the military, Song is reborn as an explosive, wild and tough guy. He stars in the gangster movie "Destiny" with Kwon Sang-woo and Ji Sung. The movie was sold to Japan for US$2 million last year, even before production had been completed. And more than 30 percent of tickets for the movie are booked even before its release, such is the curiosity about the film.
Song plays Woomin, a gangster who enjoys the trust of his boss and colleagues. "I thought hard about my first work after the discharge. I chose 慏estiny |
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March 24, 2008
Actor Ji Jin-hee to Promote Film 'Soo' in Japan
Actor Ji Jin-hee, who recently stared in the action film 'Soo' (directed by Choi Yang-il and produced by Triz Club), will visit Japan in the coming days.
'Soo' is Korean-Japanese director Choi Yang-il's first Korean film. He was noted for 'Blood and Bones,' which won numerous awards in Japan.
The film features star actors such as Ji Jin-hee, Kang Sung-yeon and Moon Sung-keun. The film is currently being screened at the 'Hallyu Cinema Festival 2008 Spring' in Tokyo, to be held until the end of May.
Ji will attend the 'Ji Jin-hee Special Talk Event 2008' in Tokyo on April 5 to promote the film, and greet Japanese audiences on April 6 during the special screening of the film.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1514932_11692.html |
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March 25, 2008
Samsung Unveils Promotional Music Video Starring Rain
Samsung Electronics has unveiled the 2008 Beijing Olympics theme song and the music video that will be used for advertising its Anycall mobile phones. Singer and actor Rain, who is one of the hottest celebrities in Asia, stars in the music video.
Samsung Electronics, one of the official sponsors of the 2008 summer Olympic games, launched the music video starring Rain at a recent event announcing the participants of the Olympic Flame relay. The music video is about working hard and achieving one's dreams. Rain conveys the message by dancing throughout the music video.
Rain took active part in choreographing the dance moves for the music video, which boasts blockbuster-level cinematography. In the video, Rain battles it out with talented B-Boys and shows off his sexy charm to the fullest. Rain's physique in the music video reportedly looks very impressive, as he underwent months of hard training to prepare for the shooting of the film 'Ninja Assassin,' a new Hollywood action movie.
Director Jang Jae-hyuk, who made the music video for 'It's Raining,' the title song of Rain's 3rd studio album, took charge once again. Samsung Anycall's promotional music video starring Rain will be played throughout the Olympic Flame relay as well as the summer Olympic games for a total of 97 days. The video will also be edited into a 15-second commercial clip that will go on air nationwide in China and Hong Kong starting in early April.
Once he finishes shooting 'Ninja Assassin,' Rain will visit China in mid-August to take part in events related to the Summer Olympics.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1515139_11692.html |
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Isak acts in a musical
March 24, 2008
Isak (23) of the duo IsakNJiyeon will debut as an actor in the musical 揟he Life |
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[size="4"]Lee Jung has a girlfriend
March 24, 2008
Lee Jung revealed during a recent recording of MBC 揅ome to Play |
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Sean抯 good deeds
March 25, 2008
Today, March 25, Sean posted an entry in his mini homepage regarding Taean, which was struck by disaster in December 2007 because of an oil spill. Like other celebrities, Sean also recently helped in cleaning the oil spill in Taean as evident in the picture above. Moreover, without letting anyone know, Sean and Jung Hye Young also volunteered last year to help in cleaning up Taean.
揟aean looks better now than last year. But still, the scar remains. Taean, get well soon. I hope that Taean抯 kids and residents also get well soon, |
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March 25, 2008
Ahn Jae-Wook's Exclusive Album Radio Showcase
The month of April has been rather extraordinary for Ahn Jae-Wook. While working as a radio DJ, many wondered if he would ever return to what many recognized him for |
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March 26, 2008
This new dad is GLOWING WITH LOVE
Korean heart-throb has newborn son after surprise wedding to secret girlfriend
By Chang May Choon
JANG Hyuk is basking in happiness and it shows.
Jang Hyuk showing off his moves
in Dance Of The Dragon and with Fann Wong,
who plays a former dance champion.
Design: PRADIP Picture: GAVIN FOO
In the six months since he first joked that 'I'm a dandy boy' in an interview with The New Paper, the Korean actor has married his long-time girlfriend whom he had kept secret from the media.
He also declared his love for her in a press statement. Their son was born on 8 Feb. Obviously, his new family must be the source of the unmistakable glow on his boyish face.
This reporter met Jang Hyuk again three weeks ago, when he was back in town for a brief trip to promote his upcoming movie with Fann Wong and Jason Scott Lee.
Entitled Dance Of The Dragon, it is slated to open here on 1 May. Looking dapper in a brown-and-white ensemble with his hair grown out, Jang Hyuk gamely posed for photos first. A tender smile often lit up his face, as if he was thinking of his family.
Jang Hyuk, 32, later declined to talk about fatherhood and his family, citing privacy. The fiercely low-profile actor said he would rather focus on his new movie. But he would say this much: His secret to juggling both his jet-setting showbiz career and his family is in the 'control of the mind'.
He was commenting on the movie's theme 'dare to dream, dare to love', and how it is sometimes not possible to realise both because some people choose logic over innocence.
So how is it that he managed to grasp both ideals in real life?
'It's possible... I decide this is what I want and I go after it,' he said in Korean-accented English during an interview at Meritus Mandarin Hotel. 'When I work, I focus all on work. When I'm with family, I spend all my time with family.'
Jang Hyuk's wedding announcement last December wasn't really a surprise as he had expressed his longing to start a family during our interview last September.
What's uncanny, however, is how closely his love story mirrors that of Dance Of The Dragon. Jang Hyuk plays a Korean dance student who arrives in Singapore to polish his skills with a former dance champion played by Fann. He falls in love with her but has to suppress his feelings as she already has a martial arts expert boyfriend (Jason).
In real life, Jang Hyuk reportedly met his wife at a pilates class in 2002. No prizes for guessing: She was the instructor and he, the student. When he spoke of how tough a teacher-student love relationship is in the movie, I could almost imagine him reflecting on his own experience.
'For my character, a teacher-student love is impossible. They have deep feelings inside, but on the outside, they can only look at each other... so many obstacles...'
Off-screen, Jang Hyuk and his 'teacher' not only managed to keep their romance secret for five years, but they also overcame two years of separation when he bowed out of showbiz in 2004 and enlisted for mandatory national service.
Unlike in Singapore, Korean men stay in camp throughout their entire national service instead of going home on weekends. Jang Hyuk said that was their biggest sacrifice for love, and they had to rely on writing letters to keep their relationship alive. 'That time was very hard. She waited for me for two years.
'Inside (our hearts there was) loving emotion, but we couldn't see each other for (a) long time.'
Source: The Electric New Paper
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,160215,00.html |
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March 26, 2008
Diva Kim transcends racism, still rocks at 51
Korean diva Kim In-soon. By Kim Seong-ryong
When pop singer Kim In-soon made her debut in 1978, she faced racial discrimination.
Korean society wasn't ready to accept Kim, who had an American father and a Korean mother.
Her dark skin and curly hair fed local prejudice against biracial people.
But times have changed.
Now 51, Kim, better known as Insooni, is now Korea's diva.
She is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of her debut with a newly released studio album, "Legend," and a nationwide tour.
The concerts will start next month at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul.
Kim will also perform on Mount Kumgang on May 15.
The name of her latest album indicates Kim's new dream and vision.
"I always envied those artists known as legends," Kim said. "The album title doesn't mean that I am a legend. But I don't mind being called one."
Over the years Kim has appreciated the empathy her fans have expressed for her struggle as a biracial performer.
But she doesn't want to be locked into that image.
"I'm just who I am," Kim said. "I love myself. I believe my smile is worth 1 million won [$1,000]."
Her self-confidence is reflected in her ballad, 'Goose's Dream.'
"I'm not fond of mid-tempo or slow songs," Kim said. "I've been hurt by prejudice and I thought my songs at least should be bright."
When Kim was looking for a closing song for her concert two years ago, she sang Goose's Dream.
She wanted to deliver a hopeful message to other singers and fans that grief and sorrow can be overcome.
"I believe that both young people who are in agony looking for a job and people in their 40s and 50s who are about to give up their dreams can find hope by listening to this song," Kim said.
"Fans clapped and encouraged me to believe I was qualified to sing this song and felt they, too, can overcome life's difficulties," she said. "The song gave hope."
The lyrics read: "I have a dream. The dark world cannot stop me from heading toward my dreams."
"My Friend," produced by singer-song writer Park Geun-tae, was also a big hit.
Kim sang the song with Cho Jung-hun, an R&B singer 20 years her junior.
Kim said Park provided inspirational to Kim's career.
"Though I was too old to perform a lively and danceable song, I actually forgot how old I was on stage," Kim said.
She performed wearing shorts and a tank top. She even curled her hair more.
Kim's young spirit also brought her to the stage at KBS TV's "Open Concert."
She had always monitored her stage performances and studied ideas to help her improve her shows.
When offered the chance to perform onstage, she was a big hit, especially with the song "La Bamba."
Since then, Kim has performed on Open Concert once every two weeks.
"I was lucky," Kim said.
"I worked hard to keep up my repertoire and stage performances for 10 years.
"I chose my life at an early age. While living with my Korean mother, I decided to live in this country as long as I live," Kim said.
"I didn't want to get affected by the restricted environment and prejudice." Kim has not regretted her choice.
"I have no reason not to be fair to my destiny," Kim said.
At her upcoming concert, Kim is ready to rock and roll.
"I have a wide range of fans," Kim said. "At the concert, I want to be old but not unfashionable. I want to be young but not senseless."
By Jung Hyun-mok JoongAng Ilbo [[email protected]]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2887841 |
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March 24, 2008
[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(26)]
First generation 'Hallyu' star continues to shine
In the last few years, Korean films, TV dramas and pop music have become immensely popular abroad, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave. This is the 26th in a series of essays by a select group of scholars and journalists looking at the spread of Korean pop culture in Southeast Asian countries and beyond. - Ed.
The term "Korean Wave" or "Hallyu" was initially coined in China to describe a newfound interest in Korean pop culture in China in the late 1990s. At the center of it all was the now-defunct boy band H.O.T. (High-five of Teenagers), two of whose albums were exported to China in 1998.
Many people underestimate the strategic side of the iconic band's success in China, though, assuming that the quintet was simply lucky to become the first Korean pop musicians to be active in China, at a time when the country's music scene was not very well developed.
Until last year, Ahn Chil-hyun - lead singer of the band, and better known by his stage name, Kangta - was one of them.
The charismatic singer and songwriter, who has written more than 100 songs for H.O.T. and other popular K-pop bands such as NRG and Fly to the Sky, remembers their first concert in Beijing in July 2000 as something wonderful, even magical. "I thought like, 'Man, I'm one heck of a lucky guy,'" Ahn told The Korea Herald, recollecting their Chinese debut, which attracted more than 13,000 people. "Before then, we had never performed in China, and besides, Korean pop stars were not very popular outside Korea."
It was only recently that Ahn, who now spends some of his time as a director of H.O.T.'s management company, SM Entertainment, came to know that the company had worked to promote the band in China for about three years. According to Ahn, the production house was targeting Asia long before they emerged as one of the most influential entertainment companies in the region, with the success of BoA in Japan.
"When we were first selected for H.O.T. after the auditioning process, there were only five people working for the company," said Ahn, who originally debuted as a back-up dancer with Moon Hee-jun (another H.O.T. member) for singer Yoo Young-jin.
Although the legendary boy band - which sold over 5 million albums - disbanded in 2001, all the members pursued solo careers. Ahn has been active in singing and acting, not only here but also in China, where he is still as popular as he was as lead singer of H.O.T.
"In China, a trend is slow to take off, but it also lasts longer than in any other country. You can hear a song for almost two to three years in China, once the song becomes a hit there," Ahn said. That may explain his long-lasting popularity in the country. Until he released the "Eternity-Forever" album earlier this month, he hadn't recorded a new album for three years.
"Here, on the other hand, changes are faster, and so is the development of a music genre, in general, but it also works adversely to the profound development of the genre," he said. The singer, who made his acting debut with KBS drama "Loveholic" in 2005, has so far acted in three Chinese television dramas, including one that has yet to be aired. The CCTV drama "Love in the City 2," which aired over last year's Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, ranked first in viewer ratings.
Considering that the government-run CCTV operates 18 different channels, and the enormous population must have gathered in front of the television during the holidays, it proved that his popularity in the country was not a passing fad. "I don't think I'm acting. I'm still learning," said Ahn with a smile.
In the television series, Ahn plays a popular Korean singer who loses his memory after he has an accident while touring China, and falls in love with a Chinese girl who helps him recover his memory. Ahn also sang the ending song of the drama.
When H.O.T.'s album was first released in China in 1998, the Chinese pop-music industry was about one-tenth of that of Korea, but almost no one, including Ahn, doubts that China will grow to have the biggest entertainment market in Asia in the near future.
"I have been amazed by the speed of changes in the Chinese system. In about five years, the feeling of superiority some Korean entertainers and their fans might feel toward their Chinese counterparts could be gone," he said.
By then, he expects, the Korean entertainment industry will lose much of its edge over China, unless it finds a new way to continue the Korean Wave by using its sta-management expertise.
"It would mark a new phase of the Korean Wave if Korean agencies turned their eyes to China and other Asian countries to make local talent and cultural content big in Korea and elsewhere in Asia," Ahn said. "That's what I'd like to do with SM later," said the man who once formed a cross-national pop duo named Kangta & Vaness, together with Taiwanese pop music sensation Vanness Wu.
To achieve his goal, he has to finish his military duty first. He is scheduled to join the military on April 1. "I'm not nervous. I think it will bring me a fresh perspective on society." The new "Eternity-Forever" album, which contains eight pop ballads, including the title song, "Eternity," is the last gift from the K-pop star to his fans across Asia. "I tried to create an easy feel throughout the album because I want to be remembered as such," he said.
On March 29 and 30, Ahn will give his last concerts before joining the military, at the main auditorium of Yonsei University in western Seoul. During the concerts, he will perform his H.O.T. hits, as well as songs from the new album. "I want to produce a film someday, as an actor and music director at the same time. But I should finish my studies first, and military duty, of course," said Ahn who studies film making at Dongguk University's Graduate School of Film and Digital Media.
By Lee Yong-sung ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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Post time 22-3-2008 07:40 PM
