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July 23, 2012
Lee Tae-gon to represent himself, and others
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Actor Lee Tae-gon has established an agency to represent himself and hopefully to recruit some newbies.
TG E&C was Lee’s idea after he decided to not renew his contract with a former agency; the 34-year-old actor will take the helm as the director and talent of his own company.
To date, Lee has orchestrated a press conference and collaborated with TV networks in Japan in a bid to carve a name for himself there as not only an actor, but a businessman.
“Lee wants to become an influential person who is able to help Korean actors when they make their debut in Japan and abroad,” said a spokesperson for TG E&C.
Currently, Lee is starring in the SBS show “Law of the Jungle,” as he contemplates his next move. |
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July 23, 2012
Song Seung-hun tops the charts
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Actor Song Seung-hun topped the list of entertainers with the priciest properties in Seoul.
MBC’s “Section TV” on Sunday reported that Song owns a five-story building in Gangnam, southern Seoul, worth about 16.3 billion won.
In second place was Seo Taiji with a property in Nonhyun-dong, followed by Cha In-pyo and Shin Ae-ra with a building in Cheongdam-dong, Park Jung-hun with a building in Yeoksam-dong and actor Lee Jae-ryong with a property in Cheongdam-dong.
Earlier this month, Song recorded a song for the drama “Time slip Dr. Jin,” in which he stars. According to a spokesperson, Song sang the theme song for the drama titled “Last Love.”
The track was released through online music sites on July 6.
“Song completed the recording even with his busy schedule. Thankfully, his sweet voice came in great harmony with the soundtrack,” added the drama spokesperson. |
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July 23, 2012
Kim Hye-soo 'steals' the big screen
'The Thieves' actress talks about her new movie, her love for people
By Claire Lee The Korea Herald
Among the many living actresses in Korea, Kim Hye-soo is an icon.
She is the type of actress who is remembered for her image first, film roles second. Many are well aware of and charmed by her risqué and daring fashion choices on red carpets, her gift of gab on TV talk shows, and her dominating, charismatic presence off screen. She is one of the very few, or perhaps the only actress, who is regarded as both sensual and intelligent.
Upon arriving for the interview at a hotel in central Seoul, the 41-year-old actress looks surprisingly laid back in her simple, black garment.
“I bet I’m not someone so impressive to my brothers,” Kim says. “I’m genuinely being myself on TV shows and red carpets and so on. But there is a part of me that only my close ones get to see. And it’s nice to be ‘just a sister’ to your siblings than someone special.”
Kim Hye-soo poses for a photo prior to an interview with The Korea Herald
on Thursday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)
Kim is returning to the silver screen this month as one of the thieves in director Choi Dong-hun’s star-studded blockbuster “The Thieves.” This is Kim’s second movie with Choi, after their highly successful 2006 gambling drama “Tazza: The High Rollers.” In the 2006 film, Kim played a seductive villain character Madam Jeong, who is obsessed with money and power.
In the upcoming film, however, Kim is given a role that is nothing like Madam Jung. She plays a safecracker named Pepsi, who, along with nine other professional thieves, gets involved in a project to steal a diamond worth $20 million in Macau. Her co-stars include Lee Jung-jae, Jun Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun), Kim Yoon-seok, Kim Soo-hyun, and Hong Kong-based actor Simon Yam.
“I’d never seen any character like Pepsi in Choi’s previous works,” said Kim.
From left: Kim Hye-soo, Lee Jung-jae, Oh Dal-soo and Gianna Jun
star in director Choi Dong-hun’s upcoming heist film “The Thieves.” (1st Look)
“The character is complex and has much substance. Most of the thieves in the film get into the diamond project for shallow, materialistic reasons. But what Pepsi wants out of this project is very different from others. Her desire is, I think, rather universal. Everyone has that desire, but often gives it up for wealth and fortune. But Pepsi does not. That really intrigued me.”
Even before the movie’s premiere, there had been a lot of buzz about the two heavyweight actresses -- Kim and “My Sassy Girl” star Gianna Jun -- co-starring in the same piece. While Kim’s character mostly pivots around her difficult relationship with her fellow thief, Jun plays a clever, self-oriented cat burglar -- showcasing incredible stunts and wire action throughout the film.
During a press conference on the film this month, Kim was asked what it was like to “compete” in a movie with an actress widely recognized for her beauty. Kim gave a humble answer, openly praising Jun’s looks and charms. “Jun’s so pretty that we are not even comparable,” she told the reporter.
“I think I lack the competitive gene by nature,” she said. “I honestly don’t really know what it feels like to be jealous or competitive. I’ve always been this way since I was a child. And many would say the greatest competitor in your life is yourself. Well, I don’t want to do that either. I’m not really interested in winning against anyone, including myself. I’m more interested in how I’d handle things when I run into unexpected, rough situations in life.”
Kim says she was genuinely in awe of Jun’s charms throughout the production period in Hong Kong, and everyone else in the crew. She in fact took thousands of pictures of her fellow actors, actresses and even crew members, whenever she was off-shoot in Hong Kong -- and gave the photographs as gifts after the production period.
“I just adore people and find so much beauty in them,” she says. “And it was hard not to take pictures of these people. It was beautiful to see our young crew-member looking into the view finder as if there’s nothing else in the world but camera. My fellow actress, Kim Hae-sook, has been acting for more than 30 years. But she still gets so nervous and happy like a little girl before each and every shoot. I found such passion touching and beautiful, too.”
The actress made her TV debut in 1986 at the age of 16. Having missed out on “ordinary teenage years,” she says she keeps her close friends by her side for a long time. One of her best friends is from her elementary school days. She’s been working with same make-up artist for more than 10 years. If she were to given the option to go back to the age of 16, she says, she’d choose to live as a housewife -- a “good” housewife who really does her job well.
“I spend most of my leisure time with my nieces and nephews,” she says. “When they tell me ‘Please don’t go, aunt Hye-soo,’ I just stay home with them like a recluse unless something really urgent happens.”
Asked if there is anything she wants so bad that she’d consider stealing it, Kim said “all sorts of talent.”
“I always felt a part of me is incomplete because of what I did not experience as a teenager,” she says.
“And I tried to fill in the holes with something else, including my career, throughout the years. And where I am is a result of that. I guess people end up admiring the qualities that they don’t have. I admire those who always strive for the better, those who have pretty voices, those who have a great sense of humor.”
“The Thieves” opens in theaters on Wednesday. |
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July 23, 2012
Actor Jung Woo-sung to model for Redface
By Cho Chung-un The Korea Herald
Hallyu star Jung Woo-sung has become the new face of clothing brand The Redface, the company said in a statement on Monday.
The 39-year-old actor will represent the company’s brand image and its product for a year, the outdoor fashion brand said.
“Jung has a broad fan base encompassing all age groups and his name inspires confidence in customers. He is also a fashionista suitable to represent The Redface, an outdoor brand for stylish customers,” the company said. Jung recently finished filming of jTBC’s drama “Padam Padam.”
Jung is one of top stars signed on by outdoor fashion brands ― Won Bin represents Kolon Sports’ K2 and Lee Min-ho is the face for Eider. The country’s outdoor fashion market has been fast growing since mountain climbing and other outdoor activities have become popular in recent years.
Established in 1966, The Redface has been leading the country’s outdoor fashion market and developing state-of-the-art mountain-climbing gear. After the company merged with RF Trading Co. in 2000, it has been designing and manufacturing not only apparel but also other outdoor products including tents, backpacks and hiking boots.
The company has developed “Contra-Tex,” a functional textile similar to Gore-Tex but cheaper. It hopes to sell 160 billion won ($140 million) worth of products this year, placing it among the top five outdoor companies in Korea. |
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July 24, 2012
Nichkhun booked for DUI
YonhapNews
SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- Nichkhun Buck Horvejkul, Thai-American member of South Korean pop group 2PM, has been booked without detention for driving under the influence of alcohol in Seoul, police said Tuesday.
The 23-year-old, often known as Nichkhun, allegedly got into a fender-bender with a motorcycle at around 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday in southern Seoul's upscale Gangnam area, the Gangnam Police Station said.
He was tested at the scene and found to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.056 percent, a level that could lead to the suspension of his driver's license, the police said.
Nichkhun's agency, JYP Entertainment Corp., released a statement and apologized for the "carelessness" of his act, adding that he will faithfully cooperate with all things necessary for the police investigation.
Since his debut on 2PM's first album in 2008, Nichkhun has become one of the most beloved entertainers in the country and recently appeared in a Thai film, "Seven Something."
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July 24, 2012
A-Listers Vie for Screen Time in Heist Movie 'The Thieves'
ChosunIlbo
Choi Dong-hoon's "The Thieves" tells the story of 10 thieves from Korea and China who steal a W30 billion (US$1=W1,147) diamond from a casino in Macau. Given the plot and the size of the cast, the movie, which is scheduled to be released here on Wednesday, is reminiscent of Steven Soderbergh's star-studded crime caper "Ocean's Eleven."
The crooks are played by A-listers including Kim Hae-sook, Kim Yun-seok, Kim Hye-soo, Oh Dal-soo, Lee Jung-jae, Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun and Simon Yam Tat-Wah from Hong Kong. But they only get to appear on screen for a measly 13 minutes each on average, making them both leading and supporting actors at the same time.
Last week, the Chosun Ilbo met with the 41-year-old director Choi and actress Kim Hye-soo, who plays the role of a veteran safebreaker.
Kim Hye-soo (left) and Choi Dong-hoon
Asked to describe the appeal of the film given the relatively short amount of screen time she gets, Kim said, "When I appeared in Choi's last film, 'The War of Flowers,' I really liked working with him, as well as with the other actors and staff. I didn't want it to end, actually, as I would happily continue working with the same crew forever."
Kim said that being surrounded by such a talented cast kept her on her toes. "From Kim Hae-sook and Yam Tat-Wah to Kim Yun-seok, Lee Jung-jae and Jun Ji-hyun, they are all outstanding actors. Even young Kim Soo-hyun is more than just a cute face," she said.
"It was a rare opportunity to be able to work with so many great actors and get to know them better in person."
"The Thieves" seems to draw its inspiration from a number of sources, including film noir and heist movies, but Choi was quick to make a distinction with Soderbergh's successful "Oceans" trilogy.
"'Ocean's Eleven' was also a remake, and many heist movies begin with a similar premise. But even though the starting point may be familiar, this becomes a very different movie as the story progresses." |
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July 24, 2012
Girls' Generation Appear in Korean Cultural Guide for Foreigners
ChosunIlbo
Girls' Generation feature in a new pamphlet promoting Korean culture produced by Seo Kyoung-duk, a PR expert and professor at Sungshin Women's University in Seoul. The guide provides information in English on the country's five key cultural assets -- the Korean alphabet (hangeul), traditional dress (hanbok), traditional houses (hanok), traditional cuisine (hansik) and traditional paper (hanji).
"Amid the growing popularity of K-pop, I felt there was a need for more materials introducing Korean culture," Seo said. "We included the popular group Girls' Generation in the guide to draw the attention of fans around the world. We used environmentally-friendly paper and took special care with the design to make it something that people would want to keep."
Prof. Seo Kyoung-duk (center) holds up a promotional pamphlet
with foreign visitors and staff at the Yeosu Expo on Monday.
The girl group's agency SM Entertainment said, "Now that Girls' Generation has participated in the production of this promotional guide, we will keep working to let the world know more about Korea."
Some 50,000 copies of the book have started being distributed to foreign visitors at the Yeosu Expo, which wraps up on Aug. 12, and 30,000 will be handed out in London next week during the Summer Games. Another 20,000 will be given away at leading universities around the world. |
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July 23, 2012
Park Jin-young Confesses Go So-young Inspired "So Hot"
KBS Global
Singer and hit producer Park Jin-young revealed his muse for the hit song sung by the Wonder Girls, "So Hot".
On the July 23rd episode of "Good Morning", a clip from a past broadcasting was shown, revealing Park's inspiration for the song "So Hot". It was right after he was captivated by his meeting with actress Go So-young.
He said, "I met Go So-young for the first time and thought she was so pretty. I think she's one of the top two prettiest actresses in Korea."
Netizens commented on the airing saying, "No surprise, Go So-young", "Park Jin-young seems to write songs based on beauties", "That song had that kind of a background story?", "Park Jin-young's song inspiration stories are interesting. Like how he wrote "Another Love Gone", after he heard Lee Hyori tell a real-life story". |
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July 24, 2012
Actor Jung selected as model for Redface
By Rachel Lee The Korea Times
Actor Jung Woo-sung, 39, has been selected the new face of outdoor fashion brand, The Redface.
According to a statement released by the company on Tuesday, Jung, who recently starred in the television drama “Padam Padam,” will represent the brand for one year.
“Jung has such a wide fan base of people of all ages and his name itself gives confidence to customers,” the company said. “He has everything he needs to become the new model of the brand including his voice as well as his look.”
The “hallyu” (K-wave) star made his debut in the movie “The Fox with Nine Tails” in 1994 and rose to stardom with director Kim Sung-soo’s film “Beat” in 1997. He has since appeared in a number of box office hits such as “A Moment to Remember” in 2004 and “The Good, the Bad and the Weird” in 2008. He has also won various awards including the Popularity Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards in 1999, Best Dresser of the Year at the Korea Fashion & Design Awards in 2008 and Style Icon Actor at the Style Icon Awards in 2009.
The Redface, established in 1966, has positioned itself as a reputable outdoor fashion brand in Korea, known for its high quality mountain-climbing gear. The company started manufacturing apparel and outdoor products such as tents and backpacks since its merger with RF Trading Co. in 2000. |
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July 24, 2012
Choi Woo-shik and Jin Ji-hee to represent Youth Film Festival
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Jin Ji-hee
Actors Choi Woo Shik (22) and Jin Ji-hee (13) have been named ambassadors for the 14th Seoul International Film Festival.
The two actors attended a press conference on July 24 at The Plaza Hotel in Jung District, central Seoul.
Choi and Jin answered questions and posed for the cameras to promote the event to take place from Aug. 23 to 29 at Korea University.
On average, the event pulls more than 150,000 visitors from more than 40 countries worldwide.
Coming-of-age films are the focal point of the festival which will screen 140 films from 36 nations. |
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July 24, 2012
Jang Keun-suk most searched man
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Jang Keun-suk was the most searched male Korean entertainer in Taiwan for the first half of this year, according to data released by Yahoo! Taiwan on Thursday.
Jang was No. 1 in the male Korean entertainer category followed by Kim Hyun-joong, Park Yu-chun, Lee Min-ho and Kim Soo-hyun.
This isn’t the first time that the Hallyu prince has received such an accolade.
Last year, Jang won Taiwan’s top searched single Korean artist at the 2011 Yahoo! Asia Buzz Awards.
In 2010, Jang was again number one, not only on Yahoo! Taiwan, but also in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Korea.
While being the most sought-after entertainer among Chinese fans, Jang has also taken time to please the Japanese.
From Saturday to Sunday, he entertained more than 22,000 fans at “The Cri Show 2” in Yokohama.
Celebrities Hyde from L’arc-en-Ciel as well as football player Hidoteshi Nakata were among those in the crowd. |
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July 24, 2012
It's official: Kim Myung-min is back
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
It’s official. SBS has confirmed that Kim Myung-min will star in its new weekday soap opera “King of Drama,” set to hit the airwaves in November.
Kim will play the role of Anthony Kim, a mastermind of a drama production company who is obsessed with fame, money and success.
“The character that Kim will play is a sly, despicable man,” a spokesperson for SBS said.
The drama will be set against the backdrop of the entertainment industry.
Protagonists will include Kim’s character as well as a newbie writer and a heavyweight actor. As yet, no other actors have been named to play the lead roles apart from Kim.
Program director Hong Sung-chang, the brains behind such works as “You’re Beautiful” (2009), and Jang Hang-joon, director of “Sign” (2011), will take the helm of the program.
Kim rose to fame from the drama “Beethoven Virus” back in 2008 and won two awards from KBS and MBC for his portrayal of an eccentric maestro. |
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July 24, 2012
Nichkhun of 2PM booked for DUI
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Gangnam Police booked 2PM’s Nichkhun without detention yesterday for driving under the influence after the boy band member hit a motorbike at 2:30 a.m.
After a night out that allegedly involved the boy band member downing two beers, Nichkhun was driving home early yesterday morning when he crashed into a motorbike near the Hakdong Intersection in southern Seoul.
The victim was taken to the hospital and is currently in stable condition.
At the time of the incident, Nichkhun had a blood alcohol level of 0.056 percent. His driver’s license has been revoked.
As the idol group member was fully insured, the police sent him on his way shortly after the incident.
JYP Entertainment has come forward to make a formal apology, stating that both the company and its talent were sorry for the disturbance.
“We take full responsibility for the unfortunate incident and will comply with the police,” a spokesperson for the agency said. |
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July 25, 2012
Jang Keun-suk Hottest Korean Heartthrob on Taiwanese Search Portal
ChosunIlbo
Actor Jang Keun-suk, often dubbed the "prince of Asia," has consolidated his popularity in Taiwan.
He has proved his continuing popularity by once again topping the list of most-searched-for Korean male celebrities in the first half of this year on Yahoo! Kimo, Taiwan's largest portal site.
Among the top 10, Kim Hyun-joong ranked second, followed by Park Yu-chun, Lee Min-ho and Kim Soo-hyun, reflecting the emerging popularity of Korean stars in the Asian country. |
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July 25, 2012
Another Pop Star in Drunk Driving Crash
ChosunIlbo
Nichkhun of the popular boy band 2PM was involved in a drunk driving accident on early Tuesday morning that left a motorcyclist injured. Only last Wednesday singer Alex was arrested for drunk driving in Seoul's wealthy Gangnam district.
Nichkhun was driving his Volkswagen down a hill in a backstreet in Gangnam at around 2:45 a.m. after a drinking session and collided with a 55-year-old man identified only as Park who was just turning into the alley on his motorcycle. Park injured his right shoulder, legs and face and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Nichkhun's blood-alcohol level was 0.056 percent, slightly over the 0.05 percent limit that would cost him his driver's license. His management agency JYP Entertainment in a statement said the Thai-born singer attended a dinner with artists from the agency. "They ate dinner and had a light drink, about two glasses of beer. Both Nichkhun and our company were careless, and we would like to sincerely apologize," it added.
JYP Entertainment did not comment on how the incident would affect Nichkhun's career. Entertainers in Korea who are popular among teens are expected to serve as role models for youngsters and are often judged harshly by the public for offenses like drunk driving or gambling.
Alex has already cancelled all his appearances on TV and on stage, saying he would take time off to reflect. But entertainers nabbed for drunk driving often return to the TV screens after only a brief hiatus.
"If we see celebrities frequently getting involved in drunk driving accidents, the public will become less sensitive to such offenses and celebrities learn that the public quickly forget their offenses," said Jang Ki-hoon at the Korean Alcohol Research Foundation.
Nichkhun was booked without arrest. |
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July 24, 2012
Ha Jung-woo and Ha Ji-won honored at PiFan
KOBIZ
Held on the evening of Thursday July 19 in Puchon, the two stars highlighted PiFan’s opening ceremony red carpet alongside actors and actresses such as PARK Hae-il, KANG Soo-yeon, OTANI Ryohei and AHN Sung-ki. Directors IM Kwon-taek and sibling duo KIM Gok and KIM Sun, who contributed a chapter to <Horror Stories>, PiFan’s omnibus opening film, also attended with industry figureheads such as Finecut’s SEO Young-ju and Myung Film’s Jaime SHIM, whose production house will have a retrospective at the festival.
The producers’ associations drew attention to the awardees’ superior acting talents, work ethic and box office influence during the ceremony. In direct relation with the mission of PiFan, the presenters also cited the awardees’ recent filmographies as evidence that they have helped to enliven genre film in Korea. HA Jung-woo’s most recent film was mobster/crime drama <Nameless Gangster> and HA Ji-won’s was the sports drama <As One>.
In its 16th year, PiFan is currently screening 230 features from 47 countries, including 51 world premieres and 19 international premieres. The fest will run July 19-29, with awards being handed out on July 27. |
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July 25, 2012
ChosunIlbo
Actress Oh Yeon-seo poses with a caricature showing her at a press event for the Bucheon International Comics Festival in Seoul on Tuesday. /Newsis |
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July 25, 2012
Singer Lee Hyun-woo helps out at bazaar in aid of sick children
By Lee Hyun-jae, Intern reporter The Korea Herald
Singer and actor Lee Hyun-woo participated in a charity fundraiser on Wednesday to help raise money for medical treatment for children awaiting adoption.
The “Summer Big Love” charity bazaar, held in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, was hosted by the Social Welfare Society, an adoption organization specializing in helping single mothers and their children’s adoption. The event was sponsored by Hicos, Sanuk, Lubebe & Lumom and Rainbow.
The 46-year-old singer who debuted in 1991 with his hit album “Black Rainbow” is no stranger to charity events.
Lee Hyun-woo (right) tries to sell a shirt to a woman at the Social Welfare
Society bazaar held in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, on Wednesday. (Yonhap News)
“Like other celebrities, I have been participating in charity events from time to time, but I found out about the bazaar through photographer Cho Se-hyun’s art exhibit and realized that many children in the institution are in poor health ― some children have been abandoned and some have been sent by single mothers. I recognized that they are in need of financial support, which motivated me to participate in the charity bazaar,” Lee said in a telephone interview with The Korea Herald.
Government financial support that orphanages and adoption centers receive merely covers orphans’ basic living costs. No extra assistance is provided for sick children and the Social Welfare Society last year spent 30 million won on hospital treatment for children in its charge.
The funds raised through the bazaar will be used to provide medical assistance to children awaiting adoption and to build facilities to provide children with more accessible treatment.
For more information on and sponsorship of the Social Welfare Society, call (02) 567-8814. |
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