Korean Entertainment News 2012 - 2013

katt

September 7, 2012

Jin Yi-han talks near-death experience
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Actor Jin Yi-han revealed that he recently had a near-death experience. In an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, the 33-year-old actor from “Time Slip Dr. Jin” spoke of how the car he was riding in got in a major accident.

While driving on the Gyeongbu Expressway, Jin said he saw the front window shatter in slow motion as he sat in the passenger seat.

Luckily, he did not suffer any permanent injuries, but the actor said there were some temporary aftereffects from the accident.

“I felt carsick for some time afterward and couldn’t remember my lines,” said Jin who returned to the set of the hit MBC drama to film two final episodes before the show concluded last month.

“I haven’t told this to anyone, but through it all, I’ve come to reflect on my past,” he added. “I think it was a sign from above telling me to take it easy, recharge and make a fresh start.” The actor now insists that he has fully recovered from the accident.

katt

September 7, 2012

Lee Jong-suk to star in Nicole's video
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Actor Lee Jong-suk has agreed to star in Nicole’s music video for the song “Lost.”

Lee decided to take part in filming to help out his co-host on SBS’s “Popular Songs.” The two will play lovers in the clip, and Lee will play the role of a smitten boyfriend who feels the brunt of a break-up.

Fans of Lee will no doubt be thrilled to see Lee in various modes from him cooking to frolicking outdoors with his fictional girlfriend.

Apart from appearing in the KARA member’s music video, Lee has a lot on his plate right now with preparations for the film “Physiognomy,” which stars Song Kang-ho and is directed by Kim Dong-hyuk. The film is set to be released early next year.

For now, the heartthrob actor who shot to fame playing a gay musical prodigy in “Secret Garden” (2011) is busy hosting the SBS music countdown show.

In the last year, the 22-year-old model-turned-actor has been in various hit productions from “Korea” with renowned actress Ha Ji-won to “R2B: Return to Base” with Hallyu singer Rain.

katt

September 7, 2012

T.O.P's movie on hold as director quits
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



The film “The Alumni” featuring Big Bang member T.O.P has been put on hold as the film’s director Park Shin-woo walked away from the project.

According to the film’s production company The Lamp, there were some artistic differences between Park and the company that led the director of the hit movie “White Night” (2009) to drop out last week.

Yonhap News Agency reported that due to Park’s unexpected move, the filming has been put on hold as the company searches for a replacement.

Apparently one-third of the filming has already been completed.

The production company said that the disruption is causing mayhem for all those involved, especially the actor, who has said he finds it hard enough already to make time for shooting.

“Regardless, the actors have offered their full support and understanding,” a spokesperson from The Lamp said.

Some other big names taking part in the production are Yoon Je-moon, Cho Seong-ha and Han Ye-ri.

katt

September 7, 2012

'The Grand Heist' 2nd top-selling homegrown film for 2012
The Korea Times

"The Grand Heist" has risen to second place on the list of top-selling homegrown films for this year, drawing nearly 4.7 million viewers, an official box-office tally showed Friday.

The historical comedy starring actor Cha Tae-hyun attracted 4.689 million moviegoers until Thursday, according to the data from the Korean Film Commission.

The record made the movie about thieves stealing ice blocks during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) the second top-selling Korean film as of Friday, beating "Nameless Gangster," seen by 4.684 million people, by a narrow margin.

On top of the list remains the local box-office sensation "The Thieves," which drew more than 12 million viewers. (Yonhap)

katt

September 9, 2012

Kim Ki-duk's 'Pieta' wins top film award at Venice
YonhapNews

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean director Kim Ki-duk's drama "Pieta" won the Golden Lion for best film at the 69th Venice Film Festival on Saturday (local time), the festival's Web site said.

   This is the first time that a Korean film has won a top prize from any of the world's three largest film festivals -- Venice, Cannes and Berlin.

   


Kim delighted the audience at the awards ceremony by singing the traditional Korean folk song "Arirang" on stage to thank the jury, according to foreign press reports.

   "I express my endless thanks to all actors, actresses and staff who took part in this movie," the 51-year-old director was quoted as saying. "I also would like to honor all of you who chose 'Pieta' at this film festival."

   He added in a written interview with South Korean media outlets that because of the high level of interest shown by Italian fans and critics he had hoped for the coveted Golden Lion award this year.

   "There was considerable interest in the movie by Italian fans and I frankly thought Pieta had a chance," he said. The director said that he believed the award should be considered as recognition given to the South Korean movie industry as a whole.

   Jo Min-su, the film's lead actress who was on stage together with the director, said as tears of joy streamed out of her eyes that she is more happy because it is the first time that the Golden Lion award has been given to a Korean film.

   Judges of this year's Venice Film Festival later revealed that Jo had also been the jury's favorite for best actress, but was excluded due to a rule that the recipient of the best film award cannot receive any other awards.

   "At a reception held after the festival, some judges and organizers of the festival revealed that a vote had actually picked Jo for best actress and that it was an anonymous vote," an official from a South Korean film investor and distributor said.

   The movie is about a ruthless young debt collector who gradually changes after a mysterious woman who claims to be his long-lost mother visits him, apologizing for abandoning him at birth. But the woman suddenly disappears and the man is confronted with an enormous secret.

   The film, whose title was inspired by Michelangelo's masterpiece sculpture "Pieta," is Kim's 18th in total since debuting in 1996 with "Crocodile."

   Kim won prizes at Venice and Berlin for "3-Iron" and "Samaritan Girl" both in 2004. He is also known for his 2003 film, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring," which depicted the life of a Buddhist monk and his young protege while encapsulating features of Buddhist philosophy.

   The director, who once said he was a "monster who grew on his inferiority complex" acquired his art through self-learning and only received middle school education. He worked as a laborer in factories before going to Paris to study about film. After his return, he started writing scenarios for movies and received his first recognition in 1996 and debuted as director a year later.

   During the Venice festival, the Silver Lion for best director went to Paul Thomas Anderson for "The Master." The film also earned him a joint best actor award for Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

   The best actress award went to Israeli actress Hadas Yaron for her role in Rama Burshtein's "Fill the Void."

   Two other South Korean films received praise and out-of-competition awards.

   Jeon Kyu-hwan's film "The Weight" won the Queer Lion award while Yoo Min-young's "Invitation" secured the Orizzonti award for Best Youtube Short Film.

   Local film critics said that Kim's award is noteworthy because it is the result of continuous efforts by South Korean directors and producers to compete on the global scale.

   "It is unusual for the Venice Film Festival jury to give the top award to an Asian film, but it should raise the overall stature of the event in the eyes of the world," a Korean film expert said. He added that Kim is well-known in Europe as a "star director," and there was really no other film in Venice this year that received as much attention as "Pieta."

South Korean film made its global debut when director Kang Dae-jin's "Mabu" won the Silver Bear award at the 1961 Berlin International Film Festival

In the past 50 years the local film industry has been receiving notice for its distinct creations and world class performers, with many awards being won from the late 1980s onwards.

   Im Kwon-taek's "Sibaji," or Surrogate Woman, received fame when its leading role played by Kang Soo-yeon was honored with the Volpi Cup Best Actress award at Venice.

   This was followed by Jang Sun-woo's "Passage of the Buddha" also known as the "The Avatamska Sutra" grabbing the Alfred Bauer Award at the 1994 Berlin International Film Festival and more recently Park Chan-wook's "Thirst" securing the Grand Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

katt

September 9, 2012

Former laborer becomes acclaimed filmmaker
By Claire Lee The Korea Herald

Kim Ki-duk, who became the first Korean auteur to win the top prize at Venice with his gruesome morality tale “Pieta,” has long been considered an “outsider” in the local film industry.

From the very beginning, he was nothing like any of the other filmmakers in the scene. He never went to film school, and never worked as an assistant for established filmmakers ― which was considered the “right way” of breaking into the industry. His life story, filled with drama and struggles, however, is nothing short of a film script.

Born in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province, to impoverished parents, Kim moved to Gyeonggi Province with his family at age 9. His father was a former military solider who fought in the Korean War, while his mother was a housewife.


Kim Ki-duk shows the Golden Lion he won for his movie “Pieta” at the awards photo call during the 69th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday. (AP-Yonhap News)

When he graduated from elementary school, his parents, who could not afford to send him to an ordinary middle school, made him attend an unauthorized agriculture training institution.

After spending a number of years at the institute, Kim started working as a mechanic in a factory as a young teenager. He continued working as a factory laborer until he joined the Marines to serve his military duty in his 20s.

After being released from the Marines, Kim briefly volunteered for a school for visually impaired children while studying theology to become a priest. A number of Kim’s works, such as “Pieta,” “Amen” (2011) and “Samaritan Girl” (2004), have Christian undertones about salvation and morality ― which may have been driven from his experience during his 20s.

In 1990, at the age of 30, Kim moved to Paris without any plans. There, he worked as a street painter while studying art by himself. It was during his stay in Paris that he saw two films that changed his life: Jonathan Demme’s 1991 thriller “The Silence of the Lambs” and French director Leos Carax’s 1991 drama “Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (Lovers on the Ninth Bridge).” “The Silence of the Lambs” was in fact the first movie Kim had ever watched in his life; he had never seen any films in a theater before.

In 1993, he returned to Seoul and started writing screenplays. It has been reported that he didn’t even know the spelling system of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, when he first started writing the film scripts. In spite of the odds, however, he won a film script contest run by the Korean Film Commission for a piece titled “Jaywalking.” The script was never made into a film.

Kim released his first feature-length film “Crocodile” in 1996. His early works, including “Wild Animals,” “Birdcage Inn” and “The Isle,” were often called eccentric and disturbing by local critics for their almost misogynist content as well as extremely violent subject matter. He gradually became one of the most significant filmmakers in contemporary Korean cinema, however, after winning a number of awards from prestigious international film festivals. Kim’s works have been noted for their unconventional style as well as for exploring the extremes of the human experience.

Kim won the Best Director award at the Berlin International Film Festival for his 2004 drama “Samaritan Girl,” and won the equivalent prize at Venice for “3-Iron” in the same year.

Kim disappeared from sight after the release of his 2008 film “Dream,” and did not make any money from “Rough Cut” ― another 2008 film in which Kim participated as its writer and producer ― as its distributor went bankrupt.

His 2011 gut-wrenching cinematic self-portrait, titled “Arirang,” featured his perceived failings as a director after going through traumatic events while making “Rough Cut” and “Dream,” and a series of “betrayals” by his colleagues in the film industry. The film won a coveted sidebar prize at Cannes Film Festival last year.

“Pieta” is Kim’s 18th feature-length film. It has been reported that Kim, as a young mechanic, used to work at a factory near Cheonggyecheon, Seoul, which makes an appearance as an industrial slum in the award-winning movie.

katt

September 10, 2012

Bae Doo-na promotes 'Cloud Atlas'
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Bae Doo-na attended a red carpet event at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend to promote the Hollywood film “Cloud Atlas” in which she appears. The film stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant and Susan Sarandon.

While not as big a name as some of the others, Bae received her share of the attention on the red carpet by showing off her cleavage.

“Her seductive and exotic charm is sure to catch on,” said a spokesperson from Warner Brothers.

In the sci-fi flick directed by Matrix’s Andy Wachowski, the 32-year-old Korean actress plays the role of a clone called Sonmi-451.

An adaptation of David Mitchell’s 2004 novel of the same name, “Cloud Atlas” consists of six nested stories that will take the viewers from the South Pacific in the 19th century to a distant, post-apocalyptic future.

Production wrapped up at the end of last year and the movie is scheduled to premiere in the United States on Oct. 26.

In Korea, the film is set to open early next year.

katt

September 10, 2012

Outsider Kim Ki-duk's 'Pieta' Wins Top Prize in Venice
ChosunIlbo

'Pieta,' Kim Ki-duk's tale of violence and poverty, won the Golden Lion at this year's Venice film festival. Kim spent just W100 million (US$1=W,130) making the film, a fraction of the average cost of a Korean film these days.

This is the first time a Korean film won the top prize at one of the world's top three film festivals at Venice, Cannes and Berlin. Accepting the prize, Kim thanked the actors, staff, film festival officials and Italian fans before bursting into a rendition of the traditional Korean song "Arirang."

Kim said he sang the song because he wanted to show people around the world about something essentially Korean.


Director Kim Ki-duk reacts as his film "Pieta" wins the Golden Lion award
at this year's Venice film festival on Sunday. /AP-Yonhap

Kim (52) wore a pair of worn-out shoes and hanbok or traditional Korean dress modified for comfort when he stepped on stage. The outfit looked grungy in the grand surrounding next to festival president Paolo Baratta, who sported a tuxedo. Kim lives in a cottage deep in the mountains without plumbing or a kitchen and pitches a tent in the house in the winter to ward off the cold.

He only completed junior high school. Since debuting with "Crocodile" in 1996, Kim has been an outsider in the movie industry with no training or experience in the business. His early films were criticized as amateurish and crude due to their lack of technique. With the exception of "Bad Guy," which attracted 700,000 viewers, most of his films were unpopular in Korea and he had a hard time finding investors to finance them.

If he attracted any notice it was of the negative kind, for extreme violence and alleged misogyny in such films as "Isle," or "Address Unknown," which show a woman mutilating herself, and "Bad Guy," where a college girl is kidnapped and sold as a prostitute.

The dialogue is often raw and crude. "A common characteristic of Kim's movies is that good and bad overlap or switch places," said movie critic Oh Dong-jin. "It's rare to find characters in Korean movies who are neither bad nor good."


Director Kim Ki-duk poses with the Golden Lion at this year's Venice
Film Festival on Sunday. /AP-Yonhap

Kim remains on the fringes of Korea's movie scene. Not only do audiences stay away, critics are also divided. When "Bow" drew a mere 1,000 moviegoers in 2005, Kim vowed never to release a movie in Korea again. He was once arrested by police who mistook him for a homeless man a year after he won the best directing awards at the Berlin and Venice film festivals.

But abroad he has a solid reputation, especially in Europe, where critics habitually rave about his genre-busting work. There is more freedom of expression there and his radical themes are seen as refreshing. Oh said the Asian mentality that pervades the films also helps. "The ethical ambiguity of Kim's characters and their strange ways of expressing themselves are viewed as exotic in Europe," he added.

katt

September 11, 2012

Golden Lion Winner's 'Shabby' Outfit Cost W2 Million
ChosunIlbo


Director Kim Ki-duk poses after winning the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival on Sunday. /AP-Yonhap

The loose hanbok-style outfit donned by director Kim Ki-duk when he won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival cost W2 million, and his worn-out shoes are from a designer brand (US$1=W1,130).

There were mutterings in the Korean press that Kim had seemed to make little effort for the event, but it seems his fashion sense is merely ahead of the times.

The hanbok is from a shop in Insa-dong that specializes in natural fabrics. "Kim bought a hemp top and cotton pants about two weeks ago saying he was going to attend a film festival," a staffer at the shop told the Chosun Ilbo. "The entire outfit costs a little more than W2 million, with the top priced at W1.5 million and the pants around W700,000. We originally made the outfit for women, but the large size has made it popular with men too."

The stylishly worn-looking shoes were from Spanish brand Camper. "The shoes come from our 2010 Falll/Winter collection and costs W328,000 a pair," a staffer at Camper told the Chosun Ilbo. "They're actually made to be worn like slippers and many people mistake them for being worn down, but Kim knew exactly how to wear them."

katt

September 11, 2012

Kang So-ra visits Pixar headquarters
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Actress Kang So-ra visited the Hollywood animation studio Disney Pixar, the company said on Sept. 10.

Kang, who is set to dub the Korean version of Pixar’s latest creation “Brave,” took some time off to visit the headquarters in San Francisco where she experienced what it’d be like working as an employee there.

Video of the visit shows Kang walking down the trophy hall, taking a look at the cafeteria and having a go on the “kickboard,” --a kind of scooter-- which employees ride around the complex.

In addition, Kang took tips from the writer of the movie, Steve Purcell, who also performs the voice of a crow in the flick.

The children’s tale about a redheaded princess who craves adventure will hit Korea on Sept. 27 ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

katt

September 11, 2012

Lee Min-jung attends Fashion Week
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Actress Lee Min-jung, better known of late as Lee Byung-hun’s latest girlfriend, has been photographed at New York Fashion Week.

Lee was seen leaving Korea on Monday, and photos of the star in the United States began circulating Tuesday.

The 30-year-old actress was in New York to take part in shooting a pictorial and took time off to indulge in some high fashion.

In one picture, Lee can be seen posing on a street dressed in black head-to-toe.

In another, Lee posed with Belgian designer Olivier Theyskens, whose shows she also took in.

Just one day after her departure, Lee’s beau was also photographed leaving town.

Netizens praised the couple for their effortless chic look and designated them as one of the most fashionable couples.

News that the two were dating broke last month after many months of denial in the face of rumors.

katt

September 11, 2012

Jang Keun-suk fans deck out metro
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Starting Sunday, commuters and travelers on metro line No. 5 might have been surprised to see Hallyu entertainer Jang Keun-suk’s face in the unlikeliest places.

More than 258 posters of Jang in four different sizes were placed on one train to mark Jang’s 20th year in the industry.

The ads were dispersed throughout the train’s eight compartments by Jang’s fan club, Cri J.

The ads carry a message of support and contain a poem recited by Jang during his Japanese concert earlier this year.

The fanfare for the artist known as “The Prince of Asia” will be on display until Oct. 10. According to Tree J Company, fans chose this time to mark Jang’s birthday on Sept. 26.

Seoul Metro said it has been flooded with calls from fans who want to know when the “Jang Keun-suk train” will be operating.

Cri J also announced that they won’t stop at just the metro, but will also stage a volunteer event in honor of Jang, who is in the middle of an Asian tour.

katt

September 11, 2012

Kim Ha-neul reveals a close call
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



While on the talk show “Healing Camp” that aired on Monday, Kim Ha-neul revealed a close call while filming the movie “Blind.”

There was a scene in which she was to strike a match. “For some reason, they must have applied some chemicals to the matchstick,” she said. “The moment I lit it, it just went off and the fire flickered into my eyes.”

Kim said she was fortunate her pupils were untouched. “I was lucky. But I still took a few days off to recover.”

The announcement caused a buzz on the Internet with netizens worrying that the accident could have cost Kim her sight and perhaps even her career.

On the show, Kim talked about a host of different issues, including filming with actor Jang Dong-gun on the set of “A Gentleman’s Dignity.”

Kim played the love interest of Jang on the recently ended hit show about the diverse love lives of a group of 40-something males.

Other actors in the show were Kim Su-ro, Kim Min-jong and Lee Jong-hyuk.

katt

September 12, 2012

Yoon Eun-hye to Screen Directorial Debut at BIFF
ChosunIlbo



Actress Yoon Eun-hye is set to make her directorial debut with a short film.

Her first foray behind the camera, "The Knitting" has been selected to be screened in the Wide Angle section for outstanding shorts at the upcoming 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

Yoon entered the Graduate School of Advanced Imaging Science, Multimedia & Film at Chungang University in March and has been studying filmmaking there.

katt

September 11, 2012

Kim Ki-duk says memory of teen years hit him at most honorable moment in Venice
YonhapNews

SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- Director Kim Ki-duk said Tuesday that he thought of his teen years as a factory laborer when he received the Golden Lion award at this year's Venice International Film Festival for his latest film "Pieta."

   "That was no other person but me," Kim said during a news conference held at a Seoul movie theater in celebration of his award win. "The memory of myself carrying a heavy box of copper at Cheonggyecheon as a 15-year-old boy sprang to my mind at that moment."

The Cheonggyecheon industrial area near Dongdaemun market in central Seoul is the setting of the movie about a ruthless young debt collector who gradually changes after a mysterious woman who claims to be his long-lost mother visits him.

   The dark and dilapidated back alleys of the area where the lead male character Gang-do and most of his clients dwell is also where the 51-year-old director spent his youth as a factory laborer.

   Kim returned home Monday after attending the 69th Venice film festival along with the film's lead actor and actress Lee Jung-jin and Jo Min-su.

   He, however, showed the humbleness to ascribe the honor to the local film industry.

   "As I said before in Venice, I think this prize was given in honor of the many good Korean movies that have begun to be introduced on international stages and are bearing many fruits from seeds planted in the 1990s," he said.

   He thanked all his fans who have silently supported him.

   Kim became the first South Korean movie director to win a top prize from any of the world's three largest film festivals -- Venice, Cannes and Berlin.

   Debuting in 1996 with "Crocodile," Kim won the best director awards for "3-Iron" at Venice and for "Samaritan Girl" in Berlin both in 2004. He is also known for his 2003 film, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring."

katt

September 12, 2012

Song Joong-ki’s new drama causes a stir before it airs
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Song Joong-ki’s new drama “The Innocent Man” is causing quite a stir and it hasn’t even begun airing.

The program slated to hit the airwaves on the night of Sept. 12, has been complained about by countless pro-Korean organizations.

The beef that these groups that promote Korean language have against the program is the way that the title has been intentionally misspelt.
According to a spokesperson for KBS, various groups have asked the network to correct the title.

“We are deliberating, but at this point, the show airs tonight, so it’s a bit too late,” said the producer of the show, Bae Kyung-soo. “Furthermore, the title is kind of crucial to the plot because of the twist.”

Bae went on to say that the misspelling of the word “Innocent” in the title is the way that the protagonist writes it and therefore vital to keep.

The drama is about an “innocent man” who becomes jaded when his lover betrays him. The twist is that the man, played by Song, does eventually hit rock bottom and become “innocent” again.

katt

September 12, 2012

Special edition of 'Architecture 101' to be released
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily

A limited edition of the hit melodrama-romance “Architecture 101” will be launched on Sept. 19.

The upcoming edition contains extra footage shot and edited by the director Lee Yong-joo himself.

There will also be audio commentary by actors Uhm Tae-woong, Lee Jae-hoon and Miss A’s Suzy, not to mention interviews and trailers, all contained on two discs.

In addition, a book containing pictures and production images from the set is included.

The film tells the story of two students who meet in an introductory architecture class and fall in love. The story unfolds 15 years later, after the female student tracks down her first love to seek his help in building her dream house.

It stars Han Ga-in, Uhm and Miss A’s Suzy and was a phenomenal success at the box office. The movie exceeded 4.1 million views at the cinemas and drew a record number of men, despite the fact that melodramas and romance films are not very popular with males.

katt

September 12, 2012

Han Ji-min to stand up for the environment
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily

Actress Han Ji-min has become a goodwill ambassador for the Korean divison of the United Nations Environment Programme.

At the inauguration which took place on Sept. 11, the organization said that it looked forward to Han’s involvement as an eco-friendly entertainer.

At the event, Han took to the podium and told UNEP officials that she hoped to do even more for the good of the planet.

“There were many times when I felt bad for not doing enough for the environment,” said Han.

“By becoming an ambassador, I hope to live and breathe the mantra of UNEP and all that it stands for.”

Meanwhile, Han has always been active in improving the society and in 2009 was awarded by the minister of health and welfare.

In her field of acting, she is coming up trumps this year.

Back in June, Han won the 20s Drama Star award for her role in the hit show “Rooftop Prince.”

katt

September 12, 2012

So Ji-sub almost walked off the set
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



At the press launch for his movie “A Company Man” yesterday, So Ji-sub shocked journalists by saying that he had often considered quitting his career.

In line with the character of a hit man who quits his vocation in the movie, So was asked if he ever thought about walking away from film.

“There’s an immense amount of pressure that comes with the job,” So said.

“At the same time, there is not much room for movement and so I feel trapped a lot of the time. During these periods, I just want to quit.”

The 34-year-old said that he nearly walked off the set during filming an especially violent scene.

“When it’s among just the guys, it’s somewhat okay, but when I had to hit a woman, it was terrible.”

While filming, So said he got enough of the action himself, being punched by co-star Kwak Do-wan.

“I got beaten a lot,” joked the Hallyu heartthrob who is referred to as “Soganji,” which means trendy.

So also said he is really like any other guy. “I’m not as cool as Won Bin,” the model-turned-actor said.

katt

September 12, 2012

Lee Hyori teams up with Seoul mayor
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Singer Lee Hyori will meet with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to talk about the importance of animal welfare and adoption on Monday, according to a report by News 1.

Both Lee and Park have been invited to take part in the opening of the city’s pet adoption center, along with some other 30 personnel working to improve the city’s stance on animal welfare. The event will take place at Seoul Grand Park.

The two public figures have spoken out about animal protection before.

Park previously used his Twitter account to recommend a book that Lee had written about the joys of adopting her abandoned pooch Soonshim.

When Lee, who is connected with Park on the social networking Web site, replied to the tweet, she showed her humble side by saying, “How embarrassing!”

Lee has written books, participated in various charities and auctions, and has even shot ads to increase awareness of animal rights issues.