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January 3, 2008
KBS Daily Series Top 40% Ratings
The KBS daily drama series 'Likable or Not' starring Han Ji-hye and Kim Ji-seok has reached 40% in ratings.
In a TNS Media Korea and AGB Nielsen Media survey, the ratings topped 40%, the highest yet in a self-commissioned poll and the highest among programs on all channels in the same time slot.
The drama centers on families involving remarriage in an aim to underline familial value.
Kim's confessed love toward Han and actor Jo Dong-hyuk's betrayal of his long-time love over a rich girl keep viewers tuned in every day while veteran cast members help create a balanced drama.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1499510_11692.html |
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January 3, 2008
Chun Jung-myeong joins Army
Korean heartthrob Chun Jung-myeong joined the Army on Wednesday for two years of mandatory military service.
The 28-year-old actor began a five-week basic training course in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, after bidding farewell to his fans and reporters.
Chun said that he chose to perform his duty as an "ordinary" soldier, not as an "entertainment" soldier. Entertainment soldiers is a term given to celebrities dispatched to a new Armed Forces unit that provides programming for military TV and radio broadcasts.
Chun had been delaying his entry to military service, because of his unfinished film "Hansel and Gretel."
Credits: [email protected], image from empas.com
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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January 2, 2008
Women aim for Olympic glory in Forever the Moment
Director LIM Soon-rye is one of the key female directors in Korea and she returns with the sports drama Forever the Moment centred on the Korean women抯 handball team from 2004; the women took home the silver medal from the 2004 Athens Olympics after a heroic battle with women hand ball抯 leading nation Denmark.
LIM chose to make a character study rather than concentrating on the emotional finale at the Olympics. She even left out the other Olympic matches leading to the finale in favour of fleshing out the characters.
Forever the Moment distinguishes itself in this way from other sports dramas which usually try to exploit the dynamics and excitement that sports games can provide lengthily. In other ways, LIM抯 film contains the classic elements of a sports drama.
The film starts out with individuals who are far from Olympic contenders. MOON So-ri plays a former handball star who is now a mother and trapped in an unhappy marriage. KIM Jung-eun is from the same generation, she was also a star player, became a handball team manager of a Japanese professional women抯 handball team, and now takes charge of the Korean women抯 national handball team.
She soon recognizes the need for an experienced and charismatic figure to lead the team and succeeds in re-recruiting MOON抯 reluctant character. However, KIM抯 character is soon replaced by UHM Tae-woong抯 character. He succeeded as a professional handball player in Europe. His flashy style and European methods clash with the athletes repeatedly.
Another typical element of the genre is friction caused by the generation gap between players which they have to overcome in order to become a team. In traditional fashion the players become close when they stand up for each other against outsiders.
The scenario is written by Na-hyeon who also successfully scripted May 18抯 characters, bonding and collective uprising; to portray the emotional side of the Gwangju massacre in the 2007 blockbuster.
Director of photography Hwang Ki-seok brought his experience from modern Korean classics as Friend and Duelist; for which he shot totally different styles of kinetic scenes. He succeeds in capturing some dynamic scenes during the Olympic finale to complement the emotional side of the epic game.
Forever the Moment successfully employs classic elements of sports dramas to develop the characters in order to let the audience empathise with these underdogs. The focus of the story is somewhat shifted, the structure pronounces the characters more than usual and limits the adrenalin filled action scenes. The finale at the end of the film compensates with slickly executed moves, still, it concentrates mostly on emotional aspects.
Yi Ch抋ng-ho (KOFIC)
http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/ |
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January 3, 2008
'Forever' Loses Its Own Game
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
From left, actresses Moon So-ri, Kim Jung-eun and Kim Ji-young
in a scene from the handball movie "Forever the Moment."
It's sweaty and teary, and preaches self-challenge. After a seven-year hiatus, director Lim Soon-rye ("Waikiki Brothers" makes a comeback with "Forever the Moment," the world's first handball movie inspired by the women's match at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
So you expect it to be another adrenaline-pumping sports movie, with a coach or athlete nursing some sort of wound (heartbreak, injury, etc.), comic-relief teammates and a big hurdle to overcome. Usually, team spirit magically pumps up muscles and the main character scores the winning point. Add a few slow motion scenes zooming into the sweat and tears with dramatic music.
Lim, however, asks audiences to forget typical Hollywood conventions for sports dramas. The main characters lose the big game at the end, and there is no fancy camerawork.
Korea and Denmark had shared four Olympic titles for women's handball from 1988 to 2000, with the Danes winning the latter two. The two dueling teams met again as finalists in 2004, and the pulsating game continued long and hard with a tie score leading to two killer overtimes and a penalty throw showdown.
Korea lost, but won what many call a silver medal that shines more brightly than the gold. At the time, Korean women's handball was at its worst state ever, and players who should have been retired joined the national team to face the indefatigable Denmark. It was a miraculous achievement _ "the greatest moment of our lives" (the film's title in Korean).
"Forever" gives an account of the events leading up to the Olympics, though the characters are fictionalized. Hye-kyeong (Kim Jung-eun) is called to coach the troubled national team. In desperation, she recruits retired players, including her good friend and longtime rival Mi-suk (Moon So-ri). Mi-suk had been
But various problems push Hye-kyeong out of her coaching position. To add fuel to the fire, Hye-kyeong's ex-boyfriend and handball star Seung-pil (Uhm Tae-woong) is appointed as her replacement. This time Mi-suk convinces Hye-kyeong to join the team as a player.
Lim focuses on the individual lives of characters, and most of the action does take place outside of the court. This works mighty well in the first half of the movie.
Want it or not, however, "Forever" is deeply rooted in the classic formula. The main drama inevitably involves coach-player conflicts and other problems inherent to the world of sports.
As the movie kicks and thrashes about to defy conventions of its genre, the painful struggle becomes much too apparent.
While traditional sports movies may be formulaic, it makes viewers fall in love with the featured sport. Characters in "Forever" desperately speak of their love of the game _ Mi-suk shouts at the top of her lungs how she returned to play only three weeks after having a baby while Hye-kyeong foregoes her pride to go from coach to player _ but the film doesn't actually show it.
The most gripping parts of the film are issues rarely seen in sports films, such discriminations faced by female coaches and the burden of menstruation cycles for female athletes. This is also the source of team bonding, but the film touches upon it rather superficially.
The final game scene is superbly crafted (the actual Danish team makes an appearance) but it's just a striking reenactment of the 2004 game. Ironically, it is dishearteningly realistic, and the film loses its dramatic touch. The most compelling part of the two-hour flick is the snippet of interviews and photos from actual team members that accompanies the film credits.
Nevertheless, the leading ladies deserve a standing ovation for their convincing jumps and throws (though they remain a bit supermodel thin), and the moment of defeat is beautifully captured.
As the film loses its dramatic edge, it reminds us more of the bitter loss of the gold than the glorious win of the silver. Lim deserves credit for her attempt to make an unconventional sports movie, but she ends up breaking her own game rules.
In theaters Jan. 10.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/01/141_16682.html |
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January 3, 2008
Boys of Tomorrow Competes in Germany
Asia Hot Shots Berlin, a festival for film and video art, has selected NOH Dong-seok 抯 Boys of Tomorrow to screen in its competition section. The inaugural festival takes place January 16 |
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January 3, 2008
Lee Na Young to appear in Director Kim Ki-duk's "Bimong"
Lee Na Young's agency BOF announced on the 3rd, "Lee Na Young will appear in Director Kim Ki-duk's upcoming film 'Bimong' alongside Joe Odagiri."
"Bimong" gathered attention when Japan's top star Joe Odagiri was cast, and rumors have it that several top actresses were competing for the role.
"Bimong" is a story about a man whose dream that becomes a reality in one lady's life. The two meet coincidentally and fall in love.
BOF added, "Lee Na Young gladly accepted the role finding the scenario unique and interesting, and said she had always wanted to work with Director Kim."
This film that will crank in on the 5th in Seoul is gathering more attention with the cast of Japan and Korea's top stars.
Source: Broasia.com
http://www.broasia.com/lwboard/l ... amp;pg=1&no=440 |
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January 3, 2008
Korean filmmakers bet on large-scale projects
Many local movie productions suffered setbacks last year, due to increased costs and the strengthened position of Hollywood blockbusters. In 2008, leading filmmakers are betting on large-scale projects to turn things around for the embattled local film industry.
At the forefront of Korean films' counterattack is Kim Jee-woon's oriental western "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," whose production cost is estimated at a whopping 15 billion won ($16 million). Hedging the huge financial risk is none other than a star-studded cast. Well-known Korean Wave stars Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho and Jung Woo-sung play central characters for the film set in Manchuria of the 1930s.
Lee, who is enjoying soaring popularity in Japan, takes the role of a bandit, while Song turns into a train robber and Jung becomes a bounty hunter. The trio stumbles onto a treasure map in the Manchuria region, a sort of Korean western -- a peculiar genre which is yet to be tested at the box office. The film is scheduled be released around the summer vacation season.
Another big-scale film set in the 1930s is director Jung Ji-woo's "Modern Boy," a retro-style drama that harkens back to the vibrant days of Korea despite the suffocating colonial rule of Japan. Park Hae-il and Kim Hye-soo have embraced the title roles for the film featuring Korea's then penchant for Western culture typified in cafes, coffee and department stores.
Shingijeon, a rocket machine developed and used during the Joseon Dynasty period, is a key subject of veteran director Kim Yu-jin's historical action film "Shingijeon." Top-rated actors Jung Jae-young, Ahn Sung-ki and Huh Jun-ho play central characters in the big-budget movie to be released around July.
Another much-anticipated film is award-winning director Lee Joon-ik's latest feature "Nimeun meonkotae," a Vietnam War drama that revolves around a wayward woman. High-profile actors such as Sue Ae, Jung Jin-young and Eom Tae-woong have signed on to the film project whose release is slated for July.
"Ssanghwajeom," another period drama, is directed by Yu Ha, and what is notable is that it is set in the Goryeo period which preceded Joseon. Heartthrobs Jo In-sung and Ju Jin-mo play the fictional king and his body guard, with a homosexual theme thrown into the turbulent swirl of historical events.
While big-budget movies are expected to shape the domestic film industry in 2008, small-budget art-house features also aim to carve out a position. Director Lee Yoon-ki's "The Great Day" is a case in point. Jeon Do-yeon, who grabbed the prestigious best actress award at the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival, plays a 30-year-old woman who reunites with her former boyfriend only for a day, with the cinematic emphasis placed on her mental landscape.
Director Kim Ki-duk's new feature "Bimong" is also a small-budget feature, but the public attention drawn to this Korea-Japan joint project is not so small. The reason is that Kim has pulled off a high-profile casting. Once top Japanese actor Joe Odagiri was confirmed to play the title role for the film numerous Korean female actors reportedly applied to play his counterpart.
Korean production companies are keen to reclaim their market share in the domestic market after suffering a bleak period last year. Even though a couple of big-budget Korean films led by "D-War," a monster flick by former comedian Shim Hyung-rae, sailed well at the box office, the majority of homegrown films failed to turn a profit last year, heightening a sense of crisis about the Korean film industry's overall competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Hollywood movies are increasingly expanding their share in the Korean film market, capitalizing partly on the reduced screen quota that allows local theaters to screen fewer domestic films.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected]), image from chosun & empas.com
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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January 4, 2008
Actors line up for Kim's latest effort
Written by Mark Schilling
TOKYO -- Korean helmer Kim Ki-duk has cast Japan's Joe Odagiri and Korea's Lee Na-young in his pic "Bi-mong." Odagiri will play a man who dreams he caused a car crash -- then discovers a real hit-and-run accident. Lee plays the driver arrested by police as the prime suspect, though she claims she was not responsible.
Shooting starts today and is skedded to wrap Jan. 25. Kim's previous pics include "The Isle," "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... and Spring," "3-Iron" and "Breath."
Source: VarietyAsia.com, image from empas.com
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/5230/ |
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January 4, 2008
How Ji Sung Discovered a New Side to Himself
In the on-call room for cardiothoracic surgery residents on the set of MBC medical drama 揘ew Heart |
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January 3, 2008
The Host, Secret Sunshine on Many Critics |
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January 4, 2008
Yoo Jin Helps Netizen Fundraiser
Singer turned actress Yoo Jin, a former member of the girl band SES, contributed to a fundraiser to build a playground.
Representing 100,000 netizens, she presented the donation to the Beautiful Foundation on Wednesday. She is also the PR envoy of an online charity campaign held by Daewoong Pharmaceutical last month. During the month, 100,000 netizens participated and raised 10 million won.
Yoo said it was meaningful to join the good cause with other netizens and hoped donations would increasingly become a part of Korean society.
The playground will be built within the National Assembly.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1499698_11692.html |
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Producer and cast for "Last Gift"
Jan. 4, SEOUL, South Korea -- Director Kim Young-joon (right) and cast members Kwon Oh-joong (L), Shin Hyun-joon (2nd from L), Cho Soo-min (3rd) and Huh Joon-ho (4th) pose at a news conference on their new film "Last Gift" on Jan. 4. (Yonhap) (END)
Source: http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/ ... E=3&AGINGPAGESIZE=5 |
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January 3, 2008
Married, but.. Missies in 2007
 
Lee Yo-won, Jang Sin-yeong and Han Ga-in, the young 'missy' stars made a remarkable achievement this year. Despite the fact they are married, they took the roles of unmarried women in their dramas over other young, single actresses. They became 'young bride' and some even became mothers in their early 20s. However, they are now enjoying the height of prosperity of their acting career with their young beauty and maturing performance shaped from such dramatic life experience as their own marriage.
Lee Yo-won, a mother of 3 years old daughter, made her coming back with SBS 'Surgeon Bong Dal-hee' early this year, which was followed by a film "May 18", in which she took a role of nurse, Park Sinae, displaying her strong fighting spirit. Presently, she is appearing in KBS2 'Bad Love' with a top star, Kwon Sang-woo.
Jang Sin-yeong, who published parturiency and a bikini picture album after the childbirth, also made her coming back with MBC 'Winter Bird' after giving birth to a healthy son last April. In 'Winter Bird' she is a strong, loyal and single matriarch. The 'perfect beauty' Han Ga-in also continued to took the roles of unmarried single women in her dramas such as MBS 'Super Rookie', 'Dr Gang' and SBS 'A Witch in Love' even after she got married to a fellow actor, Yeon Jeong-hoon. She made other female stars envy as she shoot kiss scenes with top male stars such as Jae Hee, Kim Jeong-hoon and Dennis O in 'A Witch in Love'.
Oh Yoon-ah, who married last January and gave birth to a son on August, is also coming back this March as a 'single aerobic instructor' in SBS' new drama 'Why did you come to my house?" (Undecided yet) and will be showing off her healthier and slimmer body.
Not only these married actresses but the 'Returning Singles' are also taking active part in the entertainment industry. During her marriage to a singer Lee Seung-hwan, Chae Rim managed to take a leading role in KBS2 'Oh! Pil-seung, Bong Soon-Young' and after her divorce, she appeared in 'Dalja's Spring' as a single career women who always fails in her love life.
However, Chae Jeong-an's come back is even more dramatic. Even though she divorced after one and a half years of marriage, she successfully re-blossom her acting career in the popular MBC drama 'Coffee Prince' as a genius young female artist. Recently she took a cosmetic commercial advertisement with 'Prince Shi Hu', the actor Park Si-hoo, and is gaining a greater popularity than before her marriage.
Ko Hyeon-jeong is the most successful 'Returning Single' of 30s age group. From her 10 years of married life with two children, she 'resurrected' as an 'attractive single woman' while working with much younger male actors in the dramas such as SBS "Spring Days", 'Fox, What Are You Doing ??' and "H.I.T".
This acceptance of this new trend in the entertainment industry is in proportion with maturity of the fans. Nowadays, they are mature enough to accept their stars' private life as it is while enjoy their performance without being disturbed by it. This is exactly opposite to the trend of last century, which believed the commercial value of female stars are dramatically decreasing when they get married and have children.
This new trend is also applies in Hollywood, which leads global entertainment industry. An example is Reese Witherspoon, who got married in her early 20s and has two children but is still the No. 1 casting nominee for a role of a cute single woman.
Original article at http://news.naver.com/main/hotissue/read.nhn?mid=hot&sid1=106&sid2=221&cid=26338&iid=11283&oid=108&aid=0000087042
Translation credits http://www.hancinema.net/index.php |
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January 3, 2008
Script Writers, the Hong Sisters - would they be able to bring glory back to KBS miniseries department?
On 2nd January, the first episode of a comic historical drama 'Hong Gil Dong' was televised, starring Kang Ji-hwan and Seong Yoo-ri.
The baton is now handed over to the Hong Sisters, Hong Jeong-eun and Hong Mi-ran. The KBS miniseries department, which fall into a slump last year hold their hopes to KBS miniseries hit script writers, Hong Mi-ran and Hong Jung-eun sisters. The Wed-Thu miniseries 'Hong Gil Dong' (Directed by Lee Jung-sub) is a fusion drama, which adopted a comic historical drama. The first episode was televised on 2nd January and is captivating the viewers with a unique script written by the Hong Sisters and the appearance of top stars including Kang Ji-hwan and Seong Yoo-ri.
From their first miniseries, 'Sassy Girl, Chun-hyang',, to 'My girl' and 'Fantastic Couple', the Hong Sisters wrote unique trendy dramas, achieving both quality and popularity. Last year, the KBS miniseries department spend a dark period of slump between its two rival broadcasting stations. Due to such seriousness of the situation, they are even showing a degree of urgency and imminence in hoping the Hong Sisters to work their magic.
Producer Pyo Min-soo's 'In Soon-Yi is Pretty' or kwon Sang-woo's latest drama 'Bad Love' had been on the must-see list of the later half of last year but they failed to reach their expectation. The dramas such "Devil" and 'Evasive Inquiry Agency', which had high quality and originality, also recorded harshly low viewing rates. The desperate KBS is using a comic historical drama to reverse the situation. Their intension is to make a full use of the Hong Sister's unique provocative language and speedy plot to bring the viewers back to their channel at 10 o'clock in the evening.
Female casts of the Hong Sisters' dramas all rose to be top stars, including Han Chae-young, Lee Da-hae and Han Ye-seul |
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January 4, 2008
Jeon Do-yeon makes cameo appearance in upcoming drama series 'On Air'
Actress Jeon Do-yeon will be making a cameo appearance in the SBS television drama series 'On Air' which is set to air on February 27th. This will be the first cameo appearance for the actress who will play herself in the series.
'On Air' which is actually set in a broadcasting company will feature Jeon Do-yeon as the top star who one of the leading characters Jang Ki Joon (played by Lee Beom Soo), an agent and manager, used to represent. Jeon Do-yeon finished filming the scene last month in Seoul.
Jeon Do-yeon's appearance was based on her relationship with the writer Kim Eun Sook and producing director Shin Woo Cheol who she worked with during "Lovers in Prague."
Shin Woo Cheol comments, "It probably wasn't easy for a top actress to agree to a cameo appearance but I am very thankful that she did so without hesitation. I believe she will give a significant positive impact to the series."
Kim Eun Sook comments, "It is a very short scene, but the role will leave a strong image and impact at the beginning of the series. That is why I asked Jeon Do-yeon to appear as the top actress."
"On Air" is a miniseries featuring Song Yoon Ah, Lee Beom Soo, Kim Ha Neul, and Park Yong Ha based on the actual production stages of a television drama series.
Source: Broasia.com
http://www.broasia.com/lwboard/l ... amp;pg=1&no=441 |
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January 6, 2008
Music Festival Most Searched On Internet
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
"SBS Music Festival" topped the nation's No. 1 search engine Naver's most searched keyword list last week.
The year-end music event hosted by comedian Lee Whi-jea and female singer Lee Hyo-ri was held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on Dec. 29.
A number of singers who were in the limelight last year took to the stage.
"MBC Entertainment Award" came in second on the list. Hosted by comedian Lee Hyeok-jae, the show was also aired live on Dec. 20.
A total of seven entertainers shared the grand prize. The awardees were actor Lee Soon-jae who made an impressive performance in the sitcom "Unhesitatingly High Kick" and six members of the variety show "Infinite Challenge" ― Yoo Jae-seok, Park Myung-soo, Jung Jun-ha, Jung Hyung-don, No Hong-chul and Ha Dong-hun widely known by his stage name "Haha." "Infinite Challenge" was selected as the best TV program for 2007.
Coming in third was the late actress Kim Young-im. She died of breast cancer at a hospital in Seoul on Dec. 7.
The 28-year-old actress struggled with the disease for more than 10 months since she was diagnosed with the disease early last year. Kim made her debut in 2000 and has appeared on a variety of films and TV dramas.
Choi Hong-man and Russia's Fedor Emelianenko, both of whom are renowned players in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), ranked fifth on the list.
The two faced each other on New Year's eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. In the long-waited match, the Russian beat the 2.18-meter Korean giant one minute and 54 seconds into the first round.
Coming in eighth on the list was the late boxing champion Choi Yo-sam. Choi was officially pronounced dead Thursday after falling into a coma on Christmas Day. He had been hospitalized after collapsing following a successful defense of his title.
His family decided to donate his organs to six patients eagerly waiting for organ transplants in accordance with Choi's wishes.
His donation has greatly contributed to rekindling public awareness regarding organ donation in Korea, where an acute shortage exists.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/01/117_16766.html |
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January 6, 2008
New KBS drama takes fusion to extremes
Actor Jang Geun-seok, 20, captured the essence of KBS's newest drama "Hong Gil-dong, the Hero" when he said, "I think 'Hong Gil-dong, the Hero' truly is a fusion drama."
Playing a troubled crown prince on the run in this new drama, Jang added, "It's got a very young and energetic storyline."
Young and fresh are the right words to use when referring to "Hong Gil-dong, the Hero," which started last Wednesday night on KBS 2. This new take on the traditional historical drama presents the most unlikely mix of global pop culture references to ever hit TV screens.
From Hong Kong action stunts to Bollywood belly dancing to a touch of Shakespearean stage humor, this drama gives the classic story of one of Korea's most popular heroes, Hong Gil-dong, a radical makeover.
The original Hong Gil-dong, upon which this drama is based, was a heroic character from an old Korean novel written in the Joseon Dynasty. A Korean Robin Hood, the original Hong was depicted as a model hero. Morally upright, intelligent and driven by a desire to right the wrongs of a nation, Hong and his band of thieves stole from the rich and gave to the poor.
But the new Hong Gil-dong, skillfully played by actor Kang Ji-hwan, 30, breaks all stereotypes. This village bully who drowns himself in merrymaking, gambling and women is a far cry from the beloved hero of yore.
Kang's Hong swaggers, burps and masks his good intentions with a deadbeat attitude. And it takes real acting flair to pull off just the right mix of physical humor, wild stunts and poignantly masked emotion and pain to make this new hero come alive.
Kang doesn't disappoint. A seasoned actor both onscreen and onstage, Kang makes for a refreshing Hong Gil-dong. He artfully navigates the dual role of a ***** son who secretly desires his father's affections and the comic village bully, coupling the right amount of exaggerated, bawdy theatrics with candid emotion.
And audiences are noticing.
After the first episode, one domestic viewer wrote on the drama's official bulletin board: "Kang Ji-hwan ... I am a big fan of him from now on ... his acting is very good, smooth and natural."
And Kang is not the only star that merits attention in the drama. His beautiful co-star, Sung Yu-ri, a former member of the hit girl-group Fin.K.L., turns bathroom humor into an art in her role as the boyish heroine Heo Lee-nok.
In the second episode, Sung, 26, defecates in the wilderness, to put it nicely. From her singing while she does her business to her delicate selection of the right leaf to use as toilet paper, Sung pulls off the scene with perfect comic timing.
But it's the side characters who threaten to steal the show. From Kang's Yoda-like Zen master to Heo Lee-nok's crazy grandpa, the supporting cast really beefs up "Hong Gil-dong, the Hero" with their colorful antics.
Particularly noteworthy is the mock-Chinese peddler with the surname of Wang. Sporting a little Chinese silk outfit, Wang punctuates all his lines with a "yah" at the end to try to sound Chinese in the hopes that it will help boost sales. But the joke is on Wang when Kang tells Sung Yu-ri's character that Wang is not Chinese at all but a Korean native from Gyeongsang Province.
But underneath all the lighthearted comedy lies a solid plot that follows Hong Gil-dong on his heroic journey. Though the new Hong Gil-dong is a bit more wicked, it seems like the drama will stay true to the original story.
The second episode ends with Hong and his future band of thieves, hinting that things might get a bit more serious in the third installment. And that Hong Gil-dong might discover that he has the makings of a hero after all.
While the over-the-top stunts, gaudy costumes, bathroom humor and strange cartoon-like characters might be a turn-off for some viewers, audiences seem to be taking a liking to the quirky combination.
According to AGB Nielsen Media Research, viewer ratings were 15.4 percent following the first episode and rose up to 15.8 percent after the second episode, placing it second to MBC's medical drama "New Heart."
"Hong Gil-dong, the Hero" plays on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:55 p.m. on KBS 2 TV.
By Jean Oh ([email protected]), image from naver.com
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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January 6, 2008
Japanese Actor Jo Odagiri to Star in 慡ad Dream |
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January 7, 2008
Rain May Sing Olympic Theme
Singer Rain may sing the theme song for this year's Beijing Olympics.
He recently received a request from the Olympic organizing committee and is positively reviewing it.
He was asked to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Doha Asian Games but had to turn down the offer due to his tour schedule.
He has finished filming the Hollywood flick 'Speed Racer' set to open in May and is gearing up for a major Hollywood debut. Former boy band GOD member Park Jun-hyeong also appears in the film.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1500137_11692.html |
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TV star to enter military
Jan. 7, SEOUL, South Korea -- Gong Yoo, a popular actor and TV star, waves at the end of a meeting with fans in Seoul on Jan. 6. The 28-year-old will start his mandatory military service next week. (Photo courtesy of Sidus HQ) (Yonhap)(END)
Source: Yonhap News
http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/ ... E=2&AGINGPAGESIZE=5 |
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