[drama 2009] The Iron Empress / Empress Cheon Chu 천추태후

[Guest ethelelion]

i'm happy i got kbs world,

so i can watch it when it airs in jan.

Want to see shin ae in the drama

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Source: The Korea Times 12-30-2008 16:51

What's on Cultural Horizon in 2009?

By Han Sang-hee

Staff Reporter

The year 2009 is now finally around the corner, and it is about time to prepare for the New Year. The past year was an interesting one, and readers can now preview what is planned in 2009.

Dramas

Historical Dramas on the Rise: The three major networks are planning to air three distinctive historical dramas next year, MBC with "Queen Seondeok,'' KBS with "Empress Cheonchoo'' and SBS with "Jamyeonggo'' (working titles).

The three dramas will touch on the lives of powerful women during the period in which the programs are set: the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), the Silla Kingdom (668-935) and the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D.668), respectively.

Starring Ko Hyun-joung and Lee Yo-won, "Queen Seondeok'' will carry the story of the first queen to rule during Goryeo, while "Empress Cheonchoo'' will bring back the courageous grand daughter of King Taejo (47-165), played by Chae Si-ra, and her lifelong struggle to protect the country her ancestors built. "Jamyeonggo'' is based on the folk tale of princess Nak-rang and Goguryoe's prince Ho-dong, and the relationship between the two royal subjects and Nak-rang's secret sister played by Jung Ryeo-won.

"Empress Cheonchoo'' will start airing Jan. 3 and "Jamyeonggo'' in February, while "Queen Seondeok'' has not confirmed a date for airing.

Hallyu Stars Return to Small Screen: Numerous hallyu stars will return to the small screen next year. Actor So Ji-sub will greet fans through new SBS drama "Cain and Abel'' next February. The drama is about the intense relationship between two brothers, one a genius doctor and another outshone by his sibling. "Cain and Abel'' will start airing Feb. 19. Kwon Sang-woo will star in "Cinderella Man,'' a program about a young man's life-changing story, while Lee Byeng-hun and Kim Tae-hee will appear in "Iris,'' which is a spin-off of the hit movie "Swiri.'' Ji Sung and Sung Yu-ri will also return to television through a spin-off of popular drama "All In,'' "Swallow the Sun'' (working title.) The story of an ambitious young man struggling for success will continue with the "Sun,'' with Ji Sung as the dreamer who strives to make Jeju Island one of the most popular cities in the world. "Cinderella Man'' will be aired in April and the "Sun'' in June.

Other hallyu stars include Hyun Bin with the drama "Friend: The Untold Story'' and Lee Jun-ki with "Invisible War'' (working titles).

Movies

The past year, 2008, was not the best for local movies, but there is hope 2009 will be different. With big directors planning to offer their works, fans will have the chance to re-live the heyday of Korean cinema.

Filmmaker Park Chan-wook will return with his new film "Thirst.'' The movie is about a priest who becomes a vampire by accident and falls in love with his friend's wife. Aiming to bring a universal film, Park decided not to make any changes in the appearances of characters, like fangs and pale white skin, but focus more on the emotional changes in characters. Starring Song Kang-ho and Shin Ha-kyun, it will be in theaters this April.

Following Park is Bong Jun-ho's thriller "Mother.'' While many other thriller movies have young male stars, Bong's film will have veteran actress Kim Hae-ja as the main character. Determined to save her son from being framed on a false charge of murder, Kim will play the emotionally strained mother and discover dark secrets along the way. It is slated for release in May.

Choi Dong-hoon, the director who made "Tazza: The High Rollers'' and "The Big Swindle,'' has returned to the Joseon Kingdom era (1392-1910) to bring the film "Jeonwoochi'' (working title). Based on the traditional novel " Jeonwoochi Chronicles,'' the film presents the story of a Joseon period ascetic, who has been trapped inside a painting for 500 years and finds himself released into the modern world. Dubbed as a fantasy comic action film, the movie will star Gang Dong-won as the ascetic and Lim Soo-jung as the heroine. The film will be released in August.

Other local movies include "The Scheme,'' a thriller about stock analysts starring Park Yong-ha and also "Public Official'' (working titles), the Korean version of Hollywood's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith,'' starring Kim Ha-neul and Kang Ji-hwan.

In 2009, the release of highly-anticipated Hollywood films starring some of Korea's favorite celebrities will also come. They include Lee Byeng-hun's "G.I.Joe: Rise of the Cobra'' in August and Jeon Ji-hyun's "Blood: The Last Vampire'' and Rain's "Ninja Assassin'' in March.

Classical Music

Orchestras to Captivate Fans: Numerous orchestras around the world will grace local fans next year. The 31-year-old Strauss Festival Orchestra Vienna will visit Korea and perform at the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) Jan. 20, while the Berlin Radio Symphony led by principal conductor Marek Janowski will bring the tunes of famous German composers like Beethoven and Schubert to the SAC Jan. 31.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra will visit Korea in April, with the National Symphony Orchestra led by music director and conductor Ivan Fischer following in June.

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra will greet fans with its new music director Alan Gilbert in October, while the Haydn Philharmonic will arrive in November to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Austrian composer's death.

Soloists Step on Stage: Tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, who were two of the so-called "three tenors'' alongside the late Luciano Pavarotti, will visit to offer their charismatic stage presence to local fans in January and May, respectively.

Chinese pianist Yundi Li will hold a piano recital after a six-year hiatus. The youngest winner of the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition will visit Korea in February.

Local stars will also take to the stage, including cellist Chung Myung-hwa, who will hold her 40th anniversary concert in April with pianist Kim Dae-jin, while aspiring musicians ― pianist Kim Sun-wook; violinist Kim Soo-yeon; Lee Yu-ra; violist Choi Eun-shik; cellist Song Young-hoon and bassist Sung Min-jae ― will perform with maestro Chung Myung-whun.

K-Pop

The pop scene was fierce in 2008, and it looks like there will be more competition among idol groups with several more jumping into the local scene, while some popular groups branch out to pursue their individual careers.

YG Entertainment recently announced that it will launch a new girl group in February.

According to the head of the agency, Yang Hyun-suk, former member of the hit group Seo Taiji and Boys, the dance group will make its debut early next year. Yang also added they will be a "girl version of Big Bang,'' referring to the popular boy band. The only hint Yang offered was that it will be a tougher and more charismatic group compared to the other girl groups on the local pop scene.

The comeback of several popular singers will also surprise fans, with pop group Girls' Generation and Se7en returning in 2009.

Girls' Generation announced that the group is releasing its new mini album "Gee'' Jan. 7. The nine members have been working on personal projects such as acting, singing solo and even working as a radio DJ.

Along with Girl's Generation, Se7en will also return to Korea after a period working in the U.S.

Members of top idol groups are also set to branch out individually. TVXQ, SS501 and even Big Bang will see their members pursue new projects, like acting and releasing solo albums, including Kim Hyun-joong from SS501 and Victory from Big Bang.

Dance

The past year saw many dance troupes visiting Korea to offer their distinctive moves, including the American Ballet Theater and Stuttgart Ballet, and 2009 will be no different.

Movie star Juliette Binoche will visit Seoul as a dancer to perform "in-i'' with fellow dancer and choreographer Akram Khan at LG Arts Center in March. Meanwhile, Russia's Boris Eifman Ballet will bring one of the best works "Tchaikovsky: The Mystery of Life and Death'' to dance fans in September.

Choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot, winner of the Prix Benois de la Danse Choreographer of the Year in 2007 and famous for his creativity in some of the most famous tales in the world, will offer his version of the classic "Cinderella'' with dancers from the Korea National Ballet at Seoul Arts Center this coming March.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

[Guest huangsy]

The cast staged a mini performance at tonight's 2008 KBS Drama Awards.

[Guest selvaspeedy]

WOW

I'm really looking forward for this drama.

love the costumes

[monalisa]

I'm very sure this drama will do very well in ratings! Chae Si-ra's an acclaimed actress. Evil or not, she was inspiring as Lady Jami in Hae Shin.

[Guest huangsy]

and joined in the countdown !

[Luv]

Some pictures of the cast (mostly ShinAe) at the KBS Award show...

[Guest sayroo]

^

WOW! Luv,

i hope to see you & your caps in the THREAD when the drama airs..

*well, it's okay if you don't bring some CAPS! just your presence! haha! *

i'm so excited! even the MINI SHOW that they did awhile ago at the KBS drama awards. i was already giddy!

[Luv]

Hi sayroo...

Wow...it'll be a very long drama so I don't know...hehe...

But I can't wait to see ShinAe

This is the presentation video clip from the KBS Award show :

I cut it in 2 parts.

Part 1:

http://sharebee.com/145b2ee6

Part 2:

http://sharebee.com/f8a59917

Enjoy!

[Guest sayroo]

^

Luv,

no pressure! haha!

let's just enjoy the show! it's okay if you don't bring some CAPS with you!

your presence is very fine!

looking forward to ShinAe's performance!

[Guest flydolesqueue]

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[Guest huangsy]

Dont miss the special tonight 21:55 hours Seoul time on 1 Jan 2009

[Guest huangsy]

Just finished watching the special, narrated by the child star Park Ji Bin, looks very promising.

[Guest huangsy]

Credits to RUBIE.

January 1, 2009

Wonder women, eye candy herald TV's New Year

State-run broadcaster KBS is greeting the New Year with not one but two dramas: a remake of the iconic classic "Boys over Flowers" and the epic "Iron Empress."

Historical romance "Iron Empress" hatches its 80-episode-long tale tomorrow night, spicing up the Goryeo Dynasty with the bloody escapades of a warrior woman played by veteran actress Chae Si-ra.

Chae, the feline beauty who enchanted and frightened audiences in KBS' "Sea God (2004)," reprises her role as a ruthless Amazon in the upcoming drama. "Men have been playing the lead in historical romances," said Chae, 40, at a press conference held on Dec. 19. "Now, I think it is time for women to do so. This drama will show people that there was an awesome and brave female leader during the Goryeo Dynasty."

Fearsome would be a more accurate description of the heroine, who is aptly called the Iron Empress. The fourth wife of Goryeo Dynasty founder Taejo Wang Kon, the empress ruled as the regent for her son Mok Jong, the dynasty's seventh ruler.

Determined to realize her ambitious goals for the kingdom of Goryeo, she dons armor, battles against foreign invaders, and tramples her lover, her son and brother in her rise to power. The audience is invited to watch her transform into a cold-hearted warrior.

"Every year we do a big scale drama," said Senior Producer/Director of KBS Drama Team 2 Choi Jee-yeong, 39. "It represents KBS. Last year we did 'King Sejong.' Usually we cover the Joseon Dynasty, but this one looks into the Goryeo Dynasty."

Highlighting the gory reign of an empress, endowing her with a warrior's skills and the brain of a brilliant politician, KBS' big scale drama sets the tone for 2009.

The conniving queen no longer serves as the villainess of the period piece, but takes center stage. Hamlet is relegated to the corner and Gertrude gets the limelight.

The maneuver compels female audiences to tune into a hitherto male-dominated genre. And as if in response to some divine plan, KBS is also giving women some serious eye candy with its new Monday and Tuesday night drama "Boys over Flowers."

Based on the hit comic series of the same name, many would agree that "Boys" derives its popularity from F4; or four good-looking and wealthy male characters. The first TV drama version, produced in Taiwan, catapulted the four leading actors to fame. It was followed by the Japanese TV version, which also garnered success. And now, KBS looks set to hit yet another homerun with the perennial favorite.

"Boys" director Jun Ki-sang has a track record for popular yet hackneyed dramas like KBS' "Delightful Girl Choon-hyang (2005)" and SBS' "My Girl (2006)," making him a perfect fit for the lighthearted comic book fantasy. "The production company and the original comic book publisher requested that we make this drama as close to the original as possible," said director Jun in a press conference on Dec. 22.

"At first I rejected the offer to direct because it has already been produced in other countries. But when the offer came again and they said that the expectations of Koreans were different. I felt that there were challenges to be met."

A sort of "Pride and Prejudice" for Asian audiences, the surefire story of a poor girl, her rich suitor and her three knights need not rely on the potentially diverse expectations of a nation's audience to ensure its success. In the words of production company Group Eight's "Boys over Flowers" project manager Bae Jong-byung: "I think people will watch it because it is a well-written and fun story. It will do well as a remake."

The key, however, lies in the charm of its four leading actors and the pluck of its solitary heroine. All four male leads bear an uncanny resemblance to their comic book counterparts, which could be, in part, due to the extensive auditioning process they underwent.

Leader of the boy band SS501 Kim Hyun-joong stands out as Hanazawa Rui, called Yoon Ji-hoo in the Korean version. His sweet and quirky antics in the hit MBC reality show "We Got Married (2008)" have already made him something of a celebrity, and his role as the introverted, aloof yet cavalier Rui promises to attract more female fans.

"When we did the kiss scene, I was very nervous," said Kim Hyun-joong, 22, referring to his scene with Koo Hye-sun, who plays the heroine. "Koo Hye-sun said, 'Just do it.' We finished filming after 10 takes." "10 kisses," he iterated with a grin.

Actress Koo Hye-sun, smiled when asked about the 10-kiss scene, before stating: "There were technical issues." "My character could be a target for envy because she becomes a Cinderella in an instant. I think it would be best to live vicariously through her."

Koo, who gained popularity as the lead in the period drama "The King and I (2007)," is taking on the role of Makino Tsukushi -- called Geum Jan-di in the Korean version. The heroine is first pestered and ostracized by four of the most popular boys at her school before winning them over with her pluck and strength.

Actor Lee Min-ho will be playing Koo's love interest, Domyoji Tsukasa, called Goo Joon-pyo in the Korean version. Actor Kim Bum and rapper Kim Joon will be playing the remaining two male leads. "Boys" airs its first episode on Monday on KBS 2 TV at 9:55 p.m.

"Iron Empress" starts airing tomorrow night on KBS 2 TV at 10:15 p.m.

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldm.com)

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/dat...00901020019.asp

[kish_agnes]

looking forward of this drama bcoz Chae si ra is here, i love her and i'l support her all the way.

[Guest huangsy]

[Guest Solly]

i have a feeling that this drama is seriously going to be awesome! can't wait to see this!

[Guest flydolesqueue]

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[Guest huangsy]

for those who missed the special, it would be repeated on KBS2 tom 3 Jan at 2:55pm Seoul time !

[Guest avonmarissa]

wow, KBS definitely put their best into this drama. It is evident from the special that they spent a lot of money, time and resources on this drama; can't wait to see it.