[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

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September 8, 2010

Choi Yoon-young Marries Businessman in Secret Wedding

Choi Yoon-young

Actress Choi Yoon-young, 35, married a businessman who is three years her junior in the U.S. earlier this summer. They had a private wedding with only a few family members and relatives present in Manhattan on July 2. The previous month she gave birth to a baby girl.

Choi and her husband have been long-time friends, knowing each other for over 10 years, according to a close acquaintance of the actress.

Choi, a graduate in business from Boston University, was a runner-up in the 1995 Miss Korea beauty pageant. She made her acting debut that year and has had an active career, including an appearance in the 2005 film "My Boss, My Teacher." In 2004, she launched a yoga video and opened her own yoga studio.

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 8, 2010

Shin Jung-hwan 'detained' in Philippines for gambling debt

Shin Jung-hwan, a Korean singer and entertainer, has been detained in Cebu, the Philippines, for failing to pay gambling debt since Aug. 27, news reports said.

Shin has been unable to show up for TV program recordings.

He was once forbidden from TV shows due to his gambling problem in 2005.

Shin Jung-hwan (Yonhap)

Source: Herald Online

Shin out of TV show amid gambling rumors

Entertainer Shin Jung-hwan will no longer participate in KBS entertainment show “Star Golden Bell,” due to his serial absence without notice and alleged charges of overseas-gambling, the broadcaster said Wednesday.

Shin, who has been out of contact for the past week, is found to be detained in Cebu, the Philippines, after illegally using his passport as security to borrow money for gambling from a Korean broker living in the Philippines, according to media reports.

Shin Jung-hwan

Having left Seoul on Aug. 27, Shin has been staying at a resort casino hotel in Cebu, said an official from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Tuesday. During the period of his stay in Cebu, he was scheduled to tape a number of entertainment shows for the major networks, including “Star Golden Bell” of KBS and “Flower Bouquet” of MBC. Rumors spread as Korean tourists and residents in the Philippines who have witnessed Shin in Cebu started posting online posts that they had seen him gambling at hotel casinos.

However, Shin Sung-ho, vice-president of the Korean Association in the Philippines, said the entertainer is hospitalized in Cebu with symptoms of dengue fever. Shin, who claims that he has visited the entertainer at the hospital, said the entertainer had not lost money in gambling and that he is in possession of his own passport. He may return to Seoul this coming weekend, according to Shin Sung-ho.

The entertainer has a record of being charged with illegal gambling in 2005. He was banned from TV appearances at the time. Last year, he was sued by one of his acquaintances for taking 180 million won fraudulently.

By Claire Lee (clairelee@heraldm.com) koreaherald.com

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September 8, 2010

Song Seung Hun "I Loved the Original Movie 'A Better Tomorrow'"

Actor Song Seung Hun has made a comeback after a two-year break by playing Lee Young Choon in the movie "A Better Tomorrow, 2010."

Song said, "I and every man my age actually admired the movie 'A Better Tomorrow' in the past. In that movie, the actor Chow Yun Fat, who fired guns with both hands and lit a cigarette by lighting fire to faked bills, looked wonderful. I thought that I would be criticized anyway even though I performed very well in the movie.”

A Hallyu star, Song Seung Hun, came back to the screen by appearing in the movie “A Better Tomorrow, 2010,” which is a remake of director John Woo’s original movie “A Better Tomorrow (1986).” He made a comeback to the film after a two-year break since the movie “Destiny,” in which Kwon Sang Woo and Song Seung Hun had appeared as the protagonists.

During an interview held at a café in Samcheongdong, Song Seung Hun said, “We did not just try to reproduce the original, instead we produced a Korean style of storyline and a movie filled with Korean sentiment. The movie is not just a simple remake.”

The movie tells the stories of Hyuk (Joo Jin Mo), who belongs to an organization smuggling weapons, Hyuk’s younger brother Chul (Kim Kang Woo), who has to chase Hyuk as a policeman, and Tae Min (Cho Han Sun), who tries to conquer the organization by eliminating the others. The movie will be released on September 16.

Song Seung Hun played a North Korean defector named Young Choon who works at the weapon smuggling organization. He said, "I decided to appear in this movie because I have a deep-rooted trust toward the director, and since my debut movie, in which I had worked together with the director, I have always wanted to work with him again someday."

Actor Song Seung Hun and the director, Song Hae Sung, met again 11 years after they filmed the movie "Calla (1999).” Since that time, the director Song had developed into a famous movie director by making movies such as "Failan” (2001) and “Maundy Thursday” (2006), and the actor Song had become a Hallyu star by appearing in many dramas and movies.

Song Seung Hun said, "Director Song has come to have more clear views of his own. He used to listen to actors' opinions before, but he has changed to a person who wants to carry his own points" (laugh).

The original movie, "A Better Tomorrow" is a major work of Hong Kong Noir, in which Hong Kong’s star actors of the 1980s such as Chow Yun Fat, Leslie Cheung and Ti Lung had appeared, and it actually had a profound influence in Hong Kong’s movie industry as an action movie.

Song Seung Hun had inevitably felt pressured about the original, but he did his best to draw an evaluation from viewers saying that the remake movie came close to the original. For playing the character Young Choon in earnest, he started to smoke again even though he had quit smoking five years ago, and he had practiced disassembling a rifle at home to showcase a realistic scene. He had also learned how to play the piano and how to operate a boat. He did not even apply any lotion to his face to look as tough as possible.

He said, “Director Song asked me to show hazy eyes to express Young Choon, who had been ruined over a period of three years, but I could not understand his request and I even felt bitter about him. But, after I watched the completed movie, I could understand why he asked me that kind of request and I felt sorry because I might have been able to perform better if I had more time for preparation.”

After he had left the army in 2006, he had played muscular characters in works such as “Destiny,””East of Eden (2008),” and “A Better Tomorrow, 2010” because he had wanted to abandon his former soft and tender image shown in dramas such as “Autumn in my Heart (2000)” and “Summer Scent (2003).” Song said while smiling, “I had been described as a soft character in the previous dramas, but actually my personality is a long way from those soft images.”

He will begin filming the drama “My Princess” from the middle of next month and act with the actress Kim Tae Hee in the drama. By appearing in this drama, he will come back to the small screen with a soft image again. He stated, “I have never played a wealthy character before, I always had to suffer from hunger and I had been depressed all the time within the drama. I am used to taking the role of a son coming from a poor and complicated family. It will be the first light and pleasant drama after a sitcom drama, so I expect that filming this drama will be very exciting and fun.”

Hallyu star Song Seung Hun recently filmed the movie “Ghost” with the actress Nanako Matsushima, who has been popular in Korea because of her Japanese movie “Ring.” The movie “Ghost” is also a remake movie of the original movie (1990) with the same title, in which Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore played the protagonists.

He added, “Since I cannot speak Japanese, I felt frustrated because I could not express myself very well due to language, but as time went by, I could realize that language was not that important in acting. In the end, I could concentrate on acting and was deeply immersed in emotion even more than when I acted in Korean films, so sometimes I did not listen to the director’s instruction saying ‘cut’ and kept acting on the set.”

Source: KBS Global

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September 8, 2010

Pusan film fest opens with premieres galore

By Lee Hyo-won

French actress Juliette Binoche will visit the 15th Pusan (Busan) International

Film Festival next month for the gala presentation of "Certified Copy" / Courtesy of PIFF

The Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) will open its 15th edition next month with a record number of global premieres, organizers announced Tuesday in Seoul.

The largest cinema event in Asia, to be held from Oct. 7 to 15 in the southern port city, will feature 308 works from 67 countries ― including a record 103 premieres and 52 works making their international debuts. Films will be shown under 11 categories in five major theaters and art houses. The construction of Dureraum, a media center that will be the main festival venue, is under swift progress and will be ready to host next year’s edition, said festival director Kim Dong-ho.

"The 15th PIFF will mark 'year zero' for the festival to start anew. We are introducing new infrastructure, such as the media center that will open in 2011, and an online screening system," said Kim, who has headed the event since its inauguration in 1996. This year will mark the end of his tenure.

The festival will open with "The Love of the Hawthorn Tree" by Zhang Yimou. For the Chinese master director, who is better known for orchestrating spectacular projects such as big-budget "wuxia" films and the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the film marks a return to the low-key dramas of his earlier period, said PIFF programmers.

Zhang will be among noted guests visiting the event this year, along with French film icon Juliette Binoche and American director Oliver Stone.

An omnibus collection, "Camellia," will close PIFF. It is comprised of three shorts, each featuring the theme of love in Busan, and directed by Wisit Sasanatieng of Thailand, Isao Yukisada of Japan and Jang Joon-hwan of Korea.

A variety of special programs will be offered this year, such as a retrospective of works starring the 1960s screen siren Kim Jimi. Film buffs can also look forward to collections from Spain and the Czech Republic in commemoration of Korea’s diplomatic ties with the two countries.

Since its launch in 1996, the festival has been reputed for discovering and fostering new works and first-time directors from across Asia. It will showcase works made under the auspices of its support projects, such as the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) and Asian Cinema Fund.

Moreover, the Asian Film Market, to be held concurrently with the festival, has introduced an online screening system like the Cannes Film Festival. The website (http://os.asianfilmmarket.org) opened Monday and will be available even after the festival comes to an end through Oct. 31. Those registered for the Asian Film Market will be able to view works featured in the market and indie flicks in need of a sales company and past works by PPP-backed directors.

For more information about PIFF, visit www.piff.org.

Source: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 9, 2010

How socks pushed an actress down the aisle

After years of playing a bride in TV dramas, actress Lee Yu-ri finally walked down the aisle in her own wedding on Monday.

The private ceremony took place at the EL Tower in southern Seoul and was held with friends and family in attendance. The couple met through a Christian group and have been dating for four years.

In a modern twist, Lee was the one who popped the question.

“I thought that I wouldn’t be able to bear losing this person, so I proposed to him,” Lee said on the SBS program “Midnight TV Entertainment” on Sept. 2. “I once saw him wearing socks that didn’t match and knew that I wanted to be the person who would make sure he had matching socks for the rest of his life.”

Lee has appeared in TV dramas like “Daring Women” (2010) and “I Love You, Don’t Cry” (2008).

By Hannah Kim Contributing writer joongangdaily.com

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September 9, 2010

System creates real life drama for actors

Actors walked off set after a pay dispute, nearly forcing cancellation of MBC show

MBC’s popular period drama ‘Dong Yi,’ seen in the photo above, was almost cancelled

after its actors went on a three-day strike, protesting that MBC owed them pay. Provided by MBC

MBC’s popular period drama “Dong Yi” was almost canceled this week when its actors refused to work for three consecutive days, protesting that they had not been paid.

Some of the actors featured in the drama, who are also members of the Korea Artist Union for Broadcasting, Film and Performances, did not show up for work from last Friday to Sunday, saying that MBC owed them a total of 2.16 billion won ($1.84 million) in back pay. After MBC refused to make the payments, the actors and other members of the union walked off the set of four MBC dramas, including “Dong Yi,” “Gloria,” “Kim Su-ro” and “Naughty Kiss.”

On Monday, the Dong Yi actors returned to work, following a settlement with the Leaders Contents Company, an outsourcing company responsible for its production, which delivered all of the payments to the actors. “We have given the actors their payment for July’s work, which was delayed due to a paperwork problem,” said Lee Se-jung, head of the outsourcing company. “We have also given them their August payment, which we were supposed to have paid Sept. 10.”

The television drama ended successfully on Tuesday.

But the threats by the actors has raised larger questions about the broadcaster-outsourcing system, which started in Korea in 1991. Industry experts say that since the global economic crisis began in 2008, the system has suffered from declining production budgets because of a decrease in exports of Korean dramas and an increase in the number of dramas sold off at excessively low prices.

Last Wednesday, the Korea Artist Union held a press conference at MBC’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, with union leader Kim Ung-suk and 20 actors from the union present. They claimed that the three major broadcasters, MBC, SBS and KBS, owe the actors 4.37 billion won as of the end of July for their appearances in various drama series. Right before the conference, the union finished negotiations with MBC. Still, the actors said that they would not participate in the production of 10 scheduled dramas for MBC and SBS, including “Dong Yi” and “Giant,” which headline the networks’ broadcast lineup.

Strictly speaking, however, the payments from the dramas in question actually come from outsourcing companies that the broadcasters hired to produce the dramas. The KBS drama “Sing the National Anthem,” MBC’s drama “Iljimae Returns” and the SBS drama “Coffee House,” were all produced by outsourcing companies hired by their respective broadcasters, and the actors in these dramas signed contracts with those companies directly.

Although the actors openly acknowledge the existence of this system, they have continued to blame the broadcasters for missing payments and other problems. “[The broadcasters] have given these outsourcing companies ridiculously small production budgets so they can earn as much profit as possible,” Kim said.

Union members have also conceded that the broadcasters pay the outsourcing companies only about 50 to 60 percent of the 200 million won per episode production cost for dramas, and that because of this, outsourcing companies can’t help but be in debt.

Representatives from MBC retaliated by saying that it is unrealistic to expect broadcasters to monitor all of the financial transactions for which the outsourcing companies are responsible. “As a broadcaster, it is nearly impossible to control all of the payment transactions between the production company and the actors, or the financial feuds that go on during production,” MBC said.

With regard to the actors’ refusal to work, MBC said it was regrettable that their actions had interfered with the production process. KBS and SBS also agreed to a compromise settlement with the union this week.

By Cho Jae-eun, Kang Hye-ran [jainnie@joongang.co.kr] joongangdaily.com

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September 9, 2010

Bae Yong-joon Garners More Laurels with Book About Korea

Bae Yong-joon

Korean wave superstar Bae Yong-joon's book "Travel in Search of Korea's Beauty" has become a steady seller in both here and Japan, and now he has published it in Taiwan as well.

The Korean version, which was published in September last year, went into a 13th impression just a month after it was launched, and the Japanese version, which hit stores simultaneously, also became an instant bestseller and garnered positive reviews, which is rare for a collection of travel essays. It was especially praised for offering fresh insights into Korean culture as Bae himself sought out artisans in obscure fields.

One of the reasons the book was popular here was that it was seen as a book to give a foreign friend, and indeed many foreigners were impressed and felt they had gained a deeper understanding of the country.

SBOOKER, the publisher of the Taiwanese version, said it received consistent requests to publish the book there, not only from Bae's fans but also from general readers. Unlike other celebrity books it is a great guide to Korean culture, and the firm expects a positive reception from readers of all ages.

Chinese and English versions are also in the works.

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 9, 2010

Shin Jung-hwan trapped in Cebu

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Shin Jung-hwan

Detained for gambling debt or sick?

Singer and entertainer Shin Jung-hwan, 35, known for his habitual gambling, might have been trapped by his bad habit again, but he has denied he has been involved in any form of betting.

The popular TV personality, who was absent for several days from recording scenes for TV programs, was reportedly detained in Cebu, Philippines, because of money he owes to a private loan shark.

According to reports, Shin borrowed the money and handed over his passport as collateral. However, he lost all the money while gambling and could not get his passport back. If he actually did use the passport as collateral, he violated the Passport Act and cannot apply for a new travel document at the Korean consulate there.

However, Shin has denied the allegations through the Korean Community Association in Philippines. "We met Shin in person and he possessed his own passport. He caught dengue fever and was admitted to a local hospital," a representative of the community said. "He said he would return to Korea sometime this weekend."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade also confirmed Shin’s hospitalization, but did not comment on the gambling issue as it is personal affair. Shin left for the Philippines on Aug. 26 and cut off communication with his agency for a while. He did not appear for the scheduled filming of KBS' "Star Golden Bell" Monday and news of his absence surfaced. Shin also missed MBC's "Flower Bouquet" Tuesday.

The producers of “Star Golden Bell” said they will fire Shin. Other broadcasting stations will also take measures against him if it is confirmed that he has been gambling overseas. This is not the first time that the singer-entertainer has become embroiled in gambling-related troubles.

Shin received a 7-million-won fine for gambling at a private casino in 2005 and was banned from broadcasting, but returned to the entertainment business after some “self-reflection.” He was also sued for fraud in June for not paying back 180 million won to a friend who lent him money at Kangwon Land, the only casino open to domestic citizens in Korea. He later reached an agreement with the plaintiff.

Other entertainers who have been sanctioned for problematic gambling overseas include comedian Hwang Ki-soon, Kim Jun-ho and singer Lee Sung-jin, who were all indicted on illegal gambling and fraud charges.

Source: meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr

"I am really sick": Shin Jung-hwan speaks up

Shin Jung-hwan, who has been suspected of his prolonged stay in the Philippines with gambling debt, revealed a picture of him hospitalized for the treatment of dengue fever in the resort island of Cebu.

He posted his picture looking very sick on his fan site on Thursday morning and wrote a letter to his fans. He said in the letter that he has been hospitalized for days due to high fever which led him being unconscious for several days.

As he recovered, he was shocked by the news about him in Korea and felt an urge to tell the truth. "It is true that I went to a casino in Cebu with a group of people I travel with for just sightseeing. Then I got a dengue fever and was hospitalized for several days.”

Shin has skipped program recordings of MBC Thanksgiving day entertainment show on Sunday, and KBS “Star Golden Bell” on Monday.

Source: Herald Online

Shin denies gambling; fails to convince fans

Shin Jung-hwan

By Kwon Mee-yoo

TV personality Shin Jung-hwan, trapped in the Philippines, admitted to visiting a casino but denied gambling while there, refuting rumors that he had been detained in Cebu for days because of a gambling debt.

On his online fan community website, Shin posted a long letter titled "From Cebu” and criticized the media for filing false accusations against him.

He posted he slept some 15 hours a day due to a high fever and the influence of medicine.

"I feel sorry that I am staying in the hospital for several days which was supposed to have been my vacation in Cebu," he said.

He acknowledged visiting a local casino with his party, but said he was just sightseeing, not gambling.

"After that, I caught dengue fever and was hospitalized since then. I was shocked by the Korean media for overstating my story," he said.

Shin also disclosed a photo of him lying on a hospital bed watched over by medical staff.

One of his aides told a local daily that he was discharged from the hospital Thursday afternoon and moved to a hotel in Cebu.

“Shin has been moved to a hotel as he is still recovering. His agency manager arrived here and both of them are going to return home soon,” the aide was quoted as saying.

However, netizens pointed out that the photo was taken on Tuesday, after the gambling rumor was reported in Korea.

"The photo could be taken after Shin saw the report to reverse the mood after being accused of gambling," a netizen with the ID "ibst" said. "Dengue fever usually has an incubation period of three to 10 days and his claim of being hospitalized on the day of the TV program recording does not make sense."

Shin left for Cebu last month, and was scheduled to return earlier and instead he has not shown up for several recording sessions earlier this week.

As he was embroiled in gambling-related troubles previously, a rumor that Shin was detained in Cebu over a gambling debt was spread by local media.

Source: meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 9, 2010

Actress Yoon Eun-hye poses at Vogue Fashion's Night Out festival in Seoul on Wednesday. /Newsis

Seo In-young

Lee Honey

Lee Hye-young

Lee So-ra

Park Ye-jin

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 9, 2010

Official Kim Hyun-joong website open

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Kim Hyun-joong on his official website [Official Kim Hyun-joong website]

Korean idol Kim Hyun-joong's official website opened yesterday, according to his agency KEYEAST on Thursday.

KEYEAST that they have announced in a Press Release The Official Webpage Created (http://www.hyun-joong.com) through which Will Kim be able to communicate with his Fans.

The main page of the website features a video and pictures from a photo shoot while the site provides an introduction of his albums and activities with his boy band SS501, updates on his official schedule and other never-before-seen pictures and videos.

He even uploaded a welcome video message titled "FROM. HJ" to his fans saying, "I will work hard to deliver good news to you as much as possible."

Kim made his debut as the leader of the popular Korean group SS501. He became a huge star throughout Asia starring in last year's smash hit TV series "Boys Over Flowers" alongside Lee Min-ho and Ku Hye-sun. He is currently playing the role of Baek Sung-jo in MBC's Wednesday and Thursday drama "Naughty Kiss," the Korean small screen adaptation of Japanese comic series "Itazura na Kiss."

Reporter: Lucia Hong luciahong @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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September 9, 2010

Song Seung-heon "Invincible" will be "lucky to break even"

Reporter: Lee Ji-Hye Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk Editor: Jessica Kim

From left, actors Song Seung-heon, Joo Jin-mo, director Song Hae-sung, actors Kim Kang-woo and Jo Han-sun

pose during a photocall of a screening for film "The Invincible" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on September 8, 2010. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

The outcome of how well a remake will do compared to its original production, particularly a remake of a movie which was beyond popular and rather considered a cultural phenomenon while bringing back feelings of nostalgia to many people, is pretty predictable -- it will be a tough game to win. Hence, like said it said that it aims at not being a remake but a 'rewake' of Hong Kong film "A Better Tomorrow," in 2010 "The Invincible" is striving at awakening the values that had been lying dormant like legacies. Revitalizing the not-so-hot term 'brotherhood,' used to refer to where one sacrifices one's life in the name of loyalty, in a new era and instilling that into those who have unconditional affection for the original work, looks quite obviously like a tough fight. But even though a lot has changed from the original movie and it is armed with action of greater scale, the movie touches a spot in the viewer's heart in how its males shed tears although they act tough up front. Below are excerpts from the press screening held in Seoul on Wednesday.

Q: Joo Jin-mo, Ki Kang-woo and Song Seung-heon, all of your characters have crossed over to South Korea from the North. What is the reason you pulled in the element of defectors into the movie?

Song Hae-sung: I wouldn't have done "The Invincible" were it not for the plot being based on defectors. When I decided to do the film after having declined the offer the first time around, I thought about how "A Better Tomorrow" should be made in Korea. It's about brothers but I thought it could have a new xxx if it could be about brothers not just in Korea but be about brothers who are defectors.

Q: The actors switch back and forth between using the standard Korean dialect and North Korean dialect.

Song: My character is a defector who used to serve in North Korea's special forces so most of his lines were supposed to be in the North Korean dialect. Then we met with actual defectors and listened to the lines after they recorded them, but it turned out that one of that used more standard Korean than I did. They told us that what we know and most films based on defectors are different from what things are like in reality. [They said] Every region uses different dialects so they would speak more in the Seoul dialect than the North Korean dialect. I thought about whether I should bring out that element of reality but we decided to ignore it on a cinematic level rather than have it end up being awkward so we held back on using North Korean dialect.

10: This is a movie whose story is based on just the four of you plus if you take the masculine image of the original film "A Better Tomorrow" into consideration, there must've been some competition to look cooler than the other person.

Joo Jin-mo: Despite my effort to look cool, my wardrobe wasn't enough to... (laugh) I didn't think that. My only concern was to express how my character worries and is in conflict as the older brother. As for looking great, there were other people to do that, not me. (laugh) I did put in some effort in the end to try to look great but I don't know what you'll think of it.

Song: We couldn't ignore that aspect to it because many people will be thinking of "A Better Tomorrow." And once you actually watch the original work, you realize that it doesn't contain a lot of spectacular scenes or action sequences, but I think I felt more like that because I had to play the role of Chow Yun-fat who is remembered quite strongly for the visual elements such as his two pistols or matchsticks. When we first started, we said we'd be lucky to break even. Many people would be skeptical, thinking 'Let's see how well you guys can do' since we're doing a remake of a movie that is considered legendary in people's minds. I personally had a lot of concerns while in filming because my character had stronger actions and visuals than the other characters. I couldn't copy the original film yet I couldn't ignore the scenes that its old fans remember it for.

Kim Kang-woo: I felt that my character wouldn't come to life if I tried to make him look great. I had a lot of crying scenes and emotion was priority so I tried my best to deliver a sincerity about my character.

Jo Han-sun: For me, it was only my clothes that were great. (laugh) Otherwise, I put in efforts into figuring out how to look mean.

10: Everyone are male actors -- from the main stars to the supporting roles.

Joo: The best thing about not having an actress on set was that we could communicate openly and in a straightforward manner. We saved on a lot of time because we would speak our minds directly without having to beat around the bush. Of course, the reason we were able to become comfortable enough to do that was because there were many gatherings outside of the movie set where everything was always rushed. When the four of us gather, we'd always end up having a drinking bout. I even saw Song fall sleep with his mouth open while drinking. (laugh)

Song: He said there were no women but Kim Ji-young was there too. (laugh) Close to 70 percent of the filming took place at night and it would be near 5 a.m. by the time we're done. Then we'd sometimes sit by the sea and hold a drinking bout while watching the sun rise. We talked a lot about movies while eating grilled pork. Everybody, including the director, actors and crew, were like family. This is a precious film through which for the first time, I felt, ah, this is what shooting films are about, this is where the fun lies.

10: Director Song Hae-sung, you're working with Song Seung-heon for the first time in 11 years since "Kara."

Song HS: I filmed my directorial debut pic with Song SH but me and him from then and now are very different. Of course, he was an actor who was very much at ease back then but I was able to confirm that again through "The Invincible."

10: Song Seung-heon, you have always said you want to take on a rough-mannered character. You must've quenched that desire through "The Invincible."

Song: People usually refer to my soft and tender image from "Autumn Fairy Tale," "You and I," and "Summer Scent" when they talk about me so I wanted to change that. I think a male actor should give off the vibe that he's a male actor. After turning 30 and completing my military duties, I've taken on "Fate," "East of Eden," and now "The Invincible," so fans reproached me saying I'll be in an organization again (laugh) but I really wanted to change so I'm making these attempts.

10: Were there any roles you wanted to take on other than your own?

Joo: Male actors look for roles that are about real acting once they pass the age of 30. When I first read the scenario, I was interested in Jo Han-sun's character and after watching the completed film, I was able to feel that there was a big change to Jo. Whereas Jo played the character as someone who is more sharp, I think I would've been able to show him as a more of a bad guy by portraying him as a sly character. (laugh)

Song: All four characters have such distinctive characteristics and everyone is so great that I didn't dare think I'd do better than them but if I had to pick one, I would say that Jo's role caught my eye because Jo pulled it off well that he seemed hateful to the point that I wanted to beat him up. (laugh) But of course, I have a stronger attachment to my role. (laugh)

Kim: All male actors desire to take on the bad guy so I too wanted to try playing Taemin who faces all three characters.

Jo: Everyone wanted my role... I liked my role the best (laugh) and I don't think I would've been able to play any other role even I was asked to. I saw from the movie that everyone seems to have had a very hard time. I like my role! (laugh)

10: Joo and Song, it seems that you two are very used to handling guns.

Song: There were a lot of scenes where I had to use a gun so I practiced at a shooting range and I had a scene where I assemble a gun so I was handed an authorized gun to practice that at home so I could get used to it. In the end of the movie, I use a large gun too and it was so heavy that my shoulder hurt a lot but it was also thrilling.

(laugh)

Joo: To add on a little more explanation about guns, you usually end up blinking your eyes if you shoot at a shooting range but I was told the scene wouldn't look nice that way so I practiced to shoot while keeping my eyes open. When we actually go into shoot, each blank costs 10,000 won so we didn't get to practice much and instead practiced with toy guns. Once we go into shoot, we'd shoot excitedly. (laugh)

10: Jo Han-sun, you'll be entering the military tomorrow. How do you feel right now?

Jo: I feel very bad. I'll be leaving without having promoted the film properly. I feel bad for the other actors but I'm hoping they keep working hard. (laugh) I'm supposed to have gone earlier but I ended up going late because it's hard to make a living. I'm going to work hard in the military.

10: Song, you must have some things to tell him as already having been in the military.

Song: Uh... I thank him for promoting the film up till the day before his military entry, and as for talking about the military, maybe Joo, who had a harder time, could... (laugh)

Joo: I'm not too sure because I became an actor after I fulfilled my military duties but isn't it compulsory for guys to go to the military? (laugh)

Reporter: Lee Ji-Hye seven@ Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

"The Invincible" cast pose at press screening

Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk Editor: Jessica Kim

Song Seung-heon, Joo Jin-mo, Kim Kang-woo, Jo Han-sun [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

From left, actors Song Seung-heon, Joo Jin-mo, Kim Kang-woo and Jo Han-sun pose during a photocall of a press screening for film "The Invincible" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on September 8, 2010.

From left, actors Joo Jin-mo and Song Seung-heon laugh during a press screening for film "The Invincible" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on September 8, 2010.

Actor Song Seung-heon poses during a photocall of a screening for film "The Invincible" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on September 8, 2010.

Actor Jo Han-sun poses during a photocall of a screening for film "The Invincible" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on September 8, 2010.

Actor Joo Jin-mo poses during a photocall of a screening for film "The Invincible" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on September 8, 2010.

Actor Kim Kang-woo poses during a photocall of a screening for film "The Invincible" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on September 8, 2010.

Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk eleven @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia 1 l 2 l 3 l 4

[rubie]

September 9, 2010

Park Sang Myeon "'I Am Glad for Success of ' Bread, Love, and Dreams"

Actor Park Sang Myeon, who plays the captain named In Mok in the KBS drama "Bread, Love, and Dreams," said, "At first, I was agonized about playing the character In Mok. He is a quiet and decent person in the drama, and so I thought that I had to act totally differently from my real personality. But now I think that I made a very good decision" (laugh).

Park has been receiving the spotlight lately by presenting decent acting in the KBS 2TV drama "Bread, Love, and Dreams" as a naively honest head chef of the Palbong bakery whose name is Yang In Mok.

The drama had recorded 48.4 percent viewer ratings on September 2 when only four episodes remained before the last broadcast, and Park gave a solid performance as the trustworthy character In Mok, in whom the protagonist Tak Koo (Yoon Si Yoon) had shown trust and dependence along with the master chef Palbong (Jang Hang Sun).

He said on September 7, "I had performed comical characters so far, so I had worried about viewers saying, 'He is not suitable for the role.' When I played a serious character in two different works previously, I had my feelings hurt by viewers' criticisms saying 'You still look funny.' But this time, the response was totally different from the beginning. I do not know why, but anyway, people have accepted the serious character In Mok played by Park Sang Myeon."

Actor Park Sang Myeon has been labeled as a comical character and with the word "laughable" all the time by showcasing comical performances in many works, including the recently released movie "Attack the Gas Station 2” and dramas such as “Three Friends” and “My Boss, My Lady.”

Even though he had succeeded in generating a feeling of fear as a villain when he had appeared in the dramas "Into the Storm” and “Seoul 1945” as villains, he had not thought that he had been perfectly matched to those roles. But in "Bread, Love, and Dreams," he played a character who seems to be a thoughtful, warm-hearted person like an older brother, and both viewers and he were fully satisfied with the new facets of his acting.

Park added, "Actually I had almost decided not to appear in this drama after agonizing over the role, but luckily I finally had decided to appear in it at the last moment when only one month remained before airing, and now I am very happy about the drama's success. I also like the way people call me 'captain’ in the drama and I feel really great when people tell me that I am very much suitable for this kind of role in a drama. Only one thing that I feel inconvenienced about is that I am not allowed to say jokes while filming (laugh). There are many moments when I really want to exchange jokes with other actors including Lee Han Hui, but at those times I have to bite my lips and it is very difficult to endure. Instead, I usually make a joke before beginning to film.”

He reportedly had to shed tears while filming. He explained, “When Tak Koo told me that he would leave the bakery as he has hurt his eyes, I had to say ‘You are such an idiot’ and hold him, so he won't leave. At that time, I made many mistakes due to having to shed tears. In Mok is a gentleman, so he should not shed tears even though his eyes can be filled with tears. But, my eyes automatically dropped tears when I became immersed in emotion. And when Koo Il Joong (Jeon Kwang Ryeol) found his son Tak Koo at last and ended up crying while calling out his son’s name ‘Tak Koo,’ I just had to cry loudly when I watched their reunion. This drama has made me cry more times than I would have thought.”

Park Sang Myeon said, “I always wait for the script of the next episode because I am very curious about the next story, even though I am an actor in the drama. We can assume that this drama would be produced based on a detailed plan due to the fact that the writer reportedly has prepared for two years to write this drama. Even though some people comment that there are violent scenes, actually this drama has been mixed with various points such as making people cry and presenting different stories. People usually want a good person to be able to have a happy life at the end, so I guess that this drama can be this successful.”

In Mok is a master baker like master Palbong and Koo Il Joong, who can evaluate everything about a piece of bread even with a glance. After having been asked about his talent in the real world, he said, “I really like to have bread. The only problem is that I cannot eat as much as I want, to avoid gaining weight. When I prepared for filming, I participated in bakery lessons and actually baked many kinds of bread such as baguettes and rolls with adzuki-bean filling, and actually those freshly-made breads had the best taste. When I ate the rolls filled with adzuki-bean, it even scalded the roof of my mouth. But I cannot bake any at home” (laugh).

In Mok will help Tak Too develop new products by working in the factory of the company, Keo Sung Food. Park hinted, “In Mok will successfully develop new products to help Tak Koo, and reveal the real appearance of ‘captain’ again in the drama. While acting in this drama, I could acknowledge that viewers want me to show a free, easy, and honest appearance in the drama. I will always try my best to present the best acting for viewers until the last moment of my life.”

Source: KBS Global

[rubie]

September 9, 2010

Jo Han-sun will "miss baby daughter a lot" in military

Lee Jong-gil Editor: Lucia Hong

Korean actor Jo Han-sun speaks to reporters at the Nonsan training camp

in the South Chungcheong Province of South Korea on September 9, 2010. [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Korean actor Jo Han-sun, who entered the Korean military today as part of fulfilling the country's mandatory two-year services, has said he will greatly miss his baby daughter.

"I couldn't bring a picture of my daughter because we aren't allowed to bring in any personal possessions into the camp," he said during an interview with reporters ahead of entering the Nonsan training earlier today.

Jo had originally been set to enter the military in January but pushed back the date following his marriage the same month and birth of his daughter which came three months later.

He also spoke about his upcoming movie "The Invincibles" saying, "I hope this will help promote the movie in a way and I would like the film to still be playing in theaters even after I finish my training." "I was given words or encouragement from my co-stars Joo Jin-mo, Song Seung-hun and Kim Kang-woo, who have already served their duties," he added.

After receiving basic training at Nonsan for four weeks, Jo will work as a public service worker for 23 months.

Jo made his debut in a beer commercial in 2001. He became a household name starring in the MBC sitcom "Nonstop 3" in 2002 and in KBS drama "April Kiss" (2004). He also appeared in several movies including "Romance Of Their Own" (2004), "My New Partner" (2007) and "Attack the Gas Station" (2009).

Reporter: Lee Jong-gil leemean @ Editor: Lucia Hong luciahong @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved>

Actor Jo Han-sun salutes fans and reporters upon entering the Nonsan military training camp in the South Chungcheong Province of South Korea on September 9, 2010 where he will start serving his his two-year mandatory military duties.

Actor Jo Han-sun touches his head after revealing his shaven hair ahead of entering the Nonsan military training camp in the South Chungcheong Province of South Korea on September 9, 2010 where he will start serving his his two-year mandatory military duties.

Actor Jo Han-sun arrives at the Nonsan military training camp in the South Chungcheong Province of South Korea on September 9, 2010 where he will start serving his his two-year mandatory military duties.

Photographer: Lee Ki-bum metro83 @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia 1 l 2 l 3 l 4

[rubie]

September 9, 2010

'Tomorrow' ripe with Korean-style drama

By Lee Hyo-won

A scene from "A Better Tomorrow" by Song Hae-sung, a remake of the 1986 Hong Kong noir

film by John Woo. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last week,

will open in local theaters on Sept. 16./ Courtesy of CJ Entertainment

When Song Hae-sung was first approached to direct the remake of John Woo’s "A Better Tomorrow," he flatly refused. Why try measuring up to a classic that has come to define Hong Kong noir?

But the South Korean version certainly has "its own character and own soul, and many new elements" ― just as Woo himself introduced it at its world premiere last week at the Venice Film Festival. He stepped onboard as the film’s executive producer alongside Terence Chang, who produced the 1986 original.

The new movie is propelled by an entirely different strain of macho action and intense emotional conflict. It’s a quintessentially Korean "han"-driven melodrama rooted in the tragedy of a divided country, and the characters’ otherwise disquieting "bromance" is validated by their North Korean refugee status. What sets it apart, however, also ends up setting its own trap ― the film runs rather long but devotes little time to explain circumstances that audiences outside of Korea may find baffling, thus muddling the central drama.

Hyeok (Joo Jin-mo in the original Ti Lung role) is a North Korean defector who has become a key figure in a Busan crime ring. Though he seems to be leading an exciting life in the fast lane with inseparable buddy Yeong-chun (Song Seung-hun replacing Chow Yun-fat), Hyeok is haunted by the guilt of having abandoned his family up North. He finally reunites with his younger brother Cheol (Kim Kang-woo in the Leslie Cheung part) when the latter also crosses down the demarcation line, but his kinsman wants nothing else than to kill him.

Meanwhile, Tae-min (Jo Han-sun playing Waise Lee’s character), who is hungry to climb the gang hierarchy, accompanies Hyeok for a new project to Thailand. But Hyeok ends up in prison due to Tae-min’s betrayal, and Yeong-chun is heavily wounded while taking revenge for his friend.

Three years later, Hyeok returns to find Yeong-chun washing cars with a lame leg, while Cheol has become a policeman keeping tabs on Tae-min and his notorious deals. Tragedy ensues as Yeong-chun eyes an opportunity to make a big comeback in the underworld while Hyeok tries all he can to stay away from it, and Cheol is determined to crack down the crime scene while Tae-min schemes to make everyone’s life miserable.

Though the no-cut skirmishes provide for an action-packed spectacle, the dramatic arc is pushed forth by tensions among the characters. Joo ("A Frozen Flower") gives his most compelling performance to date as a tortured Hamlet of sorts while Song manages to redeem his pitiful tough guy facade from the punch bag flick "Fate" ― despite being the one delegated to pay homage (sometimes rather comically) to the Hong Kong noir with a pair of aviator shades, artsy cigarette puffs and a long raincoat (enter wind, for dramatic effect). Kang is also convincing as an ambivalent cop and Jo gives fine touches to his dorky villain persona.

The fraternal bond and conflicting interests among the men are intensified by the fact that, save for the bad guy Tae-min, they are North Korean refugees and thus marginalized in the South. The film unfortunately does not make full use of this rich background information to push forth character development. For example, it could have been used to explain Yeong-chun’s obsessive ambitions and undying devotion to Hyeok, and thus render less comical the bromance triangle in which he is less than happy with Cheol, "the lucky bastard" who is fully entitled to Hyeok’s love by the sole fact he shares blood ties.

The updated version may strike an interest among those who swear by Hong Kong noir ― and are ready to claw at the faults of remakes ― or the diehard followers of its hallyu cast who are ready to drool. It does however make a rather apt opening for Chuseok at home, to attract those curious to see what all the hype is about, and even the most jaded cynics might be surprisingly convinced that its star actors can be more than just pretty faces.

Source: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

[rubie]

September 10, 2010

Cha Seung-won to hold fan meeting in Japan

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actor Cha Seung-won [GTB Entertainment]

Top Korean actor Cha Seung-won will hold his first-ever fan meeting in Japan on September 24, according to his agency GTB Entertainment on Friday.

A press release from GTB announced that the actor, who recently met with his fans in Taiwan, will meet with his fans at the Tiara Court in Tokyo at the event called "Cha Seung-won First Event."

He will be celebrating the success of the SBS TV series "City Hall," his film "Secret," which made its premiere last month, and "71 Into the Fire," while promoting upcoming TV series "Athena,"

Reporter: Lucia Hong luciahong @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

[rubie]

September 10, 2010

Park Si-hoo cast as male lead in upcoming MBC drama

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actor Park Si-hoo [Eyagi Entertainment]

Korean actor Park Si-hoo has been cast in an upcoming MBC drama, according to his agency Eyagi Entertainment on Friday.

Eyagi announced in a press release that Park will star as one of the male characters in the sequel to last year's hit series "Queen of Housewives" alongside Korean actors Kim Nam-joo and Jung Jun-ho.

Park will be playing the role Gu Yong-sik, a son of a conglomerate with a stolid personality, who is the director of the company and group that Kim's character is in. "We have high anticipations for the show since Park Si-hoo has garnered much attention in Japan, China and other various Asian countries from his previous works," an official with the drama was quoted as saying.

The second season of "Queen of Housewives" will premiere on October 18 after current historical drama "Dong Yi - Jewel in the Crown" finishes its run.

Born Park Pyung-ho, Park made his debut in the KBS2 TV series "Delightful Girl Choon Hyang" in 2005 and since starred in "What Star Did You Come From" (2006), "Iljimae" (2008) and "Princess Prosecutor" (2010).

He met with his local fans in a fan meeting last weekend.

Reporter: Lucia Hong luciahong @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

[rubie]

September 10, 2010

Actor Kwon’s management agency ruled to compensate 350 mil. won

The management agency of top star Kwon Sang-woo, 34, has been ordered to compensate for damage it generated due to failure in publishing photo albums as contracted.

The Seoul Central District Court Friday ruled in favor of ContentsLab and ordered Kwon’s agency Goldensome to pay 350 million won to the plaintiff.

“Kwon’s management agency failed to pay the total amount equivalent to spending on production of photo albums as it published a smaller number of copies than the contract,” the ruling panel said. “As a result, the defendant should pay the remainder of the spending.”

The panel also turned down the contention of the defendant that it will be able to publish the photo album till February 2011 when the contract term expires. “There was no evidence that it would publish an additional copies even until August, when it made its closing argument,” the panel said.

Kwon’s management agency signed a contract with Fine ATC in February, 2008, on manufacture, release and sales right of the photo album, “Remember of KSW. Under the contract, the agency agreed to pay all the profits from sales of the photo albums until the amount reaches the 1 billion won it spent on the project.

However, the agency published 10,000 copies, one quarter of the contracted volume, in the first edition and paid 650 million won earned from the sales to Fine ATC. ContentsLab, which was handed over the right on uncollected investment from Fine ATC, filed a compensation suit, calling for payment of the remaining 350 million won.

Source: kwh8121@gmail.com koreatimes.co.kr

[rubie]

September 10, 2010

'Pretty' men sweep electronics commercials

By Kim Tong-hyung

Singer and actor Lee Seung-gi,

model for Samsung Electronics’

"Zipel" kimchi refrigerators

Television commercials for domestic appliances like refrigerators, ovens and laundry products are obviously aimed at women. What marketers can’t decide, however, is whether it’s better to have the products endorsed by beautiful women or men just as pretty.

It wasn’t long ago when famous actresses like Song Hye-kyo and Ko Hyun-jung were dominating the television advertisements for "kimchi" refrigerators, which are specially designed for maintaining the Korean staple dish of fermented cabbage.

But it now seems that major consumer electronics makers like Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have decided they would rather use male celebrities to lure female customers.

Actor Won Bin, model for Cuckoo’s

new rice cooker, "Pink Rose"

Actor and singer Lee Seung-gi is now appearing in television advertisements for Samsung’s "Zipel" kimchi refrigerators, and midsized maker Winiamando has a pair of movie hunks in So Ji-sub and Yoo Seung-ho touting its kimchi refrigerators.

Completing the male sweep is LG, which recently signed the footballing duo of Cha Du-ri and Ki Sung-yueng, both playing for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, to appear on television commercials for its "Dios" brand of kimchi refrigerators later this month.

Male celebrities are competing with their female counterparts in the advertisements for kitchen appliances as well. Alex, a singer and renowned foodie, has been the local spokesman for French appliances maker Tefal.

In his recent movie, "The Man from Nowhere," actor Won Bin played the role of a retired secret agent who embarks upon a blood-splattering revenge mission for a kidnapped child. But he’s all-sweet in the commercial for Cuckoo’s new rice cooker, "Pink Rose," buying flowers, doing the dishes, and casting his patented doe-eyed stare at the rice cooker as he waits for his imaginary girlfriend to return from work.

"A lot of women will be willing to trade places with that rice cooker," a Cuckoo spokesman said.

Laundry products are a rare home appliance where actresses are defending their endorsement turf. Samsung and LG have Han Ga-in and Lee Na-young, respectively, promoting their premium washing machines. Apparently, the logic is that women want men to cook for them, but women still can’t trust men to erase the stain on their skirts.

"Electronics makers have long relied on actresses and female models in gender targeting, connecting an image of `high living’ to their domestic appliances products and stoking the desire for self-reward in female customers. But now they seem to believe that using attractive men provides a better way to aim at female customers," said an employee from a Seoul-based advertisement company.

At least the actresses still have their apartment commercials.

Source: thkim@koreatimes.co.kr

[rubie]

September 10, 2010

Lee Min Jung: 'I Want to Become Actress whom People Can Trust'

Lee Min Jung is taking on the role of a female protagonist for the first time in the movie "Cyrano Agency."

Lee said, "I had drawn people's interest just because I newly shown up in front of people, but I have not shown much to people, and also I am not a star actress yet. I think that I can call myself a star actress when people can say, 'Any work in which Lee Min Jung appears is worth watching.'"

We can assume how highly she has been evaluated these days when we watch various kinds of TV commercials including soju, automobile, and cosmetics, in which Lee Min Jung appears. She had introduced her face to the public by appearing in the drama "Boys Over Flowers," which had gained huge popularity last year, as the fiancée of Koo Joon Pyo, and after that, she has become a star actress suddenly by taking on the role of the female protagonist in the drama "Smile, You."

During an interview at a cafe located in Samchengdong, Lee Min Jung said, "Thanks to the hit of drama 'Boys Over Flowers' I have become acknowledged by people. I had to hear people’s comment saying that I cannot appear in the work because I am not popular enough, but now I am very happy because I can receive many scripts and choose."

But Lee revealed a humble attitude by saying, "People show interest in me because I am not fully opened to the public. I think that I am not that popular." She continued, "I acted as the protagonist of a commercial for the first time, and there are still many people who do not recognize me on the street. Some elder people even told me, 'You are pretty enough to become an actress.'"

Lee Min Jung played the character Hee Joong in the romantic comedy movie "Cyrano Agency," which will be released on September 16, and showed off her charm fully. She had appeared in the movies such as "White Night” and “Searching for the Elephant” as a supporting actress, but she had never had the protagonist role before, so this was a first for her. In the movie, she has become confused by two men. Sang Yong (Choi Daniel), who carries a torch for Hee Jong, is clumsy about love, so he looks to the 'Cyrano Agency,' which helps people successfully have a date. But unfortunately, the representative of the agency named Byeong Hoon (Uhm Tae Woong) is the ex-boyfriend of Hee Joong.

Lee Min Jung said that she had decided to appear in the movie because she really liked the script written by the director Kim Hyun Seok. She said, "While I was waiting to film in a car, I began to read the script. It was so interesting and I finished reading the script in one sitting until the end. I even held off going to the restroom just to read the script. I giggled while reading it, and I thought that people would vibe on Hee Joong because I already felt sympathy for her.”

For the last four years since her debut, she said that she could not assert her opinion at all while filming so far, but this time she could suggest many ideas. Lee said, "When Hee Joong and Byeong Hoon meet again and go home together after drinking alcoholic drinks, the original script instructed that they would kiss each other as if they are crazy, but I thought that if they followed the script, Hee Joong's character would be ruined. To win sympathy from people, Hee Joong may have to avoid Byeong Hoon, who tries to approach her again later, so I told my opinion to the director.

Lee Min Jung imitated the director's voice mischievously by saying, "After watching the movie, the director told me, 'It is very fortunate I listened to your opinion.'" The characters she played in the previous dramas such as "Boys Over Flowers" and "Smile, You” were very pleasant and cheerful characters, but her chraracter Hee Joong was different. She had revealed a constant smile while answering questions in the interview, but Hee Joong hardly smiles in the movie.

She explained, “Actually, I have a pleasant and bright personality. But, people who know me very well also know that I am a person who has many thoughts and worries inside. When I have a relationship with a man, it is the same. Men might think that I am very frank and honest in expressing my feelings, but actually I do have many feelings left and I do hesitate many times. Hee Joong’s character is actually one of my personalities and I brought it out from me to show to people while acting. Hee Joong is very similar to many ordinary women in their twenties.”

Lee Mi Jung said that she could adjust to the way a movie is filmed, which is different from that of dramas, and while filming the movie “Cyrano Agency, ” she could also be mesmerized by the way of filming the movie.

Lee honestly revealed her feeling of overwhelming pressure about the spotlight from people, as much as other star actors. She said, “When I debuted, my father strongly opposed my debut as an actress because he thought that I might have trouble standing in front of the public. These days, I can understand my father’s concern as much as 200 percent. Sometimes, I feel that I might be criticized harshly by people when I make a small mistake and people might talk about me and it is like stepping on thin ice. I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night due to those worries.”

But, she seemed to have an even bigger desire to become a good actress than those worries. She added, “I want to become a good actress whom people can trust as an actress and make people want to watch my movies simply because I appear in the movie. Many people watch the romantic comedy movies in which the actor Hugh Grant appears; like this, I want people to regard my movies as interesting simply by seeing my name in the list of cast members.“

Source: KBS Global

[rubie]

September 10, 2010

Jang Keun-suk to play Indie rocker in new drama

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actor and singer Jang Keun-suk [Tree J.Company]

Korean actor and singer Jang Keun-suk has signed on for a role in an upcoming KBS drama, according to his agency Tree J. Company on Friday.

Tree J. announced in a press release that he will be playing the role of an Indie rocker in the series, based on the web-based cartoon by writer Won Soo-yeon, tentatively titled "Mary is Staying Out Overnight.

Won Soo-yeon is the writer of the comic series "Full House" whose small screen adaptation in 2004 starred top Korean star Rain and actress Song Hye-kyo.

"Mary" is about a girl named Jung-in who has never been in a romantic relationship and instead has two fake marriages with two separate guys, a perfectionist and a leader singer of a band, with completely different personalities.

"I feel more pressured choosing a project that involves singing. It makes me wonder if I have a set image as an actor who only plays musicians in dramas," Jang was quoted as saying, adding that he enjoyed reading the synopsis for "Mary." "I feel like I am making a return and as an actor I get the most joy in starring in a new drama," Jang continued to explain. "I am putting everything into 'Mary' and hope to show the audience something new."

"Mary is Staying Out Overnight" will premiere in the country in November.

Jang, 23, rose to fame with his roles in MBC's sitcom "Nonstop 4" (2003) and "Beethoven Virus" (2008). He became a household throughout Asia last year through his role of the eccentric lead singer in the hit SBS' series "Minamishineyo." He recently wrapped up his Asia tour in Korea last weekend, which kicked off six months ago, where he met with numerous fans in Taiwan, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, Osaka and Hong Kong.

Reporter: Lucia Hong luciahong@ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia