LDW's New Project

Lee Dong Wook has been selected as the lead for JS pictures new drama I love you.
The drama will be adapted from Kim Se Myung popular manhwa I love you which is about a thirty-something comic writer who marries a girl younger than him by 14 years when she gets pregnant. The production company plans to start filming in March when the female lead is selected.

The broadcast date and station are still unknown at the moment.


Credit to: yeohweping

doozy: Woot woot! LDH's Hello! Miss in March and now, LDW is going to film a new drama?! I'm beyond excited.

The Korean-American Who Is Hollywood's Link to Asia

The Departed, the Hollywood remake of the Hong Kong film Internal Affairs starring Andy Lau and Tony Leung, won four Oscars including best director for Martin Scorsese, best picture, best adapted screenplay and best editing, at the 79th Academy award in Los Angeles on Sunday (local time). This also brought a Korean American into the spotlight: Vertigo Entertainment CEO Roy Lee, who was an executive producer on the movie.

Hollywood studios rely on Lee's Asian sensibility and network to find Asian movies suitable for remakes. He has had a hand in introducing almost all Asian horror movies that found an enthusiastic audience in the U.S., including The Ring and Ju-on: The Grudge from Japan. An adaptation of A Tale of Two Sisters, a Korean horror film Lee picked up, will be completed by the end of this year. Lee was also involved in The Lake House, the remake of Il Mare, the first Hollywood remake of a Korean film. A remake of another Korean movie, Addicted with Lee Byung-hun and Lee Mi-yeon, will start shooting soon with Grudge' star Sarah Michelle Gellar. Lee also introduced My Sassy Girl and My Wife is a Gangster to DreamWorks and Miramax.

Born to a doctor father and a teacher mother, Roy Lee worked as a lawyer after graduating from George Washington University and American University’s Washington School of Law.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
Source: english.chosun.com

doozy: Okay, so the article above is interesting and all.. But, the MAIN reason why I posted this article is because of the gross mistake of mispelling the title of a movie. People, for the umphteen time, the US film Departed is a remake of the HK movie titled INFERNAL AFFAIRS. The original movie is from Hong Kong, not Japan; and that's Infernal Affairs with an "f" and not Internal Affairs with a "t."

Seriously, it's not like Infernal Affairs is some indie, low-budget movie that wasn't a huge success and isn't well-known. If even a non-movie buff like myself know the correct title, then shouldn't people who are in the biz know more than I do?

Geez, I wonder how Hollywood would feel if foreign countries called the remake The Deported, instead of The Departed.

Here's a poster of the HK movie for confirmation, in case you think I'm on some halucinogen.

Witch Amusement

This is not the poster for the drama. It's a New Year's greeting from the cast.

Cast
Han Ga In (Dr. Kang, Super Rookie)
Jae Hee (Sassy Girl, Chun Hyang)
Dennis Oh (Sweet Spy)
Jung Hae Bin
Kim Jung Hoon (Goong)
Hwang Ji Hyun (Please Come Back, Soon Ae)

Airs
March 14, 2007

Episodes
16

Broadcasting Station
SBS

Director
Jun Ki Sang (Sassy Girl, Chun Hyang, My Girl)

Synopsis
Han Ga In plays the heroine Ma Yoo Hee hinting that the character is like a "Witch". Yoo Hee has independent personality and is the only daughter of the owner of an advertisement company and is working as an advertisement planner. After she is introduced to Jae Mo Ryong (Jae Hee) who is a student learning cooking, she falls in love with him. Dennis Oh will play a famous French Chef from America. He is perfect guy named Johnny Kruger from New York. He plays a big part in hooking up Ma Yoo-Hee and Jae Mo Ryong.
Source: soompi thread

Hyun Bin No Longer Single and Available

Hyun Bin has been dating Hwang Ji Hyun for almost a year. Reportedly, they broke up in the middle and then got back together again.

Those who are wondering who Hwang Ji Hyun is, she was in New Nonstop 3 and recently, Come back Soon Ae as Park Jin Hee's stewardess friend.
Source: yahoo.co.kr
Translation by: lilshinhwafreak @ soompi

doozy: As a crazy fan girl, my reaction is: Why?! Why her and not me?!
As a realistic person with her head on straight, my reaction is: Why?! Why her and not me?! Haha. I'm kidding! Honestly, as long as he's happy, I'm happy.

Cast of Hello! Miss

Lee Da Hae


Lee Ji Hoon; Ha Suk Jin


Yoon Mi So

Image source: as labeled
Special thanks to yeohweping

So Pretty

Below are some screen caps from LDH's vitamin cf. To view more, please click here.



Call me, Wookie oppa!

I love her smile. There's a certain innocence and genuiness in it. Just look at the picture. She's adorable, yet at the same time, gorgeous.
I'm looking forward to March 12, which is the premiere of LDH's new drama, Hello! Miss.

Special thanks to pinklily @ soompi for providing these images.

Oink

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!

It's the Year of the Boar!

Rain, Song Hye-kyo Promote Drama in China

Actress Song Hye-kyo and singer/actor Rain will visit China to promote their drama Full House, which aired on KBS 2TV a few years ago in Korea.

They will leave Seoul Thursday for a 3-day visit to Hunan, China, where a news conference and a fan meeting are scheduled ahead of the drama's local airing.

Song's manager Na Byung-jun of Sidus HQ says inquiries by Chinese fans about their visit are pouring in.

The hit drama was exported to 14 countries including Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Actress Song has recently finished filming her latest movie, a film about the famous Korean courtesan Hwang Jini, while Rain is on his global concert tour.

Teaser posters of Hwang Jin Yi

News source: KBS Global
Images source: songhyegyo.net

doozy:
If you're interested in the latest updates regarding this joyous event, go to AgentP's Headquarters.

LDH Fans Rejoice

So it's finally confirmed! LDH is going to be in Hello! Miss (formerly known as Pride) afterall. I also like the change of the male cast. This is so exciting. I really hope that this time, it's for real and not just a rumor.

Do check out the Soompi thread for additional info and images.

Showbiz Suicides Alarm Management Agencies

Alarm bells are ringing in Korea's entertainment business after the apparent suicides of pop singer U;Nee and actress Jeong Da-bin within three weeks of each other.

Agencies are clearly worried. While the stars ostensibly enjoy wealth and fame, they are also more at risk than ordinary people because their kudos can vanish in an instant. The fickle nature of the business brings its attendant anxieties, especially for women, experts say.

The actress Choi Jin-sil recalls the envy of other performers when she was a teen star. "You may think that the happiest moments come with the 'golden time' of celebrity," she says. "But the mental stress is extreme as well." She admits she suffered from great insecurity not knowing if her fame would last.

Then there is the threat of litigation. As a star's popularity soars and their fees rise, lawsuits become commonplace, especially from management agencies. Jeong was being sued for pulling out of a contract with her former management agency in February 2005. Already in 2002, she was accused of failing to hand over part of her pay to the agency. She lost.

Min Sung-kil, a psychiatrist from Severance Hospital said celebrities in many cases are more exposed to stress than ordinary people. "As a last resort, depressed celebrities may choose to kill themselves."

Management agencies are reassessing their role to protect the celebrities they represent. Namoo Actors, the agency of the actress Lee Eun-ju, who committed suicide in 2005, is taking more time with its star entertainers. Fantom Entertainment Group, which represents the actresses Han Hyo-joo and So Yu-jin and singer Ivy, is taking particular care with its female clients, including ample consultation time.

Jeong Da-bin, U;Nee and Lee Eun-ju

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation (NISI) after a postmortem on Monday tentatively concluded the death of Jeong Da-bin was suicide. It said there was no evidence of foul play and Jeong’s body showed clear evidence of death by hanging. Jeong's boyfriend, identified by his last name Lee, who discovered the body and called police, said the actress first tried to kill herself by cutting her wrist in Sept. 2006. Jeong's family and her new agency had requested the postmortem, asserting that the scar on her wrist was the result of a suicide attempt in her teens, not last year, and saying she had no reason to kill herself.

Jeong's funeral service was delayed by a day due to the postmortem and will now be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Asan Medical Center.
(englishnews@chosun.com)
Source: english.chosun.com

doozy:
This makes me angry and sad at the same time.

Bi for Tea

New CF
(In case you're wondering, I think "cf" stands for "commercial film.")

Source: Daum news, yeohweping

In Remembrance

Actress Jung Da Bin, whom most people know from the drama Attic Cat with Kim Rae Won, was found dead in her boyfriend's house yesterday. Police are still investigating to confirm whether or not it was suicide.

-Update-
The latest news confirms that it was suicide. Oh dear! Why, oh why?
To read an article on Jung Da Bin's untimely death, click here.

The last note that she left on her Cyworld:

I thought I was going to die because it was so frustrating.
I kept getting mad with no reason..and it was driving me crazy.
I was so tired..as if I would always get naseous..
My head hurt so much, I cried.
I almost became a slave to bad-temper and moodiness.
Lauging, then crying..it was enough to drive me crazy.
I finally began to think that I was losing myself..
And I began to lose touch.
Suddenly, like being electrocuted..Suddenly, I became peaceful.
The lord came.
He gives me strength, he strengthens my foolish self..
He teaches me strength, and makes me realize things that are close to me.
He raises me up when I was about to give up..
And he tells me that it's now alright.
I'm alright.
Translation by: Fallencorruption @ soompi


Happier days

I read in soompi that she was depressed due to lack of work, among other reasons. She was only 27 years old. This is so sad! Goodbye, Jung Da Bin sshi.

Dal Ja's Spring

Official Website
Click here

Cast
Chae Rim
Lee Min Ki
Lee Hyun Woo
Lee Hye Young
Gong Hyung Jin

Airs
January 3, 2007 to March 22, 2007
Wed/Thurs

Episodes
20

Broadcasting Station
KBS2

Producer
Lee Jae Sang

Writer
Kang Eun Kyung (Oh! Must Win Bong Soon Young, Hotelier and Glass Shoes)

Info credit: ovette @soompi

Dramas Sweep the Top 10 Ratings List

According to AGB Nielsen Media Research, a TV ratings research company, dramas swept the top 10 list of highest rated TV programs.

The highest rating in 2006 was recorded by MBC’s Jumong, which posted 38.4% in average household ratings.

It was followed by Famous Princess of KBS2 with ratings of 30.2%, the daily soap operas The Bizarre Bunch and Pure in Heart of KBS1 with 29.8% and 28.5%, respectively, and the SBS weekend drama Dear Heaven with 28.3%.

Among entertainment shows, Imagination Plus of KBS2 ranked the highest at 14th place overall with 19% in ratings, followed by Gag Concert on KBS2 at 16th with 17% and “What an Amazing World” on SBS with 16.9%.

News 9 of KBS1 was the highest ranking news program at 19th place with 16.9% in ratings.

Meanwhile, the average TV viewing time of Korean households in 2006 stood at 7 hours and 7 minutes, unchanged from 2005.

By channel, people watched KBS1 the most, followed by SBS, MBC, and KBS2.
Source: KBS Global

doozy: Jumong =
I also love the drama's poster. It's sexy, yet mysterious.

News Update

Park Shi Yeon got injured while filming an action scene for When Spring Comes, and it sounds serious too. In a related note, last year, Eric Mun, who is PSY's boyfriend, was seriously injured on the set of the drama Wolf and was hospitalized.

For those who don't know who PSY is, click on "Drama Info" and you can see her picture under When Spring Comes. She was also in My Girl.

I wish her well and hope that she recovers soon. Bbashya, PSY sshi!

News courtesy of yeohweping @ soompi and WITH S2, our "reporter." Thank you for keeping us updated with the latest news from the K-entertainment world.

Drooling

Lee Dong Wook's Litmus Ads with Kim Ok Bin
Source: as labeled




Magazine Photos


Special thanks to roddy and angel_wings88 @ Wookie's soompi thread for posting these gorgeous pictures.

I have only one thing to say: wow zah!

Moon Geun-young Saves Community Learning Center

Popular actress Moon Geun-young donated about 300 million won to a learning center for poor children in Haenam, South Cholla Province, near her hometown of Kwangju.

Bae Yo-seop, a pastoral intern at a church in a Haenam, opened an after-school study room for poor children in 2002. About 40 children from poor or single-parent families study there for free.

The program was facing closure in October when the landlord told Bae that the house would be sold off.

Bae recalled in an interview with Yonhap News Agency that a middle-aged couple visited him, suggesting that he find new place for the study room. They bought 1,650 square meters of land, estimated at 75 million won ($79,700), for the program. Only when Bae saw the name on the registration papers did he realize that the couple were actress Moon’s parents.

"It was a blessing so overwhelming that I couldn't be sure whether I was dreaming or not," Bae said, expressing gratitude to the 20-year-old actress and her parents.

A new building, equipped with library, computer room, bathhouse and dining room will be built on the land. The 200 million-won expense will be also covered by Moon.

Moon, a graduate of Kukje High School in Kwangju, has donated to charities and social welfare institutions in her hometown several times. She is currently studying at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul.
Source: The Korea Times

doozy: Wow, that was very generous and kind of MGY. Although I can't call myself a fan of her works, the more I read about the charitable activites that she does, the more I respect her.