Happy Birthday!

This is actually a belated birthday wish to our dear Da Hae. Her birthday was actually on April 19. With all the hours that I've been putting in at work, plus taking care of other stuff, I forgot all about it. Shame on me for calling myself a fan of hers. I feel terrible.

Thank goodness for the nifty option of time stamping the blog entries. Because of it, I was able to mark this special date. However, I still feel bad about forgetting it in the first place. I mean, I remembered my eye candies' birthdays previously. What happened here? In any case, happy birthday, Da Hae sshi!
Special thanks to pinklily @ soompi for the adorable smilie

Exciting News

Lee Dong Wook will be starring in a new drama, tentatively titled Bad Couple. The drama will air on SBS in June.

The second piece of news also has to do with the cast of a new drama. The drama is called Cain and Abel and the confirmed cast includes So Ji Sup, Ji Jin Hee, and Jung Ryeo Won. This will be SJS's first drama upon his return from the army.


I love the male cast. However, I wish they would cast another leading actress. The thing is, I don't have a problem with JRW, per say. It's just... well, I'm indifferent towards her. I liked her in My Name is Kim Sam Soon but I guess I still haven't gotten over her most recent work, which is Which Star Are You From?

Nonetheless, I'm very excited. Not just one or two, but three gorgeous men in new dramas?! Nice!

Special thanks to yeohweping for the news

The Host Exceeds 1 Mil. in US Earnings

The film The Host has earned one million US dollars at the US box office in the three weeks after its release there, its producer Chungeorahm said Tuesday.

Having been released in 71 theaters on March 7, the film raked in 320,000 dollars for the first week, and the earnings reached 690,000 in the second week and one million in the third week, when the number of theaters also rose to 94.

The producer said that the film reached the million dollar mark in the shortest time among all Korean films released in the U.S. Citing the film’s US distributor Magnolia Pictures as saying that it plans to show the film for the long-term, the Korean producer expressed its confidence in the film’s success there.

Korean movies released in the US include Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, Brotherhood of War and Old Boy. Among them, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter set a record high in box office earnings with 2.3 million dollars during its seven-month run.
Source: KBS Global

doozy: Yay, for The Host!

I recently saw this movie in the theatres to show support for Korean cinema instead of watching it elsewhere. *shifty eyes* So, my 7 bucks is part of that 1 million. Exciting, isn't it? (Even if you say "no," please humor me here.)

Regarding the movie, I actually like it alot. For a movie categorized as an "action film," I was pleasantly surprised at the subtleties that its director sprinkled in throughout the film. I also like the mix of action, human/family relationship, politics, and humor.

This theatres experience could have been a completely wonderful one had it not been for stupid comments made by several movie goers. One lady, after the movie ended, sarcastically said, "Wow, they sure know how to make movies." Another lady said something about how it should've been dubbed instead of subtitled. Oh well, how sorry I am that it's not the way that she preferred. I mean, the production team and the film studio were so unreasonable and inconsiderate to have her *gasp* read something, right? Whatever, I'd say to them.

Jumong Song Il-Guk Has Fallen In Love

Song Il-Guk (35) is currently seeing a 5 year junior "future prosecutor" Miss A (30).
The two first met late last year, introduced by a reporter from Star News, and have been dating for 5 months since.

Miss A, who has grasped song il-guk's heart, is currently in training for justice admistration. She is said to be of elegant height and slender figure, who is beautiful and cute in image.

Because the two have been separately busy with their work and studies, they have thus far communicated mostly by phone, but upon the end of jumong filming and Miss A's acceptance to exam for justice administration, they can focus more on cultivating their relationship.

Song Il-Guk's attraction to Miss A is based on her genuine and pure, cautious yet free spirit. Meanwhile, Miss A's attraction to Mister Song is due to SIG's wholesome lifestyle despite being a star, his modesty and masculinity.

Neither wants to interfere with each other's career, and the two are carefully cultivating their love.

Song, who was raised in a strict and disciplined family with christian religion, has found himself a woman with a good heart who plans to serve the public.
Source: Star News
Translation by: dramaok @ soompi

doozy: First Hyun Bin and now Song Il Guk?! These news are so heartbreaking because they're such fantasy killer. ahn dwe!!!!!

Although, if news came out that two of my favorite onscreen pairs are dating in real life, I'd be very happy.

Jun Ji-hyun to Debut in Hollywood

Actress Jun Ji-hyun is gearing up to debut overseas. Jun, who has gained popularity not only in Korea but also in Hong Kong, China and Japan for her sometimes sassy, sometimes naive roles in movies, will make her Hollywood debut in the movie Blood: The Last Vampire.

Blood: The Last Vampire is based on the same-titled popular animation novel by famous Japanese writer Oshii Mamoru. Jun plays the role of the vampire hunter Saya, who is half-human, half-vampire but who disguises herself as a human being in order to destroy vampires. The actress is expected to display impressive action stunts in the movie.

Playing opposite Jun will be actress Allison Miller, who has gained popularity for her role in the TV show Desperate Housewives. In the movie, Miller’s character teaches Saya what it’s like to be a human.

Interest in movies starring Jun has been on the rise in Hollywood. Jun has drawn notice in Hollywood through the movie The Lake House, starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. The movie is a remake of the Korean movie Il Mare, which stars Jun. Jun’s hit movie My Sassy Girl is also currently being remade in the United States, with actress Elisha Cuthbert playing the lead.

The filming of Blood: The Last Vampire will begin March 15. The movie has drawn significant attention for its impressive scale as it involves famous film production firms and filmmakers. After shooting several scenes in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the filming location will switch to China before the movie opens in 2008.

The movie is expected to make Jun another hallyu star in Hollywood, like Kim Yun-jin. Jun will go by the name "Gianna Jun" in the United States.
Source: KBS Global

doozy: In addition to Il Mare and My Sassy Girl, I think Hollywood also bought the remake rights to JJH's latest film Daisy.

Am I the only one here who doesn't like the fact that JJH will debut with an American name? The movie's storyline also doesn't appeal to me, but most likely, I'll catch it in the theatres to support her. In any case, I wish her the best of success.

Weekend Box Office Chart in Seoul

1. Miracle on 1st Street
Director: Yoon Je-gyun
Starring: Ha Ji-won, Lim Chang-chung
Click here for more info on the movie.

2. The Masked Dalho
Director: Kim Sang-chan, Kim Hyun-soo
Starring: Lim Chae-moo, Cha Tae-hyun

3. A Good Day for an Affair
Director: Jang Moon-il
Starring: Kim Hye-soo, Yoon Jin-seo

4. Voice of a Murderer
Director: Park Jin-pyo
Starring: Sul Kyung-gu, Kim Nam-ju

5. Flags of Our Fathers
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Adam Beach

For the rest of the list, go here.

doozy: Congratulations to Ha Ji Won for having the no. 1 movie after a successful television drama!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

200 Pound Beauty Enters Top 10 Hit List

The Korean romantic comedy 200 Pound Beauty starring actress Kim Ah-jung entered the country's accumulated top ten box office hit list on its 42nd day of release.

Production agency KM Culture says 5.83 million moviegoers watched the movie since it opened on December 14th, moving it past the 2000 hit Joint Security Area, which previously held the tenth ranking.

Showing on 250 screens nationwide with daily average ticket sales of 50,000, the film is expected to surpass the 6.12 million viewership of the ninth-ranked My Boss, My Hero by Saturday.

With a break-even point of 2.3 million, 200 Pounds Beauty has already earned profits of 15 billion won. Excluding investors' stake, the production company will get five billion of the 15 billion. The original soundtrack released online also raked in some two billion won for close to a handsome four billion total earnings for KM Culture.
Source: KBS Global

doozy: I'm definitely looking forward to watching this movie. Why? Because 1) success at the box office does say something about the quality of the movie and 2) Joo Jin Mo is gorgeous.

New Drama No More

Remember the blog entry I posted a couple days ago about LDH's new drama Pride? Well, it turns out that she has rejected the role. So those who miss seeing her onscreen, like myself, will have to wait a little longer.

An Interesting Article

I stumbled across this article while browsing the Hwang Jin Yi thread at soompi. Do take a look as there are some very insightful comments that I agree with. Also, if you haven't checked out Hwang Jin Yi, I highly recommend it. I love this drama. It's one of the best dramas of 2006/2007.

Special thanks to rubie for posting the article.

Sometimes, it's good to be proved wrong
By: Chun Su Jin
sujiney@joongang.co.kr

There are times when I feel glad to learn that I was wrong. I used to guess that my 30s would be an end to my fun because of my favorite poem, "Hitting Your 30s and the Party Is Over." However, I'm glad that I was wrong, because, voila, I'm officially a 30-something now and the party has just begun. Also, I used to jeer at made-in-Korea TV dramas for their love of such cliches as a lead character suffering amnesia or some kind of an incurable disease. However, I found myself proved wrong again last year, especially with a bundle of well-made TV dramas by A-1 scriptwriters like Noh Hee-gyeong of Good-bye Solo and A Miracle and Kim Do-u of What Are You Doing, Fox?

Speaking of Noh Hee-gyeong, whom I have called "Mr." in my past few columns, I have to correct myself as she is Ms. Noh. And I, who love being a woman, am immensely glad to say that we have another talented woman on the TV scene. After wrongly changing the gender of Ms. Noh, I had a call to correct me from a reader. Allow me to express my gratitude for her kindness to take the trouble to find my cell phone number and give me the right information. I have no excuse but to say I'm sorry about my mistake.

I was recently glad again to see my prejudices proved wrong by the TV history drama Hwang Jin-yi, which ended last week on KBS-TV. It told the story of Hwang Jin-yi, who was a legendary gisaeng of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). The gisaeng were a class of women who were allowed to learn arts including literature, dance, music and conversation, in order to entertain noble men during drinking parties. In the strictly Confucian society of the time, becoming a gisaeng was the only way for a woman to be allowed to study and display such talents.

The first few episodes appeared to be nothing more than picture-perfect "Welcome to Korea" style publicity material to promote tourism to Korea, as the drama showed picturesque scenes of the country with a group of beautiful women dressed in spectacular traditional clothes. However, as the story developed, the drama earned kudos for depicting the life of Hwang Jin-yi from a feminist perspective.

Based on bits and pieces of stories about the character, the drama built up the story of Hwang Jin-yi and her rivalry with her mentor and her contemporary gisaeng. In describing the rivalry, this drama did not rely on the cheap sure-fire strategy of a catfight, but instead, brought a spirit of professionalism to the gisaeng characters, as they refused to be called mere courtesans but artists. The rivalry between the characters was dramatic enough to catch viewers' eyes, as the characters fought to compete in terms of talent, which they cultivated through harsh training.

The lead character Hwang's mentor, Baekmu, had an icy cold attitude to her pupil yet still fostered her talent and professionalism. When Hwang Jin-yi faced a crisis, her rival, Buyong, asked around for help to save her life, with due respect for their rivalry-turned-friendship. Then they fight elegantly to pit their artistic talents against each other. There is a certain beauty to a catfight when the fighters are not mere kittens but fully-grown tigresses with both respect for each other and professionalism.

Another point of the drama was that the male characters played only minor roles. One symbolic scene in this sense came in the second-to-last episode, when Hwang Jin-yi told the love of her life, a noble man, to give her up, saying, "It's better to shine in our own lives, instead of withering away slowly for each other and giving up our dreams and passions." This was just one of many punch lines in the drama, which is now sorely missed on KBS-TV. However, now that we have a whole new year ahead of us, I'm keeping my fingers crossed to be able to see better-made dramas from now on.
Happy New Year!
Source: INSIDE JoongAng Daily