Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Jung Woo-sung Returns to TV with New Hit Drama



SBS TV drama "Athena: Goddess of War," a kind of sequel to spy action soap "Iris," got off to a great start, with the first two episodes aired on Monday and Tuesday last week surpassing 25 percent viewer ratings. The show is Jung Woo-sung's first TV drama in 15 years.

Did he feel under pressure to build on the big success of "Iris?" "Now I can think beyond that, but I was extremely nervous until the first episode aired," he admits. Why did he decide to return to the TV screen after 15 years of absence? "Many fans said they would like to see me on TV as well. There was also a strategic side, because TV drama can help propel my career outside of Korea and earn a greater fan base overseas. I'd been looking for a suitable soap for the last four years, and then I got a proposal from the 'Athena' crew, who are familiar with filmmaking."

Unlike the intelligence agents portrayed in "Iris," according to Jung, it might take some time for the viewers to get used to the new style of humorous and warm-hearted agent depicted in the character he plays.

How has he managed to maintain his heartthrob image since his debut in 1994? "Maybe I've been able to do it because I constantly thought that I need to find my own unique appeal. I never wanted to be like someone else."

source: Chosun Ilbo

Friday, December 10, 2010

Kim Hyun Joong to Appear in Cameo in ‘Dream High’

Singer and actor Kim Hyun Joong (24) will make a cameo appearance in the KBS 2TV drama “Dream High,” which will air from next January.



In the drama, which Bae Yong Joon and Park Jin Young co-produced, Kim Hyun Joong will play a star actor who is coming back to the country after conducting overseas activities.


Kim filmed the scene in which he met Bae Young Joon, who plays the chairman of the board of Kirin Art School, the best star training school, at the Incheon international airport on December 7. It was the first time that Kim Hyun Joong and Bae Yong Joon appeared in a scene together after Kim had transferred to Bae’s agency, Keyeast. The production company of “Dream High” said, “Bae Yong Joon monitored Kim’s acting and carefully provided advice about his acting. We had actually planned to film the scene without advance notice as we had worried that too many people might gather at the airport, but many fans were waiting at the airport from the early morning anyway and the entrance of the airport was almost blocked.”

Dream High,” which will air its first episode on January 3, will portray the process of how students at Kirin Art School become world stars through constant challenges.

source: KBS Global

Friday, November 19, 2010

Movie version of TV series "IRIS" to be released next week


Poster of TV series "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]

The movie version of Korean blockbuster TV series "IRIS" will be released next week.

A press release from the show's producer Taewon Entertainment announced Friday that "IRIS: THE MOVIE" will be available for download through contents distribution company cine21i on November 22.

"IRIS: THE MOVIE," reconstituted from the 20-part drama, will feature the truth about the death of character Hyun-jun (played by actor Lee Byung-hun) as well as new scenes.

Drama "IRIS," which aired in Korea on major broadcasting company KBS from October 2009 to December 2009, starred several of the biggest names in the entertainment industry including Kim Tae-hee, Jung Joon-ho, Kim So-yeon and Big Bang member T.O.P.

The action-packed espionage series dominated the primetime lineup during its run, scoring viewership ratings of nearly 40 percent.

The movie will be available through IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), cable networks including PPV and 100 online websites next week.

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

Friday, November 12, 2010

“Super Junior” Sungmin cast in new drama “PRESIDENT”


Actor Park Sung-min [Feel-Lime EG Entertainment]

Sungmin from popular 13-member boy band “Super Junior” has been cast in a new KBS drama which will premiere next month.

Feel-Lime EG Entertainment, producer of the drama, announced through a press release Monday that the singer will play the son of a president in an upcoming series titled "PRESIDENT” starring veteran actor Choi Su-jong.

Sungmin will star as a graduate student who wishes to follows his father’s footsteps to become a politician. In the story, however, his attempts to help with this father’s election campaign only gets him into trouble for using means that are less than justifiable.

“It’s an amazing coincidence that name of the president’s son in the drama is Sung-min too, and we believe he is made for the role,” officials with the show's producer were quoted as saying. “He a perfectly prepared actor, gifted not only in singing and dancing but also in acting.”

"PRESIDENT" will not be Sungmin's first attempt at acting -- he played the young-version of one of the main characters in MBC drama “Sea of Sisters” in 2005. The upcoming drama will be the first role he takes on as a grown-up.

“It’s been a while since I have acted so I can’t wait,” Sungmin said in the press release. “It’s different from the first time I acted. Stay tuned because I’d like to show how much I’ve changed.”

“PRESIDENT,” about civil rights lawyer Jang Il-joon's (Choi) journey to presidency, caught additional attention for the casting of actress Ha Hee-ra, the real wife of actor Choi, as the first lady.

The drama will air Wednesdays and Thursdays starting December 8 after “Fugitive: Plan B” starring Rain and Lee Na-young ends its run.

Reporter: Heidi Kim heidikim@

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Thursday, November 11, 2010

[ Korean Drama 2009 ] Heading to the Ground




Genre:
Romance, Sport
Episodes: 16

Broadcast network:
MBC
Broadcast period:
2009-Sep-09 to 2009-Nov-04
Air time:
Wednesday & Thursday 21:55

Cast:

U-Know Yunho as Bong-gun Cha
Ko Ara as Hae-bin Kang
Lee Sang-Yun as Seung-woo Jang
Lee Yun-Ji as Yeon-lee Oh


Synopsis:

Heading to the Ground is a story about a talented but misfortunate soccer player.

Bong-gun, a soccer player with great potential, wants to become a member of the national soccer team. As he works towards his goal, he meets Hae-bin, an attractive and independent rookie sports agent who ends up bickering with him all the time. With Seung-woo, an elite attorney, as his arch-enemy, Bong-gun’s journey towards love and success is rough. To make matters more complicated, it turns out that Yeon-lee, Bong-gun’s childhood friend and the soccer team nutritionist, has a secret crush on him.

[source: http://content.mbc.co.kr ]

Gallery:





Tuesday, November 09, 2010

SHINee Minho to make acting debut through KBS drama


Minho from boy band SHINee [Zoom Agency]

Minho, a member of a popular boy band SHINee, will make his acting debut through
"KBS Drama Special," a 24-part single-episode omnibus series showing on the major public network.

According to a press release distributed by PR agency Zoom on Tuesday, Minho will appear as Oh Je-ro, a man in his twenties who is gifted in music, in the show's final episode titled "Pianist" set to go on air November 20.


In the story, Je-ro is a young man who despite his musical talent, was unable to hone his skill due to financial reasons and has been forced to work in a piano factory in place of his sick father for years.

Then one day, Je-ro falls in love with music teacher Yoon In-sa, to be played by actress Han Ji-hye.
,
“It’s my first time acting so I’m very excited, happy and hopeful,” Minho was quoted as saying while filming the drama for the first time yesterday.

Minho, 19, debuted as a member of five-member boy band SHINee in 2008. He and his fellow bandmates Key, Jonghyun, Taemin and Onew have produced many hits songs since then including “Replay,” “Ring Ding Dong” and “LUCIFER.”

Han, a well-known actress in Korea, has appeared in several movies and dramas since debuting in 2001 as a supermodel.

Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Thursday, November 04, 2010

U-Know Yunho cast in upcoming action drama


Singer and actor U-Know Yunho [SM Entertainment]

Korean singer and actor Jung Yunho, whose singing name is U-Know Yunho, will be making a comeback to the small screen, this time with a role in an upcoming action series.

According to the show's producer on Tuesday, Yunho will be playing the role of Oh Yoon-jae, a special forces soldier for the National Maritime Police Academy in a new series tentatively titled "Poseidon."

He will be joining the actors Kim Kang-woo who will take on the role of Yunho's older brother and graduate of the police academy, actress Kim Ok-vin who is one of the female special forces soldier and boy band Shinhwa member Eric who will play Kim Sun-woo.

"Poseidon," Korea's first TV series about the daily struggles coast guards face, will be co-produced by Oh Sang-won and director Yoo Cheol-yong, whose works include dramas "All In" and "Heat," and is written by scenarist Cho Kyu-won of blockbuster hit series "IRIS".

The cast will soon start receiving special forces and rescue training.

Making his debut through the boy band TVXQ in 2004, U-Know Yunho branched out into acting with his role in MBC's "No Limit," playing a soccer player named Cha Bong-goon.

He is currently starring as one of the male leads for musical production "Goong" which opened in early September.

Reporter : Cho Bum-ja anju1015@
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

2PM Taecyeon cast in new KBS musical drama


2PM member Taecyeon [JYP Entertainment]

K-pop idol Taecyeon will be showing off his acting skills once again, this time as one of the male leads in KBS' musical TV series "Dream High," a much-anticipated collaboration between Korea's top entertainment firms JYP Entertainment (JYPE) and KEYEAST.

JYPE announced in a press release Tuesday that Taecyeon has been cast as Jin-kook in the upcoming show, a skilled dancer that has been kicked out of a school for performing arts but transferred back by request from the chairman of the school.

"I am really excited and have high expectations for this new production. I have greater anticipation for this drama since it deals with music and I get to work with a lot of great people," Taecyeon was quoted as saying.

Just yesterday, the show's promoter revealed that Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has been cast as another one of the male leads, taking on the role of Song Sam-dong. Other cast members have not been confirmed yet.

"Dream High," also produced jointly with cable unit CJ Media, is about the dreams of students who attend a performing arts school with the storyline set to be relayed through song and dance.

Bae Yong-joon, KEYEAST's major shareholder, and Park Jin-young, founder and CEO of JYPE, will help in the production and musical arrangements for the show.

The musical drama, a 16-episode mini-series, is set to show on Mondays and Tuesday starting January 3 next year.

Making his debut in the six-member boy band 2PM, Taecyeon made his acting debut with a role in hit KBS2 TV series "Sister of Cinderella" alongside Moon Geun-young in June this year.

He is currently promoting the title track "I'll Be Back" from their latest mini-album "Still 2:00PM" with his fellow bandmates.

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

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Wedding photos revealed from "Marry Me, Mary"


Korean actress Moon Geun-young and Jang Keun-suk for KBS' "Marry Me, Mary" [Ytree Media]

Wedding photographs from upcoming KBS TV series "Marry Me, Mary," starring Korean stars Moon Geun-young and Jang Keun-suk, have been revealed.

The show's promoter Ytree media on Friday released several pictures of the main character Mary (Moon) donning a short white wedding gown with a pink sash and Moo-kyul (Jang) wearing a black tuxedo.

Earlier this week, Ytree unveiled a picture of Mary in her wedding attire placed between Moo-kyul and Jung-in (played by Kim Jae-wook).

"I thought Mary (Moon) looked very pretty today (laugh) and I thought I looked pretty good as well. I had so much fun on set and I hope the audience will enjoy watching the show," Jang was quoted as saying.

Based on the online comic by famed writer Won Soo-yeon, "Marry Me" is about Mary who makes realizations about love and herself while being in two fake marriages for 100 days to completely different men -- Moo-kyul and Jung-in.

"Marry Me, Mary" will premiere on November 8 after current drama "SungKyunKwan Scandal," starring Park Yuchun finishes its run.



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

[ Korean Drama 2010 ] Cinderella's Sister




Genre:
Romance, Melodrama
Episodes: 20

Broadcast network:
KBS2
Broadcast period:
2010-Mar-31 to 2010-Jun-03
Air time:
Wednesday & Thursday 21:55

Cast:

Moon Geun Young as Song Eun Jo
Seo Woo as Goo Hyo Sun
Chun Jung Myung as Hong Ki Hoon
Taecyeon as Han Jung Woo


Synopsis:


She has neither aspiration nor emotion and her smile is sarcastic. Eun-jo is a girl who has apathy toward life. Her mother, who has been living as a single mother for 18 years, finally found the right person to marry and brought Eun-jo into the stepfather’s house.

A decent house and a decent family…. Eun-jo feels that everything in this house does not fit for her. The most unbearable thing she faces is the stepsister Hyo-sun, who is the apple of her father’s eyes and beloved by everyone in the house. Hyo-sun also takes away the mind of Eun-jo’s mother, just like her bright and untainted character attracted all the other people. Eun-jo cannot tolerate this situation, since she lost the only one that she completely owned.
She sets her mind on getting even with Hyo-sun. ‘Cinderella shouldn’t be loved by her stepmother. You broke the rule! I’ll pay you back by taking away what you have and will have! But then… What should I do first?’
[source: http://world.kbs.co.kr/tv ]

Gallery:





Friday, October 22, 2010

Han Hyo Joo: ‘I Like to Sing Mess Songs’

Actor Han Hyo Joo sang her own song passionately when she appeared on the episode of “Yu Huiyeol's Sketchbook” that will air on October 22.

Han revealed that she liked to write and compose her own songs as her hobby.

She came to a café located in Samcheongdong in Seoul on October 20 for an interview with reporters, and said, “I cannot sing very well, but I do have a hobby to compose songs and sing those songs. I usually play the guitar while singing a butchered song at home alone while immersed in my own feelings.” She continued, “There are a few songs that I wrote and composed myself. I used to record melodies that suddenly came into my head when singing to myself, but after I had bought an electronic keyboard, I could easily compose songs by using the software that can write music simply by inputting the melody on the keyboard.”


She will sing three songs along with the group “No Reply” at the Green Mint Festival, which will be held at the Olympic Stadium from October 23 to 24. In addition, Han Hyo Joo also plans to appear on the KBS program ”Yu Huiyeol's Sketchbook,” which will be aired on October 22 at 12:35 pm. On the program, she will song her own song that she has written and composed entitled “You’re My Sweater.” Han, who had already filmed the program on October 19, said, “I usually sing alone at home, so it was the first time that I introduced my own song to the public. MC Yu Huiyeol evaluated my song as a ‘hook song’ that is lively and cheerful, and continuously repeated it.”

She added, “I am worried about whether people regard me as a good singer and a good music composer. I just like to sing as my own hobby and I have no plans to release an album.”



Tuesday, October 19, 2010

CNBLUE member Kang Minhyuk to make small screen debut



Korean rock band CNBLUE member Minhyuk will be making his debut on the small screen through a role in an upcoming SBS drama.

A press release from the show's promoter J Story announced that Minhyuk will play the role of Hwang Yeon-doo for the new Monday and Tuesday series, whose title is translated into "Dad, Your Daughter is Okay."

"Dad" is about Eun Chae-ryong (played by Moon Chae-won) who makes sacrifices to help her family after her father's accident. Minhyuk's character is a drummer of an unknown band feeling one-sided love for Chae-ryong.

"I am excited to be making my small screen debut. I will try to do my best in putting on good acting skills and even though I may lack in some areas, I hope the audience will watch my acting with an open mind," Minhyuk was quoted saying.

"Dad, Your Daughter is Okay" will premiere on November 22 after current series "Doctor Champ" ends its run.

Minhyuk made his debut as the drummer of the four-member rock band CNBLUE, releasing two singles in Japan before their debut in Korea early this year.

He recently attended the Pusan International Film Festival with bandmate Jonghyun to promote their film "Acoustic."

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

Friday, October 15, 2010

Kim Tae-hee, Song Seung-hun to star in new drama


Korean actress Kim Tae-hee (left) and actor Song Seung-hun (right) [Namoo/Storm S]

Top Korean stars Kim Tae-hee and Song Seung-hun have been cast in a new drama by the creator of popular MBC TV series "Pasta."

The show's producer Curtain Call said Wednesday that Kim and Song will star in an upcoming show tentatively titled "My Princess" by director Kwon Suk-jang.

"My Princess," a love story between a regular female college student and a conglomerate, is set to premiere on MBC early next year.

Kim will be playing the role of a college student whereas Song will take on the role of a conglomerate.

Kim rose to fame after appearing in the SBS TV series "Stairway to Heaven" in 2003 alongside Hallyu stars Kwon Sang-woo and Choi Ji-woo and has since starred in several dramas and movies.

Her most notable roles were in last year's blockbuster hit drama "IRIS" opposite Lee Byung-hun.

Song is one of the most popular stars in the Asian region for his roles in smash-hit series "Autumn Tale," "Summer Scent" and "East of Eden."

He recently starred in "The Invincibles," a Korean remake of the Hong Kong classic "A Better Tomorrow," with Joo Jin-mo, Kim Kang-woo and Jo Han-sun.

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

Lee named best actor at Tokyo Drama Awards



Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will be named the Best Actor in Asia at the Tokyo Drama Awards, according to his agency BH Entertainment, Wednesday.

The 40-year-actor has become the first to win the award, which was set up for the event this year.

The drama "IRIS’’, which starred Lee and fellow actress Kim Tae-hee, will also receive the Best Foreign Drama award at the annual event.
"The Best Actor in Asia award was made to celebrate an actor’s outstanding performance and contribution, who appeared in a foreign work,’’ the Tokyo Drama Awards organizing committee said.

"Lee was appreciated for not only his acting in the drama 'IRIS,' but also for the fact that the series has received acclaim from countries that aired the show,’’ the committee added.

Lee has had a wild ride for the couple of past years, enjoying paise and support from both fans and the entertainment and film industry. The actor appeared in the hit drama "IRIS’’ and also worked with Hollywood stars Sienna Miller, Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid for the blockbuster film "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’’ last year. He also won Best Actor in a Hallyu Drama category at the Seoul Drama Awards in September.

Lee will attend the ceremony to receive the award on Oct. 25.

credits: Han Sang-hee (sanghee@koreatimes.co.krr)
source: koreatimes.co.kr

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Jang Keun-suk to play Indie rocker in new drama


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>

Monday, September 06, 2010

Kim Hyun Joong: ‘I Am Trying to Be Cynical”

"I have too placid of a temper, so I am trying to be cynical.” -Kim Hyun Joong

Kim Hyun Joong, who became a star actor by appearing in the drama “Boys Over Flowers,” will make a comeback to the small screen by appearing in KBS’s new Wednesday and Thursday drama “Mischievous Kiss" (written by Ko Eun Nim, directed by Hwang In Roi and Kim Do Hyung). The drama is about a genius but cynical male protagonist named Paek Seung Jo, who has an IQ of 200 and meets an impatient troublemaking female protagonist named Oh Ha Ni (Jung So Min). They will present a pleasant and cheerful love story in the drama.

Kim Hyun Joong had played Yoon Hi Hoo in “Boy Over Flowers,” and he made a comeback after a one year and six month break after finishing “Boy Over Flowers.” He explained about the character Paek Seung Jo, whom he will play, by saying, “The character is a mixture of Koo Joon Pyo and Yoon Ji Hoo in ‘Boys Over Flowers.’”

In the production presentation held in the Imperial Palace Hotel in Nonhyundong on August 26, Kim said, ”He has a warm heart inside, but he becomes a cynical person because he cannot express his genuinely warm temperament. I am trying to act as cynical as possible, but the director wants me to act more cynically, so I am studying how I can become more cynical.”

The production company Group Eight explained Paek Seung Jo is an “entirely different kind of genius,” who can read 20,000 letters and memorize 400 words in a single minute. Kim Hyung Joong said with a smile, “Honestly, it is very difficult to play a character with an IQ of 200. I am actually speaking lines of some totally new vocabulary that I have never known so far, and the words such as 'equation' and 'log' appear in the script, so it is like studying again in high school.”

About the question regarding his somewhat delayed comeback to acting after “Boys Over Flowers,” Kim answered, “I had performed very hard as a singer so far by releasing an album.” He added, “Before taking this role, I was worried about how I can play a high school student because I am already 25 years old. But I had been informed that the production director Hwang In Roi would direct this drama, so I applied to have an audition and earned the role of a high school student. While acting, I am trying to speak as aggressively as possible. I sometimes have to shout and show a disheveled appearance in the drama, so I might be able to present more interesting acting than I did in ‘Boys Over Flowers.’”


Kim Hyun Joong, who belongs to the group SS501, had been caught up in controversy over his acting ability due to his rather inaccurate pronunciation. He said, “I am practicing speaking while biting a cork stopper to create more accurate pronunciation. I still feel ashamed when people call me an actor. I am acting as an actor, but it is still more natural for me to stand on the stage as a singer. As I am trying very hard to acquire qualifications to become a real actor, I think that I might be able to say confidently that I am an actor someday in the future. I will be happy if I can hear people’s evaluation saying, ‘He put more effort on acting in this drama than when he appeared in ‘Boys Over Flowers.’”

Kim Hyun Joong had signed an agency contract with Keyeast, in which star Hallyu actor Bae Young Joon is the largest shareholder, last June when his next appearance in a drama had not yet been decided. Kim explained, “I moved to the new agency because I thought that I could get a lot of help for my further activities both as a singer and an actor. I mostly talk about personal matters in conversations with Bae Yong Joon, and I am learning many things about self-management from him.”

Kim Hyun Joong also candidly said, “I actually feel pressured because the drama ‘Mischievous Kiss’ is my first TV appearance after the hit ‘Boys Over Flowers.’ If I say that I have no pressure about the viewer ratings, it would be a lie. It is the same as the activities as a singer. For singers, the second album is more important than the first album, and I think that acting is the exactly the same because the second work is more important than the first work. So, I am trying my best to show a better performance. I know that the competing drama ‘Bread, Love, and Dreams,’ which airs on the different broadcasting station, has high viewer ratings, but I want you to watch my drama because it will be much more exciting and interesting.”

source: KBS Global

[REVIEW]TV series "Naughty Kiss" - First episode


A scene from MBC TV series "Naughty Kiss" [MBC]

"Naughty Kiss" - First episode (MBC TV, 9:55 PM)


The lighting was bright and the colors eye-blindingly brilliant. The picture shown in "Naughty Kiss" was as warm as a spring day, enough to capture the mellow and shy sensitivity teenage girls feel when reading romantic comics. However, a drama is not a painting of a landscape. A drama only comes to life when the people in the picture move about and form relationships. This is why the first episode did not leave any impression other than confirming the skills unique of its producer. During its hour-long run, the drama failed to describe the characters in the show. It was difficult to differentiate whether the character Baek Sung-jo (played by Kim Hyun-joong) was being arrogant or is level-headed and the portrayal of Oh Hani (played by Jung So-min), with her flat personality which is typical of the main female characters in romantic comics, failed to deliver any refreshing elements.

Too add on, there was not a single character including friends, family and teacher who seemed to have been created after much thought into. Even the use of exaggerated and incoherent regional dialect of the reckless and idiotic Bong Jun-gu (played by Lee Tae-sung) was enough to make the viewer feel complacent. Such issues seem even more problematic since "Naughty Kiss" has neither an elaborate plot nor dramatic composition.

The characters are the foundation, pillar and roof to comedies, and even more so in romantic comedies are made of. The colorful spoons in a restaurant, the imagination scenes which are as free as the heart of a female high school student and shiny school grounds will not be enough to capture the hearts of the audience. Because dramas exist due to viewers accepting the made-up lives in dramas as if it is their own business. Before becoming like one's diary which does not matter if left unread, will the drama be able to create a memorable kiss that will leave the viewers wanting to re-watch the show?

Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong nine@
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

[ Korean Drama 2009 ] Will It Snow For Christmas?



Genre:
Romance, Melodrama
Episodes: 16

Broadcast network:
SBS
Broadcast period:
2009-Dec-02 to 2010-Jan-28
Air time:
Wednesday & Thursday 21:55

Cast:

Go Soo as Cha Kang Jin
Kim Soo Hyun as Kang Jin (teen)
Han Ye Seul as Han Ji Wan
Nam Ji Hyun as Ji Wan (teen)
Sun Woo Sun as Lee Woo Jung
Song Jong Ho as Park Tae Joon


Synopsis:

Cha Kang Jin is the son of barmaid, Cha Chun Hee. His life is difficult as he gets into fights and has to watch other people push his mother around yet he can't do anything to stop it. He meets Han Ji Wan when they were teens but they weren't able to continue their relationship as Ji Wan ran away after her older brother's death. He meets Ji Wan 8 years later when he's attending her engagement ceremony to Park Tae Joon. However, he is heartbroken as Ji Wan pretends to not remember him at all.

Gallery:




Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Will ‘Athena’ Exceeds Popularity of ‘IRIS’?

The spy-action drama “IRIS Season 2 - Athena: Goddess of War,” in which actor Jung Woo sung and actress Soo Ae will appear as the male and female protagonists, will be broadcast from this coming winter in December on SBS. The drama is a spin-off of the original “IRIS” drama and it is based on the original story of the KBS drama “IRIS,“ which had aired last year on KBS. “Athena: Goddess of War” is very similar to the original “IRIS” as the production company Taewon Entertainment, which had produced “IRIS,” will also produce this drama, and it has been equipped with an all-star cast and large-scale action and melodramatic storyline. But the backdrop of the drama has been expanded from the Korean peninsula and Asian countries into the whole world, and the relationships among cast members have become more complicated.


“Athena: Goddess of War” will depict espionage activities of members of the National anti-Terror Service (NTS), the same organization in “IRIS,” fighting against the secret organization named “Athena” concerning the new energy source “TWR.” The drama has become a hot topic as actors who used to appear in movies, such as Jung Woo Sung, Cha Seung Won, and Soo Ae, have been cast as the main protagonists, and it already has begun filming from last June in six different countries including Italy and Japan.

In the preview, which was released in the showcase event held at the Garden stage in Lotte World on August 30, the scenes depicting an explosion and gunfight, which reminded viewers of action movies, filmed in Italy were unveiled to the viewers.

Actor Jung Woo Sung will make a comeback to the small screen after a fifteen-year break since his dramas “1.5” and “Asphalt Man” in 1995. He will play the elite special agent named Lee Jung Woo who will confront the huge shadowy conspiracy. Jung Woo has been transferred from the National Intelligence Service to the NTS, which is the special organization preventing any crisis with international undertakings, as he had been recognized for his excellent strategic performance during his work. At NTS, he meets his former colleague Yoon Hye In (Soo Ae), whom he once loved, and becomes confused after finding out that Hye In had been involved in a secret organization within NTS. In the showcase, Jung Woo Sung said, “In this drama, I have to present both a love story and an action performance. While I had been searching for my next work, I had been informed that this drama was under planning, so I willingly decided to appear in this drama because I thought that it would be a good opportunity to participate in producing a good drama.”

Actor Cha Seung Won will play the heartless character Sohn Hyuk, the head of the branch office of the United States Department of Homeland Security in East Asia, and he also leads the secret organization “Athena,” and confronts Jung Woo Sung in the drama. Cha Seung Won said, “The role that I play is a so-called villain who forms an alignment with a third force to hatch a wicked plot. But as the story of the drama develops, the character will be changed dramatically. This drama is a spy action drama like “IRIS,” but it will contain more various scenes to enjoy watching and it will present a more complicated storyline with various characters. It is not just a simple spy action drama, but a more interesting and exciting spy action drama.”

Actress Soo Ae has shown her pure and graceful beauty so far, will this time transform into a cold-blooded spy. The character whom she will play is a double agent, Yoon Hye In, who belongs to the National anti-Terror Service (NTS) as a profiler and also takes a role within a secret organization as a special agent. She is a character who locks a secret away in her mind. Soo Ae said, “I really enjoyed watching ‘IRIS.’ I had confidence in performing action scenes, and I received the casting request at an appropriate time.”

Actress Lee Ji Ah will play a special agent, Han Jae Hee, who is a colleague of Yoon Hye In. She hides her feelings of love towards Jung Woo, and has to have an inevitable confrontation with Yoon Hye In. Lee explained about the character, whom she will play, by saying, “She is a very rational and thorough person when performing her work, but at the same time, she is very honest in expressing her love.” She added, “I worry, as I heard that my action looked too bloody and spiteful, but actually I had taken much care about performing action scenes not to receive an evaluation saying female actor’s action scenes look too weak.”

Actor Kim Min Jong, who will play a former North Korean intelligence agent coming from a rich labor party named Kim Ki Soo, said, “Kim Ki Soo is a very freewheeling character with manly charms and charisma. There was no indication about a North Korean dialect on the script, but I tried to express the language of a North Korean defector while acting.”

Choi Si Won, a member of the idol group Super Junior, will play a rookie NTS agent named Kim Joon Ho. Choi said, “At first, I was very nervous due to pressure, but as other senior actors are taking care of me as if I am their real nephew, I am filming the drama with no more pressure. Other members of Super Junior are very envious of me about acting together with great senior actors.” He was smiling while making his comments.

In addition, singer BoA and actress Lee Bo Young will appear in “Athena: Goddess of War” as guest stars.

A spokesperson for Taewon Entertainment said, “The story is based on the war on energy, which is not an absurd story, but can happen in the real world. We will attract viewers’ eyes with a solid story line reflecting world policy and a grand scale.”



source: KBS Global

Thursday, August 26, 2010

‘The Slave Hunters’ Wins Seoul International Drama Award

The KBS drama “The Slave Hunters” has won the Grand Prize in the category of Hallyu drama, which was a newly established award from this year, in the Seoul International Drama Awards 2010.

The organizing committee of the Seoul International Drama Awards held a press conference in the Seoul Press Center on August 20 and selected the Grand Prize winner among Hallyu dramas, and “The Slave Hunters” was ultimately chosen as the best Hallyu drama. The actor Jang Hyuk, who appeared in “The Slave Hunters,” and the actor Lee Byung Hun, who appeared in the drama “IRIS,” were chosen as the best actors.

The Slave Hunters” was also awarded in the category of best director (Kwak Jeong Hwan PD), so the drama made the achievement of winning three awards. Actress Ko Hyun Jung in the MBC drama “The Great Queen Seondeok” and Han Hyo Joo in the SBS drama “Brilliant Legacy” were awarded as the best actresses. And the writers of “The Great Queen Seondeok,” Kim Young Hyun and Park Sang Yeon, won the Best Writer awards.



The organizing committee had first decided the nominees among dramas airing from April 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010 (excluding dramas aired in the morning time) considering the recommendations from the Corea Drama Production Association, the Korean Television Actors Association, and the Korean Radio & TV Writers Association, and then they thoroughly examined those selected nominees, which had been exported to more than ten countries, and finally decided the award winners.

The Seoul International Drama Awards, the awards ceremony for dramas all over the world hosted by the organizing committee of the Seoul International Drama Awards and the Korean Broadcasters Association (president Kim In Kyu), is now in its sixth year since its opening in 2005.

The largest number of dramas ever -- 172 dramas from 43 countries -- were entered in this year’s awards. The award ceremony will be held at the KBS Hall on September 10 at 6:35 pm. The awards will be presented by being categorized into the Drama Category, which specify awards for Single Drama, Mini-Series, and Drama Series, and the Individual Category, which will select the Best Director, Best Writer, and Best Actors and Actresses. The Jury’s Special Awards will also be presented.



The organizing committee had first decided the nominees among dramas airing from April 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010 (excluding dramas aired in the morning time) considering the recommendations from the Corea Drama Production Association, the Korean Television Actors Association, and the Korean Radio & TV Writers Association, and then they thoroughly examined those selected nominees, which had been exported to more than ten countries, and finally decided the award winners.

The Seoul International Drama Awards, the awards ceremony for dramas all over the world hosted by the organizing committee of the Seoul International Drama Awards and the Korean Broadcasters Association (president Kim In Kyu), is now in its sixth year since its opening in 2005.

The largest number of dramas ever -- 172 dramas from 43 countries -- were entered in this year’s awards. The award ceremony will be held at the KBS Hall on September 10 at 6:35 pm. The awards will be presented by being categorized into the Drama Category, which specify awards for Single Drama, Mini-Series, and Drama Series, and the Individual Category, which will select the Best Director, Best Writer, and Best Actors and Actresses. The Jury’s Special Awards will also be presented.

source: KBS Global