Selasa, 20 November 2007

Korean Film “Destiny” Introduced on CNN

Wednesday November 14, 2007 Korea

KBS World

The filming of “Destiny,” a movie starring Korea’s two hottest stars Kwon Sang-woo and Song Seung-heon, has been introduced in a CNN documentary.

Officials from the Asia-Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) visited the filming set in Yangsuri in July to document the filming of “Destiny.” The documentary was shown at the APSA opening ceremony aired by CNN International on November 13th. The documentary gave detailed descriptions of the film and the Korean film industry, and introduced Kwon and Song, two of the most popular Korean actors in Asia.

The first-ever APSA nominated Korea’s Ryu Deok-hwan of “Like a Virgin” in the best leading actor category and Jeon Do-yeon, who already won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for “Secret Sunshine” in the best leading actress category.

About 90% of “Destiny” has been filmed, and it is shooting for the release date in early 2008.

Isnin, 5 November 2007

Song Seung-heon and Kwon Sang-woo on Movieweek cover

Thursday November 1, 2007 Korea


Movieweek magazine (Korea) manages to nab 2 of the hottest Korean actors - Kwon Sang-woo and Song Seung-heon to share the cover for this week. What a waste. Such sexiness should be on a cover for a whole month! They are both starring in the upcoming movie, Destiny (운명) that is slated for release sometime in 2008.

The rights to Destiny have already been pre-sold to a Japanese company, Formula Entertainment, for 2 million USD based on the strength of Kwon’s idol status in Japan. Not bad.

The movie, Destiny follows the trials and tribulations of four friends.

Isnin, 22 Oktober 2007

Top Ten Hallyu Stars - Korea Times Special

Sunday October 14, 2007 Korea


The Korea Times, the nation's first English daily, turns 57 on Nov. 1. The TOP 10 Series, which will feature the biggest news stories, scandals, events, figures, surprises and memorable moments in the coming weeks, in celebration of the anniversary. The series will allow our readers to revisit these moments of the past. Current and former staff members of the oldest English daily selected the Top 10s through internal meetings, online surveys and advice from outside experts. If you have differing opinions, let us know by email (editor@koreatimes.co.kr).


1. Bae Yong-joon


Actor Bae Yong-joon, 35, affectionately called “Yonsama” by his fans, topped the poll for hallyu star of the year. The actor rose to hallyu stardom in 2002 after the drama “Winter Sonata” drew devoted fans in Asia, and continues on today. Bae currently stars in the blockbuster drama, “Taewangsasingi” (The Four Guardian Gods of the King), which is recording high ratings in Korea and will be broadcast in some 90 countries around the world.



2. Rain


Singer Rain, 25, boasts his strong fan base in Asia as he places second in the poll. The heartthrob singer-turned-actor whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is also noted for acting in the drama “Full House,” which was highly popular in Korea and around Asia. The hallyu star previously ventured out on a world concert tour and is now set to make his debut in Hollywood with the movie “Speed Racer.”



3. Song Seung-heon


Born in 1976, actor Song Seung-heon started his career as a model. Song is noted for his role in Korean dramas like “Autumn Fairy Tale” (2000) and “Summer Scent.” Discharged from military service last November, Song plans to hold a large-scale project in Japan to mark the 10th anniversary of his debut. Song will hold a fan meeting at the Saitama Super Arena on Feb. 16 next year and will release a photo DVD on Jan. 25.







4. Kwon Sang-woo

Actor Kwon Sang-woo, born in Daejeon, South Korea in 1976, became popular through his movie, “My Tutor Friend” (2003) and the television drama “Stairway to Heaven,” (2003-2004). In the latter, he co-starred with another hallyu actress Choi Ji-woo. Before becoming an actor, he worked as a model. Kwon is also renowned for his muscular body shape.




5. Yun Eun-hye

Yun Eun-hye is one of the hottest young stars in Korean entertainment. A former member of girl group Baby V.O.X., Yun shot to stardom in her debut role as an ordinary girl-turned-royal-princess in the “Princess Hours” in 2006.

The 23-year old actress followed it up with “The Vineyard Man,” and most recently, “Coffee Prince.” She is reportedly one of the highest paid actresses in television, commanding 20 million won per episode.




6. Choi Ji-woo



Choi Ji-woo won fans throughout Asia for her heartbreaking roles in popular dramas such as “Winter Sonata,” “Stairway to Heaven” and “Beautiful Days.” Female fans both adore and envy Choi because of her roles alongside heartthrobs Kwon Sang-woo, Bae Yong-joon and Lee Byung-hun.

Japanese fans even call her Princess Ji-woo. The 32-year old actress might have faltered with her recent drama “Air City,” but expect her to bounce back with another romantic drama in the future.




7 . Boa



Pop superstar BoA continues to reign in Korea and Japan, nearly seven years after her debut. It is hard to believe BoA, who has released five Korean albums, five Japanese albums and 23 Japanese singles, will only turn 21 this year.
There are concerns that BoA’s popularity may be waning, after her last Japanese album failed to equal the success of her previous albums. BoA is reportedly preparing for her 6th Korean album.



8. Song Hye-gyo


Song, the sweet-faced actress of the international hit “Autumn Fairy Tale,” cast off her girlish image when she played Lee Byung-hun’s love interest in the blockbuster drama “All In.” They made headlines when they publicly announced they were a real couple. Recently, she shined in the film “Hwang Jin Yi,” and graced the cover of Korea’s Vogue magazine ? a first for a Korean actress. Her hallyu power is reflected in the customized “Song Hye-kyo bag” by luxurious French brand Celine.






9. Hyun Bin
Women fell in love with Hyun Bin through his role as a modern-day prince charming in the phenomenally popular “My Name is Kim Sam Soon,” which is now airing in even Israel. The TV series won him various awards at the 2004 and 2005 MBC drama awards.

The 25-year-old is loved for his down-to-earth charm and theboy-next-door appeal. He has recently starred in the movie “A Millionaire’s First Love.”



10. Lee Young-ae


Lee awed audiences near and far as a bright and cheerful court lady in “Jewel in the Palace.” Time only seems to do justice for the 36-year-old beauty. Lee was dubbed “melodrama queen” for her roles in such films as “One Fine Spring Day” and “Last Gift,” but sent a shockwave throughout the country for her unforgettable role in director Park Chan-wook’s “Lady Vengeance.” As a hallyu megastar, she is the ambassador for Hallyu Expo in Asia.

Rabu, 10 Oktober 2007

Love and Destiny, New TV Series Set to Lure Chinese Audience

JUNE 10, 2003 21:59
by Seung-Hoon Cheon (raphy@donga.com)


Shall we sing a song about stars? There were stars shining in the night sky of early summer at Muju Resort, a sky resort facility located on the foothill of Deokyu Mountain in North Cholla Province.

Yoon Seok-ho, 46-year-old unmarried producer of a new KBS2 TV series ‘Scent of Summer’, is stilling dreaming about first love. He is known for such hit series as ‘Fall Story’ and ‘Winter Song’.

”I believe in love and destiny. You see someone and you fall in love at that moment. Your heart starts beating before your head or eyes begin to work.”

Yoon’s previous works, ‘Fall Story’ and ‘Winter Song’, have caught eyes of viewers in Southeast Asia as well as at home with beautiful scenery of Korea.

The new 20-part ‘Scent of Summer’ will be aired every Monday and Tuesday night beginning July 7.

While ‘Fall Story’ and ‘Winter Song’ were love stories set in secret of birth and amnesia, the new series will be about a woman’s implanted heart remembering its old love.

Hye-won (Son Ye-jin), who got a new heart through an implant surgery, one day meets a man named Min-woo (Song Seung-heon) whom the donor loved before she died. Her heart recognizes Min-woo and begins beating fast, remembering the memory of old love. Hye-won then gets torn between two men, Min-woo and Jeong-jae (Ryu Jin), a planning manager at a resort facility who has loved her for some time.

If viewers compare ‘Fall Story’ to brown color and ‘Winter Song’ to white, ‘Scent of Summer’ will be green. The series will be mostly set in Muju Resort, Boseong green tea farm, herb farm, tree garden, Goheung Peninsular and isles off the West coast, quiet places covered with trees.

A sun-shower will serve as a main motive in the drama. It is a shower that comes out of sudden from the sunny summer sky. It is said in Korea that the rain falls when ‘a tiger or a fox gets married.’

It is also the most beautiful scene to camera lens, with water drops reflecting the sun. Youth and young love are like the sun-shower in many ways.

”Their eyes look so gentle,” Producer Yoon made a short answer to the reason for casting Song Seung-heon and Son Ye-jin. Especially, this is the second time for Song to appear in his dramas following ‘Fall Story’, suggesting that he was aware of the popularity of the drama in the Chinese culture.

In the first shot of the drama on the same day, there were officials from the Korea National Tourism Organization (KNTO), President of the Taiwanese Alpha Record, which made a contract for its copyright in the Chinese culture, and reporters from Taiwan. Therefore, people in North Cholla Province expect that the shooting site will be a tourist attraction as Pyeongchang of ‘Fall Story’ and Sokcho of ‘Winter Song’.

In particular, Muju Resort, which is stagnant compared to the time of its opening in 1990, is actively supporting the shooting of the drama. It will remodel the real main buildings and change the lightings in order to promote the reality of the drama, in which the interior designer Song and florist Son renovate the resort.

To the question why he skipped spring and made a drama for summer he said: “There is a saying, ‘Spring days go by’, but I’d like to say they will ‘come’. I started dramas with autumn and I wanted to finish with ‘hope’. That’s why I spared spring.”

Profile


Name : Song Seung Hun/Heon
DOB: 5th October 1976
Family: Youngest among 1 brother & 1 sister
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 70kg
Religion: Christianity
Hobby: Watching and collecting videos / playing sports (basketball, swimming, ski)
Education: Major in Visual Media in Kyunggi University
Born: In Suyuri, Seoul
Best Friends: Lee Byung Hun , Lim Chang Jung , So Ji Sub, Sin Dong Yub, Hong Kyung In, Kim Jin, Jenny Lee, Woo Hee Jin, Lee Eui Jung, Kang Sung Yun, Jun Ji Hyum, Kwon Sang Woo.
Nickname: Tough guy
Occupation: Actor

Filmography:

Sad Sonata [TV Drama] (2004) * Left to the military
That Guy Was Cool [Movie] (2004)
Ice Rain [Movie] (2004)
Scent of Summer [TV Drama] (2003)
So Close [Movie] (2002)
Make It Big [Movie] (2002)
Autumn Tale [TV Drama] (2000)
Popcorn [TV Drama] (2000)
Calla [Movie] (1999)

Selasa, 9 Oktober 2007

Song Seung-heon Planning 10th Anniv. Project in Japan

Monday October 8, 2007 Korea

KBS Global

Actor Song Seung-heon is reportedly planning a large scale project in Japan to mark the tenth anniversary of his debut.

Japan's Sankei Sports said in its Saturday online edition that Hallyu star Song will hold a fan meeting at the Saitama Super Arena on Feb. 16.

As the first step of the tenth anniversary celebration, he will release a photo DVD on Jan. 25, which will be shot in Los Angeles next month.

The second event is a secret autograph session planned during his visit to Japan.

Sankei said Song is popular in Japan due to his dramas 'Autumn in My Heart' and 'Summer Scent' and that his first visit to Japan last December attracted 6,000 fans at Narita International Airport. It added his popularity could surpass that of Bae Yong-jun.

Rabu, 22 Ogos 2007

Korean Film,'Destiny' Sold to Japan

Tuesday August 21, 2007 Korea




The release rights for ``Destiny,'' an upcoming film starring hallyu stars Kwon Sang-woo and Song Seung-heon, has been sold in advance to a Japanese firm Formula Entertainment for $2 million.

``Destiny'' is an action-thriller directed by Kim Hae-gon and produced by MKDK Productions. There are high expectations for the film, especially since Kwon and Song are two of the most popular Korean stars among Japanese audiences. The two actors have gained popularity in Japan because of hit dramas such as ``Autumn in My Heart'' and ``Stairway to Heaven.''

Around 50 percent of filming has been completed. The movie is expected to be released before the end of the year.

rukorean