Eva Popiel (에바 포피엘)

More Foreign Faces in Korean Dramas

2007/08/28 | Source | Permalink |

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Perhaps a reflection of the growing awareness of an increasingly multiracial Korea, a growing number of foreign faces are appearing on Korean television. More and more Korean dramas are casting foreign-born actors and actresses, although in supporting roles.

In recent years, hunky actors like Daniel Henney and Dennis O, who are partly Korean, have won the hearts of fans, even though they can barely speak Korean.

Now, it's the turn of good-looking and fluent Korean speakers like exotic British-Japanese Eva Popiel and blonde Belgian Julian Quintart to make a splash on the entertainment scene.

Foreign Beauties

Eva Popiel, a young Japanese-British woman who attracted attention after appearing in the hit KBS talk show "Beauties Chatterbox", is now parlaying her popularity into an acting career.

At the press conference for the KBS1 daily series "Likable or Not" ("I Hate You, But It's Fine"), Popiel attracted media attention because th...| More

[HERALD INTERVIEW]Talk show mirrors diverse views on Korean culture

2007/01/29 | Source | Permalink |

Globalization isn't just a word used for political and economic situations. The power of its foreign influence has begun to filter into other countries, and Korea is no exception.

KBS, the country's largest broadcaster, made an attempt to objectify the country from the viewpoint of the third person - foreigners living in Korea. The state-run broadcaster airs its "Global Talk Show Minyoduleui Suda (Girls' Talk) every Sunday morning. The first show deals with images of Korea and its people in the eyes of 16 beautiful ladies.

After four months on the air, the weekly program is gaining widespread popularity with viewer ratings hovering in the 12 percent range.

There are still pros and cons concerning the program. Some say the show relies heavily on the appearance of the foreign guests with their provocative costumes that show a lot of skin, while supporters say it tells viewers what Koreans are actually like.

Although it can sometimes be difficult to understand the intention be...| More