Heo Yeong-man (허영만)

'Sikgaek' sets off on new culinary journey

2008/06/16 | Source | Permalink |

The comic-book series was a hit. The movie version topped national charts. Will the "Sikgaek" drama get high viewer ratings?

Set to air this Tuesday night on SBS, this 24-episode drama is based on Heo Yeong-man's bestselling comic series of the same name. While the film version of the series, titled "Le Grand Chef", topped national charts last year, that doesn't guarantee the upcoming drama a free ride to the top.

With SBS melodramas "All In" (2003) and "Love Story in Harvard" (2004-2005) screenwriter Choi Wan-gyoo orchestrating the plot of the TV version, what originally started out as a soulful exploration of the regional flavors of Korean cuisine in Heo Yeong-man's series may morph into a sappy and highly dramatic romance on the small screen.

Judging from the 40-minute preview screening last week, SBS' "Sikgaek" promises to bring classic drama-making elements to audiences nationwide. Rivalry, love triangles and heritage all factor into this miniseries. Glossy shots of Korea...| More

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'Sikgaek' Brings Korean Cuisine Back to TV Screen

2008/06/10 | Source | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Seoul Broadcast System (SBS)'s "Sikgaek" will once again bring the delicious and colorful dishes of Korean cuisine to the television screen next week. While the hit drama "Jewel in the Palace" (2003) wowed fans with royal cuisine, "Sikgaek" will offer a wider range of dishes from traditional to everyday recipes.

"The drama is aimed to show the true potential of Korean food", said Choi Jong-soo, the producer of the drama, at a press conference Monday.

The drama is based on cartoonist Heo Yeong-man's popular namesake cartoon that first appeared as a newspaper series in 2002. The journey of the ambitious and talented chef-to-be Lee Sung-chan was also released as a movie, "Le Grand Chef" in 2007.

Korean heartthrob Kim Rae-won ("My Little Bride", 2004) will star as the warm hearted chef-in-training Lee, while actress Nam Sang-mi (TV drama "Sweet Spy", 2005) will play a silly country girl, Kim Jin-soo, who trails Lee with high hopes of becoming a ...| More

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I cannot wait to see this drama! I've waiting for the return of Kim Rae-won to a drama and the premise of the drama is very intriguing. BEST OF LUCK!!! Kimberly Sarreal 2008-06-10 18:30:18

Vive La Korean Food! Hallyu Revitalizes Culinary Tradition

2008/03/20 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Garfield the cartoon cat often says, "you are what you eat". Rightly so, the art and science of eating and culinary customs and styles define a people's culture, tradition and spirit.

While Korea possesses a unique gastronomic culture, many have turned to imported pastas and pastries. But a few years ago, the TV drama "Jewel in the Palace" (aka. "Dae Jang Geum") rekindled the general public's interest. The culinary adventures of a Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) court lady traveled overseas, leading hallyu or the "Korean wave" far and wide, gaining fans even in Zimbabwe.

Recently, the box office hit "Le Grand Chef" and popular TV soap "Golden Bride" also featured mouthwatering Korean dishes, sizzling the enthusiasm. Hansik, or Korean traditional cuisine, has gained momentum and is out to go global.

Let's go behind the scenes to see who cooked up the visually scrumptious delights and ways you can get a tasting!

Regal & Refined

Those who watch...| More

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'Sikgaek' offers visual taste of Korean cuisine

2008/03/12 | Source | Permalink |

Food has rarely played a leading role in a miniseries. But in "Sikgaek", the SBS drama slated to air on May 26, food takes center stage. And not just any kind of food. Korean cuisine gets the spotlight this time around.

Based on Heo Yeong-man's bestselling comic book series of the same name, this 24-episode drama follows Korean chef Seong-chan, played by Kim Rae-won, on his travels throughout Korea. Driving a beat-up truck, Seong-chan searches for the essence of Korean food, looking for it in the remotest parts of this country.

With cuisine playing such a big role, the production team needed a food expert. And they knew exactly who to turn to.

Kim Soo-jin, president of her own food consulting group, Food and Culture Korea, handled food direction for the film version of Heo Yeong-man's "Sikgaek", which hit screens nationwide as "Le Grand Chef", and topped national charts last year.

The mouthwatering dishes cooked up on the big screen served as testimony to her ability to tu...| More

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Comic artist Gang Do-young

2008/03/05 | Source | Permalink |

Another comic artist eyed by the film circle following Heo Yeong-man is online cartoonist Kang Do-young (aka Kang Pool, 33). The copyright to his feature comics sold instantly. "A.P.T" was made into a film in 2006 and "Fool", released after a delay, has also attracted many moviegoers.

First generation Internet comic artist

Regarded the first generation Internet comic artist, Kang's debut came after a long struggle and owes its success to the Internet. He didn't formally learn comic writing in college and nor was he taught by a famed artist. The start of it all was when he started to paint comic wall posters while serving the student body at Sangji University. As written posters didn't catch students' attention, he began to turn them into comics.

Committed to the task for 7 years, he decided to become a comic artist just ahead of graduation. In college, he often wore green clothes, thus he earned his nickname Kang Full (green is considered a "full" color in Korea), which he re...| More

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