Jeong Tae-woo (정태우)

KBS Historical Series 'Dae Jo-young' Ends after 15 Months

Source | 2007/12/24 | Permalink |

The KBS historical drama series "Dae Jo-young" ended Sunday after 134 episodes.

Launched in September last year and running for 15 months, the hit drama commanded weekend ratings of over 30 percent.

In a KBS/AGB Nielsen Media Research tally, ratings posted 36.8% for the 130th Dec. 9 episode.

In the final episode Sunday, the portrayal of the Balhae kingdom gaining amity with China's Tang dynasty's impressed the viewers. Many reportedly shed tears when Dae Jo-young (played by Choi Soo-jong) had to part ways with his son (Jeong Tae-woo).

The episode recorded 33.3% viewer ratings (AGB Nielsen Media), 5.2% point higher than Saturday, in the successful conclusion....| More

Korean dramas lock horns with their American rivals

Source | 2007/04/14 | Permalink |

Hit American television dramas are now being challenged by their Korean counterparts. Recently, a string of Korean dramas that include characters like federal investigators, police chiefs and emergency room doctors are appearing one by one. The dramas, being compared to the American dramas they modeled their plots around, are stirring up controversy and generating both negative and positive feedback.
On the one hand, some viewers say that these dramas present a fresh and innovative format.
Others however, are criticizing the producers saying they are ripping off ideas and that these dramas lack quality. The producers defend themselves by saying that as Hollywood has been making dramas for decades, the subject matter and formats are bound to overlap with Korean dramas. They also said that the important thing to look for in these dramas is how they adapt American elements to fit Korea.

Korean Network Television vs. American Dramas

The MBC drama "H.I.T" (Homicide Investigation ...| More

Ahn Jae-wook Meets with Slugger Lee Seung-yup

Source | 2006/07/27 | Permalink |

A celebrity baseball team, one of whose members is actor Ahn Jae-wook, has been invited to play at a celebrity charity baseball match organized by the World Children's Baseball Fair on July 26 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Japanese baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants, has asked Ahn to throw the first ball and "homerun king" Lee Seung-yup to catch it.

The match between the Yomiuri Giants and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp will begin after a speedgun test, presenting Japanese baseball fans with a rare opportunity to see hallyu star Ahn Jae-uk play in the same stadium with slugger Lee Seung-yup.

Ahn promised his Japanese fans at his March concert in Japan that his team, named "Just For Fun", would play in an away game.

Ahn will also play in a practice game at a nearby stadium, and in friendly games against the Taiwanese celebrity baseball team on July 27 in Osaka and against BB Trinity on July 28 in Tokyo.

Founded in 2000, "Just For Fun" lists on its roster the celebrities Kim Hyeon-cheol, L...| More

Its Action Lacks Dignity of Life: "The Legend of Chio Bae-dal" is Fading

Source | 2004/08/04 | Permalink |

by Seung-Jae Lee

It probably reminds you of those words: darkness, heaviness, self-destruction, agony, hurt, fright, and endless emptiness, when you hear about a movie based on the superb cartoon "Fighter in the Wind" by Bang Hak-gi.

Unfortunately, however, "Fighter in the Wind", a new release opening on August 12, does not satisfy the heavy words mentioned above. The movie has just sunken between the stereotypical plot patterns of an action film and an extremely petty romance.


Under Japanese colonial rule, a boy, Choi Bae-dal, cherishes his dream of being a fighter learning Taekkyun (Taegwongdo, a traditional martial art in Korea) from his servant, Beom-soo. However, as Beom-soo, who is involved in the independent movement against Japan, disappears, Bae-dal smuggles himself to Japan to become a pilot. In Japan, he suffers a lot due to the discrimination against Josenjin (Korean-Japanese). He happens to meet Beom-soo like a miracle and continues his training. However, a...| More