How many outside Korea are aware that Lee Charm, the first naturalized Korean citizen from Germany used to be a TV celebrity, who at one time appeared in Korean TV dramas? Last year he was named the president of the Korean Tourism Organization, becoming the first naturalized citizen to be named to a high government post.
Hallyu drama is fast catering to changing trends. As the number of expats in Korea exceeded one million years ago, new faces are making a splash in Hallyu dramas these days. These new faces are either Koreans from overseas, half-Koreans or expats eager to take their chance to be a star in Asia.
One of the earliest signs of the big potential for actors from overseas was in the drama "
My Name is Kim Sam-soon" (2005). At the time
Daniel Henney, a U.S. model whose mother is ethnically Korean starred as a supportive friend of a girl he loves. Henney, with his good looks and the charming role he played, became an instant talk in Korea, together with the show.
Henney, learning his way around Korea as well as the language, appeared in other TV dramas like
Spring Waltz and many TV commercials. With his improved Korean he later landed main roles in local movies like "
Seducing Mr. Perfect" and
"My Father". This career paved his way to Hollywood, helping him star in a role as Agent Zero in the film "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and as Dr. David Lee in CBS drama "Three Rivers".
Following the successful example of Henney, more overseas actors began to make appearances in local television shows.
Julien Kang, a French-Canadian actor whose father is Korean, started out with small role...
More[Third in a series on Korea's muticultural future] A rising number of multicultural entertainers reflect a changing industry - and nation
At 20 years old, Kim In-soon had a beautiful voice, but she eked out a living singing at pubs. Then one night, a producer heard her perform, and her life in show business began. She debuted as a member of the female trio the Hee Sisters, and became part of Korea's first archetypical "girl group".
In spangle-studded dresses and form-fitting spandex, the trio stole the hearts of many male fans, but Kim was forced to put on an extra piece of clothing every time she appeared with the group: a hat or handkerchief to hide her hair.
Kim, who goes by her stage name Insooni, is the daughter of a Korean mother and an African-American soldier, and her mixed heritage gave her darker skin, a face that stood out and intensely curly hair. Because of her appearance she was often banned from appearing on TV shows, and she was denied the chance to participate in an international singing competition as a representative of Korea. Yet, today, she is still one of the country's most influential musicians.
Insooni's mother Yang-bae passed away in 2005. When Kim was born, her mother's family forced her either to abandon her child or be disowned. Kim Yang-bae chose her daughter.
When it came time to give birth to her own daughter in 1993, Insooni flew to the United States to ensure she would be an American citizen. The singer has publicly said that she did this because she was afraid her child would have the same dark skin that caused her so much pain. While other mothers may count the number of their babies' fingers or toes right after they are born, Insooni checked her daughter's skin color.
Ten years later, camera flashes splattered across the face of another beautiful young woman as she cried her eyes out. "If I had come out and said that I'm mixed, I was afraid of being discriminated against", actress
Lee Yoo-jin told reporters in May 2003, blowing her nose and wiping her eyes. It had come to light that Lee's name was listed on her grandfather's family register, not her father's, making Lee and her mother sisters on paper. At this press conference Lee, then 26, confessed her long-held secret - that her father was an American of Spanish descent who served as a soldier here.
After the press conference, it took Lee, who was a regular on many hit TV sitcoms, dramas, shows and glossy magazine covers, nearly six years to come back to a major TV drama last year.
When the JoongAng Daily asked to interview Lee, her manager, Kil Jin, said, "She's had enough of it. She doesn't want to talk about it anymore. I'm so sorry".
The continuing pain Lee is experiencing shows that, despite the progress that has been made in Korean society, the issue of discrimination against multicultural peopl...
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Former K-pop singer and actress
Jeong Ryeo-won is poised to advance to Hollywood.
According to press reports, Jeong, 27, visited the United States last month and met with officials from an unidentified Hollywood studio. She was also courted by Hollywood last year but this is the first time that she has had a meeting in connection with her entry into Hollywood.
A local movie expert praised Jeong, saying, "She is highly qualified to enter the United States for acting".
An official from Jeong's agency confirmed her Hollywood plan and said, "She will also be active in South Korea".
Some South Korean and Korean American actors such as
Kim Yoon-jin...
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