Jo Jae-hyeon (조재현)

2008/05/12 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

In 2004, a group of the nation's central theater figures pooled their strength and put on 15 carefully prepared works on the stage, one after another, in the span of one year. The response was amazing for a genre that has never been very popular, drawing some 170,000 people and an average 81 percent seat-occupancy rate.

Those people have been at work again since late last year, this time to offer 11 top contemporary picks and to solicit help from well-known television and movie actors and actresses, in hopes that their appearance will further vitalize the drama genre.

The latest project from "Yeongeukyeoljeon 2", as the special production company is called, is "The Return of Mr. Um", a sequel to "At the Marina", which was presented in 2005 and won the Grand Arts Award from Arts Council Korea the same year.

The play, which will begin staging later this month, has been generating a lot of media hype after word got out that Ko Soo, a major television heartthrob who recently finis...

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2008/05/01 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Actor Ko Soo was discharged from military on the 25th.

He has been serving in KangNam, and even received recognition for being an outstanding public interest service personnel.

That day, Ko Soo will be restarting his acting career through the play "Return of Mr. Eom".

Ko Soo, who has been interested in theater for a long time, accepted the invitation from Jo Jae-hyeon to star in this play.

The play tells the inner feelings of society, has a deep message, and gives good laughs. Eom Hyo-seob, who played Seo Kyeong-jun in KBS "In-soon is Pretty", has the lead role of 'Mr. Eom'.

"Return of Mr. Eom" will be shown from May 23 to August 3 at Seoul Wonder Space Circle Theater (Sadari Art Center).
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2008/05/01 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

'Acting tutors' for actors who have professional roles

'Professional dramas' that show the world of professionals, such as reporters, entertainers, doctors, athletes, and music, are becoming a popular genre.

Last year's "Surgeon Bong Dal-hee" and "White Tower" and this year's "New Heart" and "On Air" are drawing popularity. "Spotlight" and "Beethoven Virus", which will show the daily life of a classical musician, is in production or awaiting broadcast.

Professional dramas easily attain high ratings even without great artistic elements, for it shows a world that viewers don't experience.

So it's picked as the best 'success chord'. But there is the pressure of training hat actors must go through to become like these professionals. How do actors acquire the skills to act like a true professional?

For "Spotlight", Ji Jin-hee had drinks with reporters all night and received 'tutoring' from them. To increase the reality of it, a producer who had been a reporter helped Ji Jin-h...

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2008/03/30 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Numerous celebrities have joined in mourning for hallyu star Lee Dong-geon's brother at a chapel in Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul.

Lee's brother, Lee Joon-yub, 19, was fatally stabbed near the World Square Shopping center in Sydney, Australia, March 20. He and his friend, who were both studying in Sydney, were attacked during an argument with two Chinese gang members. The 19-year-old's body was cremated in Sydney on March 26 and Lee brought back his brother's ashes to Seoul on March 28.

Actors and actresses, close to Lee, visited the chapel to convey their condolences over his brother's death.

Han Ji-hye, Lee's ex-girlfriend, visited the chapel and grieved with Lee and his family. She burst into tears at the sight of the brother's portrait.

Han was told the news after filming "Likable or Not" ("I Hate You, But It's Fine") a local hit drama ― now airing on KBS, and rushed to the hospital.

Other actors including Kim Min...

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RIP LDG's Brother!!!!! Mapenzi01 2008-03-31 13:12:25

2008/02/18 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Last year, a number of successful male actors returned to the stage after spending years on both the small and big screens. The list of actors who returned to the theater includes Choi Min-sik, a veteran actor who garnered international acclaim through the smash hit movie "Old Boy" (2003), Jo Jae-hyeon who played egocentric Abe (father) in "Kyung-sook, Kyung-sook's Father" and Jo Min-ki who performed in the Korean rendition of the Russian play "The Seagull".

The celebrities on the stage instantly grabbed the media's attention and, of course, drew larger audiences. This year, the stars' return to theaters is likely to continue with seasoned actresses set to test their talents on the stage.

Ha Hee-ra, a veteran actress also known as the wife of top-rated actor Choi Soo-jong, comes back to live theater with a Korean rendition of the Broadway musical "The Goodbye Girl". The show hits the stage at the Baekam Arts Hall in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, on March 28 through June 15.

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