Kim Tae-hee (김태희)

Korean blockbuster drama "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]

Korean blockbuster drama "IRIS" is set to air during prime time on Japanese television, according to the show's producer Taewon Entertainment on Monday.

Taewon said Japanese broadcaster TBS announced the Korean TV series will run Wednesday evenings at 9 p.m., a slot usually assigned to domestic TV dramas.

Artist View, the show's marketing promoter in the country, explained that such programming is proof that Japanese people are looking forward to watching a Korean blockbuster action drama, not just Hallyu fans expecting to watch a Korean dramas and its cast....More

Korean actor Lee Wan [SBS]

Korean actor Lee Wan has denied rumors that he will be entering the Korean military in March, according to his agency Logos Film on Monday.

An official at Logos explained that talks of Lee voluntarily taking up the two-year military service is "not true" and that he is actually planning to hold a fan meeting in Japan in March. He also added that the 26-year-old is "in considering joining the army sometime around the end of this year or early next year"....More

Kim Tae-hee and Ko Soo were in a new commercial for Hana Banking Group.

In the commercial, they claimed, "Our IQs combined is over 300, but we still don't know what to do"....More

Actor Seol Kyeong-gu [Beck Una/10Asia]

Beck Una (Beck): "Haeundae" is actually on weird coordinates in terms of your filmography. In comparison to your past films which had a single main character, "Haeundae" was a film which didn't necessarily need you to be part of. On top of that, director Yoon JK is known for creating commercial films. So I've been curious to know how you got to work on this film.
Seol: I was once asked which director I work best with. To that I answered, "None of them". I make things work. "Haeundae" seemed like a movie calling for trouble. Like it would become a massive hit or flop horribly. Director Yoon may seem smart and clever on the outside but he seemed innocent in my eyes. I didn't see any murkiness in his eyes. And I am great with directors. Ryoo Seung-beom was surprised at me while shooting "No Mercy". He said I listen to well to the director. But what would I do? I'm not the director. The actor should listen. Of course, it gets annoying when my actions become limited. It's tough when the director limits my actions within the camera's angle. As long as I'm not trapped inside an angle, I can listen to what the director wants.

Beck: I felt from interviews that you were a hard time especially while shooting "Voice of Murderer" -- that you were feeling lonely.
Seol: I was having a hard time personally. And it peaked during the times I shot "Cruel Winter Blues" and "Venus and Mars". To an extent I felt bad for my manager. I'm usually not the type that lets my personal life interfere with my work. But I felt that I failed to cut off my emotions in front of the camera during those days. Couldn't hide it in the expression -- it would all show. I feel very bad for director Han Ji-seung and actress Kim Tae-hee. I really was at my worst during "Venus and Mars"! The phrase I used often back then was that I had hit rock bottom. But I feel much more at ease after hitting rock bottom. The phrase I use most often nowadays is to 'go with the flow'. In a way, I might be even more bold than I used to be. (laugh)...More

Big Bang member Dae-sung [Asia Economic Daily]

Dae-sung, member of popular boy band Big Bang, will replace T.O.P., the rapper of the same group, to star in a new TV series by famed writer Song Ji-na.

"Dae-sung will take off his acting career starting by making an appearance in 'Zero Plus'", an official at the group's agency YG Entertainment told Asia Economic Daily over the phone on Monday.

T.O.P., whose real name is Choi Seung-hyeon, had originally been tapped to play the main character but decided to withdraw from the drama due to a conflict of schedule. He had made his acting debut in 2007 drama "I Am Sam" and last appeared in hit blockbuster drama "IRIS" alongside Lee Byeong-Heon and Kim Tae-hee....More