Lee Sang-woo (이상우)

Actor Hong Seok-cheon was virtually blacklisted after he came out as gay in 2000. But now he believes 'things have dramatically changed'.

Gay love was once a hush-hush topic in Korean TV dramas, but starting this month two prime-time shows, "Life is Beautiful" and "Personal Preference", will deal with two kinds of homosexual relationships, and in very different tones.

"Life is Beautiful", written by "soap opera queen" Kim Su-hyun, who most recently penned "Mom's Dead Upset" for KBS2, depicts the struggles of a gay couple played by Song Chang-ee and Lee Sang-woo, whose families, unaware of their orientation, constantly pressure them to go on blind dates with women. The show premieres March 20.

"Kim is one of those writers who is quick to read changing trends in society", said Park Hyun-jeong, a vice head of the public relations team at SBS. "Kim wanted to talk about love, especially marginalized or unaccepted love, this time through a gay couple along with the story of a remarried family".

Meanwhile, "Personal Preference", which begins March 31, tells the story of a woman, played by Son Ye-jin, who wishes she had a gay friend. Lee Min-ho appears as her new roommate, a straight man who pretends to be gay.

Characters have referenced homosexuality in TV dramas for years, but it's rarely been the main focus of a show. And real homosexual characters are still rare. For example, "Coffee Prince" from 2007 depicted a romance between a male...More

From left, actress Song Yoon-ah holds a bouquet of flowers after receiving her Andre Kim Best Star Award; actress Kim Ah-joong, looking lovely in a pale pink gown, was one of the top celebrities who received the Andre Kim Best Star Award; and actor Kim Beom, who rose to fame as part of the F4 in the hit TV drama "Boys over Flowers", smiles after receiving the Andre Kim Best Star Award. / Courtesy of Andre Kim's atelier

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Christmas filled the air, as renowned Korean designer Andre Kim opened the doors of his new design atelier in Giheung, Gyeonggi Province, with a memorable Best Star Awards and Christmas fashion show.

As guests walked through the white wrought iron gates of Kim's property, they were immediately greeted by the sight of a giant Christmas tree filled with twinkling lights.

Kim said he wanted to create a fairytale-like world, which is why he filled the courtyard with Christmas trees, ice sculptures and even a white train. "Unlike the indoor ateliers, this space allows peopl...More

"Searching for the Elephant" will be released on the 5th of November.

This film stars Jo Dong-hyeok, Lee Sang-woo, Lee Min-jeong, Jang Hyeok, and Jeon Se-hong. This has very explicit sex scenes and crude language that reveals dynamic and secretive lifestyle of three men.

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The film, "Searching for the Elephant" is being released with scenes of Jang Ja-yeon acting to commit suicide!

Jang Ja-yeon has committed suicide last March and to have her acting the suicide scenes released in film is being a hot topic.
The staff say that her part in this film is a big part and to have her in the film itself is important since this will be her last piece of work.

The previews released on the 23rd show that the main characters a...More

The probe into the suicide of actress Jang Ja-yeon got back under way after a two-month hiatus, after a key suspect in the case was detained yesterday.

Judge Lee Sang-woo at the Suwon District Court's Seongnam branch issued a detention warrant against Kim Sung-hoon, head of the late actress' former management agency.

The warrant hearing was held yesterday morning.

Kim will be held until July 13 in Bundang Police Precinct, Gyeonggi.

The police can twice extend the detention for further investigation.
...More