Lee Young-ae (이영애)

Korea's Two Biggest Stars May Walk down the Aisle

Source | 2009/11/05 | 0 comments | Permalink |

It was probably the biggest surprise since the secret wedding of actress Lee Young-ae this summer. Actor Jang Dong-gun and actress Ko So-young have confirmed that they're dating. There were rumors that linked the two celebrities in the past, but they have steadfastly maintained that they were just good friends, nothing more. The news has prompted such a flood of questions and congratulations that Jang's personal homepage went out of service late Thursday evening.

According to Jang's management agency, the two started off as good friends after starring in "Love Wind, Love Song" in 1998. The relationship grew serious two years ago when Ko comforted Jang through some rough times. Called the handsomest actor in Korea, Jang has mentioned that he's become lonelier as he grew older and is looking to settle down before he turns 40. That wish may come true as some people speculate that the two lovebirds will walk down the aisle early next year. It's also rumored that Ko is already shopping f...| More

Why Lee Young-ae Gets to Keep Her Ad Contract

Source | 2009/10/23 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korean builder GS Engineering and Construction will extend the advertising contract with actress Lee Young-ae for another year. The contract will likely be signed at the end of this month. The company was unsure whether to renew the contract with the star since it was concerned that her secret marriage to a Korean-American businessman in the U.S. in August could tarnish its brand image.

GS E&C is said to have wanted a change at first. Lee has been the model for the company for more than seven years. She was first hired in 2002, when the builder was launching its new apartment brand "Xii". The company concluded at the time that Lee's intelligent and refined image would be a good match.

The company apparently decided to renew the contract because CEO Huh Myung-soo is convinced of the actress' integrity and commitment to her advertiser. "Everyone gets married", Huh reportedly said. "It would be wrong to replace a long-time model with other person just because she got married".

Le...| More

Korean Wave Aims at New Horizons

Source | 2009/10/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

When Lee Eun-hye, 24, a college student went on a trip to South America she certainly didn't expect this. Every time she introduced herself as a Korean, the locals would greet her eagerly, mentioning the Korean drama "Dae Jang Geum" (English title "Jewel in the Palace") and the lead actress Lee Young-ae. The same thing happened in Japan and China. People there would list the names of Korean celebrities like Bae Yong-joon and ask her about the latest news in Korean entertainment.

She also met people who were studying Korean during her stay in Paraguay. When asked what motivated them to study the language, some told her the Korean dramas they watch made them feel close to Korean culture. Others found Hangeul (Korean characters) cool.

Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, has so far done more than enough to upgrade Korea's image, with television drama content leading the way. One of Korea's best hit dramas was "Winter Sonata" (2003). It starred Bae Yong-joon and its popularity in Japan became...| More

Jeans Brands Woo Top Stars for Ads

Source | 2009/10/15 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Jeans brands seem to be replacing cosmetics as the most coveted prize among Korea's advertising contracts. Traditionally, becoming the " face " of cosmetics brands was the recognition of bona fide star status. Actresses Lee Young-ae, Shim Eun-ha, Ko So-young and Lee Mi-yeon were the dominant faces in cosmetics advertising for a long time, but a new generation of stars are drawn to pants.

Local jeans brands now advertise using big names like Lee Hyo-lee, Son Dam-bi, Han Hyo-joo, Han Ji-hye, Han Chae-young, Kim Ah-joong, and Han Ye-seul. What they have in common, of course, is the slim figure to carry it off. Jeans ads inevitably highlight the models' legs, which therefore have to be long enough to make up over 50 percent of the body length.

The trend also has something to do with changing standards of beauty, a shift of pretty faces to beautiful bodies. Dr. Bae Joon-sung at the JK Plastic Surgery Center said, "These days, women with a glamorous, sexy bodyline are popular. Those wi...| More

Kim Yu-na, Cha Tae-hyeon Named Top Celebrities for Advertisers

Source | 2009/10/13 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Figure skating champ Kim Yu-na and actor Cha Tae-hyeon, who most recently starred in the box office hit "Speedy Scandal", were the were most coveted celebrities by the advertising industry in the first half of the year, according to the Media and Consumer Research survey conducted by the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation.

Actress Kim Tae-hee, who topped the list last year among female celebrities, came in second, followed by actress Jeon Ji-hyeon, pop star Lee Hyo-lee, and actresses Kim Nam-joo, Han Ga-in and Lee Young-ae.

Last year's top male finisher, actor Jang Dong-gun, came in second this year. Singer Rain, footballer Park Ji-sung, actor Lee Min-ho, singer and actor Lee Seung-gi followed.

This year's top finishers, Kim Yu-na and Cha, were not even in the top 10 last year.
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