Lee Young-ae (이영애)

Andre Kim's Star-Studded Network

Source | 2009/11/19 | 0 comments | Permalink |

A galaxy of stars including Lee Young-ae, Jeon Do-yeon, Song Yoon-ah and Han Chae-young and actor Won Bin will appear at the Best Star Award hosted by designer Andre Kim on Nov. 27. At 73, the flamboyant designer is as active as ever, with fashion shows here and abroad attracting many celebrities.

The normal hurdles to casting A-listers do not seem to exist for Kim. Lee Young-ae, who has drastically cut down on public since after her marriage, will willingly appear for him. So how does he do it?

Kim wakes up at 5:30 a.m. every day and reads 17 newspapers. "Reading newspapers is the best way to absorb a massive amount of knowledge and information with little investment. So I read newspapers no matter what", he says.

That has helped him develop a knack for discovering rising stars and support them. Kim casts them as model for his fashion shows so that they can get media coverage, and that is why they can't refuse him even when they become hugely famous.

Kim Tae-hee has been i...| More

Korean Movies: Cultural Envoys for Iran

Source | 2009/11/13 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Mahdi Sadati
Contributing Writer

TEHERAN-About 23 million Iranians have access to the Internet, enabling them to communicate with other communities and obtain information according to their interests. Many of these users are teenagers who usually search for photos and video clips of their favorite actors and singers. Online shopping is also becoming popular with young people.

If you search for the names of Korean stars whose movies have been broadcast in Iran, you can find many Web sites and blogs that Iranians have made for their favorite stars. At www.jumong.ir (http://www.jumong.ir) you can find the latest movie information and gossip, and buy movies like "Shining Inheritance" and "Terms of Endearment".Another site, from which I have bought several Korean movies is www.dvdirani.com (http://www.dvdirani.com). It offers the latest Korean dramas and TV series at the best prices, less than $15.

In Iran there is no copyright for foreign movies and software; thus, you can fin...| More

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