Park Eun-bin (박은빈)

Korean actor Lee Byeong-Heon at 2009 KBS Acting Awards [KBS]

Top Korean actor Lee Byeong-Heon won three awards -- including the grand prize -- at the 2009 KBS Acting Awards, held at KBS Open Hall on December 31.

Lee was awarded the top acting prize of the year for his role in blockbuster drama "IRIS" and also won the Best Couple and Netizens' Choice awards.

"I started acting at KBS", said the actor in his acceptance speech. "When I had just debuted at KBS I heard about the acting awards.. I wondered if I would ever be able to go up on that stage. The very next year, I won the Best New Actor award".

He went on to say, "And now I've won Grand Prize on this stage. I'm very touched". He thanked the staff, actress Su-ae who -- believing Lee would win -- sent him a congratulatory text message in advance and his mother....More

Ten minutes, 10000 ~ 41940 won ($US 10~42); stars get 1 million won per episode ($US 1000)

"Don't look down on us because we're young".

The smallest peppers are the spiciest. You can't look down on kids. Child actors are treated almost as well as top stars. Some are Lee Hyun-woo ("King Se Jong", "The Legend"), Yoo Seung-ho ("The Legend", "King and I"), Sim Eun-kyeong ("The Legend", "Hwangjin-i"), Park Eun-bin ("The Legend", "Lobbyist"), Park Ji-bin ("Yi San", "My Man's Woman"), Kang I-seok ("...More

It's tough being in your 20s in Korea. With youth unemployment hovering at 7 percent for four or five years running, 20-somethings are being squeezed between hyper-energetic teens and those in their vigorous 30s. The Twens are variously described as the "No Graduation Generation" -- because students delay their graduation to avoid unemployment -- and "Kangaroo Generation" because they stay in their parents' "pouch" when they do graduate.

In sports, teen players like swimmer Park Tae-hwan, figure skater Kim Yu-na and pro-golfer Shin Ji-yai have become nationwide stars. On TV, teen actors like Yoo Seung-ho (14) and Park Eun-bin (15) from the popular series "Taewangsashingi" ("The Legend", "The Four Guardian Gods of the King") have more fans than their older colleagues. The legendary singer Seo Tae-ji and Park Jin-young, both in their 30s, continue to boast explosive popularity. A survey of 1,319 people age 13 to 65 by market researcher Leespr found that six of the 10 most popular entertainers were in...More