Park Yong-ha (박용하)

Rekindling Korean Wave

2009/06/24 | Permalink |

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

It's a dilemma Korea has encountered many times before: plenty of tourists ― indeed, numbers are rising ― but a dearth of attractions with which to occupy them.

In the past year, visitor numbers have increased, largely on the back of a weak won.

But with exchange rates turning unfavorable to foreign visitors, the growth is beginning to slow. So authorities are faced with the same old problems: Put simply, the nation lacks things for foreign tourists to see and do.

The tourism industry has been aware of the shortcomings for some time and has made efforts to develop new attractions and programs.

Now another pair of developments are about to come to fruition. At the end of the month a premium Korean restaurant called Unamjeong, which has been revived from a famous comic, and an exhibition hall named "Star Avenue", which will help re-ignite Hallyu, or the Korean Cultural Wave.


Unamjeong

Korean food is growing more popular among...| More

Stars of 'The Slingshot' Determined to Be Committed to the End

Source | 2009/06/01 | Permalink |

The stars of KBS2 drama "The Slingshot" have expressed their determination to put everything they have into the drama until the very last episode.

Kim Kang-woo, Park Si-yeon and Park Yong-ha talked to reporters on May 21 at the shooting site of a scene where Chae Do-woo (Kim Kang-woo) and Seo Gyeong-a (Park Si-yeon) get married.

Park Yong-ha said that he's having a bit of a hard time maintaining a healthy condition because, with the series nearing the end, shooting often continues into the night. "There are fans who have liked and shown interest in our drama from the beginning. I cherish them most, so I will do my best until the very end not to disappoint them", he added.

Park Si-yeon explained how she feels about her character, who viewers have criticized for being ambiguous. "I myself sometimes wasn't sure about the character, and writer Song Ji-na and director Yoon Seung-sik told me that she would be clearly explained in the later parts of the series. I still don't feel com...| More

[ChanMi's star news] Stars come to congratulate Seol and Song!

Source | 2009/05/28 | Permalink |

Many stars have come to celebrate and congratulate the newly weds, Seol Kyeong-gu and Song Yoon-ah!

Don't the stars look so happy and festive, also?

Here is Uhm Jung-hwa, Kim Hee-seon, Ryoo Seung-beom, Kong Hyo-jin, Lee Deok-hwa, Kang Hye-jeong, Ha Ji-won, Son Ye-jin, Han Hye-jin, Park Yong-ha, Kim Yoon-jin, and more of the top stars!...| More

'The Slingshot' Praised for Dealing with Current Affairs

2009/05/14 | Permalink |

The KBS2 drama "The Slingshot" has drawn much attention by touching on serious social issues once again -- this time new town construction and public work projects.

Chae Do-woo (Kim Kang-woo) faced opposition in pursuing his plan to build a luxury town. The ideal mayor of the city concerned, who truly wants to serve people rather than pursue power, told Chae, "Article 10 of the constitution stipulates that all people are entitled to human dignity and the right to pursue happiness, and Article 7 states that government workers are obliged to serve the entire public and be responsible for their well being. Could you please help me to live up to those rules?" He added that he would give full support to Chae's plan only if he included building an apartment complex, an elementary and middle school, and a public health center in his plan.

But displeased, Chae talked about his own notion of an ideal society. He stressed that a city should be designed only for the upper 10 percent of the ...| More

How Park Yong-ha Identifies with His Character in 'The Slingshot'

Source | 2009/05/11 | Permalink |

Actor Park Yong-ha, who is playing the leading role of Kim Shin in the KBS2 drama "The Slingshot", has talked about the similarities and differences between him and the character he is playing. Park has been impressing viewers of the drama by revealing wildness, charisma, and masculinity he has never shown before.

Kim Shin was a hopeless troublemaker who lived carelessly yet had a warm heart and truly loved his family and girlfriend. Losing his brother and seeing his lover leave him, however, has turned him into a strong man who wants to take revenge against the world.

Park has said several times that he feels comfortable playing the character because they are very similar. Just how similar and different are they?

Park says that, unlike Kim Shin, he is not brave nor fearless enough to steal 150 million won without blinking an eye. The most audacious thing he has ever done was to drive his mother's car without getting permission when he was in high school. And his mother does n...| More