Seong Hyeon-ah (성현아)

Drug Scandal Jolts Showbiz Industry

Source | 2009/04/28 | Permalink |

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

Several More Top Entertainers on List of Suspects

Police are expanding their investigation into the smuggling and use of drugs involving movie stars and models.

In the latest drug bust of entertainers, police booked popular film star Joo Ji-hoon, 27, on suspicion of drug use and arrest warrants were sought for actress Yoon Seol-hee, 28, and model Ye Hak-yeong, 26, for alleged smuggling ecstasy tablets and ketamine into the country from Japan. Two other residents were booked on similar suspicions.

"Besides the suspects on the list we have secured, there are likely more, given the amount of drugs smuggled. Further investigations are unavoidable", an officer of the Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency said.

Police officiers said the entertainers appear to have been tempted to use drugs on assumption that that ecstasy and other drugs kill the appetite, helping them reduce their weight. Ecstasy is a mildly hallucinogenic amphetamine and the most po...| More

[ChanMi's drama news] Park Min-yeong transforms into a warrior princess

Source | 2009/02/06 | Permalink |

A still shot of Park Min-yeong in a bathing scene has been released.

The new historical drama "Princess Ja Myung Go" will be starring Park Min-yeong as Princess Lahee from Nakrang who is loved by the people for her beauty and her martial arts skills.

The princess fights to destroy the treasure Jamyungo drum for her lover prince Hodong.

The drama also stars Jeong Ryeo-won, Seong Hyeon-ah, Jeong Kyeong-ho, Lee Mi-sook, and Moon Seong-geun....| More

[ChanMi's drama news] Chae Si-ra vs. Jeong Ryeo-won vs. Ko Hyeon-jeong

Source | 2009/01/03 | Permalink |

Only the strong survive in the historical fiction dramas.

2009 has all these female stars as main characters in the historical dramas.

KBS' new historical drama "The Iron Empress" casted Chae Si-ra as the main character, SBS' "Princess Ja Myung Go" casted Jeong Ryeo-won, and "Queen Seon-deok" casted Lee Yo-won and Ko Hyeon-jeong.

Historical fiction dramas have been focused on male characters many times, and females were either wise and submissive  or full of jealousy and poisonous words. In 2009, a new historical fiction era has begun.

The new dramas are bringing women with strong characters. Queen Cheon-choo will...| More

TV Dramas Gear Up for Post-Olympics Race

Source | 2008/08/19 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

The Beijing Olympic Games will end Sunday, so what is worth seeing after the Olympic flame goes out? For TV fans, major networks are gearing up for a competition with their most anticipated dramas.

MBC will start the race off with "East of Eden" Monday. The drama has made headlines with its star-studded cast even before shooting, with big names like Song Seung-heon, Yeon Jeong-hoon, Lee Da-hae and Han Ji-Hye and veteran actors Yoo Dong-geon and Lee Mi-sook.

The drama is the first for Song and Yeon since they got out of the Army.

The 50-part series cost 25 billion won and tells of the brothers Dong-chul (Song) and Dong-wook (Yeon). Their fates diverge after the murder of their coal miner father, with one joining the mob and the other becoming a successful lawyer.

Next is "Beethoven Virus", a treat for classical music lovers. The drama depicts the world of musicians, from a charismatic conductor to a stubborn trumpet player and a pretty vio...| More

Movie-Based Dramas to Fill TV Screens

Source | 2008/07/08 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Amid the ongoing search for catchy, stylish, attractive ideas for local dramas, many drama-makers have turned to themes that have already been seen to be popular. Movie-based dramas are no longer new, but the race for the best-made remake is expected to get more competitive with "IRIS", "Tazza" (working title), "Friends: The Unfinished Tale" (working title) and "Beat".

The 1999 movie "Shiri" was a steppingstone for Korean cinema, being considered the first blockbuster movie that captivated local movie fans with its distinctive plot and action scenes. Now the hit movie that depicted the lives of secret agents is coming back to television screens as "IRIS". In order to bring movie-like elements onto the smaller screen, the drama will be written and produced by Taewon Entertainment and Kang Je-gyu Film, both famous movie agencies here, and will boast a budget of 20 billion won. Korean heartthrob Lee Byeong-heon ("All In", 2003) will appear as the myst...| More