Song Ji-na (송지나)

Seoul Int'l Drama Awards End With Promise

Source | 2009/09/13 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

The Seoul International Drama Awards 2009 wrapped up its 10-day run with a grand award ceremony, the biggest in its four-year history, at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park last week.

The annual event started Sept. 4 at various venues around the city with 169 dramas from 37 countries competing. The final ceremony saw numerous stars, producers and writers attending, a big leap from the rather localized ceremonies of previous years.

The ceremony was broadcast on KBS, and the event venue was filled with fans that came to see some of their favorite local and foreign stars.

The Grand Prize went to "Memoirs in China", a period drama about two families surviving turbulent times during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Republican China (1911-1949) and finally the People's Republic of China.

"Our drama is about the ups and downs of a family that survived a century in China. The courage and freedom the family showed in this drama is what we need to survive in ...| More

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

Source | 2009/06/01 | 0 comments | 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

'The Slingshot' Praised for Dealing with Current Affairs

2009/05/14 | 0 comments | 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

Male Hallyu Stars Clash on TV

Source | 2009/04/07 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Hallyu stars Park Yong-ha and Kwon Sang-woo are moving into the television spotlight where, until recently, pretty boys, shiny sports cars ("Boys Over Flowers") and even a historic hero ("Moon River - Iljimae Returns") dominated.

The leading men of new dramas "The Slingshot" (KBS) and "Cinderella Man" (MBC), respectively, are expected to heat up the already star-studded drama casts, which include So Ji-sub, Kim Nam-joo and Jeong Ryeo-won.

Written by Song Ji-na as the final piece of her trilogy ― the first two being "Eye of Dawn" (1991) and "Sandglass" (1997) ― "The Slingshot" is expected to capture the reality of today's money-driven world.

"We focused on the world of men and women who are willing to sacrifice their lives for money, a world where money dictates. But I still tried to make a lighter, enjoyable and somewhat touching series", Yoon Sung-sik, the producer, said at a press conference last week in northern Seoul.

Park,...| More

'Sandglass' Voted Best Korean Soap Since 1980

Source | 2009/02/11 | 0 comments | Permalink |

"Sandglass" (1994) was voted the best Korean TV soap opera since 1980 by 20 star producers and drama writers, including Kim Jong-hak, Choi Wan-gyoo and Noh Hee-kyeong.

"Sandglass", written by Song Ji-na and directed by Kim, was praised for its realistic portrayal of how dark political situations affect individuals' lives. It was so popular that people often went home early from work to catch it.

"Jewel in the Palace" ("Dae Jang Geum" - 2004), which was hyped as the ultimate TV soap opera, came in second. "Eyes of Dawn" took third place, followed by "Winter Sonata" and "You and I". ...| More