All About Eve (Drama - 2000)

Reporters get the spotlight

Source | 2008/05/12 | Permalink |

MBC's upcoming drama "Spotlight", which airs this Wednesday night, promises to bring back a bit of excitement to the small screen.

Following on the heels of its more-than-lackluster predecessor "Who Are You - Drama", "Spotlight" focuses on the gritty and enterprising lives of city desk broadcast news reporters. The drama tracks one woman's rise to fame, from her struggles at the city desk to her eventual success as an anchorwoman.

With a plot like that, the success of "Spotlight" rides on the strength of its heroine and on its scripting.

And the script promises to be solid. The drama's writer Lee Ki-won possesses a finesse for drawing out the dark political power struggles that go on in the workplace. And his intense and cutthroat writing will play out well in the newsroom. Lee also wrote last year's hit medical drama "White Tower".

"I focused on the inner struggles that reporters face as humans", Lee said at a press conference held last week. "While there is romance, more ...| More

[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(33)] Whetting U.S. appetite for Korean TV dramas

Source | 2008/04/24 | Permalink |

In the last few years, Korean films, TV dramas and pop music have become immensely popular abroad, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave. This is the 33rd in a series of essays by a select group of scholars and journalists looking at the spread of Korean pop culture in Southeast Asian countries and beyond. - Ed.

Following is an email interview with Tom Larsen, president of YA Entertainment, the largest distributor of Korean TV drama DVDs in the United States. - Ed.

The Korea Herald: What is the current market position of Korean TV dramas in the U.S. market? How are they perceived in comparison with mainstream U.S., Chinese and Japanese programming?

Tom Larsen: Like most other TV programming from international markets, Korean TV dramas are generally considered a specialty entertainment niche here in the United States. Having said that, the popularity of Korean TV dramas in the United States has grown dramatically over the past five years. Korean TV dramas are now widely recogni...| More

Jang Dong-gun Models Men's Make-Up Line

Source | 2007/11/27 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Korea's heartthrob Jang Dong-gun, 35, will be the new face for Hera Homme, the men's collection of a major cosmetic brand here. He joins popular actress Kim Tae-hee, who currently models for Hera's women's line.

"Not only does Jang have a perfectly chiseled face, but he is also well-known to be a highly diligent and focused professional. He possesses a sexy, masculine appeal that fits our product image", said Hera's brand manager Choi Deok-su in a statement.

Launched in 2005, Herra Homme currently ranks first place in the local cosmetics market for men.

Jang will be featured from December. The photo shoots took place in New Zealand, according to Jang's management agency Star M, because he is currently shooting his latest film "Laundry Warrior" there. He stars opposite Kate Bosworth in the action flick, which went into production earlier this month. It will be Jang's Hollywood debut.

Jang has previously modeled for Korean make-up brand Miss...| More

Jang's Hollywood Debut Work to Get Stars' Attention

Source | 2007/11/04 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Heartthrob and hallyu megastar Jang Dong-gun, 35, will star opposite Kate Bosworth in his Hollywood debut "Laundry Warrior". Barrie M. Osborne, maestro producer of "The Matrix" and "Lord of the Rings", will produce the "ultra-futuristic" Western movie that brings together top Hollywood talent, according to reports by "Variety" magazine Tuesday. A Korean firm involved in the movie's publicity also confirmed the news.

In "Laundry Warrior", Jang plays the role of a mysterious Asian warrior assassin who ends up in a sleepy, American Mid-Western town near a desert, where he struggles to find peace, contentment and even love. A Korean who teaches at the New York Film School wrote the script -- Lee Seung-moo (also known as Lee Sng-moo) will also direct the movie, which is scheduled to begin shooting in New Zealand, mid-November

In addition to starring Kate Bosworth, famous as Superman's lover onscreen ("Superman Returns") and Orlando Bloom's former girl...| More

Star Couple's Divorce Turns Nasty

Source | 2007/10/29 | Permalink |

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Star couple ― Park Cheol and Ok So-ri ― are seeing their divorce fight take a nasty turn. Park said on Monday that he had filed a criminal suit against Ok for adultery. In Korea, adultery is against the law.

Park's disclosure followed Ok's press conference held Sunday. Breaking her silence since the news of their divorce became public, Ok denied certain rumors around her and divulged the couple's marital problems to the public. .

Ok said that it was untrue that she cheated on Park through having inappropriate relations with an Italian chef working at a five-star hotel in Seoul.

She said that she just learned English and cooking from him. But Ok admitted that she had an affair with a vocalist, identified with Chung, for three months in 2006. She said she she ended the relationship because Chung asked to borrow a large sum of money from her.

Ok also said that she was not happy in her marriage life because she had many financial...| More