All About Eve (Drama - 2000)

Hallyu Stars to Stage Special Show in Tokyo

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

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Heartthrobs Lee Byeong-heon, Jang Dong-gun, Song Seung-heon and Won Bin will take part in a special "hallyu" (Korean Wave) festival in Tokyo in December, Yonhap News reported Monday.

The event, to take place Dec. 17 at Tokyo Dome, will be directed by renowned Japanese writer-producer Yasushi Akimoto. The four actors will give a theatrical performance set to an audiovisual piece by acclaimed Korean director Heo Jin-ho ("Season of Good Rain").

The four 30-something stars, who are known to be good friends, are said to have initiated the project, wanting to do "something fun and unprecedented".

Lee ("I Come With the Rain"), who became popular in Asian countries through TV soaps such as "All In", said he was was "happy to meet fans through a special production before the end of the year".

Jang ("Good Morning President"), who rose to stardom through appearances in dramas like "All About Eve", and Song, who garnered local fans in melodramas such ...| More

Korean Dramas Continue to Captivate the Philippines

Source | 2009/09/06 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Jonathan M. Hicap
Korea Times Correspondent

Even before K-pop, Filipinos were long fans of imported dramas.

Soap operas and drama series have become a staple for daytime and primetime viewing in the Philippines.

In the 1990s, Mexican telenovelas became the mania, with huge hits like "Rosalinda" and "Marimar" attracting ratings above 50 percent.

Asian dramas, including Korean, have become hits in the 2000s.

The huge demand from viewers for Asian telenovelas has prompted Philippine TV stations to import Korean and Taiwanese dramas.

Top Korean drama series (locally called "Koreanovelas") like "Lovers in Paris", "Full House", "My Name is Kim Sam-soon", "Stairway to Heaven" and "Coffee Prince" were imported and dubbed in Filipino, instantly becoming hits.

The success of "Dae Jang Geum" (or "Jewel in the Palace") in Korea was also replicated in the Philippines and many other Asian countries.

The Taiwanese drama "Meteor Garden" was also a ratings success when it ai...| More

Reporters get the spotlight

Source | 2008/05/12 | 0 comments | 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 | 0 comments | 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 | 0 comments | 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