| [THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(33)] Whetting U.S. appetite for Korean TV dramas (Source) |
2008/04/24 |
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
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| Lee Bo-yeong—Ji Seong Dating, Another Huge Couple Born after Kim Jeong-eun—Lee Seo-jin (Source) |
2008/03/06 |
Another star couple has been born.
Top star Ji Seong and Lee Bo-yeong are the main characters in this romance. These two have been meeting with good intentions from last November and are now in a relationship.
Ji Seong and Lee Bo-yeong first met when they both starred in the SBS drama 'Save the Last Dance for Me' in 2004. And it has been known that they have started officially dating after Ji Seong came back from the army early last year.
Despite both their busy schedules, they are enjoying dates in their free time. Ji Seong became busy with the MBC drama 'New Heart' and Lee Bo-yeong has been promoting her movie, 'Once Upon a Time'.
They've found time midst their busy schedules to go on dates in their car near Lee Bo-yeong's Seoul home.
Ji Seong and Lee Bo-Yeong is another huge couple to follow up other couples such as Kim Jeong-eun and Lee Seo-jin.
Ji Seong's comeback after serving in the army was MBC's 'New Heart', which was very popular and ended with a happy endin... |More
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| Ji Seong to return to the television screen as a resident doctor (Source) |
2007/10/23 |
Actor Ji Seong who completed his military service back in June will return to television screens as a resident doctor in the upcoming medical drama series "New Heart". The series will also star Jo Jae-hyeon, Kim Min-jeong, and others.
Ji Seong recently filmed the movie "Fate" starring Song Seung-heon. "New Heart" is his first drama after military discharge and first since "Save the Last Dance for Me" in 2005.
"New Heart" is a medical drama featuring the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the prestige Kwanghee University Hospital. Ji Seong plays Lee Eun Sung who graduates from a newly established medical school in the provinces and applies for the hospital with high hopes of becoming a great doctor. With natural talent and effort, he is acknowledged by the head of the department Choi Kang Gook played by Jo Jae-hyeon.
Kim Min-jeong plays Nam Hye Seok, an elite who graduates as top at her medical school. She is an absolute fundamentalist who starts to show her h... |More
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| TV Actor Kim Moo-saeng Dies at 62 (Source) |
2005/04/17 |
Actor Kim Moo-saeng died of pneumonia at the age of 62 on Saturday.
After studying at Dongguk University in Seoul, Kim debuted as a voice actor for Tongyang Broadcasting Company (TBC), which became KBS in 1963. Since his television acting debut in 1969, Kim had been featured in more than 100 films, soap operas and dramas, including "Wedding Dress", "Trap of Youth", "Lee Je-ma", and most recently, "Save the Last Dance for Me", which ended on Jan. 2.
Kim suffered from lung disease for the past two years and was in a coma for over a month.
Kim is survived by his wife, Kim Ui-sook, and two sons, Ju-hyeon and Ju-hyeok. His second son Ju-hyeok is also a popular film and television actor. He starred in "Mr. Hong" and "Singles" and appeared in a television commercial with his father last year. ... |More
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| Korean Wave 101 (Source) |
2005/03/11 |
Test your knowledge of Korean popular culture
March 11, 2005 ㅡ As few who live in Korea could have avoided hearing during the past year or so, there's a "Korean wave" out there. Korea's popular culture, from movies to pop music to fashion, has become fashionable in many Asian countries ― particularly Japan, where Korean actor Bae Yong-joon, affectionately known there as "Yonsama", was last year's hottest celebrity.
The hanryu ("Korean wave") phenomenon has even become a field of academic study. This fall, Chung-Ang University plans to launch a graduate program in hanryu studies, examining Korean culture in the context of other cultures in East Asia. The program will cover both popular culture and the serious arts, including music, theater, food, fashion and film.
If hanryu is now an academic discipline, then educated, socially aware residents of Korea (such as the Joong-Ang Daily's readers) will want to make sure they're familiar with the basics. To that end, here's a... |More
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