Stairway to Heaven (Drama - 2003) - 천국의 계단 (Cheon-gook-eui gye-dan)

2008/05/07 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

"Hallyu" seems to be on the wane. It is ebbing in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, where the fascination with Korean TV dramas, pop music and films known as the Korean Wave, peaked in the last few years.

However, the Korean Wave is still flourishing in Mongolia. Several Korean TV dramas are broadcast every day at prime time. The number of people learning the Korean language is increasing remarkably, with many Mongolians rushing to Korea in search of the "Korean Dream".

"Jewel in the Palace" ("Dae Jang Geum") has been a big hit. The drama has fascinated Mongolians so much that it has been aired five times here. Other dramas such as "Autumn in My Heart" "Winter Sonata" and "Stairway to Heaven" have also been popular. These dramas have kept Mongolian viewers glued to their screens and have become daily topics of conversation.

Korean pop singers have been also immensely famous in the country. Songs by "Rain", Big Bang, Shinhwa, BoA and Jang Nara all top the charts and keep young ...

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2008/05/05 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Following the introduction of three local dramas last year, everything about Korea from pop music to motor vehicles are taking off in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos.
Shin Haejoo has more on the latest nation to be struck by the "Korean Wave" of culture.
In the southeast Asian country Laos, just about anything made in Korea seems to catch on.
Interest in Korea started with the launching of three Korean hit drama series in Laos last November as part of the Korea Broadcasting Commission's project to increase Korean presence in the region.
The shows that aired are two historic TV dramas",Hwangjin-i", which tells the true story of a legendary Korean entertainer during the Joseon Dynasty, and "Dae Jang Geum", which is a fictional twist on the first female royal physician of the Joseon Dynasty.
The last one is a modern story "Stairway to Heaven" with a plot that resembles the old Cinderella tale.
Active ties between the two country's broadcasting systems began last year with the sig...

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2008/05/01 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

In timeless stories, the evil characters are as famous as the main characters that they bother. But the stronger and more evil the character is, it is a bigger harm to the image of an actor.

This is why famous actors didn't take on evil roles, and new or unknown actors who wanted to leave a lasting impression took on these roles.

The actress who has received the most recognition for her evil role is Song Yoon-ah. In "Mister Q", she bothered Kim Hee-seon, the female lead, for Kim Min-jong. Viewers remembered her for her evil role, but now, she is receiving lots of love for her great acting in various roles.

Kim Tae-hee, a top star today, also rose with an evil role. She would stare at Choi Ji-woo with piercing eyes in SBS "Stairway to Heaven". Then, she changed her image through dramas "Forbidden Love", "Love Story in Harvard", and movie "The Restless".

Lee Bo-yeong, who has an innocent image, received popularity for her execution of an evil role. She left a lasting impressi...

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2008/04/24 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

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...

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I am in LOVE with Korean Dramas!!!!!!! fighting 2008-04-25 20:47:50

2008/03/20 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

In the star-studded gangster film "Fate", friends become foes and "pretty" actors get rough. Actor-turned-director Kim Hae-gon casts hallyu TV stars Kwon Sang-woo ("Stairway to Heaven") and Song Seung-heon ("Autumn in my Heart") and other familiar faces to play unfamiliar roles.

"Fate" is a quintessential commercial flick that feeds on star power, provocative action and melodrama. While weak storytelling and exhausting running time wane the fun, the actors' engaging performances fill in the missing links.

In the dark criminal world of Seoul, U-min (Song), Cheol-jung (Kwon), Do-wan (Kim In-kwon) and Yeong-hwan (Ji Seong) are close friends in a gang. One day, with the help of an older member Gang-seop (Ahn Nae-seong), U-min, Cheol-jung and Do-wan attack the gang's casino so they can start new lives. But their plan goes awry when Cheol-jung betrays them, and U-min goes to prison. He becomes the scapegoat to save his friends' lives.

After serving...

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