Star in my Heart (Drama - 1997)

Choi Jin-sil leaves behind tragic legacy

Source | 2008/10/02 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The nation was thrown into an unprecedented shock yesterday upon the news of the death of Choi Jin-sil, Korea's iconic actress and people's sweetheart.

Choi, who took her own life at the age of 40, was one of the most loved actresses to date, having starred in numerous hit TV series and movies. She was praised for her never-aging looks and flawless acting skills.

But her hard-won glitz and fame was also overshadowed by scandals, such as an ugly divorce in 2004. Her tragic death came after being involved in a rumor surrounding the death of actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who also committed suicide last month.

Raised by a single mother in a down-and-out household, Choi first entered the entertainment business in late 1980s through her younger brother Choi Jin-yeong, 39, who was a model at the time. Upon her first role in a periodic MBC TV drama series in 1988, Choi was quickly noticed and rapidly rose to stardom.

One of her biggest hits was a television commercial for Samsung Electronics...| More

From Ad Star to Celeb-Mom

Source | 2008/10/02 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

The late actress Choi Jin-sil, 40, was a quintessential star whose girl-next-door image had once elevated her to Korean sweetheart status.

Born Dec. 24, 1968, she came into the spotlight in the late 1980s. She got her television break in 1988 by appearing in the drama "The Joseon Kingdom; 500 Years". With her famed image, Choi also reigned as the "queen of commercials" through most of the 1980s. The famous quip in an ad ― delivered with a trademark smile ― "Men, they all depend on how women fashion them" is remembered as one of the most famous moments in the actress's career.

Her major break came with the television drama "Jealousy" (1992), in which she starred with fellow actor Choi Soo-jong. They are still considered one of the most memorable screen couples in Korean drama history.

"Jealousy" provided a platform for her career, guiding her on her way to becoming one of Korea's sweethearts; or the top Korean sweetheart. She went...| More

Park calls for a more cosmopolitan hallyu

Source | 2008/09/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Everything that has a beginning has an end, and hallyu, or the Korean wave, is no exception, according to singer-songwriter Park Jin-young.

"The wave has lost its heat", Park said at an open lecture at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts last Wednesday to celebrate Korea's 60th anniversary.

But no worries, Park assured us, it's natural that Korean pop culture, such as music, films and television dramas, should lose some ground.

Though pop culture can transcend language barriers, "it faces limits over time".

Korean entertainment has been big business throughout Asia since the late 1990s when the MBC television drama "Star in My Heart" was dubbed and aired in China.

Ahn Jae-wook and Choi Jin-sil, who played the main characters, were swamped by Chinese fans.

And H.O.T., a teen pop group, struck gold when they held a concert in Beijing in 2000.

The Chinese media has used the term hallyu ever since, and the Korean wave also engulfed Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and Vie...| More

Automakers try to make stars of their cars

Source | 2008/07/08 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Competition is heating among carmakers to get their products placed on TV.

Am I the only one who has asked the following questions while watching TV dramas? Why do all the main characters drive different models of BMW? Why do mothers and daughters drive Peugeots that are different only in color? How could the lead character, who's supposed to be barely making ends meet, possibly afford a Volvo?

The secret behind the dominance of one brand of vehicle on any particular program is product placement, whereby marketers hook productions up with cars and sometimes cash to get exposure for their products.

"Cars are one of the few commercial products that can be naturally exposed in the everyday life of drama characters. Vehicles with impressive or unfamiliar designs instantly catch the eyes of viewers and can easily become objects of desire for some", said Choi Min-soo, a spokesman with Renault Samsung Motor.

Product placement, however, does not necessarily spur sales, he said. "W...| More

Analysis made by the Japanese media, "Who will the next generation of the Korean-Waves stars?"

Source | 2008/01/31 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Who will be the next generation of the Korean-Waves stars?

Recently, 'Yon-sama' Bae Yong-joon's "The Legend" is expecting revive the glory of the Korean-Waves once again, which seemed to gradually cool down last few years. In addition, the expectation for the new generation of the Korean-Waves stars is increasing.

On 5th, the Sankei newspaper reported that "Hyeon Bin, Joo Ji-hoon and Sin Dong-wook had been making frequent visits to Japan. It is interesting to see which of these stars will maintain their popularity as a Korean-Wave star in 10 years time".

The newspaper said, "The first Korean actor to gain such a huge popularity among the Asian countries is Ahn Jae-wook from "Star in my Heart" in 1997". It also introduced various dramas starred by Bae Yong-joon, Jang Dong-gun and Lee Byeong-Heon, who are the leaders of the Korean Waves at the moment.

It mentioned the extended effect of the Korean-Waves phenomenon that "As the Korean dramas started to gain such rapid popula...| More