The Legend (Drama - 2007)

Lee Byeong-heon's Acting Fee Dwarfs Industry Guideline

Source | 2009/11/12 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Controversy is building over news that actor Lee Byeong-heon is being paid W100 million per episode for appearing in the KBS drama "Iris" (US$1=W1,158).

A newspaper reported on Wednesday that Lee was guaranteed at least W100 million for each episode of the spy thriller, considering a W25 million per episode performance fee and a W1.5 billion advance. The figure is well above the W15 million per episode guideline set by the Corea Drama Production Association (CODA), and the third highest in the industry history.

The record is a whopping W250 million per episode paid to actor Bae Yong-joon for the MBC drama "The Legend" (The Four Guardian Gods of the King), followed by W100 million per episode promised to Park Shin-yang for four extra episodes of "War of Money".

"In Lee's case the amount includes a combination of things, such as proceeds from sales of domestic and overseas broadcast rights, so it's not clear that his fee exceeds the guideline", said CODA head Shin Hyun-taik.

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Lee's High Salary

Source | 2009/11/12 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Actor Lee Byeong-heon is being paid 100 million won ($US100,000) per episode for his starring role in "Iris", a smash-hit drama now being broadcast on KBS2-TV.

Lee, a hallyu (Korean wave) star who is playing the role of Kim Hyun-jun, an intelligence agent, was guaranteed 25 million won per episode plus a 1.5 billion won guaranty in recognition of his contribution to attracting investment from a Japanese broadcaster to produce the 20-episode drama.

The 100-million-won performance fee was the third highest in the country's drama history. Bae Yong-joon, another hallyu star, topped the list of drama fees with 250 million won per episode for his appearance in the MBC drama "The Legend" in 2007. Park Shin-yang came in second.

An association of drama producers has a rule to keep an actor's performance fee per episode below 15 million won. However, the association said it had no problem with Lee's high performance fee because it involves an overseas copyright.

Meanwhile, Kim Tae-he...| More

Thai Film Will Feature Korean Tour Sites

Source | 2009/08/10 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

A Thai film will be shot in Korea for the first time, the Korea Tourism Organization announced Monday.

The romantic comedy titled "As It Happens" is about a series of chance encounters and blooming romance between a travel agency executive and young woman traveling around the world.

The movie is said to be attracting much attention in Thailand for its star cast. Popular singer-actress Nattaweeranuj Thong Mee, who was introduced here through the Thai horror film "Shutter", will play the role of the heroine, while MC, professor and actor Navin Yaowapolkul will assume the lead male role.

"As It Happens" is slated for release in November and December this year across some 40 theaters. About 10 minutes of the estimated 90-minute running time will be set in Korea.

Filmmakers are scheduled to shoot scenes around Korea Friday through Aug. 17. Sites include Seoul N Tower, the Myeongdong shopping district and Cheonggye Stream in downtown Seoul. Also...| More

Korean Wave star Bae Yong-joon to hold fan meetings in Tokyo

Source | 2009/06/23 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Bae Yong-joon emerged as one of Japan's most sought-after celebrities since his TV drama "Winter Sonata" hit the Japanese airwaves in April 2004.

Bae became one of the first big stars of the Hallyu ("Korean Wave", explosive popularity of Korean pop culture especially in Asia).

"Yonsama", his Japanese nickname, was even chosen as the most popular word in Japan in 2004.

After all these years, the craze for him is still palpable in Japan and come this September he is to meet some approximately 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome, the largest stadium in the city.

On Sept. 29, he will promote an animated version of his megahit TV drama "Winter Sonata" and will hold another fan meeting on Sept. 30 to promote his essay on the beauty of Korea.

The two events will be broadcast live at multiplex cinemas across Japan and about 5,000 fans are expected to watch them live on screen.

"Winter Sonata" heroine Choi Ji-woo, widely known as Jiwoo-hime in Japan, will join Bae for the promotio...| More

Actor Oh Arrested for Smoking Marijuana

Source | 2009/06/12 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Bae Ji-sook

Staff Reporter



Popular actor Oh Kwang-rok, most famous for his role in "Taewangsasingi" ("The Legend")' as a wise man, was arrested Thursday for smoking marijuana, police said Friday. 

According to Namdaemun Police Station, Oh is suspected of having smoked marijuana on several occasions, including once in February at his house in Seoul. He allegedly smoked with the head of an unidentified information-technology company, known as Park, investigators said. 

Police said Park bought the drug from a local dealer and shared it with eight others, including animation film director Kim Moon-saeng. 

Oh has appeared in numerous films including "Seven Days" and "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance"....| More