Sin Seong-rok (신성록)

The "syndrome of younger man" has become popular again, and this time it comes from actor Sin Seong-rok's popularity (28).

Sin Seong-rok is gaining popularity in SBS TV's weekend drama "Definitely Neighbors" by playing an attractive and charismatic young chef named Gun Hee,who loves divorced older woman Ji Young (Yoo Ho-jeong).

He has already become a star actor in musical performances, but he could not distinguish himself in TV dramas, but he finally attracted female viewers' eyes and became the most attractive man by appearing in the drama "Definitely Neighbors"...More

Cast and crew of musical "Monte Cristo" pose during a photo session of a press conference on April 21, 2010. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Musical "Monte Cristo"

Cast Ryu Jung-hanㆍEom Gi-joonㆍSin Seong-rok (role of Edmond/Monte Cristo), Ock Ju-hyunㆍCha Ji-yeon (role of Mercedes), Choi Min-cheolㆍCho Hwee (role of Mondego), Jang Dae-woong (role of prosecutor Villefort), Jo Won-heeㆍLee Yong-geun (role of priest Faria), Kim Seung-daeㆍJeon Dong-suck (role of Albert)
In one line Kind-hearted sailor Edmond, who knew about nothing else but the sea, is born as a new man who seeks revenge after a friend and prosecutor who get him jailed for 14 years.
Run April 21 to June 13, 2010 at the Universal Arts Center...More

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

The musical"The Count of Monte Cristo", the newest work from world-renowned composer Frank Wildhorn, will be staged in Korea for the first time with a star-studded cast. Celebrated musical stars Ryu Jung-han, Sin Seong-rok, Eom Gi-joon, and Cha Ji-yeon, as well as singer-turned-actress Ock Ju-hyun, will perform in the Korean rendition.

The musical is based on the novel of the same title written by Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870). T...More

Actor Sin Seong-rok and Choi Yeo-jin are in a relationship!

The two have through a casual meeting with friends and have become lovers as their friendship grew. They have been on a double date in public.

The two are a fantastic  couple to look at because both are in great physique and both are in the acting field.

Congratulations!...More

Japanese Tourists Flock to Musical Theaters

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

The Japanese yen's surge against the Korean won is driving a welcome resurgence in Japanese spending here, helping the Korean tourism industry.

The strong yen not only contributes to local tourism but also the musical industry, as tourists choose local musical performances as part of their tours to Korea.

Foreign audiences, especially Japanese visitors, have already attended non-verbal performances here. But it's a new phenomenon for Japanese viewers to see musicals in the native tongue.

It seems to be part of the hallyu effect, in which various Korean heartthrobs who have appeared in television dramas airing in Japan are taking to the stage.

Yamada Akiko, 42, has seen "My Scary Girl", starring Sin Seong-rok, three times. "I'm a big fan of Sin Seong-rok. I've seen his musicals many times", she told The Korea Times.

Yamada said the first time she saw Sin was in his TV drama "Hyena" in Japan. "He's the most handsome man I've seen. I heard that he is a musical star and I tried to come here to see 'Hamlet' and then `Siryeonnamnyeo' (Broken Lover). I was very close to the actors in the small theater", she said.

Yamada said that although she began seeing the Korean musicals because of Shin, she's now a big fan of other Korean musicals as well.

"The level of Korean musicals is very high compared to that of Japan", she said. She's seen musicals such as "Finding Kim Jong-wook", "Thrill Me", "Jekyll and Hyde" and recently, "Zanna, Don't".

While seeing the local musicals, she discovered Hong Kwang-ho, who performed in "Jekyll and Hyde". "Hong Kwang-ho's dancing and singing is very good, I think. I like him, too", she said.

But how can she understand the Korean lyrics and songs? "Before I saw the musi...More