By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Do celebrities come from a special family, where all of their siblings are talented as well? Fans who wonder have had the chance to get a glimpse of some celebrities' family members through various programs. More are coming soon.
MBC's program "Introducing Stars' Friends" was one of the most popular shows last year and it has now become the stage for friends and family members of celebrities who also have what it takes to be a star.
To start with, TVXQ member Xiah Jun-su brought his twin brother Kim Jun-ho to the program last November. Many fans were surprised to see the talented and handsome brother, which led him to a commercial for a beverage company.
Kim later said that he has been thinking about making his debut as an actor, and that appearing on the program helped him gain confidence.
Singer
Solbi and Super Junior's Lee Teuk also surprised fans by bringing each of their sisters to the television screen early this year, also shocking fans with their similar looks and charms.
Actress
Lee Ha-ni, who appears in the SBS drama
"Terroir", is known to be the sister of KBS announcer Lee Seung-yeon-II, while singer Jeon Bo-ram, who released her first single last year, is the daughter of veteran singer Jeon Young-rok.
Kang Soo-jung, a former KBS announcer and now television hostess, has a fellow announcer brother Kang Dong-won-I at OBS. They recently appeared on a show together after fans found out they were siblings.
Hallyu star
Jang Nara's cousin Jeong Jae-yeon also made her debut as a singer and actor in China, attracting fans from around the country.
Bringing family members is actually nothing new. Veteran actors like
Choi Min-soo and
Lee Deok-hwa followed in their movie star fathers' footsteps, while young stars like 12-year-old Kim Dong-hyeon-II appeared separately or with his father, television host
Kim Goo-ra. According to program staff, interest in stars has further expanded into their families, and they will be seeing more in the near future.
"Fans want to know everything about their favorite celebrities. It's only natural that they are interested in their families. Family members bring the ratings up for networks, and they also have the chance to become popular stars themselves, so it's like killing two birds with one stone", an SBS producer said.
