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Asia's sweethearts meet fans up close

BUSAN - There is no question that people go to film festivals to see films, but that's not all. They are also drawn to their favorite film stars just like iron to magnet.

Last Friday must have been a very special day for those male fans of Asian films coming to enjoy the 10th Pusan International Film Festival: Two of the most beautiful actresses in Asia met their fans up close, to promote each of their films.

Korean television/film star Kim Hee-sun and Taiwanese actress/singer Vivian Hsu are widely considered the two hottest Asian actresses whose pretty faces and sweet demeanors have even stirred controversy among local Web users about who is the most beautiful.

Kim, who co-starred with Hong Kong action film star Jackie Chan in the action adventure "The Myth", showed up at Capri Room at Paradise Busan hotel with Jackie Chan and the film's director Stanley Tong for the press event.

"I've learned much about acting, working with a terrific director and world renowned actors", Kim said, smiling. "Personally, I think I've learned what love is through the film".

Also invited to this year's Toronto and Cannes International Film Festival, "The Myth" is a fantasy action film, in which Jackie Chan plays two different roles: modern archeologist Jack and Meng Yi, a Qin Dynasty general. Kim plays Ok Soo, the emperor's beautiful consort, with whom the general falls in love.

"I had to act in a hot studio, wearing heavy traditional costumes one moment, and spend a few hours in an ice reservoir the next. I even felt my tears freeze", Kim continued. "But more than that, I've found it is still challenging to convey my emotions through the Chinese language".

As she always is, Kim was sweet throughout the event. However, Chan, after spending a good deal of time with Kim, seemed to have realized that she is a very different person from what is generally known about her.

"I guess her beauty is deceiving everyone. You may think that Hee-sun is like a princess all the time, but she is more like pretty boy in real life", Chan commented. "She is really good at crying scenes. There must be a switch somewhere in her body to do that".

About the film festival, Kim said that she is very proud of its success. "I hope that I will not miss a single festival from this year". Kim said.

Hsu, the heroine of Taiwanese director Robin Lee's first feature film "The Shoe Fairy" greeted some 500 fans at the special outdoor stage in Nampo-dong, the same afternoon. "I'm studying Korean language to be in Korean films someday", Hsu told The Korea Herald.

Introducing herself as a huge fan of Korean pop idol Rain, she sang a few measures of his song "I do", which made her fans even more excited. "I've seen many Korean films including "Oldboy" and 'My Sassy Girl.' Among them my favorite is 'Going Home' - "The Way Home" which touched me so much with its simple storyline", continued the Taiwanese superstar who is also popular in Japan.

"The Shoe Fairy" is a fairytale love drama about a young girl who is unable to walk and wishes to trade her voice for a pair of legs. Ultimately, she meets her prince charming and defies the curse of the shoe fairy.

On her first visit to the film festival, Hsu said that she had not expected herself to be this popular in Korea. "I hope that Taiwanese cultural content will become as popular in Korea as Korean content is in Taiwan", Hsu said.

By Lee Yong-sung

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