“Bae Yong-jun, Choi Ji-woo Visited Japan”

Korean Wave star Bae Yong-jun has visited Japan, where he was welcomed by some 2000 fans. His visit comes more than a year after his last visit to the country.

Bae left for Japan on September 27 on a special Korean Air jet, which was rented for him. The actor arrived at Narita Airport at 3:20 p.m. He and actress Choi Ji-woo will attend a promotional event for the animation version of “Winter Sonata” at the Tokyo Dome.

Bae previously visited Japan in June last year to promote the epic drama “Legend.” It is his first visit to Japan alongside actress Choi Ji-woo, who played opposite him in the TV drama “Winter Sonata.”

Korean Air offered a special jet for the two stars. Some 2000 fans greeted Bae and Choi at Narita Airport. Bae’s fans kept asking him about his health, as the actor was recently diagnosed with septicemia. Bae responded with a smile and waved his hand. Walking among the crowd of fans, he said briefly that he was fine. Bae’s agency, BOF, said the two actors didn’t pause to greet their fans because of security concerns.

Bae, Choi and Ryu Seung-soo will attend the “Winter Sonata” event on September 29 at the Tokyo Dome. On September 30, Bae will hold an event marking the publishing of his book on the beauty of Korea. He will stay in Japan until October 2.
 Source: KBS

“Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo to Be in Japan”

Two stars of “Winter Sonata,” Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, will be in Japan together this fall. The first-generation hallyu stars will be in the Tokyo Dome to promote “Winter Sonata – Another Story,” a 26-part animation show dubbed with their voices. This is the first time that Bae and Choi will participate in the same event since their drama was broadcast in 2002.

On the following day Bae will also hold a promotional event for his book tentatively titled “The Beauty of Korea.” His representative said that as many as 90 thousand Japanese fans are expected to come to the Tokyo Dome to see Bae over the two-day event. Also the events will be telecast live via satellite feed to local theaters, so those who will not be able to attend the Tokyo Dome events can still see Bae on screen.

Source: KBS

credits: gebens2001.wordpress.com

“Celebrity couples with older women and younger men”

Top Korean actress Choi Ji-woo, 34, has also recently disclosed her relationship with her younger boyfriend, Lee Jin-wook, 28, who acted opposite her in a TV drama two years ago. She made headlines not only in Korea but in Japan as well, where she enjoys enormous popularity. The “older women with younger men trend” has been popular for quite a while now. Actress Chae Si-ra, 41, who is married to singer Kim Tae-wook, 40, as well as comedian Park Kyung-rim, 30, and her younger husband, Park Jung-hoon, 29, are just a few examples.

However, couples’ age differences have been on the rise recently, reaching as many as 5-6 years. Some couples have an age difference of 10 years. Actress Choi Jung-won, 28, made headlines because of rumors that she was dating actor Baek Sung-hyun, who is eight years her junior. Actress Kim Seon-ah, 34, also drew attention when rumors spread that she was dating singer Lee Seung-ki, 22, when the two appeared in a TV commercial for a beer brand. Though the rumor turned out to be groundless, the two received great attention for making a perfect couple despite their 12-year age difference. Rumors about Choi Jung-won and Baek Sung-hyun and Kim Seon-ah and Lee Seung-ki acted as a “noise marketing” tool, because they were spread when these couples appeared in the same productions, and contributed greatly to promoting the productions. It is also further proof that news about older women dating younger men is no longer surprising these days.

The popularity of younger men among older women and vice versa is also a result of changing public perception. As women’s social status keeps improving, nobody is surprised these days to see women dating younger men. The social stereotype that men must date younger women is also gradually losing ground. That also explains why many couples with younger men and older women are unabashed about their relationships.

Source: KBS

“Choi Ji-woo Explains Dating Rumors in Japan”

Actress Choi Ji-woo’s visit to Japan has drawn great attention from the media there, amid rumors that she has fallen in love. Japanese sports dailies and broadcasters on Thursday gave intensive coverage of the Korean actress–who arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Wednesday for a three-day visit until Saturday–and her relationship with actor Lee Jin-wook.

Choi was welcomed by some 150 fans waiting at the airport, despite a snowstorm, who gave her a bouquet of flowers. “I am very happy to visit Japan again. I have wanted to meet you again,” she told them. But when reporters, noticing a ring on her right hand, asked her if she plans to marry, she just smiled and hurried to leave the airport.

The actress went to Japan to promote her latest SBS drama “Celebrity Sweetheart,” which is scheduled to be aired on the satellite channel Wow Wow TV from May 1.

Attending a premiere for the movie at Tokyo’s Yebisu Garden Hall on Thursday afternoon, Choi was bombarded with questions about her relationship with Lee. “We have good feelings toward each other, but that is all for now,” she answered. “I can tell you one thing for sure — that I have never yet thought about getting married.”

Source: KBS

“Choi Ji-woo strikes out on her own”

Choi Ji-woo is flying solo, leaving her management behind to establish her own company.

The glam (and melodrama) queen has ended her contract with Olive Nine, and even before its expiration (on March 1), Choi been approached with many management offers from other large companies. Ultimately, Choi decided to assert her independence and is busily working to set up her own company in hopes to be ready by early April — hiring staff, renting an office.

(The timing seems ill-planned — she knew her contract was ending, and only now starts setting up an office? I smell fishiness… or maybe I’ve seen too many dramas. This one seems right out of her latest, A Star’s Lover.)

A representative from Olive Nine says that despite Choi leaving the company (they’ve ended the contract “cleanly, and promised to keep on good terms”), they will continue to have a relationship of “strategic cooperation.” For instance, she is still conferring with them about a few projects in development.

Other stars who have gone independent include Choi’s Winter Sonata co-stars Bae Yong-joon and Park Yong-ha, as well as her Everybody Has Secrets co-star Lee Byung-heon. (Lee Byung-heon’s BH Entertainment reps Han Chae-young; Rain’s J Tune reps Lee Da-hae and Yeon Jung-hoon; Yonsama’s BOF reps Choi Kang-hee and So Ji-sub, although the latter is ending his contract in April.)

Via Hankook Ilbo

“45th Baeksang Arts Awards”

The 45th Baeksang Arts Awards is here! This time round the award ceremony will be held on the 27th of February at Seoul Olympic Park. With the event getting near in slightly more than a month’s time, the committee has released the nominees list yesterday.

For the TV Drama section, we have Kim Myung Min, Song Seung Hun, Lee Joon Ki, Park Yong Ha and Song Il Gook vying for the top excellence actor award and Kim Hye  Ja, Moon Geun Young, Kim Ji Soo, Han Ye Seul and Han Ji Hye competing for the top excellence actress award. Nothing really surprising here. All the Daesang winners from the respective TV stations are gathered here.

For the movie section, the fight for Best Actor will be among Ha Jung Woo, Kim Joo Hyuk, Song Kang Ho, Joo Jin Mo and Sol Kyung Gu while Best Actress will be chosen among Kong Hyo Jin, Kim Hae Sook, Son Ye Jin, Kim Min Sun and Soo Ae.

Scroll down for the Nominees list.

TV Drama Section

Best Drama

Angry Mom (KBS), Beethoven Virus (MBC), Last Scandal (MBC), The Painter of the Wind (SBS), On Air (SBS)

Best Educational Program

Human and Wetland (KBS1), I Want to Know “Dokdo’s Choice” (SBS), The Tear of North Pole (MBC),  The Secrets of Pythagoras Theorem (EBS),  Dinosaurs of the Korean Peninsula (EBS)

Best Variety Show

Happy Sunday (KBS), Gag Concert (KBS), Good Sunday (SBS), We Got Married (MBC), Golden Fishery (MBC)

Best Producer

Lee Jae Kyu (Beethoven Virus, MBC), Jung Young (Angry Mom, KBS), Shin Woo Chul (On Air, SBS), Lee Tae Gon (Last Scandal, MBC), Choi Jong Soo (Gourmet, SBS)

Best Newcomer Producer

Boo Sung Chul (Star’s Lovers, SBS), Kim Do Hoon (Spotlight, MBC), Jeon Chang Geun (My Precious Child, KBS), Son Hyung Suk (When It’s At Night, MBC), Kim Kyung Hee (Life Special Investigation Team, MBC)

Best Screenplay

Hong Jin Ah – Hong Ja Ram (Beethoven Virus, MBC), Moon Hee Jung (Last Scandal, MBC), Kim Eun Sook (On Air, SBS), Yoo Hyun Mi (The Scale of Providence), Kim Soo Hyun (Angry Mom, KBS)

Top Excellence Actor

Kim Myung Min (Beethoven Virus, MBC), Song Seung Hun (East of Eden, MBC), Lee Joon Ki (Iljimae, SBS), Park Yong Ha (On Air, SBS), Song Il Gook (The Kingdom of the Winds, KBS)

Top Excellence Actress

Kim Hye Ja (Angry Mom, KBS), Moon Geun Young (The Painter of the Wind, SBS), Kim Ji Soo (Women of the Sun, KBS), Han Ye Seul (Tazza, SBS), Han Ji Hye (East of Eden, MBC)

Best Newcomer Actor

Uhm Ki Joon (The World They Live In, KBS), Lee Sang Woo (First Wives Club, SBS), Kim Bum (East of Eden, MBC), Lee Min Ho (Boys Before Flowers,, KBS), Jung Gyu Woon (Women of the Sun, KBS)

Best Newcomer Actress

Im Yoon Ah (You Are My Destiny, KBS), Hong Ah Reum (My Precious Child, KBS), Lee Yeon Hee (East of Eden, MBC), Moon Chae Won (The Painter of the Wind, SBS), Han Ye Won (On Air, SBS)

Best Male TV Entertainer

Lee Soo Geun (Happy Sunday – One Night Two Day, KBS), Kim Byung Man (Gag Concert, KBS), Yoon Jong Shin (Good Sunday, SBS), Hwang Hyun Hee (Gag Concert, KBS), Yoo Shi Yoon (Golden Fishery, MBC)

Best Female TV Entertainer

Park Mi Sun (Sunday Sunday Night, MBC), Shin Bong Sun (Happy Together – Season 3, KBS), Song Eun Yi (Good Sunday, SBS), Park Ji Sun (Gag Concert, KBS), Seo In Young (We Got Married, MBC)

Popularity Award (Male)

Kim Rae Won (Gourmet, SBS), Kim Myung Min (Beethoven Virus, MBC), Kim Bum (East of Eden, MBC), Kim Joo Hyuk (Terroir, SBS), Kim Hyun Joong (Boys Before Flowers, KBS), Park Yong Ha (On Air, SBS), Song Seung Hun (East of Eden, MBC), Song Il Gook (The Kingdom of the Winds, KBS), Eric Mun (Strongest Chil Woo, KBS), Lee Dong Gun (When It’s At Night, MBC), Lee Dong Wook (My Sweet Seoul, MBC), Lee Min Ho (Boys Before Flowers, KBS), Lee Bum Soo (On Air, SBS), Lee Joon Ki (Iljimae, SBS), Jang Geun Suk (Beethoven Virus, MBC), Jang Hyuk (Tazza, SBS), Jung Joon Ho (Last Scandal, MBC), Cha Tae Hyun (General Hospital 2, MBC), Han Jae Suk (Women of the Sun, KBS), Hyun Bin (The World They Live In, KBS)

Popularity Award (Female)

Kim Min Hee (Love Marriage, KBS), Kim Sun Ah (When It’s At Night, MBC), Kim So Yeon (Gourmet, SBS), Kim Jung Eun (General Hospital 2, MBC), Kim Ji Soo (Women of the Sun, KBS), Kim Ha Neul (On Air, SBS), Nam Sang Mi (Gourmet, SBS), Moon Geun Young (The Painter of the Wind, SBS), Son Ye Jin (Spotlight, MBC), Song Hye Kyo (The World They Live In, KBS), Im Yoon Ah (You Are My Destiny, KBS), Lee Yeon Hee (East of Eden, MBC), Lee Young Ah (Iljimae, SBS), Lee Ji Ah (Beethoven Virus, MBC), Choi Kang Hee (My Sweet Seoul, MBC), Choi Ji Woo (Star’s Lover, SBS), Han Ye Seul (Tazza, SBS), Han Ji Hye (East of Eden, MBC), Han Hye Jin (Terroir, SBS), Han Hyo Joo (Iljimae, SBS)

Movie Section

Best Movie

Celebrate Our Love, Movie is Movie, The Good The Bad The Weird, Speed Scandal, Frozen Flower

Best Director

Kim Ji Woon (The Good The Bad The Weird), Lee Yoon Ki (My Dear Enemy), Kim Yoo Jin (Divine Weapon), Kang Woo Seok (Public Enemy 1-1), Lee Joon Ik (Sunny)

Top Excellence Actor

Ha Jung Woo (My Dear Enemy), Kim Joo Hyuk (My Wife Got Married), Song Kang Ho (The Good The Bad The Weird), Joo Jin Mo (Frozen Flower), Sol Kyung Gu (Public Enemy 1-1)

Top Excellence Actress

Kong Hyo Jin (Miss Carrot), Kim Hae Sook (Celebrate Our Love), Son Ye Jin (My Wife Got Married), Kim Min Sun (Portrait of a Beauty), Soo Ae (Someone Dear is Far Away)

Best Newcomer Actor

Cha Seung Woo (Go Go 70), Kang Ji Hwan (Movie is Movie), Song Chang Ui (Boys Don’t Cry), Joo Ji Hoon (Antique Bakery), So Ji Sub (Movie is Movie)

Best Newcomer Actress

Seo Woo (Miss Carrot), Park Bo Young (Speed Scandal), Hwang Woo Seul Hye (Miss Carrot), Kim Ok Bin (Disturbance in Her Bar Room), Yoon Jung Hee (Gosa)

Best Screenplay

Jang Jin  (Public Enemy 1-1), Kim Ki Duk (Movie is Movie), Park Yoon (Celebrate Our Love), Shin Dong Il – Kim Young Nam (My Friend, My Wife), Kang Hyung Chul (Speed Scandal)

Kang Ji Hwan (Movie is Movie), Kim Joo Hyuk (My Wife Got Married), Park Hae Il (Modern Boy), Sol Kyung Gu (Public Enemy 1-1), So Ji Sub (Movie is Movie), Song Kang Ho (The Good The Bad The Weird), Yoo Ji Tae (Pure Comic Strip), Yoon Kye Sang (Beastie Boys), Lee Bum Soo (Gosa), Lee Byung Hun (The Good The Bad The Weird), Jang Geun Suk (Baby and Me), Jung Woo Sung (The Good The Bad The Weird), Jung Jae Young (Public Enemy 1-1), Jung Joon Ho (City of Regret), Jo In Sung (Frozen Flower), Joo Ji Hoon (Antique Bakery), Joo Jin Mo (Frozen Flower), Cha Seung Won (Tooth and Nail), Cha Tae Hyun (Speed Scandal), Ha Jung Woo (My Dear Enemy)

Popularity Award (Female)

Kong Hyo Jin (Miss Carrot), Kim Min Sun (Portrait of a Beauty), Kim Hye Soo (Modern Boy), Nam Gyu Ri (Gosa), Park Bo Young (Speed Scandal), Park Shi Yeon (Damchimawa Lee), Park Jin Hee (Sweet Lies), Seo Woo (Miss Carrot), Son Ye Jin (My Wife Got Married), Song Ji Hyo (Frozen Flower), Soo Ae (Someone Dear is Far Away), Shin Min Ah (Go Go 70), Eugene (Romantic Island), Yoon Jung Hee (Gosa), Yoon Jin Seo (Beastie Boys), Lee Soo Kyung (Romantic Island), Lee Yeon Hee (Pure Comic Strip), Jeon Do Yeon (My Dear Enemy), Chae Jung Ahn (Pure Comic Strip), Han Eun Jung (Divine Weapon)

Source: ISPLUS

“Two Korean Hit Dramas will be produced as films”

The Korean drama Winter Sonata, which helped spur the popularity of Korean pop culture in Asia, the phenomenon known as Hallyu, will be made into a movie, along with another hit drama, Autumn in My Heart.Korean production company Culture Cap Media, which currently holds film rights to the hit TV drama, said it sealed a deal with investment management company Kara & Rich Holdings Korea and Japanese film development and finance company Entertainment Farm to produce a film based on mega hit TV drama series Winter Sonata.

Source: Dynamic_Korea

Culture Cap Media will handle the production process, while Entertainment Farm will be involved as an investor.

The casting for leading roles has not been decided, but Culture Cap Media says the two stars of Winter Sonata, Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, will not be participating in the movie adaptation and new faces will be chosen to add a fresh new feel to the film.

After production is complete, the involved companies will start producing Autumn in My Heart as well.

Winter Sonata and Autumn in my heart have drawn a large audience in East Asian countries, including Japan.

Song Seung-heon and Song Hye-gyo, who played the leading roles in Autumn in My Heart, and Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, the two stars of Winter Sonata, have also been very popular across Asia.