N.K. issues used only as fictional factor in ‘Doctor Stranger’: Park Hae-jin

Korean actor Park Hae-jin (left) and Chinese model and actor Zhang Liang pose in a press conference for SBS TV show　“Doctor Stranger” in Mok-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. (SBS)Actor Park Hae-jin, a major cast member in SBS show “Doctor Stranger,” said the melodrama portrayed the inter-Korean issue only as a fictional factor and was not intended to convey the actual inter-Korean abduction issue. “The major focus of the drama is in the melodrama (rather than the political message),” said Park, when asked

April 29, 2014

Lee Jong-suk goes on diet for ‘Doctor Stranger’

Actor Lee Jong-suk shed some weight to add to the authenticity of his North Korea scenes, the actor said in a press conference for SBS TV’s “Doctor Stranger” in Mok-dong, Seoul, Tuesday.“I know I am pretty skinny, but I still tried to lose extra weight for the part until my face got all bony,” Lee said. Doctor Stranger is the actor’s first major role in a medical drama.“We tried to pick the costumes that best fit the scenes, rather than (based on) corporate sponsorship,” the actor added. The Mon

TelevisionApril 29, 2014

Lee Jong-suk overwhelmed by Park Hae-jin‘s good looks

Actors Lee Jong-suk (right) and Park Hae-jin of SBS TV show “Doctor Stranger” pose at a press conference held in Mok-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. (SBS Media) Actor Lee Jong-suk said he “felt inferior” to Park Hae-jin, who plays opposite him in SBS TV show “Doctor Stranger,” due to Park’s good looks. “I was awed by Park Hae-jin’s good looks and taste of fashion. … I felt inferior,” Lee said in a press conference for “Doctor Stranger” held in Mok-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. Lee said he hopes to reveal more mas

April 29, 2014

Zhang Liang offers condolence to ferry victims

Chinese model and actor Zhang Liang expressed his condolances to the victims of Sewol disaster, saying he understood what it’s like to lose a loved one.“I offer condolences to the (victims of) the (ferry) disaster in Korea. I feel for them, as I have had the painful experience of losing my father as well,” the Chinese celebrity said at a press conference for SBS TV show “Doctor Stranger” on Tuesday.“I hope to visit Korean often,” Zhang added.Zhang will play the classmate of cold-natured elite su

April 29, 2014

SM Entertainment chief Lee donates W1 billion for ferry disaster

(OSEN)SM Entertainment and its chief donated 1 billion won ($970,000) for victims of the sunken ferry Sewol on Monday, according to Red Cross officials.　The 500 million won was contributed from SM Entertainment CEO Lee Soo-man’s personal assets while the other half was made under the name of the entire company, the officials said.As Lee made the donation, he expressed grief over the disaster as a parent who nurtures trainees and celebrities like his own sons and daughters.“I am grief-stricken as

April 29, 2014

Jun Ji-hyun donates 100 million won to ferry disaster victims

 Famous Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun, also known as Gianna Jun, donated 100 million won for the victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy.The donation has been made under her real name, “Wang Ji-hyun,” to the Korean Red Cross. According to her agency, Jun Ji-hyun was deeply saddened when she heard news about the victims and their families. “I would like to share the pain and sadness of the victims and hope they never lose hope,” she was quoted as saying.Jun is also known for her previous donations made w

April 29, 2014

Pretty Korean boys

　  　Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the girliest of them all?　 　Taemin, 20, member of boyband SHINee　The fresh-faced popster Taemin has gotten the public‘s vote for his dainty looks.　He came out tops in a poll of “Male Idols Prettier Than Women” in a March episode of Super Idol Chart Show, a variety show on Korean TV channel MNet. He beat the likes of BigBang’s G-Dragon (ranked third) and Super Junior‘s Kim Hee-chul (ranked fourth).　It is not hard to see why Taemin is the champion of the pre

April 29, 2014

Jeon Do-yeon named to join competition jury of Cannes

South Korean actress Jeon Do-yeon has been selected among the nine members of the main competition jury for this year's Cannes International Film Festival, the event's organizer said Monday.She became the first Korean to join the Cannes' jury since director Lee Chang-dong was appointed in 2009. No South Korean actor or actress has been chosen among the festival's jury members before. Led by New Zealand director Jane Campion, the winner of the Palme d'or for "The Piano" in 1993, the jury includes

April 29, 2014

Kang Ji-hwan, Jung So-min kick off ‘Big Man’ with ‘fiery kiss’

Actor Kang Ji-hwan and actress Jung So-min kicked off the first episode of KBS2 TV show “Big Man” with a “kiss of fire” on Monday. 　Kang plays protagonist Kim Ji-heok, an orphan who suddenly becomes the elder son of a conglomerate family. 　In the stills released by the broadcaster, the actor is seen kissing Kang Jin-ah (played by Jung So-min), in a backstreet late at night. The actress plays the spoiled daughter of the business family.　Throughout the show, the Kim vies with Kang Dong-seok (playe

April 28, 2014

Choi Daniel hates travelling, loves glasses

　　Actor Choi Daniel said he hated traveling because it requires “bothersome” preparations, such as packing and being bound to flight schedules, the actor told reporters Monday.　“Traveling involves some incredibly bothersome jobs, such as making a list of things that I need, packing them up, making sure I arrive at the airport at least two hours before takeoff, and planning what to do during those two hours,” Choi told reporters at a press conference for KBS2 TV show “Big Man” in Yeouido-dong, Se

April 28, 2014

[Herald Interview] Author chronicles mother’s remarkable journey

In 1961, at age 25, Faye Pinchbeck crossed the Pacific Ocean to be with her beloved, a Korean man 15 years her senior. The American woman from Connecticut met Stephen Moon (Moon Tong-hwan), well-known pastor and social activist, while studying to be a social worker at Hartford Seminary in the U.S., where Moon was working on his doctorial thesis in Christian Education as an international student. After landing in the port of Busan, Faye married Moon in Seoul on a snowy day. So began a remarkable

BooksApril 28, 2014

[Herald Review] KNO’s ‘La Traviata’ brilliantly produced, vividly sung

The Korea National Opera’s latest performance of “La Traviata” on Sunday has raised the local standards of Giuseppe Verdi’s most beloved opera by every measure, with impressive singing and acting by the lead characters, sumptuous sets and sublime music. Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury was convincing as Violetta Valery, the sick Parisian courtesan who finds her true love, Alfredo, just as her life draws to a close. Although her coloratura in the first act wasn’t so impressive, she gave a vivid a

CultureApril 28, 2014

4 U.S. TV shows ordered off Chinese websites

BEIJING (AP) ― Chinese authorities have ordered video streaming websites in the country to stop showing four popular American TV shows, including “The Big Bang Theory” and “The Good Wife,” representatives from two sites said Sunday. The move suggests government attention is intensifying on the online streaming industry, which is freer than state television and China’s cinemas to show foreign productions and other content and has stretched the boundaries of what can be seen in the country. A spok

TelevisionApril 28, 2014

Picasso’s Guernica used as backdrop to dance

MADRID (AFP) ― Pablo Picasso’s antiwar masterpiece “Guernica,” one of the world’s most iconic paintings, on Sunday served as a backdrop to a dance performance for the first time in its 77-year history.About 80 people sat on the floor or stood as Josue Ullate, a bare-chested dancer in black tights, jumped and leapt in front of the large black-and-white canvas at Madrid’s Reina Sofia Museum.The 20-year-old performed “Quiebro,” a piece lasting about five minutes and inspired by a song written by la

PerformanceApril 28, 2014

Rappers to showcase Korean hip-hop in U.S. concert series

Rappers Verbal Jint, Beenzino, Bumkey, Sanchez of Phantom and Kanto will give American fans a taste of Korean hip-hop as they headline the first Asian Music Festival: Korean Hip Hop Series Vol 1., which will hold three concerts across the U.S. next month. The festival will stop at New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, featuring Korean hip-hop artists as well as international DJs Michelle Francheska, DJ Preston and Gank Squad, and rapper Decipher. With the continued international growth of the Asian

April 28, 2014

CJ E&M, Victor Entertainment launch music joint venture

South Korea’s representative music enterprise CJ E&M has launched CJ Victor Entertainment with major Japanese music label Victor Entertainment to boost activities in the broadening Asian music market.The capital of the joint venture to be based in Japan is a total 10 billion won, with CJ E&M holding 51 percent of its equity and Victor Entertainment 49 percent.CJ and Victor will combine their business infrastructures for CJ Victor Entertainment. They will carry out related tasks ranging from arti

April 28, 2014

‘Other Woman’ curbs ‘Captain America’ with $24.7 million

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A femme-fueled comedy beat a superhero blockbuster at the box office last weekend. After holding the top position for three weeks, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” has been topped by “The Other Woman” for the No. 1 spot. Fox’s revenge comedy, starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Kate Upton, debuted with $24.7 million, while Disney-Marvel’s “Captain America,” led by Chris Evans, grossed $16 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its domestic total to $225 million. The P

FilmApril 28, 2014

Choi Daniel regrets shy kiss with Lee Da-hee

　Choi Daniel said Monday he regretted that his kissing scene with actress Lee Da-hee in “Big Man” was not as erotic as he wanted it to be.　Speaking at a press conference in Yeouido-dong, Seoul,the 28-year-old said he wanted the kiss and “the post-kiss eye contact” to be as erotic as that of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”　“We did not have enough time to talk about how we should act out the kissing scene; if we had enough time … we could have had more ‘chewy’ sort of (kissin

April 28, 2014

Actor Kim Soo-hyun joins yellow ribbon campaign

Korean heartthrob actor Kim Soo-hyun has joined the yellow ribbon campaign in support of the passengers of the sunken ferry Sewol. He posted an image of a yellow ribbon on his official website.Beneath the yellow ribbon, he wrote, “I hope all our hearts reach heaven.”The yellow ribbon campaign launched as a symbol of hope for the safe return of those who went missing after the Sewol disaster. An increasing number of people have posted the image of a yellow ribbon on their social networking or mes

April 28, 2014

‘Fatal Encounter’ fails to be memorable

One of the most anticipated films this year was unveiled to the press last week: a tale about King Jeongjo, the well-known, hapless ruler of 18th-century Joseon.The period blockbuster is a film debut by prominent TV drama director Lee Jae-gyu, who is best known for period drama “Damo” (2003) and “Beethoven Virus” (2008), and actor Hyun Bin’s latest film in three years. The 10 billion won project has been drawing attention even since preproduction for its star-studded cast including Han Ji-min, J

FilmApril 27, 2014