From Miss Korea to glamorous policewoman Kim Sung-ryung / Courtesy of SBSBy Bahk Eun-jiFormer Miss Korea-turned actress Kim Sung-ryung has turned attractive policewoman in the new TV drama “Mrs. Cop 2,” which airs on SBS.The actress, 49, who won the Miss Korea beauty pageant in 1988, plays elegant action heroine Ko Yoon-jung Kim Sung-ryung / Courtesy of Yuleum EntertainmentActors Kim Min-jong and Kim Bum, singers Im Seul-ong and Son Dam-bi also star.The show is about detectives fighting against injustice. Kim plays a working mother struggling to keep a balance between work and family. Mar 6, 2016
Song Joong-ki suffers wrist injury Actor Song Joong-ki, who hurt himself on the set of "Descendants of the Sun," is in rehabilitation, his management agency said Friday.Song, who appears as Army Capt. Yoo Si-jin in the KBS 2TV drama, recently removed the cast on his right wrist, but has been advised to continue his rehabilitation, Blossom Entertainment said.In addition to breaking his right wrist, the actor tore his ACL on his right leg in November while performing stunts for the series, whose most recent episode garnered a 24.1 percent viewership."Descendants of the Sun" tells a love story between Yoo and doctor Kang Mi-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) in the fictional war-torn country of Urku. There, Yoo serves as part of the U.N. peacekeeping forces and Kang a volunteer for the medical non-profit organization Doctors without Borders.Unlike most Korean series that are produced on an episode-by-episode basis, the show written by star writer Kim Eun-sook is completely prerecorded. It is also the first Korean series to be shown simultaneously in South Korea and China.Without Song's dour determination, producers say they wouldn't haMar 5, 2016
Choi Min-soo exudes machismo as Joseon king Choi Min-soo as King Sukjong from SBS's "Daebak" / Courtesy of SBSBy Ko Dong-hwan “Tough-guy” actor Choi Min-soo, who has joined the cast of SBS TV historical drama “Daebak,” has impressed fans with photos that show him as King Sukjong of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).Choi, 53, is pictured on a horse as a bow-hunter, leering at an unidentified target. The bearded actor has his hair tied with a black headband and is wearing a fur neck-warmer.The drama, scheduled to air late this month, portrays a brotherly battle over love and the throne between forlorn royal child-turned-gambler Daegil (Jang Keun-suk) and his half-brother, Prince Yeoning (Yeo Jin-goo), who is the son of King Sukjong and later becomes King Yeongjo.Choi, right, with Park Sang-won from SBS's hit TV drama "Sandglass" (1995)Choi debuted as a stage actor in 1985 and has earned a big following for his good looks and signature machismo. He shot to stardom in the early 1990s on the small screen. Since then, he has had a successful TV and movie career.But it has not been all plain sailinMar 4, 2016
'Descendants of the Sun' next hallyu hit in China Scenes from the fourth episode of KBS's "Descendants of the Sun" /Courtesy of KBS By Kwon Ji-youn“Descendants of the Sun” is a huge hallyu (Korean wave) hit, according to a Chinese online media company.The entertainment arm of Sina on Thursday used figures to describe the drama series’ growing popularity in China. It said “Descendants of the Sun” has become the most mentioned Korean drama series on social media, and compared it with huge hit “My Love from the Star,” which starred Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun.According to Sina, the drama series last week alone garnered more than 470 million click-throughs on social media platform Weibo. Views on Chinese online video platform IQiyi reached 120 million as of Thursday.“Descendants of the Sun,” set in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk, features hallyu stars Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo. It began airing in Korea and China last month.Mar 4, 2016
Actor Song Joong-ki in post-injury rehab Actor Song Joong-ki, who hurt himself on the set of "Descendants of the Sun," is in rehabilitation, his management agency said Friday.Song, who appears as Army Capt. Yoo Si-jin in the KBS 2TV drama, recently removed the cast on his right wrist, but has been advised to continue his rehabilitation, Blossom Entertainment said.In addition to breaking his right wrist, the actor tore his ACL on his right leg in November while performing stunts for the series, whose most recent episode garnered a 24.1 percent viewership. "Descendants of the Sun" tells a love story between Yoo and doctor Kang Mi-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) in the fictional war-torn country of Urku. There, Yoo serves as part of the U.N. peacekeeping forces and Kang a volunteer for the medical non-profit organization Doctors without Borders.Unlike most Korean series that are produced on an episode-by-episode basis, the show written by star writer Kim Eun-sook is completely prerecorded. It is also the first Korean series to be shown simultaneously in South Korea and China.Without Song's dour determination, producers say they wouldMar 4, 2016
Park Hae-jin offered security guard role in new drama Park Hae-jin / Courtesy of WM CompanyBy Kim Da-heeActor Park Hae-jin is expected to appear in JTBC’s new drama tentatively titled “Man to Man.”Industry sources said Friday Park is in the final stage of negotiations for the drama, which depicts the story of a top star and his security guard.Park has been offered the security guard role. The cast for the top star has yet to be decided.The drama is expected to air at the end of this year.Park played leading character Yoo Jung in his latest drama, “Cheese in the Trap,” on tvN. Mar 4, 2016
Actor Park Bo-gum to take on period drama after 'Reply 1988' Actor Park Bo-gum, a Korean prodigy from the recent tvN drama "Reply 1988," is to be the leading man in an upcoming period drama, his agency said Friday.Park will play the crown prince in KBS 2TV's "Moonlight Drawn By Clouds," which premieres in the latter half of this year, Blossom Entertainment said.The series, based on a web novel of the same name, tells a love story of crown prince Hyomyung in the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910)."It's a coming-of-age story set in the Joseon period, for which no historical records remain," the agency said.Park has been "Moonlight" fans' No. 1 pick for Hyomyung since KBS announced the novel's TV adaptation last year."We expect Park to successfully portray Hyomyung's growth from youth to a revered Joseon leader," KBS said. (Yonhap)Mar 4, 2016
A sneak peek on stars' private off-the-air lives Lee Guk-jooBy Ko Dong-hwanThe private lives of celebrities never fail to grab attention. That is why MBC reality variety show “I Live Alone,” which shows celebrities who live alone in their private off-the-air lives through cameras built inside their home, has been popular.The weekly program made headlines Thursday when it added actress Han Chae-ah as a new regular to “Rainbow,” the collective name of the seven stars whose private lives are revealed.Since March 2013, 22 stars have shown how they live at home, and some have shown comparatively extravagant lifestyles.Noh Hong-chulComedian Noh Hong-chul, former member of Rainbow and its inaugural president until November 2014, seemed close to having mysophobia as he kept his home so fastidiously clean.Seo In-gukActor Seo In-guk, 28, on the other hand, left clothes and other articles strewn everywhere. He said his home was “a place to enjoy comfort.”Kim Kwang-kyuActor Kim Kwang-kyu, 50, the second president of Rainbow until last July and also an avid TV home shopper, showed his home filled with pMar 3, 2016
Korea lures more overseas stars Miljenko Matijevic from MBC's “King of Mast Singer,” left, and as a member of American rock band SteelheartBy Ko Dong-hwan Popular overseas musicians are looking to Korea to extend their Asian fandom.The latest star to do this is Miljenko Matijevic from American rock band Steelheart. The Croatian-American star began his musical career in Korea on the TV singing talent quest “King of Mast Singer” late last month. The first foreign artist to appear on the MBC program, he drew cheers from the audience by performing K-pop songs and the band’s hit number “She’s Gone.”Matijevic recently signed with Seoul-based entertainment agency Bad Boss Company.Eric BenetAmerican R&B and soul singer-songwriter Eric Benet late last month released his rendition of K-pop boy band Brown Eyed Soul’s 2003 number “I Love You.” With this remake, the star with four Grammy nominations reached No.1 spot on Mnet’s real-time Korean music chart, a rare occurrence for a foreign artist here.Jeff Bernat, left, and Kings of ConveniMar 3, 2016
AOA's Seol Hyun named honorary ambassador for April's general elections Seol Hyun of South Korea's girl group AOA was named an honorary ambassador for the April 13 general elections, the country's election watchdog said Thursday.The 21-year-old singer will promote the election to increase voter turnout in the lead-up to the polls, the National Election Commission said."Seol Hyun is beloved by the people as a singer, actress and model," Kim Yong-hee, secretary-general of the commission said, expressing hope that she will promote the right election culture to the public.On Wednesday, the parliament endorsed a bipartisan deal that outlines the redrawing of electoral constituencies for the election.Seol, who debuted in eight-member idol group AOA in 2012, also starred in multiple TV shows and advertisements. (Yonhap)Mar 3, 2016
