Yoo In-na to star in Chinese film By Park Jin-haiYoo In-na, 31, will star in a Chinese film.Her agency YG Entertainment on Thursday announced that Yoo, will star in a Chinese movie “Wedding Bible,” carrying on the popularity of the recently ended hit drama "My Lover From the Star" in China.Huh In-moo, director of “My Black Minidress” and “Herb,” will produce the film. It is his second time to work with the actress.The romantic comedy will feature Yoo as a U.K’-educated beautiful elite woman who is in Shanghai to become a professor.Yoo made her name known to the Chinese viewers with the SBS drama “My Love.” She played the role of actress Yoo Se-mi, who is jealous of her best friend Chun Song-i.Her love interest is Taiwanese-born Canadian model and actor Godfrey Gao, who appeared in the Hollywood movie “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.” He was also the first Asian male to model for Louis Vuitton. Yoo currently hosts a cable network’s beauty talk show “Get It Beauty” as well as deejaying a radio show “Yoo In-na's Raise tMar 20, 2014
Entertainers take on teaching role Actor Kim Soo-hyun lectures on the psychological effects of physical contact in this photo from the TV drama “My Love From the Star.” For their hands-on experiences and practical knowledge, many entertainers are given opportunities to teach aspiring artists at colleges.Stars’ lectures full of insider’s knowledge, knowhow Lee Yoon-sukBy Park Si-sooAs Korea puts more emphasis on practical skills, stars that grace small and big screens will be gracing lecture halls.Coincidentally, heartthrob actor Kim Soo-hyun’s character in the drama “My Love From the Star” was a professor.Perhaps finding a lecturer who is as good as Kim in looks is a mission impossible, while there are lots of actors, musicians and comedians — though less attractive physically — who win the hearts of students with impressive lectures based on their hands-on experiences and empirical knowledge. Bae Jong-okMost of them are temporary lecturers who are invited to classrooms when they are in demand and yanked off when it’s gone.But it seems thMar 20, 2014
New manager wants Seoul to fall in love with JW Marriott, again Matthew Cooper, new general manager of JW Marriott Seoul in Gangnam, poses with the Han River in the background. / Courtesy of JW Marriott SeoulBy Kim Ji-sooOpening any new hotel, even with the name Marriott behind you, is a challenge.Matthew Cooper, 42, the new general manager of the JW Marriott Seoul, has officially opened two in India.The Australian, who officially assumed his Seoul post on March 1, has already made new friends in South Korea, both Koreans and expats, in order to strengthen the hotel’s connection with the community.He’s also graced the pages of a few local magazines. He shed 30 kilograms in the past five months before coming to Seoul, which allows him to boldly walk onto such fashion shoots.“Seoul is a mix of cool and culture,” Cooper said in an interview with The Korea Times. “There is money; an undercurrent of culture; you get an art scene, K-pop and drama in Seoul. It’s like Bollywood, so culturally significant.”Cooper, who spent nine years in India, said his strength is in positioning hotels.Thus with his mission Mar 20, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Psy may come back in April By Park Jin-haiPsyK-pop sensation Psy is likely to re-emerge in April.Speculation is rife that the rapper will return to the music scene sometime next month, just two months ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.“His songs released ahead of each World Cup Games have become great hits. It is highly likely that he will release his new album in April and have promotions in Korea for some time before hitting the global stage around the World Cup,” said a music industry watcher.However, Psy’s agency, YG Entertainment, said no final decisions have been made.“We are talking about a mid-April return. But there is nothing yet confirmed, since Psy has the final say. He is in the United States and is in talks with his U.S. management company,” a YG Entertainment official said.Following Psy’s successive global hits “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman,” music fans are waiting to see his next move. Rumors of his return to the public eye started in January, when he was filming the music video for his upcoming album, withMar 19, 2014
Check out where they kissed Tourists are busy taking photos at a venue that was featured in a scene in the drama “My Love From the Star” at Petite France, in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Ji-soo‘My Love’ locations draw many foreign hallyu fansGAPYEONG — In the inner valleys of Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the weather is still in that limbo between winter and spring. But the northern stretch of the Han River was full and smooth, as if inviting visitors to come. Visitors there were, flocking to Petite France, a theme village where a key scene in the TV drama “My Love from the Star” was shot.As soon as the park opened at 9 a.m., tour buses parked nearby and began pouring out tourists who were fans of the popular drama starring actors Kim Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun.“I really like the characters,” said Chiu Tzu-ting, 38, a Taipei resident who was in Korea for the first time. Chiu and friends were busy taking photos where Kim’s character, Do Min-joon, flew Jun’s character, Chun Song-i, into the air to bMar 19, 2014By Kim Ji-soo
Old, unscripted and fun The SBS show “Baengnyeon Sonnim” generates high ratings by simply showing how old folks will react with their children-in-law under the same roof. / Courtesy of SBSSenior stars shine in reality showsBy Yun Suh-youngThe reality show genre has found a new formula for success: old people."Halbae (grandfathers) Over Flowers,’’ which follows a group of over-70 actors backpacking around Europe, has been such a success that tvN pushed for a self-parody in ``Noona (older sisters) Over Flowers,’’ which is essentially the same show shot with old actresses."Baengnyeon Sonnim (Son in Law),’’ an unscripted family show on SBS, generates high ratings by simply showing how old folks will react with their children-in-law under the same roof.Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said that viewers might be enjoying watching shows about old people the same way they enjoy shows about children."When you think about it, children and the elderly are perfect as cast members for reality television,’’ he said."Children are pure and innocent and they don&rMar 18, 2014
Korean musical stars shine overseas Hong Kwang-hoYoon Hyeong-ryeolIm Tae-kyungKim Da-hyunBy Chung Ah-youngAs Broadway hires movie and television actors like Daniel Craig, Korean musical producers are increasingly casting K-pop stars, soap opera actors and other big names even though their commitments to the show are weak due to their hectic schedules.But some Korean stage actors ― not the A-list or K-pop stars ― are building up reputations through musicals and drawing attention from overseas producers. They are riding on the Korean musical boom in countries such as Japan and China in this rapidly growing musical market. Expending musical hallyuHong Kwang-ho, one of the top Korean musical actors along with Cho Seung-woo, will make his debut in “Miss Saigon” at the Prince Edward Theatre in London’s West End in May. He is the first Korean actor to play a lead role in the West End. Renowned for various roles in the musicals such as “Miss Saigon,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Jekyll and Hyde’’ and “Man of La Mancha,” he impressed world-renowneMar 18, 2014
Watch out, Avengers heading to us David Galluzzi, left, Marvel Studios’ chief counsel, applauds with, from second left, actress Kim Soo-hyun; Seo Yong-woo, executive director of the Gyeonggi Film Commission; and Lee Jang-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Film Commission, at the Press Center in Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Park Si-sooWatch out, the Avengers are heading to Seoul!When they came two years ago, they were digitally captured and saved the world, well on the big screen.This time, the heroes, or hopefully some of them, will be in the heart of the capital. For Seoulites, they may have to brace for a little inconvenience from clearing the downtown area for action scenes.Filming of some scenes for “Avengers: Age of Ultron” in Seoul locations will run from March 30 to April 14.Locations include Mapo Grand Bridge, Cheongdam Grand Bridge, the Saebit Dungdungseom floating islets, Sangam Digital Media City, areas of Gangnam and Kaywon University of Art and Design in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province.“Thank you the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for making the project possible,” said Mitchell Mar 18, 2014
Lee Min-ho named No.1 Korean actor in China By Chung Ah-youngLee Min-hoHallyu heartthrob Lee Min-ho has been selected as the most popular Korean actor in a recent survey conducted in China.The actor garnered some 510,764 votes or 37 percent among a total of 1.35 million votes for his role of Kim Tan in the drama series “The Heirs” which ended in December.The survey was conducted by the Chinese music and entertainment site Kugou.com for ranking the most beloved hallyu stars in the Korean dramas which have gained popularity in China.Kim Soo-hyun ranked second with 469,948 votes for his character of Do Min-joon in “My Love From the Star” while Jang Keun-suk landed the third place with 159,940 votes.Also, Lee Jong-suk earned 86,771 votes and Kim Woo-bin won 56,982 votes. Park Yoo-chun, singer and actor who is a member of K-pop group JYJ, received 17,278 votes.Chinese media outlets are rushing to cover Lee Min-ho thanks to his growing popularity even though his drama ended three months ago. After rekindling the hallyu phenomenon with his drama “City Hunter” in 2011, Lee created a sensation with &Mar 17, 2014
'Grandpas' to be made in China A poster of the Korean variety program “Grandpas Over Flowers”Chinese television will make a local version of the popular Korean travel show, “Grandpas over Flowers,” CJ E&M said Monday.The entertainment conglomerate said it will cooperate with China’s satellite broadcaster Dragon TV for the version of the show that features four veteran male actors and a younger actor as their porter. The Korean version visited Paris, Taiwan and currently airing its tour to Spain.The variety program is a spin-off from “Sisters over Flowers” that took four actresses to Croatia. Dragon TV is a satellite broadcaster owned by Shanghai Media Group (SMG).Mar 17, 2014
