Premium Documentaries Captivate FansBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Trendy dramas dominate the Korean small screen these days. But networks are producing high quality documentaries that have captivated fans with spectacular images and heartwarming, educational stories. They deal with issues ranging from the North Pole to spice routes to dinosaurs, and the time and effort put into these programs has paid off with television fans asking for more. KBS put out ``Chamagodo'' in 2007, finding a more than receptive audience. The documentary about the ancient commercial route that stretches from Tibet, the Himalayas, India and Nepal won the hearts of many viewers. It is regarded as having started the trend of ``premium documentaries.'' This year, KBS brought six-episode ``Noodle Road,'' tracking the history of noodle production. The program took viewers through the simple dish -the past and the present, the East and the West- that has captivated the world for over 8,000 years. Hosted by famed chef Ken Hom from BBC program ``Ken Hom's Chinese Cookery,'' ``Noodle Road'' will air its second and third episodes nextDec 16, 2008
Actors Take Pay Cut in Economic DownturnBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The global economic crisis and corresponding local business sentiments are spreading over to the entertainment sector. Planned dramas are being dropped from production while top celebrities are willingly reducing their paychecks. Main broadcasters MBC, KBS and SBS have each cut one drama from their programming budgets this fall, as production costs, along with actors' paychecks, are still soaring higher than ever. At a seminar dubbed ``The Crisis of TV dramas and Normalization of Performance Fees,'' drama directors from television networks, producers from outsource production companies, actors, scholars and civil group members got together to further discuss the reality and come up with constructive solutions. ``Production costs have jumped 25 percent to even 120 percent since 2004. The surprising part of the jump is that almost 60 percent of it is due to the paychecks (of the actors),'' said Ha Yun-geum from the Korean Broadcasting Institute. The paychecks given to top actors ranged from one million won to nine million won in 2002, but Dec 9, 2008
Donating Love Via Mobile PhonesBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The chilly season is here and what could be warmer than to donate some love to those who are in need? Now donors can carry out their good deeds with the help of their mobile phones. Walking along the streets, people can find volunteers dressed in Santa coats and hats, ringing bells and chanting ``Let's Help the Poor.'' The famous bells and red kettles have become the symbol of the Christmas spirit of donation, and now people can donate more quickly and easily through their phones. The Salvation Army announced last week that it has joined SK Telecom, the nation's foremost wireless operator, to offer a special donation service that will save both time and effort for those who want to share their love. Simply press **939 and then the NATE key on the mobile phone and users will be automatically linked to the donation event page. If users have remaining points from various services such as Rainbow and OK Cashbag, they can donate them. Points are deleted at the end of the year. ``It's a quick and easy way to donate. We believe it will Dec 7, 2008
Celebritys Sweetheart Knocks on Viewers HeartsBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Princess Ji-woo is back. Choi Ji-woo, referred to as ``Princess Ji-woo’’ by her Japanese fans and a famous hallyu star with her tall, model-like figure and innocent looks, is returning to the small screen with SBS drama ``Celebrity’s Sweetheart.’' Choi, who has been acting for 14 years, will play, not surprisingly, beautiful actress Lee Marie, who falls for a poor yet smart ghostwriter, played by fellow actor Yoo Ji-tae. The press conference, which was held last week, was full of not only reporters, but also overseas fans hands with flowers and presents for the 33-year-old actress and fellow actors. ``I was inspired by the movie `Notting Hill.’ My goal was to offer a full gift set of `melo’ (melodramas),’’ said Bu Sung-chul, the producer. Indeed, the short clip of the drama showed the perfect tools for a perfect Korean melodrama: a beautiful, yet lonely top actress, a poor but talented writer-to-be, a rich chaebol heir and even a nosy tabloid reporter. ``It was actually a bit embarrassing to play an actress. The scenes where I had to Dec 2, 2008
Project Runway Korea to Hit Small ScreenBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Fashion, competition and the catwalk are more than enough to explain model Heidi Klum's internationally popular television reality show, ``Project Runway.'' Starting next year, local fans can watch the Korean version of the trendy program. Project Runway is a reality show in which aspiring designers compete by completing assignments given by the host and judge Klum. Their clothing is displayed by models walking along the catwalk, and the judges, Klum, fashion designer Michael Kors and former fashion director at ELLE magazine Nina Garcia, decide who will be disqualified. Project Runway Korea is based on the original format of Project Runway, which is currently broadcast on cable channel On Style. It is the first time a foreign-language popular reality program has been remade in Korea, complete with format, content and style. While the original show features top model Klum as hostess and judge, the Korean version will bring one of Korea's best-known models, Lee So-ra, back to the small screen. Lee is considered one of the first supermodelsDec 2, 2008
Sip a Glass of Wine With Drama TerroirBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter A good storyline and talented stars are the soil to a successful drama. In the case of new SBS drama ``Terroir,'' there is an interesting cast of wines. ``Terroir'' refers to the certain qualities such as climate, soil, humidity and topography that are needed in order to make wine. As fundamentally strong elements make for good, solid wine, so it goes for relationships. That's the correlation that the drama will develop with actors Kim Joo-hyuk and Han Hye-jin as a couple. ``This is the first wine drama in Korea. We wanted to show different varieties of wine, and that such varieties correspond in people; dry, sweet or sour. Not only will the audience get to watch a love story, but also get some information about wine along the way,'' chief producer Kim Young-sub said at a press conference last week in southern Seoul. Unlike usual conferences, which lack alcohol, there were bottles of wine and glasses for the press, actors and guests, and everyone had the chance to take a sip of wine throughout the event. Actress Han plays the headstrong Nov 25, 2008
Join Native Dinosaurs With KoreanosaurusBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Few may know that the Korean Peninsula was a haven for dinosaurs 80 million years ago. To show what it looked like back then, the Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) will bring the gigantic creatures that roamed Korea to life in a three part documentary called ``Koreanosaurus.'' ``Koreanosaurus'' was filmed in New Zealand because of the location's atmosphere, which still holds that Cretaceos period touch. After filming, the crew had to work on computer graphics for more than eight months. Finally revealed in 3D at Yongsan CGV cinema, ``Koreanosaurus'' featured outstanding computer graphics, with realistic appearances and textures. ``Due to budget and time constraints, we had to make quick decisions of how to recreate the dinosaurs on screen. Thanks to our efforts in both filming and computer graphics, we were able to bring back the dinosaurs that lived here and also join the international scene of dinosaur films,'' Min Byeong-cheon, the director, said after the screening. The documentary will take viewers to the Cretaceos period when KNov 23, 2008
`General Hospital 2 Return to Small ScreenBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter A string of medical dramas, including ``Behind the White Tower" (MBC) and ``Doctor Bong" (SBS), have recently swept the Korean drama scene. However, these dramas would not have been possible if not for ``General Hospital," the first medical drama in Korea. After 14 years, ``General Hospital'' is returning. Familiar faces from season one _ Lee Jae-ryong, Cho Kyoung-hwan and Kim So-hee _ are on aboard for the second season 2. Lee is no longer a struggling first-year resident but a mature, self-possessed staff doctor. Cho retains his position as general surgeon while Kim is now the head nurse. The spotlight is now on the new first-year residents _ Kim Jung-eun plays Jung Ha-yoon, Cha Tae-hyun plays Choi Jin-sang and Ryu Jin plays Baek Hyun-woo. Ha-yoon is a law school graduate with an ulterior motive. Having passed the bar exam, she joins the medical profession only to become a medical malpractice litigation specialist. Her agenda is to look at the hospital from a patient's point of view and to expose the doctors' hypocrisy. But as she workNov 18, 2008
Stars Delve Into Fashion, BeautyBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Koreans adore their celebrities and some ardent ones constantly try to get their hands on anything stars adorn, including clothes, cosmetics and even medical products. Smart stars not only share, but now offer their own brands. Singer and actor Rain recently announced that he will launch his clothing line, Six to Five, next year, while pop group Wonder Girls and even comedian Park Myung-soo have come out with a cosmetic line and a hair product business, respectively. Fashion brand Six to Five was created by Jtune Creative, an affiliate of Rain's agency, Jtune Entertainment. Some of the company's pieces were already presented to the public when Rain wore them at his comeback performance last month. Under the concept ``intelligent vintage,'' Six to Five will bring a trendier wardrobe for fans and fashion lovers. ``With an elegant and formal burgundy velvet jacket, baggy denim and long military boots, we believe Rain's outfit portrayed our concept to the fullest. Simple and classic, but with a hint of vintage,'' Lee Jong-mi from the JtunNov 18, 2008
Male, Female Singer Alike Returning to FansBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Autumn is considered ``men's season'' here, with the cool fall breeze blowing jackets open and solitude flowing in the air. But this year, the local pop scene will be crowded with both male and female singers. Singers like Jo Sung-mo, Wheesung, Kim Jong-kook and Rain have returned to the pop scene, while Lee Hyo-ri, Lee Soo-young and Baek Ji-young are also following closely behind. Soulful crooners Jo Sung-mo and Kim Jong-kook have both returned after completing their military service, but they chose to meet fans through different channels. Jo, who made it big back in the late 1990s with his delicate voice and sweet ballads, has been busy performing around the nation as part of his Korea-Japan tour ``Cry Out.'' He will finish the Korean leg of his tour before carrying on in Japan until the end of the year. Jo, who already sang on original soundtracks for dramas including ``Lovers in Paris,'' recently sang for ``The Painter of Wind.'' His new album will be out early next year. Kim, on the other hand, has been seen in hit television progrNov 11, 2008