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Korean Becomes First Asian Lead in UK Opera

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The English National Opera will feature a Korean singer in a title role early next year, marking the first time for Britain's leading opera company to cast an Asian as a lead part. Tenor Kim Jae-woo will take the stage as Edgardo in the English National Opera's rendition of Donizetti's ``Lucia di Lammermoor,'' Yonhap News reported Thursday. The bel canto opera will be staged eight times throughout February 2010. Kim, who will share the part with tenor Barry Banks, will appear perform on Feb. 18, 20, 23 and 26. One of the two leading opera companies in the United Kingdom, the English National Opera boasts a history of 100 years and a tough audition process. There have been Asian singers in supporting roles in the past but never before in a title role. ``Taking the stage of the English National Opera means that all the musicians in Britain will come and hear me. I can feel the weight on my shoulders but I am preparing for the piece the best I can in order to break stereotypes about Asian singers,'' Kim was quoted as saying by a local daily

Dec 17, 2009

Park Chan-wook Picked Best Director

Kim Hae-ja, Song Kang-ho Win Best Acting Honors at Director’s Cut Awards By Cho Jae-hyon Staff Reporter Korean directors picked Park Chan-wook, for his dark vampire thriller "Thirst" (Bakjwi), as the Best Director at the 12th Director's Cut Awards 2009, Thursday. The Korea Film Director's Network awarded Best Actor to Song Kang-ho in recognition of his exceptional performance in "Thirst." Song played the lead role of a priest who, after receiving a mysterious blood transfusion, turns into a ravenous vampire. The Best Actress award went to veteran actress Kim Hae-ja who played a major role in Bong Joon-ho's "Mother."She performed a remarkable role in the movie, playing a distraught mother who struggled to prove the innocence of her son who was framed for a neighbor's death. Director-actor-producer Yang Ik-june won the Independent Movie Director Award with his internationally-acclaimed "Breathless," a semi-indie flick about a victim of domestic violence who grows up to become an aggressive brute. It marks the fourth time Park has won the honor at the Director's Cut

Dec 17, 2009

Four of a Kind Captivate Japanese Fans in Tokyo Dome

By Cho Jae-hyon Staff Reporter Four Korean heartthrobs ― Lee Byung-hun, Jang Dong-gun, Song Seung-hun and Won Bin ― enthralled 70,000 Japanese fans who packed the Tokyo Dome at a special Korean Wave or ``hallyu'' festival, Thursday. This was the first time that the top stars have taken the same stage for a promotional event, dubbed ``4Card ― Four of a Kind.'' The actors held two fan meetings on Thursday at the dome which accommodates about 35,000. The first event took place at 1.00 p.m., about 30 minutes later than originally scheduled, according to the event organizer. The show started late as Lee, who had to take part in the filming of the last episode of the KBS drama ``Iris'' until dawn, Thursday, left for Tokyo in the morning, while others flew in the previous day. Lee blamed himself for the delay of the show. ``The event started late because of me. As the shooting of 'Iris' was concluded several hours ago, I'm in sort of in an unrealistic mood. I'm tired due to a lack of sleep but I was awakened by your cheering.'' It was his first public appearance after being

Dec 17, 2009

Rihanna Hits GQ Cover With Topless Photoshoot

Singer Rihanna is living up to the title of her latest album, ``Rated R,'' as she appears topless on the cover of GQ magazine's latest issue in a story titled ``Good Girl Gone Badass.'' In an accompanying and highly revealing interview, she talks why she decided to finally speak out about her incident with Chris Brown earlier this year. She admitted that talking about the ugly episode helped with the healing process. ``It's relieving,'' she told the magazine, ``because it was built up for so long, and all these thoughts and emotions have been running through my mind for the past eight months. And now it's like I finally get to let go and move on.'' After the violent attack last spring when Brown brutally hit the singer following a pre-Grammy party in Hollywood, Rihanna withdrew from the spotlight to nurse her wounds. She soon returned to the studio and released her latest album, which takes on a distinctly darker, edgier tone than her previous Top 20-friendly song ``Umbrella.'' Putting the assault behind her is crucial in shifting her image from punch bag to reignin

Dec 16, 2009

Lee Min-ho Covets Role in Iris Season 2

Top Korean actor Lee Min-ho successfully wrapped up his first fan meeting in Taipei, his agency Starhaus Entertainment said. In the promotional show, the star of the hit TV series "Boys Over Flowers" met with more than 2,000 avid fans who packed the auditorium of a Taipei university on Tuesday evening. He opened the show with the song "My Everything" and held various events with his fans, including a Q&A session. At a press conference at a hotel before the fan meeting, he said he wanted to be cast in the second season of KBS TV's hit drama "Iris." "Many people talk about my next work and it's a bit burdensome. I want to be acknowledged for my acting. The viewership rating needs to be high and it should be well received by critics," he said. "If a second season of Iris is produced and I'm offered a role, I certainly would go for it." He praised actor Lee Byung-hun's acting in the drama. "Mr. Lee Byung-hun's acting is so great that I respect him." chojh@koreatimes.co.kr 이민호 `아이리스 2' 노린다 톱스타 이민호가 대만에서의 첫 팬미팅을 성공적으로 마쳤다고 그의 소속사인 스타우스 엔터테이먼트가 발표했다. 화요

Dec 16, 2009

Big Bang to Hold Big Show in January

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Boy band Big Bang will hold their concert ``Big Show'' from Jan. 29 to 31 at the Gymnastic Stadium, Olympic Park, Seoul. ``Whenever the year ends and the New Year approaches, we get questions asking when Big Band will hold a show. We are planning to bring a high quality show for fans once again early next year,'' said the group's agency, YG Entertainment, in a press release, Wednesday. ``The Big Show will bring the best of the best, from stage settings, music, visual effects to outfits. We will do our best to bring an upgraded version and satisfy the band's fans,'' the agency said. The five-member group had their members show off individual talents this year, with G-Dragon, Tae-yang and Victory releasing their own singles; T.O.P making an appearance in the hit drama ``IRIS'' on KBS; and Dae-sung showing himself in SBS's entertainment show ``Family is Out.'' The agency added that because the members didn't have a chance to perform that often as a group in 2009, they are planning to make up to their fans for it. The concert will be the

Dec 16, 2009

Hallyu 4Card Tokyo Show Draws Attention

Four superstars ― Lee Byung-hun, Jang Dong-gun, Song Seung-hun and Won Bin ― are gathering in Tokyo amid tight security for a special Korean Wave or "hallyu" festival to be held at Tokyo Dome, Thursday. Jang, Song and Won left for Tokyo, Wednesday, while Lee plans to fly the next morning as he was involved in the filming of the last episode of the KBS megahit drama "Iris," officials from the event organizer said. The event, dubbed as "4Card ― Four of a Kind," is drawing extra attention from the media as the promotional fan meeting comes after top stars Lee and Jang made headlines with their former and present girlfriends, respectively. Lee, the star of "GI Joe" and "Iris," will make his first public appearance after he has been dragged into a scandal involving a former girlfriend over allegations of sexual misconduct. The media is also keen whether Jang ("Good Morning President"), who recently confessed to a two year romantic relationship with top actress Koh So-young, would make any comment on their involvement. The event organizer has been reluctant to disclose th

Dec 16, 2009

Woods Texts While in Bed

A 31-year-old woman claimed that golf emperor Tiger Woods sent text messages to other girls while he was in bed with her, the NBC News reported in a show Monday. Cori Rist's allegations came as nightclub waitress Julie Postle said she bedded the golf champ. Rist has become one of the 13 ladies who have reportedly had relations with Woods. A single mom, not a nightclub waitress or a call girl, Rist unveiled her fling with Woods in "Today" show of NBC Monday, while sobbing. She said that she had a two-and-a-half-year fling since she met with the pro golfer at a nightclub in Manhattan, N.Y., in 2006. "I'd wake up in the night and he would be texting," she told the show. "I'd ask him what he was doing and he would say he was answering emails. I knew it was something bigger. I don't know how he had the time to have so many women in his life." She claimed that she stopped her relations with Woods last September, rejecting his offer to escape to California, Dubai or Australia. An attractive blonde, Rist disclosed all the things she had with the pro golfer to the pub

Dec 15, 2009

Keira Knightley Poses Nude

Keira Knightley (24), an actress who has long resisted nude scenes in her films and photo shoots due to her small breasts, has finally agreed to pose nude. She has been making clandestine visits to the Halcyon Gallery in London to pose nude for artist Mitch Griffiths, according to the Daily Mail. A source tells The Mail, "It's considered a great honor to be painted by Mitch. He is a highly respected nude painter and is painting a number of subjects for an exhibition next year. He is delighted Keira agreed to take part." Keira obviously remains very happy with her flat-chested figure. She demanded that promotional shots for her film "The Duchess" were left untouched after posters for "King Arthur" were altered to enhance her breasts. Keira Knightley is currently appearing in a West End play, ``The Misanthrope.'' In the modern-day version of Moliere's 17th century masterpiece, Keira plays a Hollywood film star. jungjoobin@gmail.com '절벽가슴' 키이라 누드 모델 작은 가슴 때문에 누드 영화, 화보 촬영 등을 거부해 왔던 배우 키이라 나이틀리가 드디어 누드모델로 나섰다. 데일리 메일에 따르면 그녀는 최근 비밀리에 영국 런던 할시온 갤러리

Dec 15, 2009

Park Chan-ok Named Female Director of Year

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Acclaimed Korean director Park Chan-ok was named ``Female Cineaste of the Year'' by an organization of female film professionals. Park, who directed ``Paju,'' received the award Tuesday during a ceremony of the organization Women in Film Korea, held at Cine Cube in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Women in Film Korea is a non-profit organization of female professionals working in the film industry. ``Paju,'' which premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) in October to critical acclaim, won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award there. The film was also recently selected to open the 39th International Film Festival Rotterdam in January, the first time a Korean film has been selected for the honor. ``Paju,'' starring Lee Sun-kyun and Seo Woo, is a drama about a complicated relationship between young girl and her brother-in-law. Meanwhile, actress Kim Hye-ja received the Best Actress award from the organization for her portrayal of a mother fighting to clear the name of her son in Bong Joon-ho's ``

Dec 15, 2009
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