Go Soo at White Night Conference

Go Soo is back! Did you miss him, I loved him since Green Rose.

Go Soo appeared at the press conference of his new movie "White Night" on October 21th in Seoul. He still looks good but he surely lost weight.

Actor Ko Soo [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Actor Ko Soo [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Kang Hye-jung says Tablo always supportive

Actress Kang Hye-jung speaks during a press conference for her film "Kill Me" at a CJ CGV theatre in Seoul, South Korea on October 20, 2009. [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Actress Kang Hye-jung publicly expressed her affection for her to-be-husband Tablo on Tuesday, saying she is invigorated by his consistent support for her.

Kang made the remark at a press conference for her new film "Kill Me" held at the CJ CGV theatre in Apkujung, Seoul.

"I am happy to be getting married but sort of in a daze too," said the 27-year-old actress who will have a private wedding on October 26.

In early September, Kang and the popular hip-hop duo Epik High leader had announced they would get married this month and have a baby on the way. They had dated since late last year.

Kang is a critically acclaimed actress who first rose to stardom for her role in "Old Boy" by Park Chan-wook which took the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004.

Her new film "Kill Me", a romantic comedy about a hired killer who falls in love with his client, is set for release on November 5. Actor Shin Hyun-joon of "The Gingko Bed" and "Marrying the Mafia" will co-star in the movie.

Reporter : Lim Hye-seon lhsro@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Wonder Girls becomes 1st Korean group on U.S. "Top 40" rotation

The Wonder Girls [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Idol group the Wonder Girls may be working its magic in the United States, becoming the first Korean group to enter the rotation playlists of some of the top 40 American radio stations, according to their agency on Tuesday.

"Of the 167 'Top40 Radio Stations' located throughout major U.S. cities, their U.S. debut single 'Nobody' has entered the rotation playlists of 18 stations," said JYP Entertainment. A song which goes on the rotation list will play at least once or twice a week for a month.

JYP also said that according to an airplay analysis chart by music website Mediabase, 'Nobody' was played over 65 times by radio stations between October 12 to 18 to increase the group's airplay ranking by 16 spots from the previous week to No. 107.

"From what we've seen so far, we expect to seem them enter more rotation playlists and their airplay ranking to increase," JYP explained.

The popular five-member group released their first U.S. digital single in late June and performed the opening acts for all 53 shows of the Jonas Brothers' U.S. tour. 'Nobody' is the English version of the song originally released in Korea which was a hit throughout several countries Asia.

Reporter : Park Kun-ouc kun1112@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
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Photos of Lee Jun-ki in "Hero" unveiled

Major broadcaster MBC on Tuesday unveiled photographs of the characters to appear in upcoming TV series "Hero", starring Hallyu star Lee Jun-ki. The photos, taken at MBC Dream Center studios in Ilsan, showed Lee and the cast members posing as the characters they will play in the drama. Lee, as energetic journalist Jin Do-hyuk, is seen wearing comfortable clothes while co-star Kim Min-jung, who plays a cop in the drama, has a gun and handcuffs as accessories. "Hero", about a group of young heroic characters fighting against a corrupt society, is set to air in Korea starting November 11. The 27-year-old actor became a household name in 2005 playing a woman-like clown in the hit film "The King and the Clown" and was recently voted the most popular Korean Wave star in China. Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Singer Se7en prepping for comeback

Singer Seven [MBC]

Singer Se7en is in preparations to make a comeback to the local music scene for the first time since 2006, according to his agency on Tuesday.

"He has recently been recording songs for his next album to be released in Korea," an official at YG Entertainment told 10Asia over the phone.

The official added that a single could be released ahead of a regular album, although she could not confirm the exact timing. "It will all depend on how good the song is -- the comeback may be delayed if the song isn't good enough," she explained.

The 24-year-old singer had last released a fourth album in Korea before heading to the United States to expand his career. He released his first English single "Girls" featuring Lil' Kim in March this year.

Since his debut in 2003, Se7en has enjoyed a successful career not only in Korea but also throughout several countries throughout Asia including Japan, China, Thailand and Taiwan.

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Rain to represent Korea on CNN special

Singer and actor Rain and CNN anchorwoman Anna Coren. [J.Tune Entertainment]

Asian pop sensation Rain, set to appear on CNN's "Talk Asia" this week, was invited on the show after being selected as a representative figure of Korea, according to his agency on Monday.

CNN decided that the 27-year-old singer and actor plays a leading role in promoting Korea globally and picked him to appear on the show during this week's "Eye on South Korea", a week-long special program focusing on various aspects of the country including its economy and culture, J.Tune Entertainment explained in a press release.

Anna Coren, one of CNN's main anchorwomen, met with Rain to talk about his career, personal life, his ongoing Asia tour and upcoming Hollywood film "Ninja Assassin".

The show, set to air on Wednesday, will also contain a documentary-type segment featuring Rain's concert in Korea on October 9 -- containing footage from behind the scenes and the concert itself.

Rain started his career with major talenthouse JYP Entertainment but left the agency in November 2007 to start his own entertainment company J. Tune Entertainment.

He has released several albums in Korea and starred in movies and TV series, most notably dramas "Full House" and "Sang Doo! Let's Go To School."

He debuted in Hollywood last year with a supporting role in "Speed Racer" and will star in the upcoming "Ninja Assassin", which is set for a worldwide release in November.

Credits : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10 Asia All rights reserved>

Hyun Bin's new film "Happy" to open Nov 26

Korean actors Hyun Bin and Lee Bo-young at PIFF [Asia Economic Daily]


Korean film "I Am Happy", starring Hallyu star Hyun Bin and Lee Bo-young, is set to open on November 26, according to a press release on Monday.

"Happy", based on a Korean short story, is about two wounded souls at a psychiatric ward -- mental patient Man-soo (played by Hyun) and nurse Soo-kyung (played by Lee), the film's distributor DCG Plus explained in the statement.

The film, directed by Yoon Jong-chan who previously made "Sorum" and "Blue Swallow", was the closing film at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) which ended Friday.

Hyun, best known for his role in the 2005 hit drama "My Name Is Kim Sam Soon", recently made headlines after admitting to dating top Korean actress Song Hye-kyo, his co-star in last year's TV series "The World That They Live In."

Lee has appeared in several TV dramas including "Save The Last Dance For Me" in 2004 and "Seodongyo" in 2005. She made her film debut last year in "Once Upon A Time".

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>