K Star Drama: May 2015

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

No Wedding Bells Or Baby For Won Bin And Lee Na Young?

Eden Nine Entertainment, which represents actors Won Bin and Lee Na Young, has denied rumors that the couple is expecting a child and planning a fall wedding. The agency told several Korean media outlets, including My Daily, that the rumors were ridiculous.

"As expected this news is false," said the Eden Nine Entertainment representative. "The two are currently preparing for their next project."
It is not the first time that Eden Nine has denied rumors about the couple. Two years ago the agency denied that the actors were even in a romantic relationship. Eden Nine said that the actors were merely colleagues and friends who were represented by the same agency. Lee Na Young joined the agency in 2011.
But reporters from the Korean media outlet Dispatch camped outside Lee Na Young' s Bundang apartment and caught Won Bin leaving there the morning after he arrived. The photographs they published forced the couple to admit to their relationship. But Won Bin went a step further. He said that not only were he and Lee Na Young dating but that he was in love with her.
The rumors about the coming wedding began when it was reported that designer Ji Choon Hee was creating a special dress for her friend Lee Na Young. One Korean tabloid picked up the rumors, so the agency was forced to deny them.
The agency went on to say that people do tend to make up rumors about celebrity couples. It's part of being a celebrity couple.
"As they're a couple that can't help for receive a lot of attention, it makes sense that they'll be surrounded by these kinds of rumors."
The agency also spoke about the actors preparing upcoming projects. Won Bin has not appeared in a drama since 2002 and his last film role was in the 2010 film "The Man From Nowhere." He won at least eight awards for his role in that film, including Baeksang and Grand Bell Awards. According to a statement released by Eden Nine in February 2015, Won Bin is currently considering a film role.
At the time the agency said that Won and Lee were eager to start acting again.
Lee Na Young has had a few projects since her 2010 drama "Fugitive: Plan B." She appeared in the films "Lady Daddy," "Howling" and "SPEC: Close." She can soon be seen in a short film titled "Sad Scene."

10 Korean actors who leaped from second lead syndrome to stardom

If you've ever suffered K-drama second lead syndrome, you know how strong it can be. There you are, pining for the guy who the girl will never love, and you curse the writers for not making your dreams come true. While drama writers don't usually let the second lead win (though sometimes they do!), dramaland sometimes makes up for the pain by casting the actor as the romantic lead in his next drama. Here are 10 K-drama actors (in no particular order) who went from giving us terrible second lead sorrow to being the romantic stars of their own shows.

1. Jung Yong Hwa

Yonghwa made his drama debut with a bang in You're Beautiful. His portrayal of the sweet and supportive Shin Woo gave so many viewers second lead syndrome that he followed it up not only with a leading role, but with a leading role opposite his You're Beautiful costar Park Shin Hye in Heartstrings. That's one way to appease the fans!

2. Lee Hong Ki

Yonghwa wasn't the only one giving people second lead sorrow in You're Beautiful! Hongki's Jeremy won over viewer hearts, paving the way for his leading roles in Bride of the Century and Modern Farmer. No one wants to make Jeremy ride that bus of sadness again!

3. Lee Joon Ki

Nowadays, it's almost impossible to imagine Lee Joon Ki playing second fiddle to anyone, but that wasn't always the case. In the 2005 series My Girl, he cemented his flower boy image as the handsome cousin who loses out to Lee Dong Wook in the battle for Lee Da Hae's heart. Although he's since moved away from pretty boy roles, he's taken the lead in all of his subsequent dramas, including the upcoming Scholar Who Walks the Night.

4. Yoo Yun Suk

After he single-handedly set off some of the most intense shipping wars in K-drama history with his role in Answer Me 1994, many fans were hoping "Chilbongie" would get his chance at love quickly. Not wanting to be typecast only as a "nice guy" (like he was previously seen as a "bad guy" from his movie roles), Yoo decided to go in a different direction with his role as the king in the movie Royal Tailor. Fortunately for fans, he is finally the male lead in the new Hong sisters series Jeju Island Gatsby.

5. Jang Geun Suk

Like Lee Joon Ki, it may seem like Jang Geun Suk has been the romantic lead since the beginning of time, but that's not the case. Hong Gil Dong and Beethoven Virus, both in 2008, gave enough viewers second lead syndrome that it was only natural to make him the lead for You're Beautiful in 2009, and he's never looked back.

6. Yoo Ah In

Yoo Ah In was unforgettable as the gruff-yet-lovable Geol Oh in Sungkyungkwan Scandal, and he followed up the series with emotionally demanding lead roles in Fashion King, Jang Ok Jung, Live in Love, and Secret Love Affair. As much as I appreciate how he tries to stretch himself as an actor, would it be too much to ask to see him in a happy leading role sometime? Pretty please?

7. Lee Joon

From the first episode of Mr. Baek, Lee Joon was giving viewers second lead syndrome as the bad-boy chaebol's son who has to combat his own dad (not as creepy as it sounds!) for the affections of the woman he loves. It's no wonder, then, that the show hadn't been over long before he was headlining the current series Heard It through the Grapevine.

8. Kim Hyun Joong

Regardless of your opinions on his current life choices, Kim Hyun Joong caused the first major case of second lead syndrome in a lot of fans as they watched Boys over Flowers (I mean, he was her soulmate, so that's one good reason to root for him). The K-drama world quickly made amends to Ji Hoo/Jan Di shippers by making him the lead in the popular series Playful Kiss.

9. Kim Jeong Hoon

As the nicer of two princes in Goong, Kim Jeong Hoon had some fans wondering why Chae Kyung didn't just run off with Yul and leave Broody McGrumpypants Shin in the dust. Of course, when Kim Jeong Hoon then became the lead in I Need Romance, he ended up making fans wonder why In Young didn't run off with Choi Jin Hyuk's Sung Hyun, leaving him in the dust. Ah, the neverending cycle of second lead syndrome....

10. Yeon Woo Jin

Okay, so I wasn't actually rooting for Yeon Woo Jin's character in Arang and the Magistrate (because, you know, murder and all that jazz), but I did feel really sorry for his character. It was so refreshing when he got to play a much more upbeat role in Marriage, Not Dating, and his antics on Divorce Lawyer in Love are absolutely hilarious. I wasn't sure about the show for the first few episodes, but he's getting funnier and cuter with every episode!

Lee Min Ho admits he had a crush on Suzy long before pursuing her

Lee Min Ho's rep confirms he had a big crush on the pretty Miss A member Suzy before he finally confessed.
On a recent episode of tvN's Name List 2015, the Gangnam Blues star's dating news was included in a list of celebrities that captured and broke fans' hearts. The Min Ho and Suzy relationship ranked at number 5 on the list, and his representative told the show that Lee admitted he was smitten with the Big actress in February.
"Looking at Lee Min Ho's personality, we are aware that he thought about it a lot before professing his feelings. He was worried that it would burden Suzy, but [he said that] he couldn't hold his feelings in any longer."
The A-list stars' love lives were put under a microscope by media outlet Dispatch when they spotted the "Only You" singer attending the VIP showing of Gangnam Blues.
I don't know about you, but I love these two together! It's great to see celebrities find happiness just like the rest of us. Plus, we are finally getting a little of Lee's side of the love story. I hope he opens up more as time goes by.

You can see Lee Min Ho next in his movie Gangnam Blues, which will be available for DramaFever Premium members on April 18.Gangnam Blues is intended for mature audiences, and it contains adult content, drug use, graphic violence, nudity, profanity, and strong sexual content.

Many young Korean workers still rely on parents for financial support

The image of a new employee in the Producer drama gave us a realistic and touching feel, especially when she said she gave her first paycheck to her mom. In real life, 3 out of 10 young Koreans rely on their parents for financial support, even when they have jobs. What's going on?

Online employment portal Saramin recently revealed that 28% of young Koreans, men and women in their 20s and 30s, still get financial support from their parents. These families are referred to as "Kangaroo families" because the parents are still "carrying" their young.
The study broke the numbers down as follows, based on the data it collected for the May 12 study:
1. Why do they still get financial help from their parents?
The #1 answer is "Naturally because I still live with them," from 51.1% of the respondents who said they are getting support. Next, at 41.4%, is "Because of low wages," and 27.8% said “To get financial stability quicker." 24.2% replied “To be able to pay off loans,” and lastly, 14.1% replied “Because parents have the financial means.”
2. How do they spend the money?
On average these young Koreans receive about 320,000 won (US$292) a month. The majority, 44.9%, said they use it to pay "Food and other living expense." The rest: 33.3% spend it on "Rent and other housing expenses," 12.1% on "Insurance," 10.1% on "Clothing and other self-maintenance expenses," 8.1% on "Culture and entertainment expenses", 7.6% on "Paying off loans and interests," and 7.1% on "Savings."
3. How long do they expect to keep getting help from parents?
Almost 30% replied "Until marriage," followed by 26.3% saying "Until I move out." 12.6% said "Until I earn my goal salary," and 8.6% said "For as long as my parents want to." The last is 6.1%, "Until I save up my goal amount."

It's clear that the majority need the money to meet basic expenses. I'm not sure about those who take the money and save it; perhaps their parents can afford to still give them allowances? I find this survey very enlightening. We've been through ups and downs in our own country too, and the young (as well as older) workers have had to struggle to make a livable wage.
I recall that even Sunny Wang (In Time With You,) the real-life heir of a Taiwanese tycoon, didn't need the money from his father but also said that it didn't hurt to have help. Imagine how hard it is for a young person from a regular family to get his or her start in life. No wonder we see (and empathize) with so many K-drama stories that have poor heroes and heroines who'd work any kind of menial jobs as an inspiration to encourage the young people about work and the value of working.

Anyway, I was very touched by the girl in the Producer drama who talked about having been unemployed for 4 years. When she gave her entire first paycheck to her mother, her mother cried. She's a good daughter to show appreciation to her mom. Would you give your first paycheck to your parents?

Watch Kim Soo Hyun, Gong Hyo Jin, IU, and Cha Tae Hyun in Producer, the star-studded new series that goes behind the scenes of Korean variety shows:
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Running Man Episode 244

Running Man (Korean: 런닝맨) is a South Korean variety show; a part of SBS’s Good Sunday lineup, along with Roommate. It was first aired on July 11, 2010. This show was classified as an “urban action variety”; a never-before-seen new genre of variety shows focused in an urban environment. The MCs and guests complete missions in a landmark to win the race. The show has since shifted to a more familiar reality-variety show concept focused on games. It has garnered attention as being the come-back program for Yoo Jae-suk, the main MC of the program, after leaving Good Sunday’s Family Outing in February 2010.

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