Those familiar with the Hana Yori Dango storyline may have been anticipating this, the casting of Gu Jun-pyo’s fiancée who will throw a wrench in the budding romance between him and Jan-di.

The actress cast in the role is Lee Min-jung, whom I last saw playing Go Ara and Lee Eon’s best friend in last year’s Who Are You. I think she’s a great fit and a promising up-and-comer (and had even thought she might be a good choice for the role of Jan-di before it was cast).

She won’t be seen for several weeks yet, but the announcement confirming her casting already has fans speculating about the stories she’ll be featured in. Her character has grown up in several different countries and is therefore a bit different from the other upper-class snobs with her easygoing personality.

Ariel Lin’s been blessed with fortune twice last year – winning a Golden Bell Award and moving into a new home – all this seem like a dream up to now. This year, for the first time, she’ll be spending Lunar New Year’s Eve cooking in her new home for her mom who’s supported her all these years.

Ariel loves watching cooking shows. If she sees anything that’s delicious and uses simple ingredients, she immediately jots them down. The first dish that she’ll be preparing is “a very delicious pork dish” that she saw on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” The second dish is “noodles mixed with toona sinensis sauce*” (see first photo) -- which includes different types of mushroom and noodles mixed with toona sinensis sauce – a very healthy option that’s good for her mom who loves to eat meat and noodles.

Ariel doesn’t usually cook so she’s not that adept at the kitchen. She’s afraid she might mess up the LNY’s Eve dinner, so she’s asked for some help from Mr. Jia, the owner of Shang Fang restaurant*. Health conscious Ariel tries to avoid stir or deep frying. “My new home has an open, country style kitchen with white as the dominant color. Mom has ruled that only broiling, stewed, mixed, steamed dishes will be allowed; otherwise, it would be hard to clean up.”

Mr. Jia’s tips on cooking: Think only that you’re cooking for the person that you love and you’ll be able to produce the fragrance (flavor) of love.” Ariel agrees. “If it was a man I love, even if he wakes me up in the middle of the night to cook dumplings, I would.”

U know guys...maybe I'm going insane this time.I'm fallin in love with a guy who has a girlfriend. I know it shouldnt be,but when it comes to love I cant avoid that I love him too.And now that feeling even more and complicated coz he admit it and told me " I love you too". I feel sorry for her (his girlfriend) but what should I do then...he even told me their relationship very tiring. He said " my girl cant understand me and always scold me with something unimportant this past 3 years". I know where I'm...we know each other just a while ago about 2 months and thats nothing compare to them.even I'm really scared just to think someday, I have to let him go....coz someone waiting for him.our relationship getting more complicated know.When they're have problem ,he always told me and the last thing I can do just hold on to him and said " its ok...everything will be alright just bear with her a little while,its should be Ok ! " but did you know,inside my heart its really painful.may be coz I love him too,how could her be unrespect to him since their relationship already take 3 years.And also...there some feeling unknown,burning,hurting inside of me.... of course I never show him any pain, to see you in pain coz of her its also painful for me too and I'm realize thats he loves her so much...then who am I ?..what I am to you?....sometimes I want to give up,and just go but I cant...I love him ,and cant leave him alone ... our love triangle getting worse without her knowing.may be its my fault..I know from the first and still want to go thorough...here I'm...standing without knowing where I have to go...what I have to do...when I have to go.... do i deserve all this pain?... i dont know,what I know for sure " I love you very much" i can bear with any pain as long as I'm with you...fool me...!!!!!!!!! yes.I'm.The foolest girl in the world.....

Lunar New Year is upon us and of course, now that pretty boy Lee Minho has become famous overnight for his leading role in “Boys Over Flowers,” we have to know how the curly-haired F4 member is going to spend his new year.

Lee Minho is still busy shooting for the drama and has to spend the beginning of Lunar New Years on set with the rest of the crew and stuff. He says, “Today we have to start the new year off on set, and even though things are hectic, every time I think about the fans who support ‘Boys Over Flowers,’ I don’t feel a bit tired and hope that everyone will be lucky in the new year and continue to support the show.”

The emergence of the Infinite Challenge F4 has captured the attention of Korean netizens.

On Jan 22, once news was released that MBC’s Infinite Challenge members will be doing a parody of KBS hit drama Boys Before Flowers, the Internet was abuzz with commotion.

Photos of the cast of Boys Before Flowers were also combined with images of the IC members to form hilarious parodies of the actual characters.

The parodies cleverly weaves the IC members’ profiles into the original characters. For example, female protagonist Geum Jandi becomes ‘Geum Soodi’ (Park Myung Soo), the daughter of a fried chicken shopowner, and enters Infinite High School with her singing talent instead of swimming skills.

Gu Joonpyo now becomes ‘Gu Jinpyo’ (Junjin), part of the Hallyu conglomerate Shinhwa, who ends up at Infinite High. Original character Gu Joonpyo is fluent in multiple languages as he lived abroad, but ‘Gu Jinpyo’ can speak at least 5 languages with his concert tour experience.

Yoon Jihoo, played by SS501 member Kim Hyun Joong, is now ‘Yoon Suk Hoo’ (Yoo Jaesuk), the heir to the Grasshopper Conglomerate. In addition, ‘So Yi Chul’ (Noh Hong Chul) and ‘Song Ha Bin’ (Jung Joon Ha) completes the F4 grouping.

Netizens’ comments include ‘the person behind the parody is a genius’, ‘the effects are just spectacular, it’s really fun’.

For the parody of the drama itself, Park Myung Soo is slated to play the role of Gu Joonpyo, Yoo Jaesuk as Yoon Jihoo, with Jung Joon Ha and Noh Hong Chul completing F4. Female lead Geum Jandi is expected to be played by Junjin, and Jung Hyung Don as Jandi’s friend Ga-eul.

Actress Yoon Eun Hye took pride in her glamorous charm as a mature woman.

Active as a model for lingerie brand Vivien, Yoon Eun Hye participated in a Spring pictorial where she gave off the powerful fragrant of a woman. Yoon Eun Hye accentuated her eyes with blue eyeshadow and wore a grey tube-top dress that also accentuated the shape of her body.

F4 members Lee Min Ho and Kim Bum have been nominated as candidates for the Best New Male Actor for the 44th Annual Baeksang Arts Awards held on February 27th.

The two are showered with the love of their fans playing F4 members Goo Jun Pyo and So Lee Jung in current popular KBS drama, ‘Boys Over Flowers.’

Lee Min Ho has been nominated for his role on ‘Boys Over Flowers’ while Kim Bum for his role as young Song Seung Hun in MBC drama ‘East Of Eden.’

Also competing in the same category is Uhm Gi Joon for ‘World’s Within,’ Lee Sang Woo for ‘First Wives Club’ and Jung Gyu Woon for his role in ‘Women Of The Sun.’

Having recently wrapped her latest drama, The World They Live In, which was generally well-received but performed poorly in the ratings, Song Hye-gyo is out with her latest ad campaign.

Levi’s has just released their latest ads featuring the pint-sized actress, who sports their “Lady Style” line of apparel (and some really bad extensions).

Her look is described as being based on a “curvy doll” concept in the new Diamond jeans (the line will be out for sale in mid-February).

The sub-loveline of Kim Bum and Kim So Eun in the KBS drama Boys Over Flowers is drawing increasing attention from viewers.

Gifted potter So Yi Jeong (Kim Bum) and Jandi's friend Ga Eul (Kim So Eun) have started a beautiful "bickering relationship".

As compared to the heartaching love triangle between Jandi - Junpyo - Jihoo, the loveline between Yi Jeong and Ga Eul is lighthearted, which has made the plot even more interesting.

The scenes of this lighthearted couple appeared in the 5th and 6th episode aired on Jan 19 and 20. As Yi Jeong tries to create opportunities for Jandi and Junpyo to be alone together, there has been more interaction scenes between Yi Jeong and Ga Eul.

Although the two are always quarreling, Yi Jeong running in search of Ga Eul after hearing her scream, nonchalantly offering to apply sunscreen for Ga Eul, and helping her up the horse, are all signs of skinship foreshadowing a beginning loveline between the two in this drama.

Because of this loveline, Kim Bum and Kim So Eun who were previously in the spotlight for their roles in East of Eden and Empress Chun Chu, have once again drawn everyone's attention.

Hot topic KBS drama ‘Boys Over Flowers’ will take over even in music programs.

SS501 has decided to start their official activities for drama OST ‘Because I am stupid’ and has confirmed their performances in public broadcasted music programs from next week onwards.

SS501’s representative said on 21-Jan, “They were supposed to continue their promotional activities with another song after ending the activities for ‘U R MAN’. Because the responses for ‘Boys Over Flowers’ are good, we have decided to continue with this OST performance. They are currently practicing for this song.”

‘Because I am stupid’ holds the highest popularity in ‘Boys Over Flowers’ OST in different music sites. This song has also made it to the 1st place on music charts in cyworld and other websites, beating SNSD, YoonMiRae, etc. The song was initially meant for Kim HyunJoong’s theme song, but because the response for it is good, it has been used as the ending song.

Kim HyunJoong, Lee MinHo and others from ‘Boys Over Flowers’ has produced hot topics of ‘Sudden rush of Prettyboys’. From female teens to sensitive middle-aged viewers, securing majority viewers, their ratings hovers at 25%, which is only about 1% less than the 1st place drama ‘East of Eden’. The ‘intense’ triangle love between Kim HyunJoong-Goo HyeSun-Lee Minho gives a dramatic tension in the drama.

SS501 Kim HyunJoong who is acting for KBS ‘Boys Over Flowers’ met up with a minor car collision.

Kim HyunJoong was moving towards the filming venue for ‘Boys Over Flowers’ on 21-Jan at about 5.40pm, but had a rear-end collision with another car in the vicinity of Seoul Kwanghwamoon.

Kim HyunJoong’s representative said “The car in front suddenly thrust in, and we collide onto that car which tried to avoid it. The right side of the car was damaged but fortunately Kim HyunJoong was not hurt.”

The representative added “Kim HyunJoong was startled by it but after he settled down, he decided to go ahead to get to the filming venue. In order not to disrupt the filming schedule, he went ahead for the filming. However, we will be watching over him and decide if there is a need to go to the hospital.”

There used to be a time when a topless Song Seung Hun was more than enough to burn TV ratings through the roof. But that was so 2008.

Lee Minho, the star of the hit drama “Boys Over Flowers” is being hailed by TV critics as the ‘Surprise Star of 2009’ and it looks like their predictions are right.

Tuesday’s episode of “BOF” brought in their best rating so far with 24.8% (based on TNS Media) inching closer to “East of Eden” (26.5%). Episode 6 featured the cast vacationing in the beautiful island of New Caledonia in the South Pacific.

Female fans of the show gushed over Lee Minho’s “slim and muscular body” during his scenic beach-side date with Jandi (Goo Hye Sun).

It surprising how the fans have slowly warmed up to the show. The actor revealed in a recent interview that being part of a huge production like “BOF” is not easy. He admitted that after the first episode, numerous message boards were filled with harsh criticisms towards him.

But just after three weeks since its initial broadcast, the drama and cast are receiving much love from the public.

F4 member Kim Hyun Joong was involved in a car accident while headed to a filming location.

While heading to the Shinchon filming location in Seoul on January 21st at 5:30PM, the van Kim Hyun Joong was riding in collided with another vehicle at the Gwanghwamun intersection.

The right side of the vehicle occupied by Kim Hyun Joong sustained some damage but luckily he was seated in a different location and didn’t sustain any traumatic injuries. He merely seemed startled by the sudden accident but a judgment will be made as they reach a hospital in the vicinity.

After receiving a thorough examination at the hospital they will decide whether or not they will continue with filming said Kim Hyun Joong’s side. If there is any serious injury then filming today will be difficult.

In the meantime, Kim Hyun Joong is currently acting as F4 member Yoon Ji Hoo and in the middle of a love triangle alongside Koo Hye Sun & Lee Min Ho in KBS ‘Boys Before Flowers.’

Wednesday January 21, 2009 Korea

The Lee Min-ho fervor continues: The 21-year-old has been selected to promote LG Telecom, and will appear in an ad with Boys Before Flowers co-stars Gu Hye-sun and Kim Bum. He’s also deliberating over modeling contracts for clothing brands, cars, beer, etc. [Sports Khan]

Lee Min-ho is still a little surprised at his own fame, though; he’s been busy working and first felt the impact of his sudden popularity when he was filming an outdoor scene last week and the arrival of a mob of 3,000 fans forced shooting to shut down and move elsewhere. [Sports Khan, Asia Economy]

He’s not the only one, though: Kim Bum and Kim So-eun were shooting a scene at the girls’ restaurant job last week, and because so many neighborhood bystanders stopped to watch, police had to step in and manage traffic. [Sports Khan]

Gu Hye-sun is also benefiting from Boys Before Flowers‘ popularity; like her co-star, she’s also fielding multiple CF offers, both domestically and from Japan. The offers range from mobile phones to cosmetics and food products. [Joy News]

And look who else is jumping on the BBF bandwagon: Singer-actor Lee Ji-hoon (You’re My Destiny) recently launched an online shopping mall called “Paris Homme.” Thanks to the drama, the line’s prep-school look has experienced a sharp increase in sales: up 50% from the previous month. [Mk.co.kr]

Actress Kim Hyun Joo will be joining the BOF cast on the 20th.

The role Kim Hyun Joo will be playing is Shinhwa Group’s Eldest daughter and the Sister of Goo Junpyo, named Goo Jun Hee. A person who always has to know everything and feels best when she helps solve people’s problems. Wild girl who had to raise her little brother herself with an iron heart.

Kim Hyun Joo in BOF will help Goo Junpyo and Geum Jandi’s loveline and will always be the one who will be the problem fixer for the two. She plays the older sister that even the almighty Goo JunPyo cannot defeat.

Jung EE Chul will be playing LEE Je Ha. He will be playing the younger brother of the student who had tried to comitt suicide in episode 1, Lee Min ha. ( EEchul plays 1 person 2 role here.) He will play the role who will try to take revenge against Goo Junpyo for causing his brother to be in a emotional/mental disaster from the bullying. Minha is currently recovering. He will be playing the role trying to break jandi and junpyo off. Jung Ee chul will be playing 1 person 2 role.

LEE min Jung will be playing the fiance of Goo Jun pyo named Ha Jae Kyung. The only daughter of the world reknowned multicorporate JK group. Because she has been living all over the world instead of having the bratty, self centered rich elite daughter personality, she will be leaning toward the more friendly happy go lucky, tomboyish image. BUsiness marriage will start the relationship with Junpyo and Jae Kyung but soon she will start to like JP seriously. Jae Kyung will be the person that will help realize Jandi’s true feelings fo JP as she starts to get jealous.

Senior actor, Lee Jung Gil will be also joing the cast as Jihoo’s grandfather AKA past PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA. He is a everyday costumer at Jandi’s Porridge place and says he is just a common charity volunteerer. He always has the regret and feels sorry for Jihoo because of the terrorist attack Jihoo’s parents dealt with causing Jihoo’s parents to die and Jihoo to have the autism.

SO EE Jung’s FIRST love CHA EUN JAE’s. The actress playing this role is still undecided. Eun jae, Ga Eul, and So EE Jung will crate a love triangle which will create another stir among the viewers.

Actress Kim So-eun is currently pulling double duty with roles in two different KBS productions: On Mondays and Tuesdays, she’s the sassy best friend in the trendy drama Boys Before Flowers, and on weekends she plays the childhood counterpart to Chae Shi-ra’s grown-up warrior leader in historical series Empress Cheon-chu.

The latter has given her the nickname “Little Chae Shi-ra,” which is pretty high praise for a rookie actress given Chae’s respected veteran status. Kim’s performances have been well-received and, following her first appearance on Empress Cheon-chu, Kim’s name shot to the top of online searches.

On an entertainment program on the 17th, Kim said, “At first it didn’t seem real. Thank you so much for supporting me… I don’t even have much experience acting, and I hardly feel like I deserve to be called ‘Little Chae Shi-ra.’” She did, however, spent months training in action school for her role, enabling her to perform her own horseback riding and falling stunts.

Boys Before Flowers‘ ratings are high for its new episodes, but even re-broadcasts are holding strong — Sunday reruns recorded an 8.6% for Episode 3 and a whopping 13.4% for Episode 4. Not only is it unusual for a rerun to pull in double-digit numbers, it’s even outperforming Sunday’s new programming, such as MBC’s variety show We Got Married (10.2%).

(Compared to other reruns: Golden Age of My Life had a 6.4% and 7.4%; East of Eden a 5.1% and 8.8%.)

Granted, We Got Married hasn’t been as popular since losing a lot of its initial couples, but that’s still got to hurt. Especially when many critically acclaimed dramas can’t even pull in double-digit ratings in their first-run broadcasts.

Boys Before Flowers will see Goo Hye Sun playing a leading role. She expressed, “It would be a lie if I said I was not feeling the burden.”

The Korean version sees Goo Hye Sun playing Yeon Woo who is an average girl and whose family owns dry-cleaning shop that is located near the luxurious and well-known Shin Hwa College. Yeon Woo meets the four richest spoilt boys when she delivers laundry to the school one day. The boys are known as F4 and causes trouble to those who dares to oppose them. More surprises are in store for F4 when Yeon Woo surprisingly enters the college for studies.
Goo Hye Sun have participated in two period dramas in King and I and Strongest Chil-Woo in the earlier part of 2008. Both saw her acting in roles that were more mature than her actual age. However, for Boys Before Flowers, she will be wearing school uniforms and play a high-school girl.

Goo Hye Sun expressed, “It would be a lie if I said I was not feeling the burden. But I feel that I can assimilate myself into the role as time goes by. I have never been more happy just preparing myself for the role. I hope that this drama will meet everyone’s expectations and I will give it my best effort.”

In other casting news that’s confirmed, Han Go Eun will play Goo Joon Pyo’s (Lee Min Ho) sister while Han Chae Young has been confirmed in a cameo role as Yoon Ji Hoo’s (Kim Hyun Joong) first love. The 24 episodes Boy Before Flowers is likely to air just before 2008 ends in December on KBS2TV.

Add one more big name to the cast of Boys Before Flowers (Hana Yori Dango): the lovely Kim Hyun-joo, last seen in last year’s drama Insoon is Pretty, has been cast in the Tsubaki role, older sister to main character Doumyouji Tsukasa.

Kim Hyun-joo’s character is named Gu Jun-hee in the series and is the chaebol successor to the family enterprise, one of the nation’s top corporations. She lives in the States, but has taken care of her little bro, played by Lee Min-ho, since their youth, in the absence of their busy business-minded parents.

I’m a bit surprised, since Kim Hyun-joo’s image is a little softer than the sassy, kickass Tsubaki I saw in the Japanese version, but I don’t think this is necessarily a bad move. The older generation needs solid actors to back up their principal cast, which is on the green side, and she’s a stronger actor than her fellow “older” castmate, Han Chae-young (Han does fit her image to a tee, though, and plays Shizuka, Rui’s (Kim Hyun-joong) first love).

The new Monday-Tuesday drama will air on KBS in December.

The latest heartthrob for Korean women is the young actor Lee Min-ho, the hero of the new hit KBS 2TV drama (airing Mon-Tues) “Boys Before Flowers.” His casting as the hero of this drama series, extremely popular across Asia, created a buzz from the start. Any handsome actor would covet the role of one of the members of the “F4,” a group of rich and popular boys at a school where the story takes place.

The Korean cast for F4 was finally revealed and the casting of a complete novice actor, Lee (22), for the role of F4 leader “Gu Jun-pyo” was almost shocking.

The series has kicked off and Lee has literally become a star overnight, silencing doubts of how he would handle the heavyweight role. His name tops various Internet search-word lists and 100,000 fans visit his Internet homepage each day.

The “F4 craze” has hit Korea since the drama series was also made in Taiwan and Japan, and Lee is at the center of it all. But he had his share of trials thus far. He debuted in the 2006 EBS drama “The Secret Campus” but had to take a year off after a car accident. After his rehabilitation, he landed his first lead role in the SBS high teen drama “Mackerel Run!” but the series ran short.

Lee said, “If I didn’t have the accident and continued acting I might not have been able to meet ‘Jun-pyo.’ I shiver at this thought. What I suffered led me to this breakthrough role. I worried about the role because I’m unknown to the public, but of course I was thrilled to be cast.”

But the title role of the super popular Asian drama series is actually a heavy burden to shoulder.

Jun-pyo is the heir to Korea’s number one conglomerate group and a typical spoiled and arrogant character. He is hot-tempered and rough, but also has childlike innocence. A polar opposite of his friend Ji-hu (played by Kim Hyeon-jung), Jun-pyo has his heart firmly set on Geum Jan-di (Gu Hye-seon), the daughter of a working class family who runs a dry cleaning store.

Women viewers empathize with the rich F4 boys doting on Jan-di. They also get to love Jun-pyo as more of his sides are shown and say he is attractive in many ways. Women want to take care of him and be embraced by him at the same time.

He is a high school student in the drama, but Lee is actually on leave from Konkuk Univ. where he majors in cinema/art. What is Lee really like? He said, “I think I’m somewhere between Jun-pyo and Jan-di. I have both sides of them. This cute handsome guy role is unfamiliar though. I can totally carry a pathetic role as well (laugh). But for now, I hope to be Jun-pyo and him alone.”

Koo Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di aka Makino Tsukushi

Lee Min Ho as Goo Joon Pyo aka Domyoji Tsukasa

Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo aka Hanazawa Rui

Kim Bum as So Yi Jung aka Nishikado Sojiro

Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin aka Mimasaka Akira

Lee Min Ho, who became wildly popular after acting as Goo Joon Pyo in “Boys Before Flowers”, recently revealed that he will have more love scandals in the near future.

Lee Min Ho plays the leader of the legendary F4 in the drama. Shortly after the broadcast of episode 1 on the 5th Jan, rumours regarding him and Davich member Kang Min Kyung in a love relationship were circulated on the internet. Hence, he was a little embarrassed recently because of the rumour.

During the interview, Lee Min Ho said: “Even before broadcast, I have already predicted that there will be such rumours regarding Kang Min Kyung and me. My intimate photos and KTV videos taken with her were widely discussed and spread around on the internet. But before this drama ends, there will be 3 others about to be in a rumour with me. They are Park Bo Young, Moon Chae Won and Choi Eun Seo.

Coincidentally, these are all the rising stars in the current Korean entertainment circle. Kang Min Kyung has maintained a very close relationship with Lee Min Ho since debut while Park Bo Young (Speed Scandal) and Moon Chae Won (The Painter of the Wind) have collaborated with him in “Our School E.T”.

Lee Min ho said: “They are like ‘brothers’ to me. I like to be close with my very good friends. I have two ex-girlfriends after 19, but none since then. I’m definitely not the one who steps on two boats (having 2 lovers at the same time) and will also not easily enter into a relationship. I like pure and demure girls.”

Tuesday January 20, 2009 Korea

MBC announced today that East of Eden will be extended by 4 episodes.

According to a person in charge, the original plan between MBC and Chorokbaem Media was to extend East of Eden by 8 episodes to cover up for the follow-up drama My Love For You abrupt cancellation. But because some of the cast members from East of Eden have other commitments, they decided to halve it to 4 episodes instead. The drama will thus end with 54 episodes. It’s believed that because the pace of the drama is progressing slower than expected, there isn’t any need to write any additional storylines.

But amidst the drama extension, there are worrying signs ahead for MBC with KBS Boys Before Flowers coming really close on the ratings front.

Boys Before Flowers set another new rating high on the 19th with 24.8% and the possibility that they could well knock East of Eden off the summit is very real despite the latter dominating for the past few months. East of Eden might still have won yesterday with 25.1% but the margin is now only 0.3%.

Since debuting, the ratings of Boys Before Flowers has been increasing with each new episode. And in only its 3rd week of broadcast, it has managed to whittled down the 10% lead held by East of Eden to only 0.3% yesterday. It will be interesting to see the final ratings after their respective episodes on the 20th. The battle between MBC and KBS has impacted SBS Terroir greatly as it registered only a dismal 6.5%, and effectively out of the equation.

Tuesday January 20, 2009 Korea

According to Kraze Entertainment today, Yoon Eun Hye has agreed to appear in Lady Castle and will be inking the contract shortly with the production company. This will be her comeback drama after Coffee Prince 1st Shop in 2007.

Lady Castle revolves around a family of 3 sisters (Eun Hye is the 2nd sister) and the inheritance left behind by their father. The broadcast station is yet to be determined, but it has already generated interest among many fans because of her stellar performance in her last drama Coffee Prince 1st Shop.

The production company behind Lady Castle is the one that caused Park Shin Yang to be suspended indefinitely by the Korea Television Drama Production Company Association last year after they refused to pay his unpaid wages. This has also led to a ban for future dramas under the production company to be shown on the 3 major Korean tv broadcasting stations and is the main reason for the delay over which tv station will Lady Castle be shown on.

The production company is now in talks with the Korea Television Drama Production Company Association and is hopeful that the ban will be lifted soon. Should there be a break down in talks resulting in Lady Castle being unable to be broadcast on the 3 major Korean broadcasting stations, then Yoon Eun Hye has the right to cancel the contract offer without any penalty at all.

According to the production company, “Other than Yoon Eun Hye, we are still in the process of selecting the other cast members. But despite the ban, we are now in talks with the tv statons and are thinking of airing it in the earlier half of 2009. If it’s not possible, then it will greet viewers in the latter half instead.”

1. What did you dream of yesterday?
YH: I can’t remember
CM: Didn’t dream
JJ: Can’t remember
YC: I didn’t dream
JS: I didn’t dream

2. What’s the first thing you see in the morning?
YH: Hand phone
CM: Manager’s face
JJ: Manager’s smiling face
YC: Hand phone
JS: Manager’s face

3. What do you feel like doing most right now?
YH: Snowboarding
CM: Travelling
JJ: Jogging
YC: Fishing
JS: Travel

4. What’s your hand phone ringtone?
YH: Hand phone ringtone (T/N: Think he means default ringtone)
CM: Vibration mode
JJ: [Mirotic]
YC: It’s usually on silent mode
JS: [Don’t Say Goodbye]

5. What do you do when you’re alone?
YH: Drive
CM: Read books
JJ: Sleep
YC: Roll around at home
JS: Drive

6. If you had a week’s holiday, what would you do?
YH: Ski resort
CM: Travel
JJ: Travel alone
YC: Snowboard
JS: Travel

7. What’s the pride of your room?
YH: Prizes we received
CM: It’s wide
JJ: Sofa
YC: Pecha (T/N: No idea what that is either.)
JS: The big window where the morning sunlight comes in from

8. What do you do to cheer yourself out when you’re sad?
YH: Dance, exercise
CM: Drive
JJ: Talk a walk
YC: Drink and talk to my brother
JS: Drive

9. What was your scariest experience so far?
YH: When I fell from the rooftop in my church
CM: When I saw a ghost (T/N: The Junsu? Or the bird? He mentioned it here)
JJ: When I injured my leg during a dance rehearsal
YC: When I first came to Japan
JS: When I heard Changmin sleep talk

10. The last time you cried?
YH: Award ceremony
CM: During a Korean award ceremony
JJ: None
YC: Not really
JS: A little during a Korean award ceremony

11. When did you feel that you’re really blessed/happy?
YH: When I’m singing on stage
CM: When I’m singing on stage
JJ: Award ceremony
YC: When I stand on stage
JS: When I lie on my bed after a day’s schedule

12. What’s your ideal type?
YH: Someone who’ll only believe in me, an optimistic person
CM: Someone who’s mature, with deep thoughts
JJ: A woman with pretty hands
YC: A gentle woman
JS: A bright/cheerful woman

13. Something a female does that makes your heart beat faster?
YH: When she brushes off the dirt/lint on my clothes
CM: When she places her hands on her chest when bowing
JJ: Nothing special, just when I feel she’s feminine
YC: When she’s washing clothes
JS: When she places her hands on her chest when bowing

14. What will you give to your girlfriend?
YH: I’ll write a song for her
CM: A bouquet
JJ: I’ll write a song for her
YC: Myself
JS: Necklace

15. What do you want for your next birthday?
YH: Shoes
CM: Car
JJ: Car
YC: Time to spend it with the people I treasure
JS: Holiday

16. If you found a million yen?
YH: Give it to the people in need
CM: Give it to the police
JJ: Give it to the police
YC: Save
JS: Give it to the police

17. If you were reborn as a girl tomorrow?
YH: Cry my heart out
CM: I want to go to an onsen
JJ: I want to buy clothes!
YC: I want to go to an onsen (T/N: hot spring)
JS: I want to go to an onsen

18. What do you want to say ‘bye-bye’ to?
YH: Injuries
CM: Cold/Flu
JJ: Muscle training
YC: Troubles
JS: Everything sad

19. You see a shooting star. What will you wish for?
YH: That time will fly faster. I want to be 30
CM: That my family will be healthy
JJ: That THSK will be a band that receives more love
YC: Happiness
JS: I want to win the lottery

20. A recent lie you told?
YH: None
CM: I didn’t lie
JJ: None
YC: Saying I wasn’t sick
JS: I can’t remember

21. What left the deepest impression on you in Japan?
YH: Eating at a restaurant with a pretty night view near the Tokyo Tower
CM: Budokan live
JJ: Appearing on [Kouhaku]
YC: Budokan live
JS: Budokan live

22. Your favourite Japanese food
YH: Motsunabe
CM: Ramen
JJ: Udon
YC: Ramen
JS: Natto

23. What food would you recommend that has kimchi in it?
YH: Tuna Kimchi rice
CM: Kimchi fried rice
JJ: Kimchi jjigae
YC: Kimchi jjigae (T/N: Kimchi stew)
JS: Kimchi fried rice

24. Your ‘enemy’ is?
YH: Myself
CM: Junsu
JJ: Myself
YC: Supper
JS: Changmin

25. What hair style would you like to try next?
YH: Permed hair
CM: Please give me Jude Law’s hairstyle
JJ: Blue hair
YC: Long and permed hair
JS: Bald

26. A secret you’ve never told anyone
YH: I don’t have anything to say
CM: No comment
JJ: I don’t tell my secrets ^^
YC: Actually, I’m lonely
JS: None

27. What’s a ‘rumor’ that you found interesting recently?
YH: That the economy will get better
CM: That the ice in the North Pole will melt
JJ: That Changmin has caught a cold
YC: I’m not interested in them
JS: Beckham’s AC Milan

28. How do you relieve stress?
YH: Drive
CM: Eat, sleep
JJ: I just blank out
YC: Supper
JS: Game

29. A recent drama/movie you’ve watched.
YH: [Mamma Mia]
CM: [Hanazakari no Kimitachi e]
JJ: [Ponyo]
YC: [Naruto]
JS: [24]

30. What would you do if you could read minds?
YH: I’d like to know what others think of me
CM: I’ll just read them
JJ: I would be boring if I could read everyone’s mind
YC: I think I’d be really distressed, and wouldn’t want to meet people
JS: Enter FBI

31. When do you feel lonely?
YH: Before I sleep
CM: Before I sleep
JJ: When I’m separated from my members
YC: When we’re on the move after our schedule ends
JS: I don’t really feel it

32. The theme song for today is?
YH: [Kiss shitamama sayonara]
CM: [Killing Me Softly]
JJ: [Wasurenaide] (T/N: Please don’t forget)
YC: [Kiss the Baby Sky]
JS: [I Believe I can Fly]

33. The first time you travelled overseas?
YH: Taiwan (T/N: That would be 2004 for the Golden Melody Awards, I think)
CM: Taiwan
JJ: Taiwan in summer 2004
YC: 1998, America
JS: Taiwan

34. What do you collect?
YH: Card keys (T/N: Hotel card keys?)
CM: CD
JJ: Accessories
YC: Plastic models from [Gundam Seed]
JS: Beautiful pictures from around the world

35. Who’s the person you want to meet most now?
YH: Obama
CM: Obama
JJ: Monkey King (T/N: Character from [Journey to the West], Sun Wu Kong, or Son Oh Kong in Korean)
YC: Santa Claus
JS: Jesus

36. Which animal do you think you resemble?
YH: Tiger
CM: Deer
JJ: Cat
YC: Polar bear
JS: Hyena

37. Truthfully, what’s your fetish?
YH: Voice
CM: Feeling
YC: Pretty nails. Not really magnificent things..
JJ: Forehead
JS: Hands

38. What do you buy unintentionally at convenience stores?
YH: Milk
CM: Hot lemon juice
JJ: Health drinks
YC: Donuts
JS: Fried chicken

39. Where do you start washing your body from in the bathroom?
YH: Hair
CM: Face
JJ: Chest
YC: Right arm
JS: Hair

40. When were you most embarrassed?
YH: When many people saw me fall
CM: When I fell in front of many people
JJ: During my audition
YC: When I fell in front of people
JS: When I was in 1st grade of elementary school, I went with my mum to the ladies section of the public bath and saw my female classmate…

41. Which part of the body do you first notice when you meet someone?
YH: Eyes
CM: Clothes
JJ: Nothing in particular, but I would notice how they pose
YC: Legs (Naturally since you bow when greeting someone)
JS: The overall atmosphere

42. If you had a kid, what kind of ‘dad’ will you be?
YH: A dad who’s like a friend
CM: I want to be a dad who’s like my dad
JJ: A tolerant dad
YC: A dad who would participate actively in my kid’s sports day
JS: A dad who’s like a friend

43. What’s something you have to do without fail every day?
YH: Celebrate
CM: Game
JJ: Half- bathing
YC: Watch [Detective Conan]
JS: Talk to my brother on the phone

44. If you could turn back time, where do you want to go back to?
YH: High school
CM: High School
JJ: Middle school
YC: Elementary school
JS: I don’t want to turn back time. The present is good!

45. What do you want to happen tomorrow?
YH: That our schedules will be cancelled and we’ll have a break
CM: That I’ll quickly recover from my cold
JJ: Win the lottery
YC: I want it to snow
JS: Turn invisible!

46. What will you be doing 10 years from now?
YH: Continue making music
CM: Continue making music and preparing for my wedding
JJ: Together with THSK
YC: The same thing as I’m doing now
JS: Singing on stage

47. What kind of year will 2009 be?
YH: A year where we’ll have lots of things to smile about
CM: A year where we’ll be able to carry out our activities without falling sick
JJ: A year busier than 2008
YC: The best year
JS: A year where we’ll all be healthy!

48. If you became the editor of [What’s In?]
YH: Only report about THSK!
CM: THSK’s tour around the world
JJ: Half of the magazine will be THSK
YC: Have a barbeque with all the staff and artistes!
JS: Have a [Globe-trotting with THSK] corner

49. A message to our readers
YH: Please support us in 2009 too
CM: Good luck!
JJ: To the readers, I’m always grateful to you
YC: Take care of yourself, don’t catch a cold!
JS: Thank you for always reading this magazine

50. A message to [What’s In]
YH: Thank you [What’s In] for always reporting on THSK from the very first time we arrived in Japan till today
CM: Please take care of us in future!
JJ: Although I feel like we’re indebted to [What’s In] since our debut days, please help us in future!! We’ll work hard
YC: Please take care of us in future. The cover too.
JS: Amongst all the magazines in Japan, [What’s In] was the first that ran a series on us. I was really happy. Please help us in future.

Tuesday January 20, 2009 Taiwan

ACTRESS Kelly Lin has denied that she married F4 actor-singer Ken Chu in Japan.

In an impromptu interview in the street last Saturday afternoon, the 33-year-old told Apple Daily she was just taking a break in Tokyo. 'I should marry in five years' time. It could be one year, or two, three years later,' the Taiwan-born Hong Kong-based actress said.

But questions remain about the hush-hush party she and Chu, 30, were said to have held that evening. They have been linked since they acted in The Tokyo Trial, a 2006 film on the World War II trials.

According to Apple Daily, their friends were asked to a dinner in Tokyo on Saturday, but not told of the place.

Lin's friend, jewellery designer Cindy Chao, also flew to Japan with a three-carat diamond ring for her, the report said.

When asked if it was a wedding band for Lin, Chao paused before saying: 'It's a belated birthday gift. She was filming in Beijing on her birthday in October last year and I couldn't give it to her in time.'

Asked about the expensive gift, Chao said: 'Friendship is priceless.' A report on China's Sina portal quoted a source as saying the party could have been for Chu, whose birthday was last Friday.

Tuesday January 20, 2009 Taiwan

Taiwan pop king Jay Chou celebrated his 30th birthday on Sunday with hundreds of fans at a cinema in Taipei.

At the party, Chou premiered the special effects-rich music video for his new single "Dragon Knight".

Among the audience members were Chou's mother and his grandma.

Chou will sing a duet of his song "A Herbalist's Manual" with renowned mainland soprano Song Zuying at China Central Television's Lunar New Year Gala on January 25, the event's general director Lang Kun said on Sunday.

I'm a firm believer in "variety is the spice of life" and you should not put all your eggs in one basket by pursuing and focusing all your efforts on one woman.

Successful online dating stories

If you are looking for a permanent girlfriend, then fine, go for it! But, you can have a lot more romance and fun by pursuing casual, short-term relationships with a variety of single women.

Another advantage to having multiple relationships going on at the same time is that you will always have a back-up. If one relationship fizzles out, then you've always got another woman waiting in the wings. Plus, you have the luxury of dropping the women that are not working out, knowing that you have other single women to take their place.

Let me tell you about a disadvantage of being tied up with just one exclusive girlfriend. You will start ignoring other single women and golden opportunities that come up to score with women. It's your choice though, if you want to be devoted to one person only, then go ahead. I sure can't stop you.

There's another thing that will help you in your pursuit of scoring with single women when you already have some casual relationships going on on the side. You feel a lot more relaxed when you are approaching women. If a woman rejects your advances, it's no big deal because you know there are more fish in the sea and you already have a harem of girls.

Plus your attitude of being relaxed and feeling no pressure will attract single women like a magnet. Why? Because single women are very attracted to men who are confident and sure of themselves.

This is very easy. Most guys today, I'm sorry to say have no idea how to treat a woman. They treat girls like a piece of garbage or they act like a doormat to beautiful women and let these women walk all over them. You cannot be a rotten no good, but you cannot be a doormat either. Once you start dating girls, treat them with respect. Treat them like you'd like another guy to treat your mother or sister.

How to make a girl like you?

Do not make a pass at a girl on the first date. She'll think you're different from most men and will want to go out with you again. Act romantic, not sex crazed. Hold her hand in the movie, open the door for her, and be polite. Act like she's precious and sweet. When you bring her home, give her a good night kiss at the door and say "I'll call you sometime." She'll be amazed at being treated like a lady.

When you take her out again, still treat her like a lady. Women are dying for romance today and the guy who knows how to provide it is a rare find. She'll let you know when she wants sex. Do not force her. Be patient. Before long she'll fall in love with you because you're a man who treats her with respect. Believe me, even a prostitute likes to be treated like a lady.

How to make a girl fall in love with you?

Tell her she is pretty and that she's nice to be with. Women love compliments. Do not ever flirt with other women when you're on a date. The girl you're with should get all your attention. But do not be a doormat either. If she flirts with a lot of men or talks about all her boyfriends, don't take her out again. If you treat her with respect she should treat you with respect.

Before long you'll have so many girls wanting to go out with you, you want have time for them all. Won't that be nice?

Also, never lead a girl on. If she tells you she is in love with you and you don't feel the same way, be honest with her. Always be honest. Women will appreciate it.

Now the most important piece of advice I can give you on women. If you can accomplish this nearly every woman you meet will fall in love with you. Always be a friend with the woman you go out with. Let her relax with you, and before long you'll become one of the most likeable guys around. All women will like you. The girls you go out with will brag to their girlfriends. Girls will be begging you to go out with them because they know you know how to treat a woman. When a woman is asked why she is deeply in love with her husband or boyfriend, she usually replies, "He is my best friend."

It is usually a boy who begins seducing a girl he is sweet on, but the other way round too can be as interesting. Seducing is like an art. The more you practice, the more you improve on it. Seducing encompasses doing things that will make the target of your attention become aware of your romantic feelings and reciprocate. While there are different methods in which a girl can express her lovey-dovey feelings to a guy, the basic ingredients required are pleasing mannerisms, spunk and a good sense of humor. In this article, we will discuss ways in which a girl can successfully seduce her guy or boyfriend.

Tips for Seducing a Guy

* Remember that you have to like yourself first even before you expect your man to like you. So, do things that will pep up your self-confidence like dress up smartly, get a new haircut, lose weight, etc. Then make a move on him.
* Whenever you speak to your love, use a very seductive tone of voice. The voice tenor should be throaty and soft, but not too nasal or high.
* Don attires that are trendy and reveal enough skin to make your man want to see more. But try not to overdo it.
* Nothing can please a guy more than the fact that his girl can dance beautifully. If you are not a dancing diva, then taking up dance classes can help to some extent.
* Walk gracefully and confidently. Maintain an impressive posture even when you are standing still or seated.
* Before proposing him directly, drop little hints to see if he is interested in you. Most men find attention from a woman quite gratifying.
* The best way to seduce a guy is by flirting with him. Look into his guy’s eyes lovingly, let that smile on your lips linger a little longer and give smart repartees to pep things up between you two.
* Leave him alone sometimes. Let him miss your company. It will also give him time to ponder over the blossoming relationship or get over past misgivings about an ex-lover.
* Remember not to reveal too much information about yourself too soon because that will just make him lose interest in you.
* Touch him, perhaps on the hand or wrist. This will subtly demonstrate that you are interested.
* SMS him romantic quotes, flirty jokes or invite him out for a date.
Speak to him and let him know that you like him. Men like to hear that they are wanted just as much as girls do.
* Whether, you wish to take things to the next level, now depends entirely on you. If you feel that he is regarding you as a conquest, then tell him that and leave. This could make him genuinely fall in love with you.

LEE DA HAE

LEE DA HAE

Profile

* Name: 이다해 / Lee Da Hae
* Real name: 변다혜 / Byun Da Hye
* Profession: Actress and model
* Birthdate: 1984-Apr-19
* Birthplace: South Korea
* Height: 170cm
* Weight: 47kg
* Star sign: Aries
* Blood type: O
* Family: Older brother
* Talent agency: Star K Entertainment (http://cafe.star-k.co.kr)

TV Series

* East of Eden (MBC, 2008)
* Robber (SBS, 2008)
* Hello! Miss (KBS2, 2007)
* My Girl (SBS, 2005)
* Green Rose (SBS, 2005)
* Five Fingers (MBC, 2005)
* Lotus Flower Fairy (MBC, 2004)
* Star's Echo (MBC/Fuji TV 2004)
* Sweet 18 (KBS2, 2004)
* Good News (MBC, 2003)
* Love of Thousands Years (SBS, 2003)
* Shoot for the Star (SBS, 2002)
* Ling Ling (MBC, 2002)

Recognitions

* 2008 Asia Model Festival Awards: Popular Female Star Award
* 2007 KBS Performance Awards: Excellence Award - Mini Series (Hello! Miss)
* 2006 SBS Performance Awards: Top 10 Popularity Award
* 2005 SBS Performance Awards: Performance Award - Drama Special for Green Rose and My Girl
* 41st Baeksang Arts Awards: Best New Actress for Lotus Flower Fairy (2005)
* 2004 MBC Acting Awards: New Actress Award for Lotus Flower Fairy


Trivia

* Education: Burwood Girls High School (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), Dongguk University (Theater and Film degree)
* Hobbies: Watching movies
* Languages: Korean and English
* Has released a digital single called "If You are Willing To" (당신이 원하신다면) from the drama My Girl that she sang in episode 4
* Lee and her family lived in Sydney, New South Wales for 5 years

On January 15, the Asia Model Festival Awards were held at Seoul’s COEX Convention Hall. The event took “Asia is One” as its slogan, probably to explain a few of the awards handed to (pan-)Asian actors (read: non-Korean) like Joe Cheng and Hayashi Tantan.

I’m not really sure about how they decided on the winners, which include both actors and models, but as with so many of these events, it’s not so much about the relevance as it is about the pretty.



Winners List

Asia Star Award (Korea): Song Il-kook, Wonder Girls
Asia Star Award (International): Lin Chi-ling, Hayashi Tantan
Special Asia Star Award: Joe Cheng

Popular Star Award: Park Hae-jin, Lee Da-hae
Popular Singer Award: Kim Jong-kook, Baek Ji-young, Brown Eyed Girls
Model Star Award: Oh Ji-ho, Han Ji-hye
Special Model Award: Kim Jae-wook, Yoon So-yi, Seo In-young

Fashion Model Award: Kim Young-kwang, Kim Da-eul
CF Model Award: Lee Kwang-soo, Oh Yeon-seo
2009 Racing Model Award: Gu Ji-sung
2009 Racing Model Popularity Award: Lee Su-jin
Rookie Model Award: Ahn Jae-hyun, Im Ji-eun
International Cultural Exchange Award: Andre Kim


Asia Star Award (Korea) winner Song Il-kook (Kingdom of the Wind). I don’t see what the point is when a Korean awards show takes particular effort to make an “Asian” (as in, pan-Asian) award, then divide it up between “Korean” and “International” winners. Hello, redundancy?

Taiwanese supermodel Lin Chi-ling was given an Asia Star Award (International):


Young Japanese actress Hayashi Tantan also received an Asia Star Award (International):


Joe Cheng was given a Special Asia Star Award. He is wearing what appears to be a furry vest OVER a formal suit.




Yes, the front view of Lee Da-hae, winning the popularity award with her East of Eden co-star Park Hae-jin, is very pretty:
But it’s the back of the summery yellow frock that really makes the look. Love the color, love the crisscrossing ribbons, and she looks beautiful in it.


Three artists won the Popular Singer Award. First, Kim Jong-kook in his suit of armor (seriously, that thing looks suffocating):



Second, Baek Ji-young, who I think looks fantastic and casually elegant with that dress and loosely pulled-back hair.


And third, Brown Eyed Girls. Yikes, those are some short skirts. I didn’t think it was possible to take the Fashion Blight That Will Not Die (i.e., leggings) and make them any tackier, but there you go — pleather!



Model Star Award winner Han Ji-hye (East of Eden) has been really rocking the awards and red carpets in the past year, hasn’t she? That said, I wonder if MBC paid off the awards committee to hype up its Eden actors…



Oh Ji-ho (Single Papa in Love) took the other Model Star Award. Not sure what makes him a “model star,” but he looks good.


Special Model Award recipient (one of three) Kim Jae-wook (Coffee Prince) is dressed almost the same as Oh Ji-ho above, but he wears his suit with panache. I’m digging the casual open neck. Now if only he would straighten up his posture.