Who else looks at celebrity power couple Cha In Pyo and Shin Aera and remembers the old-school hit drama they were in together back when they were both young new faces, Love Is In Your Arms [Sarang eul gudae eui poom ahn ae]? I think it’s rather amazing they’ve stayed married (and both working over the years) for so long — over twelve years — and now they’re in the news again for adopting a baby girl.

Although Korea’s known for having been a large source of international adoptions, the practice is less common domestically, for lots of various reasons (which is why they put up campaigns like this one). Perhaps that’s why the couple has been on the receiving end of lots of praise for adopting, although they’ve expressed their surprise at the public reaction; they didn’t think it would result in such praise.

The couple already have two children (their second was also adopted, in December 2005) and had expressed intent to adopt again, but waited till now to allow their younger child time to adjust. Their biological son, Jung Min, is 11 years old; sister Yeh Eun is 4; and the youngest, new adoptee Yeh Jin, recently reached her 100-day milestone.

Via Newsen

SONG OF THE DAY

Tim - “고마운 기적” (Thankful miracle). I could do without the smooth jazz intro (whoa, shades of Kenny G) but otherwise a nice ballad. [ zShare download ]

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Seriously, if there’s one thing Korea knows how to do right, it’s branded entertainment. They did it with the Anycall series (Anyclub, Anymotion, Anyband), and many of their commercial ad campaigns and music videos are high-profile and large-scale, practically like mini-movies in and of themselves.

This time, the male cosmetics line Black ‘N Jean has tapped adorable rising star Jang Geun Seok, currently paining me as the unemotional Chang Whe in fusion sageuk drama Hong Gil Dong, as their brand model. And they’re sparing no expense for what basically amounts to a glorified hair-product commercial, bringing in kpop hitmaker Park Jin Young, aka JYP, to write the song that Mr. Jang sings himself.

The song, “Black Engine,” is a play on the cosmetic line’s name, and is described as hip-hop electronica; it showcases Jang Geun Seok gettin’ his groove on while acting cool and sporting a variety of funky hairstyles.

The guy is totally adorable, I get it. And he’s obviously rocking the young hip urban thing, which is why it’s interesting that he’s made his name starring in historical dramas. Here’s the MV for the campaign, which officially launches the 28th:

Via Star News, Mk.co.kr

Black ‘N Jean home: http://www.blacknjean.co.kr/

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After it became known that announcer Han Joon Ho is a member of Mensa — the group open only to those with high IQs (specifically, those who score above the 98th percentile on standardized IQ tests) — interest arose in the topic of celebrity IQs.

For reference, the average IQ is 100, although the range can be extended to include 90 through 109. (110-119 is superior intelligence, 120-140 is very superior, and above 140 is generally known as genius level. Conversely, 80-89 is in the “dull” range, 70-79 is borderline deficient, and under 70 is considered “feeble-minded.”) And yes, I know IQ can be considered an outdated standard of measurement.

Now, some of these names are familiar, but some are a bit surprising. Goong’s Kim Jung Hoon, a smarty? Whoaaa. Not that he seemed, well, un-smart, but I’m a little surprised.

SONG OF THE DAY

Epik High - “Lesson 2 (Sunset)” [ zShare download ]

Who’s a smarty and what’s their IQ? >>

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Actress Han Ji Hye returns to the big screen in the upcoming dramatic love story Humming as a mature, pure-hearted “romance queen” — the kind of woman with a deep love for “only one man” who must prepare for their separation.

Her recent projects have mostly been in television dramas — she’s currently in the KBS daily drama Ugly or Beautiful [Miuna, gouna] — and this’ll mark her first film since she acted with now-ex-boyfriend Lee Dong Gun in the 2005 romantic comedy My Boyfriend is Type B.

In Humming, she stars with Lee Chun Hee, as a devoted-in-love character, and describes the film as “a heart-breaking love story and a mysterious fantasy [that] are brought together in a fresh way to move hearts.”

The article — which reads like a press release — promises that “all of Korea’s women will sympathize with Han Ji Hye’s character, who falls deeply in love in this perfect romance.”

The movie opens in time for White Day on March 13 and, I dunno about you, but for me it contains every element I heartily dislike in a film. Overly earnest once-in-a-lifetime love story? Yep. Implied death by cancer or other tragically trite plot device? All signs point to yes. No plot to speak of (merely placeholder descriptors like “moving” and “deep” and “heartbreaking”)? Oh yeah.

Via CNB News

SONG OF THE DAY

Sang Sang Band - “가지마 가지마” (Don’t go, don’t go) [ zShare download ]

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Jumong and Lobbyist actor Song Il Kook is being charged with violent assault of a female reporter.

Denials and allegations have been flung back and forth — he hit her, no he didn’t, he never laid a finger on her — and the actor’s side is preparing to countersue.

The alleged incident occurred a week ago on the 17th, in front of his home. According to the plaintiff Ms. Kim, a reporter for a monthly magazine, she’d been waiting alone in her car near his home, intending to request an interview about his upcoming wedding (which was announced recently). She got out of the car while talking on her cell phone, and reached out to hold the actor’s right arm. He shook her off, striking her in the face, and broke one front tooth while shaking loose three others.

Naturally, the actor is denying the charge. He claims to never have touched her at all, breaking her tooth through sheer mindpower instead (kidding! — but you knew that). Song says the charges are groundless and intends to sue her back for libel.

The two sides tell such differing stories that a full police and legal investigation is inevitable. At this point, more details aren’t forthcoming, since both sides have lawyered up and are being careful about answering questions.

It’s hard to tell what’s truth and what’s fiction — or, at the very least, exaggeration — in cases like this. For instance, it’s possible he hit her accidentally (as a few papers suggest), in which case I doubt people would blame him — but then why say he never touched her? And I doubt a reporter would deliberately break her own teeth, but just because it’s improbable doesn’t make it impossible.

So I’ll stick to saying: Paparazzi suck. Reporters who harass suck. And men who hit women really suck.

Via Go News, Mk.co.kr

SONG OF THE DAY

Misty Rain - “Wanna Be” [ zShare download ]

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