New (old) show!

I just recently saw that Imaginasian TV just started showing the first season of Korean reality show I Am a Model, and tuned in out of curiosity. Originally aired on Korean cable channel Mnet, I Am a Model was pretty successful and has aired multiple seasons (three, I think). I never caught it, because I don’t watch Korean cable or reality/variety programs that much.

In the absence of AZN, Imaginasian’s got some decent programming (check your cable listings!), and I found myself liking I Am a Model. The episodes are subbed in English and similar to America’s Next Top Model, minus the shenanigans. If you’re like me, you watch America’s Next Top Model despite yourself — you know it’s predictable and most likely rigged and way too loaded down with exaggerated “drama.” Plus Tyra’s getting crazier and crazier, and not in a good way. But the premise is interesting, and you fast-forward through all the humdrum boring parts to get to the actual point — the photo shoots and judging. (There’s just no way to watch ANTM live, because the filler stuff will make you want to slap somebody.)

I Am a Model is less conflict and more about actual modeling (who’d'a thunk?). For that reason, it might be a dry watch for some viewers, but I liked it much more. It’s only up to the second episode so far and I know nothing about the model-contestants, but I kind of like it that way. I’d rather just see how they’re judged based on their evaluations and photo shoots.

Model-contestants Park Hee Hyun, Han Boram, Kim So Young, Kang Suji, Yoon Jihye, Park Eun Hye

SONG OF THE DAY

Humming Urban Stereo - “Delight Disco” [ Download ]

 
I AM A MODEL >>

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Wow, that was fast. World-famous figure skater (and reigning — two-time — world bronze medalist) Kim Yuna showed her little-known singing skills when she recorded a segment as a guest on SBS’s new program The Star Show on May 8. The segment is to be broadcast on the May 12 episode, but the clip is already online.

Kim Yuna professes to enjoy going to karaoke rooms (noraebangs) frequently, and sang the song “만약에” (What if), originally performed by Girls Generation’s Tae Yeon — which you may recall receiving significant airtime in the recent drama series Hong Gil Dong.

Granted, it’s not exactly a perfect performance, and she chose a difficult song to perform live — but dude, I’m not going to rip on the singing skills of anyone who can propel themselves more than their own body length through the air while spinning multiple times and landing upright on the edge of a blade. Mad respect to skaters (figure and otherwise).

(And besides, she still sounds a lot better than, say, any or all of the Wonder Girls live. Talk about nails on a chalkboard. Screeeech.)

Via Hankyung

SONG OF THE DAY

Tae Yeon - “만약에” (What if) from the Hong Gil Dong OST. Used most prominently in Episode 7.
[ Download ] (repost)

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Best Actress winners Yoon Eun Hye (drama), Kim Min Hee (film)

The 44th Baeksang Arts Awards were held in Seoul on April 24, handing out top honors to the films and television programs of the previous year.

Big winners included films The Chaser and Forever the Moment (aka The Best Moment In Our Lives); Yoon Eun Hye won for her trend-setting turn as Go Eun Chan in last year’s smash drama Coffee Prince, while War of Money took home Best Drama.

SONG OF THE DAY

MC Mong - “옛날 옛적에” (Once upon a time) from his recently released fourth album. [ Download ]

 
Full awards list for the 44th BAEKSANG AWARDS >>

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Interesting. Another Misuda panelist in the harsh glare of the media spotlight.

I don’t really follow Misuda (Chatting with Beautiful Women, aka Global Talk Show), for various reasons which I’ve mentioned before. But it’s a pretty popular talk show, and has managed to springboard its foreigners-in-Korea panelists to visibility, some even to acting roles or singing (with varying degrees of success). It’s a non-threatening way for Korea to indulge its fascination with things Western and foreign from within the safe confines of talking about something comfortable — itself.

Some former Misuda participants who’ve moved on to bigger entertainment careers include Haiyen (Vietnam, acting), Eva (Britain, acting), and Jamilya (Uzbekistan, singing — although I use the term “singing” lightly).

All week long, Chinese participant Cai Lina has been in the news and generally lambasted because of the discovery that she actually does have Korean parentage. What’s the big fuss?, you might ask. Given that she’s built up her image through Misuda, and that Misuda is explicitly a show for non-Korean residents of Korea, people are finding her so-called “hidden” Korean background to be disingenuous. Particularly since she’s passed herself off as a Chinese student with an interest in Korean culture.

The netizen response (are we surprised?) has been typically severe. Cai Lina has defended herself saying she’d never concealed her Korean parentage (just not gone out of her way to make it known, perhaps). But people are saying some pretty harsh things, particularly on her own mini-homepage. The backlash almost reminds me of the recent spate of “memoirs” that have been outed as fake (Peggy Seltzer, James Frey), although to a lesser degree; the public feels as though they’ve been cheated, having been sold one thing and receiving another.

The head PD of the program is defending its panelist, saying it will take legal measures to counter some of the more serious and malicious statements being leveled against her, and possibly even request the cyber investigation department’s involvement. A source says, “If you take a look, a few people are continually changing their IDs to post negative comments,” and suggested taking a hard line in dealing with the matter. (And I say: Dude, this is the internet. Like that’s new?)

As of now, there are no plans to remove Cai Lina from the Misuda lineup. She explained that she doesn’t see the big deal, especially since she’s been raised in a Chinese environment and schooled in the Chinese education system, and therefore feels more affinity with her identity as Chinese. She does have a point, but come on, would a (full-blooded) Korean born in America be accepted on Misuda and praised for her interest in Korean culture despite her American identity? (I can tell you, that’s an emphatic no.)

Personally, I think there’s a grey area where Misuda is concerned, because of the nature of the program. If she were an actress or singer, the internet blowup would be an overreaction, because her background shouldn’t affect the quality of her work. But Misuda trades on the novelty of its kitschy-cute-foreigners angle, and when its raison d’etre is undermined, it’s got a very weak leg to stand on, methinks. But then again, I think it’s a silly show to begin with.

Via Hankyung

SONG OF THE DAY

Wax - “그 흔한 김씨” (That common Mr. Kim) [ Download ]

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Seo Min Jung is pregnant! (She’s reportedly five months along and expecting in the summer.)

The actress was married last August to a Korean-American dentist and has since removed herself from the entertainment sphere, living with her husband in New York. Seo is most well-known for her role as the cute and klutzy teacher on 2007’s very popular family sitcom Unstoppable High Kick, who shared a (sorta) “loveline” with up-and-coming heartthrob Jung Il Woo — whose character was a high school student ten years her junior. (I admit, their “they can’t really go there… can they?” storyline was what kept my interest going in the sitcom.)

Speaking of whom, the other High Kick-ers are all busy with their own careers, particularly the young talents who shot to fame as a result of the series. Checking in with the rest of the cast:

Jung Il Woo recently started his university life and just shot a spread for Vogue Girl’s March issue, sporting his trademark sensitive-pretty-boy image. (I always thought it was interesting how his character was such a rebel, and how it worked despite his pretty looks. Damn he’s got some great skin.) His most recent project was the omnibus (multi-vignette) film My Love, which also starred Lee Yeon Hee and Uhm Tae Woong, among others.

Meanwhile, baby-faced actor Kim Hye Sung, who played Jung Il Woo’s brother in High Kick, now takes on a gay role opposite Lee Hyun Jin in the queer film Boy Meets Boy. Notably, both lead actors have no dialogue and act purely in gestures and looks. The concept worked extremely well in Kim Ki-duk’s 3 Iron; let’s see if it works here.

Park Min Young, who played empty-headed Yumi, recently shot a photo spread showing a newer, more mature (read: sexay) image, and is now being compared with pop group Sugar’s Hwang Jung Eum, who also revealed a new photo spread showing a new, glamorous image. Naturally, whenever two things share even the smallest similarity, netizens will flock to pit one against the other in some kind of pointless manufactured faceoff.

Kim Bum will be playing Song Seung Heon’s younger counterpart in the upcoming MBC drama East of Eden.

And Koyote singer Shinji has a duet on the new album for H-Eugene, an R&B-style ballad called “남이라고” (Calling me a stranger).

Jung Il Woo, Park Min Young, Kim Hye Sung

 
Mk.co.kr, Mk.co.kr, Go News, Go News, Sports Seoul

SONG OF THE DAY

Soul Tronik - “As U See” [ zShare download ]

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