On October 8, the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, opened in Busan. (Yes, the city takes a different official spelling than the film festival. Blame inconsistent Romanization.)

As the largest film festival in Korea, it drew a large list of attendees, as you can see from the long list of red-carpet walkers. It was definitely a star-studded opening night, and even included one familiar Hollywood face (Josh Hartnett).

This year’s PIFF features its largest lineup to date, screening 355 films from 70 countries, and closes on the 16th.

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Read the rest of Opening red carpet at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (241 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jung-won, Eom Ji-won, film festivals, Go Eun-ah, Go Jun-hee, Ha Ji-won, Han Chae-young, Han Eun-jung, Han Hye-jin, Han Ji-hye, Han Ye-seul, Im Joo-hwan, Im Soo-jung, Jang Dong-gun, Jang Hyuk, Jeon Do-yeon, Jeon Hye-bin, Jo Jae-hyun, Jung Ryeo-won, Kang Ji-hwan, Kim Haneul, Kim Kang-woo, Kim Nam-gil, Kim So-yeon, Kim Yunjin, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Seon-kyun, Min Hyo-rin, Park Hee-soon, Seo Woo, So Ji-sub, Su Ae, Sung Yuri, Sunwoo Sun, Uhm Jung-hwa, Wang Seok-hyun, Yeh Ji-won, Yoo Hana, Yoo Sun, Yoon Kye-sang

As previously mentioned, singer-dancer-actor-designer-CEO-”world star” Rain is coming out with his own fashion line, “Six to Five,” which he kicked off in style on the 23rd with a fashion show–launch party–mini concert. Trust Mr. Multihyphenate to give the same treatment to his big events.

The launching party took place in Ilsan and was attended by some of Rain’s industry buddies, though not a whole slew of them; some key attendees included Hyori, Yoon Kye-sang, Chae Rim and Kim Sun-ah.

Apparently, the rocket was chosen as the brand symbol to express “the spirit of challenge that overcomes time and space.” Er….. Furthermore, the brand name is based on the concept of moving from the five senses into the realm of the sixth… in which case, shouldn’t the brand name be Five to Six? O_o

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Read the rest of Rain hosts, struts, sings, and dances at Six To Five launch (405 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Chae Rim, fashion, Jung Jun-ho, Kim Sun-ah, Lee Hyori, Park Ji-yoon, Rain, Seo In-young, Yoon Kye-sang

After all the hullaballo, Kwon Sang-woo finally married Sohn Tae-young today (September 28), and I for one am glad, since we won’t be having to hear about it anymore.

The couple gave a press conference prior to the wedding, as the wedding itself was closed to the press. Sohn Tae-young wore a Kenneth Pool gown, which she bought on the couple’s recent trip to England.

Kwon: “I’m finally getting married. I’m so nervous — my nerves don’t begin to compare with any film festival or event I’ve been to. … We’ll live happily together. I vow to love her forever.” Sohn: “It doesn’t feel real yet. Actually, I wasn’t nervous at all while getting ready. But now I’m starting to feel it.”

When asked about kids, Kwon answered that he’d like three, but joked that Sohn “has agreed to two, for her figure’s sake.”

And, since it’s not every day such a huge Hallyu star gets married, we have a pretty impressive guest-star roster that rivals the red carpet at some of the largest industry events.

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Read the rest of Kwon Sang-woo weds Sohn Tae-young (finally) (286 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Cha Seung-won, Choi Ji-woo, Ha Ji-won, Han Ga-in, Hwang Bo, Jang Dong-gun, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Sung-soo, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Jung-jae, Lee Jung-jin, Oh Ji-ho, So Ji-sub, Sohn Tae-young, Song Seung-heon, star romances, weddings, Yoo Ji-tae

Actress Byun Jung-soo (The Last Scandal of My Life, Bad Couple) currently hosts her own “style variety” program, the Olive Show on cable channel Olive TV. This time, she’s posing semi-nude for her “O’Love Your Body Naked Project” (I’m mildly surprised that they pulled off an English-language pun without being Konglish-y for once. Still a bad pun though).

A worthy cause, I’m sure, which brings to mind similar things like the (American) Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. This O’Love campaign operates under the message of “loving yourself and your body proudly, as it is.” Although, I’m sure it’s a lot easier to tell people not to hate their bodies when you’re rockin’ Byun’s sleek “S-line” and model-perfect figure.

(I jest, I jest, kinda. I may not have her body, but I don’t hate it by mere dint of the fact that it functions, mostly painlessly, mostly as it should and with reasonable ability to recover from the abuses to which I subject it daily. Most of them caffeine-related. But still, it sure is easy to be a spokesmodel for loving yourself when you’re widely regarded to be one of the national standards of feminine beauty, isn’t it?)

But even tall, slender former models like Byun aren’t free from body worries, as the mother of two expressed having had initial hesitation to pose for the skin-baring photo op. However, she thought the message worthwhile, explaining, “These days, countless twenty- and thirtysomething women shrink back, thinking they’re overweight, or ugly, which saddens me. I think women are most beautiful when they’re confident in themselves.”

Via Hankyung.com

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, photo shoots

There’s something to be said for a drama that ends just the way you expected but manages to be satisfying just the same. Which doesn’t mean it was flawless (and I’ll discuss that later) but for the most part, I ended this series with a satisfied sigh. Despite having a second season planned for later this year, we get a nice wrap-up for the characters and a general sense of well-being for their future.

SONG OF THE DAY

Sweet Sorrow – “예뻐요” (You’re beautiful) [ Download ]

 
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Read the rest of The Last Scandal of My Life: Episode 16 (Final) (2,879 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jin-shil, Choi Jung-yoon, episode recaps, Jung Jun-ho, The Last Scandal of My Life

The Last Scandal of My Life is SUPER FUN. It’s too bad I came upon this delightful series so late (it’s aired 14 episodes of its 16), but on the bright side, I have lots of episodes to catch up on without having to wait.

Since I haven’t caught up yet, please do me the favor and DON’T SPOIL ME! That’s all I ask.

I have my own drama biases to blame for initially passing over Last Scandal, and that’s because it seemed such a typical ajumma drama. I’m not ragging on ajummas — I know lots of them, I love them, I hope to transition into one gracefully — but the ajumma drama as a genre is not my favorite. I think the poster reminded me of standard adultery fare like My Man’s Woman.

But Last Scandal isn’t at all overwrought or melodramatic. It’s hilarious. It’s like Full House with better acting and more complex character relationships, with a liberal dash of Dal Ja’s Spring mixed in. And I’ve always liked Choi Jin Shil, although I’ve only seen her in three projects (original trendy drama Jealousy, original Cinderella drama Star in My Heart, and romantic weepie movie The Letter) — but she’s as adorable at almost-40 as she was at 20.

SONG OF THE DAY

The Last Scandal of My Life OST – “사랑이 올까요” (Will love come?) [ Download ]

 
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Read the rest of The Last Scandal of My Life (2,942 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jin-shil, episode recaps, Jung Jun-ho, The Last Scandal of My Life

Don’t worry, that’s just the first scene of the episode. I’d have picked a more cheerful one, but I didn’t want to spoil anything. Even if it is the last episode so there’s not a whole lot I can spoil at this point.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Sol Flower – “Kiss the Kids,” a 25-year-old singer whose real name is Min Hana. She may be described as R&B, but that (to me) suggests a pop sensibiilty, and this is more… indie-soul? [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of Bad Couple: Episode 16 (Final) (1,566 words)

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Post tags: Bad Couple, Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jung-yoon, episode recaps, Ryu Soo-young, Shin Eun-kyung, Yoo Gun