Aw, cute. Glam, poised star Choi Ji-woo was seen recently out on a public date with her slightly less-famous actor boyfriend Lee Jin-wook as the two strolled down the street of the Seoul neighborhood of Insadong.

Photos cropped up online on September 16 showing the couple holding hands, both wearing hats, while Choi Ji-woo also wore sunglasses and a mask to cover her face. Despite the attempt to be less conspicuous, sharp-eyed observers were immediately able to recognize the famous pair.

Lee Jin-wook is currently serving in the military for his mandatory two years. He and Choi Ji-woo had worked together on the 2007 MBC drama Air City, although they were not reportedly seeing each other at that time. News that Choi and Lee were dating came out in February, a few months before his May enlistment. He is currently out on a brief six-day, five-night leave.

Via CNB News

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SBS’s drama A Star’s Lover was not a hit in Korea, but (as expected) it’s doing well in Japan, thanks in no small part to Choi Ji-woo’s immense popularity there.

A Star’s Lover was broadcast on Japanese satellite and cable channel WOWOW TV starting in May, and will follow that with a run on a major broadcast station beginning August 25, airing as a Monday-Tuesday series.

Such is the reaction among buyers and Japanese retail and DVD production outlets that A Star’s Lover is being called “a second Winter Sonata” — strong words, given how incredibly strong (and lasting) the impression was from that drama. In June, a concert was held featuring the series’ soundtrack and earned such huge response that additional promotional materials are in the pipeline, from novelizations of the drama, guidebooks, the soundtrack album, and even chocolates.

CEO Go Dae-hwa of the production company Olive Nine said, “Even we at the production company did not know that the drama would cause such a tremendous response in Japan.”

I admit I still haven’t finished the drama, and even with only two episodes left, I have no desire to see the ending (so… painfully… slow). However, I will agree that Choi Ji-woo and Yoo Ji-tae were gorgeous and had intense chemistry (amidst all the crying and wailing), the scenery was beautiful, and the first four episodes were touched with a little extra magic that I wished carried through to the end. But in any case, I’m happy to hear it’s doing so well; all underperforming dramas should get second chances elsewhere.

Via OSEN

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It’s almost hard to remember that Choi Ji-woo rose to fame portraying an innocent image when she’s been gravitating more toward chic, refined characters and looks in recent years. She poses here for a new photo shoot called “Vidi Vici by Lee Kyung-min,” which is basically a photo shoot promoting the makeup of cosmetic brand Vidi Vici.

[Read more →]

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Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, appearing together in Japan for a Winter Sonata-related event? Will the Tokyo Dome be able to contain the excitement?

Choi’s management announced on June 23 that the pair would appear at a special event in Japan on September 29 in advance of the Japanese broadcast of the animated Winter Sonata. Both actors lent their voices to dub the project, reprising their characters Joon-sang and Yu-jin from the 2002 original.

The event will take place at Tokyo Dome, and also be broadcast live via satellite into theaters nationwide to an overall audience of about 50,000.

Choi Ji-woo explained of the animated project, “The plot is basically similar to the original drama, but it has its own unique flavor and a fairy-tale-like feel.” The animated series will broadcast in both Korea and Japan this fall.

Bae Yong-joon will be pulling double-duty; the very next day, at the same venue, he will hold an event celebrating the publication of his book, Korea’s Beauty (working title).

Via Now News

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We first heard about the animated version of Winter Sonata being produced way back in 2007, and now the project is making more progress. Lead actors Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, who helped catapult the original kdrama to pan-Asian fame, began the voice work of dubbing the animated version earlier this month.

A production rep explained, “We can’t yet reveal our schedule concretely, but the first dubbing work was completed in a studio in Korea in early May.” The series is a Korea-Japan co-production, and is planning to broadcast in both Korean and Japan later this fall.

What say you to the animated versions of Yonsama and Ji-woo-hime? I can’t really see much of Choi Ji-woo’s actual facial features in the drawing (although I think the overall look is enough like her character), but Bae Yong-joon is pretty spot-on. They got him down perfectly! (Or perhaps he’s just got a look that is easily conveyed in anime form in the first place? That might help explain the overwhelming Japanese love of Yonsama…)

Via Mk.co.kr

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