If that ain’t the picture of “triumphant return,” I don’t know what is.

The sizable cast of upcoming epic drama East of Eden held its production press conference on August 21, and trotted out all most of its big names (and it has many, although some were either not in attendance or weren’t photographed — no Lee Mi-sook?). The event was held at the drama’s open set location in South Gyeongsang province (located on the southeastern part of the peninsula, near Busan).

Everyone looks healthy and happy, although pretty-faced Song Seung-heon seems a little, um, smirkier than usual, doesn’t he? (I don’t think it’s his best look.)

The drama premieres August 25 on MBC (it’s a Monday-Tuesday-er).

The cast is, from left to right: Park Hae-shin, Han Ji-hye, Yeon Jung-hoon, Lee Da-hae, drama PD Kim Jin-man, Song Seung-heon, Lee Yeon-hee, and Jo Min-ki. (Too bad they didn’t decide to pose under their poster images, like some sort of performance-art onscreen-versus-reality juxtaposition. Or, you know, just for fun.)

More cast pics beyond the jump >>

Tags: East of Eden, Han Ji-hye, Lee Da-hae, Lee Yeon-hee, Park Hae-shin, press conferences, Song Seung-heon

Filed under: Drama Casting & News by javabeans - 25 Comments →

On August 9, actress Han Ji-hye took her place in front of the mic at Intersound recording studio in Seoul.

She was there to sing the (or should I say one of many) Olympic theme song “Friends” with a guy identified merely as “Chinese star William.” (Using those details, I’ve been unable to Google anything more relevant than William Hung — and Naver gives me, alternately, Prince William or Tony Leung — and I know that’s not right. Anyone got more info on the guy? Thanks for the identification, he is Leon Jay Williams.)

Han was brought to this project via a proposal from the Chinese Olympic committee to sing “Friends” as the official swimming theme (er, is this new? Does each event get a theme song? Cuz I’d like to hear what they’d call the theme for boxing (“Hit Him”? “No Longer Friends”?) or, say, badminton). The song will mark the men’s 400m freestyle event taking place on August 10, at which 18-year-old Korean swimmer (and gold-medal hopeful) Park Tae-hwan is to compete.

Han isn’t a total rookie in the recording studio — she surprised with her singing for the OST of her recent movie Humming. She says, “Do you know that my dream as a child was to be a singer? I’ve always loved dancing and singing, so there was a time I briefly thought, ‘I should become a singer.’” She put those dreams away when she became an actress instead, but sees this as a chance to do something new.

“I’d love for this theme song to cheer on our athletes even a little. I hope that they meet with good results befitting the amount of hard work they’ve put into this,” she said.

The recording session was rushed, as Han Ji-hye is in the midst of filming East of Eden. Finally — can’t wait for that show to start airing so we can stop hearing about how it’s about to start airing.

Via My Daily

Tags: Han Ji-hye, Park Tae-hwan, star extracurricular activities

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 18 Comments →

• Actor-singer Lee Seung Gi broke a finger on the 23rd while filming his segment for the popular Happy Sunday variety program, and underwent surgery. Although he doesn’t think the injury is overly serious, he’ll most likely have stop his broadcast activities for the immediate future. Aw.
• Actress and former Baby VOX popstarlet Yoon Eun Hye is singing for the first time in a long while since she left pop music to transition into a successful acting career. She lends her vocals to “I Love You,” the debut single for new rap duo Mighty Mouth (oops, not Mighty Mouse like I thought, which woulda been kinda more awesome) — but insists this does not indicate a return to her singer status.



• After the recent massive oil spill, reports of local residents going so far as to commit suicide because of their troubles have reached a sympathetic Bada, who was moved by the people’s plight and is putting together a charity concert in the name of reviving the local economy of Mallipo Beach in western Korea.
• Seems like Rain is in the news constantly for one reason or another — and now it’s because apparently the Chinese netizens are angry again. First it was over his participation in singing Samsung’s Olympics theme song — ’cause you know, the only people allowed to sing at any particular Olympics are the citizens of the country hosting it. Now they’re calling him “arrogant” because he turned down Chinese Olympics ambassador (and gold-medalist gymnast) Liu Xuan’s request for a song at an Olympics promotion press conference due to time constraints; they’re saying, “Liu Xuan was dishonored internationally” and “How long would it have taken to sing a few lines?” and “Koreans are impatient and give no leeway so they really seem rude often.” Ahh, nothing like the Olympics to foster discontent. Whatever happened to international harmony, fraternity, and the symbolic Olympic rings?



• It’s common knowledge that actresses Han Ji Hye and Han Ye Seul are good friends — but who knew they’re also too good to mingle with the masses? Apparently the two go out clubbing — no drinks, just dancing — twice a year: once on each of their birthdays. Actor Lee Chun Hee recalled on a soon-to-air episode of Sang Sang Plus seeing the two at a club before they were famous, dancing together and ignoring any male attempts to approach them. Asked why, Han Ji Hye said that before their debuts, it was because “we had pride.” Afterward, it was because “we knew we were going to be actresses so we decided not to party with anyone else, just dance with the two of us.” Hm, I’m trying to figure out a way to interpret her answer as anything but bratty and stuck-up. Someone tell her pride and ego are different things.

SONG OF THE DAY

Bada - “Destiny” [ zShare download ]

RELATED POSTS:

• Rain as a Hollywoodified ninja
• Rain, watch out for that — *thunk!* — glass ceiling
• News bites: February 4, 2008
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• Han Ji Hye graduates to “romance queen”
• More delays for Lee Seung Gi’s Iljimae
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Tags: Bada, good deeds, Han Ji-hye, Han Ye-seul, Lee Seung-gi, Mighty Mouth, netizens, news bites, Yoon Eun-hye

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 11 Comments →

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 ]

Tags: Han Ji-hye, Lee Chun-hee, melodramas

Filed under: Chungmuro/Film by javabeans - 17 Comments →

It’s the all-ladies edition!

• Fresh-faced young actress Han Hyo Joo (love her!) has been cast as Lee Junki’s love interest in the upcoming drama Iljimae. Looks like the Junki version just got a leg up over the Lee Seung Gi version. The drama airs in April on SBS.
• Coming off a very recent public breakup with longtime boyfriend Lee Dong Gun, actress Han Ji Hye has come out saying, “No matter how much I’m in love, if my parents oppose the match, I’d give up my love.” Is it a revealing truth, or damage control in the post-breakup scramble to look better than the ex? Either way, the girl annoys me to an irrational degree. Can’t explain it; she just always looks so smug.
• The just-premiered “season drama” (based on the U.S. multi-season model, a la Auction House) Before and After: Plastic Surgery featured a surprise cameo by actress Kim Jung Hwa — who waived her performance fee for the occasion. The first episode of the series on the 6th brought in a 8.6% rating.
• Jeon Ji Hyun and the cast of her upcoming film The Man Who Was Superman were on hand for a press conference on the 7th in Apgujung. Movie opens the 31st.
• Kim Jung Eun denies that publicity over her romance with fellow actor Lee Seo Jin is a “marketing ploy” for her newest film, The Happiest Moment In Our Lives. She says her relationship is her private life, but she’s not the type to tell interested people, “Excuse me, please don’t talk about my personal life.” But I’m sure she’s eager enough to add, don’t forget her movie opens on January 10!

SONG OF THE DAY

Brazilian Taco - “이별보다 쉬운 사랑” (a love easier than farewell) [ zShare download ]

RELATED POSTS:

• One planned comeback, one failed one
• News bites: December 20
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• An early look at The Man Who Was Superman
• The battle to claim Iljimae

Tags: Han Hyo-joo, Han Ji-hye, Iljimae, Jeon Ji-hyun, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Jung-hwa, Lee Junki, Lee Seo-jin, news bites

Filed under: Celebrity News by javabeans - 24 Comments →