Actress-singer Jang Nara (mostly singer in recent years) is making her acting comeback. She talked about her newest role on October 25 while participating at the new Seoul Hallyu Festival, and explained that she is currently preparing for her next film, a comedy that will begin filming at the end of the year.

This latest film, directed by Ryu Sook-hyun and called Size 55 (referring to a rather slim clothing size — think U.S. size 4), deals with Jang’s bar hostess character entering a diet center. Looking at its cast list, the movie seems to have run into some trouble early on — Jang’s love interest (described as a pretty boy who dresses like a woman to follow her to the center) was previously cast with Song Chang-eui (Boys Don’t Cry, Golden Bride) and then ex-GOD member Sohn Ho-young (Miss Gold Digger), but is currently looking for a new actor. Jang’s own role was previously taken by Park Han-byul (Fantasy Couple), but it seems she’s now out.

Jang was last seen acting in 2005’s KBS drama Wedding (her last film was 2003’s Oh! Happy Day), and has spent a lot of time since then pursuing her singing career in China. She also took a role in a Chinese drama, Good Morning Shanghai [純白之愛 / 순백지련], in 2007. She was cast in a film last year, the thriller Nightmare, but the project was canceled.

Via My Daily

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I’m not sure if this has been floating around on the web or if it’s new, but it’s the first I’m seeing of actress and singer Jang Nara displaying her marked resemblance to an old photo of her mother.

The talent doesn’t fall far from the tree, it seems. Apparently Mom, aka Lee Kyung-ok, had even passed the TBC “talent exam” in the ’70s (an early audition-like process for aspiring actors). Her father got his start as a theater actor, and her older brother was invited to try his luck as an entertainer with MBC. It’s all in the genes, I suppose?

Via DongA.com

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According to the Seoul Central District Court, the Korea Music Copyright Association received a request from an American songwriter that sales be stopped for Jang Nara’s sixth album “Dream of Asia.” She’s charged with infringing on copyright by recording a song without permission, “Mirage” [신기루], for which she also recorded its English version, “If You Ask Me To” (listen below).

Korean version “Mirage”:

Engrish version “If You Ask Me To”:

The written application states: “The producers used the song on the sixth album without consent of the copyright holders, and the American songwriter has clearly stated never giving permission… This is a clear act of copyright infringement.” The application demanded that the album be pulled from online music services, and the recording cease production and sales.

Bad Korea! We all know you rip off artists all the time, but now you’re finally starting to get called on it legally. First Hyori, now this? Maybe kpop would be better if you started writing your own songs. (Then again, maybe not.)

Via Yonhap News

Tags: bad deeds, Jang Nara, kpop, lawsuits

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Which actors do we want to see most back on the TV screen in 2008? Well, OSEN weighs in with their picks. I’m not so sure I’d go with the four they chose, but hey, who am I to disagree?

First off, So Ji Sub. The actor finished his military service last year, but hasn’t acted since his return to public life, although he’s taken on modeling for various brands and ad campaigns.

“Although he’s hung up his military uniform, he hasn’t been able to make a comeback yet. That’s because his return project, the drama Cain and Abel, keeps being postponed. There have been reports that he would take on a film project instead, but there has been no confirmation so far of any projects in the works.

“So Ji Sub is an extremely unusual actor. His rise to lead actor and top star status has come from unique performances. Hopefully, he will be able to draw viewers in with a comeback project that shows the same kind of emotion and tears that characterized his image from earlier dramas What Happened in Bali and I’m Sorry, I Love You.” …

SONG OF THE DAY

Rain - “악수” (handshake). Rain’s really been getting the beatdown lately, hasn’t he? You could say he’s fair game for criticism given his extremely high profile… but I still kinda feel sorry for the guy. Some slams have been deserved (his debacle of a “world tour”), but some other smackdowns just reek of an idol being gleefully kicked when down. All that aside, I listened to some of his songs for the first time in a while, and I remembered why I liked him in the first place. Like this song — simple, smooth, and minus the frenetic hype and the spastic flash and glitz of his recent stuff — from his first album.
[ zShare download ]

 
Who else rounds out the list? >>

Tags: Cha In-pyo, Jang Nara, Rain, So Ji-sub

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