Here’s an article that takes a look at the growing trend of non-Korean actors being featured on television, which caught my eye because it talks about one of the leads in the new weekend comic drama Tamra the Island, which I’m enjoying.

“Foreigners on television are no longer unfamiliar”

On the 8th, viewers watching MBC’s new weekend drama Tamra the Island [탐나는도다] may have cocked their heads. That was because of the appearance of the lead French actor with the golden hair and blue eyes in the role of William. Hwang Chan-bin, birth name Pierre Deporte, is a Frenchman who attended high school in Korea. He couldn’t forget his home country and after graduating from university he returned to Korea and first met the public on the program Global Talk Show [aka Misuda, 미녀들의 수다], and now has even appeared in a television drama.

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Read the rest of Western actors becoming more visible on Korean TV (673 words)

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Post tags: Hwang Chan-bin, Misuda, Tamra the Island, variety shows

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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Post tags: controversies, Misuda, netizens

• Actor-cum-director Yoo Ji Tae‘s third directorial endeavor (and first theater release, more here), short film Out of My Intention, held its press conference on the 4th. Though it’s unusual for a short to get a theatrical run, Out of My Intention will open on the 20th and screen for a week at Seoul’s art-house cinema Sponge House.
• Former Jewelry singer turned actress Lee Ji Hyun has just released fresh self-cam photos online. Aw, is someone feeling left out now that the new Jewelry is in the spotlight for their latest album?
• Former HOT member and solo singer Kang Ta may be headed for military service on April 1, but he’ll be cramming in some last-minute singerly duties, releasing a new album and holding a concert on the 29th. It’s his first album in three years and first concert in five.
• Pop star Boa continues to rule Japan’s Oricon music charts. Her newly released album, “The Face,” shot to the top of album sales charts, making it the sixth time she’s occupied the #1 spot.



• Ballad singer Eru‘s father, famous trot (aka old-fogey pop) singer Tae Jin Ah, still wants his son to sing trot music. While Eru hasn’t yet succumbed to parental pressure, his second album featured a remake of one of his father’s songs, “Ok Kyung-ee,” in a fusiony ballad-jazzy-trot hybrid.
• Speaking of whom, Eru also confessed on an episode of Sang Sang Plus to being struck the first time he laid eyes on television announcer Choi Song Hyun (while watching her on a TV program). While guesting on a radio program (which put him through on a call to Choi), the writer handed him Choi’s phone number, which he “immediately programmed into [his] phone.” He describes himself as “simply a fan.”
• Misuda‘s (Global Talk Show, aka Chatting with Beauties) Uzbek panelist Jamilya (or Djamilya) Abdullaeva is one of those people constantly in the news these days that I find a waste of media attention. It’s nothing personal — who knows, she might be a super-sweet person — but it’s the weird cult of faux-celebrity surrounding Misuda that bugs me. In any case, she’s taking this springboard to fame and transitioning into pop singer. I suppose I could hold off on the cynicism, but really, do we have much to hope for from a girl who cites her own television show as her favorite, lists Hyori as her favorite Korean celeb, and debuts a single track titled “Oppa I Hate You”?

SONG OF THE DAY

Jamilya – “오빠 미워” (Oppa, I hate you). What an ear-screechingly horrible song. It’s like one of those pop-trance hits of the late ’90s, with none of the kitsch factor. If I clap my hands everybody, just clap my hands, will you stop? On the upside, her Korean’s pretty good. On the downside, her voice isn’t. [ zShare download ]

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Post tags: army duty, directors, Eru, Jewelry, Kang Ta, Misuda, news bites, short films, Yoo Ji-tae

 
With the success of the talk/variety show Chatting with Beautiful Women, which I briefly mentioned here, producers were quick to jump on the money train and slap together a male counterpart for a Chuseok special program called (what else?) Chatting with Beautiful Men. But it seems they just produced a show that has attracted more criticism than praise…

 
(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Verbal Jint – “Make-up Sex” (Feat. Kjun) [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of Maybe not such a great idea (87 words)

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Post tags: controversies, Misuda, variety shows