Dramabeans » Park Yong-ha

Javabeans Playlist #3: Actor edition

javabeans — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:03:03 +0000

More songs! And this time, they’re sung by some of your favorite (or not) actors. This list is hardly comprehensive, and I picked mostly those actors who weren’t singers first. (And if they were, they are generally stars who are not known for their singing, despite their origins. See: Kim Kang-woo’s awesome beginnings as a soft-ballad rapper. That video takes forever to load, but trust me, it’s worth it.)

Some of these songs come from OSTs, some from digital singles, and some as featured tracks on other singers’ albums.

Enjoy!

Moon Geun-young – “그 바람소리” (The sound of the wind) [ Download ]

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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 120 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bae Doo-na, Chae Jung-ahn, Choi Jin-hyuk, Daniel Choi, featured, Gu Hye-sun, Han Hyo-joo, Han Ji-hye, Hyun Bin, Kang Ji-hwan, Kim Haneul, Kim Kang-woo, Kim So-yeon, Lee Da-hae, Lee Jia, Lee Jun-hyuk, Lee Jun-ki, Lee Min-ki, Lee Shi-young, Moon Geun-young, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha, Song Chang-eui, Sung Yuri, Uhm Tae-woong

Yoon Eun-hye officially says goodbye to Love Song

javabeans — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 03:39:18 +0000

“It’s painful for us all.”

That’s what Yoon Eun-hye has to say about the fizzling of her drama project Love Song, which she has officially walked from. It’s not particularly surprising news, given that lead actor Park Yong-ha (Story of a Man, On Air) died shortly after accepting the role last year, leaving the production scrambling to find a replacement.

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Post tags: Love Song, Park Yong-ha, Yoon Eun-hye

Park Yong-ha discovered dead at home

javabeans — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:50:56 +0000

Breaking news: Park Yong-ha was discovered dead at his Nonhyun-dong, Seoul, home on the morning of June 30. I’ll update with details if/as they become available.

I am in utter shock. WHAT?

Park Yong-ha died at the age of 32, having debuted fifteen years ago in youth shows like KBS’s 1995 Love Blossoms in the Classroom and 1996′s Start. He shot to fame with 2002′s Winter Sonata, which made him a household name and a “Hallyu star.” He used that fame as a springboard a singing career in Japan, where he enjoyed quite a lot of popularity. He had a successful drama hit in 2008′s On Air, and totally stole my heart in 2009′s Story of a Man, which is one of my favorite dramas EVER.

Most recently, Park Yong-ha was cast alongside Yoon Eun-hye in the high-profile drama remake of Hong Kong film Tian Mi Mi, tentatively titled Love Song.

This is just… awful. Horrible and unexpected. Currently they are not ruling this a suicide, but that’s the foremost presumption.

UPDATE

The evening prior to his death (29th), Park missed a meeting with drama producers for his upcoming project Love Song. His manager couldn’t get in contact with him.
One producer said that they had seen Park occasionally in a down mood, but attributed it to news of Park’s father suffering from cancer. His father recently moved back home from the hospital after his stomach cancer was deemed late-stage.
Park reportedly died from hanging. He was found by his mother in his room with a cell phone cord around his neck.
Around 12:40 am, he was with his father, massaging his father’s legs. Park told him “I’m sorry” over and over. He then went into his room, where he was found in the morning.
Producers of Love Song are “in panic mode” because Park’s passing leaves them without a lead. Yeah, eff you producers.
Park had said in an interview that he suffered from depression, which was exacerbated by prolonged promotional activities abroad.
One friend says, “There’s no way to know the real reason, but when I met Park a few months ago, he seemed depressed.” His father’s illness made things worse.
Park’s Story of a Man co-star Park Shi-yeon (currently acting in Coffee House) reportedly received a “huge shock” from the news and “is in very bad condition.” She is so distraught that there’s concern she won’t be able to continue filming.
Park Shi-yeon spoke with Park on the phone yesterday, but thought he sounded normal.
And the media frenzy begins. That photo is from outside Park’s home.
The parade of celebrity visits is also just beginning, with stars coming to pay their respects to Park, whose body was transferred to a Kangnam hospital. It’s morning in Korea now, and this will likely continue all day. I won’t be posting on it, but you can rest assured there’ll be plenty of media there as well.
His death is even more perplexing because he had made plans to meet friends later in the day.
Park’s last phone call (or one of his last) was reportedly with DBSK’s Hero Jaejoong, with whom he’d grown closer as he gave the latter advice about pursuing singer activities in Japan. Jaejoong is currently recording in the U.S. and said, “I spoke with him on the phone yesterday, and his voice sounded so bright. I didn’t feel he was at all different from his normal self. We agreed to have a drink together when I got back to Korea. I’m in such shock.”
Park’s last twitter message was posted Saturday the 26th (http://twitter.com/yonaaaaaa) and was about the World Cup. “We lost. But they did well. clap clap clap~ Everyone, let’s clap with warm hears for our national soccer team, who return with heavy steps. Good job!!”
Park had just come back from a tour in Japan. The day before that (the 25th), he tweeted, “How could they know to come to the airport and see me, and at such a late hour? ^^ I didn’t tell anyone but how could they know? keke. Impressive~ Anyway, thank you for coming to see me!! Tomorrow at the concert I’ll have to ask, ‘Who came to the airport yesterday?~~’ keke See you tomorrow ^^”
In an interview last year while promoting his movie The Scam, Park said, “I’ve suffered from insomnia for the last ten years. I’m rather sensitive. If something bothers me I can’t sleep until it’s resolved.” He added, “I’m envious of people who can sleep well. I think sleep is needed for good mental health.”

Via E Daily, Mk.co.kr

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Yoon Eun-hye makes drama comeback in Love Song

javabeans — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:16:47 +0000

Whoa, I was NOT expecting this, but I think I like it: Yoon Eun-hye has been cast in upcoming drama series Love Song, the remake of the epic Hong Kong romance Tian Mi Mi (Comrades: Almost a Love Story). The original 1996 film spanned ten years and starred Leon Lai and Maggie Cheung.

The drama series has already cast its lead male in Park Yong-ha, which makes this a high-profile pairing. I’d heard that the drama was looking for two big Hallyu names to expand on its international appeal, and with these two, they’ve certainly got that punch. Park is one of those actors who is probably, comparatively speaking, more famous abroad as a “Hallyu star” than he is at home, thanks to hits like Winter Sonata and On Air. And Yoon Eun-hye is just about the biggest name actress of her age range, both at home and abroad.

In Love Song, Yoon plays Yoo Chae-hwa, a hard-working woman who comes to live in Korea from China. Chae-hwa is very innocent and is described as “the one unforgettable love for one man.”

U.S. studio Warner Bros. has expressed interest in buying the Stateside broadcast rights to the kdrama. The production company is currently in the process of negotiating licensing rights to 11 Asian countries, as well as arranging overseas location shoots. Writing is Oh Soo-yeon of earlier Hallyu hits Winter Sonata and Autumn Love Story, while the director is Ji Young-soo of Oh Pil-seung Bong Soon-young. (He also did Yoon’s ill-fated My Fair Lady last summer, but let’s just forget about that hot mess. His 2007 Flowers For My Life, on the other hand, was lovely.)

This ought to be Yoon’s most challenging role to date. She has a wonderful way of immersing herself in her characters, but I think her range is narrow — she’s brilliant in heartfelt, warm roles like Coffee Prince, but lackluster when putting on a persona that’s very different from her easy-going real-life persona, as in My Fair Lady. I look forward to Park Yong-ha, having come around to him rather late in his career with last year’s fantastic Story of a Man.

Love Song will begin filming in August and plans to air toward the end of the year.

Via Mk.co.kr

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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 117 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Love Song, Park Yong-ha, Yoon Eun-hye

Comrades remake attracts interest from Hollywood

javabeans — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 17:29:11 +0000

Park Yong-ha‘s next drama is based on the 1996 Hong Kong film Comrades: Almost A Love Story (aka Tian mi mi) and has taken on a new title: Love Song (which is still a working title). And according to production company Verdi Media, Hollywood studio Warner Bros. (which owns the rights to Comrades) has already made an offer to buy the U.S. and Chinese broadcast rights for the drama.

The original story follows its couple from mainland China to Hong Kong and later New York in an epic romance spanning a decade. Remake Love Song will be set in China, Korea, and Japan and plans to begin filming in July, aiming for a projected Korean broadcast later this year. The show has not yet cast its female lead.

I’m intrigued, but I have no idea what to make of Warner Bros. acquiring the broadcast rights to a kdrama. It could either be a pretty big deal (aside from Asian-specific cable channels like AZN, Korean dramas don’t have a broadcast presence on American television), or an oddly exaggerated report. Hm. Could be interesting.

Via Newsis, 10 Asia

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Park Yong-ha signs on to new drama

javabeans — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:45:28 +0000

Park Yong-ha will be returning to television screens in a drama remake of the popular Chinese film Comrades: Almost a Love Story (aka Tian Mi Mi, or 첨밀밀 in Korean), which starred Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai. This makes it a year since Park’s last project (and one of my favorites), Story of a Man.

Writing will be Oh Soo-yeon of Winter Sonata (which catapulted Park to fame) and Autumn Love Story; directing is Ji Young-soo of Oh! Pil Seung Bong Soon Young. According to producers, the drama plans to begin filming in July, after they have cast their female lead. They are aiming to premiere the show by year’s end.

Comrades, described as an epic love story, enjoyed tremendous popularity in Asia and was the most successful foreign movie of 1997 in Korea. The story spans ten years and features two people who move to Hong Kong from mainland China, and find love and comfort in each other while living in the lonely city. Their relationship withstands a separation and continues when they reunite in New York, again immigrants in a big city.

I have no idea how this will translate to kdrama form, but it should be interesting? Too bad I didn’t like either Autumn Love Story or Winter Sonata, but I’m willing ti give this one a try.

Via Star News

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A new look for Park Yong-ha’s new album

javabeans — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:35:36 +0000

Yiiikes. Love ya, dude (Story of a Man rules all, y’all), but singer-actor Park Yong-ha‘s artwork for his new Japanese single album is, um, maybe not the best way to showcase his lovely features.

Don’t get me wrong, I know there’s a concept at work — I just think it’s a little harsh and borderline garish. The imagery is supposed to evoke a Pierrot mask (those clown masks with white faces and a painted teardrop); I say at least there’s a second image showing him looking more like his usual gentle image. (See below.)

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Park Yong-ha celebrates five years in Japan

javabeans — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:20:31 +0000

Thanks to Story of a Man (aka The Slingshot, aka the best drama so far this year, yeah I said it), I have newfound appreciation for Park Yong-ha, who has enjoyed some popularity in Japan for a number of years (no doubt in large part due to his role in Winter Sonata). On August 1, Park celebrated the five-year anniversary of his career in Japan with a concert at the Saitama Super Arena, located in the suburbs of the greater Tokyo region.

The event’s name, “Beautiful Days 1873,” refers to the 1,873 days since Park’s Japanese debut in June 2004. There were approximately 20,000 fans (!) in attendance.

SONG OF THE DAY

Park Yong-ha – “初めて出逢った日のように” (Hajimete deatta hi no you ni), which is the Japanese version of the song titled “처음 그날처럼” (Just like the first day) from the All In OST.
[ Download ]

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Park Yong-ha reunites with Park Shi-yeon

javabeans — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:24:57 +0000

Park Yong-ha and Park Shi-yeon may have had a bumpy romance in Story of a Man, but they’re re-teaming for a Park Hyo-shin music video that will take them to Switzerland. Park Yong-ha agreed to take the job as a friend to Park Hyo-shin, while Park Shi-yeon agreed because of her good relationship with Park Yong-ha. (There are way to many Parks in this paragraph.)

The song is yet untitled but the shoots are planned to take place in Jungfrau, Switzerland. Given the slump in the music industry, it’s a bit unusual to spend the time and money on an overseas location shoot, but I suppose they’re pulling out all the stops with/for its three big stars. (One source calls it a “blockbuster” music video.) Director Jang Jae-hyuk had previously shot the “Nobody” video for the Wonder Girls, and singer Park Hyo-shin will also act in the MV, filling out the love triangle.

The story is the sort of awesomely tearjerky stuff that kpop videos are so known for: Hyo-shin and Shi-yeon are in love and living together when he finds out that he’s only got a short time left to live. After learning that his older brother Yong-ha had also loved her, he leaves behind a “sad, beautiful letter.” (Commence tears!)

Park Yong-ha is currently preparing to resume activities in Japan, while Park Shi-yeon recently joined the SBS variety program Family Outing. Story of a Man is currently airing in Japan and enjoying a positive response (no doubt aided by Park Yong-ha’s popularity there from Winter Sonata and as a singer)

Via Chosun

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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2009. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: music videos, Park Hyo-shin, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha

Story of a Man: Episode 20 (Final)

javabeans — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:11:12 +0000

Ohhhhh, what a freaking great way to go out!

I was afraid the ending wouldn’t live up to the series, especially with all the snippets of spoilers floating around… but I loved it. I can see why some might have wanted something different, but I thought it was quite fitting.

SONG OF THE DAY

8eight – “자유” (Freedom). I had a beautiful sad song picked out for the finale, but then I saw the episode and it didn’t seem to fit. [ Download ]

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Post tags: Han Yeo-woon, Kim Kang-woo, Park Ki-woong, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha, Philip Lee, Story of a Man