I’ll admit I haven’t paid much mind to KBS’s upcoming sageuk (and manhwa adaptation) Kingdom of Wind because, well, I never cottoned on to Jumong and felt no particular thrill to see Song Il-kook back in his old-fashioned threads playing Jumong’s grandson.

But I will say I’m a little surprised at the casting of two up-and-coming new pretty boys who have hitherto been known mostly for their good looks, in their first sageuk roles: Coffee Prince’s Kim Jae-wook, pictured above, and Kim Hye-sung, who’s just started expanding his repertoire (Jenny, Juno; Unstoppable High Kick) to more daring roles, like the queer short Boy Meets Boy. (Well, everyone knows that when you want to prove your acting mettle, you either go theater or sageuk.)

Furthermore, three of Kingdom of Wind’s main cast are also making their first sageuk attempts: lead actress Choi Jung-won (Infamous Chil Princesses), supporting actress Oh Yoon-ah (Old Miss Diary, Someday), and actor Park Gun-hyung (Dancing Princess). Generally I find that an actor’s first time in a sageuk is often marked by stiff, awkward acting (because the cadence of a historical drama is so different from a modern one), but the mark of a versatile actor is one who adapts to the new milieu quickly.

Must be their strategy to try to rope in the younger viewers, I suppose? The drama’s competition will be MBC’s Beethoven Virus, with whom it shares a premiere date — this Wednesday, the 10th — and SBS’s Painter of the Wind, which premieres two weeks later on the 24th.

Via My Daily

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Way back in January, actor Song Il-kook had a run-in with a female reporter, Kim Soon-hee, leading to some pretty ugly allegations. Their confrontation reportedly arose when she asked the actor for an interview and he refused. While he stuck to his statement that he hadn’t touched her, that their shirt sleeves hadn’t even skimmed as they passed each other, she sued him for striking her in the face and breaking a tooth.

Since the two stories were so contrary, it seemed that one side must have been a little, shall we say, creative with the facts since both of those statements couldn’t be true. It was just a matter of which side was telling the truth (or at least, more of it).

Although investigations and legal proceedings have been ongoing, the case has been somewhat quiet in the media, with brief mentions of its progress popping up every other month or so. But CCTV (closed-circuit television) footage from Song’s private home-surveillance cameras has been analyzed and an official interpretation of its contents has been drawn.

Song’s lawyers gave a statement to press on August 5 explaining, “The results came out as we had first suspected they would. The reporter’s accusation that Song Il-kook had shoved her roughly as he rejected her request [for an interview], who then raised suspicions that the CCTV footage had been manipulated, was judged to be untrue.”

This doesn’t mean the case is closed, however.

Song has leveled a charge against Ms. Kim’s witness, a photographer identified as Mr. Jo, for giving false testimony. Jo had testified at Reporter Kim’s libel hearing that there had indeed been contact between the two. Given the recent CCTV judgment, It’s likely Jo will also be investigated for libel and defamation of character.

But maybe Song can rest easy with legal matters and get back to being a happy marathon-ing newlywed now.

Via My Daily

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Jumong and Lobbyist actor Song Il Kook participates in the 2008 Seoul International Triathlon Asian Cup. Also participating was Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was part of a team with actor Park Sang Won and Lee Jun Ha. The race comprises a 1.5km swim in the Han River, 40km cycling and a 10km marathon. Australia’s Simon Thompson came in first at 1 hour, 43 minutes. (Song Il Kook finished in 2 hours, 52 minutes.)

Yoido, Seoul, May 25.

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Song Il Kook (Jumong, Lobbyist) is a bachelor no more.

The 37-year-old actor married his bride in Seoul on the 15th in a mostly traditional ceremony (embellished with a few modernized twists to give it a “creative” fusion vibe). The event was closed to the public, although more than a thousand well-wishers were present at the ceremony, so the only pictures available are the ones released officially to the public.

Song’s bride, a Ms. Jung, studied civil law at Seoul National University Law School and is a newly appointed judge. Impressive.

The couple met through mutual friends and are married after two years of dating. The actor’s reps expressed a desire to keep the bride’s name undisclosed, inasmuch as she’s a private citizen (with close to 1,500 attendees, good luck with that!)

Via OSEN, Hankyung

SONG OF THE DAY

Dynamic Duo - “Happy Day” [ zShare download ]

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• Singer-producer-actor M, also known as Shinhwa’s Lee Minwoo, surprises fans with the announcement of a Valentine’s Day release for a mini-album, which follows his third solo album released last year, “Explore M.” Interestingly, the mini-album takes a departure from his usual hip-hoppy pop style, and boasts collaborations with some of the country’s top jazz, soul and funk performers. Along with the album, he’ll be giving a special Valentine’s concert in Seoul on the 16th and 17th (well, post-Valentine then).
• Song Il Kook was called over the weekend for inquiry in the reporter violence incident, for which he is being sued and is countersuing in response.
• Singer-actor Lee Seung Gi is currently appearing in a segment of the variety program Happy Sunday, displaying a stark contrast from his usual warm, cute image with a new, eccentric character. His “Heo Dang” is immature and flighty and speaks in a Saturi accent — and fans are loving his “oddball charm.”
• College student Moon Geun Young has returned to Korea after spending the holidays in Australia, ready to gear up for her next drama. Painter of the Wind, based on a book of the same name, centers around the rivalry between two artists in the Joseon era; her character is one of the artists, a woman who pretends to be a man. Let the Yoon Eun Hye comparisons begin, since we all know nobody’s ever done the woman-dressed-as-man role before. Nobody tell Shakespeare.
• Fans wonder, did Jang Geun Seok have plastic surgery? They note a difference in his eyes and a higher bridge to his nose, and most agree that his face looks much different than his younger days. But, they concede, it could also be aging and loss of weight. I just know that he used to be so cute. *sigh*

SONG OF THE DAY

M (Lee Minwoo) - “Boy Friend” from his third album. [ zShare download ]

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Jumong and Lobbyist actor Song Il Kook is being charged with violent assault of a female reporter.

Denials and allegations have been flung back and forth — he hit her, no he didn’t, he never laid a finger on her — and the actor’s side is preparing to countersue.

The alleged incident occurred a week ago on the 17th, in front of his home. According to the plaintiff Ms. Kim, a reporter for a monthly magazine, she’d been waiting alone in her car near his home, intending to request an interview about his upcoming wedding (which was announced recently). She got out of the car while talking on her cell phone, and reached out to hold the actor’s right arm. He shook her off, striking her in the face, and broke one front tooth while shaking loose three others.

Naturally, the actor is denying the charge. He claims to never have touched her at all, breaking her tooth through sheer mindpower instead (kidding! — but you knew that). Song says the charges are groundless and intends to sue her back for libel.

The two sides tell such differing stories that a full police and legal investigation is inevitable. At this point, more details aren’t forthcoming, since both sides have lawyered up and are being careful about answering questions.

It’s hard to tell what’s truth and what’s fiction — or, at the very least, exaggeration — in cases like this. For instance, it’s possible he hit her accidentally (as a few papers suggest), in which case I doubt people would blame him — but then why say he never touched her? And I doubt a reporter would deliberately break her own teeth, but just because it’s improbable doesn’t make it impossible.

So I’ll stick to saying: Paparazzi suck. Reporters who harass suck. And men who hit women really suck.

Via Go News, Mk.co.kr

SONG OF THE DAY

Misty Rain - “Wanna Be” [ zShare download ]

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