I admit the first thing that struck me about Kim Hye Sung was his adorable baby face. But although he’s part of the newest generation of good-looking, trendy young stars, he seems to be slowly differentiating himself from his peers and taking some personal care (and risks) into his acting choices. He’s one I’ve got my eye on for the future.
 

“Kim Hye Sung’s transformation from pretty boy to hot-tempered youth to gay lover”

By the time 2003’s hot uljjang trend had blown over, some new stars had appeared on the scene: uljjangs. [What’s an uljjang?] The first-generation ulljangs included Park Han Byul, Gu Hye Sun, Nam Sang Mi. Second-generation ulljangs: Kim Ok Bin, Bae Seul Gi, Lee Yeon Hee. And also Kim Hye Sung and Kang Eun Bi.

They rose to fame not via television or movies, but through the internet, causing a shake-up of the currently existing star-making system. Uljjang stars weren’t discovered through television station tests, new-actor auditions, talent agencies, or streetside castings; they were made into stars by audiences and consumers themselves.

Five years later. …

SONG OF THE DAY

Deb - “Dopamine” [ Download ]

 
More on Kim Hye Sung, Boy Meets Boy >>

Tags: homosexuality, Kim Hye-sung, netizens, uljjang, Unstoppable High Kick

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Seo Min Jung is pregnant! (She’s reportedly five months along and expecting in the summer.)

The actress was married last August to a Korean-American dentist and has since removed herself from the entertainment sphere, living with her husband in New York. Seo is most well-known for her role as the cute and klutzy teacher on 2007’s very popular family sitcom Unstoppable High Kick, who shared a (sorta) “loveline” with up-and-coming heartthrob Jung Il Woo — whose character was a high school student ten years her junior. (I admit, their “they can’t really go there… can they?” storyline was what kept my interest going in the sitcom.)

Speaking of whom, the other High Kick-ers are all busy with their own careers, particularly the young talents who shot to fame as a result of the series. Checking in with the rest of the cast:

Jung Il Woo recently started his university life and just shot a spread for Vogue Girl’s March issue, sporting his trademark sensitive-pretty-boy image. (I always thought it was interesting how his character was such a rebel, and how it worked despite his pretty looks. Damn he’s got some great skin.) His most recent project was the omnibus (multi-vignette) film My Love, which also starred Lee Yeon Hee and Uhm Tae Woong, among others.

Meanwhile, baby-faced actor Kim Hye Sung, who played Jung Il Woo’s brother in High Kick, now takes on a gay role opposite Lee Hyun Jin in the queer film Boy Meets Boy. Notably, both lead actors have no dialogue and act purely in gestures and looks. The concept worked extremely well in Kim Ki-duk’s 3 Iron; let’s see if it works here.

Park Min Young, who played empty-headed Yumi, recently shot a photo spread showing a newer, more mature (read: sexay) image, and is now being compared with pop group Sugar’s Hwang Jung Eum, who also revealed a new photo spread showing a new, glamorous image. Naturally, whenever two things share even the smallest similarity, netizens will flock to pit one against the other in some kind of pointless manufactured faceoff.

Kim Bum will be playing Song Seung Heon’s younger counterpart in the upcoming MBC drama East of Eden.

And Koyote singer Shinji has a duet on the new album for H-Eugene, an R&B-style ballad called “남이라고” (Calling me a stranger).

Jung Il Woo, Park Min Young, Kim Hye Sung

 
Mk.co.kr, Mk.co.kr, Go News, Go News, Sports Seoul

SONG OF THE DAY

Soul Tronik - “As U See” [ zShare download ]

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Tags: Seo Min-jung, Unstoppable High Kick

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I like Kim Bum (not to be confused with Suju pop singer Kim Ki Bum). I think he’s adorable. I love the fact that they gave him an unabashedly homoerotic relationship storyline that was at once funny, innocuous, and not blown up into any big deal in the *family* sitcom Unstoppable High Kick. (Plus both boys were depicted as straight and had no qualms about their friendship lurve for each other.)

And I love that Hankyung.com describes Kim Bum in these new photos as striking his best “Jo In Sung pose.” Cause yeah, they totally ARE Jo-In-Sung-y.

For your reference: Mr. Jo In Sung

 
Kim Bum makes his film debut in the upcoming I Like It Hot, which recently sparked some online shenaniganery (it’s a word ’cause I say it is) because pics were released showing him kissing a Wonder Girl. Whoop. De. Doo. Online kerfuffles are pretty much par for the course when you’re a budding hot young thang in Korea, partnered with another budding hot young thang. All those flying hormones are bound to hurt somebody.

In the film, he’s coupled with Ahn Sohee (aforementioned Wonder Girl) as a young pretty boy who prefers spending time with games and motorcycles than his girl, but manages to pull off a cute kiss scene with her (spawning aforementioned shenaniganery).

The reaction to his new look? “Is that really Kim Bum? He’s so manly!” “He’s just like James Dean!” “Wow, he seemed so boyish before, but not now!”

Via Hankyung

SONG OF THE DAY

Every Single Day - “Wonder.” Every Single Day is a rock band that’s been around for a while that’s out with a new (third) album. They kinda remind me of Rocket Diary with their sometimes-upbeat, sometimes-mellow melodies and youthful energies, although they’re more indie and less punk. Or, since Rocket Diary is newer, I guess I should say they sound similar to Every Single Day. (You can hear more Rocket Diary here.) [ zShare download ]

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Tags: Jo In-sung, Kim Bum, Unstoppable High Kick, Wonder Girls

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Currently circulating on the intertubular info-highway are the following diagrams depicting the brain “structure” of young rising heartthrob Jung Il Woo. The one on the left is a drawing for his character (Lee Yunho) on the show that shot him to stardom, the sitcom Unstoppable High Kick, and was initially released months ago as part of a set with the other characters on the show.

The one on the right is a recent take-off of the High Kick picture, filled in with tidbits about the actor himself. Translations beyond the jump.

“High Kick” character Yunho’s brain, left. Jung Il Woo’s brain, right.

SONG OF THE DAY

Dear Cloud - “Cloud Avenue” [ zShare download ]

So what’s on his brain? >>

Tags: Jung Il-woo, Unstoppable High Kick

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“Legend”’s Sujini, actor Lee Jia

 

“Which new talents shine most brightly in drama-land?”

My Daily asked three experienced industry insiders (drama manager at KBS Lee Sung Joo; SBS’s drama department chief Gu Bon Geun; and MBC’s CP Jo Joong Hyun) to help in assessing some of the more notable new faces to pop up in the past year.

One of the first names to come to mind has to be Lee Jia — for whom her current role as tomboyish Sujini in the hit fantasy-historical drama Legend is not only her first leading part, but her ever. (For those who aren’t familiar, Lee Jia studied graphic design in New York as her first career path.) In the words of Legend’s director Kim Jung Hak, who spared no praise:

“Prior to filming the drama series, she underwent intense acting training. On top of that, Lee Jia is bold and has strong ambitions for her acting, and works very hard. She integrates into the cast so well that it’s difficult to believe she’s a new actor.”

SONG OF THE DAY

Nuevo Discos - “Drive By the Sea” [ zShare download ]

Which other new stars shine brightly? >>

Tags: Coffee Prince, I Am Sam, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Jia, Legend, Park Min-young, Unstoppable High Kick

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