MBC - Beethoven Virus

Fresh from her success in The Legend, Lee Ji Ah will exhange her magical orb for a musical instrument (violin) in MBC's new drama series, Beehtoven Virus. Lee plays the role of a talented violinist who plies her trade in subway trains, and stations, busker style. The drama will air on MBC on 3 September.

Gotta find out more about this drama as I am sure that it will likely end up as one of those dramas which I will 'collect' in its DVD version.

Lee Ji Ah looking the part as a street musician in the upcoming drama - Beethoven Virus

Cast of The Legend meets Japanese fans

Bae Yong Jun, Lee Ji Ah, Moon So Ri and other cast members touched down in Osaka, Japan, for a special fan event for the drama The Legend. It must have been a dream come true for many a Japanese female fans when Bae Yong Jun gamely put on his armor and strutted his stuff on stage.


Here's some photos of the fan event in Osaka on 1 Jun 2008.

(Source: chosun.com)

The Legend Premieres in Singapore

Singapore fans of Bae Yong Jun must have rejoiced as The Legend made its much awaited premiere on small screens via Channel U at 7.30pm last night (Sunday). It must have been a long wait for many since the drama has been released for quite some time in Korea.

I happened to switch over from the 'live' coverage of the F1 Monaco GP, being a Ferrari fan that I am, to watch the sequence showing the 3 gods taking on the black phoenix. It felt great to rewatch this sequence and relive the part where Bae Yong Joon had to kill Lee Ji Ah to put an end to the destruction wrought on by the black phoenix conjured by Lee Ji Ah's anger.

I noticed that the picture quality of the drama suffered greatly on the telly. I can tell the difference as I watched this series on dvd. Not sure if it has something to do with the fact the Channel U is currently not a HD channel. It's a real pity that the full glory of the special effects in the drama cannot be enjoyed by fans in Singapore.

For those who can afford the dvds, I suggest that you grab a copy and enjoy the drama in its full High Definition glory which it was meant to be seen in the first place. For your info, I bought the below version. It's pretty good, the chinese dubbing is quite well done and I had no problem with any of the discs. And I paid around S$25 for it. So it's pretty cheap for a series running for 30 plus episodes. Since it's the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) season, you might get it even at lower prices!

Btw, Hellohallyu am in no way advertising for this particular version. We are just giving some honest opinions on the version we bought! :)

Congratulations to the winners of the 44th Annual Baeksang Arts Awards

It's kinda late, but here are the list of winners for the 44th Annual Baeksang Arts Awards which took place last week on 24 Apr (click here to see the full nomination list in my previous post).


FILM SECTION

Best Film
Forever The Moment

Best Director
Lee Chang Dong (Secret Sunshine)

Best New Director
Na Hong Jin (The Chaser)

Best Leading Actor
Im Chang Jung (Scout)

Best Leading Actress
Kim Min Hee (Hell Cats)

Best New Actor
Jang Geun Seok (The Happy Life)

Best New Actress
Han Ye Seul (Miss Gold Digger)

Best Screenplay
Kim Hyun Seok (Scout)

POPULARITY
Kwon Sang Woo & Kim Jeong Eun,

TV SECTION

DaeSang
Kang Ho Dong

Best TV Drama
SBS (War of Money)

Best Producer
Lee Byeong Hun (Yi San)

Best New Producer
Lee Yoon Jung (Coffee Prince)

Best Leading Actor
Park Shin Yang - SBS (War Of Money)

Best Leading Actress
Yoon Eun Hye - MBC (Coffee Prince)

Best New Actor
Song Chang Ui - SBS (Golden Bride)

Best New Actress
Lee Ji Ah - MBC (Legend)

Best Screenplay
MBC - Thank you

POPULARITY
Kang Ji Hwan & Sung Yu Ri

Here are some selected photos of the star studded guests at the awards ceremony.

Hong Gil Dong and Yi Nok in contemporary costumes


The ever stunning Son Ye Jin

Yoon Eun Hye, all alone as Coffee Prince - Gong Yoo - is in the military camp

LEE JI AH! Need I say more

Money War's Park Shin Young and Park Jin Hee

Han Ye Seul

Legend (Tae Wang Sa Shim Gi)

Watching Bae Yong Jun in Legend was such a strange experience. He's just not suited for period dramas. I think it's his eyes - they are too specky.


Anyway this is really Lord of the Rings set in Korea, oh sorry, Goguryeo. Bae stars as King Damdeok, great-great-great-grandson of King Jumong (remember that guy?). And here's the amazing secret we were not privy to when watching MBC's Jumong - the founding emperor of Guchosun is actually a god who looks like Bae Yong Jun. With flowing white hair. Shudder.

Really brief synopsis of episode 1: The white-haired god (superstar of the entire show) has four other demi-gods watching over him. Except one of them went crazy and tried to destroy the world after her newborn child was stolen from her. Oh, and did I mention she also happened to be the white-haired god's wife? And technically speaking, she isn't really even a demi-god. Yeah, well, it's complicated...

So complicated that it takes us the next 31 episodes to find out if she (acted by my newest idol Lee Ji Ah) is going to be reunited with her god of a husband in their next lives. This show has got everything - mythogical beasts, demi-gods, tribal wars, magical artifacts, even reincarnation. So hang on to your seat.


The cinematography of Legend is really amazing. No wonder Teddy said Japan is actually screening this episode by episode in the cinemas! There are probably plenty of aunties who would gladly pay to watch Bae ride a horse, brandish a sword and look sagely as a legendary king. If you ask me, he's ok. But really not that drool-worthy. I prefer the boy who acted as as the teen Damdeok. :) But of course, the only real idol material who emerged from Legend is Lee Ji Ah (Yoon Eun Hye, watch out)!

Oh, the soundtrack is not bad. Total score 6.5/10.

44th Annual Baeksang Arts Awards

Here are the nominees for the upcoming 44th Baeksang Arts Awards. This award ceremony will take place on 24 Apr 2008 and will be broadcasted on SBS.

For the film section, the nominees are...

BEST FILM
Secret Sunshine
Forever The Moment
The Chaser
Happiness
Splendid Holiday

Secret Sunshine

BEST DIRECTOR
Kim Hyun Seok - (Scout)
Na Hong Jin (The Chaser)
Lee Myung Se (M)
Lee Chang Dong (Secret Sunshine)
Lim Soon Rye - (Forever The Moment)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Kim Mee Jeung (Shadows in the Palace)
Kim Tai Sik (Driving with my Wife's Lover)
Na Hong Jin (The Chaser)
Ra Hee Chan(Going by the Book)
Jeong Beom Sik and Jeong Sik (Epitaph)

BEST LEADING ACTOR
Kim Yoon suk (The Chaser)
Im Chang jung (Scout)
Byun Hee Bong (The Game)
Song Kang Ho ( The Show must go on )
Ha Jung Woo (The Chaser)

BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Kim Min Hee (Hell Cats)
Kim Yun Jin (Seven Days )
Kim Jung Eun (Forever the Moments)
Lim Soo Jung (Happiness)
Jeon Do Yeon (Secret Sunshine)

BEST NEW ACTOR
Kim Jun Sung (West 32nd)
Kim Heung Su (Hellcats)
Jang Geun Seok (The happy Life)
Yoo Gun (Kidnapping of Geanny)
Jeong Il Woo (My Love)

BEST NEW ACTRESS
Lee Bo Young (Once Upon a Time in Corea)
Lee Yeon Hee (M)
Lee Ha Na (Le Grand Chef)
Jeong Ryeo won (Two Faces of My GirlFriend)
Han Ye Seul (Miss Gold Digger)

Han Ye Seul having men for lunch in Miss Gold Digger

BEST SCREENPLAY
Kim Han Min (Paradise Murdered)
Kim Hyun Seok (Scout)
Na Hyun (Forever the Moments)
Na Hong Jin (The CHaser)
Lee Chang Dong (Secret Sunshine)

And the nominees for the TV section are...

BEST TV DRAMA
KBS (Likeable or Not)
SBS (My Man's Woman)
SBS (The War of Money)
MBC (Coffee Prince)
MBC (The Legend)

First Shop of Coffee Prince

The Legend

BEST PRODUCER
Woon Goon Il (SBS, Golden Bride)
Yoo Cheol Yong (MBC, HIT)
Lee Dook Joon (KBS, Likeable Or Not)
Lee Byeong-Hun (Yi San)
Jung Tae Yoo (War of Money)

BEST NEW PRODUCER
Park Hong Gyun (MBC, New Heart)
Lee Min Woo (SBS, Bad Couple)
Lee Yoon Jung (MBC, Coffee Prince)
Han Joon Suh (KBS, Capital Scandal)
Ham Young Hoon (KBS, Evasive Inquiry Agency)

Capital Scandal

BEST LEADING ACTOR
Kang Ji Hwan (KBS, Capital Scandal)
Park Shin Yang (SBS, War Of Money)
Bae Yong Joon (MBC, The Legend)
Lee Seo Jin (MBC, Yi San)
Cho Jae Hyun (MBC, New Heart)

BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Kim Hyun Joo (KBS, In Soon is Pretty)
Kim Hee Ae (SBS, My Man's Woman)
Park Jin Hee (SBS, War of money)
Bae Jong Ok (MBC, Woman Of Matchless Beauty)
Yoon Eun Hye (MBC, Coffee Prince)
Han Ji Min (KBS, Capital Scandal)

In Soon is Pretty - in real life too!


My Chan!

BEST NEW ACTOR
Kim Ji Seok (KBS, Likeable or Not)
Song Chang Ui (SBS, Golden Bride)
Lee Philip (MBC, The Legend)
Han Sang Jin (MBC, Yi San)
Ha Seok Jin (SBS, Happiness)

BEST NEW ACTRESS
Park Min Young (KBS, I am Sam)
Park Shin Hye (MBC, Ggak-du-gi)
Yoo In-yeong (KBS, Likeable or Not)
Lee Ji Ah (MBC, The Legend)
Choi Yu Jin (SBS, Golden Bride)

BEST SCREENPLAY
SBS, My Man's Woman
MBC, Thank you
MBC, Coffee Prince
KBS, In Soon is Pretty
MBC, New Heart

Highlighted in Purple are those supported by Hellohallyu! :)

MBC Drama Awards 2007

With 8 awards, Bae Yong Joon's The Legend was the biggest winner in the just concluded MBC Drama Awards 2007. Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo kept the banner high for The First Shop of Coffee Prince with wins in the Female and Male Top Excellence awards respectively.

Here's the full list of winners. . . (all images are credited to chosun.com)

MBC DRAMA AWARDS 2007

DAESANG
Bae Yong Joon (Legend)

Bae attended the ceremony on crutches as he was still recovering from his injuries sustained from the filming of The Legend. That's the price for his drama's 8 awards. I am sure he'd feel that it was well worth it.
MALE TOP EXCELLENCE
Kim Myung Min (White Tower)
Lee Seo Jin (Yi San)

A very happy Lee Seo Jin with his award.

FEMALE TOP EXCELLENCE
Gong Hyo Jin (Thank You)
Yoon Eun Hye (The First Shop Of Coffee Prince)

'Go Eun Chan' shedding her tomboyish get-up for the feminine 'princess' look.

MALE EXCELLENCE
Lee Jun Ki (Time Between Dog And Wolf)
Gong Yoo (First Shop Of Coffee Prince)

FEMALE EXCELLENCE

Han Ji Min (Yi San)

Nam Sang Mi (Time Between Dog And Wolf)

MALE NEWCOMER

Kim Min Sung (Ah Hyun Dong's Madam)

Han Sang Jin (Yi San)

FEMALE NEWCOMER

Lee Ji Ah (Legend)

Lee Ha Na (Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack And Defense Battle)

MALE POPULARITY (netizens)

Bae Yong Joon (Legend)

FEMALE POPULARITY (netizens)

Lee Ji Ah (Legend)

GOLDEN ACTING AWARD HISTORICAL DRAMA

Lee Soon Jae (Yi San)

Choi Min Soo (Legend)

GOLDEN ACTING AWARD MINISERIES

Jang Hyuk (Thank You)

Lee Sun Gyun (White Tower)

GOLDEN ACTING AWARD SERIAL DRAMA

Choi Myoung Gil (By My Side)

Lee Yoon Ji (By My Side)

GOLDEN ACTING AWARD

Kim Byung Ki (Ah Hyun Dong's Madam)

Park Won Sook (Winter Bird)

BEST COUPLE (netizens)

Bae Yong Joon - Lee Ji-ah (Legend)

TV DRAMA (voted by viewers - SMS)

Legend SPECIAL

MBC Awards 2007

The MBC Awards 2007 will be held on 30 Dec. The awards will be a fitting end to a year which the broadcaster brought to us wonderful dramas such as The First Shop of Coffee Prince (Coffee Prince) and The Legend. More importantly, the awards will give recognition to all the artistes for all their hard work and effort in bringing their onscreen characters 'alive' and endearing to fans around the world.

Here's the nominee list:

Top Excellence

Actor
Kim Myung Min (White Tower)
Bae Yong Joon (Legend)
Lee Seo Jin (Yi San)
Choi Min Soo (Legend)

Actress
Go Hyun Jung (H.I.T.)
Gong Hyo Jin (Thank You)
Yoon Eun Hye (The First Shop Of Coffee Prince)
Choi Jin Sil (Bad Woman Good Woman)


Excellence Award

Actor
Gong Yoo (The First Shop Of Coffee Prince)
Lee Sun Gyun (The Firsst Shop Of Coffee Prince)
Lee Jun Ki (Time Between Dog And Wolf)
Jang Hyuk (Thank You)

Actress
Nam Sang Mi (Time Between Dog And Wolf)
Wang Hee Ji (Ah Hyun Dong's Madam)
Chae Jung Ahn (The 1st Shop Of Coffee Prince)
Han Ji Min (Yi San)


Newcomer

Actor
Kim Min Sung (Ah Hyun Dong's Madam)
Lee Un (The First Shop Of Coffee Prince)
Lee Philip (Legend)
Han Sang Jin (Yi San)

Actress
Go Eun Mi (Even So Love)
Park Shin Hye (Kimcheed Radish Cubes)
Lee Ji Ah (Legend)
Lee Ha Na (Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack And Defense Battle)


Popularity (Netizen Choice)

Actor
Gong Yoo
Kim Myung Min
Bae Yong Joon
Lee Seo Jin
Lee Jun Ki
Jang Hyuk
Choi Min Soo

Actress
Go Hyun Jung
Gong Hyo Jin
Yoon Eun Hye
Lee Ji Ah
Choi Ji Woo
Choi Jin Sil
Han Ji Min


Best Couple

Gong Yoo & Yoon Eun Hye (The First Shop Of Coffee Prince)
Bae Yong Joon & Lee Ji Ah (Legend)
Lee Seo Jin & Han Ji Min (Yi San)
Lee Sun Gyun & Chae Jung Ahn (The First Shop Of Coffee Prince)
Jang Hyuk & Gong Hyo Jin (Thank You)
Ji Hyun Woo & Lee Ha Na (Me Ri, Dae Gu's Attack And Defense Battle)

HelloHallyu's Pick

Hellohallyu is rooting for all the nominees coming from the The First Shop of Coffee Prince. To be fair to the other actors, actresses and dramas, we must state that The First Shop of Coffee Prince is the only 2007 MBC drama that I have watched this year. Jumong do not count since it was a 2006 production.

Here's Teddy's why The First Shop of Coffee Prince deserves to sweep the awards:

• Interesting storyline
• Fantastic cast (both main and supporting)
• Good and slick cinematography
• Wonderful chemistry between Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye

So, tell me why The First Shop of Coffee Prince should not sweep all the awards?

Top 10 Korean Dramas of 2007

A post by "kdramafanasia" in the soompi forums listed the Top 10 Dramas of 2007 based on results compiled by TNS Media Research for average viewership rating.

The top 10 dramas for the year are:

1. Jumong (MBC) - 47.3%

2. Pure 19 (KBS1) - 39.7%

3. War Of Money (SBS) - 31.0%

4. As Much As Heaven And Earth (KBS1) - 29.0%

5. Story Of First King's Four Gods/Legend (MBC) - 28.8%

6. I Hate You But It's Fine (KBS1) - 28.8%

7. Dae Jo Young (KBS1) - 26.3%

8. Blissful Woman (KBS2) - 25.2%

9. My Man's Woman (SBS) - 24.5%

10. First Shop Of Coffee Prince (MBC) - 24.2%

Perhaps in a weird coincidence, I only managed to watch Jumong, which is currently running on the telly, and First Shop of Coffee Prince, which happen to be rated 1st and 10th respectively in the chart.

Although I did not take part in the polling, I am not surprised that Jumong topped the list of dramas despite the highly competitive environment for drama series in Korea. With its fast paced action, tight storyline, great acting and beautiful sets, it is easy to imagine Koreans being glued to the tv, which is in fact happening to me now, when the drama is screening.

Can't say much for the dramas rated as 2nd to 9th on the chart since I did not manage to catch any of them.

Being a fan of both Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo, I am glad that Coffee Prince managed to squeeze itself into the top 10, which in itself is already a feat. It would be a great disservice to the Korean entertainment scene if this drama did not make it to the list. Tell me honestly, apart from the classic Friends, which other drama had the influence to convince girls to lop off their locks for a Go Eun Chan hairdo?

Bae Yong Joon trade period costumes for hospital gown

MBC's drama The Legend has just aired its final episode yesterday as you read this post. While fans have enjoyed Bae Yong Joon's martial arts exploits in the drama, few will know that the actor has just checked into the hospital, after filming the final episode, to treat injuries that were picked up during filming.

Wrote about Bae Yong Joon's injuries perviously, and I have to say that artistes in the entertainment line are one professional lot. Professional hazards for folks like me include wrist strain from the overuse of the keyboard or slipped disc from sitting for too many hours in front of the PC. Different hazards for different professions.

It is important to recognise the dedication of these artistes is an important reason why we get an endless, well almost, supply of good Korean dramas daily on our TV.


Anyway, hope Bae Yong Joon recuperates well during his stay in the hospital.

Get well soon!

Related article:

• Bae Yong Joon finishes filming and hospitalized for treatment (BROASIA.com)

Bae Yong Jun hurt while filming

Who says stars have it good?

In what seems to be a freak accident, Bae Yong Jun apparently hurt his neck while filming a fight scene on the set of The Legend. It is reported that Bae Yong Jun ruptured a cervical disc and sprained a shoulder ligament.

Ouch!

And these are on top of a ligament injury on one of his fingers.

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

All banged up, Bae is now on a diet of painkillers and tapes to hold his body together so that he can finish filming the drama. As a Korean drama fan, I can only say a big "thank you" to hardworking Korean stars, e.g. Bae Yong Jun, who hangs in there, through pain and injury, to bring the best of Korean dramas to our screens.

Here's wishing Bae Yong Jun a speedy recovery. In the meantime, try not to hold your great sword with your injured hand.

Hello Hallyu's Favourite Period Drama Poll Results

Based on a grand total of 4 votes, which I consider a good start, readers overwhelmingly voted "The Legend" as their all-time favourite Korean period drama.

Here's the poll results:

Daejunggum - 1 vote
Jumong - No votes
Seodongyo - No votes
The Legend - 3 votes (readers' choice!)

(Source: MBC's official site)

MBC's The Legend or The Story of the First King's Four Gods (currently on air) stars Bae Yong Jun who takes on 3 characters, the main being the Great King Kwang-gae-to (Damdeok). The storyline of this drama is similar to Jumong in that it has a mythical spin to it. In The Legend, the story is about the Four Gods looking for their true master - Damdeok.

Based on what I have read, The Legend is a hugely popular series with viewership averaging 30% in recent weeks. Hitting the big three-O is a target for all Korean dramas, and to hit and maintain such high ratings mean that either Bae Yong Jun is pulling in the eyeballs or the story must truly be well written.

I am looking forward to catching this drama on the telly once the cable operator here obtains the rights.