On-screen lovers Hyun Bin and Song Hye Gyo get serious

I am pleasantly surprised to find out that Hyun Bin and Song Hye Gyo has become the latest celebrity couple in Korea. Being the first male and female drama artistes that arouse my interest in Korean drama, through their performances in My Lovely Samoon and Autumn in My Heart, I am happy that my idols found love through the filming of KBS' The World They Live In.

Since part of the filming was carried out in Singapore, perhaps their seeds of love were sown here. This sure feels like something taken out from the very dramas we love. Way to go guys!

Mr Tough Guy - Hyun Bin

The only time I saw Hyun Bin with a stubble was in the drama The Snow Queen. Then he was an unkempt boxer wannabe. He looked more unkempt than tough in that get-up. However he makes the cut with the 'tough guy' look in his latest photoshoot for the Bazaar magazine. Have to admit that he is even more manly than his already cool collected suave image. The following photos are sure to melts more hearts and win him more female fans.

(Source: Cyworld)

KBS Drama - The World They Live In @ Worlds Within

Song Hye Gyo and Hyun Bin looking cool against Singapore's skyline

(Source: Chosunilbo )

My eyes nearly popped when I saw this photo. No, I was drooling at the uber attractive cast of Song Hye Gyo and Hyun Bin in their roles for the drama The World They Live In. Rather, I was pleasantly surprised by the backdrop of the photo. It's none other than the skyline of Singapore!!!

Pity that I was too busy to catch a glimpse of the filming while the cast and the crew of Worlds Within were filming in town. Now I can't wait to see which part of Singapore was captured in the drama.

Song Hye Gyo makes small screen comeback

Song Hye Gyo last graced small screens with her last TV drama Full House in 2004. Since then her career has taken her to the silver screen with indie flicks such Fetish. I am sure fans of Song would have leapt in joy, well my heart did skip a beat, when I read that Song will once again appear in a new KBS2 drama The World They Live In which will air sometime in November (mark this date). Also found out that my favourite male Korean actor Hyun Bin will be starring opposite Song! Now this drama sounds like a potential hit.

This drama revolves around Song and Hyun who are production directors in the setting of a drama production set. I am sure such a setting makes for a good story since fans of Korean drama all around the world, like myself, would love to have a peek, no matter how unreal it is, at how their Korean dramas are produced. I have already put a big red 'X' in my calendar for November. Do remember to mark it on your calendar since it has been a long 4 years when a last saw the ever sweet and effervescent Song on the telly.

Hyun Bin in my mailbox!

X'mas is not only a time for feasting, but also a time to pamper yourself. Guess that's the message which Beauty Credit's advertisement (above), which found its way into my mailbox, was trying to tell me. While I am no narcissist, I still believe in trying out some new and nice stuff once awhile. As a X'mas treat, I think I will just 'upgrade' from my normal bar of soap to something more spiffy from Beauty Credit. If nothing else, at least I know what Hyun Bin is endorsing.

For fans of Hyun Bin, why not head down to the nearest Beauty Credit boutique to stock up on beauty products and toiletries. Good time to get some last minute shopping done and get some nice presents for family and friends too.

Happy Shopping!

Wonder how Rain got his name?

(Source: The Korea Times)

It's a common knowledge that the names of many celebrities out there are not their real names. The same goes for some of the Korean stars who I fervently follow as a fan.

Korea Times story - How Stars Creat Their Names provided some interesting nuggets of information on how some of the stars which we follow got their names.

Take for example, Gong Yoo, of Coffee Prince fame, created his name by putting together the last names of his parents, Gong and Yoo. Having a name that represents his parents allowed him to work twice as hard and take responsibility for his works. Isn't that sweet?

As for Rain, he got his name from a producer whom nicknamed him "Rain" since the skies invariably poured whenever Rain was recording his songs. Guess Rain makes for bad company on his recording days since chances are likely that it is, cold, wet and 'rainy'. Then again, fans of Rain wouldn't mind spending time with him even if a typhoon is coming down the street! So what's some rain to them when they have Rain with them.

Lastly, I am sure stars choose a name which is memorable and easy for fans to scream it. Take Hyun Bin for instance. The name Hyun Bin exudes a certain sense of urbane sophistication and coolness. Would Hyun Bin fame be still as good if he used his real name - Kim Tae-pyeong? It would kinda weird to hear people shouting "Kim Tae-pyeong, We Love You!"

Nah....

Review: Fantasy Couple (Episode 1)

(Source: Hancinema)

Woman with a "bad-ass" attitude. Naked man in a female bathhouse. A cat that's worth 10 million won. Put these together and you get the Korean drama - Fantasy Couple (Couple in Trouble). Honestly, my interest in Fantasy Couple was sparked off only by the fact that this MBC production piped, well, trounced would be a more fitting word, KBS' The Snow Queen when both were aired at almost the same time at the end of last year. Having enjoyed Snow Queen immensely, I just have to find out what's the big deal with Fantasy Couple.

Fantasy Couple contains similar themes to that of The Snow Queen. Each has its own "snobbish" female protagonists, Kim Bo Ra (Sung Yu Ri) and Jo Anna (Han Ye Seul), and good looking leading men, in the form of Han Tae Woong (Hyun Bin) and Jang Chul Soo (Oh Ji Ho). What sets the dramas apart is that the Snow Queen is a depressingly sad show, while Fantasy Couple is a romantic comedy offering lots of laughs. Put them back to back on the TV at the same time slot and you know where viewers would head for.

Think I talked too much about The Snow Queen when I should be writing on Fantasy Couple. Anyway, based on episode 1, I can say that Fantasy Couple makes for great entertainment after a hard day's work. It's definitely worth a laugh for those in need of a good laugh. Adding to these is the fact that both Han Ye Suel and Oh Ji Ho are both eye candies. This drama contains the right ingredients for a rollicking good time!

Music Video - The Snow Queen

Found this fan-made music video for the Snow Queen. I absolutely love this track. "Mackie", the MV creator, did a great job in capturing some of the most memorable scenes in the drama. A big thanks to Mackie for bringing us this wonderful video. Enjoy!

Review - "The Snow Queen" (2006)

After I finished watching The Snow Queen, I was so sad I couldn't bear to listen to the OST of the series for a while. It was that depressing. Beautiful but melancholic is how I'd describe the whole story. But of course I've recovered from all that and nowadays the OST is always playing in the background when I'm working.

[Image source: Hancinema]

I actually think this is one of the better Korean dramas I have watched lately. I used to like An Autumn's Tale a lot, but now if you ask me, I think I prefer The Snow Queen.

The story revolves around Han Tae Woong (Hyun Bin), a Maths genius who went to one of the top science schools in Korea and became best friends with a fellow student, Kim Jeong Kyu (Lee Sun Ho). Unfortunately, fate dealt a cruel hand in the lives of the two young men, and Tae Woong - instead of achieving the greatness his talents promised - sank into the depths of depression. (I must add, though, this part of the story didn't really convince me. But let's leave it at that.)

Eight years later, and still struggling to overcome his grief, Tae Woong became a boxer (um, actually he's more like the sandbag for other boxers). He then met the very beautiful but also extremely obnoxious Kim Bo Ra (Sung Yu Ri). What he doesn't know is that Bo Ra and him had actually met a long time ago when they were still schooling. Both of them still cherished memories of each other (especially for Bo Ra) but as such stories would have it, they took the next ten episodes to find out. Of course, there were also other distractions, like a handsome doctor who had his mind set on winning Bo Ra's heart and a tomboyish girl hopelessly infatuated with Tae Woong.

I enjoyed watching Sung Yu Ri display her versatility in this show. Not just in her fashion sense (that, as far as I know, is the most talked-about thing about her) but also in the unveiling of Bo Ra's character. At first she was just a mean and spoilt rich little girl, but as the story unfolded, her profound sense of loneliness (hence the title of the series) came across much stronger and it really touched me. For some reason, I'm always drawn to such characters.

[Image source: Hancinema]

Things were never meant to be simple between Bo Ra and Tae Woong, and as their relationship deepened, events from the past began to rear their ugly heads. Whatever fragile trust and feelings they had built started to crumble. The fact is, the two of them needed each other to undo the past and find the happiness that had long eluded them, especially for Tae Woong (whom I feel is really suffering needlessly at times). But like in 99% other Korean dramas, fate had other nasty tricks up its sleeve. I have to admit, by this time, I could predict what was going to happen. All the classic signs were there. To the credit of the director, though, I was hooked till the end because of the strong emotions and the beautiful filming (each scene was picture perfect).

If you throw in everything - the actors, scenery, music, story - I think I'd give The Snow Queen 7.5/10.