Sikgaek - Le Grand Chef's on the small screen

Despite topping the movie charts in Korea, Le Grand Chef was a movie which I did not enjoy. Check out HelloHallyu's Le Grand Chef's movie review here. Ok, having gotten my thoughts of the movie out of the way, I do actually wonder how SBS's version of the story will unfold on the small screen over 24 episodes. Perhaps the length of the drama will do justice to a poorly developed and rather predictable plot of it big screen version.

Only time will tell.

Fans in Korea will get their first bite of the cuisine showcased on the drama as it will hit their small screens tomorrow (17 Jun 2008). Fans like me, as usual, will have to wait our turn for the dvd release.

Going by the description of the drama by The Korean Herald's article "'Sikgaek' sets off on new culinary journey", the drama looks set to whet our taste buds with more delectable Korean cuisince, a la Jewel of the Palace-style. Read the extract of the article below to get a feel of which I am trying to say. Truly, nothing beats the visual impact of seeing a chef slicing, dicing, chopping and throwing all the wonderful stuff into pots, pans, woks, and creating works of culinary art and delight.

"Judging from the 40-minute preview screening last week, SBS' "Sikgaek" promises to bring classic drama-making elements to audiences nationwide. Rivalry, love triangles and heritage all factor into this miniseries. Glossy shots of Korean palace food, the rival chefs Seong-chan and Oh Bong-ju - played by Kim Rae-won and Kwon Oh-jung respectively - and the beautiful woman whom they long for, played by actress Kim So-yun, hinted at the potential soap opera to come.

But sequences featuring vast persimmon farms, cattle, and a crying child eating stew promised a different story, one that involved the heart of Korean cuisine: the story of the land itself and the people who harvested it."

Korean cuisine aside, images of Korean rural life and scenic spot are always something which I enjoy seeing in a good drama. Lines of grape vines bring back memories of Yoon Eun Hye's and Oh Man Seok's - The Man in the Vineyard, while the fog enshrouded mountain in Jeju brings to mind Hyun Bin's long climb up the mountain in search for his love in My Lovely Samsoon. Ah, the power of, beautiful, images.

Looking at The Korean Herald's description, I am sure viewers are in for a treat! This alone is good enough reason for me to wait out for the dvd release of Sikgaek. But I would definitely track any entertainment news reports on it just to make sure it's worth my money. After all, in times of hyper-inflation, one can never be too careful with money. Yes, not even with my beloved Korean dramas.

Yoon Eun Hye's says 'Hi' from Paris

We have not seen Yoon Eun Hye on the small screen since the phenomenal success of Coffee Prince. So what has she been up to lately. Well, she has taken a well earned, but rather extended break, in my opinion, since I do miss her in Korean dramas, in the city of romance - Paris, since the filming of Coffee Prince ended. Hmmm, is our dear "My Chan" trying to pick up some barrista techniques from the city's famous cafe? Well, you decide on what to make of the photos that she took of herself while letting her, now rather long, tresses down in Paris. I can't believe I did not meet her while I was there in March!

South Korea going big on its 'Nip & Tuck' Industry

Fancy looking like one of the hottest Korean stars currently gracing your TV sets now? All you need to do is fly to South Korea and have a stay there as a medical tourist. Yup, Korea is going all out to woo the medical tourists with their famed nip and tuck procedures.

I am preparing my eyes to spot Yoon Eun Hye, Song Hye Gyo, Lee Ji Ah and Sung Yu Ri look-a-likes strutting down Orchard Road soon.

Here's the Straits Times article on this news.

June 4, 2008
South Korea targets 'nip and tuck' tourist
dollar
By Lee Tee Jong

SEOUL - A LIMOUSINE pulls up at the airport and whisks you to a hospital for a nip and tuck. You recuperate in a ward resembling a five-star hotel, then you tour the theme parks of popular Korean dramas such as Jewel In The Palace before flying home.

It is part of the facelift package offered by some Seoul plastic surgeons.

Already a destination for medical tourists, South Korea is eyeing a bigger slice of the growing global pie, seeing potential in attracting patients from neighbours China and Japan, and well beyond.

In 2006, medical tourism grossed about US$60 billion (S$82 billion) worldwide. Management consulting firm McKinsey and Company estimates that the sum will rise to US$100 billion by 2012.

Competition for the medical tourist dollar is stiff, stretching worldwide from Argentina and Poland to India, Malaysia and Singapore.

In Asia, the health-care industry is estimated to be worth S$7 billion a year and the key draw is the lower price compared with the United States or Western Europe.

Hospitals in Singapore charge up to US$12,000 for a partial hip replacement, half of what it costs in the US. A nose reconstruction that costs US$850 in India runs up to US$4,500 in the US. Singapore and Thailand are already leading players in Asia with more than 400,000 and 1.4 million foreign patients respectively last year.

Singapore plans to boost that to one million medical tourists by 2012, and they are expected to spend S$2.4 billion. Likewise, foreign patients in Thailand spent around S$1.5 billion there in 2006.

Now Seoul is playing catch-up, hoping to draw 100,000 medical tourists by 2012. The government hopes this will yield 6,000 new jobs and contribute US$900 million to the economy. President Lee
Myung Bak said earlier this year the country had too many unfriendly regulations in the way of growing the business.

'We must do away with unnecessary rules to turn this sector into a new national growth engine,' he said.

For a start, hospitals will be allowed to market themselves to foreign patients as soon as Parliament approves the revised laws.

Previously, hospitals were considered non-profit organisations and could not advertise their services.
Now, the ministry will allow medical institutions to engage the services of travel agencies and provide transportation for foreign patients.

In another important move, family members of foreign patients can get long-term visas to take care of their loved ones.

South Korean doctors are confident that their medical skills surpass that of their rivals elsewhere.

'Our medical technology is better than that of Singapore, Thailand and India,' declared Dr Jang Kyung Won, the secretary-general of the Council for Korean Medicine Overseas Promotion. 'We
offer high-quality services for plastic surgery, spinal diseases, stomach cancer
surgery, Oriental medicine and laser treatment to correct myopia.'

Thirty-six hospitals came together in March last year to set up the promotion council.

It has held overseas expositions and worked with travel agencies to develop medical tourism packages that target mainly patients from neighbouring China and Japan.

Several member hospitals are currently working with travel agencies in the US, Japan and China to roll out packages for different budgets.

The package includes air fare, medical treatment, hotel accommodation and visits to tourist attractions.

Some hospitals have an international department where doctors and nurses can communicate with patients in English, Chinese or Japanese.

The popularity of Korean pop culture such as dramas has been cited as a marketing advantage for their medical services especially in the field of aesthetic treatment.

'I have Japanese and Chinese patients coming to me with pictures of Korean celebrities whose features they want to replicate,' said plastic surgeon Kim Sung Byeon, who treats about 10 foreigners a month.

Despite the optimism, there is one key factor keeping foreign patients from coming: pricey food and accommodation, and that matters because patients often arrive with accompanying family members.
Seoul is the most expensive Asian city for expatriates who live here, according to the latest survey by human resources firm ECA International. Singapore was No. 9 on that list.

Still, South Korea has lined up a series of projects aimed at attracting medical tourists.

The Health Ministry is planning to set up a high-tech medical park by the end of 2010 to develop new treatments and medical devices.

Jeju, the tourist island, is in a partnership with Malaysia's Berjaya Corporation to build a US$2 billion integrated resort which will include medical facilities over the next eight years.

By 2010, the island will have Healthcare Town, a complex of hospitals and rehabilitation facilities offering comprehensive medical treatment.

In November, Seoul will host the third International Medical Travel Conference for participants to share information on medical travel trends and new markets.

Singapore held the first conference in 2006 and the Philippines hosted the second last year. For those seeking to enhance their looks, the skilled Korean surgeon's scalpel can yield unexpected problems.

Dr Kim said: 'Last year, I operated on a Singaporean to give her double eyelids. 'On her way home, she was held up at the airport immigration because they did not recognise her from the photograph
in her passport.'

She was allowed to leave, but only after an hour of interrogation.

KBS - The Kingdom of the Winds

Like grandfather like grandson. Song as Prince Muhyul - Jumong's grandson.

Song Il Kook is making a comeback to historical drama following his portrayal as Prince Jumong in MBC's production some two years back. This follows after his last drama in SBS' Lobbyist. In KBS' - The Kingdom of the Winds, Song will play the role of Jumong's grandson, Prince Muhyul, the third king of Goguryeo. The Kingdom of the Winds is a remake of a comic by Kim Jin. Song expressed that reprising a character so closely related to his previous role in Jumong has given him added pressure to perform. However, we at HelloHallyu think KBS has got the right guy. Who's better to portray Jumong's grandon than Jumong himself.

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)