Rain to star in Discovery Programme - Hip Korea

Rain showing the world what's Hip about Korea.
(Source: Chosun.com)

The Hallyu wave is now sweeping into Discovery Channel with Rain appearing on the documentary "Hip Korea".

Here's the latest update on this from the Korean Times.

Korean top star Rain will appear on Discovery, the world-renowned cable channel, J.Tune Entertainment announced Friday.

Documentary ``Hip Korea'' will focus on Korea's pop culture and introduce the singer as its frontrunner. His agency stated that the documentary is to air in various countries from Jan 31, starting first in Australia and New Zealand and then Asia.

The Hip Korea crew filmed the star for six months, and the documentary reveals his down-to-earth lifestyle, including clips of Rain casually conversing with his close friend, entertainer Kim Jae-dong about his innermost feelings over a drink and reminiscing his departed mother at her crypt.

The documentary has interviews with stars who have worked with the singer in the past, including Steven Colbert, who had a dance battle with the star on his show "The Colbert Report,'' and actress Susan Sarandon, who co-starred with Rain in the movie "Speed Racer.''

"Hip Korea'' is to air in all regions in Asia, including Korea, on Feb. 23.

Introducing Lee Chae Young

Happen to catch Arirang's interview with Lee Chae Young earlier this morning. Dressed in over sized sweater, a headful of unkempt hair and a pair of huge black plastic framed glasses, Lee Chae Young looked like the pretty girl you will walk past at the mall.

What struck me about this young and upcoming star is the sincere way she answered the interview's questions and how comfortably she carried herself with little to no make-up, which is an act frowned upon in the entertainment industry. It is also interesting to hear her say that she the real her is coming forth in the interview when she is free from the layers of make-up . It is this remark which caught my eye.

It was refreshing to watch an interview where the star has let her hair down and speak freely. Gone are the constant need to look like a million bucks and pressure to put on the best public face lest a slip of tongue or an inappropriate facial expression gets one into trouble.

In the interview, Chae Yong shared that before hitting 30, she sets herself one goal every year. Quite a down-to-earth attitude towards life, unlike the fluffy stuff which most stars dish out during interviews. Her goal(s) for 2009 is to master the guitar as well as the English language. I am definitely looking forward to seeing her doing some lines in English for future dramas.

You can catch Chae Young in the KBS drama - Empress Chun Choo (The Iron Empress) which is currently running on KBS World.

I know that most other websites are focusing on her rather saucy shots for Maxim, however, HelloHallyu will show Chae Young as who she really came across during the interview (see photo above). So enjoy the rather 'tame' photos as well as one her publicity shot for the drama (below).

(Source: SPN)

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)

Kim Ha Neul the All-Action Heroine

Agent Kim on her majesty's service. Shaken, not stirred.
(Source: Cyworld)

Who'd have thought that Kim Ha Neul, who recently appeared in SBS's On Air as the super-cool superstar Oh Seung Ah, would traded in her designer wear for the rough and tumble life of an agent in her new movie Level 7 Bureaucrat.

In this action movie, yup, you are reading it correctly, Kim stars as a secret agent, a la 007 James Bond, who rides horses, fence, take on baddies with karate chops and a gun that's strapped to her thigh which comes in handy during tight situations. Check out the photo above if you have any doubt about the gun being strapped to her thigh portion.

I hope the film will be released in Singapore since it also stars Kang Ji Hwan, whose character Hong Gil Dong gave me loads of laughs when I caught it on the telly recently.

Who is this new star?

To be honest, I would have no answer to the identity of the person in the first photo if such a question was posed to me. Perhaps the face recognition part of my grey matter ain't that well developed, but seriously how many of you can honestly tell at first glance that the person is none other than our beloved YEH? Guess not too many.

I like the feel of the photos, which exudes a somewhat ethereal, dreamy and myterious feel. Once again YEH has outdone herself in a new get-up and style, one that is so unique that her fan here could not even recognise her!