(Be glad I resisted the urge to title the post “Marine Boy swims into theaters” — it was difficult to pass up, but I managed.)

The new crime thriller Marine Boy held its production press conference on the morning of December 5, featuring its stars Jo Jae-hyun (New Heart), Park Shi-yeon (La Dolce Vita), and Kim Kang-woo (Bichunmu).

The cast and director Yoon Jong-seok took photos and answered questions with the press; Jo described releasing this film in terms of a metaphor first uttered by the director: “It feels like sending off a daughter in marriage.” (Extending the metaphor, Jo said that in the past, he’s sometimes felt like the kids he’d sent off in marriage ended up divorcing or mistreated by the other family — but this time, all has gone well.)

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Tags: Jo Jae-hyun, Kim Kang-woo, Park Shi-yeon, press conferences

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Who’s watching General Hospital 2? (I confess to trying the first episode out of love for Mr. Director, but did not get hooked.) Looks like you may be getting a General Hospital 3.

The MBC drama is currently in talks to consider another season, according to a rep from the production company. The matter isn’t decided yet, but if it goes forward, the third season will return with the same cast members; as some of the Season 2 members were part of the original cast, the production company does not think that will be a large obstacle. Furthermore, scriptwriter Choi Wan-kyu, who worked on both Seasons 1 and 2, would also return.

Director Noh Do-chul has expressed his willingness to sign on not just for a third season, but a possible fourth and fifth — perhaps making this one of very few successful attempts at the multiple-season kdrama (the only others to do so have been cable hits, like Rude Miss Young Ae or Chosun Police).

Noh says, “It’s time for the season drama format to make its appearance in Korea… as it has done in America. It’s much more economical to make use of a drama with pre-existing popularity than to get a new series to succeed.”

General Hospital 2, starring Kim Jung-eun and Cha Tae-hyun, currently airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays and is doing well in the ratings. The original series premiered in 1994 and featured some now-impressive names, like “Cannes Queen” Jeon Do-yeon, as well as Shin Eun-kyung, Lee Jae-ryong (who’s in Season 2 as well), Kim Ji-soo, and Gu Bohn-seung.

Via Star News

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Well, things are chugging along nicely.

I wonder at how the secondary romances (Woo-jin, Eun-young) will continue, because we’re not even halfway through and our main coupling looks like it’s hitting its stride. I tend to find the trickiest part of romantic dramas to be striking the right balance of keeping the main couple apart — but not TOO apart, and also not TOO together — until everything finally resolves in the end. Too much conflict and the audience tires of the yo-yo effect; too little, and you get bored. I really hope this drama doesn’t fall too far on either side.

SONG OF THE DAY

EZ Hyoung - “Café Fermata” [ Download ]

A STAR’S LOVER Episode 8 >>

Tags: A Star's Lover, Choi Ji-woo, episode recaps, Lee Ki-woo, Yoo Ji-tae

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Note: The following is taken from a Korean article, so the opinions therein aren’t necessarily my own. Still, it’s a look into the trends we can expect in the coming year of dramas. (For instance: Not one, but TWO figure-skating dramas?)

2009 looks like a bright new year. This year, there are many dramas to be produced and aired that may capture viewer hearts. Last year, the economic slump and the shrinking of the drama market caused many difficulties for drama production, a number of dramas still drew viewer notice.

Last year, the sageuk, which used to be a sure thing, fell back, and professional-themed series like medical- or broadcast-centered dramas came into the spotlight. Also, daily and weekend dramas that were strongly criticized had high ratings with trite characters, sharp contrasts between good and evil, conventional conflicts, extreme plot setups, and so forth. On top of that, there were many dramas looking to score success featuring top stars that failed.

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Tags: Cain and Abel, Chae Shi-ra, drama production, Go Hyun-jung, Han Ji-min, Ji Sung, Kim Tae-hee, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Yo-won, Min Hyo-rin, Park Min-young, Return of Iljimae, Shin Hyun-joon, So Ji-sub, Sung Yuri, Triple, Yoon Kye-sang

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So Ji-sub is making his Japanese singing (well, rapping) debut, reports a Japanese newspaper. The actor put out a single last year using the name “G” and appeared in the MV; after the song’s release, it was belatedly revealed that the “faceless rapper” G was in fact So Ji-sub. Now it’s being reported that he’ll begin promoting his music career in Japan as soon as February of this year.

He has not ever performed live as G (nor made appearances), but he does enjoy popularity in Japan from his past dramas I’m Sorry, I Love You and What Happened in Bali. Last December 26, his fanmeeting in Osaka was attended by 6,000 fans.

His management, BOF, says that they have not yet fixed plans for Japanese activities. So Ji-sub is currently filming the highly anticipated SBS drama Cain & Abel, as well as working on the Korea-China joint film Sophie’s Revenge. (You’d think he has enough on his plate without choosing this time to branch out into a second career.)

Via Hankook Ilbo

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Tags: So Ji-sub, star extracurricular activities

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