News bites: April 13, 2008

13 April 13, 2008July 22, 2008

by javabeans

KBS’s new action drama Rivals, aka Kang-jeok-deul or Adversaries, premieres tomorrow. In striving for realism, Chae Rim visited a special attack squad and handled real firearms; Lee Jong Hyuk and stunt actors worked under a special-effects director and shot blanks from real guns. Now let’s see if the story’s any good.
Kim Dong Wan, currently hospitalized after collapsing in the studio on the 11th, anticipates being released on the 15th, according to management. Reasons for his condition are attributed to stress from overwork; his solo album release will now be postponed until he is completely recovered, probably to early May.
MBC’s upcoming Monday-Tuesday drama starring Kim Sun Ah and Lee Dong Gun, When Night Comes, is in the final stages of preparation and will soon start filming. The drama follows Yi San and is scheduled to premiere June 16. He plays an antiques-expert playboy with a thing for the virginal type; she plays a fervently patriotic spinster. The two share in romantic-comedy exploits as they search for national/cultural treasures. Kind of an oddly random assortment of details, though I suppose that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Lee Hana of the film Le Grand Chef and most recently in musician Jung Jae Hyung’s latest music video (see Song of the Day, below), follows her role in last year’s mania drama Merry vs. Daegu Battle in the upcoming KBS drama Woman in the Sun, also written by Merry scriptwriter Kim In Young. She’ll be acting alongside Kim Ji Soo (who makes her TV comeback after four years); the drama will follow currently airing Three Dads, One Mom.
Last year, new pop group 8eight seemed poised for instant success, but faded fairly quickly out of the public eye after lots of hype. The trio says they’ve learned from the failure of their first album, born of an overly hectic schedule where they’d attempted too much, too fast: “We’d rushed through recording and our television debut, so the weak points were plain to see.” They’re now looking optimistically to their second album “Infinity.”
Kim Haneul likes the comparison to her abrasive On Air character Seung Ah, and embraces her new nickname combining her real name with her character’s: “Kim Oh Seung Ah.” How is her character like herself? They’re both addicted to working out and have a love of sunglasses. For the past three years, she’s exercised three hours daily — sounds like someone’s got a bad case of exercise bulimia. (And no, I’m not being flip. That degree of fanaticism is very likely unhealthy.)

SONG OF THE DAY

Jung Jae Hyung – “Running,” whose video features Lee Hana. [ Download ]

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1 belleza

April 13, 2008 at 3:53 PM

3 hours a day? Kwon Sang Woo approves!!

Wow, Lee Dong Gun is still going to do the drama. Definitely pulling for him!

Lee Na Young is one of my picks to play opposite Kang Ji Hwan. Not fully developed as an actress yet but a real quirky gem as a personality.

Really, really low expectations for Rivals. Just started Lobbyist and reminded how tough it is to pull off a good romantic shoot em up

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wow i'm looking forward to seeing kim sun ah and lee dong gun's drama! i'm a fan of kim sun ah and i definitely want to support Lee Dong gun-the man's really been through the wringer yet he's still embarking on this drama. i hope some good ratings can help cheer him up a bit.

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3 choram

April 13, 2008 at 5:54 PM

I love them news bites :D

I'm still not completely convinced about Rivals...it has potential and the casting is fine but something is just making me hesitate.....hmmm.

P.S. Who is making those lovely Who Are You banners for you? :D I thought there was one but now I see another one....they're great!

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4 Jessica

April 13, 2008 at 8:41 PM

Can't wait for Rivals :)

But if they're striving for realism...isn't that dress a little short for the Secret Service? And how is she supposed to protect the president in heels that high?

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5 sf

April 13, 2008 at 10:59 PM

oh my, i didn't recognize Chae-rim w/o her curly dal-ja hair!
she's looks really different but suited for the role i suppose.

I love the News bites....real news reporting sans the bitchiness and attention-seeking.

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6 belleza

April 13, 2008 at 11:58 PM

@Jessica,

Heels need to be that high in order to hide her poison daggers. It's described in the latest Secret Service Manual -- "Hey Hey Hey: Kick A$$ and Look Good!"

@Asianromance,

This should be good; I think it's a reunion of the writers/PD behind LDG/HJH drama Sweet 18. It'll be hard for me to watch without thinking about his recent tragedy.

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7 Felicity

April 14, 2008 at 2:03 AM

Maybe Rivals isn't going to turn out very good, but I'm going to give it a chance because of Chaerim. She's acting against type and that is so fun to see. XD

@belleza. Do you mean Lee Hana? Because I love Lee Na Young and her unique onscreen presence (which many actresses are lacking). She's a much sought after award-winning movie actress, while Le Hana is a relative newbie. I like Lee Hana lots too. She is very likable in Le Grand Chef! Both actresses are quirky in their own way.

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8 epyc

April 14, 2008 at 3:23 AM

Hi Javabean

This is totally off topics from your news bites today. I remember reading somewhere a historical list of K-Drama ratings from the 90s till now. Should have 'favorited' it as I'd like to catch up with the 'older' dramas.

Is it something on your site that you can guide me to?

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9 belleza

April 14, 2008 at 5:39 AM

@Felicity,

Eek total brain camp! I was going to say that Lee Ha Na is kinda like a cross between Lee Na Young and Kim Ha Neul. At least Ha Neul without the Hyori gym habit. (Is this how actresses like Choi Ji Woo and Kim Ha Neul mantain the fitness to cry a river? Insider knowledge yo!)

Being funny is about showing the booger. That's Ha Neul. Being quirky is about sharing that booger. That's Na Young and maybe Ha Na. It's not always about getting the guy. Better is when a guy gets us.

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10 Gaijin

April 14, 2008 at 6:49 AM

Chae Rim is a hottie... but needs to lose the shoes. ;-)

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11 Felicity

April 14, 2008 at 8:36 AM

@ belleza. That's it! Lee Hana *is* a cross between Lee Na Young and Kim Ha Neul! You're totally right, haha! She's got KHN's looks and LNY's quirkiness, me thinks.

LOL at your Choi Ji Woo/Kim Ha Neul comment. hehe. At least Kim Ha Neul can do comedy besides crying a river of tears. Choi Ji Woo, on the other hand...aishh, she's like a faucet that never runs dry. XP

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12 belleza

April 14, 2008 at 11:25 AM

@Felicity,

Oh Choi Ji Woo is truly the mixed martial artist of tearjerking. Put her in the octagon and she'll cry you into submission. When CJW cried through the 43rd straight minute of Episode 16 (17? 19? all?) of Stairway to Heaven, I actually started clapping and cheering!

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13 anne

April 14, 2008 at 1:07 PM

Three hours daily for three years is excessive! Doesn't she film drama and movie, from what I read actors complaint about the tight schedule and lack of sleep. Wonder what she's on to have that kind of energy...no wonder she's skinny.