TRIVIA: Black and White

Alright, off the top of your head, who do you think these two lovely actresses are? No Google-ing!

Hint: They were at a drama awards ceremony on Dec 31.



There's no fooling you guys.

Yes, the lady in white is Kim Ah-joong (200 Pounds Beauty) and the lady in black is none other than Yoon Eun-hye (Coffee Prince).

Don't they look gorgeous? The pair attended the KBS Drama Awards on Dec 31.

Kim Ah-joong

Yoon Eun-hye

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Kim Ah-joong and Hwang Jung-min in Six Months

The lovely Kim Ah-joong is set to topline the KBS drama entitled Six Months. She appears alongside Hwang Jung-min (He Once Was a Superman) in the drama about a 6-month contract marriage.

Six Months: The leads - Hwang Jung-min (left) and Kim Ah-joong)
in KBS' new drama about a contract marriage

The 200 Pounds Beauty actress portrays a famous actress named Han Ji-soo who is caught in a compromising position with postman Goo Dong-baek (Hwang Jung-min). To tone down the scandal, Han Ji-soo has no choice but to marry Goo until rumours die down. The couple agree to a six month contract.

But you know how it is with dramas like this, the pair naturally fall for each other. This causes major complications because Goo and Han already have a girlfriend and boyfriend respectively and their significant others can’t wait for the pair to end their contract marriage.

Group shot: The cast taking pics for the drama's poster
at Han Studio on March 27

Famous: Kim Ah-joong portrays
actress Han Ji-soo

My wish: 'I wish the ratings for my drama
will go through the roof!'

Six Months starts airing in South Korea on April 29.

Since the drama's on KBS, this means we Malaysians with Astro’s Channel 303 will be able to watch it too!

Related:
200 Pounds Beauty - the musical
Kim Ah-joong's coming back to the big screen
Jun Ji-hyun and Hwang Jung-min promote Superman flick

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200 Pounds Beauty - the musical

From movie to musical: 200 Pounds Beauty gets own musical.

Kim Ah-joong attends premiere.

Yup, the story about hefty Hana who undergoes full body plastic surgery to become a svelte and sexy songstress takes centrestage!

The musical version of the highly entertaining movie opened this evening (Dec 3) at Seoul's Chungmu Art Hall in Shindang-dong. The show runs until February 1, 2009.

Original: Kim Ah-joong portrayed Hana
in the movie version

The "original" 200 Pounds Beauty Kim Ah-joong and the movie's director Kim Yong-hwa attended the event. Where's Joo Jin-mo oppa? *sad*

Beauties in a row: (l - r) Musical actress Bada, movie star
Kim Ah-joong and musical actress Yoon Gong-joo

Bada (yes, she who played Esmeralda last year) and Yoon Gong-joo are both playing the leading lady in the musical version of 200 Pounds Beauty.

Check out the other stars who were at the event earlier this evening:

Eugene shows support for former S.E.S.
co-member Bada

Han Go-eun's ready to rock and
roll...right after the show

Yoomi can't wait to get in and book
the best seat in the house

Lee Sang-yoon is delighted to be here

Director (movie version) Kim Yong-hwa
wishes he was somewhere else

Kim Ji-seok can't wait for the show to start

Source: MSN News

Related:
200 Pounds Beauty (mini movie review)

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Kim Ah-joong's coming back to the big screen

There's nothing really new on the actress apart from the hype about her comeback in the manhwa-adapted flick 29 Years.

The movie is set for release early 2009 and it marks the actress' comeback to the bigscreen after 2 years.

Kim Ah-joong shot to stardom after appearing in the rom-com 200 Pounds Beauty, which was also adapted from the manhwa (comics) of the same name. Recently, Orchid and I re-watched the flick and I must say, it is still entertaining the second time around.

Haven't seen it yet? It's time to get the DVD. Read our review first, if you like.

Star: Kim Ah-joong portrayed Hana/Jenny - a heavyweight contender
in the entertainment industry after shedding pounds through
plastic surgery in 200 Pounds Beauty.

The actress portrays doe-eyed innocence convincingly. The film defly addresses the issue of plastic surgery in Korea - the prejudices against it as well as the societal pressures that cause so many starlets to go under the knife in search of perfection.

There's one part in the flick where the heavily-operated on - and now supposedly "perfect" - protagonist is requested to get "some work done" by someone who is clueless about her past. Hmph, perfection (much like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder, huh?

Now that I'm acquainted with the "standards of beauty" in the Korean society, the film has more depth to it.

Movie aside, it has been widely speculated (and perhaps true) that Kim Ah-joong is no stranger to a little nip and tuck of her own.

Perfection in beauty? Check out the pics below and tell us what you think?





Pic credits: Hankooki

Related:
Kim Ah-joong gets 29 Years
Kim Ah-joong a natural beauty?
Make me a Korean star!

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Kim Ah-joong gets 29 Years

The lovely Kim Ah-joong (pic, left) is set to co-star with Ryu Seung-beom in the movie 29 Years, which is based on a comic book by Kang Pool.

The story, which is told over the span of 26 years beginning from 1980, has been renamed 29 Years since the film's release date has been tentatively set for early 2009.

The 200 Pounds Beauty actress will be portraying a cool-headed target shooter.

29 Years is Kim Ah-joong's first movie project since her very entertaining 2006 rom-com 200 Pounds Beauty.

Source: KBS World

More on Kim Ah-joong

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Stars at the 45th Daejong Awards in Seoul

Dressed to the nines: (Top, l-r) Kim Sung-ryung,
Han Chae-young and Han Ye-seul. (Bottom, l-r): Im Soo-jung,
Park Jin-hee and Kim Ah-joong

The 45th Grand Bell Awards a.k.a the Daejong Awards was held at the Coex Convention Hall in Seoul on June 27. It is touted to be the oldest surviving film fest awards in South Korea.

Here's a peek at some of the more familiar (to us) Hallyu stars at the glitzy event.

Daniel Henney, who has been busy filming X-Men Origins: Wolverine in New Zealand, attended the ceremony to pick up his award for Best New Actor (My Father).

Numero Uno: 'Yeah baby, Daniel Henney's
back, and I'm number #1'

Overwhelmed: 'Oh no, my mind's gone blank...
my Korean's still bad...how do I say 'thank
you' in English again?!! Gosh'

Han Ye-seul bagged the award for Best New Actress (Miss Gold Digger).

Winner: 'Me a gold digger? You've gotta be kiddin'.
I'm the one holding the award.'

Meanwhile, Kim Yoon-seok added another trophy to his collection when he won The Most Popular Actor award for his role in The Chaser. Kim bagged the Best Supporting Actor award (Tazza) last year.

Cool as ice: 'Heya. Thanks.'

Kim Yun-jin scooped up the award for The Most Popular Actress (Seven Days) and the award was presented to her by the previous year's winner Kim Ah-joong.

Silky shine: 'Yes, before I announce the
winner...thanks to Pantene, my lustrous
long locks shine.'

Illusion: Did Kim Yun-jin (right) learn a trick or
two from David Copperfield? How did she get her
waist to disappear? Brr..scary.

Ho ho ho: 'I bet I scared the pants off all of you
with my waist-disappearing trick! Wanna see
another one?'

The Wondergirls taunted and teased with So Hot. While thespian Choi Jung-won did her Chicago number.

Heatwave: Wondergirls show proof that none of them
missed their waxing appointment.

Cleopatra complex: Choi Jung-won's too lazy to walk today,
so she ordered a few muscle men to help her get around.

MCs: Kim Ah-joong (right) and Choi Ki-hwan
entertain the crowd by flirting with each other

Trophy: Cha Tae-hyun is a Hallyu star!

Pink lady: Im Soo-jung looks radiant after
slapping on some SKII before arriving

Peace to mankind!: Ara (right) translates
Andre Kim's alien speak

Source & Pics credit: Newsen

Last year's winners' list:
The 44th Daejong Awards (8th June 2007)

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Kim Ah-joong sells books...emotionally

Grrrowl: 'Come here Tiger, and get this...er, book.'

When I saw the picture above while Hallyu surfing, the first thing that came to mind was: “Is Kim Ah-joong selling condoms now?”

Well, you can’t blame me, my Korean is still very juvenile, Kim Ah-Joong has a cheeky come-hither look and the book looks like a packet of condoms…what, it doesn’t? Well, do I look like I care?

Anyway, after some sniffing around, I landed on Dramabeans’ website and discovered that the 200 Pounds Beauty actress is co-editing a book(!) with Koryo University’s professor Kim Kwang-su (pic below, left).

Happy: 'Ah ha ha ha...we're gonna be RICH with you on board,
my dear Ah-joong. Those suckers will grab the book off the
shelves with you hawking it and that condom-like design
on the cover. Ha ha...we're geniuses!'

The book is entitled Emotional Communication. Huh? Does it mean you cry every time you communicate? To read Dramabeans’ entry and discover how the unlikely partnership formed, hit this link – emotionally.

Pics credit: Sports Seoul

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Welcome to Hallyuwood Theme Park

Hallyuwood: A place for the family

Who needs Disneyland when there's a facility dedicated to Hallyuwood? Yup, a Hallyuwood theme park is being built on a 990,000 square metre site in Gyeonggi Province. It will be completed by 2012.

Below are more of the artist's impression of the place. Sweet!

Asian Garden: Flowers in bloom

Boat ride: Korean version of Pirates of the Caribbean?

Place of fun: A bird's eye view of Hallyuwood

The theme park will house studios where Korean dramas and films are made, entertainment facilities, a museum, shops, Korean cooking classes and restaurants!

Wow, it sure sounds like a must-visit place for the K-popped! Trio....four years and counting!

The ground-breaking ceremony called the Hallyuwood Start Festival was held at Janghang-dong in Goyang City at 5pm yesterday (May 29).

Ambassador: 'Eat my dust Bae Yong-joon and Rain,
I'm the chosen one. Hai-yaah!'

Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan, the guest-of-honour cum goodwill ambassador of Hallyuwood Theme Park, was present at the event.

Hey, how come a Hong Kong star gets to be the face of Hallyuwood? Why not Top Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon or our beloved Energizer Bunny?

Goodwill ambassador: Jackie Chan will
promote Hallyuwood to the masses

Anyway, an official with the Gyeonggi government explained: "We thought Chan is a perfect fit for this position to publicise Korean culture to the world, as he has a deep interest in Korean culture and is on intimate terms with many Korean stars.”

Korean celebs who turned up for the event include Chan's close friend Choi Ji-woo, I Love Asia singer Kim Ah-joong and Lost star Kim Yun-jin.

Pals: Choi Ji-woo (left) stands by her friend

Gloved ones: Kim Yun-jin (left) and Kim Ah-joong

Source (partial): Digital Chosunilbo
Pics: As credited

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Korean stars come together for I Love Asia song project

JYP to Jackie Chan: 'So yeah, we're gonna sing this part real loud,
OK. You can go ahead and do your kungfu moves when
we get to this part.' - Pic edaily

Today's the day folks!

It's the day when our beloved Hallyu stars come together to lend their voices to the I Love Asia song project to raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake victims.

Wonder Girls: Fighting!

The We Are the World-like project is the brainchild of Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan, and fully supported by super producer JYP and director Kang Je-kyu.

Many stars turned up for the recording this morning, some already decked-out in matching I Love Asia T-shirts!

Brown Eyed Girls were seen practicing with song sheet in hand while Chae Yeon and Park Yong-ha were seen listening to their iPODs - to familiarise themselves with the tune (I think).

Brown Eyed Girls: ' The tip of the tongue, the teeth, the lips'

Battle: All set for some musical action

All in all, there are 30 Korean stars involved in the fund-raising effort:

Head honchos:

1. Park Jin-young
2. Kang Je-kyu

Figure skater:

1. Kim Yuna

Actors:

1. Kim Ah-joong
2. Park Yong-ha
3. Han Hye-jin
4. Yoo Seung-ho
5. Jeon Hye-bin

Singers:

• Goo Jun-yub (Clon)
  
• Jo Sung-mo
• Chae Yeon
• Kim Dong-wan
• Gan Mi-yeon
• Alex & Horan of Clazziquai
• Joo
• Wonder Girls
  
• Brown Eyed Girls
  
• Battle
  

Here's a peek at part of the song's lyrics. Can anyone translate the Korean bits?

I'll be on your side 함께 할게
I'll give you my hand 내 손을 잡고 일어나
눈물이 마를 때까지 나의 어깨에 기대서 쉬렴
다시 일어나 웃는 니 모습을 기다릴게

Left to right: Alex of Clazziquai, Kim Dong-wan and Park Yong-ha

Left to right: Chae Yeon, Clon - Kang Won-rae (in wheelchair)
& Goo Jun-yub and Horan of Clazziquai

Left to right: Joo, Jo Sung-mo and Gan Mi-yeon

Left to right: Han Hye-jin, Jeon Hye-bin and Kim Ah-joong

Source & Pics credit: Yonhap News

Related:
Park Jin-young and Jackie Chan team up for Sichuan project

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