'Lost' Star Found on Front Page of U.S. Paper

Korean actress Kim Yun-jin, star of the U.S. television series "Lost", has graced the front page of USA Today.

Friday's issue of the nationwide daily featured a photo of Kim on page one alongside a special report on the upcoming fourth season of the hit show.

In the ABC adventure-drama, Kim plays Sun, the pregnant wife of Jin played by Korean-American Daniel Dae Kim.

The new season kicks off on Jan. 31. While 16 episodes were planned for the season, that number was halved due to a Hollywood writers' strike. The eight episodes were shot before the strike began.

"The shorter season is disappointing, but the eight episodes are really great," Kim told the newspaper. If the strike ends by mid-February another five or six episodes may be shot for season four.

source: Chosun Ilbo

Related Tags: Kim Yun jin/korean actress/lost

Lee Dong-gun to Debut as Singer in Japan

Actor Lee Dong-gun of the “Lovers in Paris” fame is making his debut as singer in Japan. Lee has recently signed a contract with Japan’s largest record label Sony and started preparing for his first album release in Japan.

Lee’s album project has been kept under wraps. All the details about the record, like the album concept and the genre of songs, are to remain secret until the market release date, which is also kept secret.

This is not Lee’s first venture into the music industry. During his high school years, he debuted with a song “May My Wish Reach Heaven” in 1998 and enjoyed immense popularity as a teen singer. He gave up singing after he turned to acting in 2000, but his singing career seems to be revving up again after 8 years with the album release in Japan.

source: KBS WORLD

Won Bin, returns as men's formal wear model

Won Bin who has been resting after being discharged from the military has marked is return as a model.

Won Bin's agency announced on the 23rd, "Won Bin will start his activities as the model of ZIOZIA, a men's character formal wear brand." ZIOZIA is the brand Won Bin modeled for back from 2001 to 2005 until he entered military service.

Other than being appointed ambassador for UNICEF last year, Won Bin has not been involved in any activities. Starting towards the end of the month, he can be seen at ZIOZIA outlets.

His agency added, "He is currently reviewing many scenarios and hopes to return through a good project soon."

source: Broasia

Related Tags: Won bin/korean actor

Jang Nara to Sing Chinese Olympic Duet

Singer Jang Nara will sing a duet dedicated to this year's Beijing Olympics entitled 'Our Dream' with famous Chinese opera singer Liao Changyong.

Jang's management agency said, "The Chinese singer had earlier expressed his intent to one day sing with Jang, and the occasion came as Korean and Chinese artists alike hope for a successful Olympics."

Jang will record the song in Beijing Thursday and also shoot its music video.

Liao Changyong has previously sung with soprano Jo Sumi.

source: kbs global

Related Tags: Jang nara/korean actress/korean singer

Gong Yoo in army

The Korea Military Academy has released a photo of actor Gong Yoo in the military academy, wearing his uniform.

Gong Yoo, who joins the army on Jan 14, is the latest high profile star who enter the military service.

2008 will see an influx of big names into Korea’s mandatory military service… Shinhwa’s Eric and Kim Dong-wan are approaching the age limit (28) and will have to join the army this year; others like actors Kim Rae-won, Lee Dong-gun and pop star Kangta are probably joining in too.

source: yummycelebrities

Related Tags: Gong Yoo/ korean actor/Kim Dong-wan/Kim Rae-won/Kangta

Lee Jun Ki Has His Own Doll

Lee Jun Ki SD doll !

Related Tags: Lee jun ki/ korean actor/SD doll

Lee Jun-ki Named a Goodwill Ambassador

Actor Lee Jun-ki is to be named the goodwill ambassador to China to promote bilateral cultural exchanges. He will receive the appointment at the 2nd World Chinese Merchants Convention in Beijing Friday afternoon.

Lee’s agent reported that Lee has gained a huge following in China thanks to his impressive performance in film “King and the Clown” and TV drama “Time between Dog and Wolf.” Lee is also to award China’s best male and female models at the event and meet with the Chinese minister of foreign affairs on Saturday. This hot young actor plans to engage in more activities to boost cultural exchanges between the Korea and China to mark the Beijing Olympics.

On a different note, Lee’s fans in Singapore donated money in December on behalf of Lee to help children suffering from polio. In appreciation, the actor promised to join them in the effort to help needy children.

source: KBS WORLD

Related Tags: Lee jun ki/ korean actor/ King and the Clown/ Time between Dog and Wolf

A Happy New Year’s from Singer Rain

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Top-star Rain (real name Jeong Ji-Hoon, 25) delivered a New Year’s greeting on his official homepage. Rain’s management company, J. Tune Entertainment (CEO Jo Dong-Won) released a video clip of Rain presenting his greetings on his official homepage (www.rain-jihoon.com) on December 31.

On the video, Rain expressed his love for his fans, saying, “Though I’m far away, my heart is with all my fans. I hope everyone has a happy and healthy New Year.”

A J. Tune Entertainment representative reassured fans by stating, "Though Rain is not currently making any appearances in front of his fans, this does not mean that he is taking a break from all activities.” He continued, “2008 will foresee a jam-packed schedule with more engagements oversees. This may mean that he will spend more time abroad, but news of his well-being will constantly updated on his homepage.”

Rain also delivered a “Merry Christmas” message through a pop-up on his homepage to his fans a week earlier.

source:tour2korea

Related Tags: rain/korean singer/korean actor/Speed Racer

Song Il-guk to Wed in March

Actor Song Il-guk has officially announced the date of his wedding.

Song will marry his girlfriend, five years his junior, on March 15 at the Sheraton Grand Walkerhill Hotel. The couple have been dating for the past year and a half.

The wedding ceremony will be a private affair among close family and friends.

Song met his bride-to-be on location in 2006 when she was training to be a lawyer at the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

Song is currently taking some time off from work and preparing for his upcoming wedding. He plans to stay away from work for the time being and enjoy his honeymoon and marriage.

source: kbs global

Related Tags: Song Il-guk/korean actor/่jumong

Rain May Sing Olympic Theme

Singer Rain may sing the theme song for this year's Beijing Olympics.

He recently received a request from the Olympic organizing committee and is positively reviewing it.

He was asked to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Doha Asian Games but had to turn down the offer due to his tour schedule.

He has finished filming the Hollywood flick 'Speed Racer' set to open in May and is gearing up for a major Hollywood debut. Former boy band GOD member Park Jun-hyeong also appears in the film.

source: kbs global

Related Tags: rain/korean singer/korean actor/Speed Racer

Kim Jeong-hoon Wins Japanese Math Quiz Show

Kim Jeong-hoon, former member of male duo UN, won the Japanese math quiz show called “Takeshi Kitano Presents Comaneci University Mathematics” on Fuji TV on December 27th.

Representing Korea, Kim competed with an American contestant currently studying at Tokyo University, another student studying in Japan from the Republic of Benin in Western Africa, two Tokyo University students, director Takeshi Kitano, and comedians interested in mathematics.

Kim astonished the audience and other contestants by easily solving the problems. Although he failed to get the correct answer in the last question, he gained 80 extra points for an ingenious way he used to arrive at the answer. Those extra points were what helped Kim win the title, as he was tied with director Kitano in the last round.

This was not the first time that Kim, a former Seoul National University student, showed off his brain power. He had once finished first in a program called “Brain Survival” in Korea. Variety program “Takeshi Kitano Presents Comaneci University Mathematics” was first aired in April 2006.

source: KBS WORLD

Related Tags: Kim Jeong-hoon/Takeshi Kitano/Comaneci University Mathematics/korean actor