Rain in "Esquire" and "Harper's Bazaar"magazine

Tags: Rain/Esquire/Jung Ji Hoon

Actor Won Bin's Parents' House Wins 2008 Korean Architecture Award

The house actor Won Bin built for his parents in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province has won the 2008 Korean Architecture Award. IDMM Architects, which was in charge of designing the house, said the house won the award on September 22.

The 406.46㎡ house, located on national highway 42, boasts an innovative structure. The first floor of the house leads directly to the third floor, without a second floor.

Apparently, Won Bin showed a photograph of Jennifer Lopez's Beverly Hills mansion to architect Kwak Hee-soo, and also asked him to incorporate memories of his old childhood home in Gangwon Province into the design.

The kitchen is adorned with red bricks and features an old-style cooking-range that can heat the floor of the guest room.

source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1551024_11858.html

Tags: Won bin/korean actor/Jennifer Lopez

Superstar Rain Returns

World star Rain kicked off his singing career in Korea after a 2-year hiatus by appearing late Thursday for the filming of his comeback special. After he released his fourth album in 2006, he has concentrated on his acting career, appearing in the Hollywood blockbuster “Speed Racer” and starring in “Ninja Assassin” slated for release in 2009. But even while shaping his acting career, Rain has steadily worked on his fifth album, the first product since his departure from his mentor and producer Park Jin-young.

Rain’s fifth album “Rainism” showcases a wide range of his abilities. During the filming of his comeback special at the MBC Open Hall in Ilsan on the outskirts of Seoul, 1,000 of his fans gathered to see how far Korea’s hottest entertainer has evolved over the years. He has written songs and closely participated in all the phases of its production. In addition to his signature power dance, he showed that he had a comic touch in “Fresh Woman” in which he was dressed up in workout clothes and a fuzzy wig. The audience went wild at his funny expressions and comments.

Actress Kim Sun-ah of “My Name is Kim Samsoon” fame made a surprise visit to the stage during Rain’s performance of “Bad Man.” Dressed in a skimpy dress, Kim danced a sultry number with Rain to the envy of his fans. Rain’s special will be aired in two parts – a documentary and a comeback concert. His much anticipated fifth album will go on sale on October 15th.

source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=8349

Tags: Rain/Speed Racer/Ninja Assassin/Kim Sun ah/My Name is Kim Samsoon

Rain’s 5th Album Teaser to Be Released

A teaser music video of the hottest K-pop star Rain’s fifth album will be released on Thursday, October 2nd. Rain’s agent said that the teaser video of “Love Story” will be first posted on online music sites like MNet and major portal sites. Now Rain’s fans will be able to get a taste of his new music video shot in some of the trendiest places in southern Seoul.

Actress Ha Ji-won has co-starred in the music video opposite Rain, who will show the sexy, yet dangerous aspect of himself. Rain himself has planned and starred in the video, which is about the dark and sizzling love story between a bad boy and a femme fatale.

The teaser video will be released on Naver, Daum, Cyworld, and MNet.com on October 1st, which will be followed by the second round of teaser release as well as the disclosure of music source and the full version of the music video.

source: KBS World

Tags: rain/Love Story/Ha Ji won/korean actor

Kwon Sang-woo & Son Tae-young Say "I Do"

Actor Kwon Sang-woo and Son Tae-young tied the knot at the Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong, Seoul, on September 28. 350 guests attended the much talked-about event.

The couple's wedding ceremony was hosted by KBS announcer Yoon In-gu and officiated by Grand National Party lawmaker Joo Ho-young. Singer Jo Sung-mo and Son's brother-in-law and pianist Yiruma each performed nuptial songs. The newlyweds will move into Kwon's apartment in Samsung-dong, Seoul.

Kwon made his acting debut in 2001 through the MBC drama series "Delectable Proposal." He rose to stardom through the 2003 film "My Tutor Friend" and starred in numerous hit films including "Spirit of Jeet Kun Do" and "Running Wild." He also starred opposite Choi Ji-woo in the SBS drama series "Stairway to Heaven."

Meanwhile, Son made her debut as a TV entertainer in 2000 after she finished second runner-up at the 2000 Miss Korea beauty pageant. She also starred in numerous TV drama series including "100 Roses" and "I Am Sam" as well as films such as "Sad Movie" and "Gyeongeui Line."

Source:KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1548383_11858.html

Tags: Kwon Sang woo/korean actor/Son Tae young/Stairway to Heaven

No Longer Just a Pretty Face: Song Seung-hun

Actor Song Seung-hun, who made his name as a gentle, romantic lead in melodramas before he was drafted into the military, has changed. He has come back after a five-year hiatus as a tough guy, playing a man who joins the mafia to avenge his father in MBC drama “East of Eden.” Watching him rage and burn while chasing the man who killed his father on a motorcycle, viewers have praised him for his true-to-life emotional acting.

After 14 years in the entertainment world, Song is still mostly recognized for his looks rather than his acting. “I know I’m known thanks to my looks rather than anything else,” he said. “But I no longer care about that.”

Having made his debut as a model for blue jeans in 1995, he rose to stardom overnight with his role in MBC sitcom “Three Guys and Three Girls.” “I started acting unprepared without thinking much about it,” he said. “So I still sometimes feel I’m dreaming when so many fans show their love for me.”

Gently prodded about the scandal surrounding his attempt to dodge the draft, the 32-year-old says, “It was one of the most regrettable things in my life. In the military I often thought about the importance of being humble and taking things as they come.”

But his fans remained loyal -- he got boxes of letters every week, totaling tens of thousands by the time he was discharged after two years.

Song, like Bae Yong-joon, is more popular in Japan than in Korea -- thousands of Japanese fans came to see him when he was discharged. “I’m happy and at the same time it’s a lot of pressure when Japanese fans come to Korea to study because of me,” he says.

Now he tries to think and act simply, taking advice from director Yoon Suk-ho of “Autumn in My Heart”, the drama that made his name in Japan. Yoon “told me that I shouldn’t try to look cool or handsome when I’m acting. The most important thing, he said, is to act sincerely and truthfully. I think I can do that now.”

Credit: englishnews@chosun.com

source: Chosun
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200809/200809050018.html

Tags: Song Seung hun/Bae Yong joon/East of Eden/Autumn in My Heart