"Gumiho" becomes most-watched show in China

Poster for series "My Girlfriend is Gumiho" [SBS]

New Korean drama "My Girlfriend is Gumiho" starring Korea's most popular stars Lee Seung-gi and Shin Min-ah has become the most-watched show in China, according to the show's promoter IM Company on Thursday.

IM announced in a press release that the first two episodes of SBS series "Gumiho," which premiered locally on August 11, became the top show on China's PPS netTV [online TV streaming website] and on SOHU news.

Lee Seung-gi, Shin Min-ah to play couple in new TV series

Korean actress Shin Min-ah (left) and Lee Seung-gi (right) [SBS]

Korean singer and actor Lee Seung-gi will be romancing actress Shin Min-ah in a new SBS TV series tentatively titled "My Girlfriend is Gumiho," according to the show's PR firm IM Company on Wednesday.

IM announced in a press release that Lee and Shin have been cast as the male and female lead for the upcoming drama, where Lee will play an unlucky guy named Cha Dae-woong who falls in love with a nine-tailed fox, or 'Gumiho,' to be played by Shin.

Jo Jung-rin says Lee Seung-gi stirred trouble with agency

Comedienne Jo Jung-rin appears on variety show "Steel Heart" [SBS]

Comedienne Jo Jung-rin has revealed that she almost got kicked out of her agency for helping Korean singer Lee Seung-gi back in the days.

Korea's Younger Sister To Sing Duet With Korea's Younger Brother

Many of Korean celebrities are given little nicknames by the press and public. For example, MC Yoo Jae-seok is considered the nation's (Korea's) MC and actress Moon Geun-young as the nation's kid sister. The same nickname for Moon was given to the international figure skating champion, Kim Yuna. How appropriate because the ice princess will be making her debut as a singer by teaming up with "the nation's younger brother" Lee Seung-gi for a duet.?This isn't the first time the two are coming together as the nation's "siblings" also teamed up for an ad campaign for a Korean bank.

The two will be remaking a song from Lee's third album titled "Smile Boy", set to be released on May 24th. Despite Kim's venture into the singing realm, fans shouldn't expect more projects like this in the near future...as of yet. There hasn't yet been any further talk of the Olympic superstar releasing her own album or advancing further into the music industry.

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Source: KBS
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Lee Seung-gi to make comeback in a new TV series

Korean singer and actor Lee Seung-gi [Asia Economic Daily]

 

Korean singer and actor Lee Seung-gi will be making a comeback to the small screen in a new TV series, his first since starring in the smash hit drama "Shining Inheritance" last year.

According to a source related to the new show tentatively titled in English "My Girlfriend is a Fox with Nine Tails," Lee recently decided to appear in the series and is in final stages of negotiations.

"Tails" is written by Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran, a sister writing duo also known as 'The Hong Sisters' who previously penned dramas "Minamishineyo" (SBS, 2009) and "Hong Gil-dong" (KBS2, 2008).

"Lee himself was very interested and wanted to appear in a series written by the Hong Sisters," another source related to the drama was quoted as saying. "And from what I know, the Hong Sisters also thought that Lee would be a good fit to play the male lead."

The singer has been cast as the main male character who is terrified at first of the fox but eventually falls in love with her. The female lead actress has not been cast as of yet.

Lee, 23, debuted as a singer after being discovered and trained for two years by one of Korea's top female vocalists Lee Sun-hee. The popularity of his first single "Because You're My Girl", from debut album "The Dream of a Moth" released in 2004, turned the then-17-year-old into an overnight sensation especially among older female fans.

He crossed over to acting in 2005 in a guest role for MBC sitcom "Nonstop 5" and made his official debut in "Famous Princesses" (KBS2, 2006). But it was his turn in the hugely successful "Inheritance" that solidified his status as an actor -- the weekend drama topped the television ratings chart for ten consecutive weeks and peaked with a viewership rating of 47.1 percent.

"Tails", which is expected to air this summer, will start shooting around May.

Reporter : Ko Jae-wan star@asiae

Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae

Source: Asiae
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The set of "Steel Heart" is where heaven is

Hosts of "Steel Heart": Singer/actor Lee Seung-gi (left) and emcee Kang Ho-dong [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

"Everyone, are you going to feel tired during today's taping? You are, aren't you?" The person who says this in the most coy yet charming way is none other than Kang Ho-dong, the main host of SBS variety show "Steel Heart." He was a former national champion in Korean wrestling and currently also plays the Knee-Drop Guru [on MBC's celebrity talk show "Golden Fishery"]. And like the male Siberian Tiger he is called, more than capable of going out far beyond Korea, his show "Two Night and One Day" is also ready to soon go on its excursion to the South Pole.

With more than twenty guests appearing on every episode, inevitably making the conversations last for over a total six to seven hours in a single sitting, the show's taping session becomes a test of one's physical strength. Hence, the host has to tend to the audience before shooting begins and Kang's partner Lee Seung-gi also greets the audience members with his generous smile. But the audience seem particularly glad to see Lee Soo-geun -- comedian and former MC of a rival variety show -- and cry out in unison "Soo-geun oppa! Great to see you!" before the taping begins. But for Lee -- who coveted Kang Ho-dong's position as show host -- such moments of glory comes to an abrupt end, lasting only five minutes as he starts to ramble during his turn to speak. Then Kang Hong-dong and Lee Seung-gi display their superb skills as hosts by keeping the conversation going and lifting up the atmosphere again.

When Lee Seung-gi joins in the romantic set-up between Yoona of Girls' Generation and Taecyeon of 2PM, who have sparked dating rumors, veteran radio personality Kim Hye-young makes everyone laugh by calling the three's romantic involvement as "mating". And with her Tina Turner-like charisma, comedienne Jung Jury -- who has publicly expressed her burning desire to "conquer one idol a week" -- is taken aback by the aggressiveness of actress Hwang In-young who says "Now that I have met Taecyeon, I won't have any regrets when I die."

Then Seohyun, the youngest member of Girls' Generation, confesses an unlikely predicament saying, "There is a line in the new single "Oh!" that goes "I love you oppa [term females use in referring to an older guy]" and it makes me want to cringe when I sing it." On the other hand, bandmate Sooyoung reveals a tragedy which occurred while attempting to perform to the lyrics in a cutesy and cheesy way.

Actress Hong Soo-ah -- a.k.a. "Hong Throw" -- prepares to give a demonstration of her baseball pitch in the studio and pegs Kim Young-chul as her catcher. But since Kim Young-chul is too scared to catch her ball, Kang Ho-dong offers to take over, saying "I will be the one to get hurt". Fortunately, no one gets injured during Hong's first and second wild pitches which end up being strikes.

The show goes on; 2PM member Junho, who initially acts as if indifferent to Taecyeon's popularity by saying, "Popularity comes and goes like the seasons." But he then angrily shouts, "So when is it going to come to me!" and puts on a fantastic performance on the show, which might bring him even greater recognition than Taecyeon. Super Junior members Eunhyuk and Shindong's performances follow and that is when Hwang In-young, satisfied with her variety show appearance which comes for the first time in a long while, cries out, "This is heaven!"

Source: Asiae

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[PHOTO] Show hosts of "Steel Heart" prep for shoot

Singer Lee Seung-gi [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Singer Lee Seung-gi prepares for a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

TV personality Kang Ho-dong [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

TV personality Kang Ho-dong prepares for a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

Source: Asiae

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[PHOTO] Idols taking part in shoot for "Steel Heart"!

Super Junior members Eun-hyuk (far left) and Shindong (far right), singer Lee Seung-gi (second from left) and Girls' Generation member Yoona. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

From left, Super Junior member Eun-hyuk, singer Lee Seung-gi, Girls' Generation member Yoona and Super Junior member Shindong participate in a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

Super Junior members Eun-hyuk (far left) and Shindong (far right), singer Lee Seung-gi (second from left) and Girls' Generation member Yoona. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Boy band 2PM member Taecyeon participates in a pre-recorded session of SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

2PM member Taecyeon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

2PM member Taecyeon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

2PM member Taecyeon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Super Junior member Eunhyuk and 2PM member Junho [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Super Junior member Eunhyuk and 2PM member Junho play rock-paper-scissors during a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

Super Junior member Eunhyuk [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Super Junior member Eunhyuk participates in a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea, wearing a shirt saying "Thank You."

Girls' Generation members Tiffany, Yoona, Sooyoung and Seohyun [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Girls' Generation members Tiffany, Yoona, Sooyoung and Seohyun dance during a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

Girls' Generation member Seohyun [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Girls' Generation member Seohyun dances during a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

Girls' Generation member Yoona [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Girls' Generation member Yoona dances during a recording for SBS talk show "Steel Heart" on its set in Seoul, South Korea.

Source: Asiae

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