Up Close and Personal with actor Lee Min Ho

SSTV Go Tae Hyun Reporter meets up personally with an interview of one to one with the famous actor Lee Min Ho (famed from the Boys Over Flowers F4 drama, City Hunter, Faith, The Heirs drama) Lee Min Ho plays the main protagonist in the new released film Gangnam 1970 with veteran actors Kim Rae Won and Jung Jin Young. He has now a new complete make over from the other characters that he has filmed previously. 

The tall, handsome looking actor is one of the biggest star as he walked in with a stride look, SSTV Reporter Go mentioned he is just like a carved out human sculpture.  
In the recent film Gangnam 1970, Lee has a total image transformation where he lives without his family, has a desire for money. This time Lee takes the role of a 'poor pauper' which was rather different than the dramas he has filmed. In Boys Over Flowers- his Go Jun Pyo role was the richest heir to the Shinhwa Group, he was a rich fella in The Heirs as well and a rich IT geek and fighter in City Hunter drama. 

Lee mentioned 'Actually anyone who sees my appearance will think it's all tattered rags and because I look straight and it gives a true visage of this character. Movie director of Gangnam 1970, Yoo Ha originally directed the films Once A Upon a Time in High School (말죽거리 잔혹사) and Mean Streets (열한 거리) finds this drama is a connecting link to his previous films he has done. It was the year 1970 in Seoul, two men have the desire and loyalty for the development land surrounds of Gangnam and that is where the betrayal sets in.

                         

In Gangnam 1970, Lee plays the role Kim Jong Dae where he is a fierce man in his youth 
Both actors Lee Min Ho and Kim Rae Won showed the desperate look of 2 men's lives with tons of action in this film. Watch out for the movie comes out on 21st Jan 2015.
Something to pin to your next movie list to watch... Woohoo! 


           =All photos courtesy from SSTV website and reporter Go Tae Hyun =

Glittering night at Gangnam 1970 VIP Movie Premiere with celebrities

Recently the movie Gangnam 1970 @ Gangnam Blues starring top star Lee Min Ho, Kim Rae Won, Jung Jin Young, AOA's Seolhyun, Lee Yeon Do, Yoo Seong Mok, Han Chae Young and Jeong Ho Bin movie premiere went on with the red carpet from all the big celebrities who are good friends with the main casts.

Actors and models- Kim Woo Bin, Ahn Jae Hyun, Choi Jin Hyuk, Park Shin Hye, Choi Tae Jun, Kim Ji Hoon, Jung Il Woo, CN Blues Min Hyuk and Jong Hyun, Bae Soo Bin, Ji Jin Hee, foreigner Fabian, Choi Jung Won attended the red carpet movie premiere in Seoul. They were those who are either co-stars with Lee Min Ho and the other actors.

Kim Woo Bin, Park Shin, Hye, Jung Il Woo, Choi Jin Hyuk and CN Blues members were originally good friends with Lee Min Ho and did dramas together. It was good to see their co-stars came to support him and the new movie. 

It was a glittering night whereby actresses that came to see the premiere were also Kim Hee Sun who acted alongside Lee Min Ho from the drama Faith. Park Bo Young,Kang So Ra, singer G.NA, AOA members, Miss A's Suzy, Kim Min Seo and Park Kyung Rim attended the VIP Premiere as well. 

Running Man Episode 230 featuring Flower Boys

Special guests for the recent Episode 230 of Running Man variety program includes the flower boys / new rookies in the entertainment industry. They are none other than actors Hong Jong Hyun, Choi Tae Jun & Nam Joo Hyuk, Seo Kang Jun and Seo Ha Jun. I just realized there are 3- 'Juns' in this episode. Tae Jun, Kang Jun and Ha Jun. LOL! 

The episode's main mission for the young guys and the RM casts are One-Sided Love.
They are divided into 2 teams- Senior (Grey) and Junior (Red) Teams. Kwangsoo takes the lead of the Junior team. Jae Suk insults Kwangsoo looking like a 'squid; among the flower boys as they shine the minute they appear on the filming location.

The 2 teams will be earning hints during their mission for picking the best accurate answer voted by the teenagers in real life - "what is the one thing that they hate when they have a one-sided love scenario?" There are around 7 answers to it but there is only 1 is the best.
So they are off to a swimming pool where 2 water mats laid on the pool heading towards a main floating platform. Each team will send its member off to the platform and they can push each other off. The team with most members remaining on the platform wins. The first round was won by Senior Team and 2nd time by the Junior team. It seems Tiger Kuk is on the mode for pushing all the Junior teams off the platform. Even Kwangsoo fails to live up to his name as the Captain of the Junior team. 

The 2 teams get to hear answers from a bunch of teenagers and a group of 30-year old women answers. The start figuring out what is the most accurate answer. They are off to 2nd mission which is marathon relay running- passing the batton around the big circular island of Suncheon Lake Garden. 

The Junior team has its advantages with young guys, long legs and high stamina. The last runner up to the hill has to complete a mission to earn a hint. First round was Kang Jun and Jae Suk who failed to toss andgrab the 5 gonggi (mini bean pouch). They switched their runners and this round was a different mission where they were supposed to flip both coins on a text book. Big Nose brother Suk Jin won that mission after all the running up and down from his team members. 

The teams were escorted to a room filled with thousands of pink notes voted by teenage girls on the answers on earning a hint. Kwangsoo was the lucky dude who managed to scroll through and earn a Erase Hint from the little house. The last mission was for 2 teams to slam dunk a beach ball with the correct answer. They were in some building in Suncheon and off they ran around finding beach balls hidden in the building. If one scores a ball with the wrong answer, he/she is out.
Jong Hyun managed to score his answer ball and Junior Team wins the final mission. Each of them were awarded with gold rings, Kwangsoo feeling relieved and proud of his team!

FYI- these are the guests for this episode with their filmography and life:

Left to righ: Ha Jun, Kang Jun, Tae Jun, Jong Hyun, Joo Hyuk

Choi Tae Jun- he was in in Mother's Garden, The Great Seer, Padam Padam drama
Seo Kang Jun- he was in Sly Single Lady, What's with the Family?, Roommate variety
Hong Jung Hyun- he was in Mama, Jeon Woo Chi, We Got married variety
Seo Ha Jun- he was in Princess Aurora, Only Love dramas
Nam Joo Hyuk- he was in Surpluss Princess drama, rookie model

Yeo Jin Goo's new movie- Shoot My Heart with Lee Min Ki

Actor Yeo Jin Goo's new movie is out and entitled 'Shoot My Heart' (내 심장을 쏴라) 

On 20th January 2015, Yeo Jin Goo attended the press conference at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul. During the conference, he mentioned that 'smoking and tobacco' scenes were filmed in this movie. Even though he is a minor (as in an someone who is under age), there was no problems for filming these scenes. 

Yeo Jin Goo mentioned that he really wondered how he could express the feelings and to film it naturally for the smoking scenes. I saw the movie director and he didn't like it how it was done. So Yeo mentioned that now he can start practising (as in smoking) so he can do better next year which aroused laughters from the audience.

Veteran actor Yoo Ah Seong Kim Jung Tae and Shin Goo are co-starring in this movie.

 



Inspired by the original author Jeong Yoo Jung from the novel 'Shoot My Heart'- is about a bunch of 25-year olds' meet at the mental psychiatric hospital and intend to get out from the ward on their own. The two 25-year old guys are Su Myeong (played by Yeo Jin Goo) and Seung Min (played by Lee Min Ki) tells the story of their work. The movie opens on the 28th Jan. 

                                 =Pics courtesy from TV Daily and Gyeongi Ilbo=

Labrador takes a solo bus ride in US

Imagine a dog riding a public bus on its own without his/her master with him? How odd could that be? Well that's the case for this black labrador Eclipse who is often seen taking a public bus in the city of Seattle, USA.

The black labby loves visiting the dog park around 4 stops from her current home. So she hops on and off the public bus on her own to get to the dog park. Of course the public passengers were surprised to see a dog on her own without the owner and intelligently knows how to get off at the right stop to the dog park. She hops onto the bus on her own and finds a seat while interacting with other passengers. 

Eclipse the black lab sitting with other passengers

Best of all Eclipse doesn't need to pay a single cent for taking the public transport! :)
Everyone is enjoying Eclipse's company in the bus even though they are strangers to the her. She doesn't mind interacting with strangers getting pats and hugs from them. The bus drivers do recognize Eclipse now and whenever she waits for the bus, they do know she is getting off to the dog park on her own.

Howdy mate! I am on my own to the dog park!

Her owner, Mr. Jeff Young lets her go on her own and doesn't worry for her safety. He knows she is independent and enjoys herself. Once a while Mr. Young gets a call from people saying they have got Eclipse with them and he says it's okay, he knows she is safe and fine. 

How cute and amazing could you get from this beautiful black labrador? Dogs...they are man's best friend!


=All pics all courtesy from ABC News =

F4 (Hana Yori Dango) dramas on the roll with various version

花より男子 (Hana Yori Dango) is orginally written by a Japanese cartoonists Yoko Kamio that has exploded to super fame and popularity when it was adapted from the manga to TV series and film. So what is so famous about this drama? Storyline is about 4 super rich kids studying in a big school/college often bullies the poor and weak. Once given a red note in the locker, the victim gets punished and beaten to pulp eventually leaving the school. Poor simpleton girl stands up against the 4 boys especially the F4 leader and attracts his attention. However heroine is in love with the other quiet member of F4 who often helps her when she is in trouble. 

The first ever Hana Yori Dango drama that ever took place in Asia was the Taiwan version starring Jerry Yan, Barbie Xu, Vic Zhou, Ken Chu and Vanness Wu. The drama entitled Meteor Garden was was super popular among Chinese fans and those who started watching Taiwan series. The song- Meteor Rain was a favorite in karaoke sessions! 

The four went to endorse Pepsi CF and many others from the drama.

Taiwan F4: Vanness, Jerry, Ken and Vic

Then came the Japanese version where actors, Jun Matsumoto, Shun Oguri, Inoue Mao

Matsuda Shota and Abe Tsuyoshi were casted to play the original roles of this drama.
The original cast from the manga is the F4 leader- Domyoji Tsukasa is played by JPop group Arashi member, Jun. The Japanese version has 3 parts- Hana Yori Dango, Hana Yori Dango Returns and Hana Yori Dango Final. 

Japan's version of F4

Came later was the Korean version of 꽃보다 남자 casting some of the pretty boy actors such as Lee Min Ho, SS501's Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Bum, T-Max's Kim Joon and Goo Hye Sun. Hyun Joong and Kim Joon are originally from pop boy bands so their groups are contributing songs to the original OST. This drama won various awards with Lee Min Ho and Kim Hyun Joong gaining so much attention and many CFs endorsements after filming this drama.

Kim Joon, Lee Min Ho, Goo Hye Sun, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Bum

If you do take a closer look at the similarities of the main roles- often F4 leader is tall and had curly hair. Lee Min Ho had to get his hair curled ahead for he has straight hair. There's Kim Hyun Joong and Shun Oguri playing the role of Yoon Ji Hoo/Hanazawa Rui with dyed light brown hair and playing the violin as the manga character.

Comes the most shocking part is China introduced their latest F4 drama and roles and they were the most 'weird' and oddball ones compared to the original manga.

The girls might looks alright but the male roles were out of place... No No No! :(

China version of F4

Also there is an Indian version of F4 called Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan aired through MTV India which I won't go explaining further on it...  the images and posters promotion for the drama, which totally does not look anything like the other F4 dramas and original manga at all.

Perhaps their adaption is different and has bits of familarities from the Japanese comic.

Having watched the Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean version of F4 dramas and they seemed all interesting to me. Storylines are the same and characters were great except some fell short. I think Korea's Gu Jun Pyo (F4 leader) is one of the best. And I like Japanese's Rui Hanazawa (the quiet member) for he stands out well. For the other two F4 members- I think the Korean and Taiwanese version were great. 

Take a look at the famous model/attorney Shizuka Todou which Rui Hanazawa is in love with her at the start of the drama. Various versions of her...I personally like the Taiwanese version- Teng Jang Jing the best. 

Han Chae Young (Korea), Mayumi Sada (Japan) and Winnie Qian (Taiwan) played the role of beautiful and independent Shizuka Todou. 

So which Tsukasa Makino /Shan Cai/ Geum Jan Di - main heroine is the most similar to the manga? Both Goo Hye Sun and Inoue Mao have the similarities of manga- big eyes, student look with the shoulder length hair in the high school uniform. The Taiwan version is shot mostly in college so the actors were wearing their own clothes instead of school uniform.

I hope there is a stop of F4 dramas...i think we have seen enough and apparently there is a Mexican version...etc Oh dear! It will never be as great as the original anime....

Sub unit INFINITE-H makes a comeback

돌아와줘 I want you back back back... 

Hah! It is indeed INFINITE's hit song- Back but it's not the entire group are making their comeback this January! It's the sub-unit INFINITE- H consists of member Dong Woo and Hoya making their return.

It has been a while since we last hear from the duo. They debut out with the song 'Fly High' and 'Special Girl' that skyrocketted them to fame. Dong Woo is one who has the lowest profile among all members except for appearing in This is Infinite program and latest Mama Mia with his mother- apart from that he has been laying down quiet for some time. He does appear in music programs but he was never in other big variety shows or dramas. 

As for Hoya, he has his cut of fame from Reply 1997 drama with Seo In Guk and Eun Ji. Then he was seen again with fellow member L in recent drama- She's so Loveable starring Rain, Krystal and L. 

Now we get to see what the duo has got for us in store in January 26th when they return with a new song or perhaps a new album? Get ready!!!

Golden Disk Awards 2015 winners

Most K-boy groups, girl groups and solo artists headed to Beijing China on Jan 14th 2015 and 15th for 2 days to attend the Golden Disk Awards event. It is the so-called Asia Grammy Awards style for the musical artists. It was hosted by Miss A's chinese member Fei, Kim Sung Joo and singer Kim Jong Gook. 

This year's Dae-Sang for digital single goes to Big Bang's Tae-Yang. Good for him!
The Main Awards for Digital Single Bonsang goes to K-Will, HyunA, AOA, Ailee, Girl's Day, SISTAR, B2ST and Taeyang. 

GOT7 and WINNER were awarded the New Artist Award. Congratulations to the 2 newbie groups. They have come a long way and worked hard for it. B2ST won the Best Male Performance Award and Popularity Award. Girls Generation shared the Popularity Award as well. 

GOT7 members winning the Rookie Award 

Female artist Ailee glowing as ever with her voice and dress code for the evening but Tae Yang looked like he dropped out from a cowboy prison - black leather jacket and blond hair. He looks like an oddball in the event. The rookies were all looking sleek in black and cute!

B2ST members 

Epik High took home the Best Hip Hop Award (as expected)...good for Tablo and his gang. And male artist Huh Gak took the Best OST Award for contributing a single in the ever popular drama My Love from the Star. I thought Hyorin from SISTAR who would have taken that award for her lovely song Hello. Unfortunately no... missed out!
GOT7 and CN Blue took the China GoodWill Award (??) I dont know if there is such an award...weird! 
Duet power of SISTAR's SoYou and Jung Gigo snapped the Trend of the Year for their song 'Some'.

Tiffany and Taeyeon of Girls Generation accepting the award

The Album Dae-Sang (Grand Prize) award goes to EXO group -- as usual and expected for now we are super 'over-dosed' with their album and songs.

The other album bon-sang awards were also awarded to groups like INFINITE, BTS, A-Pink, B1A4, Super Junior, EXO, Girls' Generation, VIXX, Shinee's Taemin, CN Blue and sub unit TaeTiSeo. New Artist Award was also given to girl group Red Velvet. 
A-Pink won the Best Female Performance Award while Popularity Award goes to Shinee's Taemin and sub-group Toheart (Key and Woohyun).

Taemin's furry jacket for the night looks gawdy and his makeup looks more like the Count Dracula. A huge comparison with Woohyun who looks very classic and subtle with his black suit. Nice! 

Shinee's Taemin and INFINITE's Woohyun 

For some groups- most of the members didn't make it for Lee Teuk came accepting the award on behalf for Super Junior group. Even Girls' Generation- only 2 members turned up.

CN Blue swapped another 2 awards on that night- iQiyi Popularity Award and CeCi Asia Icon Award as well (which I believed is just in China it's been awarded to) I don't recall seeing such awards in South Korea. 

Anyway a big congrats to all the winners for the 2 days. :) 

Learn a bit more on singer Jung Gi Go

Have you ever heard the hit song lately by So Yoo (SISTAR) and solo male artist Jung Gi Go- titled Some (썸)? He was from the same Star Ship Entertainment Co. together with SISTAR, K-Will and Boyfriend boy band. Jung Gigo is a stage name for this soul singer when his real birth name is Go Jung Gi. 

 He came into super fame when his duet song- 'Some' with So Yoo went on the music charts and gaining lots of attention. Even variety shows and dramas do feature this song as well. 

Room Mate Season 2 featured the song when After's School Nana and  Jo Se Ho were driving out for a ride on the car. The current drama The Legendary Witch also has an episode when actress Oh Hyun Kyung was singing part of the song to her so-called mother Bok Nyeo in the bakery hinting to her do not underestimate the power of prison mate Yeong Wok with the laundry owner Yi Moon. Recent episode of Healer drama shows the Ajumma singing part of the chorus to Healer (Jung Hoo) when they receive a message from Young Shin. 

Honestly speaking, Jung Gigo doesn't have a very handsome and pretty boy look but he has a lovely soulful voice when he sings. Even his label mate K-Will is not handsome looking but has a powerful vocal especially ballads. "Some" is a very catchy tune about a pair of lovers tug and pull with their affections. The recent 2014 SBS Gayo Dajeon, So Yoo sang the duet with INFINITE's Sunggyu, Sungjae and Jung Gigo. 

MV "Some featuring B414's Baro and SISTAR's Dasom

가끔씩 나도 모르게 짜증이나
너를 향한 맘은 변하지 않았는데
혹시 내가 이상한 걸까

혼자 힘들게 지내고 있었어

텅 빈 방 혼자 멍하니 뒤척이다
티비에는 어제 본 것 같은 드라마
잠이 들 때까지 한번도

울리지 않는 핸드폰을 들고

요즘 따라
내꺼인 듯 내꺼 아닌 내꺼 같은 너
니꺼인 듯 니꺼 아닌 니꺼 같은 나
이게 무슨 사이인 건지 사실 헷갈려

무뚝뚝하게 굴지마
연인인 듯 연인 아닌 연인 같은 너
나만 볼 듯 애매하게 날 대하는 너
때로는 친구 같다는 말이

괜히 요즘 난 듣기 싫어 졌어
매일 아침 너의 문자에 눈을 뜨고
하루 끝에는 니 목소리에 잠들고 파

[SY/JG] 주말에는 많은 사람 속에서

보란 듯이 널 끌어 안고 싶어
요즘 따라
내꺼인 듯 내꺼 아닌 내꺼 같은 너
니꺼인 듯 니꺼 아닌 니꺼 같은 나
때로는 친구 같다는 말이
괜히 요즘 난 듣기 싫어 졌어

너 요즘 너 별로야 너 별로야
나 근데 난 너뿐이야 난 너뿐이야
분명하게 내게 선을 그어줘
[JG/SY] 자꾸 뒤로 빼지 말고

[JG/SY] 날 사랑한다 고백해 줘

즘 따라
내꺼인 듯 내꺼 아닌 내꺼 같은 너
니꺼인 듯 니꺼 아닌 니꺼 같은 나
순진한 척 웃지만 말고 그만 좀 해 너
솔직하게 좀 굴어봐

니 맘 속에 날 놔두고 한 눈 팔지 마
너야말로 다 알면서 딴청 피우지 마
피곤하게 힘 빼지 말고

어서 말해줘 사랑한단 말이야

B1A4 fanmeeting in M'sia ended up in controversial issue.

Last weekend K-pop boy band B1A4 arrived in Malaysia and held its fan meeting and performance in Kuala Lumpur. The boys are under the management of WM Entertainment Group consisting of members Jin Young, Baro, CNU, Sandeul and Gong Chan.
They have been winning a number of Golden Disk Music Awards and actively participating in variety shows and dramas as well.

B1A4 delivered a well and honest performance in front of their Malaysian fans and even learned the Malay language as a part of fan service. After the songs, next was the fan meeting where all the girls were looking forward to. It was the main highlight of the event where fans get to interact and get closer towards their idols. Fans were randomly picked to go on the stage and shake hands or hug their favorite members.

This is when hell breaks loose! There were videos circulating around the social media posting that the members were harassing the girl fans wearing the tudung as they were Muslim girls. Asian newspapers and media were bombarding the boy group that they were kissing, hugging the girls without permission...etc... (all pure nonsense) resulting the organizers scrambled to fix the damage. In fact it was the boys were staging up a parody from the popular drama The Heirs and fans were happy to see them upclose and personal.

To be honest, the boys were trying their best to do fan service to their fans in Malaysia and what they got back was insult and embarassment. I was from that country and I don't see what went wrong and whoever posted the video must be super ill hatred and sour grape to catch attention of anti K-pop groups. Oh dear! There were anti-blogs and pages stating the members were doing indecent actions towards the Malay girls and what not...etc.
It seems that these people have nothing else better in the world to do than to criticize others.

And then comes to the worst part the Youth and Sport Minister mentioned that the girls should be looking for tall handsome dark men rather than skinny, pale pretty guys. He even insulted that these are not real men. Who is he to condemn others? Just wait...when all these boys head into the military camps, I bet they are even buffier than ever! 

If that's what the country wants- in the end no pop groups or any celebrities will come to hold concerts or fan meetings in the country with such restrictions. First and foremost, the fans came willingly and idolize the group. B1A4 was never wrong as this is their career and routine as a singer. Most celebrities shake hands, give free hugs, take selfie shots with their fans and often oblige when their fans request for this service. Idol singers do understand without their fans, they will not be standing on the stage or hitting the record charts. 

If it's something to blame that Muslim girls wearing tudung shouldn't be hugging or kissing boy bands, then it's up to the teacher or schools to educate them not to do such thing in public. Otherwise put a public ban that all Muslim fans are not allowed to go to fanmeetings or concerts for good.Problem solved! 

All of us have our times when we go ga-ga and fanatic over idols whom we look up to, but that's just a phase in our life. We stick to our limits and we know our borders what to do and what we should not be doing.

Fans- please DO NOT stop supporting your K-pop groups! They have done nothing wrong and they are trying their best to make everyone happy. But then keep to your limits and make sure you do not cross your religious border so that you don't offend others. 
Stay strong! xoxoxo....

B1A4- Fighting!!!