SBS’s talkshow hosted by Kang Hodong, “Kang’s Heart”/”Strong Heart” always have the guests to reveal their secret stories with no hurt feeling to anyone related to the story. As usual the show had many brightest stars coming as the guest participants. On the June 7th episode, there was a very interesting “secret story” revealance from Kim Hyun Joong.

He revealed, “(to me) U-Know Yoon Ho is a big brother (hyeong), Lee Seung Gi is a friend (chin gu).”

U-Know Yoon Ho (TVXQ) who was also a guest in that show that night and Lee Seung Gi was Kang Hodong’s co-host and also a dongsaeng for him.

Kang Ho Dong then asked how could that be, since Yoon Ho was born in the same year as him (1986) while Seung Gi was a year later (1987).

“It’s a basic rule. A friend is someone you spend money together on meal, while a hyeong is a person you got paid from on the meal,” said Kang Hodong.

Kim Hyun Joong (June 6 1986) said that only four months younger than Yoon Ho (February 6 1986) does make him as a dongsaeng (little brother) to Yoon Ho. While with Seung Gi (January 13th 1987) he felt much of a friend even though that boy is seven months younger than him. I think he just have a certain respect to Joon Ho because Joon Ho seemed to be more caring like a big brother than like a friend. Then Kang Hodong drew a laughter saying, “It’s okay then. So if you go out with Lee Seung Gi and I and Yoon Ho hyeong to eat something, it’ll be the hyeong who pay for us.”

On the same day as “Strong Heart” was aired, Kim Hyun Joong held a music showcase for his solo mini album “Break Down.” 4000 fans came to watch him solo on stage. At the end of the show, Kim Hyun Joong read a letter he wrote for his fans. The introduction was pretty much like this:
“Today I want to show you (who is) Kim Hyun Joong. So, it’s me, Kim Hyun Joong. Through the showcase I show you my musical talent, but you don’t know what is in my heart and mind, that’s why I’ve prepared this letter.”
He let go everything he’s had in his heart all this time to his fans. He read the letter with teary eyes. He told about his difficulties during the process of making the album where he had to go to the US, about some misunderstandings, and how he’s been grateful to his fans. And as for the closure he said,
“From now on i want to keep smiling and be happy. My..no, your (my fans) album. To you all here, I sincerily want to say thank you very much. Thank you and I love you.”

Kim Hyun Joong’s come back with his solo mini-album has drown quite many attention. He shaped his image, and don’t you think he’s much brighter in appearance nowadays? I like his new style. Well, I never had any particular personal dislike to this man, but I really hate to see him frowning. You know, in his two dramas, he was required to frown all the time and I don’t like that. He has a good smile, so I don’t think he has to stick with the cool-guy character which will only make him frown.

[sources 1, 2]

Attention all k-drama lovers: be ready for the war!  In September this year, you’ll have three anticipated dramas to watch: “My Girlfriend Is Gumiho”, “Naughty Kiss” and “The Fugitive”.

We’ll begin from the bottom one of the above image. They’re the leading roles for “My Girlfriend Is Gumiho“: Shin Min Ah and Lee Seung Gi. The two have started shooting for this drama and it’s scheduled for first airing on August 11, replacing “Bad Guy” on SBS. Even though both stars are not as phenomenal as Rain or Kim Hyeon Joong, the idea of the story sounds interesting and they’re gonna start airing before the other two dramas. I think those points will bring them positive response from the viewers.

The Korean version of the phenomenal drama “Naughty Kiss” will be played by Kim Hyeon Joong and Chong Su Min. It’ll be aired on MBC in September. The stars’ casting for this drama had taken public’s attention because there were many famous names mentioned. Honestly, I personally a bit disappointed for the fact that they chose Kim Hyeon Joon for the male lead. But, it’s just a prejudice since I think his performance in his last drama, “Boys Before Flower” (2009) wasn’t really outstanding. I think this drama will face a hard competition if the PD fail to give something new and more creative for this remake drama. I mean…for gaining a success on this drama, you cannot only rely on the leading actor’s/actress’ name and the success of the other versions (of the drama) right? Well, good luck for this drama then.

I’m so sorry if you think i have a bad sentiment for Kim Hyeon Joon. Well, i’m definitely not his fan, but i don’t dislike him in personal matter. I’m just so disappointed since I love the drama so much. I just thought they could take another actor.

The last one is “The Fugitive”, which will be played by Rain and Lee Na Young and aired on KBS. This drama has been boasted as the next blockbuster drama for having many famous names on the casts. Besides the two leading stars, they’re having Daniel Henney, Lee Jung Jin, Yoon Jin So, Yoon Son Ha, and a Japanese actor Takenaka Naoto.  The writer of this drama will be Cheon Seong Il, whose previous work was the successful “Chuno”.

At first rumor had it that the drama will start airing on October, but then it’s said to be September. Anyhow, I think this drama has the strongest attraction in comparison with the other two. Famous names, well known writer, interesting settings (include many cities inside and outside Korea) and of course the story concept.

As for me personally, I’m gonna give a try on “My Girlfriend Is Gumiho” first, not really interested in “Naughty Kiss” but will consider it, and “The Fugitive” comes next.

So, how’s it with you? Which one will you watch if the three are airing in the same time?

[info and image source]

On second of course, Jang Dong Gun’s dongsaeng in Tae Guk Gi, Won Bin. Strangely this list is still filled with actors who can’t be categorized as young men anymore, like Bae Yong Jun (3rd), and Choi Min Shik (17th). It turns out the age factor does not seem to reduce their sex appeal.
Although in this list there are some names that I think are not qualified enough to be included in the list, but as long as Jang Dong Gun and Won Bin still topped them all, this minor issue is forgiven.

Okay, let’s check the list (with smileys are our opinions):

1. Jang Dong Gun

2. Won Bin

3. Bae Yong Joon

4. Joo Jin Mo

5. Jo In Seong

6. Lee Jun Ki

7. Daniel Henney

8. Dennis Oh (Dennis O’Neil)

9. So Ji Sub

10. Rain

11. Yoon Sang Hyun

12. Lee Min Ho

13. Kim Hyun Jung

14. Kim Bum

15. Jang Geun Suk

16. Lee Seung Gi

17. Choi Min Shik

18. Song Seung Heon

19. Kwon Sang Woo

20. Ha Jung Woo

(Rizz: don’t they know Jang Hyeok and Lee Byung Heon?)

anyway, what do you think about it?

[list source; image sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]

Naughty Kiss is definitely one of my old-dramas favorite.
That’s why when I first heard the rumor that Korea will have the remake soon, I got excited.

They’ve been casting for the leading roles.
Park Bo Yong, Park shin Hye, Kara’s Han Seung Young, and f(x) Sully were nominated for the female leading role.
And these days, rumor has it that Kim Hyeon Joong is likely to be  the strongest nominee for the male leading role.
Oh nooo! So sorry for his fans, but I have to disagree if he’s really getting it.
I don’t think he’s got the “look-and-brain” figure that
the character’s will strongly present.
I mean, really… just compare him with the predecessors like Takashi Kashiwabara and Jo Cheng?
Next nominee please…

[info and image source]

[image source]

As Korean music industry is now dominated by boys and girls bands, or what is called idol group, solo singers’ light has likely to fade away. As for Gummy, that problem seemed to be solved by a brilliant new “selling” strategy.

The singer whose real name is Park Ji Yeon, started her professional singing career in 2003. In her new single “As a Man”, she had SS501 leader, Kim Hyun Jung, as her video clip model. This strategy has proven to work very well to rise up Gummy’s popularity since it was first aired on television. It seems that the euphoria of the most famous Korean drama of 2009, Boys Before Flowers, has not finished yet.

Kim Hyung Jung (one of the Korean F4) was paired with Jung Ryu Won (rival of Kim Sun Ah in My Name Is Kim Sam Soon) in this video clip. Their acting has brought a fresh and youth atmosphere, despite the fact that Jung Ryu Won is older than Kim Hyung Jung.

The concept of the video clip is also fresh and interesting. Only within few minutes the storytelling was wrapped in such a way that viewers can comprehend the meaning of the song.

However the fans do not seem to care about that. This video clip is loved as the comeback acting performance of Kim Hyung Jung after his last performance in Boys Before Flowers.