My Girl, I've been forced to watch this korean drama by a friend!
Although I still have to start study German =.=
I've just watched episode 1 & 2, I LOVE IT!
Can't wait to watch them all <3
Joo Yoo Rin is a tour guide, proficient in English, Chinese, and Japanese, while Seol Gong Chan is the second generation heir of a big corporation. Because of his grandfather's illness, he asks Yoo Rin to act as his long-lost cousin so that his grandfather's last wish can be fulfilled. So therefore, they are both bound in a lie that no-one in the family knows the truth of.
Gong Chan's charming and intelligent ex-girlfriend, Kim Sae Hyun, dreams to become a world-famous tennis star with the nickname "Sharapova of Korea". She leaves Korea and her boyfriend Gong Chan to fulfill her dream. Upon returning to Korea after winning the title, she works hard at getting back with Gong Chan, thus causing both she and Yoo Rin to compete for Gong Chan's affection.
To make matters more complicated, womanizer Seo Jeong Woo, who is Gong Chan's best friend, falls for Yoo Rin and finally learns to love that special someone despite being an "accomplished" playboy.
Her first album was very successful, winning many "Daesangs" (a Korean award equivalent to "Artist of the Year") for that album. She has since become the highest-paid female singer in South Korea! Beginning in Fin K.L. Lee started her career as part of the Korean popgirl groupFin.K.L. As the oldest member, she would become the leader of the group. Lee was discovered while taking sticker pictures with her friends and was actually the last to join Fin.K.L., just before their debut in January 1998. Fin.K.L. debuted officially on May 22, 1998 with their first single "Blue Rain." It was received quite well. The second release from their first album, To My Boyfriend, became the first of their multiple number one hits. Fin K.L. became one of the most popular and successful Korean groups of all-time, rivaling fellow popular girl groupS.E.S
Blue Rain:
A year after Fin K.L.'s fourth album Forever, her solo album was released at the end of 2003, entitled Stylish...E. The singer nearly swept the 2003 Daesangs, the most prestigious South Korean music award, winning more than seven of them, including three of the four most prestigious Daesangs. Stylish...E sold over 153,590 copies in South Korea alone, according to the Music Industry Association of Korea. Her popularity in her various activities eventually was dubbed as the "Hyori Syndrome" in South Korea, and the Korean Media nicknamed 2003 "The Year of Hyori" as she was rarely out of the news all year. Lee Hyori has also appeared as the lead female actress in the SBS drama Three Leaf Clover co-starring opposite Ryu Jin, Kim Jung Hwa, Kim Kang Woo and Lee Hoon. However, the ratings were continually low, and it ended after 16 episodes. On August 8, 2005 she co-hosted the annual Korean Music Festival for the second year running.
Three Leaf Clover (fanmade):
In February 2006, Lee released her follow up album, Dark Angel. The first single, "Get Ya", featured heavy choreography and sexually suggestive attire, which has become Lee's trademark. However, there was controversy over the single as the songwriters of Britney Spears' single "Do Somethin'" accused the "Get Ya" songwriters of plagiarism. (Lee did not contribute to the song.)
Get Ya:
While this incident was not the first time the Korean pop industry has been accused of plagiarism, it was the first time the copyright holder had made a formal complaint. After media attention increased, Lee and her record company quickly stopped all promotion for the single, taking a short break to prepare for "Shall We Dance", her followup single. Due to the negative attention, both the single and album were not successful, and promotions were stopped. "Straight Up" was released as a final single, but it was not promoted by Lee.
Shall we dance:
Straight Up:
In November 2006, it was revealed that Lee had signed a three-year contract with M-Net Entertainment for ₩2.2 billion, becoming the highest paid female singer in South Korea. Early in 2007, Lee Hyori showed up an hour late to a press conference, which resulted in backlash from the media. The media also criticized her sexual image, stating that she was "facing an image crisis" and urged her to downplay her sexuality. Meanwhile, Lee prepared to appear in a new "mini-drama" during February 2007, despite the failure of her previous drama. She starred alongside Lee Dong Gun in If In Love... Like Them which, although originally announced as being only one episode long, ran for four episodes on MNet. An edited two-episode version of the drama also ran on SBS. During filming for the drama, part of a roof Lee was standing on collapsed. Only her foot fell through the roof and she was able to be saved, and as it was reported the fall would have been fatal if co-star Lee Dong Gun had not rescued her.
In February 2007, Lee announced her new digital single which would essentially be the soundtrack to If In Love... Like Them. She had her comeback on SBS Inkigayo on February 25, 2007, performing all three main tracks from the single.
The lead song was "Toc Toc Toc", which was a sexy R&B number like her previous efforts. However, the single also gave Lee an opportunity to sing ballads and to slowly move her image away from the "sexy superstar" that she is known to be.
Toc toc toc:
The single, although initially given a digital-only release, was given a limited retail release of only 30,000 copies, and was appropriately titled If In Love Like Them. Released on March 6, 2007, it included three of the tracks found in the digital single, along with a reworked version of "Toc Toc Toc". It was the best-selling album for that month, selling 27,845 copies.
Although her single succeeded, her drama was heavily penalized for violating advertising guidelines, as If In Love had several scenes advertising the products of its sponsors, in addition to using Lee's songs in the soundtrack. The Korean Broadcasting Committee has ruled that the drama can never be aired in South Korea again, and that the network must apologize to its viewers. According to The Chosun Ilbo, Lee has also been promoting her work in Japan. Japanese network Fuji TV decided to air If In Love... Like Them and has even invited the singer/actress to visit Japan to promote the drama, where she will be treated to the same VIP treatment offered to other international stars. However, the drama was broadcast on satellite stationCS Fuji, a smaller network that Fuji TV owned. The Japanese considered the leading part of this drama to be Lee Dong-gun.
During breaks in her solo music career, Lee also hosted various television programs, including Time Machine and Happy Together, which she co-hosted with Yu Jae-seok in 2006. It was reported on March 26, 2008 that Lee would join KBS's Sang Sang Plus as a co-host alongside Country Kko Kko members Shin Jung-hwan and Tak Jae-hoon, replacing various outgoing hosts; she debuted on April 8, 2008. She was one of the original co-hosts of Change, a show on SBS's Good Sunday line-up, before leaving in early July.
She also starred in Off the Record, a behind-the-scenes look at her life. Currently, she is a permanent cast member of the variety show "Family Outing." Her third album, It's HYORISH, was released on July 16, 2008. "U-Go-Girl", her first single, hit #1 on various online and offline charts, including the various television music shows.
U GO GIRL
Although Lee has done many endorsements for various companies (including Dole), her most prominent commercials were made for SamsungAnycall. In late 2003, Lee signed an advertising contract with Samsung, for which she would make three musical commercials and songs for their Anycall cell phones. The first commercial and song, "Anymotion", were released in early 2005, featuring Eric Mun from K-pop group Shinhwa.
Anymotion:
In early 2006, the followup commercial "Anyclub" was released in two parts; this also featured Eric Mun in addition to Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo. The song "Anyclub," however, featured neither Eric Mun nor Kwon Sang Woo. Instead, Park Teddy of 1TYM was featured. The songs from the commercials served as singles for Lee in between her albums.
Anyclub:
The final commercial was released in December 2006, titled "Anystar". The commercial differed from the first two in that it featured mostly dialogue. The commercial starred Korean actor and singer Lee Jun Ki and also YG Family trainee Park Bom.
Anystar:
Also in the month of March Hyori starred as one of the leading actors in Davich's music video. Hyori also became a model for Black Bean Therapy, a health drink, and she made several CF (commercials). Hyori also modeled for Ceci magazine; a well known Korean fashion magazine, showing new, fresh personalities. Hyori finished her contract with Biotherm early February 2007 and is no longer a representative for the company. Her contract with Samsung has also ended in December 2007. She has recently signed on with KB card and has starred in commercials along with fellow K-pop sensation Rain. She was recently chosen as the first ever Asian-wide model for Calvin Klein Jeans, modeling for the "Pure Calvin" Collection. Also in 2007, she starred in a commercial for Korean cosmetics company Isa Knox with Jessica Alba.
The commercial:
Hyori Lee is great! I've been her fan for so long. My favourite songs are: Anymotion, Anyclub, Anystar, Get Ya & U GO GIRL! I've even copied her dancemoves xD
My favourite commercial with Lee Jun Ki (he's so cool <3):
South Korea, the place of the famous drama's, the Ulzzangs & Kimchi! (Right now & based on what I've seen :p) I'm so interested in their culture! I'm doing my History & Geography - essays both about Korea. I've even read the whole wikipedia-page about Korea O.O [in Dutch] It's crazy I know xD I really want to go there. :D
People tell me a lot of things about Korea. My geography-teacher told me it's a really bad situation in Noth-Korea. He even said: 'It's like a jail!' I've seen awful pictures o.o
Anyway, the culture of North- & South-Korea must be really different from eachother, so that's why I split it & I only blog about South-Korea's culture ^o^
Things I've read about the S-Korean Culture: - Korean women don't change their name when they mary. - Gender: The first choice is (still) a guy. - It's rude to call older people by their name. You'll have to call them "older brother/sister" or "aunt/uncle" Even to people you don't know. (Same with me, I'm chinese =D) - Koreans see every western person as an American. (That's what I've read. Lolz) - Korean women love to look young, innocent & use a lot of cosmetic products. (Ulzzang? ^__^) - Plastic surgery is popular in Korea. - The rain in Korea seems sour & is nog quite ehh.. healthy. So umbrella's can't be missed there! - Koreans sleep very little: 5-6 houres! In the Netherlands they sleep minimal 8 houres! (I sleep 6 houres haha) - Koreans study really hard. Education is very important. (I've also read somewhere they have no social life? But that's probably not true. Education is very important to me to.) - Korean Courtship: First dating for a month, then kiss & after a half year sex. (Here it's like: dating for a few days, kiss during the date & have sex whenever they want =.= No, I'm just kidding :p) - If you go with the taxi, you've to say the name of a building near your destination. Don't say the name of the street. (In China it's like that to. Here in the Netherlands you'll have to say the name of the street) - If a baby's just born, his/her age is: 1. (Also in China, so I'm 16! ^__^) - Korean names are soooo alike. (Kim Hyun Joong & Kim Hyung Joon) - The most common names there are 'Kim', 'Lee' & 'Park'. - Korea has 5 business groups / chaebols which determine a large part of the Korean Economy. (Example: Hyundai) (Aaah, that's the reason for ShinWa Group in boys before flowers) - Every 14th of the month is a special day in Korea. 14 Februari - Valentine's Day (the girls give their boyfriend chocolate) 14 March - White Day (the boys give their girlfriend chocolate) 14 April - Black Day (whom didn't get anything are gonna eat noodles in a restaurant) (Me =.=) 14 May - Roses Day (the boys give their girlfriend roses) 14 Juni - Hug Day... and so it keeps going... - You don't wear shoes/footwear inside house. In many restaurants you'll be expected to remove them (That's quite normal for me :o) - It's rude to blow your nose in public. (In my opinion to, that's so disgusting xD I hate it when they do that during class O__O) - Kimchi is present at each meal! (Aaah, I really want to taste that!) - They respect elders much. - They bow when they greet. - You pass & take with both your hands. It's rude if you don't. - Everyone in South-Korea has a Handy! (Which you can fold xD) - I've read: Koreans hate America! O__O Don't know if it's true. Maybe it's because of Bush saying "North-Korea is the axis of evil". And maybe because of the short-track-story. - But Koreans (youngers) love the American style. - Vaccinations: Nothing compulsory but it is recommended that your vaccinations for polio, hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus are up to date. The medical services in Korea are very good but medical bills can be high. All travellers should have a good medical insurance.
Here's a korean mobile-commercial (anycall, with Lee Hyori & Lee Junki):
If you know more about the Korean Culture & interesting things, please let me know :D
Today is the day of my second vaccination... Sigh... =.= Byeee.
‘Yoon JiHoo’ Kim HyunJoong will be admitted to hospital on 03-Apr to receive treatment and rest at the same time. Kim HyunJoong who acts in KBS 2TV ‘Boys Over Flowers’ had completed his filming for the drama on 29-Mar. Kim HyunJoong will finish all his pre-arranged schedules including CF filming till 02-Apr and be admitted to the hospital.
Kim HyunJoong met up with an accident not long ago and suffered side-effects arising from it, however due to his busy schedules, he was not able to receive full treatment for it. In addition, he did not have sufficient rest, thus his condition is not good. Kim HyunJoong will stop almost all his activities by April to rest and concentrate on recovering his body.
Company DSP Media representative said to Newsen on 30-Mar through a telephone conversation “Drama filming ends on 29-Mar. The other outstanding schedules will be completed by 02-Apr and he will go to the hospital to receive treatment.”Kim HyunJoong acts for the role Yoon JiHoo in ‘Boys Over Flowers’ who is a member of F4 and render love for female character Geum JanDi (Goo HyeSun). His role is very popular among female fans.
Big Bang, transformation into "Boys Over Flowers" (aka "Hana Yori Dango")
Male lead Tsukasa/Goo Joong Pyo is acted by TOP; Rui/Yoon Ji Hoo, friend of Tsukasa and always supporting of him, is acted by G-Dragon; and Akira/Song Woo Bin and Sojiro/So Yi Jung are played by Seungri and Taeyang respectively. The female lead Tsukushi/Geum Jan Di is played by Daesung and is expected to give great laughter to the fans.
Big Bang said, "Because we are not pretty boys, we thought it would be fun to act out the roles of pretty boys. At first, it was very awkward, but because of Daesung, who's playing the female role, we were able to film with laughter and fun the entire time.
Hee, I'm Emmy! I'm chinese & I'm born(& live) in the Netherlands. I love dancing, playing piano, tennis, to take pictures, to film, asian drama's, movies, anime, graphics, drawing, music, fashion, traveling, shopping, designing and lots more! I wanted to make an English blog to share this all! ^.~
During breaks in her solo music career, Lee also hosted various television programs, including 
