[Video via Cedrych@Youtube]

Girls’ Generation – Forever music video from YeinJee's Asian Blog

The actors are namely Choi Jae-hwan, No Min-woo, Choi Min-sung, Lee Ji-hoon, Hyun Woo and Heo Tae-hee. They starred as chefs and waiters in the drama which tells the story of a lady who aspires to become a top Italian chef.

[Image via Chosun][Cn]

Yummylicious Korean Pasta boys from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Nice song; Baek Ji-young did well to bring out the sorrow and emotions. Would be great to have a clean (without conversation) version.

IRIS is one of the most anticipated Korean dramas of the year. The star-studded show opened strongly on October 14; its English subbed episodes are scheduled to start showing on KBS World channel (lucky me lol) on Nov 11.

Other co-stars include Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon and Choi Seung-hyeon.

[video via calolwafu@Youtube]

Baek Ji-young – Don’t Forget MV – IRIS OST from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Pretty nice song; but lousy drama. [Video via Miumiudolls@Youtube].

Girls’ Generation series

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SNSD Taeyeon & Sunny – I’m Only In Love music video from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Uee looks like a kiddo in this pic; quite a contrast to her rising sexy-queen image. She’s featuring in two of the episodes in some flashbacks of the character.

[Image from Tvian][Kr]

After School series

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Snippet: Uee @ Korean stars’ Beyonce Single Lady parody

After School Uee in Queen Seonduk from YeinJee's Asian Blog

The J-drama, first aired in 1999, would feature different themes for each seasons. The common trait is that it focuses on the characters, conflicts and emotions in the emergency ward instead of the flashy medical stuff.

The 4th season revolves on the chronic staff shortage in the emergency ward (currently a real problem in Japan), as ER personnels are leaving due to enormous pressure and harsh working conditions.

The drama will be Matsushima’s first major project since giving birth to her 2nd child in 2007; other announced cast includes Tae Kimura, Kii Kitano and Yusuke Santamaria. It’s scheduled to air on July 7 in Japan.

[image from the 3rd season of 24 Hours Emergency Ward]

24 Hours Emergency Ward back with 4th season from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Regardless, with a strong leading cast of Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee, Jung Jun-ho, Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon and Big Bang’s T.O.P… the drama shows plenty of promises; and the teaser probably managed to reinforce the hype.

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Iris (2009) drama trailer from YeinJee's Asian Blog

45th Baeksang Awards’ best actors and actresses… Kim Myung-min, Moon Geun-young,
Son Ye-jin and Jo Jin-mo (Image from Isplus (Kr))

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45th Baeksang Arts Awards (2009) winners from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Jay held a press conference in Beijing on Monday to announce the filming (to begin on Feb 25). He said that he wants to create Chinese superheroes which could rival Spiderman and Batman in the west.

Pandamen is a story about two Chinese superheroes protecting their city (what else?). It’s not mentioned what kind of superpower the duo are having… but seems like it’s going to be a comedic drama instead of serious attempt to emulate the western superheroes.

The series will star Devon Song and Zhan Yuhao from Taiwanese pop group Nan Quan Mama; Jay Chou is not taking serious acting role, but is expected to make some cameo appearances.

Jay Chou to create Super-Panda-Heroes from YeinJee's Asian Blog

The producers claimed that the drama is not based on the original manga; it’s true that they are changing the drama title, the names of the main leads, the name of the school, the time frame and probably some of the plots… but the whole setting (with the trademark four boys and a girl cast etc.) looks seriously dubious.

Besides, the TV station has been promoting the drama as the new “Meteor Garden” (title of the Taiwanese adaptation) for months… it’s a self confession that the drama is based on the manga in some sense. If the new drama is not related to the manga at all, the TV station is still at fault for exploiting the manga for promotion purpose.

There are a few (genuine) versions of drama adaptation of Yoko Kamio’s popular manga. Taiwanese first made Meteor Garden in 2001, followed by Japan’s “Hana yori Dango” in 2005, and Korea’s “Boys Before Flower” which is currently on air.

Both the Taiwanese (Mandarin) and Japanese dramas were critical success, while the Korean drama is red hot at the moment. The Chinese would have welcome their own edition of Hana yori Dango, but sadly they are getting some bizarre mixture which borders on plagiarism instead.

It’s not the first time Chinese TV stations are using similar tactics to ‘remake’ foreign drama series, but there are some positive signs from the public as some Chinese netizens are beginning to ditch these kind of practices.

Chinese TV station to plagiarise Hana yori Dango from YeinJee's Asian Blog

With TVB’s dominance in Hong Kong, its highest rating series are literally the most popular drama series in HK. Below are the top 10 most popular series for 2008…

1. Moonlight Resonance (34.6)
2. D.I.E (33.7)
3. Wars of In-Laws II (32.6)
4. Forensic Heroes II (32.1)
5. Catch Me Now (31.60)
6. The Silver Chamber of Sorrows (30.5)
7. Love Exchange (30.3)
8. A Journey Called Life (29.7)
9. Survivor’s Law II (29.7)
10. When a Dog Loves a Cat (29.5)

Hong Kong TVB series ratings 2008 from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Park requested 170.5million won (~USD110k) per extension episode for his previous drama “War of Money”, which the production complied to but failed to pay up in full [more on Hanfever]

Park has filed a lawsuit to claim his unpaid fees (~ 341mil won), which probably prompted the Friday meeting which led to the ban.

The association is also requesting TV stations to ban the involved production company for giving in to Park’s demand at the first place and ‘disrupting the orders’ of drama production.

At the moment an A-list Korean star could demand 30-40mil won per episode, a few super A-listers could get 70-80mil, while the one and only Bae Yong-joon was paid 200mil won when filming “The Legend” per episode. Bae’s case was a bit unique though for the fact that foreign investors were heavily involved.

Korean drama production companies have been complaining a lot lately about the high wages demanded by the actors and actresses. They were planning to set a cap on the actors’ wages last month, which I believe is already being implemented unofficially… as some of the big names are ‘voluntarily’ reducing their wages recently.

Park Shin-yang is obviously a guinea pig for the association to show their determination in the wage battle. He has not done anything wrong legally, but there’s always hidden rules in every industry that needs to be followed, unfortunately… and he was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Korean drama production companies ban actor for life from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Veterans Ha Yu and Michelle Yim with best actor/actress awards (Image from Baidu)

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TVB Anniversary Awards 2008 from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Gillian is struggling to make her comeback after the infamous Edison Chen scandal… her Hollywood venture didn’t work well as she only managed a three-second cameo; while her appearance in the highly anticipated Chinese movie “Mei Lanfang” is wiped out altogether.

It’s reported that EEG (Gillian’s agency) is making compromises to have Gillian in the idol drama, which she will take on the supporting female role instead of the main lead.

The arrangement has not been finalised though; despite willing to take a pay cut… EEG’s desired pay is ironically the highest among the cast. The drama producers are still in negotiation with EEG and are positive that they could reach an agreement.

Update – the parties involved couldn’t reach a final agreement; Gillian won’t be appearing in the drama. Young actress Yang Ya Zhu is taking the role instead.

Gillian Chung to star in Taiwanese idol drama from YeinJee's Asian Blog

The drama starred Aya Ueto, Ryo Nishikido, Saki Aibu, Miki Maya, Misa Uehara, Chihiro Otsuka, Kotaro Koizumi and Fumiyo Kohinata etc.

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Attention Please (2006) from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Yoona plays a young and cheerful lady who has just undergone a cornea transplant; the story revolves around her relationship with the donor’s family and her new found romance. Co-stars include Park Jae-jung and Gong Hyun-joo etc.

Girls’ Generation series

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SNSD Yoona is leading lady in KBS drama from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Not really a fan of SNSD yet, but loving Taeyeon’s voice… it’s pretty unique, and she hits the high notes pretty well. [Video via Shuling87bit@Youtube].

Girls’ Generation series

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SNSD Taeyeon – If music video from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Lee Hyori series

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Lee Hyori – Scolded music video from YeinJee's Asian Blog

Hana Kimi is about a girl who fell in love and decided to transfer into the same school to meet her dream guy. Problem is, the guy is attending an all-boys high school, and the girl will have to disguise as a HE to meet her Mr Right.

The manga was first adapted by the Taiwanese, starring Ella Chen, Wu Chun and Jiro Wang. The drama was a huge hit and prompted Fuji TV to produce the Japanese version, which will star Maki Horikita, Shun Oguri and Toma Ikuta etc.

Japan films Hana Kimi from YeinJee's Asian Blog

The drama is penalised for inappropriate product placement and overused of Hyori’s songs as soundtrack. The drama will not be allowed to rebroadcast in Korea, and the show (producers) are required to make a public apology.

The drama, also titled Perhaps Love, is about two cancer patients who met each other in hospital and developed a relationship.

Despite the ban in its homeland, the drama is expected to recoup some of its investments with the popularity of its main cast (which includes actors Lee Dong-gun and Jung Joon-ho) in foreign countries.

Lee Hyori series

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Lee Hyori’s new drama banned in Korea from YeinJee's Asian Blog