Sung Yuri and Lee Jin will be competing for ratings through their upcoming dramas.

In “Swallow the sun,”(left)  Sung Yuri will be playing the lead female role as Lee Soo-hyun, a girl who moves to the United States to make a living after her family is left in poverty. And what kind of drama ensues a Korean girl? A love triangle of course! When she meets the son of a wealthy family (played by Lee Wan) and an orphan (played by Ji Sung), well… you see where I’m going with this, right? Lots of running after the other, and tears of course. Hopefully she doesn’t find out that the person she truly loves ends up being her long lost brother.

As for Lee Jin, she will be in a horror filled drama “Soul” as the girlfriend of a criminal psychoanalyst (played by Lee Seo Jin). The plot will focus on Lee Jin’s character as a girl who has a ghost living in her body who had been unfairly murdered.

Sung Yuri and Lee Jin’s dramas are on the opposite side of the spectrum as Sung Yuri’s SBS drama will focus on romance and Lee Jin’s drama centered around horror.

Will the two shows be based on the popularity of its’ leading lady or be more popular for the show itself? You be the judge. SBS drama “Swallow the Sun” will air on July 8th and play on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while Lee Jin’s MBC horror drama “Soul” will debut a month later in August on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well.

Now if we could only get Lee Hyori in a drama, this popularity contest would become a drama itself!

First Big Bang and now this.

If you have ever been to a concert in Korea, they are almost like variety shows with lots of guests.

Lee Hyori has called upon her girls, Sung Yuri, Lee Jin and Ok Ju-hyun from her ex-group, FINKL  to come together to perform at her first solo concert.  The 3 members have stepped up to the request and will be putting on a special performance for Hyori fans on December 19^th and 20th.

The pop diva released the news on her fan cafe on December 8^th.

FINKL will be coming together after 3 years since their 2005 single, “Forever”.

Wait, another awards show?

This is just the beginning….

The 2008 Korea Drama Festival brought out a few notables big names down south to Jinju city.

As you already know, awards are given out to as many people as possible. And this awards show is no different. There are 3 levels of awards for “best” actors and actress based possibly on age group. The winner of the grand prize award went to Kim Myung-min for his performance in the TV drama “Beethoven Virus.” Next level of winners include actor Choi Soo-jong for his role in the historical drama, “Dae Jo Young,” actress Kim Ha-neul for role as an actress (no big stretch there) for “On Air.” And the third level of “best actor/actress award” goes to the 20-somethings, Han Ji-hye for “Likeable or Not” and Kim Rae-won for his role as a chef in “Gourmet”

And we can’t forget – the ‘Hallyu Achievement’ award went to Mr Hallyu, Bae Yong-joon.

And what’s drama without music? Performances were by Fly To the Sky, Super Junior Happy and Shin Hye-sung.

Kim Ha-neul, winner of a “Best actress award” for “On Air keeps it low key in a short black dress with some fringe detailing on her dress…. Maybe she’s trying to bring some flair to her outfit, but she’s not the only one (check below)

Han Ji-hye, another winner of the “Best actress” for “Likeable or Not” keep it simple too with a white fringey dress. Not much difference from Han Ha-neul. They must have called each other to coordinate outfits.

Kim Sung-eun tries to make a dramatic statement with this long red gown but fails. Why? Because the dress is obviously borrowed (it drags on the floor) and it doesn’t fit her very well. We know that woman can dress well…wait…oh…got her mixed up with So Yu-jin. Scary.

Lee Jin should hem her dress. It’s not cool when your borrowed dress is dragging on the floor. There’s nothing spectacular to note with the dress other than it’s keeping with the “fringe and ruffles” theme-sorta.

Park Min-young has not much competition for being the best dressed of the night. In keeping with the ruffle theme, the brown dress is, shall we say….. nice…but it’s not that flattering because it’s too long.

Kim Bum looks tight in a tailored black suit.   Choi Soo-jong adds only a touch of color with a white hankie in his left breast pocket. Otherwise, the best actor winner is all black.

Kim Myung-min, winner of the top award for Best Actor brings back the classic double breasted suit in gray but the suit doesn’t suit him well (pants are too short and the suit doesn’t hang well). Too bad.

For the November 2008 issue of Sure Magazine (Korea), Lee Jin doesn’t look like herself. In fact, if my eyes are not deceiving me, the 28 year old could be the love child of fellow ex-FINKL members Lee Hyori and Sung Yuri-if that were possible. In the above picture, her profile is Song Yuri and below, she channels a bit of Hyorish.

This is good. Lee Jin could be their body double.

What do you think?

The weather was perfect with the stars twinkling in the clear night. However, the red carpet at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival was not as glittery as the previous year.

And the sudden death of top actress Choi Jin-shil, the festival starts on a gloomy note.

Only a few big time celebrities showed. Not only that, the red carpet was more like a runway with the celebrities practically running to their seats. Too bad.

As for fashion, the main theme was long chiffon gowns or with dresses with some sort of detailing in the front. Check it out.

The Pusan International Film Festival runs from October 2nd to 11th.

With his hair painted on and makeup in place, Andre Kim lumbered down the red carpet in his signature outfit. I wonder what he looks without the spacesuit, paint and makeup? We thought he was the best dressed (j/k)

Cha Seung-won. In real life he is super tall and lanky at 188cm tall. He was crossing the road when a random girl spotted him and yelled out “Cha Seung-won!.” Soon after, a gaggle of girls surrounded him and he told them to “be quiet” and then jumped into a black van.

Choi Jungyoon Jung sunkyung look like twins wearing black gowns. And we all know that black is the safest choice

Eugene. Pictures do not do Eugene’s bust any justice. They are much bigger in real life-up close. The dress was fitted and simple in black.

Hyunbin coupled up with Lee Bo-young but both look like they don’t want to be there. Very stiff. Although they compliment each other in the black and white outfits

Jang Dong-gun just whipped by on the red carpet. Barely got a glimpse of him since everyone was screaming, standing up and taking pictures. He looks great in a classic penguin suit.

Jung Ryu-won chose a dark salmon colored chiffon gown with a high empire waist. It works because she is so stick skinny.

Kang Hye-jung and Shin Hyun-joon hold hands as they walk down the runway. All eyes were on this couple. Kang Hye-jung looks fab with red lipstick and matching red belt but the dead animal on her shoulder need to go. That’s just gross.

Kim Ji-woo sticks with the classics? as in a taffeta wine gown. Who wears taffeta these days? And in wine? That color is reserved for the older ajummas. Wait… she is one.

Kim Jung-eun shimmers in this goddess-like dress! The natural makeup and glowy skin compliments the dress perfectly. Fabulousity!

Kim Rae-won & Han Eun-jung are a slightly odd couple together? somehow they don’t seem comfortable with each other? Han Eun-jung takes a plain looking black halter dress and adds some oomph with the gold tassle details.

Kim So-yeon did choose something more comfortable this year with a green satin gown. If you look closely at the front, the straps look like a spider web and the dress is held together by stitching. Cool. But the dress and the long ironed straight hair make her look like a witch. All she’s missing is her broomstick.

Ko Ara sticks to the classics in a black knee-length dress with feather detailing, simple accessories and equally simple but classic makeup with the cat eye. Girl looks pulled together and fabulous!

Lee Da-hee glows in this nude colored chiffon dress. Gorgeous!

Lee Dong-wook zooms down the red carpet. The red carpet is more like a runway? it’s elevated and runs through the audience. Where is Eugene?

Lee Jung-jin. A few months ago he was almost unrecognizable because of post surgery? But now that the bloating is gone, he looks better, but his face has changed. Too bad.

Lee Misook brings her cute son along for the red carpet walk. Up close, the East of Eden actress is gorgeous. The camera does not do her justice. She was seated in the front row and kept chatting on her cellphone.
Lee Sun-kyoon & Choi Kanghee. The actress wears an interestingly pattered dress that looks a bit too casual for the red carpet.

Lee Yeon-hee opts for something simple but sweet in this long lavender chiffon layered dress. Conservative but lovely.

Oh Ji-ho wears an ill-fitting suit? especially the shrunken vest and exposed necktie. Please stick to the classics.

Shin Mina looks fabulous in this white chiffon dress. Gorgeous.

Park Joon-hyung, So-hee (Wondergirls), Park Jin-young. Strutting down the red-carpet, Sohee is super tall in platform heels and her legs looked endless. Park Joon-hyung (with the corn rows) keeps it cool with white runners and sunglasses. Why the threesome are together on the red carpet, we have no idea.

Kong Hyojin has always had an eclectic taste in fashion (being fashion disaster, but this time the cute apple hairdo and the feathered gown doesn’t look that bad. In fact, she looks like an ostrich.

Park Eun-hye wears a dress that could have been more flattering if it fit better.

Lee Jin (with Lee Jungjin) keeps her puppies tightly together in this simple black satin dress.

Im Sung-min also sticks with the celebrity favorite- black. Yes, it fits well, but couldn’t she has chosen a different color?

Lee Hwa-sun chose a different color but has feathered growth on the front of her dress. If you want attention, then pink feathered dress would be it.

Kim Suna is hardly recognizable. I can’t put my finger on it.

While others wear summer fabrics of chiffon, Park Jin-hee prefers a dark conservative purple velvet dress. Simple yes, fun no.

Same dress but different accessories.
Lee Jin (left) wore the black and white Moschino dress to the press conference for the documentary film “Earth” on August 26th. And 2 days later, Lee So-yeon (right) wore the same dress to the drama opening of “Golden Age of My Life”

Who pops it best?

After the press conference in the afternoon, actor So Ji-sub plays the casual card by showing up in jeans and cornrows for the V.I.P showing of his new movie, “A Movie is Movie,” directed by Jang Hoon.

Eugene, Lim Su-jung, Choi Kang-hee, Lee Jin were at hand to show their support. Also making a rare public appearance to support fellow BOF family member was Bae Yong-joon.

The action flick is the story of a real gangster (So Ji-sub) who wants to be a movie star and a movie star (Kang Ji-hwan) who plays a gangster. “A Movie is a Movie” sweeps into Korean theaters on September 11th 2008.

Check out the trailer below:

At the earlier press conference with fellow co-star Kang Ji-hwan, both stars seem to mirror each other’s movements.

(left to right: Choi Kang-hee, Eugene, Lim Su-jung)

(left to right Lee Jin, Sung Yuri)

So Ji-sub

The movie Earth (2008) is a documentary made by the BBC (UK) that follows the lives of three wild animals over a year. Filmed over a 5 year period, it tracks polar bears in the Arctic, elephants in the Kalahari and a humpback whale, through the trials and tribulations in their lives.

So this is not a Korean movie, but a handful of celebrities showed up at the premiere on August 26th to promote the new film including Girls Generation.

Check out the trailer (U.S. version), narrated by Patrick Stewart.

Earth opens in theaters in Korea on September 4^th 2008. If you are in the U.S., the film opens on Earth Day, April 22nd 2009.

Girls Generation (SNSD)

Han Hyo-ju

Jo Hyang-ki

Lee jin & Jo Yeo-jung

So Yu-jin

Lee So-yeon