kdrama and kpop

Young actor Lee Jun Ki arrived to HongKong secretly on March 29 to do a new CF for the famous fast food brand Mc Donald's with famous female singer Joey Yung.

Moreover, this is his second advertising contract in HongKong. Last month, Lee Jun Ki was invited to be the newest advertising model with Huang Xiao Ming, Alan Luo, Louis Koo, and Jolin Tsai.

Lee Jun Ki is the first foreign star who is invited to be the advertising model in HongKong by Mc Donald's. Up to now, Mc Donald's has only used native stars to advertise for its brand in HongKong. Lee Jun Ki is the exceptional circumstance. From this even, we can see how famous of Lee Jun Ki in HongKong is.

In addition, Lee Jun Ki will organize a Fan meeting in Seoul exactly on his birthday, April 17. Many overseas fans, specially Chinese speaking countries and areas, will be attended in that party.

Source: http://krfilm.net/f/t-15943-1-1-lee-jun-ki...ay-qc-mcdonalds

Actor Lee Dong-gun walks into the chapel
where the ashes of his younger brother were temporarily placed
in an urn at Samsung Medical Center in Ilwon-dong, southern Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap

Numerous celebrities have joined in mourning for hallyu star Lee Dong-gun's brother at a chapel in Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul.

Lee's brother, Lee Joon-yub, 19, was fatally stabbed near the World Square Shopping center in Sydney, Australia, March 20. He and his friend, who were both studying in Sydney, were attacked during an argument with two Chinese gang members. The 19-year-old's body was cremated in Sydney on March 26 and Lee brought back his brother's ashes to Seoul on March 28.

Actors and actresses, close to Lee, visited the chapel to convey their condolences over his brother's death.

Han Ji-hye, Lee's ex-girlfriend, visited the chapel and grieved with Lee and his family. She burst into tears at the sight of the brother's portrait.

Han was told the news after filming "I Hate You But It's Fine"' a local hit drama ― now airing on KBS, and rushed to the hospital.

Other actors including Kim Min-jong, Cho Jae-hyun and Kim Heung-soo also visited the chapel.

Korean fans were stunned to learn that the victim was Lee's brother, flooding Lee's homepages with messages of condolence.

After hearing of his younger brother's death, Lee, who had been very close to him, immediately flew to Australia along with his parents to claim the body and attend a requiem mass at the St John's College Chapel, at the University of Sydney, which Lee's brother had attended.

A memorial service will be conducted in a Catholic church on March 31.

Lee made his debut in 1997 as an actor and singer. Since then, he has starred in several films including "My Boyfriend is Type B" and hit dramas, such as "Sweet 18," "Lovers in Paris" and "Stained Glass" in 2004, and "Smile Again" in 2006.

Credits: chungay@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/speci.../178_21638.html

By Steve Gee

THE family of a murdered Korean university student hired security guards to patrol a memorial service yesterday amid fears of revenge attacks targeting the teenager's film-star brother and friends.






Korean teen idol Lee Dong-gun held a photograph of his younger brother Lee Joon-yub
as he led a procession of more than than 100 mourners after a requiem mass
at the St Johns College chapel, inside the University of Sydney.

The slaying has become headline news in Seoul and threatens to tarnish Sydney's safe image, with the city home to the second largest population of international Korean students outside the UK.

At the Lee family's request, a team of security guards was recruited to patrol the St Johns College chapel and surrounding grounds.

Sources told The Daily Telegraph there were fears of potential retribution following the arrest and charging of two 18-year-old Carlingford youths over the attack at World Square last Thursday.

Pall bearers asked for their identities to be suppressed. Police yesterday maintained denials there was any link between the slaying and Asian crime gangs.

The killing has become headline news in Korea, where Lee Dong-gun's brother is a household name, with fan websites inundated with condolences and messages of support.

Lee Joon-yub, 19, collapsed and died on the footpath outside World Square after he and a friend became embroiled in a brawl with two teenagers at Hungry Jacks.

The teenager's 22-year-old friend, Song Jung-ho, was also stabbed in the chest and managed to flee to a Korean store before collapsing, the images dramatically captured by surveillance cameras.

He was among mourners at the memorial service after being released from hospital just 24 hours earlier, following surgery to a chest wound.

A Korean priest led the mass with two nuns, who helped support Lee's grieving parents. The heartbroken couple flew into Sydney last week and will return home to Seoul with their son's ashes.

Following the service yesterday morning, Lee Dong-gun - a heart-throb to millions of adolescent Korean girls - emerged choking back tears and clutching a photograph of his brother, while his father wailed in grief.

Korean journalist Ken Lim told The Daily Telegraph Lee family and friends feared they may be targeted by Chinese gang members. Mr Lee said the slaying had tarnished Australia's image in Seoul. Australia has the second largest population of expatriate Korean students behind that of London.

Mr Lee said more than 25,000 Korean university and English language students lived in Sydney. "Korean people have a clean image of Australia but this has tarnished it," Mr Lee said. "People are worried about the security in the city centre where there are gangs."

Source: The Daily Telegraph, thanks to the highlight by mikasaranghae at LDG thread

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/stor...5006009,00.html

Korean actor Lee Dong Gun loses beloved younger brother in Sydney stabbing

By Chang May Choon

IT started with two Korean guys glancing at two Chinese chaps inside a hamburger joint in central Sydney, Australia.



An old photograph of the Lee brothers with their mum.

The latter scowled: 'Kan shen me kan!' That's Mandarin for 'What are you looking at?'

An argument ensued, ending with a stabbing across the road. One Korean was killed and the other critically injured, reported The Chosun Ilbo.

The dead man has been identified as the younger brother of Korean actor Lee Dong Gun, of My Boyfriend Is Type B fame. The younger Lee, 19, was studying at the University Of Sydney. He was taken to hospital but died from a massive loss of blood.

His 20-year-old Korean friend, who was with him, survived with multiple stab wounds to his upper body, reported The Sydney Morning Herald. The incident happened at World Square Complex near Chinatown just before 1am last Thursday.

It was captured on the 20 security cameras installed in the area.

GANG MEMBERS

The Australian police believe the attackers - two 18-year-old Chinese students - are members of a new criminal gang called Yee Tong. They fled the scene in a taxi but were arrested shortly after.

Dong Gun, 28, flew to Sydney with his parents last Thursday afternoon. He was known to be very close to his brother, despite their age gap.

Yesterday, a grief-stricken Dong Gun was seen holding his brother's portrait during a memorial service at the latter's university. About 100 friends and classmates attended the service, reported My Daily.

The younger Lee's body was then cremated. Dong Gun and his family are said to be returning to Seoul tomorrow. A funeral service will be held there next Monday.

A report in My Daily quoted a spokesman for Dong Gun's management agency saying that the actor has been grieving and not speaking for the past few days. He reportedly broke down in tears while identifying his brother's body at the morgue last week.

Known to be a doting older brother, Dong Gun once thought of quitting a TV serial when he heard that his sibling got teased by friends because of the comic character he played.

The Australian police have yet to establish a motive for the attack, which came as a shock to the Korean community in Sydney. The Daily Telegraph quoted a police spokesman as saying the attack was 'idiotic' and 'senseless'.

He added that such attackers 'have a point to prove' and did not care about the extensive security camera surveillance in the area.

ARGUMENT

The stabbing occurred after an argument between the two groups, but the police said there was no evidence to suggest it was instigated by the victims. The row is said to have started inside a Hungry Jacks outlet.

The four men then left the outlet and crossed the road. A fight broke out among them. Security footage showed one of the Korean guys going into a grocery and video store and collapsing inside. Both were eventually found lying near each other in the streets, covered with stab wounds.

The two attackers left in a cab, but its driver notified the police after dropping them off - which led to an arrest at a nearby railway station just 17 minutes after the stabbing. Both were living in north-west Sydney.

They were charged in court yesterday with murder, causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, and common assault. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Yee Tong gang emerged in the Sydney business district last year, and its members prey on Asian students and extort cash from them.

Meanwhile, fans of Dong Gun have been going online to show their support for him. It has been a bad year so far for the actor. He broke up with his long-time actress girlfriend Han Ji Hye in January. Last month, he was expelled from university as he missed too many classes due to filming.

On the popular Popseoul forum, fans sent their condolences. Netizen SP wrote: 'How sad and unfortunate. My prayers are with the family... even when I personally don't know them.'

Source: The Electric New Paper

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,...,160369,00.html

Yoon Eun-hye has fallen in a happy dilemma, for she is becoming popular after the success of "Coffee Prince".

She is not doing a drama or movie right now but is so busy with commercials that she hasn't found time to recharge as an actress. It seems she's resting after her drama but truthfully, she is spending at least twenty days in a month for promotions. For this month, she has filming for Basic House and JoinUs, and a commercial for v=b in April.

She is a model for many clothing brands, and although she received proposals for alcohol, tire, candy, and fast food commercials, she refused because it did not fit with either her image or her busy schedule.

"Coffee Prince" has gained much popularity in Japan and China, and there are requests for her to visit or have promotions there. But she is so busy in Korea that it is impossible to have three free days. The media press of Japan, who has become tired of waiting, requested press coverage of Yoon Eun-hye in Korea, and are planning to go in April.

It has been a while since she became the first choice for dramas and movies. Because of this, there are rumors that the pay must be 50,000 dollars per drama episode, and it is leaving her company speechless.

Original article at media.daum.net
English translation by www.hancinema.net

Eugene becomes the mother of a child and a lucky woman who receives the love of three men--Cho Hyun-jae, Jae Hee and Shin Sung-rok--one of whom is the father of the baby.

The new KBS 2TV (Wed./Thurs.) drama "Three Daddies and One Mommy" is about a married couple who receives sperm donations from three of the husband's friends. Although the conception is successful, the wife loses her husband suddenly in an accident. The story continues with the wife and the three friends.

Eugene plays the role of the widowed mother, "Song Na-young," but this isn't her first role as a mother. In 2005, the actress starred in the MBC drama "Wonderful Life" as a young woman who gets pregnant and thrown into married life after a night of bad judgments.

"Back then, the baby wasn't planned, but this time the baby is, so I can be much more of a proud mommy," Eugene said. "In the other drama, my husband didn't love me, but for this one I receive the love of three men, though I do lose my husband."

She laughingly added, "The three men are so wonderful, I could live with all of them!"

"Three Daddies and One Mommy" will fill the time slot of "Hong Gil-dong, the Hero." It is directed by Lee Jae-sang. who produced "Dal-ja's Spring," and written by Cho Myung-joo. who also wrote "The Man of the Vineyard."

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...5549_11692.html

First Broadcast : Wed April 2,2008 (Replacing Hong Gil Dong)


Cast
Eugene Kim,
Jo Hyun Jae,
Jae Hee,
Shin Sung-Rok
Joo Sang Wook


Synopsis

Song Na Young and her husband, Jung Sung Min, desperately want a child but her husband is unable to get her pregnant. Her husband's friends decide to help them. But Na Young suddenly loses her husband in an accident and she gives birth to her daughter but does not know which of her husband's friends fathered her child. The father of Na Young's child can either be Han Soo Hyun, Choi Kwang Hee, or Hwang Kyung Tae.

Pics:


Watche One Mom Three dads here.

Others

J Tune Entertainment revealed that Rain wrote, composed and produced Anycall’s Beijing Olympics theme song “Any Dream,” which expresses the meaning of challenges in fulfilling one’s dream.

“Rain did not only sing the Anycall Olympics theme song but also wrote, composed and produced it. He also directly choreographed the dance in the music video. This is the first time Rain wrote, composed and produced a song.

“He made the song while he was in LA for additional filming of ‘Speed Racer’. Rain worked with Lee Hyun Do in this song,” J Tune Entertainment revealed on the 26th.

Rain also worked with Lee Hyun Do in the OST of the Dreamworks movie “Kung Fu Panda.”

Source: Starnews,
E-trans: http://krnloop.wordpress.com/
V-trans: http://www.iuphimhan.com/sarang/news-2372b402f.htm

Korean actress, Jeon Ji Hyun debut Hollywood movie, “Blood: The Last Vampire” has revealed new screens of Jeon Ji Hyun dressing herself up as a student and going undercover in a school on several foreign movie websites recently.

The production has from time to time released pictures of Jeon Ji Hyun doing fighting and wire work scenes. But the new screens of her in sailor moon uniform is a first and kind of special. In a classroom of foreign students, Jeon Ji Hyun is the only Asian student wearing a sailor moon uniform and got her fans excited over her role of Saya, the vampire hunter.

Saya is part of a covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons in post-WWII Japan and is inserted into a military school to discover which her classmates is a demon in disguise. Gianna Jun debut Hollywood movie, “Blood: The Last Vampire” will hit screens this summer in America.

http://coolsmurf.wordpress.com/
V-trans: http://www.iuphimhan.com/sarang/index.php?...=34&t=10033

Lee Dong Gun and his family held the funeral for his brother at 10 am on March 26 at Sidney University. About 100 classmates of Lee Dong Gun' s brother also attended this funeral.

After the funeral, the body of Lee Dong Gun's brother will be cremated in the suburb of Sidney.

Lee Dong Gun will bring the cremation ash to Korea on March 28 and his brother's official funeral will be held on March 31.

Source: http://krfilm.net/f/t-15774-1-1-lee-dong-g...m-trai-o-uc-263
Etrans: trangnhung@KST_CICHLID

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What must he be going through.............

Les Kennedy
March 25, 2008

POLICE investigating the stabbing murder of a South Korean student in the World Square complex believe it was carried out by members of a new Triad-style criminal gang, some of whom officers had identified to immigration officials in a request for their deportation.

The Herald has learned that the deportation request, on the grounds of student visa violations, was made the day before last Thursday's fatal stabbing of the 19-year-old brother of the prominent South Korean actor Lee Dong-gun.

Concerned members of the NSW Asian Crime Squad are understood to have met Department of Immigration officials to detail the activities of the gang that calls itself "Yee Tong". While police have yet to establish how many members the gang has, those identified to date are from mainland China and many are on study visas.

Yee Tong, whose members are in their late teens to early 20s, emerged in the Sydney CBD in the past year amid rising night-time violence in and around the World Square business and residential complex.

Police intelligence suggests Yee Tong has laid claim to the World Square complex, bounded by George, Liverpool, Goulburn and Pitt streets, as their turf against the long entrenched rival Big Circle- and Sing Wai-stylised Hong Kong Triad gangs in nearby Chinatown.

Five years ago, the Big Circle and Sing Wai gangs were involved in a series of violent clashes over protection rackets.

Yee Tong came to the attention of police investigating a number of brawls and knife fights in and around World Square in the past year. The gang is believed to prey on Asian students by extorting cash. It is also suspected of break-ins.

It has been at a least a decade since police last saw the emergence of an organised Triad-style gang in Sydney. The last was a gang called the "108 White Tigers" that evolved from the remnants of the 1990s' violent south-west Cabramatta Vietnamese gang, 5T.

Like Yee Tong, the 108 White Tigers preyed on overseas students in an extortion racket around the then unfinished World Square complex and the George Street cinema strip.

The 108 White Tigers, whose activities were broken up by police in a two-year operation beginning in 1998, also carried out home invasions on students' accommodation in the inner city and were involved in kidnappings and ransom demands.

Their targets were English-language students on two-year visas studying in the city, who were kidnapped or waylaid in the street and forced to disclose their bank cards and PINs.

Police have yet to establish a motive for last week's attack, which began inside the Hungry Jack's restaurant in George Street with what appeared to be an argument between two groups.

The row continued across the road and into the World Square complex. The victim was stabbed several times and died in hospital.

A 20-year-old male Korean student who was with him survived a stab wound to the upper body.

Two 18-year-old men who allegedly fled the scene in a taxi were arrested in Redfern.

The men, Michael Lee and Ivan Wong, both Chinese students living in Carlingford, have been charged with murder, causing wounding or grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, and common assault.

They are expected to face Central Local Court today.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/triad-...6207010884.html
V-trans: http://www.iuphimhan.com/sarang/news-581fcb616.htm

*Kr.yahoo.news (03/25): Lee Dong Gun and parents went to Australia on the 20th and will return to Korea to prepare for the funeral on the 27th .

Actors So Ji-sub and Lee Yeon-hee came out as lovers in "U-Turn", a movie produced by Ssang Yong Motors and On Media. Director Jang Jin of "A Day with My Son" will produce the short film, made of three parts of four minutes each.

The story is that So Ji-sub falls for Lee Yeon-hee's awkward yet lovable charm when she enters his life.

"U-Turn" has filmed from last month to mid-March in Seoul and Kyung Gi Do, and it will be aired on cable starting on April 1. It will also be used as a commercial for SsangYong Acty-On.

Original article at media.daum.net
English translation by www.hancinema.net

Ancient drama Hong Gil Dong of KBS has ended in the night of March 26 since it was airing for almost 3 months.

Hong Gil Dong is the newest work of popular scriptwriters Hong sisters that are Hong Mi Ran and Hong Jung Eun. Therefore, it became the most expectation drama of audience in the first quarter of 2008. However, it ended with many regrets.

Since it was airing, Hong Gil Dong had to compete with drama New Heart of MBC, and the ratings always at the rate of 13-14%. However, Hong Gil Dong still had attention of young audience.

After New Heart was ended, new drama On Air of SBS became the lead and came over Hong Gil Dong. According to statistical numbers of TNS, ratings of last episode on March 26 of Hong Gil Dong only reached 13,8% which was far away from On Air’s (20,1%).

Moreover, Hong Gil Dong began with funny and joyful ideas but ended in tragedy with many surprises that made audience disappointed.

Source: http://krfilm.net/f/t-15813-1-1-hong-gil-d...diem-dang-tiec-
ETrans: heoconphaphach@KST_CICHLID.

Drama On Air of SBS reached a rating of 20% when it aired episode 7 in the night of March 26.

According to statistical analysis of TNS, ratings of episode 7, which was aired on March 26, got 20,1%. This is the highest rating since it has been airing, increase 1,2% comparing to episode 6 which was aired last week.

Besides, On Air got high rating that should give thank to the match of football between two teams of Korea and Japan which was aired before the drama. This match attracted up to 22% audience. Most of audience don’t want to change the channel after the match was done, so they kept SBS channel to see the next show. Therefore, On Air was aired just 2 minutes after the match that attracted more audience than previous episodes.

In addition, ratings of two other dramas, which have the same airing time with On Air, Hong Gil Dong and Who Are You continue to get 13,8% and 7,1%.

Source: http://krfilm.net/f/t-15807-1-1-drama-on-a...ings-dat-muc-20
ETrans: heoconphaphach@KST_CICHLID

Popular Korean-American actor Dennis Oh will make his appearance in MBC's special drama East of Eden. This marks his return to the small screen since drama Witch Yoo Hee at the beginning of 2007.

In East of Eden, Dennis will play as a casino player from Australia, then gradually becomes a steady support for the lead male character (played by Song Seung Hun).

Currently, Dennis is filming a movie outside Korea. After receiving this script, he will have to fly back regularly. However, he says that he will try his best to not disappoint audience's expectations.

This big project East of Eden is scheduled to be aired in September in Korea.

Source: http://krfilm.net/f/t-15808-1-1-dennis-oh-...ma-east-of-eden
Etrans: hongkonga1@KST_CICHLID

Lee Jeong-jae and Jeong Ryeo-won will be acting as lovers on the screen.

They confirmed to star in the movie "Mellows", which will start filming late April, and are now working on the details.

"Mellows" is a melodrama portraying the love between an insurance inspector whose wife committed suicide and a blind woman who had been in a coma for a year. "Mellows" has drawn great interest, as it is a new movie by Director Song Hae-seong, who also produced "Failan" and "Our Happy Time".

Because it is love with someone in a coma, it will contain a feeling of fantasy as it goes back and forth from fantasy to reality.

There is great interest to see the on-screen chemistry between Lee Jeong-jae, who is coming back to the screen after a long break after "Riot in a Bar in 1724", and Jeong Ryeo-won, whose first movie was "2 Faces of My Girlfriend".

Original article at news.naver.com
English translation by www.hancinema.net

After two years, Hyeon Bin will be coming back to the screen since "A Millionaire's First Love". He wasn't involved in anything after drama "Snow Queen".

On the 20th, he posted a message at his fan café titled, 'You've waited a long time', revealing his comeback. "I'm really busy these days. I've been trying to prepare a good work for our family, but it's taking longer than I thought". He revealed the reason why he hasn't been coming out a lot.

He also said, "I'm going to be filming a movie from next week. It's a movie called "I Am Happy", and many great actors come out. I'm also working with a great director and a good staff".

He said, "I think it's something that I can be born again with, and something I can learn from. I'll try my best to show you a different side of me. I'm thankful to my fans for supporting me, and I hope I can show you great results".

Director Yoon Jong-chan, who has become famous through "Sorum" and "Blue Swallow", will be working on this movie. Hyeon Bin will show a totally different side of him.

Original article at news.naver.com
English translation by www.hancinema.net

There are talks about "Sam Soon" Kim Seon-ah becoming the leading female role for "Every Night", to air after "Yi San".

The character is a sexy 29-year-old single woman. The male character, a player who only likes young women, may be played by Lee Dong-geon.

Kim Seon-ah is attempting another comedy after MBC hit drama "My Name is Kim Sam-soon". There is expectation that there will be successful viewing rates.

Her drama plans to air after "Yi San" ends in June.

Original article at kr.news.yahoo.com
English translation by www.hancinema.net

Top stars including Jeon Do-yeon, Choi Min-sik, Song Kang-ho, and Seol Kyeong-gu are emerging as saviors of Korean movies. From blockbuster hits to cinematographic movies, they aim to revitalize various genres this summer.

Jeon Do-yeon, who received the Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress for "Secret Sunshine" is working hard to finish filming "A Fine Day".

This movie is about an unemployed, single woman in her thirties who meets an ex-boyfriend and embarks on an adventure for a day.

She acts with Ha Jeong-woo, who is raising stock prices with this year's best movie, "The Chaser".

As soon as filming ends at the end of this month, they will go into the latter half of production.

Park Ji-eun, the marketing team leader of the production company said, "There isn't a definite genre and plans for marketing, but it is certain that you can see this film in theaters in the later half of the year".

Choi Min-sik is done filming "Himalaya-Where the Wind Stops".

He showed his great acting in 2004 in "Old Boy", and this is his first film in three years after "Crying Fist" in 2005.

When a Nepalese factory worker dies in an accident, Choi Min-sik's character goes to a town in the Himalayas to give his family the remains. Director Jeon Soo-il has gone to many international film festivals with movies such as "The Bird Who Stops in the Air".

Team leader Son Min-kyung of Show East, the producing company, revealed that, "Kim Hyeong-suk, who was the music director of "My Sassy Girl", is also involved. It will be premiered in the first half of this year if impossible".

Song Kang-ho, a very influential actor, will be appearing in the Western style blockbuster "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird".

It is an action movie of men who are in lawless Manchuria in the 1930s during Japanese control. It is expected to be this year's best movie, for it features other top stars such as Lee Byeong-Heon and Jeong Woo-seong.

Also, Seol Kyeong-gu will play Kang Chul-jung, and Choi Min-soo will be in "Street of Dreams", a joint production of Korea, America, and Japan.

Movie producers said, "The fact that top stars like Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho are starring means an audience of at least 1 million. There is great expectation that they will bring a new craze into the stuck movie industry.


Original article at media.daum.net
English translation by www.hancinema.net

Lee Byeong-Heon finished the first filming of the Hollywood action move "G. I. Joe" as Storm Shadow.

Paramount Pictures said on the 19th that Lee Byeong-Heon successful completed an important filming on the 13th.

His character, Storm Shadow, has a complicated and dark past. He left Korea on January 23 to practice action scenes and rehearse.

His first Hollywood work, "G. I. Joe" is a remake of a cartoon, and it portrays the conflict between the terrorist commander Cobra and U. S. military unit.

Paramount Pictures said, "Lee Byeong-Heon is a top star popular not only in Korea, but in all of Asia".

Original article at news.empas.com
English translation by www.hancinema.net

Actress Moon Geun-young

Actress Moon Geun-young has donated close to 100 million to Morning Reading, a non-profit organization that promotes reading books.

The 20-year-old gave 4.3 million won in 2005, 4 million won in 2006 and 70 million won last year. The popular star of TV drama "Autumn Fairytale" made the contributions secretly through her mother, Ryu Seon-young, but her good deeds became known when Morning Reading revealed its 2007 account information online.

Founded in 2005, Morning Reading encourages elementary, middle and high school students to read books. Moon became acquainted with the organization when Ryu first bequeathed 1 million won, and has since helped whenever there were budget constraints, said the organization, according to Yonhap News.

"When we first received the gift, we thought it was a mistake because it was too much. Later Ryu introduced herself as a librarian at the national library," Han Sang-su, head of Morning Reading, was quoted as saying. "Moon's help was critical to our development."

Moon is affectionately called "the nation's little sister" and has appeared in popular movies like "My Little Bride." She is also known for continuously supporting other causes such as library-building and helping disadvantaged students in small villages, as well as promoting scholarship programs and securing funds for those with terminal diseases.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/speci.../178_21519.html

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