Shin Min Ah
SHE used to be known for her pure and innocent image.
CHANG MAY CHOON
PICTURES: STARM, GOLDEN VILLAGE
But Korean actress Shin Min Ah has since broken out of her fragile shell to take on a variety of roles, and it seems like she is finally going places.
In the new Kwak Jae Yong film My Mighty Princess, the 24-year-old babe plays a martial arts prodigy blessed with superhuman strength and qing gong (the ability to fly), but she gives it all up to woo a hockey jock (Yoo Geon).
The movie opens here on Thursday. Lined up next is the highly anticipated disco film Go Go 70, which will see her transform into a sexy dance diva clad in body hugging outfits.
Min Ah, who debuted in the supernatural flick Volcano High in 2001 and was once hailed as the new Queen of Tears after starring opposite Rain in the TV melodrama A Love To Kill, hogged headlines recently for becoming the new face - and body - of Calvin Klein Jeans.
She also wowed fans in two alluring photo spreads in Vogue and Bazaar magazines in Korea. Reports noted that the usually low-profile star is now showing more of her womanly charm, and she agreed.
Min Ah said that My Mighty Princess, which took two years to film, shows her going through a transition stage.She described her character as a 'sweet' and 'incredibly lively' girl who will flex her muscles to uphold justice around her.
'I think this movie might be the last one showing my girly side. So I hope the audience will find her endearing and I will try to show my girly side as much as possible.'
YUMMY FACTOR: 3.5 out of 5
Yoo Geon
THE up-and-coming actor is Korean, but he grew up shuttling between Korea and the US, where his parents live.
Thanks to his mesmerising eyes and chiselled good looks, the 25-year-old hunk has been drawing plenty of attention. Yoo Geon's latest work is the action comedy My Mighty Princess, in which he plays a brooding hockey jock who catches the eye of Shin Min Ah.
Yoo Geon said of his alter ego: 'Outwardly, he's the perfect guy, but with the softest of hearts.' To prepare for the role, he learnt hockey from a friend who plays it and practised hard.
'I love sports, so it was just great. I liked learning to play an unusual sport. I thought about forming a real ice hockey club but I haven't got around to it yet.' It has been 11 years since he ventured into showbiz, but it was only in the past two years that he rose to fame.
He was discovered while holidaying in Korea during his high-school vacation, and he made his debut in 1997 as part of the dance group Oppa.
The group soon disbanded, but he didn't want to give up. He moved to Korea despite his parents' objection and spent the next few years struggling to become an actor.
He was offered the leading role in the drama serial Hello God in 2006.
Fans and critics alike raved over how well he played a dim-witted guy who underwent some unorthodox treatment to become a genius in order to get close to the girl he liked.
Yoo Geon is also hailed as one of the most eligible bachelors on Korea's showbiz scene.
YUMMY FACTOR: 3.5 out of 5
Source: The Electric New Paper, Singapore
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,...,176961,00.html
Thanks to his mesmerising eyes and chiselled good looks, the 25-year-old hunk has been drawing plenty of attention. Yoo Geon's latest work is the action comedy My Mighty Princess, in which he plays a brooding hockey jock who catches the eye of Shin Min Ah.
Yoo Geon said of his alter ego: 'Outwardly, he's the perfect guy, but with the softest of hearts.' To prepare for the role, he learnt hockey from a friend who plays it and practised hard.
'I love sports, so it was just great. I liked learning to play an unusual sport. I thought about forming a real ice hockey club but I haven't got around to it yet.' It has been 11 years since he ventured into showbiz, but it was only in the past two years that he rose to fame.
He was discovered while holidaying in Korea during his high-school vacation, and he made his debut in 1997 as part of the dance group Oppa.
The group soon disbanded, but he didn't want to give up. He moved to Korea despite his parents' objection and spent the next few years struggling to become an actor.
He was offered the leading role in the drama serial Hello God in 2006.
Fans and critics alike raved over how well he played a dim-witted guy who underwent some unorthodox treatment to become a genius in order to get close to the girl he liked.
Yoo Geon is also hailed as one of the most eligible bachelors on Korea's showbiz scene.
YUMMY FACTOR: 3.5 out of 5
Source: The Electric New Paper, Singapore
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,...,176961,00.html
