kdrama and kpop

A recent poll shows that actress Song Hye-gyo is the favorite Korean celebrity among Hong Kong people. The poll was conducted by the Hong Kong office of the Korea National Tourism Organization on June 11-14 on 1,145 people who attended the 2009 Hong Kong International Tourism Exhibition. The results showed that Song Hye-gyo received 40.4 percent of the votes. She was trailed by Lee Young-ae at 40.2 percent. Lee took the number one spot in the same poll last year. Other Korean celebrities who were picked by the respondents included Jeon Ji-hyun (31.2 percent), Bae Yong-jun (16.2 percent), singer Rain (14.4 percent) and Ji Jin-hee (12.9 percent). With regard to the most popular tourist spots in Korea, 68.2 percent of respondents chose Seoul. More than 42 percent cited Jeju and 24.7 percent picked Gangwon Province. With regard to the most impressive experience in Korea, the respondents cited shopping (62.2 percent), food (52.8 percent), natural landscape including flowers (34.6 percent), skiing (34.3 percent) and amusement parks (28.2 percent). The head of the Hong Kong office of the Korea National Tourism Organization said the results of the poll serve as yet further proof that Hong Kong tourists like shopping and food, and that a growing number of Hong Kong people visit Korea to see flowers. Source: KBS Global

Four people working for SBS-TV’s “Swallow the Sun” have caught the A(H1N1) flu virus. The infections were discovered at Incheon International Airport and on Jeju Island early this month. The crew members were returning from Las Vegas, where they had been filming the drama. The four are currently hospitalized, according to the makers of the new series. While the rest of the production crew and cast are not infected with the flu, they are still being quarantined on Jeju Island because of security measures. Ji Sung, the main actor for the drama, is one of the cast members staying on Jeju. Sung Yu-ri, an actress on the show, is said to be in Seoul. She reportedly has no signs of the virus.

SBS decided to postpone the airing of the first episode of Swallow the Sun until today. It was initially scheduled to air yesterday. Swallow the Sun is about four young people who dream of turning the Jeju city of Seogwipo into the Las Vegas of Asia.

By Lee Hae-Joo Contributing writer via INSIDE JoongAng Daily

With a slew of bankable summer blockbusters charging through the box office this season, it is about time a television series of epic proportions spiced things up on the small screen.

SBS' new Wednesday and Thursday night installment, "Swallow the Sun," promises to do just that.

The latest collaboration between "All In" duo director Yoo Chul-yong and scriptwriter Choi Wan-gyu, "Swallow the Sun" repeats blockbuster-making history, spinning a gargantuan tale of ambitious young adults with big plans and big dreams for Jeju Island.

The scenic island, Las Vegas and South Africa serve as the vast playground on which a star-studded cast that includes "New Heart" star Ji Sung, former girl group Fin.K.L hottie Sung Yu-ri and "Stairway to Heaven" actor Lee Wan play out this mega adventure.

A finely chiseled Ji Sung, who also starred in the hit series "All In" (SBS, 2003), sloughs off his "New Heart" charm for the rugged and rebellious skin of Kim Jung-woo.

Taking on the role of the illegitimate son of a gangster and a female diver, Ji Sung mastered scuba diving, boxing and taekwondo prior to extensive filming that took him from Korea to South Africa and Las Vegas. "I remember riding the truck all day off the beaten path, firing a gun, for the chase scene that unfolded in Africa," Ji Sung recounted unforgettable moments in a press release from SBS.

"For the underwater scene, which was the first one I filmed, I was in the water for eight hours," he recalled. "At one point my eyes got puffy. I swam with one hand and grabbed the gills of a sea bream with the other, struggling for life." "I think I will remember both scenes for a long time."

Behind the scenes, the tough and travel-heavy schedule took its toll on the drama's production crew. According to a press release from SBS, four crew members were diagnosed with the human swine flu virus after flying in from the United States in early July.

Prioritizing national health concerns over the drama, the press conference slated for Tuesday was cancelled and filming was temporarily halted. "All four are confirmed cases of the A (H1N1) virus," said an SBS representative over the phone.

When asked how they were faring, the representative stated that though they showed symptoms of high fever, they were not immobile and that one crew member was fully recovered. In regards to the health of the cast, the representative answered: "They are fine."

According to the press release, after wrapping up filming in Las Vegas the production crew returned to Korea on July 2. One crew member tested positive for swine flu and was placed in the Incheon National Quarantine Station. The following day the production crew joined the film crew in Jeju Island. After receiving tests at the Jeju Island public health center, three more crew members were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus on Monday.

According to the SBS representative, the crew member that was placed in the Incheon National Quarantine Station has made a complete recovery. "Filming may resume, at the soonest, on Thursday," stated the SBS representative.

The first episode was pushed back a day and was replaced by a special that aired yesterday. According to the press release, because plenty of scenes were filmed in South Africa and America, there are no setbacks to the broadcast of the drama for the time being.

Based on the original book authored by the production company's president Kang Chul-hwa of Newport Pictures, "Swallow the Sun" will air its first episode tonight on SBS at 9:55 p.m.

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldm.com) via koreaherald.co.kr

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New drama with Ji Sung, Lee Wan & Sung Yuri? Only hot people! I'm not so updated with dramas these days and I'm sorry for neglecting KDramaQueen. But I'll try to update more often ^_^.