Since the hangover from South Korea’s exit from the World Cup is finally fading, we can now redirect our lives to non-sporting topics. And today’s topic is why do non-Koreans like Korean dramas? That might be overreaching but it seems like non-Koreans know more about Korean dramas than I do. This past weekend I visited Los Angeles and ran into a handful of friends, both Korean and non. On Sunday morning for brunch, I met up with two Chinese friends and they told me how much they love Korean dramas and how their mothers love watching Korean dramas. This is a conversation I’ve had previously with various other friends, and I still find it surprising. Is it the writing? Hard for me to believe because the themes are similar. Remember when you first started watching Korean dramas? Didn’t it seem like every Korean girl would succumb to cancer and the boyfriend was left alone at the end of the movie in tears? Of course they expanded beyond this cliche of a story.
I asked my brunch mates why they like Korean dramas and they said their mother’s have best explained it in this way: Korean dramas have better styles and real good looking people. That’s it?! Oh how superficial but it attracts a ton of interest from many other Asian countries. Then again, maybe their mother’s have a point. Who doesn’t think Daniel Henney is handsome? Rain? And of course who doesn’t love (lust) Korean women? Well, if we’ve peaked your interest, then check out dramafever where you can find an archive of those Korea drama hits. It’s hard to argue against watching Lee Byung Hun in Iris. You be the judge?
“You’re sooo funny!!!” How many times do you hear that? (I know I hear it at least 9 times a day).
Asians have been emerging in so many industries from politics to food, and sports. And FINALLY we are being noticed as funny! Makeitinthemotherland.com has recently posted a great list of the Top 10 Asian comedians of all time, with Korean-Americans not only making the list, but topping the list.
Margaret Cho made it to the number one spot and is being called “the original Asian comedian”. Being a woman comedian, she fought all the odds against her. Bobby Lee is of course up there thanks to his 9 years on MAD TV, portraying characters like Kim Jung Il and Connie Chung. And possibly the newest claim to fame belongs to Ken Jeong (a.k.a. Dr. Jeong). First working professionally as a medical doctor, Ken got his first acting job and breakthrough role in Knocked Up (playing a doctor) and has been stealing scenes and cracking us up ever since.
These 3 are just to name a few Korean-Americans from the list. But there’s no doubt that Asian comedians (with or without their ethnic jokes) are funny and are paving the way for the next generation.
Crazy but a Korean guy beat out a bunch of Hollywood bigwigs to win MTV’s Badass Award! RAIN actually showed up and accepted the award with a brief speech. That’s awesome!
Check out our interview with him back in November.
May is the month for the television upfronts. It’s a week in New York where the networks showcase and preview their upcoming lineup of shows to entice advertisers and ad agencies with buying commercial time. One of the big entrees that CBS is serving up is the remake of Hawaii Five-O and it has two Korean-American actors: Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park. It’s great for Daniel Dae Kim because he doesn’t have to leave the state of Hawaii because LOST was filmed there. For Grace Park, it’s another television series for her which probably makes her the Korean with the most number of television shows. Check out the preview below and don’t forget to watch it!
Since Lost is now over, the cast is off to pursue their own acting ambitions. Luckily for Daniel Dae Kim, he didn’t have to move and got to stay in Hawai’i because his next gig is the remake of “Hawaii Five-O” which also stars fellow Korean Grace Park. He gets interviewed by G4 TV, a big hub for gamers. He talks a little bit about Lost with a blonde sitting on his lap and he gives a sneak peek into his new show “Hawaii Five-O.” This time around he’s speaking English on the show. Check out the interview and his special tat.
Korean singer Bae Seul-Ki revealed that she “danced” her way into making her Hollywood debut in a film titled “Final.”
While making a guest appearance on popular SBS talk show “Steel Heart,” which aired Tuesday, the 23-year-old singer explained that the ‘old-school dance moves’ she had often performed on SBS program “Love Letter” helped her land a role in the upcoming Hollywood flick.
“Love Letter” was a make-believe matchmaking entertainment program which aired from 2003 to 2006.
“The dancing moves helped convince the German director for the film to cast me as the main character for the movie and I am preparing to go into shoot,” Bae said on the show, adding that she will play a ruthless Korean killer in the film.
On the Tuesday episode, she even gave a variety of retro dance performances with singers Chun Myung-hoon and Kim Jong-min.
Bae first made her debut in 2005 as one of the members of girl band “The Red” but turned solo after the group disbanded the following year.
She has released two full-length albums, one mini-album and three digital singles, producing moderate K-pop hits such as “Strong Woman”, “Tomboy” and “Flying,” and has also hosted several televised music shows.
Maxim Magazine came out with their definitive list of the world’s most beautiful women for 2010. Grace Park was the lone Korean on the list. Of course she’s very well deserving to be on the list but we all know there are many other Korean ladies who could be on this list but they’re not well known to Maxim and the public. Let’s just enjoy Grace Park’s talents and her beauty.
Alright ladies. One of the best looking Korean-American dudes is back on the cover of magazines. Daniel Henney is in the spring/summer 2010 issue of Men’s Vogue in China. This was post was for the enjoyment of the ladies. Nothing editorial here.
Ningin recently sat down with Glee’s Jenna Ushkowitz. They ask her what life is like on the super popular show. If you’ve been reading your Kindle and not watching TV, then were here to tell you that Glee was the big hit of this past fall. Korean adoptee Jenna Ushkowitz plays the role of Tina where she belts out melodies that make you want to sing along with her. Enjoy the interview.
JI: Can you tell us how you got your start in show business?
JU: My parents put me in at the age of 3 in commercials and Print. My first job was a Playskool Print ad. I really got into Musical Theatre when I made my Broadway debut in ‘The King and I’ Revival in 1996. I fell in love with singing and dancing and pursued it in high school and college. I was in my ‘Select Choir’ in high school (which was our version of glee, I guess) and I took acting, dance and voice everyday in high school. I have a BA in Acting and a minor in Musical Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. About 6 months later, I got the role of a swing in the Broadway musical ‘Spring Awakening’ and then I ended up booking Glee a year later!
Jenna Ushkowitz, an adopted Korean who is a cast member of the ever popular show Glee (Fox network), had the opportunity to sing in front of the President’s family at the White House. She sang the classic 80′s song made famous by Cyndi Lauper, “True Colors.”
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