Starting today we count down the top ten most influential Korean-Americans from 2009.  It’s been an incredible year with Korean-Americans becoming more prominent in every facet of life from entertainment to politics.  Till the end of the year, we’ll showcase these Korean-Americans who really stood out in 2009 and  today we begin the countdown with Mr. Justin Chon at #10.

When we looked at our web analytics logs, Justin Chon was one of the most searched people on our website and the two interviews we conducted with him had some of the highest traffic this past year.   Justin Chon had a breakout year with a key role again in the wildly popular Twilight Saga film (New Moon), which may end up being the highest grossing film this year.  He also had big roles in the movie Crossing Over, and the indie film Turbo.  Justin’s one of the rising stars in Hollywood and that can definitely be attributed to his work ethic.  Did you know that his role “Eric Yorkie” in Twilight wasn’t written for an Asian guy?   He obviously impressed enough for the casting agents of Twilight to cast him in the role of Eric.  In the film Crossover, he acted along side legendary actors Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd.  Justin is as Californian as they come but he portrayed a Korean immigrant struggling to adopt to America in Crossover. We had the opportunity to talk to him over the course of the year and he is truly a nerd when it comes to acting and we know he has range. Though his father was an actor in South Korea and he has the acting genes, he knows how much more he has to work.  It was obvious to us how much he respects his craft and how hard he works at honing his skills.  He’s very appreciative of the Twilight fame but his ambition is to work harder and to challenge himself with bigger roles.  Justin had a great year in 2009 and we know you’ll see more of him in 2010 and beyond.

The movie “New Moon” is all the rage and all the young ladies are gaga over leading man Robert Pattinson. I wonder if the Korean ladies fancy Mr. Pattinson like all the ladies in the states? Maybe if he speaks Korean?! The South Korean interviewer does a pretty good job of getting the rest of the cast to speak some Korean words (towards the end of the video). On a side note, doesn’t Robert Pattinson look like a real vampire?

The stars were out for the New Moon premiere in Los Angeles this week.  Everyone from 50 Cent to Robert Pattinson were walking the red carpet for the big premiere.  Of course Justin Chon was there enjoying in the revelry as one of the cast members of New Moon.  Sounds like it was one heckuva party in LA!  Check out pictures of Justin walking the red carpet.

The Twilight Saga continues with its second installment, with NEW MOON opening this Friday.  So what does it feel like to be in one of the most popular movie franchises?   Justin Chon knows how it feels because he’s in the Twilight Saga and he’s enjoying life more than ever.  However, he’s ready for new challenges.   Justin Chon sat down with us for a quick chat to discuss the upcoming movie and what life  looks like after The Twilight experience.

How was the recent filming of the Twilight franchise?
Second (New Moon) was great!  I really liked the director.  He was a funny guy and it was a pleasure to work with him.   For New Moon, there was more time taken and there was more budget for it.   For the third one, the director was very meticulous and it was also fun to make.

How was  filming in Vancouver?
I love Vancouver!  I’d live up there if I could.   People are really nice and it has a different vibe.  It’s beautiful scenery but it gets a little cold.   It definitely has four seasons.

So what gets you excited about this next installment of Twilight?
Just being a part of it.  It’s wonderful and I’m honored that I’m a part of this trilogy.  I’m proud, no matter how big my part is; in any form.

You’ve had a lot of fun going to award shows and filming Twilight?   How has life been for you? How has it effected you?
It’s great.  I feel the same like I was on Nickelodeon.   You start to figure out that this movie is a giant.  People go crazy over this movie.  It’s not so much about me, but when I get together with the cast, you really see how big it is.

Do you look back and say, it’s been a lot of fun and appreciate how far you have come?  Or do you just keep busy and not think about it?
I’m a kid at school who tries to be funny.  I thought about it after the third movie.   I’m going into pilot season and I’ve been reflecting a lot this past year.  I’ve been very fortunate to just do this.   You don’t really look back to much but I got far a little fast.   If for the next year things slow down, it’s not going to bother me.   I’m really gearing up for this upcoming pilot season. Twilight is now behind me, and now I can focus on the artist I really want to be.  Not just be one character.

Is that why you did Turbo (independent film)?
That was fun.   It’s something like that I always love doing: independent films with student directors.   You’re trying to do it together, experiment, and fail.

How have you improved as an actor in the last two years?
I feel like playing one character for a long time makes you really good.  I like expanding my horizons and it’s always good to work on new things.  Just get in bed with it.  I just feel like I’ve done this Twilight thing and it’s been a great experience.   I’m really glad I’m back to the grind – it excites me.  I’m really on fire and ready to go. Now it’s a good time and opportunity to push myself.

It seems like this fall season, there are more Korean and Korean-American actors working.   You have Ninja Assassin with a cast of Koreans and a handful of Korean-American actors in network TV shows like Ken Jeong in Community, John Cho in Flash Forward, and Tim Kang in the Mentalist.  Do you think Hollywood is embracing Asians more?
I do think Hollywood is embracing Asians more.  For example, the character I play in Twilight wasn’t meant for an Asian guy.  So I don’t think they wouldn’t hire an Asian unless there was something there.

What advice would you give other Asian-Americans trying to break into Hollywood?
Get the best acting training you can get.   If I got trained in New York or something, maybe I would have gotten more formal training.  I’ve got LA training which is a little bit of this and that.   It would’ve been nice to have some hardcore nine to five training for two to four years.

What are your ambitions now?
I used to confine myself and eliminate things and now I’ve kind of learned to go with the flow; not control my career.  It’s really not up to me.   What’s up to me is to train hard and become a better actor.

Thanks Justin!  Good luck with Twilight and we’ll see you soon.

New Moon opens up this Friday, November 20th.
In the second installment of Stephenie Meyers phenomenally successful TWILIGHT series, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as BELLA SWAN (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of—only to find herself in greater peril than ever before.

Following Bellas ill-fated 18th birthday party, EDWARD CULLEN (Robert Pattinson) and his family abandon the town of Forks, Washington, in an effort to protect her from the dangers inherent in their world. As the heartbroken Bella sleepwalks through her senior year of high school, numb and alone, she discovers Edwards image comes to her whenever she puts herself in jeopardy. Her desire to be with him at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks.

With the help of her childhood friend JACOB BLACK (Taylor Lautner), Bella refurbishes an old motorbike to carry her on her adventures. Bellas frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob, a member of the mysterious Quileute tribe, who has a supernatural secret of his own.

When a chance encounter brings Bella face to face with a former nemesis, only the intervention of a pack of supernaturally large wolves saves her from a grisly fate, and the encounter makes it frighteningly clear that Bella is still in grave danger. In a race against the clock, Bella learns the secret of the Quileutes and Edwards true motivation for leaving her. She also faces the prospect of a potentially deadly reunion with her beloved that is a far cry from the one shed hoped for. With more of the passion, action and suspense that made TWILIGHT a worldwide phenomenon, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON is a spellbinding follow-up to the box office hit.