Korean Actors Cope With Real-Life Mental Health Issues And Still Deliver A Great Performance

Lately, a few k-dramas have focused on male leads with mental health issues. Schizophrenia was the condition affecting Jo in Sung's character in "It's Okay, That's Love." Dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder, affected Ji Sung's character in "Kill Me, Heal Me." k-drama actors have to deal with real-life mental health issues. And they manage to deliver a great performance despite these issues. Former MBLAQ member Lee Joon, who currently stars in "Heard It Through The Grapevine," suffers from insomnia, caused by stress and bipolar disorder. The actor and singer admitted that he sometimes sleeps only 40 minutes in a 24-hour period. When criticized for falling asleep during a program and not being admitted to Seoul University because he could not study, he told the Korean media outlet Newsen about the disorder. "I had no time to rest during that period. I knew that I had to study, but I couldn't.

I have severe bipolar disorder and people only saw what was broadcast on TV. They don't see the effort behind the screen, such as late night rehearsals. No matter how hard I tried, my body just couldn't keep up with me." Yet he continues to work hard to reach his acting goals. Park Hae Jin and Lee Byung Hun have both struggled with depression. In the case of Park Hae Jin, the news that he struggled with depression hurt his career. Park was treated for anxiety and depression, which wound up exempting him from his two-year mandatory military duty. This led to some netizens accusing him of draft dodging. According to Korean military law, any man who has been treated for six months or hospitalized for more than a month at the psychiatry department of a hospital may be excused from serving. Park was cleared and although this temporarily hurt his career, it has recovered. When Lee Byung Hun appeared on a 2013 episode of "Healing Camp" he said that he suffered from depression and panic attacks after his father died and left him in debt. "At the time, my drama "Beautiful Days" was really popular, and I was able to pay off the debt, I was supposed to be happy, but right then, I fell into depression," he said. "I felt like I was trapped in a small room. It was really difficult to even open my eyes.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I wondered why I woke up. The happiest time was when I was asleep. I later found out it was depression." Although the depression has lifted, he says he still occasionally suffers from panic attacks when he is in crowded places with unfamiliar people. Cha Tae Hyun, who will soon appear in "Producers," also admitted to suffering from panic attacks. "I began to suffer from the disorder when a top actor was cast for a role in a rival TV drama after the show I appeared in continued to do poorly in ratings," said Cha. The attacks can be severe. Cha once fainted during a flight and another time had to call an ambulance only a half hour before a concert. Given the problems these actors cope with, it's even more impressive that they manage to deliver a top-notch performance. - Asian Daily

Yoon Hyun Min And Jun So Min Are A Couple

Actors Yoon Hyun Min, and Jun So Min seem to be dating. And the actor, who currently appears in "Falling For Innocence" and the actress, who recently completed "The Maids" don't seem too concerned who knows about it. No one seems to have noticed that the actors were a couple until they recently attended a VIP event together and were seen by entertainment reporters at the after party. A report in the Korean media outlet Daily Sports said that the couple met a year ago and they began dating at the beginning of 2015. The couple met through Jung Kyung Ho, the actor who Yoon Hyun Min co-starred with in "Cruel City" and who now plays his romantic rival in "Falling For Innocence." Jung Kyung Ho co-starred with Jun So Min in the weekend drama "Endless Love" and introduced them. He thought they might like each other. Yoon was not hiding his relationship from the public but he apparently neglected to update his agency Entertainment IAM on dating details.

When asked if the actors were a couple, the actor's agency had nothing definitive to say. "They are close," an Entertainment IAM representative told Daily Sports. "But we are not sure if they are actually dating or not." Her agency, Secret Entertainment acknowledged that the actors were friends but refused to comment further. "We know that she's meeting up with Jung Kyung Ho and a few of his friends," said the Secret Entertainment representative. "That's how she met Yoon Hyun Min and got close to him. We can't control private matters like whom she is seeing. Jun So Min, 29, appeared in the dramas 'Queen Insoo" and "Princess Aurora," and recently appeared in the drama "Maids," starring Jung Yu Mi. Her role in "Maids" was that of a kitchen maid who had an affair with her shiftless young master.

 Before Yoon Hyun Min took the role in "Falling For Innocence," the 29-year-old actor played Kim Seul Gi's clueless best friend in the comedy "Discovery of Love." He has not always been an actor. Yoon Hyun Min was a baseball player for the Hanwha Eagles and Doosan Bears before quitting sports in 2007. Jun So Min has almost completed her contract with Secret Entertainment and the report in Daily Sports suggested that she may sign with Yoon Hyun Min's agency. -Asian Daily

Choi Woo Sik Talks About Love And 'Fool's Love'

Choi Woo Sik recently wrapped up his role in "Fool's Love, a drama in which he was loved by two people, the lawyer by Im Seulong and the professional swimmer played by played Uee. Even though they used the device of mistaken identify, the drama dealt with some controversial issues, including homosexuality, in a more open way than k-dramas usually do. Im Seulong's character thought he loved Choi Woo Sik's character Ho Gu but he was basing his feelings on a kiss he once exchanged with Ho Gu's twin sister, played by Lee Soo Kyung.

He thought that she was her twin brother and this led to confusion about his sexual preference. While that mistaken notion was played for laughs it lasted long enough for him to experience the fact that you cannot help who you love. Or the truth that some people are penalized for feelings they cannot help. In a recent interview with Korean media outlet Star News, Choi Woo Sik spoke about working with his co-star Im Seulong and how much he enjoyed shooting their close and personal scenes. In one of his favorite scenes, Im Seulong pushed him up against the wall to confront him about his feelings. " It was fun," said Choi Woo Sik. "He's taller than me and it felt weird having his breath so close to my face. There were so many NG's and we laughed so much.

It was weird but I would do it again. One more time?" It's not the first time that a role he played led viewers to question his real life preferences so he wanted to be clear on the subject. It happened before when he appeared in "Rooftop Prince" with Park Yoochun. "I was misunderstood a lot in 'Rooftop Prince' when I played the eunuch but I like women," he said. "It's not easy dealing with homosexuality in our country. It was only possible because it wasn't explicit. Please don't misunderstand." Choi Woo Sik appeared in "Fated To Love You" and "Pride and Prejudice" before taking the starring role in "Fool's Love." He is now up for a role in the action horror film "Busan Bound," a film in which a virus turns people into zombies. Gong Yoo is also considering a role in the film, playing a man who is trapped on a train when zombies strike. -Asian Daily

If You Don't Get That K-Drama Kiss Right, Try, Try Again

It's not an easy job being an actor but it does have its perks. For one thing, there are kiss scenes with attractive co-stars that have to be filmed, sometimes for hours. Recently filming Gu Hye Sun's kiss scene with Ahn Ja Hyun for "Blood" lasted three hours. Shown on April 7, it was the first kiss scene in the drama's 16 episodes so they had to get it right.Recently filming Gu Hye Sun's kiss scene with Ahn Ja Hyun for "Blood" lasted three hours. Shown on April 7, it was the first kiss scene in the drama's 16 episodes so they had to get it right. Ahn Jae Hyun's vampire doctor character had no experience dating let alone kissing humans. So he was expected to be inexperienced at kissing. The actors joked around about doing a good job then followed the director's careful guidance on making the kiss scene look convincing.

Three hours is a long time to kiss anyone so hopefully they felt comfortable while perfecting that kiss. It's not the only k-drama kiss that took so long to film. Kim Jae Joong and Go Sung Hee kissed for three hours to capture a few minutes of romance onscreen when they filmed "Spy." And they were outside on a chilly day filming in the snow. Kim Jae Joong also once said that kissing Wang Ji Hye in "Protect The Boss" required more than 50 takes. And it was not easy for Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye in "The Heirs"' The couple's kiss scene on the roof of the drama's high school also took three hours to film. It wasn't just a kiss scene but it indicated an important turning point in their relationship. So, it needed to be perfect. And Lee Min Ho's real-life girlfriend also got some prolonged kissing experience on set.

When miss A's Suzy Bae filmed "Big" with Gong Yoo, he kept missing his lines and laughing right after kissing her. After 20 different takes, he joked that he was tired and wanted to "get it over with" fast. Looking perfect on screen does not mean the kiss scene did not take work. The perfect "snow kiss" scene between Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young passed by in a few heart-fluttering minutes but the "Healer" actors spent almost two hours filming the actual scene. The crew filmed it from various angles to make the most of the snowy day setting. On the other hand, sometimes actors are just too good at kissing for their own good. When Son Ye Jin filmed a kissing scene with her drama husband Ha Suk Jin for a scene in "Shark," it only required one take. The chemistry between the actors was so impressive that the director approved it on the first try. Both Son Ye Jin and Ha Suk Jin laughed and said they were disappointed.

Lee Min Jung And Lee Byung Hun Name Their Little Boy

Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung had their first child, a son, on March 31. On April 8 they shared the name they have chosen for their little boy. "Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung have decided on Lee Joon Hoo as their son's name," said a representative of Lee Min Jung's agency MS Team." The baby has not yet been added to the family register. "As they had just chosen the name, they've not yet arranged matters with the family registry," said the MS team representative. "They'll probably list him soon." According to her agency, Lee Min Jung is still recuperating from the birth and has not yet returned to her marital home. "Lee Min Jung is receiving post-natal care at the hospital and is focusing on her health. Lee Byung Hun is with her and the baby.

We don't know when they will return home. Since it has not been that long since childbirth, it seems she will stay at the post-natal care hospital for a while." Lee Byung Hun's agency BH Entertainment spoke with the producers at the TV program Section TV, saying that the actor is staying close to his family and focusing on their well-being during these important first weeks of his son's life. Lee Byung Hun returned from the U.S. for the birth of his son. He is expected to return to Los Angeles soon to work on the Hollywood film, "Beyond Deceit," which co-stars Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino and Dan Stevens. The film is about a young lawyer who becomes involved in a murder case. It is the actor's latest role in a Hollywood film and follows his appearances in the blockbusters "Terminator: Genysis," which will be released in July, "Red 2" and G.I. Joe Reconciliation."

Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung, who have been called Korea's Power Couple, married at a star-studded ceremony in 2013. The actor spent a few months in the U.S. during 2014 fulfilling various work obligations and participating in discussions with Hollywood producers. Lee Min Jung joined him for some of that time and had her baby shower in Los Angeles, but she always planned to return to Korea for the birth. Lee Min Jung's last drama appearance was playing the leading female role in the comedy "Cunning Single Lady." She has not said whether she plans to return to acting or if she does, when. -Asian Daily

Lee Min Ho Turns Up The Heat For Guess Spring/Summer 2015

Lee Min Ho is the center of attention in behind-the-scenes footage for 2015 Spring/Summer Guess Korea. The video focuses on the Hallyu star, as he models in a variety of poses. He brings his masculine spirit to the denim shoot and demonstrates his star power. The video incorporates attractive closeups of the attention-grabbing denim styles including stonewash and patterned textiles. He tries on an array of casual looks throughout the ad, showing off his versatility and sly charm.

He reflects a heightened sense of maturity in scenes where he is wearing a leather jacket. As he segues from one look to another, it is easy to see why he has ecrued so many endorsement opportunities. His recognizable face is the highlight of the photo shoot and a great part of his appeal. The actor recently shared a photo on his social media, where he was able to stroll through the streets of Paris, unimpeded by fans. He undoubtedly craves privacy but his gigantic fanbase contribute to his success with modeling opportunities. The 27-year-old star has successfully racked up numerous endorsements including his recent appearances for Samsonite.

 He is currently in London shooting for the travel accessory company, who released a photo of the actor with their latest purse, for White Day. His versatility, which is reflected during his endorsement shoots, has led to his popularity. While his most popular roles have been high-school heirs, he continues to embrace more mature characters. During a recent interview with The Fact, the actor revealed the criteria he uses when selecting new roles. In the interview, he stated,"I base my choice solely on whether it suits my age and if I can do it well." Lee Min Ho is currently taking a break from Korean drama to shoot endorsements and promote his film, "Gangnam 1970." -Asian Daily

Moon Geun Young And Park Seo Joon Opt Out Of 'Chaebol's Daughter' While Park Hyung Sik Signs On

Moon Geun Young and Park Seo Joon have both declined roles in the upcoming drama "Chaebol's Daughter." But Park Hyung Sik's agency Star Empire Entertainment has announced that he will play a chaebol in the drama. On April 9, Moon Geun Young's agency Namoo Actors, said she decided to turn down the role but gave no specific reason. Park Seo Joon's agency, Key East Entertainment, said that while he was very interested in the drama role, the schedule filming conflicted with the actor's upcoming film commitments.

Park was interested in the role because he previously worked with the writer and director of "Chaebol's Daughter" when he appeared in the critically-acclaimed divorce drama "One Warm Word." Moon Geun Young was up for the role of Jang Yoon Na, a young woman who wants to disguise the fact that she comes from a wealthy family. Although her parents are rich and powerful, she works a part-time job in a food market. She pretends not to be rich because she wants to meet someone who will love her for herself and not her money. She meets the manager of the shopping mall and a poor man who works there. But whom will Jang Yoon Na ultimately fall for? Park Seo Joon was offered the male lead in "Chaebol's Daughter" but whether he was offered the role of the drama's rich guy or the poor supermarket worker is not known. Park Hyung Sik is now set to play the mall manager from a family that is as wealthy as Jang Yoon Na's.

 His character is used to getting what he wants and also used to being viewed positively for his wealth. Along comes Jang Yoon Na who is not impressed by his money. So, he is impressed with her lack of interest in his fortune. While it might be wrong to fall for someone based on the amount in their bank account, the drama also asks if it's fair to judge them poorly for having a positive bank balance. Park Hyung Sik, a member of the band ZE:A, has added a few credits to his acting resume in the last few years. He played the young Lee Jin Wook in "Nine: Nine Time Travels." He played Jo Myung Soo in the hit drama "The Heirs" and Cha Dal Bong in "What's With This Family." "Chaebol's Daughter" is expected to air in June following "Heard It Through The Grapevine."
-Asian Daily

‘Blood’ Made Some Progress But Still Came In Last With Ratings

According to the ratings report from Nielsen Korea, the KBS2 supernatural medical drama “Blood” experienced a 0.6% increase in ratings for the episode which aired on Tuesday, April 7. "Blood" came in at 5.0%. However, this slight increase in viewership was not enough to deliver “Blood” from its third place spot against primetime juggernauts “Shine or Go Crazy” and “Heard It Through the Grapevine.” Ahn Jae Hyun and Gu Hye Sun have demonstrated their continued commitment to “Blood,” which may have yielded higher ratings for the drama.

The uptick in viewers for “Blood” was likely attributed to the bonding which occurred between the series key characters Park Ji Sang (Ahn Jae Hyun) and Yoo Ri Ta (Gu Hye Sun) during episode 15, which aired on April 6. Ji Sang and Ri Ta shared a sweet embrace, as Ji Sang channeled the conflicted vampire persona of Edward Cullen while waxing poetic about his lack of humanity and his desire to experience true love. Fans were rewarded with a sentimental and sweet kiss between the protagonists during April 7 episode, contrary to the push and pull dynamic of the series. Ahn Jae Hyun and Gu Hye Sun have demonstrated their continued commitment to “Blood,” which may have yielded higher ratings for the drama.

Beyond the romantic subplot, the medical horror of “Blood” continues to escalate, as the dynamic quartet of ethical physicians face the harsh reality that Ward 21 has been partially infected by the vampire virus. While “Blood” continues to be a hit with viewers outside of Korea, the MBC period drama “Shine or Go Crazy” led Nielsen Korea viewership ratings with 13%. Jang Hyuk's "Shine or Go Crazy" concluded on a positive note, after leading the recent ratings war during its 24 episode run. The series will be followed by the period drama "Hwajung," which stars Cha Seung Won, Kim Jae Won, and 5urprise's Seo Kang Joon. The KBS melodramatic chaebol parody “Heard It Through The Grapevine” placed second 11% of viewership, according to Nielsen Korea.

The Girl Who Sees Smells Increased In Ratings But 'Unkind Women' Continues To Reign

According to the report from Nielsen Korea, “The Girl Who Sees Smells” (Sensory Couple) experienced a 0.9% increase from its previous ratings. The program recorded 7.0% in viewership, an increase from 5.4% of viewers, who tuned in for the first episodes.
 “The Girl Who Sees Smells” closed the gap between its viewers and the MBC anti-bullying drama“Angry Mom.” “Angry Mom” recorded 7.4% in viewership.

 However, neither drama could compete with the juggernaut of “Unkind Women.” “Unkind Women” continued to draw in more viewers, with 13.6% in ratings. There is an interesting contrast between the three dramas. “Unkind Women” focuses on three generations of strong women, who have each worked relentlessly to achieve certain goals. Female viewers of the show, regardless of nationality, can relate to the struggles faced by the characters. Jung Ma Ri (Lee Ha Na) is representative of young women who have yet to achieve their dreams and those who continue to seek out meaningful romantic relationships. She serves as a stark contrast to her mother, Kim Hyun Sook (Chae Shi Ra), whose limited education and career goals are off-set by her daughter's accomplishments.

While realism dominates “Unkind Women,” the plots of “Angry Mom” and “The Girl Who Sees Smells” rely on suspension of disbelief. “Angry Mom” is innovative but it is difficult to believe that Jo Gang Ja (Kim Hee Seon) is able to maintain her charade as a high school student. “The Girl Who Sees Smells” also benefits from its unique script and the star power of Shin Se Kyung and JYJ's Yoochun. The drama has already demonstrated widespread popularity in China, with more than 50 million viewers tuning in to watch the show on Weibo. -Asian Daily

Dara Is Starring In Another Web Drama

On April 9, a report in X Sports News announced the casting of 2NE1's Dara (Sandara Park) in an ucoming web series. She will follow the success of her recent web drama “Dr. Ian” with a starring role in “We Broke Up.” Based on a Naver webtoon, “We Broke Up” focuses on a college couple who halted their relationship but are reunited through extenuating circumstances. She will portray Noh Woo Ri, a driven young woman who is focused on her future employment.

 Dara will be joined by Kang Seung Yoon of the popular group, WINNER. He will portray Ji Won Young, an aspiring musician who leads an indie rock band. He sustains his artistic lifestyle through working at a convenience store. Kang Seung Yoon previously demonstrated his potential as an in the MBC series “High Kick 3: Revenge of the Short Legged.” The “High Kick” series is known to propel young actors into stardom and the 2012 run of the sitcom bolstered the acting careers of Lee Jong Suk, Krystal and The Heirs' star Kim Ji Won. The production will also incorporate models who are signed to YG Entertainment's YG K Plus.

 “We Broke Up” will serve as a transitional point into acting for the models. Kang Seung Hyun will portray a record label mogul while Jang Ki Yong will appear in the role of Seo Hyun Woo. Web dramas have become increasingly popular and have served as a catalyst for introducing pop idols who are transitioning into acting. Web dramas including the JYP production “Dream Knight” have demonstrated the potential for showcasing K-pop stars through the medium. “We Broke Up” will be directed by Kim Yong Wan whose previous projects included the web series, “Love Cell.”
- Asian Daily

Kim Soo Hyun Gets 'Real' Role

It has been more than a year since Kim Soo Hyun's last drama ended. "You Who Came From the Stars" was so popular that the actor spent the rest of the year raking in about 35 product-endorsement deals, visiting with fans and participating in international events. The human-alien romance earned ratings of 24.02 percent and had two billion hits on the Chinese streaming site iQiyi. Now the 27-year-old actor is back with both a drama and a new film role. Kim Soo Hyun will play a variety show producer in the drama "Producer," starring Gong Hyo Jin, Cha Tae Hyun and IU.
 That drama is set to air in May. But his agency KeyEast Entertainment recently revealed that he has also committed to appearing in a film titled "Real."

Except for a cameo appearance in "Miss Granny," it will be the actor's first film role since he played a spy disguised as the village idiot in "Secretly Greatly." "Secretly, Greatly," which also starred Lee Hyun Woo and Park Ki Woong, broke several box office records when it was released in 2013. The film had the highest single opening day for a domestic film and the biggest opening weekend. Kim Soo Hyun has proven his worth as a box office draw. Kim's new film, "Real," is an action thriller. He will play the role of Jang Tae Young, a messenger. Jang Tae Young is not the kind of messenger who just delivers packages. Working for gangster types, Kim Tae Young mostly delivers bad news and threats. You might say that he takes care of annoying problems for his bosses.

 And he's good at it. He's a hard worker who wants to advance himself in the criminal world. It's hard to imagine Kim Soo Hyun playing a dark and violent character. So far the actor has played an alien in "You Who Came From The Stars," a king in "The Moon Embracing The Sun" and a country boy who wants to make it big in "Dream High." In "The Thieves" he played a thief, but thievery is the closest he has come to playing a criminal. Lee Jung Sub, who wrote the screenplays for the films "The Perfect Couple" and "Lost In Love," is the producer for "Real." The film is expected to begin shooting in October and be released in 2016. -Asian Daily