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julian_jasmine
QUOTE(galfrmhell @ Jul 25 2006 4 17 PM) [snapback]2707908[/snapback]

oh my god he is such a hottie why didn't i notice him before...i came to know him jus few day ago he is damn gorgeous...wow n does anyone know if he has gf??? sorry i might sound out of date cause i jus came to know him...


Hi galfrmhell! nope he doesnt have a girlfriend right now...you can check the site jjjustine's organized to check on his pictures, videos and articles. thumbsup.gif

QUOTE(jjjustine @ Jul 25 2006 4 18 PM) [snapback]2707913[/snapback]

You're welcome.

Haha, don't worry! People actually don't mind if you take their things somewhere else, as long as you credit them and they can't get mad at you. Heh heh.

Omg! I don't think I'll ever get an account there...they'll never take out that option of having to use a paid e-mail account...it sucks! I so want to go there! I know it's so updated and alive. *GUHHH*

Wow, that much pages on just LDW?

Any videos or new pictures?

galfrmhell, welcome! No, he has no girlfriend. Heh heh.


yes! 473 pages as of now....indeed! they have so many stories, infos, pictures and videos to share....i tried browsing for more pictures....will upload it soon...
JUSTINE }

QUOTE
yes! 473 pages as of now....indeed! they have so many stories, infos, pictures and videos to share....i tried browsing for more pictures....will upload it soon...

Wow, that is so muchhhh! I wish it was like this in here, but alas -- they're all at the Soompi forums. Goodness. AAIIIEEE! I really want to be a part of the place so much! Thanks for uploading them!

And galfrmhell, my fansite for LDW is LDWFAN.

I'm not doing much right now, just refreshing this page every minute and watching DSBK music videos. God, they're so hooottt!
ashburyfaith
QUOTE(jjjustine @ Jul 25 2006 4 06 PM) [snapback]2707889[/snapback]

My oh my, ashburyfaith. Try playing it in Real Player. Just right-click on the video and choose Open... and select Real Player from the list.

I hope it plays this time!



Finally! I can watch the videos already. clapping.gif
I converted them into DivX Mpeg4 Avi format.

Thanks for the help jjjustine. I really appreciate it. hug.gif
julian_jasmine
btw, how do i upload the pix here without going to photobucket?
JUSTINE }
You're very welcome, ashburyfaith. Hope you enjoyed the videos! XD

julian_jasmine, you can go to ImageShack.us to upload pictures. I always use it.
JUSTINE }

Ommmgg! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I haven't seen these before and they haven't been posted in here anyways.

YAYYY! More pictures to upload at my fansite.

*hugs*
julian_jasmine
*sigh* i just realized that i have spent most of my time surfing about wookie than actually doing my work! hahaha... dance.gif

its 5pm, soon to log off! clapping.gif
kristinne
im a new fan of LDW because ive been addicted to Hyun Bin but I find him really cute and nice. I really love his bashfulness. Pls can anyone send the youtube video of him singing in sendspace because whenever I open youtube i dont hear any sound pls.pls I would be grateful to anyone who can do this. I really want to hear him sing.. thanks!!muwahugsy!!!
JUSTINE }

kuchai, welcome! Glad you enjoyed them.

julian_jasmine, you're off to the house now? Are you done at work? Aww, does that mean that you won't be replying here once you get home? Heh heh.

kristinne, I wish I can get the video of him singing, but then I really don't know how to download off from it. I can, but whenever I try to watch it on my computer -- it doesn't want to play. SORRY! I hope it'll work at YouTube sooner or later. Maybe try checking your speakers or your volume in your computer.
julian_jasmine
hi kuchai!!!! dance.gif

jjjustine: probably will still stay here till 6pm...need to do something in our database...just remember after surfing at the soompi forum..hehe...silly me!


frozenXxX
Any news about LDW? where is he now? what he is doing? i really miss him sad-smiley-065.gif
julian_jasmine
QUOTE(frozenXxX @ Jul 25 2006 5 12 PM) [snapback]2708082[/snapback]

Any news about LDW? where is he now? what he is doing? i really miss him sad-smiley-065.gif


most probably he is in korea now... weeping.gif
JUSTINE }

Ai, julian_jasmine -- you might just be staying there longer and forget about the database sa work mo. Haha. I understand. I tend to go astray.

frozenXxX, no news yet. *sigh*
frozenXxX
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m282/ju...e/victoria4.png
He look more handsome & cool in this pic infatuated.gif infatuated.gif
Even though its not clear biggrin.gif
julian_jasmine
hayyy...getting myself busy here because someone got angry at me when i went to edsa shang yesterday without asking permission!

i was with my best friend trying our luck to see wookie...but unfortunately we didnt see him because we need to go back to work...
frozenXxX
17 User(s) are reading this topic (7 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
10 Members: frozenXxX, julian_jasmine, jjjustine, aster, anette2117, kristinne, ninsy, silly girl, pinsero, ashburyfaith

Hi to all of you biggrin.gif
can someone teach me how to used youtube and sendspace? so i can also post or have a video of LDW if ever he will goin to come bck here in phil this coming august?? plss teach me:D ty in advance biggrin.gif
silly girl
was it in his itinerary to go to mall of asia? gosh!!! wish i was there also! i really wanted to see him in casual wear.. sigh....
JUSTINE }

frozenXxX, he does, right? HAHA! GOODNESS! I LOVE HIM! So flawless -- such beauty. I'm serious. ANG WAFU!!! Even when he's far away or when the picture's not clear -- he's still gorgeous.

He looks so good in every angle too!

YouTube...not sure. Just make an account there and that's it; try to play around with it. I have a YouTube account, but I'm using it just for other purposes and not for uploading my own videos. For SendSpace, just know where exactly your video is at so it can be uploaded. It's quite easy. And hi to everyone at the thread right now!

julian_jasmine, really? Heh heh. Aww, I would've done the same too -- without asking permission. It was fun trying to find him though, right? I wish I was there!

kristinne, here! I finally found a way...haha. You can download it @ http://www.sendspace.com/file/a2jxxw. Make sure to download the FLV Player @ http://www.martijndevisser.com/blog/articl...-player-updated, you would need it to view the video. Download both the blue links (installer and source files). If you need more help, please ask me. Enjoy!

And anyone can download it too! Make sure to credit me for the video. Download the video and then the FLV Player -- you need it to actually watch the video; just follow the instructions I gave to kristinne.
frozenXxX
have to go now sad-smiley-065.gif thank you for all the info julian_jasmine & jjjustine!!! hope youll get some latest news of my LDW ko infatuated.gif infatuated.gif
JUSTINE }

I'll be coming here every once in awhile.

I'm off to watch My Name Is Kim Sam Soon.

Heh.

BYE! Until then!
JUSTINE }

Omggg. Thanks for those pictures! SO HOOOTT! OMMGG! HIS BODY! HIS LIPS! HIS FLAWLESS FACE! He's perfect everywhere!

*dies*
julian_jasmine
QUOTE(silly girl @ Jul 25 2006 5 50 PM) [snapback]2708204[/snapback]


o my gosh!!! he is so cuteeeee in all the pictures! thank u for uploading it!!! infatuated.gif

finally! i have finished updating our database! sheeshh..its 6pm! shocked.gif

need to go home now! bye everyone! see yah tomorrow! thumbsup.gif
frozenXxX
QUOTE(silly girl @ Jul 25 2006 10 50 AM) [snapback]2708204[/snapback]

omg im bck. hehehe.. infatuated.gif infatuated.gif infatuated.gif im speechless for this time.. idunno what will i say.. all i can say is Wapo tlaga az in super.. infatuated.gif
elalina08
QUOTE(jae_chun @ Jul 25 2006 2 27 PM) [snapback]2707604[/snapback]

hi im new here> Thanks for posting all the pics and vids of dong wook! and for sharing your encouters! he's really hot! i saw him during the meet and greet last friday (july21).. and was able to stand beside him and have pics taken with him! All i was able to say to him was (kamsamida)..omg!! he's really adorable, cute, sweet, kind.. everything!! he's shy though after seeing so many people waiting and screaming his name.. he's probably really overwhelmed with the reception he received. Im happy that he's visit was successful! Successful enough for him to return and visit us again! wow! Hope abs will bring him back.. sarangheyo oppa! bashya!



hi jae_chun, how did you get to themeet and greet? I envy those who knew about it. How I wish I was part of that special event. please tell me. thanks a lot. kindly post pix also so we can view it.
julian_jasmine
hi everyone! sheeshh! seems it will not stop raining outside!
avid_fan
I did not see any video coverage of Wookie's departure. Was there any? If none, how come? Maybe they would not want his fans to see him leave and sob...huhuhu....
JUSTINE }

I guess they really didn't want the fans to know when his departure was. I mean, who knew when the exact time of his flight was? I don't know anyone who actually knows. It sucks how we don't have any pictures or videos of his departure.

*sigh*
saleha
QUOTE(jjjustine @ Jul 25 2006 5 29 PM) [snapback]2708139[/snapback]

frozenXxX, he does, right? HAHA! GOODNESS! I LOVE HIM! So flawless -- such beauty. I'm serious. ANG WAFU!!! Even when he's far away or when the picture's not clear -- he's still gorgeous.

He looks so good in every angle too!

YouTube...not sure. Just make an account there and that's it; try to play around with it. I have a YouTube account, but I'm using it just for other purposes and not for uploading my own videos. For SendSpace, just know where exactly your video is at so it can be uploaded. It's quite easy. And hi to everyone at the thread right now!

julian_jasmine, really? Heh heh. Aww, I would've done the same too -- without asking permission. It was fun trying to find him though, right? I wish I was there!

kristinne, here! I finally found a way...haha. You can download it @ http://www.sendspace.com/file/a2jxxw. Make sure to download the FLV Player @ http://www.martijndevisser.com/blog/articl...-player-updated, you would need it to view the video. Download both the blue links (installer and source files). If you need more help, please ask me. Enjoy!

And anyone can download it too! Make sure to credit me for the video. Download the video and then the FLV Player -- you need it to actually watch the video; just follow the instructions I gave to kristinne.



minna.....
just additional info.....
well after you download from youtube...you watch it thru flv player right... but there are some prob that i faced like i can't maximize the scren of that player....
so....
another solution isjust download CINEMAFORGE software on the net and by using this software you can encode the video that been downloaded from youtube into any doc type that you like e.g avi,mpeg,rm,wmv....

hope you can try... yeah.gif yeah.gif yeah.gif yeah.gif
Asian Louis Lane
Does anyone have the script of the Presscon in the Philippines at ABS-CBN? I really want to know the whole conversation or the questions and answers that took place that time. Can anybody post it here or anywhere? Can anybody post the video of the entire meet and greet and presscon without cuts?

Does anyone have any idea what projects he will be doing with Star Cinema of ABS-CBN?

Wish he and Lee Da Hae would be offered a print ad project to be featured on huge billboards here in the Philippines.

Thanks.

avid_fan
QUOTE(Asian Louis Lane @ Jul 25 2006 11 26 PM) [snapback]2709086[/snapback]

Does anyone have the script of the Presscon in the Philippines at ABS-CBN? I really want to know the whole conversation or the questions and answers that took place that time. Can anybody post it here or anywhere? Can anybody post the video of the entire meet and greet and presscon without cuts?

Does anyone have any idea what projects he will be doing with Star Cinema of ABS-CBN?

Wish he and Lee Da Hae would be offered a print ad project to be featured on huge billboards here in the Philippines.

Thanks.



Here are video clips on the presscon from YouTube, though not complete and not that very clear.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=prYNUj6VRvs&...e%20Dong%20Wook
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Sw9ZfVFYNkw&...e%20Dong%20Wook


MY GIRL commercial video clip on LDW earlier tonight. It shows a huge crowd when he went to the Mall of Asia last Sunday.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/w7cya6
Asian Louis Lane
KOREAN IDOL WOWS LOCAL FANS

Moviegoer
by Nestor Cuartero
Entertainment Section
Tempo News In a Flash

ARMED WITH ONLY two speaking lines in Filipino, which he claimed he rehearsed for days back home, Korean pop star Lee Dong-Wook charmed Manilans when he breezed in late last week for a two-day promo tour.

Wook, who's better known locally as Julian, based on the character he plays in the teledrama, "My Girl", won the hearts of fans when he greeted them with "Mabuhay!" and "Salamat Po" during a media conference Friday at ABS-CBN. The conference was reduced to a Fans' Day as groups of Julian admirers flocked to the venue of the afternoon affair from nowhere.

The 24-year old Korean actor was visibly surprised at how local fans welcomed him, giggles, cheers,a nd all. Leng Raymundo, head of ABS-CBN's acquisitions department, said Julian was cheered everywhere he went the moment he landed at the NAIA.

"I think he was overwhelmed by the audience reaction," Raymundo, who bought "My Girl" among other Korean novelas for the network, said.

Fans were impressed by Julian's fair skin, good looks, slim figure, and a generally pleasant disposition. he was also quite tall, looming above an armada of an entourage that included his handlers, agents, and attendants.

Julian's in town to help promote his first movie, Arang, a suspense-thriller. He plays a detective investigating a mysterious crime, with top Korean actress Song Yoon Ah as his leading lady.

Arang's Asian tour is limited to only a few pre-selected countries. The Philippines, according to the Korean production team DRM Entertainment, was an instant pick based on the number of Filipino fans who crowded Julian's international web forums and fan mail.

Lee Dong Wook had earlier acted in the Koreanovelas, "Hanoi Bride" and "Loving You."


Asian Louis Lane
QUOTE(avid_fan @ Jul 26 2006 12 05 AM) [snapback]2709200[/snapback]

Here are video clips on the presscon from YouTube, though not complete and not that very clear.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=prYNUj6VRvs&...e%20Dong%20Wook
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Sw9ZfVFYNkw&...e%20Dong%20Wook
MY GIRL commercial video clip on LDW earlier tonight. It shows a huge crowd when he went to the Mall of Asia last Sunday.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/w7cya6


Thanks, avid-fan. He really went to Mall of Asia, huh. I hope he did not get caught up in traffic going there, whew! But sorry I couldn't download sendspace.com bec. I don't have real player although I have the latest windows media player but still it wouldn't download. How come?

I actually really want a script of that Presscon and Meet and Greet, so atleast we could just be able to read the questions and answers rather than listening to what they are saying bec. we could hardly hear and understand the translation.
Yvonne_88
QUOTE(jjjustine @ Jul 25 2006 9 57 AM) [snapback]2706671[/snapback]

We're glad to have helped, Yvonne_88! We know a lot of people are busy with RL (real life), so we try to post as much news as we can while everyone's offline. And that is why I made LDWFAN, so all Wookie fans can just go there without having to go through all the posts in this LDW thread.

I can't believe he's left! I heard that his flight was at 11PM. I hope he really comes back on August with Lee Jun Ki and with Lee Da Hae! What a dream come true!

You can get some icons at http://community.livejournal.com/froucon/11552.html, but they're not all LDW or Gong Chan icons. They're also of My Girl. It's hard to find them. I make my own, so whatever icon you see me using -- I make them myself. Happy finding!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPECIAL FAN APPEARANCE
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3919/p7210707tagoo8.th.jpg http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2564/p7210735taghk4.th.jpg http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7081/p7...31tagsf7.th.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3522/p7...32tagwh2.th.jpg
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4145/p7...29tagfy0.th.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4038/p7...25taghy6.th.jpg http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/6610/p7210728tagmf5.th.jpg
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1213/p7...33tagth8.th.jpg
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2825/p7210734tagcl1.th.jpg

PHILIPPINE STAR ARTICLE "CRAZY OVER 'JULIAN'" CUT-OUT [07.23.2006]
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/5921/ph...32006pg0.th.jpg

Credit zaizaiaddict @ Tsinoy forum

jjjustine, thanks for the avatar link and ^those pics infatuated.gif


Oh gotta watch that ldw-singing-creep video link! infatuated.gif Next time he visits the country again, he should do a concert this time. biggrin.gif It doesn't matter if all the songs he'd sing are Korean songs! We'd all be singing, lip-synching, dancing and clapping. clapping.gif
GongChan
Hello guys...

Im kinda new here, ive been reading this forum fer lDW for quite some time now, and finally i got a chance to reply too...

Im Jen from the Philippines, and I also love lee dong wook sshi!
I hope i am welcome here..

Im glad i can exchange my feelings with fellow pinoy fans here...
thanks for all the videos and pics, i sure love it...

Btw, does he work out? I cant seem to find shirtless pics of him..
i would sure like to see his hunkness...

I hope you guys come up with another petition to bring LDW and LDh as well here in the Phils...
Man he's so hot!!!

I hope someone could teach me some korean...
Thats all fer now.. Bbasya! blush.gif

Btw, what does a NG stand for? thanks

*sigh*
I cant get him out of my head...
I cried last saturday when my mom didnt allow me to come with her to Manila to watch Wowowee and LDW... *sobs*
I actually thought of suiciding so I wont feel so helpless and in despair..
He seemed so near to me, yet so far...
Guys, I really envy the people who got to see him personally...

I hope the NG's also have subtitles as well...
I cant seem to understand 'em..
Although I also laugh when they do silly things...
I wish Lee Dong Wook sshi marries a filipina..

uhm, how do u pronounce lee dong wook>?
i think i heard LDH pronounce it as li-dong-wuk-sshi..

Thanks!

Oh, one more thing..
I think we filipinas love him so much is because he doesnt seem to be korean at all!
If i didnt know him as lee dong wook,
I can just stare at him and i would readily think hes a FIlipino-Chinese Hunk!
The way he smiles... *omg* pierces my heart! ouch!
I promise if he ever comes back, ill do everything to see him in the flesh!
even If i use up all my savings! I swear!

I dont sound obsessed, do I?
lol..
*sigh*
julian_jasmine
hi gongchan! i am feeling the same too when wookie left...i had the chance to see him because i was in edsa shangrila last monday wishing i could see him eat breakfast but i had to leave at 9am to go back to the office. 3-4 hours later he already checked out the hotel and the so patient fans left behind were able to see him in flesh! geesshh!!!! though i wanted to take a cab and go there, i know i will not be able to see him anymore...

I was really frustrated because I know that there's a possibility of him not going back here in the phils. I really wanted to see him....i just really pray that he will come back with LDH and i really promised myself that i will take all the chances to see him...no matter what.

i am also thinking of going to hk if ever he will visit there....*sigh*

lets go together if in case wookie comes back! hehe...
EvaxTvxQ
why is every guys is growing their hair long?!?
i like Lee Dong Wook's hair in "My Girl"
he should've kept it..T___T
but i love love love hiim..xD
pinktiger
QUOTE(silly girl @ Jul 25 2006 5 50 PM) [snapback]2708204[/snapback]


are these your real pictures?? i notice in the last one it was edited and the person beside LDW is a guy... unsure.gif
julian_jasmine
hi everyone! im not sure if the following pics have already been posted.

pix courtesy of someone from ABS-CBN

as posted by flirtee at soompi

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m282/ju...ne/oppa2cw9.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m282/ju...ne/oppa1lx4.jpg
spyang
whoaaa~~.. just watched that clip of him singing.. didn't really quite hear him. but well enough to know that he swore. hahha. anyways. what is "creep"? haha. and hey. he knows english..?? he's actually good at singing ey? haha. when he sung in "my girl".. he wasn't good. hahaa. it was funny..
julian_jasmine
yes the video "CREEP" geesshhh he is so good and has the TALENT!

hope he could sing that too when he comes back here in the phils. *sigh*

from chelsea

"here is the link of the CD we made for Wookie, given with the gifts we prepared.
if there are problems, lemme know as this is my first time to upload a video in the said site.. enjoy!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZw8ojCTpKs
silly girl
hi pinktiger! yes, those are my real pics.
i've edited the last one because i don't want to see him w/ one of the bodyguards of abs.
d b i told u guys that i gave my cam to LDW's driver to take shots at the meet& greet w/ the fans.. because i'm not sure if i'll be able to get in(surprisingly i did).. then while waiting i saw the guard holding a cam (though i'm not sure if it was mine because there's a lot us who has the same cam as mine.. & manong driver was not around.. i heard that he ran an errand).. that guard approach his other companion & told to look at the pic w/ julian beside him.. he even told that they look the same! geezzz! kainis ha!!!

nweiz, after the M&G i got my cam & scan the pics that manong driver took. i got surprised to see that guard beside wookie! he used my cam w/o any hesitation! even if he didn't know as to whom that cam belong.. he shouldn't use it w/o permission. good thing it was wookie who's w/ him.. if that happens to be anyone i'll delete that pic!

hayyy.. sana pla i'd ask if that was my cam or not.. i'v got a hunch kc that it was mine..

nweiz, il upload that pic and share it with u after.

julian_jasmine
ei frozenXxX! the abs-cbn forum is up again. clapping.gif
frozenXxX
QUOTE(julian_jasmine @ Jul 26 2006 4 39 AM) [snapback]2711620[/snapback]

ei frozenXxX! the abs-cbn forum is up again. clapping.gif

thank you. yey.. dance.gif
JUSTINE }

Goodness! I missed a lot while I was gone for some time! AIIEE!

SO CUTE! Guh, I love himmmm! I miss him so much. I am going to dieee! I keep staring at a few pictures -- the close-up ones by silly girl -- ang wafu talaga! Thank you!

Thank you everyone for the new videos and pictures. I'll try to add those at my fansite as soon as I can. I'm quite busy at the moment, so until then...thanks!

*runs off*
julian_jasmine
ei i want to share with u the articles wrote by alfie lorenzo but its in filipino....
not sure though if some of u have read it....

just posted it in abs-cbn forum

but u can also check this site..

part 1
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/july2406/main.htm

part 2

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/july2506/showbiz_al.htm

part 3[b]
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/july2606/main.htm

n_thumbdown.gif
pinktiger
QUOTE(julian_jasmine @ Jul 26 2006 11 58 AM) [snapback]2711698[/snapback]

ei i want to share with u an article wrote by alfie lorenzo but its in filipino....
not sure though if some of u have read it....

just posted it in abs-cbn forum

but u can also check this site..

part 1
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/july2406/main.htm

part 2

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/july2506/showbiz_al.htm

part 3
http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/july2606/main.htm

n_thumbdown.gif


thanks for the article...

go alfie loool.gif i cant help myself laughing after reading the article, and i think he has a point here... though he gave his side that he's not into LDW, but taking a picture w/ a korean actor is not bad at all, for their popularity is also based on audience support, right?? blush.gif


BTW, thanks again silly_girl, though it would be better if YOU are the one beside LDW in the last pic, noh?? yeah.gif
gerilyn
good he choose a good song to sing on that video... i'm singing too, it's one of my fave song... CREEP, for crazy people, crazy on Wookie, ha ha ha... thanks for the info... next i will really take time to go wherever he is here in manila. i was sick the time he's here, so i just wanna thank you all for all sharing your moments with LDW. just frustrating he really smoke's, he and hyunbin are the latest to go smoking. thanks for the updates...
julian_jasmine
another article from philstar

POPARAZZI By Nathalie M. Tomada
The Freeman 07/24/2006

I caught Julian swinging by "Wowowee" last Saturday. Julian, in case you don't know him, is Lee Dong Wook's screen name as lead male actor in "My Girl," ABS-CBN's hit comedy series imported from South Korea.

"Wowowee" host Willie Revillame was messing up his English-intentional or otherwise-but I didn't care, I was keeping a close eye to the gestures, reactions and words of this Korean actor as translated by his interpreter. Screaming erupted from all corners in the studio when Julian revealed with a laugh that he is unattached.

I'd be a hypocrite not to admit that I'm guilty of wrapping up late night get-togethers just to watch this actor's dubbed series on weekdays. From the start, I find the story funny, there's a lot of physical comedy involved, the romance is not forced, and a good-looking lead star helps stave off the stress after, ahem, a hard day of work. Well, hello HALLYU! You could say I now join the rising statistics of Filipinos caught up in this South Korean pop culture invasion dubbed Hallyu.

Julian didn't have the grand welcome that met F4 when they came here, but nevertheless, he seemed genuinely surprised to find himself so popular in the country. Even artistas dig this model turned actor. TV cameras captured Mariel Rodriguez, Janelle Jamer, Angelu De Leon, Gladys Reyes, et at taking full advantage of their easy access to the stage, giving the actor a peck on the cheek, before he was whisked off backstage.

A dancer also gyrated in front of him before slipping a garland onto his neck, but he had the grace to cover an embarrassed smile. Perhaps there are no shamelessly suggestive dancers on noontime television in Korea?

I'm not privy to ABS-CBN's reasons for flying in the actor. Though as far as I know there has been an online petition, clamoring for ABS-CBN to bring its two main stars (the other one is Lee Dae-Hae) to the country.

"My Girl" is just one of the Koreanovelas airing on Philippine television, from daytime to primetime. Being held hostage by Koreanovelas is a phenomenon wildly spreading around the globe, according to broadcast journalist Jessica Soho. I teasingly pointed out to her that her interviews with several Korean drama stars seemed to indicate that she is a fan of Korean dramas. She stops short of calling herself a fan, but admits the dramas have certainly piqued her interest. She revealed that there were difficulties in securing interviews such as the language barrier and the whole strict protocol that went along with it. Among the interviews she did, what went well the most was with Jang Geum (portrayed by Lee Young Ae) of the top-rated historical drama "Jewel in the Palace." "She was nice, very pretty and could understand English a bit so the conversation was less strained," said Soho. (When Lee Dong Gun of "Lovers in Paris" and "Sweet 18" visited the country, the media and even network bosses were reportedly kept at bay. I was told that Korean actors hardly comply with picture-taking with fans; their agents fear that photos might be posted over the Internet complete with claims of being their girlfriend/boyfriend, spurring unwarranted scandals. I thought, in my starstruck moments, I've also had myself pictured snuggling to some of the country's onscreen heartthrobs in sojourns to Cebu...so what does that make me?

Despite this seemingly inaccessibility, distance in geography and gap in culture, Korean dramas have broken through these barriers and reached out to us in more ways than one. Yes! magazine columnist Pete Lacaba in an email interview explained: "I haven't really seen a Korean telenovela in full, but I saw a couple of movies, one of them being 'Sassy Girl,' and found them fairly enjoyable and slickly made. I think Filipino viewers can relate to them because there are obvious similarities in the situations that our Asian countries find ourselves in. Also, the dubbing of these movies in Tagalog helps to draw in the mass audience."

Korean dramas also deal with themes that resonate with Filipino sentiments-from filial piety, family ties to love. But I noticed that they are less convoluted in terms of casting and tamer in substance compared to Filipino counterparts, now increasing in Western influence. For example, we see young stars kissing all the time in Pinoy soaps and movies. In Korean dramas, kissing scenes are rare, and if they do come at all, they happen mostly by accident. Even westerners are drawn to Korean dramas, already bored stiff with their soaps' very liberal use of sex.

In "Jewel In The Palace," which tells the story of a strong-willed woman who rose from the ranks in a very patriarchal society, romance was just an add-on, illustrated by a couple of tight embraces. But how come they're able to translate that "kilig" factor? They maximize subtlety-you'll notice a lot of unspoken words and play of facial expressions, as opposed to Pinoy characters, who even as they gasp for their final breath have the energy to make their last words sound like a litany.

The very first Koreanovela I watched nearly from start to finish was "Stairway to Heaven." My mother, who hardly watches television, calls this tragic love story metaphysical in a way, like many other Korean melodramas. Heaven is heavily suggested as well as afterlife. South Korea is not a predominantly Christian nation, and yet their dramas unabashedly touch on spirituality, with churches and even convents as backdrop of many a scene.

Today, Koreanovelas are beginning to influence Pinoy soaps beginning with the episode limit. Warlito Caturay, Jr., an English teacher at Silliman University who has an impressive original DVD collection of Korean series, cites that aside from the "less screaming," their fast-paced storyline is another major attraction. It is reported that no matter how popular the dramas would become, they never extend the running time or try to pull an ending by way of text votes.

Some bits from the usual plots have found their way to Pinoy dramas as well: blind love, literally speaking (Stairway to Heaven, Sad Love Song=Sa Piling Mo), marriage by arrangement (Sweet 18, Full House=I Love NY), among others. So far, the only formulaic element our soaps are not buying is tragedy at the end. Nobody in the world's 17th happiest nation wants his main actor/actress to die.

And there's the overseas filming location. With the influx of Korean tourists plus the high possibility of the series being marketed in other countries, even the Department of Tourism worked on having Cebu figure in an upcoming drama in the tradition of "Memories in Bali" or "Lovers in Paris," wherein part of the location was shot overseas. Cebu won over Palawan, Subic and Manila, among other choices in the Philippines. In a press conference then with the stars and production staff, one of the stars, the leading man in QTV's "Irene," said that he is no stranger to Cebu because he plays golf here and loves the beaches.

In the home front, "I love NY" boasts of an out-of-the-country location, though we really don't have to do it all the time what with so many quixotic destinations within our 7,107 islands lacking in exposure. (Unlike in Koreanovelas, wherein Jeju Island as a set location is overused.)

There's no telling how long Koreanovelas are here to stay. Is this just a passing flirtation like the Thalia rage way back? Of course, I'm glad that our TV networks have innovated and are giving prime attention to local productions. In other Asian nations like Vietnam and Taiwan, the governments are threatening to ban Koreanovelas, alarmed by their sheer dominance of the local TV landscape. But there's a thing or two to learn from Koreanovelas; the production values suggest that they always have foreign audiences in mind when making the series. That's one way of going world-class.

ei sorry for that very long article...
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