Hey guys thought i'd add to your forum. Met Lee Byung-heon last night at a club in Brisbane...didn't really knew the extent of his popularity and charm until i saw him in person. My girlfriend and I agreed to meet up with him and his crew they were quiet nice and friendly. He's actually the same in real life as he is in movies but overall he left a sour taste in my mouth...sorry to disappoint ppl's!

click for larger view
credits to:mydaily

i watched him in those 2 series', too ! but i prefer all in. must be because
his leading lady is SHK. but the scenes in las vegas were great !
he is a very intense actor.

yeh i guess....he has worked with 2 beautiful actresses hhaa lucky him...but i guess the las vegas surroundings did make all in quite interesting..yeh i like both!

like him best in beautiful life... and wonder when will there be another drama of him again...

he has been putting effort in movies rather than drama, guess all his fans have been wanting him to take drama role.. i'm also waiting to watch him in drama..

haha i like dramas more cos its longer so i get to see him for much longer haha..i wonder what hes gonna be in next?

He is very popular but not very good looking to me. I wish he would get together with SHG again.

He has this look where it's like...he's cool, not friendly..but you can tell he's nice in real life....his breakup with Song Hye Gyo truly affected her....I wonder if he felt just as disappointed...

I bet he did...I mean, they wanted to get married and all that..it should have affected him just as deeply

09.30.05
Lee Byung-heon debuts as jewelry designer in Japan



At a press conference held in Tokyo on Sept. 29, hallyu star Lee Byung-heon announced his plans to debut as a jewelry designer for the Japanese jewelry brand ¡°Samantha Tiara.¡±

The Japanese sports daily Sports Nippon reported on Sept. 30 that Lee--the first male promotion model/designer of the brand--will design necklaces for both men and women featuring a cross and his lucky number ¡°7.¡±

At the press conference, Lee said it was not easy to create products that can appeal to many customers.

"Lee¡¯s products designed for women will be released on the market on Oct. 3, while the release date and price of the male products are yet to be announced. The price of a female necklace packaged with a card bearing a message from Lee and his photo is 100,000 yen (about one million won). All buyers will be invited to a Christmas event that will be organized by the brand in December and will feature the actor," wrote Sports Nippon.



kbs.co.kr

wow still so popular..having sponsorship from another place...i'm impressed...can't believe he was a french lit major

10.05.05
Lee Byung-hun to set up fan club in Japan



Actor Lee Byung-hun, nicknamed ¡°Byonsama¡± in Japan, will soon launch a fan club in that country in a joint effort with Hakuhodo DY, a subsidiary of the influential Japanese advertisement agency, Hakuhodo. The firm has agreed to provide active support to set up a fan club for Lee, who is often described as ¡°a hallyu blue chip.¡±

The club, entitled ¡°Lee Byung Hun Japan Official,¡± will be unveiled in November. Hakuhodo DY, which highly regards the actor¡¯s popularity in Japan, will take charge of the club¡¯s founding and overall management by capitalizing on its extensive marketing knowledge.

Although the operation of Lee¡¯s unofficial fan Web site has been suspended ahead of the club¡¯s launch, the number of its visitors has exceeded 10 million recently, attesting to the actor¡¯s skyrocketing popularity in Japan.

Meanwhile, Hakuhodo DY has staged various pre-launch marketing events recently, such as posting advertisement banners on Tokyo¡¯s downtown buses and running ads in the press in a bid to publicize the creation of Lee¡¯s official fan club. ¡±

kbs.co.kr

10.10.05
Lee Byung-heon to meet Tsumabuki Satoshi



Actors Lee Byung-heon, 35, and Tsumabuki Satoshi, 24, both regarded to be among the most handsome actors in their home countries, will meet at the Pusan International Film Festival, reported the festival's organizers. The two will hold an "open talk" at the Paradise Hotel on Oct. 8 at noon.
Satoshi has a large fan base in Korea. His popularity rose because of his passionate acting in the TV dramas "Lunch no Joou" and "Josee, The Tiger And The Fish," which aired in Korea.

Lee and Satoshi were invited to the festival for their respective movies "A Bittersweet Life" (directed by Kim Ji-un) and "Haru no Yuki" (directed by Yukisada Isao). The festival's organizers have prepared an open-talk event featuring the two actors, who enjoy enormous popularity in their home countries.

Meanwhile, other events to be held during the festival include an outdoor event at the PIFF Square in Sampo-dong that will feature the directors and cast of invited films, including "Three Times" (starring Chang Chen), "Hold Up Down" (starring Go Morita and Yoshihiko Inohara), "The Myth" (starring Jackie Chan and Kim Hee-sun, and directed by Stanley Tong), "Love Is A Crazy Thing" (starring Chun Mi-sun and Jang Hyun-sung, and directed by Oh Suk-kun), "The Shoe Fairy" (starring Vivian Hsu and Duncan Lai, and directed by Lee Yun-chan), "Duelist" (starring Kang Dong-won and directed by Lee Myung-se), and "Everlasting Regrets" (starring Sammi Cheng, and directed by Stanley Kwan), among others.

A hand-printing event that will be held at the same venue will feature the handprints of the late director Lee Man-hee, Japanese director Seijun Suzuki, and French director Claude Lelouch.

Credit:enlgish.kbs.co.kr

Korean Waves Stars Shine More Brightly in Japan
October 11, 2005

What do Bae Yong-joon, Ryu Si-won, Lee Byung-hun, Song Seung-heon and Park Yong-ha have in common? They are more popular in Japan than on their home turf in Korea. The box office record of Bae’s latest movie “April Snow” clearly shows the difference. In Japan, the movie drew 1 million viewers within 12 days, breaking the island country’s record for the fastest Korean film to reach that number, and is tipped to become the first Korean movie to lure more than 2 million. In Korea, by contrast, it was something of a flop, with only 806,700 people watching it in the three weeks between its release and Sept. 28.

For a long time, Caucasian or Hispanic models and actors sated the thirst for the exotic in Japan. Now, it seems, Korean actors are doing the job. A Japanese columnist says Bae’s Western facial features, dazzling smile and soft voice and Choi Ji-woo’s fair skin and height make them seem as alien as if they are from Mars -- and that is what makes them attractive.
Korean viewers are a little more demanding of their own stars, looking for acting skill as well as a pretty face. A producer of TV soap operas with MBC said a handsome ham will be castigated for not being able to act in Korea, but in Japan, the dubbing process will supplement his shortcomings.

Middle-aged women are the main consumers of the Korean Wave in Japan, and they find the boy-meets-girl stories they enjoyed when they were young in the 1970s in “Winter Sonata,” the soap featuring Bae that started it all. Kim Young-deok, a researcher with the Korean Broadcasting Institute, says it is hard for Japanese women to find the kind of romantic male lead Bae represents among Japanese actors. Also, Korean soaps emphasize fantasy and wish-fulfillment, which are more appealing to the demographic than the grittier Japanese-made soaps.

Bae’s costars -- and their costars in turn -- have benefited from the man’s popularity. Both Park Yong-ha and Choi Ji-woo were part of the cast of “Winter Sonata,” and the popularity of Lee Byung-hun in Japan started to soar after he starred in “Everybody Has Secrets” with Choi. Bae’s films and TV dramas thus serve as a veritable gateway to Japanese fame. Chae Ji-young from the Korea Culture and Tourism Policy Institute says as some Hollywood stars found a niche in Asia that extended their career span, Korean actors are finding a niche in Japan.

Source: english.chosun.com @ http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0510110003.html

BH - Japanese Magazine
« on: Oct 12th, 2005, 2:38pm »
credit pics to Jolee - lbh.sg


great ...



oh my ... dont stare at me like that ...



its really hooootttt ...



whew!!! ... cold water please ...



source: lbh.sg

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

A BITTERSWEET LIFE INVITED TO HIFF
« Reply #2 on: Oct 12th, 2005, 2:11pm »

Credit to Jolee


Lucy .. thanks for the update ..

Short English translation of the Chinese info ..

Lee Byung Hun will visit Hawaii from 20 October 2005 for the 25th Hawaii International Film Festival. His movie "A Bittersweet Life" is included as "Nominated Feature" ...

Film reviews mention that "Bittersweet Life" showcases Lee Byung Hun's cool acting and director Kim Ji Woon's cinematography [..hope I got these descriptions correctly].

Lee Byung Hun will accept foreign media interviews when he is in Hawaii.

HIFF which will be held from 20 - 30 October 2005, had in previous years featured Korean films, amongst them "Joint Security Area" [another Lee Byung Hun movie] and "Killer's Memories" [sorry .. don't know the actual name of this movie .. just a direct translation .. ].

remembering beautiful days ...


Beautiful Days - Behind the Scenes

During the filming of "Beautiful Days", there was once when Lee Byung-hun was smoking when he was taking a break. The cameraman playfully focused the camera on him, when he realised it, he laughed widely and commented: "Why do I always look so handsome ?" Because of his role as Min-chul, it is rare to witness his laughter, if one looks carefully, you will notice he bears a resemblance to American kid actor MacCaulay Culkin, it is no wonder his friends endeared him with that nickname.

In a scene when Lee Jung-hyun's character, Kim Sae-na was performing at an outdoor event, the crowd that had gathered there was actually Lee Jung-hyun's fans. News was spread prior to the filming and attracted a large crowd, the director even went on stage to instruct the crowd how to sway to the beat during Lee's performance.

As filming for "Beautiful Days" was still underway when the show was telecast, the success of the show attracted large groups of fans to the the outdoor filming grounds. Whenever there were scenes of Lee Byung-hun or Ryu Si-won, the crowd would scream loudly despite the constant reminders to remain silent.

Remember the scene when San-jae and Yeon-soo were at the amusement park, the moment when San-jae flipped open her cellular for her number, the phone number was flashed over the television screen. Fans immediately took down the number assuming it was really Choi Ji-woo's phone number and kept calling day and night. In actual fact, the phone belongs to a crew member. Once, when filming was in progress, the phone rang again; Ryu-Si Won snatched the phone and sang the drama's theme song to the caller.

SBS went to the Seoul Lotte World for an outdoor filming for the amusement park scene where San-jae and Yeon-soo were enjoying themselves on the rides. In actual fact, Choi Ji-woo was scared to tears and could not stop crying. Ryu Si-won had to hold her hand and console her like she was a child.



Lee Byung-hun talks about Beautiful Days

"For the past four months, I've been depending on vitamin pills to sustain my energy while working on "Beautiful Days", it is an arduous project, I felt like I was making 12 movies at the same time."

At the press conference for "Beautiful Days", Lee Byung-hun (31) expressed the tremendous pressure he felt while making the drama : at the completion of the last scene, the entire cast weeped tears of relief that the 24-parter drama has completed successfully, as for Lee, he just wished for a good sleep.

The arduous filming process had taken a toll on Lee's health which resulted in his admission to the emergency unit. And his only concern was that he " does not want his fans to worry over his health".

During the first three months of telecast, "Beautiful Days" rated a high of 25% and according to AC Neilsen, it further rose to a 30.9% ratings on the last episode.

However, Lee Byung-hun attributed the success to the entire cast, especially his co-star, Choi Ji-woo. He confessed that he once assumed " that she is an artiste who only has beauty but after working with her, I realised that she is very hardworking and eager to learn her trade well. She is also remarkably energetic that I pale in comparison to her. I was really taken aback when she revealed that her secret is eating 'wild goats' and she has to cheek to laugh about it and told me that 'drinking sake could mask the smell.'"

With reference to the kissing scene he shared with Choi Ji-woo, he said : "I didn't want to act for the sake of acting, even if it's false I want it to look real. As such I had to pour my entire feelings into it to project the right effect to the audience, anyway, Choi Ji-woo has no complains." (At this, the media roared with laughter)

At the end of the conference, Lee Byung-hun remarked, " How I wish to get married soon, I've even lost count of how many years I've been without a girlfriend, maybe I should start visiting the match-making agency! I'm getting old, I really should be getting married.


Charming Lee Byung-hun

"I once told the scriptwriter to refrain from scripting my character to perfection. A drama centered around a love affair is so run-of-the-mill and the dramatic scenes merely helps to garner high ratings. The ultimate reason for a viewer to follow the show to the end is the perfect leads."

Although it has an ordinary storyline, "Beautiful Days" has became an obsession for many female viewers. The arranged love triangle among the characters played by Lee Byung-hun, Choi Ji-woo and Ryu Si-won reflects the popularity of each of the cast. Lee Byung-hun's portrayal of the handsome and suave Lee Min-chul who has his heart set on Choi Ji-woo's character has won him the hearts of many female fans.

The role of Lee Min-chul was originally meant for another actor but after a meeting by the SBS management team, it was unanimously agreed that the role be given to Lee Byung hun. As such, the scriptwriter had to modify the role several times to better suit Lee Byung-hun. This was also the reason for emphasising the importance of Lee's role in the love triangle with Choi Ji-woo and Ryu Si-won.

"My role encases a great amount of charisma, it extends even to the decisive style that is clearly visible even in the speech, as such, I faced great pressure initially. I told the scriptwriter not to create a character that embodies only the good qualities. I'm glad that even Min-chul's speech and gestures differs as the story progresses. Such changes reflects the gentleness in him that has arised because of his attitude towards love."

The acceptance of Lee Min-chul by many female viewers could be due to the absence of such men in reality. Such attention was extended to his tinted hair and fringe, his impeccable dress style of black suits, red and blue-shaded ties and his white dress-shirts. All these further enhances the character.

With the success of "Beautiful Days", Lee Byung-hun naturally became the most interviewed artiste. However, wanting to retain the air of mystery as an artiste, he was only willing to answer questions pertaining to his career. As he has been slated to attend a film awards event this fall, we wonder about the air of mystery that we will sense through the camera lens.



Lee Byung-hun's realistic acting

Lee Byung-hun's role as Lee Min-chul in SBS "Beautiful Days" has sparked a string of interesting comments. His suave image coupled with his remarkable emotional portrayals have tingled the souls of most viewers.

His kissing scene with Choi Ji-woo and the crying scene after he learnt of his father's crime are two of the classic scenes that have warranted such views of his powerful acting.

Lee is probably the only actor who is able to deliver such a tremendous grief with his crying and projects the character's pain to the viewers and leave a lasting memory.

His skilled acting and screen chemistry with Choi Ji-woo have led fans wishing that they are a real couple in reality. Such is the impact of his realistic performance.

His screen kiss with leading actress Choi Ji-woo is being compared to that of Hollywood's standard. Most kissing scenes are being shot with a clever play of the camera but Lee and Choi had delivered the classic scene to perfection with some real smooches.



Choi Ji-woo's screen kisses

Choi Ji-woo, who was in Taiwan for a publicity trip for her drama "Beautiful Days", revealed that she had shared various kissing scenes with Korea's leading men : Ahn Jae-wook, Jang Dong-gun, Ryu Si-won, Lee Byung-hun, Kim Seung-woo and Song Seung-hun. Apart from the the memorable passionate kiss shared with Lee Byung-hun, she has yet to experience one that was sweet and gentle. "Especially Jang-Dong-gun, he is too handsome that he makes an unsuitable life partner."

Choi Ji-woo is a forthright person and extremely loyal to relationships. She had directly told Ryu Si-won, "The person I admire most is Lee Byung-hun, I had learnt much from him from the kissing scene we shared in "Beautiful Days". To that, Ryu Si-won shook his head and gave a sigh, not forgetting to mumble his frustrations at Lee Byung-hun - jokingly.

When she first started her career, due to the intimate scenes shared with her leading co-stars, Choi Ji-woo was repeatedly faced with verbal attacks from fans of Jang Dong-gun, Ahn Jae-wook etc. "I was really depressed then but as I garnered my own fans, they started to fend off such remarks on my behalf."

Choi Ji-woo is also the reputed queen of tears. She recalled a filming scene in the snow when she had cried continuously for six hours. "I do have an abundance of tears", she said.


source: beautiful days.tripod


<span class='edit'>This post has been edited by cho_chang: Today, 12:36 AM</span>

BH latest mag ~ INTERVIEW 11月号
« on: Oct 19th, 2005, 8:19pm »

On sale at kinokuniya Takashimaya next friday (28-10)after 6.00pm





Book Guide

* COVER STORY－ 「イ・ビョンホン」

* All about LEE BYUNG HUN *

1. ツマブキ サトシとのオープン トーク

2. 「イ・ビョンホン」 に関する26種真実

3. 周辺人たちがコメン トした「イ・ビョン ホン」

source:
Thanks to kc0602~ rakuten .jp

I read somewhere that his current love interest is Choi Ji Woo but I do not know if it is true or not. I will always love him to be with SHG again but CJW is also beautiful so it might not be so bad if she is with him. He should be happily in love again since he is not so young anymore and should start thinking of settling down.

I really wish he could be with SHG again since I adore them after watching ALL IN but that will never happen.

Lee Byeong-heon made the contract with Hollywood's biggest agency (2005/11/13)


It was confirmed on Nov. 11 that Actor Lee Byeong-Heon concluded the exclusive contract with the US biggest agency, Creative Artists Agency : CAA). The Client Information Dept. of CAA said on Nov 11 that Lee is a new client, who will be taken care of by Jenny Rollings.

The phone call with Jenny Rollings has not been conducted, therefore, it is not known yet what the contract contents are and what Lee is going to do with CAA in the future.

This is the first contract with the US agency as the Korean actor. The first Korean player who made a contract with Hollywood was Actress Kim Yoon-jin. She was contracted with William Morris Agency and is now appearing in "Lost."

Manager Rollings in charge Lee watched Lee's movie "A Bittersweet Life" in Cannes Film Festival in May, and she gave him a high praise "James Dean in Asia" who could make a success in Hollywood.

CAA is the biggest management agency in Hollywood in charge of top stars including Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Hugh Grant, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Nicole Kidman as well as Director Steven Spielberg and Jerry Bruckheimer.

The Source : Koreacontent News Team

Source : www.koreancontent.org.

Lee Byung-hun to Meet Hilton Sisters
December 7, 2005

Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun is set to appear alongside Nikki and Paris Hilton, heiresses to the Hilton fortune. Lee will appear as a special guest at a show called the Samantha Thavasa Celebrity Christmas Event, sponsored by the Japanese fashion brand, in the Yokohama Arena on Sunday, where he will be joined by the famous-for-being-famous sisters.

Lee and the Hilton sisters are under contract as designers-cum-promotion models for the brand.

The second part of the event features a performance by K-pop girl band Cheonsangjihee along with Japanese artists. Guests invited to what is billed as a “customer appreciation event” will be chosen by draw among buyers of a Samantha Thavasa necklace designed by Lee.

Source: englishnews@chosun.com @ http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0512070017.html

"Computer Game Modelled on Actor Lee Byeong-heon" Introduced in Tokyo
December 12, 2005

"Lost Planet," a computer game modelled on actor Lee Byeong-heon, who became the first South Korean actor to model for a world-renowned computer game company, has been introduced in Tokyo, Japan.

Microsoft hosted a presentation to introduce its latest computer game software at the "Xbox360 Lounge" in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan on Dec. 10. Although the presentation did not target the general public, about 300 of Lee's fans rushed to the event, attesting to his high popularity in Japan.

During the event, Lee looked delighted, commenting, "It is a global achievement for me to debut as a model for a Japanese computer game. I'm very pleased because I myself love to play online games." He also expressed satisfaction with the game itself, terming it "a game based on an excellent script, just like a movie."

With an imaginary ice world in the near future as the backdrop, "Lost Planet" features a battle between a young man (Lee) and aliens. It will first be released to market in the United States and Europe, and then in Japan in early 2007.

Source: KBS Global @ http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...2563_11858.html

i think lee byung hun is the MOST charismatic korean actor of all. i've only seen him in ALL IN but his acting in there blew me away. everything he did, it felt very real. he was definitely giving his all and that's what make him such an outstanding actor. i am left with a very very deep impression of his acting and felt like i really knew his character as a result.

i cannot wait to see more of his works as i think he's one of the real actors out there.

wishing you all the greatest success because you are the best and you are truly amazing!

yea i totally agree! he is not the conventional handsome kind but there is just something about him. has seen him in several shows and his acting really blew me away. im rewatching beautiful days now and it never fails to amaze me how good his acting is as well as how charismatic he looks. GREAT JOB!

Ooooh... yes! I love LBH too ever since I saw him in Beautiful Days
Just cant get him off my mind. Hope to see him more in Dramas.
Read somewhere that there is going to be an ALL IN 2.
Please... please let it be true... with LBH & SHK too.

i did read somewhere that there's going to be an ALL IN 2 too! i'm anxiously waiting to hear more of it. i would love lbh and shk to pair up again although they are no longer together. and yes, lbh is not the typical cute guy but he's definitely much better than those who are because he's magnificent and is so attractive! *hehehe*

i'll take him over any other k actors anyday...well, maybe wonbin too but yea. i haven't watch beautiful days yet but i'm going to make time for it.

click for larger view
credits to: photodaily

http://images.asianfanatics.net/gallery/di...php?pos=-144503
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KBS documentary to show glimpse of Lee Byeong-heon


Actor Lee Byeong-Heon, one of the top four Korean Wave stars, will invite viewers to catch a few more glimpses of his private life in the second episode of a photo documentary about Lee.

The first episode, entitled “Actor Lee Byeong-Heon,” aired Jan. 3. The second episode, titled “Human Being Lee Byeong-Heon,” will go on the air Jan. 10.

The production crew of the documentary says the second episode shows Lee as an ordinary person: simple, unpredictable and with a good sense of humor. The episode will feature interviews with the actor’s longtime friends, including actors Sin Eun-kyeong, Jeong Jae-yeong, Kim Hee-seon and Hwang Jeong-min and one of the producers, Lee Yu-jin.

Viewers will also have a chance to hear interesting stories from Lee’s life, such as how he once fell asleep on a sidewalk while drunk, and a story about his father, who inspired him to become an actor.

Source : english.kbs.co.kr...

I love LBH soooooooo MUCH!!
Beautiful days is my favourite drama of his and JSA is my fav film of his!!

I badly want to watch "Actor Lee Byeong-Heon” and “Human Being Lee Byeong-Heon" but where can I buy it or watch ot or d/l it!?!? I sooo want to watch it!! I'm mad over him...his literally like my GOD!!

But I'm confused?? I always thought it was Lee Byung Hun...but why so many other spelling for his name?!

LBH has this intense charisma that draws people. a lot of guys
also like him, not only girls, because he projects a very manly
facade. plus, his acting is very good. he gets inside the character
he is portraying. that's why he is a respected actor.

does anyone if he will have any new soaps or movies coming out soon? he looked great in beautiful days

click for larger view
credits to: mydaily + mtstarnews

Lee Byung Hun is definitely the MOST charming and charismatic actor I've ever seen! I love him the most in BEAUTIFUL DAYS. God, he's just so HOT! His acting is so convincing and real. He portrays a real great pain when his character is feeling that way. His expression, one of the best actor there is! I read somewhere that he's going back to the silver screen after successes from the big screen and star in a new drama, the actress is not yet confirmed. Although the chance is not big, I hope he'll be paired up again with Choi Ji Woo. They got the best screen chemistry. Is there really ALL IN 2??? I hope not! He's also hot there, but the series makes people too mad and impatient. Cause he's so ill-fated to be in troubles all the time and being seperated from SHK everytime just right after they unite again. It's too much. If there'll be ALL IN 2, then I hope the leading lady will be changed, although that wouldn't happen because they had happy ending. I hope there'll be BEAUTIFUL DAYS 2 though. I fell in love with him in ALL IN, even crazy about him in BD. The hair, the nose, lips and him in suits... He's also absolutely sexy in EVERYBODY HAS SECRETS! Also great because he paired up with CJW again.

What's his other latest news than these? Romance wise... Byung Hun oppa, saranghe!

credits to: mtstarnews
click the image for larger view

http://images.asianfanatics.net/gallery/di...php?pos=-158896
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GOSSIP CENTRAL
by Chichi A. Muniscion


French culture ambassador

LEE BYONG-HUN (Beautiful Days, All In, Joint Security Area) has been named honorary ambassador to promote French culture by the French embassy in Seoul.

"We had been looking for a top star who studied French language and literature to appoint him or her an honorary ambassador as part of our effort to celebrate the 120th anniversary of ties between Korea and France, and we chose Lee because he studied French language and literature at Hanyang University," the French embassy in Seoul said.

Lee will serve for a year.


Source: MANILA STANDARD TODAY
Life Weekend, B2
Saturday, Februar 25, 2006

Transcribed by: Da A of starkoreans

Lee Byung-hun Among Japan's All-Time Favorite Actors

April 7th, 2006

The Korean actor Lee Byung-hun has made it onto a list of the top 10 greatest movie actors in Japan, where he is affectionately known as Byonsama. Broadcaster NHK asked visitors to its homepage to name their favorite actors, films and directors. Lee was the sole Korean to make it on the list.

The poll surveyed 10,181 Netizens in four categories: actors, actresses, movies and directors. Lee was even more delighted to find that three of his movies made it into the top 10. "Bittersweet Life", "Joint Security Area" and "Bungee Jumping on Their Own." Lee joined such international stars as Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro as well as the late Steve McQueen and Leslie Cheung. The three all-time greatest movies were "Lawrence of Arabia", "Roman Holiday" and "Cinema Paradiso."

"Joint Security Area," which was released in Japan before the Korean Wave swept the country, drew massive popularity there and raked in 1 billion yen. "Bungee Jumping on Their Own" was also an audience favorite there. Lee will hold a fan meet-n-greet at the Tokyo Dome in May.

Source: Digital Chosunilbo @ http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0604070003.html

Actor Lee Byung-hun Ranked on "Favorite Actors" List in Japan

April 7th, 2006

Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun has been chosen by Japanese fans as one of the "Top 10 Favorite Actors."

NHK, Japan's state-run network, has conducted a poll on its Web site (http://www.nhk.or.jp/bscinema/), asking Web users "What are your favorite films, and who are your favorite actors, actresses, and directors?" In the actors category, Lee was chosen as one of the ten favorite actors of Japanese fans, and the only Korean actor chosen in the poll.

A total of 10,181 Web users gave their answers to several questions in the poll. In the actors category, Lee joins world-renowned top stars, such as Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp and Leslie Cheung.

In the films category, three Korean films are ranked on the top ten list. Coincidentally, Lee acted in all three of these movies: "Joint Security Area" (2000), "Bungee Jumping of Their Own" (2000), and "A Bittersweet Life" (2005). Other films in this category include "Cinema Paradiso" (1988), "Roman Holiday" (1953), and "Farewell My Concubine" (1993), and the Japanese film "Tough Being a Man" (1969).

"Joint Security Area" was released in Japan before the hallyu boom began sweeping the Japanese nation, earning about 1 billion yen (10 billion won) in box-office ticket sales. "Bungee Jumping of Their Own" has topped the consumer satisfaction rating charts in Japan. "A Bittersweet Life" was exported to Japan at a relatively high price of 3.2 million dollars (about 3.2 billion won).

In the directors category, two Korean directors joined the top ten list. Director Park Chan-wook of "Joint Security Area" and director Kim Ji-woon of "A Bittersweet Life" were chosen for this category alongside world-famous directors Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Chen Kaige, and Akira Kurosawa.

Unfortunately, no Korean actresses were chosen on the list of top ten actresses. This category includes Nicole Kidman, Audrey Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, and Maggie Cheung.

Lee launched his Japanese fan club last year. He will hold a large-scale fan meeting at the Tokyo Dome, the symbolic dream stage in Japan, next month.

Source: KBS Global @ http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...0643_11858.html

when's LBH going to act in dramas again =*( I miss seeing him in shows...

42nd Daeksang Arts Awards
credits to: mydaily

Oh my Byung-Hun so popular in Japan...so proud of him!! Well done!!

Yes, I really miss him too!! i personally prefer dramas/series to films, I hope his next job is a series so I can get to see him more!!

Fans Crowd Tokyo Dome to Meet Korean Idol

May 4, 2006

The streets of downtown Tokyo were all but empty on Thursday, the start of Japan’s longest holidays nicknamed “golden week.” But the Tokyo Dome, the home stadium of baseball team Yomiuri Giants, was crowded with women from all over the island country to see Korean actor Lee Byung-hun. To everyone’s surprise, some 42,000 tickets for the event were sold out.

A housewife who had come from Osaka with her friend had to wait for an hour in glaring sunlight, not to get into the dome itself but into a souvenir shop to buy Lee merchandise. But she said it did not matter because she was able to see Lee in person, having fallen in love with the actor when she saw him in the soap “All-In.”

A “Korean All Star Summit” in Saitama in September drew some 27,000 fans to see four Korean top stars including Lee and Jang Dong-kun. The massive turnout prompted some sarcastic remarks from Japanese like, “Women must have lots of time to kill.” But that was as nothing compared to Thursday’s turnout.
Fans at the three-hour meeting welcomed Lee in a quiet and orderly manner. They just waved light batons while Lee, in a white suit, expressed his gratitude to his fans talking into a white microphone.

Choi Ji-woo, who appeared opposite Lee in the drama “Beautiful Days” that introduced him to Japanese audiences, and singer Ivy were guest stars at the event. Some 100 Japanese reporters covered the meeting. “Even Japanese stars have never held such a big event, not to mention at the Tokyo Dome,” one journalist said. A staffer from Hakuhodo, one of the co-hosts, said Japanese businesses remain interested in the Korean Wave.

Source: Digital Chosunilbo @ http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0605040018.html

Lee Byung-hun Most Popular Korean Star in Fan Meeting

May 4, 2006

Actor Lee Byung-hun proved himself to be the leading Korean star in Japan by attracting some 42,000 fans to his fan meeting on Wednesday.

The Japanese press all reported on the success of the fan meeting. They said that this was the first time that a fan meeting for a Korean star has ever drawn more than 40,000 fans. The biggest event so far had been the “Korean All Star Summit,” held in September last year, where some 27,000 Japanese fans came to see Korean stars such as Lee and Jang Dong-gun.

Sankei Sports said that the fan meeting was the biggest event for a Korean star that could be recorded as a new milestone in the Korean Wave in Japan, which started with the broadcasting of “Winter Sonata” two years ago.

Lee himself was so moved that he said he had never had a moment like that in his entire life and did not know what to say. His eyes were even wet with tears when the meeting was close to an end. “I wanted to stay calm, but something hot surged up within me,” he told a press conference after the meeting.

When asked if he has plans to appear in a Japanese movie or drama, Lee said with enthusiasm, “I am open to anything. I like challenges and adventures.” He also introduced the new movie he is shooting now, “Summer Story,” saying that it is a miserable love story resulting from ignorance and the oppressive mood of the times, with the 1960s to 1990s as the backdrop.

To the surprise of fans, the three-hour fan meeting had top actress Choi Ji-woo, who played opposite Lee in the hit drama “Beautiful Days,” as well as singers Shin Seung-hoon and Ivy, appear as guests.

Source: KBS Global @ http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...5027_11858.html

I wonder who is this gorgeous guy dating now? He still look sooo HOT in his med 30.

"A Summer Story" Starring Lee Byung-hun to Be Exported to Japan

May 23, 2006

A contract has been signed with SPO, a film distribution agency in Japan, regarding the export of the melodramatic film "A Summer Story" starring Lee Byung-hun and Soo Ae. The export contract worth $4 million (about 3.8 billion won) was concluded at the Film Market during the Cannes Film Festival.

According to the film production agency on May 23, "A Summer Story" has fetched a $4 million export price because hallyu star Lee is the lead, and because it is a conventional-style melodramatic film that can touch the heartstrings of Japanese fans.

Lee attracted 42,000 fans at his fan meeting held at the Tokyo Dome on May 3.

"A Summer Story" began filming on May 8 and has now finished shooting its fourth take. Investing $4 million in the unfinished film, SPO has also imported such Korean films as "Almost Love" (2006), "My Tutor Friend" (2003), "Fighter in The Wind" (2004), and "Public Enemy" (2002).

"A Summer Story" portrays a touching love story between a woman and a man who is looking for his first sweetheart. It will be released during the second half of this year.

The highest price of a film ever exported to Japan is $7 million for the film "April Snow" (2005) starring top hallyu star Bae Yong-joon.

Source: KBS Global @ http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...7991_11858.html

new photos
credits to: epg
click image for larger view

I can't wait for A SUMMER STORY!! I've seen a few pictures of it and its feels like film version SUMMER SCENT...I dunno what the story is like/about but the colours and beautiful scenery just remind me of Summer Scent (old series with Song Seung Hun).

Being a HUGE fan of LBH and Lee Young Ae...I really hope they will have a 3rd chance to work together as lovers cos in previous chances they player bro/sis and army officers...they looked so good together ate the Blue Dragon...I hope a director will notice and write a good script/film for them...oh I'm dreaming again!!

new photo
credits to: newsen
click image for larger view

i remember meeting him in 2000 since he was my best friend's cousin. he was visiting my friend's house because he was filming the drama "all in" in the u.s. i didn't know who he was at the time but i'm glad my mom convinced me to go over and see him. he signed a few pictures for me and my brother, along with signed pics of her sister (i think she was miss korea at the time?). my friend is over in korea right now studying abroad and got to celebrate his birthday with him!! pretty awesome

Lee Byung-heon Falls Victim to Malicious Rumors in Japan
July 18, 2006

Actor Lee Byung-heon has recently fallen victim to malicious rumors about Korean stars in Japan. The popular Japanese weekly for women Josei Seven wrote on June 21 that Lee was secretly dating a Japanese woman and traveling with her from Seoul to Taiwan.

In the article entitled “Another Summer Story,” named after the movie “Summer Story” which Lee is currently filming, the magazine wrote that the actor met his “girlfriend,” a 30-year-old former flight attendant, months ago at a party in Tokyo and that the woman was slender and had long hair. The magazine added that since meeting her, Lee has refused to have blind dates with other women.

In response, Lee’s agency, Fantom Entertainment, dismissed the article on July 18 as completely groundless and vowed legal action against the magazine.

The agency added that the article’s description of Lee’s dating was “astounding” and that it would have ignored it altogether had it not been for numerous inquires from Japan asking if the rumor was true.

The agency’s CEO, Song Wan-mo, said that the Japanese media have been publishing many malicious articles about South Korean stars recently, and that he will not condone the incident involving Lee in order to send a strong warning message to Japanese journalists.

Regarding the negative attitude in Japan toward Korean celebrities recently, Song said Korean actors and singers need to take stern measures against "evil acts" in Japan and manage their reputation thoroughly to ensure sustained popularity in the neighboring country.



KBS Global

Lee Byung-heon’s Fans Hold Charity Bazaar for Flood Victims

August 2, 2006

The fan club of actor Lee Byung-heon has organized a charity event to raise funds for the victims of recent floods, following Lee’s donation of 100 million won on July 31 to help flood relief efforts.

Lee’s agency said the actor’s official fan club "Rebeurs" announced the charity bazaar on August 1 on their Web site.

Anyone can make donations to the event via a pop-up window on Lee’s official Web site (http://www.leebyunghun.com). The event will likely become a multinational charity drive as Rebeurs members include the actor’s fans in Korea, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan.

Organized as an auction of Lee’s memorabilia, the event will feature some 20 personal items donated by Lee, who praised the effort. One of the donations, a jacket in which the actor posed for the poster of the movie “The Harmonium In My Memory,” belonged to Lee’s late father. The actor willingly donated the jacket, one of his most treasured items, because he wanted to make meaningful donations for a good cause.

Other memorabilia that have been put up for auction include Lee’s sunglasses, a safari jacket, a dress shirt, a necktie, a trench coat and a business suit in which Lee appeared in TV dramas and movies.

The event will continue through August 6. The presented items will be sold to those who offer the highest price.

Source: KBS Global @ http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...8696_11858.html

Japanese Media to Cover Lee Byung-heon’s Film Shoot

August 25, 2006

Journalists from some 30 Japanese media outlets will cover the filming of actor Lee Byung-heon’s upcoming movie.

A person from the movie’s production company KM Culture said that some three dozen Japanese media outlets have already expressed their desire to cover the filming on August 28 in South Jeolla Province. Another official said the number of Japanese journalists will amount to 60-70, on par with the number of Korean journalists expected to visit the filming site that day.

The reason so many Japanese media outlets are eager to cover Lee’s acting despite the somewhat inconvenient location is the actor’s popularity in Japan. Media outlets that will be unable to dispatch their reporters to the scene will visit the filming site later.

The new movie is a story about the past and present of a man cherishing the memories of his first love. Lee plays the movie’s main character, Yoon Seok-young, and acts opposite actress Su Ae, who plays Seok-young’s first love, Jung-in.

The Japanese movie distributor SPO bought the movie for four million dollars even before its filming began. In the past, SPO had imported a host of South Korean movies, including “Almost Love,” “My Tutor Friend” and “Fighter in the Wind,” among others.

About 70 percent of Lee’s upcoming movie has been filmed so far. The movie will open in the second half of this year.

Source: KBS Global @ http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...2284_11858.html

new photos
credits to:newsen


more @ Lee byung Hun's Gallery

Japanese Magazine Admits False Reporting on Lee Byung-heon

September 6, 2006

A Japanese weekly magazine that reported groundless rumors about actor Lee Byung-heon has admitted its error.

Lee’s agency, Phantom, said it has received an apology from the magazine for publishing false rumors about the actor on July 27, saying that Lee was dating a Japanese woman.

The agency warned of possible stern legal action against the magazine for publishing groundless rumors, but the case was closed after the magazine admitted its fault and apologized.

Lee’s agent in charge of the actor’s activities in Japan said he worked hard on the case to send a message of warning to the Japanese media, which have been underestimating Korean celebrities recently and spreading groundless rumors about them in Japan.

He also vowed strong action against similar incidents in the future because the recurrence of such incidents affects not only certain celebrities but all hallyu stars, and cited the need to build a systematic management system for Korean celebrities in Japan.

Source: KBS Global @ http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...4128_11858.html