Before leaving S. Korea, Park Bom tweeted a picture of Sandara Park who looks very happy for the trip.  She said “We are now head~ing to the Philippines! A photo of Darong in celebration!”

A Happy Dara Park going to the Philippines - from Park Bom's twitter

The group arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 via Korea Air which landed at 11:27 in the morning.   Some fans were waiting for them outside the airport with banners.  A lucky fan was able to see them close enough to take pictures of the four of them together.

courtesy Joanne Buedan (@creepyhahaha)

 Park Bom, CL, Dara and Minji

courtesy Joanne Buedan (@creepyhahaha)

Smiling Dara

courtesy Joanne Buedan (@creepyhahaha)

CL and Minji

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

Dara looking at the cam while hugging a giant bear (so cute!)

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

Looks like the girls are having a mini conference.

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

Bom taking pictures using her cute pink cam.

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

Minji spots the camera…

and waves.

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

courtesy Joanne Puedan (@creepyhahaha)

Let’s hope that the girls will have a nice vacation and enjoy the weather in the Philippines. Dara grew up here after all.

All pictures courtesy of Joanne Puedan’s twitter.

Related Posts

• Entertainment Live features 2NE1
• Sandara brings Tagalog to K-Pop
• 2NE1 Releases Fire
• 2NE1 enters the Myx Hit Chart
• [NEWS] Kim Hyun Joong visits the Philippines for the second time
• [NEWS] 2am and 2ne1 to heat up Manila this summer
• What’s Up With Lee Min Ho?
• 2ne1′s Dara is back in the Philippines
• Sandara Park debuts with 2NE1
• [EVENT] Manila and Cebu celebrate Korean Film Festival

Today we are celebrating the first day of the Lunar New Year or the Year of the Water Dragon and what a better way to start it than by watching one of Korea’s top 2011 dramas, City Hunter.

I wrote last year my reservations about the drama since they said that there would be deviations from the original storyline, which is based on a Japanese manga. However, after watching the series, I thought, well, it didn’t matter that there are changes in the storyline since it served like a prequel to the City Hunter series.   Besides, Lee Min Ho is so good during the action scenes that you can’t help but let your jaw drop while watching.  I also love that his leading lady here, played by Park Min Young, is not the rescuing type of woman. I mean, she beat his ass in some of the scenes when he was pretending to be not-so-knowledgeable in the martial arts.

The Korean storyline goes like this. Lee Min Ho is Johnny Lee who was tasked by his adoptive father to take revenge towards five people who are responsible for the death of his father and 28 other South Korean soldiers after a mission in North Korea.  Working towards the goal, he meets Kim Nana who is a Blue House agent and consequently, always gets in the way whenever he executes his plans for revenge.  Of course, despite all these, they still fall in love. *swoons*

Okay, enough of the spazzing.  City Hunter will start airing tonight during ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida, after PBB Unlinight (which would be around 10:30?) If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, here it is!

City Hunter Official Trailer

Lastly, I would like to say 새해 복 먾이 받으세요! (Saehae bok manhi badeuseyo!)

Related Posts

• [NEWS] Lee Min Ho has a new leading lady
• BOF Premiere on Philippine TV
• Reasons why you should watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal
• Sungkyunkwan Scandal Official Poster Revealed
• New Primetime Dramas
• KDrama Location: Nami Island
• [NEWS] GMA7 to air hit Korean drama Secret Garden
• [EVENT] ABS-CBN to start airing My Princess on Monday
• Loving My Princess
• You’re Beautiful, East of Eden to start airing next week

It’s goodbye entertainment world for Rain (Bi, 비) right now as the Korean singer and actor joined the military service last October 11. The military service is mandatory to all Korean male citizens aged between 20-30.

Hundreds of fans, which included those coming from other countries like Japan and Taiwan went to the Army Base in Euijeongbu last October 11 to properly send him off. Before entering the military, Rain had a concert tour entitled “Rain:The Best Show” which was held in six different locations around the country.

Rain, whose real name was Jung Ji Hoon, was best known for his role in the Korean drama Full House with Song Hye Kyo. He was also included in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People Poll in 2006, 2007 and 2011. The actor also manages his own entertainment company J. Tunes and has starred in two Hollywood movies, Speed Racer, which was shown last 2008 and Ninja Assassin in 2009.

See you soon Rain! Two years is not that long.

Related Posts

• Rain is coming to Manila
• Cutest CF Ever
• Richard Gutierrez is Rain

Secret Reunion starring Kang Dong Won and Song Kang Ho

Korean movie fans rejoice cause it’s the time of the year again for the Korean film festival. *confetti*

If last year, movie goers were scared out of their wits with the horror-themed films, this year, it’s all about love.  Yes, you read it right, all the seven movies will showcase different kinds of love which include love for the family, love between friends, romantic love and brotherly love.

The Korean Cultural Center partnered with SM Cinemas for this event.  Movies are now showing in SM Mall of Asia and SM North EDSA from September 20-25, 2011 while SM Cebu will start showing the movies from September 28-October 2.

The best thing about all these – it’s FREE!!! Just go to the ticket booth and tell them you are watching a movie from the festival.

Here’s the schedule for everyone’s benefit.

MALL OF ASIA, Cinema 6

20 September
1:15PM – Happy Life 즐거운 인생
8:30PM – Scandal Maker 과속스캔들

21 September
6:30PM – My Dear Enemy 멋진 하루
9:30PM – Hwang Jin Yi 황진이

22 September
6:30PM – Christmas in Aug 팔월의 크리스마스
9:30PM – Eternal Hearts 별빛 속으로

23 September
6:30PM – Secret reunion 의형제
9:30PM – Happy Life 즐거운 인생

24 September
12:45PM – Hwang Jin Yi 황진이
3:00PM – Eternal Hearts 별빛 속으로
7:30PM – Christmas in Aug 8월의 크리스마스

25 September
12:45PMHappy Life 즐거운 인생
Scandal Maker 과속스캔들 3:00PM
My Dear Enemy 멋진 하루 7:30PM

SM NORTH EDSA, Cinema 3

20 September
1:40PM – Hwang Jin Yi, 황진이
6:30PM – Secret Reunion 의형제

21 September
1:40PM – Scandal Maker 과속스캔들
6:30PM – Eternal Hearts 별빛 속으로

22 September
1:40PM – Happy Life 즐거운 인생
6:30PM – My Dear Enemy 멋진 하루

23 September
1:40PM – Christmas in Aug 8월의 크리스마스
6:30PM – Scandal Maker 과속스캔들

24 September
1:40PM – Secret Reunio
6:30PM – Happy Life, 즐거운 인생PM
9:30PM – My Dear Enemy 멋진 하루

25 September
1:40PM – Hwang JYi 황진이
6:30PM – Eternarts 별빛 속으로
9:30PM – Christmas in Aug 8월의 크리스마스

SM CEBU, Cinema 1
28 September – PREMIER SCREENING
1:30PM – Scandal Maker 과속스캔들

28 September REGULAR SCREENING
7:30PM – Eternal Hearts 별빛 속으로
9:30PM – Happy Life 즐거운 인생

29 September
5:30PM – Hwang Jin Yi 황진이
7:30PM – Christmas in Aug 8팔월의 크리스마스
9:30PM – Secret Reunion 의형제

30 September
5:30PM – Eternal Hearts 별빛 속으로
7:30PM – My Dear Enemy 멋진 하루
9:30PM – Scandal Maker 과속스캔들.

01 October
5:30PM – Happy Life 즐거운 인생
7:30PM – Secret Reunion 의형제
9:30PM – My Dear Enemy 멋진 하루

02 October
5:30PM – Christmas in Aug 팔월의 크리스마스
7:30PM – Hwang Jin Yi 황진이
9:30PM – Eternal Hearts 별빛 속으로

FEATURED FILMS

SECRET REUNION (의형제)
Starring: Kang Dong Won, Song Kang Ho
Song Kang-ho, an ex-agent of the National Intelligence Service who is very careful about his actions, is paired with Kang Dong-won, a former spy from the North. Song’s character was released from the NIS six years after the gunfight which happened in the heart of Seoul; however, both men keep their identities hidden from each other.

Scandal Maker starring Cha Tae Hyun, Park Bo Young, Wang Suk Hyun

SCANDAL MAKER (과속스캔들)
Starring: Cha Tae Hyun, Park Bo Young, Wang Suk Hyun
Nam Hyun Soo was a very famous idol worshipped like God by teens. Though he is in his mid-thirties now, he is still one of the most sought-after celebrity in the industry and a DJ in a radio show. One of his listeners, Jung-nam, sends him letters narrating her willingness to see her father whom she never met. Her story became a hit and catapults the show’s ratings to be the most popular program. But one day, Jung-nam knocks on Hyun Soo’s door claiming that the father he hasn’t met is none other than him.

Happy Life starring Jang Geun Seuk, Kim Yun Seok, Kim Sang Ho, Jung Jin Young

A HAPPY LIFE (즐거운 인생)
Starring: Jang Geun Suk, Kim Yun Seok, Kim Sang Ho, Jung Jin Young
The plot revolves around three former members of college rock band, Volcano, who were reunited by the death of their leader. At the funeral, a young, jobless lead guitarist Gi-Young suggested that they reform the band with him as the new front man.

My Dear Enemy starring Jeon Do Yeon, Ha Jeong Woo

MY DEAR ENEMY (멋진 하루)
Starring: Jeon Do Yeon, Ha Jeong Woo
Hee-Soo, who is living a miserable life as a single woman in her thirties, sets out to find her ex-boyfriend, Byoung Woon who owes her $1000. Byeong Woon is also penniless but knows that girls are willing to give him money. Hee-Soo follows him as he visits many girls for money and starts a one-day journey that will change her life again.

Hwang Jin Yi starring Song Hye Kyo, Yoo Ji Tae

HWANG JIN YI (황진이)
Starring:Song Hye Kyo, Yoo Ji Tae
A film based on the story of Hwang Jin Yi, the most renowned courtesan of the Chosun Dynasty. She was a beautiful, talented and intelligent young woman who has no other choice but to become a gisaeng because she was an illegitimate child. The movie shows how she used her position and her charm to gain favor from the upper class, as well as his love affair with a male servant named Nom-yi.

For Eternal Hearts starring Jung Kyung Ho, Kim Min Sun, Cha Soo Yeon

FOR ETERNAL HEARTS (별빛 속으로)
Starring: Jung Kyung Ho, Kim Min Sun, Cha Soo Yeon
An ordinary college boy Su-young meets an extraordinary girl named Pippi on campus. He fell in love with Pippi which did not last long because the latter ended her life at a student demonstration. While trying to get over Pippi, he was hired as a tutor for a girl named Su-young. He was almost at the brink of giving up because of Su-young’s peculiar personality but something is stopping him from doing so. He soon fell in love with Su-young and bizarre things started to happen.

Christmas in August starring Han Suk Kyu, Shim Eun Ha

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST (팔월의 크리스마스)
Starring: Han Suk Kyu, Shim Eun-Ha
The film is about Jung-won who falls in love with Da-Rim while suffering from an unnamed illness. He hides the fact to Da-Rim and tries to continue living as usual, spending time with his friends and family.

source: Korean Cultural Center, Philippines

Related Posts

• 2NE1 is back in the Philippines
• [NEWS] Kim Hyun Joong visits the Philippines for the second time
• [PHOTOS] 2AM in Brgy. LSFM 97.1
• [NEWS] 2am and 2ne1 to heat up Manila this summer

Here’s another event for all Filipino Kpop fans! *clapswithglee*

Remember the days when there was still no high-speed internet connection available and you have to wait 5 hours to download a 5 minute, LQ music video? How about printing (and laminating) the pictures of your favorite artists that you found over the net because posters were expensive and difficult to obtain back then?

Relive those good, old Kpop days with the 2011 Music Festival Manila feat. REWIND: A KPOP MUSIC FESTIVAL this coming Saturday, September 17 at Hall 3 of the SMX Convention Center. Listen and groove to the songs sung by H.O.T, SES, Fin.K.L, Click B and many more.  Spend your day participating in the fun activities prepared by the different Kpop fanclubs and complete your collection of fangirl stuff through the concessionaire booths who will be present at the event.

Tickets are priced at P120.  There will be pre-selling from September 14-16 at the SMX lobby but do not worry because tickets will still be available on the event day itself.  Gates will open at 10:00am so do not be late! For more information, visit PKCI’s event  page here.

Remember, our favorite artists now won’t be here if not for these first generation Kpop groups. *coughdbsk5memberslikehotcough*

See you all there!!!

The “2011 Music Festival Manila feat REWIND: A KPOP MUSIC FESTIVAL” shall be held anew in conjunction with The 32nd Manila International Book Fair, the country’s premiere book event, slated on September 14-18, 2011 at Exhibition Halls 1-4 (G/F of SMX Convention Center)

Related Posts

• Rain is coming to Manila
• More 4Minute pictures
• 4Minute is in the Philippines
• Jung Yong Hwa debuts in Kpop World
• Filipino Kpop Fans featured in Korea Times
• Kpop feature in Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho

August 25 and 26 are two days of heaven for all Kim Hyun Joong fans as the  singer and actor visits the Philippines the second time around.

For two days, Kim Hyun Joong’s schedule was packed with fan meetings, press conference and interviews.  Last Thursday, fans lined up early in the morning to buy Hyun Joong’s Break Down album to be able to qualify for the High Five event organized by Polyeast Records.  The following day, more fans were able to meet him in a meet and greet event organized by The Face Shop where Hyun Joong is the present endorser.  In a press conference, one lucky fan was able to outbid others in an auction for KHJ’s rehearsal clothes, and the proceeds will be donated to a women’s center in Manila.  She was also given the chance to hug and give Hyun Joong a scrap book as a gift.

Hyun Joong said in a television interview that he is open to playing with the local football team Azkals if invited and also expressed his desire to include Manila in his concert tour later this year.

Kim Hyun Joong became famous in the Philippines for his role in Boys Over Flowers as Jihoo and as Gelo in Playful Kiss, a Korean remake of the famous Taiwanese drama It Started with a Kiss.

Here are videos of his interviews:

Related Posts

• 2NE1 is back in the Philippines
• [EVENT] Manila and Cebu celebrate Korean Film Festival
• [PHOTOS] 2AM in Brgy. LSFM 97.1
• [NEWS] GMA7 to air hit Korean drama Secret Garden
• [NEWS] 2am and 2ne1 to heat up Manila this summer
• You’re Beautiful, East of Eden to start airing next week
• Kim Hyun Joong at the Araneta Coliseum
• Hallyudorama’s 5-second encounter with Kim Hyun Joong
• Kim Hyun Joong has landed
• Guess who are in a soccer team?

The statues of Winter Sonata stars Bae Yong Joon and Choi Ji Woo

Nami Island could very well be the mecca for all Korean drama fans.  After all, this is the setting of some of the scenes in Winter Sonata which started the Korean Wave.  Being big Winter Sonata fans, me and my friends decided to visit this iconic place once and for all when we went to Korea autumn last year.

Our timing could never be more perfect with the island teeming with color because of the season.  We could see trees with green, yellow, orange and red leaves.  It was really wonderful and we felt happy that we were able to see the beauty of the island.  The only downside was that there were really a lot of people.  Most were tourists but some I think, went there for a field trip because they are wearing similar shirts and have picnic baskets.  It was quite difficult to find a spot where there are no people to take pictures so what we did was to go away from the usual route and traversed a different path.

We didn’t join a tour group so we went there by ourselves.  We took the subway to Cheongnyangni Station and then went to Lotte Department store which is adjacent to the Korail train station.  We bought tickets going to Gapyeong and arrived there after more than an hour traveling.  It’s not that long because we were able to enjoy the countryside scenery (before I fell asleep).  Anyway, after arriving at the station, we took the taxi to the port where we will take the boat to Nami Island.  The taxi drivers already know where we are going so I was spared from speaking my broken Korean.  The boat ride lasted for 5-10 minutes and then finally, we arrived. Yey!

Here are the pics that we took.

Train station to Gapyeong, near the Lotte Department Store.

Ticket to Nami Island

The stone where a poem by Gen. Nami was written. The island was named after him.

Ostriches roam the island freely. I was able to get really close but I had to run away because I thought it was going to attack the dog that was barking on it. And I learned in school that Ostriches are fast runners so yeah...

Squirrel!

The path lined with metasequioa trees, a kind of a redwood. They are really tall and the island has lots of them. This is just one of part of the island.

The bicycle ridden by the actors from the drama. It's not well maintained though. T_T

Dolls inside the Unicef house. You can buy them and help a child.

Seeing this assured me that I'm really in Nami Island. <3

Trees...

trees...

and more trees!

I love the autumn colors!

This yellow tree really caught my attention...

View from the ferry...

The replica of the snowman that was created during the first time Jun Sang and Yoo Jin first kissed. It was originally located beside the river but now, it is beside the Winter Sonata Gallery. I was sad to see it so dirty and full of vandalism. T_T

Here's the original scene from the drama Winter Sonata.

Outside the Winter Sonata cafe.

It was before the G20 summit so even the island was being prepared for it.

Last picture related to trees.

Last picture related to trees.

If you wanna go there the same way we did, here’s the breakdown of the expenses (one way):
Korail Train from Cheongnyangni to Gapyeong – 3,800 won.
Taxi – 4,000-5,000 won
Ferry ride – 8,000 won

There’s also a shuttle bus directly to Nami from Insadong.  You need to book it a week beforehand though because it is always full. For more details, click this link to the Visit Korea website.

Related Posts

• Another Korean adventure
• Winter Sonata Stars Reunited
• Animated Dramas
• City Hunter starts airing on Lunar New Year
• [NEWS] GMA7 to air hit Korean drama Secret Garden
• [EVENT] ABS-CBN to start airing My Princess on Monday
• Loving My Princess
• Reasons why you should watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal
• Sungkyunkwan Scandal Official Poster Revealed
• Visiting MyeongDong – You’re Beautiful fangirl style

Korean boy group 2AM visited Manila last April 27-30 to promote their album and meet their fans. Aside from that, they also held a mini-concert at Eastwood Mall.  Here are some of the pictures taken during their visit to the local radio station, 97.1 Brgy. LSFM last April 27.  There were only Jinwoon, Changmin and Seulong because Jo Kwon arrived later in the evening. Please credit hanneebuff from hallyudorama.com when taking out. Thanks!

Related Posts

• [NEWS] 2am and 2ne1 to heat up Manila this summer
• 2NE1 is back in the Philippines
• [EVENT] Manila and Cebu celebrate Korean Film Festival
• [NEWS] Kim Hyun Joong visits the Philippines for the second time

Secret Garden, one of Korea’s hit television series of 2010, will be hitting the Philippine airwaves soon.

Secret Garden stars Hyun Bin who plays Owen (Kim Joo Won), a Department store CEO suffering from minor depression, and Ha Ji Won who plays Jamie (Gil Ra Im), a strong-willed stunt woman who lives with her friend after the death of her father who was a fireman.

Destined to eventually meet, Owen and Jamie stumbles upon a secret garden in Jeju Island and meets an old woman who gives them a magical alcoholic concoction. This potion enables them to switch bodies but for what purpose? The audience must keep watching to find out. The supporting casts also include Yoon Sang Hyun as Oska, Owen’s cousin and Kim Sa Rang as Yoon Seul, Oska’s ex-girlfriend. Lee Philip (The Legend) plays Director Im Jong Soo while Yoo In Na is Im Ah Young, Jamie’s best friend.

Hyun Bin became a household name in the Philippines because of his role as Cyrus (Hyun Jin Hun) in My Name is Kim Sam Soon which enjoyed an immense popularity locally. Ha Ji Won, on the other hand, was also a familiar face after her drama Hwang Jini was aired by GMA7 in the evening time slot more than three years ago.

Secret Garden will start airing on May 2 at Kapuso Network GMA7. It will replace another hit Korean drama, the Baker King, which will end within 2 weeks.

Watch the trailer at the following link: Secret Garden teaser at GMA7

credits: ieuck@youtube.com

Related Posts

• KDrama Location: Petite France
• Ako Si Kim Sam Soon (Episode 64)
• Ako Si Kim Sam Soon (Episode 60)
• City Hunter starts airing on Lunar New Year
• [NEWS] Kim Hyun Joong visits the Philippines for the second time
• KDrama Location: Nami Island
• [EVENT] ABS-CBN to start airing My Princess on Monday
• Loving My Princess
• Reasons why you should watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal
• Sungkyunkwan Scandal Official Poster Revealed

Filipino Korean drama fans will once again have a glimpse of the pretty-faced Kim Tae Hee and the gorgeous Song Seung Hun as they star in the romantic-comedy My Princess which will start airing this Monday on the local channel ABS-CBN.

Kim Tae Hee is Lizelle (Lee Seol), a college student who worked a lot part-time jobs, which includes dressing up as a Korean princess, to earn money for her dream trip of going to Egypt. Meanwhile, Song Seung Hun plays Ethan (Hae Young), a diplomat who works for the Ministry of Foreign affairs and the grandson of a rich *chaebol family. One day, an announcement was made that there are moves to restore the Korean Royal family and Lizelle soon learns that her father was a Prince, making her a real-life Princess.

My Princess enjoyed such popularity in Korea that it surpassed 20% ratings in its Wednesday-Thursday timeslot during its run early this year.

My Princess will air around 5:00pm, before the drama Mula sa Puso.

*chaebol – a Korean business conglomerate

Related Posts

• Loving My Princess
• City Hunter starts airing on Lunar New Year
• KDrama Location: Nami Island
• [NEWS] GMA7 to air hit Korean drama Secret Garden
• Reasons why you should watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal
• Sungkyunkwan Scandal Official Poster Revealed
• You’re Beautiful, East of Eden to start airing next week
• Visiting MyeongDong – You’re Beautiful fangirl style
• Ako Si Kim Sam Soon (Episode 74)
• Ako Si Kim Sam Soon (Episode 72)