ความคิดเห็นที่ 29
Korea, here I come!
It's been K-pop everything in Taiwan of late. Now, Taiwan stars want to be big in Korea too
By Chang May Choon
May 17, 2006
sorce: Korea, here I come!
CALL it the reverse wave.
Last year saw big Korean names like Jang Dong Gun and Kim Hee Seon venturing into the Chinese film industry.
It looks like the opposite is happening this year.
Vivian Hsu.
Taiwanese stars are breaking into the Korean market instead.
The Korean Wave not only sent its homegrown celebrities' popularity soaring outside the country, it also unlocked doors for foreign pop acts.
Stars from Shu Qi to Vivian Hsu (left), Cyndi Wang and even Vanness Wu are eyeing the hot kimchi pie.
And they are all prepared to learn the language.
Shu Qi, for one, will be starring in the second sequel to the box-office hit, My Wife Is A Gangster.
Cyndi is slated to act opposite K-popster Se7en in a new romantic drama, while Vivian posed in the arms of Korean heart-throb Kim Jae Won in the latest Hang Ten fashion advertisements.
Finally, Vanness has just released a Korean-Mandarin-English album in Korea with H.O.T member Kangta.
Korean singer Kangta with Taiwanese singer Vaness Wu. (Below left) Cyndi Wang does her impression of Rudolph.
It is still early to predict if these Taiwanese stars will reap as much success as the Korean stars, but industry pundits here agreed that the reverse wave is a natural progression.
Said Mr Low Yuen Ping of local movie distributor Festive Films: 'The whole East Asian movie industry has become more integrated.
'When Korean stars work in Chinese films, the vice versa is only to be expected.
'It's all about economics. If Korean movies and stars pop into other parts of Asia and open up a market, there will be opportunites for co-investments and a need for talent representation from the other countries too.'
Added Mr James Kang of Warner Music Singapore, which distributes albums for Vivian and Cyndi: 'Everything Korean reeks of high ratings and popularity in Taiwan, so it is only natural that Taiwanese acts would want to associate themselves with the Korean wave.
'Since the Korean market has opened up and is more receptive to foreign culture, why not go to Korea?'
Arguably, the first Taiwanese star to blaze the trail is Vivian, 31.
HOGGED HEADLINES
Arriving in Seoul in January to shoot a skincare commercial, the singer-actress hogged headlines by charming photographers with her ample cleavage and low-cut dress.
She also revealed that she is interested in acting in a Korean drama - ideally with her favourite actor, Kwon Sang Woo.
But so far, she has filmed only a series of advertisements with Korean actor Jae Won.
Curiously, the other stars venturing into Korea are all linked to Vivian in some way.
Shu Qi, for instance, is known to be a good friend of Vivian's.
Both left their hometown in Taichung to venture into the Hong Kong film industry, and both shot to fame by stripping - Shu Qi in Category III movies and Vivian in a nude pictorial book.
It is not known who influenced whom, but Shu Qi apparently had her sights set on Korea since visiting Seoul to promote So Close in 2002.
The 30-year-old Golden Horse Best Actress winner had said then that Korean movies appealed to her and that she hoped to act in one.
Now, she is scheduled to fly to Seoul late this month and film My Wife Is A Gangster III over two months.
In the action-comedy, she plays the daughter of a Hong Kong triad boss who flees to Korea and falls for a righteous hooligan (Lee Beom Soo).
The easy-going actress has already won praise from the film's producers, as she made no special requests other than a hostel equipped with a kitchen where she can cook, reported Sports Chosun.
The movie is planned for release in Korea in July.
Mr Low of Festive Films believes having Shu Qi's name in the credits lends novelty.
'I'd be interested to see the combination of a Chinese actress with a Korean director and cast, and it's a good marketing angle,' he said.
Also ready to start filming in Korea next month is Cyndi who, like Vivian, records albums under Avex Trax in Taiwan.
The 24-year-old is slated to romance K-popster Se7en in a new Korean drama to be shot in both their hometowns.
NERVOUS SPEAKING KOREAN
Cyndi told China Times that she was nervous about speaking Korean and joked that she would rather play a mute character.
Later she relented: 'I must face up to reality and brush up my Korean so that I can bring glory to Taiwan.
'It'd be so embarrassing if I can't speak Korean when I'm doing a Korean drama.'
Meanwhile, Vanness, 28, seems to have mastered the art of singing in Korean, thanks to his new partner, Kangta, 27.
Calling themselves Kangta & Vanness, the duo, who first met at Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards in 2004, released their first album, Scandal, in Korea yesterday.
They also announced plans to co-star in dramas and movies at a media gathering-cum-showcase in Seoul last week.
As for Vanness' Vivian link?
Well, he dated Vivian for two years before breaking up last August.
So, did he ask her for any tips?
Vanness laughed and said he has been too busy to contact her, reported United Daily News.
Going the K-route is a no surprise for him, as he has been a K-pop fan since high school.
He even got his Korean friends to teach him their mother tongue.
He once had a Korean girlfriend and also co-starred with actress Kim Hyun Joo in the Hong Kong movie, Star Runner.
According to Kangta's management agency, SM Entertainment, the Kangta-Vanness alliance represents a 'new formula' of collaboration and cultural exchange.
Mr Kang of Warner Music, which distributes Kangta's solo albums, added: 'It's a win-win situation because Vanness can lead Kangta into China and Kangta can show him the ropes in Korea.'
We say, the future certainly looks rosy.
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