To my surprise, World of Warcraft celebrated Chinese New Years yesterday. It turns out they’re more Asian friendly than I could’ve ever imagined.

Walking around the town where the festival was held, I noticed that the NPCs (non player character) were selling Korean food: steamed mandu, bean soup, rice cake and kimchi. I definitely had a couple since IRL I can’t eat any. How sad!

I wonder if there’s sushi or pho in other towns.

Tags: bean soup, kimchi, korea, lunar festival, rice cake, steamed mandu, world of warcraft

The much hyped and highly anticipated drama remake, Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango), turned out to be a disappointment for everyone that tuned in including myself.

After watching two episodes, I find myself in disbelief. But then again were my standards too high? No because I just watched the Hana Yori Dango movie and it was bad ass as a romantic girl’s manga can get. Obviously Korea has a lot to make up for in the next few episodes.

For everyone who didn’t catch it, you can read the recap for episode one and two by Dramabeans. It’s the same story more or less with some bad Korean fashion (cough Jan-Di’s crappy military boots).

Tags: boys over flowers, hana yori dango, japan, korea, remake

SBS’s much awaited Inkigayo episode premiered last night. As expected, the performances were awesome, one of which was the piano battle between DBSK’s Junsu and Big Bang’s Tae Yang.

While their English could use a little work, the overall performance was still enjoyable. Tae Yang went first with Frankie J – Don’t Want to Try while Junsu with 98 Degrees – My Everything.

I think it’s safe to say Junsu won?
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Tags: big bang, dbsk, inkigayo, junsu, korea, sbs, tae yang, tvxq

With the debut date coming closer and closer, KBS has released more teaser photos of the hit remake Hana Yori Dango.

So far we know that there’s a island vacation, school girl outfits and a shooting range involved. It’s definitely a step up from previous HYD remakes and I’m sure fans every where are screaming for joy (like me).

Source: ljphantom and huangsy via Soompi.
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Tags: hana yori dango, kbs, korea, remake

The highly anticipated Korean remake of the manga hit series, Hana Yori Dango, is nearing its televised debut. The series is set to air on January 5th, 2009 on KBS 2TV and scheduled to take over Worlds Within on Mondays and Tuesdays at the 9:55PM slot. I can hear HYD fans screaming all over, including myself.

While some of us will probably have to wait till the subbed versions are “released”, KBS has already put out promotional posters and a trailer. I can’t say I’m completely content with the casting of the F4 boys but hopefully the series is not as bad as they look!

Source: Hangsy via Soompi
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Tags: hana yori dango, kbs, korea, poster, trailer

The Hana Yori Dango craze is spreading like wildfire with China the next to join in.

It is reported that Chinese network Hunan TV will be doing a remake based on the storyline of Meteor Garden (Taiwan). The producers are hoping to bring on the Taiwanese band F4 in addition to pop stars Hankyung of Super Junior and Yu Haoming in addition to Ariel Lin to play the role of Makino.

While it is all talks, part of me is hoping they’ll do it whereas the other half is like that’s a lot of HYD. The Japanese movie just came only over the summer and Korea has already gone into production with their version. A lot of fans feel the same way but even if they do pull through, it’s not like everyone won’t watch it.

Source: Seoulbeats

Tags: ariel lin, china, f4, hana yori dango, hankyung, japan, korea, super junior, taiwan, tv series, yu haoming

Rain recently performed for SBS Water Grand Awards only to be dissed hardcore.

In the middle of his “Rainism” performance, SBS cut off the music to go to a commercial. After some awkwardness, Rain politely bowing and walked off stage. Clouds became uber pissed and threatened to boycott SBS if they didn’t apologize. They just did yesterday (11/13) but blamed everything on technical issues. Yeah okay buddy. They’re hacks enough to film private footage of the Olympics but can’t handle a simple performance?

Despite of their apology, Rain has now turned the tables and cancelled his plans to perform for SBS Inkigayo on November 16. Seems like a game of my balls are bigger than yours. However, I can’t blame Rain. This isn’t the first time SBS has pushed him around: they previously banned his song “You” for being sexually explicit.
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Tags: bi, korea, performance, rain, sbs

Synopsis/Plot
Or otherwise known in Korea as Babo (fool in Korean), the story takes place with the talented pianist Ji-Ho (Ha Ji Won) who returns home from Europe after she gets stage fright. When arriving in her home town, she is greeted by her childhood classmate, Sung-Ryong (Cha Tae-Hyon), who is mentally ill. While Ji Ho may have forgotten him, Sung-Ryong has always remembers and loved her. Along with Ji Ho, he also deeply cares for his sister Jee-In (who is completely ashamed of him; Park Ha-Seon) and Sang Soo (his best friend; Park Hee-Sun). As the story progresses, each of Sung-Ryong’s loved ones are approached with difficult situations where Sung-Ryong saves them in a surprising way.
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Tags: 2008, babo, cha tae hyon, ha ji won, korea, miracle of giving fool, miracle on 1st street, movie, park ha seon, park hee sun, review

DBSK/TVXQ member Jae Joong will star in a Korean-Japan joint drama called “Heaven’s Postal Delivery Man” with female counter part by Han Hyo Joo (Iljimae).

Jae Joong’s will play a mysterious postman (from Heaven) that delivers the messages from dead relatives/friends’ to the living. Han Hyo Joo will be a pure, innocent girl who has recently lost her lover, but hasn’t forgotten him. The two end up working together at the same job and slowly fall in love. How cliché.

There is a kissing scene where one of them (it’s not said who) says to the other “I want to kiss you” which is then followed by a romantic kissing scene. Sounds cheesy but I’m excited to see it since Jae Joong has rehearsed the drama seven times and his acting has been said to have improved significantly.

The series will be a “telecinema” (tv series and movie) made up of 7 different stories with “Heaven’s Postal Delivery Man” as the first. It will officially air in May 2009 on SBS.

Tags: drama, han hyo joo, heaven's postal delivery man, iljimae, jae joong, korea, sbs, telecinema

Okay so they’ve finally casted the lead female for Hana Yori Dango, unfortunately it’s not some sexy boy toy who can pass off as a girl. It’s Gu Hye Seon.

Never seen her in anything before but she’s won a few big awards: 2007 SBS Acting Awards (New Star Award) and 2006 KBS Acting Awards (New Actress Award). Not only that but she’s sang the theme song for her drama Pure 19 and been in a few music videos. She’s got to be good right?

Honestly she’s a little too mature looking for me. While she does embody the innocent girl look, she’s not quite the perfect fit for me. I would have definitely gone for a bigger star or at least a cuter one like Kim Tae Hee. If you’ve seen the Japanese Hana Yori Dango, Kim Tae Hee and Mao Inoue might as well be twins.

Again I’m disappointed with the cast but hopefully the show will still be good. I’m still praying for them to boot Gu Hye Seon for a boy toy.

Tags: cast, drama, gu hye seon, hana yori dango, japan, kim tae hee, korea, mao inoue