Lee Dae-hee to host Mr World in Korea

The Mr. World Contest starts tonight in Incheon with more than 70 men vying to become the ``world's most desirable man.''

The contest runs through March 27, with various tasks awaiting the contestants from around the world.

Organized by the Hankook Ilbo-The Korea Times Media Group and the Miss World Organization, the 16-day event will indeed keep the contestants busy.

On Saturday, the group will take a tour around the host city, Incheon, and get ready for their two-week journey during the weekend scheduled with photo shoots. During the tour, they will get to experience a traditional Korean wedding and take a short ferry ride.

The following Tuesday and Wednesday, the men will attend a sports challenge that includes a survival challenge and an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) race.

The men will pay a visit to Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, one of the most traditional cities in Korea, and learn more about the country. The next day will be spent learning taekwondo at Bulguk Temple, followed by a visit to famous port city Ulsan and a quick tour of the Hyundai Motor factory.

On Saturday, March 20, the Mr. World contestants will volunteer for Habitat for Humanity International and also visit Haeseong Orphanage to deliver one year's worth of diapers.

Seoul will be the next stop for the men, where they will participate in the Turtle Marathon on Sunday, which is held once a month and organized by The Korea Times' sister company, the Hankook Ilbo. The marathon will start at 8 a.m. and the contestants will walk along the seven kilometer route around Mt. Nam. The marathon will start at the outdoor plaza of the National Theater of Korea.

After the marathon, the contestants will get to show off their culinary side at the cooking competition held at the Korea House near Mt. Nam. The men will get to learn and compete in making Korean traditional dishes.

The contestants will continue their tour around Seoul by making stops at Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Insa-dong and also the Dongdaemun area, which is famous for being a fashion district for Seoulites.




One of the most anticipated events of the show will be fashion designer Andre Kim's charity fashion show, with the contestants strutting the runway donning Kim's signature designs. The fashion show is a charity event that will support the International Vaccine Institute and will be held in Incheon.

On March 24, the group will visit the truce village of Panmunjeom at the Demilitarized Zone, which divides the Korean Peninsula.

The finale will be held on March 27, with the winner announced amid various shows and performances by the contestants and guest singers, including British singer Alesha Dixon, Korean girl band Girls' Generation and boy group 2PM.

Actress Lee Da-hae made headlines when news broke that she was appointed as the hostess of the event, surprising fans with her English skills.

``She is tall and has both Asian and also Western charms. Her fluent English and Chinese also helped her to become the hostess,'' an event organizer said.

Lee will host the event alongside actor Julien Kang.

Along with Lee and Kang, other important figures will join the event, including reigning Mr. World Juan Garcia Postigo from Spain, the first Mr. World Tom Muyens from Belgium, Miss World for 2009 Kaiane Aldorino from Gibraltar, Miss World for 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova from Russia and Miss World for 2007 Zhang Zilin from China.

According to organizers, this year's event is expected to be the biggest in the contest's history, with more than 70 contestants from 80 countries competing. The winner will win 64,000 pounds, approximately 100 million won. The contestants will be judged through various programs, including a talent show, cooking contest, the fashion show and sports programs. The grand prize winner of the Mr. World Korea contest, Ryu Ji-kwang, will represent Korea and show off his talents.

The competition will be broadcasted to some 1 billion viewers in 140 countries, through the U.K.'s SKY1 TV, China's CCTV, the United States' Bravo and E, Russia's CTC and Brazil's CMT, among others. Local viewers can watch it through cable network MBC ESPN, SENTV and Arirang TV.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

The Korea Times

Actress Lee Da-hae attends Hollywood party

Korean actress Lee Da-hae poses with the animated character PUCCA at its launching party held in Los Angeles of the United States on February 18, 2010. [VOOZ Co.]

Korean actress Lee Da-hae attended a party in Los Angeles last week, mingling with some of Hollywood's hottest stars, according to the party's host VOOZ Co.

The party, hosted jointly by VOOZ and Warner Brothers, celebrated the launching of the animated character PUCCA in North America. VOOZ is a character development company which created PUCCA.

"We had sent a special invitation to Lee because her lively and Asian image resembled that of PUCCA", an official at VOOZ explained.

Actress Jessica Lowndes of the new "90210" series, film "New Moon" soundtrack singer Lykke Li, film "Butterfly Actress" leading actress Amy Smart, and actress and model Bijou Phillips were amongst the noted Hollywood celebrities who attended the party.

Actress Lee currently plays the lead female role in the top-rated KBS historical drama "The Slave Hunters" alongside Korean actors Jang Hyeok and Oh Ji-ho.

She has appeared in scores of dramas since her debut in 2001 with her most notable works including "Lotus Flower Fairy" in 2004 which placed her onto stardom and "My Girl" the following year which gained her popularity throughout Asia.

From left, actress Jessica Lowndes, VOOZ Co. CEO Kim Boo-Kyoung, actress Lee Da-hae pose at the PUCCA launching party held in Los Angeles of the United States on February 18, 2010.[VOOZ Co.]

Asiae

Lee Da-hae to attend Warner Brothers party in Hollywood

Korean actress Lee Da-hae attends a Warner Brothers party [DBM Entertainment]

Korean actress Lee Da-hae is scheduled to attend a party hosted by major Hollywood studio Warner Brothers, according to her agency DBM Entertainment on Wednesday.

DBM announced that "The Slave Hunters" actress -- the only Asian actor to be invited to the event -- will be leaving for Los Angeles today to attend a character launching party hosted by Warner Brothers.

The agency further explained that officials at Warner seemed "very interested in Lee Da-hae" during their visit to Korea early this year, saying they were impressed with "not only her acting skills but also her fluency in English and Chinese".

The Hollywood studio was said to have asked Lee for a meeting but she was unable to make time due to her busy shooting schedule for hit KBS2 TV series "The Slave Hunters".

The Warner Brothers' party in reference will be attended by many industry heavyweights including high-ranking executives at the studio and famous Hollywood actresses -- namely Jessica Szohr (of "Gossip Girl"), Julia Stiles (of "Bourne Identity" series) and all-around entertainer Jennifer Lopez.

The U.S. studio and the Korean actress will reportedly set up a meeting to "discuss future projects" after the party.

Lee, 25, has appeared in more than a dozen television dramas and commercials since her debut in 2001. Her most notable works include "Lotus Flower Fairy"(MBC, 2004), which placed her onto stardom, and "My Girl" the following year which gained her popularity throughout Asia.

She currently stars in the top-rated drama "The Slave Hunters" alongside Jang Hyeok and Oh Ji-ho.

Reporter : Lim Hye-seon lhsro@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source: 10Asia

Filming of "The Slave Hunters" Oh Ji-ho, Lee Da-hae and Jang Hyuk

On a cold winter day in January, director Kwak Jung-hwan of KBS TV series “The
Slave Hunters” was at Unju Temple in the South Jeolla Province. It is the place,
mentioned in the tenth episode, which Dae-gil (played by Jang Hyuk) guessed
correctly right away when told Tae-ha (Oh Ji-ho) went to where a statue of
Buddha lies on its back facing the sky. “There is a statue of Buddha laid on the
ground and facing the sky in the Unju Temple. It is said to contain the
unfulfilled hopes of the commoners. I couldn’t not go to shoot there after
hearing that story,” Kwak explained of his reason in choosing the temple as a
location which would also symbolize Tae-ha’s yet-to-be opened world and the
dream of the slaves.

But Unju Temple does not just have symbolic meaning
for “Hunters.” It is also where many of the main characters gather after a large
number of supporting actors are killed off the show in the ninth and tenth
episodes. Tae-ha holds the baby king in one hand as he meets his old friends and
Dae-gil’s clan gathers at Unju too. About five scenes were shot at the Unju
Temple this day. And each scene focused more on the meeting and the parting of
the characters rather than its usual spectacular action. But the atmosphere on
set was as somber and sincere as the emotions involved in the meeting and
parting.

“Turn around as soon as you take a step forward,” Kwak
instructs Tae-ha, played by Oh Ji-ho. He then explained, “We didn’t rush in the
beginning because we started shooting the first few episodes several months ago
but these days, it’s all about time management.” But once he goes into shoot, he
digs into the details so insistently that it seems as if he forgets all about
time. He does not miss a single thing, down to the smallest movement a character
makes to the most trivial historical fact. To Kim Ha-eun playing the role of
Sul-hwa, he will direct her to “breathe harder after running here.” And after
receiving confirmation that “in the past, nobody entered the main temple
building through the central door other than the chief monk,” Kwak reflected
this fact into the scene where a boy monk greets Dae-gil who is chasing Tae-ha.
Add just a little exaggeration, it could be said that the amount of Kwak’s
exercise almost equalled that of Dae-gil and Tae-ha got from shooting their
actions scenes. He endlessly checked the monitor, went back onto the set,
checked everything, made orders, and then monitored again.

Not a single loud noise comes from the set of “Hunters” but that atmosphere on set is also the atmosphere amongst the actors. The Chuno clan, composed of Jang Hyuk, Kim Ji-suk and Han Jung-soo, sat around ahead of going into shoot to quietly discuss
their scene while Oh Ji-ho and Lee Da-hae focused on their own acting and did
not speak a single word to each other. The moment they finally smiled and talked
to each other was when Oh Ji-ho finished shooting his scene. “You’re leaving
before I am because you’re done? That’s an offense!” Lee jokingly said to Oh.

Shooting began at 8 a.m. in the morning but the clock was heading toward
8 p.m. But the crew of “Hunters” had been shooting a single scene since later
afternoon — the moment when Dae-gil breaks down. It will be a scene in the 12th
episode where Dae-gil’s emotions explode like they have never done before during
the show’s run so far. And hence it was when director Kwak and Jang Hyuk’s
energy also collided at its highest point. Ahead of going into shoot, Jang Hyuk
watched scenes him and Hae-won’s romantic scenes to focus on his emotions. And
Kwak continued to repeatedly shoot the scene from various angles — a full shot,
close-up shot, with the Jimmy Jib, then on-the-move. The staff moved swiftly,
operating every piece of equipment in time with Kwak’s orders. Jang Hyuk repeats
crying, laughing, shouting and gazing up into the sky. Only a few minutes of
this hours-long shoot will go on air. But Kwa, Jang Hyuk and the staff continue
to concentrate, knowing the importance of this scene. Like the slave being
chased by a slave hunter, the set of “Hunters” is short on time. But everyone
was trying everything they could do produce the best result.

Senior Reporter : Kang Myoung-Seok two@10asia.co.kr
Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@10asia.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr, Jang Kyung-Jin
three@10asia.co.kr

Is Lee Da Hae secretly married?

No no.. I don't think so. Lee Da-hae is only doing the photoshoot for the Wedding magazine July 2009 edition. She looks gorgeous though. She would make a beautiful bride for whomever the groom maybe.

Oh so innocent and sweet

That is a gorgeous dress... I LOVE IT

I am guessing this photo suppose to represent their first night together??? hahaha.... :P

Re-enacting their first date ... both looking shy

Is this the re-enactment of the proposal???

Lee Da Hae featuring in Taiwanese pop singer Wei Bo MTV

Video clip "Dance for Two" credit to Youtube gaietyparody02

Lee Da Hae will be in Hong Kong on June 6th at Ri (Rain) fashion show as a model of Rain's fashio label Six to Five. Lee signed up with Rain's management company Jtune earlier in the year.