An interesting article came out in newsen today in regards to Choi Kang Hee, the lead actress of SBS new friday drama, “My Sweet City” and Sarah Jessica Parker from HBS “Sex and the city”.  Eun Su is Choi Kang Hee’s character’s name in the drama, has some similarities with Carrie Bradshaw.  Both of them are in their 30s, single and unmarried.  So the article talks about the comparison between the two of them.

As a matter of fact, both actresses, Sarah Jessica Parker and Choi Kang Hee, play as single, career women both in their 30s, each lives in their metropolitan city, New York vs. Seoul.  And similarly, each of them have their own circle of girl-friends who are also in their 30s, single, unmarried and looking for the perfect Mr. Right.

As a coincidence, this weekend, “Sex and the city the movie” opens in theatres all over Seoul, and “My Sweet Seoul” has just finished broadcasting their first 2 episodes back-to-back last night on SBS.

Doesn’t the poster look like a movie poster rather than a drama poster?

My Sweet Seoul, premiering next Friday, June 6 is the new SBS Friday drama starring Mr. Voice, Lee Seon Kyun (Coffee Prince), Choi Kang Hee (Sweet bun, Thank you), Ji Hyun Woo (Over The Rainbow, Merry Daegu), Moon Jung Hee (Alone in love, Aircity), Yoon Hee Suk (90 days time for love), Jin Jae Young, Kim Young Ae. This drama is based on a Korean novel by Jung Lee Hyun, directed by Park Heung Shik (I Wish I Had a Wife) and written by Song Hye Jin.

Source: The Korea Times 05-27-2008 16:03

Korean Chick Lit Books Turned Into Dramas

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporters

A scene from the novel-based drama “My Sweet Seoul.” It will start airing June 6 at 9:55 p.m. on SBS. / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment

Chick lit books have always been popular among young Korean women, especially the “Shopaholic” series by Sophie Kinsella and “The Devil Wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger.

Korean chick lit books are also gaining popularity, and two popular books are being turned into television dramas.

The glamorous world of the fashion industry will be the backdrop for the up-coming SBS drama “Style,” based on a novel written by Baek Young-ok, a former fashion reporter.

A producer from SBS said Tuesday it has finalized the purchase of the rights to turn “Style” into a drama. The drama is expected to air by March next year.

There is no word yet on who will play the lead role in the TV soap. In “Style,” the main character is a 31-year-old female reporter at a fashion magazine. It gives an inside look at the world of fashion and luxury. It also deals with office politics, fierce competition in the fashion world and the luxury goods industry.

“Style” has been likened to “The Devil Wears Prada,” a fictionalized account of a young woman’s experience working for a top fashion magazine in New York.

The novel was chosen as the winner of Segye Ilbo’s 4th World Literature Award last year. Baek has also published other works including “It’s All Roh Moo-hyun’s Fault” and “Cat Shanti.”

Along with “Style,” another popular book “My Sweet Seoul,” written by Jeong Yi-hyun, will be brought to the television screens June 6.

Dubbed as a “premium drama,” the best seller turned production will portray the life of a 31-year-old single woman Oh Eun-soo played by actress Choi Kang-hee.

The novel “My Sweet Seoul” first appeared as a series in the Chosun Ilbo back in 2005. The realistic storyline and detailed literary style grabbed the attention of young women in their mid-20s and 30s, and the author soon came out with the book version. Through the protagonist Oh, the book displays the story of her love and office life, friendship and family. The drama is expected to pick up the detailed and trendy life of Oh from the book.

The drama will follow the basic story line with additional plots along the way. Along with actress Choi, actors Lee Sun-kyun and Ji Hyun-woo will also appear as the main male characters.

Another interesting feature of the drama is the production crew. Park Heung-sik, the producer of the drama, will join writer Song Hae-jin and shooting director Choi Young-ta to create the drama version of the book. Park, Song and Choi have worked together for the movie “My Mother, The Mermaid” (2004) and they promised to bring movie-like scenes and backdrops for drama fans.

“My Sweet Seoul” will be aired 9:55 p.m., June 6 on SBS.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

Oh my! Looks like Mr. The Voice participated in the soundtrack for this drama, along with Ji Hyun Woo and Choi Kang Hee. COOL~~~! Check this out!

Drama trailer:

Another preview:

Cast:

When I read that Ivy will be debuting as an actress in SBS Korean-Japanese collaboration 4 episodes drama, Tokyo Showers, I was like, “Oh, okay, so she’ll be in a drama.” But little did I know that I’d be gushing about her song, “Love, what do I do?” after watching her upcoming drama, Tokyo Showers on Youtube. The song, her voice and the lyrics seem to match really well to the theme of the drama.

Ivy debuted in 2005 with the first album called My Sweet and Free Day with a sexy image, but after watching her performing live on music shows, I become to like her strong vocals. In 2006, she didn’t have any album maybe to prepare for her 2nd album A Sweet Moment in early 2007. Unfortunately, one of the album’s song’s music video (Temptation of Sonata) caused a lot of controversy and was banned because a South Korean court ruled that it illegally copied a scene from Japanese game company Square-Enix’s Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Due to her popularity and strong marketing *lol* she was in Shinhwa

Last year, Ivy came to the Hollywood Bowl so I had the chance to see her performing live in person. But since I wasn’t familiar to her songs, I didn’t think much of her at that time. But when talking about Ivy, if you’re familiar with the Kpop entertainment, you’d remember all the scandalous news the media reported about her. Sadly, the Korean media is like a hawk watching for every mistake from these artists, and she happened to be in the hotspot last year.

Glad to know she’s bouncing back this year and scored a role in Tokyo Showers, premiering on June 2 after the SBS Mon-Tue drama I Love You.

Tokyo Showers – the making, preview & Ivy’s “Love, what do I do?” MV

Ivy 사랑아 어떻게 (Love, what do I do?) english lyrics translation

You rejected me as if shoving me away
but when I stand in the road you left, I can’t breathe
Even though a year passed
whenever I walk that road, my heart hurts
It’s about time I got exahusted
but the tears that wake me up at night aren’t drying
The words that are completely wet in my room- “I love you”
That one sentence that still makes my heart feel like exploding

My love, what do I do, love
How can you leave me by myself when
you were my everything
I will wipe my tears and try forget you again today
What can I do, parting is a process nobody is sure about

When I realise that I still kept the gift you gave me
I pause at that memory
The words we said together- “I love you”
I can never say them away

My love, what do I do, love
How can you leave me by myself when
you were my everything
I will wipe my tears and try forget you again today
What can I do, parting is a process nobody is sure about

Can you come back to me so I can live
Please, however you want, come back
Help so I can hold you again

My tears, I’m begging you, tears, will you tell him
I still love him foolishly
My tears say that I should find another love and send you off
But I can I do that
Even if a similiar chance comes again, it’ll be you

Translation by eonyoung@aheeyah.com
Taken from http://www.aheeyah.com/lyrics/ivy/ivy_2_tran.htm

Ivy performing at Yoon Do Hyeon Love Letter music show