K-Drama Actors Who Would Ace An English Exam
BY Julie Jones | KDramaStars.com
Ko Ah Sung plays Seo Bom in the drama "Heard It Through The Grapevine." Because Seo Bom comes from a poor family she surprises her wealthy in-laws with her mastery of English. When her character had to read the pages of a difficult English book, her command of the language also surprised many k-drama fans.
The 23-year-old actress does have a gift for languages but she perfected her English when she played Song Kang Ho's daughter in the Bong Joon Ho film "Snowpiercer." The film had an international cast with many English-speaking characters. Playing Yona, a girl who grew up hearing many different languages spoken, she said she had to tailor her English in that film.
"Yona can speak little bit of every language existing on the train," said Ko in an interview with tenasia. "So I spoke with an accent that was a mix of the Philippines, India, the United States and other places. People in Korea complemented me on my English pronunciation, but it would sound funny to a native speaker."
Another k-drama actor known for his fluency in English is Im Si Wan. He took The English proficiency TOEIC exam shortly after he wrapped up his role in the hit drama "Misaeng." His exam score was 820 out of 990, which he was very happy about. He only hoped to reach a score of 800.
Being able to speak English fluently is key to landing Hollywood roles. Some actors who improved their English skills enough to make the transition are Lee Byung Hun, Kim Yunjin and Bae Doona.
Lee Byung Hun has had several roles in Hollywood blockbusters such as "Red 2" and can soon be seen in "Terminator Genysis." Yunjin Kim currently appears in the TV series "Mistresses" and played a pivotal character in the hit television show "Lost." Bae Doona has appeared in several Wachowski productions, including the film "Cloud Atlas."
Being fluent in English is no guarantee that an actor will land an English-speaking role. 2PM's Ok Taecyeon is another actor whose English is commendable, which is not surprising since he attended high school in the U.S. The singer-actor appeared in "Dream High," "Who Are You?" and earned praise for his performance in the weekend drama "Wonderful Days." But despite having language skills he has yet to interest any Hollywood producers.
Krystal Jung, the star of "My Lovely Girl" is also fluent in English but that's because she was born in San Francisco. The actress and f(x) singer was discovered by a talent agency on a family trip back to Korea.
English language skills also come in handy when a drama is set partly in the U.S., as was the case in "The Heirs," which Krystal played a role in.
Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung celebrated the birth of their son.
On March 31, Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung’s agencies announced the arrival of their son through a joint press release.
The agencies started, “This is BH Entertainment and MS Team Entertainment, Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung’s agencies. We are releasing a joint press release.”
The agencies stated, “Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung have given birth to a son. Lee Min Jung gave birth to a healthy son at a hospital in Seoul in the early morning of March 31, in the presence of Lee Byung Hun, who arrived in Korea last Friday. Both the mother and the baby are in good condition and are resting and recovering in the hospital.”
Lastly, the agencies stated, “The two people will be doing their best to create a happy family, with the responsibilities of being parents. We ask for your blessings on the baby.”
The following is the press release from Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung’s agencies.
We are sending you a joint press release in regards to the birth of Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung′s baby.
Hello, this is BH Entertainment and MS Team Entertainment, Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung’s agencies. We are sending you a joint press release.
Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung couple has given birth to a son.
Lee Min Jung gave birth to a healthy son at a hospital in Seoul in the early morning of March 31, in the presence of Lee Byung Hun, who arrived in Korea last Friday. Both the mother and the baby are in good condition and are resting and recovering in the hospital.
The two people will be doing their best to create a happy family, with the responsibilities of being parents. We ask for your blessings on the baby. Thank you.
Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung have welcomed their first child into the world.
The news was announced by their agencies through a joint press release. According to the statement, Lee Min Jung gave birth to a healthy baby boy early in the morning of March 31 at a hospital in Seoul. Lee Byung Hun, who returned to Korea last Friday, was present at the hospital.
The actress and newborn son are both healthy, and they are currently recovering from the experience.
According to Lee Byung Hun’s agency, the actor has decided to push back his overseas meetings in order to take care of his wife and their child.
March 31, 2015 Actor Lee Byung-hun and wife welcome new son
SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun's wife, actress Rhee Min-jung, gave birth to a son, the couple's first child, on Tuesday, nearly two years after they wed, their agencies said.
Rhee gave birth early in the morning at a Seoul hospital and both the mother and baby are doing well, BH Entertainment and MSTeam Entertainment said in a joint press release.
"The couple said they will do their best to make a happy family with responsibility as parents," the agencies said. "Please bless the birth of this new life," they added.
Long a Korean household name, Lee has starred in Hollywood action films such as "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" (2013) and "G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra" (2009), as well as several Korean movies and soap operas of different genres. More recently, he co-starred in another Hollywood blockbuster "Red 2" starring Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones, which was released in July 2013.
Actress Rhee has played leading roles in several Korean movies such as "Wonderful Radio" (2012), "Cyrano Agency" (2010), as well as several romantic comedy dramas.
Lee Min Jung and Lee Byung Hun are now the parents of a healthy baby boy. Their son was born on March 31 at a Seoul hospital.
Lee Min Jung's agency MS Team and Lee Byung Hun's agency BH Entertainment issued a statement announcing the news and adding that both mom and baby are doing well.
"As responsible parents they will work to create a happy home and they hope for everyone's blessings," said the statement.
According to BH Entertainment, Lee Byung Hun has decided to postpone his overseas meetings so that he can stay in Korea and take care of his wife and their child.
He returned to Korea from the U.S. on Friday.
Lee Byung Hun has spent considerable time in the U.S. recently. He worked on the film "Terminator Genisys," in which he played a terminator robot, and was in talks with Hollywood producers about a new film role.
He will soon head back to the U.S. to film that movie, "Beyond Deceit," with co-stars Anthony Hopkins, Al Pacino, Dan Stevens Josh Duhamel and Malin Akerman.
"The exact departure date has not yet been set," a BH Representative told OSEN. "His first priority is to stay with his wife and child."
He previously appeared in the Hollywood productions, "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" and "Red 2."
Lee Byung Hun also released a statement to OSEN expressing his feelings about the birth of his child.
"This is a moment that makes me feel thankful and realize how precious the word family is," he said. "More than anything, I've been able to think deeply about what's most important through this experience of new life. I will continue to try and make up for the disappointment I've caused until now and show a better side. I just ask that you look upon the mother and newborn kindly."
Lee Byung Hun was the victim of a blackmail attempt in 2014 that ended in March 2015 with a suspended sentence for his blackmailers. While he was the victim in the case, his behavior prior to the blackmail attempt generated negative publicity. Lee Min Jung also received negative netizen comments although she was not involved in any part of the events that led up to the blackmail attempt.
It has been revealed that actor Lee Byung Hun plans to head back to the United States in order to film for his new Hollywood movie, “Beyond Deceit,” following the birth of his first son with his wife, actress Lee Min Jung, on March 31.
On the same day, a representative of the actor’s agency, BH Entertainment, explained to OSEN, “The exact departure date has not been set yet. His first priority is to stay by his wife and child’s side.”
It is said that Lee Byung Hun expressed his feelings about the birth of his son through his agency: “This is a moment that makes me feel thankful and realize the preciousness of the word ‘family.’ More than anything, I’ve been able to think deeply about what’s most important through this experience of the birth of new life. I will continue to try and pay back for the disappointment I’ve caused until now and show a better side. I just ask that you look upon the mother and newborn with warmth.”
It is a baby boy for actor Lee Byung-hun and actress Lee Min-jeong.
The agencies of both actors released a joint press release Tuesday to announce that the actress had given birth.
“Lee gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Tuesday morning at a clinic located in Seoul,” the agency said. “Both the mother and baby are recovering well.”
Lee’s due date was April, but her agency said she went into labor and had a caesarian.
Actor Lee also released a statement through his agency BH Entertainment on the same day.
“With the birth of a new life I came to think about the important things in life,” said the actor. “I will make up for the things I’ve let you down on by living well. I hope you will look at the mother and baby with a warm heart.”
Lee was in Hollywood to shoot “Beyond Deceit,” but he put it on hold and came back to Korea to be with his wife.
Great news has come from celeb couple Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung. Both of their agencies confirmed that the actress has given birth to their first son today on March 31.
They also said the mother and son are in healthy conditions, and are still recovering. Lee Byung Hun who just returned to South Korea on last Friday, was also with his wife during labor.
The happy couple who tied the knot in 2013, also hope people will pray for their first born.
Lionsgate has acquired North American rights to Beyond Deceit, the legal thriller that marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Shintaro Shimosawa.
The movie, currently in production in New Orleans, features a cast led by Josh Duhamel that also includes Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Malin Akerman, Alice Eve, Julia Stiles and Byung-hun Lee.
Release plans were not revealed, but a potential first-quarter 2016 opening is being eyed.
Deceit tells of an ambitious young lawyer (Duhamel) who takes on a big case against a ruthless executive of a pharmaceutical company (Hopkins), only to find himself drawn into a murder case in which he is the prime suspect.
Adam Mason and Simon Boyes (The Hangman) wrote the original draft of screenplay, which was originally set up at Skydance Productions. Shimosawa did a rewrite.
The film is being produced by Ellen S. Wander with William DeLaney co-producing. Scott Willmann will serve as the line producer.
Barry Brooker, Stan Wertlieb and Chris Brown are the executive producers, and Ryan Black is the co-executive producer.
The project was brought into the studio by Brooker and Wertlieb.
Shimosawa is repped by WME and Circle of Confusion.
Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung are now the happy parents of a healthy son, and the latest episode of MBC’s “Section TV” offers an answer to the burning question: who does the child resemble?
The star couple returned to Korea at the end of last month, and finally welcomed their first child on March 31.
During a phone call with “Section TV,” Lee Byung Hun’s agency explains that the actor is currently focusing on his family, “As this is an important time for the health of the mother and the child, he is staying close to them.”
The rumor has it that their son inherited the features of his beautiful mother.
Meanwhile, Lee Byung Hun will shortly head back to the United States and continue shooting his next Hollywood flick “Beyond Deceit.”
With the birth of Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung‘s first son, one has to wonder which the baby resembles more.
According to MBC‘s Section TV, the new born baby boy of the celebrity couple is revealed the the baby looked like his pretty mother, Lee Min Jung, more.
Lee Byung Hun is currently busy filming the Hollywood movie Beyond Deceit in the United States, and returned home in a hurry to welcome his newborn son. His agency added that the actor puts high priority on his family, and will be back to the set when Lee Min Jung and the baby are healthy and stable.
Actor Lee Byung Hun has been in Korea taking care of his newborn son and his wife Lee Min Jung, leaving many speculating as to when he will resume his Hollywood film schedules and whether he will return for the releases of all his upcoming films, including Swords Women and The Insiders.
According to Lee Byung Hun’s agency, BH Entertainment, “Lee Byung Hun is still remaining in Korea taking care of Lee Min Jung. His departure schedules have not been confirmed yet.”
Additionally, the release dates of Swords Women and The Insiders have not been confimed as well. Lotte Entertainment commented, “Release date is still undecided (for ‘Swords Women’). We are still in discussion,” and Show Box Entertainment mentioned, “Although we are still in talks, release date is to be announced,” for the film The Insiders.
Just last week on March 31st, the couple’s agencies, BH Entertainment and MS Team Entertainment, released a joint press statement welcoming news of the birth of their first baby boy.
Lee Byung Hun has left a message through his agency, mentioning, “It’s one of the moments when you feel thankful and cherish the word ‘family.’ Most of all, with the birth of a thankful life, I am able to deeply contemplate what is most important. I will pay my dues with what I owe from the disappointment I have caused and try my best to show the most of me. Hope you all give warm regards to the mother and the new born child.”
Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung have named their baby son!
According to Lee Min Jung’s management company, MS Team Entertainment on April 8, “Lee Byung Hun and Lee Min Jung have decided on Lee Joon Hoo as their son’s name.”
They added, “Lee Min Jung is still receiving post-natal care at the hospital and is focusing on her body. Lee Byung Hun is with her and the baby.” They added, “We don’t know when they’ll be returning home. Since it hasn’t been long since the childbirth, it seems that she will stay at the post-natal care hospital for a while.”
Meanwhile, Lee Min Jung gave birth to a baby son on March 31, for which Lee Byung Hun returned from America, where he was filming a movie.
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