20100826 (Newsletter) Kim Tak-gu, All About Marriage and Lee Hoe-young

Hi, KBSWORLDi Fans Can't believe this is our last newsletter this month. Thank all who supported our Summer Sale event and we do hope you have found a good deal out of it. There will be two new dramas coming to KBS soon - 'Freedom Fighter Lee Hoe-Young' and 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal'. Hope you enjoy both of them. Have a great weekend with KBSWORLDi.com!

Kim Tak-gu Overcomes Despair in ‘Bread, Love and Dreams’    --  A protagonist has risen to all occasions to pass the second test to be recognized as a baker by his teacher in “Bread, Love and Dreams.” In the episode #21, Kim Tak-gu (Yoon Si-yoon) sees his childhood sweetheart Shin Yoo-gyeong (Eugene) choose Gu Ma-jun (Ju Won) over him and feels his heart broken. While recovering from despair, he finds out he cannot taste or smell anything. He goes to see a doctor, who says that he must have consumed a harmful substance and, as a result, lost his senses of taste and smell. Tak-gu finds that he has taken a juice made of poisonous herb that can numb the palate and olfactory sense. Ma-jun made it to harm Tak-gu, but Mi-sun (Lee Young-a) was the one who took it for a cold medicine and gave it to him, which made Ma-jun not feel guilty at all, saying that it may be his fate. He even tells him to keep silent about it, saying, “If you tell others about it, Mi-sun will feel guilty and live in agony.”  But Mi-sun overhears the conversation between Tak-gu and Ma-jun. She encourages Tak-gu, who feels despair since he cannot bake, and tries to do everything to help him. “You have worked so hard for the last two years, so your hands will remember how to do it. And I will be by you all the time and taste and smell whatever you make for you,” she says. Tak-gu regains courage and hope thanks to her and decides not to give up. He tries his best preparing for the test using his eyes and touch instead of his taste and smell. Despite everything, he fails to make proper bread without using yeast as the teacher Pal Bong does not allow them to use it. Ma-jun also fails to ferment dough without using yeast, but he succeeds making bread with the help of a mystery man who once worked with Pal Bong and knows the secret recipe. Having already known what Ma-jun has done to beat and harm Tak-gu, Pal Bong acknowledges Tak-gu as the winner. He also suspects how Ma-jun has learned the secret recipe.

Wife Hurt Deeply by Husband’s Hypocrisy     A soft-hearted wife has given up her decision to divorce her hypocritical husband in “All About Marriage.”  In the episode #20, Nam Jeong-im (Kim Ji-young) returns home again out of concern that the divorce could deliver a huge blow to her husband’s career. But it hurts her heart to see the unchanged attitude of him and her father-in-law, as they look down on her. Kim Tae-ho (Lee Jong-hyuk) is relieved to see Jeong-im return because he faces trouble due to a scandal with Yun Seo-young (Lee Tae-im). He even asks her to appear on a TV program to show that there are no problems in their marriage, saying, “Why don’t we appear on a TV program? I was asked to appear with you. Many people want to know about you. We will show what a happy couple we are.”  Already told by Seo-young that she should pretend to be happy on TV for the sake of Tae-ho, Jeong-im confronts him and demands he be frank about what he wants. He shamelessly replies, “I want you to accompany me on the program for my reputation and success. And what’s wrong with that?”  Jeong-im reluctantly agrees to his suggestion, but she cannot stand seeing Tae-ho’s hypocrisy at the program's studio. In private, he used to tell her that he felt suffocated when he saw her and was sick of her. But on the show, he says that he still becomes excited when he thinks of her and reads her a love letter. Unable to bear it, Jeong-im ends up breaking into tears and leaves the studio. She runs into Seo-young and yells at Tae-ho, who comes to find her, “You keep it all -- your reputation, Seo-young and me, and do whatever you want.”  Tae-ho yells back, “Is having a brief affair a serious enough mistake for me to deserve to die? What do you want me to do? Do you want to divorce me? Is that what you want? Ok, then we will divorce.”  Now all eyes are whether Jeong-im will be able to have the courage to break free from her husband this time.       A new weekend drama 'Freedom Fighter Lee Hoe-young'   Lee Hoe-young is an independence activist who led Korean independence movement, and the head of the anarchist’s underground organization in Shanghai. When Korea was under Japanese colonial rule, he opened a school in Manchuria and trained soldiers and scholars. He also joined the anarchist movement to fight against Japanese forces. The world regards him as ‘The Terrorist’. But for us, Lee Hoe-young is an independence fighter, not a terrorist. This drama portrays a Japanese war correspondent Murayama’s report on “Lee Hoe-young, The Terrorist”. It focuses on the story of Lee Hoe-young under Murayama’s point of view. The drama “Freedom fighter, Lee Hoe-young” will show how Murayama, who was on the side of the strong, comes to understand and admire Lee Hoe-young. It starts on Aug 29th in Seoul.   It

‎Freedom Fighter, Lee Hoe-young (자유인 이회영) KBS Official Preview (KBS Amer...

20100820 (Newsletter) Gumiho, Kim Tak-gu and Summer Sale

Hi, KBSWORLDi Fans The 'real' summer is finally here!  I am wondering how you guys survive this 'warm' weather. Are our dramas and shows helping you to beat the heatwaves? Hope they are! And don't forget our great Summer Special Event. You could get free gifts for your purchase! (See event page for detail) Have a wonderful weekend with KBSWORLDi.com!

Gumiho Determined to Take Revenge in ‘Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho’    --  A child gumiho has been revived through the body of a daughter of the nobleman who killed her and taken revenge in the KBS drama “Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho.” In episode #13, Yeon-yi (Kim Yoo-jeong) in the appearance of Yun Cho-ok (Seo Shin-ae) stabs Yun Du-su (Jang Hyun-sung), Cho-ok’s father, crying that she will get rid of everyone who did harm to her.  Believing that her daughter is possessed by the sprit of Yeon-yi, Cho-ok’s mother (Kim Jung-ran) has a shaman perform an exorcism.  But that makes Yeon-yi remember better the moment of her death and she tells her mother Gumiho about it, who blames herself for being deceived by Du-su.  The mother tells Yeon-yi, “If anything bad happens to you, it will kill me as well, so don’t try to take the matter into your own hands. I’ll take care of it.”  But that does not help soothe Yeon-yi, and she stabs Du-su when he comes to the location where the exorcism is taking place. Du-su concludes that what has happened is all because of his wife that his daughter has changed, and drives his wife out of their home.  Cho-ok’s mother encounters shaman Man-shin (Chun Ho-jin), who tells her that she must stab Yeon-yi in the chest to save her daughter. When she find Yeon-yi and Gumiho, she tries to kill Gumiho as she is protecting Yeon-yi, but Yeon-yi is stabbed while trying to save her mother. Gumiho takes Yeon-yi and flees, but not before Cho-ok’s mother sees her turning into a gumiho, or nine-tailed fox.

Secrets Behind High Popularity of ‘Bread, Love and Dreams’   “Bread, Love and Dreams” is enjoying skyrocketing popularity. Its ratings have continued to increase and with over half of the total episodes aired, the figure has now reached some 40 percent. What lies behind all the attention and interest the show is receiving? Cast members unamimously cited a well-written story. Eugene, who plays female protagonist Shin Yoo-gyeong, said that she can’t wait to read the next script. “Our show is not trendy at all. Rather it causes nostalgia, which helps it appeal to a wide range of fans,” she said. “And each character is convincing. Even evil roles have a plausible story of their own about why they cannot help being evil.”  Ju Won, who appears as Gu Ma-jun, said, “When I read the scripts for the first time, I was confident it would be well-received if we could only portray characters successfully, as the writer intended.” He added, “Both good and bad roles are convincing and supported by fans, and this seems to help the show gain popularity.”  Lee Young-a, who plays Yang Mi-sun, also expressed her confidence in the story. “The story is intriguing simply when reading the scripts,” she said.  Yoo Si-yoon, who plays the lead role of Kim Tak-gu, attributed the message of energy and hope to its skyrocketing popularity. “When I had an interview early on, I said that I am not somebody, but Tak-gu is somebody, and I think the popularity we are enjoying is due to support for him,” he said. “I am really grateful to all the fans who give us strength and energy.” Set in the 1970s, “Bread, Love and Dreams” revolves around Kim Tak-gu, an aspiring baker who reaches the top of his profession.       KBSWORLDi Summer Event is On now!   Don't miss your chance to save big and get free gifts! * Event 1: K-Drama Summer Special     Buy one of the followings:      • 'Happiness in the Wind' or       'The Great Merchant' or       'Summer Scent'       ► Get One FREE 2D1N EOR Set     Buy one of the followings:     • 'Jolly Widows Full Set' or        'Emperor Wang Guhn Full Set'       ► Get Extra Savings (Up to 65%) &           One KBSWORLDi Gift Card ($20) * Event 2: Back-to-School Special      • 'I am Your Teacher', 'Master of Study', or 'Sang Doo, Let's Go to School'       ► Get Extra Savings (Up to 50%) * Event 3: Get Your Points Back!      • Three members who watch the most DRAMA's during the event period        will get all their DRAMA points back * Event Period: Aug 9th 2010 ~ Aug 22nd 2010 (PDT) * Visit our "Event Page" for more detail.

20100812 (Newsletter) Kim Tak-gu. Seo Hyo Rim and Summer Event

Hi, KBSWORLDi Fans How's everyone doing here? Are you enjoying the summer? Now that 'Bread, Love and Dreams' is dominating the Korean TV market, it is apparent that it's a must-see show now. Watch 'Bread, Love and Dreams' on KBSWORLDi.com with English subtitles and don't miss a single episode! And also check out our great Summer Special Event. You could get free gifts for your purchase! (See event page for detail) Have a wonderful weekend with KBSWORLDi.com!

Kim Tak-gu Restores Passion in ‘Bread, Love and Dreams’    --  A protagonist has overcome a slump to put himself back on a trajectory to be a great baker in “Bread, Love and Dreams.”  In the episode 17, Kim Tak-gu (Yoon Si-yoon) happens to hear Gu Ma-jun (Ju Won) talking with his mother Seo In-suk (Jun In-hwa) over the phone and learns that Ma-jun is the son of Gu Il-jung (Jun Guang-lyul), whom he knew from childhood.  Tak-gu is shocked that he has not been able to recognize him for those two years he has lived with him. He tells Ma-jun, “I’ve thought you resemble him. Did you hate me that much so as not to tell me that you are him?”  Ma-jun unintentionally says harsh words in reply, “What did you expect from me? You were then and still are a poor loser.”  Heartbroken, Tak-gu goes to see his childhood sweetheart Shin Yoo-gyeong (Eugene), only to find that she is gone.  This makes Tak-gu lose desire for learning baking as well. He has to prepare for another test by teacher Pal Bong, the legendary baker, but he cannot concentrate on working on it. Then a mother and a boy whom Tak-gu met in a street market visit him and ask him to let them taste the bread he made. Yang Mi-sun (Lee Young-a) gives the boy one Tak-gu has failed to make correctly during practice, and seeing him eating it deliciously, Tak-gu finds motivation and strength not to give up. ‘Bread, Love and Dreams’ is beating its own viewership record every time it is shown on TV and is now called ‘People’s Drama’ as almost half of the TV viewers in Korea during the broadcasts watch it.

Unveiled Stills of Seo Hyo Rim in Drama 'SungKyunKwan Scandal'   In her first appearance in a historical drama, actress Seo Hyo Rim perfectly plays the character “Ha Hyo Eun,” and she said, “You had better have high expectations about Hyo Eun’s lovely charm.” Actress Seo Hyo Rim joined the cast members of the KBS drama “SungKyunKwan Scandal,” which had garnered the highest anticipation from the viewers among dramas to be aired in the second half of 2010, and unveiled her transformation into a so-called “precious princess”. In an unveiled still, Seo presents a prim and graceful charm, which is quite different from her vivacious and fresh image that she has shown so far, while wearing a beautifully-colored hanbok (Korean traditional dress) and sporting neat braided hair. Seo Hyo Rim expressed her feelings, saying, “I had been worried because it was my first acting role in a historical drama, but the writer told me a word of compliment that I went well with the character Hyo Eun, so I was really happy. Once the filming started, the pressure has disappeared, and I am now filming the drama with a pleasant mindset by completely immersing myself in the portrayal of the lovely character ‘Ha Hyo Eun.’” The drama “SungKyunKwan Scandal” will show how four main male and female actors with completely different personalities, Lee Sun Joon (Micky Yoochun), Kim Yoon Hee (Park Min Young), Koo Yong Ha (Song Joong Ki), and Moon Jae Shin (Yoo Ah In), will grow up by having a great deal of troubles.   KBSWORLDi Summer Event is On now!   Don't miss your chance to save big and get free gifts! * Event 1: K-Drama Summer Special     Buy one of the followings;      • 'Happiness in the Wind' or      • 'The Great Merchant' or     • 'Summer Scent'       ► Get One FREE 2D1N EOR Set     Buy one of the followings;     • 'Jolly Widows Full Set' or     • 'Emperor Wang Guhn Full Set'       ► Get Extra Savings (Up to 65%) One KBSWORLDi Gift Card ($20) * Event 2: Back-to-School Special      • 'I am Your Teacher', 'Master of Study', or 'Sang Doo, Let's Go to School'       ► Get Extra Savings (Up to 50%) * Event 3: Get Your Points Back!      • Three members who watch the most DRAMA's during the event period will get all their DRAMA points back * Event Period: Aug 9th 2010 ~ Aug 22nd 2010 (PDT) * Visit our "Event Page" for more detail.

20100810 (Promotion) Summer Special Event !

* Watch your favorite Korean dramas and shows on KBSWORLDi.com!

20100805 (Newsletter) Kim Tak-gu, Gumiho and Lee Na-Young

Hi, KBSWORLDi Fans As the summer is in full swing, we feel like the summer is not complete without another event with new products. We will have some episodes of '2 Days and 1 Night' on EOR next week and will give them for free to some lucky customers who make purchases on our E-store.  Please look for another e-mail in your mail box in the next few days. Other huge discounts will come along.   Have a wonderful weekend with KBSWORLDi.com!

‘Bread, Love, and Dreams’ - Highest viewership ratings overall   --    KBS drama 'Bread, Love and Dreams' (aka, Baker King Kim Tak-gu) reached over 40% of viewership rating in Korea at last. According to the latest report from TNmS in Korea, the Episode #17 of 'Bread, Love and Dreams' on Aug 4th got 42.5% in viewership rating in Korea, breaking its own record. As the bread-making competition gets intense and the four main characters' love relationship changes, the drama will draw more attention from the viewers. Keep watching 'Bread, Love and Dreams' and find out who will win in ultimate power struggles for the bakery and Geosung Group. * Watch the trailer on Dailymotion

Stills of ‘Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho’ Draw Interest   Stills taken on the set of the KBS Drama “Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho,” have caught the attention of netizens. Those stills were taken on the set by the KBS filming director Paek Hong Jong, and they are very impressive as it shows the cast members in the colorful and cheerful atmosphere of the set which is totally contrary to the heavy and serious atmosphere of the drama. In particular, the stills of cast members flying in the air in various poses and the stills of them in a comical pose while made up as dead angels can convey the sense of the cast members and the harmonious teamwork on the set for the drama “Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho.“ Netizens who have seen those stills delivered their interest in the pictures and left cheerful messages by saying, “As the atmosphere of the set is so nice, as the stills show, the drama could be very good.” The drama “Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho” has been receiving a favorable response from viewers as “the best Gumiho story ever,” and it has gradually increased its viewer ratings.  * Watch the trailer on Dailymotion  Unidentified official, Lee Na Young     Actress Lee Na Young will make a comeback with the KBS drama “The Fugitive,” which will begin airing at the end of September, after a six year break by playing a secret official named Jin Yi. A spokesperson for the production company said, “Jin Yi belongs to a national organization, but the title of the organization has to be kept a secret, and Jin Yi’s mission is also a secret in the drama.” A romantic comedy action drama, “The Fugitive” will tell a story of an astronomical amount of money which had disappeared during the Korean War and resurfaced some sixty years later in 2010. Jin Yi is an unpredictable character showing off a beauty characterized by purity and sexiness at the same time. When she is chasing the vanished money, she shoots guns, fights barehanded against the enemy, and sometimes jumps from high buildings. Lee Na Young has usually played calm roles so far, but this time, she will challenge herself by performing action scenes. The drama, which has cast star actors including Rain and Daniel Henney, will film dynamic and realistic chase scenes in overseas locations such as Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Macao.

20100729 (Newsletter) Bread, Narsha and SungKyunKwan Scandal

Hi, KBSWORLDi Fans We are finally in the middle of the summer and we know a lot of you are planning to go on a vacation now. Don't want to miss your favorite K-dramas and shows during the vacation? Just grab your laptop with you and watch your favorite K-dramas and shows online at KBSWORLDi.com wherever you have an internet connection.   Have a great weekend with KBSWORLDi.com!

Son Encounters Mother after 12 Years in ‘Bread, Love, and Dreams’  A mother and a son have failed recognize each other as they are losing their eyesight in “Bread, Love and Dreams.” In the episode #13, Kim Tak-gu (Yoon Si-yoon) is at the risk of becoming blind due to an explosion that happened at the bakery where he is working, losing hope for a reformed life. He packs his belongings at night to leave the bakery and feels his way to a baking room. Hearing noise, other staff members wake up and follow him. He makes bread for the one last time without knowing that the members are watching him.  When he is done with it and about to leave, the fellow workers stop him and bake the bread he made. They then taste it and offer their critical views.  Chief Yang In-mok (Park Sang-myeon) says, “Your skills are still terribly poor. You won’t be able to take part in a test to be a real baker even if you devote all your time and effort for the next two years.” He persuades him to go to a big hospital to receive treatment for his eyes so that he can continue to work and learn. Moved by the warmness that the chief shows, Tak-gu just cries. At a hospital the next day, Tak-gu encounters his mother Kim Mi-sun (Jun Mi-sun), who he believed to be dead after she had gone missing 12 years ago, but the two do not recognize each other. Like Tak-gu, his mother is also losing her eyesight. Fortunately, the treatment is successful and Tak-gu recovers his eyesight. “

Narsha Openly Advertises For Spouse in ‘Invincible Youth’  Narsha, the oldest among the G7 members, openly put out an advertisement for a spouse during filming the program. In the episode #38 of“Invincible Youth,” the G7 members continued to experience the traditional Japanese farmhouse in the Biei region following last week’s episode.  While Narsha was helping the work in the asparagus farm, she said, “It has already become July, but I am still alone. I think that it is time for you to take action for me.” She asked other members to find a suitable man for her. Kim Shin Young willingly agreed to her request and started to advertise for a spouse for her by saying, “Every single man in the farm village, this is the right time for you.” After listening to Shin Young’s advertisement, Narsha added, “Not only single men in Korea, but also those in all around the world and even married men could be considered as long as you apply for it through the board of the ‘Invincible Youth’ website.” Her utterance produced laughter on the set. To finish the advertisement, Narsha drank water with an extraordinarily charismatic force as an adult idol group member, so her behavior made the other members surprised. Anyone out there wants to give it a shot?   Meet Stars of Upcoming Drama ‘SungKyunKwan Scandal’   About a year ago, four boys came out of obscurity and became heartthrobs in the country through their roles in “Boys over Flowers,” and now another four boys are set to overshadow them. They are Micky, a member of idol group “TVXQ,” Song Joong-ki, Yu A-in and Park Min-young -- the stars of the new KBS drama “SungKyunKwan Scandal” scheduled to air from August 30. Park actually plays the female protagonist who is disguised as a boy to enter a boys’ school instead of her sick brother. Based on a teen novel, the period drama revolves around four students at a Confucian academy during the Joseon era. It has been drawing great attention due to high expectations for the stars and the popularity of the original novel. At a press event for the show in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province on July 15, the four stars talked about their roles. “SungKyunKwan Scandal” will succeed “Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho” on Mondays and Tuesdays.