Jun Ji Hyun’s innocent allure returns for ‘Guess'

Actress Jun Ji Hyun recently modeled for the casual jean brand ‘Guess‘ and revealed pictures from the photoshoot.


The photoshoot was held in Jeju Island’s “Shineville Resort”, and the actress revealed all of her charms while posing in the ‘Guess’ clothes in her own unique ‘Jun Ji Hyun style’.


Reportedly, her innocent sexiness melted the hearts of every

Rain Denies Rumors of Dating Jeon Ji-hyeon

Despite the rumors that have been linking two of Korea's hottest stars, the official word is out that 

When Stars Bank on Advertising Only

Despite numerous box office bombs and once-in-a-blue-moon TV soap appearances, some actors and actresses enjoy wild successes as commercial models, firmly establishing an aura of mystery even among celebrities. In Japan, even popular celebrities rarely appear in more commercials than dramas, while stars in U.S. rarely shoot commercials except for luxury goods. But in Korea, some celebrities star in commercials at least 10 times more than in dramas or movies.

◆ Commercials-only Stars

For the actress Kim Tae-hee, who returns to the screen for the first time in four years this September, her new drama role is a chance to shed her prolonged image as a TV spot star. She appeared in 26 commercials since 2005, an average of 5.2 per year. During the same period, she starred in only two films, "The Restless," and "Venus and Mars." Actors and actresses such as Jang Dong-gun, Jeon Ji-hyun, Han Ga-in, Han Ye-seul, or Shin Min-a also appeared more in commercials than in movies.

What makes this possible is their so-called marketing power. In a survey of the most popular actor and actress in Korea in 2009 by market researcher Leespiar in March, Jang Dong-gun and Kim Tae-hee took first place -- a truly surprising result given that neither appeared in any movies or dramas since 2007. What were the standards measuring popularity? Leespiar says it simply asked respondents who might be considered popular and to list their personal preferences. That suggests many people actually voted for them because of their frequent appearance on TV, regardless of the context. Although great popularity may lead to appearances in commercials, this can also work the other way and make them more popular.

◆ Income

Fees of hundreds of million won are also a phenomenon unique to Korea. In the U.S., only professional models appear in commercials, which actors tend to avoid so as not to look like has-beens. This shows that acting alone can generate enough wealth in the U.S., whereas it rarely does in Korea. The tendency to cast top stars for commercials is also absent in Japan. "Japanese agencies don't invest too much in fees because the products take precedence over celebrities in commercials," says Jung Bo-hyun, an executive in a domestic ad agency. "Celebrities themselves also choose to appear constantly in a single commercial rather than to star in many for higher pay." By contrast, a handful of actors and actresses dominate the film industry in Korea. "In a situation like this, many celebrities focus more on commercials than actual acting," says Kim won-young, a copywriter.

◆ Popularity and Risks

The benefits of such strategies are dubious. According to data released by the researcher Brand 38, Kim Tae-hee's commercial influence dropped from first place in early 2008 to fifth this year, Jeon Ji-hyun's from third to sixth, and Zo In-sung's from sixth to 11th place. The center explains that constant exposure to repeated images rapidly dulls the receptiveness of the public.

"Comparing popularity and the lack of it every year, the data show that celebrities who appear only in commercials tend to grow unpopular," says the director of Brand 38. "While celebrities who established a mysterious image for themselves were at the top of the list for commercials up until three years ago, now celebrities who constantly honed their talents are beginning to dominate the advertising market."

Sassy Girl Kicks Butt

All eyes are on Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun, who is making her Hollywood debut in Blood: The Last Vampire, which will open in the United States next month. The movie opened here last Thursday and has since made a respectable $353,000 so far.

Better known as the star of comedy blockbuster My Sassy Girl (2001), 27-year-old Jun is the latest Asian star to venture West, after Chinese actresses Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li.

She plays a half-vampire who uses her samurai sword to kill vampires in this movie directed by French director Chris Nahon, which is based on a Japanese anime, released in 2000.

Already, Jun’s movie has the Western media excited.

CNN listed it as the No. 3 film on its “15 Movies for Geeks in 2009” list in January. It came in behind Fanboys, which was No. 1, but beat movies like Star Trek, which was No. 7.

But Jun – who has adopted the name “Gianna” in anticipation of her breakthrough – was not prepared for her first action role in Blood, she told my paper while in Singapore last month.

“If I had known that the action scenes would be so difficult, I’d have had second thoughts about doing the movie,” she said through a translator.

She went through three months of martial-arts training in Los Angeles and China under Hong Kong director and choreographer Corey Yuen.

“Sometimes, I wanted to give up,” she recalled. But asked if she would take on action roles again, she replied in the affirmative. “I’ve learnt that nothing is impossible,” she said.




credits: asianfanatics

Gianna Jun declares interest in Takuya Kimura at promotion for 'Last Blood'

Korean actress Gianna Jun, 27, attended a special preview this week with co-star Koyuki, 32, in Shibuya for the Japan premiere of “Blood: The Last Vampire.” Jun, better known as Ji-hyun Jun, changed her name for the release of the movie which was filmed in English.

Based on the Japanese animated film released in 2000, Jun plays a katana-wielding half-human/half-vampire who hunts full-blooded vampires, both to rid the world of them and due to the fact they are her only source of food.

At the premiere, Jun chose SMAP’s Takuya Kimura as a man she would like to star with, saying he is a great actor. Kimura happened to be promoting the release of his own upcoming movie “I Come With The Rain” in Roppongi on Wednesday night, and Koyuki made a sly remark thanking everyone for coming to see their movie and not his.

“Blood: The Last Vampire” (billed as “Last Blood” in Japan) opens in cinemas on Friday.




credits: Japan Today

Jeon Ji-hyun Looks to Confound Critics in Vampire Film

Actress Jeon Ji-hyun is on a tour of several countries to promote her latest film "Blood: The Last Vampire" scheduled for release on June 11.

The film is the story of a vampire who is battling to end 400 years of warfare between humans and vampires. Based on Japanese animation "Ghost in the Shell" by Mamoru Oshii, it cost US$35 million as a co-production by Japan, France and Hong Kong.

"I'm more excited and nervous because it's not a Korean project, but a multinational one," Jeon said. "I'm very nervous because I'm presenting myself as an actress in a new genre."

"I get a lot of feedback saying that I’m a commercial model rather than an actress, and that I'm trapped in the images in advertisements. I also hear comments questioning my ability to act. Because I'm a human being, I was anxious and impatient about having to show another side of me to the public," she said. "But I also thought that because I'm an actress, I don't have to get carried away. I know that I will do well and I will look good, so there was no need to hurry."

"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to show various aspects of myself in dramas or films throughout my 11-year career," she said. There are many misperceptions and prejudices about the image I've portrayed so far, but I think the best answer to such criticisms would be to do well in new films. I have ambition and desire to act until the day I die."

Jeon said the film tried to be as true to the original animation as possible. "The director and all other crew said I fit the character very well."

Blood the Last Vampire 2nd US Trailer





source: asianfanatics

Can Gianna Jun Succeed Overseas?

"My Sassy Girl" heroine Gianna Jun (her Korean name is Jun Ji-hyun) comes back on screen with her first international action movie "Blood," which will be released on June 11 in Korea. In the movie, Jun plays the role of "Saya," a human-vampire hybrid who hunts vampires for food. Playing "Saya" is ground breaking for Jun as an actress for the fact that she has never performed in an action movie. Wielding katana and hanging from a wire were new experiences for her.

Speaking at a news conference on May 12 in Seoul, she explained that she chose a hardcore action movie as her international movie debut in an apparent desire to analyze herself as an actress.

She said, "I valued the new venture to debut as an action star in overseas markets and I thought that I must challenge myself."

Working with foreign staff was not an easy task because the language barrier was a new challenge. "I remember the first shooting very vividly. I could only perform two lines of the script, and I couldn't understand what the producers wanted from me," Jun said.

While Jun took the first step into the overseas movie market, there were mixed reactions to her chances of becoming a Hollywood movie star through "Blood."

Caroline, 23, who works in the fashion industry in New York City, doubts Jun's chances of success in the tough U.S. film industry. "My first question is can she speak English properly?”

"The reason that the Korean actress in 'Lost' (Kim Yoon-jin) was successful is because she can speak English very fluently. Unless Gianna could speak English like that, I don't think she will be successful," she told The Korea Herald.

Experts in Seoul say language is one of the main factors that decide the success for Korean entertainers who go overseas, especially to the United States.

Han Su-jung from entertainment management company JYP's PR department emphasized the importance of English-speaking ability. She exemplified pop singer Park Jun-hyung's case and said "He filmed two Hollywood movies already: "Speed Racer" and "Dragon Ball Z." Han also said in an interview with the paper that "Park's fluent English helped him a lot, since he speaks the language he is playing the main character in 'Dragon Ball Z."' “The language came handy when the actor communicates with producers and other cast members and I think it applies to any Korean actor or actress filming in a foreign language."

Along with language, "looks" are not a negligible factor for evaluating Jun as a world star. Caroline said "American audience love to see the 'exotic' looks of Asians, but I don't think she has that … (she) has a forgettable face."

But other Americans raised the possibility that Jun could appeal to the U.S. entertainment industry. Jim Mahan, a banker in North Carolina, who said he is a movie fan, told The Korea Herald in an e-mail interview that Jun reminded him of the young actress in "Hero" and "Kill Bill."

"She has an attractive look, but also, and I know this may sound strange, she looks believable," Mahan said.

Whether playing a saint or an evil character, Mahan said, she has a face that looks genuine. "That's extremely important in film," he said.

For the movie "Blood," Jun worked with well-known producer Bill Kong, who produced "Crouching Tiger," "Hero," and "House of Flying Dragon."

The movie will be on show from July in the United States.




source: asianfanatics