[News] Hallyu Star Lee Byung-hun to appear on CNN’s ‘Talk Asia’

이병헌 CNN ‘토크 아시아’ 전격 출연 ‘새해 첫 방송 장식’


Actor Lee Byung-hun is expected to appear on CNN’s “Talk Asia” program next week, where he is expected to talk about his recent success on the small screen in Korea and his foray onto the big screen in Hollywood.

Last year, Lee starred as Storm Shadow in Stephen Sommers’ action flick “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and played the lead character in the KBS television drama “Iris.”

Iris, which will have its season finale on Dec. 17, was a hit here and topped the ratings with an audience share of close to 40 percent. It will be shown in seven Asian countries including Japan, where Lee has a legion of fans.

Lee’s turn in G.I. Joe, which is reported to have grossed over $300 million worldwide, brought him international recognition. He has already signed on to appear in the sequel, which is reported to begin shooting in the second half of the year. But Lee nearly threw the opportunity away, as a press release containing excerpts from the interview revealed.

“When I first heard about G.I. Joe from my agent, I didn’t know what it was,” he said. “I refused the offer at first. But everyone told me to do it and said it was a huge opportunity.

“One of my very good friends, Park Chan-wook, who made ‘Oldboy,’ said to me, ‘If you really want to go to Hollywood, why don’t you do it? It will be a very good opportunity.’”

Lee’s year has not passed without drama. He and his ex-girlfriend traded a spate of accusations in a very public scandal that damaged his reputation and resulted in a lawsuit.

Talk Asia accompanies Lee onto the red carpet at the opening night of the 14th Pusan International Film Festival in October, and follows him to the Iris set.

The program featuring Lee will be aired on Jan. 20, followed by several reruns on the network. After the first broadcast, it will also be available online at www.cnn.com/talkasia.

By Park Sun-young [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]





이병헌 CNN ‘토크 아시아’ 전격 출연 ‘새해 첫 방송 장식’



배우 이병헌이 미국 뉴스전문채널 CNN의 ‘토크 아시아’ 프로그램 2010년 첫 방송을 장식한다.

소속사 측은 14일 이병헌이 각계 아시아를 대표하는 스타들을 집중 조명하는 CNN ‘토크 아시아’(TALK ASIA)의 2010년 새해 첫 인물로 선정됐다고 밝혔다. 이로서 이병헌은 명실공히 올해 가장 주목 받는 아시아 최고 스타로서의 위치를 입증했다.

CNN은 오는 20일 방송에서 배우 이병헌에 대한 이야기를 방송한다. 이병헌은 이 방송을 통해 영화 ‘지.아이.조:전쟁의 서막’과 ‘공동경비구역 JSA’에 출연했던 이야기 등을 털어놓는다.

또 지난 가을 부산국제영화제에서의 모습과 KBS 2TV ‘아이리스’ 촬영모습 등이 담길 예정이다.

‘토크 아시아’는 한국 뿐만 아니라 아시아 각국에서 활약하는 영화, 음악, 스포츠, 패션계 인물들을 다룬다. 지난해 방송에서 박지성과 비(본명 정지훈)가 출연한 바 있다.





Lee Byung-hun to receive Asian Star award


Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will receive the Asia Star award at the 2010 Asia Model Awards tomorrow, according to the Korea Model Association (KMA) on Thursday.

At the event, hosted by KMA and KOFICE (Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange), the actor will be commended for his contribution in promoting Asian cultural content through his acting work.

The Asia Model Awards, into its fifth year, is a cultural festival which is attended by top fashion models and modeling industry executives from the Asian region. The event purports to promote cultural content exchange among Asian countries not only in modeling, but fashion and pop culture in general.

Lee, 39, is one of South Korea's most successful actors who has appeared in numerous television dramas and films. He made his Hollywood debut last year in the action flick "G.I. Joe" and starred in Korea's major blockbuster drama "IRIS" for which he won the grand prize at the 2009 KBS Acting Awards.

The event -- to be broadcast in 21 countries in Asia -- will take place at Seoul's Olympic Park Olympic Hall on January 14 and 15.


Reporter : Ko Jae-wan star@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>