My Name is Kim Sam Soon

The new-generation actor Hyeon Bin will likely become the representative top-class hallyu star overseas. In December of last year, Hyeon appeared as a cover model for the Hong Kong edition of the world-renowned men’s magazine “Esquire”, a first for a South Korean actor. This time, Hyeon has recently become a top hallyu star in Japan, overtaking other South Korean celebrities. Hyeon ranked first in the “Third Poll on Hallyu Stars” conducted on readers for the February issue of the “South Korean TV Drama Magazine” published by Kyodo News.

In the poll, Hyeon was followed by Kwon Sang-woo, Bae Yong-joon and Lee Byeong-heon, in that order. Other hallyu stars selected included Ryoo Si-won, Song Seung-heon, Kim Rae-won, Park Yong-ha, So Ji-sub and Park Shin-yang.

Hyeon’s ranking in the poll has stunned all people concerned, as South Korean TV dramas he has acted in have never been aired by terrestrial networks in Hong Kong or Japan.

South Korean TV dramas are normally broadcast by cable TV networks in Japan ahead of terrestrial networks. Through KNTV, a fee-based channel in Japan, the drama “Ireland” aired from January through March of last year, and another drama “My Name is Kim Sam-soon” from August through October of last year, winning great popularity there. After those dramas were broadcast, Hyeon has attracted a growing number of Japanese female fans because of his handsome and gentle appearance.
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AKA: My Name is Kim Sam-Soon

Year: 2005

Director: Kim Yoon-Cheul

Producer: Kim Sa-Hyeon

Production: MBC

Distributor: MBC

Writer: Ji Soo-hyeon

Technics: 60 min

Broadcasting Dates: 1 June 2005 - 21 July 2005

Cast: Kim Seon-Ah, Hyeon Bin, Jeong Ryeo-Won, Daniel Henney, Kim Ja-Ok, Lee Ah-Hyeon, Yeo Woon-Kye, Nah Moon-Hee, Kwon Hae-Hyo

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Main winners in MBC awards, mostly from My Lovely Sam Soon

“My Lovely Samsoon”, which marked 2005’s highest viewer rating of 50.5 percent among all TV dramas, is the major winner by winning most major awards at the MBC awards on 30th Dec 2005. The awards show almost becomes feature-made for “My Name is Kim Sam Soon” or “My Lovely Sam Soon” drama.

Kim Sun-a
Kim Sun-a winning speech
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Last month, a Carson City man got to say the words heard so often at awards shows: “I want to thank…”

Daniel Henney, 26, won the Best Dressed award at the MBC Comedy Awards show Dec. 29 and the Best Newcomer award at the MBC Drama Awards show Dec. 30, both in South Korea. He also presented the Program Director’s Choice award winner.

Henney started his newcomer’s award acceptance speech by saying, “I want to thank my mom and dad.” He ended with “Thank you, Korea.”

Henney is the son of Phillip and Christine Henney of Carson City and was a former star basketball player before graduating from Carson City-Crystal High School in 1998. Henney quickly rose to fame thanks to an international modeling career and a starring role as a doctor in love with his patient in last year’s South Korean television dramatic miniseries, “My Name Is Kim Sam-soon.”

He also was chosen as 2005’s Best Actor during a recent South Korean poll of 38,314 teenagers on the Web site puppyred.com.

Henney is now shooting a starring role in “Spring Waltz,” a dramatic miniseries directed by Yoon Suk-ho. The drama will be the last of the director’s television dramas named after the four seasons, which also included “Summer Scent,” “Autumn Fairy Tale” and “Winter Sonata” - three tragic love stories set in their respective seasons.

This drama will revolve around a boy and a girl who fall in love, are forced to break up because of an accident, then meet again when they become adults. The miniseries will cost $4 million to $6 million in American dollars and will air on South Korean television in March.

Kim Sam-soon (29): Kim Sun Ah (Golden Era)
Hyun Jin-heon (27): Hyun Bin (Ireland)
Yoo Hee-jin (27): Jung Ryu Won
Dr. Henry Kim (30): Daniel Henney
Park Bong-sook (Sam-soon’s mom, 53): Kim Ja Ok (On the Prairie/This Is Love)
Kim Yi-young (Sam-soon’s sister, 31): Lee Ah Hyun (Her House)
Na Hyun-sook (Jin-heon’s mom, 50): Na Moon Hee (Mothers & Sisters)
Hyun Mi-joo (Jin-heon’s niece, 7): Suh Ji Hee
Yoon Hyun-sook (40): Yoon Ye Hee
Min Hyun-woo (33): Lee Kyu Han
Jang Chae-ri (26): Lee Yoon Mi
Ms. Oh (60): Yeo Woon Kye (Who’s My Love/Dae Jang-geum)
Hyun Moo (chef, 30): Kwon Hae Hyo (Winter Ballad/To Be With You)
Lee In-hye (22): Han Yeo Woon
Jang Young-ja (27): Kim Hyun Jung

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