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Korean boom sweeps Japan

By Chris Betros and Mayumi Higashioka


TOKYO — There's no doubt who the biggest foreign celebrities are in Japan right now — Koreans. When Lee Byung-hun and Choi Ji-woo visited Japan recently, nearly 1,500 screaming fans showed up at Narita airport to greet them. That was nothing compared to the reception they got at the Tokyo International Film festival, where 300 photographers and 800 reporters crammed into their press conference to promote their romantic comedy "Everybody Has Secrets."

The couple, along with Bae Yong-joon, has swept through Japan this year like a fever. Choi first starred with Yong-joon in NHK's phenomenally popular "Winter Sonata." Now she and Lee are appearing in the Saturday night NHK drama "Beautiful Days."

"Every time I come to Japan, the number of people who come to my press conferences seems to increase," mused the 34-year-old Lee, known in South Korea for his killer smile.

The elegant 29-year-old Choi, who looked like she had stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine, said she found it gratifying to have so many fans in Japan. Born in Pusan, she majored in aerobics at Pusan Women's Professional College before beginning her acting career.

During her visit, she made a 1 million yen donation to victims of the Niigata earthquake. Lee added that he hopes their new film will bring a smile to the faces of the people of Niigata.

Directed by Chang Hyun-soo, "Everybody Has Secrets" is the story of three sisters who are completely smitten with a mysterious young businessman whose seductive power they cannot resist. All three try to keep their relationship with him secret from the others. Then he's invited to their mother's birthday party and the fun and games start.

"Romantic comedy is a new field for me," said Lee. "It was difficult because it's not realism. I had to be careful not to overact, so it was a challenge."

Choi said that when she read the script, she was worried at first. "I've done many love stories and I wanted to challenge a new genre. Still, it was great working with Lee. I think any woman who sees him in this movie will simply melt on the spot."

Both Lee and Choi are hoping to expand their careers beyond their homeland. Choi is taking English lessons with an eye to Hollywood. She doesn't discount making a movie in Japan, either. "I love Japanese movies too. If I can break the language barrier, I would love to be in a Japanese movie," she said.

Lee said he gets asked that question all the time. "My mind is open on the subject. I basically don't care in which country I make a movie, as long as I can work with good directors," he said.

November 4, 2004