Philip Lee debut in Korean period drama, The Legend 태왕사신기, starring the famous Bae Yong Jun. Unlike his elder sister, who is Korean-born and already a little girl when the family migrated to the US, Philip was born in the US. His dad runs a very successful business (I saw the documentary on his dad, of course, Philip was featured too, onl　　y time I saw him in short hair and typical business suit).

I do not know whether the 교포 label can be used on him and he is definitely not 1.5세. So that should put him squarely together with us Asians, whose first language is English, putting aside the pure Korean parentage and home schooling in Korean.

It is no mean feat to be able to master Korean in such a short time, even though he now lives in Korea.

Wonder which Korean language school he attended or who was his tutor ? Please let me know if you know. :)

By the way, there are several Hanja words of Chinese origin in the news article, which also mentioned his upcoming KBS2 drama 남자이야기 (Guys Talk / A Story of Man), replacing the Boys Over Flowers time slot, and co-stars include Park Yong Ha, Kim Kang Woo and Park Ki Woong. Debut episode is on 6 April 2009, when I should be in Korea backpacking, if the idea in my head now materialises.

E.g.

일취월장 = 日进月步 (means leaps and bounds?)

노력 = 努力

형 = 形

실력 = 实力

생활 = 生活

속도 = 速度

Quite annoying that they are Chinese words but I don't recognise them when they become Hanja.

이필립, 한국어실력 일취월장‥"노력형 배우"

배우 이필립의 한국어 실력이 일취월장이다.

미국에서 태어나 생활하다 3년 전 한국에 온 이필립은 놀라운 속도로 모국어에 적응하고 있다.

이 필립 소속사 관계자는 10일 "이필립이 미국에서 태어나 26년 동안 현지에서 생활하다가 한국에 온지 얼마 안됐기 때문에 대부분의 사람들이 그가 한국어를 잘 못한다고 생각하시는 분이 많다"며 "하지만 지난해에 비해 월등히 실력이 향상돼 굉장히 잘 한다"고 밝혔다. 이어 "이제는 오랜 미국생활을 한 사람이 아니라고 느껴질 정도다"고 부연했다.

그는 한국어 실력 일취월장은 평소 성격을 반영하는 대목. 매사에 노력형인 이필립은 자신에게 모자란 부문을 채워나가기 위해 땀나는 노력을 기울이고 있다고 관계자는 설명했다.

실제 이필립은 한국어 외에도 촬영을 앞둔 KBS 2TV 새 월화미니시리즈 '남자이야기'(극본 송지나·연출 윤성식)에 캐스팅을 확정지으며 몸만들기에 돌입했다.

액션스쿨에서 일주일에 3일 4시간 이상 강도 높은 액션 연기를 배우고 있는가 하면 보다 완벽한 연기를 선보이기 위해 연기 맹훈련 중이다.

소속사 관계자는 "이필립이 기본적인 액션 연기는 가능하지만 완벽을 추구하는 성격 탓에 작품에 맞는 액션을 위해 노력하고 있다"고 전했다.

이필립은 지난 2007년 방송된 MBC '태왕사신기'를 통해 얼굴을 알린 스타유망주. 이필립은 '태왕사신기'에 이어 '남자이야기'를 통해 송지나 작가와 두 번째 인연을 맺으며 화제가 되고 있다.

이필립은 '남자이야기'에서 재미교포 2세 도재명 역을 맡았다. 극중 아버지의 복수를 위해 거대 기업을 사냥하는 인물로 영어와 법률에 능통한 매력적인 모습을 선보일 예정이다.
[관련기사]

Photo of cast of KBS drama, Slingshot.

I have been seeing them onl　y at the exit checkpoints !
Hyun Bin & Song Hye Gyo at Singapore Changi Airport 12 Sep 2008 about 10:20 pm.

2008 JIMFF on 14 August 2008.

I first noticed Korean cinematographer, Jung Il Sung, when watching the making-of portion of the DVD for the movie Raging Years 하류인생.

That video clip showed him at work behind his camera and his somewhat weather-beaten face came across to me as both grandfatherly, as well as, artistic. Yes, artistic; the sort of look of someone creative and who has worked at art his whole life. 

Despite the deep impression, I had a hard time remembering his name. I remembered him as the cinematographer who always works with the famous director, Im Kwon Taek.

Online information of Jung Il Sung is not easy to come by, so too for his photos, so I have to blog today upon coming across his photograph taken at today's event, 10th Seoul's International Youth Film Festival 서울국제청소년영화제. He is flanked by Im Kwon Taek and actor, Jo Jae Hyun.



Jung Il Sung still cuts a dashing figure at his age, 79.

It is a well-known fact that director Im Kwon Taek has made 100 films but Jung Il Sung has filmed 82, as listed at http://www.cine21.com/Movies/Mov_Person/person_info.php?id=447

He has also won several awards.

I wonder if any other cinematographer in Korea even comes close to his league ?

If I were to be able to get to PIFF this October, would I get to see him in person ?