Jackie Chan is working on a theatrical production based on his life as an action star and martial artist, Chan revealed Tuesday.The Hong Kong actor said at a press conference in New York that he is writing a stage adaptation of his 1998 autobiography “I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action,” which tells the story of his early childhood, growing up with music and gaining international stardom.According to Chan, the musical will focus on his youth and efforts to escape the shadows of martial arts le

South Korean actor Song Seung-heon said he couldn’t have achieved dramatic transformation on his latest television series if he hadn’t changed. “I had to put myself down for that.”The 36-year-old actor received favorable reviews for his performance on the television drama “When a Man Loves” -- which went off the air on June 6 -- playing a cold-hearted loan shark who morphs into a successful businessman for his love.Making a debut in 1995 as a fashion model, Song gained fame with his handsome fac

 Sorting out a list of top celebrities is relatively easy for ardent Korean Wave fans who keep tabs on their favorite stars. For non-experts, not many lists offer a guide into who is winning the most hearts in South Korea. Here is The Korea Herald’s list of the hottest celebrities out there. Female1. Bae Suzy  Bae Suzy, better known by her stage name Suzy, debuted as a member of JYP Entertainment’s girl group Miss A in the summer of 2010. The 20-year-old singer-actress is one of the most talked-

There was a time when critics were not so generous in apprasing idol stars who took to acting on the big or small screen. While that prejudice is still alive, many of them have successfully overcome criticism to grow into full-fledged actors.1. Park Yu-chunNot many people had high expectations for Park Yu-chun in 2010 when the singer said he would start acting. Park made his first appearance on the small screen with “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and excelled at portraying Lee Sun-joon in the fusion his

Street hip-hop meets classical ballet in “Ballerina Who Loved a B-Boy,” the dynamic live break dancing musical that has managed to keep the beat going for nearly eight years running since its premiere on Dec. 9, 2005. “The original plan was to create a show that would have no language, cultural, age or gender barriers,” said playwright and director Choi Yun-yeop. “The show is a nonverbal musical and I consider the story a 21st-century telling of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ that can be enjoyed by anyone f

Actor and entertainer Marcos (Marcos Benjamin Lee), who was booked for allegedly hitting his wife Ahn Si-hyeon, will not be indicted after Ahn said she did not wish to press charges against him.According to the police, Marcos pulled Ahn’s hair and slapped her several times while they were quarreling over child care on Sunday morning. His wife called the police and Marcos was arrested on the spot. He returned home after being questioned for over five hours. However, on Monday, Ahn told the police

Korean-American singer Ailee has finished filming “Fun Girl, Ailee’s Two Nights and Three Days in the Philippines,” according to the Philippine Department of Tourism in Korea on Monday. “We expect to introduce the diverse attractions of the Philippines through Ailee, who has an exotic appearance and a very unique voice,” said Maricon Basco-Ebron, director of the organization. The video was shot in Manila, showcasing various tourist spots of the Philippines’ capital. It also shows each destinatio

Shim Eun-jin, the former member of 1990s girl group Babyvox, is making her debut as a professional photographer. Shim is holding her first solo photo exhibition June 13-30 at Jeong-am Art Gallery in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, according to her agency Ulala Entertainment. More than 60 of her works including photographs, croquis and writings will be on display.During the exhibition period, there will be a special program, “Art talk,” where the visitors can talk with the artist. According to Imagination

Hollywood movie star Brad Pitt landed in Gimpo Airport in Seoul on Tuesday morning to promote his latest movie “World War Z” together with his son Pax.The 49-year-old actor is planning to meet South Korean fans at Cheonggye Plaza located in the center of Seoul during a red carpet event scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.“World War Z” is a blockbuster zombie thriller based on a novel about a former United Nations employee saving the Earth from a zombie pandemic. The movie hits local theaters in Ko

World-renowned director Kim Ki-duk has asked Korea’s movie rating’s agency to reconsider its decision to give a highly restricted rating to his latest film. Kim’s new film “Moebius” got a “restricted screening” rating from the Korea Media Rating Board on June 1. Given that Korea does not have a single theater dedicated to screening films with a restricted rating, the agency’s decision means audiences cannot watch Kim’s new film in his home country. The board’s decision was prompted by the film’s

South Korean music group Sistar made its much-anticipated return on Tuesday by releasing its second album.The popular all-female quartet held its comeback performance to the cheers of fans who flocked to a showcase stage in Mapo-gu, Seoul.Within hours of release, the title song of the album “Give It to Me” reached the No. 1 spot on the country’s major music charts including Melon, Mnet.com, Olleh, Bugs, Naver Music and Daum Music. The group also released the music video of “Give It to Me,” whic

A growing number of South Korean celebrities have been meeting their soul mates within the entertainment industry, heralding a boom of star couples. Against this backdrop, The Korea Herald has summed up the top 10 celebrity couples that draw keen attention from fans in Korea and elsewhere.1. Lee Byung-hun & Lee Min-jung Actors Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung are tying the knot in August. Breaking up after a brief relationship in 2006, they reunited and have been together since last year. Lee Byun