For Sale: A Hyun Bin Photobook, Army Edition

Or should I say Kim Tae Pyung's? Looks like the army wants a piece of Binnie pie as well. 

The thing that is controversial about this is not the fact that the Military is producing promotional books (Korea's practically The Land of Photobooks), but the fact that they are SELLING what used to be given out FOR FREE. 


The SBS television news program 8:00 News on the 11th of May has reported that the Marines Corps will be producing Hyun Bin's photobook on his life at the military, capturing his training and life in the barracks. It is expected to be produced at the end of this year; a professional photographer and writer has already been secured for this purpose.


The Marine Corps has given the production rights to a certain publishing house, with the condition that they share part of the profits. When questioned on the subject of sales, the Marine Corps remain noncommittal. Their stand on it: "The photobook's purpose is to promote the Marines, not Hyun Bin." Yeah riiight. People will be parting with their hard earned cash to see how's life like in the Marines, not Binnie. It has nothing to do with the Binnie factor. Nope. Nada.


No $$$ for Binnie either. He gets nothing out of this because in accordance to the South Korean law, a civil servant who performs official duties bearing a uniform does not get to enjoy portrait rights (i.e cannot profit from the sales). Hyun Bin has already agreed to take the pictorial for free. 


He was enlisted into the Marine Corps earlier this March, and after 7 weeks of recruit training he was sent to Byeongyeong Island for service.


Chloe Says: Personally though, I cannot understand the appeal of photobooks. I rather spend my cash on other collectables like DVDs, manhwas, or even the occasional kdrama calendar or two. Photobooks? Me don't get.


Via Sports Chosun, Chosun Ilbo

Hyun Bin Completes Rigorous Military Training

...and he says he misses his parents the most. Aww. 

Recently his military life has been documented and it has already been unveiled to the public. May 1st's broadcast of KBS's documentary program "3 Days Documentary" featured Hyun Bin as a ROK Marine Corps 1137 in his 5th week of going through hellish training scenarios for new recruits. 

Binnie is one of the 720 soldiers in training, where he's no longer known by his stage name but his birth name, Kim Tae Pyung. Upon completion of the hell-style training, an award ceremony was held, presenting "red medals" to signify that they are no longer recruits. 

Hyun Bin recalls the training process and said: "Because it's something I obtained (i.e the red medal) after such tough training, I feel very proud. The period where you rely on your strength and obtaining the results with your fellow mates, it also deepens your understanding towards yourself."


He showed great excitement upon getting the red medal, and says: "(I) first thought of my parents. Right now at this moment my heart is filled with passion, and (I'm) overbrimming with confidence." Hyun Bin's face is tanned, as all military men are, and he's also looking very healthy and confident.


After 6 weeks of training, Hyun Bin gets 5 days of rest. He is currently doing his service at Byeongyeong Island under the Marine Corps 6th Brigade. 


Via Chosun Ilbo

Binnie At The Airport & BIFF

Photos galore! Hyun Bin leaves to Berlin for its 61st international film festival on the 15th with Come Rain, Come Shine co-star Im Soo-jung.

This is kinda irrelevant, but was reported as a news anyway: Believe it or not, this whole outfit costs approx. 10 million won. How they found the brand of each and every item he wore is beyond me; check it out (USD conversion in approximates):

Giorgio Brato vintage leather jacket - 1.71 million won (1 500 USD)

Alexander McQueen's printed tee - 350 thousand won (300 USD)

Julien David scarf - 790 thousand won (700 USD)

D&G aviator sunglasses - approx. 300 thousand won (250 USD)

Dsquared2 faded jeans - 690 thousand won (600 USD)

Giorgio Armani black high-top boots - 1 million won (890 USD)

L'inoui bagpack - 700 thousand won (600 USD)

All of these, plus his watch from his private collection has a combined total of 10 million won (approx 9 000 USD). Which must mean that his watch is approx 5 million won (4 600 USD). *reels*

Makes me think this suit has gotta be cheaper; the couple in Berlin:

Don't ask me, I have no idea what he's pointing at:

Credits: Respective news outlets as indicated on photo.

Binnie & Tang Wei for Vogue

Oooh I love it when the mags pair up their models just like they do in movies. This pairing would not have been possible if it weren't for the film they did together, Late Autumn. 

Gorgeous individual shots:

I love that haughty stare of his ^^

Via Baidu's SG

Binnie The Barista? The Perfect Advertising Hero~

As promised, here's my cute Binnie post ("cute" refers to Binnie, not my post). It only took one look to convince me to translate this article, and it's none other than the photo below:

Isn't it...bwahaha! He looks so feminine. It's amazing how a different hairstyle changes one from chadonam (brash urban male) to kkotminam (pretty flower boy). He's so purty~

And no it's not his latest CF, as some of you might have already guessed from his wispy 'do, these are stills from one of his latest film, Come Rain, Come Shine.

Totally different from the Hyun Bin in Secret Garden that wouldn't even consider making coffee, in CR, CS he's seen gently brewing filter coffee, a scene depicting that his woman has left home. 


In preparation for this scene, our Binnie would rehearse by using the coffee maker and sometimes got too focus on acting he forgot all about the coffee, thus overspilling it...


However after his tireless efforts, he finally gets recognition by coffee lover director Lee Yoon-ki. Due to most of the scenes that required having Binnie in the kitchen, he was even dubbed "the kitchen steward".


Oh but please don't call him that, 'cause Binnie doesn't like it. He insists to be called a barista, but like all nicknames, they die hard. He grumbles, "Why do I always have to stay in the kitchen?!" Binnie's co-star Im Soo-jung comforted him, saying: "A man that knows how to make such good coffee, I shan't break up with him, ever!"


I second. To all men: If you can't cook, (good) coffee will do. 


Via Baidu's Secret Garden

What? You Think I Was Kidding When I Said It Was Italian?

If your tracksuit costs less than 1000 USD, it's a fake. And it's not The Tracksuit. It's Blue Spangle, ahem. And lemme introduce to you the rest of the churinings:

Meet the Blue Spangle, Leopard, Black Flower and Gold Stud. At 1.2 million won each, that makes each one of them costs approx 1000 USD with the exception of Gold Stud staying true to it's name, being the most pricey at 1 250 USD (1.38 million won).

Dubbed as "Project <Secret Garden>" by the official label yelocloc which has finalized its copyright of the tracksuits' designs on 29th December and it is only exclusively sold online at the moment. 

On the tracksuit that started it all, it may have not been sewn by italian ajusshis, but it's in fact made from Italian cloth (and I have a growing suspicion that Black Flower is made from French lace). 

But what makes it pricey is none of the above, it's the *bling bling*. It's the GOLD on the label, honey. 

A sportswear so precious, 500 customers who buys this will get a certificate that proves that the training is indeed plated with genuine 18k gold. A close up: 

Knowing this, who'd dare to mock your fashion sense again? Show 'em Binnie!

Actually, you don't even have to do this 'cause the labels on the outside :D

Via Baidu's Secret Garden and yelocloc.com

Secret Garden: A CNY Present

Continuing my tradition since last Christmas, I'll be posting another SG parody vid using Chinese New Years as an excuse (let's be honest: I'm still not quite over Joo Won or SG yet).


Linky to the video will be after this, first up here are pics of SJ's Eunhyuk doing yet another parody from our beloved show. As any Gardener would know, it's the two signature scenes from the drama, The Sit-ups and the (infamous) Bed Scene #1:

LMAO.

Anyway, about the Joo Won parody: It's actually a rather simple set of scenes put together, but what made it (sorta) funny was the BG music, you might've recognize the Crazy Frog/ Annoying Orange-like song. 

There's an interesting story behind this song, dubbed by Chinese netizens as the "Toss Onion Song". The song was featured in a scene in the anime Bleach, where the character was twirling a leek while singing a scat section of this traditional Finnish folk song, levan Polkka by four-member Finnish group Loituma. 

The song debuted in 1996 but it wasn't until 2006 that song became a worldwide phenomenon, due to that episode in Bleach. 

That concludes our little background story on the BG song, watch the Joo Wonnie vid here:

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/NKE66G-qYww/ 

Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone! 

BTS Photoshoot of Hyun Bin for K2

Hyun Bin has a new 'do! He's sporting a windswept look in his latest endorsement for outdoor brand K2, which previously has only used foreign models for its advertisements. 

But what's really telling about his status as the "CF King" is the fact that he got this endorsement only weeks before his military enlistment. Imagine if he weren't Binnie, the contract will be a no go and K2 will probably say: "Oh gee. You are joining the military in 2 months time? See you in two years then." But since he is The Binnie, you betcha they'll take what they can get. 

Hence the six months exclusive contract for K2's CFs and other promotional activities. The pictures here are for K2's S Season Catalog or simply known as K2 2011 S.

Binnie's agency has revealed that the revenue he gets out of his CF deals are roughly around 700 million won (which is approx 600 000 USD). 


OMO O_O. They don't need no chaebols in Korea. 

Long Live SG: Two And A Half Updates

Well, can't really say all these is SG related but it is related to the SG family, so read up, folks!


One: Binnie Goes To Berlin

...for BIFF (Berlin International Film Festival) for Come Rain, Come Shine. Well, no surprise there but first he has to obtain special permit to do so since these are overseas activities. In this regard, the ROK Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be submitting a letter of recommendation to the MMA (Military Manpower Administration) justifying the reasons for him to go abroad from the 15 to the 23rd of March.


So if all goes well he'll be flying to Berlin on the 15th and attend the festival's official events, media interviews etc. on the 17th. He'll be entering the military on March 7 to undergo 5 weeks of basic training in Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do before a specific assignment is to be assigned. 


Two: Lee Jong Suk Gets Accepted Into Honkuk University 

Lee Jong Suk (23) will be enrolling in the university's Film Department as a [Year] 2011 student. He participated in the entrance exam last November and it is reported that the university's targeted enrollment was 2220 students out of 21 268 people who took part in the exam.


And a Half: Not a ground breaking news...except there will be OSKA socks!!! 
Nevermind the Oska is spelled differently. If I have this I don't think I would want to wear shoes, 'cause I'll be busy showing off me socks!

Via Baidu's Secret Garden

Props From Philips Event

Something extra on Hyun Bin's event I posted earlier, it's a short post but this is too kuupta not to share:

Which is your favorite Binnie look of them all? (for me it's no contest, it's Binnie in heart-armor churining).

The cake:

A very Secret Garden-ish bouquet (or maybe it's just me):

I dunno how effective Binnie's endorsement for Philip shavers are gonna be, 'cause I happen to like his stubble (and I don't think I'm alone on this one). 

Via dc

Hyun Bin Gets A Diamond-Studded Razor From Philips (and a SG event)

At first I thought the "diamond" in the headline meant some latest shaver gimmick that involves the use of industrial diamonds in razor blades (I would know 'cause my dad has one) but then common sense tells me no ordinary shaver would cost 30 million won (*approx 27 000 USD).

Which lead to the conclusion that the freaking razor must be studded with gems:

As the face for Philips' electric shaver, Hyun Bin received this diamond studded shaver at a gift ceremony that was conducted in a department store in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul at 1 PM. After the ceremony, a fan signing event was held and 50 lucky (SG) fans got to attend. 

Now, if only they'll give one to Ha Ji Won. Girls need their shavers too, ya'know?

Via TVDaily, Newsen

Binnie's Transformation For Come Rain, Come Shine

The following post is about my Binnie love. Stay clear if you think you might puke (just kidding). 


Hyun Bin: From chadonam (brash urban male) to kkotminam (pretty flower boy)

If you ask me, my sole purpose of watching Come Rain, Come Shine is to see how Binnie's hair moves when the wind sways, but as a blogger one cannot sound too shallow or one will lose credit (sheesh as if I haven't already). But seriously though, being the only South Korean film to be nominated for BIFF's prestigious Golden Bear award has got to mean something, no?

In Come Rain, Come Shine, Binnie shows us a different side of him, unlike his similar-ish roles in My Name Is Kim Sam Soon, Secret Garden and Late Autumn. In CR,CS he plays a thoughtful urban male, "thoughtful" as in "caring-but-I-don't-know-what's-going-on-his-mind". 

If anything, he's too thoughtful: Upon hearing his wife is going to leave him for another man, not only is he NOT upset, he helps her pack her luggage and books her a place at her favorite restaurant for dinner. 


Hmm...his character sounds like an extreme's of that second lead in Oh! My Lady. I don't know about you, but I prefer a chadonam anytime. "Thoughtfulness" of this extent isn't human, it creeps me out and it sounds like he's treating her nice only to murder her later or something (if this were Real Life, but since this is an art film...).


In Secret Garden, he played a "cold" Binnie, a playboy in Late Autumn and now a thoughtful/considerate fellow in this movie. Come Rain, Come Shine is releasing in cinemas on March 3.


Watch the trailer here:


Via Chosun Ilbo

SG Gets A Special (again?)

(Updated!)

We're Lying There Just Like A Line - Yozoh (feat. Lee Sang Soon)

A certain friend at Baidu said it best: "Long live SG!" Not to be confused with the previous one that came out on Saturday, this special will be coming out in time for the Lunar New Year. A quick check at the Chinese calendar (yes, us Chinese have a special calendar of our own) shows that it will be on the 2nd day of CNY. No time details have been announced yet. Schedule is as follows:

Secret Garden Spring Series will be airing on the 4th of February in two parts: 
Part I at 14:00*
Part II at 15:20*
*All time quoted in KST. The whole broadcast is approx 2 and a half hours, from 2.00-4.40 PM.

Meanwhile, more stills have been released:

Oh, so it wasn't Ha Ji Won holding his hand. It's some lucky gal:

Hold my hand, oppa!

YSH oppa is also here:

Hot! *fans self*

Via SBS's Secret Garden Official Website

What will our Binnie look like 20 years later?

He'll age gracefully, that's what. This is too cute not to share: it seems like Binnie's fans are having fun at the expense of two actors. Which veteran in the k-entertainment industry do you think they posted up? C'mon, use your imagination...

It's actor Lee Dong-jun (no, not the basketball player), best known for his work in 1992's Bihwang:

 Eh, not convinced? Here, a pic by pic:

Gosh, talk about a doppelganger. This resemblance can match my Kimutaku x Yoon Sang Hyun connection. 


Via Baidu's Secret Garden