2 of the Korea biggest superstar actress, Ha Ji-won and Song Hye-kyo will be starring the same character ‘Hwang Jin-i’, based on the real life stories of a 16th century Kisaeng.
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Different is, Ha Ji-won will be starring in a TV drama while Song Hye-gyo will be acting in a movie instead.
People in Korea can’t wait to make comparisons between these 2 popular actress, wondering who will excel in the end.
Ha Ji-won has upper hand though, she already acted in some Korea classic TV dramas and movies; whereas this will be Hye-kyo’s first attempt as a 16th century character.
Both of the stars have to practise in traditional dancing and Geomungo (a music instrument) before starting the actual filming.
A bit about the story of Huang Jin-i (wiki)..
Hwang Jin-i (or Huang Jini), also known as Myeongwol (’shining moon’), was one of the most famous Kisaeng (similar to Japanese Geisha) of the Joseon Dynasty (16th century).
Jin-i was the child of an aristocratic man in Gaeseong; accounts of her mother vary, but many indicate that she was a blind woman named Hyeon Hak-geum.
Because her mother was of cheonmin birth she was unable to marry into a yangban family because of different classes, which was heavily emphasized during the Joseon Dynasty.
Thus, Jin-i became a kisaeng herself and quickly rose to fame thanks to her beauty, intellect, and preternatural talent in playing the geomungo.
Thanks to her fame, Jin-i is among the few kisaeng whose names have survived. She is said to have received a typical aristocratic education in her childhood, studying the Chinese classics.
When she was fifteen, a nearby bachelor is said to have died of love for her. After becoming a kisaeng, she carried on with various notables including Ji Jok-am, and also associated with the philosopher Seo Gyeong-deok. Her place and time of death are unknown.
Several geomungo compositions attributed to Jin-i have been preserved, as have a handful of her sijo poems reflecting on the famous sites of Gaeseong, such as Manwoldae Palace and the Bagyŏn P’okpo waterfall.
In the late 20th century, Hwang’s story began to attract attention from both sides of the Korean divide. Her life has been depicted through media including fiction, film and opera.
Novels dealing with her life include a 2002 novel by the North Korean writer Hong Sok-chung, which was the first North Korean novel to win an award in the South. Another novel, by South Korean writer Jeon Gyeong-rin, became a bestseller in 2004.
August 17th, 2006 at 11:38 pm
HA JI-WON YOU ARE NO MATCH TO SONG AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE IS BEAUTIFUL TH
August 18th, 2006 at 9:36 am
i like song hye kyo, let’s hope she can presents a wonderful performance! cannot wait to see
August 19th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Ha ji-won is best perfect for this character.So I like ha ji won.
August 19th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
ha ha i like ha ji won
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:42 pm
i like song hye gyo,you are the best.i think your acting is very good like in full house
August 23rd, 2006 at 1:09 pm
song hye kyo is really the best!ha ji won?!?really a byotch!!!!hhaahahaha! ha ji won definitely a LOSER!!
August 23rd, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Both of them are good actress, it’s just a matter of who suit the character better. Stop calling bad on any of Ha Ji-won and Song Hye-kyo, those insulting comments will be deleted, no question.
September 2nd, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Hey, did u guys know that the movie songhyekyo is doing for this has a sex scene in it. Read somewhere that the director and people don’t want the focus to be on that. But Songhyekyo and the movie makers were all worried about how to depict it so it won’t affect her “nice-girl” image and the movie. I can’t wait to see it, I hope it would become an uplifting classic! SongHyeKyo AJA AJA!!
September 2nd, 2006 at 8:11 pm
Song Hye-kyo will be playing as a Korean Kisaeng (like Japanese Geisha), bed scene is quite logical.. no worries, I bet they will make it artistic, Korean directors are good at it.
September 18th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
i love song hey gyo more than har ji worn.um i don’t know why but i thinked song hey gyo she is number one in my heart
soo soo!soo soo try!
beer thailand
October 6th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
HAJIWON is the best ..period rama she is not a quesiton indeed.. I saw the still pictures over soompi and they are all amazing.. the fact remains that 5 posters of her will be displayed along the walls of Cannes Festival…
October 7th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
[...] Korea actresses Ha Ji-won and Song Hye-kyo have been the talk of the town for both acting as the same character Hwang Jin-i (or Hwang Jiny), based on the real life stories of a 16th century Kisaeng. [...]
October 9th, 2006 at 7:58 am
I believe the best actress for the role as a “hwang jin-i” is Ha ji won. The reason Ha ji won fits the role because of her acting skills. Song Hye kyo’s popular is based mostly on her physical attributes. Don’t kid me wrong, Kyo’s acting is good when it comes to romantic dramas. Ha ji won can act from a comedian to an undercover detective. Her films is a fact of how she is so successful. So, therefore HJW is the perfect actress for this role.
To become an excellent actress, just dont consider upon looks but how she presents the role of a character.
October 9th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Good point Pahua. What I think is that Ha Ji-won will definitely fit the role, she acted in a couple of those ‘dynasty’ dramas, and she’s a sporty girl.. should learn all those dancing rather easily.
Hye-kyo does have the potential, but we can only tell after her movie released. Who knows if Hye-kyo might suprise everyone!
October 14th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
Ha ji won the BEST OF ALL for ma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 14th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
I love Ha ji won…
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:39 pm
well, of course … i like Song Hye Kyo the most..shes the prettiest among other korean actress.. i cant wait watching her play the role of a 16th century heroine..it will be fanstastic..but who is the hero than..i hope it is WON BIN or RAIN..Hahahaha:)
Ha Ji Won is sucks…she’s not pretty…and she will make the drama lost
November 19th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
ha ji won is a great actress. not talking about looks wise but acting wise. For those of ur insulting ha ji won. shut up and go watch her series and see for urself.
Ha Ji won has won awards mind you…# 2004 Baek Sang Best Actress Award
# 2000 Blue Dragon Best Supporting Actress Award
# 2000 Pusan Film Critics Assn. Awards Best New Actress so she IS a quality actress.
Song is great too…i wun deny..just stop comparing them for heaven’s sake since they’re acting styles are different.
I support both! Song and Ha all the way!
November 21st, 2006 at 6:33 pm
I also think that Ha Ji Won is fit in this character…..because…..I like her in her role in ‘demo’……
November 25th, 2006 at 1:18 pm
yuck guys! ha ji won is not that great! SONG HYE KYO IS THE BEAT! ask anybody… they will answer hye kyo… she’s more good in acting and ha ji won is not that kinda good… she looks like a bold star but not an actress…