Korean skin care companies come to Hawaii

Kim Hyun Joong, the posterboy for The Faceshop

I've been a fan of The Faceshop for a few years now. I love their skin care products because it always leaves a fresh and clean feeling on my skin, I like their clean green and white branding and the face of Kim Hyun Joong (and occasionally Won Bin) as their poster boy isn't so hard on the eyes either.

Won Bin for the The Smim products at Faceshop

So the good news is that The Faceshop just opened a brand new second shop in Ward Warehouse. The first one opened in Mc Cully Shopping Center and they're also hoping to open a few more

Daniel Henney makes special appearance at Honolulu International Film Festival with film, 'Shanghai Calling'

Photo: Shanghai Calling 

What are some reasons why Korean drama fans should check out the Honolulu International Film Festival?...

These days, it seems that HIFF is bringing in more Korean films to satiate Hawaii's love for Asian films and to feed the growing enthusiasm towards Korean films. It could be the due to the rise of Korean drama fans and audiences in the Hawaiian Islands. This past season's lineup sported a wealth of Korean films that have hit theaters in Korea and made a popular splash, such as The Thieves.

Another reason to check out HIFF?

Well, you never know who you might see...

This past Friday, Daniel Henney make a special guest appearance at the festival for his new film, Shanghai Calling.

Okay, so the film wasn't Korean. It was based in China and Henney plays a Chinese-American lawyer

Hallyu 2 Hawaii on Blogger

So dear readers, Hallyu 2 Hawaii is starting life anew on Blogger!

We were originally on Wordpress but decided to change over.  As we already have other existing sites here such as My Crazy Kimchi (ESL teaching), my travel photography site and a Hanguk Drama Hawaii club site here at blogger, it just seemed to make sense. Now, the design templates aren't as elegant as Wordpress, but we feel in the long-run, this will be much easier to handle.

Apologies for the changes and hope you will all choose to switch over and join us here.

The Secret to Getting Perfect K-pop Skin & Skincare for Men

Lee Min Ho for Etude House

. Earlier, I wrote about BB cream as being one of the secrets to Hallyu skin, but obviously in Korea, there's more. A lot of it has to do with skin care shops, skin clinics and dermatologists ....and yes, plastic surgeons.

 If you've been watching the videos I've been posting, then you know by now, that good looks are highly prized in Korea and the social pressure to look good, even if you're an average person, is still there.

 Men and women can wear makeup and as I said with my BB cream post, many Hallyu stars promote skin care and makeup lines. Korea's kind of unique that way. In  the U.S., Hollywood male stars don't promote much in the way of skin care.  I'd say it's pretty non-existent. At the most, they'd do

Film Location: Jeju Island, Teddy Bear Museums and Korean Drama sites

 

The cast of Goong 

 If you’ve ever seen the popular K-drama show, The Palace (or Gung or Princess Diaries), then you’ll know part of the fascination tourists visiting Korea can have with the Teddy Bear Museum on Jeju Island.

 The show features cute opening and closing scenes with teddies re-enacting scenes which took place in

[* Video Pick Fridays *] Why are Koreans so into their Looks & Plastic surgery?

Why are Koreans so into their Looks?

Video Pick Fridays picks this video as #1 of a two part series looking at 'Beauty in Korea'.

 V-line chins, narrow jawlines, tall noses, double eyelids, ... there's a reason why Hallyu performers looks are so heavenly sent and why we love them over Hollywood. It's all pretty well crafted.

“It could be easily assumed that 99 percent of South Korean celebrities got stuff done on their faces,” said to Dr. Park Sang- hoon, head of Seoul’s ID Hospital (Xinhuanet.com).

I've heard plastic surgery is almost mandatory for Kpop stars and celebrities... well, maybe not or Psy.

Hanguk Friends Drama Club meeting #2

Korean drama water bottles- How absolutely creative!

  Anyeong! The Hanguk Friends Drama club just continues to impress me. It keeps your appetite wet for being inspired to grow your passion towards things Korean and my mom loves it.

 What we appreciate about the Hanguk Friends Drama Hawaii Club is that the committee and volunteers contribute a lot of time, ideas and creativity to make these meetings entertaining and original. From the centerpieces to door prizes,

Gorilla in the Cafe in Waikiki: Not as grand as it could be

Gorilla in the Cafe

 When the news hit the Hawaii press that Bae Yong Joon's Gorilla in the Cafe was opening in Waikiki, it had K-drama fans excited. What would the cafe look like, what would happen at the opening and most of all, would the Hallyu star make an appearance? According to my mother, whom I dropped off at the cafe so she could take some photos for me, the opening wasn't all that impressive.

No Korean congratulatory wreaths,  balloons or free samples, no crowds spilling out of the cafe, no menu

[Video Pick Fridays] Everyone in Korea wants to be pretty

Everyone in Korea wants to be pretty

This is video #2 of a two part series of Video Pick Fridays on the topic of 'Beauty in Korea'. This is a documentary video made by a film student shinibi on youtube.

 

[* Video Pick Fridays* ] Korea: The Art of Makeup

Last week I picked a  news documentary video on Korean makeup and this week I've another video to add to it. Why is the world turning to Korea for makeup? From China, Japan to New York, the beauty industry realizes how Korea's makeup and beauty products such as  about BB cream promotes a youthful look, gives the appearance of clear skin and natural beauty, while using all natural ingredients.

The news video takes a look how each country has had a beauty style which is changing due to the Korea's own skin regimen and  desire to look young and natural.

[Video Picks] Hallyu Star Makeup Tips 2012

The Latest Hallyu Star Makeup Tips

. Face it, if you've seen Korean dramas, you probably want to know their beauty secrets! Aside from BB cream, I've been wondering what makes Hallyu stars so damn gorgeous. The video above is from Korea Today and the morning talk show shows you how you can accentuate your eyes, giving them a little shimmer and smokey appearance, how to rosy out your cheeks, highlight your face and give your lips a natural blush.

Well, Korea Today shed some beauty and makeup tip secrets for us and frankly, after seeing just one video I couldn't stop... so I'm sharing

[Video Pick Fridays] Nail Art Trends for Spring 2012 [Korea Today]

Nail Art Trends for Spring 2012 [Korea Today]

If you've ever been to a nail salon in Seoul (read here), you'd know there's some pretty wicked nail art going on... and I'm talking art of the sculptural kind.  Again, youtube's Arirang Channel has another interesting video for Video Pick Fridays.

Seo Ji-Seok appears at Hawaii's Korean Festival 2012 (Part 2)

Hallyu's Seo Ji-Seok in Hawaii for the 11th Annual Korean Festival 

 Cont. from: Hawaii's Korean Festival 2012 was hot, yet so cool (Part 1) .

What is a Hawaii Korean Festival without a little drama fever?

Hawaii is finally starting hook into Korean culture and it's more than just Korean plate lunches and BBQ. Much of this spreading interest to learn about Korea, is largely due to the popularity of Korean dramas. Well, popularity isn't quite the word... call it a crazed fever.

 To meet the needs of this emerging hunger for dramas, KBFD TV strings out a schedule of the most

Seo Ji-Seok and Hawaii's Korean Festival 2012 was hot, yet so cool. (Part 1)

Hawaii's Korean Festival 2012 Hawaii's 11th Annual Korean Festival was hot yet so coooool. 

Aside from the Hawaiian heat making its way into summer, there were a lot of really good performances and events on the festival grounds. I know all you Seo Ji-Seok fans wanna know if the man arrived.

Keeaumoku Supermarket: Korea grocery store and a few more surprises from the Motherland

Keeaumoku supermarket 

 Being back in Hawaii, I've only ever shopped for my Korean fix and food imports at Palama Supermarket.

But then I recently discovered another Korean supermarket!

 While it's been out for some time, I just had to post it for those newbies out there. Keeaumoku Supermarket on 835 Keeaumoku is tucked away in  a small mall plaza next to Red House Honolulu so it may not be apparent to the passing drivers.

[* Video Pick Fridays* ] Get it beauty

 Why do Koreans love color in their wardrobe and how can they pull off the brightest colors that would light up the darkest closet? I can only guess that they have a heightened sense of fashion and color-eye coordination.

  Get it Beauty is an interesting Korean show, which seems to do interesting tests around the topic of beauty. The host is Hallyu star, Eugene (Baker Kim Taekgu)  and in this episode, Jin (Manny)

 Topic: Choosing your best colors for the season and ones which will improve your image.

 Now all of this is in Korean and unfortunately, I know only sprinkles of words. But they do an interesting color test based on complexion, hair color, etc..

So you wanna be a K-pop star or trainee...

What does it take to be a Kpop Star?

 Around the globe, teens are catching the fever of K-pop and with Korean entertainment companies casting their net wider, there's been auditions around the world for SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP, etc...  It's become so popular that even Korea has a new tv show out there called Survival Audition K-Pop Star. 

But what does it really take to become a Kpop star? 

 Well, here's a few links to article and video inspirations:

JYP Entertainment:

• 'Hot Blood' ( 2AM & 2PM were still trainees but submitted into a reality show by JYP to add a little pressure)

Seo Ji-Seok rumored to be at Hawaii's 11th Annual Korean Festival 2012

11th Annual Hawaii Korean Festival 2012 

Korea has oodles of festivals throughout the year.

It's as if they have much to celebrate.

 When you're in Hawaii however, there's only one Korean festival to inform you about the entire culture.

Who's rumored to be there?

 Thus, the 11th Annual Korean Festival will be this July 14th and you may not want to miss it. Madonna will be there... Korea's Madonna, that is,  Kim Wan Sun, whom ironically lived in Hawaii for three years while studying at the University of Hawaii.

Another celebrity guest rumored to make an appearance for an autograph session is Hallyu star, Seo Ji-Seok of

[* Video Pick Fridays* ] Korean Makeup Takes the World by Storm

Korean Makeup catches on 

So I've decided to do a video pick each Friday!

This week's video is from Arirang Today and it tells us how Korean makeup is taking the world by storm.

 In it, actress Min Hyo-Ryn (from the 2011 film Sunny, *remember the beautiful girl who gets her face cut?*) gives sheds the secret to great lipstick is concealer before applying color and a foreigner gets a makeover with Korean makeup artist who explains that application of a base with fingers (vs. a sponge)

'I AM' movie about SM Entertainment stars is released

I AM. movie poster 

 What is it like to train to be a K-pop star?

SM Entertainment, home of K-pop star bands like Girls Generation, SHINee, BoA and Super Junior, just released a movie this May, called 'I AM". It took over 90 00 hours of tapes to edit together a film documenting the lives, auditions, trainee periods and success stories of these stars up
until their Madison Square garden concert in New York. Will it make it's way out to theaters in Hawaii? Highly doubtful, but one can hope.

For now, stay tuned to mysoju.com and we'll wait and see.

 Here is a teaser of the movie

Kim Soo Hyun is the new face of Korea Tourism

Kim Soo Hyun of KBS' drama" Dream High"

 Guess who is the poster boy of Korean Tourism?

Kim Soo Hyun.

Whuh? We originally saw Kim Soo Hyun in Dream High (my favorite) as the reluctant hero who rises from a country bumpkin to a Rain-like K-pop superstar. You may have even seen him in Giant or as a child star in dramas such as, Father's House, Will it Snow for Christmas? or Jungle Fish.  But his following has been gathering a storm since MBC's drama ‘The Moon that Embraces the Sun‘ has

Red House Honolulu: A place to get your Korean fusion food and K-pop

Red House Honolulu

 My sister recently introduced me to a new joint in town on Keeaumoku Street, where I can get a little Korean food and K-pop! Red House Honolulu is a small Korean-fusion restaurant with a stylish, trendy and a taste for projecting K-pop videos on the wall while you eat. When you walk through the doors, you'll meet a wall of browsing material--  magazines, set to the style of Teen Beat and Seventeen, informing you the latest flavors and gossip of K-pop stars and hip K-culture.  The restaurant's cool walls of brick and concrete are off-set brilliantly with the shock of red vinyl seats and white tables and chairs. The servers there are young and cute enough to have jumped out of the videos projected on the walls.

Why did I start Hallyu to Hawaii?

Rain from 'Full House' (our first favorite Korean drama) 

 Aloha Yorobun!

 Originally, I had the idea that this blog would be a share space for Korean drama fans interested in Korean dramas, films, Hallyu news and anything Korean-ish in Hawaii.

Why Hallyu to Hawaii?

No, it's not because of Rain but maybe indirectly. My mother is the big Korean drama fan of our household and having watched close to  200 dramas over the past two and a half years, I thought this might be a great

Wanna be a K-pop star? YG releases its audition dates for 2012 and casting for the next Kpop star

yg auditions 2012

Recently released... Have you ever dreamt of being a K-pop star? If so, then keep reading... If you know of 2NE1 and Big Bang, then you indirectly know of YG Entertainment.

They're one of Korea's leading entertainment groups and K-pop star factories and they'll soon be holding global auditions in:  London, Berlin, New York, Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles, Tokyo and

Yoon Sang Hyun's video 'Helpless Love' interviews

Yoon Sang Hyun's album for Secret Garden

Many Hallyu stars profess to be singers as well as actors, but don't you love it when a star can' really' sing and not just in a noraebang scene?

I just watched My Fair Lady again and I love Yoon Sang Hyun's voice.  

So far he's both, acted and sung theme songs for My Fair Lady and Secret Garden. He's played the musician Oska in Secret Garden but those songs are his real voice. Another reason to admire him? He started acting at a late age. Blogger Hello Cloe's translation of  a Chinese article on YSH tells us a bit about his background (here).

Below is a fan video of Yoon Sang Hyun's song 'Helpless Love' from My Fair Lady, as well as some fun interviews with him which have been

Korean BB cream: The Secret to Hallyu Beauty

Hallyu star, Song Hye Kyo is Laniege's spokesperson for BB cream      Photo credit: Laneige

The K-drama craze and Korea's secret to beautiful skin is out and hitting the mainland U.S. quickly. The secret is BB cream and when you try it, you might see your face transform like Hallyu star. You'll be hooked. Click here to read the article I wrote and posted on Grrrl Traveler.

 

My first K-drama club meeting with the Hankuk Drama Fan Club

Anyeonghaseyo, Hanguk Drama Fan Club Hawaii

I'd always wondered what a Korean drama club was like.

Now the mysterious veil is opened. I just got back from my first drama club meeting with the Hanguk Drama Fan Club Hawaii.  It was a fun and exciting afternoon to be surrounded by fellow fans, who enjoy watching K-dramas and learning more about Korea.

The luncheon was held at the Waikiki Resort Hotel, off of Kalakaua Street near the Honolulu Zoo. The hotel is supposedly owned by Korean Airlines.   Walking inside, we saw proof that might validate that... an agent office and some Korean Airlines stewardesses waiting in the lobby. We went upstairs to the ballroom area. First was check in. They gave every member a lucky number card, with a picture of a drama on it. Each person had a different drama. Finding seating was a problem, even though we were 15 minutes early. It was packed!  There were about 170 people there and most people seemed to

Bae Yong Joon opens a cafe in Waikiki this April

Hallyu megastar Bae Yong Joon opens cafe in Waikiki this April    Photo credit: Honolulu Pulse

The Koreans are coming to Hawaii! Hallyu fans in Hawaii will be excited to learn that Hallyu megastar, Bae Yong Joon will be opening a cafe in Waikiki.

 Last April when the star was in Hawaii, it was said he enjoyed playing golf (photos here) in the islands. However, it's quite possible the actor got to know the islands even earlier, through a DATV project, "Bae Yong Joon, Holiday in Hawaii" which filmed in 2010.

 BYJ's new cafe, Gorilla in the Cafe Hawaii is named after his Seoul restaurant in Gangnam called "Gorilla in the Kitchen".

The cafe will share

70 FREE Korean films on YouTube in May!

News just in !

 The Korean Film Archive (KOFA) has announced that it is partnering with Google to put 70 classic Korean films on YouTube this May.

The free video-on-demand films, complete with English subtitles, will be available to stream at http://www.youtube.com/koreanfilm.  Subtitles in different languages are available through Google Translate.  Actual article here.

 Currently, you do not need an account to watch YouTube videos. Although, YouTube accounts are FREE and you'll want to sign up if you want to save any favorites, click on 'Likes', subscribe to the channel, etc... 

As far as I'm concerned, I've not had a problem with YouTube or spamming yet. Fingers crossed.