Successful singer-actors Rain & Lee Seung Gi [Article]

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Also actively involved in TV dramas… The golden age of singers
October 10, 2010

Source:  Yonhap News/Naver
English translation:  LSGfan.wordpress.com

Singers are dominating Wednesday-Thursday dramas

On the 29th and 30th of last month, the lead actors in each of the Wednesday-Thursday dramas on the 3 different broadcast channels were all singers.  In addition to SS501’s Kim Hyun Joong’s MBC “Playful Kiss” and Lee Seung Gi’s SBS “My Girlfriend is a Gumiho,” Rain’s KBS “Runaway Plan B” just began.

And this doesn’t include just the main leads. Park Soo Jin and No Min Woo were in “My Girlfriend is a Gumiho” and Danny Ahn is in “Runaway Plan B.”

JYJ’s Mickey Yoochun is the main lead in Monday-Tuesday KBS drama “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and Park Jung Ah is playing a supporting role in daily KBS drama “Laugh Dong Hae.”  Also, Nam Gyuri played the role of the youngest daughter of the lead family in SBS “Life is Beautiful” and Tara’s JiYun will play the lead role in an upcoming KBS drama set to premiere next month.

Rain and Lee Seung Gi also stand victorious as actors

However, the acting ability of singer-actors are typically not on par with full-time actors.  For example, although Kim Hyun Joong and Mickey Yoochun’s star status landed them lead drama roles, they are still insufficient in many ways as actors.

However, there are cases like Rain and Lee Seung Gi in which they have not only stood tall and victorious as singers, but as actors as well.

Advancing even into Hollywood  through movies “Ninja Assassin” and “Speed Racer,”  and through dramas “Let’s go to school Sang Doo,” Full House,” and “A Love to Kill,” Rain’s acting ability has become solid over time.  Through this foundation, he is putting on a one man show and gaining much admiration for “Runaway Plan B.”  He is showing skills rivaling many actors, not only through his physical action, but also in his quick and effective line delivery and comical acting.

Having the support of men and women of all ages, Lee Seung Gi has also established a good reputation as an actor.  Showing his acting potential through his role as Hwang Tae Ja in 2006 KBS drama “Famous Princesses,” and then returning last year as the male lead for SBS drama “Brilliant Legacy” which recorded a high 47.1% tv viewership rating, he is quickly rising to join the ranks of A-list actors.

Also as the male lead in “My Girlfriend is a Gumiho,” he showed strength in carrying out the drama by effectively leading his co-star Shin Min Ah.  If Shin Min Ah was able to rid herself of her CF star label through this drama, then you could say Lee Seung Gi increased his firm footing as an actor by showing great depth and acting potential.

Having received acting lessons during their spare time as singers, these two persons are displaying the qualities of prepared actors.

[section on Mickey Yoochun not translated]

Due to the difficulties associated with carrying out both singing and acting simulataneously, many singers have chosen to focus solely on their acting.   More than anything, singers change to full-time actors because the life expectancy of a singer is typically way shorter than than of an actor.  Representative examples include Lim Chung Jung, Yoon Eun Hye, Sun Yuri, Yoon Kye Sang, Hwang Jung Eom, Nam Gyuri, Park Soo Jin, Park Jung Ah

On the other hand, there are idol stars like SNSD’s Yoona, 2pm’s Taec Yeon, Super Junior’s Choi Si Won, Big Bang’s Top, Tara’s JiYun and EunJung, DBSK’s YunoYuno who have attracted attention for taking on acting while still being active as singers.

Remember when we were a bit disappointed early on because of My Girlfriend is a Gumiho’s ratings and having to compete with Baker King?  But most fans agreed that despite the ratings, the most important thing was for SeungGi to be acknowledged for his acting and that the drama itself be well-received?  Well, we definitely got both!

The translated articles I’ve been posting about critical praise for SeungGi are not selective; the overall sentiment both publicly and in the industry is that SeungGi has really matured as an actor.  And seeing My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (a trendy fantasy drama at that!) end on a high note at #1 spot in its time slot and 21.3% TNS ratings speaks volumes about the quality of the drama production!

Plus last week’s ratings for the Wednesday-Thursday time slot, the first without My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, further evidence the impressive nature of its ratings given the context of going up against 50% ratings national drama Baker King.  The critical praise for My Girlfriend is a Gumiho and leads SeungGi and MinAh have been awesome!  I’m so happy for SeungGi and the entire cast/team!

See more articles about Actor Seunggi:

• Uhm-chin-ahs Lee Seung Gi and Song Joong Ki
  
• Shin MinAh talks about SeungGi and his popularity
  
• The praiseworthy evolution of Lee Seung Gi
  
• Actor-Singers dominate Wednesday-Thursday TV
• Baker King’s Yoon Shi Yoon sees SeungGi as role model
  
• Viewers fall in love with Lee Seung Gi’s varying charms
  
• Outcome of Lee SeungGi-Shin MinAh + Hong Sisters?
  
• Lee Seung Gi, Why is he a top box office star?
  
• 10asia preview of My Girlfriend Is Gumiho