Lee Min-ki’s new movies and new album
by javabeans
Fans of Lee Min-ki already know of the actor’s penchant for music — he’s sung on a movie soundtrack, performed live onstage, and recorded a single (listen below). Therefore, it’s not such a surprise to hear that he’s got a debut album in the works, which is called “No Kidding” and goes on sale on August 11.
“No Kidding” will be Lee Min-ki’s debut not just as a singer but as a musician; he’s been working on developing his piano and guitar skills for several years. His title song is “영원한 여름” (Eternal Summer) and has already completed filming for its music video.
With this project and several films releasing in close succession, this is going to be one mighty busy summer for Lee Min-ki. Check out the short interview below the jump.
SONG OF THE DAY
FreeTEMPO & Sheean – “Power of Love” feat. Lee Min-ki, reposted from a prior post. [ Download ]
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The past year has also been busy, as Lee Min-ki has put out an indie film (Oishii Man), a romantic comedy (Romantic Island) and, most recently, a hit disaster blockbuster (Haeundae).
Next he’ll release the survival thriller A Million, which boasts a large cast and an interesting hook: reality show contestants are brought to an island to compete for 1 million dollars (or 1 billion won, per its Korean title “A Billion”). The contestants — which include Park Hae-il, Shin Mina, Jung Yumi, Lee Chun-hee — soon realize that the producer is unhinged and the game is more dangerous than they’d realized; playing the producer is Park Hee-soon, who does unhinged so well.
On the music front, Lee Min-ki will be performing a showcase at the music festival Beach Party Week & T, taking place at Busan’s Haeundae beach (the same beach from which the movie derives its name). The festival runs from August 3 through 9, while Lee Min-ki will perform on the 8th.
Here he talks about his role in the recently released Haeundae:
Your swimming skills are impressive.
Lee Min-ki: I learned for three weeks at the National Fire Service Academy. At the initial meeting, I said I could swim in the ocean, but I found that the ocean was pitch-black and scary. Later on, I swam with a rescue group from Gwangan Beach to Gwangan Bridge. I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to show everything I’d practiced.
How did you come to take this role?
I enjoyed reading the script. I liked that it showed these people living like real people do when the tsunami suddenly hits. At first, the character seemed like your typical blunt Busan man, but that impression changed as I worked. The director told me he wanted me to show a pure, naive side to the character.
There are two scenes that show your lips being bitten by your partner Kang Ye-won. She said, “Lee Min-ki’s lips are in tatters.”
It hurt. We had to shoot that several times, so being bitten, then bitten again, hurt. After filming ended, it felt like my lip was flapping in the sea breeze. [Laughs]
Being from [the southern province of] Gimhae, you must have found it easier to use the Saturi accent.
It’s true that compared to how hard my sunbaes worked, it was a lot easier for me. It was similar to me looking at them and thinking, “Ah, that’s how you show facial expressiveness with the Seoul dialect.” But the worrisome part was thinking that since everyone knows I’m from this area, I’m in trouble if I go wrong at this point.
Even from the perspective of natives, my sunbaes’ Saturi accents were excellent. Sol Kyung-gu hyung would hole up in his room every day, listening to the recordings and sighing, “This isn’t even English or French, and I’m struggling so much with this Korean language.” The result of that struggle came out well.
You’ve shot a lot of projects lately, but compared to when you were called “Korea’s Younger Boyfriend”* the reaction has been relatively quiet.
(*”Younger Boyfriend” refers to his image playing the younger boyfriend to an older woman, as in Dal Ja’s Spring.)There are people who give me recognition. Of course, we don’t do this to work alone and clap for ourselves alone. I’m grateful if many people give me credit, but that’s not something I can accomplish with my own talent.
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Tags: interviews, Lee Min-ki, singers
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1
August 2, 2009 at 5:24 PM
first!
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2 Yoo Jin
August 2, 2009 at 6:02 PM
i absolutely love him especially in the drama I Really Really Like You with Kim Eugene (great drama by the way) =] I really want to see the new disaster movie Haeundae but have to wait awhile for it to come on dvd or available for download =/
I always knew that he had a thing for music but never thought he'd actually come out with an album. He's a really good actor but not sure about him becoming a singer also (not a fan of actors turned singers...maybe the other way around...sometimes lol XD). Though I'm skeptical of his album I'm looking foward to it. Love this guy to death =D
<3 Lee Min Ki
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3 langdon813
August 2, 2009 at 6:09 PM
I have a very mature post in reply to this article.
ALL MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE!
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4 majata
August 2, 2009 at 6:43 PM
He may not be that handsome compared to others but he's a hell of an actor.
I LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!!
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5 xiaoSxin
August 2, 2009 at 6:47 PM
oh my god!!! set aside Lee Min Ki's fashion sense at public events.. i really really adore this guy from all his dramas!!! His most romantic character is his Nam Bong Ki in I Really Really Like You while his most awesome and perfect (for him) role is being Kang Tae Bong!!!! I swear I have Kang Tae Bong now as my ideal man, all the flaws that comes with him!
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6 creidesca
August 2, 2009 at 6:49 PM
javabeans, if you were going to repost FreeTEMPO's Power of Love, why not the Part 2 version, remixed by 3rd Coast, instead? That version, at least, is wholly Lee Min Ki; and, not just the 2 lines.
The Beach Party Week & T will be Min Ki's 3rd live performance before a very large audience. Hopefully, Locksmith Music will post photos and short clips from his performance on their site as with his previous performances.
I'm very interested in listening to this mini-album, as foreign artists such as Popular Computer, One-Two, and Kid Loco seem to be linked to it.
Once the "No Kidding" album is available @ Yes Asia, I'll be ordering it along with his 2nd Japan Fanmeet DVD and his "News of the Imagination" DVD. "News of the Imagination" has me piqued...Min Ki might have asked friends and fellow actors/singers to participate? I thought I saw SHEEAN play-act in a short clip.
Min Ki is definitely going to be busy. In September he'll be holding his 3rd Japan Fan Meet "I'm Your Super Hero!!!"
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7 Angela
August 2, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Ooh, catchy song. I like. His CD is sure to be interesting. I look forward to hearing more. ^_^
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8 Biscuit
August 2, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Thanks for the interview! I love this actor... although as much as I'm a fan, I almost didn't recognize him in the first picture! heheh.
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9 ellaszandra
August 2, 2009 at 10:46 PM
I'll clap for you !!! Such a talented actor !!! <3
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Paloma
November 8, 2010 at 4:52 PM
Absolutely agree with you. Great actor....and gourgeous!!
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Paloma
November 8, 2010 at 4:53 PM
Sorry, my dear Lee Min Ki. I wanted to say gorgeous!!
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10 ellaszandra
August 3, 2009 at 1:18 AM
I'll clap for you !!! Such a talented actor !!!
Sorry... forgot to say great post - can't wait to read your next one!
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11 DBSK
August 3, 2009 at 2:03 AM
LEE MIN KI! <3 haha i'm done.
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12 jes
August 3, 2009 at 4:57 AM
love lee minki! what a cutie. i wanna watch haeundae!
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13 Jenna
August 3, 2009 at 8:53 AM
so cute and hot i just wanna spank him! i like his choice of movies..awesome!!
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14 linz
August 3, 2009 at 3:55 PM
love him <3
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15 elaineD
August 4, 2009 at 11:41 PM
he seems like a really unique person and artist. i can't wait for his works (:
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16 mokomiki
August 26, 2009 at 9:51 AM
can't wait to get it.
love minki so much!!!
muah....muah.....
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17 Yoorie
November 13, 2009 at 12:36 PM
He's a sweetie. Love him in oh dal ja's spring...thats where i fell even more in love with him. So sexy... I mean, he played that character so good. Ugh, my gosh. I rewatched that drama when i was finish the firt time. His ring was so sexy in that effing movie. Made me go gaga
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18 tegami
April 10, 2011 at 2:02 PM
LEE MIN KI FOREVER!!! HUZZAAHHHH!!!
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