Entertainment
10 things we learned about Hyun Bin at the Smart Hallyu Hangouts
We crashed K-drama actor Hyun Bin’s fan meet
Over the weekend, Korean superstar Hyun Bin had a virtual fan meet with his Filipino supporters. Through Smart’s Hallyu Hangouts, thousands of fans were able to watch the interview hosted by Sam Oh and Park Kyung-Lim.
A couple were also given the chance to ask Hyun Bin some questions, one of them even showed off their prowess in speaking Korean. It was a fun evening for everyone, especially his biggest supporters whose dreams of attending his fan meets were hampered by the pandemic. Thank goodness for technology and fast internet, Filipino fans still got to spend with the actor even virtually.
During the hangout, we picked up a couple more interesting things about Hyun Bin that makes him more than just the characters he plays on screen.
He’s a perfectionist
While shooting for the Smart commercial, Hyun Bin admitted that it took a while to learn his line. “Simple, Smart ako” might be a short and easy sentence to say for Filipinos but “simple” proved to be quite tricky for him. He took some time to learn it and even asked people for help.
He says that he’s always been like this and while filming for dramas, he would even be quite hard on himself. There are times when his directors are already happy with the scene but he would still want to iron out his acting.
He had a fan club when he was in high school
Before entering show business, Hyun Bin already had his own fan club. Talk about being extremely good looking! He was modest enough to say that he didn’t know much about it, though.
He’s a news junkie
We love a well-rounded oppa and Hyun Bin admits to reading all sections of the news. “It’s nice to know what’s happening in the world I’m living in,” he said during the live.
He doesn’t watch his own work
He admits to going on OTT platforms a lot to watch series and movies but never the ones that have him on them. In fact, he has never seen Crash Landing on You (CLOY) after they filmed the drama.
Hyun Bin is passionate about golf
He says he would love to become a golf player. This, after getting hooked on the sport. He admits it’s just a hobby and that if he weren’t so busy, he’d probably be doing it more often. It’s also something that relaxes him.
He rarely cries IRL
Hyun Bin admits that he doesn’t cry much in real life. Maybe it’s because he does it a lot for work or maybe because he’s just extremely happy right now.
He searches his name online
Rarely does any celebrity admit to Googling oneself so this was quite refreshing. He says he does it about once a day. “I want to know if there’s something about me that I don’t know of. I also want to see how events like these are covered by the media,” he added.
He knew how to play the piano
Hyun Bin learned how to play the piano as a child. However, he forgot most of it as he rarely used the skill. So, when they were filming for Crash Landing on You, he would practice in his hotel room using an electric keyboard they brought with them all the way from Korea.
He would’ve loved to play two other CLOY characters
It’s hard to imagine Hyun Bin as anyone other than Ri Jeong-hyeok in CLOY. However, he says that he would have been open to playing the villain, Cho Cheol-gang and the wiretapper, Jung Man-bok.
He has an upcoming movie
They just finished the sequel to Confidential Assignment and he promises that it will be bigger and more international than the first one. “In the first movie, it was just North and South Korea that were involved. In the sequel, the US and other countries will also play a part in the story,” he shared.
Smart Hallyu Hangouts was powered by Smart, one of the country’s top network providers. Internet metrics company Ookla recently cited Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the second half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 24.99, with average speeds of 20.08 Mbps for download, and 7.42 Mbps for upload.
Entertainment
Crime on Prime: Streaming platform unveils powerhouse crime, thriller slate
Cross Season 2, 56 Days, Young Sherlock, Scarpetta, more
Prime Video has unveiled “Crime on Prime”, a major programming rollout to kickstart the new year with a powerhouse slate of crime and thriller titles.
The lineup includes high-profile adaptations from bestselling authors James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The season launched with the long-awaited return of the streaming platform’s hit crime thriller, Cross last month.
In its second season, stakes intensify as Cross pursues a ruthless vigilante targeting corrupt billionaire magnates.
A new series, 56 Days, portrays the story of a couple who fall dangerously fast in love, only for a decomposing body to be found 56 days later in one of the protagonist’s apartment.
The series is adapted from Catherine Ryan Howard’s novel of the same title. As its plot unravels, the question “Who killed who?” will be answered.
Meanwhile, Guy Ritchie’s re-imagining of the iconic character in Young Sherlock debuted on March 4. It stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin as a defiant, youthful Sherlock Holmes on his first case.
Furthermore, launching on March 11 is Liz Sarnoff’s gripping adaptation of the beloved Scarpetta novel series, starring Nicole Kidman as the medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta.
With skilled hands and an unnerving eye, she is determined to serve as the voice of victims, unmask a serial killer, and prove that her career-making case from 28 years prior isn’t also her undoing.
The lineup also includes a renowned list of local titles for the Filipino audience:
- The Silent Noise (KD Omalin)
- The Alibi (Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino)
- Cattleya Killer (Arjo Atayde, Jake Cuenca)
- Sa Aking Mga Kamay (Christopher De Leon)
- Roadkillers (Nadine Lustre)
Bandai Namco has announced a new action RPG set to release in July 2026: Echoes of Aincrad. A trailer has also been released.
This new title is set in the breathtaking floating castle of Aincrad from the Sword Art Online universe, where every battle could be one’s last.
Players get to create their own hero and dive into the game, where they will be trapped inside a deadly medieval MMORPG.
The vast living world will help them shape their fate, allowing them to customize their avatar with unique skills, gear, and abilities. This transforms how they fight and survive.
The fluid combat system requires mastering dodges, parries, and well-timed attacks. Throughout, players will face many challenges, explore epic quests, and join forces with companions who will share the peril.
The game will launch on July 9 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S before releasing the next day for PC via Steam.
Bandai Namco has already opened pre-orders for Echoes of Aincrad, available in three game editions.
The Standard Edition comes with the base game. Meanwhile, the Deluxe Edition also comes with an expansion pack and early access to Death Game Mode.
Lastly, the Ultimate Edition has all the inclusions under Deluxe Edition, plus the game’s bonus contents app which features special anime, digital artbook, and digital soundtrack. Players will also get an Armor Pack.
Entertainment
One Piece: Into the Grand Line unveils final trailer ahead of premiere
All 8 episodes dropping on Netflix this March 10
Netflix has revealed the final trailer for One Piece: Into the Grand Line, exactly one week before its March 10 premiere.
The clip opens with a monologue from Monkey D. Luffy, reminding the Straw Hat crew of how far they’ve come to make it to the gates of the legendary Grand Line.
He mentions that it is time for the pirates to see what’s in store for them in the legendary stretch of sea.
Of course, that’s the treasure they’re seeking albeit encountering bizarre islands, new enemies, and unpredictable danger.
The clip then again features the larger-than-life scale of Season 2, including the towering Red Line, giant whale Laboon, Little Garden’s dinosaurs, and the giant, Brogy.
For a brief moment, the protagonist is also shown in an encounter with Smoker. Tony Tony Chopper, shown in the official trailer, once again made a quick appearance.
Just as action-packed as previous trailers, this 1:44 clip then culminates with more combat. There’s Zoro defending the crew at Whisky Peak.
Wapol and his metal-transforming Munch-Munch powers was shown in the end against Monkey D. Luffy.
The entire trailer is also set to an upbeat remix of “Come Sail Away” in the background, continuing the excitement from Season 1.
All eight episodes of One Piece: Into the Grand Line will be made available by March 10.
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