Kimchi Mamas

Another Korean Actor Making His Hollywood Debut

Rain has joined the ranks of Daniel Henney and Lee Byung-hyun to be featured in a major Hollywood motion picture... well, I guess Daniel Henny and Lee Byung-hyun weren't really "featured," more like supporting roles. =)

Rain's seems like he'll be the main actor in Nina Assassin... yes, still the stereotypical kung-fu fighting role but hey, looking this good, I say bring it on!

Yum.  heh.

I just saw a commercial for the DVD release of G.I.Joe and Lee Byung-hyun's English is actually really good!  (At least in that one line it was... )

- Mary can't wait to see this movie.

The Most Beautiful Man Alive

Won Bin

This Kimchi Mama's WTF of the Week

(I titled this post "This Kimchi Mama's WTF of the Week" because what I have to say may not stand true for the other KMs.)

Yesterday news sources stated the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) announced they are going to require ALL LPGA members to speak English by 2009.

My first reaction upon reading the story was "WTF?"  ?

According to the article, there was a mandatory meeting last week of South Korean players that outlined the new requirements.  Basically starting IN LESS THAN  5 MONTHS, members who have been on the tour for 2 or more years must be able to proficiently speak and therefore PASS an oral exam . . . if not, their membership could be suspended.  This new policy becomes effective immediately.  South Korean players make up the majority of the International contingency - there are 45 South Koreans out of 121 total International players from 26 countries. 

The LPGA's  tour's deputy comissioner,  Libba Galloway said "an impression must be made that communicating effectively in English is fundamental to the tour’s business". 

So nobody panic - this is a BUSINESS decision. 

One of the things I found most disturbing from the article was this:

"Kate Peters, executive director of the LPGA State Farm Classic, supported the news. “This is an [American tour]. It is important for sponsors to be able to interact with players and have a positive experience.”"

Because it's AN AMERICAN TOUR?  WTF?

And I take offense at the idea that sponsors wouldn't be able to have "a positive experience" because their player doesn't speak English.  (At many Pro-Am events a player is paired with a small group of sponsors - who pay big bucks - who get to play alongside, take photos with and talk to their pals about playing with the likes of Angela Park, Christie Kerr and Hee Won Han.) 

To be fair, the article also cited several Korean players who said they support the policy . . . but I can't shake the feeling there's still something amiss.

This is still a fresh news story, so I think I'm going to need a day or two to really get into this . . . But I just wanted to share with ya'll my INITIAL gut reaction.

-Angie in Texas threw her clubs into a water hazard once after missing a 5 foot putt - three times, but still loves the game of golf.

Eye on South Korea

CNN is running a series called Eye on South Korea, including a story on the Korean Wave. Check it out.

(Via Angry Asian Man.)

--Weigook Saram