It’s Official: Hong Kong Loves Lee

Lee Young-ae, the heroine of the Korean soap opera “Daejanggum,” has been selected as one of 2005’s People of the Year by the Hong Kong press.

RTHK, a government-operated broadcasting station in Hong Kong, reported on December 31, 2005 that Lee Young-ae won first place in People of the Year voting, collecting 49 percent of the vote in the female category of the contest based on 1,398 Hong Kong residents polled.

In addition, the soap opera Daejanggum and Lee Young-ae were both nominated for the Hong Kong press’ 2005 entertainment awards.

Ming Pao, a Hong Kong newspaper, selected Daejanggum, which aired on Hong Kong’s TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited) channel from January 24, 2005 through May 1, 2005, as the best TV soap opera of 2005.

Wen Wei Po, another Hong Kong newspaper, selected Daejanggum and the “Korean wave” in general as two of the top-10 entertainment news stories in Hong Kong in 2005. It also reported that cast members in Daejanggum, including Ji Jin-hee and Yang Mi-kyung as well as Lee Young-ae, attracted large crowds, whenever they visited Hong Kong.

Ho-Gab Lee gdt@donga.com