Actress Lee Da-Hae arrives at the 46th Daejong Film Awards at Olympic Hall on November 6, 2009 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo : Getty Images/Chung Sung-Jun)
Hunan TV's "Best Lover," which premiered on Nov. 14, continues to rule in viewership ratings. The Korean-Chinese TV drama stars Lee Da-Hae and Super Junior-M's Zhou Mi.
On Nov. 21, Monday, Lee's entertainment label JS Pictures revealed the "Best Lover" has accumulated more than one hundred million views on China's top online video streaming service Youku, Yonhap News Agency reported. Further, the Korean-Chinese TV drama is said to be receiving critical acclaim for its cinematic quality, marking an average rating of 9.5 percent from viewers and critics.
Set in the modern-day Korean entertainment industry, "Best Lover" follows two famous celebrities, Hee Sung/Yan Cheng Xi (Zhou) and Choi Hwan Young/Ye Huan Ying (Lee), who was paired up in a reality show where they have to enter into a fake marriage and show what life would resemble if they actually tied the knot. Starting off at odds, the two gradually learn about each other's pains and weaknesses and eventually end up together.
This came after the Chinese government has ordered local broadcasters not to air any Korean movies, dramas, entertainment shows or Chinese remade versions of Korean content, according to EntGroup, as cited by the Korea JongAng Daily. Nonetheless, the said prohibition will only affect Korean projects that have yet to be screened for broadcast.
"Descendants of the Sun" lead actor Song Joong-Ki, 31, seems to have been affected by the measure when he was replaced by Taiwanese actor Eddie Peng in a promotional ad for China's leading smartphone brand, VIVO. Further, several local reports claimed cosmetics brands are also discussing whether to change their Korean models that include Song Hye-Kyo, Kim Soo-Hyun, and Ahn Jae-Hyun.
The Hallyu ban is in an apparent retaliation for South Korea's stand to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile in the midst of China's objection.
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