Korean "F4" to visit RP

Sunday May 17, 2009 Philippines

The four male lead stars of a hit Korean telenovela, “Boys Over Flowers,” are coming to the Philippines.

Korean superstars Lee Min-Ho (Jun Pyo), Kim Hyun-Joong (Ji Hoo), Kim Bum (So Yi Jeong) and Kim Joon (Song Woo Bin), or popularly called "F4," will visit the country, “The Buzz” host Kris Aquino announced Sunday.

There is no date yet as to when the stars will arrive in the Philippines but Aquino said it is going to be “soon.”

Based on the best-selling Japanese manga "Hana Yori Dango" by Yoko Kamio, the romantic story was first adapted in Taiwan as the phenomenal hit drama “Meteor Garden,” which aired on ABS-CBN in 2003. It starred Asia’s sensational boyband F4.

"Meteor Garden" remains to be one of the most successful Asianovelas aired on Philippine television, with an average rating of 42.9 percent in mega Manila and a nationwide average rating of 62 percent.

South Korea's "Boys Over Flowers," meanwhile, garnered an average rating of 30 percent. The show had a great impact on Korean pop culture as sales of men's cosmetics and fashion items skyrocketed and the female lead's hairstyle ruled the fashion world.

The Korean remake of "F4" also launched the careers of the four Asian superstars.

Aquino said the producers of the Korean show were grateful that, like Meteor Garden, it also became a hit in the Philippines.

Starting Monday, “Boys Over Flowers” will be aired at 6 p.m. before “TV Patrol World.” It takes over the timeslot of “Pinoy Bingo Night,” which will now be aired after “Tayong Dalawa.”


ABS-CBN News