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Rise of Multiethnic TV Stars

By Park Chung-a
Staff Reporter

The prevalence of multi-ethnic stars is one of the dominant phenomena of this year's entertainment field. In the spotlight are Daniel Henney, Dennis Oh and Kim Deanna. Born to Korean mothers and American fathers, they have risen to stardom in a short time with their clean-cut and exotic looks reflecting both the East and the West.

This summer, Daniel Henney rose to national heartthrob by starring as an angel-hearted Korean-American doctor in a mega-hit drama series "My Lovely Sam-soon" -"My Name is Kim Sam-soon" which ended in July.

Following in Henney's footsteps is Dennis Oh, who is starring as a mysterious millionaire in a popular drama series "Sweet Spy". Before debuting as TV actors, both were already famous models in advertising and fashion. Born and raised in the United States, their English lines in the dramas accompany Korean subtitles.

Kim Deanna, who gained great popularity through the SBS TV program "Animal Farm", which showed her at her family's reptile farm, recently made her debut as a member of the hip-hop duo Azian Love, by teaming up with a super model Kang So-young. By making the most of their images as a super model and an exotic mixed-race star, the group is aiming at becoming a big name not only Korea but throughout Asia.

Experts say that the success of mixed-race entertainers means that Koreans have become much more open to multi-ethnic entertainers than before.

A few years ago, there was a male duo with one member being Korean-American of mixed heritage. But they failed to become popular since until that time, people's prejudice against entertainers of mixed heritage was strong.

"However, Korean viewers' attitudes have changed. They seem to have become more friendly to half-Korean entertainers these days", said an official from an entertainment agency who claimed anonymity. "Even if people's frenzy over mixed-race entertainers turns out to be only a temporary thing, the fact that people have given such support to them is something meaningful", he said.

However, some point out that such enthusiasm towards half-Korean entertainers has not yet extended to most of the multi-ethnic people living in Korea.

"Their popularity does not necessarily mean that Korean people's general attitudes towards mixed-race people have improved", said Lee Ji-young, a social worker from Pearl S. Buck International (PSBI) in Seoul. The PSBI foundation was established by Nobel laureate Pearl S. Buck to

assist children, such as mixed-blooded children and adoptees, suffering racial discrimination.

Lee said that while fans are thrilled with the new phenomenon of mixed-race stars, the reality of most of mixed-blooded people in Korea is not that bright. She said that many of them still face harsh discrimination.

She also said that the role of such stars in encouraging mixed-race children and increasing people's awareness towards mixed-race people who suffer from discrimination is very much important.

In fact, Daniel Henney and Kim Deanna have been participating in activities of the foundation, including joining summer camps with half-Korean children, spending time with the children and giving speeches to them. The foundation invited them as they were idolized by the children. "What stars say is much more powerful and influential than what I say to children", Lee said.

Kim Deanna said that through her group's new hip-hop ballad song "You are born to be loved", she hopes to help Korean people fully embrace mixed-race people.

"In my case, I was born in the United States and spent my childhood there. Thus I did not face much conflict regarding the matter of being mixed-race. However, after I came to Korea, there were several occasions in which I was somewhat stressed by people's prejudice against mixed-race people", she said.

Lee said that whether the popularity of half-Korean stars is another form of favoring white people or a result of people's change in attitude towards mixed-race people remains to be seen.

"As this is such a new phenomenon, we will have to see and wait what this will ultimately come about", she said.

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