The current season of "America's Next Top Model" features appearances by k-pop stars Jay Park, BTOB, and girl group 2NE1, and most recently two k-drama stars.
The episodes based in Korea were also shot in popular k-drama locations such as the W Seoul Walkerhill hotel and Dongdaeumun Plaze. The W Seoul Walkerhill hotel room that all the contestants stayed in was featured in "Cheomdamdong Alice," in a scene between actresses So E Hyun and Moon Geun Young. Donegdaemun Plaza has been featured in several dramas, including "You Who Came From The Stars." It's the scene where Jun Ji Hyun has her action scene accident. Dongdaemun Plaza was also featured in "Fated To Love You," in the scene where Jang Nara has her car accident.
But the contestants really got the feel for what it's like to be a in a k-drama after they read lines with two k-drama stars. In the most recent episode of "America's Next Top Model," judge Miss J (Jay Alexander) talked about k-dramas, calling them "soap operas," and discussing how popular they were throughout Asia. Then Miss J introduced actors Clara Lee and Yoon Jong Hoon, who both played emergency room doctors in the drama 'Emergency Couple," which starred Choi Jin Hyuk and Song Ji Hyo. The actors read lines with the show's contestants to see how they might do if they had a chance to act in a drama.
The scene was shot at Seoul's Namsan Tower, which is featured in many k-dramas, including scenes with Lee Min Ho and Gu Hye Sun in "Boys Over Flowers."
The model finalists act out a scene in which couple that started a relationship while texting were surprised when they met in person. Clara and Yoon Jung Hoon's characters were surprised to discover the people they were texting with were not Korean.
"You're not Korean," said Clara Lee and Yong Jong Hoon to their model co-stars.
"I thought you knew," the contestants took turns saying although they did not always remember their lines.
Models Will, Shei, Keith, Adam and Lennox had to read their lines in both Korean and English but they struggled with the pronunciation of the Korean words. Despite his inability to pronounce Korean words, Keith charmed Clara with his improvisational skills and charisma. While none of the contestants were recruited by Korean talent agencies, Keith did win the challenge by virtue of his pleasing personality. At the end of the episode, Shei was eliminated. The four remaining contestants will participate in a Seoul fashion show.
Coming episodes will also feature model-turned actor Lee Soo Hyuk and the members of 2NE1.
