Although 2PM's Nickhun and miss A's Jia are Korean superstars, they both have an international background. And together they are planning to star in an international production.
Nickhun, who was born in California to Thai-Chinese parents, lived in Thailand, New Zealand and the U.S., before he was scouted at a Los Angeles Korean Music Festival and moved to Korea to pursue a career as a singer. He speaks English, Korean and Mandarin.
Miss A's Meng Jia is a Chinese singer, actress and model. As miss A's main rapper and lead dancer, she is one of the best-known Korean celebrities of Chinese origin. Jia speaks Mandarin, Korean and a little English.
Jia has played an important role in miss A's ongoing popularity in China. The group has performed on numerous variety shows there. Given Jia's drama plans, they may soon become even more popular in China.
Together she and Nickhun are going to star in an upcoming Chinese/Korean production called "One And A Half Summers" or "Yi You Er Fen Zhi Yi De Xia Tian."
In the young adult drama, Nickhun will play a Chinese-American student who comes to China to study and falls in love with a Chinese girl. The 30-episode romantic drama about finding love and overcoming cultural differences takes place on a college campus.
Filming does not start until July 15 but Nickhun and Jia were seen this week at Jimei University in Xiamen, talking to students. Filming takes place through October at the college and other Chinese locations in Xiamen, Fuzhou and Beijing.
Neither singer has acted in a drama before although they have done drama cameos. Nickhun and Jia both had a cameo in "Dream High" and she also had a cameo in "Dream High 2."
Nichkhun was cast in the Japanese film "Ouran High School Host Club" and had a supporting role in the Thai film, "Seven Something."
Although he is happy singing with 2PM, Nickhun admits that it was always his dream to be an actor. He wants it more every time he acts but that doesn't mean it's easy.
"It really feels different to be in front of a camera as an actor and not a singer," he said when he was cast in the Thai film. "I'm really trying and I want to be a wonderful actor."
"One And A Half Summers" is set to premiere next summer.
