By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporters
In celebrity-crazed Korea, stars can hawk everything from ramyeon to cell phones to vitamin drinks. So it is no wonder that some celebrities have started their own businesses such as clothing brands and restaurants, using ``star power'' for their own benefit.
Hallyu superstar Bae Yong-joon, K-pop group Shinhwa, singer Kim Jong-min and actors Lee Jung-jae and Hong Suk-chun are some of the celebrities who have entered the restaurant business.
Some of these stars generate hype for their restaurants by placing their names and photos prominently inside the restaurant. Others play down the star factor and concentrate on the quality of the food and service.
The Korea Times takes a look at some of the celebrity-owned restaurants.
[Non-Shinhwa related news omitted]
K-pop & Food
Korean pop group Shinhwa endorsed the fried chicken chain Kyochon a few years ago, and ended up opening a Kyochon chicken franchise restaurant in Rodeo Street in Apgujeong, southern Seoul.
The restaurant is quite small, and decorated with autographed posters of Shinhwa members and even their framed handprints on the walls.
There is not much variety on the menu, which includes the Kyochon original chicken (8,000 won for small, 15,000 won for big servings), French fries, salad and cheese sticks. There is even ``Shinhwa chicken,'' which is a very spicy version of the original Kyochon chicken. Because of Shinhwa's popularity around Asia, it is no surprise there are always some foreign fans dining at the restaurant.
Angel Mahinay, a 23-year old fan from the Philippines, said that she already knew about Kyochon chicken from watching the Shinhwa commercials on the Internet.
While visiting Seoul last week, Mahinay and her friend checked out the Shinhwa restaurant to try the chicken. "I saw the Kyochon chicken commercial and I really wanted to eat the yummy chicken. Now that I have tried it, I can say the chicken is really as good as it looked on the commercial,'' she said.
To get there, leave exit 2 of Apgujeong station, Line 3 and walk towards the direction of the Galleria Department Store. After around 700 meters, turn right at the Hana Bank, walk a few meters and you'll find the Shinhwa Kyochon Chicken restaurant on your right.
Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...135_21461.html
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