Kpop/Kdrama: New Idol Casting Is International

Three kpop idols have snagged new acting roles, two of them in China. Super Junior M's Henry Lau and Choi Siwon and 2PM's Hwang Chansung can now add some more credits to their resumes.

Henry Lau, the Taiwanese-Canadian singer and actor will appear in a new Chinese drama, "My Sweet City." It will be his first leading role.

According to SM Entertainment, his management agency, he will travel to China shortly after he finishes promotions for his latest single, "1-4-3 (I Love You)," which features f(x) singer Amber. That single followed his solo debut with the song "Trap."

He won't have any problems getting around China during the three months required for filming, because besides speaking English and Korean, he's fluent in Mandarin and can speak some Cantonese.

In the film, the 23-year-old actor will play a movie director and his co-star will be Chinese actress Xinyi Zhang, 32.

Choi Siwon is also going to be filming in China but it's not his first time. He previously appeared in a Chinese film, "Battle of Wits." He is currently filming "Helios," a disaster film, in Hong Kong and China. In this drama he will play a Korean police officer pursuing a terrorist who has an atomic bomb. Siwon previously appeared in the SBS "Iris" spin-off, "Athena: Goddess of War" as a rookie agent.

Meanwhile, 2PM's Hwang Chansung will appear in a KBS drama special titled "Your Noir." In this drama he will play Hyung Joo, a gangster sent to spy on a prosecutor who falls in love with the prosecutor's wife, played by actress Chae Jung An. The prosecutor's wife used to be more a teacher at his high school.

A representative from the "Your Noir" production company said that Chansung is enthusiastic about the role.

"In his meetings with the director, Chansung has been passionate about acting the part," said the production company representative. "We cast Hwang Chansung because we needed a man who is fit and athletic to play Hyung Joon as the character used to do judo."

Chansung was last seen as the rookie National Intelligence Service agent in the drama "Level 7 Civil Servant." His character's loyalties became confused, putting him in conflict with the characters played by his co-stars Joo Won and Choi Kang Hee. Chansung is also currently shooting his first film, a romantic comedy titled "Red Carpet."

Kim Wook, who wrote "The Princess' Man," has written the screenplay for "Film Noir." Filming for the drama special begins in August and the drama will air in October.