Latest news with #JoeChen
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Long before K-dramas, Meteor Garden put Taiwan on the map - here are the dramas you missed
South Korea leveraged its soft power to promote K-pop, K-dramas, and beauty items around the world, resulting in the creation of an entertainment empire. Korean dramas have dominated foreign screens for years, and Netflix has emerged as a major player in spreading their global reach. Amid all this, one drama shook the internet even before the Korean wave truly took off: Meteor Garden. This early 2000s Taiwanese idol drama was a cultural juggernaut. It launched F4 into superstardom, popularized the rich-boy–poor-girl romance trope, and laid the groundwork for the Hallyu wave before Korea fully caught on. However, as K-dramas became more popular, Taiwan's once-dominant drama scene receded into the background. But it never stopped creating intellectual, emotionally complex entertainment, ranging from cute rom-coms to daring social commentary. These often-overlooked treasures demonstrate that Taiwan's presence in Asian pop culture is more than just a memory; it is a story that is continually being written. The Prince Who Turns into a Frog (2005) A powerful CEO loses his memory and falls for a sweet, unassuming girl, only to regain his past and returns to his cold, arrogant self. The drama, starring Ming Dao and Joe Chen, was a huge ratings success, demonstrating that people couldn't resist a classic redemption storyline combined with sweeping romance. The Fierce Wife (2010) This immensely popular series dealt a significant blow to Taiwan's primetime comfort zone. The series delves into infidelity and divorce, generating national debates on marriage, commitment, and female empowerment in a society that traditionally shunned such topics. It even signified a transition in Taiwanese dramas, moving away from youthful purity and toward the stark, difficult truths of adulthood. The World Between Us (2019) This drama, set in the aftermath of a mass shooting, intermingled the lives of journalists, lawyers, victims' families, and relatives of the murderer. The show, which addressed problems such as media ethics, mental health stigma, and justice, received critical acclaim for its nuanced storytelling and societal depth, establishing its position as one of the decade's most important Taiwanese dramas. Someday or One Day (2019) This series sparked global interest in Taiwanese dramas by combining time travel mystery and passionate romance. Huang Yu Xuan (Alice Ko), who is grieving the loss of her boyfriend, wakes up in another girl's body in 1998, where she meets a boy who looks precisely like him. With its clever story twists, emotional depth, and nostalgic beauty, the show became a streaming hit. The Victims' Game (2020) This dark, riveting, and emotionally complex series attracted international attention to Taiwan's criminal drama industry. This Netflix original follows Fang Yi Jen (Joseph Chang), a talented but socially aloof forensic detective with Asperger's syndrome, as he investigates a string of murders involving his estranged daughter. The series distinguished out from normal procedurals with its noir tone, snappy pacing, and careful treatment of neurodiversity, which connected with people all across the world. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
South China Morning Post
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Public shock as Taiwan actress posts photos of her face pinned with needles from skin therapy
Taiwanese actress and singer Joe Chen Chiao-en has caused shock by revealing photos of herself after she underwent an all-over acupuncture treatment. The glaring images have sparked controversy on social media in mainland China. Known as the Queen of Idol Dramas, Chen, 46, first rose to fame in 2013 for her portrayal of Dongfang Bubai in the series Swordsman. She solidified her popularity with hit dramas such as Fated to Love You and The Prince Who Turns into a Frog. Her performance in Fated to Love You earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 43rd Golden Bell Awards. She now boasts nearly 70 million followers on a major Chinese social media platform. Pain in the neck: Joe Chen Chiao-en had scores of needles pushed into her skin. Photo: Handout On June 6 Chen shared shocking photos on social media showing her face, feet, back and scalp pierced with dozens of fine needles, more than 100 in total.
The Star
31-05-2025
- The Star
When eating durian in a hotel can be a ‘costly' affair
A CHINESE national holidaying in Singapore was slapped with a S$200 (RM659) fine for eating durian in a four-star hotel in Orchard Road, reported Kwong Wah Yit Poh. The tourist shared her experience on her RedNote social networking account on May 26 that she was unaware of hotel regulations in South-East Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia prohibiting guests from bringing durian into the premises. 'Some netizens shared online that they had been fined S$500 before. So, I think S$200 was still a reasonable amount and I requested the cleaner to get rid of the leftover durian in my room,' she said. The tourist said she arrived in Singapore on May 24 and the next day, she bought packets of durian and other fruits and took it back to the hotel as there was no place to eat them. The following day she received a note from the hotel informing that the housekeeper discovered durian smell in her room and that the hotel would impose a S$200 cleaning fee to get rid of the smell. > Taiwanese actress Joe Chen has hit back at those who criticised her over her lack of knowledge on appendicitis, China Press reported. Netizens had commented on Chen's experience of undergoing a surgery in Malaysia to remove her appendix that she posted on her social media accounts on May 27. The 46-year-old hit back on her Weibo account: '... I don't know my diagnosis has become one of the most searched topics.' The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
New Straits Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Taiwanese actress Joe Chen hospitalised in Johor for appendicitis
TAIPEI: Taiwanese actress Joe Chen recently travelled to Johor after attending American pop star Lady Gaga's concert in Singapore. However, her visit took an unexpected turn when she was suddenly struck by severe stomach pain and diarrhoea. A subsequent medical examination confirmed she was suffering from appendicitis. According to Sin Chew Daily, the 46-year-old actress was hospitalised after undergoing surgery on Tuesday, May 27. The Fated To Love You (2008) star was discharged the very next day. "The doctor told me not to worry, as it was just a minimally invasive procedure. I was hospitalised for one night and have recovered well," she shared in an Instagram Story. Chen also expressed her gratitude to the medical team for their excellent care and extended thanks to the hospital management. "I have already been discharged from the hospital. The doctor says I can eat anything I want." Chen is married to Malaysian artiste Alan Chen, who hails from Johor. The couple registered their marriage in Taipei on March 21, 2022, and held their wedding ceremony in Langkawi, Kedah, on Sept 22 last year.
Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Actress Joe Chen goes for surgery soon after appendicitis diagnosis
Taiwanese actress Joe Chen went for a surgery in Malaysia after she was diagnosed with appendicitis. PHOTO: IAM_JOECHEN/INSTAGRAM Actress Joe Chen goes for surgery soon after appendicitis diagnosis Taiwanese actress Joe Chen was thinking about her work even when she was unwell. The 46-year-old disclosed on Instagram Stories on May 28 that she had been suffering from diarrhoea and stomachache in the previous few days and was diagnosed with appendicitis after a health screening. Chen, who is married to Malaysian artist Alan Chen, decided to go for an operation on the same day she learnt about her condition, so that her upcoming work commitments will not be affected. 'The doctor told me not to worry, as it was only a minimally invasive surgery,' she wrote in Chinese on Instagram Stories. Joe Chen said she stayed in the hospital for only one night after the operation and was recovering well. The actress, who is known for starring in Taiwanese idol dramas such as The Prince Who Turns Into A Frog (2005) and Fated To Love You (2008), tagged Johor Bahru's Kempas Medical Centre in her post. 'Thank you to the doctors and nurses for their care, and thank you for preparing a fruit basket for me,' she wrote. 'I can be discharged from the hospital today, and the doctor said that I can eat whatever I want to eat.' The actress also shared a hilarious text conversation between her and her mother. Sharing a photo of her appendix after the surgery, Chen explained to her mother that the minimally invasive surgery, also known as keyhole surgery, was done with three small incisions in her abdomen. Her mother replied that the actress' appendix looked like chicken and duck intestines. Chen was in Singapore last week to attend American singer Lady Gaga's concert at the National Stadium. She shared on Instagram on May 20 videos and photos of herself at the event, including one of her pretending to be a monster, in reference to 'Little Monsters', as Lady Gaga's fans are affectionately called. Chen was also recently featured in the June issue of the Chinese edition of the Harper's Bazaar magazine. She previously disclosed on social media in January 2023 that she suffered from sleep apnoea and went for an operation to fix her condition. Her agency has so far not said if it will make any changes to her post-operation work schedule . Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
