Who is Korea’s sweetheart star?

The following is a tip on traditional Korean language and customs in response to a query from a Ms. Palmers, who wrote to us from Seoul:

Q. Ms. Palmers:
I think in general young Korean women are very attractive, but as a Westerner who has been in Korea for less than a year, I can’t really distinguish different types among Korean women. If actress Jennifer Aniston is one of the most popular cute, girl-next-door-type stars in the United States, who among Korean celebrities best fits this image?

A. IHT-JAD:
According to our unofficial survey, Choi Jin-sil is the equivalent of Jennifer Aniston in Korea. Since her delicately sweet yet daringly smart image in a Samsung electronics commercial captured the hearts of Koreans in the late ’80s, Ms. Choi, now 35, has appeared in numerous Korean TV dramas and movies.

Ms. Choi is currently embroiled in marital and financial troubles with her husband, celebrity baseball pitcher Cho Sung-min, with whom she has two children. A recent Korean survey revealed that the actress has starred in six out of the top 50 most popular Korean dramas.