Actor to sell Sony goods

Actor Bae Yong-jun, who saw his popularity soar in Japan thanks to his role in the Korean TV drama “Winter Sonata,” will now be featured in a Sony commercial. His Japanese fans already call him “Yonsama,” the highest honorable appellation.
According to Mr. Bae’s agents, the actor signed a contract with the Japanese company in May, and began shooting the commercial for a new digital camcorder on July 11 in Gyeonggi province.
Since Sony commercials have long been known for promoting the myriad functions and quality of the product instead of turning to celebrities or models, Mr. Bae’s involvement with Sony is somewhat surprising. An agent also noted that the modeling fee for the Sony deal is the largest in the actor’s career, but citing the terms of the contract, declined to disclose the amount.
This is not Mr. Bae’s first foray into TV advertising. Not long ago, he appeared in a commercial for a health drink by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese company that reportedly paid him 1 billion won ($867,000). Now that Mr. Bae’s phone is ringing with requests from other Japanese companies, including Meiji Seika Kaisha, a snack company that counts David Beckham among its cheerleaders, the actor’s income is expected to exceed 10 billion won this year. Next, he’s taking a break in the United States before choosing his next movie.