Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou arrived in South Korea yesterday on a global promotion tour ahead of the local release of his first Hollywood film, “The Green Hornet.”Interviewed by more than 200 foreign and local reporters in Seoul, Chou said he was excited to play the part of Kato, his role in the film that was played by martial arts legend Bruce Lee in an earlier TV series.

No one could surpass Lee in his heart, said Chou, who added that he agreed to play the role as a form of tribute to the late martial arts superstar.

The film's lead actor, Seth Rogen, and French director Michel Gondry also attended the press conference.

The South Korean leg of the promotion was not without controversy, as Korean star Kwon Sang Woo had been tipped for the role of Kato, but was replaced by Chou, according to earlier reports.

Asked whether he was worried that potential bad sentiment against him could affect Korean box office takings, Chou said that “I don't think we should oppose something just because of an actor's nationality.”

“Asian entertainers already struggle in Hollywood. There is no need to stir up such meaningless disputes,” added the 32-year-old singer and actor.

Chou, mainly a composer and music producer with a huge following in China and other parts of East Asia as well as Taiwan, said he hopes many children will enjoy the action comedy, set to have its South Korean opening Jan. 27.

“Just like other kids, I wanted to be a hero when I was young. That's another reason why I readily agreed to play the role,” said Chou, who has been in a handful of Chinese-language movies.

Secret, a 2007 film Chou directed and in which he starred, was shown only briefly in South Korea that year, which his fans angrily protested online.

The movie was later given another run in cinemas, while broadcasts on TV and on the Internet further boosted its popularity.

Rogen, who plays the Green Hornet, a masked vigilante who fights crime with Kato as his trusty sidekick, will visit Taiwan on Jan. 26 with Gondry to promote the film, and Chou will attend the movie's release in his homeland two days later.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2011/01/20/288356/Jay-Chou.htm