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August 15, 2012
Yum Jung-ah to make comeback to brown box
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Actress Yum Jung-ah will star in her first drama since her last piece some 18 months ago.
Yum will appear in the new SBS weekend drama “My Love Madame Butterfly,” which will begin airing from October.
The drama revolves around the character Nam Na-bi, a top actress with a lot of haters. The plot unfolds when Nam moves in with her husband’s family without her spouse.
“The storyline as well as the character were so appealing,” said Yum.
“I can’t wait to be back on the small screen,” Yum gushed, adding that she’d give it her best to entertain and touch viewers at the same time.
The 40-year-old’s last drama was “Royal Family” from early last year. |
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August 15, 2012
Hanbok not for wedding: Lee Min-jung
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
When a local business in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, claimed that actress Lee Min-jung had tailored a hanbok with them, the media went wild with speculation that the actress was preparing to walk down the aisle with Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun.
Although the two entertainers claimed that they weren’t even dating, rumors spread far and wide, with November reported to be the big month for the two actors.
But the star’s agency has come out dismissing the rumors.
“It’s absolutely untrue. Lee Byung-hun will be busy traveling around the world to film ‘Red 2’ in November,” said the star’s agency. “How could he possibly even fit in a wedding during filming?”
The spokesperson for 30-year-old Lee Min-jung also added that Lee’s visit to the hanbok shop was for the drama “Big,” in which she starred from June to July.
“The business obviously saw marketing opportunities from her visit,” the agency said.
The agencies have said the celebrities are just friends. |
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August 15, 2012
Celebrity couple back in friend zone
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
One of the nation’s most prominent celebrity couples has decided to call it quits after 10 years.
Kong Hyo-jin spoke to Ilgan Sports yesterday and confirmed the break-up with Ryu Seung-bum.
“We dated for 10 years, so in many ways it was time for it to end,” Kong said.
She also denied the rumor that she was involved with her co-star Ha Jung-woo from “Love Fiction.”
“It’s so frustrating that people assume that I’m seeing Jung-woo. Really, if you need a reason, it’s because I just wanted to take some time off from being in a relationship.”
Kong said that the two will remain as friends, as they’ve been each other’s best friends and supporters in the industry. On Ryu’s birthday last week, Kong said that she contacted him to wish him all the best.
Kong and Ryu were elementary school friends and became lovers after starring together in the 2001 SBS drama “Wonderful Days” as well as in the movie “Conduct Zero” (2002). In 2003, they broke up for a while but got back together in 2006. |
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August 16, 2012
Korean Movies Find New Recipe for Success
ChosunIlbo
A series of successful domestic films at the box office hints at the changing face of Korean cinema. "The Thieves," which was released on July 25 amid great expectations with its heist movie plot and star-studded cast, has attracted almost 10 million viewers in only three weeks. "The Grand Heist" also drew one million moviegoers earlier this week despite its lack of rave reviews.
The trend has been developing since the start of the year. Domestic films drew 44.17 million spectators in the first half of 2012, up 34.6 percent from the same period last year. This even beats the previous record high of 41.48 million viewers in the first half of 2006.
In total, 18 Korean movies have now drawn more than one million viewers each so far this year, compared to 16 over the same period in 2011 and 13 in 2010. So what is the driving force behind this trend?
◆ Diversification of Genres
Local moviegoers used to prefer comedies or action movies, but these days their interest is spread more evenly across the genres. Although romantic comedies and melodramas were in the past regarded as unlikely to score a huge hit at box office here, "All About My Wife" and "Architecture 101" attracted more than four million viewers each this year. Meanwhile, "Unbowed," a courtroom drama based on a true-life incident, proved its commercial success by selling 3.42 million tickets.
"Ten years ago, moviegoers were divided into two distinct types: people who like Hollywood movies, and those who like Korean movies. But as many people have become familiar with a variety of genres of American movies and dramas, local audiences tend to prefer domestic films that contain elements of Hollywood genres tailored to Korean tastes," said film critic Jeon Chan-il.
◆ Star-Studded Casts
"The Thieves" has 10 lead actors, while "The Grand Heist" has 11. Even melodramas and romantic comedies, which used to rely on one leading actor and actress, now often have three or four actors in starring roles. At the same time, it is increasingly common to see major stars play supporting roles.
"In the past, many viewers were attracted to movies based on their plot, but now they like character-oriented movies with a good story. Movies that have many leading characters or supporting characters with distinct personalities are also getting popular," said Kim Ho-sung, CEO of production company REALise.
◆ Mature Audiences
As producers have raised the target age group from teenagers and people in their 20s to those in their 30s and over, movies are naturally attracting a more diverse audience.
According to ticket sales data for "The Thieves" compiled by Korea's largest movie site Maxmovie, 26 percent of those who watched the movie were in their 20s, 40 percent were in their 30s and 31 percent in their 40s. In the case of "Architecture 101," 24 percent were in their 20s, 45 percent in their 30s and 28 percent in their 40s. The bulk of viewers who went to see "All About My Wife," or 45 percent, were also in their 30s.
The combined number of spectators in their 30s and 40s now far outstrips those in their 20s, and this demographic can be seen as playing a leading role in Korean movies' raging success at home. |
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August 16, 2012
Lee Byung-hun, Lee Min-jung deny wedding rumors
Reporter : Lucia Hong KStar10
Actress Lee Min-jung (left) poses for a profile picture and actor Lee Byung-hun
(right) poses for a profile picture. [MS Team Entertainment/BH Entertainment]
Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun and actress Lee Min-jung have denied that they will be walking down the aisle, downplaying reports from early in the day which said that the two are getting married in November.
On Thursday, an official with Lee Byung-hun's agency BH Entertainment told the magazine over the phone, "Everything regarding the news that the two actors will tie the knot in November is absolutely not true."
The BH rep explained that Lee Byung-hun will be busy promoting his historical film "Masquerade," which is set to open in local theaters over the Korean Thanksgiving holidays.
"He will then shoot several advertisements and then head over to London to begin filming the Hollywood blockbuster 'Red 2' in November," the official said.
Lee Min-jung's agency, MS Team Entertainment, gave a similar response. "The rumors about a wedding in November are not true. The two actors only share a junior and senior relationship and she is currently busy shooting a commercial in Australia and will be returning to the country this weekend."
In April, both Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung have denied reports and rumors that the two were involved in a romantic relationship after being spotted having dinner together at a wedding in March.
Earlier this week, rumors surfaced once again about their romantic relationship when a related official with a Hanbok (Korean traditional attire) shop spoke up saying that the two actors visited the store and that they were planning a November wedding.
Lee Byung-hun, one of Korea's most well-recognized actors and a household name in Japan as well, made his Hollywood debut in 2009 through the first “G.I. Joe" flick as character Storm Shadow.
He recently attended a press conference to promote his forthcoming film "Masquerade" and will be heading overseas to shoot "Red 2."
Lee Min-jung is best known for playing the role of Ha Jae-kyung in SBS' hit teenage series "Boys Over Flowers" and landed her first lead role in SBS' weekend drama "Smile, You" opposite actor Choung Kyung-ho.
The actress has also appeared in films "Searching for the Elephant (2009)," "White Night (2009)" and "Cyrano Agency (2010)." She last starred in KBS' romantic comedy "Big" opposite actor Gong Yoo. |
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August 16, 2012
'The Thieves' breaks 10 million audience number
YonhapNews
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean box-office hit has broken the 10 million mark in total audience, becoming the sixth homegrown film to do so in the local movie history, official statistics showed Thursday.
"The Thieves," featuring 10 Korean and Chinese thieves teaming up to steal a valuable diamond necklace at a Macao casino, drew 10,095,387 viewers in the first 22 days through Wednesday, data from the Korean Film Council showed.
The film opened on July 25 and is now being shown on 552 cinema screens across the country.
Directed by Choe Dong-hoon, who is known for "Tazza: the High Rollers" and "The Big Swindle," it stars top actors and actresses Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Yun-seok and Lee Jung-jae.
It became the first Korean film to break the 10 million mark since "Haeundae," a 2009 disaster drama directed by Yoon Jae-gyun.
The four other films to reach the mark are "Silmido," "Taegukgi," "The King and the Clown" and "The Host."
"The Host," a 2006 action-packed thriller by director Bong Jun-ho, drew the most viewers at 13 million. |
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August 16, 2012
Lee Byung-hun Showcases Comic Side in Gwang-hae, A Man Who Became King
KBS Global
Actor Lee Byung-hun promised fans and the media, “you’ll see a new comedic side of me”, during the press meeting for his new movie Gwang-hae, A Man Who Became King held on August 13th. In the upcoming film, Lee has two roles, one as the tragic Chosun dynasty king Gwanghae and the other as a lowly peasant named Hasun who must act as king due to their similar appearance.
He said he received the offer for the role while he was filming G.I. Joe and thought over it for about two months, adding that Hasun’s naïve and funny character was the biggest reason why he chose to do the film.
On acting two roles he said, “Gwanghae was an actual historical figure so I tried to bring what we already know about him while Hasun’s character was something I had to develop from what was written in the script”, adding “it was more difficult to form Hasun’s character than act two different roles”.
The film deals with Gwanghae, fearful of being poisoned, looking for a man to pretend to be king in his place and finding the peasant Hasun and making him king. Actress Han Hyo-joo plays the lonely queen who is loved by Hasun. [Yonhap] |
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August 15, 2012
Gong Hyo-jin & Ryu Seung-bum Split Up
KBS Global
One of the most notable celebrity couples in Korea have called it quits.
Representatives of Gong Hyo-jin and Ryu Seung-bum confirmed on August 15th that the two stars have split up. They've decided to remain just friends, and an official statement with the details will be released soon.
The two had met in 2001 after filming "Splendid Days". They've had an on and off relationship for the past 10 years.
Gong is currently preparing for a documentary film release, "577 Project", while Ryu is filming his new movie "In Berlin". |
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August 16, 2012
Kim Bum to team up with Tsui Hark
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Kim Bum has been cast as the lead in Hong Kong native Tsui Hark’s new film.
The movie, tentatively titled “Detective Dee Prequel,” will be an action-thriller and will also star Feng Shao Feng, Angela Baby, Mark Chao and Lin Gengxin.
“I’ve always been a fan of Tsui Hark, so to be cast in one of his movies is a dream come true,” Kim said.
The movie is set to open next year and will go into production from late August in China.
Kim’s fame in China has skyrocketed since he starred in the hit Korean drama “Boys Over Flowers” in 2009.
In July, he was chosen to represent the Chinese apparel brand Eichitoo. |
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August 16, 2012
Choi Cheol-ho to work alongside Kim Hyun-joong
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Choi Cheol-ho is set to star in the drama “City Conquest” which boasts Hallyu singer Kim Hyun-joong as the lead.
In the comic-turned-drama about a son who seeks vengeance on those who brought his family to ruins, Choi will play one of the villains who Kim must battle.
The show is set to be a hit; even before it went into production, the program’s rights were sold to four markets in Asia.
Simply by having his name on the show, Kim has already made 118 million won ($9,986,254) for his production company.
Written by Shin Hyung-bin, the original comic has been in print since 1996 and its 270 issues have sold more than 10 million copies to date. |
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August 16, 2012
Shim Eun-jin vexed at the Police after car crash
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Singer and actress Shim Eun-jin was involved in a car crash on Aug.16.
According to her Twitter post, she was riding as a passenger when a car driven by a young man drove through the red light to hit her vehicle.
Shim wasted no time in letting the fans know by tweeting, “I know I was only the passenger, but still why am I not in any pain?”
Later on, however, the entertainer vented her furor, more so at the police at their refusal to answer her phone.
“You asked for my personal details, and I’m trying to give you the details but you won’t answer my call,” Shim lamented.
In a lengthy post, Shim complained that she would rather not go down to the Gangnam Police Station — as one should do in such a case — due to the place being full of journalists.
“I don’t want to go down there and make a big deal, and that’s what I’m trying to explain to the police officer, but he won’t hear me out. How frustrating. So good to know that the public’s safety lies in the hands of such individuals.”
Shim made her debut back in 1998 through the girl group BABY V.O.X. |
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August 16, 2012
Movies at the palace: Sensible or sacrilege?
By Park Eun-jee Korea JoongAng Daily
A recent outdoor screening of “I Am a King” at Deoksu Palace has stirred debate over the proper use of Korea’s historic landmarks.Provided by Lotte Entertainment
It was an unusual outdoor cinema event: a giant inflatable screen juxtaposed against the beautiful curves of the roof tiles of a grand palace. About 500 invited guests take their seats to watch the historical comedy “I Am a King” at the palace grounds at Hamnyeongjeon of Deoksu Palace, a sleeping quarter where Joseon King Gojong died suddenly of unknown causes in 1919.
The outdoor screening on Monday is the latest in a series of film distributors’ efforts to attract more attention by utilizing unique, unexpected public places, a movement seen by supporters as a way to increase public use and knowledge of landmarks and by critics as commercial exploitation of Korea’s heritage.
“I Am a King” earned substantial media coverage prior to the event as the first film screened at the historic landmark.
“The movie event is meaningful because ‘I Am a King’ is set in the Joseon Dynasty,” said Lotte Entertainment, distributor of the comedy drama, in a press release. “We will invite families of independence war fighters to mark Liberation Day on Aug. 15.”
The distributor paid an unspecified fee to the government for use of the property and there was no charge for those who attended.
Having been treated to a special screening, invited guests appear to enjoy the unconventional movie-watching, soaking up the warmth of a Seoul summer evening.
“It was a wonderful experience. The movie setting was matched with the place where I am,” said Kim Jin-young, 26. “The night sky stretched over my head and I could feel the gentle summer breeze as the movie went on. It was so amazing.”
Critics, however, question whether the use is compatible with national landmarks.
“The Cultural Heritage Administration is seeking to increase recreational access of cultural heritage. But the commercial sector is explicitly taking advantage of the move,” said Choi Ho-jin, manager of the National Trust Cultural Heritage Fund, Korea.
“Still, there is no committee or guideline to decide whether an outside project is appropriate to be carried out in the public domain. Even if the government body sets up rules and a committee, the movie contents are always subject to change,” said Choi.
Kim Ki-duk’s movie “Pieta” was introduced in the sanctuary of the venerable Seoul Anglican Cathedral. The event raised eyebrows because the movie mixes religious and sexual themes.Provided by Hohoho Beach
An official at Deoksu Palace said the film screening was approved at a meeting of officials, but it intends to refer the matter to a division responsible for managing royal palaces in the Cultural Heritage Administration.
Others view the expanding use of landmarks as a good thing, saying it will help people feel more connected to historic sites.
“I think the event is sort of a win-win for both movie industry and the general public. Film distributors can promote their movies while keeping the citizens close to the national landmark,” said Lee Jae-hak, head of Rediscovery of Korea, a heritage preservation organization.
The royal palace is not the only place where the issue comes up. Seoul Anglican Cathedral was in the media spotlight over a production press conference for Kim Ki-duk’s upcoming movie “Pieta” that was held there last month, the first such event in the 110-year history of the church.
Kim’s R-rated movie is the story of a brutal robber who works for loan sharks. The film depicts a mysterious relationship between the man and a middle-aged woman who claims that she is his mother, mixing Christian symbolism and highly sexual contents.
The location seemed to be linked with what the director seeks to deliver through the film.
“Religion is so closely connected to humans and I think if anything, this element of existence should be expressed through love,” Kim said during the press conference. “I think sex, in a way, is a prayer of sorts, so instead of dichotomizing the two [sexuality and religion], I think of the elements more as a singular chunk of our lives.”
Priest Yoo Si-kyung, who allowed the movie event, stood behind his decision while acknowledging that it was difficult at times. “Other clergy and some believers voiced concern about the movie conference,” he said. “But I don’t think the religious building should be available only for the faithful.” |
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August 16, 2012
'The Thieves' breaks 10 million mark
By Jennifer Ryu, Intern reporter The Korea Herald
“The Thieves” became the sixth Korean movie to reach 10 million viewers, achieving the feat in just 22 days.
According to the Korean Film Council, “The Thieves” brought in 10,095,387 viewers in total as of Wednesday. Released on July 25, the movie is now showing on 552 screens.
Director Kang woo-suk’s “Silmido” (2003) was the first Korean film to draw 10 million viewers, followed by “TaeGukGi: Brotherhood Of War,” “The King and the Clown,” “The Host,” and “Haeundae.”
“The Host” (2006), directed by Bong Joon-ho, so far holds the record for most viewers among South Korean films with over 13 million. The film reached the 10 million mark in only 21 days. “The Thieves” is the first movie to break the 10 million barrier since “Haeundae” (2009).
The star-studded movie “The Thieves” tells the story of a group of 10 professional thieves who travel to Macau to steal a diamond necklace. |
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August 17, 2012
T-ara's Eun-jung, first public outing
By Jean Oh The Korea Herald
Scandals tend to have a nasty way of lingering in the air, especially in this Internet world.
Not one but two controversies threaten to haunt SBS’ new weekend series “Five Fingers.”
Recent rumors that “Five Fingers” actress Ham Eun-jung and fellow girl group T-ara members bullied former member Hwa-young put the group under public fire, with some demanding that Ham step down from her upcoming role in the series.
T-ara member Ham Eun-jung (right) and SBS’ “Five Fingers” co-star Ju Ji-hoon
attend the drama’s press conference in Seoul on Thursday. (SBS)
Despite the furor surrounding T-ara, Ham made her first public appearance after controversy broke, at the drama’s press conference in Seoul on Thursday.
“Five Fingers” also represents co-star Ju Ji-hoon’s first television drama since he was indicted on drug charges in 2009.
The two leads, with Ham looking subdued, trained the spotlight on their upcoming roles at the press event.
“My character dreamed of becoming a pianist when she was a child, but due to family circumstances she had to give up that dream,” said the 23-year-old singer-and-actress, who described her role as “upbeat and cheery.”
“This is my first time acting in such a challenging and emotional drama,” she added, before stating that her fellow girl group members have shown affectionate support towards her and her upcoming project, and will likely tune in when it airs.
Co-star Ju, who completed his military service last November, described his hero as a pianist weighed down by scars from his childhood.
“This is a drama, so the script is not finished,” the 30-year-old actor said. “I, myself, am curious as to how the story will unfold.”
Following on the heels of SBS’ smash hit “A Gentleman’s Dignity,” “Five Fingers” reads like a standard melodrama-of-yore.
Veteran actress Chae Si-ra plays a stepmother-and-chaebol head who bends to her late husband’s request that she take stepson Yoo Ji-ho (Ju Ji-hoon) under her wing and groom him into a CEO. Putting on a charade of obedience, the stepmother plots to put her own son (Ji Chang-wook) on the throne instead.
Both sons are pianists and their passion for the piano translates into a shared love for fellow pianist Hong Da-mi (Ham Eun-jung).
“Five Fingers” starts airing Aug. 18 on Saturday and Sunday nights on SBS at 9:50 p.m. |
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August 17, 2012
K-pop as gateway to Korean culture
By Lee Woo-young The Korea Herald
Korean pop music is undoubtedly the leading force in the Korean culture boom that is attracting thousands of visitors to the country.
K-pop was the main reason that brought 21-year-old Hungarian Lici Nemczov to Korea in March.
“I first listened to K-pop music and then learned about Korean culture and food on the Internet. And I came to Korea in March this year to learn the Korean language,” said Nemczov at the K-pop dance class at Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center in Myeong-dong last week.
She was one of the 15 students attending the K-pop dance class last week at the city-run culture center seeking to broaden their experience of Korean culture.
Two sisters from Germany have been participating in various cultural programs that the center offers during their stay in Korea, mainly for a five-week Korean language course.
“We are here to learn Korean. We thought the best way to learn the language is by visiting the country. I visited the center for cultural experiences. I did all the traditional experiences and I thought it’s time to try modern things,” said Finja Schmalz, who was at the dance class with her sister Svenja Schmalz.
“When we registered for the classes, we didn’t know about them well, but we just registered for every course and hoped to experience as much as possible,” said Svenja.
K-pop dance class popular among young foreign students
The K-pop dance class is a 90-minute dance lesson during which participants can learn the choreography of a popular K-pop song. The first run of the program ran in March and the second started in July.
The class starts off by watching the music video of the selected song. Then a dance teacher demonstrates the moves slowly, breaking down the choreography.
A dance teacher shows dance moves to students at the K-pop dance class
organized by the Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center in Myeong-dong in Seoul. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)
The class has covered songs such as “Twinkle” by Tiffany, Taeyeon and Seohyeon from Girls’ Generation; “Like This” by Wonder Girls; “Electric Shock” by f(x) and “Bad Girl Good Girl” by Miss A.
As the class is popular among girls, male students often ask whether they can join the class, according to a program manager.
In fact, the class has also covered the songs of famous boy bands such as “Be Mine” by Infinite, “Hands Up” by 2PM and “Sorry Sorry” by Super Junior.
After trying the separate moves, students perform the whole choreography rather professionally by the end. The class wraps up with stretching to slow and calming Korean ballads playing in background.
Most of the participants are foreign students attending language courses at universities and language institutes in Seoul, since the center began promoting the programs through such institutes.
But now the center accepts group visitors and can adjust class times according to the groups’ schedules, according to the center’s assistant manager Park Gae-yeon.
K-pop singing class
The singing class can be a bit more challenging than the dance class because students learn both the meaning of the lyrics and the pronunciation, and put them together to sing the entire song.
But it is an optimal learning opportunity for those hoping to learn Korean culture in depth.
The class starts with watching a music video just like the dance class. Then a teacher hands out music sheets with another copy of the Romanized lyrics so that students who cannot read Korean can still sing. The teacher also breaks down the song into several parts and reads each line explaining the meaning. Students follow the teacher who then corrects their pronunciation.
K-pop singing class (Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center)
The songs are usually fast songs with repeated lyrics because they are easy to sing, according to the teacher Lee Mi-ok.
Lee usually picks the songs that are easy to follow such as Jang Yoon-jeong’s “Oh My” and Park Hyun-bin’s “Shabang Shabang.”
At the Tuesday class last week, she taught girl group Davichi’s slow ballad “Because It’s You,” an original track for the recent TV drama “Big,” because a Canadian student asked her to teach the song before she returns to Canada next month.
“Slow songs are difficult to learn, because there are many words with hidden meanings and not many repeated lines,” said Lee.
Lee experienced the great demand for Korean language lessons when she lived in China for five years.
“I lived in Shenzhen, China, and there were not many Koreans there. But I saw about 500 Chinese people voluntarily gather at a local university to learn Korean. That’s when I felt the popularity of Korean culture and language first hand,” said Lee.
“We have students good at speaking Korean, and also those who barely speak the language, but one thing in common is that they are willing to learn.”
The center accepts registration by email and phone. The class is free for individual participants and 3,000 won to 5,000 won for group visitors.
Registration is available at www.facebook.com/SeoulGlobalCultureTourismCenter or www.seoultourism.kr and at (02) 3789-7961~3.
K-pop boom spreads to other fields
The popularity of K-pop also influences other cultural fields such as beauty, TV dramas and language.
The culture center presented a K-beauty makeup class in April. The class was such a huge hit that the registration closed in just two days. Buoyed by the popularity, the center plans to convene new K-beauty classes in September and October.
The beauty classes, offered in multiple languages, including English, Japanese and Chinese, and include demonstrations of makeup techniques of Korean celebrities using Korean cosmetics.
K-beauty class (Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center)
“The center created the K-pop programs to promote the contemporary and trendy side of Korean culture to foreigners. We will continue to come up with fun cultural programs like K-beauty and K-culture based on requests and demands of foreign visitors,” said city official Kim Myung-joo, who is in charge of supporting foreign residents in Seoul.
As K-pop is a large part of Korean culture, the Korea Tourism Organization seeks to use K-pop to shed light on other aspects of Korean culture as well.
At a language conference in Cambodia earlier this year, the state tourism agency drew much attention to the Korean language by holding a quiz show on K-pop music, according to Baik Ju-hyun from Hallyu Tourism Team of the KTO.
“We continue to come up with various programs that combine K-pop with other fields to better promote Korean culture to the world,” said Baik. |
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August 17, 2012
Actor Kim Bum back in Hark Tsui’s new film
By Lee Hyun-jae, Intern reporter The Korea Herald
Kim Bum, an actor and model best known for his role in “Boys Over Flowers,” has been cast in the main role of the film “Detective Dee: The Prequel,” directed by Hark Tsui famous for his “Once Upon A Time In China (Wong Fei-hung)” series.
The entertainment agency representing Kim said Thursday that Kim has been selected as the main character in Hark Tsui’s new movie along with Chinese actors Fung Shiufung and Lin Gengxin(Kenny), Hong Kong actress Angela Baby and Taiwanese actor Mark Chao.
“I thought that I may never get another chance to work with director Tsui. As happy as I am for such an opportunity, I am eager to put all my efforts into this film,” said Kim in a press release.
Shooting for the film has begun in Hengdian World Studios in China and Kim will join the staff late this month after he finishes shooting his upcoming film “Miracle.” |
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August 17, 2012
THE THIEVES steal 10 million hearts.
KOBIZ
The 6th Korean film to surpass the 10 million mark.
The Thieves has surpassed the 10 million mark at the box office. The record has been set in just 22 days since its release. The film drew 338,199 on 15th August, Independence Day Holiday in Korea, becoming the 6th Korean film to bring in more than 10 million in total. The Thieves recorded the best opening score on the day of its release and within the first 4 weeks, it drew 10,096,957.
This means that the film is the 6th film to go over the 10 million mark following Silmido of 2003 (11,081,000), Taegukgi from 2004 (11,756,735), King and the Clown of 2005 (12,302,831), The Host (13,019,740) and Haeundae from 2009 (11,390,000).
The speed of The Thieves reaching the ten million mark is similar to that of The Host which reached the milestone in 21 days. It's 12 days earlier than Haeundae and 17 days faster than Avatar. The film is attracting on average 200 thousand per day, beating out stiff competition from local and Hollywood blockbusters of various genres.
Director CHOI Dong-hoon said “the star of the 10 million milestone is the audience. Thank you to all those who came to see the film on behalf of the actors and the production team.”
KIM Yun-seok said “It’s great to reach this milestone. Thank you. Let’s aim for 20 million with the overseas release.”
KIM Hye-soo said, “"I didn’t expect this, so I'm very grateful to the director for giving me a wonderful role. Thank you to the team and the other actors for supporting me but most of all my biggest thanks go to all those who came to watch the film.”
JUN Ji-hyun said “I’m so moved that another Korean film has broken the 10 million mark. I can really feel the power of Korean cinema and how much Korean audiences love Korean films.”
The Thieves has reaffirmed the quality of Korean cinema with its strong characters and a well-structured storyline, gaining the reputation of being a top-class entertainment film. |
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August 17, 2012
Gong Yoo lands another advertising gig
By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily
Actor Gong Yoo has become the new face of Renault-Samsung Korea.
The popular actor will lend his credibility to Korea’s leading conglomerate’s line of vehicles, and his first advertisements surfaced on Wednesday.
“The new ads with Gong Yoo capture the essence of what we value most: customer satisfaction,” a spokesperson from Samsung said.
Gong has also modeled for Samsung’s insurance commercials.
Of late, the 33-year-old actor is proving his versatility by broadening his career prospects.
In June, the Hallyu actor re-signed his contract with Maxim’s instant coffee brand Kanu just in time for his brown screen comeback on the drama “Big.”
Then in July, Gong covered the song “Because It’s You,” originally sung by Davichi on the soundtrack of “Big.” Gong’s version of the ballad was made available on major music portal Web sites on July 23.
“It was an awesome experience,” the entertainer said. |
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August 17, 2012
Kim Min-jong To Form Country KoKo Project Group
KBS Global
Country KoKo is making a comeback!
According to teasers for the upcoming first broadcast of "Music & Lyrics Season 2", the popular duo from the 90's will be back after 8 years, albeit with a new lineup.
The TV program follows the original Country KoKo member, Tak Jae-hoon, and his search for a new partner to replace Shin Jung-hwan. The man to fill those shoes was announced to be Koyote's Kim Jong-min.
The two's efforts to produce a new album will be documented all throughout the show "Music & Lyrics" for the fans' viewing pleasure.
The first episode is set to air August 18th. |
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August 19, 2012
Top actors say they are dating
By Cho Chung-un and Lee Woo-young The Korea Herald
Hallyu stars Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jung admitted on Sunday that they have been dating since early this year. The two celebrities said they are in a “serious relationship” but denied rumors that they are getting married in November.
“I found someone I want to be with. Now she (Lee Min-jung) has become the most important person for me and I want to take this relationship seriously,” the 42-year-old actor wrote on his official website.
The 30-year-old actress also said, “I want to tell all of you that we are dating as lovers.”
The two have been denying rumors that they have been dating and that their wedding is imminent. However, speculation of the two being involved in a romantic relationship went on as they were spotted having dinner together.
Rumors of the two getting married spread quickly after an industry insider revealed that the two have recently visited a hanbok shop to tailor Korean traditional clothes to get married in November.
“We feel sorry that we were not able to tell the truth but feel responsible to tell our fans first about our relationship,” the actor said.
Lee said that he first met the actress accompanied by his friends many years ago and have exchanging messages since then. “Early this year, we met again in a casual meeting and carefully started to build a relationship,” the actor said.
The actress also apologized to her fans of denying the relationship and said she wanted to tell them after she felt secure and was assured of her romantic relationship with Lee. But she maintained a firm “No” to wedding rumors.
“The November wedding is a false report. We are not doing anything about it,” she added.
The actor has been in the international spotlight since he took a supporting role of the herioic “Storm Shadow” in the recent “G. I. Joe” Hollywood action film series. He recently filmed his first period drama “King of Joseon,” which is slated to be released in late fall.
The actress rose to stardom with the supporting role in the popular teenage drama “Boys over Flowers” in 2008.
She took a leading role in her first romantic comedy “Cyrano Agency” in 2010 and also starred in another romantic comedy film “Wonderful Radio” in 2012. She recently starred in the KBS TV drama “Big,” which ended in late July.
Last edited by katt on 20-8-2012 01:32 AM
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