|
|
Kim Kyung-ho Suffering Rare Disease
2007-12-10
Singer Kim Kyung-ho has been diagnosed with a rare disease in his thighbone.
After the recent release of his 9th album 'Infinity,' he was confirmed to be suffering from a circulation disorder of the right thigh that was causing bone necrosis.
Kim said, "The blood circulation isn't good in that area so the cartilage is melting and the bone decaying. But I'm recovering." He also said with a smile that he has never given up trust in himself, saying, "I believe I will heal. I made the 9th album with hope."
Known for previous hits 'Forbidden Love' and 'People who Make Me Sad,' Kim will continue promoting his latest title song 'Habit.'
c: KBS Global |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 9, 2007
Epic Drama 'Taewangsasingi' Most Searched on Internet
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The epic "Taewangsasingi" topped the nation's No. 1 search engine Naver's most searched word list last week. The title stands for the four guardian Gods of the king.
While the soap opera has enjoyed high popularity, its final episode aired by MBC on Dec. 5, caused discontent with the TV audience.
Following the ending, the program's on-line bulletin board was bombarded with messages from viewers, alleging that the final story did not follow the script made public in advance.
As for the public backlash, Song Ji-na, the writer, left a message on the web site, saying she had drafted several endings.
The final episode had a TV audience rating of 35.7 percent, the highest recorded among its 26 episodes.
The Korea Film Festival ranked second. In the event held on Dec. 1 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul, "Secret Sunshine" starring actor Song Kang-ho and actress Jeon Do-yeon swept the festival, winning four prizes including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress.
The sci-fi film "D-War," which had attracted 13 million moviegoers in Korea, won the award in the field of Special Effects.
Coming in third was actress Han Ye-seul, 25.
The sassy female came back to TV screens last week, ending a self-imposed 14-month exile following the smash hit soap opera "Fantastic Couple" which aired last year.
With only 10 days to go before the presidential election scheduled for Dec. 19, the frontrunner's approval ratings placed fourth.
According to a poll released on Dec. 6, the approval rating of Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party stood at 44.7 percent, distancing himself from other candidates by a big margin.
Following the prosecution's announcement that Lee had no link to the stock price rigging scandal, commonly referred to as "BBK," his approval rating, once deadlocked, has increased gradually.
Actress Yoon Joo-ryun ranked eighth on the list.
Yoon, who has known as the lover of famous singer Kim Jin-pyo, posted photos she had taken with Kim on her blog last week, drawing lots of attention from Internet users.
The TV drama "Bad Love" featuring actor Kwon Sang-woo and actress Lee Yo-won, came in ninth.
The drama, which first aired on Dec. 3, succeeded in drawing attention by staging some eye-catching scenes such as a kiss and bedroom scenes at its beginning.
Coming in 10th was the stock price rigging scandal. The prosecution cleared Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak Wednesday of suspicions that he had collaborated with financial scammer Kim Kyung-joon.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 7/12/117_15219.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 6, 2007
Korean drama attracts huge audiences in Japan
A Korean historical drama featuring heartthrob Bae Yong-jun as the protagonist is experiencing great success in Japan since it opened to the public here this week, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Japan's public broadcaster NHK aired the first episode of "Taewangsashingi" ("The Four Guardian Gods of the King") via its satellite channel on Monday, proving huge popularity among Japanese viewers.
"Taewangsashingi" unfolds the saga of Damdeok, played by Bae Yong-jun, the 19th king of the Korean kingdom of Koguryo (37 B.C.-668 A.D.). The fantasy-like tale is packed with battle and action scenes enhanced by computer graphics, made possible by the series' massive 43 billion won (US$46 million) budget.
Affectionately known as "Yonsama" in Japan, Bae gained superstar status here after his starring role in the 2003 South Korean television drama "Winter Sonata."
Source: www.koreaherald.co.kr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 10, 2007
TV Star Sung Hyun-ah Marries Businessman
Actress Sung Hyun-ah tied the knot with businessman Heo Eun-gyo at the Paradise Hotel in Busan on Sunday. The wedding was held behind closed doors out of respect for the bridegroom and his family who did not want media exposure.
At a press conference before the wedding, the 32-year-old actress shyly expressed her hope to have a baby as soon as possible since she has married quite late. Around 1,000 guests including actress Kim Jung-eun and composer Joo Young-hoon attended the wedding.
Actress Sung Hyun-ah poses at a press conference before her wedding
at the Paradise Hotel in Busan on Sunday. She tied the knot with businessman Heo Eun-gyo,
who is one year younger than her./Yonhap
Moving into acting after winning the Miss Korea pageant in 1994, Sung has appeared in several TV dramas such as "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and "The Way of Medicine: The Epic Doctor Hur Jun" and films such as "The Scarlet Letter," and "Woman is the Future of Man" and "Time." She currently plays Princess Hwawan in the MBC drama "Yi San -- King Jeongjo."
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 2/200712100011.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 10, 2007
Kim Jae-won Donates Charity Bazaar Proceeds
Actor Kim Jae-won held a barbecue party and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony Dec. 8 with his fans.
Only those who applied for the charity event were notified of its venue. The participants received bottles of wine personally signed by Kim.
At the charity bazaar that was held that day a scarf was auctioned off for a whopping 230,000 yen. All proceeds were donated to the Japanese Bone Marrow Bank.
Kim, who has also been holding various charity activities in Korea, will launch the KJW Children Dream Foundation in Japan next year to help Japanese children. To mark the event, the actor will hold a fan meeting in Tokyo Jan. 19.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1494790_11692.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 7, 2007
[HERALD INTERVIEW] Han Ye-seul, a bilingual beauty, eyes foreign entertainment markets
At a recent film award ceremony, Han Ye-seul made a small scene. While singing a song on the stage in a tubetop dress, her innerwear came into view for a moment, but there's no going back since it was a live broadcast.
Han did not give much thought to the incident, but Korean online users, many of whom are obsessive about anything and everything related to beautiful actresses, launched a blame game, and their initial target was Han's fashion coordinator.
When things get ugly like this, fashion coordinators are likely to take all the blame. But Han did not back down; instead, she vigorously defended her staff in public, a fresh development that eventually made big headlines in entertainment sections of major local dailies and online media.
"She is a really hard-working person, and things happen, you know, so I didn't have any hard feelings about her or the incident on stage," said Han in an interview with The Korea Herald on Wednesday. "And I don't think it's shameful or anything because what's important is how to complete a performance on the stage successfully and exposing my underwear by accident was no big deal."
Han Ye-seul [Yang Sung-jin/The Korea Herald]
After all, Han has a different perspective on the typical reaction from Korean audiences. Born and brought up mostly in the United States, Han (whose English name is Leslie Kim) is one of a steadily growing group of Korean-American actors who are fluent in Korean and willing to make a compromise when it comes to cultural conflicts. Han said she has encountered a slew of culturally challenging situations since her debut through a super model contest in 2001. For instance, Koreans are notorious for asking quite personal questions about family, marriage and religion, and Han said she got such questions a lot, especially about her family members.
"When I was competing in the supermodel contest, the screening committee very casually asked about the occupation of my father, and I was really confused. Since I didn't know how to answer, I just mumbled and got away with it without telling them my father's job," she said.
Unlike other Korean actresses, Han draws a clear line between professional duties and the importance of privacy related to her family. Her parents are now living in Orange County in Los Angeles, and she frequently flies back to her family when there's no project under way here, but she said she wants to respect the privacy of her parents at all costs.
Han is now one of the most celebrated actresses in Korea and her debut film, titled "Gold Digger Miss Shin" is set to be released soon. She is also favored as a top-rated model for television commercials, and her popularity is surging in the domestic entertainment industry.
Han, however, faced some challenges when she stepped into acting. A novice in drama, she did not impress audiences, and the media did not pay much attention to this Korean-American actress and model.
The turning point came a year ago when Han got the title role for the television drama "Fantastic Couple," which turned out to be a life-changing experience. "I believe the drama series was a really important stepping stone for my acting career," she said.
But Han was not initially considered a candidate for the role. Uhm Jung-hwa, who made her name as an actress through her roles in "Marriage is a Crazy Thing," "Singles" and "Seducing Mr. Perfect," was supposed to take the part, but pulled out of the project at the last minute due to her tight schedule.
The sudden turn of events offered Han a make-or-break chance, and she desperately appealed to the director of the drama series to consider her for the lead role. The deciding factor was her gut feeling that the role fit her perfectly. The drama director eventually made a risky bet on the fledgling actress, and the gamble proved to be immensely profitable for both the television station and Han.
"Fantastic Couple," featuring Han as a woman who has lost her memory, became a big hit, and television audiences began to notice Han's acting talent. "When I was in the beginning stage, I did not get the idea about acting at all since I was just trying to imitate and mimic. But in 'Fantastic Couple,' I came to love the role and devoted myself to the role, simply and honestly," she said.
Thanks to her bilingual background, Han said she's willing to enter the American movie and drama market in the future. "In the Western world, China and Japan are relatively well known among the public, but few people know Korea and Korean culture. Even now, there are a host of Hollywood movies featuring Chinese and Japanese culture, so I want to play a part in promoting Korean culture in foreign markets," she said.
Han said her role model for the globalization of Korean culture is Kim Yun-jin, also a bilingual actress who solidified her position in Hollywood with her impressive performance in "Lost."
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 11, 2007
Expensive Drama Was a Boondoggle, Union Claims
Rather than a high-profile success, Munhwa Broadcasting Company's recent drama "Taewangsasingi (The Four Guardian Gods of the King)" was nothing but trouble, the network's union claimed in a recent newsletter.
The union said that Bae Yong-jun, who played the leading role, was paid W6 billion (US$1=W924) to star in the series, or W250 million per episode, accounting for some 15 percent of the total production cost of W43 billion. Considering how much of the budget went to the actor, calling the show a "massive-scale" historical series was an exaggeration, the union said.
It also denounced the drama for tarnishing the network's reputation by causing programming troubles, citing as an example an incident when MBC had to prolong its live news broadcast for 20 minutes while the network waited for the latest video tape of the show to arrive.
Due to the soaring salaries of television stars, broadcasters started outsourcing the production of dramas several years ago. But now production companies are paying enormous sums to cast top stars in order to secure high ratings, causing production costs to skyrocket.
The criticism by the MBC union is evidence of changes in the status of the major networks as they endure embarrassments caused by high-profile actors or outside production companies.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 2/200712110007.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 11, 2007
Divorcee Kim Tae-hee in Movie Ssam
I抳e met many actresses in my day, but I must say Kim Tae-hee tops them all. She resembles a porcelain doll come to life.
She rose as the advertising model queen with her looks, but her acting skills took a harsh beating from critics after her first big screen movie The Restless was released last year. Now, her second movie, Ssaum, will be released on December 13. It抯 about a post-divorce battle between cowardly neat-freak Sang-min (Seol Gyeong-gu) who never says sorry, and fierce-tempered Jina (Kim Tae-hee). Kicking and screaming, Kim goes around with runny mascara eyes wielding a steel pipe, but everybody agrees, she was still very much the pretty face in the film. This may or may not be a compliment.
At any rate, Kim has bared her ambitions to the Korean film-going audience, and the stakes for her are higher than ever before.
Did you originally intend to be a messy person in the film?-
揑 know that people want me to look messy. If I did this movie for that reason, however, it would only be playing a messy person for the sake of looking like a mess. That抯 not what I want. Actually, I didn抰 realize that I looked like a mess. I didn抰 look pretty in this movie, and people who are sick of me appearing made up might like that. Others may be disappointed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 11, 2007
How Stars Create Their Names
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Some fans send presents and letters to their favorite stars, shouting their names and wishing they could get a closer look at them. But little they may know about the special meanings to the names of their favorite stars hold.
"Cover Story," a celebrity gossip program on the 'Story On' channel, offered fans the true story hidden behind the names of celebrities last Thursday.
Gong Yoo, heartthrob of the hit drama "Coffee Prince" created his name by putting together the last names of his parents, Gong and Yoo. Having a name that represents his parents allowed him to work twice as hard and take responsibility for his works.
Park Jin-young, who recently released a new album and the former producer of Rain was responsible of the world star's stage name. Coincidence or not, every time they recorded his songs, it began to rain. From that day, Park playfully called him Rain, and later on, it became his stage name.
Park Hwa-yobi is also one of the stars who has a stage name related to the rainy weather. Her real name is Park Mi-yeong and she was thinking of a stage name that could represent the day she was born, Tuesday, or Hwa-yo-il in Korean. She looked out the window and the moment she realized it was raining, she added Hwa-yo and Bi (rain in Korean) together, creating her stage name Park Hwa-yobi.
Some stars are simply born with unique names. Sung Ji-ru, an actor well known for his humorous supporting roles, got his name even before he was born. When his father was waiting for his mother to deliver him, it took a long time. His father, impatiently waiting for the newborn child complained that the baby was taking such a 'tedious' time. Thus, Ji-ru, which literally means tedious in Korean, became the actor's name.
Other incidents were also aired in the program. Actors Joo Jin-mo and Jang Hyuk borrowed their managers' names while Hyun Bin, Choi Ji-woo and Song Seong-heon changed their screen names from Kim Tae-pyeong, Choi Mi-hyang and Song Seong-bok.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/135_15340.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 11, 2007
Lee Ji Ah, "'The Legend' is a turning point in my life"
An 'instant star' unprecedented in the history of the Korean entertainment industry was born: actress Lee Ji Ah of the recent series "The Legend."
She instantly became the heroine in an epic drama series with a 60 billion won budget with no acting experience whatsoever. Positive reviews came out from around despite being amongst a cast of big names. With her bright image, she even was able to sign on to be the image models of various commercials.
Lee Ji Ah who was shy and not able to look straight into the camera said, "I am still afraid of the camera." Rather contrasting from her tomboy image that links arms with 'Yon-sama' without hesitation in the series.
"I am actually very shy among people. I'm not as valiant as Soojini. But I am similar to her in that I am straightforward and like to play. Poking the other person while starting a conversation and playing around in the drama is similar to my real self."
Lee Ji Ah gathered the spotlight as Soojini who devotes her loyalty and love to Damdeok (played by Bae Yong Joon). Born with the power of one of the four gods, she not only acted out the melo-dramatic scenes with intricate emotions mixed in, but also action scenes that are difficult for male actors. Thanks to that she became a star 'overnight.'
"I still can't feel it being real. All throughout the shoot I was traveling around different sets, and afterwards I've been busy with interviews and commercial shoots so I never had the chance to see or feel what the response is among the public. But my parents and other people around me have been telling me that they didn't know I would be able to accomplish such a thing."
She was born in Korea but went over to the U.S. in elementary school, later to enter the Pasadena Art Center College of Design. While attending, she went to the audition for "The Legend" being introduced by an acquaintance.
"I didn't exactly dream of being an actress since I was young. Of course I thought it was a very fascinating occupation. Being able to move people through the eyes and actions of an actor seemed truly fascinating to me."
After first being introduced to producer Kim Jong Hak, her casting was determined after 30 or so additional meetings. It was after script reading and other thorough tests.
"I was so happy I couldn't say anything to the people around me. I was afraid that the results would change later on. The position was much too greater than what I deserved but he said he liked my boldness and confidence."
After being cast, she immediately started training in vocalization, acting, character analysis, horseback riding, action, and everything else that is needed to be an actor from the start. She learned how to speak like a tomboy rather than her usual soft-spoken tone and even changed her walking posture.
"At first I was afraid of horses, but now I enjoy riding them. In the series, I was able to act out most of the scenes aside from the very dangerous ones. I even rode the horse myself in scenes where we are going full speed."
However, in the series, she appeared throughout with an image that is hard to tell if she is a boy or girl. She even put on darker makeup to hide her light skin tone. Some actresses may the situation find it rather disappointing.
"After I ate, the area around my mouth became white. Since I had dark makeup on, only the makeup around my mouth came off. But I liked the bright characteristic of Soojini."
There weren't even any true melo-dramatic scenes.
"Can you imagine Soojini kissing? I don't feel disappointed that there wasn't such a scene. There was a scene where Soojini puts armor on Damdeok before she leaves, but I think there was enough of the emotion expressed in that scene. The scene is one of my most memorable, too."
She even was exposed to the possibility of many injuries. Her legs were kicked by a horse she couldn't avoid.
"I was speaking to another actor and should have avoided the horse when it came towards me, but I couldn't. My left shin that was hit was swollen. I could have been hurt greatly."
To her, there is another hurdle she must overcome other than injuries and acting. Co-star Bae Yong Joon. It must not have been easy to act opposite one of Asia's greatest star.
"I lacked in many ways. I did not have enough experience. On the other hand, Bae Yong Joon took care of many subtle things despite his status as a top star. I really felt his professionalism. He taught me many things about acting as well."
She also said the cold weather was one of the hardest things while filming. Additionally, "As this was my first time acting, I got confused within myself after hearing the many advices from senior actors. I regret not being able to absorb everything faster."
Choosing Cate Blanchett as her favorite actress because of her deep and wide acting spectrum, Lee Ji Ah says, "'The Legend' is a turning point in my life. I was able to learn many great things from great senior actors."
Source: Broasia.com
http://www.broasia.com/lwboard/l ... amp;pg=1&no=435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 12, 2007
[TV review] Could have been called 'Sujiney is Pretty'
Kim Hyun-ju stars in 揑nsuni is Pretty, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 12, 2007
E Ji-ah Surges as New Inspiring Actress
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
E Ji-ah
E Ji-ah, a rising star from the recently ended drama "Taewangsasingi (The Four Guardian Gods of the King)," finally revealed more about herself in an interview.
In the fantasy epic drama, E performed various characters. For the first few episodes dealing with the mythical era, E played Saeo, the female warrior who shoots an arrow at the Fire Guardian and later becomes Dark Jujak due to the loss of her baby. In the time of King Gwanggaeto of the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668), E was Sujini, a tomboy who falls in love with Damdeok, the protagonist played by Bae Yong-joon.
E still does not fully realize that she is one of the top rookies of the year. "I don't feel like I am a star at all. I realize that I am an actress when people give me acting advice through Internet boards," E said, in an interview with Hankook Ilbo.
Before starring in "Taewangsasingi," E was an ordinary student at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. "I am an introspective person and it was not easy to assimilate with Sujini's tomboyish nature," said E. She is currently taking a temporary leave of absence from school.
E praised the actors and director who worked together for the soap opera, "I was encouraged by energetic actors like Choi Min-su." She also spoke highly about her partner and hallyu star, Bae, saying "Bae cares about every little thing when shooting. He is really nice to all actors and staff. Bae is a perfect man"
As a rising star in the entertainment industry, there is a rush of projects coming for E. The actress wants to play diverse characters. "I don't know what my next work will be, but I will do my best in any project," E said.
Meanwhile, Bae Yong-joon donated 320 million won to Taean, South Chungcheong Province, which is suffering from an oil spill. Bae hurt his finger, shoulder and knees while shooting the drama and was recently discharged from hospital. He is now waiting for surgery.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 7/12/178_15466.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 12, 2007
Sitcom 'The Fated Wedding' Becomes Popular in Asia
The daily sitcom 'The Fated Wedding' on KBS 2TV is gaining popularity abroad after it was introduced in a Japanese magazine.
The first episode, which was first aired in November, features popular veteran and young actors including Kim Su-mi, Lim Chae-moo, Seo Do-young, Lee-Jeong, Kim Dong-wook and Park Chae-gyeong. Members of idol group FT Island and Girls' Generation have also made appearances on the show.
The sitcom is becoming popular in Asia, including China and Japan.
The appearance of Seo Do-young, Lee Jeong and Girls' Generation has played a significant role in the rising popularity of the sitcom.
Interview requests for Seo Do-young have been pouring in since 'Hallyupia'--a Japanese magazine on the Korean Wave--featured an article on 'The Fated Wedding'.
Attention is now focused on whether the sitcom will be able to bring about another Korean Wave in Asia.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1495378_11692.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 13, 2007
Bae Yong-joon to Assist Oil Spill Cleanup
Top star Bae Yong-joon will deliver 300,000 dollars worth of equipment to the site of the recent oil spill disaster Taean in South Chungcheong Province.
BOF, Bae's management agency, said Bae decided to send money for some 10,000 volunteers so they can purchase equipment for restoration work. Three hundred thousand dollars will be delivered to the county office of Taean.
After hearing news of the oil spill, Bae expressed his deep concern over the disaster and thanked the volunteers.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1495538_11692.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 12, 2007
Bae Yong Joon donates 320 million won for Taean oil spill
Bae Yong Joon will be providing equipment worth approximately 320 million won for the Taean oil spill cleanup efforts.
Bae Yong Joon's agency BOF said on the 12th, "Bae Yong Joon will donate 320 million won to Taean-gun to purchase equipment such as special suits, masks, gloves, and others for the 10,000 or so volunteers that are working to cleanup the oil spill."
BOF adds, "Bae Yong Joon expressed his intent to donate to help the oil spill cleanup hearing the news soon after being discharged from the hospital. Despite his condition, Bae Yong Joon researched the current situation of the incident and was very saddened."
Bae Yong Joon currently has a cast around his entire leg and is waiting for a decision on whether to undergo surgery.
BOF says, "Bae Yong Joon determined that what they need most right now is equipment more so than cash donations itself and decided to provide more specific assistance."
Bae Yong Joon comments, "I was very surprised hearing the news and felt bad that there was not much I can do. I also was pushed to think about the environment problem once more and wanted somehow delivery my gratitude to all those volunteers that are working hard for the cleanup efforts."
Source: Broasia.com
http://www.broasia.com/lwboard/l ... amp;pg=1&no=436 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 13, 2007
KBS Doc Wins Cinematography Award
Cinematographer Baek Hong-jong, who shot the KBS documentary "Chamagodo," will be recognized by his peers in the industry with the Grand Prize in the Grime Awards.
Top honors in the drama category went to Lee Young-cheol and Jeong Gi-hyeon of the SBS drama "Lobbyist." For documentaries, Kim Yong-nam of the MBC program "The DMZ is Alive" also received recognition.
Established in 1993 by the Korean Television Directors of Photography Association, the Grime Award recognizes excellence in camera work and lighting. The awards ceremony will be held Friday at the Broadcasting Center in Mokdong.
Reported by KBS WORLD Radio
http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/ne ... &key=2007121324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kim Myung-min promotes his newest film "Open City"
Dec. 13, SEOUL, South Korea -- Charismatic South Korean actor Kim Myung-min poses for the cameras at a press conference for his latest flick "Open City," directed by Lee Sang-gi, on Dec. 13 in Seoul. "Open City" will be released in theaters next month. (Yonhap)(END)
Son Ye-jin stars in new film "Open City"
Dec. 13, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korean actress Son Ye-jin answers questions during a press conference to promote the movie "Open City," directed by Lee Sang-gi, on Dec. 13 at a movie theater in Seoul. "Open City" is scheduled for release in January next year. (Yonhap) (END)
Source: http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/ ... E=1&AGINGPAGESIZE=5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 13, 2007
'Sex is Zero 2' Loses Its Edge
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
While the "American Pie" trilogy cooked up a stir in the United States, Korea had its own version of a witlessly wholesome sex comedy, "Sex is Zero" (2002). It's always hard for sequels to live up to the glory of their predecessor, but such biting reality hit "Sex is Zero: Season 2" especially hard ― slapping the tasteless college story in the face over and over again.
In "Zero 2," the popular actors from the first installment reconvene and the narrative elements are tweaked here and there. Good-hearted Eun-sik (Im Chang-jung) is a law student who, driven by his hormones, is more preoccupied with checking out miniskirt-clad legs in the library than preparing for the state exam.
Eun-sik seems doomed with bad luck, with unfortunate timing always labeling the innocent guy as a pervert. But mysterious workings of the universe give him one blessing. His longtime girlfriend is none other than the most popular girl on campus, the sweet and beautiful swimming champion Gyeong-a (Song Ji-hyo). Even though Eun-sik grows increasingly desperate with their unconsummated relationship, he is madly in love and will do anything for Gyeong-a, like going to the rescue when she's stuck in a bathroom stall that's run out of toilet paper.
Meanwhile, Seong-guk (Choi Seong-guk), the president of Eun-sik's freaky martial arts club, tries to help out his sexually frustrated friend, but they both end up getting arrested in a red light district. Despite the disaster, Eun-sik and Gyeong-a's love remains strong. But when a suave prosecutor tries to compete for Gyeong-a's heart and an injury threatens her swimming career, Eun-sik begins to doubt himself.
Side stories feeding the drama include Seong-guk's determination to revamp their club status by mastering the mixed martial arts ― French-Korean mixed martial artist Denis Kang makes a special appearance _ and a twisted love triangle between Seong-guk, his hysterical girlfriend Yu-mi (Yu Chae-yeong) and a seductive swimming coach.
"Zero 2" relies on what made "Zero" a big hit. In the inauguration ceremony "welcoming" two new members ― equivalent to fraternity pledges ― "Zero 2" takes grossness to a whole new level. Think of a cocktail mix from hell _ a bucketful of alcohol spiked with cigarette butts and a dirty sock. This perverse tradition is actually practiced among some Korean college students.
But the makers of the film try too hard to be outrageous. While attempting to explore new sexual adventures on campus, they make the mistake of exploiting the genre, and what had been endearingly eccentric in the first film becomes simply freaky.
While the various sex scenes are far from steamy like the first film, they try to squeeze out laughter from what seems to be more like third-rate pornography, where a girl who claims to be a virgin is far too sexually experienced, and others make a joke of sexual fetishes, like sadomasochism and playing with Sailor Moon costumes.
The film had also made headlines for starring one of the actors in its previous installment as an actress ― literally. Both on and off screen, Lee Dae-hak had undergone a sex change operation, and the movie touches upon the issue rather superficially.
Another downfall of "Zero 2" is the tacky melodrama. Gyeong-a's dark past, while adding some dimension to her relationship with Eun-sik, lacks substance. But the critical blow comes with the absence of genuine comedy.
"Zero 2" is like a bad date, with some meaningless sex and zero fun.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/135_15506.html |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 13, 2007
Actress Kim Hee-ae poses for photographs after receiving the Year抯 Best Dresser award from Heral Dongah TV honorary chairman Namgung Won at the 2007 Korea Fashion & Design Awards in Seoul on Wednesday afternoon. / Newsis
Source: http://photo.english.chosun.com/dailyNews/...em&idx=1471
Winners of Korea Fashion & Design Award
Dec. 13, SEOUL, South Korea -- Winners of the 2007 Korea Fashion and Design Award pose for the camera during a ceremony in Seoul on Dec. 12. From right are actor Cha Seung-won and actress Sohn Ye-jin, who were chosen as Fashion Icons, Namgung Won, actor and chairman of the award, and actress Kim Hee-ae, winner of the Best Dresser Award.(END)
Fashion Icon award winner
Dec. 13, SEOUL, South Korea -- Actor Cha Seung-won makes a speech after he was given the Fashion Icon award during the 2007 Fashion & Design Awards at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Dec. 12. (Yonhap)(END)
Fashion Icon
Dec. 13, SEOUL, South Korea -- Actress Sohn Ye-jin makes a speech afte she was awarded the Fashion Icon award during the 2007 Fashion & Design Awards at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Dec. 12. (Yonhap)(END)
Source: http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/ ... E=2&AGINGPAGESIZE=5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 14, 2007
Kim Seon-ah Wins Breach-of-Contract Suit
Actress Kim Seon-ah
Actress Kim Seon-ah (32) has won a suit for breach of contract brought against her by a film production company. The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday ruled against the production company, who sued the actress and her agency for damages. In June, production company Yoon and Joon sued Kim for damages worth W1 billion (US$1=W925) claiming that Kim failed to carry out her obligation to play the leading role in the film 揟hursday抯 Child |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Post time 10-12-2007 06:18 PM
Author
