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December 21, 2007
Ryu Si-won Tops Japanese Record Chart
Singer/actor Ryu Si-won has topped a Japanese music album chart in the Asian category.
Ryu's fourth album "With You," which was released in Japan in May, was found to have topped the music chart according to the largest music record chain HMV's annual album sales rankings.
The singer's agency, Rs Company, said the feat attests to Ryu's success in Japan as a singer.
"With You" topped HMV's album booking chart when it was just released, and took the second spot on the Oricon daily chart. In June, the singer successfully gave a concert at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
Ryu is also popular as an actor in Japan. Since October this year he has been appearing on the TBS weekend drama "Woman Detective" opposite young Japanese star Yukie Nakama.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1497256_11692.html |
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December 20, 2007
Lee Jung Hyun returns to television in seven years
Actress and singer Lee Jung Hyun will appear in a television drama series, a first in almost seven years after her last appearance in "Beautiful Days." Lee Jung Hyun will be starring in the historical drama series "Daewang Sejong (Great King Sejong)" that will start airing through KBS on January 5th.
Since the 2001 broadcast of "Beautiful Days," Lee Jung Hyun has been focusing on her singing career in China, Japan, Vietnam, and other regions.
At the press conference held on the 20th, Lee said, "I always had a lingering thought that I have to act, but because it has been a while since I have done so, the pressure made it difficult to make a decision even when quality pieces came in as offers. That is also why it took me so long to finally decide on 'Daewang Sejong,' but I started to become ambitious over the role as the character is dramatic, starting from the bottom rising to the position of a concubine in the palace."
"I have decided to end my activities in China that were scheduled until next spring to January so I can focus on the series. I am extremely nervous as this is my first time in seven years, but I will try my best to erase Lee Jung Hyun and live as Shinbin Kim."
Shinbin Kim is a female who rises to being a concubine from a slave and capturing the love of King Sejong. If King Sejong's wife, Queen Soheon (played by Lee Yoon Ji) is an unfortunate queen, Shinbin Kim can be considered the "best Cinderella of the Joseon era."
Lee Jung Hyun added, "Having a queen and concubine doesn't mean that one becomes the 'bad person,' but I heard rather both are nice characters. The relationship of the two will be portrayed peculiarly yet entertaining."
Shinbin Kim will start appearing in "Daewang Sejong (Great King Sejong)" starting in the 15th episode, and Lee Jung Hyun will join the filming team in late January.
Source: Broasia.com
http://www.broasia.com/lwboard/l ... amp;pg=1&no=438 |
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December 21, 2007
K-POP STAR COMMITS FASHION BOO-BOO AGAIN:
Fans mad with Rain
for wearing shirt that is 'gross, cheap, rude, vulgar', but other fans say...
By Chang May Choon
FROM the front, K-pop hunk Rain looked as he usually does - broad-shouldered and well-muscled, filling out a snug, plain long-sleeved whiteT-shirt.
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/ima...CHSHIRT-TPE.jpg
Seen in an Internet screen capture striding to a helicopter that would take him from Hong Kong to Macau, Rain is clad in a T-shirt that seems plain in front, but shows an imprint of a woman's bare breasts on the back.
But when he turned his back, it was a different story. Shocking. Vulgar. Rude. And worse, disrespectful of women, who make up a huge percentage of his fans. These irate comments refer to his latest wardrobe malfunction - a 'scandalous shirt' whose back blatantly displayed a print of a woman's bare breasts, draped over a rock guitar.
The 25-year-old singer-actor was seen in the shirt two weeks ago, striding towards a helicopter that would take him from HongKong to Macau to receive the Asian Male Star Of The Year trophy at the CineAsia Film Awards.
An entertainment news programme on Seoul Broadcasting System released the footage of Rain's breast-baring shirt. The clip has since made its way to YouTube.But tongues only started wagging furiously online this week - after photos of the offending shirt were circulated widely on K-pop forums.
Rain's shirt, seen from the front in a screen grab, looks decent.
A posting on K-popped.com on Monday said that some fans were 'outraged' and 'offended' by Rain's 'scandalous shirt'. A netizen, Giddy Bloom, felt that 'it just reeks of cheapness', while Anon said it was 'rude and vulgar'.
Over at Popseoul.com, 179 of 251 netizens said in a poll that the 'lady lumps' on Rain's shirt are 'gross' and that he 'should have better taste'. Other comments included criticism that the shirt was idiotic and disgusting. Raye, a fan, wrote: 'I was very angry he wore this shirt. I mean, it's so disgusting...
'I chalk it up to Bi (Rain's Korean name) being human and stupid. So I forgive him. But he can't disrespect women ever like this again.' Soju agreed that the shirt was 'an exploitation of women because, by putting it into a publicly graphic image, it trivialises females'.
Aquarious, who also does not like the shirt, wrote that Rain 'should be careful what he does or says because all eyes are on him'. Even on the RainSingapore.com forum, some fans expressed shock at their idol's poor fashion statement. CelineQ wrote: 'ALAMAK! If he wears this to certain countries he might get arrested for indecent exposure.'
Other fans, however, didn't think it was such a bad thing. Singaporean Stephanie Loh, 34, from the RainSingapore fan club, felt it was a 'refreshing change' from Rain's usual wardrobe. 'It's quite interesting for him to wear something so daring,' she told The New Paper. 'Usually he's so prim and proper, so this shows a different side of him. It's just a T-shirt, we don't think it's lewd.'
Netizen Orchid, who first posted Rain's photos on K-popped.com, also felt that the shirt was 'fun in an attention-grabbing kind of way'. Ladida added on the same forum that she felt the fan outrage was blown out of proportion.
'He's a public role model; he did things against his better judgment. So he deserves a slap on the wrist. But the extreme outrage over the graphic tee - which, in my opinion, isn't really all that raunchy - is overly dramatic.'
SHOCKING
Another fan who calls herself Mrs Jung noted on RainSingapore.com that her idol seems to like 'shocking outfits'. She cited examples of how he wore T-shirts with the words 'Available for a Quickie' and 'I'm the reason girls gone wild' when he visited China in September.
This is also the second time in a month that Rain has drawn flak for his fashion sense. In late November, he was accused of 'dressing like a caveman' by animal rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia Pacific). Peta took offence at Rain donning fur and wrote him a letter to stop ripping off animal skin.
So far, neither Rain nor his agency has commented on his shirt. He reportedly flew to Los Angeles from Macau.
Source: The Electric New Paper
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,151225,00.html |
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December 23, 2007
[Year-end Review (1): Movies] 'Sunshine' offers hope to Korean cinema in 2007
The Korean movie industry got off to a shaky start this year, due to the weakened market position of local flicks versus Hollywood blockbusters, but it received a big shining ray of hope from director Lee Chang-dong's thought-provoking drama, "Secret Sunshine."
Jeon Do-yeon, the heroine of "Secret Sunshine," grabbed the prestigious Best Actress award at the 60th Cannes Film Festival in May, setting the upbeat tone for the domestic film industry.
The 34-year-old actress won international acclaim for her brave and inspiring depiction of a grieving Korean woman struggling to rebuild her life in a new city in "Secret Sunshine," the first picture in four years by Lee Chang-dong, a former Korean culture minister.
Despite the positive turn on the filmfest front, the local movie market faced increasing pressure this year. Although the market volume of the Korean film industry remains relatively solid, with 104 films released between January and November this year, the number of moviegoers is steadily declining, and the profitability of major production houses is worsening, leaving a slew of projects stranded.
"The number of Korean movies with box-office influence is going down, and the campaign to export Korean films to foreign markets is nowhere near the target level," said Shim Young-seop, a leading movie critic. Meanwhile, Hollywood blockbusters led by "Transformers" and "Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End" made a strong comeback this year, mounting a strong competition against Korean counterparts at the box office.
Meanwhile, "D-War," a graphics-rich monster flick directed by Shim Hyung-rae, created plenty of ripples both in Korea and the United States. The film sold a whopping 8.43 million tickets here, setting a record as the biggest hit this year, thanks largely to director Shim's unabashed efforts to stress that it is the first-ever Korean film to achieve a wide release in the U.S. market.
Starring Jason Behr and Amanda Brooks, the English-language film revolves around a Korean legend about a huge snake-like creature known as "imoogi." The serpent-like monster smashes its way to downtown Los Angeles in the hope of finding a girl destined to transform it into a dragon.
Film critic Kang Yu-jeong said, "The so-called 'D-War' phenomenon was a great chance to discuss the important issues facing the Korean movie industry, but it quickly fizzled out amid frivolous disputes about the movie's quality and national pride."
Another landmark was that Korea's top filmmaker Im Kwon-taek received the title of knight in the Order of the Legion of Honor by the French government, a recognition for his lifetime contribution in the field of visual arts. Im has already won numerous awards, including the Best Director award at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival, but he achieved another milestone by putting out his 100th film, "Thousand-Year Crane," this year.
On the artistic front, maverick director Kim Ki-duk showcased his talent with "Breath," a peculiar story about love, starring Park Ji-ah and Chang Chen. Kim, who received numerous awards for his unique perspective, drew keen interest from critics and audiences with his softened approach in "Breath."
Another representative Korean stylist, Lee Myung-se, recently released "M," a psychodrama that featured top-rated stars such as Gang Dong-won. At the box office, much attention was given to Gang, a heartthrob who is highly popular in Korea, and critics also showed great interest in director Lee who has built up his fame through stylized features like "Nowhere to Hide" and "Duelist," but it was not a commercial success, suggesting that Korean audiences are still inclined to favor friendlier dramas like "Le Grand Chef," a cook-oriented drama that is based on a popular comics series. Directed by Jun Yoon-soo, "Le Grand Chef" secured a solid spot, in terms of ticket sales.
Other notable films include "Voice of a Murderer," director Park Jin-pyo's sophisticated kidnapping drama that hit it big at the box office early this year. "Our Town," directed by Jeong Gil-young, handles a similarly gruesome topic with a style that accentuates the talent of Oh Man-seok, former musical actor.
Daniel Henney also proved his commercial appeal with his role in "My Father," a drama that pulled at the heartstrings of audiences by focusing on the universal theme of father-son affection that goes beyond borders and prison walls.
"Gold Digger Miss Shin," starring Han Ye-seul, a bilingual actress, is also jockeying for position in the domestic film market toward the end of the year, highlighting Han's versatility and sex appeal.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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December 23, 2007
Korean cartoons grow up and into lucrative animation industry
An old, driverless car approaches a young man, suddenly stands up, and transforms itself into a tall, talking robot armed with never-before-seen technology.
Nelson Shin on CNN
This is a scene from 揟ransformers, |
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December 24, 2007
Adultery, Evil Mothers-in-Law: Korean Soaps in 2007
My Man抯 Woman
The hottest topics in Korean TV soaps in 2007 were adultery and conflicts between woman and her mother-in-law, and the resolutions were inevitably physical.
Viewers were treated to cheating spouses being cursed, kicked in the stomach and hit over the head with a washboard. The stock conflict between women and their mothers-in-law also reached new heights of intensity on TV.
◆ Coming to blows
The SBS series 揗y Man抯 Woman |
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December 24, 2007
KBS Historical Series 'Dae Joyoung' Ends after 15 Months
The KBS historical drama series "Dae Jo-young" ended Sunday after 134 episodes.
Launched in September last year and running for 15 months, the hit drama commanded weekend ratings of over 30 percent.
In a KBS/AGB Nielsen Media Research tally, ratings posted 36.8% for the 130th Dec. 9 episode.
In the final episode Sunday, the portrayal of the Balhae kingdom gaining amity with China's Tang dynasty's impressed the viewers. Many reportedly shed tears when Dae Jo-young (played by Choi Soo-jong) had to part ways with his son (Jeong Tae-woo).
The episode recorded 33.3% viewer ratings (AGB Nielsen Media), 5.2% point higher than Saturday, in the successful conclusion.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1497794_11692.html |
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December 24, 2007
Lee Chun-hee to Appear in Epic Drama
Actor Lee Chun-hee will play the role of Korean scientist Jang Yeong-sil in a new KBS TV epic drama "King Sejong," which will premier Jan. 5.
Lee says his character was a renowned historic figure who spied on Ming Dynasty's scientific technologies. The actor says he has been learning Chinese recently to portray his character's activities in the Ming Dynasty.
Jang Yeong-sil was known for his outstanding intelligence and considered the best scientist of the Joseon period. Lee will portray Jang's life from his teenage years to his 50s.
The actor says he is nervous and excited to take his first role in a big production, which will comprise over 100 episodes. He says that apart from polishing his acting skills, he has also been studying Chinese to perfectly portray his character.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1497802_11692.html |
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December 24, 2007
Korea's leading actress recognized at Cannes Film Festival
Jeon Do-yeon is one of the most versatile and well-known actresses in the Korean movie industry, having performed a wide range of roles for the last 10 years, but unfortunately, she has not had a chance to show off her talent on the international stage at least until May this year.
In May, she was finally invited to the Cannes Film Festival for her role in "Secret Sunshine," and she said she was just excited about having a chance to meet world-famous stars. But she did more than meet matinee idols at the festival.
The 34-year-old won the Cannes film festival抯 Best Actress award for her brave and inspiring depiction of a grieving Korean woman struggling to rebuild her life in a new city in "Secret Sunshine," the first picture in four years by Lee Chang-dong, a former Korean culture minister.
Thanks to her emotionally powerful acting in the challenging role, there had been speculation that she had a good chance of receiving an award at Cannes.
With the award, she also became the second Korean to be recognized at a major international
competition.
The last Korean actress to win an international award was Kang Soo-yeon in 1987 for her role in "Surrogate Mother" at the Venice Film Festival.
After being named Best Actress at the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival, she was selected as one of the 50 most influential women in the world by a noted U.S. entertainment magazine.
Variety included actress Jeon Do-yeon as one of four "Leading Ladies" in its "Women抯 Impact Report" for this year. Her co-stars in the piece were Helen Mirren, Angelina Jolie and Marion Cotillard.
The best actress award at Cannes not only provides international recognition for her 10-year-long efforts as an actress, but also endorses the potential of the Korean cinema, dispelling growing concerns over its declining competitive edge, to some degree.
In her piece on Jeon in Variety, Darcy Paquet wrote, "it was Korea抯 first acting award at the world抯 premiere film showcase. It also was considered the one award outside of the Palme d扥r that set all heads nodding in agreement."
The best actress award at Cannes not only provides international recognition for her decade of efforts as an actress, but has endorsed the potential of the Korean cinema, dispelling growing concerns over its declining competitive edge.
Source: Korea.net
http://www.korea.net/news/news/n ... archDay=&page=1 |
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December 25, 2007
Christmas blues besiege three Korean actresses
Kim Tae-hee, Han Ye-seul and Choi Kang-hee enjoy similarly enviable public recognition as attractive actresses. But they are going through a similarly gloomy Christmas holiday.
The three actresses are now competing at the box office, jockeying for a position in the usually crowded year-end holiday season. But their films are struggling to gain a foothold in terms of ticket sales.
Kim Tae-hee, who plays a tough housewife clashing with her husband in Han Ji-seung's latest comic drama "Venus and Mars (Ssaum)," is dealing with the second lackluster public reception in as many big-screen attempts. Last year, she joined the 10 billion won ($10.6 million) film project "The Restless," which tanked at the box office with a mere 1 million tickets sold.
Released on Dec. 12, "Venus and Mars" sold about 320,000 tickets in two weeks. The film had drawn keen interest as director Han, a leading filmmaker known for his sophisticated style, has taken the helm, and equally famous actor Sol Kyung-gu plays opposite Kim.
Han Ye-seul, who plays the supposedly "calculating" beauty in Park Yong-jib's "Gold Digger Miss Shin," is noticing that her popularity as a TV commercial model does not automatically translate into a silver-screen success.
Han helped promote the film extensively, going on popular variety shows on major networks prior to the release. For instance, her unpretentious and impressive interview on "Golden Aquarium," a weekly TV show hosted by Kang Ho-dong, generated strong buzz on the local online community. But the box-office figures suggest that "Gold Digger" is nowhere near the goldmine yet, with 220,000 moviegoers having watched the romantic comedy since its Dec. 18 release.
Choi Kang-hee plays opposite Karm Woo-sung in "My Love," an assemblage of four different love stories a la "Love Actually." But the film is yet to spark any real interest since it has so far attracted just 270,000 people.
Choi plays Ju-won, who develops a memorable yet tragic relationship with Se-jin (played by Karm), a subway worker who drives the underground train on Line No. 2 around in circles.
The chief reason behind the Christmas blues confronting the three actresses is the stronger box-office scores of three Hollywood features led by "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," "I Am Legend" and "The Golden Compass."
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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December 25, 2007
Actor Kim Works to Enjoy His Calling
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Kim Kang-woo, in a scene in his latest film "Mask" / Korea Times
"Enjoy One's Calling" is the phrase written on actor Kim Kang-woo's cell phone. "Talented people cannot beat people who know how to enjoy life. I went through hard times when I first started acting. But one day, I realized I was doing something I wanted to do and earning money for it. The point is to take pleasure in what I do ― acting," Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Samcheong-dong in Seoul, Monday.
Kim, 29, debuted through "The Coast Guard" (2002), directed by Kim Ki-deok, when he was a senior at Chung-Ang University. "The only role I could get without any acting experience was a soldier," said Kim.
He was then noticed when he played Mu-cheol in the MBC drama "Breathless" (2003) and starred in SBS' "Three-Leaf Clover" (2005). Kim has been known as "Mr. Right" since then for the honest and diligent characters he played. "It's funny. I didn't know that I had that kind of sincere image in me," he said.
Kim also appeared in the films "The Aggressives" (2005) and "The Beast and the Beauty" (2005), but popularity was still elusive. Though he cranked up his last movie in spring, he had to wait longer than usual for the movie's release. In 2007, Kim's three movies were released consecutively. "The Railroad" received favorable reviews but failed to draw a large audience.
Fortune, at last, smiled on him. "Le Grand Chef," a film remake of a popular cartoon, became the biggest hit of the second half of 2007. It drew an audience of more than 3 million and Kim shot to instant stardom.
Moreover, he won the Best Actor award for his role in "The Railroad" at the 25th Turin Film Festival in Italy on Dec. 1. "I went to Turin as if I were just backpacking with director Park Heung-sik." However, he won the award, beating out 14 other actors. "Of course I was excited to received the award. But I was also scared how this was going to affect my career," Kim said. "I won't act much better all of a sudden because of the prize. However, people will anticipate better performances, and I have to live up to those expectations."
Now, Kim is waiting for the release of mystery thriller "Mask," which is to be released Thursday. Directed by Yang Yun-ho, "Mask" chases a serial killer related to an assault case in the army 10 years earlier. Kim plays the role of Jo Gyeong-yun, a tough detective. "Detective Jo has a complex personality. He hides his gentle side and homosexuality and instead emphasizes a macho character. I focused on expressing the contrast of his two sides," explained Kim. "Seong-chan (the lead character of 'Le Grand Chef') was another solid and decent character I played. I wanted to break out of that image and that's one of the reasons I chose this movie."
"Before shooting 'Mask,' I was an ordinary, conservative Korean man who was not well-informed and ambivalent about homosexuality. To get to know more, I met transsexuals and talked with them. I now know that it is just their destiny, not a choice they made," Kim spoke frankly about the homophobia described in the movie.
Kim has not decided what his next project will be, but left the possibilities open. "I don't have any specific characters that I want to play. I am still young and I will just do my best in whatever role that comes to me, whether it is a protagonist or villain in any genre."
"I want to be on stage someday. Plays require much time for rehearsals and the reaction from the audience is immediate. However, if I wait too long, I might not be able to do it, so I'll go for it anyway," Kim said.
While every other actor tries to bolster his or her individuality, this actor is a rather reserved character. "I am not a very charismatic person with a unique personality. Rather, I want people to remember the characters I portrayed, not me," he said. "I think it's better to be a little flexible as an actor since I don't know what kind of person I will have to represent."
Kim secretly visited movie theaters to check what the audience thought about the movie. "When I saw audiences smiling after the movie (Le Grand Chef), my heart felt full because I did something meaningful for them."
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/201_16161.html |
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December 26, 2007
[Talk of town] Hubby抯 stalker slings cell at actress
Lee Seung-shin
揈very move you make / Every step you take / I抣l be watching you. |
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December 26, 2007
New TV Channel, OBS, Opens
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
New broadcast channel OBS, short for O Broadcasting System, begins
its services Friday to subscribers in Gyeonggi Province, Incheon and Seoul.
OBS, a new broadcast channel, opens at 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 28, Friday. The station will broadcast a 9-hour special to celebrate the opening of the new channel.
The name of the channel, OBS, stands for O Broadcasting System. The "O" means many things ― One, Our, Open, Opportunity and Orient. OBS, Gyeonggi Incheon TV, is a commercial broadcasting company servicing approximately 24 million viewers in Gyeonggi Province, Incheon and Seoul. In 2004, iTV, the predecessor of present OBS, had to close down because the Korean Broadcasting Commission refused to renewal their permit. It now reopens with more competent programming.
OBS will rival SBS, another private terrestrial broadcast station, in drawing audience. Both stations are based in the metropolitan area and make contracts with local broadcasting stations to air their programs nationwide.
Joo Chul-hwan, president of OBS, is former producer-director (PD) of MBC and professor of Ewha Womans University, Dept. of Mass Communication. This PD-turned CEO of OBS emphasizes that OBS' objective is the viewers.
"OBS News 800," the station's main news, which will air at 8:00 p.m. everyday, competes with SBS.
OBS offers high-quality dramas as well. "Legend of Hope" is a soap opera series depicting life of the frontiers of Korea. The first 50 episodes will feature renowned Korean designer Andre Kim.
Talk shows feature famous actors and comedians such as "Choi Bul-ahm's Joyful World" and "Park Myoung-soo Meets the CEO."
Continuing the boom of announcers becoming more entertaining, OBS filmed the process of employing their new announcers to make "Real Story: Making of an Announcer."
A special five-episode documentary "The Land of Hope DMZ" will track young experts crossing 155 miles of the DMZ.
Viewers can participate in programs like "Time for Shows and Movies," which are aired on Saturday afternoons. This shows OBS' aim on interactive communication with the audience.
OBS is available on channel number 21 on analog televisions and channel 8 on digital ones. Check out the local cable/satellite broadcast service provider or OBS homepage (www.obs.co.kr) for more information.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/135_16215.html |
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December 27, 2007
Cruel Innocence
The production company, as well as its director Lim Pil-seong (Antarctic Journal, 2004), was concerned that the movie was 搉ot scary enough, |
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December 26, 2007
Culture Trend 2008 (related excerpts only)
For full, complete article - please refer the source link, provided below
The Korea Times reviewed what was popular and what worked in the culture scene in the year 2007 and came up with what we saw as likely trends for 2008. We invite you to tell us what you think of our choices and whether you have something you would like to add. Write to [email protected]
Movies: Independent Films to Gather Momentum
It was a surprisingly fruitful year for independent films, both local and international. The low-budget Irish film "Once," which was in theaters for a long 14-week period, drew over 200,000 audiences. The original soundtrack also sold over 30,000, topping charts for OST rankings.
"Our School'' was a breath of fresh air for the underrepresented documentary genre, garnering a record of 75 thousand moviegoers.
Local flicks like "Who's That Knocking at My Door?" and "Milky Way Liberation Front" were hot Internet search items. The latter was awarded prizes at the Directors Cut Awards and Independent Film of the Year Award by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video.
The positive trend is expected to continue next year with more space being devoted to independent films. In November, Korean Film Council and the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video revamped Joongang Cinema in northern Seoul for the exclusive screening of independent works. Spongehouse relocated its Jongno chain to a larger space in Myeong-dong in October and launched a new theater in Gwanghwamun in December, while Indiespace also opened doors in northern Seoul last month.
Dramas: Epic Dramas Dominate TV Screen Again
 
Following epic dramas that swept Korea this year, such as "Taewangsasingi" and "The King Dae Joyoung," dramas depicting historical events will continue to boom in 2008.
Various aspects of Korean history, from Goguryeo (37 B.C.-A.D.668) to Joseon (1392-1910) and from kings to mysterious thieves, will captivate audiences.
KBS's comic historical drama "Hong Gil-dong" will start the epic drama race on Jan. 2, with "King Sejong" following on Jan. 5. In the second half of the year, "The Kingdom of the Winds" will continue the race about the Goguryeo Kingdom.
SBS is preparing "Princess Jamyeonggo" ― set in the Goguryeo Kingdom, and "Jejungwon" will show off the first modern doctor in Korea.
MBC will revive the great queen of Silla through "Queen Seondeok."
Adaptation from novels and cartoons will also be popular. Solid original pieces ensure popularity and high ratings, such as SBS' hit soap opera "War of Money."
KBS' epic drama "The Kingdom of the Winds" is based on the cartoon by Kim Jin, which has the same title as the drama. This novel was transformed into a musical in 2006 and now aims to win on TV screen.
SBS will work again with Park In-kwon, the author of "War of Money," and will film "Daemul," a story about a female president. "Le Grand Chef" based on Huh Young-man's popular comic series is currently filming and will be aired in 2008 as well.
(All drama titles are working titles and subject to change.)
Stars to watch for in 2008
E Ji-ah, who played Bae Yong-joon抯 love interest in "Taewangsasinggi" (The Four Guardian Gods of the King) is certainly the Cinderella of the year. Lee Philip, who played Cheoro in the drama, is another rookie from the soap opera.
Three heartthrob princes of "Coffee Prince," Eon, Kim Jae-wook and Kim Dong-uk, already started their next step to become top stars. Kim Dong-uk is starring in KBS "Unstoppable Wedding" and Kim Jae-wook is filming the movie "Antique."
The hit sitcom "Unhesitatingly High Kick!" raised Jung Il-woo and Park Min-young to star status. After the sitcom, Jung starred in "My Love" while Park became the heroine of KBS drama "I Am Sam."
Sweet-faced Lee Yeon-hee, the mystery girl of the movie "M" and cute freshman of "My Love," expects another promising year.
Having successfully transformed from a child actor to a grown up, Jang Geun-seok participated in movie "Happy Life" and "Crazy for Waiting." Jang is also known for his sharp fashion sense.
Source: The Korea Times
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 7/12/236_16193.html |
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December 27, 2007
'Hansel & Gretel' Loses Focus
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Actor Chun Jeong-myoung, left, stars in the horror drama "Hansel and Gretel,"
inspired by the fairytale of the same title by the Brothers Grimm.
Up and coming director Yim Pil-sung's latest work "Hansel and Gretel" is a sinister tale, which gets its inspiration from those classic children's stories with a dark twist. Here it is adults rather than children who become lost in the woods.
But the movie itself loses orientation and trails off course. There are no redeeming factors ― no breadcrumbs ― to this "brutal fairytale," which stops short of being an allegorical oxymoron.
Eun-su (Chun Jeong-myoung), while arguing over the phone with his girlfriend, has a car accident in the middle of nowhere. Deep in the heart of a forest, he finds sanctuary in a beautiful house, where a charming family of five greets him.
Here, rooms are filled with a myriad of colorful toys, and sumptuous three-tier cakes and other cavity-causing sweets are served for breakfast. But that's one thing to imagine and another to actually live through, especially when you cannot get away from it ― ever.
There is something decidedly uncanny about the "Happy Children's Home." Eun-su makes a few attempts to escape, but to no avail as the heavy snow and winding road always bring him back. To make matters worse, the parents disappear one day. While forced to look after the kids, he starts to notice strange things around the house. The eldest, Man-seok, has a dangerous temper unfit for a child, while his younger sister Yeong-hi sleepwalks and baby Jeong-sun repeatedly torments her dolls.
Meanwhile, an odd couple find themselves at the children's home, and Eun-su becomes torn, having to protect the children from the shady strangers while watching out for his own life and that of the adults.
"Hansel and Gretel" makes a decent start as a horror flick, filled with eerie shadows and haunting voices, dismantled porcelain dolls and gazing eyes peering out of bunny-print wallpapers (Ryoo Sung-hee, art director of "Old Boy" (2003), created the striking visuals).
But it suddenly makes a sharp crossover to heavy ― and disturbing ― drama. Two roads diverged in a wood, and the director tried to awkwardly straddle both. It's got to hurt.
"Hansel and Gretel" is basically about abused and abandoned children who, while taking revenge on adults who have wronged them, remain thirsty for love and attention. The victims are no longer weak and powerless but equipped with supernatural abilities.
Yet, a mystery greater than the magical plot elements is the film's rating. The senseless violence in the film makes you wonder whether it's appropriate for 12-year-olds.
"Children these days are prone to many dangers. Although the (violence) concerning the children may have been extreme, I wanted to portray (their) pain and circumstances," Yim said after the press preview. But how does one justify the disturbing means to an end, especially when it actually takes away from the flow of emotions?
It becomes difficult to digest the fine acting of the child actors who seem to have sold their soul to the film. While popular actor Chun Jeong-myoung makes a rather mediocre appearance, Park Heui-soon, who made a name for himself by starring opposite Kim Yun-jin in "Seven Days," shows how good acting can shine through even in the foggiest works.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2007/12/141_16282.html |
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December 17, 2007
Shadows in the Palace Women抯 film of 2007
Women in Film selected director KIM Mee-jeung抯 Shadows in the Palace as the 2007 women抯 film deserving special attention. The court mystery is KIM抯 directorial debut and PARK Jin-hee was her leading lady.
PARK played a medically skilled court lady who investigates a murder cover-up and becomes entangled in power relations in the Chosun dynasty royal court where the women are suppressed. Shadows in the Palace received praise from the critics and was successful at the box office. The San Sebastian Film Festival selected the film for its competition section.
KIM抯 debut film was produced by Achim Pictures and distributed by Cinema Service. PARK previously acted in LEE Yoon-ki抯 Love Talk, among others.
Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)
U.S. Remakes Sex is Zero
Korean student sex comedy Sex is Zero will be remade by the studio Poststar2Finish in the U.S.; Popstar2Finish is known for its television series CSI. The two parties are still negotiating about the sales terms of the remake rights. Besides the sale of the remake rights, Doosaboo Film announced that YOUN JK抯 Sex is Zero will also be screened in the U.S.
Sex is Zero was one of the box office hits from 2002. The film revolves around a group of university students and their dealings with sex and relationships. IM Chang-jung played the male lead, a clumsy character in love with the beauty of the campus, a role by HA Ji-won.
The Korean sequel was released last week. IM reprised his role, but SONG Ji-hyo replaced HA Ji-won as the main female character. The sequel is directed by YOON Tae-yun.
Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)
http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/ |
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December 26, 2007
"Stop, Jeon Do-yeon!" the male actors are coming back to screen in 2008
Article translated by www.hancinema.net
There had been true 'Woman's power' in Korean cinema this year. The 'Cannes Lady', Jeon Do-yeon, who is sweeping through all year-end film awards, is the 2007's queens of the Queen without any further questions. From "200 Pounds Beauty"'s ' Cinderella ' Kim Ah-joong; 'Shadows in the Palace"'s heroin Park Jin-hee and the returned world star Kim Yoon-jin in "Seven Days"; Kim Hye-soo, who never stops being one character in films such as "The War Of Flower", "A Good Day to Have an Affair", "Shim's Family" and "Eleventh Mom"; Kim Tae-hee in "Venus and Mars", who tries to take off her angelic image built from various commercial films; to the newbie Han Ye-seul with her debut film, "Miss Gold Digger". Countless beautiful female actors made their own characteristic appeals and produced good results in both local and international arena.
On upcoming New Year, the top male actors are returning to screen, already heating up the atmosphere. First of all, the two most popular Hallyu stars, Song Seung-heon and kwon Sang-woo's new film, 'Destiny' is to be released early next year. 'Destiny' is Song Seung-heon's coming back to the screen after completion of his military service. It's an action noir based on four friend's friendship, loyalty and betrayal. 'Destiny' is the second film of Director Kim Hae-gon, who wrote the scenario of "Failan" and directed "The Unbearable Lightness of Dating". In addition to these two top stars, other casts include Ji Seong, Kim In-kwon and Park Han-byeol.
There is no other film which has greater naming value than "The Good, the Bad and the Weird" with the 'Big 3', Song Kang-ho, Lee Byeong-Heon and Jeong Woo-seong. The film is set in the Manchuria Plain in tumultuous 1930s where the three men are chasing and being chased by each other. It is directed by Director Kim Ji-woon, who is well-known for his previous films including "A Tale of Two Sisters" and "A Bittersweet Life". Already the movie fans are excited by the Korean style Western movie produced by these four men.
Director, Kwak Gyeong-taek, who made a comeback with his latest film "a LOVE", is preparing for his next film", Eye for an eye". Han Seok-Kyu plays the role of animal-instincted police while Cha Seung-won plays a bold thief who is daring enough to steal before one's eye.
One top of this, the 'pretty boy' Jo In-Seong, and Joo Jin-mo's new film 'Ssanghwa Store' by Director Yoo Ha is also on 2008's waiting list. The excitement is building up largely due to the fact that these two handsome actors are in a homosexual relationship in the film.
Moreover, it's interesting to see the transformation of the 'cool guys' into 'villains'. First time ever in his acting career, Kwan Sang-woo play the villain who betrays his friend; while Lee Byeong-Heon plays as a hired murderer, 'the Bad'; and Cha Seung-won as a cold-hearted criminal. They are determined to give a double pleasure to the movie fans through their new transformation.
Original Korean article
http://news.naver.com/main/read. ... 0000446097&iid= |
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December 27, 2007
Why would Hollywood be interested in Korean stars?
Translated by hancinema.net
-Strategic casting to target Asian market based on the popularity of the Korean Wave.
-Jang Dong-gun, Ha Jeong-woo, Song Hye-kyo are the first ones to make their debut in Hollywood as the main casts of American film.
One after another, an increased number of Korean stars, including Jang Dong-gun, Rain, Lee Byeong-Heon, Jeon Ji-hyeon, Park Joon-hyung and Song Hye-kyo, had been cast in American films.
But, why would Hollywood be interested in Korean stars?
According to the analysis produced by the Film Promotion Committee, the average annual film marketing growth in America from 2000 to 2005 had been around 31,6 billion dollars. Comparing it against England (2nd |
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