Jo In Sung | Zo In Sung 조인성 / Drama 2023: Moving 무빙

[willenette]

9 Years of Gong Hyo Jin, Jo In Sung’s It’s Okay, That’s Love: 3 reasons why this drama was ahead of its time

As we celebrate It’s Okay, That’s Love completing 9 years since release, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why the drama was way ahead of its time. Read ahead to know more.

 

 

Key Highlights

• Celebrating 9 years of It's Okay, That's Love
• It's Okay That's Love stars Gong Hyo Jin, Jo In Sung, EXO's D.O. and others

 

The Korean psychological romance drama follows the unconventional lives of individuals that have gone through trauma in life, leading them down the same path together. Being professionals in their field, these 5 people experience various ups and downs in their lives as well as experience love, hate, jealousy, happiness and more. It’s Okay, That’s Love was released in 2014 and 9 years later, they still hold importance in the portrayal of mental health issues in a realistic and raw light. 

 

Gong Hyo Jin as Ji Hae Soo: 

Gong Hyo Jin, who assumed the part of specialist Ji Hae Soo in 'It's Okay, That'd Love', entranced watchers by uncovering different charms from the first episode itself, from the warm and human side of a specialist to intellectual appeal, toughness, and stylish. Gong Hyo Jin's reasonable acting in a stylish ensemble, as well as gorgeous coordination, and every scene and line of the show that cannot be quickly ignored. She portrayed the character who has experienced many issues in life, making her prickly towards new people.

 

 

Jo In Sung as Jang Jae Yeol: 

A confident womanizer and a famous author, Jang Jae Yeol gets enamored by Ji Hae Soo from first meeting, despite the heated exchange and basically creating hate for each other. As the story moves, one can see how he is also carrying a burden from his past that manifested in the form of a young school boy that reminded him of him and that boy was played by EXO’s D.O. In the later episodes, one can understand how he came to be the man he was in the present, which makes the viewers also feel sad. Jo In Sung aced his role as Jang Jae Yeol- from the confident smirk to the helpless expression he has when he realizes the truth about himself.

 

The message: 

The drama, despite some awkward dialogue exchange, was an excellent one and way ahead of its time as the themes focused on trauma induced delusions, anxiety, Tourette's Syndrome, sexual needs of women, self-confidence and the most important theme- happiness. The characters could not be more different but at the same time, they seem to be soldiers of the same war they fight with themselves everyday. It gives a view inside the mind and manner of people that have to live a life despite not feeling mentally well. The drama is a refreshing turn from simple romance dramas but it is also heavy as they talk about impact of mental health issues on a person.

 

 

 

source : https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/9-years-of-gong-hyo-jin-jo-in-sungs-its-okay-thats-love-3-reasons-why-this-drama-was-ahead-of-its-time-1231472

[willenette]

*** On July 22nd, a new video titled “A Couple of Cups Coffees Are Just an Excuse” was uploaded on the YouTube channel “Deun Dẹun”, as part of the web program “Just an Excuse”, which is hosted by Yoo Jae Suk. Here, actors Cha Tae Hyun, Jo In Sung, and Han Hyo Joo appeared and shared their stories. On this day, Yoo Jae Suk mentioned “friendship with Lee Kwang Soo” as the one thing that all three guests have in common. Later on, when asked, “What is Kwang Soo to you?,” Jo In Sung replied, “An injured finger”. He used the expression that refers to someone that one worries about, or feel deep affection towards and always want to take care of. In short, Jo In Sung reveals that he and Kwang Soo are extremely close. He mentioned that Lee Kwang Soo got hurt a lot, and everyone nodded in agreement. “And he is so fragile. But his head is good. That’s why he has many wounds. He makes a lot of trouble for himself”, he added. Upon hearing this, Yoo Jae Suk said, “Actually, Kwang Soo is very grateful to In Sung. It’s because he shares a lot of his inner thoughts to In Sung and Tae Hyun a lot.”  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

source : https://news.nate.com/view/20230722n04196?mid=n1008

 

[willenette]

Korean Box Office for the Weekend 2023.07.21 ~ 2023.07.23

credit : https://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/main/main.do

 

 

Films	Release date	Week-end	Total
1	"Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One"		709 322	2 940 335
2	"Elemental"		476 273	5 031 745
3	"Detective Conan The Movie: Black Iron Submarine" (名探偵コナン 黒鉄の魚影)		238 413	361 000
4	"Barbie"		153 575	256 841
5	"Insidious: The Red Door"		143 478	241 505
6	"Super Wings The Movie: Maximum Speed" (극장판 슈퍼윙스: 맥시멈 스피드)	2023/07/20	39 970	50 007
7	"My Love" (你的婚礼)		33 008	324 707
8	"Just Super" (Helt super)		12 185	14 882
9	"Smugglers" (밀수)	2023/07/26	12 100	40 966
10	"The Roundup: No Way Out" (범죄도시3)	2023/05/31	11 415	10 673 787

[willenette]

Jo In Sung Opens Up About Lee Kwang Soo Being His Dearest Friend

 

 

Jo In Sung revealed that Lee Kwang Soo holds a special place as his dearest friend.

The recent episode of the YouTube show “Pinggyego” features the stars of Moving, Jo In Sung, Cha Tae Hyun, and Han Hyo Joo. One of the commonalities discussed among the trio was their friendship with Lee Kwang Soo.

 

 

When asked by the host, Yoo Jae Suk, what Kwang Soo means to him, Jo In Sung playfully referred to him as “an aching finger.” He explained, “Kwang Soo is high maintenance. He’s very delicate yet intelligent. As a result, he tends to get hurt a lot and often lands himself in distress.” Yoo Jae Suk chimed in, expressing his agreement and adding, “That’s so accurate.”

Jo shared further about a recent trip they took together. “We went on a trip recently. I saw him walking with (Kim) Woo Bin and (Do) Kyung Soo, and I realized how grown up he is now. Kwang Soo, being the oldest of them, has grown a lot through his distress,” the actor candidly revealed.

 

 

In response, Yoo commented, “Kwang Soo is indeed very grateful to Jo In Sung. He talks to In Sung about how he feels.” Jo agreed and said, “And Jae Suk also showers Kwang Soo with a lot of affection. Kwang Soo has blossomed through the love of many. He has really become a good person.” Yoo, expressing his affection, said, “Now that we’re talking about him, I miss Kwang Soo.”

 

Meanwhile, Moving is a human action series that portrays the story of children living in the present while hiding their supernatural abilities and parents harboring painful secrets from the past. The show is set to globally release seven episodes simultaneously on Disney Plus on August 9th. Following the premiere, two episodes will be released every week.

 

 

 

 

source : https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000619792

[backstreetboysfan]

On 7/21/2023 at 12:44 AM, willenette said:

 

@backstreetboysfan  thanks for sharing this. I'm glad that 'Unexpected Business' has confirmed its return with season 3. And this time they will open up a shop in the United States. I wonder where in US, though. I hope we get to know the exact airing date soon, too. Waiting for the duo........  

 

 

 

 

 

Your welcome @willenette, me to, I hope we get more info soon.

[willenette]

A-listers to return to small screen in August

 

From left, posters for Disney+'s series "Moving," upcoming SBS crime series "The Killing Vote," and JTBC's rom-com series "Destined With You" / Courtesy of Disney+, SBS and JTBC

 

 

August will see a string of top actors, like Zo In-sung and Ko Hyun-jung, return to the small screen.

Zo is leading Disney+'s Korean original series "Moving," taking on his first series in six years since the heartfelt drama "Dear My Friends" (2016).

The new sci-fi action series, set to hit the platform on Aug. 9, is an adaptation of the popular webcomics of the same name by creator Kang Full, starring a star-studded cast including Zo, Han Hyo-joo, Ryu Seung-ryong, and Ryu Seung-bum.

The 20-part series follows a group of teenagers with supernatural powers and their parents, who have been keeping a painful secret, fighting against dark forces and a mysterious assassin.

The series is scripted by its original creator, Kang, and is helmed by director Park In-je, who led the second season of Netflix's hit series "Kingdom."

 

 

(skipped unrelated.....)

 

 

 

credit : Korea Times

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/07/688_355611.html

 

[willenette]

*** "Smugglers" will be screened at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will be showcased in the Special Presentation section at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival. The 48th Toronto International Film Festival will be held from September 7th to the 17th.  

 

 

 

 

Source: Lotte Entertainment, Mind Mark, STUDIO & NEW

[willenette]

[Herald Interview] Zo In-sung says getting older has set him free to pick coveted projects, roles

 

In director Ryoo Seung-wan’s new crime action flick, “Smugglers,” Zo In-sung stars as a veteran smuggler known nationwide, Kwon Pil-sam. Contrary to newbie Jangdori (Park Jung-min) who is timid and anxious all the time, Kwon is a calm and coldhearted character who wants to get things done with his own hands.

 

It is undeniable that the energy and vibe that a character exudes at least partly come from the actor who plays the role.

 

In that context, many have said that Kwon Pil-sam could be Zo In-sung’s career-defining role, depicting the 41-year-old actor’s skillfulness and mature charms in the film.

 

Because the shooting for “Smugglers” was conducted while he was busy promoting his 2021 film, “Escape from Mogadishu,” which was also directed by Ryoo, his appearance in the film is very limited compared to that of other characters. Nevertheless, his impact was huge.

 

When asked why he thinks the audience got that feeling, Zo said it was because he was “getting older.”

 

“I think there is an advantage to getting older, especially for actors. Aging is nothing that I, as an actor, abhor. From an actor’s perspective, getting older means that you get mature, also that you increase your bonds and chemistry with industry insiders like directors,” Zo told The Korea Herald in an interview in Seoul on July 21.

 

“Getting older has also given me a wider scope in acting and choosing projects and roles, based on the trust that was built between myself and the audience. Now I’m free to approach coveted roles or projects with certain directors. I love how my age has given me that courage,” he said, adding that he wished to play Kwon Pil-sam after hearing the role the character plays in the movie as a bridge connecting other characters like Choon-ja (Kim Hye-soo), Jin-sook (Yum Jung-ah) and Jangdori.

 

Over the past 25 years of his acting career, Zo has shown versatile acting on both TV and the silver screen, but he has also recently ventured into different content formats such as variety shows or original series on streaming services because he wanted to have chances to meet the audience.

 

“At least once or twice a year, I’d like to meet with an audience. During the pandemic, everything stopped and there was no way to communicate with the audience. So I thought about approaching fans first, which was through a variety show. Films and dramas have relatively longer periods of production compared to such short-length variety shows. I really loved it,” said Zo.

 

Starting with the film “Smugglers,” he will have many opportunities to connect with fans. His Disney+ series “Moving” will be released in August and he will be departing to the US later this month to shoot the third season of TvN show “Unexpected Business."

 

Ultimately, Zo's primary focus lies in portraying a memorable character regardless of the significance of the role.

 

“I’ve entered my 40s and feel like the audience is now accepting actor Zo In-sung to be selective in choosing to play a memorable character, regardless of the size or the importance of the role,” said Zo.

 

“All I ask for the audience is to receive pleasure and excitement from our film,” he added.

 

“Smugglers” hits local theaters on Wednesday.

 

 

 

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)

credit : Korea Herald

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230725000651&np=1&mp=1

[willenette]

Crime action film 'Smugglers' invited to Toronto festival

 

The new crime action movie "Smugglers" has been invited to this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), set to be held from Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 in Canada's largest city.

The film's distributor, NEW, announced that director Ryoo Seung-wan's latest film will be screening in the festival's Special Presentations section.

"(The movie) combines director Ryoo Seung-wan's signature action and unique humor, which draw in audiences," Anita Lee, chief programming officer of TIFF, said in the statement.

Directed by Ryoo, who is known for helming the 2015 action film "Veteran," the movie follows a group of "haenyeo," or female divers ― played by Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah and Go Min-si ― in a small fishing town in the 1970s.

Their mundane life of collecting marine products to make ends meet turns upside down when they get involved in a high-stakes smuggling scheme.

The star-studded film, which was released on Wednesday, was also invited to the 76th Locarno Film Festival, as part of its midsummer movie event, Piazza Grande.

Along with "Smugglers," director Hur Jin-ho's drama film "A Normal Family" and director Um Tae-hwa's blockbuster disaster film "Concrete Utopia" have also been invited to TIFF's Special Presentations section.

 

 

 

credit : Korea Times

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/07/689_355693.html

[willenette]

Korean Movie Opening Today 2023/07/26 in Korea

"Smugglers"

 

 

 

Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan

With Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Zo In-sung, Park Jung-min, Go Min-si, Kim Jong-soo,...

Synopsis
n 1970s, at Guncheon(a small village near sea), there were Haenyeos(women divers who are able to dive w/o equipments), including two best friends Chun-ja and Jin-sook, Jin-sook`s brother and Jangdori. They always collected seafood under water for living. But, as few factories started to be built near beach, Haenyeos started to have trouble with what they were doing for living. Without any choice, the ship crews decided to join smuggling business in water to seek a way for their living. But smuggling business in their village got too big for Jin-sook`s family to handle and the peaceful village was gradually broken.

[willenette]

'Smugglers' crew compliments each other on a film well done

 

Most people involved in making a film usually congratulate each other on their work, but the director and cast’s praise for veteran actor Kim Hye-soo in “Smugglers” was unlike any other.
 
Actors Yum Jung-ah, Zo In-sung and director Ryoo Seung-wan were all in awe of Kim, who played one of the leads of “Smugglers” alongside Yum.

 

“I am so incredibly lucky have been able to work with Kim,” Yum said during an interview with local reporters last Friday. Yum played Jin-sook, a leader of female divers who smuggles goods through the ocean and who teams up with Kim’s character Chun-ja, in “Smugglers.” “I had the opportunity to work with Kim a very long time ago — 27 years ago, in a drama — but through ‘Smugglers,’ we have become good friends.”

 

Main poster for ″Smugglers″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

 
“Kim is the kind of actor that changes even the way cameras react,” Ryoo said during another interview with reporters on Wednesday. “We had the camera set to dark mode, and Kim was acting with her head tilted to one side. When she looked up, the monitor lit up too. I was amazed at how that could happen.”

 
“Kim was like the sun on set — she shined and allowed others to shine too,” Zo said during a separate interview last Friday. “I had a smaller role in ‘Smugglers,’ but I was glad that I made the choice to join the cast because I got to work with Kim and Yum.”

 

Actor Zo In-sung plays Sergeant Kwon, a smuggler who convinces female divers to join him on a scheme, in ″Smugglers″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

 
Ryoo, who has directed a dozen feature films so far, including “Die Bad” (2000), “No Blood No Tears” (2002), “The City of Violence” (2006), “Veteran” (2015) and “Escape from Mogadishu” (2021), said that balancing well-known aspects with new elements in “Smugglers” was the key point for consideration.

 
“I think, whether I intend to or not, there is an expectation and a preconception that the audience has toward my work based on my filmography,” Ryoo said. “Meeting those expectations and at the same time bringing something new to the table is the task. Some directors repeat themselves too much and get bad reviews, and some directors try too unfamiliar things and get ignored. It’s a really hard job. The new aspect for ‘Smugglers’ is that it’s set in the ocean, so the actors perform underwater.”

 
The actors trained for months for those underwater scenes, and for Yum, who was not familiar with the water or swimming, that was quite the challenge.

 

Actor Yum Jung-ah [ARTIST COMPANY]

 
“I trained very diligently — I play the leader of the divers, so naturally I had to be very proficient at swimming and diving,” she said. “I started with holding my breath, to diving a meter down underwater, to two meters, then six. I thought that at this rate, I would live in a pool even after filming, but that didn’t happen."
 
Kim and Yum were shown footage of underwater scenes and divers when they were first cast, and Ryoo reflected on their reactions — both actors were stunned, according to the director.

 
“This was before they had confirmed that they would appear in ‘Smugglers,’ and after I showed them the footage, they were speechless,” Ryoo said. “I mistakenly thought that they were moved by what they had seen and thought casting them would be a success. But later I found out that Yum had been worried about swimming and being underwater, and Kim had nearly had a panic attack just from watching the footage.”

 

Spoiler

 

Director Ryoo Seung-wan [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

 

 
But both actors ultimately joined the cast as the two leads, and Ryoo said he had “complete faith” in them.

 
“I had complete faith in them because they were actors who had proved for decades that they could act in any environment when they set their minds to it,” Ryoo said. “Underwater, diving, swimming, they could do it if they said they would.”

 
Zo, who plays Sergeant Kwon, a smuggler who convinces Jin-sook and Chun-ja to dive into the world of smuggling, said that he reciprocated Ryoo’s faith because he knew that Ryoo would not waste even the smallest of characters.

 

Actor Zo In-sung [IOK COMPANY]

 

 
“There needed to be a bridge between Kims and Yum’s characters,” Zo said. “And the director knew that — that was the purpose of my character, Sergeant Kwon. He has a reasoning for each character, and with that, I could trust him to lead the film well.”

 
Ryoo thanked Zo for participating in “Smugglers” despite the small size of his role and said that he likes Zo's acting. The two previously worked together in Ryoo’s last film, “Escape from Mogadishu.”

 
“After working with Zo in ‘Escape from Mogadishu,’ I became comfortable working with him and cast him again in ‘Smugglers,’” Ryoo said. “The staff for ‘Smugglers’ is the same staff that worked with me in ‘Escape from Mogadishu,' so they were also fans and colleagues of Zo.”

 

Actor Zo In-sung plays Sergeant Kwon, a smuggler who convinces female divers to join him on a scheme, in ″Smugglers″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

 

 
As the Korean film industry is facing trouble after the Covid-19 pandemic, with the number of moviegoers dwindling as people turn to streaming services and the price of film tickets soar, this summer’s domestically produced blockbusters such as “Smugglers” are tasked with the daunting job of reviving the film scene. Ryoo said that while it wasn’t his intention to jump into this job, he expects good results with “Smugglers” and says that things couldn’t be worse than it was during the pandemic.

 
“Two years ago, when I filmed and released ‘Escape from Mogadishu,’ the situation was very bleak,” the director said. “You couldn’t buy tickets after 7 o’clock in the evening, the audience had to sit with seats between them and the entire number of people going to theaters was a third of what it was before. But we did have positive responses to ‘Escape from Mogadishu,’ and I got the courage from that to open ‘Smugglers’ this time around.”

 
And so far, “Smugglers” also seems to be gathering good responses from the audience, with 170,000 people having bought tickets for the film even before its release, as of Tuesday. The film opens Tuesday, July 26, in theaters across Korea.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]

 

 

 

credit : JoongAngDaily

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/07/26/entertainment/movies/Korea-Smugglers-Yum-Jungah/20230726163014078.html

 

[willenette]

Director of 'Smugglers' aims to balance freshness and familiarity

 

SEOUL, July 26 (Yonhap) -- Director Ryoo Seung-wan's action thrillers are known for an inventive plot, colorful characters and daring action scenes, and his new film "Smugglers" has it all and ventures into new territory: female-centric narratives.

 

Released Wednesday, "Smugglers" revolves around female divers who are tangled up in a high-stakes smuggling scheme, starring veteran actresses Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah.

 

Set in a small fishing town in the 1970s, sea women, locally called "haenyeo," struggle to collect decent harvests after a chemical factory is built near the seashore, and they begin to salvage smuggled goods thrown into the sea to make money.

 

Their risky business comes to an end when customs officers swoop in and results in tragic consequences. Years later, Chunja (Kim) and Jinsuk (Yum) reunite to retrieve diamonds thrown into the sea and take revenge on those responsible for their painful past.

 

Ryoo Seung-wan, director of crime action film "Smugglers," is seen in this photo provided by the production company NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
 

During a group interview, Ryoo said he was inspired by a story of female divers who smuggled daily goods in the 1970s for a living, and took interest in creating a maritime action thriller featuring haenyeo.

 

"While smuggling today is associated with drugs, the concept of smuggling in the 1970s was different. As the country was under strict control, daily necessities, such as food and clothes, were smuggled. I have childhood memories of seeing people trading smuggled goods in cafes," the 49-year-old Ryoo said.

 

Ryoo said he wrote the screenplay while having Kim and Yum in mind, and the amazing ensemble between the veteran actresses and other cast members, including Zo In-sung, Park Jung-min and Go Min-si, is worth watching.

 

"As the story is about haenyeo, it is natural to feature female protagonists. Rather than projecting their gender identity, I focused more on friendship between the women and their twisted relationship," he said.

 

One of the riveting scenes was the fight scene between female divers and knife-wielding male gang members equipped with oxygen tanks in deep water where sharks lurk.

 

To create realistic and captivating scenes, Ryoo said the filming crew asked for advice from veteran female divers and a synchronized swimming team coach.

 

"As the women are not strong enough to match the guys on land, it seemed more realistic to have conflicts underwater as they experience water resistance instead of gravity. Although action scenes sometimes use slow motion to highlight their movements, an underwater sequence is naturally slower than on land," he said.

 

A scene from the crime action thriller "Smugglers" is seen in this photo provided by the production company NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

It is also fun to watch the bloody confrontation between Kwon Sang-sa (played by Zo In-sung), a merciless kingpin of a nationwide smuggling business, and Jang Do-ri (played by Park Jung-min), a sailor-turned-gangster boss in a narrow hotel alley.

 

"I wanted to portray stylish but extreme action scenes to foreshadow a dangerous situation that awaits haenyeo," he said. "I wanted their action to be seen as very dangerous, intense and cathartic, but heads toward an unpredictable direction. I asked the martial arts director to design movements in a way that maximizes the genre's thrills."

 

Since his impressive debut in 1996 with "Die Bad," the director has tried his hand at different genres, including "The Berlin File" (2013), "Veteran" (2015), "The Battleship Island" (2017) and "Escape from Mogadishu" (2021), and vowed to keep reinventing himself.

 

Ryoo said he has recently completed shooting the sequel of "Veteran" and begun editing, expecting it to be released in the winter season of 2024.

 

"There is nothing as risky as relying solely on past success to achieve success again. I constantly made efforts to create different films," he said. "Balancing between familiarity and freshness is the most challenging."

 

 

 

ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)

 

 

 

 

credit : Yonhap News

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230726007900315?section=culture/movies

[willenette]

*** Jo In Sung shared one story of when Lee Kwangsoo's bad luck "illness" got contagious and infected Kim Woo Bin on July 22nd when they -  Jo Insung, Cha Taehyun, and Han Hyojoo appeared on Yoo Jaesuk's Youtube content 'Just an Excuse' to promote their Disney+ series 'Moving'. Jo In Sung shared, "Not too long ago, we went on a trip with Kim Woo Bin, EXO's D.O., etc." As it's common for Korean to have the oldest or most senior person pay for meals, etc., Jo Insung revealed, "Those friends feel uncomfortable when I pay for everything. But since they feel embarrassed to say, 'Today is on me' (as they're his juniors), we came up with a rule." He then explained, "On a stopwatch, you press the stop button twice and multiply the last digits of those two numbers. Everyone takes turns to do the same, and the one who gets the smallest number will be the one to treat the group." Laughing, Jo Insung elaborated, "But the thing is, in theory, this game should be fair because it's random, right? But then we went to take a taxi to go to a sushi restaurant, and Kwangsoo got the smallest number again both times (taxi and restaurant). Since the sushi place was expensive, we decided to divide it among 2 people (with the same game) and the two were Kwangsoo and Woobin." Jo Insung continued, "But it got contagious. The bad luck virus infected another guy: Woobin... After that, Woobin had to pay for everything for three days! There was not a single exception! Taxi, tea, convenience store, he paid for everything. It was so hilarious."   

 

 

 

 

 

 

source : Gstarlive

[willenette]

INTERVIEW Director Ryoo Seung-wan talks about balancing the new and familiar

 

 

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Ryoo Seung-wan, acclaimed director known for the action films such as "Veteran" (2015) and "Escape from Mogadishu" (2022), said he always tries to find a balance between sticking to his established film style and venturing into uncharted territories.

"I think there is nothing more dangerous than repeating yourself. As a filmmaker who has made over 10 feature-length films, I have my own style. But my ambition is to keep renewing myself and find the balance between relying on proven methods and exploring new approaches," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday.

His latest film "Smugglers" features an ensemble cast of women characters, which is extremely rare in the action genre. Set in the 1970s in a peaceful seaside village, the film revolves around a group of female divers who unexpectedly become involved in an illegal smuggling scheme.

"Female divers are an important set-up for the film, so it seemed natural to have female leads. However, the film doesn't display gender roles or feminist philosophy. It's more about the relationships between the characters," Ryoo said.

During the interview, Ryoo explained why he cast Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah as Chun-ja and Jin-sook, respectively.

"I've known Kim since I was an assistant director. Her close-up shot was so beautiful it literally lit up the monitor I was staring at. I've been a fan of Yum since her debut. She gives subtle performances and seems at ease all times, but leaves a strong impression on viewers," he said.

 

He admitted that he is drawn to films that portray betrayals and reconciliation. "I think these stories are dramatic. The film also deals with themes like the decline of small towns, putting female divers in danger, and the burden of being a firstborn daughter (from Jin-sook's point of view)," he said.

He also talked about homegrown films not faring well at the box office.

"I think filmmakers should make better films. Ever since I dreamed of becoming a filmmaker, there hasn't been a time when cinema wasn't in crisis. It's almost like complaining about the bad economy each year. We, filmmakers, should get ourselves together and do better," he said.

The director said he wishes "Smugglers" to ignite discussion when the audience are leaving the theater.

"I'm anxious about how the film is going to be received by the audience. I want everybody to talk about the film, whether it's about the music, action sequences, fashion or actors. My greatest fear is having no reaction at all," he said.

Asked about the fierce competition for the summer box office, Ryoo said, "I'm relieved that all summer movies have different charms. As a person who hates competition, I'm not interested in big numbers. I just hope audiences like our film."

"Smugglers" is currently playing in local theaters.

 

 

 

credit : Korea Times

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/07/689_355778.html

[willenette]

4 Reasons Why ‘Unexpected Business’ is a Must-Watch Relaxing Series

 

Unexpected Business is one of the star-studded variety shows out there.

 

With its healing and reality narrative, the two stars, Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung, are tasked with running a convenience store and supermarket by themselves in a provincial village away from Seoul.

 

 

The top stars have two main tasks: tend the register and serve meals during lunch and dinner.

1. Star-studded casts + star-studded guests!

The main cast of this program is none other than Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung. Both stars are remarkably known for their amazing acting skills! Cha Tae Hyun had his fair share of variety, with his best stint in 2 Days & 1 Night from 2012 to 2019. Jo In Sung, on the other hand, marks this program as his first variety show.

 

Due to their stardom, the two casts were able to invite some of their popular friends to help run their stores in seasons one and two. Park Bo Young, Nam Joo Hyuk, Lee Byung Eun, and Yoon Si Yoon are some of the guests for the first season. 

Meanwhile, the second season brings in Lee Kwang Soo, Lim Ju Hwan, Kim Hye Soo, and Kim Woo Bin as some of the most anticipated guests.

 

 

2. Their connection with village people

The series’ set-up is basically that you’re watching your favorite stars run a convenience store and serve lunch and dinner meals. Their customers, on the other hand, were all villagers from all walks of life! It’s pretty refreshing to catch the cast having some small talk with the people. They talk about random and trivial things, making it more raw and authentic to watch. 

 

The stars were also well accommodated by the villagers. In an episode of season one, In Sung went fishing with Nam Joo Hyuk and Park Byung Eun. In Sung wasn’t able to fish properly due to seasickness, but luckily, the people around them helped! They were able to get close to the villagers despite their short stay.

 

 

In season two, In Sung and Tae Hyun volunteered to open the clinic across from their shop so the passengers who awaited the bus could stay there to beat the cold winter breeze. 

3. A little business running overview

The series is indeed all about running and managing a business. So, viewers are expected to catch Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung flexing their storefronting and business skills. From replenishing their stocks to manning the cashier and doing the daily inventory, the guys didn’t disappoint.

 

Spoiler

 

They even tried their best to create unique meals during lunch and dinner times to generate more income. For example, In Sung’s seafood ramyeon is considered a favorite, followed by his fishcake udon and deep-fried prawns. During the second season, their workload increases as they have to run a meat shop inside the store. Tae-hyun was able to showcase some of his butching skills here! 

 

Tae-hyun and In-sung were both hands-on in running the businesses, as they even went the extra mile to do deliveries or even interact with their customers whenever they could. Viewers can also gain some insights into how running a business can be challenging yet rewarding.

 

4. Heartwarming moments

The series was set during the cold season. Despite the cold weather, the cast received a warm welcome and treatment from their customers. They encountered various stories throughout the two seasons that moved both Tae-hyun and In Sung.

One of the striking stories to remember is when a father and son decided to take a break at the store to have a meal together. The father and son mentioned that it’s rare for them to share a meal together due to their work, but thanks to Tae-hyun and In Sung, they got that opportunity.

Another is when an elderly lady stops by the shop to wait for her bus, and chats with In Sung to share that a group of celebrities was shooting in town. Not knowing that she’s speaking to those celebrities herself! It might be funny, but I loved how In Sung and the rest of the crew didn’t reveal themselves and chatted with the woman like their popularity was no big deal.

Providing fun, comfort, and relaxation to its viewers

To conclude, this variety series is definitely for people who want to take a break from a very busy life. It may not be as funny as the other shows out there, but the chemistry between Tae-hyun, In Sung, and their part-timers blended with each other! 

 

 

Seeing these celebrities in their unfiltered state is incredibly refreshing, especially when they lend their ears to their customers. Some of the advice they’ve given is not only applicable to the customer at that moment but can be helpful to the viewers too. And the thoughts of the people who’ve been through the store can be life lessons for the viewers as well.

 

Ready to have a relaxing time running a business with Tae-hyun and In Sung?

 

Stream Unexpected Business 2 available on Viu here.

 

 

 

source : https://annyeongoppa.com/2023/07/26/4-reasons-why-unexpected-business-is-a-must-watch-relaxing-series/

 

[willenette]

Korean dramas set to release in August 2023: From Behind Your Touch to Destined With You

Right from Behind Your Touch to Destined With You, scroll on for an assortment of the best Korean dramas releasing in August 2023 sorted according to their date of release.

When it comes to the world of entertainment, there are new releases every day, however, the world of K-drama is expected to be particularly spectacular in the month of August. This is precisely why, this time we have curated the perfect list of upcoming Korean dramas releasing in August, all sorted according to their release date. With iconic storylines, diverse genres, and a brilliant cast, we expect all the enlisted shows to be complete entertainers. 

Right from the highly awaited sequel of shows like The First Responders to the release of brand new K-dramas like Behind Your Touch and Destined With You, this list is certainly an electrifying dose for Korean drama fans out there. So, what are you waiting for? Go on, dive into the world of heartwarming romances and addictive thrillers that will manage to keep you on the edge of your seat. 

 

Top 10 Korean Dramas Releasing in August 2023

 

4. Moving

 

 

 

• Genre: Drama
• Star Cast: Lee Jung ha, Ryu Seung ryong, Han Hyo joo, Jo In sung, Kim Sung kyun, Go Yoon jung, and Kim Do hoon
• Director: Park In Je
• Writer: Kang Pool
• Number of episodes: 20
• Date of release: August 9, 2023
• Network/Where to watch: Disney+

Starring Lee Jung Ha, Ryu Seung Ryong, Han Hyo Joo, Jo In Sung, Kim Sung Kyun, Go Yoon Jung, and Kim Do Hoon, this K-drama titled Moving is directed by Park In Je and written by Kang Pool. When it comes to the plot, the 20-episode show is based on a Webtoon also known as Moving. It follows the tale of three high school-going teenagers with superpowers inherited from their parents. We are excited to watch this fantasy drama to witness how the three children struggle their way through it. 

 

 

(skipped unrelated.....)

 

 

 

source : https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/korean-dramas-set-to-release-in-august-2023-from-behind-your-touch-to-destined-with-you-1232463

[syntyche]

Happy Insung Day! 

Today is our dear Jo In Sung's birthday! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[willenette]

*** The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for actors! The rankings were determined through a data analysis of the media coverage, participation, interaction, and community indexes of 100 actors who appeared in dramas, movies, or OTT content released between June 29 and July 29.   

 

Check out the top 30 for this month below!

1. 2PM’s Lee Junho
2. Kim Tae Ri
3. Shin Hye Sun
4. Lee Joon Hyuk
5. Lim Ji Yeon
6. Son Suk Ku
7. Kim Seon Ho
8. Ahn Bo Hyun
9. Hong Kyung
10. Choi Jae Rim
11. Park Gyu Young
12. Girls’ Generation’s YoonA
13. Go Min Si
14. Kim Tae Hee
15. Go Won Hee
16. Ma Dong Seok
17. Won Ji An
18. Lee Chung Ah
19. Gong Yoo
20. Jung Woo
21. CNBLUE’s Kang Min Hyuk
22. Lee Byung Hun
23. Jo In Sung
24. Park Seo Joon
25. Kim Sun Young
26. Son Ye Jin
27. Kim Hye Soo
28. Ahn Hyo Seop
29. Kim Ga Eun
30. Song Joong Ki

 

 

 

 

 

source : http://www.beyondpost.co.kr/view.php?ud=202307290907228646499def050a_30

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

@syntyche  thanks for the info about Jo In Sung's birthday................. 

 

*** HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Oppa!       I hope you had a grand time celebrating your special DAY with your family & friends despite of your busy schedule.  

 

 

[willenette]

*** I'm happy that the film “Smugglers” is off to a strong start at the Korean box office! According to the Korean Film Council, the movie officially surpassed 1 moviegoers at around 11:40 a.m. KST on July 29. The film was released on July 26, meaning that it took less than four days to reach the milestone. “Smugglers” is now the second-fastest Korean film to hit the 1 million mark this year, bested only by “The Roundup: No Way Out” (“The Outlaws 3”). Congratulations to the cast and crew of “Smugglers”!  

 

 

 

 

photos source : soompi news

 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

“Smugglers” Surpasses 1 Million Moviegoers In Less Than 4 Days

 

 

The star-studded new film “Smugglers” is off to a strong start at the Korean box office!

 

According to the Korean Film Council, “Smugglers” officially surpassed 1 moviegoers at around 11:40 a.m. KST on July 29. The film was originally released on July 26, meaning that it took less than four days to reach the milestone.

 

“Smugglers” is now the second-fastest Korean film to hit the 1 million mark in 2023, bested only by “The Roundup: No Way Out” (“The Outlaws 3”).

 

An action crime film set in the 1970s, “Smugglers” tells the story of deep sea divers in a peaceful village who unexpectedly get tangled up in a high-stakes smuggling scheme. Helmed by “Veteran” and “Escape from Mogadishu” director Ryu Seung Wan, the movie stars Kim Hye Soo, Yum Jung Ah, Jo In Sung, Park Jung Min, Go Min Si, Kim Jong Soo, and more.

 

Congratulations to the cast and crew of “Smugglers”!

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

credit : soompi news

 

[willenette]

Korean Box Office for the Weekend 2023.07.28 ~ 2023.07.30

credit : https://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/main/main.do

 

 

 

Films	Release date	Week-end	Total
1	"Smugglers" (밀수)	2023/07/26	1 175 545	1 724 327
2	"Elemental"		364 164	5 672 676
3	"Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One"		309 266	3 531 807
4	"Detective Conan The Movie: Black Iron Submarine" (名探偵コナン 黒鉄の魚影)		89 404	580 209
5	"Barbie"		81 135	432 329
6	"Insidious: The Red Door"		46 730	358 352
7	"Super Wings The Movie: Maximum Speed" (극장판 슈퍼윙스: 맥시멈 스피드)	2023/07/20	23 905	95 297
8	"Pinkfong Sing-Along Movie 3: Catch the Gingerbread Man" (핑크퐁 시네마 콘서트 3: 진저브레드맨을 잡아라)	2023/07/26	16 435	24 222
9	"My Love" (你的婚礼)		14 941	360 666
10	"The Moon" (더 문)	2023/08/02	14 356	20 926