Lee Byung Hun 이병헌 Byunghun Lee

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Found this clip from THE FORTRESS on twitter, posted by CJ Entertainment. It doesn't include LBH but actor Kim Yoon Seok and the little child-actress (the one at the stage greeting, haven't found her name). Even without English subs, I think we can understand what it's about. The movie will certainly tug at our heart-strings, for sure. 

 

Source: CJ Entertainment‏ @CJEnMMovie

 

 

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October 9, 2017

 

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2017.10.06 - 2017.10.08

 

Source: HanCinema.net

"The Fortress" narrowly outplays "The Outlaws" over Chuseok...

 

Director Hwang Dong-hyeok's Joseon-era drama "The Fortress" (based on Kim Hoon's novel) narrowly came out ahead of Kang Yoon-Sung's crime thriller "The Outlaws" during Korea's biggest national holiday, Chuseok. Both films were released on Oct. 3 and pooled from 1,226 and 1,314 screens respectively, and together they captured 60.74% of the sales.

 

"The Fortress" stars Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yun-seok and Park Hae-il and takes place in 1636 when King Injo spent 47 days in Namham Mountain Fortress to evade the Qing invaders. The film, Hwang's fourth ("My Father", "The Crucible", and "Miss Granny"), claimed 1.3 million admissions, or $9.7 million (32.99%), despite having around a hundred screens less than its closest competitor.

 

Veteran action star Ma Dong-seok shares the screen with the versatile Yoon Kye-sang in Kang Yoon-Sung's debut film, "The Outlaws". The 1.1 million admissions ($8.2 million) it earned constituted 27.75% of the sales. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Ma ("The Neighbor", "Nameless Gangster", "The Unjust", "Train to Busan") said that he hopes the film "thrills audiences and helps them relieve some stress".

 

Last weekend's number one, the eccentric spy comedy "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" by director Matthew Vaughn, was unceremoniously bumped to third in the wake of Hwang and Kang's recent entries. "Kingsman" added 716,387 admissions (18.54%) from 909 screens, down from 1,677, which moves its bottom line in Korea now to $31.8 million (the eighth highest-grossing film of the year); worldwide, Vaughn's sequel to the popular 2014 original has grossed $253.6 million (the film cost $104 million to produce).

 

Kim Hyun-seok's "I Can Speak" also fell two places; from 788 screens, Kim's sixth feature claimed 462,939 admissions (10.96%), bringing its total tally to 2.8 million ($19.4 million). Two new animations were up next: "The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature" and "Deep" entered the fray with 153,954 (3.4%) and 91,431 (2.08%) admissions respectively, followed by the Japanese anime "Yo-Kai Watch Movie 3". With the 38,257 admissions scored here, the latest "Yo-Kai Watch" movie has grossed $1.2 million (192,094 admissions).

 

Director Denis Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049", the much-anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott's classic 1982 sci-fi film, gets officially released in Korea Oct. 12, but the revenue from 155 early screenings (29,330 admissions: 0.75%) was enough to bring it into the top ten. Last weekend "The Lego Ninjago Movie" entered in fifth with 67,100 admissions (2.39%). After having its screen count slashed from a tentative 458 to just 136, the latest Lego movie added just 21,210 stubs (0.46%). The final place went to the American action comedy "The Hitman's Bodyguard" by Patrick Hughes. This is the film's sixth weekend in the top ten; its total gross sits at $12.1 million, $107,678 (20,904 admissions) of which came from this past weekend.

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Source: London East Asia Film Festival @leafilmfest
Leicester Square

 

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October 10, 2017

 

‘The Fortress’ holds strong over holiday weekend
 

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

 

Two new releases unveiled in time for the 10-day Chuseok holiday dominated screens over the weekend, pushing the action-packed “Kingsman” sequel down to the third spot.

 

The star-studded “The Fortress,” featuring Lee Byung-hun and Kim Yun-seok, is a period epic set in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Based on Jang Hoon’s best-selling novel and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk of “Miss Granny” (2014), CJ E&M’s latest release takes place in 1636, when China’s Qing Dynasty invaded Korea with 150,000 troops in an effort to sever Korea’s ties to the Ming Dynasty. The Korean court flees the capital to take shelter in the Namhan Fortress, in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, which is quickly surrounded by the Qing army, eventually forcing King Injo to surrender. 

 

The movie sold 1.37 million tickets over the past three days, accounting for 33 percent of the entire weekend sales. Since it was released Oct. 3, the movie’s total sales has surpassed 3 million as of Monday.

 

“The Outlaws” came in at second with 1.13 million admissions sold, which made up 27.8 percent of the total weekend sales. Also released on Oct. 3, the film stars Ma Dong-seok and Yoon Kye-sang and has so far sold 1.81 million tickets. 

 

Based on a true story, the movie revolves around a merciless boss (Yoon) from a Korean-Chinese crime organization headquartered in Harbin, northeast China, who is willing to commit any crime for money, and a police detective (Ma) who tries to catch the ruthless criminal and his henchmen.

 

“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” was pushed to third with 716,000 tickets sold. The action-packed spy comedy franchise, starring Colin Firth and Taron Egerton, has sold a total of 4.4 million tickets since its release on Sept. 27. 

 

“Kingsman: The Secret Service,” the first in the film franchise, sold a total of 6.13 million tickets domestically two years ago. 

 

“I Can Speak,” a heartwarming tale about a victim of Japanese wartime sexual slavery, arrived in fourth in its third weekend with 463,000 tickets sold, while the animated “The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature” rounded out the top five with 154,000 tickets sold.

 

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]

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Minjung posted this photo today. Little JoonHoo (who looks bigger and bigger every time  obviously) was watching BH acting as Gwanghae during the Chuseok holidays. Is his Appa as funny & playful as the 'king'? Looks like they're at his halmoni's house(?).

 

Photo MJ @ 216jung

 

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Source: BIFF Korea

 

 

Thanks to the highlight at PlanetBH0712 and BH Entertainment FB, there will be an outdoor live talk for THE FORTRESS on Saturday, October 14 (5pm). Dir. Hwang Dong Hyuk and actors Lee Byung Hun & Go Soo will meet the fans at the Haeundae Beach Outdoor Stage during the 22nd BIFF.

 

 

If not mistaken, the opening ceremony of the international film festival is this evening. Not sure if Lee Byung Hun will appear at the red carpet like he always did before.

 

As Barbara had translated for us from the weibo update, LBH will be in Busan for other events as well. So, it'll be a busy (photo) weekend for us, too. 

 

Oct.13 Buil Film Awards presentation (he won last year for Inside Men)
Oct.14 Stage greeting in Haeundae
Oct.15 Stage greeting in Daegu

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Although we already knew this, hope there will be an English update as some sites translate tvN program news, like Soompi etc. But more often they don't.

 

October 11, 2017

 

Lee Byung Hun, settled father's huge debt in 3 years

 

Source: Newsen (ELBH Google-translate)

 

Lee Byung Hun's past story of settling his father's debt was released.

 

On the night of October 10, tvN 'The List' broadcast the segment highlighting Lee Byung Hun, who lives a splendid life as a world star, had a huge debt in the past. 

 

According to 'The List,' Lee Byung Hun's father, who was in the construction industry in 1998 started his new business in Vietnam. Mr. Lee had invested in the business by putting the house on mortgage as well as including the entertainment income of his son, Lee Byung Hun. He even struggled to borrow money from people.

 

 

However, as the financial situation deteriorated due to the IMF foreign exchange crisis, the business eventually failed. To make matters worse, his father fell into a coma after falling as a result of his business failure, and he passed away a week later. Lee Byung Hun as the eldest son, took responsibility of the family's livelihood in his time of sadness. Because he had used his actor's wage for his father's business, he had no choice but to return to his family home.

 

In order to pay off the huge debt left by his father, Lee Byung Hun - in a robot-like life, appeared in various advertisements, and he also held signing event around the nation's nightclubs. After such hard work, Lee Byung Hun finally returned to a stable life after 3 years, fully clearing all his debt and even prepared a new house for his family. (Photo = tvN 'The List 2017' capture)

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Published on October 11, 2017 by tvN

 

 

October 12, 2017

 

tvN Taxi: Youn Yuh Jung "Lee Byung Hun, good eyes, good voice, a very good actor"

 

Source: TenAsia // Biz Enter // Media Pen ++ (ELBH Google-translate)

 

 

Veteran actor Yun Yoon Jung who has a 50-year acting experience appeared as a guest on tvN's Talk Show 'Taxi' and had praised Lee Byung Hun who is younger than her.

 

The 498th episode of tvN' talk show 'Taxi' broadcast on the afternoon of the 11th was highlighted with 500 special features (for its 10th Anniversary) with hosts Lee Young Ja and Oh Man Seok in Los Angeles, USA to interview the veteran actress who is a resident of LA.

 

Youn Yuh Jung has just finished filming Choi Sung Hyun's movie 'It's Only My World' that featured a top star lineup including Han Ji Min, Kim Sung Ryung, Park Jung Min and Lee Byung Hun.

 

On the day, Youn said, "I'm surprised that it was really the first time that I'm acting with Lee Byung Hun".

 

Youn Yuh Jung praised Lee Byung Hun, "I really like your eyes, it is a blessing for an actor. It's a good thing that an actor's eyes are good. He has expressive eyes and a good voice, so Lee Byung Hun has set many good conditions to learn from".

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Some of the news compilations at the website are now updated. More photos and videos have been included in these updates, some of which were not posted at this thread to avoid the forum pages from being too slow. 

 

 10/12 News compilation at EverythingLBH.com 

 

    THE FORTRESS dominates Chuseok with 3.2 million admission
    THE FORTRESS 10/8 Stage Greeting: Meet the Audience
    Lee Byung Hun, special appearance at Hans Zimmer Concert
    Lee Byung Hun's Mid Autumn greetings, BH Ent weibo compilation
    THE FORTRESS 10/7 Stage Greeting: Meet the Audience
    2017 Busan Festival reveals international guest list 
    THE FORTRESS gathers 2 million audience admission in 4 days
    Review: The impossible situation in a fortress under siege
    MR. SUNSHINE: Lee Byung Hun addresses the 20-year age gap 
    Interview: Lee Byung Hun on Showbiz Korea, English-subbed
    THE FORTRESS Tops B.O. on Day 1, 1 Million Admission on Day 2
    BH Entertaiment wishes Happy Chuseok 2017
    THE FORTRESS Tops Advance Ticket Booking Ahead of Release
    KOFFIA 2017 Review: A SINGLE RIDER by Brooke Heinz
    September Movie Actor Brand Reputation Ranking, ARENA interview
    Review: THE FORTRESS depicts defeated king & aides' tough choices
    Photos at IT'S ONLY MY WORLD wrap-party.. we think..
    Chuseok holiday: THE FORTRESS Stage Greeting schedule
    MASTER: Hong Kong's 7th Edition Festive Korea to Screen 19 Films
    Lee Byung Hun praises 'The Fortress' co-star Kim Yoon Seok
    BH Entertainment Launches Official Youtube Channel 
    THE FORTRESS: Cast & Director meet fans at CGV Star Live Talk
    Pictorial: MagazineM Vol.233 feat. THE FORTRESS 
    THE FORTRESS Special Preview with Celebrity guests

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Thanks to the highlight at PlanetBH0712, from source at FFCP

 

 

THE FORTRESS will be screened at the 12th Paris Korean Film Festival.

 

 

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October 12, 2017

 

Korea’s Lee Byung-hun Sets Deal With Sony Television

 

By Patrick Frater
Asia Bureau Chief Variety.com

CREDIT: PHOTO BY SASHA DON

 

BH Entertainment, the talent agency established by top Korean star Lee Byung-hun (“RED,” “G.I. Joe”), has struck a development deal with Sony Pictures Television, International Production. The deal is intended to lead to Korean and U.S. adaptations, remakes and original shows for both the Korean and North American markets.

 

Lee, who is both a critical and commercial star within Korea, has credits that include “Masquerade,” “I Saw The Devil,” “Joint Security Area,” and “Inside Men” He will earn a producer credit on all joint BH Entertainment and SPT projects.

 

“Together with Sony we look forward to making innovative projects that will further the exchange of creativity not only with talented writers, directors, and producers but also serve as a platform for actors to be able to work on a global level,” said Lee in a prepared statement.

 

“South Korean drama is of increasing interest to Sony’s International Production team. Given the quality of content produced in South Korea, the industry there has proven itself to be an innovative creator of great content with a global reach,” said Wayne Garvie, newly installed as president, international production, Sony Pictures Television.

 

BH Entertainment offers representation in motion picture, television, commercial film, mobile entertainment, fashion, music, books, and promotional events. It has worked in cooperation with companies including Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Flamme in Japan, Media Asia Group, Sina Weibo in China, UTA and ICM in the U.S.

 

The deal was negotiated by Charles Pak and Jeff Frankel on behalf of BH Entertainment.

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Art by oneday0712

 

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October 13, 2017

 

Lee Byung Hun at the Buil Film Awards

 

Source: StarNews ++

 

 

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Photo: BH Entertainment @bhent_official

 

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Top Korean stars Lee Byung Hun and Son Ye Jin presenting the awards for Best Actor & Best Actress at the Buil Film Awards 2017. Both were the awards recipients in the 2016 edition.

 

This year's Best Actor award goes to Song Kang Ho (LBH's close friend and co-star in 3 movies) and Best Actress won by Youn Yuh Jung (LBH's co-star/Omma in 'It's Only My World').

 

Photos: TV Daily

 

 

 

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October 13, 2017

 

Sony Pictures Television Partners With South Korean Cross-Over Star Byung-hun Lee

 

by Patrick Brzeski THR

 

Courtesy of UTA

 

Lee, one of Asia's biggest stars, will collaborate with SPT on remakes and originals for both the Korean and U.S. markets.

 

Sony Pictures Television has struck  a development deal with South Korean star Byung-hun Lee's BH Entertainment, a leading regional talent agency in Seoul.

 

The partners will work together to develop Korean and U.S. adaptations, remakes and originals for both the Korean and U.S. markets.

 

"South Korean drama is of increasing interest to Sony's International Production team," said Wayne Garvie, president of international production at Sony Pictures Television. "Given the quality of content produced in South Korea, the industry there has proven itself to be an innovative creator of great content with a global reach.”

 

Lee, who will carry a producer credit on all joint BH Entertainment and SPT projects, is one of Asia’s biggest cross-over stars, having appeared in Hollywood films such as The Magnificent Seven alongside Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke; Terminator: Genisys; G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra; G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation and Red 2 opposite Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Anthony Hopkins.

 

His South Korean film Masquerade became the highest-grossing period piece in Korean history, taking in $81.8 million in 2012. He also starred in Inside Men (2015), which is the highest-grossing R-rated film in Korea with a total gross of $14 million.

 

“We are very excited at the opportunity to be able to partner with the global creative team at Sony,” said Lee. “Together with Sony we look forward to making innovative projects that will further the exchange of creativity not only with talented writers, directors, and producers but also serve as a platform for actors to be able to work on a global level.”

 

The deal was negotiated by Charles Pak and Jeff Frankel on behalf of BH Entertainment.
 

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A few more pics from the 26th Buil Film Awards

 

 

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October 13, 2017

 

Oliver Stone Doesn’t Hold Back During BIFF Opening Press Conference

 

By Jeff Liebsch HAPS Korea

Famed American director Oliver Stone didn’t hold back on a wide range of topics as the Busan International Film Festival headed into its first full day of activities around Haeundae.

 

The usually outspoken Stone, visiting the Busan International Film Festival as the head jury member of the New Currents Jury, was his usual vocal self during the opening press conference at Dureraum Hall in Centum City Friday morning.

 

He spoke on a wide range of topics ranging from Korean actors, Harvey Weinstein to Korean cinema and of course, North Korea.

 

“This is a most exciting time to be on the Korean peninsula and a very scary time too,” he said. “The proximity to the border concerns all of us.”

 

“The United States has been arrogant towards North Korea,” Stone said. “The United States must accept that North Korea has nuclear weapons.”

 

He also said that if he were in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s position that “he would keep his nuclear arsenal”.

 

As for the festival itself, which has been mired in controversy due to the 2014 screening of the politically charged movie “The Truth Will Not Sink With Sewol“, also will see the departures of Chairman Kim Dong-ho and Executive Chairman Kang Soo-youn.

 

“The South Korean government has a long history of oppression,” he also said in reference to the three-years-long controversy that his gripped Asia’s largest film festival.

 

On the Harvey Weinstein scandal currently gripping Hollywood, Stone said a “wait and see” approach should be taken before the controversial studio director is vilified and that the courts will be the ultimate decider.

 

“I’m a believer that you wait until this thing gets to trial. I believe a man shouldn’t be condemned by a vigilante system. It’s not easy what he’s going through either.”

 

He also had praise for Korean actors and cinema calling it “the best in the world” and calling it “much more interesting than American movies” as well as singling out Hyun Bin and Lee Byung-hun as two of its best actors.

 

The Busan International Film Festival runs from October 12-21.

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Looks like Lee Byung Hun has a new endorsement with internet-only K-Bank. Not just 1 but 3 new CFs being released, featuring hilarious scenes of BH in his 'Inside Men' persona. 

Published on October 13, 2017 by 케이뱅크

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

Source: Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea

 

Korea’s first internet-only K Bank launches its business
 

South Korea’s first online-only bank K Bank started its operation on Monday, making it the first bank in 25 years to win approval from the nation’s financial authorities to launch its commercial business. 

 

K Bank held a launch ceremony on Monday at KT Square in Seoul, which the Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Yim Jong-yong, the National Assembly’s State Affairs Committee Chairman Lee Jin-bok and KT Corp.’s Chief Executive Officer Hwang Chang-gyu attended. The bank is led by the nation’s leading telecommunications company KT with an 8 percent stake, and 20 other companies. 

 

K Bank pronounced it would open an era of ‘Bank Everywhere’ to allow customers to use banking services anywhere and anytime. 

 

The internet-only bank will be able to offer loans with relatively favorable interest rates than conventional banks because it doesn’t have any brick-and-mortar branches, which would allow it to operate without any personal and real estate expenses. It will provide loans with borrowing cost of around 4.2 percent a year to young people, small business owners and working class people. Its overdraft account named Mini K provides loans with a limit of 3 million won ($2,690) to 5 million won with a fixed annual rate of 5.5 percent. 

 

The bank will also launch a service that will allow users to take out loans just with fingerprint recognition. Customers can withdraw money by using cash machines set up at GS 25 convenience stores across the nation without additional fees. 

 

The launch of the country’s first online-only bank is expected to make competition in the commercial banking industry more intense. The government also approved another internet-only bank Kakao Bank that is aiming to open its service soon. Both are led by a number of technology and financial companies. 

 

The FSC Chairman Yim said that the internet-only bank has brought a new competition in the financial industry, leading other banks to strengthen their mobile platforms to stay ahead.

 

By Lim Sung-hyun

 

 

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October 14, 2017

 

‘Films can help bring the détente on Korea,’ says Oliver Stone

 

Source: The DONG-A Ilbo // KBSNEWS

 

 

‘Films can help bring the détente on Korea,’ says Oliver Stone

 

“My wife is Korean, and my in-law family lives in Seoul. I have in-laws who experienced the Korean War, so I’ve heard a lot from them. Though tensions are currently high on the Korean Peninsula, I believe films can serve as a window to a brighter future.”

 

World-renowned American filmmaker Oliver Stone talked about political circumstances on the Korean Peninsula, which are remaining high due to North Korea’s nuclear development issue and South Korea’s decision to deploy the U.S. Thaad missile defense system. “As the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met with the then U.S. President Ronald Reagan to end the Cold War, all parties concerned including South and North Korea, the United States and China need to gather together and discuss the issue,” said the 71-year-old director in a jury press conference held on Friday. He visited Korea to lead jurors for the New Currents category of the 22nd Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

 

With his film “Platoon” (1986), Stone won four Academy Awards and a Silver Bear from the Berlin International Film Festival. He is known for making films that address social issues, such as “Salvador” (1986), critical of the U.S. government’s involvement in Central America; “Wall Street” (1987), which exposes America’s new capitalism; and “Snowden” (2016), a film that follows the CIA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Most recently, he directed a documentary series “The Putin Interviews” after conducting more than a dozen interviews with Russian President Vladimir Putin over a two-year period.

 

When asked about controversy over the festival’s “freedom of expression‎” stirred after the BIFF, against the Busan city’s opposition, screened “Diving Bell,” a documentary that depicts the process of the rise and fall of the special equipment used in the rescue operation of the Sewol ferry sinking, the Oscar-winning director said, “The Korean government had lots of issues regarding such types of pressure. The former Park Geun-hye administration seems to have been a ‘strong government.’ I hope pressure can now be replaced with ‘expression‎’ though belated.”

 

 

Stone also did not hide his deep affection for Korean films, saying, “Korean films stand out in music, design and shooting altogether.” He also added that he “admires actors and actresses who play a character that looks rather ridiculous in the beginning but becomes completely different while going through several twists in the plot,” naming Lee Byung-hun, Hyun Bin, and Choi Min-sik as Korean actors he was personally impressed with.

 

The legendary filmmaker also commented on the recent controversy over film producer Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct allegations, saying that “(sexual harassment) cannot be justified under any systems. If you violated the law, you should be brought to justice.”

Sun-Hee Jang sun10@donga.com