Gong Hyo Jin 공효진

[rubie]

Aww.. melusine-hunnie, it's always.. always such a joy coming to this thread.. lots and lots and lots of wonderful sharing of GHJ pics! Merci beaucoup!

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October 7, 2007

'M' Sets Busan Film Festival on Fire

Disorganized Press Meeting, A Media Battlefield

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

The stars of the movie "M," from left, Kong Hyo-jin, Gang Dong-won

and Lee Yeon-hee, pose during a press conference for the film

at a Busan hotel, Saturday. / Yonhap

BUSAN _ Korea's acclaimed director Lee Myung-se's latest work "M," starring popular actors Gang Dong-won and Kong Hyo-jin, stole the limelight at the 12th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF). But the press conference for the much anticipated movie on Saturday exploded into a chaotic mess as conflict escalated between the media and organizers of the event, pointing to doubts about the overall quality of Asia's largest film event.

Domestic and foreign press lined up outside the press conference venue an hour beforehand, with a swarm of female fans buzzing in the hallway, anxiously waiting to breathe the same air _ even for a split second _ as heartthrob Gang Dong-won.

Yet, when doors opened 30 minutes prior to the start of the presentation, mayhem ensued as close to 100 or so reporters, photographers and camera crews poured into a shockingly small room. For about 50 minutes, heated arguments between the media personnel and organizers ensued, with festival director Kim Dong-ho also intervening helplessly to resolve the situation.

After exploring several options, including canceling the event or switching venues, it was decided that the photo session would take place first so that photographers could make way for camera crew and reporters. The press conference finally commenced 40 minutes late, and the fiery air finally cooled down a bit as the stars of the movie filed into the room.

Festival organizers form a wall to block fans

swarming the press conference for the movie "M"

during the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival

(PIFF) at a Busan hotel, Saturday. /Yonhap

After apologizing for the disorganization, festival director Kim Dong-ho introduced the director and cast, saying Gang Dong-won is the "principle offender" responsible for the horde of people, drawing laughs from the room.

"I am very honored to have been chosen for the Gala Presentation at PIFF. I am a timid blood type A (urban legend says that A types are fainthearted), so I'm nervous that reporters are in a sour mood," chuckled the director.

Lee, the director of contemporary classic "Nowhere to Hide," re-teamed with heartthrob Gang Dong-won, the male lead from his last film "The Duelist" for "M." The film is among the four works featured in PIFF's newly added Gala Presentation section, which spotlights the most-talked-about films du jour by master cineastes.

In addition to "M," this year's Gala Presentation spotlights Im Kwon-taek's latest work "Beyond the Years," Hou Hsiao Hsien's "Flight of the Red Balloon" from Taiwan and Royston Tan's "881" from Singapore.

"M" is a melange of the remembrances and imagination of a best-selling writer (Gang Dong-won), who, just before getting married to his fiancee (Kong Hyo-jin) and under a pressing deadline, looks back to his long deceased first love (Lee Yeon-hee).

"It's been a year since I last made a public appearance, but the atmosphere.." said Gang, trailing off, appearing slightly nervous at first but easing down as the atmosphere softened.

Media from Hong Kong and Japan focused mainly on the actor, who explained that he did not particularly try to feign an act for playing the role of an intellectual writer. "I think it's important to just pour your heart into the role, and it comes naturally," he said.

The tall and lean model-turned-actor explained that it was convenient to play opposite the two female leads Kong Hyo-jin and Lee Yeon-hee because they are both tall.

When asked by a member of the press what it was like to star opposite such a hot and handsome man, Kong said, "He's really good-looking, isn't he? But in person he's really easygoing, down to earth and humble. It made me think, 'wow, so he is human,'" drawing laughter from the room.

Rising starlet Lee said "To be frank, I was really overwhelmed when I first met him. It's hard to explain in words." But once she got to know him better, the 19-year-old actress said she was able to shoot the film with ease.

Press conferences for domestic films always draw a sizeable crowd, and it seems nonsensical that the 12-year-old festival did not have the foresight to choose a larger venue _ especially given that the movie is one of the highlighted programs of this year's festival and sure to attract not only domestic but international press.

The explosive pressroom was not only a matter of inconvenience for the busy press, which works on a tight schedule trying to catch as many of the myriad of ongoing events _ it may have easily led to accidents as large cameras had to be hitched up to the ceiling, hovering overhead in a dangerous fashion.

PIFF has enjoyed an amazing growth, becoming the largest cinematic celebration in Asia and a prominent international movie feast. PIFF may have gotten larger with a more diversified program and larger selection of works, but it still needs to fine-tune its organizational structure, as well as security measures.

The slack ID checking at the door also had enabled some of the fanatical fans to slip into the venue, as the same happened during the press conference for Kimura Takuya's film "Hero," Friday.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2.../135_11433.html

[Guest huangsy]

The Chinese actress, Tang Wei, cast in Lust, Caution reminds me of her.

[rubie]

Hehee.. THR's Mark Russell who was (or still?) covering the 12th PIFF has these good words to share at his blog

related excerpt only

While in general I am not a big fan of actors (nothing particularly wrong with the job, but usually I find the writers and directors to be more interesting), I was very pleased to have met Kong Hyo-jin. What a charming young woman. She and Hong Suk-chon were goofing around and being pretty amusing at the APAN party. Good times.

More non-GHJ stuff at Spiffy PIFFy Wrap Up :D

[Guest huangsy]

In Style Korea mag Oct 2007

http://www.instylekorea.com/celebrities/be...y_200710_09.asp

[mangoicy]

<<FILM 2.0 magazine Interview with Gong Hyo Jin>>

[hibino39]

thanks for all pics and news about hyojin

[melusine]

<M> VIP Screening - 10/16

Videos

[KBS News] / [Sportsseoul] / [Sportsseoul] / [Naver] / [Mgoon] / [TagStory] / [TagStory] / [TagStory] / [TagStory] / [YTN Star|DL] / [YTN Star|DL] / [YTN Star|DL]

<clickable thumbnails>

[melusine]

Her dress is from Jill Stuart's Fall/Winter 2007 RTW collection.

[Guest huangsy]

at premiere screening of M movie

http://news.kbs.co.kr/article/entertainmen...17/1442932.html

[fiona628]

Since I'm a new fan, I've researched some of her other series and started watching Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy. Loved her acting in that series. It seems so real and so natural. You just want to cry with her. Good chemistry with Gong Yoo as well. Probably because since they're good friends. I'm a fan even more.

[Guest bashful]

she is very pretty. I liked her and BI a lot in Sangdoo. I think they look good together I think Hyo jin has a good personality that why she is so close with her leading male and female actors/actress. I like her a Gong Yoo too

[fiona628]

Found this on youtube. Bi and Rain's name were mentioned. Can someone pls. translate what she was saying about Bi and Gong Yoo?

[Guest bashful]

really let me check it out. If anyone would translate this clip it would be nice to know what she was saying.

[Guest paigehk]

i love this lady. I can't wait to watch "M"...but i heard she's not really main lead?

[mangoicy]

Found this on youtube. Bi and Rain's name were mentioned. Can someone pls. translate what she was saying about Bi and Gong Yoo?

She said that Gong Yoo is very sentimental and a meticulous person, while Bi was really funny that she couldn't stop laughing the first she met him. :sweatingbullets:

[fiona628]

She said that Gong Yoo is very sentimental and a meticulous person, while Bi was really funny that she couldn't stop laughing the first she met him.

Wow thanks for that Mangoicy :)

[Guest revol]

Hi, I've just found this link in Instyle about Backstage Report clip. It's kinda old (July 2005 i guess) but enjoy it anyway ^^. I accidentally found that when checking the link about "Kong hyo jin in Instyle Oct 2007".

-Instyle 2005-Indian summer with Kong hyo jin

http://www.instylekorea.com/200507/backstage_200507.asp

I have to say, this girl is the only actress I enjoy her scenes with other minor roles ( like her scenes with the students in "Hello teacher", or with the crew in "Thank you" ), maybe i even prefer those to ones with the two male leads ('coz it's just so heart-warming, and i mean every series ^^). Other actors other actresses tend to only focus on their leading mates which make K-drama theseday so awkward and mushy and typical.

Btw, anyone check her official site in Sidushq? there's some news about her new CF with Kim Min Hee I guess ( since i can't read Korean )(sigh)

[mangoicy]

Btw, anyone check her official site in Sidushq? there's some news about her new CF with Kim Min Hee I guess ( since i can't read Korean )(sigh)

The new CF is for her & Min Hee's online clothing store on auction.co.kr . There are a couple of news clips for this photoshoot

<mnet clip> <mnet wide news> <YTN Star news>

[Guest revol]

The new CF is for her & Min Hee's online clothing store on auction.co.kr . There are a couple of news clips for this photoshoot

Thanks alot mangoicy :D

[fiona628]

Stumbled upon this old article about Bi and Gong Hyo Jin.

New Couple

12.02.2004 - 3:17:13 AM

posted by minny1104

Since the New Dimension Tour in LA, California, the new couple was revealed. The drama couple, Bi (Rain) and Gong Hyo Jin are together. They were revealed as a couple when the two came to LA for the New Dimension Tour. Apparently, Bi had come for the concert to sing with his producer, Park Jin Young. But Gong Hyo Jin, on the other hand, needed to take a break. The two ended up coming to LA together to date. The two had gotten close when they were filming Sang Doo, Let's go to School. The two then got together, after the drama filming was done.

Source: Sokorean.com

http://sokorean.com/entertainment/news/index.php?m=200402

Has she really dated Rain before? No wonder I sensed sparks when they were doing Sang Doo. They would make a cute couple.