[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

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July 30, 2010

School horror sequel offers few reasons to scream

Kwan-woo (Yoon Si-yoon), left, and Se-hee (Park Ji-yeon), center, walk the halls

in “Death Bell 2.” Provided by Core Contents Media

In a dark school ally, a trembling girl clings to the shirt of a figure she believes will offer her help, only to have her faint hope crushed with a cold (and bloody) response.

This is the same girl who just a day before smiled triumphantly after becoming the class valedictorian and gaining entry to her high school’s prestigious summer program.

The girl only wanted to raise her scores on Korea’s College Scholastic Aptitude Test (CSAT). Needless to say, however, the program becomes her worst nightmare.

In real life, the unlucky victim is Choi Ah-jin, a budding actress whose appearance in this film will likely boost her stardom. The film is the recently-released “Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp,” directed by Yu Seun-dong.

Unfortunately, Choi’s solid performance as the typical “mean girl” overshadows the performance of Park Ji-yeon, who plays the lead character Se-hee. Despite her charming looks and decent acting, Park appears more as eye-candy for her legion of fans than as a character who moves us to tears. Rising star Yoon Si-yoon’s celeb-worthy charisma also brightens the screen, but his spotlight moment in which his character Kwan-woo throws a lighter in slow motion disrupts the flow of the movie. In the role of the teacher Mr. Cha, veteran actor Kim Su-ro adds some much-needed weight to the film, but is killed early on. Similarly, Hwang Jung-eum, another top celebrity, is killed off in one blow. And yet, had the movie followed a single well-crafted story line, rather than attempt to show each character’s history in speedy flashbacks, it might have had more to offer than just pretty faces.

Given the success and potential of the previous “Death Bell” film from 2008, directed by Yoon Hong-seung, it is safe to say that “Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp” will ride the tide of the previous film.

But it should have taken more chances and offered audiences more than blood. Although director Yu worked to improve the murder scenes - using devices such as a metal-spiked motorcycle, a boiler room that becomes a death trap and drugs - the film won’t do much for viewers who are die-hard slasher film fans.

According to a viewer named Chang who saw the film on opening day, the film stood “somewhere between the ‘Saw’ series and other Korean creep-fests.”

Still, the sequel is missing the psychological pressures of midterm exams that made the previous film so thrilling. In that film, the audience shares the stress and guilt of the characters, who witness a classmate die each time they fail to solve a given problem in a certain number of minutes. In this way, test-taking became a matter of life and death.

That exaggeration of the high-pressure education system in Korea distinguished the first “Death Bell” film from other school-related horror flicks. In the sequel, however, the issue of Korea’s education fever only gets a mention in the first five minutes and is then discarded. The head teacher batters kids with instructions to sleep less and study more, but shortly thereafter he disappears, taking with him the weight of reality. The students, meanwhile, are left behind to “play” the killer’s game.

If another “Death Bell” is to toll, the makers of the film series will need to be more creative. The movie does deserve some credit for its novel use of a swimming pool and frank exploration of teenagers’ sexual curiosity, but the rest of the conventional plot kills the freshness of these scenes. The beginning is like deja vu: a gruesome corpse thuds on the library floor and a disembodied voice follows: “The exam has now begun. One by one, you will die!”

To make the audience shake with metric tons of unchecked terror, new elements of surprise are needed.

The director of part three, if there is one, should take the advice of another viewer who saw the film on opening day and said she was more scared by the character who walks around the school stalking a crush than by the killer.

I can only hope the series’ creators will make us shudder if and when the school bell rings again.

Source: joongangdaily.com

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July 30, 2010

"Bread, Love and Dreams" eyes 40 percent mark

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Official TV poster for series "Bread, Love and Dreams" [KBS]

KBS TV drama "Bread, Love and Dreams" continued its reign atop TV charts with higher viewership ratings than last week, indicating that the show may soon breach the 40 percent mark.

Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Friday showed that "Bread," brought in ratings of 39.7 percent on July 28 and increased by 0.2 percent the next day, scoring the highest ratings since first going on air on June 9.

AGB Nielsen Media Research, however, revealed slightly lower ratings - 36.6 percent on Wednesday and 37.9 percent on Thursday night.

This week's episode showed how Tak-koo (Yoon Si-yoon) and Ma-joon (Joo Won) reconciled their differences right before a baking competition.

Meanwhile, SBS '"Bad Boy" and MBC's war series "Road No. 1" maintained their position in second and third place, respectively, bringing in ratings in the eight to ten percent mark.

Reporter: Lucia Hong luciahong @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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July 30, 2010

Jang Keun-suk models for photo gallery exhibition

Reporter : Lucia Hong Editor : Jessica Kim

Korean actor Jang Keun-suk poses for his picture for the "Beautiful Eyes" exhibition [Tree J. Company]

Hallyu star Jang Keun-suk's eyes were featured for a photo gallery exhibition yesterday, according to his agency Tree J. Company on Friday.

Tree J. announced in a press release that Jang participated in an exhibition by famed Korean photographer Jo Se-hyun titled "Beautiful Eyes" which was hosted by Estee Lauder.

Jo's exhibit focused on the concept of 'a person's story is told with their eyes and that a person will look beautiful if he/she has a beautiful gaze.' "It was a privilege to have worked with Jo Se-hyun because I have always admired him," Jang was quoted as saying. "My job is to express my emotions in front of the camera lens and I really liked the theme."

The actor added that he enjoyed working on this project because he was able to show his natural side outside of his work.

"Beautiful Eyes," which took place at the Interalia art gallery located in Gangnam-gu in south of Seoul, featured other photographs of celebrities including Park Ye-jin, Bae Jong-ok, Jang Mi-hee, announcer Jung Eun-ah, vocalist Jo Sumi, golfer Choi Kyoung-ju and humanitarian Han Bi-ya.

Proceeds from the exhibit will be donated to the international humanitarian organization World Vision for the less fortunate children in the world.

Jang, 23, made his debut into the entertainment industry at the early age of five as a catalog model. His most notable appearances were in MBC sitcom "Nonstop 4" (2003) and MBC's "Beethoven Virus" (2008).

He shot to stardom through Asia last year after playing the role of an eccentric lead singer of idol group A.N.JELL in the hit SBS' series "Minamishineyo" alongside actress Park Shin-hye.

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@ Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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July 30, 2010

Graphic novel emerges as comics for adults

By Chung Ah-young

Staff reporter

The 2009 hit television drama “IRIS” has been adapted into a graphic novel,

pages of which are shown above. The book will be published in Japan and Korea.

/ Courtesy of Creek and River Korea

In the past, comics were regarded as the genre for maniacs, mostly children or nerdy adolescents, with fantasy or superheroes stories. However, recently, the traditional comic industry has waned probably prompted by the advent of the digital era.

Instead, a graphic novel, which remains relatively unfamiliar in Korea despite a rapid global spreading, is knocking on the door of the local publishing industry.

Often called “comics for adults,”the graphic novel is similar in a conventional comic format with reliance on images but with more subtle, artistic quality alongside mature and serious themes. It has a longer storyline and a complicated plot akin to the novel structures, usually packed with a hardcover.

The Creek and River Korea and the Taewon Entertainment will publish a graphic novel based on the popular television drama series “IRIS” starring hallyu star Lee Byung-hun and top actress Kim Tae-hee. The drama broadcast here last year and now is airing in Japan.

The graphic novel will be published around September first in Japan right after the end of drama series to end and then available in Korea, according to the Creek and River Korea

In other countries, the graphic novels are first created and then made into other genres such as television dramas and films but not in Korea with the graphic novel development in a fledging state. “The graphic novel is still very new in Korea. So we have to create it with more familiar subject like the popular drama content. The graphic novel of “Iris” was planned when the drama was being aired,”Youk Yoen-sik, director of the creator agency, said.

Top three artists ― cartoonist Lee Hyun-se, Im Seok-nam and Choi Sung-hyun ― are collaborating to create the work.

Lee is one of the nation’s top cartoonists renowned for “Mythology of the Heavens Book: God of War,” “Buddy” and “Nambul.” Im is the nation’s top graphic illustrator and is now more famous in France and Japan than in Korea. Choi who also participated in Lee’s “Buddy” will write the story.

In the graphic novel version of the drama, the images portraying the main characters Hyun-jun played by Lee and Seung-hee played by Kim will be kept but the story will be different from the original drama.

The main plot is based on a love line between Hyun-jun and Seung-hee and added with new characters and fictional elements, which were not portrayed on the small screen. “As the graphic novel is usually limited to the short story with less than 100 pages, we have to trim the storyline fitted for the format. Our work is another creation,” he said.

The traditional comics were usually for just reading but the graphic novels are mostly for the collection. “The beauty of the genre is very delicate, high-quality and artistic. So the works are regarded as the collection item for readers,” he said.

Youk added that the current comic industry has required the change of the concept to brace for the digital era. “We can use the graphic novels for smartphones and other digital devices as their visual images are very appealing to the users. It is the future of the comic industry,”he said.

The graphic novel production requires more time, seven to eight times than the traditional comic books do, with much more cost and a compact but intensive storyline. “The quality of the illustration is very artistic, close to the paintings. So individuals are willing to collect them,” he said.

In other countries, the graphic novel has been popular. The film “300” is an adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel with the same title and also the film “The Sin City” was also based on the graphic novel. In Korea, Sigongsa has published the graphic novel series since 2008 after the success of the graphic novel-inspired films “300” and “The Sin City”

Youk said that the company is considering adapting the upcoming drama “Buddy Buddy” into a graphic novel as the next project. “The future of the graphic novel is very promising, I think. In Korea the graphic novel is a medium of once-source-multiuse of the drama or film to the literature territory. It is a blessing both for the literature and comic industry,” he said.

Source: chungay@koreatimes.co.kr

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July 30, 2010

'Ugly' stars bounce back too easily

By Park Si-soo

Staff reporter

Several top entertainers have recently made headlines not with their hit movies or songs but by taking the role of villain in the real world. But such celebrities are rarely held accountable for their wrongdoings and seem to bounce back easily after a short time out of the spotlight.

Popular actor Kwon Sang-woo’s brazen handling of his hit-and-run last month is a typical case in point. He rammed into two cars, ran away, kept mum for two days and denied allegations of drunk driving, drawing public outcry.

It was the latest in a series of law breakings and misconduct committed by top stars.

Fueling public outrage was the “preferential treatment” given to the 34-year-old actor by the authorities, which ignored its own rule that stipulates suspects in such cases must be detained during investigation. Kwon was simply slapped with a 7-million-won fine.

Spitting on one’s own face

Critics say the “structured tolerance” toward wrongdoings by showbiz heavyweights like Kwon is making other top-shelf entertainers feel less guilty for their mishaps.

“It no longer comes as a surprise to see celebrities lying and distorting facts to avoid public criticism,” said Kang Tae-gyu, a pop culture critic. “The truth is bound to be unveiled. But they keep trying to cover it up despite the fact that this will amount to spitting on their own faces in the end.”

Kwon’s case is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems of the industry, which the government has lauded as an emerging growth engine and gateway to promote Korea overseas.

In recent memory alone, many actors, actresses, singers and comedians have been ostracized after being embroiled in such criminal cases as drunken driving, drug use, plagiarism, fabricated of diplomas and draft dodging scandals. But many of them return to the limelight after only a brief hiatus.

However, this overly generous handling of these entertainers by the judiciary and the entertainment industry is the seed of recurrence of similar bad behavior by other entertainers.

Popular actor Choi Cheol-ho, who earned his name by starring in a series of mega-hit dramas, also disappointed his fans after his assault on an aspiring actress on the street was caught by a surveillance camera last month. His initial lie to cover up the case infuriated the public, forcing the 40-year-old to leave the public limelight.

Plagiarism is also rampant, but singers and composers are not held accountable in most cases. Pop diva Lee Hyo-ri admitted last month that several tracks from her fourth album were copied from other songs.

But many critics say she will come back as if nothing happened. “It may not be easy for Lee’s agency to suspend the superstar’s profitable performance for so long,” said a critic, who refused to be named. “Actor Choi also left the stage while at the height of his heyday. It won’t be long before his comeback is arranged.”

The critic took comedian Kim Joon-ho as an example. Last August, Kim was forced to step down from a popular Sunday comedy show, “Gag Concert,” for his illegal gambling. But he returned in May.

Critics say the generosity of major broadcasters is to blame for their brazen return. “Broadcasters are seeking more public attention and advertising revenue. To get them, they used to rely on such superstars even though they did something wrong. This is a deep-rooted, structural problem, which is unlikely to be addressed in the foreseeable future,” said Cho Min-joon, a pop culture critic.

Cho said that if broadcasters are unable to reprimand them properly, then law enforcement must step in. But this has not the case either, as proven by actor Kwon’s case.

Kwon’ case stands in stark contrast to similar incidents in the United States, where the showbiz industry wields greater clout. “At least, they play by the rules,” Cho said.

As widely publicized, Hollywood entertainer Lindsay Lohan was sentenced to 90 days in jail this month for violating the terms of her probation, which she earned with a drunk driving incident. She is supposed to go straight to a rehabilitation center upon release from prison, her lawyer said, according to news reports.

Though there is controversy over whether she received preferential treatment in jail, critics here say putting superstars behind bars in itself is quite meaningful, sending a clear message to the media-conscious younger generation: There are no exceptions.

Source: pss@koreatimes.co.kr

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July 30, 2010

EBS International Documentary Festival to Return Next Month

The seventh annual EBS International Documentary Festival kicks off on Aug. 23 for a one-week run.

This year’s festival will feature 536 documentaries from 83 countries under the theme "Flying Over," up from 349 films from 67 countries in 2009.

The opening film will be director Lee Seung-jun’s "Planet of Snail," an inspirational story about a deaf and blind man who overcomes his disabilities to find his place in the world.

Twelve films will compete in the Festival Choice section for prizes totaling W30 million (US$1=W1,186).

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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August 1, 2010

Song Il-gook credits family for his success

South Korean top actor Song Il-gook, 39, revealed on YTN’s “Interview on the Spot 24” his belief that his “incredible” family background has been his main source of success as an actor.

Song is one of several of Korea’s greatest legends. He is the grandson of Kim Du-han, a right-wing politician and his father is the famous Korean independence army Gen. Kim Jwa-jin during the early 1900s. His mother is actress and National Assembly member Kim Eul-dong, 65.

“I believe that my family background contributed a lot to my success as an actor,” Song said. “Although I resented my mother at times, it was eventually her who put her thoughts into action and has made me what I am today.”

“Actually, I didn’t learn very much from my mother,” Song said, when asked if his mother influenced his acting career. “When I actually try to spend time with my mother, movie scripts start flying around.”

Song is currently acting in the play “I am You.”

Source: koreatimes

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August 2, 2010

Exhibition Shows Both Koreas Using Stars for Propaganda

An exhibition of South and North Korean propaganda pamphlets from the 1980s and 90s shows that both sides used celebrities to appeal to people across the border.

Among the North Korean pamphlets displayed in the DMZ Museum in Goseong, Gangwon Province, one features the Korean Wave star Bae Yong-joon, who is known as "Yonsama" in Japan. It often shocks the actor's adoring Japanese fans who visit the museum. In the pamphlet, Bae, holding a child in his arms and wearing his trademark 1,000-watt smile, says, "I want to live in the loving arms of gracious General Kim Jong-il." In another pamphlet, actress Lee Seung-yeon has her thumbs up with a message that reads, "Long live General Kim Jong-il, pride of the people."

Clockwise from left, a North Korean propaganda leaflet featuring actor Bae Yong-joon; a leaflet sent from the South to the North featuring actress Won Mi-kyung; and another leaflet from the North featuring actress Lee Seung-yeon.

Old South Korean pamphlets are also on display, most exhorting North Koreans to cross the border and come to the South. One pamphlet featuring then top actress Won Mi-kyung promises 807,700 grams of gold, equivalent to 47.33 million North Korean won at the time, as a reward. At the bottom, there is a message that reads, "This pamphlet also serves as a guarantee of personal safety and free invitations to the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games."

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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August 2, 2010

Kim Bum named PR ambassador for Hallyu Dream Festival

Reporter : Lynn Kim Editor : Jessica Kim

Korean actor Kim Bum

Several Korean stars including actors Kim Bum and Yoon Sang-hyun have been appointed PR ambassadors for the upcoming Hallyu Dream Festival to be held next month in the city of Gyeong-ju in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.

The event's organizing committee announced in a press release on Monday that they have named Kim Bum as the publicity ambassador for the festival while giving the same title to actor Yoon Sang-hyun, idol group Choshinsung and singer Hong Jin-young to promote North Gyeongsang Province.

The festival will be held September 10 to 12 as part of celebrating the "2010-2012 Visit Korea Year" campaign by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).

The four stars will be attending the appointment ceremony, to be held August 5 at KTO's T2 Academy.

Kim, 21, rose to stardom throughout Asia after appearing in the smash hit TV series "Boys Over Flower" (KBS, 2009) with Lee Min-ho and Ku Hye-sun. He will be promoting the significance of the Hallyu Dream Festival around the world and taking part in the PR campaign aimed at attracting foreign visitors to Korea.

Yoon, 37, gained popularity after starring alongside actress Kim Nam-joo in the hit drama "Queen of Housewives" (MBC, 2009) and followed it up with "My Fair Lady" (KBS2, 2009), which co-starred Yoon Eun-hye.

Choshinsung is a six-man band consisting of members Jung Yunhak, Kim Sungje, Yoon Sungmo, Kim Kwangsu, Song Jihyuk and Park Geonil. After making their debut in Korea in October 2007 with the album "The Beautiful Stardust," they went on to release a mini-album in Korea plus two studio albums and seven singles in Japan.

Hong, 24, is a trot singer who made her debut with the single album "Booming SWANS!" in 2007. She rose to fame last year after the success of the single "Battery of Love."

The Hallyu Dream Festival will feature various activities during its three-day run;

- On September 10, Kim, Yoon and actor Uhm Tae-woong will hold an autograph signing session and a mini-concert for the "Meet with Hallyu Star" event.

- On September 11, Choshinsung will perform on stage while prominent hanbok designer Lee Young-hee will hold a fashion show.

- On September 12, numerous Korean pop stars will be performing at the Hallyu Dream Concert including 2AM, 2PM, 4minute, After School, BEAST, Davichi, FT Island, Kangta, miss A, Son Dambi, Super Junior and T-ara.

Further details about the festival are available on their official website (www.hallyudreamfestival.or.kr).

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@ Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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August 2, 2010

Local film industry looks to violent films for rebound

Three violent local films set to open later this month are cracking knuckles and sharpening knives, aiming to drag their Hollywood competition into a bloody fight to reclaim some of the summer box office spoils.

First to challenge “Salt” and “Inception” at the box office is Won Bin’s blood soaked revenge thriller “The Man from Nowhere,” scheduled for an Aug. 4 release.

The ultra-violent picture directed by Lee Jung-beom has garnered plenty of publicity for its leading man shedding his squeaky-clean image in favor of a role as a merciless killer, hell bent on bringing terror upon the criminal underworld.

The following week, “The Good, the Bad, and the Weird” writer-director Kim Ji-woon returns with “I Saw the Devil,” a violent yarn with revenge as its main theme.

Kim’s film, too, features Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun in the lead as a government special agent who goes on a personal vendetta against a serial killer accused of murdering his fiancée, played by method actor Choi Min-sik.

Finally, “Failan” and “Rikkidosan” director Song Hye-sung will look to break his streak of back to back box office failures with a film that has the proven pedigree to become the year’s biggest seller -- a remake of John Woo’s seminal gangster opus, “A Better Tomorrow.”

The local adaptation stars popular heartthrobs Ju Jin-mo, Song Seung-hun, Cho Han-sun, and Kim Gang-woo.

The unenviable tall order of filling in the role of Mark, originally played by the talismanic Chow Yun-fat, has fallen onto Song and has created plenty of Internet buzz, both positive and negative among fans of the original.

Won Bin in a scene from “The Man from Nowhere.”

In all the three upcoming films, there’s no shortage of bare knuckle beat-downs and stabbings.

Excluding the “A Better Tomorrow” remake, the other two films have been stamped by the Korea Media Ratings Board with restrictions limiting the admissions to adults over 19 years of age.

The cast of Song Hye-sung’s remake of John Woo’s “A Better Tomorrow”

(clockwise from top left) Ju Jin-mo, Song Seung-hun, Cho Han-sun and Kim Gang-woo.

This is in stark contrast to last year when family-friendly fare like writer-director Yoon Jae-kyun’s tsunami disaster epic “Haeundae” and the feel good ski-jumping picture “Take Off” dominated the box office.

Yoon’s CGI destruction of Busan’s Haeundae beach garnered over 10 million admissions, while the inspiring tale of a rag-tag group of misfits that represent the South Korean ski-jumping team became a sleeper hit with just over 8.4 million tickets sold.

Lee Byung-hun stars in writer-director Kim Ji-woon’s “I Saw the Devil.” Co-headlining the film

is veteran “Oldboy” actor Choi Min-sik.

Advance reviews of Won’s film had many a critic commenting on the graphic screen violence, with some giving negative marks for its attempt to shock audiences through gratuitous displays of blood and gore.

Early buzz for Kim Ji-woon’s “I Saw the Devil” has also mostly focused on the film’s violent content, with some industry insiders saying the screen violence trumps even “The Man from Nowhere,” where slicing open arteries, multiple stabbings, death by pick ax, gunshot, mutilation, and illegal organ harvesting made up all of the stomach churning sequences shown throughout the film.

Critics all across the board have brought attention to the lack of family friendly local films available, especially at a time of year when children and teens are out of school for summer break.

This isn’t to say children and teens have slim pickings at their local multiplex.

Pixar’s hotly anticipated “Toy Story 3” and the critically lambasted live action adaptation of “Sixth Sense” writer-director M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” are rolling out nationwide on Aug. 19 -- both available also in 3-D.

The two current box office champs, “Inception” and “Salt” have had positive critical feedback in North America, but given that both films were given ratings of 12+ and 15+ by the Korea Media Ratings Board, the two films are largely expected to score well at the box office, even with competition from local films.

Since the runaway success of Na Hong-jin’s 2007 serial killer thriller “The Chaser,” there’s been a rush by local filmmakers to come out with their own violent films after seeing the box office potential of targeting adults.

Na’s film is still the biggest selling film of its kind with 5 million in ticket sales, but with Kang Woo-suk’s “Moss” pulling in good numbers currently at the box office and with a string of films aimed at adult audiences about to roll out, the local film industry might just rebound on the back of these blood soaked thrillers.

By Song Woong-ki (kws@heraldm.com)koreaherald.com

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August 2, 2010

[REVIEW] TV series "Gloria" - Premiere episode

Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong Editor : Lynn Kim

Korean actress Bae Doo-na in a scene from new TV series "Gloria" [MBC]

"Gloria" - First and second episodes (MBC TV, 7:55 PM)

The child of a concubine in a conglomerate family who has deep wounds in his heart and the poor woman who has to struggle desperately to survive and provide for her burdening family. The plot of TV series "Gloria" is openly cliche. The characters are familiarly placed in the drama like standardized options -- from the friend of the female lead who is too caring that it is hard to tell whether he is a friend or a brother, to the young child who is smarter than adults and the conglomerate family members who act indifferent and arrogant. The show's settings -- the bustling single-room apartment in a poor neighborhood and the nightclub on the city's outskirts -- look so outdated that they feel almost unfamiliar. When one gets kicked out of the building by the landlord, it always rains outside. And the male lead who tries to soothe his own distressed heart throws his fist at a mirror, of course.

It is interesting, however, that after laying out all the worn-out and run-down scenes, what "Gloria" ultimately wants to tell is a story about 'dreams.' Of course, numerous dramas have already shown the story about women who failed at their family life achieving success in society. But the dream of Na Jin-jin (played by Bae Doo-na), the heroine of "Gloria," is not a substitute for a successful family life. At the end of the second episode, the woman who, at the age of thirty, discovers her talent by chance and tastes her second happy moment, eventually realizes that one needs not only bread but also roses in life. And that is when the drama finally explains Jin-jin's personality, which had been somewhat exaggerated.

The energy is already abundant in the series. What the drama will show from now on is where it will direct that energy. The combination of writer Jung Ji-woo who prefers particularly nice stories and director Kim Min-sik, whose talent lies in telling a story about small, comfortable things, makes one predict that they may not be able to show Jin-jin's challenge as something unprecedently radical or progressive. But even if the show takes a predictable step, "Gloria" can become a pretty good production if it does not lose the value of dreams. The reason being that, in a time slot that often plays dramas about affairs and divorces, choosing a subject theme that is different from the rest is, in itself, a dream and a challenge.

Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong nine@ Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

Television Bae Doo-na grabs the mike in ‘Gloria’

http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100801000099

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August 3, 2010

[iNTERVIEW] Hollywood's "Remake King" Roy Lee

Jessica Kim

Roy Lee [seoul Digital Forum]

For years, Korean-American producer Roy Lee of Beverly Hills-based Vertigo Entertainment has well maintained his reputation as Hollywood's "Remake King."

It first started with "The Ring," where Lee gained his first onscreen credit as executive producer after selling the remake right of Japanese horror flick "Ringu" on behalf of its Asian distributor to DreamWorks, had become a surprise hit in the United States in 2002, grossing over 129 million dollars on the box office.

Then he did it again in 2004, producing the American remake of Sarah Michelle Gellar starrer "The Grudge" based on Japanese thriller "Ju-On," which holds the record for the biggest horror opening weekend of all time.

His most notable break came with Warner Bros. "The Departed," the U.S. version of Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs," which handed director Martin Scorsese his biggest opening and won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2006.

His productions thereafter, such as "Quarantine" and "The Uninvited," originally Spanish and Korean films, respectively, also fared well on box offices.

10Asia met with 41-year-old Lee who was in Korea to attend Asia's largest genre film fest, the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).

Q: How has this year's PiFan been for you compared to previous years?

Roy Lee: There hasn’t been much difference in terms of quality of films or people I meet. It’s just one of the few festivals that focus on genre films. Pusan [international Film Festival] is a big mixture of the dramas and art house style movies which is not as exciting as genre movies.

Q: Then do you have a preference for genre films over others?

Lee: I’m interested in anything that tells a unique story and is fairly commercial. And genre pictures just happen to fit that category although I do have a preference over horror movies in just growing up watching them because I liked them. But it all depends on the story of the movie, and whether or not it has commercial appeal in the international marketplace.

Q: What is your take on Korean films and the industry then? Does it have any strengths in particular that stand out for you?

Lee: I like that it is director-driven and that they have a lot more latitude to do the movie they want to do as opposed to the U.S. structure of catering toward the general population all the time where you water down the story, sort of dumb it down, but that’s not necessarily the case here.

Q: What’s the current status of Korean movies in the U.S.? What's the perception on them?

Lee: Well, there hasn’t been many breakout movies as there were a few years ago in terms of getting critical acclaim. Like "Old Boy," "The Chaser" and "Memories of a Murder." Fewer movies actually get wider appeal or exposure in the U.S.

Q: Why is that the case?

Lee: It goes with the flow of the creative content industry. And everyone is just waiting for the next Park Chan-wook or Bong Joon-ho film. The U.S. focuses on the director of these movies.

Q: What will it take for Korean movies to be seen in the U.S. like Hollywood films are in Korea? Will it ever happen?

Lee: No, just because they don’t like to read subtitles. The last big subtitle movie after “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" which made about 10 million dollars but I’m sure the U.S. remake will make over 100 million. There’s a ceiling for how much to really expect. The most likely way to make money is Video on Demand or DVD. Otherwise, it should keep doing what every movie should do -- have the balance of a good story and commercial appeal. Just be a good movie with good story.

Q: Then in what ways does the Korean film industry lack?

Lee: I guess in every film industry, there are some movies that have gotten to the point where they shouldn't have been made, like following the trend. When one movie is successful, you see a lot of copy-cat type movies. Ones that aren’t necessarily made for the art but rather made to make money which are the types of movies I don’t enjoy as much.

Q: Just like how 3D movies are in these days?

Lee: Yes, I think certain movies would lend itself to being 3D experiences so that it would attract more people that way but I don’t think general dramas have any reason to be in 3D. Or even going back and converting some of the older movies such as "Gone with the Wind," "Casablanca" ...... It’s more of the spectacle movies like "Spiderman," the action adventure movies that make sense. 3D is something that needs to exist but not everything has to be 3D. But yes, they’ll be a lot of 3D movies for a while because it seems they’re still experimenting with what the audience wants. Some of the more recent examples of 3D though haven’t made much of a difference because they’re now having an analysis of the percentage of money coming in 3D compared to 2D and it’s been declining. Not by a significant amount, but it's declining.

Q: At what stage are your other productions?

Lee: We just finished shooting "Quarantine 2" and just started filming "Abduction" last week. We're then doing a horror movie in September. Development-wise I’m working on over 50 right now but that means that I’m having 50 different scripts written then hoping that they come back in a format that would finance the production.

Jessica Kim jesskim@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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August 3, 2010

BoA cast as lead actress in Hollywood film

Korean pop idol BoA, 24, will be making her acting debut in a Hollywood dance film, according to her agency SM Entertainment.

Set in New York City, the film is sparking great interest as it was written and will be directed by highly acclaimed director, producer, and screenwriter Duane Adler, who penned the box office hits Save the Last Dance (2001) and Step Up (2006). It was also revealed that Adler had Boa in mind while writing the script.

The producer of the film is the famous producer, Robert W. Cort who produced over 55 movies, like Jumanji (1999) and Runaway Bride (1999). Cort and Adler are also known to have worked together in Adler’s Save the Last Dance.

The movie is anticipated to be one of the more powerful dance films with Boa taking the lead along with other dancing powerhouses. Fans can also expect a love story between Boa and another male actor.

Boa is set to start filming early next year in New York after she finishes her Korean promotions for Hurricane Venus.

Source: kwh8121@gmail.com koreatimes.co.kr

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August 3, 2010

Kim Seung-woo joins TV series "Athena" cast

Reporter: Lynn Kim Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actor Kim Seung-woo in an official poster for TV series "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]

Korean actor Kim Seung-woo, who starred in blockbuster TV series "IRIS" last year, has joined the cast of its upcoming spin-off series "Athena: Goddess of War," according to the show's producer Taewon Entertainment on Tuesday.

Taewon announced in a press release that the actor will be reprising his role from the original series, playing North Korea's top intelligence agent Park Chul-young who holds the key secrets to solving the mysteries left behind by "IRIS."

Actress Kim So-yeon, who played a North Korean spy named Kim Sun-hwa in "IRIS," appears to be talking with producers about joining the new show as well.

The storyline of "Athena," named after the Greek goddess, will be about terrorist acts and threats against the Korean Peninsula and the whole world.

Like the star-studded cast of "IRIS" which was led by Lee Byung-hun, "Athena" will feature some of the Korea's top actors including Jung Woo-sung, Cha Seung-won, Soo Ae, E Ji-ah, Kim Min-jong and Choi Si-won of K-pop idol group Super Junior.

The series recently wrapped up its location shoot in Italy and will continue onto other countries including Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Switzerland.

Kim, 41, has appeared in numerous films and television dramas, most notably "Cinderella" (MBC, 1997), "Hotelier" (MBC, 2001), "Woman On The Beach" (2006) and "Between Hate and Love" ( 2006). He also hosts celebrity talk show "Win Win" on KBS2 TV.

"Athena" will premiere in Korea in November.

Korean actress Kim So-yeon in an official poster for TV series "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]

Reporter: Lynn Kim lynn2878 @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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August 3, 2010

Song Seung-hun, Nanako in remake of ‘Ghost’

Korean hallyu star Song Seung-hun and Japanese actress Nanako Matsushima will work together in the upcoming Japanese movie “Love and Soul,” a remake of the American film “Ghost,” officials said on Tuesday at a production report conference in Tokyo.

The 1990 film “Ghost” earned $200 million around the world and attracted more than 2 million viewers in Korea.

The film will be reinterpreted in modern scenes with the top Korean actor and the top Japanese actress, production officials said.

Matsushima said she hopes that the remade version of the film will be more popular than the original one in Korea and Japan.

Song, who has strong presence all over Asia, said that the film-making staff put in a lot of effort to differentiate it from other Korea-Japan collaborations, as “Ghost” has been continuously and widely loved by fans across the world.

Paramount Pictures president Okajaki Ichiro, film director Ohtani Tarou and more than 300 journalists attended the conference, signaling high expectations for the upcoming film in Japan.

Takaga Ichise, producer of the U.S. film “The Grudge,” also joined the production team for “Love and Soul,” which is to be released in November.

By Christy Jin Intern reporter koreaherald.com

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August 3, 2010

Joo Ji-hoon & Lee Jun-ki attend "Voyage of Life" press conference

Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk Editor: Jessica Kim

Joo Ji-hoon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Actor Joo Ji-hoon part of the cast of military musical "Voyage of Life," speaks at a press conference for the show held at Dongsoong Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea on August 2, 2010.

Joo Ji-hoon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Lee Jun-ki [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Actor Lee Jun-ki, part of the cast of military musical "Voyage of Life," speaks at a press conference for the show held at Dongsoong Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea on August 2, 2010.

Lee Jun-ki [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Actor Lee Jun-ki, part of the cast of military musical "Voyage of Life," salutes at a press conference for the show held at Dongsoong Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea on August 2, 2010.

Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk eleven @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia 1 l 2

Lee Jun-ki, Joo Ji-hoon sing for musical

Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk Editor: Jessica Kim

Lee Jun-ki [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Actor Lee Jun-ki, part of the cast of military musical "Voyage of Life," sings at a press conference for the show held at Dongsoong Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea on August 2, 2010.

Joo Ji-hoon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Actor Joo Ji-hoon, part of the cast of military musical "Voyage of Life," sings at a press conference for the show held at Dongsoong Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea on August 2, 2010.

Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk eleven @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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August 3, 2010

Lee Jun-ki says "depressed about Joo Ji-hoon turning first private today" (1-2)

Reporter : Jang Kyung-Jin Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk Editor : Lynn Kim

Lee Jun-ki says "I was depressed since this morning because Joo Ji-hoon became a first-class private today"

The cast of military musical "Voyage of Life": From left, actors Moon Jong-won, Yoon Gong-joo,

Lee Jun-ki, Son Hyun-jung, Kim Da-hyun, Joo Ji-hoon [photographed by Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Press conference for military musical "Voyage of Life" [tentative title]

With the increasing number of celebrity officers serving in the military compared to previous years, the quantity and quality of military-produced contents have been changing. Musical productions in particular have become one of the most representative military contents ever since Kangta and Yang Dong-geun performed in musical "Mine" in 2008. And two years later, the Korean military is producing musical "Voyage of Life" [tentative title] with Lee Jun-ki and Joo Ji-hoon playing the lead roles. If 2008's production 'Mine" was a story about a father and a son, "Voyage of Life" -- produced in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War -- focuses on the "communication between the war generation and the post-war generation."

The story of musical "Voyage of Life" begins on Jangjin Reservoir, an intense and cruel battlefield. After General MacArthur made a successful landing at Incheon in 1950, the United Nations Allied Forces are overpowered by the Chinese military defense and decide to retreat to Port Heungnam. With 14,000 refugees, the United Nations Allied Forces board the ship Meredith, which set a new world record and was registered in 2004 as 'the single boat which saved the most number of lives.'

In the musical, Lee Jun-ki plays the Korean military's second lieutenant Hae-gang while Joo Ji-hoon is cast as the North Korean People's Army officer Jung-min. The two sharpen the blade of each of their ideologies. But later, the two weather the ocean of life as they go through extreme circumstances on the Meredith together. Through three men Hae-gang, Jung-min and Davis (played by Kim Da-hyun) who have different ideologies and belong to different societies, the musical "Voyage of Life" plans to "thank the Korean and foreign soldiers who fought during the Korean War while informing teenagers, who don't even know which countries were fighting in the Korean War, that their freedom and happiness came at the price of sacrifice," as the show's producer and lieutenant major Lee Young-no explained.

In addition to Lee Jun-ki, Joo Ji-hoon and Kim Da-hyun, "Voyage of Life," which is produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theatre Association, will feature musical actors including Moon Jong-won and Yoon Gong-joo as well as some 40 military officers. Below is a joint interview from the press conference, held August 2 at Dongsoong Art Center. Musical "Voyage of Life" will run at the National Theater of Korea from August 21 to 29.

Q: You are producing another military musical after making one in 2008. What is your intention of producing this musical?

Chief Director Yoon Ho-jin (Yoon): This year is the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. I just wanted to show the many people who had helped us over the years, that the Republic of Korea which was a land in ruins, has grown this much.

Lieutenant Major Lee Young-no: Last year, I saw a photo exhibition at Cheonggye Square by Doctor Ahn Jae-cheol and it was about the hard times during the Korean War. I was able to decide on doing this musical production with his help. The battle of the Jangjin Reservoir was one of the most intense, cruelest and the most noteworthy battles. The veteran soldiers of the Korean War are currently passing the age of eighty, on average. We don't know how many of them will be alive by the time we reach the seventieth anniversary. I want to. I want to say thank-you to them while informing teenagers who don't know the war about the spirit of sacrifice.

Q: Lee Jun-ki, you are doing your first musical debut in the army. Now that you have done a musical, how do you feel about it?

Lee Jun-ki (Lee): I am well aware that "Voyage of Life" has a positive meaning behind it. But I thought a lot about what meaning it should hold for me as I do it. I think it will be a meaningful experience if is about repaying [the veterans], like a tribute performance, and the audience learns how noble their sacrifice is. I have gained a sense of duty [about doing the show].

Q: For Joo Ji-hoon, you starred in "Don Juan" and this is your second musical. You play the role of Jung-min, who is a villain.

Joo Ji-hoon (Joo): He is described in the story as a villain, but Jung-min and Hae-gang just have ideological conflict and there is no scene where they hate people. In that respect, my character is someone who has to save humanity elements in the story and show why fellow countrymen have to fight each other. As an actor playing the role, I don't think that my character is a bad guy. I think I am the nicest one. (laugh)

Q: Your characters have conflicts in the plot, but how do you feel about each other?

Joo: That is the hardest question. (laugh) Lee Jun-ki and I are of the same age and we met for the first time in the military. I thought Lee Jun-ki would have a hard time because he was the last to join the musical. But although he has the lowest rank, he has such a great personality and is so outgoing that he always sets the tone in group surroundings. He gets along well with people around him, unlike his demure image.

Lee: I think it would have been great if we had met in comfortable surroundings outside the military. (laugh) And Joo Ji-hoon became a first-class private today. It was consoling that he was a second-class private like me, but this morning he came with his first-class rank. I was very depressed in the morning. But first-class private Joo Ji-hoon has a kind heart.

The cast of military musical "Voyage of Life," including actor Joo Ji-hoon (front, right) perform

at the press conference held at Dongsoong Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea on August 2, 2010. [photographed by Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Q: You have attended many press conference outside the military, but it must feel different standing here as a military officer.

Lee: The lower rank will go first. (laugh) When I was doing press conferences outside, I felt comfortable and threw jokes around without making any adjustments. But now that I am a military officer, I think I feel a little more nervous and stiff. I don't use the so-called "military speech" but I am disappointed because I feel like a solider at heart. But as a military officer, I feel a sense of duty about doing a production that will be a commemoration for the country.

Joo: I am using casual speech because I have to explain about the musical and the character, but this is actually more uncomfortable. But like Jun-ki, I feel satisfied that I can take part in something like this as a military officer. I can carry out the responsibility that every Korean man has to carry out and also use my talents with this great opportunity. I am grateful that I am assigned a task which I can do better at.

Q: In the case of Kim Da-hyun, you already have lots of experience in musicals outside. What does it mean for you to take part in a musical production as a military officer?

Kim Da-hyun (Kim): I will given the title of corporal next month. I have been serving in the military for about eleven months now and I started to get incredible thirsty for performing after about six months. I missed the stage and I wanted to be on stage. So it was lucky for me that there was an opportunity like this.

Q: I am actually curious why you chose to cast Joo Ji-hoon, who was caught up in a scandal? [Joo had made headlines in April 2009 when he was charged with using illegal drugs, including ecstasy and ketamine. He pleaded guilty and was later sentenced to six months of jail with one year of probation plus 120 hours of community service and a fine of KRW 360,000 won.]

Lieutenant Major Lee Young-no: As of last June, private Joo Ji-hoon has rid himself of all the burden that had been put on his shoulders. Right now, he is working faithfully as a member of the military personnel. Before meeting him for this musical production, I had only known him as an actor who had appeared in "Goong" and "The Lucifer." But after meeting him, I thought that he clicked well with the character. And we needed the so-called "star casting" because this was going to be presented outside the military, and I thought it would be all right under the societal atmosphere.

Q: "Voyage of Life" is like your comeback to the stage.

Joo: I cannot say that this is my comeback production when there are so many people who are working hard in their places right now. I could cause trouble for some forty soldiers [working in the musical]. I am talking comfortably because I am where I am [at a press conference] but I would rather you look at me as one of the military officers rather than an actor. I am participating in something for the country as a military officer.

Q: How do the actresses feel about doing rehearsals surrounded by many male actors?

Yoon Gong-joo: I am happier than ever going to rehearsal rooms. My heart breaks when they tell me not to come anywhere besides the rehearsal room. (laugh) I am inspired by the overflowing passion of young soldiers, and I think their positive energy is affecting me as well. And these days I often hear the compliment, "Noona [a term used by males when referring to older females], you are pretty." (laugh)

Son Hyun-jung: When I first heard that it was a military musical, I just thought there would be many soldiers but I didn't think there would be this many. I like that seven actresses are here like a flower. We really are being treated like princesses. (laugh)

Q: Chief Director Yoon Ho-jin has often adapted real-life historic incidents into musical productions, as in "The Last Empress" and "Hero." How will "Voyage of Life" be remembered?

Yoon: It is most interesting when we meet a story that is alive around us or when we meet history, rather than hearing about a fictional one. Digging up an old story and reviving it is also something that is enjoyable, so I am always interested in history. Korea is the first country on the face of the earth which was wiped out completely from the war and became miraculously rich and powerful in just sixty years. I am working with a good subject theme but there are still many disappointments. It takes a considerable amount of time to create a good original musical, and "Voyage of Life" is not something that has been completed but something we have to keep improving in the future. I hope that someday it will be a production which can tour and give performance in all the countries that had fought during the Korean War.

Reporter : Jang Kyung-Jin three@ Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@ Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia 1 l 2

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August 4, 2010

"Dong Yi" still No. 1 even with drop in TV ratings

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actress Han Hyo-joo on "Dong Yi-Jewel in the Crown" [MBC]

MBC's historical epic "Dong Yi - Jewel in the Crown" held onto its position atop TV charts for the 17th consecutive week, despite a sudden drop in viewership ratings.

Figures from TNmS (Total National Multimedia Statistics) on Wednesday indicated that "Dong Yi," into its 40th episode, brought in ratings of 23.9 percent on August 2 and dropped by extra 0.8 percent the next day, suffering a dip of an average 5.7 percent compared to last week.

Numbers released by AGB Nielsen Media Research pointed to even lower ratings for the Lee Byung-hoon drama - 21.5 percent on Monday and 21.9 percent the following day.

This week's episode focused on how Dong Yi (Han Hyo-joo) leaves the palace after receiving a personal apology from Queen Inhyeon (Park Ha-sun).

Meanwhile, SBS 'series "Giant," starring Lee Bum-soo, Park Jin-hee and Hwang Jung-eum, experienced a spike in viewership ratings this week, following closely behind "Dong Yi."

On TNmS charts, the drama brought in ratings of 18.2 percent on August 2 and increased by 1.9 percent the following day. Ratings for "Giant" also rose on AGB's poll, scoring figures of 19.2 percent on Monday and 20.7 percent last night.

Reporter: Lucia Hong luciahong @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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August 4, 2010

Photo of Lee Wan in military revealed

Jessica Kim

Actor Lee Wan [Republic of Korea Army website]

A new photograph of actor Lee Wan, in his third week of training as part of fulfilling the country's mandatory military duties, has been revealed on the Korean Army's website.

The Military Camp in South Chungcheong Province Nonsan on Tuesday posted a photo of The 26-year-Old Actor on a section titled 'Search for Faces We Miss' on its Official Website (http://www.army.mil.kr).

In the picture, Lee is seen smiling mischievously while posing as if showing off his armband indicating that he is a platoon leader.

Lee, whose real name is Kim Hyung-soo, had been looking for a new acting project when he was notified of his drafting to the military which he entered on July 12. He will serve as an active-duty soldier after completing five weeks of basic training.

The actor had first risen to stardom through his debut role in TV series "Stairway to Heaven" (SBS, 2003), which starred Hallyu stars Kwon Sang-woo, Choi Ji-woo and his sister Kim Tae-hee.

Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

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August 4, 2010

Chun Jung-myung cast in upcoming noir drama

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actor Chun Jung-myung [Office Zero]

Korean actor Chun Jung-myung has been cast in an upcoming Korean drama alongside top actor Song Kang-ho and actress Sin Se-gyeong.

Film's distributor CJ Entertainment announced in a press release on Wednesday that Chun will be playing the character who loyally follows around his former boss Doo-hun (played by Song) in the movie tentatively titled "Blue Salt." Sin will take the role of Se-bin who intends on killing Doo-hun.

"Blue" is helmed by noted filmmaker Lee Hyun-seung, whose known for his other film noirs including "Il Mare (2000)," "If You Were Me 4" (2009) and "Enlightenment Film" (2009).

Chun, 29, made his break into the entertainment industry with his role in KBS's drama "School 2" (1999). He has appeared in other small screen roles such as SBS '"Fashion 70s" and most recently in KBS' "Sister of Cinderella" with Korean actress Moon Geun-young.

He also starred in Korean films "The Aggressives" (2005), "Les Formidables" (2006) and "Hansel and Gretel" (2007).

Filming for "Blue Salt" will begin this summer.

Reporter: Lucia Hong luciahong @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia