[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

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September 11, 2010

Actress Lee In-hye poses at the Seoul Drama Awards 2010 on Friday.

Lee Chae-young

Cha Ye-ryeon

Lee Seung-gi

Jang Hyuk

Japanese girl group SKE48

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 11, 2010

Singer pulled out teeth to dodge draft

Singer MC Mong, 31, has been found to have dodged military service by intentionally having healthy teeth extracted, confirming months of speculation.

“We established the fact that (he) pulled out healthy teeth,” Chosun Ilbo said, citing the police on Saturday.

In South Korea, a two-year military service is compulsory for men. MC Mong has deferred military draft seven times for the past seven years, it said. It is not immediately confirmed how many healthy teeth the singer dislodged to dodge draft, but the report said the number could be as many as four.

According to police, the singer had removed the teeth, mostly molars, and was exempted from compulsory military service in 2004 when his dental problems made him disqualify for the service. As part of investigation, police conducted an inquiry into the singer’s dentist.

The singer also used other reasons to defer military service, including applying to an exam to serve as a government employee, traveling abroad, and job training. But during this period, he was still actively involved in showbiz, also participating in a movie shot and issuing new songs, the report said.

In his first physical checkup in 1998 for military service, he was given the “first-degree healthy” result.

Dodging military service in South Korea, which faces a North Korean belligerence, is a sensitive issue as some sons from powerful families in the past avoided it by using their family clout. President Lee Myung-bak’s recent mantra has been to create a “fair society.”

MC Mong, whose real name is Shin Dong-hyun, is a popular singer and actor currently appearing on KBS's variety show "1 Night 2 Days" on Sundays.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

September 12, 2010

Entertainers draw fire with lies

MC Mong booked for having teeth extracted to dodge draft

By Kwon Mee-yoo

MC Mong

Singer MC Mong, 31, has been booked without physical detention on suspicion that he plucked out healthy teeth as a means to dodge the mandatory military service.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said the singer, whose real name is Shin Dong-hyun, had postponed entering the military service seven times from 1999 to 2006 by providing various excuses. “He put off joining the army with reasons such as applying for the civil service examination, job training and traveling overseas. However, he filmed a movie and released albums during the period when he delayed the service,” a police officer said.

At the same time, MC Mong has been suspected of having healthy teeth extracted to dodge the draft. According to the police, the singer and TV-show host was rated healthy enough for active-duty as a soldier at his first checkup in August 1998. In 2008, he had 12 teeth pulled and was able to get an exemption from military duty.

“The singer is claiming that he had those teeth removed because of cavities, but we confirmed that he extracted at least four of them to weaken his dental function and ultimately for an exemption from military service,” the officer said. MC Mong denied the allegations in July when he was summoned for investigation. He is currently appearing in “1 Night 2 Days” on KBS and “Haha Mong Show” on SBS.

The viewers are requesting MC Mong leave the programs and the producer of “1 Night 2 Days” said they would defer the decision until the police’s final decision comes out.

SBS aired “Haha Mong Show” on Sunday morning despite the disputes surrounding MC Mong, inviting harsh criticism from viewers. Its homepage has been inundated with comments slamming the broadcaster for airing the show.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

Shin disappears after caught lying about gambling in Cebu

By Cho Jae-hyon

Shin Jung-hwan

TV-show host Shin Jung-hwan, 35, reportedly lied about his coming down with dengue fever to cover up his gambling in Cebu, the Philippines, and is seeking to fly to another country to escape from heated media attention.

The popular singer and entertainer had claimed that he had been hospitalized for treatment for the disease, denying allegations that he lost hundreds of millions of won at a casino and borrowed money after putting his passport up as collateral.

However, staffers of an SBS TV entertainment program, which aired on Thursday, met a doctor from the hospital in Cebu and quoted him as saying that Shin had no symptoms of dengue fever. The doctor said Shin just checked in to take a rest on Tuesday. The report came just hours after Shin posted a photograph and a long letter on his fan club website, showing him taking a medical checkup.

He claimed that his visit to a casino was just sightseeing and did not get involved in any form of betting.

Shin, who was discharged from the hospital on Friday, is believed to be either staying in a hotel in Cebu or has left for a third country. An aide to Shin told a local media outlet Sunday that Shin expressed hope that he would go to another country rather than returning home.

The aide, who paid a visit to Shin at a hotel in Cebu, originally planned to return to Seoul with him on the weekend.

But Shin changed his mind after a series of negative reports on him, he said. “Shin expressed that he wanted to take a rest at a third country. He checked out of the hotel and disappeared,” the aide was quoted as saying.

Shin left for the Philippines on Aug. 26 and has cut off communication with his agency for a while. He did not appear for the scheduled filming of some programs.

This is not the first time that the singer-entertainer has become embroiled in gambling-related troubles. Shin received a 7-million-won fine for gambling at a private casino in 2005 and was banned from broadcasting, but returned to the entertainment business after some “self-reflection.”

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

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September 12, 2010

‘The Slave Hunters’ sweeps four honors

On Friday night, 172 works from 43 countries went head to head at the 5th annual Seoul International Drama Awards.

Staying true to its global format, awards went out to dramas from all over the world, including Britain, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, India and Chile.

The Japanese drama “Shoe-Shine Boy” walked away with the highest honor. Based on a novel, the award-winning series, which charted the life of a shoe shiner during the aftermath of World War II, aired in 2009 on TV Tokyo.

Top honors for single drama, miniseries and drama series went to Canada’s “The Summit,” KBS’ “The Slave Hunters” and MBC’s “The Great Seondeok,” respectively, with second honors going to the U.K.’s “The Day of the Triffids,” the Japanese medical drama “Jin” and to Canada’s “Murdoch Mysteries 3.”

“The Slave Hunters,” which reeled in high viewer ratings this year, also took home special Hallyu awards for drama and the director. The star of the series, Jang Hyuk, shared the special Hallyu actor award with “IRIS” lead Lee Byung-hun.

From left: Taiwanese actress and singer Ruby Lin, Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh, and Korean actor

Lee Seung-gi receive awards in the netizens’ favorite actor and actress categories at the Seoul International

Drama Awards ceremony Friday. (Yonhap News)

Filmed on a state-of-the-art Red One camera ― used by prominent directors like “Ocean’s Eleven” Steven Soderbergh ― “The Slave Hunters” wowed audiences with its gritty, action-heavy tale of a nobleman-turned-bounty hunter in his journey for revenge, and eventually, redemption.

MBC’s “The Great Queen Seondeok” also had its fair share of the limelight, with actress Ko Hyeon-jeong and scriptwriters Kim Yeong-hyeon and Park Sang-yeon receiving special Hallyu awards.

The hit MBC series managed to rack up high ratings through its 62-episode run, spinning the tale of the early trials and tribulations of the renowned Silla Kingdom queen. Ko, who played the villainess in “The Great Queen Seondeok,” shared the honor with “Brilliant Legacy” actress Han Hyo-joo.

The Canadian thriller, “The Summit,” also put in a strong showing, nabbing the best director award for Nick Copus. The two-part series on a bio-terrorism test gone awry had also won two Directors Guild of Canada awards in 2009.

Honors for best actor and actress went to Carl-Kristian Rundman who starred in Finland’s “Easy Living,” and to Margot Ros and Maike Meijer for their turn in the Netherlands’ “Tower C.”

Five hundred thousand netizens picked “Brilliant Legacy” heartthrob Lee Seung-gi, Taiwanese actor and singer Vic Chou, Taiwanese actress and singer Ruby Lin and Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh as their favorite actors and actresses via Yahoo! Korea.

Lee and actresses Lin and Sheh attended the awards ceremony. Other attendees included actress Han Hyo-joo, actor Jang Hyuk and the popular ballad-belting K-pop boy band 2AM, who performed on the night.

This year’s Seoul International Drama Awards was organized by the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee and Korean Broadcasters Association.

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldm.com) koreaherald.com

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September 12, 2010

Baekje revived through TV documentary

By Han Sang-hee

A computer graphic image of "Sabiseoung," the capital of Bakeje Kingdom.

EBS' "Sabisoung, the Lost City" airs tonight at 9:50 p.m. to shed light on

the kingdom's mysterious history and culture. / Courtesy of EBS

The Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.-660 A.D.) is commonly known as the “lost kingdom,” probably because there are not many historical records, artifacts or sites that can give us clues compared to other kingdoms. Broadcaster EBS has been seeking to find more about the hidden history and culture, and it finally offers its documentary “Sabiseong, the Lost City” this week.

The documentary features an extraordinary journey and insights into King Seong, the 26th king of the Baekje Kingdom. The relatively young ruler had a grand vision and also great interest in geography, and was able to come up with something not many kings thought of: moving the nation’s capital.

The kingdom, which was originally located in Woongjin, what is now Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, was politically torn and ravaged by wars; the young king understood that change was needed to bring back the glorious days of his kingdom. Despite opposition from royal officials who feared the move would affect their political stance, the king spearheaded the project and founded the first city built under specific and heavy planning in Korea’s history.

Building history

The only historical record left of the grand project is “In the 16th year of King Seong’s reign, Baekje moved its capital to Sabi” according to the ancient book “Samguksagi,” or “The History of Three Kingdoms.” Baekje was famous for its rich culture in both architecture and artifacts, but it was only after 1993, when a Baekje gilt-bronze incense burner was discovered that historians and archeologists started to show interest in the kingdom.

“The moving of the capital took 15 years, but there was very little information we could find,” Kim Min-tae, the producer of the documentary, said during a press conference Tuesday at Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, then capital Sabiseong, where the program was mostly filmed. “It was like searching for a pearl in the mud. We later discovered more records, but it was very difficult to obtain the information we needed for the program,” he added.

The producer and his staff spent more than six months searching, studying and checking facts with 13 experts, including historians, architects, archeologists and even astronomers. After paying visits to numerous historic sites and museums in Buyeo and Gongju, (“I think I have Buyeo in the palm of my hand,” the producer told The Korea Times) the team finally managed to come up with the first documentary that rebuilds a whole city.

Moving and building a city is not an easy task, even today when there are various tools and machinery that can help, but King Seong was determined and smart. He knew that the land where he was planning to build his capital was a swamp, and through scientific research and insight, the king led his people to build one of the most sophisticated cities in Korean history.

Through the program, viewers can watch exactly how hard it was for both King Seong and his people to move their capital from one place to another, eventually building well-planned streets, walls and drain systems on the swampy land.

Adding a bit more

“Sabiseong, The Lost City” is a documentary about Baekje’s capital, but due to the limited amount of information and historical records, it was inevitable to add a bit of fiction to the show. “Instead of just sticking to historical facts, the makers added a little of drama that seemed plausible. The show is not something made with fancy computer graphics, but something that brings life to the artifacts and sites of Baekje. Something the future generation may talk about and learn from,” EBS said through a press release.

Indeed, the show was more than just a documentary that listed artifacts, historical records and experts’ interpretations.

Most of all, the program is a story about how a young king managed to persuade his people to move their homes and life to a rather skeptical land that was mostly swamp. The narrator is not the king, but his most loyal servant and trusted royal official Sataekgiru, who leads the program from start to finish in an interview form, adding a bit more drama and familiarity to the work.

Another important factor that added reality to the program is the computer graphics. More than 30 percent of the work included blue screen editing and in order to create high-definition, movie-like scenes, the staff used the Red One camera, for the first time for a local documentary.

The computer graphics are superb. The overview of the palace, temples and villages seems real, while the graphics add more intensity and depth to the overall work. Being an education channel, it seems that EBS also kept the educational aspect in mind as well. Building a capital, whether it is on normal or swamp land, is a difficult and long process, and without specific planning and ideas, it cannot go through.

Some important artifacts and architectural techniques used during the time have been discovered over the years and the program offers them in great detail, comparing them with modern methods and explaining them one by one. “We wanted to bring something different about Baekje to the audience, and we hope this will create yet another image of the kingdom we know little about,” Kim added.

The three-episode “Sabiseong, the Lost City” will start airing tonight at 9:50 p.m. on EBS through Wednesday.

Source: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 13, 2010

Actress and car racer Lee Hwa-sun poses at the CJ Tving.com Super Race Championship in Taebaek, Gangwon Province on Sunday.

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 13, 2010

Moon Geun-young joins Jang Keun-suk for new drama

Jessica Kim

Moon Geun-young [Namoo Actors]

Top Korean actress Moon Geun-young has decided to join the main cast of an upcoming KBS TV series also starring actor Jang Keun-suk, according to the show's promoter Ytree;media on Monday.

Ytree announced through a press release that the 23-year-old starlet will take on the role of the shameless and optimistic Mary in the drama based on comic "Mary is Out of Night" by famed cartoon writer Won Soo-yeon.

"Mary" will be a romantic comedy which revolves around Mary who makes realizations about love and herself while being in two fake marriages for 100 days -- to Moo-kyul, a hippie and Indie band lead vocalist who has nothing, and Jung-in, a man who has everything including the brains, looks and wealth.

"'Mary' is brilliant in terms of its material and plot but is also fun and appealing because of its unique characters," Moon said. "I feel pressured because simulated marriage is a topic which has never been handled in dramas before but I'm also excited and nervous about how I'll show it."

Just last week, Jang had confirmed he had been cast for the role of Moo-kyul in the drama set to air starting November, after series "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" ends its run.

Moon, currently starring in play "Closer" as Alice, the role of a stripper taken on by Natalie Portman in the movie version, last appeared on the popular small screen show "Sister of Cinderella" five months ago.

Moon, with already 10 years of acting experience under her belt, has appeared in numerous films and dramas including "Autumn Tale" and "My Little Bride." She also won the grand prize at major broadcaster SBS' year-end Acting Awards last year for her role as a talented painter in drama "The Painter of the Wind" which has received several international acclaims.

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

Jang Geun Seok to Play in KBS Drama 'Mary Stayed Out All Night'

Actor Jang Geun Seok has been cast as the male protagonist named Moo Gyeol in the upcoming KBS 2TV drama "Mary Stayed Out All Night," his agency announced on September 10.

The drama "Mary Stayed Out All Night," which will be a follow-up drama to "Sungkyubkwan Scandal" beginning from November, is based on the original web cartoon with the same title written and drawn by the cartoonist Won Soo Yeon, and the script for the drama will be written by the writer Lee Eun Ah, who had written the script of "Princess Hours” and “Love and Marriage.”

The drama will portray how young people living today think about marriage, love, and dreams by presenting simulated marriages. The character Moo Gyeol, whom Jang Geun Seok will play, is a member of an independent music band living a free life. By appearing in this drama, Jang Geun Seok will play the role of musician again following his previous roles in the movie "Happy Life” and the dramas "Beethoven Virus” and “You're Beautiful.”

Jang said, "I felt pressured about appearing in a drama about music again, but I was strongly fascinated by the interesting script. In particular, the character Moo Gyeol, who lives a Bohemian life, was really attractive."

Source: KBS Global

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September 13, 2010

[iNTERVIEW] Kim Tae-hee - Part 1-2

Editor in Chief: Beck Una Editor: Jang Kyung-Jin Editor: Lee Ji-Hye Editor: Jessica Kim

Kim Tae-hee [beck Una/10Asia]

Do you know Kim Tae-hee? Well, of course you know her. It is the name of she who has been endowed with beauty as well as intelligence, attending Korea's top school Seoul National University. To some she has been the object of admiration while to others, the goddess who must be worshipped unconditionally. And at the same time, she is also the one who has been publicly bestowed the harsh and pitiless judgement that she is pretty but without appeal or smart but bad at acting.

But alas. The nearly hour-long conversation with the actress in person revealed that she is not the Miss Perfect from another town but closer to being the frank and honest girl from next door. She was not needlessly modest, did not set forth any ungrounded pride, talked in a straightforward manner with a simple personality which knew what to acknowledge and what to admit to, proving she was not a unicorn which exists only in imaginations and myths, but rather a healthy stallion which had just started to gearing up her horsepower. This is just the first record of the first step we have taken in getting to know about this lady whom we had said we know so well but did not actually know much about.

Beck Una: You have taken on the role of a jockey in upcoming film "Grand Prix." It wasn't easy imagining you playing the character at first because a sports drama and Kim Tae-hee? You don't come off as being the dynamic type.

Kim Tae-hee: Well I actually didn't feel it at first either. (laugh) But I had established a sense of trust with director Yang Yoon-ho while working with him on TV series "IRIS" so when he proposed the role to me, I was able to take it on without much hesitation.

Beck: Do you usually make decisions quickly?

Kim: No. I used to contemplate hard and long over every decision I make. I'd ask here and there, and gather the opinions of my managers. But I don't want to do that anymore. I've come to want to quickly challenge myself at various roles in a more comfortable state and with more ease. That's why "Grand Prix" is a case in which I made my decision quite quickly. I do prefer quiet melodramas, romantic comedies or moving stories over thrillers and action pics. I think the movie will make you think about life again and be unexpectedly cheerful.

Beck: Are you in charge of the 'cheerful' element? (laugh)

Kim: (laugh) No. I shouldn't try attempting at making the audience happy with comedic acting. It's something that I have yet to become confident and a sense of humor is actually an aspect that my personality lacks. But I was under the vague certainty that a new type of melodrama could be formed with actor Yang Dong-geun and that that would contain a humor of element that the audience would be able to laugh at.

Beck: Jockies could seem like they're racing on their own but it's impossible for that jockey to do well without having good chemistry with the horse. I'm assuming that you may have experienced a similar process during your life. Someone who had always been told she is good at everything now has to pay attention to another person's work and has put herself into the world of acting in which one cannot do anything alone. That must've been similar to riding a horse.

Kim: I guess you're right. It's similar in a way. But I wasn't good on myself either. (laugh) Looking back on my life, I realize that I've received a lot of help from people around me and in many cases, I have had to be the only one who does well. But I do think that I felt it's easier to do things on my own. There's a Chinese idiom which says horses are 70 percent and the jockeys are 30 percent, meaning that no matter how talented the jockey is, he can't do well if the horse can't do as well. It's the jockey's role to harmonize with the horse so that it can race to its fullest capacity. And it seemed that it's the same with acting as well. It's not about doing well alone -- you can only get good results by working well with the person you're working with. Right now, it seems that I've come to realize more of the fun involved in working with someone and to enjoy it. And I've come to open up myself more.

Kim Tae-hee [beck Una/10Asia]

Beck: Was "IRIS" the turning point?

Kim: Yes, I think so. Even before I took on "IRIS," I knew it was important to work in harmony with other people but I don't think I had put it into practice. I changed a lot while doing "IRIS."

Beck: I was very amused by how the casting for "Grand Prix" turned out. Yang Dong-geun is an actor whose acting has no set 'map.' He is someone who will show you a splendid scene on a road he comes across while wandering about aimlessly. But on the other hand, Kim Tae-hee is an actress who I thought moves her body only after coming up with a logic for it within herself. I was curious to see the chemistry that two completely different people would create.

Kim: There's a lot that I learned while working with him for the movie. We're extremely different as well. Yang is the type that tends to tell every story in a very philosophical way. For example, he would explain, "Tae-hee, here's an object here that looks like this. But you can't act it out as if saying, this is this..." Um, it's not that I roughly don't understand it but... (laugh)

Beck: Then when you hear such things, are you the type that says, 'Ah, that's how you think,' and just let it go?

Kim: No, I keep asking, digging in deeper. (laugh) So I asked him what it means and that I vaguely understand but not completely. I'm the type that will say I know only when I know 100 percent.

Beck: So when you asked like that, would he end up telling you in detail?

Kim: No (laugh), he wouldn't tell me. In a way, it could be something that can't be explained. (laugh)

Beck: But even if you're the type that won't become sure of knowing until you are completely sure, when you're filiming something, that is an environment won't wait around for you to understand completely.

Kim: That's right. So Yang told me to go for it even if I don't understand. But I can't really do that when I don't understand or am sure of why I'm doing or saying something.

Beck: How about just throwing yourself at the camera?

Kim: I sometimes try doing that but it isn't easy. And this is one of the things I had a hard time with when I first started acting -- I would express an emotion being sure that I was feeling that emotional state but people on the outside would accept it differently. I hadn't calculated the fact that no matter how sincerely I feel something, it might not be delivered that sincerely to the viewer.

Beck: So do you think you are better at calculating that out now?

Kim: I'm still far from it. (laugh) I'm the type that says sincerity is important to acting while Yang is somebody who says 'acting is about putting on a show.' I think you need both. And I lack in putting on a show.

10: But failing to put on a show, or in other words, show flexibility, is often one of the criteria that people look at in judging your acting skills.

Kim: Yes... That's true... I'll have to work on it.

Kim Tae-hee [beck Una/10Asia]

Beck Una: In "Grand Prix," the woman who always seeks victory first goes through the hardship of losing the horse she loves in order to discover the joy of spending time with her horse. Ultimately, nothing that is precious comes free. What have you probably lost from the point you started acting to now where you have just started to feel the joy in acting?

Kim Tae-hee: What you've lost is probably ultimately what you've gained. I wouldn't know as much as I do now or be as strong if I had been hurt less and led an easy life. What I have lost is... privacy? (laugh)

Beck: Well it's true that as much as your life has become abundant, it has become tiresome as well.

Kim: I'm not the type that regrets easily. I think I'd take this road again, even if I could go back into my past. Should I call it fate? Always. I like how I've gotten where I am right now. I really don't have moments where I regret wishing I had done something in the past or reminisce that a certain point in my past was great. I'm the type that forgets everything and my memory isn't that great either.

Beck: Then do you instead have a lot of hopes for your future?

Kim: I don't set specific plans but I do dream what I'll need to do to become happier than now in the future.

Beck: Are there moments where you often feel that you are happy while you're acting?

Kim: Not always. I rather feel an ecstasy from when I overcome the difficulties I face from acting. And that moment doesn't come every time, which I think makes it even more special. These days, I feel quite often that acting is a very attractive job. There's so much to gain from watching movies so the fact that I can take part in such work seems to be valuable and I think it's attractive in that it influences a lot of people, that I can provide hope for my fans, and more than anything, can be of help to someone.

Beck: What is the most selfish form of joy you get out of being an actress, outside of giving joy to your fans or being able to sending messages of hope through movies?

Kim: That you can have as much free time as you want if you want it? If you work at a company, you'd have a set number of days you can take off per year. So I think the biggest advantage is that you can make and plan the time you want to spend investing in something outside of work. I guess you could say it's the merit this job has compared to other jobs?

Beck: I guess you're not the style that feels comfortable living according to a set system?

Kim: I don't think I would've been able to be an employee of a company who has to go to work every single day. I would have been tardy everyday. (laugh) And since I'm the type that isn't good at repeating things and becomes very bored and frustrated about such work.

Beck: But when we think of Kim Tae-hee, we rather think of someone who is probably good at pulling off set tasks.

Kim: I was late all the time in school as well. (laugh) It's just that I had held back because despite my true nature, that was the time period during which I charged forward without looking back with the sole goal that I have to go to college.

Kim Tae-hee [beck Una/10Asia]

Beck: So like a racing horse, you're the type that doesn't look around when you're concentrating on one thing.

Kim: Yes! I think I'm talented at that. (laugh) Really going at one thing.

Beck: But it's true that "Grand Prix" is a relatively safe family movie and it doesn't seem as though you're taking on a huge challenge.

Kim: Really? I guess you could think of it that way since I didn't play a particularly complex character or genre but it was a challenge for me in its own way. Up till now, I have been in works where the male actor has larger weight or in a way played roles which are safer and call for less responsibility, but it's different with "Grand Prix." Yang dong-geun's character was rather allowed to go in and out of the movie but I couldn't -- I was there from start to finish but I didn't have a impactful scene either so the role I played was a challenge in that sense. (laugh) I think I'd be very glad if people would consider me attractive even after seeing such sides to me.

Beck: Are you not curious about doing other genres?

Kim: I quite enjoy watching things that other people consider immature. (laugh) I like immature things, have the sensitivity of a girl, and have a lot of romantic imaginations. And while it may show that I have no sense of reality, I even dream of prince charming riding up to me on his white horse. Like in "Bridget Jone's Diary"! I completely absorb myself into those movies. I think I probably decided to take on drama "My Princess" after watching that. It's supposed to go into shoot starting October and set to show starting around January of next year but it's far from my image or personality so I doubted whether I'd be able to pull off the role. From when I was young, I'd been on the serious side, I'm usually not talkative and am rather tough and like to move my body around. But my character in "My Princess" is brazen, talks a lot and is witty. I do not think however, that I am taking on a new type of role because I want to change. There is that aspect within me to a certain extent so I'm going to try and pull that out as much as I can.

Beck: This may be a stupid question but what do you think acting is about? Why do you want to work so hard at it?

Kim: Acting is... Ah, it's a difficult question. Hmm, to me it's a horse. It's something that is still interesting and something I want to become good at. I have want to try doing various things more recently. Although I have yet to master it.

Beck: Do you think the day will come when you finally 'master' your work?

Kim: This is what Lee Byung-hun told me. That even veteran actress Kim Hye-ja is probably not satisfied with her own acting. So well, I wonder if there is a single actor who considers himself or herself to have mastered it. A certain great actor may be great at pulling off a certain role but not be as good at playing a different role. So no matter how hard you work at it, I don't think you would dare reach a point where you feel that you have mastered acting. What is important for me right now is that I keep studying. At any rate, I'm still going, I haven't come to a stop.

Editor in Chief : Beck Una one@ Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@, Jang Kyung-Jin three@, Lee Ji-Hye seven@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia 1 l 2

[Guest eucharis]

Nam Sang Mi is the lead in Goo Hye Sun’s new movie

Director Goo Hye Sun is finalizing the second half of her new short film, “You“.

The story centers around a father and a daughter, and it has a fantasy feel to it, just like her previous film, “Magic“. The female lead is actress Nam Sang Mi, and the father figure is taken up by actor Choi Il Hwa.

“You” is Goo Hye Sun’s third project, with her first being short film “Cheerful Caretaker“, and her second being full-length film “Magic”.

After finishing up filming at Gyeonggido Namyangju General Center on the 7th, Goo Hye Sun tweeted, ‘Thanks to Nam Sang Mi, who didn’t show any fatigue and worked hard until the end.’

Source:Mumuy.com

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September 13, 2010

Lee Min-ho cast in Korean adaptation of "City Hunter"

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actor Lee Min-ho [starhaus]

Korean actor Lee Min-ho has been cast in an upcoming Korean small screen adaptation of the Japanese comic "City Hunter," according to the show's PR firm 3HW COM on Monday.

"City Hunter," originally a Japanese manga series by Tsukasa Hojo, is about a private detective named Ryo Saeba who works to get rid of crime in the city of Tokyo during the latter half of the 1980s.

3HW announced that Lee will be playing the role of Ryo Saeba in the Korean drama version which will be based in present time Seoul, making it the first time the comic will be turned into a drama. "Many famous directors and actors requested to remake 'City Hunters' but the original author had various demands which halted any productions to be created," an official from the show explained. "However, the author was satisfied with Lee taking on the lead role for the Korean adaptation due to his appeal and energy."

The new drama is schedule to air in the first half of next year.

Lee, 23, first appeared in various TV and short dramas in 2006. He rose to stardom in Korea and throughout other Asian countries playing the role of Goo Jun-pyo in the Korean adaptation of "Boys Over Flowers" (KBS, 2009) alongside actress Ku Hye-sun and actor Kim Hyun-joong. His last small screen role was in March in the hit MBC series "Personal Taste," in which he pretends to be a homosexual man, opposite Korean actress Son Ye-jin.

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

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September 13, 2010

Q&A: Is Kim Ji-woon's 'Devil' too graphic?

'Devil' director talks about the challenges his latest film faced

By Park Soo-mee

"I Saw the Devil," a new crime thriller by the director Kim Ji-woon, is hard to swallow for those who are used to the director's style. The film starring a duo of top Korean actors – Lee Byung-hun ("G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra") and Choi Min-shik ("OldBoy") – is a patch-up of ax-wielding and flesh-eating scenes that are far from being sensual or elegant as seen in his previous films like "A Bittersweet Life" (2005) and "A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003), which was one of the country's widely-seen horror movies. Since opening in August, the gore thriller, a story of man and his revenge on a psychopath who killed his fiancee, much of the film's discussion has been focused on the expressions of violence and his choice of the gore genre. For a director who removed part of his film after being given a restricted rating by the Korea Media Rating Board twice, the film's response was an exhausting process for Kim. "I don't think it damaged the film's essence, but still you get to wonder 'why does it have to be my film?'" Nevertheless he's moving on. After competing in Toronto, he is already planned for making two other films, one of them an English remake of the 1970s French film "Max et les Ferrailleurs." Kim sat down with The Hollywood Reporter's Korea correspondent Park Soo-mee on a recent evening.

The Hollywood Reporter: What's the response of the film like in Korea?

Kim Ji-woon: The divide is quite extreme. I can't say that I expected the film to be this controversial. It's a gore thriller, and the degree of expression is very strong. Even then, the audiences' reaction has been widely split. I think the film has been shut in a certain category after it was given a restricted rating. In a way I find that local media simplified the film's discourse. Also, I was disappointed about the board's decision to remove a certain section of the film. I don't think it has damaged the film's essence but still I don't know if it was necessary.

THR: Did you have a particular interest in gore thriller?

Ji-woon: I've always done films with a strong sense of genre from horror in "A Tale of Two Sisters" to "The Foul King" which had a particular humor code, and "The Good, the Bad, the Weird," a kimchi western. I always think of ways to express the film in the most fitting genre whenever I'm given a script. That's my mission. "I Saw the Devil" is a story of fierce revenge, which is why I decided to explore with a gore thriller. I think some audiences were taken aback by the film because it was dry and didn't have the sentimental values in such films as "A Bittersweet Life."

THR: I was personally disappointed with Choi Min-sik's performance in the film. For some reason I didn't feel that he had pushed beyond his limit. His role was too simplistic and lacked layers. How did you want to portray his role in this film?

Ji-woon: My expectation was to show the side of devil in a man as lively as possible. Choi is so gentle in real person. He doesn't even swear on the set. Maybe because of that there are subtle moments in this film where you find his position quite ambivalent like through his gaze at the victims and his appearance from the back. As a director, I was happy to see his character transform on the set. Also it's hard enough to show a devil like a real devil.

THR: Did you have in mind your cult following when you shot this film?

Ji-woon: I suppose, but then I never had a steady fan who endorsed all of my films. Except "The Good, the Bad, the Weird," I think the fans for my films were almost grouped into certain categories. For example, some people would love "Bittersweet Life" and "Foul King" but hate "Tale of Two Sisters." Similarly, those who hated "The Good, the Bad, the Wierd" gave a generous review of "I Saw the Devil" and for others, it was vise-versa.

THR: So what about the depictions of violence?

Ji-woon: I wanted the audiences to feel the pain of the victims of violence, and I wanted to push the limit to make that more explicit and intense. The violence itself is stronger in films like "A Serbian Film" and even "Silence of the Lambs" and "Sin City," where you also see carnivorism. But certain depictions of violence are treated as a trend in some films. I think that was one of the issues I had when I was filming "I Saw the Devil." As a result, the audiences found the film difficult because they were unfamiliar with the approach to the violence that was portrayed in this film.

THR: What does this film mean to you and your career as a professional filmmaker?

Ji-woon: It is one of my films, and a state heading for a better film. On a side note, I am more aware of the pressures to make "a well-made" commercial film. The environment of filmmaking in Korea is more difficult now than it was five years ago. I think it has to do with the market trend that some Korean films started {by} breaking more than 10 million admissions. Producers and investors are less generous for directors to pursue their personal style in the films, and there's increasing expectation for "an objectively well-made film" that can reach a large audience. It was different in the '90s. Directors had more freedom to experiment with their style.

THR: The film ends on a perplexing note. How should the audiences take it?

Ji-woon: I expected more people to comment on the ending. Whether it was the right way of revenge, I can't really say. But I wanted to depict a devil through the process of revenge. You would think that by revenge a person can save himself from the pain. But revenge is ultimately a way to destruction. You can't possibly take revenge on someone without ruining yourself. For those who think that they can, it's a lie.

THR: Do you ever dream of shooting romance or romantic comedy?

Ji-woon: I don't think I'll ever shoot a romantic comedy although I quite enjoyed films like "Notting Hill" and "Bridget Jones's Diary." These are Hollywood films that have been shot under best possible conditions. So while they're cliche, it's still good. As far as romance, I am interested in shooting a sad melodrama of some sort someday.

Source: hollywoodreporter.com

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September 14, 2010

Kang Ji-hwan agency ends dispute with Kang's former rep

Jessica Kim

Actor Kang Ji-hwan [s-Plus Entertainment]

Actor Kang Ji-hwan's agency S-Plus Entertainment and his former agency Jambo Entertainment have ended a months-long legal spat over Kang's working contract.

A press release issued by S-Plus on Tuesday stated that the two firms have found common ground on issues surrounding management of the actor's career, leading both S-Plus and Jambo to "put behind the legal battle stemmed from misunderstandings and a conflict of opinions and reach a positive conclusion."

The two parties had been embroiled in a row since early this year when Jambo claimed that Kang had breached terms of his exclusive contract with them, valid until August, by signing with S-Plus in January.

S-Plus, while admitting Kang had several months left on his previous contract but affirming that legitimate measures were taken to legalize Kang's move, in turn then pressed charges against Jambo on charges of embezzlement and document forgery. Police had been cross-examining Kang and Jambo since March.

Kang, 33, debuted in 2001 in the Korean version of the musical "The Rocky Horror Show". He later gained fame after appearing in notable television dramas such as "Be Strong, Geum-soon!"(2005), "Scandal in Old Seoul"(2007) and "Hong Gil-dong, The Hero"(2008). He has also starred in several movies including "Rough Cut" and "My Girlfriend Is An Agent", the latter a comedy action film co-starring Hallyu star Kim Ha-neul which placed him onto stardom throughout several countries in Asia.

Most recently, he finished playing a role in TV series "Coffee House" and he is now the producer for musical "Cafe In." He will star in the production during its run in Japan set to start on October 16.

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

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September 14, 2010

Kim Tae Hee: 'I Wanted Changes in My Acting'

Actress Kim Tae Hee, who played the female jockey Seo Joo Hee in the movie "Grand Prix," has been very busy lately.

Right after filming the drama "IRIS," she had begun filming "Grand Prix" and she will also begin filming the drama "My Princess," in which she will appear with actor Song Seung Hun. In this way, she has actively performed without taking a rest so far. In the past, she seldom appeared in many works at once. She explained, "I usually decided on works to appear in after careful consideration before." Even though ten years have passed since her debut, she has appeared in less than ten different works.

Kim Tae Hee debuted by appearing in a TV commercial in 2000, and after that she has appeared in one sitcom, six dramas, and three movies. She said that her third movie, "Grand Prix," in which she played the protagonist, was the first movie she participated in filming with a brand new mindset about acting. In a recent interview held in Insadong, she said, "I used to deliberate thoroughly when I chose works that I would like to appear in before, and I made great efforts in my acting for every single line of the script. But this time, I decided to have a comfortable mindset when acting. And I did not want to have a break before I began the next work. I just wanted to change everything including my attitude toward acting."

At this moment, when she has reached her thirties, she felt she needed some changes. She wanted to abandon her previous image of "TV commercial star who graduated from Seoul National University," which was far from the image of a best actress presenting quality acting.

She wanted to have a turning point in her life by appearing in "IRIS," in which she appeared after a one-year break. She stated, "In the beginning stages of filming the drama, I was desperate. I had a strong image of a TV commercial star, and there had been always criticism about my acting ability. Many people liked me not because of my acting, but because of my appearance. Frankly speaking, I was not recognized as a good actress with good acting ability. I felt a sense of inferiority about those evaluations. I felt pressure strongly about the worry that I would not receive a favorable response as an actress again, even in 'IRIS.' I gone through all sorts of worries in the beginning when I filmed 'IRIS.' And at around the last stage, I could feel that people finally acknowledged the effort I put in. I wanted to change my attitude toward acting before, and I could have some hope that I might try to change my acting thanks to the recognition I received by appearing in 'IRIS.'"

After she finished filming "IRIS" successfully, the director, Yang Yoon Ho, provided an interesting suggestion to her. He suggested Kim Tae Hee appear in his new movie "Grand Prix" as a female protagonist named Seo Joo Hee. Seo Joo Hee has lost her confidence due to an accident that happened during a horse race. She gives up everything and goes to Jeju Island, and there she meets Woo Seok (Yang Dong Geun). She becomes encouraged by his help and challenges herself again by participating in the biggest horse racing championship.

Kim said, "Seo Joo Hee was not a complicated or difficult character to play and she was not an attractive character, either. But, I decided to appear in his movie thanks to the director's enthusiastic suggestion. I felt trust in him accumulated while filming 'IRIS,' so I just decided to trust him again."

Seo Joo Hee was a jockey who aimed for the Grand Prize, so the ability to ride a horse was the most essential part of portraying the character, and the harmony with a horse was also very important. But, it was not an easy task. Kim had to overcome her previous trauma of falling off a horse that she experienced when filming the movie "The Restless (2006)," which was the most difficult part of appearing in that movie. She said, "I had a huge fear about horses, so I had to agonize over this before filming the movie. I also watched a DVD about a horse entitled 'Lump sugar,' and I learned in the epilogue of the movie that cast members had been kicked by a horse and thrown off a horse, and so on. It was like a disaster and I regretted my decision to appear in this movie. When we undertook a Gosa ritual for the success of the movie, I prayed that no one or no horse would be hurt while filming the movie. But, after about a month of filming with horses, I could not help but become attached to the horses. As I stayed with the horses while filming, they even looked pretty and cute to me. And acting with them also was done successfully.”

In the movie, actor Yang Dong Geun added rhythms in his lines as if he was rapping, and it looked like his fellow actors would feel difficulty while acting together with him. Kim Tae Hee commented about him, “Yang Dong Geun delivered ad libs which been planned in advance. It looked like that he came up with an ad lib naturally while acting, but actually, he planned it previously and even won the approval by the director, and performed it while acting very naturally. He wrote his own lines, and thanks to that, my lines were reduced” (laugh). Actor Yang Dong Geun played an important part in the movie, but actually, it was not too much to say that “Grand Prix” was a movie only for the actress, Kim Tae Hee. Asked about her feelings after watching the movie, Kim answered confidently, “After the success of ‘IRIS,’ I seem to have become greedy about success. After watching the movie, I felt ashamed and sorry for my lack of something. But anyway, people might be able to discover the totally new acting of Kim Tae Hee that could not be found before in any other work.”

The movie will be released on September 16, which is right before the biggest holiday season, Chuseok. But six other Korean movies including “Quiz King,” ”Cyrano Agency,” ”A Better Tomorrow, 2010,” ”Who Are You?” and “Oki’s Movie” will be released concurrently in the same period. Also, the movie must square off against the Hollywood movie “Resident Evil 4” and the animation movie, “Super Bad,” which has gained huge popularity in the US. Kim Tae Hee said, “The movie ‘A Better Tomorrow, 2010’ is a blockbuster movie which is a remake of the famous original Hong Kong movie with the same title, and the movie ‘Cyrano Agency,’ whose script I have already read, is a romantic comedy movie with an exciting subject. I worried whether my movie could become successful in competition with those movies, but actually my movie is a very good movie as well (laugh). In addition, I think that my movie is a very good family movie that children and adults can enjoy watching together during the Chuseok holidays. The racing scene of the movie is also very dynamic and exciting.”

Kim Tae Hee, who is thirty-one years old, said that she no boyfriend now, but that she wanted to get married before she reached her forties. She added, “Right now, I do not feel inconvenient or lonely about being alone, but I think that I might have to marry someday when I become older. I just want to have a happy life while having fun with my future husband by sharing our positive energy. I am a kind of serious person who sometimes criticizes things. I used to be a positive person before, but I think that my job has influenced me to become a somewhat negative person because I have been criticized so far (laugh). I get my feelings hurt and when I feel better, I get my feelings hurt again. So I want to meet someone who can always put his arms around me to heal my wounds and who can always stand by my side.”

She defined herself as a person who tends to be jealous. She does not have any particular rival, but whenever she sees a good actor and a woman with a perfect figure, she reportedly always pledges to herself that she will try her best even more. She also said that she wanted to keep the nicknames about her such as “Goddess” and “perfect appearance” as long as possible, but more than that, she has huge ambitions about acting. She said, “I want to work with every famous director in Korea and I want to play various characters. I want to become an artist who maintains my popularity and is beloved by many people.”

Kim Tae Hee has been reborn as an actress from a TV commercial star. After ten years since her debut, she is dreaming about taking off again as a "real actress," and she seems to have begun enjoying her job as an actress. This is why people have to keep their eyes on her. Kim continued, “When I first performed as a model, everything -- even striking a pose -- was difficult for me and I had been severely scolded. But from the moment when I came to understand the process of filming commercials, I finally began feeling excitement while performing. Since then, I used to feel more excited while filming a commercial and I used to release the stress from acting by participating in producing a commercial. But right now, the set for filming a drama or movie is a much more exciting place for me” (laugh).

Source: KBS Global

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September 14, 2010

[iNTERVIEW] Korean actor Jun Tae-su

Reporter: Wee Geun-woo Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk Editor: Lucia Hong Editor: Jang Kyung-Jin

Interview with Korean actor Jun Tae-su

Korean actor Jun Tae-su [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

My name is Jun Tae-su. I had thoughts of using a stage name like my sister but I decided to use my real name because people say Jun Tae-su has a good vibe to it. I was born on March 2, 1984.

I have three older sisters. My second oldest sister is Korean actress Ha Ji-won and my other two sisters are both married. My oldest sister's son is in second grade and is quite fond of me. I think it's because I have a lot of video and computer games in my room.

I used to play soccer on the Suwon Samsung Youth team. I was right wing and I sometimes moved to the top. I was the kind of player that would dribble the ball and score a goal rather than being a striker. And then I had to quit when I was a freshmen in high school because my father was strongly against it. I think it also had to do with my uncles that were injured while playing a sport. I still continue to cheer on the Suwon Samsung soccer team. The international team that I root for is of course Manchester United because of player Park Ji-sung.

My all-time favorite soccer player is Ko Jong-su. He is particularly memorable because I decided to play soccer after watching his skills during his glory days on the Suwon Samsung team. It was quite sad seeing him retire after going through many ups and downs.

I starred in the movie "The Madonna" without auditioning for it because actress Ku Hye-sun asked me if I would. I agreed to do the movie without reading the script but later when I saw the movie the visuals turned out extremely beautifully. If terms of content, the film could be said to be a bit ambiguous and serious.

As a director, Ku Hye-sun is the type who leaves everything entirely up to the actor. She believes that actors know their characters well and can do a good job of bringing them to life.

We shot 80 scenes per day during the two days and three nights I shot the movie "K&J Fate." It was an unbelievable amount but it was possible because they have already decided on the continuity and the angles of the movie. I really spent all my time filming the movie outside the time I spent eating. The movie was filmed in the Jeongseon County [located in the Eastern part of Korea] in November and my character K didn't wear a shirt. It was really cold and my body was shaking but I endured it because K was a rather strong and noir-type character.

Ha Ji-won as an older sister is definitely just an older sister. (laugh) But our daily conversations revolve around our work after I started working. She monitors what I do and gives me advice on what to do and what not to do.

It takes a great amount of effort to shoot each scene for KBS' "SungKyunKwan Scandal." The director is quite the greedy type. He shoots scenes at various angles. We still have quite an amount of time left but I feel we might start shooting up till right before the show goes on air. (laugh)

I am currently a student in the school of plastic arts at Seowon University. I haven't been able to go to school because I've been busy with the drama. However, I want to graduate and learn more about my major. I would like to create plastic art works that will express my experiences when I am in my mid-thirties and then open up a gallery to display my work.

What I really want to learn right now is scuba diving. My sister (Ha Ji-won) learned it for a movie and I wanted to learn with her but I was set to appear in a drama. If I'm going to learn I want to learn the proper way to scuba dive and get my license as well. I'm learning how to shoot an arrow through "SungKyunKwan Scandal" but I don't think I will be able to do it properly since I learned it over such a short time period.

I'm living on my own right now because of my busy schedule. My manager is my roommate and as a roommate...(looks over at his manager) I have no comment. (laugh)

Reporter: Wee Geun-woo eight@ Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@ Editor: Lucia Hong luciahong@, Jang Kyung-Jin three@ <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia

Korean actor Jun Tae-su poses during an interview with 10Asia.

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

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September 14, 2010

Yoon Son-ha says book tries to show simple cultures of Japan

Reporter: Lee Jong-gil Editor: Jessica Kim

Yoon Son-ha [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]

Korean actress Yoon Son-ha has said she did her best to show the simple cultures that exist in Japan through her recently published photo essay book "Tokyo Sonagi."

She made the remark on Tuesday at an event celebrating the publishing of her book which is about her ten-year life in Tokyo and her favorite locations in the city.

"I tried to include all the incidents I experienced while living in Japan for ten years and put an effort into showing the simple culture that is hidden in the back rather than the splendid image that Japan is represented by," Yoon stated. She then reminisced on her life in Japan, saying she even lived in "a small town named Yebisu rather than the noisy Harajuku or Shibuya."

Yoon also thanked everyone who helped her write the book, explaining that she asked for advice many of her Japanese friends and friends who have visited Japan. "I wrote the book thinking a lot about what could come off as new to all Koreans, not just me. I received a lot of advice particularly from actress Yoo Min."

Yoon, 34, debuted in Korea in 1994 through a TV series but has also been pursuing an acting career in Japan since 2001. She will be making a comeback to the Korean small screen for the first time in three years later this month through "Fugitive Plan B," starring top Korean celebrities Rain and Lee Na-young.

Reporter: Lee Jong-gil leemean @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved>

Actress Yoon Son-ha holds up her essay book titled "Tokyo Sonagi" at an event celebrating its publishing held at a cafe in the south of Seoul, South Korea on September 14, 2010.

Yoon Son-ha [Park Sung-ki/Asia Econoimc Daily]

Actress Yoon Son-ha shows off a Japanese dish she has made at an event celebrating the publishing of her essay book titled "Tokyo Sonagi" held at a cafe in the south of Seoul, South Korea on September 14, 2010.

Photographer: Park Sung-Ki musictok @ Editor: Jessica Kim jesskim @ <Ⓒ 10Asia All rights reserved> 10Asia 1 l 2 l 3

September 15, 2010

Actress Yoon Son-ha poses at the launch of her travel book in Seoul on Tuesday.

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 14, 2010

Actress Ham So-won allegedly dating Chinese tycoon’s son

Actress Ham So-won, 35, is reported to have been dating the son of a Chinese realtor tycoon in Beijing. She is active in China.

One of the largest portals in China, Sina.com, said Tuesday that Ham was dating Zhang Wei, 29, the son of a Chinese real estate tycoon and showed photos of the pair in a car. Zhang is reportedly one of the “eight Lamborghini Princes” among China’s rich _ he is said to own seven deluxe cars, including a Porsche along with the Lamborghini.

It is reported that Ham was asked out by Zhang at a party she attended with her acquaintance. He is reported to have been very impressed by her, but thought she was Chinese and not an actress. The pair traveled to a remote Buddhist temple. “They are not dating. They are acquaintances,” said a close aide to Ham in a telephone interview with a Korean sports daily on the Internet story. “They are at the stage of understanding each other.”

Meanwhile, the former Miss Korea was reported to have dated a member of a Taiwanese pop group, Comic Boys, last year but she denied the rumor, saying, “I have not dated him.”

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

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September 14, 2010

Lee Byung-hun named tourism ambassador for California

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Korean actor Lee Byung-hun [Official Lee Byung-hun website]

Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun has been named the US state of California's ambassador for tourism, according to a press release from his agency BH Entertainment on Tuesday.

BH announced in a press release Lee will be appointed the tourism ambassador for the California Travel & Tourism Commission tomorrow at a commissioning ceremony to be held at the JW Marriott Hotel.

Governor of state Arnold Schwarzenegger will be present at the event - he is in Korea for discussions on "Globalizing Trade and Investment" as well as tourism to California.

Lee's duties as the tourism ambassador will include informing Korean travelers of the appeals of visiting California.

Lee, 40, is one of the most popular actors in Korea with dozens of television dramas and films under his belt. He last starred in Korean blockbuster TV series "IRIS" last year while also making his Hollywood debut in the action flick "GI Joe" and in "I Come With The rain."

Most recently he starred in Korean thriller "I Saw The Devil" alongside actor Choi Min-sik and helmed by critically acclaimed director Kim Ji-woon which is currently playing in local theaters.

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

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September 14, 2010

Korean pic "Take Off" to open Japanese film festival

Reporter: Lucia Hong Editor: Jessica Kim

Movie poster of Korean movie "Take Off" [KM Culture]

Korean movie "Take Off," starring Ha Jung-woo, has been chosen as the opening film at a Japanese film festival which kicks off this Friday.

According to a press release from Ha's agency NOA Entertainment, the actor and director Kim Yong-hwa will be attending the opening ceremony for the 3rd Old Town Taito International Comedy Film Festival (S.H.I.T.A COME), to be held in Tokyo on September 17.

S.H.I.T.A COME, the first full-scale international film festival screening only comedy movies, is held for four days in the Taito City of Tokyo.

"Take Off," inspired by a true story about a group of ski jumpers who prepare to compete during the Winter Olympics, has attracted nearly 8.4 million moviegoers since opening in theaters in Korea on July 29 last year and is currently the twelfth most-watched film in the country to date.

The sports movie has won various awards at other films festivals including the Readers' Jury Award at Buil Film Festival and Best Director, Music and Technology awards at the Busan Film Critics Association Awards.

"Take Off" will premiere in Japan on October 23.

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

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September 14, 2010

Chuseok: prime time for couch potatoes

By Han Sang-hee

Chuseok is the time for migrating home en masse, or for couch potatoes, the perfect time to camp out in front of the screen. TV networks are offering a colorful array of programs for the big holiday and travelers can even tune into fun programs en route through IPTV, to make the long road trip less grueling.

Major television networks KBS, MBC, SBS, EBS and the English channel Arirang TV are gearing up for one of the biggest holidays in Korea, albeit amid lingering doubts whether they are properly prepared for the annual occasion. Some have, while others simply repackaged their shows into a bundle of Chuseok specials.

While cable channels steal the spotlight with smart and original programs, it takes more these days to captivate viewers and hopefully, networks will learn some lessons after the holiday season is over.

KBS is aiming to schedule programs fit for the whole family, from middle-aged mothers, seniors, students and children, a clever distinction from other networks. The documentary "Mother and Daughter" (Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m.) will reevaluate the true meaning of maternal love as a mother and daughter journey to Wando, South Jeolla Province, while numerous regional documentaries aim to showcase the essence of Korean tradition and culture. Through shows such as "Global Family" (Sept. 22, 6 p.m.), KBS is also looking to introduce the friendlier side of such families and also help them more easily fit into local society, especially during the holiday season.

MBC is basically bringing back their most popular shows wrapped in a Chuseok package. "Just Married" (Sept. 21, 4:40 p.m.), Saturday Night (Sept. 22, 4:40 p.m.) and "Infinity Challenge" (Sept. 23, 4:40 p.m.) will meet viewers in a special shortened version, while new programs only make up a small part of the overall holiday scheduling. "Actress’ Butler" (Sept. 21, 6:10 p.m.) is hoping to captivate young female viewers with its young and pretty-faced cast, while "Idol Star Trot Competition" (Sept. 22, 6:10 p.m.) and "2010 Star Dance Contest" (Sept. 23, 6:10 p.m.) will highlight talented young artists competing for the final crown of trot and dance.

Fellow network SBS will be a festival of entertainment shows. "Story Show" (Sept. 20, 11:10 p.m.) will bring back actor Lee Deok-hwa as a host for the first time in 20 years, while "Star Real Match" (Sept. 21, 6:15 p.m.) will show never-before-scenes from dramas, music videos and movies hosted by top comedians Shin Dong-yeop and Lee Su-geun. "Fantastic Star Couples" ( Sept. 22, 6:15 p.m.) will match up some of the most popular idol stars together and have them compete in various games, quiz shows and contests and also have some of the stars show off their singing and dancing skills.

As an education channel, EBS is planning to offer some of its best documentaries, including "Koreanosaurus" (Sept.21, 11:10 p.m.) and "Mankind of the Korean Peninsula" (Sept. 23, 11:10 p.m.) perfect to please both the younger and older crowd.

"Koreanosaurus" features the dinosaurs that roamed the peninsula 80 million years ago. Filmed in New Zealand, the program offers the heartwarming story of a Tarbosaurus, from birth to old age. The documentary was also screened in 3D last year, and although the show will not be able to boast its 3D imagery on the small screen, viewers will get to learn and enjoy the life and challenges Korean dinosaurs went through.

Viewers can also get a glimpse of the first inhabitants of the Korean peninsula through the documentary "Mankind of the Korean Peninsula." The program received rave reviews after its first airing last June, with convincing computer graphics and an interesting storyline where the first species of man, also known as homo erectus, journeyed around Korea hunting mammoths, making tools and struggling to survive.

Along with high quality documentaries, the broadcaster will also present full length animation films including "Mulan" (Sept. 21, 10:40 a.m.) and "The Incredibles" (Sept. 22, 10:40 a.m.), plus a special program of some of the world’s best artists performing in Petra, Jordan, to celebrate the birthday of the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti (Sept. 20, 11:10 p.m.)

English network Arirang TV is planning a special project that features five film directors ― Bae Chang-ho, Yun Tae-yong, Jeon Gye-su, Mun Seong-ock and Kim Seong-ho ― working in five difference cities across the country: Seoul, Chuncheon, Incheon, Busan and Jeju.

From Sept. 20 to 24, the English network will offer each of the works made by the directors.

The five films were shown at two theatres, Sponge House and Arthouse Momo last April and May, while the Chuncheon film was screened at the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival last year and the Busan and Jeju films at the Jeonju International Film Festival this year.

The topics range from mystery, travel to documentary and trendy city life and the network is expected to blow a breath of fresh air in terms of film to viewers all around the world.

One film will air each night from Sept. 20 to 24 at 11 p.m.

Source: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 15, 2010

Bae Yong-joon Wins Corporate Sponsor for Wine Book

Kim Young-ho (left) and Bae Yong-joon

Korean Wave superstar Bae Yong-joon's planned wine travelogue is being sponsored by Il Shin Spinning CEO Kim Young-ho. Starting this November, Bae, a wine aficionado, plans to visit Romane Conti of France and other famous vineyards to talk to renowned vintners and write about them.

Bae and Kim have known each other for years. The CEO runs a firm that imports products directly from Romane Conti, Opus One and other global wine producers under an exclusive contract.

Kim looked into Bae's project at a recent gathering and decided to sponsor it, setting up visits and interviews with the heads of not only the Romane Conti winery, but also in Napa Valley in the U.S., as well as vineyards in Chile and other parts of the world. Kim said Bae's contribution "will enable Korea's wine industry to develop further."

Kim is well known for his love of wine as well as the arts.

Source: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 15, 2010

Sugary romances on big screen for Chuseok

By Lee Hyo-won

"Cyrano Agency" will open Thursday in time for Chuseok. /Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

Chuseok is the time for migrating home en masse, or for film buffs, the perfect time to camp out in front of the big screen.

The cinema lineup this year was mostly marked by hardboiled action flicks and ruthless, skin-crawling thrillers. While Won Bin’s bloody drama "The Man From Nowhere" continues to top the box office with more than 5.1 million viewers as of Sept. 5, a couple of romantic dramas will open Thursday for the mellow fall season.

Koreans have a soft spot for tragic melodrama, and even romantic comedies often cannot escape the traps of tragicomedies. On the post-"My Sassy Girl" Korean cinema scene the romantic comedy genre has repeatedly suffered from the problem of trying to substantiate silly slapstick with a dose of heartbreaking drama, ending up with something that dabbles in comedy and tragedy in a messy, bipolar fashion.

Kim Hyun-seok has contributed relatively solid stories about matters of the heart such as "When Romance Meets Destiny," and brings a breath of fresh air to the local batch of romantic comedies with his latest offering, "Cyrano Agency" (Lotte Entertainment). As much as it realizes an award-winning script the director penned 15 years ago, the film is seamlessly crafted and brims with hearty laughs and drama.

Before delving into the storyline, the film’s title needs a little explanation. Some may be familiar with French playwright Edmond Rostand’s "Cyrano de Bergerac," of which the silver screen adaptation starring Gerard Depardieu is well known. Cyrano is a romantic poet-army officer, who, embarrassed by his large nose, cannot confess his love for the beautiful Roxanne. When he learns that one of his cadets, the handsome Christian, is also wooing Roxanne, he ends up being the ghost writer for the younger man’s love letters.

The film’s namesake Cyrano Agency offers a similar cupid service for those lost in love in modern-day Seoul. The agency is actually comprised of members of a theater troupe, which, out of financial desperation, found a lucrative way to reap profits from the romantically hopeless. And so, equipped with fine actors, director, costume designer and scriptwriter, as well as an array of C.I.A-worthy gadgets, the group conspires to line up the constellation and stage the picture-perfect scenario to entice an unsuspecting target.

Eom Tae-woong stars as Byeong-hun, the mastermind of the clandestine business. His latest client is Sang-yong ("High Kick Through the Roof" star Choi Daniel making his big screen debut), a rich and handsome, highly eligible bachelor who is rather incompetent when it comes to love. Byeong-hun, however, is surprised to learn that Sang-yong’s object of affection is none other than his ex-girlfriend Heui-jong (high-in-demand actress Lee Min-jeong), a rather mysterious beauty with a knack for riding Vespas. It becomes rather difficult for Byeon-hun to maintain his cool business facade as he is forced to face old skeletons in his closet, while his fellow Cyrano agent Min-yeong (Park Shin-hye assumes a more grown up role) begins to suspect his past may hinder the business’ 99.9-percent success rate.

Song Sae-byeok and Ryu Hyeon-kyeong, who co-starred in "The Servant," serve dashes of fine humor.

Another romantic drama on offer for Chuseok is "Grand Prix" (Sidus FNH). Yang Yun-ho, who directed the blockbuster TV series "IRIS," teams up with its leading lady Kim Tae-hee for action on horseback.

Finally we have a heroine propelling the action sequences onscreen, and Kim is still really pretty, even when she’s coated in sweat and horse dung while wearing white spandex that’s, well, far from sexy. Unfortunately that is all that must be said about the so-called sports drama. This doesn’t mean to say it doesn’t capture the charms, albeit superficial, of horseback riding, but it stops short of skimming the surface of a potentially rich drama and meaningful character development. Instead, it reverts to the cliched formulas of conventional local melodramas, which are never complete without complicated romantic histories involving parents that suggest a zero degree of separation among Koreans.

Kim plays the role of Jun-heui, an ambitious young woman set to make waves on the equestrian scene. One day she loses her beloved horse in an accident, and decides to quit the sport. She takes off on a trip for Jeju Island, where she meets U-seok (Yang Dong-keun), an equestrian champion experiencing a similar slump.

It’s a classic girl-meets-boy _ or rather beauty-meets-the-beast _ tale in which the girl is transformed as both an individual and athlete in order to take that extra leap of faith. Kim, who is considered one of the most beautiful women in Korea, is strategically paired with Yang, the country’s favorite oddball persona who has returned from a two-year military hiatus.

The odd coupling works somewhat in the beginning, with Yang, whose mere presence onscreen is enough to inspire laughter. The rest of the romance is served on horseback rides amid the pastoral, golden sunset-hued scenery of Jeju and larger-than-life proposals of love involving departing airplanes. But we’ve seen it all in TV dramas, and there seems to be little merit to watching it on the big screen unless you’re looking for a lighthearted date movie.

Source: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr