[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

[Guest CindyW88]

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Celebrities attending the opening ceremony of “The 10th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF, 10회 부산국제영화제)” held on 10/6/05:

Son Tae Young (손태영)

Jo In Sung (조인성)

Lee Byung Hun (이병헌)

Park Joon Hoon and Kim Ming Jong (박중훈, 김민종)

Ha Ji Won and Kang Dong Won (하지원, 강동원)

Soo Ae (수애)

Um Ji Won (엄지원)

Jackie Chan and Kim Hee Sun (성룡, 김희선)

Ryu Seung Bum and Gong Hyo Jin (류승범, 공효진)

Kim Min Jung (김민정)

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[Guest adikkeluangman]

Lee Byung-heon to meet Tsumabuki Satoshi

2005-10-07

Actors Lee Byung-heon, 35, and Tsumabuki Satoshi, 24, both regarded to be

among the most handsome actors in their home countries, will meet at the Pusan

International Film Festival, reported the festival's organizers. The two will hold

an "open talk" at the Paradise Hotel on Oct. 8 at noon.

Satoshi has a large fan base in Korea. His popularity rose because of his

passionate acting in the TV dramas "Lunch no Joou" and "Josee, The Tiger And

The Fish," which aired in Korea.

Lee and Satoshi were invited to the festival for their respective movies "A

Bittersweet Life" (directed by Kim Ji-un) and "Haru no Yuki" (directed by Yukisada

Isao). The festival's organizers have prepared an open-talk event featuring the

two actors, who enjoy enormous popularity in their home countries.

Meanwhile, other events to be held during the festival include an outdoor event at

the PIFF Square in Sampo-dong that will feature the directors and cast of invited

films, including "Three Times" (starring Chang Chen), "Hold Up Down" (starring

Go Morita and Yoshihiko Inohara), "The Myth" (starring Jackie Chan and Kim Hee-

sun, and directed by Stanley Tong), "Love Is A Crazy Thing" (starring Chun Mi-sun

and Jang Hyun-sung, and directed by Oh Suk-kun), "The Shoe Fairy" (starring

Vivian Hsu and Duncan Lai, and directed by Lee Yun-chan), "Duelist" (starring

Kang Dong-won and directed by Lee Myung-se), and "Everlasting Regrets"

(starring Sammi Cheng, and directed by Stanley Kwan), among others.

A hand-printing event that will be held at the same venue will feature the

handprints of the late director Lee Man-hee, Japanese director Seijun Suzuki, and

French director Claude Lelouch.

c: KBS Global News

[rubie]

Friday, October 07, 2005

2005/10/06 21:57 KST

Pusan Film Festival opens amid tight security

By Shim Sun-ah

BUSAN, Oct. 6 (Yonhap) -- The curtain was raised on the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) amid tight security here Thursday night with a red-carpet screening of the Taiwanese love story "Three Times" by director Hou Hsiao Hsien.

Busan Mayor Hur Nam-sik, the festival's chief organizer, declared the event open with some 5,500 film industry figures, fans and journalists packing the Haeundae Yachting Center Outdoor Theater on the eastern tip of this port city.

A variety of art shows and firework displays followed Hur's speech to turn Busan into a "cinema paradise" for nine days until Oct. 14.

This year's PIFF will feature a rich lineup of 307 films from 73 countries around the world, including 63 world premieres and 87 Asian regional premieres. Organizers say the lineup demonstrates Busan's heightened status in the world as a hub of the Asian film industry.

"Wedding Campaign," a melodrama about two South Korean farmers in their late 30s who travel to Uzbekistan to meet their future brides, will close the festival.

An unprecedented 160 South Korean movie stars, including Jeon Ji-hyeon, Jang Dong-gun and Kwon Sang-woo, film directors and producers were to visit the festival to promote their latest works.

World-renowned French director Jean-Jacques Annaud, known for "Seven Years in Tibet" and "The Name of the Rose," and Claude Lelouch of "A Man and a Woman," as well as Bulgarian top actress Vesela Kazakova will be among the high-profile guests at the festival.

Kazakova, who was honored with the best actress award at this year's Moscow International Film Festival for her role in "Stolen Eyes," will promote the film at the festival.

Japanese maestro Suzuki Seijun, kung fu movie star Jackie Chan and Hong Kong director Fruit Chan have also been invited.

During the opening ceremony, fans screamed and scrambled to get a better glimpse of their favorite stars as they walked to take a seat during the ceremony.

Security was tight at the opening ceremony as the event came days after suicide bombings in the Indonesian resort island of Bali killed 22 people and injured 146 others.

Movie fans who arrived at the Outdoor Theater for the opening ceremony had to wait in long lines to pass security checkpoints. They were asked to open their bags to ensure they contained no suspicious materials.

Some police officers were spotted asking students not to run inside the theater complex apparently out of concern in the wake of Monday's stampede during a music concert in the southeastern city of Sangju, where 11 people were trampled to death and 96 others were injured.

This year's PIFF, now enjoying its 10th anniversary, opened 50 days ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit slated for Nov. 18-19 in the same city.

After a series of bombings killed or wounded hundreds of people in London and Bali, festival organizers said they will deploy more guards and police officers than in previous years to prevent participants from possible terrorist attacks.

sshim@yna.co.kr

(END)

Source: Yonhap News

http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20051006/...06215727E8.html

[Guest banana_milk]

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Ryu Seung Bum and Gong Hyo Jin (류승범, 공효진)

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holy crap! are they going out again??

[Guest lemonhl]

yes, HJ used LEE as his surname before.

but he changed back JO, which is his real surname.

here is the link to download the song you heard in the clip.

it's from the first and the only record of "Guardian".

슬픈 인연

clip of OY

credit: www.johyunjae.cn

source: http://cafe.daum.net/hyeonjae35

http://cafe.daum.net/hyunjaeAnPam

[rubie]

[PIFF] Stars Spice Up Pusan's Night

By Kim Tae-jong

Staff Reporter

Jackie Chan and Kim Hee-sun -------------- Im Kwon-taek, left, and Park Joong-hoon

Splendidly dressed up to show off their beauty and charm, celebrities always make the festival more cheerful and exciting as they walk the red carpet into the venue in the opening ceremony.

Local actors and stars from abroad under the spotlight at this year’s event included Ryu Seung-beom, Kim Hee-sun, Han Chae-young, Tsai Ming Liang, Tsumabuki Satoshi and Jackie Chan.

Also present were dignitaries from various areas including pianist Paik Kun-woo, Paik’s wife actress Yun Jeong-hee, designer Andre Kim and Kyonggi Province mayor Sohn Hak-kyu.

Kang Dong-won, left, and Ha Ji-won --- Uhm Ji-won

Su Ae ------------------- Tsumabuki Satoshi

BoA

Source: The Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...14390611720.htm

[Guest peachys2sleep]

reposting this again

DON'T TAKE THIS TRANSLATION OUT OF HERE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND CREDIT ME WHEN ITS USED

HERE IN SOOMPI!!!!!!!!

HyunBin-Lee YeonHee couple is behind the Kang DongWon- Lee ChungAh couple.

On the 2nd of this month, HyunBin and Lee YeonHee were casted in the movie “A Millionare’s First Love” (Produced by Boram Films, Directed by Kim TaeGyun)

Kim EunSook, writer of “A Millionaire’s First Love”, whose screenplay for “Wolf’s Tempation” catapulted Kang DongWon to stardom also wrote the scripts for “Lovers in Paris” and “Lovers in Prague.

In the film, HyunBin’s character is the second generation of a powerful finanical group that transfers to a country side school where he meets his first love, Lee YeonHee and falls deeply in love with her.

HyunBin, who got the nickname “SamShikkie” from his drama “My name is Kim Sam Soon” has a strong desire to shed of his youth image. He was also in the film “spinkick” but this is his first time as the leading character in a movie.

Lee YeonHee has been casted in the KBS2 dramas “God of Sea” “Ressurection” and starred in various commercials such as those for Pizza Hut, Encecia and Happy Echo whose clean and pure image has made her a teenage star. SM Entertainment says “ We’ll go with nice shoes (meaning that there is no official signed contract).”

Although she’s had a lot of offers for dramas and movies, she hasn’t been able to show her actress image. The young actress says of her movie debut that she will “ act as hard as she can with all (she’s) learned”

탤런트 현빈-이연희 커플이 강동원-이청아 커플의 뒤를 잇는다.

현빈과 이연희는 2일 크랭크인되는 영화 ‘백만장자의 첫사랑’(감독 김태균ㆍ제작 보람영화사)의 남녀주인공으로 캐스팅됐다.

‘백만장자의 첫사랑’은 강동원을 스크린의 톱스타 반열에 올린 ‘늑대의 유혹’의 2탄으로 드라마 ‘파리의 연인’과 ‘프라하의 연인’을 집필한, 김은숙 작가가 시나리오를 맡게 돼 화제를 모으고 있다.

현빈은 이번 영화에서 전학간 시골 학교에서 첫사랑 이연희를 만나 때묻지 않은 사랑에 빠지게 되는 재벌 2세 캐릭터를 맡았다.

현빈은 최근 드라마 ‘내 이름은 김삼순’에서 ‘삼식이’란 별명을 얻으며 청춘 스타로 이미 입지를 굳혀 차기작에 많은 관심을 모아 왔다. 영화 ‘돌려차기’에 출연한 바 있지만 단독 남자주인공을 맡기는 이번이 처음이다.

신예 이연희는 KBS 2TV 드라마 ‘해신’, ‘부활’ 등과 피자헛, 엔시아, 해피앤코 등 CF를 통해 깨끗하고 청순한 이미지로 주목받은 하이틴 스타다. SM엔터테인먼트의 한 관계자는 “구두로 출연을 합의했다.

그 동안 드라마 주연급으로 많은 제의를 받아왔지만 영화를 통해 연기자로서 본격적인 모습을 보여주게 됐다. 스크린 데뷔작에서 여주인공을 맡았지만 착실히 연기 지도를 받아 온 만큼 잘 해낼 것이다”고 밝혔다.

이인경 기자 lik@sportshankook.co.kr

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/cinet/200...07224558470.htm

[rubie]

OCTOBER 07, 2005 07:35

In New MBC Drama, A Good Wife and Mother Marries a Braggart

The phrase “a good wife and wise mother” is no longer the ideal model for a woman nowadays. In a world where women’s’ rights are respected and their advancement in society encouraged, the traditional good wife and wise mother model is equivalent to unilateral sacrifice and subordination for an increasing number of women. Then to modern girls and guys, is the traditional model no more desirable?

A new TV drama poses this question to us. A new weekend drama of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) titled “Will You Marry Me” offers the opportunity to think about what a good wife and wise mother model means in the modern world.

It tells an enjoyable story of ordinary women of marriageable age, their worries, weddings, and marital lives, and describes what the position and meaning of a woman in a family can be.

A 33-year-old Hong Na-young, a vain old maid, is a manager of a wedding promotion agency. Being almost mid-thirty, she often gets stressed because others pressure her to get married. When determined to do something, she sticks it out, and her life dream now is getting married. Although she is admired by others to be successful in her career, she secretly dreams of being a good wife and wise mother.

Her character is played by Kang Seong-yeon (29) in her return to the screen 20 months after she took part in “The Boss,” a Korea Broadcasting System drama. “When I read the script, it felt like my own story. I’ll try to show a candid story of women of marriageable ages,” she said.

The drama doesn’t only tell the story from the female side. Marriage is just as momentous to men as it is to women. Actor Yun Da-hoon (42) represents men’s view about marriage in the drama. His comeback is also a long-waited one. He hasn’t appeared on TV since 2003 when he was involved in a violence case.

His role is 37-year-old bachelor Jeong Jae-won, a manager of the sales department at an import car dealer. Being a braggart and show-off, his life’s dream is marrying a girl of “good qualifications.” One day, he meets Na-young on a blind date arranged by a matchmaking agency. Despite the disapproval of their families, they get married.

You may think this gives away the story, but this part is just the appetizer. The main menu, their exciting life as a married couple, is waiting.

“I really hoped to be able to act again in front of a camera,” Yun said.

Along with the main characters’ story, an obstetrics intern, Jeong Jae-jun (Bae Su-bin), who dreams of being a good husband and wise father, and Kwon Eun-son (Lee So-yeon), a colleague of Na-young, show their own marriages to be more cool-headed and realistic.

Source: The Dong-A Ilbo

http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?...d=2005100751928

[rubie]

Updated Oct.7,2005 20:46 KST

All Eyes on Jeon Ji-hyun's Unfinished 'Daisy'

Jeon Ji-hyun may soon stroll down the red carpet at one of the big three international film festivals, as organizers in Berlin, Cannes and Venice are said to be keeping a close eye on Wai Keung Lau’s yet-to-be-finished film “Daisy”, which stars Jeon alongside fellow Koreans Jung Woo-sung and Lee Sung-jae. The movie is produced by iFilm.

Many influential industry people are in Korea to attend the 10th Pusan International Film Festival, which started Thursday, and many of them are asking if there is a chance of a sneak preview of “Daisy.” Venice festival director Marco Muller and Berlin festival director Dieter Kosslick will both come to a promotional event for the film at the Chosun Hotel in Busan on Saturday. A number of Cannes programmers will attend as well.

According to lingering rumors, they are particularly interested in Jeon, whose popularity practically makes any movie she stars in a guaranteed box-office hit. Titled “A Night With Daisy”, the event is designed for people in the domestic and foreign film industry and will show snippets from the movie, which is in post-production.

The stars of the movie and the director will be at the event to talk to the press. “Daisy” is scheduled for simultaneous release in eight Asian countries, including Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in late January.

Hong Kong director Lau, best known for his “Infernal Affairs” series, in “Daisy” depicts the confrontation between a cop and a killer who fall in love with the same woman. Jung plays the killer, Lee the cop who chases him. Jeon, of course, is the tragic heroine loved by both men.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

Source: Digital Chosunilbo

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0510070020.html

[rubie]

10-07-2005

Pusan Meets the Stars

By Kim Rahn

Staff Reporter

Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan, on the stage, left, jokes with fans while South Korean actress Kim Hee-sun, center, and Hong Kong director Stanley Tong look on during a fan session for their film "The Myth" at PIFF Square in Nampo-dong, Friday. /Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Try as they might, the rain clouds could not cover up the stars in Pusan.

Brushing aside worries that the festival’s first star appearance would be ruined by rain, directors and actors waved their hands to fans who packed the PIFF Square in Nampo-dong yesterday. Cinephiles greeted the celebrities with a stream of flashes from mobile cameras.

Directors and casts of the three Asian films _ ``The Shoe Fairy,’’ ``The Myth’’ and ``The Moon Also Rises’’ _ kept expressing their gratitude to screaming fans. They also said they were worried about a stampede of fans trying to get a better look at them.

Vivian Hsu, heroine of ``The Shoe Fairy,’’ was the first to take the stage. She said hello to fans in Korean, ``I’m dying to see you.’’ Although the expression sounded awkward, it was answered with warm grins from the audience.

``The Shoe Fairy’’ is Taiwanese woman director Robin Lee Yun Chan’s first feature movie where Hsu plays a girl named Dodo with hero Duncan Lai.

``The film deals with the sad and gray stories behind the fairy tale, but Dodo searches for a happiness different from that of the fairy tale,’’ Lee said.

Hsu, also a singer, sang one of her songs impromptu.

When Jackie Chan and Kim Hee-sun, hero and heroine of ``The Myth,’’ got on the outdoor stage, Chan kept asking fans who tried to take pictures of the stars to take it easy, and the veteran actor posed for photographers and fans in every direction.

``It is my third visit to Pusan, and I’m touched that people always greet me like I’m a Korean. I’d like to return the welcome by making good films,’’ Chan said.

``While shooting ``The Myth,’’ I learned not only how to act but also how to live from good actors and the director. I hope more Korean actors and directors will have the chance to work with those of other nations,’’ Kim said.

Famous Taiwanese actress Yang Kuei Mei, who visited Pusan for the second time with ``The Moon Also Rises,’’ said Pusan is like a friend of hers. Yang also sang the main song in the film.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

10-07-2005 20:22

Source: The Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...20194811680.htm

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Updated Oct.9,2005 22:15 KST

Korean Wave Brings in Crowds at Pusan Film Fest

The 10th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) is the hottest ever, with an eye-boggling 153,000 tickets sold in the first three days of the festival. That is close to the 166,000 tickets sold during the whole of last year’s festival.

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan and Korean

actress Kim Hee-seon greets fans on Friday at the

10th Pusan International Film Festival, which

started the day before at the port city. Two actors

starred in the box-office success "The Myth."

One thing that is different is the large number of overseas visitors in the streets of Busan -- also spelled Pusan -- many of whom have come for a chance to see Korean stars popular in their countries close up. The PIFF’s strategy to bring a lot of Korean screen stars to the city has proved a resounding success.

The opening ceremony last Thursday drew some 300 Japanese women who came for a glimpse of stars at the forefront of a Korean Wave in Japan. They greeted the appearance of Lee Byung-hun with a huge cheer. About 100 Japanese fans were in the city on a special three-day PIFF opening ceremony package organized by a Japanese travel agency. They were especially conspicuous at outdoor events, where stars and fans could meet in person.

Even though Japan’s favorite son-in-law Bae Yong-joon or “Yonsama” had said he would not attend, tickets for the screening of his latest film “April Snow” sold like hot cakes. A PIFF official said Japanese fans started coming to Busan in 2003, when Bae’s “Scandal” was part of the program. “But I’ve never seen this many Japanese fans at previous festivals,” he said, adding the event was clearly benefiting from the Korean Wave.

This year’s PIFF also saw a sharp increase in the number of journalists; while 1,200 came last year, their numbers swelled to over 1,800 this year. Reporters from Japan and China numbered over 70, twice as many as in 2004.

At the press conference for “The Myth,” starring Jackie Chan and Kim Hee-seon, a freelance journalist from Japan said the main focus of his article was Kim, who is hugely popular in Japan, rather than the world-famous martial arts comedian. Press conferences resound with questions on the Korean Wave, with a reporter from Hong Kong asking Taiwanese film director Hou Hsiao-hsien which Korean star he would like to work with.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

Source: Digital Chosunilbo

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0510090018.html

[rubie]

10-09-2005

Open Talk: Lee Byung-hun and Tsumabuki Satoshi

Satoshi Wants to Work With Korean Directors Kim Ki-duk and Kim Ji-woon Meeting of Korean, Japanese Stars Japanese Star Gushes Over Korean Directors’ Talent

By Lee Jin-woo

Staff Reporter

``The `Korean wave’ in Japan is unbelievably huge. When I saw Korean movies including `Swiri’ and `Joint Security Area (JSA),’ I felt some kind of power that Koreans have, but Japanese don’t,’’ said actor Tsumabuki Satoshi yesterday during his talk with Korean actor Lee Byung-hun in this year’s Open Talk session at PIFF.

``If possible, I’d like to work with Korean directors such as Kim Ki-duk and Kim Ji-woon among so many excellent Korean directors and actors,’’ he added surrounded by some 200 reporters and another 200 screaming fans at the garden of the Paradise Hotel on Haeundae beach.

Satoshi, who has many fans in Korea after performing in such films as ``Water Boys’’ (2001) and ``Josee, the Tiger and the Fish’’ (2003), said it was his first visit to PIFF and that he was very surprised at the size of the event.

``In the last eight years of my acting career, I thought that acting is easy and that anybody can be an actor,’’ he said. ``However, I soon became frustrated and had a quite difficult time. After making strenuous efforts, I gradually learned how to focus on and enjoy acting. Now I’m so happy with my job that I don’t even need a hobby.’’

Lee, 35, who enjoys great popularity with thousands of Japanese female fans, advised Satoshi, who is 10 years younger than Lee, not to be afraid of various new experiences and challenging moments.

``If we give up experiencing many different feelings, it’ll prevent us from improving our capabilities as good actors,’’ said Lee. ``I hope you will keep on having various experiences and learn how to enjoy them.’’

Regarding the Korean pop culture boom in Asia, he said, ``I used to think about acting in a selfish way. I focused on all the joys and difficulties that I felt personally in the past, but (thanks to Korean wave) I’ve realized my acting could greatly influence others.’’

Asked to choose his best films, Lee picked ``Bungee Jumping of Their Own’’ (2001) and ``A Bittersweet Life’’ (2005).

During the one-hour outdoor talk, Satoshi left reporters, fans and some 20 body guards wondering as he suddenly disappeared for a few minutes. After returning, he confessed that his “blushing cheeks nature” had called him away because he felt quite uptight about the special event.

things@koreatimes.co.kr

10-09-2005 20:29

Source: The Korea Times

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...20270211680.htm

^ images from mydaily.co.kr, naver.com

---------------------------------------------

Repost Interview of Lee Byung Hun and Tsumabuki Satoshi

Credit to Ping at bhjwlove.com

Source: http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?Ne...510081306330200

Brief translation based on the Chinese translation by Ping at bhjwlove.com

(sorry for any mistakes)

Lee Byung Hun and Tsumabuki Satoshi held an "open talk" at the Paradise Hotel on Oct. 8 at noon ~~ Pusan Film Festival

On October 8, at 12.00pm, the Paradise Hotel outdoors garden, Pusan, Korean actor Lee Byung Hun and Japanese actor Tsumabuki Satoshi had an open session of “exchanging questions and answers”.

More than 300 reporters from both countries and about 1000 fans flooded the outdoor garden because both are popular actors from their respective countries.

The two actors met under the cloudless sky and noisy background. Lee Byung Hun appeared wearing brown leather jacket to the cheers of the audiences and Tsumabuki Satoshi in black suit with white shirt, bright smile on his face, also received cheers from few hundreds of female fans.

Satoshi’s movies were well received in Japan. His movie 'Eyes of spring’ was one of the invitation works in the Pusan International Film Festival, thus his visit to Pusan.

The following are the exchange of questions and answers by the two actors with the interviewer.

- The impression to participate in Pusan International Film Festival.

Lee: Pusan Film Festival is world renowned, I feel glad.

Satoshi: It seems to be a film festival which can benefit the movies, that represents Asian films. Movie people can show their enthusiasm in making good movies.

- Did you watch the movie performed by each other?

Lee: No kidding, it’s a refreshing feeling, very good.

Satoshi: He is very manly, cool and wonderful. The whole body is in action. I must learn from him. Hope that we can work together in the future.

-Feeling for Satoshi-

Lee: Saw his movie four days ago. Natural atmosphere plus his charms, personally I feel that in 'Preparation tiger and fish' (影' 虎そして魚') Satoshi’s charm is exposed to the utmost. And contradicting to his words, I am not an action movie actor. (He laughed)

Satoshi: Can’t express in Korean, sorry. I feel that because he knows Taekwondo, so his appearance in BSL was action packed, striking.

- As the representative of your country, what do you think of the change in Korean movies?

Lee: The South Korean movies have exceeded Asia and gain the world's attention. Like what is mentioned by foreign critics, the diversity of the South Korea movie material is attractive. This should be the property of the South Korea movie, and will become a challenging topic. If more changing viewpoints can be made in new movies, they should be somewhat competitive world-wide.

- Recently Korean movies are very popular in Japan, what is your idea as a Japanese actor

Satoshi: I heard that many popular actors and actresses from Korea caused the jam in Japanese airport. I have watched movies such as my 'Old boy', 'Joint Security Area- JSA', and 'Taegukgi'.

I felt the South Koreans have the zeal that the Japanese did not have from watching the South Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002. It is wished that through the “Hanllyu” boom the two countries will be able to have closer relationship. Hoping that I can work in movies with Korean directors and actors like LBH.

- What meaning it is to be an actor?

Lee: Feeling contented, experiencing different emotions like happy, sad, anger and sorrow. As an actor I have a fair amount of influence on others. By watching my performance in movies, they have hope and dreams.

Satoshi: Mr. Lee’s words are great, how am I going to answer? (He laughed)

By chance I became an actor through audition. For about eight years I followed my feeling in my acting. Then later I understood the collaboration needed in filming, and enjoyed working together with others in a movie. The supports from audiences became my strength.

- The most memorable work to date

Lee: It is not easy to choose, but if have to, “Bungee Jumping” and “Bitter Sweet Life”.

The character in these 2 movies is most memorable.

Satoshi: Learning while working in 'Preparation tiger and fish', emotional scenes in the movie is etched in one’s heart.

- The appearance that doesn't want to be seen as an actor

Lee: Too many, have to be careful, especially viewers expect to see the character in the movie is not different from real life. But sometime when too anxious, as an actor I reveal my true self. I feel embarrassed.

Satoshi: It was a strain situation sometime. It is very shameful though if I do not want to show a true appearance as the actor.

- The most favorite thing about South Korea and Japan.

Lee: Food. Always go to Japan with mind thinking of eating. There are lots of delicious and mouth watering food in Japan, very attractive, reflecting the Japanese people’s character.

Satoshi: Love the South Korean food. The Kalbi of the pig that I had eaten yesterday was also very delicious. I heard that the globefish dish was cheap. I wanted always to eat before leaving the country. And the vegetable and the side dish for free, I like it. (He laughed).

- Advice to each other

Lee: Pray not to lose the adventurous and challenging spirit that junior actors of South Korea should have. If such a spirit is thrown away as an actor, the world seen by the actor becomes small, and it can minimize oneself. Hope that they will enjoy new viewpoint and new appearance.

Satoshi: I will learn from Senior Lee's words.

Journalist Kim = Minson song4u@mydaily.co.kr

Credits to Hyc @ Everything Lee Byung Hun thread for the English translation.

[Guest chibikko]

10-09-2005 20:25

[PIFF] Ethnic Korean Family at Ideological Divide

Interview with director Yang Yong-hi

Yang Yong-hi

By Kim Ki-tae

Staff Reporter

In 1960s, around 88,000 pro-Pyongyang Koreans living in Japan returned to their ``motherland,’’ North Korea. They were mostly laborers, factory workers, or students and their reasons for returning varied. Whatever they were, the result was same. They could never return to Japan. The North’s regime disallowed it.

In Yang Kong-sun’s case, the passionate communist by his own volition sent his three sons to North Korea, which was then wealthier than the South. And like people who made similar decisions, he could never see his three sons return home. Since they left, Yang and his wife regularly send packages of clothing and necessities to their now grown-up sons and their families in the impoverished nation. Occasionally they went to Pyongyang to meet them until Yang fell ill.

``Dear Pyongyang’’ is a documentary on Yang’s family, directed by none other than Yang’s daughter Yong-hi, who, unlike her brothers, remained in Japan.

In this film, she closely and affectionately observes her father’s conflicting sentiments _ his diehard loyalty to the North’s Labor Party and, at the same time, his regrets over losing his sons.

``When I began to shoot in 1995, father refused to talk about the past, especially with me. After two years of filming, he finally began to open up, which touched me a lot,’’ Yang said in an interview at the press center in Haeundae yesterday.

``I once harbored a grudge over him being involved with communist work. Back then, I could not understand why he sided with the communist North, why he sent my elder brothers there. While shooting the film, I could get near him and feel sympathy,’’ Yang said.

``Behind his every decision and action, there was a reason. There was a history. Now I can better understand him, even if my sense of values are different from his.’’

In the film that gives sharp insight into an individual behind the ideological propaganda, the director asks what her father was trying to ``keep and protect’’ throughout the decades. He never abandons his ideology, which one could say cost him his three sons. ``I still don’t know yet what he was trying to protect. In the film, my mother once talked about unflinching sincerity, but I personally don’t think there is such a thing. I think everything can change,’’ she said. ``Somehow I think my parents’ rigid beliefs are dangerous, but on the other hand, I envy my parents. At least they believe in something.’’

The Japan-based director added that she expects the documentary to help erase longstanding stereotypes about North Korea in Japan. ``Knowing that I visited Pyongyang several times, some people in Japan asked me absurd questions like, ‘do young people in North Korea ever date,’’’ Yang said.

``I do often felt frustrated when I visited North Korea because of the differences, but you feel similar kinds of differences when you go the United States or Bangladesh,’’ she said.

Source: Korea Times < http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/20...20230511680.htm >

[Guest CindyW88]

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10/7/05 – According to TNS, the TV rating of MBC drama “Autumn Shower” fell to 3.3% on 10/6 (Thursday). Among all TV drama series broadcasted by three TV stations so far, this is the lowest TV rating ever recorded. A source of this drama reveals, “Although this mellow drama doesn’t have high competitive power, we hope that the heroine Gyoo Eun (규은, played by Kim So Yun)’s regaining her consciousness in the episode scheduled to be aired on 10/12 as well as the agony of three main characters would raise the TV ratings.” On 10/6, the TV ratings of the other two dramas broadcasted at the same time are 40.7% scored by “Rosy Life” and 10.4% by SBS’s new drama “Miracle-Needed Love (사랑은 기적이 필요해)”.

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/entv/2005...09101058390.htm

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510070133.html

10/7/05 – Han Eun Jung (한은정) and Soh Yoo Jin (소유진) will be the lead actresses of the drama “Seoul 1945 (서울 1945)” scheduled to be aired by KBS1 in January of 2006 following the final episode of “Genghis Khan (칭기스칸)”. HEJ plays the role Kim Hae Kyung (김해경) who is the daughter of a tenant farmer serving for the landowner Moon Jung Gwan (문정관). SYJ plays the role Moon Suk Kyung (문석경) who is landowner Moon Jung Gwan’s daughter. Actor Kim Ho Jin (김호진) plays the role Lee Dong Woo (이동우) who is the adopted son of President Lee Seung Man (이승만).

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510070420.html

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/entv/2005...21533358390.htm

http://news.stoo.com/news/html/000/411/875.html

10/6/05 – Kim Min Sun will lead the Wednesday-Thursday drama “Young Jae’s Golden Age (영재의 전성시대)” scheduled to be aired by MBC on 11/16 following the final episode of “Autumn Shower”. She plays the role Joo Young Jae (주영재) who is a 30-year-old spinster working in a lighting design company and then becomes the best designer. The drama portrays the joy and suffering of a career woman. KMS’s last two dramas were “Ode to the Han River (MBC)” and “Loveholic (KBS2)”.

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510050509.html

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/06/20051...041322100.shtml

TV Rating (10/3/05 – 10/9/05)

1. Rosy Life (KBS2) -- 38.8%

2. Goodbye to Sadness (KBS2) -- 29.8%

3. Lover in Prague (SBS) -- 26.7%

4. Good Sunday Show (SBS) -- 23.5%

5. Peculiar Man, Eccentric Woman (KBS1) -- 22.7%

6. Queen’s Condition (SBS) -- 21.4%

7. Happy Together-Friends (KBS2) -- 20.4%

8. GAG Concert (KBS2) -- 19.8%

9. VJ Commando (KBS2) -- 19.4%

10. Couples’ Love and War (KBS2) -- 18.7%

http://www.tnsmk.co.kr/rating/main.asp?menu=Gi_Weekly

------------------

[Guest AWESOME DIET]

Thank you so much for the info.

----------

10/7/05 – According to TNS, the TV rating of MBC drama “Autumn Shower” fell to 3.3% on 10/6 (Thursday). Among all TV drama series broadcasted by three TV stations so far, this is the lowest TV rating ever recorded. A source of this drama reveals, “Although this mellow drama doesn’t have high competitive power, we hope that the heroine Gyoo Eun (규은, played by Kim So Yun)’s regaining her consciousness in the episode scheduled to be aired on 10/12 as well as the agony of three main characters would raise the TV ratings.” On 10/6, the TV ratings of the other two dramas broadcasted at the same time are 40.7% scored by “Rosy Life” and 10.4% by SBS’s new drama “Miracle-Needed Love (사랑은 기적이 필요해)”.

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/entv/2005...09101058390.htm

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510070133.html

10/7/05 – Han Eun Jung (한은정) and Soh Yoo Jin (소유진) will be the lead actresses of the drama “Seoul 1945 (서울 1945)” scheduled to be aired by KBS1 in January of 2006 following the final episode of “Genghis Khan (칭기스칸)”. HEJ plays the role Kim Hae Kyung (김해경) who is the daughter of a tenant farmer serving for the landowner Moon Jung Gwan (문정관). SYJ plays the role Moon Suk Kyung (문석경) who is landowner Moon Jung Gwan’s daughter. Actor Kim Ho Jin (김호진) plays the role Lee Dong Woo (이동우) who is the adopted son of President Lee Seung Man (이승만).

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510070420.html

http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/entv/2005...21533358390.htm

http://news.stoo.com/news/html/000/411/875.html

10/6/05 – Kim Min Sun will lead the Wednesday-Thursday drama “Young Jae’s Golden Age (영재의 전성시대)” scheduled to be aired by MBC on 11/16 following the final episode of “Autumn Shower”. She plays the role Joo Young Jae (주영재) who is a 30-year-old spinster working in a lighting design company and then becomes the best designer. The drama portrays the joy and suffering of a career woman. KMS’s last two dramas were “Ode to the Han River (MBC)” and “Loveholic (KBS2)”.

http://www.chosun.com/se/news/200510/200510050509.html

http://news.goodday.co.kr/2005/10/06/20051...041322100.shtml

TV Rating (10/3/05 – 10/9/05)

1. Rosy Life (KBS2) -- 38.8%

2. Goodbye to Sadness (KBS2) -- 29.8%

3. Lover in Prague (SBS) -- 26.7%

4. Good Sunday Show (SBS) -- 23.5%

5. Peculiar Man, Eccentric Woman (KBS1) -- 22.7%

6. Queen’s Condition (SBS) -- 21.4%

7. Happy Together-Friends (KBS2) -- 20.4%

8. GAG Concert (KBS2) -- 19.8%

9. VJ Commando (KBS2) -- 19.4%

10. Couples’ Love and War (KBS2) -- 18.7%

http://www.tnsmk.co.kr/rating/main.asp?menu=Gi_Weekly

------------------

[rubie]

Update : Oct 10, 2005 KST 13:56

“Married To The Mafia 2” tops box-office among comedy movies

The comedy movie “Married To The Mafia 2,” starring Kim Won-hee and Shin Hyun-jun and directed by Chung Yong-ki, drew more than 5 million viewers nationwide as of Oct. 8, leaving behind its rival, “My Wife Is A Gangster,” and setting a box-office record among Korean comedy movies.

The movie’s distributor, Show Box, said on Oct. 9 that “Married To The Mafia 2,” which opened Sept. 7, had drawn 1,356,942 viewers in Seoul and 5,287,702 viewers nationwide as of Oct. 8, one month after its premiere.

The previous record-setter, “My Wife Is A Gangster,” drew 5.29 million viewers in September, 2001.

“Married To The Mafia 2” also broke the record of its predecessor, “Married To The Mafia,” which drew 5.2 million viewers its opening month. The feat stands in stark contrast with the sequels “My Wife Is A Gangster 2” and “Hi! Dharma 2,” both of which failed to attract as much attention as their more successful predecessors.

The popularity of “Married To The Mafia 2” is expected to continue to rise for the time being as the film will continue to be shown in 45 Seoul theaters and 226 theaters nationwide.

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...4348_11692.html

[Guest inez]

When two HOTTIES met!!..Wow!!..thanks rubie for the articles!!

[rubie]

^

Thanks, it's my pleasure sharing them.

---------------------------------------

Monday, October 10, 2005

Asia's sweethearts meet fans up close

BUSAN - There is no question that people go to film festivals to see films, but that's not all. They are also drawn to their favorite film stars just like iron to magnet.

Last Friday must have been a very special day for those male fans of Asian films coming to enjoy the 10th Pusan International Film Festival: Two of the most beautiful actresses in Asia met their fans up close, to promote each of their films.

Korean television/film star Kim Hee-sun and Taiwanese actress/singer Vivian Hsu are widely considered the two hottest Asian actresses whose pretty faces and sweet demeanors have even stirred controversy among local Web users about who is the most beautiful.

Kim, who co-starred with Hong Kong action film star Jackie Chan in the action adventure "The Myth," showed up at Capri Room at Paradise Busan hotel with Jackie Chan and the film's director Stanley Tong for the press event.

(Left)Taiwanese atress/singer Vivian Hsu / (Right)

Korean television/film star Kim Hee-sun

"I've learned much about acting, working with a terrific director and world renowned actors," Kim said, smiling. "Personally, I think I've learned what love is through the film."

Also invited to this year's Toronto and Cannes International Film Festival, "The Myth" is a fantasy action film, in which Jackie Chan plays two different roles: modern archeologist Jack and Meng Yi, a Qin Dynasty general. Kim plays Ok Soo, the emperor's beautiful consort, with whom the general falls in love.

"I had to act in a hot studio, wearing heavy traditional costumes one moment, and spend a few hours in an ice reservoir the next. I even felt my tears freeze," Kim continued. "But more than that, I've found it is still challenging to convey my emotions through the Chinese language."

As she always is, Kim was sweet throughout the event. However, Chan, after spending a good deal of time with Kim, seemed to have realized that she is a very different person from what is generally known about her.

"I guess her beauty is deceiving everyone. You may think that Hee-sun is like a princess all the time, but she is more like pretty boy in real life," Chan commented. "She is really good at crying scenes. There must be a switch somewhere in her body to do that."

About the film festival, Kim said that she is very proud of its success. "I hope that I will not miss a single festival from this year." Kim said.

Hsu, the heroine of Taiwanese director Robin Lee's first feature film "The Shoe Fairy" greeted some 500 fans at the special outdoor stage in Nampo-dong, the same afternoon. "I'm studying Korean language to be in Korean films someday," Hsu told The Korea Herald.

Introducing herself as a huge fan of Korean pop idol Rain, she sang a few measures of his song "I do," which made her fans even more excited. "I've seen many Korean films including 'Old Boy' and 'My Sassy Girl.' Among them my favorite is 'Going Home,' which touched me so much with its simple storyline," continued the Taiwanese superstar who is also popular in Japan.

"The Shoe Fairy" is a fairytale love drama about a young girl who is unable to walk and wishes to trade her voice for a pair of legs. Ultimately, she meets her prince charming and defies the curse of the shoe fairy.

On her first visit to the film festival, Hsu said that she had not expected herself to be this popular in Korea. "I hope that Taiwanese cultural content will become as popular in Korea as Korean content is in Taiwan," Hsu said.

(danlee@heraldm.com)

By Lee Yong-sung

2005.10.10

Source: The Korea Herald

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/htm...00510100015.asp

[Guest Hae_Won]

Chow Yun-fat wants to work with 'Dae Jang Gum' star

HONG KONG --- Hong Kong's Hollywood star Chow Yun-fat says he wants to work with Korean actress Lee Young-ae and praised emerging Thai action star Tony Jaa's latest film, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Chow said he respected the fact Lee finished her studies before launching her acting career.

"I want to make a movie with Lee Young-ae. It's rare that someone finishes university before acting full-time and still does such a good job," Chow was quoted as saying in the Apple Daily.

Lee Young-ae became a big star in Chow's native Hong Kong for her starring role in the TV series "Dae Jang Gum," which was a big hit here.

More recently, Lee played a female prison inmate wo seeks revenge against her accomplice, for whom she took the fall for a kidnapping in "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance," which screened at the Venice Film Festival.

"Tony Jaa's movie is also good," Chow said, an apparent reference to Jaa's latest release, "Tom Yum Goong." AP

Source: MANILA STANDARD TODAY

World --- Personalities, B8

Monday, October 10, 2005

Transcribed by: Da A of starkoreans

[rubie]

Updated Oct.10,2005 18:50 KST

Front - Oct. 11, 2005

At "A Night With Daisy", a PR event for his much-anticipated upcoming film

"Daisy", director Wai Keung Lau (far left) jokes with actor Lee Sung-jae.

To their right stand actors Jeon Ji-hyeon and Jung Woo-sung.

Source: Digital Chosunilbo - Today in Photos

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0510100005.html

[shirley]

----------

10/7/05 – According to TNS, the TV rating of MBC drama “Autumn Shower” fell to 3.3% on 10/6 (Thursday). Among all TV drama series broadcasted by three TV stations so far, this is the lowest TV rating ever recorded. A source of this drama reveals, “Although this mellow drama doesn’t have high competitive power, we hope that the heroine Gyoo Eun (규은, played by Kim So Yun)’s regaining her consciousness in the episode scheduled to be aired on 10/12 as well as the agony of three main characters would raise the TV ratings.” On 10/6, the TV ratings of the other two dramas broadcasted at the same time are 40.7% scored by “Rosy Life” and 10.4% by SBS’s new drama “Miracle-Needed Love (사랑은 기적이 필요해)”.

------------------

omg~~ .i actually witness history in making ........well that esp seriously was reallllly bad ~~~~ ...sigh*so bad i was like wondering why am i still watching and hence that make me decide to end my agony .!! .