[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

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September 1, 2009

Actress Han Ye-seul poses after being appointed goodwill ambassador for Korean Day at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Monday. /Newsis

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 1, 2009

Bae Yong-joon Makes Foray into Broadcasting Business in Japan

Actor Bae Yong-joon has joined the broadcasting business in Japan and will attend an opening ceremony there in October.

According to Digital Adventure on August 28, Bae and many other stars will attend the opening ceremony of DATV on October 1 in Tokyo. DATV is an entertainment broadcasting channel of Digital Adventure, which is the Japanese subsidiary of the cultural content company Keyeast, of which Bae holds the largest share.

The opening ceremony will be attended by Kang Yo-hwan and Lee Se-na, who played the leading roles in the animation film "Winter Sonata," popular fashion artist and soon-to-be TV host Ikko, who also acts as the PR ambassador for Korean tourism, and actor Ethan Ruan, who appeared in the Taiwanese drama "Fated To Love You."

On October 1 and 2 at the Tokyo Dome, DATV will also broadcast events dedicated to the animation film "Winter Sonata" and the publishing of Bae's book on traveling in Korea. From October 17, it will air the animation version of "Winter Sonata" all over the world in a joint effort with Sky Perfect TV.

Source: KBS Global

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Jang Jin Young thread

September 1, 2009

Actress Jang Jin-Young Dies at 35

Actress Jang Jin-young

Actress Jang Jin-young died Tuesday afternoon after battling stomach cancer for nearly a year.

Jang, 35, has been hospitalized in Seoul since her condition recently worsened. Doctors have been reportedly giving her morphine and other drugs to relieve the pain.

Yedang Entertainment, her agency, said she died at 4:04 p.m.

Jang was diagnosed with stomach cancer last September after having a health checkup to treat a simple stomach ulcer. She immediately stopped working and has since been fighting the disease.

Her deteriorating condition came as a surprise, as there had been reports she was getting better. Most recently, however, her condition went from bad to worse.

The actress is best known for her role in "The Scent of Love'' as a woman dying of stomach cancer.

She began her career as a model and participated in the 1993 Miss Korea beauty contest before making the switch to acting. Since making her film debut in 1998, Jang has received critical praise and won a number of awards for her work.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

Previous update Actress with Cancer in Critical Condition

Acclaimed actress Jang Jin-young is reportedly in critical condition at a hospital in Seoul. She has been battling stomach cancer since last fall. Her condition has gotten worse in recent days, relying only on morphine to kill the pain. Her representative at Yedang Entertainment has not released any statement, claiming that there is nothing to say about her health at the moment.

She first found out that she had stomach cancer last year when she went to the hospital to treat what she thought was ulcer. Upon finding out that she had cancer, she suspended all her activities and have focused only on getting well. She appeared to have been getting better, talking on the phone with a reporter for a TV news program last November and attending a concert by Kim Gun-mo with her friends in May. The actress has been staying in the United States to receive cancer treatment until early August.

Source: KBS Global

Colleagues paying their last respects to Jang Jin Young; more at her thread

spn.edaily.co.kr

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August 31, 2009

TOP of Big Bang Ready for Acting Role

Included in the star-studded cast of the new KBS drama, “IRIS,” Top of Big Bang showed his excitement at the drama’s showcase held in Seoul’s Cheonggye Plaza on Monday. Some 400 fans and journalists have come to the special event.

In his second acting role Top admitted that he’s still getting used to acting and learning a lot from other actors. His first appearance on a TV drama was in another KBS series, “I Am Your Teacher.” He said that acting and singing are totally different things and neither one is easy. Other members of Big Bang have given Top their steady support so that he can be his best in this blockbuster series.

“IRIS” is a spy thriller starring some of Korea’s top stars like Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee, Kim Seung-woo and Kim So-yeon.

Source: KBS Global

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September 1, 2009

Network to Bring New Sitcom, Dramas

By Han Sang-hee

Staff Reporter

The poster for the new sitcom “High Kick 2.” The upgraded version of the hit sitcom

of 2006 will bring a different cast and storyline, but is expected to entertain fans

with the same charming humor. / Courtesy of MBC

MBC is enjoying top ratings with the hit period drama "The Great Queen Seondeok,'' and the broadcaster is expected to continue captivating viewers with its new sitcom "High Kick 2'' and dramas "No Limit'' and "Jewel Bibimbap.''

"No Limit'' made headlines when it was confirmed that U-Know from the popular boy group TVXQ would appear as the ambitious football player Cha Bong-gun.

It will be the first time for the 23-year-old singer to appear in a television series, and according to the production team, he has been working hard not to disappoint fans. "Even after a long day of filming, I come home and I can't wait to go back to the set,'' he was quoted as saying by MBC.

When asked about his first attempt at acting, the singer said, "I'm pretty brave. Having a limit is like growing up. You have to overcome it to move forward. I think after the drama, I'll probably have grown a lot more than before."

The drama revolves around Cha, who dreams of becoming one of the best football players in Korea. As the young athlete strives to make the national team, he is joined by several friends, and enemies, along the way. The drama will start airing Sept. 9 at 9:55 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday.

The family soap "Jewel Bibimbap'' will begin airing every weekend starting this week. Drama fans have been anticipating this particular work as popular writer Lim Sung-han decided to write the script. Lim, whose works include "Looking Again and Again'' (1999), "Lady Mermaid'' (2002) and "Glory of Family'' (SBS, 2005), saw most of her projects reach 20 percent television ratings on average, and has been a favorite among viewers with her down-to-earth dialogue and provocative storylines.

Main actors Soh Yi-hyun and Lee Tae-gon expressed their excitement and honor to work on Lim's first drama in two years. "I completely trusted Lim. I usually consider the overall concept, storyline and character, but this one was an exception and I was up for the offer as soon as I heard the news,'' Lee told MBC.

Soh, who also appears in television series "Swallow the Sun'' (SBS), added that it was indeed an honor and that she agreed to appear on the show instantly.

"Bibimbap'' will portray the ups and downs of a family with four brothers and sisters named after jewels: Ruby, Jade, Amber and Coral. Starring veteran actors such as Han Hye-suk and Park Keun-hyong, the drama will portray the lives of the family members.

With high expectations from both fans and the actors, "Jewel Bibimbap'' will hit the small screen Sept. 5 at 9:45 p.m.

Those who enjoyed the 2006 sitcom "High Kick,'' which showcased now-top stars Jeong Il-woo and Kim Beom, are in for a treat as MBC is bringing an upgraded version of the hilarious program. Produced by the makers of the original, "High Kick 2'' revolves around nine-year-old Sin-ae, who moves to Seoul from the countryside with her sister to earn money. They move into the house of Lee Sun-jae ― who is played by the actor himself and is the only person to return to the second show ― and the interesting life with Lee's family and neighbors unfold.

Although the characters and storyline are completely different from the orignial, Lee expressed his excitement to work on the sitcom bearing the same name and concept. "I'm a little sad and sorry that I am the only original member to appear again. It may be inevitable to be compared with the first show, but I am working hard to show viewers a new side of me,'' Lee said during a press conference last week in Ilsan.

The sitcom "High Kick 2'' will start airing Sept. 7 at 7:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 1, 2009

Drama tells surrogate mother story

The overwhelming success of the SBS drama "Temptation of Wife" testified to the power of the extreme melodrama - where the highly theatrical plotline of a wronged woman out for revenge turned the series into a veritable telenovela. Telenovelas generally refer to soap operas that are presented as miniseries in Latin America.

Now SBS is testing the waters with yet another melodramatic telenovela. Titled "Cheonmanbeon Saranghae" - which roughly translates to "I Love You Ten Million Times" - the brand new weekend series takes a look into the controversial issue of surrogate pregnancy.

The practice was once famously portrayed in the period piece "The Surrogate Womb" (1986). Set in the Joseon Dynasty, the film garnered actress Kang Soo-yeon the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice International Film Festival in 1987 for her moving portrayal of a surrogate mother.

Now SBS' latest drama addresses surrogacy in a modern-day context, where the practice itself institutes modern technology - artificial insemination, for example - but is motivated by a traditional belief system: The mother of the household wants a male heir.

The heroine, played by "Soulmate" actress Lee Soo-kyung, agrees to serve as a surrogate mother in order to pay for liver transplant surgery for her ailing father. In an unusual twist of fate, she falls for the younger brother of the man whose child she carries.

"Because there are lots of people who remember my previous image, I initially worried about whether or not I would be able to do the character justice," said actress Lee of her role as a surrogate mother in a press release from SBS. "Insofar as this is a classic drama, I will completely rid myself of my comic persona and I will show parts of myself that have remained hidden up until now," she declared.

Despite - or perhaps, because of - the controversial subject matter of the series, the first episode, which aired on Saturday, garnered nationwide ratings of 13 percent (AGB Nielsen Media Research). Nationwide ratings shot up to15.8 percent (AGB Nielsen Media Research) the following day.

The controversial nature of the series, which casts the mother-in-law in an evil light as the woman who will stop at nothing to obtain an heir, and its scandalous nature, featuring surrogacy as the axis around which the convoluted and dramatic lives of its characters revolve, raises the question: Are audiences ready to tune into a series that deals with modern-day surrogacy?

When asked if there has been any serious criticism or debate over the subject matter, an SBS representative answered: "Not yet."

Only into its second episode, it remains to be seen how surrogate motherhood will be portrayed in "Cheonmanbeon Saranghae." In other words will it be used to send audiences a moral message or will it serve as a vehicle for a dramatic plotline? It also remains to be seen if viewer ratings will continue to rise.

"Women in the Sun" actor Jung Gyu-woon stars as the heroine's love interest. "Mom is That Upset" actor Ryu Jin plays the heirless husband.

"Cheonmanbeon Saranghae" airs on SBS on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:50 p.m.

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldm.com) via koreaherald.co.kr

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September 2, 2009

Jang Jin-young Loses Battle with Cancer

Jang Jin-young

The actress Jang Jin-young died at the St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul at 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. She was 35. Jang had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in September 2008 and courageously battled the illness, receiving medical treatment in the United States and seeking help from traditional acupuncture and oriental medicine.

Jang has been hospitalized in Seoul since her condition worsened recently. Doctors reportedly gave her morphine and other drugs to relieve the pain.

Jang was seen at a concert in May, when her condition temporarily improved, and announced that she had a boyfriend after coming back from the U.S. But her health began to deteriorate in August and she was hospitalized again. It is then when she learned the cancer had spread to all over her body and recovery was impossible.

Born in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Jang made her debut after winning a regional division of the 1993 Miss Korea beauty pageant. She mainly worked as a model in her early career, and began moving toward TV soap operas and sitcoms in 1997. Her film debut came in 1999 with "Ghost in Love," and became prolific with a series of movies such as "The Foul King (2000)," "Sorum (2001)," "The Scent of Love (2003)," "Singles (2003)," and "Blue Swallow (2005)".

She won many film awards during her career, including the prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards for best leading actress for her performance in "Sorum" and "Between Love and Hate (2006)." She was also very active as an advertising model.

Jang returned to TV after long absence with SBS TV drama "Lobbyist" in October 2007. It was to be her last work.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

September 2, 2009

Actress Jang Jin-young dies of cancer at 35

Popular actress Jang Jin-young died of stomach cancer yesterday aged 35 - a year after doctors had diagnosed her with the disease. According to local media reports, Jang had returned to Korea early last month from the United States after undergoing therapy and had been recuperating from treatment since July.

But in recent months her condition worsened after experiencing a relapse and the "Blue Swallow" actress was checked into Seoul St. Mary's hospital, where she died yesterday afternoon. All treatment was ended after doctors determined her condition had reached a point of no return. Her family, her boyfriend, and members of her management team were at her side when she died.

According to Yedang Entertainment, Jang's management company, "Until the last moment, she held onto the passion she had as an actress and that passion continued to burn without losing that beautiful smile," and added "the smile that she showed through her movies will never be forgotten and her passion for movies will always be remembered."

In September of last year, doctors at the Seoul National University Medical Center discovered the cancer during a medical check-up and since then she had undergone extensive chemotherapy and acupuncture to battle the disease. With her condition improving earlier this year, Jang was seen attending a Kim Gun-mo concert in her hometown of Jeonju with her boyfriend.

The couple had been gaining media attention for their public relationship. Jang and her boyfriend, the son of a former lawmaker, reportedly had been seeing each other since the beginning of 2008. Even after she suggested they end their relationship when she was diagnosed with the disease, her boyfriend remained by her side until the very end.

Jang, a former beauty queen, began her career in acting in 1997 in a KBS television mini-series and made her silver screen debut in 1999 with "Jagwimo."

From there on, she starred in a string of high-profile box office hits starring alongside such leading actors as Song Gang-ho in "The Foul King."

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

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September 2, 2009

Korean short film up for competition at Venice film fest

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- The 66th Venice Film Festival kicks off Wednesday with South Korea's "Mom's Vacation" among 18 films competing in the shorts section, according to the event's Web site.

The Italian festival is the oldest and one of the most prestigious film events in the world, founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata in 1932. This year's event will run through Sept. 12 with Ang Lee as head of the jury and Moroccan actor Ilyass Derfouf as host of the festival.

"Mom's Vacation," a 22-minute-short film created by emerging director Kim Kwang-bok, is among 18 entries competing in this year's Corto Cortissimo (short competition) line up. Other titles include "The Game (Italy)" and "Kingo (Japan)."

"Cafe Noir," a debut feature by South Korean critic-turned-auteur Jung Sung-il, will be premiered during the festival's Critics' Week. The film, a love story involving four women and one man, is the sole Asian title among 10 world premieres to be presented in the section.

Films screened during Venice Critics' Week will not be judged by a jury but through votes cast by audiences, with the winner of the top prize to receive 5,000 euros (US$7,100).

Korean-American director Gina Kim's "Faces of Soul" will be screened at the event's Horizons section.

Top celebrities including George Clooney, Jane Birkin, Julianne Moore, Nicolas Cage, Tilda Swinton, Sylvester Stallone and Colin Firth are to attend the festival, which will open with Giuseppe Tornatore's "Baaria" competing for the top Leone d'Oro (Golden Lion) award.

Other feature competition entries include U.S. director Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story," "Mr. Nobody" by French director Jaco van Dormael, "Tetsuo The Bullet Man" by Japan's Shinya Tsukamoto and "Women Without Men" by Germany's Shirin Neshat.

South Korea failed to enter the feature competition this year.

Credits: hayney@yna.co.kr via yonhapnews.co.kr

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September 1, 2009

Actress Jang Jin-young Dies of Cancer at 35

By Han Sang-hee

Staff Reporter

Korean actress Jang Jin-young passed away Tuesday evening after losing a battle against stomach cancer. She was 35.

Jang had been hospitalized in Seoul after her condition recently worsened and doctors had reportedly been giving her morphine and other drugs to relieve the pain.

The news of the actress' sudden hospitalization Tuesday startled fans, as it was thought that she was recovering after resting for a month in Los Angeles. Jang was diagnosed with stomach cancer in September last year when she paid a visit to the hospital for a regular checkup. What she thought was a stomach ulcer turned out to be cancer, and Jang has been out of the public eye ever since.

"Actress Jang Jin-young passed away today at the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital at Catholic University of Korea. Even after she was diagnosed with cancer, she was always positive and tried to pay back the love and support her fans sent her. We will remember her passion toward films and we hope she stays in our hearts forever,'' Jang's agency, Yedang Entertainment, said through a press release.

After winning the Miss South Chungcheong Province beauty pageant in 1992, Jang started her career as a model. She made her first appearance as an actress in 1997 in the television miniseries "The Angel in Me'' (KBS). She continued to appear regularly on television before making her big screen debut in the 1999 horror film "Jaguimo'' starring Kim Hee-seon. Her first big hit was the movie "The Foul King'' in 2000, and from then the actress was seen in numerous films such as "The Siren'' (2000), "Sorum'' (2001), "Over the Rainbow'' (2002), "The Scent of Love'' (2003) and "Singles'' (2003).

In the horror film "Sorum," Jang played a mysterious wife with a secret and won the Best Actress Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. The hit movie "Singles,'' where she played the quirky character Na-nan, also got her the same recognition at the 2003 awards. Her character in "Singles'' was a big hit among young women, with many changing their hairstyles to the short and curly hairdo the actress wore in the film.

"The Scent of Love'' was also one of her best known works, where Jang played a patient diagnosed with stomach cancer. In 2006, Jang joined fellow actor Kim Seung-woo for the movie "Between Love and Hate'' and won the Best Actress Award at the Korean Film Awards.

The actress returned to the television screen in 2007 in the drama "Lobbyist'' with fellow actor Song Il-guk. She was diagnosed right after the drama finished. Along with numerous films, the actress also appeared in various commercials ranging from cosmetics to electronic goods.

A ceremonial funeral hall will be set up at the ASAN Medical Center in southern Seoul.

Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

September 2, 2009

Late actress had secret wedding before death

By Hyun Ji-hyang

Actress Jang Jin-young, who died of stomach cancer on Tuesday, and her lover -- only known by his surname Kim -- registered their marriage four days before the star's death.

News reports said according to the Seongbuk-gu district office, the couple had registered their marriage on Aug. 28.

A district official was quoted as saying, "On Aug. 28, Kim brought Jang's ID card and submitted a report of their marriage and U.S-issued marriage report that he brought."

In secret, the couple wed in Las Vegas, Nevada in July 2009, when the actress left Korea for the United States as part of a recuperation program. According to an interview with Sports Khan, Kim's father, a former lawmaker said that he had "never heard about their marriage."

The junior Kim, a real estate businessman, first met Jang in January 2008. After diagnosed with cancer, the star suggested their separation, but they ended up staying together.

The details of actress Jang's will have not been made public, and it is unclear if widower Kim is included in it.

Credits: jenellehyun@gmail.com via koreaherald.co.kr

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September 2, 2009

Rain Recovers from Knee Injury

Superstar Rain has recovered from knee injury he sustained during a Japanese concert. He kicked off the Asian Tour in Saitama Super Arena in Japan last weekend, but hurt his knee and ankle when he landed wrong after a big jump.

According to Rain’s representative at J Tune Entertainment, the singer/actor will have no problem continuing with his tour. His next performance will be held in Seoul on October 9 and 10. The tickets went on sale on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rain has revealed at an interview that he will star in a TV drama. The yet-to-be-named series will feature an atmosphere totally different from that of Rain’s latest film, “Ninja Assassin.” He also said that he will attempt to enter the European show business.

Source: KBS Global

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September 1, 2009

LA County museum to feature Hong

Korean arthouse director gets September spotlight

By Park Soo-mee

SEOUL -- A series of films by arthouse director Hong Sang-soo will be featured at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art starting September 11 - 19, supported by the Korean Film Council.

“Cigarettes and Alcohol: Eight Films by Hong Sang-soo” presents the director’s feature films, including his earlier works such as “The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well” and “Power of Gangwon Province.”

The retrospective will be held in conjunction with the museum’s current display of contemporary Korean artists “Your Bright Future: 12 Contemporary Artists from Korea." The screening begins with Hong's latest film “Like You Know it All,” poignantly depicting the life of a local arthouse film director.

“His plots have the precision and sly wit of Rohmer, the attentive gaze of Ozu, the pervasive alienation of Antonioni, and mordant flourishes worthy of Buñuel,” the museum's Web site said, described Hong.

The LA museum hosted a retrospective of the director Lee Chang-dong last year.

Source: hollywoodreporter.com

September 2, 2009

L.A. museum to screen works of Hong Sang-soo

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will look back on the works of acclaimed South Korean director Hong Sang-soo later this month, the Korea Film Council said Wednesday.

Eight of Hong's films, including "Like You Know It All (2008)," "The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996)," "Woman on the Beach (2006)" and "Woman is the Future of Man (2004)," will be screened during a retrospective program at the gallery from Sept. 11-19, the council said in a press release.

According to Yonhap News, the museum held a retrospective on veteran Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong last year.

Hong, who won two international honors with his debut "The Day a Pig Fell into the Well," is considered one of the most widely recognized South Korean directors in the global film society.

Source: koreaherald.co.kr

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September 3, 2009

Jang succumbs to cancer

Jang Jin-young, a leading Korean actress who had been battling stomach cancer for the past year, died Tuesday at age 37.

The star had been undergoing medical treatment at Seoul National University Hospital since being diagnosed last September with gastric cancer during a health checkup.

Many fans thought Jang was on the road to recovery after she made a public appearance at Kim Gun-mo’s concert in May and then inked a two-year contract with her management agency, Yedang Entertainment. Her condition, however, took an unexpected serious turn for the worse last month.

Jang made headlines in July when it was revealed that she was dating a photographer-turned-businessman in his mid-40s, who was only identified by his surname Kim, for about a year. She reportedly had intended to break up with Kim after she was diagnosed with cancer, but the businessman became even more devoted to Jang - a love story that pulled at the heartstrings of her fans.

According to her management agency yesterday, Jang and Kim tied the knot, registering their marriage with the Sungbuk District Office, just four days before her death.

Jang, who was a beauty contestant in 1993, made her debut in the acting world in 1997 with the TV drama “Angel Within Me.” But she rose to fame by starring in numerous movies, including “Singles” (2003), “The Scent of Love” (2003) and “Between Love and Hate” (2006).

She won the Best Actress award at the Fantasporto Oporto film festival in 2002 for her performance in the film “Sorum.” Her latest work was the 2007 TV series “Lobbyist.”

Source: INSIDE JoongAng Daily

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September 3, 2009

‘IRIS’ promises action, A-listers and eye candy

Cast members of the upcoming TV drama “IRIS” pose for a photo

during a promotional event held at the Cheonggye Plaza in downtown Seoul,

on Monday. From left: Actors Kim Young-chul, Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee,

Jung Jun-ho, Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon and T.O.P. [JES]

War, crime, action, a love triangle and good-looking actors.

“IRIS,” the upcoming espionage TV drama, seems to have all the makings of an entertaining show. Indeed, the program has been generating plenty of hype since the unveiling of its A-list cast and blockbuster scale.

With about six weeks to go until it airs, the cast of IRIS gathered at a promotional event Monday at the Cheonggye Plaza downtown as part of the third Chungmuro International Film Festival in Seoul.

The event began with a 10-minute trailer for the show, which was filmed in Korea, Japan and Hungary. Many scenes in the clip involved large-scale explosions and gunfights, as the drama tells the story of assassins in South and North Korea who work for their respective nations. “It was like filming 20 movies,” actor Lee Byung-hun said at the event when all seven of the main cast members came up on stage after the trailer presentation.

Lee, who starred in the current hit film “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” takes on the lead role in IRIS, playing Kim Hyun-jun, a top agent in South Korea’s National Security System. “We have a very tight schedule and I wasn’t fully prepared [to film IRIS at first.] But I am doing my best,” he said.

It’s been a demanding experience, at least for Lee and fellow cast member Jung Jun-ho, who plays the best friend and rival of Lee’s character in the film. “There are a lot of scenes where you have to run,” said Jung, adding that both he and Lee love to drink and aren’t exactly in the best physical shape. “When Byung-hun and I run for just five minutes, we start breathing heavily like old men.” Lee shot back, jokingly, “That’s only in Jung’s case.”

In the drama, the two men compete for the love of Choi Seung-hee, played by actress Kim Tae-hee, who is also an NSS agent. The 29-year-old actress is well known for her beauty but has been criticized by many for her acting.

She hopes this drama will prove her critics wrong. “Before starting the shoot for this drama I watched a lot of action movies and studied many similar women characters for my role,” Kim said. “It helped me very much.”

Kim Young-chul, a veteran actor who joined the cast later than others, plays the role of Baek-san, one of the top executives at NSS, who later faces a conflict with Lee’s character.

Kim Young-chul and Lee played characters in the 2005 film “A Bittersweet Life” that had an antagonistic relationship with each other as well. But in real life, the two are more than complimentary to each other. “Lee is always a hardworking actor,” Kim Young-chul said. Lee replied by telling the audience that he was “jealous of Kim because he has wisdom and energy that flow out of him,” adding that he “respects him very much.”

Another aspect of the show generating attention is the disclosure that T.O.P., a member of the hugely popular idol group Big Bang, has been cast as the government assassin named Vick. A large number of T.O.P.’s fans gathered at the promotional event on Monday to support the 22-year-old singer-turned-actor, who is relatively inexperienced compared to the rest of the cast.

“I’m learning a lot from all the other actors here because right now I don’t know very much about acting,” T.O.P. said. “I want to show people the potential that I have.” He added that “the drama is great” and that “it will live up to everyone’s expectations.”

Having filmed six months already, the team has three and a half months to go and will fly to Shanghai soon for the next shoot. IRIS will begin airing Oct. 14 on KBS-2.

By Lee Hae-joo Contributing writer [estyle@joongang.co.kr] via INSIDE JoongAng Daily

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September 3, 2009

Police narrow probe on digital theft of Korean blockbuster

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Police on Thursday began investigating users of 24 local peer-to-peer Web sites that first uploaded pirated copies of the South Korean summer blockbuster "Haeundae."

South Korean filmmakers and investors fear the case may tarnish the reputation of the Korean cinema industry as the megahit film was being released overseas in some 24 countries, including China and the United States.

The big-budget disaster flick about a tsunami that hits a popular beach in the Korean port city of Busan drew more than 10 million viewers as of last week, becoming the fifth South Korean movie to reach the milestone.

Police on Thursday requested 24 Web sites to hand over records of the Internet users who first uploaded bootleg copies of "Haeundae," the Cyber Terror Response Bureau of the National Police Agency said. The list of the Web sites was provided by CJ Entertainment, the film's distributor and largest investor.

Police launched their investigation Sunday, a day after a relatively clean copy of the film appeared on file-sharing sites, being downloaded more than 100,000 times by the time it was deleted a few hours later.

Confirming that the illegal file was created sometime in early July, ahead of the movie's official cinema release in August, police are narrowing down the investigation to editors and computer graphic designers who made final adjustments to the film.

Dozens of suspects will be called in for questioning, the police agency said.

"Haeundae" is among the few South Korean films that held up well among a deluge of Hollywood blockbusters this summer, venturing into the disaster genre normally dominated by U.S. films. South Korean movies saw their worst sales figures in eight years in 2008, falling by more than 20 percent from the previous year.

The incident broke as South Korean authorities have toughened punishments on digital theft, which is blamed for annual losses of more than 2 trillion won in South Korea, the world's most wired country.

The size of the legal downloading market shrank by nearly 60 percent last year from 2005, with nearly 20,000 files of copyrighted content circulating illegally last year alone, according to government data.

Credits: hayney@yna.co.kr

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturespo...003900315F.HTML

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September 3, 2009

Jang Jin-young Love Story Revealed

The husband of Jang Jin-young

visits Asan Medical Center on Tuesday,

where the actress' body lies in state.

Actress Jang Jin-young, who died of stomach cancer on Tuesday afternoon, had married her new boyfriend in a secret ceremony in the United States in July. Jang's agency Yedang Entertainment on Wednesday said the man, identified only as Kim, "proposed on June 14, Jang's birthday, and they got married in Las Vegas on July 26, promising each other eternal love."

The two registered their marriage in Korea on Aug. 28, only four days before the actress' death. Kim An-chul, a spokesman for the agency, said, "Jang and Kim first met on Jan. 23, 2008 when an acquaintance introduced them, and he was by her side while she was battling cancer until she drew her last breath."

"The reason why they kept their marriage secret was because they wanted to protect their love," he added. Jang's inheritance will go to her parents.

The love story drew much media attention, especially after Jang was diagnosed with cancer. Kim is second son of former lawmaker Kim Bong-ho and majored in photography at university. He worked for a company before becoming a businessman. Jang wanted to break up with him when she found out she had cancer, but Kim insisted on caring for her.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

Love Story Beyond Death for Late Actress

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

The late actress Jang Jin-young was confirmed to have wed a month ago, registering the marriage four days prior to her death, her management agency Yedang Entertainment said Wednesday.

The 35-year-old, who died of stomach cancer Tuesday, and her husband, identified only by his surname Kim, wed in Las Vegas in July, said Kim An-cheol, the public relations manager at Yedang, in a briefing Wednesday at Asan Medical Center, southern Seoul. Kim submitted their marriage registration to the Seongbok-gu Office on Aug. 28, he said.

The manager said that "the couple leaned on each other even through the taxing battle against cancer, and never let go of each other's hands until the very end."

He also transmitted word from Kim: "I was her (Jang) and she was me. My heart breaks that I had to let her go alone on this painful journey, and I cannot contain my sadness. I wish to, at the very least, cherish her forever in my heart. I hope to realize our love in heaven that we were unable to in reality."

The "Singles'' heroine met Kim through mutual friends in January, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer in September last year. Kim proposed on Jang's birthday, June 14, and the two tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 26. After returning to Korea Kim submitted their marriage registration form on Aug. 28.

"Kim stayed by Jang until her last breath. Please bless their beautiful and sad love that leapt over pain and agony,'' said the manager.

As for inheritance problems regarding Jang's remaining property, he said that Kim entrusted everything to Jang's parents. "I cannot disclose details but documentation for the matter has been finalized. There is not even a 1-percent chance that there will be a legal dispute for this,'' he said.

Jang's funerary ceremony will be held Friday morning. Her remains will be cremated and buried in Gyeonggi Province.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 3, 2009

Actress Back Home After Marriage in US

Lee Young-ae

Hallyu star Lee Young-ae returned home Wednesday afternoon after shocking fans with her secret marriage to a businessman on Aug. 24 at a resort in Hawaii.

She returned home alone and her agency fell short of disclosing the schedule for her stay here.

"I'm happy. I will repay my fans' love by living happily," Lee was quoted as saying by a daily. "I always thank my fans. I plan to meet my fans soon. Even if it's not a press conference, I will try to make an opportunity to talk."

Lee is expected to begin doctoral studies at Hanyang University's Graduate School of Theater and Cinema this semester.

Her manager, Lee Joo-yeol, said the actress will attend the doctoral classes soon. "Taking the doctoral course is one of reasons behind her returning home alone. She will soon attend the class, but she did not specify exactly when," he told the local daily.

Lee said she will resume her acting career, though the exact time is undecided. "Many people are wondering about her plans here. She has not talked about her plans about acting. But as she has not declared retirement, she will resume acting someday."

Lee, best known for playing the lead in the hit television drama "Jewel in the Palace," married a 55-year-old man, identified only as Jeong. He is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology, located in Chicago, and works in the IT industry in the United States.

Credits: chojh@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 3, 2009

'Money' Comes Up Rather Short

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

A scene from “Hundred Nails and a Deer Antler,” one of the 10 shorts featured

in the omnibus project “Short! Short! Short! 2009: Show Me the Money”

Ten rising South Korean filmmakers present seriocomic stories about money matters in the omnibus project "Short! Short! Short! 2009: Show Me the Money."

As much as the opening film for the 10th Jeonju International Film Festival is about money, the tight budget for the project ($5,000 per director) is most palpable. The screaming individuality and experimentalism of each episode compensate, but commercial prospects seem slight and the flick will most likely find a small niche in arthouse cinemas.

The omnibus reel opens with Choi Ik-hwan's one-cut flick "Our Last Words, Live." The "Life Is Cool" director offers a mock home video featuring two despairing young men, who, defrauded, bankrupt and about to get arrested for false charges, try to assert their innocence by recording their last words on tape before committing suicide. But life ― and death ― are often beyond one's control.

In "A Tip for Cigarettes" by Na Da-jeon, a news reporter stages a story about teenage smoking. What seemed simple enough ― paying an underage smoker to act like she is asking a homeless man to help her buy cigarettes ― ends up costing more than she had bargained for.

"Sad Movie" helmer Kwon Jong-kwan brings a tender teen story with a harrowing twist in "Coin Boy," in which a sack full of coins ― and dreams ― can become a lethal weapon.

In "Anxiety" by Leesong Hee-il, the headline-making auteur of "No Regret," talented actors Park Won-sang and Park Mi-hyun play a couple at a crossroads when financial troubles hit. The highly nuanced piece is propelled by mounting emotions, and shows how trust and relationships can be easily compromised.

In "Saw," Kim Eun-kyeong presents more of the thrills and suspense she showcased in her feature "D-Day." One rainy night, a young man prepares to close his hardware store but is interrupted by a bewitching, bloody-handed woman looking for a saw, but rather short on cash.

Yang Hae-hoon, who directed the hit indie flick "Who's That Knocking at My Door," offers a surreal, sarcastic criticism of capitalism. "Sitcom" features two former sitcom stars, No Hyeong-wook and Yoon Young-sam, as a pair of dumb-and-dumber defenders of justice and actress So Yu-jin as a party-going heiress, who become entangled in a series of mishaps that result in unforeseen shifts of power.

Chae Gi contributes something more slow-paced in what is ironically titled "The Fastest Man in the World." The black-and-white digital movie captures the (un)eventful day of the "urban nomad," the penniless homeless man. The film draws out poetic rhythms from mundane habits and what often goes unnoticed, such an oppressive slant of light that fills a public bathroom.

"Neo Liberal Man" is the latest from Yoon Seong-ho that showcases more of his creativity from "Milky Way Liberation Front." This mocumentary follows the whereabouts of a man who won the lottery every week for over a year, played by quirky actor Lim Won-hee, and the social controversy elicited by his incredible luck.

Roller Coaster vocalist Jo Won-sun makes her acting debut in Kim Seong-ho's "Penny Lover." An older woman receives a "special" coin from her young lover. Several years later, the young man has gone his way, but the penny remains in her purse.

Last but not least, Kim Yeong-nam ("Boat")'s "Hundred Nails and a Deer Antler" features a couple of the most idiosyncratic actors, Oh Dal-su and Jo Eun-ji. In this warm, episodic tragicomedy, Mi-suk (Jo) demands that her former boss (Oh) pay her overdue paycheck, but the conversation goes off on a strange tangent.

In theaters Sept. 10. Distributed by KT & G Sangsangmadang.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 4, 2009

Moon Geun-young Sponsors Korean Library in Oz

Moon Geun-young

Australia on May 15 saw the opening of a Korean library sponsored by actress Moon Geun-young, it has only belatedly emerged.

Moon has been sponsoring the Lindfield Korean School in Sidney for the last four years. She also donated over 10,000 books for Korean students learning the language at over 40 Korean schools scattered across the city. But the number of books increased so much that it became impossible to manage it, so Moon donated additional W100 million (US$1=W1,246) toward a library. She also taught Korean for a day.

The school was reported as saying students there did not have a chance to read anything other than textbooks to learn Korean, so Moon's sponsorship has been of great help to them.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 4, 2009

Global TV celebrities, creators to compete at Seoul drama awards

SDA Official Website www.seouldrama.org

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- The fourth Seoul International Drama Awards kicked off Friday with top TV stars and producers from 37 different countries competing for the top prize in "drama wonderland" South Korea.

Running through Sept. 13 at major theaters and art centers in the city, the event will feature a total of 169 TV shows under the slogan "Enjoy Star and Story."

Representative works from Korea as well as countries including Japan, Italy and Canada will be competing for the Best Drama Award and Individual Prizes given to best actors and actresses.

Popular dramas from South Korea including "Beethoven Virus (MBC)," "Painter of the Wind (SBS)" and "Slingshot (KBS)" will compete with overseas series including England's "Doctor Who Season 4," China's "Memories of China" and Canada's "The Englishman's Boy," among others, according to the event's Web site.

South Korean actor Kim Myung-min of "Beethoven Virus" and Park Yong-ha of "On Air" will be competing for the best actor prize along with New Zealand's Antony Starr in "Outrageous Fortune" and Japan's Akira Kume from "The Shopping Trip," among others.

Moon Geun-young, who showed an outstanding performance in historical drama "Painter of the Wind" will compete with six actresses including Norway's Charlotte Frogner in "Maria" and Christine Reyes from the Philippines for her appearance in "Eva Fonda."

According to a July 11-Aug. 30 online vote participated by Internet users from some 50 different countries, South Korean drama "Boys over Flowers" was chosen the most popular drama.

Actor Kim Hyun-joong, who made an acting debut in "Boys over Flowers" was selected as the most popular male actor while Moon from "Painter of the Wind" topped the female actress category.

Results of the vote, which was conducted in English, Japanese and Korean, will be reflected in the final results.

Meanwhile, organizers have also prepared various exhibitions and screening sessions for fans of Korean pop culture, dubbed the Korean Wave, throughout Asia.

Actress Choi Ji-woo, widely popular in Japan for her performance in "Winter Sonata," has been chosen as an honorary star of this year's event with highlights of her works including "Stairway to Heaven" and "Celebrity Sweetheart" to be shown.

The event will also hold a special exhibition featuring emerging South Korean TV directors including Kim Jung-kyu, Kim Sang-ho from and Jang Tae-yoo.

The "Drama Adventure" section will exhibit sets, costumes and installations from some of domestic dramas including "Beethoven Virus" and "Korea Ghost Stories."

The final award ceremony will be held Sept. 11 at the Olympic Hall, southern Seoul.

Credits: hayney@yna.co.kr via yonhapnews.co.kr

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September 4, 2009

S. Korean drama sold to Japan before local showing

SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean TV sitcom "High Kick Through the Roof" has been sold to Japan ahead of its local airing and will be broadcast throughout the neighboring country beginning November, producers of the series said Friday.

All 120 slated episodes of the sitcom, a sequel to "Unstoppable High Kick" widely popular 2006-2007, has been sold to SoNet, a Sony-affiliated Internet and television service provider in Japan, Seoul's Chorokbaem Media said in a press release.

"High Kick...," a family comedy series directed by Kim Byung-ook, will be aired by South Korean broadcaster MBC beginning Monday. Kim's previous series was also aired in Japan twice.

Credits: hayney@yna.co.kr via yonhapnews.co.kr

September 4, 2009

Hyun Bin, Song Hye-gyo's Trip to Japan Cancelled

Actor Hyun Bin and actress Song Hye-gyo were to make a trip to Japan together for the first time since announcing their relationship, but the trip has been cancelled.

The Japanese agency Avex was to hold an event marking the release of the DVD and music album of the TV drama "Worlds Within" on September 26 in Yokohama, but Song cancelled the trip because of "problems in the Korean agency" that produced the drama.

Hyun, who will visit Japan on September 23, will celebrate his 28th birthday with some 2000 fans from Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, China and Singapore on September 25 at the Pacific Hall in Yokohama. On September 26 he will attend events related to "Worlds Within."

Source: KBS Global