[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

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September 8, 2009

Yang Soo-kyung, Kyun Mi-ri Boost Stock Wealth

Former singer Yang Soo-kyung and actress Kyun Mi-ri's stock holdings increased to W5 billion through purchase of newly issued shares of listed companies, Chaebul.com reported Monday (US$1=W1,234).

Yang, the wife of Yedang Entertainment Company CEO Byun Du-seop, bought 3.84 million newly issued shares in the company in June, becoming the second largest shareholder with 5.4 percent. As of Sept. 4, the value of Yang's shares was W5.46 billion, which made her the third richest entertainment celebrity in terms of stocks.

Kyun bought 55,000 shares of FCBTwelve in July, and as of Sept. 4, her shares were worth W4.59 billion, making her the fourth biggest stock holder among entertainment celebrities.

Kyun Mi-ri (left) and Yang Soo-kyung (file photo)

The top place was held by actor Bae Yong-joon, undisputedly the greatest star of the Korean Wave. Bae, the largest shareholder in KeyEast with 34.6 percent, has stocks worth W17.06 billion. Lee Soo-man, the former singer and currently the largest shareholder of SM Entertainment, came in second with W14.32 billion worth of stocks.

K-pop superstar Rain ranked fifth with W4.16 billion for his 8.04-percent share in J.Tune Entertainment. He was followed by Sin Dong-yeop and Kang Ho-dong, shareholders of De Chocolate, with W1.46 and W1.3 billion.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 9, 2009

Actor Jung Woo-sung poses with Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan at a press conference for their film "Season of Good Rain" in Seoul on Tuesday. /Yonhap

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

September 10, 2009

Forecast calls for ‘Rain’

A press conference for the upcoming movie “Season of Good Rain” was held last Tuesday at the Megabox Dongdaemun. The film stars Korean actor Jung Woo-sung and Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan as Dong-ha and Mei, respectively. The characters are friends who later find love despite a language barrier.

The title of the film is a phrase from a piece of writing by the prominent Chinese poet Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty. Director Hur Jin-ho said he chose it himself.

“I wanted to make a film about bright and happy love,” Hur said, in contrast to his previous works such as “Christmas in August,” “April Snow” and “Happiness” that featured tragic love stories.

Source: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909840

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September 9, 2009

Lim Soo-jung Stars in Thai Indie Movie

The actress Lim Soo-jung will star in Thai movie "Phuket" directed by emerging star director Aditya Assarat and alongside veteran local actor Sorapong Chatree.

The film is the story of the friendship between a young Korean actress and a limousine driver at a hotel in Thailand. Lim plays a famous Korean actress who is constantly in the media spotlight. Sorapong, who has appeared in over 400 movies, plays the driver.

Lim Soo-jung /Courtesy of IHQ

Aditya won awards at the 2007 Pusan International Film Festival with "Wonderful Town" and best film and best director awards at the 2008 Subhanahonga National Film Festival, and is one of the brightest stars on Thailand's movie scene.

Aditya said, "I've always watched Korean actresses with great interest and I've especially wanted to work with Lim. She is very soulful and expressive inside. I've watched all of her movies, and she has natural beauty that mesmerizes people."

"Phuket" finished shooting at the end of August and will premiere at this year's PIFF in October.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

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September 9, 2009

PIFF to Screen Record Number of Films

Korea's largest film event, the Pusan International Film Festival, will feature a record 355 movies from 70 countries this year, with 144 films to be premiered during the nine-day event from Oct. 8 to 16.

Festival organizers who revealed this year's movie lineup during a press conference on Tuesday said the annual event is expected to be the largest to date with more than 200,000 people expected to attend.

The 14th PIFF will kick off with a Korean comedy called "Good Morning President" starring the top actor Jang Dong-gun, marking the Korean Wave star's comeback to the big screen after a four-year absence. Directed by Jang Jin, the opening film is about three fictional Korean presidents, one of whom is young and ambitious, another who wins the lottery while in office, and the first female president. The story follows the three leaders' conflicted emotions of having to make tough political and ethical decisions.

Organizers say "The Message," a work that's being regarded as one of the most impressive Chinese films of the year, directed by Chen Kuo-fu and Gao Qunshu, will end the festival.

Nearly 100 films will compete for the "New Current Award" for up-and-coming Asian directors, while the winners of the "Sonje Award" for short films will each receive W10 million (US$1=W1,233).

Credits: Arirang News via chosun.com

Pusan Supersizes with 355 Films; “Good Morning President” to Open

by Brian Brooks

Opening the festival, which takes place October 8 - 16, is the world premiere of Jang Jin’s “Good Morning President,” described by the festival as “an abridged version of the politics and life of three different Korean heads of state. The three arethe older President Kim Jung Ho at the end of his term, the young President Cha Ji Wook, a skillful manipulator of foreign policy and with great determination, and a female President Han Kyoung Ja. They are distressed over the choices they have to make between politics and ethics.

The international debut of “The Message” by Gao Qunshu and Chen Kuo-fu will close Pusan. Set in China in 1942, the film is a spy drama is described as an “intense psychological warfare” between five agents and intelligence officers in which a freindshis is tested against the “moral duty to sacrifice oneself for the country.”

Seven films are screening in Pusan’s Gala Presentations section, with three hailing from Asia. “Chengdu, I Love You” recalls the tragedy of the great earthquake at Chengdu, China in 2008 and transcends it into a message of hope. Matsumoto Hitoshi’s novel film, “Symbol” and Tran Ahn Hung’s latest film in eight years, “I Come with the Rain” is also among the line up, with actors from the U.S., Korea, and Japan.

The Official selection list with descriptions and commentary provided by the Pusan International Film Festival:

“Symbol,” directed by Matsumoto Hitoshi - Japan

A washed-up, middle aged professional wrestler, Escargoman, is having breakfast with his wife, two kids and father. Every morning Escargoman enjoys reading the newspaper over coffee, the happiest time of his day and the only moment of peace before tackling a physically and emotionally challenging job. But this morning, his wife notices something different about him. She somehow knows this is not because of her husband’s upcoming fight against a notoriously aggressive young fighter, Tequila Joe. Meanwhile, a man wakes up and mysteriously finds himself trapped in an empty, white rectangular room, wearing clownish bright yellow polka dot pajamas. He has no idea how he got into this predicament. He looks to find that he is surrounded by a bunch of phallic-like symbols sticking out of the walls! Desperately trying to find his way out, he touches them, and suddenly, starts experiencing one strange phenomena after another.

“A Little Pond,” directed by Lee Saang Woo - Korea

July, 1950. The country is astir with the Korean War, but things in Ba-wui-gol, a small mountain village, go on as normal. Once in a while they hear news about the war through people who go into town. But, as the US army gets defeated and retreats south, the people of Ba-wui-gol are forced to evacuate and seek refuge. [A Little Pond], which is based on the Nogunri incident follows how ‘ignorant’ people who did not know anything about the realities of war were sacrificed. Rather than dealing this situation from a set ideological viewpoint, Lee captures the people as a whole, within a community in the big picture. Also, this film is the late Park Gwang-jung’s last film. It is another tribute to his final performance as an actor.

“In My End is My Beginning,” directed by Min Kyu-dong - Korea

When Jung-ha loses her husband in an accident, Naru, her husband’s secret lover, comes to her. Naru begs Jung-ha that she will do anything if only she will let her stay at her house. Jung-ha denies her at first, but eventually, their odd cohabiting begins. Short parts of In My End is My [beginning] were introduced by the omnibus film, [Five Senses of Eros], as one of its episodes. But the feature length version of the film shows the ‘real end’ of the relationship driving into catastrophe. Uhm Jung-hwa and Kim Hyo-jin, the top actresses of the time, well expressed the extreme characters through their great performance. The two character’s entanglement with love and lust expand into a lesbian like relationship and leads to a new way of life at the end of the relationship.

“I Come with the Rain,” directed by Tran Anh Hung - France/U.S.

In Los Angeles, Kline (Josh Hartnett), a young ex-cop, is struggling with the psychological trauma of his last case: tracking down and slaying a serial killer. Turning to private detective work, Kline is hired by a rich Chinese businessman to fly to Asia on a mission to find mini cooperao (Kimura Takuya), his missing son. Kline finds out that the king of the Hong Kong mafia, Su Dongpo (Lee Byung Hun), is also searching for mini cooperao, because this vagrant, who has mysterious powers to cure the sick, took in a wounded Lili, the beautiful wife of Su Dongpo. Shot on state-of-the-art HD and featuring music by Radiohead and Gustavo Santaolalla [“Babel”], [“Brokeback Mountain”], this modern thriller plunges us into an exotic urban world of gritty realism and sensual beauty.

“I Am Love,” directed by Luca Guadagnino - Italy

Emma, from Russia, gets married into the rich, upper class Recchi family of Milano. On her father-in-law’s birthday, her son, Edoardo, and her husband, Tancredi, are both announced as co-heirs to the family fortune. As a crack begins to slowly form in the family, Emma starts to fall for her son’s friend, Antonio, who is a chef. The film shows the fall of a high class Italian family, and the passion and emotion that challenges the past and tradition with outstanding style. Suitable casting shows the ‘noble, rich people’ who pursue aristocratic lives and luxurious, extravagant images to capture their lifestyles are all breathtaking. As the wave of the lavishness and moderate double side of the family grows, the tension also heightens. Tilda Swinton’s starring performance is impeccable.

“The Fair Love,” directed by Sin Yeon-Shick - Korea

An unstoppable romance between an old bachelor in his 50s and a college girl in her 20s. Despite the twenty-six year age difference and the fact that he is dating his friend’s daughter, the old bachelor and the young woman become closer and closer. The 50 year-old bachelor even runs the 100m dash for the first time in twenty years to propose to his love. Director Shin Yeon-Shick takes what may seem like a very conventional melodrama and freely releases the drama of ‘fortuity’ and probes into the universal emotions of this era in a more comic way. Just as its title, [The Fair Love], it tries to tell how ‘fairness’ or ‘salvation’ can be introduced. Actors AHN Sung-ki and LEE Ha-na’s performances in their leading roles are outstanding. It is sure to be one of the most lovable films of the year.

“Chengdu, I Love You,” directed by Fruit Chan and Cui Jian - China

On May 12, 2008, an earthquake measuring 8.0 Richter scale hit Wenchuan. The earthquake left Chengdu in great damage. Over 70% of the famous historical sites were destroyed. The beauty of Chengdu never faded because of the earthquake. Zonbo Media invited three Asian directors to make this film. Through different styles and angles, the directors show kinship, love, and friendship and tell stories of the aftermath of the earthquake. Each director made a thirty-minute film which has all been combined into a feature film. This is a film full of love, joy, and surprise. By means of a film, the three directors from different territories in Asia shall, from their own perspective, tell the stories of Chengdu and record the feelings and emotions of those who were affected by the earthquake. That is the overall theme of the film, and it’s also a benefit film meant to comfort people.

Source: indiewire.com

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September 9, 2009

K-pop Star Infected with H1N1 Flu

K-pop star Kim Hyun-joong, leader of idol group SS501, has been infected with H1N1 influenza and is currently hospitalized in Tokyo. His agency reported that Kim suffered from a high fever and a headache when he was in Yokohama over the weekend for a promotional tour of the TV drama “Boys over Flowers.” Kim was given the antiviral drug Tamiflu and will remain in isolation for about two weeks. His agent said that Kim has improved greatly since taking the drug and is r! esting comfortably. He also said that other members of SS501 are healthy and they will continue to work on a new album due for release in Japan.

Meanwhile, Lee Min-ho and Koo Hye-sun, Kim’s co-stars in the drama, also took part in the Yokohama promotional event with Kim, but have not shown any symptoms of the new flu. Kim is the first celebrity to have caught the disease. H1N1 influenza has already claimed four lives in Korea and affected over 6,200 Koreans.

Source: KBS Global

Kim Getting Better From Influenza A

Kim Hyun-jung

South Korean pop idol and actor Kim Hyun-jung is recovering from his contraction of influenza A (H1N1) in Tokyo, his manager said Wednesday.

Kim was quoted as saying, "I am sorry to have surprised fans. I will make efforts to get better and meet with fans soon."

Kim, a member of boy band SS501, was confirmed to have been infected with the contagious disease Tuesday and is now hospitalized in Tokyo. Kim's manager said, "His fever fell overnight and his sore throat eased a lot. He sounded OK this morning."

Kim was the first Korean celebrity to be diagnosed with the disease, which has already affected more than 6,000 people in South Korea. Kim is reportedly nervous about being absent from the Seoul Drama Awards, which will be held in Seoul Friday. He is projected to win the Asian best actor award.

According to Japanese showbiz insiders, Kim visited a hospital in Japan Tuesday after suffering from a high fever. He was given the antiviral drug Tamiflu and placed in an isolation ward, where he may stay for 15 days.

Kim gained international fame after starring in the KBS smash hit "Boys Over Flowers'' as a handsome tycoon heir earlier this year. He went to Japan to promote the drama and was supposed to be there from Saturday through Monday.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

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September 9, 2009

Jang Dong-gun's new film to open PIFF

Director Jang Jin's latest political comedy starring Jang Dong-gun as Korea's youngest president-elect will open this year's Pusan International Film Festival, to be held in the nation's southeastern port city Oct. 8-16.

Announced during the official PIFF news conference on Tuesday at the Press Center in central Seoul, the selection came as a surprise as last year's opener, an obscure Kazakh film that fest organizers claimed at the time would showcase films from emerging film markets from the Southeast and Central Asian region, was a shift in the direction the festival had been steering towards in recent years.

This year, organizers of Korea's biggest film festival have switched their focus to domestic films buoyed by the recent success of such local blockbusters like "Haeundae" and "Take-Off."

"The Korean film industry, which have been in a bit of a rut has been clawing its way back onto relevance and we wanted to keep the upbeat mood in the industry by choosing a domestic film to open this year's festival," said PIFF program director Lee Sang-yong. "Director Jang Jin's film is full of humor and covers a wide spectrum of issues that concern Korean society today as well as themes that people of all generations can relate to. There really was no other selection more appropriate than his film."

He further added that Jang Dong-gun -- hugely popular throughout all of Asia -- would be actively participating in the promotion of the film at the festival. "Jang Dong-gun will not only attend the premiere but he will also make appearances at various gala events and we will try hard to bring him closer to visiting fans at this year's festival."

But with the emerging threat and widespread concerns over the H1N1 virus sweeping the nation, organizers addressed the issue by stating infrared equipment with the capability to detect abnormal body temperatures in guests will be installed at theater entrances before screenings as well as passing out disinfecting handy wipes to festival participants. "We are pouring all of our resources into preventing a potential outbreak so visitors can be rest assured and can come to the festival without any worries," said PIFF Chairman Kim Dong-ho.

Organizers expect more than 200,000 visitors to the festival, one of the largest in Asia, which will be held at six major theaters and art houses in Busan. The list of VIPs to the festival include include Bryan Singer who produced the "X-Men" series, Italian director Dario Argento and Josh Hartnett among many others.

Hartnett, the Hollywood star of "Black Hawk Down" (2001), is making his visit at the invitation of Korean actor Lee Byung-hun according to organizers. The two, along with Japanese actor Takuya Kimura, starred in "I Come With the Rain," directed by French director of Vietnamese ancestry Anh Hung Tran. The movie is one of this year's entries in the PIFF's only competition category of New Current Award.

This year's festival will screen 355 films from 70 countries - the largest ever recorded in the festival's history. Of them, about 100 of them are premieres. The festival will also hold a retrospective on late Korean actress Jang Jin-young, who died on Sept. 1 of stomach cancer, playing three of her representative works.

Closing the event will be "The Message," a much anticipated film about communists fighting against Japanese invaders.

Tickets start selling Sept. 21. For more information, log onto http://www.piff.org

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

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September 9, 2009

PIFF Announces Record Lineup of 355 Films

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

The Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) will open its 14th edition with a star-studded local drama, organizers announced Tuesday, spotlighting the recovery of the South Korean movie industry.

The leading Asian event from Oct. 8 to 16 in the southern port city will screen a record lineup of 355 films from 70 countries, including 98 world premieres.

The festival kicks off with “Good Morning President,” directed by Jang Jin and starring heartthrob Jang Dong-kun and veteran actors Lee Soon-jae and Ko Doo-shim. The three star as three fictitious Korean presidents.

The selection garnered much attention since PIFF had in the past made more “experimental,” pan-Asian choices such as last year’s Kazakh film “Gift to Stalin.” The 9.9 billion won event closes with the Chinese spy thriller “The Message,” helmed by Taiwan’s Chen Guo-fu and China’ Gao Qunshu.

“Choosing a Korean film as the opening piece has symbolic significance, to revamp the slack Korean film industry,” PIFF festival director Kim Dong-ho told reporters Tuesday in Seoul.

The local film industry is enjoying a strong recovery. The disaster film “Haeundae,” coincidentally shot in Busan, became one of the country’s highest grossing films in recent years, beating Hollywood competitors including “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

“Even though `Good Morning President’ has strong mainstream appeal it seethes with the unique humor of the multifaceted cineaste Jang Jin,” said programmer Lee Sang-yong.

Jang, the prolific theater director, playwright, screenwriter and producer (“Welcome to Dongmakgol”), returns to PIFF for the first time in 12 years since his feature debut “The Happenings” was screened in the 2nd edition of the festival. “I didn’t know (my film was going to be chosen) so I just shot it with ease. Had I known I would’ve tried to make it more worth of an international audience. I shot it with great excitement,” said Jang. “Even though there’s a jinx in the industry that PIFF opening films don’t do well in the box office, I’m happy the film gets to meet the audience riding the pleasant sea breeze of Busan.”

Jang Dong-kun, who had been off the public radar since his last movie “Typhoon,” is expected to be seen at the festival. Other paparazzi magnets to be spotted include Hollywood beauty Moon Bloodgood and “Pearl Harbor” star Josh Hartnett as well as “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” actor Lee Byung-hun. The latter two visit in time to promote their movie, “I Come With the Rain” (directed by Tran Anh Hung, Gala Presentation section), which also stars Japanese heartthrob Kimura Takuya.

Other prominent guests include award-winning Chinese director Jia Zhangke, French helmer Costa Gavras and “X-Men” director Bryan Singer, who will give master classes. Chinese rocker Cui Jian will discuss “Chengdu, I Love You,” a collaboration with Hong Kong indie filmmaker Fruit Chan and Korea’s beloved melodrama director Hur Jin-ho.

Italian maestro Dario Argento will also be in town to grace his namesake retrospective section and popular actor/short film director Yu Ji-tae will judge short films.

Record Lineup

The unprecedented size of the lineup ― up 40 from last year, with a record 144 world and international premieres ― evoked some concern among the press that it was “too much,” particularly since the festival director had said last year that between 280 and 300 films was ideal.

“We have invited films from diverse regions including Africa as well as works from third world countries. We had to add special sections for director Argento’s visit and the late director Yoo Hyun-mok. It was also difficult to deny a spot for the great works by emerging or debuting directors,” said the festival director.

In addition to Yoo Hyun-mok, the festival features a retrospective on Ha Kil-dong. Organizers are also planning sections on the works of Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To and independent films from the Philippines. This year’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award will go to Indian director and producer Yash Chopra.

Newly added features include the Flash Forward Award in the Flash Forward section, which spotlights the first or second works by newly emerging cineastes outside of Asia. PIFF will also host events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Korea Academy of Film Arts.

For more information about the festival visit www.piff.org.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 9, 2009

Kim A-joong Will Promote French Cultural Festival

By Kim Se-jeong

Staff Reporter

artsnews.media.paran.com

Actress Kim A-joong was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for the promotion of FranceExpress, an annual French cultural festival, Wednesday.

Laure Coudret Laut, director of the French Cultural Center in Seoul said the actress will take part in various events to help promote French culture for the next three months.

Actor Lee Byung-hun and actress Ye Ji-won were former promotional ambassadors.

Kim appreciated that the cultural center had given her an opportunity to represent France, a country she admires.

The festival will run through the entire autumn, sprinkled with musical performances, theatrical works, exhibitions and films.

Credits: skim@koreatimes.co.kr

French envoy, S. Korean actress at press conference

Sept. 9, SEOUL, South Korea -- Elisabeth Laurin (L), French ambassador to South Korea, and Kim A-joong, a South Korean actress and honorary publicity ambassador of French culture, greet reporters at a press conference for the third "France Express," a festival introducing French culture to residents of South Korea. (Yonhap) (END)

Source: yonhapnews.co.kr

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September 9, 2009

Hur Jin-ho Will Bring 'Heart-Fluttering' Romance

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

Actors Jung Woo-sung, left, and Gao Yuan-yuan in a scene from Hur Jin-ho's

new film "A Good Rain Knows"

Hur Jin-ho, the director known for films about fading romance, brings something brighter in “A Good Rain Knows,” coming to theaters in October.

“It’s the brightest, most cheerful and happy movie among all the movies I’ve made so far,” said Hur during a promotional event for the film Tuesday in Seoul.

The director is known for bringing together top South Korean actors in heartbreaking melodramas ― Han Seok-gyu and Shim Eun-ha in “Christmas in August” (1998), Lee Young-ae and Yu Ji-tae in “One Fine Spring Day”; Bae Yong-joon and Son Ye-jin in “April Snow”; and Hwang Jung-min and Lim Soo-jung in “Happiness.”

This time, he pairs up heartthrob Jung Woo-sung and Chinese actress/model Gao Yuan-yuan.

“If my past works were about a man and woman falling in love, living together happily and then breaking up, this story is about a couple who didn’t realize it was love the first time they met. They reunite and build a happy romance ― a movie that makes your heart flutter,” he said.

The 46-year-old, who married recently in 2007 and recently had his first child, was asked if his private life affected his work. “My six-month-year-old baby is so adorable and makes me marvel how such pleasure can exist in the world,” he said, but explained that he simply wanted to make a film that was light and positive. “I believe that it’s crucial when and where a man and woman meet,” he said, suggesting that timing is everything.

The film is set in Qingdao, China and its title was inspired by a stanza in a poem by Tang Dynasty writer Dubo, “a good rain knows when to come.” Jung stars as a traveling architect who runs into a woman (Gao) he knew while studying abroad in the United States. The two realize that the friendship they shared back then had actually been love and rekindle the romance.

Timing was opportune, said Hur, in casting Jung, whom he had wanted to work with since his directorial debut. The two almost collaborated in “One Fine Spring Day” but was unable to because of scheduling conflicts.

Jung said he felt better prepared for Hur’s film this time. “Every time I received Director Hur’s script I doubted whether I could express such emotions that gently tide in like the ripple of still waters,” said the 36-year-old.

Meanwhile Gao said she had been a fan of Hur’s since the 1998 film “Christmas in August” and never missed his works in theaters. “When I got the offer I immediately accepted even though I hadn’t even read the script,” she said.

Jung said that working with Hur was a very “different experience” compared to his past projects. The star of “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” said that Hur “draws out invisible emotions from characters and puts a lot of thought into spatial relationships.”

“Everything took very long and I learned the charms of long takes,” he said.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

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September 10, 2009

Rain's Knee Injury Not Serious

In a message that Rain sent via Promax, the organizer of the Asia tour, the singer thanked his fans for their encouragement. Rain sprained his leg when performing a jumping move on September 29. He underwent treatment on September 31 at a general hospital in Seoul shortly after returning to Korea.

Rain also added that his Hollywood debut movie, "Ninja Assassin," was to open soon and that he looked forward to hear his fans' reviews about his acting. "My goal right now is to make my name through a movie, but my ultimate goal is to gain global recognition as an actor and artist. As the late Michael Jackson has shown us, artists make a big impact on future generations with their music and performances and are judged by them as well. I want to be an artist who has an impact on the world's future," wrote Rain.

Source: KBS Global

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September 10, 2009

PIFF to Screen Record Number of Films

Korea's largest film event, the Pusan International Film Festival, will feature a record 355 movies from 70 countries this year, with 144 films to be premiered during the nine-day event from Oct. 8 to 16.

Festival organizers who revealed this year's movie lineup during a press conference on Tuesday said the annual event is expected to be the largest to date with more than 200,000 people expected to attend.

The 14th PIFF will kick off with a Korean comedy called "Good Morning President" starring the top actor Jang Dong-gun, marking the Korean Wave star's comeback to the big screen after a four-year absence. Directed by Jang Jin, the opening film is about three fictional Korean presidents, one of whom is young and ambitious, another who wins the lottery while in office, and the first female president. The story follows the three leaders' conflicted emotions of having to make tough political and ethical decisions.

Organizers say "The Message," a work that's being regarded as one of the most impressive Chinese films of the year, directed by Chen Kuo-fu and Gao Qunshu, will end the festival.

Nearly 100 films will compete for the "New Current Award" for up-and-coming Asian directors, while the winners of the "Sonje Award" for short films will each receive W10 million (US$1=W1,233).

Credits: Arirang News via chosun.com

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September 10, 2009

'Queen' conquers China

MBC-TV’s hit drama “Queen of Housewives” will begin airing in China this month on China Entertainment Television (CETV), a 24-hour broadcasting channel.

The show, which follows a man who was laid off from work and his helpful wife, was hugely popular in Korea when it was on the air last spring.

A press conference with all the main cast members will be held tomorrow to promote the program’s launch in the largest country in Asia.

By Lee Hae-joo / Contributing writer joongangdaily.joins.com

September 11, 2009

Film fest features flicks for every taste

It’s almost that time of year again, when movie buffs across Korea pack their overnight bags and hit the road as part of an annual pilgrimage to the southern port city of Busan for one of the most influential film events in all of Asia.

The Pusan International Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 8 to 16, is preparing for its biggest year ever, unveiling a lineup on Tuesday that includes a record 355 films from 70 countries in 11 different sections. About 98 films will be screened for the first time ever at the event, now in its 14th year, while 46 will be shown for the first time outside of their home countries.

“While previously we felt we could handle 280 to 300 films, we couldn’t help but increase the number because there are so many good works by emerging directors,” festival director Kim Dong-ho said at a press conference on Tuesday. “There are also newly established retrospective pieces on the late Korean director Yoo Hyun-mok and the late actress Jang Jin-young, both of whom passed away this year.”

The event, better known as PIFF, will open with “Good Morning President,” a Korean comedy directed by director Jang Jin and starring seasoned actors Jang Dong-gun, Lee Soon-jae and Ko Doo-shim. The movie will touch upon the lives of three fictional Korean presidents, each trapped between political and ethical choices. Director Jang is well known for using a unique sense of humor to spice up a plot.

“I was surprised and honored that my film has been chosen to open this year’s PIFF,” screenwriter-director Jang told the press. “It is particularly meaningful for me because it comes 12 years after my feature debut was screened in the second annual festival.”

In addition to the opening film, a number of other first-run Korean films will be screened this year, helping to promote the country’s revitalized movie industry. Behind the resurgence are the blockbusters “Haeundae,” which was shot in Busan and drew 10 million moviegoers in just over a month, and the sports drama “Take Off,” which has attracted 7 million viewers.

The festival’s Gala Presentation section will feature seven films, including “I Come with the Rain” by Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung and starring three heartthrobs - Lee Byung-hun from Korea, Josh Hartnett from the U.S. and Takuya Kimura from Japan. Lee and Hartnett will be on hand to promote the film.

Other notable guests include Oscar-nominated French director Jean-Jacques Beineix, who will head the jury panel for the New Currents Award; “X-Men” series director Bryan Singer; and Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To, whose works will be screened in a special program titled, “Johnnie To: The Hood in the City.” “The Message,” a wartime spy thriller co-directed by Taiwan’s Chen Kuo-fu and Gao Qunshu, will close the event.

This year, PIFF has come up with a new prize called the Flash Forward Award to discover emerging directors from non-Asian regions, while the existing New Currents Award focuses more on those from Asia.

Additionally, the Asian Film Market, a venue where promising filmmakers and producers meet with potential investors, along with the Pusan Promotion Plan, will run from Oct. 11 to 14.

Tickets for the opening and closing films will be on sale starting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 21 (online only); those for the general screenings will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Sept. 23. PIFF has established a real-time advance ticket purchase system this year, allowing fans both at home and abroad to buy tickets online. For more information, visit www.piff.org.

By Park Sun-young [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2909899

[rubie]

September 10, 2009

Hur Jin-ho's new film has no tragic twist

star.mt.co.kr

Korea's leading filmmaker Hur Jin-ho has built up his reputation with touching love stories including "Christmas in August" (1998), "One Fine Spring Day" (2001), and "Happiness" (2007). In his refined films, exhilarating happiness is often followed by bottomless sadness in a way that mirrors all the complex emotions embedded in romantic relationships.

This time, however, Hur has decided to change his strategy a bit. His much-anticipated fifth film titled "A Good Rain Knows" will not delve into the distressing pit of negative emotions. Rather he said he will focus on the clean, well-lighted aspect of a pure relationship -- between an extremely handsome Korean man and an equally attractive Chinese woman.

Jung Woo-sung, one of Korea's leading heartthrobs, plays Dong-ha, a businessman who flies to a China on a business trip and comes across May (played by Gao Yuanyuan), a Chinese friend he got to know when he was studying in the United States some years ago. She now works as a tour guide in China but her real interest lies in a great Chinese poet, whose work has inspired the movie's nuanced title.

star.mt.co.kr

The two recall the good, old days -- only with conflicting details that highlight their differences generated by a separation in space and time. Not a concern. They become closer and closer, and Dong-ha extends his stay in China just one more day to grab a chance to have a real date, a long-delayed date with May.

"In my previous films, my characters enjoy happy days, only to get separated later, but this time I present a couple who reunites after a separation and rush together for happiness in a bright tone," Hur said at a news conference held in Seoul on Tuesday.

Jung, however, said he belatedly realized it's fairly tough to work with director Hur. "It was so difficult to meet Hur's expectations about my acting in relation to romantic love," he said. "I hesitated when I was given the script, but I decided to try out Hur's new character who's in a shining and sparkling relationship."

Gao, a hugely popular Chinese star, said she did not hesitate at all when offered the title role because she has long been a big fan of director Hur and it was an honor to get a chance to join the project.

Director Hur said language was clearly a barrier, at least initially, because the two main characters speak mostly in English, rather than their native languages of Korean and Chinese -- a demanding requirement that makes it fairly difficult to express subtle romantic emotions on the silver screen.

Despite the concerns, Jung and Gao developed chemistry that perfectly reflects the fictional couple in the movie. "It felt so good to shoot them in a single camera frame because they were really hitting it off with each other," Hur said.

Jung said thanks to his latest stint in a romantic film he now understands why people willingly change themselves in the name of pursuing love.

Gao, who has never acted in a Korean film, said it was a refreshing experience to play Jung's opposite. "In the shooting location, we knew what we had to do together even though we didn't have enough time to rehearse together for a specific scene. I hope audiences will feel the same when they watch the film," she said.

"A Good Rain Knows," distributed by N.E.W, will hit local theaters on Oct. 8.

By Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com) via koreaherald.co.kr

[rubie]

September 11, 2009

Announcers Park, Choi Tie Knot

TV announcers Park Ji-yoon, 30, and Choi Dong-seok, 31, tied the knot Friday at Onnuri Church in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Minister Kim Joshua of the church officiated the wedding ceremony and four-member pop idol group 2AM sang a congratulatory song.

The wedding was attended by their relatives and friends. The couple will leave for honeymoon trip to a Southeast Asian tourist destination. The couple were admitted to KBS TV as announcers in 2004 and have dated since 2007.

Photo from yonhapnews.co.kr

Now, bride Park is the host of the program ‘Wide Entertainment News’ at cable TV channel Mnet and bridegroom Choi is the host of two KBS programs -- “Entertainment Relay” and “Living Show! 6 p.m. of Yours.”

Credits: mook@koreatimes.co.kr

[rubie]

September 11, 2009

Korea gaining recognition as a location for film

More foreign filmmakers are choosing to make their movies here

The cast and crew of the 2006 film “Chakushin Ari Final” shoot a scene from the movie

at the Commodore Hotel in Busan. Provided by the Busan Film Commission

Foreign film crews have become a more familiar sight around Korea in recent years, with an increasing number of production teams choosing to make their movies here.

While the increase in foreign film production activity seems sudden, it is no coincidence. In the last two years, the film commissions in Seoul and Busan have launched incentives they hope will help attract foreign filmmakers, such as financial subsidies, administrative assistance and first-class production facilities. And it’s working.

The country is gaining recognition as an affordable location for film production, and many of the films shot here have gone on to box-office success, particularly in Asia. Two of these films will be on screen at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival next month and several others are set for release later in the year.

While the film industry has not yet built the infrastructure to support something as large as a feature-length Hollywood production, things are moving in that direction, which could cast Korea in a whole new light.

In a bid to have more foreign films shot here, the Seoul Film Commission, under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, began a new policy in 2007 of reimbursing foreign films or joint productions involving Korean partners 25 percent of production costs incurred in Seoul, up to 100 million won ($80,515).

Top to above: Scenes from the films “A Brand New Life,”

“Cafe Seoul” and “Hero.” Provided by the Seoul Film

Commission and the Busan Film Commission

The commission also supports foreign film production teams by helping them with administrative procedures and location scouting. It also covers accommodations and airfare for those involved in productions planned for Seoul. “We see the reimbursement as a form of place marketing, which we hope will draw more tourists to Seoul and Korea as well as give a boost to the Korean film industry,” Kim Mi-hye, head of the location team at the Seoul Film Commission, said. “Because the local film industry has been in a slump, it has become more important to bring more foreign film productions to the country.”

A number of foreign films have been shot in Seoul this year alone, including two that will premiere at the Busan festival - “Tokyo Taxi” (Korea/Japan, 2009) and “A Brand New Life” (2009). Tokyo Taxi, directed by Kim Tae-sik, has scenes shot in such places as Incheon and Gimpo international airports and Deoksu Palace, among others. It follows the lead singer of a rock band in Japan who is afraid of flying. When he is invited to participate in a music festival in Seoul, he tries to take a taxi. The film will have its world premiere in Busan.

The French-Korean film, “A Brand New Life” (2009), is the story of a Korean child sent to France for adoption. The film, directed by Ounie Lecomte and co-produced by acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong, contains vivid images of Korea, ranging from shots hanok, a traditional house, to a rundown school. The film premiered at the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival in May and, in addition to being shown at PIFF, will be released in seven countries including France, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Belgium.

The Thai film “As It Happens” was also filmed here this year. The romantic comedy follows a series of accidental encounters that lead to romance between a travel agency executive and young woman traveling around the world. The movie, slated for release in Thailand later this year, is expected to attract attention there for its cast, which includes two popular local actors, singer-actress Nattaweeranuj Thong Mee and actor Navin Yaowapolkul. It was shot in Korea in August and about 10 minutes of the 90-minute film take place in Seoul at locations including N Seoul Tower, the Myeong-dong shopping district, Cheonggye Stream, a Han River cruise and the Seven Luck Casino.

A scene from “Tokyo Taxi”, which will have its world premiere at the Pusan International

Film Festival in October. Provided by the Seoul Film Commission

The Korea Tourism Organization was integral in convincing the producers to shoot the film here. “After we learned about the film, we contacted the producers through our branch in Thailand and persuaded them to film in Korea,” said Jeon Hyo-sik, the Asia Ocean team director of the Korea Tourism Organization.

Another film that was shot here this year is a Korean-American film currently in production, “The Wedding Palace.” The film is a romantic comedy starring Korean actress Kang Hye-jung and Korean-Japanese American actor Brian Tee. The film, directed by Korean-American Christine Yoo, is about the romance between a Korean woman and an Asian-American man and will feature scenes from a traditional Korean wedding as well as a tourist attraction like N Seoul Tower.

“We’re trying to get more of the film shot here,” said Kim of the Seoul Film Commission.

A slew of other films have also been made here in recent years, including “Cafe Seoul” (Japan, 2009) by Take Masaharu; “Treeless Mountain” (U.S., 2008) by Korean-American director Kim So-yong; and “Dream” (Korea/Japan, 2008) by Korean director Kim Ki-duk.

Busan boom

Seoul is not the only place in Korea featured in foreign films or international collaborations. A number of films have also been shot in Busan. These include the Japanese films “Hero” (2007), “Twentieth Century Boys” (2008), “Kisarazu Cat’s Eye: World Series” (2006) and “Chakushin Ari Final,” which is also known as “One Missed Call Final” (2006); the Japanese-Korean film “26 Years Diary” (2007); the French film “The Intruder” (2004); and the Hollywood film “The Legend of the Dancing Ninja” (2009), starring former “Baywatch” star David Hasselhoff.

“These films were shot in Busan because they are set in Korea or Asia, or because there are scenes that cannot be shot in the country where the film is actually set,” said Yang Seung-yeong, chief location coordinator of the Busan Film Commission. “Korea has gained recognition around the world through events like the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, and there are more filmmakers who want to shoot their films here.”

The producers of Twentieth Century Boys decided to film in Busan because part of the story is set in a casino and there are no casinos in Japan, according to Yang. The film also contains a scene in which a Japanese criminal escapes to Korea.

The city of Busan is also working to attract filmmakers. This year, the Busan Film Commission introduced an incentive similar to the one available from the Seoul Film Commission for foreign films shot in the seaside city. The organization reimburses productions for up to 30 percent of production costs expended in the city, up to 100 million won. It also provides up to 10 days of accommodation for up to four staff members who use the city’s new postproduction facility. To generate interest in the city, the film commission will invite Asian filmmakers to tour the postproduction facility, studios and various locations in Busan and South Gyeongsang next year.

The postproduction facility in Busan is the first of its kind in Korea and provides everything from digital intermediate to computer-generated imagery. It opened in February, and construction of sound and editing facilities will be completed in 2011. Korean films including “Thirst” (2008) and “Mother” (2008) and Chinese films including “Sophie’s Revenge” (2008) and “Tracing Shadow” (2009) went through the postproduction process here.

The cast and crew film a scene from the film “26 Years Diary.” Provided by the Busan Film Commission

“We hope to boost Busan’s film industry by creating an infrastructure for film production,” Yang said.

Korea calling

These examples may generate excitement about Korea being featured in many foreign films, but the country appears far less often in foreign films, especially Hollywood films, than do other Asian countries like China and Thailand. “Mission: Impossible III,” starring Tom Cruise, was partly shot in Shanghai, and “The Beach” (2000), featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed in Thailand.

“Many of the foreign films shot in Korea are not purely foreign because they are often joint productions or are made by ethnic Koreans,” said Alex Seo, an international affairs manager of the Seoul Film Commission’s planning and promotion division.

Films in which Korea figures into the storyline are shot here as well, Seo said. One of the reasons there are fewer foreign films shot in Korea is that Korea does not have famous landmarks like China, Japan or Hong Kong, according to Seo.

Seo also said that there is little precedent for foreign films shot in Korea, which makes filmmakers and their investors hesitant about using this country as their primary location for production. “Korea is not competitive when it comes to film production. It is much cheaper to film in China. With Hong Kong and Thailand, there are many production personnel who can speak English,” Seo said. “Most importantly, no Hollywood blockbuster has been shot here, for example, and the pool of local production personnel who can speak English is small.”

Christine Yoo, the Korean-American director of “Wedding Palace,” said the quality of the film crews who are willing to work with foreigners, value for money, tax incentives and good locations are all crucial elements filmmakers consider when deciding on a location for production. “The Korean production system is very different from the U.S. system so it took time for me to understand the functions of each department,” Yoo said. “Job descriptions are different, too.”

There is another problem. Korea does not offer tax rebates to filmmakers as countries like the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia and New Zealand do. The subsidy provided by the Seoul and Busan film commissions is a very small amount, and a tax rebate would be a much greater incentive, especially for big budget films.

But the Korean film industry may soon be getting a break. According to the Seoul Film Commission, two films developed by Korean-American film producer Roy Lee are expected to be shot here. The projects include the romantic comedy “Korean Wedding” and a yet unnamed big-budget Hollywood action film starring Channing Tatum, the star of “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” Lee is credited with remaking “The Grudge” and “The Ring” series, both of which are remakes of Japanese horror films.

“We hope this will be the first of many big-budget Hollywood films to shoot here,” Seo said.

By Limb Jae-un [jbiz91@joongang.co.kr] via joongangdaily.joins.com

[rubie]

September 12, 2009

Actor Lee Byung-hun Says Best Is Yet to Come

"I can't tell whether having appeared in just one Hollywood film is success or failure," says actor Lee Byung-hun of his Hollywood debut in the movie "G.I. Joe." "The journey is just beginning and I'm still trying. I think of it as having taken a step forward." Playing the part of Storm Shadow in the action blockbuster was worrying, Lee says, because the character is a comic book exaggeration far removed from reality.

"G.I. Joe" was yet another experience in foreign moviemaking for the Korean actor, who also appeared in the French film "I Come with the Rain." While at the Cannes International Film Festival last year with the movie "The Good, the Bad, the Weird," Lee glimpsed Clint Eastwood at a nearby table in a hotel restaurant. He wanted to say hello, but fearing that he might be taken for a crazed fan he settled on having his picture taken with Eastwood in the background. "I want to become a great actor like him that other actors want to take a picture of in the background," Lee says.

Lee Byung-hun /Courtesy of BH Entertainment

That goal may have already come to fruition. With a career spanning nearly 20 years, Lee has a long filmography on his resume and fame matched by only a few. With his popularity has come an unprecedented level of pressure. As one of the major stars of the Korean Wave, Lee's fame in Japan is so great that he can't walk on the streets without at least 10 bodyguards. Japanese fans are very passionate -- some tearful admirers once surprised Lee outside his hotel, their hands full of gifts, early one rainy morning.

Despite his status, Lee has a pessimistic view of the Korean Wave. "There is a bubble in the Korean Wave because of an oversupply of inferior content," he says. "A large number of Asian fans enjoyed the sad, melodramatic romances from Korea, so a lot of producers and investors made films and soap operas with similar story lines." And that has resulted in negative side-effects, he says.

As for his chosen profession, Lee says that actors are people who enjoy having multiple personalities. "Their job is to dig up those personalities from within themselves one by one, and maximize that one aspect each time." But Lee says he is rarely satisfied with his performances, and he has not made his best film yet. "I'm sorry for the directors that I've worked with thus far, but I want that best film to come soon, and want to repeat that experience many times in my career."

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

[rubie]

September 12, 2009

'Shadow' Popular Even Before Release

Lee Seung-gi

The fourth album by singer and actor Lee Seung-gi to be released Sept. 17 is enjoying high popularity with an advance order for the album, entitled "Shadow," reaching nearly 40,000 copies.

"Shadow" swept major Internet shopping malls such as Interpark and Aladdin by ranking first in advance sales Friday.

According to Loen Entertainment, an album distribution company, Lee's popularity has increased sharply due to his appearance in various TV programs including "Brilliant Legacy," the popular weekend SBS drama that closed in July. "With advance sales for Lee's new album rising, more record outlets have been showing keen interest in the album," a Loen official was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

The album's title song is "Now We Part," a ballad written by Kim Do-hoon. "Shadow" also contains songs written by Psy and other famous composers.

"Lee's fourth album will be in the vanguard of a comeback trend by ballad singers this fall. It will also contribute to bringing in diverse forms of music in the local album market," the official said.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

[Guest Hae_Won]

Korean Dramas Continue to Captivate the Philippines

Source | 2009/09/06 | Permalink

By Jonathan M. Hicap

Korea Times Correspondent

Even before K-pop, Filipinos were long fans of imported dramas.

Soap operas and drama series have become a staple for daytime and primetime viewing in the Philippines.

In the 1990s, Mexican telenovelas became the mania, with huge hits like "Rosalinda" and "Marimar" attracting ratings above 50 percent.

Asian dramas, including Korean, have become hits in the 2000s.

The huge demand from viewers for Asian telenovelas has prompted Philippine TV stations to import Korean and Taiwanese dramas.

Top Korean drama series (locally called "Koreanovelas") like "Lovers in Paris", "Full House", "My Name is Kim Sam-soon", "Stairway to Heaven" and "Coffee Prince" were imported and dubbed in Filipino, instantly becoming hits.

The success of "Dae Jang Geum" (or "Jewel in the Palace") in Korea was also replicated in the Philippines and many other Asian countries.

The Taiwanese drama "Meteor Garden" was also a ratings success when it aired years ago.

Its remake, the Korean "Boys over Flowers" starring Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Beom, Kim Jun and actress Koo Hye-seon, also succeeded in capturing audiences. It was aired in the Philippines on ABS-CBN from May to August and became a phenomenal success.

"It is the phenomenal hit for idol dramas this year with its ratings peaking at 33 percent in the metropolitan area here. It was the No. 5 program overall nationwide following the primetime dramas and newscast, and No. 1 in its timeslot", said Leng Raymundo, ABS-CBN vice president for program acquisition, quoting TNS ratings.

Top Philippine TV stations GMA Network and ABS-CBN are leading the way in importing Korean dramas.

In past years, GMA Network aired a score of dramas, including "Full House", "All About Eve", "My Name is Kim Sam-soon", "Stairway to Heaven", "Jewel in the Palace" ("Dae Jang Geum"), "Autumn in my Heart", "Winter Sonata", among others, according to Joey Abacan, GMA Network vice president for Program Management.

ABS-CBN, for its part, has aired a number of Koreanovelas, including "To Marry a Millionaire", "101st Proposal", "Green Rose" and "Something Happened in Bali".

Abacan says Filipinos love Koreanovelas because they can relate to the stories.

"Filipinos love drama and stories that we can relate to. Most of the time, the Korean dramas are quite escapist and moving. Aside from the touching plotlines, the production is really a visual experience of places that most of us are not accustomed to seeing", he said.

ABS-CBN's Raymundo said Koreanovelas offer Filipino audiences a change of pace from local programming.

"Koreanovelas give viewers a different style of storytelling from usual Filipino soap operas, or "teleseryes". Since Korean dramas are aired only two hours a week, compared to the Filipino daily 30-minute episodes, viewers can expect a faster pace.

The production value of Korean dramas almost approximates those of Western series ― like a 'tele-movie'.

But at the same time, the core stories and the characters are not sacrificed for high-quality production. "There is clear character definition and the stories are expansive both in the physical and emotional sense", Raymundo said.

GMA Network started airing "Shining Inheritance" (also called "Brilliant Legacy") Aug. 31 in primetime. The series topped the ratings during its run in Korea.

In the coming weeks, the station will air dubbed episodes of "Temptation of Wife", "East of Eden" and "Queen Seon-deok".

The success of Koreanovelas has also prompted ABS-CBN and GMA Network to do remakes.

Raymundo said ABS-CBN was the first with its version of "My Girl", which aired from March to August last year and became a ratings success. It also just finished airing a remake of "Only You", which was also a hit with the viewers.

"From the moment it launched, the series was always in the Top 5 primetime shows nationwide", she said.

GMA Network has cast Filipino stars for remakes of "Stairway to Heaven" and "Full House". It previously made an adaptation of "My Name is Kim Sam-soon".

ABS-CBN is set to air its own adaptation of "Lovers in Paris".

"Our viewers are also eagerly awaiting the adaptation of `Lovers in Paris'. The original version did very well for us ― introducing the characters of Vivian and Carlo to millions of Filipinos. We are hopeful that our viewers will embrace Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion's take on these roles", said Raymundo.

GMA Network is hopeful that it can bring actor Song Seung-heon, who starred in "East of Eden", to the Philippines and meet his fans, Abacan said.

ABS-CBN said there are always plans by the station to invite not just Korean stars but those from Asianovelas. Some who have visited the Philippines are Lee Dong-wook, Yoo Jin, Calvin Chen and Wu Chun.

But why do Filipinos love Koreanovelas?

Raymundo said, "Koreanovelas are a perfect complement to our Filipino soaps and viewers find them refreshing".

"The Filipinos' taste becomes very discriminating, so we tend to ask for more of this novel experience", Abacan said.

Indeed, in the past several years, Filipino viewer tastes for dramas have evolved. They are no longer content with Filipino-made drama series, but welcome Asianovelas, including Korean drama series.

As long as they appeal to the taste of TV audiences, Koreanovelas will continue to warm the hearts of Filipinos.

Source : www.koreatimes.co.kr

[rubie]

September 13, 2009

Comedian Jeong Marries Writer

Jeong Hyeong-don

Comedian Jeong Hyeong-don tied the knot with broadcasting writer Han Eu-ra at the Convention Center of the 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Sunday.

Yoo Jae-suk, an entertainer and comedian, presided over the ceremony and K-pop singers Kim Jong-kook and Bada sang a congratulatory song. Poet Na Yo-yeol recited a congratulatory poem for the newlyweds. The couple will have their honeymoon in Hawaii.

Jeong and Han have been dating since they met during an SBS variety show last year. More than 500 prominent entertainers and comedians attended the wedding. During a press conference before the ceremony, Jeong said he hopes to have three sons and one daughter.

Jeong, 31, made his television debut in 2002 by appearing in "Doremi Trio,'' a segment of the KBS Gag Concert. He gained fame with his appearance in ``Infinite Challenge (Muhan Dojeong),'' an MBC-TV reality show.

Han turned to writing for broadcasting programs after modeling and acting.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

September 14, 2009

Comedian Chung Hyung-don Marries Scriptwriter

Comedian Chung Hyung-don and scriptwriter Han Yu-ra were married on September 13 at the 63 City Convention Center in Seoul. Family members and acquaintances came to congratulate the couple. There was no officiator at the ceremony, but instead poet Na Ho-yeol wrote a special poem for the couple.

The ceremony was hosted by comedian Yoo Jae-seok, while singers Kim Jong-kook and Bada sang congratulatory songs.

The couple will spend their honeymoon in Hawaii.

The two met last year when Chung appeared on the SBS TV show "Mystery Squad," which Han wrote the script for.

Chung debuted as a comedian in 2002 on KBS TV and has appeared on "Gag Concert," "Comedy Club" and "Non-stop 5." Currently he is appearing on the MBC TV show "A Challenge Without Limits."

Han used to appear in TV commercials and act before she began writing for broadcasting. Her latest work was the MBC TV show "Sleeping Over Tonight."

Source: KBS Global

[rubie]

September 13, 2009

Screen divas get dirty in new drama

Actresses Hwang Shin-hye (right) and Oh Yun-soo play friends-turned-enemies

in KBS¡?"Comeback Princes" [dandi MEDIA]

The critical success of MBC's "My Wife is a Superwoman" -- a series that took a melo-comedic look into the lives of two disillusioned homemakers and their struggles with marriage and social status -- testified to the popularity of housewife-themed dramas.

Now, KBS is bringing in a series that also takes a look at what happens after happily ever after. Fronted by two major screen divas, the ever-youthful Hwang Shin-hye and "Jumong" actress Oh Yun-soo, the new series -- titled "Comeback Princess" -- pits two former friends-turned-enemies against each other in a competition for the crown prize: love.

Actress Oh plays the girl who had it all: popularity, wealth and a bright future in the world of ballet. Co-star Hwang plays Oh's friend, Jang Gong-sim, a poor girl who harbors humble dreams of settling down with boyfriend Na Bong-hee.

But when Oh's character, Cha Do-kyung, steals Jang's boyfriend away from her, the two girls become enemies. When they meet again, 17 years later -- Cha as a discontented housewife and Jang as the prominent head of a ballet company -- the two declare war against each other.

The press got a taste of the rivalry to come at a press conference last week. The 10-minute preview screening showcased the two frenemies duking it out in a major cat fight in the mud and in an arm wrestling match. "Hwang wins out," said co-star Oh, when asked which actress displayed greater physical strength when they filmed the mud fight scene. "She is an Amazon."

Hwang added, "Oh is somewhat fragile and I am somewhat strong." Returning after a five-year hiatus from the small screen, Hwang needed to muster all the strength she had to tackle the role of a prima ballerina. "It was very hard," the 46-year old actress discussed the challenges of prepping for her role, which involved mastering the tricky toe shoe. "Just pretending to be a ballerina was very challenging."

The celebrity mom drew laughs when she revealed how her daughter responded to the news that her famous mom was going to be starring in "Princess Comeback." "'Mom, are you a princess?'" Hwang repeated what her daughter had said. "I answered, 'Of course I am, I'm doing this drama because I'm a princess.'"

While both veteran actresses Hwang and Oh will be vying for the title of princess in the upcoming series, it is entertainer Tak Jae-hoon who promises to turn the new drama into a comedic gem.

The singer-turned-actor drew laughs as Jang's ex-boyfriend and Cha's lowly husband during the preview screening, and had the press chuckling at last week's press conference. "Our drama is not forced in any way whatsoever," said the 41-year old actor, before delivering a self-deprecating punch line. "Well, if there's anything forced about it, it's the fact that these two women fight over me."

Playing the guy who gets both girls, first Jang as a girlfriend and then Cha as his wife, Tak revealed that his character goes through some major, unexpected plot twists in the upcoming series, including the untimely return of Cha's first love, played by "Temptation of Wife" actor Lee Jae-hwang. "In truth, my character suffers a divorce," he elaborated. "But then, after that, there is a huge reversal of fortune."

To see what reversal of fortune awaits Tak's character and to watch actresses Hwang and Oh in action, tune into the new Monday and Tuesday night series.

"Comeback Princess" airs tonight on KBS 2 TV at 9:55 p.m.

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