[News] Drama, Movies, Actors & Actresses

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October 1, 2009

Actress Han Hyo-joo signs with Lee Byung-hun's agency

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr기사 폰트확대

Actress Han Hyo-joo [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]

Actress Han Hyo-joo, heroine of hit TV series "Shining Inheritance," will join talent house BH Entertainment starting November, according to the agency on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old, formerly with Fantom Entertainment Group, signed with BH which manages some of South Korea's top stars including actor Lee Byung-hun and actress Han Chae-young.

Actor Bae Soo-bin who appeared alongside Han Hyo-joo in "Inheritance" is also managed by BH.

Han made her TV debut with sitcom "Nonstop 5", appearing in several dramas including "Spring Waltz" which has enjoyed popularity throughout several countries in Asia.

She became one of the most sought-after actresses in the entertainment industry after "Inheritance" ended its run triumphantly in July with a 41.7 percent viewership rate.

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr l Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr l <ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved> l asiae.co.kr

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October 1, 2009

'Hello My Love' Sugarcoats Sensitive Subject

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

A scene from “Hello My Love,” a romantic comedy featuring an “unconventional” love

triangle involving a woman and the new man in her boyfriend’s life

In "Hello My Love,'' girl falls in love with boy, but boy falls in love with boy, breaking girl's heart. The movie adds an exotic twist with things Parisian as well as a touch of something trendy with wine lessons to sugarcoat the sensitive subject matter of homosexuality in South Korea.

One may think of the sexually explicit epic "A Frozen Flower,'' but this feature film debut by Kim Aaron is more akin to Hong Ji-young's trendspotting romance "The Naked Kitchen.'' It is essentially a romantic comedy with a rather unconventional love triangle strewn into strictly mainstream themes of heartbreak, loss and growing pains.

Everything seems rosy for popular radio personality Ho-jeong (Jo An). She is about to be promoted, evoking the wrath of her unsmiling senior colleague, and is about to welcome back her perfect boyfriend Won-jae (Min Suk) from his two-year sojourn in Paris.

The two childhood friends-turned-lovers have been dating for 10 years, and Ho-jeong waits with glee for Won-jae to fulfill his promise to propose to her once he returns. The wedding seems to be only a formality, as orphaned Ho-jeong is already part of Won-jae's family.

Won-jae however hasn't come back alone ? his roommate from Paris, wine sommelier Dong-hwa (Ryu Sang-ok), never seems to leave his side. Ho-jeong pouts but waits patiently for Won-jae and Dong-hwa to set up their new wine restaurant. But little does she suspect that Dong-hwa literally meant it when he said that ``With Won-jae's cooking and my knowledge of wine, we're the perfect couple.'' (The movie tries to make things more palpable for those less comfortable with homosexuality by adding an element of exoticism, as if getting in touch with one's true nature is only possible in the city d'amour).

When Ho-jeong finally discovers the truth, her world comes crashing down. An audience member once cried on her radio show that his wife suddenly came out of the closet ? "I understand you must be shocked but wouldn't your wife be the one in the most pain, having to deal with an identity crisis? Would it be impossible to try to understand her and embrace her, on a human level?'' Likewise Won-jae begs her for her sympathy, saying he discovered his true self through Dong-hwa, but things are often easier said than done.

Nevertheless, our cheerful heroine does not give up. "If you were a broken TV I'd fix it and use it,'' she says, and demands that Won-jae date her for a month before fully committing to Dong-hwa.

Here, the movie tries to focus rather vaguely on Ho-jeong's attempt to find peace within herself. The character development can be measured by alcoholic preference: Ho-jeong is a self-declared soju purist but becomes interested in wine toward the end of the film, although the very sight of a wine cork could well evoke some unpleasant memories about the guy who stole her man. Jo portrays a most endearing heroine who agonizes over having to compete with someone she cannot even have a catfight with, but eventually learns be true to her heart.

The two male leads also bring freshness to the screen, but their one-note characters sometimes seem to stop short of endorsing stereotypes about sexual minorities. Likewise, caricatured supporting characters are often inserted in a desperate effort to propel the storyline or evoke unremarkable comedy.

The pretty-faced actors make physical displays of affection -- calculatingly in skin-baring tank tops- but the romance isn't as convincing through most of the three-way tug of hearts. Jo touches the viewer with her very real tears, but the deep bond that her character supposedly has with Won-jae isn't even as compelling as the relationship she shares with her senior colleague.

Nevertheless the movie makes a commendable effort to show that love, whether it be hetero or homosexual, can hurt.

In theaters Oct. 8. Distributed by CJ Entertainment.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

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October 2, 2009

Actor taking movie world by storm with ‘Rain’

'I think the makings of a good actor in Korea translate to anywhere in the world.’ - Actor Lee Byung-hun

Lee Byung-hun made waves in America after his successful debut in Hollywood this summer with the blockbuster “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” But he’s also turning heads for his role in “I Come with the Rain,” directed by Vietnamese-French filmaker Tran Anh Hung.

The film is generating huge buzz here ahead of its debut in Korea next Thursday at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival in Busan. Movie fans snapped up all the available tickets for the screening within 38 seconds after they went on sale.

Tran made his mark on the film industry with “The Scent of Green Papaya,” which won the Golden Camera Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993, and “Cyclo,” which received the Il Leone d’Oro, or the Golden Lion award, at the Venezia Film Festival in 1995.

His latest film features three major stars from three countries: Josh Hartnett from the United States, Takuya Kimura of Japan and Korea’s Lee. I Come with the Rain is about a Los Angeles cop named Kline (Hartnett) searching for the son of a Chinese billionaire, mini cooperao (Kimura). Lee plays the role of Su Dongpo, a cold-blooded Hong Kong gangster who falls madly in love with a woman named Lili, who suddenly goes missing.

In order to bring aboard Lee, Tran bypassed the casting agencies and personally took a trip to Korea to persuade the actor to join the venture. The director only revealed the synopsis of the film and told Lee to pick any part that he desired. “Lee’s performance in the movie ‘A Bittersweet Life’ left a lasting impression on me,” Tran said. “He is one of the few actors who can express various detailed expressions and emotions.”

Lee said he was moved when Tran mentioned that he was a fan of Korean writer Lee Mun-yeol and even got the idea for the movie from the author’s book “Son of a Man.” “I wondered how I would be portrayed under the direction of a director who was not familiar with me,” Lee Byung-hun said.

The actual filming of I Come with the Rain occurred after G.I. Joe and another movie Lee was in called “The Good, the Bad and the Weird.” In each of those movies, Lee played a character with a “bad guy” personality. “I had to play three villains with very different characteristics,” Lee said. “For the role of Chang in The Good, the Bad and the Weird, I had to focus on how evil is expressed solely on the outside, while Su Dongpo in I Come with the Rain required a chilling, demonic mood without much movement or expression.”

Lili, the woman that Su Dongpo passionately loves, is played by Tran’s wife, Tran Nu Yen Khe. She developed a relationship with the director on the sets of The Scent of Green Papaya and Cyclo and decided to only appear in her husband’s films after the two married.

Lee said that Tran Anh Hung didn’t provide any specific acting instructions for I Come with the Rain. That meant Lee actually had to take on the role of director in his scenes. “The limitless freedom was frightening, yet it stimulated my interest,” Lee said.

Although many actors want to drop anchor in Hollywood and become mega-stars across the globe, Lee has a different perspective. “I wish half of the people familiar with me actually didn’t know of me,” Lee said, “so I could have a place of serenity to become a better actor and a human being.

“Many people think that the language barrier is the biggest obstacle for acting and living in Hollywood, but I think having an open mind, trying to understand others and not constraining yourself are important,” he added. “I think the makings of a good actor in Korea translate to anywhere in the world.”

The three main actors in I Come with the Rain - Hartnett, Kimura and Lee - along with Tran and his wife will make an appearance and meet with fans at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival.

By Yang Sung-hee [estyle@joongang.co.kr] via joongangdaily.joins.com

Lee Byung-hun appears in Tran Anh Hung’s new film “I Come with the Rain,”

which will be screened in a gala presentation at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival next Thursday. [YONHAP]

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October 2, 2009

Eugene Finds Life Abroad Reflected in New Drama

Eugene

Eugene, formerly of K-pop girl group SES, says her starring role in new MBC TV weekend drama "Creating Destiny" is her comeback on TV after a year's absence. In a recent interview during the photo shoot for the poster, Eugene said the new drama is "novel and fun and can be enjoyed by people of all ages."

Eugene plays a soon-to-be lawyer who moved to Australia when young. "She and I are similar in that we both left Korea at an early age," she said. "Her situation, background and personality are all similar to mine. That's probably why I didn't think it was too difficult when I read the script. I think my experience of spending my teen years in Guam will help me immensely with the role."

She has many lines in English. "Even though I spent my youth abroad, English is still difficult. I think I need to practice a lot. I felt as if I was reading off a book, not acting, when I was practicing the lines. I'm going to have to read the script over and over and practice it a lot. I try to regain the feel of English by speaking in English with friends," she said. Eugene added the role resembles her most out of all the characters she has played so far.

After finishing the film "Yoga," Eugene has been taking a break. Since she debuted as a member of SES in 1997 until the dissolution of the group in 2002, she was the pixie of the K-pop scene. Since then, she successfully moved from singing to acting. The first episode of "Creating Destiny" will be aired on Oct. 10.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

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October 1, 2009

Jang Mi-hee and Kim Yoon-suk to Open PIFF

eto.freechal.com

Two Korean stars have been named to host the opening ceremony of the 14th Pusan International Film Festival. Actress JANG Mi-hee, who made her debut in 1976 and actor KIM Yoon-suk, who rose to lead status with his role in 2007’s The Chaser, will raise curtains for the star-studded ceremony on Oct. 8th at the Busan Yachting Center on Haeundae beach.

JANG was one of Korea’s top stars throughout the 80s, starring in films such as BAE Chang-ho’s Hwang Jin-Yi (1986) and Deep Blue Night (1985). She is currently enjoying a renaissance in her acting career though TV drama Mom Has Grown Horns in which she plays the colorful and unique character “GOH Eun-a.”

KIM Yoon-suk is a charismatic actor known for his supporting roles in many Korean films including Happy Life (2007), Tazza: the High Rollers (2006), Like A Virgin (2006), and The Big Swindle (2004). His gritty lead role in The Chaser put him in the national spotlight. His latest film, Running Turtle (2009), will screen in PIFF’s Korean Panorama section.

During the ceremony a special moment of tribute will be offered to late actress JANG Jin-young, who officiated over PIFF’s opening ceremony last year.

Nigel D’Sa (KOFIC)

PIFF’s Record Ticket Sales

With the opening of Pusan International Film Festival’s box office on Sept. 23, nearly half the general screenings have sold out. Of the record 355 films in the program, 159 sold out in less than an hour. Quickest to go was the Guest Visit screening of I Come With the Rain, starring Korea’s top star LEE Byung-hun, selling out in just 38 seconds.

JANG Jin’s Good Morning, President, the opening film, screened each year at the 5000-seat outdoor theater at the Busan Yachting Center, sold out in 1 minute and 16 seconds. Other quick sellers were Air Doll, starring BAE Doona, and Japanese actor YAKUSHO Koji’s directing debut Toad’s Oil.

For those who weren’t fast enough, don’t dismay. 20% of total tickets will be available at Temporary Box Offices open at screening venues during the festival period. Pre-festival tickets can be bought via the Internet at http://piff.kr, the new mobile ticketing service Mobile PIFF, in nationwide GS25 convenient stores, and at the Busan Bank.

Nigel D’Sa (KOFIC)

Park Chan-ok’s Long Awaited Paju Screens at Pusan

PARK Chan-ok’s long awaited follow up to Jealousy is my Middle Name (2002) is to show at this year’s Pusan International Film Festival. Jealousy, PARK’s debut film, was well received at Pusan and also went on to play at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

The new film Paju a dark drama about prohibitive love stars the usually gentile LEE Seon-gyun better known for his romantic/comic role in TV gender bending drama Coffee Prince and movies such as Romantic Island (2008). LEE’s dark love interest is played by new comer female actor Seo-woo. The film reveals what happens when a woman falls for her late sister’s husband.

Director PARK has spent 7 years in development on Paju and the film is due for general release this October.

David Oxenbridge (KOFIC)

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October 1, 2009

Korean/Japanese Screen Adaption The White Night in Production

media.daum.net

There has been an increasing amount of Japanese Korean cinematic business happening of late and new adaption of novel The White Night adds another notch to the belt. Written by novelist Higashino Keigo the original dark tale of two children who commit murder through self defense was also made into a successful Japanese TV drama. The Korean movie stars actors SON Ye-jin (My Wife Got Married 2008) and marks the return of heart throb Goo Soo after serving in the army. In addition, playing the pursuing detective is Korean stalwart actor HAN Seok-gyu, who, starring in Shiri (1999) and The Scarlet Letter (2004) should be no stranger to Japanese and Korean audiences alike.

The screen play has been completed by busy TV writer PARK Yeon-Seon who has written other adaptations and also comedy for the big screen. Joining PARK’s first foray into dark cinematic territory is feature-film first timer PARK Shin-woo who is in the director’s seat. The White Night is being distributed by CJ Entertainment and a release date has not been set.

David Oxenbridge (KOFIC)

Lee Yoon-ki’s And Us Halts Filming

Director LEE Yoon-ki’s film And Us, currently in production has had a three week respite in shooting. Reasons for the temporary halt are unknown but given the star power attached to the film, that the film has not yet resumed shooting is significant. The male lead is HA Jung-woo who most recently starred in Take Off which this year raked in 8 million admissions at the Korean box office. HA plays opposite Soo Ae who is currently playing Queen Myeon-seong in The Sword with no Name itself ranking at number two at the Korean box office. Since his debut feature The Charming Girl in 2005 Director LEE Yoon-ki has also made a name for himself at the box office. And Us, a mid-budget film was to be his 5th feature.

With film already in the can there is still no word yet as to when shooting will resume.

David Oxenbridge (KOFIC)

Breathless Continues its Winning Streak

Breathless, the low budget HD feature which has gone on from success to success continues to rack up the awards. Since its premiere at PIFF last year, it has continued to traverse the film festival circuit and has just won awards at the Vladivostok International Film Festival and at the Fantastic Fest 2009 in Austin Texas. Prior to this the film won awards at the Barcelona Asian Film Festival, Deauville Asian Film Festival and more notably won the top Tiger Award at The International Film Festival Rotterdam back in January/February of this year.

The film stars it’s Director YANG Ik-joon who plays a foul mouthed, gangster like debt collector who meets a young, equally troubled school girl. YANG himself, apart from the film, has also risen in profile. Hailed by international critics as the Korean next big thing he served on the Choice Shorts Jury at this year’s PiFan and has just announced his next film Runaway from Home that he will again, direct and star in. .

David Oxenbridge (KOFIC)

Hur Jin-ho directs Korea-China love story

Christmas in August director HUR Jin-ho will return to cinemas on 8 October with the romantic film Season of Good Rain. Season of Good Rain is a co-production between Korea (Pancinema Corp.) and China (Zonbo Media).

The romantic leads are played by Korean actor JUNG Woo-sung and Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan. The two met in the US when they were young. When JUNG's character is assigned to a project in China, he accidentally meets her again and old feelings resurface.

HUR is a specialist of melodramas. He gained much acclaim for Christmas in August, followed by One Fine Spring Day, April Snow and Happiness. JUNG's long career includes Beat,A Moment to Remember and The Good, the Bad, and the Weird.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)

Manila’s Korean Film Festival Kicks Off

Manila’s 2009 Korean Film Festival opened Sept 23, offering free screenings to the public during its one week run. Sponsored by the Korean Embassy and held at Shangri-La Plaza, the fest showcases seven Korean features and celebrates the “Philippines-Republic of Korea Friendship Year.”

The program features some of the most artistically accomplished films in Korean cinema over the last 9 years, including renowned and emerging directors. Korean TV dramas are already popular in the Philippines, but audiences have yet to be exposed to Korean feature filmmaking.

The seven films in the program are Old Boy (PARK Chan-wook), Barking Dogs Never Bite (BONG Joon-ho), Sa-Kwa (KANG Yi-kwan), Beyond the Years (IM Kwon-taek), The Show Must Go On (HAN Jae-rim), Forbidden Quest (KIM Dae-woo) and Driving with My Wife’s Lover (KIM Tai-sik).

Nigel D’Sa (KOFIC)

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October 2, 2009

Actress Jeong to Make Hollywood Debut

Jeong Ryeo-won

Former K-pop singer and actress Jeong Ryeo-won is poised to advance to Hollywood.

According to press reports, Jeong, 27, visited the United States last month and met with officials from an unidentified Hollywood studio. She was also courted by Hollywood last year but this is the first time that she has had a meeting in connection with her entry into Hollywood.

A local movie expert praised Jeong, saying, "She is highly qualified to enter the United States for acting.'' An official from Jeong's agency confirmed her Hollywood plan and said,"She will also be active in South Korea.''

Some South Korean actors such as Kim Yun-jin, Lee Byung-hun, Daniel Henney and Jang Dong-gun are now active in Hollywood.

Jeong, a former member of the girl group Chakra, immigrated into Australia during her childhood and returned to South Korea in 1999. She drew attention in 2005 when she made a successful debut as a TV actress in MBC TV's "My Lovely Samsoon.'' She, along with actress Kim Sun-ah, made the soap one of the greatest hit dramas that year.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

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October 2, 2009

Pusan pulls out all the stops

Seemingly undaunted by financial gloom, this year’s Pusan International Film Festival (Oct 8-16) boasts a record 355 films and a new cash prize. But will travel-weary buyers and sellers be in town to see them?

By Jean Noh

As other festivals around the world are tightening their belts, South Korea’s Pusan International Film Festival (Piff), powered by Busan Metropolitan City’s initiative to become an audiovisual hub for Asia, has received an increase in funding from its host city, as well as sponsors, this year. The festival has instated a new $20,000 award for non-Asian films from first and second-time directors in the Flash Forward section, and is set to screen a record 355 films from 70 countries in 11 sections, including 98 world premieres (by comparison, last month’s Toronto had a total of 335 films and 171 world premieres).

“It’s an unprecedented number of films for Piff and not likely to be broken in the near future,” says festival co-director Kim Dong-ho, who admits he knows the pitfalls of such a young festival growing too quickly. Organisational problems have arisen in past editions as the festival has ballooned rapidly in its 14 years, launching the Asian Film Market in 2006 and facing criticism last year for its expanded selections of varied quality.

“We’re taking special precautions. But this is a special year. We had to take into account the fact such a large number of good films were made by new and established directors alike this year,” explains Kim. “In addition, we added originally unanticipated retrospectives for the late director Yu Hyun-mok and actress Jang Jin-young [who passed away earlier this year]. Italian horror master Dario Argento expressed a wish to attend Piff and we were only too happy to take the occasion to hold a retrospective in his honour.”

“This is a special year. We had to take into account the fact such a large number of good films were made by new and established directors alike this year” Kim Dong-ho, festival co-director

As witnessed by the Flash Forward prize, the festival is growing in other directions from its original niche as a showcase where international programmers come to sharpshoot Asian arthouse films for their own upcoming festivals.

Opening film Good Morning President, directed by local hit-maker Jang Jin, is a surprisingly commercial choice for Pusan. But it is reflective of what Korean Cinema programmer Lee Sang-yong describes as the new trend in local films -“expansion and humour” - in its portrayal of the hidden, and often comic, lives of three different fictional presidents.

The Gala Presentations will ramp up the glamour factor with guests set to include Tilda Swinton, the star of Luca Guadagnino’s Venice hit I Am Love, as well as Josh Hartnett, Kimura Takuya and Lee Byung-hun, all starring in Tran Anh Hung’s I Come With The Rain. Other guests include Bryan Singer as producer of Midnight Passion title Trick Or Treat and French director Jean-Jacques Beineix as head of the New Currents jury.

“We’ve started the Flash Forward competition for non-Asian films in keeping with our mandate for discovery. But the reason why we aren’t mixing the Asian and non-Asian films is because we think that will keep the arena wider,” says Jeon Chan-il, World Cinema section programmer. “There are greater resources for non-Asian directors and a wider variety of works from them.”

Hidden gems

At its core, Piff is still a festival of discovery, primarily focused on Asian films. The New Currents competition for first and second-time directors has 13 films with nine world and two international premieres.

These include Nosir Saidov’s True Noon, billed as Tajikistan’s first film in 18 years to be fully funded and produced within the territory, Giuseppe Bede Sampedro’s award-winning Squalor from the Philippines, and Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni’s Indian coming-of-age film The Well.

A Window On Asian Cinema also has what programmer Kim Ji-seok calls “hidden gems like Karat 14, an Iran-Germany co-production which was made earlier this year and such an important film that I don’t know how other festivals seem to have missed it”.He also points to the world premieres of Cheng Wen-tang’s Chinese detective drama Tears as well as 15 Malaysia, an omnibus of political films by a who’s who of Malaysia’s up-and-coming directors including Ho Yuhang, James Lee and Tan Chui Mui.

Also part of that omnibus is Woo Ming Jin, whose other Piff entry, Woman On Fire Looks For Water, is being presented as a model of Piff’s endeavours to develop the Asian-wide film industry. The project won support from both Piff’s Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) script development and post-production funds. Venice sought out the film as a late addition to its Orrizonti section where it screened in digital as a work-in-progress. The completed 35mm version is making its world premiere at Piff.

“We want to create a cycle of discovery, support, showcasing and nurturing of the film industry,” says festival co-director Lee Yong-kwan.

Credits: screendaily.com

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2009/10/03

Top Korean actor Bae cuts Japan trip short due to illness

photo courtesy of Digital Adventure

SEOUL, Oct. 3 (Yonhap) -- Top South Korean actor Bae Yong-joon has cut short a promotional tour in Japan and returned home because of illness, his agency said Saturday.

Bae's agency, BOF, said the actor returned to South Korea on Friday under stress from continued big schedules and events. He was not, however, in serious condition, BOF said.

The Korean actor traveled to Japan Sept. 27 to promote his photo essay book "Travel in Search of Korea's Beauty," which covers broad areas of culture, including cuisine, handicrafts, temples and dress-making. He was initially scheduled to return home Monday.

Late last month, Bae was admitted to a hospital after his blood pressure and blood sugar levels fell sharply. Test results showed he was suffering from the early stages of blood deterioration, but was not in critical condition.

Bae stated last month at a press conference that he lost nearly 10kg during the final days of writing the book from pressure to make his work as flawless as he could.

"(He) will get enough rest in South Korea and greet fans in a healthy condition as soon as possible," BOF said on its Web site.

The actor rose to stardom in neighboring Asian countries, including Japan, for his lead role in "Winter Sonata," a 2002 drama about star-crossed lovers. Since then, he has gained unprecedented popularity in the region.

Credits : odissy@yna.co.kr

Source : Yonhap News

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October 3, 2009

'My Love..' Tops 1 Million in 9 Days

My Love By My Side

“My Love by My Side,” directed by Bak Jin-pyo, has topped 1 million in ticket sales in nine days after its release.

According to the film manufacturer House, the movie starring Kim Myung-min and Ha Ji-won has been attracting movie-goers among those released since September. It is more attractive than “Aeja,” the thrilling motherhood film, directed by Bong Joon-ho, which hit the 1 million mark in ticket sales in 15 days since it was released on Sept. 9.

The film, a melodramatic romance between a man who suffers from Lou Gehric disease and the self-sacrificing woman who loves him, is expected to be another local blockbuster, following ‘Haeundae” and “National Player,! ” which swept the country in summer, during the Chuseok season, amid the influx of Hollywood films, a movie critic said.

“’My Love.. has been loved by all age groups whether they are female or male. Many families are expected to go to cinemas during the Chuseok holiday as the film is allowed to children aged 12 years or younger as a family melodrama, accelerate the weekend hit,” a spokesman of the film maker said. “Ticket sales are expected to easily hit the 2 million mark by the end of second weekend of October.”

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

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2009.10.03

Bae Yong-joon cuts Japan trip short due to illness

▲ 배용준 (photo from SPN)

Top South Korean actor Bae Yong-joon has cut short a promotional tour in Japan and returned home because of illness, his agency said Saturday, according to Yonhap News.

Bae's agency, BOF, said the actor returned to South Korea on Friday under stress from continued big schedules and events. He was not, however, in serious condition, BOF said.

The Korean actor traveled to Japan Sept. 27 to promote his photo essay book "Travel in Search of Korea's Beauty," which covers broad areas of culture, including cuisine, handicrafts, temples and dress-making. He was initially scheduled to return home Monday.

Late last month, Bae was admitted to a hospital after his blood pressure and blood sugar levels fell sharply. Test results showed he was suffering from the early stages of blood deterioration, but was not in critical condition. Bae stated last month at a press conference that he lost nearly 10kg during the final days of writing the book from pressure to make his work as flawless as he could.

Source : The Korea Herald

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2009.10.04

Korean Wave star Bae Yong-joon advised by doctors to take rest

SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- Korean Wave star Bae Yong-joon has been advised by doctors to drastically cut short his schedule and take rest to restore his health from extreme fatigue and stress, his management agency said Sunday.

Bae, 37, returned home from Japan Friday ahead of schedule after showing severe symptoms of fatigue and stress. He originally had been scheduled to stay in Japan until Monday for a series of promotional events.

"His health has deteriorated and needs rest," an official at his management agency, BOF, said, disclosing that his blood pressure and blood sugar levels have fallen sharply.

The official said, however, that the actor was not in serious condition.

Bae was forced to spend some time in hospital in September after complaining of severe fatigue and stress. He at that time reportedly lost as much as 10 kilograms after working hard over the past year on a book that looks into beauty of South Korean culture.

After being discharged from the hospital, Bae flew to Japan early last week to promote his book and an animated version of the popular South Korean TV drama "Winter Sonata" starring himself.

Bae rose to stardom in neighboring Asian countries, including Japan, for his lead role in "Winter Sonata," a drama about star-crossed lovers. Since then, he has gained unprecedented popularity in the region.

Credits : sooyeon@yna.co.kr

Source : Yonhap News

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30-09-2009

'Visit Korea' Campaign Launched in Japan

'Visit Korea' campaign: Korean superstar Bae Yong-joon, left, smiles as he

talks to Korea Tourism Organazation chief Lee Charm during a ceremony to

launch the Visit Korea 2010-2012 campaign at the Tokyo Dome, Wednesday.

[Courtesy of Visit Korea Committee]

Japan held a launching ceremony for the Visit Korea 2010-2012 campaign at the Tokyo Dome, Wednesday, with more than 40,000 participants that included Lee Charm, president of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Japanese First Lady Miyuki Hatoyama and Korean actor Bae Yong-joon, a superstar in Japan.

"It is extremely meaningful that Japan is joining a tourism campaign to promote Korea to the world," Hatoyama said in a private meeting with the KTO president ahead of the ceremony.

She expressed a deep interest in the "Korean wave" of culture and entertainment in Japan and other parts of Asia. The Japanese first couple will visit Korea on Oct. 9 at the invitation of President Lee Myung-bak.

The ceremony included a talk show with the KTO chief and Bae, a congratulatory address by Ambassador Kwon Chul-hyun to Japan and a video presentation of Korea’s tourist attractions.

"Korea is planning a host of new projects to attract foreign tourists to Korea during the years 2010-2012," Lee said.

As a goodwill ambassador of the campaign, Bae said that he was interested in raising the global status of Korean food.

Korea has set up a special committee to prepare for the campaign to attract 10 million foreign tourists to Korea over the next three years. Lee serves as its vice chairman.

The committee is led by Lotte Group’s Vice Chairman Shin Dong-bin. The domestic launching ceremony for the campaign is scheduled for Nov. 11.

It is the third time for Korea to initiate such a campaign. The last was held in 2001-2002 when Korea co-hosted the World Cup finals.

The campaign, first announced last year, is also promoted by goodwill ambassador Kim Yu-na, the 2009 world champion in ladies figure skating.

Credits : Do Je-hae, Staff Reporter (jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr)

Source : The Korea Times

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October 5, 2009

So Ji-sub in Tokyo for 1st Japan Drama

So Ji-sub

A preview for a Japanese drama starred by hallyu (Korean wave) star So Ji-sub for the first time will take place in Tokyo next week.

The drama, "I am GHOST,'' will be featured on BEE TV, the mobile phone broadcaster, starting Oct. 20. The preview will be held at Tokyo International Forum Hall in Yurakucho on Oct. 13.

So, 32, heroine Mitsuki Tanimura, director Toshiro Sonoda and other staff will give a full account of what had happened during the filming process during the preview, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"I am GHOST,'' the first action drama since the foundation of BEE TV that consists of 24 episodes, will have a runtime of five minutes per episode. The drama sheds light on sad love between a young girl (Mitsuki Tanimura) who contemplates suicide by jumping off a building and a wounded ghost (So Ji-sub).

So Ji-sub debuted as a model for a clothing company in 1995. Two year later, he made his television acting debut in the SBS drama series "Model.'' He won fame in 2004 when the KBS drama "Sorry, I Love You,'' co-starred by actress Lim Su-jeong, made a big hit.

Source: koreatimes.co.kr

Premiere to Be Held for So Ji-seop's First Japanese TV Drama

A large-scale premiere will be held for a Japanese TV drama in which actor So Ji-seop plays a leading role.

Entitled "I Am Ghost," the drama will first be aired on October 20 by the mobile broadcaster BeeTV. On October 13, a "premium event" will be held for the drama at the Tokyo International Forum Hall. It will be attended by So Ji-seop, actress Mitsuki Tanimura, the director and writers.

"I Am Ghost" is the first action TV drama to be produced since BeeTV's founding. It consists of 24 five-minute episodes. It is a sad love story about the assassin Ghost (So Ji-seop), who came from abroad, and a heartbroken student (Matsuki Tanimura).

BeeTV has posted stories about So Ji-seop and the drama shoot on the movie blog "So Ji-seop's Sonick World."

Source: KBS Global

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October 5, 2009

Poll unveils widespread abuse of female entertainers

By Shin Hae-in

SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- Nearly four out of every 10 female entertainers in South Korea face unwanted sexual pressure, a parliamentary survey revealed Monday, indicating the depth of exploitation of the country's starlets.

Some 25 percent of female entertainers surveyed by Rep. Byun Jae-il of the Democratic Party said they experienced unwanted physical contact, while 12.5 percent said they had been forced or requested to perform sexual favors in return for money or a recognizable role in a TV show or a film.

Up to 43.8 percent said they had been forced to drink with high-ranking entertainment figures, while 37.5 percent have experienced violence or abusive language during these gatherings. "The exploitation of entertainers, especially young female entertainers, by some agents has gone beyond the limit," Byun said in his parliamentary audit of the culture ministry. "The ministry needs to come up with immediate measures to improve the situation. This is not an issue to be left upon the self-regulatory aspect of the market."

On March 7, young actress Jang Ja-yeon hanged herself, leaving behind a letter that claimed she was forced to perform sexual favors for powerful figures, including a TV producer and executives at Korea's top entertainment firm. Although the police chose not press charges, citing lack of evidence, the case drew an uproar. It was not the first time such suspicions had been raised concerning the local entertainment industry.

In the most extreme cases, the reputations of several female celebrities were tarnished after videos of them having sex appeared on the Internet, downloaded by millions.

Agents and managers often pressure actresses to have sex with them while being videotaped, later using it as blackmail to prevent the starlets from skipping to bigger firms offering more money after they become famous. Largely due to lingering Confucian values in Korea, it often takes years for these stigmatized female celebrities to re-emerge in the spotlight, if they do at all.

The culture ministry and the Fair Trade Commission vowed earlier this year to establish "standard contract" formats to root out unfair first deals often signed between agents and new starts, and come up with tougher protection measures on celebrity rights.

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

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2009.10.01

Bae Yong-joon's Travel Essay Becomes a Bestseller

A travel book written by Actor Bae Yong-joon of the "Winter Sonata" fame has gone into its tenth printing in just seven days since it was first marketed. Titled "A Journey to Find the Beauty of Korea," the travel essay topped the travel book bestseller category in major bookstores. Also the first batch of its Japanese version has all been sold out in Japan and another shipment has been ordered.

The popularity of the book is attributed to not only the banking power of Bae, but also the detailed descriptions and sincerity of his writing. He reportedly traveled all over the country himself to find beautiful traditions and sights of Korea. Bae said that he was motivated to write this travel book when he was asked in a Japanese press conference to introduce a beautiful place in Korea and couldn’t name even one location.

The book’s publisher says that the book features very high quality printing, so it takes twice as long to print. The printing company will be working throughout the Chuseok holiday to meet the deadline. The publishing company also says that the book may be printed in English as well to meet the soaring demands.

Source : KBS WORLD

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October 5, 2009

Chill out with jazz under the stars

Few genres of music better heralds the advent of autumn than the cool, relaxing and introspective tunes of Jazz.

It is just that time of year when hipsters and would-be beatniks clad in Buddy Holly eyeglasses dust off their turtlenecks and head on over to their favorite non-corporate owned java house to sip on cappuccinos complimented with a Jack Kerouac book.

If summer was the season of ear shattering, decibel breaking rock festivals, fall on the other hand, is the season of Jazz. And The Jarasum International Jazz Festival, now in its sixth year, is without a doubt the country's premiere Jazz event. This year, the biggest of its kind in Korea, the festival will be back at Jarasum from Oct. 15 to 18 on the remote island in the idyllic Gapyeong County of Gyeonggi Province.

The line-up for this year's festivities is stacked and with bands like Chico & The Gypsies headlining the bill, fans might want to dance a jig when they take center stage. That band of course, is fronted by none other than Chico Bouchikhi, the former co-founder of the legendary French-based modern Flamenco band, The Gypsy Kings.

Over five seasons, the three-day celebration of Jazz has seen significant increases in visitors with each edition every year since 2004 when the inaugural event attracted just a modest 30,000 -- still quite a lot considering that that year saw heavy downpours and was anything but inviting.

Now, the festival attracts well over 130,000 and this year organizers expect an even bigger turnout as construction on parts of the island has now wrapped. "Because various spots on the island were going through heavy renovations last year, we had to move some of the performances to venues inside the city center," organizers said and added "but this year construction on those projects is finished so we were able to establish more stages on the island."

A total of eight have been set up, each with its own distinct color and musical characteristics with three designated as the festival's main concert venues. Jazz Island, the main stage of the festival will feature headlining acts both local and from around the world.

Party Gym will feature a more upbeat dance-infused soul and funk while the Jazz Cube will focus on artists that hail from Europe under the concept of "One or Two" where featured acts perform either solo or in a duet. For those with the entire family tagging along or with RVs and caravans, the Jarasum campsite is an option that's hard ignore.

The site was recently used as a filming locale on the upcoming Lee Byung-hun television action serial "IRIS" and has been a popular destination for campers throughout the years. The campsite boasts 40 mobile homes and 10 caravans available for advance booking as well as a lot with the capacity to hold 285 mobile homes and caravans. Though the festival has been gaining popularity with each edition, it has not been without its critics.

Past fest-goers have pointed out the lack of food amenities as one of the festival's biggest blights and to resolve this complaint, organizers have secured the services of the nation's fifth biggest conglomerate Lotte to provide more food booths to tend to the hungry needs of its festival-goers.

Indeed a legitimate complaint but surely, this has been a testament to the amount of turn-out the event has garnered over the past five years. And with its popularity continuing to rise, the Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism even selected the event as the "best festival in the Gyeonggi Province" for three years running since 2007.

In addition to providing fans an opportunity to congregate with fellow Jazz aficionados, the festival also injects a boost to the regional economy every year which many say remains stagnant until the start of the festival. Passes to The Jarasum International Jazz Festival cost 25,000 won ($21.12) for a single-day pass, a two-day pass is priced at 40,000 won and a full three-day pass will set you back a cool 50,000 won.

For reservations, visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or call 02) 1588-7890.

For more information on the festival and its program, visit www.jarasumjazz.com or call 031) 581-2813~4.

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

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2009.10.05

Bae Yong-joon to receive hospital treatment again

Actor Bae Yong-joon [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Top Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon will visit the hospital on Monday to receive treatment for overexhaustion, a representative for the actor said.

Bae's latest trip to the hospital comes in less than three weeks since September 19 when he collapsed from early stage sepsis believed to be caused by overwork and stress.

The 37-year-old actor had been advised to rest but left the hospital five days later to hold promotional events for his new book and the animation version of hit TV series "Winter Sonata" in South Korea and Japan.

An official at BOF Entertainment reassured that Bae is "not experiencing any symptoms different from the first time" and may have overstrained himself again attending the recent promotional events.

"He will concentrate on recovering his health now while undergoing tests and treatment," the official told Asia Economic Daily over the phone.

His agency had said earlier that doctors had told the actor was in need of absolute rest, citing his sharply low levels of blood-sugar and blood pressure.

Bae held an event to promote his photo essay "Discovering the Beauty of Korea" on September 22 in Seoul and then a week later in Tokyo. The previous day, he met with fans in Japan again at the Tokyo Dome with actress Choi Ji-woo to promote "Winter Story~ Another Story~" set to air on October 17.

He was set to stay in Japan till Sunday for additional photo shoots and meetings but cut short his visit and returned to Korea on Friday.

Senior Reporter : Moon Yong-sung lococo@asiae.co.kr

Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>

Source : Asia Economic Daily

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2009.10.05

Actor Bae Yong-joon to Have Medical Check

Actor Bae Yong-joon

Top hallyu star Bae Yong-joon cut short his stay in Japan and returned home earlier than scheduled due to a sudden deterioration in his health, his agency BOF said.

Bae came home Friday, cancelling some events to meet with his fans. He was originally scheduled to stay there until Sunday.

His agency said the actor seemed to have overworked during his stay in Japan to promote his book ``A Journey in Search of Korean Beauty'' and the animated version of the mega-hit TV drama ``Winter Sonata'' he starred in.

Bae, diagnosed with a drop in his blood sugar level and blood pressure, was advised to relax for a while by doctors after his return. He has shown improvement after resting the past days, his agency said, adding he will undergo a medical checkup soon to see whether he needs to be hospitalized.

The 37-year-old actor shed more than 10 kilograms during his travels around the country for the compilation of essays on Korean culture and travel.

Bae fainted on Sept. 17 due to the same ailments he currently suffers from and was hospitalized for five days. He was then diagnosed to be in the early stage of sepsis.

He had been advised by doctors against visiting Japan but pressed ahead with the plan and had a large-scale promotional event in the Tokyo Dome at the end of last month.

Credits : chojh@koreatimes.co.kr

Source : The Korea Times

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October 5, 2009

Sung Yu-ri Makes Movie Debut Opposite Jang Hyuk

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

Singer-turned-actress Sung Yu-ri makes her big screen debut opposite popular actor

Jang Hyuk in the mellow romance "Maybe" by director Joo Ji-hong. The movie will premiere

at the 14th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) before hitting theaters nationwide Oct. 22.

/ Courtesy of Lotte Cinema

Singer-turned-actress Sung Yu-ri makes her big screen debut opposite Jang Hyuk in a mellow seasonal romance, "Maybe."

The movie also marks the local film debut of acclaimed France-based auteur Joo Ji-hong, whose filmography includes "Le Mal de Dents" starring Kristin Scott Thomas. "Maybe" will premiere at the 14th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), which runs from Oct. 8 to 16, before a nationwide theatrical release Oct. 22.

Best known as a former member of K-pop band Fin.K.L, Sung has become a regular leading lady on the small screen, most recently appearing in the big budget TV soap "Swallowing the Sun" (SBS).

"I've always wanted to do movies but it seemed too overwhelming, having to fill the huge screen with your face and acting. I could not have done it without the support of the director, Jang Hyuk and the crew," Sung told reporters at a promotional event Monday in Seoul.

"Singer-turned-actors tend to be less fearful of cameras, which is an advantage. But because they are often high-profile when they make their acting debut they are often prone to cold criticism. The criticism can be hurtful, but I've realized that it is a sign of interest and one must overcome it. I'm also trying my best," she said.

When asked about what the crossover from TV soaps to films was like, the 28-year-old said she was able to focus better on the set. "The director and crew create an environment for you to completely immerse yourself in, to focus only on acting. (My character) May is silent and introverted, so the crew tried to help me stay in character by not talking to me as much. It's a pity though because I didn't get to befriend the crew, and I got a little bored later on because people didn't speak to me,'' she said.

To prepare for her role as a quiet woman who was adopted by overseas parents at a young age, she said she spent a lot of time alone and watched documentaries about adoption. She also practiced her English skills. The director said that "contrary to public opinion, Sung has a knack for playing out emotions" and promised that the movie would "show a new side of the actress."

"Maybe" is about May, who returns to Korea in search of her birth family. However, she is disappointed to learn that both of her parents had died in a car accident. As she turns away deeply disappointed, she picks up a wallet, which, coincidentally, belongs to Eun-seol (Jang), the taxi driver that drove her earlier that day.

Eun-seol, on the other hand, suffers from a rare terminal disease from which the heart can stop beating any moment, and thus lives each day expecting the worst. The two strangers recognize in each other a kindred spirit suffering from a painful past, and empathy eventually grows into love.

Jang said the movie is not so much about the agony of being seriously ill, but about interacting with the everyday things of life ― such as love ― while dealing with a particular health condition. Joo said that Jang was a versatile actor who could express the diverse emotions required of the part.

The 32-year-old actor said he was fortunate to work with Sung. "She is a very diligent actress and our harmony was wonderful," he said. "I must have done a lot of good things in my past life because I get to work with the most beautiful actresses,'' chuckled Jang, who has starred opposite screen beauties before, such as Jun Ji-hyun in "Windstruck."

Meanwhile the two leading actors made headlines by investing their guarantees into the film's production cost.

Distributed by Lotte Entertainment.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr