Lee Jung-Jae 이정재 [Movie “Hunt” | Upcoming: Star Wars series “The Acolyte” (Disney+)]

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December 19, 2014
Lee Jung Jae Shows Off His Autograph
Source: BNTNews

[by Sora Ghim, photo by Kim Chi Yoon] Outdoor brand Montbell's model Lee Jung Jae held a fan signing on December 19 at the Montbell store in the Gangnam Shinsegae Mall.
He wore the brand's clothes, looking stylish and warm for this cold winter. 
Meanwhile, Lee Jung Jae starred in the recently released film 'Big Match' and is currently filming another movie 'Assassination' with director Choi Dong Hoon. (photo by bntnews DB)

[Guest adikkeluangman]

[big Match] 141123 Lee Jung Jae attend the stage greeting at Daejeon
via NEW

[Guest adikkeluangman]

[big Match] 141129 Opening the first week of surprise stage greeting the public scene! As soon as the movie ended surprise emerged the strongest actor Lee, Jeong - Jae, Lee Sung-min, Kim Eui-sung!

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December 31, 2014
Lee Jung Jae Reportedly in a Relationship with Lim Se Ryung
Source: soompi.com


News outlet Dispatch revealed on New Years Day that actor Lee Jung Jae is allegedly in a relationship with Lim Se Ryung, an executive board member at Daesang Group.
Dispatch revealed that they have caught the two on a date on December 26, starting off with brunch at a restaurant owned by Lim Se Ryung, then proceeding to Lee Jung Jae’s house.
They also added that they have caught Lim Se Ryung visiting Lee Jung Jae’s house more than three times a week.
Lee Jung Jae and Lim Se Ryung have previously denied being romantically involved, despite many coverages of their alleged relationship by the media.
According to Dispatch, the two met through Lee Jung Jae’s ex-girlfriend Kim Min Hee before 2006, when Lim Se Ryung was still married to the vice-chairman of Samsung Group, Lee Jae Yong. After Lim Se Ryung divorced Lee Jae Yong in 2009, they seemed to get closer, and Lee Jung Jae also appeared in a commercial for Daesang Group’s Chung Jung Won brand.
Previously, they were reported leaving together for the Philippines in 2010, which they both claimed was a business trip.
Source: (x)

[Guest Spring Andrew]

so they hav been d8ing for atleast 4 yrs。。 not bad to b out n open..they arent really hidin aswell

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January 2, 2015
Lee Jung-jae Admits Dating Daesang Heiress
Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Lee Jung-jae (left) and Lim Se-ryong Lee Jung-jae (left) and Lim Se-ryong
Actor Lee Jung-jae and Daesang Group heiress Lim Se-ryong are officially dating. Lim is the eldest daughter of Daesang Group chairman Lim Chang-wook and is also the second-largest shareholder of the group. 
Lim married Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong in 1998, but the two divorced in 2009. They have a son and daughter.
C-Jes Entertainment, which represents the actor, in a statement Thursday claimed it "hasn’t been long" that Lee and Lim "started seeing each other as more than friends.” 
The two met in 2005 through a mutual friend. Rumors of their relationship surfaced as long ago as 2010 when they traveled to the Philippines together. In early 2012, there were rumors that they were about to get married, but they denied it. 
They only admitted their relationship after entertainment website Dispatch showed photos of them in an amorous pose.
The couple have denied rumors that Lim bailed out Lee when he was experiencing financial distress. The rumor goes that Lim put Lee in touch with a tycoon who wrote off W10 billion (US$1=W1,090) of the actor's debts in 2009. 

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January 2, 2015
Lee Jung-jae acknowledges dating Samsung heir’s ex-wife
By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com) KPOPHERALD

Actor Lee Jung-jae on Thursday confirmed his romantic relationship with Lim Se-ryung, the ex-wife of Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong. 
The award-winning top actor said, “Our friendship only recently developed into something beyond friendship.”
His comment was taken as an official announcement that he was in a relationship with Lim, the heiress of Daesang Group and a mother of two. 

Lee Jung-jae and Lim Se-ryong. (OSEN)
Shortly after Lee’s comment, Dispatch, a news agency known for its coverage of Korean celebrities, disclosed photos of the two dating in public. 
Lee, 43, and Lim, 42, have been mired in rumors for a while.
“The two have been friends for a long time,” Lee’s agency CJeS Entertainment said in a press release. “Although their relationship has gone through a careful shift, it is not as clear a relationship as a lovers’ relationship,” it added. 
Rumors about their relationships have long been circulating but the agency claims that the two began dating only recently. “The two have been mired in dating rumors since 2010, but we would like to make it crystal clear that, in those days, the two were never more than friends who cared about each other’s difficulties,” CJeS said. 
The agency also attempted to straighten out some of the negative rumors about the relationship. It flatly denied Dispatch’s report that Lee had been introduced to Lim by his ex-girlfriend, actress Kim Min-hee. The agency also dismissed a report about Lee and Lim taking the same flight to the Philippines in 2010, saying that the two were on “definitely different schedules” and that Lee was not escorting the heiress. 

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January 2, 2015
Lee Jung-jae confirms relationship
BY SUNG SO-YOUNG INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily


Actor Lee Jung-jae finally admitted on Thursday that he is in a romantic relationship with Lim Se-ryeong, the eldest daughter of the chairman of Daesang Corporation. 
Rumors that the two are a couple have been circulating since 2010, but they denied them every time a story broke.
The confirmation came after a local online news agency published photos of the two together near their houses in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, on Thursday. 
According to the news outlet, Lim spends most of her time at Lee’s house after work. 
In response to the report, Lee’s agency released a statement and said, “They began dating some time ago. But they were friends back in 2010.” 
Lim is an executive at Daesang, which has many affiliates, including the food company Chungjungwon, which produces vinegar, soy sauce and red pepper paste. 
Lim married Jay Y. Lee, Samsung Electronics’ vice chairman, in 1998, but they got divorced in 2009. 
Multiple news agencies reported that Lee and Lim got to know each other through Lee’s ex-girlfriend Kim Min-hee, but Lee’s agency said it is not true. 

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January 2, 2015
Lee Jung-jae in love

Shown at left is a file photo of actor Lee Jung-jae. C-JeS Entertainment said on Jan. 1, 2015, that Lee has begun dating Lim Sae Ryeong, a senior executive of Daesang Group and daughter of the founder of the food conglomerate, in recent months in a more serious manner than "just a friend." Lim divorced Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., in 2009 after a 10-year marriage. (Yonhap) (END)

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January 2, 2015
Lee responds to Tong Yang insider dealing rumors
By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com) The Korea Herald


Lee Jung-jae (left) and Lim Se-ryung. (Yonhap)
Actor Lee Jung-jae, who confirmed he is dating Lim Se-ryung, the ex-wife of Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong, has denied rumors over property investment linked to troubled conglomerate Tong Yang. 
The award-winning actor said in a press release Thursday that Lim never introduced him to a Tong Yang Group vice chairman and that his partnership with Tong Yang Corp., the group’s property development company, ended long before a financial crisis began at the conglomerate. 
Rumor had it that Lee, using Lim’s personal links to Tong Yang Group’s founding family, took out a bank loan of 30 billion won ($27 million) in 2009 on collateral provided by the group, for the construction of a luxury residential building in Gangnam. 
As the project hit a snag, he pulled out of the project, which resulted in damage to the group. 
Tong Yang collapsed under mounting debts in 2013 and in the process it inflicted losses on nearly 40,000 individual investors through its securities brokerage unit.
“To the contrary, Lee didn’t get his investment totaling 900 million won back from Tong Yang,” Lee’s agency, CJeS Entertainment, said through a press release. 
Rumors about the business deal as well as the actor’s relationship with Lim have been circulating since an online media outlet reported in detail about their relationship. 
“The two have been friends for a long time,” the agency said, adding that the friendship had only recently developed into something beyond friendship.
Lim, the heiress of Daesang Group, has two children with Lee Jae-yong. They divorced in 2009. 

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January 3, 2015

Lee Jung Jae’s Agency Warns to Sue Anyone Making False Rumors about His Relationship with Lim Se Ryung
by ehk38 l soompi.com
On January 3, Lee Jung Jae‘s management agency C-JeS Entertainment uploaded a post entitled “A Warning About Spreading False Rumors and Writing Malicious Posts” to the notice board on their homepage.
The post reads, “Our company gives a strong warning to netizens who have been spreading false rumors and uploading malicious posts onto various online sites with the intent of slandering actor Lee Jung Jae. In the event that these false rumors and malicious posts cause the artists of C-JeS Entertainment to suffer a defamation of character, our company will immediately report it to the cyber crimes investigation department and proceed with a formal lawsuit. If these [activities] persist even after we have posted this notice, we will solicit [the help of the] cyber crime investigations department. We emphasize again that we will take strong measures, proceeding with legal action without notice.”
Meanwhile, on New Year’s day, news outlet Dispatch reported that Lee Jung Jae and Daesang Group executive Lim Se Ryung had been caught on a date on December 26. This was not the first time that the two were caught up in relationship rumors. In 2010, there were rumors that the two were seeing each other and even speculations about their getting married in 2012. But each time, both sides firmly denied being romantically involved.
On January 2, Lee Jung Jae confirmed their relationship but denied allegations of insider trading.

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January 4, 2015
New year, new movies
By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com) KPOPHERALD
From local star directors to Hollywood sequels, a guide to Korean cinema in 2015 Last year may be remembered as an eventful year for the South Korean silver screen as a number of films rewrote box office history. The periodic action flick “Roaring Currents” drew 17.6 million viewers becoming the most-watched film of all time, while three other films joined the coveted 10 million viewer’s club, including “The Attorney,” “Frozen,” and “Interstellar.”
This year is also marked with a stellar lineup of new films from local heavyweight directors to Hollywood blockbusters -- some starring Korean actors. 
Here’s what we have to look forward to in 2015. 
Return of star directors
“Gangnam 1970” is the final installment of director Yoo Ha’s trilogy of “street series,” dubbed after his first two films that depicted street gangsters -- “Once Upon a time in High School” (2004) and “A Dirty Carnival” (2006). 
The noir action film is set against the backdrop of an exploding real estate market in Seoul’s Gangnam district in the 1970s, a turbulent era under the so-called developmental dictatorship of military strongman Park Chung-hee. Two childhood friends find themselves forced to become enemies, mired with misunderstanding, revenge and conspiracy. The film marks the big-screen debut of heartthrob Lee Min-ho as he joins actor Kim Rae-won. 
The film opens in theaters on Jan. 21. 
Following 2012’s box-office hit “The Thieves”-- which garnered 12.98 million viewers -- director Choi Dong-hoon is back with another star-studded flick “The Assassination.”
Actress Jun Ji-hyun and actor Lee Jung-jae from “The Thieves” star with actors Ha Jung-woo and Cho Jin-woong. The film tells the story of assassins taking out a pro-Japanese group set in Shanghai and Seoul in 1930s. 
The film is slated for release in July. 
Renowned director Im Kwon-taek’s 102nd film “Revivre” will be released here in March, following the critically acclaimed premiere at last year’s Venice Film Festival.
Based on Korean author Kim Hoon’s award-winning novel “Hwajang” (Korean word with two meanings: makeup and cremation), the film centers on a top marketing executive at a major cosmetic company (played by veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki) who falls in love with a young women when his wife is dying of a brain tumor. It is Ahn’s seventh film with the director.
More Hollywood glory days?
Riding on the success of last year’s Hollywood flicks, including “Frozen” and “Interstellar,” this year also brings a lineup of imported blockbusters, peppered with Korean actors, vying to win over the hearts of cinemagoers here. 
“The Avengers: Age of Ultron,” a highly-anticipated superhero sequel to the 2012 box office hit, will arrive in the theaters in April. The viewers will finally be able to see the superheroes fighting their battles in different venues in Seoul, including Mapo Bridge, Saebit Dungdungseom and Gangnam district, as the flick was filmed here last March.
Marvel Comics’ favorite heroes, including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), assemble again to battle their new nemesis Ultron (James Spader). 
Newcomers for this edition feature Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Dr. Cho, a friend of Iron Man played by Korean actress Kim Soo-hyun. 
The Wachowski brothers, credited with the hit movies “The Matrix” and “Cloud Atlas,” are delivering another mind-boggling sci-fi thriller “Jupiter Ascending” in February. 
Korean actress Bae Doo-na will appear in her second Wachowskis’ film since “Cloud Atlas” (2012), alongside Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum and Eddie Redmayne. 
Actor Lee Byung-hun stars in “Terminator Genisys,” the fifth installment in the “Terminator” series which is said to serve as a sequel, prequel and reboot to the series. The former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to his Terminator role after a hiatus from the fourth installment.

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January 4, 2015
Lee Jeong Jae, rumor on his monetary relationship with Yim Se Ryeong is not true
Source: Innolife Korea

After the romance scandal of Lee Jeong-Jae, KBS2 ‘Entertainment Broadcast’ added the news of Yim Se-Ryeong of Daesang group and Lee Jeong-Jae’s relationship. According to the broadcast, with the romance rumor, there was a rumor that Lee Jeong-Jae was helped by Yim Se-Ryeong when he failed in real estate business. 
However, Lee Jeong-Jae’s agency denied the rumor. “It’s not true. He started the real estate business to consult about interiors only with friends. There was no monetary relationship with Yim Se-Ryeong.” [Photo=Innolife DB]

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January 5, 2015
Most anticipated films of 2015
By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times
Last year saw a number of new filmmakers emerge such as July Jung ("A Girl at My Door"), Lee Do-yun ("Confession") and Shim Sung-bo ("Haemoo"), but one of the striking features of 2015 is the number of established filmmakers releasing their latest features such as Ryoo Seung-wan, Na Hong-jin and Im Sang-soo.
‘Gangnam Blues' 
Among these names also includes Yoo Ha whose filmography includes the acclaimed "Marriage is a Crazy Thing" (2002). Yoo's latest "Gangnam Blues" is an eagerly awaited action-noir film that shares much in common with his well-received 2006 feature "A Dirty Carnival" owing to its gangster elements. Hitting local screens on Jan. 21, it features Hallyu star Lee Min-ho in his first leading role in a film alongside Kim Rae-won.
The pair play childhood friends who get separated when they get involved in political clashes after their shanty homes are demolished by local thugs amidst the height of political corruption when the now famous and affluent district of Gangnam was being transformed into a developed area in the 1970s.
‘Gokseong' 
Looking further ahead, Na Hong-jin who found success both home and abroad following his box office hit "The Chaser" (2008) and then further cemented his reputation as one of Korea's talented emerging directors with "The Yellow Sea" (2010) is currently working on the much anticipated "Gokseong" (working title) (W/T).
Planned for a release in the first of this year, it's being backed by Fox International Productions (FIP) and will be distributed by Fox Korea — the third Korean film to be funded by the U.S. studio following "Running Man" (2013) and "Slow Video" (2014).
The film takes place in a village where a detective (Kwak Do-won) and a shaman played by Hwang Jung-min ("Ode to My Father") seek to investigate a mysterious rumor that continues to spread.
‘No Country for Young Men' 
Also being backed by 20th Century Fox is Im Sang-soo's curious new film "No Country for Young Men" (W/T) that is expected to be released in the second half of 2015. Starring Ryoo Seung-bum ("The Berlin File" (2013)) and Go Joon-hee, it follows four characters who find a significant amount of money by accident, but when one of them is later caught by the millionaire and then brutally assaulted, they seek revenge.
Im's films tend to travel widely at festivals such as Cannes where "The Housemaid" (2010) and "The Taste of Money" (2012) both competed for the coveted Palme d'Or reflecting his appeal abroad.
‘Veteran' 
Looking ahead to the summer, Korea's action-maverick auteur Ryoo Seung-wan's ("The Berlin Film") latest "Veteran" (W/T) is scheduled to hit screens providing audiences with a chance to see his latest audacious action set-pieces. Starring Hwang Jung-min who is also playing the renowned mountaineer Um Hong-gil in "The Himalayas" (working title) that's due out later this year in addition to the aforementioned "Gokseong," he's looking to have another busy year.
In "Veteran," Hwang plays a detective who pursues a young millionaire called Tae-oh (Yoo Ah-in) — the third-in-line to a large conglomerate — after he beats up a man who helped him on one of his cases.
‘Assassination' 
Also planned for a summer release is Choi Dong-hoon's "Assassination" featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Ha Jung-woo, Jun Ji-hyeon, Lee Jeong-jae, Oh Dal-soo and Cho Jin-woong. Choi's engaging films consistently attract large numbers as seen with "The Thieves" (2013) that amassed close to 13 million admissions and also starred Jun Ji-hyeon and Lee Jeong-jae.
This film takes place in the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945) where a small band of fighters are ordered by the resistance government to take out a pro-Japanese group in the 1930s.
‘The Throne' 
Period films have become an increasingly prevalent feature of Korean cinema especially during the holiday seasons such as the lunar New Year and Chuseok. As such, this coming lunar new year (Feb. 18-20), the sequel "Detective K: Secret of the Lost Land" is due to hit local screens, but more eagerly awaited, perhaps, is Lee Joon-ik's "The Throne" due for a release in the second half of this year andstarring Song Kang-ho who experienced unprecedented success in 2013 when "Snowpiercer," "The Face Reader" and "The Attorney" all became huge hits.
Lee Joon-ik has established himself as one of the leading figures in the industry following the success of "The King and The Clown" (2005) and has made a number of period films. His latest one also features Yoo Ah-in ("Veteran") and Moon Geun-young — her first film in eight years — and is set during the reign of King Yeongjo (Song Kang-ho) that follows the life of Crown Prince Sado (Yoo Ah-in) who is condemned to death by his own father after deemed unfit to rule.
Other films 
Other significant local releases this year include the Korean war blockbuster "Western Front 1953" starring Sol Kyung-gu as well as the crime drama "The Classified File" directed by Kwak Kyung-taek and political drama "Inside Men" starring Lee Byeong-hun.
In addition to "The Throne" there are a number of period films also hitting screens including "Memories of the Sword" starring Lee Byeong-hun and Jeon Do-yeon initially scheduled for a release last year but pushed back. Jeon also stars in the romantic drama "The Shameless" (W/T) along with Lee Yoon-ki's "A Man and a Woman" (literal title), which are both expected to hit screens this year.
With other films including "The Great Tiger" (literal title) directed by Park Hoon-jung ("New World" (2013)) starring Choi Min-sik playing a hunter searching for the last surviving tiger on the Korean Peninsula during the Japanese occupation also set to attract audiences later this year, 2015 promises to be yet another exciting twelve months for the industry.
The writer is a film columnist for The Korea Times.

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January 9, 2015
REEL Talk: Korean film in 2015 
Source: Arirang
Last week we took a brief look at how Korean cinema fared in 2014 but now it's time to look ahead to what this year has in store. Joining us for a preview of what to look forward to in 2015 is our film critic Pierce Conran.
So Pierce, what are the first big titles we can look forward to this year?
We've already got two major films lined up or this month. Next week, we will get CHRONICLE OF A BLOOD MERCHANT. 
Based on a Chinese novel, it is set in the 1950s in a village where men must sell their blood, to prove their good health, before being allowed to marry. The film features two major stars, Ha Jung-woo and Ha Ji-won and it is actually the second film directed by Ha Jung-woo.
A week later we will get the 1970s crime saga GANGNAM BLUES. It takes place during the redevelopment of Gangnam, and focuses on all the gangs circling around it. Yu Ha returns to the jopok genre after 2006's modern classic A DIRTY CARNIVAL and the film features Korean idol Lee Min-ho from THE HEIRS.
Sounds like an exciting start to the year And I suppose that will bring us into Lunar New Year. Any major releases lined up?
There are two confirmed for the moment, including the first of seven Joseon era period films this year. That one is the detective action comedy sequel DETECTIVE K: SECRET OF THE LOST ISLAND. Kim Myung-min returns as the bumbling private eye in another mysterious case along with his sidekick played by Oh Dal-su.
The other film is the biopic C'EST SI BON which is the story of popular folk band Twin Folio as a young band in the 1960s. As a nostalgia-infused and romantic youth comedy drama the film could be just the right thing for the holiday. It stars Jung Woo and Han Hyo-joo as well as Kim Yun-seok and Kim Hee-ae as the same characters in the 1980s.
Now last year was already a big year for period films but you're saying we have SEVEN on the way in 2015?
It seems that way for the moment, and I know it's a huge number but the trend still seems to be going strong, judging by the enormous successes of ROARING CURRENTS, THE PIRATES, THE FATAL ENCOUNTER and KUNDO: AGE OF THE RAMPANT. Only time will tell if audiences have grown tired of the genre. One imagines that interest will eventually have to wane.
What can you tell us about the other big period films lined up for the year?
It's hard to say when they will be released exactly but among them are MEMORIES OF THE SWORD, an action film starring Lee Byung-hun and Jeon Do-yeon that was expected late last year. Beyond that are the Pansori drama THE HYMN with Ryoo Seung-ryong and Bae Suzy, the king's court drama THE THRONE with Song Kang-ho and YOO Ah-in, the steamy drama EMPIRE OF LUST with Shin Ha-gyun and Jang Hyuk, the hunter action-drama THE GREAT TIGER with Choi Min-sik and the period thriller TREACHEROUS RETAINER with Kim Kang-woo and Ju Ji-hoon.
Sounds like a lot to take in Are there any other major films to look out for?
Seung-wan, Im Sang-soo, Na Hong-jin and Choi Dong-hoon. Action expert Ryoo will be back with VETERAN, a gritty action thriller starring Hwang Jung-min, who is currently featuring in ODE TO MY FATHER. Choi has the glitzy 1930s action thriller ASSASSINATION with Ha Jung-woo, Jeon Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae. Na is back with GOKSEONG, which has yet to settle on an English title, another thriller starring Hwang Jung-min. Last we have Im's action film MY FRIENDLY VILLAINS with Ryoo Seung-bum.
So much to look forward to Is there anything that you're particularly excited about?
I really like Na Hong-jin, so I'm definitely eager for GOKSEONG and I think VETERAN and ASSASSINATION could be a lot of fun. In the immediate future, I'm quite excited for GANGNAM BLUES since Yu's A DIRTY CARNIVAL is one of my favorites. We won't see it until very late in the year but THE GREAT TIGER could be very interesting, it comes from the director of NEW WORLD, one of last year's best Korean films.
Definitely a lot of movies there. Thank you for the outlook, Pierce. 
Reporter : ssung86@arirang.co.kr

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December 29, 2014
Genre Diversity from Major 3 in 2015Big Lineups Feature Period, Thriller, Drama, Mystery Fare

by Pierce Conran Korean Cinema Today
With 2014 winding down, another big year for the local industry which cracked 100 million admissions on December 23rd, people are looking to the horizon for a glimpse of what’s in store for the new year from Korea’s major film studios. Continuing a period film trend that kicked off with Masquerade in 2012, each studio will once again present at least one costume drama in their new lineups. Beyond that, local staples such as thrillers and dramas appear prominently, but less common genres also abound along with genre hybrids. New war and mystery films will be programmed alongside romantic thrillers, a genre that has gained traction in Korea since the success of Helpless (2012). Regardless of genre, studios are also demonstrating an affinity for films set in different time periods, with a diverse range of projects taking place at different points of the 20th century. ▶ CJ Entertainment 
Following the stunning success of Roaring Currents, which soared well past any previous records to clinch 18 million admissions during the summer, CJ Entertainment is poised for another big year in 2015 with a varied lineup comprised of high profile thrillers, period films and dramas. Following the release on the romcom Love Forecast on January 15th, their first tile of 2015, CJ’s next major title will be C’est si bon, which will be released in time for the Lunar New Year holiday, falling on February 19th. A music biopic of the popular folk duo Twin Folio, the film takes place in the 1960s, largely in the C’est si bon music bar where three young men form the C’est si bon Trio, a group that would later turn into Twin Folio. Directed by Cyrano Agency’s (2011) KIM Hyun-seok, the film stars JUNG Woo (Red Family), KANG Ha-neul (Mourning Grave), JIN Goo (The Target) and HAN Hyo-joo (Cold Eyes), while KIM Yun-Seok (The Thieves, 2012) and KIM Hee-ae (Thread of Lies) appear as some of the same characters in later sequences set in the 1980s. For spring, CJ have five titles scheduled, including the JEON Do-yeon (Secret Sunshine, 2007) thriller The Shameless (working title), the KIM Hye-soo (Tazza: The High Rollers, 2006)/KIM Go-eun (Eungyo, 2012) vehicle Coin Locker Girl (working title), the mature drama Salute d’Amour (working title) from Taegukgi (2004) director KANG Je-gyu, the romantic thriller Perfect Proposal, with LIM Soo-jung (All About My Wife, 2012)) and YOO Yeon-seok (A Werewolf Boy, 2012), and the mystery romance Remember You (working title), with JUNG Woo-sung (Cold Eyes) and KIM Ha-neul (Blind, 2011). The studio will reserve its big guns for the summer, which will see the releases of action thriller Veteran (working title) from RYOO Seung-wan and the period-set action drama Empire of Lust (working title). Teaming up once again with his The Unjust (2010) stars HWANG Jung-min and YU Hae-jin, as well as younger star YOO Ah-in (Punch, 2011), RYOO’s Veteran features a detective who goes up against a big corporation in what promises to be another tightly choreographed action extravaganza from the maker of The Berlin File. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) star SHIN Ha-kyun leads the cast of Empire of Lust as an army general who must keep a close eye on a young prince with ambitions to seize the throne. At the same time, he falls in love with a Gisaeng, whom he takes as his concubine, not realizing that she aims to carry out a vendetta against him. The film is being helmed by Blind’s AHN Sang-hoon. ▶ Showbox

Also primed for a big year is Showbox, the studio behind two of three biggest Korean films of all time (The Host, 2006; The Thieves). Given the recent success of high profile period films in the last two years (including their titles The Face Reader and Kundo: Age of the Rampant), the studio is anchoring its slate with a pair of costume dramas, as well as two star-driven thrillers. First out of the gate this year for Showbox will be their gangster thriller Gangnam Blues, from A Dirty Carnival (2006) mastermind YU Ha, on January 21st. Showbox’s Lunar New Year title will follow in February. The only major Korean sequel of the year, Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island will reteam KIM Myung-min as the Joseon era detective with OH Dal-su as his sidekick. KIM Sok-yun also returns to the director’s chair for the follow-up to the 2011 hit. Later in the year, the company will present Assassination, a 1930s thriller from The Thieves helmer CHOI Dong-hoon shot in Shanghai. Along for the ride in the high octane film will be stars HA Jung-woo (The Berlin File), JEON Ji-hyun (My Sassy Girl, 2001) and LEE Jung-jae (New World). Another thriller in the works is the LEE Byung-hun (A Bittersweet Life, 2005) vehicle Inside Men, in which the global star plays a political fixer. The film, from Man of Vendetta (2010) filmmaker WOO Min-ho, will also star CHO Seung-woo (Marathon, 2005) and BAEK Yoon-shik (Save the Green Planet, 2003). Also scheduled for later in the year will be period drama The Throne, from King and the Clown (2005) director LEE Joon-ik and starring screen icon SONG Kang-ho (Memories of Murder, 2003) as King Yeongjo, who famously ordered his son’s death by suffocation in a large wooden chest filled with rice. Rounding out Showbox’s upcoming slate is The Classified File, a new detective thriller set in 1970s Busan from Friend (2001) director KWAK Kyung-taek. The film stars KIM Yun-seok and YU Hae-jin. ▶ Lotte Entertainment  Following the success of their films The Fatal Encounter and The Pirates this year, Lotte Entertainment will also be entering the fray by presenting a new period blockbuster in 2015, not to mention the first Korean war film since 2011’s The Front Line and major new dramas and thrillers. Featuring major star wattage with the presence of LEE Byung-hun and JEON Do-yeon, in addition to KIM Go-eun and BAE Soo-bin (26 Years, 2012) in supporting roles, Memories of the Sword is an action period epic from PARK Heung-sik, the director of My Mother, the Mermaid (2004). Later in the year, Lotte will present Western Front 1950 (working title), a Korean war film featuring SUL Kyung-gu (Oasis, 2002) and young star YEO Jin-gu (Hwayi: A Monster Boy). A tale of cooperation between South and North Korean soldiers at the tail end of the war, the film marks the directorial debut of The Pirates scribe CHEON Seong-il. Also on the cards for Lotte is So-Nyeo (working title), a female-driven mystery drama from Like a Virgin (2006) co-director LEE Hae-young. The film will feature A Werewolf Boy lead PARK Bo-young as a student at a mysterious boarding school in 1938. So-Nyeo will also feature Hope actress UHM Ji-won.

[rubie]

January 12, 2015
Lee Jung Jae and Choi Dong Hoon Works Hard On The Assassination
Source: BNTNews

[by Nawael Khelil] Lee Jung Jae is recently taking the whole spotlight for a couple of pictures he shot with director Choi Dong Hoon.
On January 12, the actor uploaded two photos of him and director Choi Dong Hoon on set of movie ‘Assassination’. On the photos, they’re both wearing the goose down jumpers that a brand represented by Lee Jung Jae presented to the team as a supporting gift. The cut showing the two man monitoring a scene of the upcoming movie ‘Assassination’ raises the public’s curiosity about that film.
Meanwhile, Choi Dong Hoon’s ‘Assassination’, starring Lee Jung Jae, depicts the story behind an assassination plot during the 30s. (photos by CJeS)

[Guest adikkeluangman]

[big Match] Lee Jung Jae pictorial for 1st Look magazine.

[rubie]

January 16, 2015
Actor Lee Jung-jae under probe
By Kim Se-jeong The Korea Times


Victims of the Tongyang Group's fraudulent bond issuance filed a complaint with the prosecution Friday against its Vice Chairwoman Lee Hye-kyung and actor Lee Jung-jae for allegedly causing losses to investors.
The investors, along with members of the civic group Spec Watch Korea, claimed the vice chairwoman provided about 16 billion won to Seorim C&D in 2009; Lee Jung-jae is a major shareholder of the firm.
Seorim developed a luxury apartment building project in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul in 2009, while the Tongyang Group's construction arm, Tongyang Inc., was also a contractor for the project.
Lee, a well-known TV and movie actor, founded Seorim in 2008. He owns 35 percent of the firm and serves as a director. His father was president of the company between March 2011 and November 2012.
The victims argued that the provision of the funds to Seorim worsened Tongyang's liquidity problems. They demanded the vice chairwoman be punished for a breach of trust as she aggravated the situation through her mismanagement.
They said that Lee Jung-jae is also partly responsible for the crisis with Tongyang. The company has been under court receivership since 2013 due to the industry-wide credit crunch.
Tongyang Inc. sustained large losses from the building project in Samseong-dong called La Terrase after it failed to sell all the newly-built luxury apartments. Located in a wealthy residential and business district of southern Seoul, La Terrase proved unattractive for buyers amid a prolonged slump in the property market.
Only six of the 18 apartments have so far been sold, and this has added worsened the financial woes of Tongyang. 
In responding to the complaint, Lee's entertainment agency denied allegations that he was involved in the dubious deal between Seorim and Tongyang.
The agency said it will take legal action to prove he had nothing to do with Tongyang's financial crisis. "We will discuss the matter with our lawyer."
In October last year, a district court sentenced Tongyang Chairman Hyun Jae-hyun to 12 years in prison on charges of selling his group's bonds after he realized that the company would default on its debts amid a looming liquidity crisis.
He was also found guilty of embezzling 14.1 billion won in company funds.
According to the court, Hyun ordered Tongyang affiliates to issue corporate bonds and bills worth 1.3 billion won ($1.2 million) between February and September of 2013, despite knowing the various firms could not pay off their maturing debts. The number of investors to lose money from Tongyang is estimated to be 40,000 people.
According to the financial regulators, former Tongyang Securities CEO Jung Jin-seok encouraged the firm's staff to expand sales of bonds and corporate bills issued by Tongyang's troubled affiliates, telling them that the financial troubles would abate.
Jung told them that the group would get additional loans and financial support from the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Orion Group, an offshoot of Tongyang.
In fact, the KDB and Orion rejected Tongyang's request for an additional financial lifeline.
Vice Chairwoman Lee is also believed to be Lee Jung-jae's long-term sponsor.
Lee, who starred in the movie "The Big Match" last November, announced recently that he was dating Lim Se-ryong, the ex-wife of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong.
Born in 1973, the actor rose to stardom with the iconic SBS TV drama "Hourglass" in 1999, playing the heroine's silent bodyguard. His made his film debut in 1993 when he appeared in "Love is Oh Yeah!"
His first major acting success came in 1998 when he played a role in the award-winning film "An Affair."
"City of the Rising Sun" in 1999 won him a Best Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Award. In 2010, he starred in an erotic thriller "The Housemaid" which was screened at both the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.
In his personal life, Lee dated actress Kim Min-hee for three years until 2006. He confirmed his romantic relationship with Lim Se-ryong this month, having previously denied they were a couple.
Apart from Seorim C&D, Lee has several other businesses he runs with fellow actor and best friend Jung Woo-sung.

[Guest adikkeluangman]

20 face expression of Choe Ik Ho by Lee Jung Jae in movie Big Match. (via NEW)