[Movie 2020] The Man Standing Next 남산의 부장들

[rubie]

Day 3   2020.01.24 THE MAN STANDING NEXT at Number 1 Korean Box Office with 1.12 Million Audience Admission! 

 

Source: KoBiz

 

@mistymorning, thanks so much for the clip & English translation of the THE MAN STANDING NEXT Live GV with Kim Gu Ra, what an awesome Lunar New Year treat!  Really interesting and enlightening reading about behind-the-scene tidbits share by the actors themselves. Clearly it was a serious movie with a sensitive topic that the production was done cautiously but the actors still enjoyed filming and giving their best. The strong response due the highly positive review and word-of-mouth is definitely the best feedback for everyone involved in the filming back in 2018-2019.

 

‘The Man Standing Next’ attracts more than 1.12 million viewers

By Yonhap via The Korea Herald

 

 

Spoiler

 

“The Man Standing Next” has attracted more than 1.12 million moviegoers since the political thriller‘s release three days ago, box-office data showed Saturday, highlighting its popularity during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday.

 

The accumulated attendance for the film, which was released Wednesday, was tallied at 1,127,757, according to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council. It was trailed by “Hitman: Agent Jun” that has attracted 220,805 viewers so far.

 

“The Man Standing Next” depicts the intense power struggle among former President Park Chung-hee’s top aides before one of them assassinated the general turned president in 1979.

 

It is based on a nonfiction best-seller, “KCIA Chiefs,” published from 1990 to 1992 in the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper. Park established the intelligence agency, the KCIA, to apparently conduct surveillance of politicians, government officials and others.

 

 

The Man Standing Next Poster Shoot: Lee Byung Hun x Lee Hee Jun

 

Published on January  23, 2020 by BH Entertainment

 

 

Photo: jeonghun_han

 

Spoiler

 

Source: Showbox

 

Spoiler

 

 

[rubie]

January 25, 2020

 

'The Man Standing Next' attracts more than 1.12 million viewers

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- "The Man Standing Next" has attracted more than 1.12 million moviegoers since the political thriller's release three days ago, box-office data showed Saturday, highlighting its popularity during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday.

 

The accumulated attendance for the film, which was released Wednesday, was tallied at 1,127,757, according to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council. It was trailed by "Hitman: Agent Jun" that has attracted 220,805 viewers so far.

 

"The Man Standing Next" depicts the intense power struggle among former President Park Chung-hee's top aides before one of them assassinated the general turned president in 1979.

 

It is based on a nonfiction best-seller, "KCIA Chiefs," published from 1990 to 1992 in the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper. Park established the intelligence agency, the KCIA, to apparently conduct surveillance of politicians, government officials and others.

 

A scene from "The Man Standing Next" provided by Showbox (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

sshluck@yna.co.kr

 

January Movie Star Brand Reputation Rankings Revealed

 

Source: Soompi by J. Lim

The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed the brand reputation rankings for film actors for the month of January!

 

The rankings were determined through an analysis of the consumer participation, media coverage, interaction, and community awareness indexes of 50 popular movie stars, using big data collected from December 27 to January 24.

 

Spoiler

 

In first place was Kwon Sang Woo with a total brand reputation index of 6,005,824. High-ranking phrases in the actor’s keyword analysis included “Hitman: Agent Jun,” “Son Tae Young,” and “Jung Joon Ho,” while his highest-ranking related terms included “Comical,” “Fun,” and “Promise.”

 

In second place was Ahn Jae Hong with 5,706,571 and in third was Han Suk Kyu with a brand reputation index of 5,089,631.

 

 

Check out the top 30 for January below!

 

1. Kwon Sang Woo
2. Ahn Jae Hong
3. Han Suk Kyu
4. Lee Byung Hun
5. Kang Sora
6. Gong Yoo
7. Ha Jung Woo
8. Jung Joon Ho
9. Jung Hae In
10. Park Young Gyu
11. Hwang Woo Seul Hye
12. Lee Hee Joon
13. Lee Sung Min
14. Song Kang Ho
15. Jeon Yeo Bin
16. Jo Yeo Jeong
17. Ma Dong Seok
18. Kim Seo Hyung
19. Lee Yi Kyung
20. Kim Nam Gil
21. Lee Jung Eun
22. Moon So Ri
23. Han Ji Min
24. Jang Hye Jin
25. Honey Lee
26. Jo Jung Suk
27. Park Seo Joon
28. Kim Hee Won
29. Park Bo Young
30. Lee Sun Gyun

Source (1) // SHOWBOX

 

 

Source: Jason Bechervaise @Jasebechervaise

 

[rubie]

Day 4   2020.01.25 THE MAN STANDING NEXT at Number 1 Korean Box Office with 1.82 Million Audience Admission! 

 

Source: KoBiz

 

Artwork by 강호면 @kanghomyeon

Review by Han Byul

From the beginning, it builds up gradually, and from the moment it explodes after the middle, the body becomes creepy.
An awesome movie
Lee Byung-Hun Kwak Do-Won Crazy acting crazy movie that completely dominates the audience with one breath 
Like a masterpiece

10.26 Event and another view of Kim Jae-kyu

[rubie]

January 26, 2020

 

Lee Byung Hun’s Film “The Man Standing Next” Surpasses 2 Million Moviegoers At Impressive Speed

Source: Soompi by E. Cha // Showbox

 

Lee Byung Hun’s new film “The Man Standing Next” is proving to be a box office hit!

 

In the wee hours of January 26 KST, “The Man Standing Next” officially surpassed 2 million moviegoers at the box office. The film was originally released on January 22, meaning that it took the movie just five days to reach the milestone—and that it hit the 2 million mark faster than the smash success “1987,” which ultimately drew an impressive total of over 7.2 million moviegoers.

 

Notably, “The Man Standing Next” reached 1 million moviegoers on January 24, which means that the movie took less than two days to bring in another million viewers.

 

Based on the nonfiction bestseller “Chiefs of Namsan,” “The Man Standing Next” tells the story of the Director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) in the period leading up to President Park Chung Hee’s assassination in 1979.

 

Congratulations to the film’s cast and crew!

 

Source (1) // Skyholic

 

#남산의부장들 Take a look! Actors hit the jackpot.

Very immersive too.

A great help in understanding the modern history.

 

 

Source: Showbox via @dlqudgjsvksek

 

[rubie]

Source: 쉼표 @rmflrhdhsmf

 

CHIEFS OF NAMSAN New Year Greeting (+ NG ) 

 

Source: CGV Cinemas USA

 

The second-in-commands take action.
Starring Lee Byung-Hun, Kwak Do-won and Lee Hee-Jun, “The Man Standing Next” opens at CGV Buena Park this weekend! 

 

 

Source: gentleman137
 

Those who watched the believable actors and their realistic performances had no time to be bored throughout the movie.

 

#Recommended

 

[peonie]

January 26, 2020

 

New Year's film "The Man Standing Next” only Lee Byung Hun can surpass Lee Byung Hun (a translation)

 

 

The Korean New Year's movie “The Man Standing Next” portrayed the event that happened on October 26, which is well known to all Koreans. Instead of presenting the event itself, the event was uncovered using the psychology of the characters . 

 

 

The movie  “The Man Standing Next”  depicted the Director of  the Korean Central Intelligence Agency  (portrayed by Lee Byung Hun) who was considered the second post powerful man in 1979.  It revealed the story of the 40 days before the assassination of the President of the Republic of Korea.  Woo Min Ho, Director of the movie “Inside Men “  and Lee Byung Hun collaborated once again.  This film is based on a theme that has been serialized in the The Dong -a libo for two years and two months since 1990. The non-fiction best-selling novel of the same name is an adaptation of the original, picking out and magnifying the most dramatic events in the original novel, the main focus being  assassination incident on October 26. 

 

 

The most important event in the modern history of South Korea was the assasination of President Park Jung Hee. During the 40 days prior to the event, the movie calmly recorded how a loyal heart changed to the sound of a bullet.  From the beginning to the end, the audience were made to maintain a high degree of tension.  It was a great psychological warfare work, but it was not heavy.  As the situation unfolds, there were still sudden laughs and a lot of resonance.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Not only that, the large-scale shooting of locations in the United States and France also allowed the film to show a deeper sense of reality on the big screen, allowing viewers to be highly engaged in the plot. The main actors Lee Byung Hun, Lee Sung Min, Kwak Do Won and Lee Hee Jun are all convincing actors of Chungmuro, a very strong cast line up.  . 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Lee Byung Hun surpassed Lee Byung Hun once again.   He continued to accumulate emotions in this role presentation. Even if he did nothing, through close-up of the camera lens, his eyes, smiles and other subtle expressions delicately conveyed the emotions of the character.  This time he performed  an actual character, and he was worried that he would distort the original facts, but everyone can still see Lee’s impromptu performance in the movie

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

When Lee Sung Min appeared on the stage, he looked like President Park Jung Hee, with perfect interpretation of gestures and tones. Kwak Do Won expressed his character's uneasiness, thoughts, resentment, etc. in different ways. Lee Hee Jun gained 25 kg for this role, and also showed what everyone has never seen. Several great actors playing on the same stage would be one of the highlights of this movie. 

 

 

Spoiler

 

The director said:  "Although this is an event that many people are aware, the group of people at the center of the event still have an unknown side to their psychology and relationship. I want to explore it further.”  Even though this is a political movie,  the director also worked very hard to eliminate political overtones.  “The Man Standing Next “ was released in South Korea on January  22.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Source:  https://www.koreastardaily.com/sc/news/123788

 

[rubie]

The movie is moving super fast! 

Day 5  2020.01.26 THE MAN STANDING NEXT at Number 1 Korean Box Office with 2.6 Million Audience Admission! 

 

Source: KoBiz

 

 

Actor Lee Sung Min has two movies doing very well in the top 3.

 

Source: BillyRocks_13

 

Source: mwoovie_review (disclaimer: Google translate)

 

Chiefs of Namsan (The Man Standing Next)

It's an incredible spectacle that true stories are the groundwork. I couldn't let go of the tension from start to finish and the actors' performances were amazing. After the movie was over, there was a long time left. Whenever a movie about the dark modern history of Korea comes out, I am always grateful. I also enjoyed it because it is also an excellent film. "I'm next to you, do what you want to do."

 

January 26, 2020

 

‘The Man Standing Next’ Draws in 2 Million Moviegoers Within 5 Days of Its Release

 

by You Jung TEN ASIA

 

Cast and director of ‘The Man Standing Next’ celebrating the movie attracting two million moviegoers / Photo: Showbox

 

As of January 26, The Man Standing Next has officially drawn in over two million moviegoers. 

 

According to the Korea Box-Office Information System (KOBIS), the film reached the two million mark on the morning of the 26th. The movie follows the 40-day period prior to the assassination of the South Korean president in 1979, who was killed by the man considered to be the second most powerful figure at the time, the country’s chief intelligence officer (played by Lee Byung Hun). 

 

The Man Standing Next has achieved box office success during the Lunar New Year holiday season in the midst of receiving rave reviews from audience members of all generations. Prior to its release, the film captured nearly 50 percent of all ticket pre-sales, and it attracted over one million moviegoers within three days of its release. Less than two days after reaching the one million mark, the film reached its second milestone by bringing in a total of two million audience members. The Man Standing Next reached the two million mark a day faster than 1987 (total number of admissions: 7,232,387), which drew in two million moviegoers in six days. Regarded as an unrivaled box-office powerhouse during the holiday season that resonates with people of all ages, The Man Standing Next has maintained its position at the top of the box office for eight consecutive days. 

 

In celebration of the occasion, the movie’s stars took a group picture to express their gratitude to the two million moviegoers who watched the film. The cast who delivered exceptional performances – Lee Byung Hun, Lee Sung Min, Kwak Do Won, and Lee Hee Joon – and director Woo Min Ho can be seen in the photo with a celebratory cake and radiant smiles. 

 

Rated for audiences 15 and older, The Man Standing Next is being deemed as a film that those who remember the year 1979 and those born afterwards can both experience one of the most dramatic moments of modern Korean history on film. 

[rubie]

January 27, 2020

 

“The Man Standing Next” Quickly Surpasses 3 Million Moviegoers In Impressive Speed

Source: Soompi by J. Lim

 

Lee Byung Hun‘s new film “The Man Standing Next” continues to soar!

 

According to the Korean Film Council, “The Man Standing Next” surpassed three million moviegoers on January 27, on the sixth day of its release. This came after the film hit the two million moviegoer milestone the day before on January 26, and puts the film on par with other box office hits such as “Ashfall,” “Veteran,” and “The Thieves.”

 

In celebration of the milestone, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Sung Min, Kwak Do Won, Lee Hee Joon, and director Woo Min Ho gathered to express their gratitude to moviegoers.

 

 

“The Man Standing Next” tells the story of Kim Kyu Pyeong (Lee Byung Hun), the Director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) in the 40-day period leading up to President Park Chung Hee’s assassination in 1979.

 

Congratulations to “The Man Standing Next”!

 

Source (1) // @dlqudgjsvksek

 

[rubie]

@peonie, thanks so much for the wonderful article highlight and excellent English translation. Indeed it's an insightful read about the background of THE MAN STANDING NEXT plus the report of heartwarming response it's been getting from the Korean moviegoers in this Lunar New Year. Previously, many were anxious about the movie, particularly due to the sensitive topic and when the post-production took quite awhile (instead of the tentative 2019 release to coincide with the anniversary of the assassination, it opted a much later date), everyone was getting quite nervous as well. What a relief that it's getting a lot of positive feedback and while there's room for improvement (re: editing in particular), the director, cast and production have worked hard & done well. The Lunar New Year holidays proved a perfect time for screening and even when TMSN is not a comedy that viewers often sought to watch, the true story had piqued a lot of interest instead and rapidly renewing the curiosity. Because it's a re-enactment of a real event, the topic had brought up discussion about 'what ifs', 'what could have been' and the concern.. if the assassination didn't happen.

 

So, on Day 6, TMSN is already accumulating 3.2 million audience admission. While the holidays are basically over, hopefully the public will continue to watch the movie.. be it the intended generation, new younger audience or repeated viewing. Hopefully THE MAN STANDING NEXT will reach the 5 million break-even point sooner and gain more million(s) after that. 

 

January 26, 2020

 

Korean Box Office for the Weekend 2020.01.24 ~ 2020.01.26

 

Source: HanCinema.net

 

The number one movie this week is "The Man Standing Next" (남산의 부장들)

 

 

Source: khh5915

 

Chiefs of Namsan

It is a story that everyone knows, but it is a movie that allows us to look back on history. Rebellion or revolution?

[irilight]

@rubie, thank you for the thread and all that you offer here.  I need to catch up on it.
@peonie, thank  you for the article translation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

Review: “The Man Standing Next” Stars Lee Byung-hun As Park Chung-hee’s Assassin

"The Man Standing Next" re-interprets Korean President Park Chung-hee's assassination using elements of Shakespearean tragedy

By Anthony Kao, 27 Jan 20 06:27 UTC

Spoiler

 

To some, he’s a brutal dictator. To others, he’s a bringer of prosperity. Even today, former President Park Chung-hee remains one of South Korea’s most polarizing figures. After seizing power in a 1961 coup, Park ruled South Korea with an iron fist until his assassination on October 26, 1979.
 

Korean blockbuster The Man Standing Next dramatizes the 40 days leading up to this assassination. The film stars heartthrob actor Lee Byung-hun as a character closely modeled after Kim Jae-gyu, chief of South Korea’s intelligence agency (the KCIA) and the man who killed Park Chung-hee on that fateful October night. In real life, Kim’s legacy is as divisive as Park’s—some think he killed Park out of selfish anger, while others believe he was tired of Park’s authoritarianism and wanted political change. We’ll never know for sure, especially given South Korea’s military executed Kim soon after the assassination.
 

The Man Standing Next exploits this murkiness to reinterpret Kim through the lens of a Shakespearean tragic hero, as a flawed man suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous political fortune. It’s an approach that aptly leverages Lee Byung-hun’s acting prowess and offers a rigorous retelling of events, but results in an overloaded narrative that caters to history buffs at the slight expense of casual viewers and cinephiles.

 

Meet Director Kim

As its title sequence reveals, The Man Standing Next draws from a non-fiction book called “Chiefs of Namsan,” which traces the KCIA’s history leading up to the assassination (Namsan is a metonym for the KCIA, which was headquartered in Seoul’s Namsan neighborhood). Despite this realistic foundation, The Man Standing Next chooses to mask historical figures by creating fictional character analogues, perhaps in fear of defamation lawsuits.
 

In the film, Lee Byung-hun plays KCIA Director Kim Kyu-pyeong—modeled after the real-life Kim Jae-gyu. Director Kim is old friends with “President Park” (no first name given), and seen as a potential successor (i.e. the “man standing next”) given the KCIA’s powerful status. However, the Director Kim we see onscreen doesn’t feel like a powerful spy chief. Instead, he’s a man plagued with indecision, toggling between ruthlessness and righteousness as external competition closes in.
 

That competition comes in the form of Presidential Chief Bodyguard Kwak Sang-cheon, an analog for the real-life Cha Ji-chul (who Kim Jae-gyu killed alongside Park). Chief Kwak has cozied up to President Park, and begun pushing Director Kim out of Park’s inner circle with aspirations to be the new “man standing next.” In dire straits, Director Kim must regain favor with President Park by dealing with a former KCIA director who’s fled to America and started to reveal secrets about Park’s regime (modeled after the real-life Kim Hyong-uk). Meanwhile, Director Kim also discovers the existence—but not identity—of a shadowy figure codenamed “Iago” who might’ve already outflanked both him and Cha as “man standing next.”

Regicidal Tragedy

 

Those who’ve studied Shakespeare might recognize Iago as the heinous villain in Othello—a tragedy replete with jealousy, betrayal, and political struggles. While The Man Standing Next doesn’t directly adapt Othello, it takes general inspiration from Shakespearean tragedy. Director Kim is a classic tragic hero, racked with both internal and external conflict—and destined to die. As the British Library describes, a tragic hero “becomes a stranger in a world where they had once felt at home, and a stranger to the person that they used to be or thought they were.”
 

Lee Byung-hun’s performance as Director Kim deserves praise for portraying the former part of that description. Through the pained facial expressions and body language that he cultivated through past works like A Bittersweet Life, Lee shows Director Kim’s increasing alienation amidst political struggles. However, The Man Standing Next’s complex plot prevents us from seeing a clear contrast between Kim at the film’s end and beginning; he starts off already sidelined, and just gets more alienated as the story progresses.
 

This plot complexity comes from a desire for historical rigor. To comprehensively depict all the factors leading up to Park’s assassination, the film travels to Washington and Paris, shows American meddling, mentions the Koreagate scandal, and halfheartedly depicts General Chun Doo-hwan as the mysterious “Iago.” While this might please history buffs, it dilutes the focus on Kim as a tragic hero and makes The Man Standing Next somewhat less compelling for viewers and critics who care more about dramatic storytelling.

 

From Tragedy to Historiography

If you’re a history buff though, there’s even more reason to appreciate The Man Standing Next. Beyond offering a comprehensive retelling of events, the film is also an interesting datapoint for historiography around Park Chung-hee’s assassination.
 

The Man Standing Next is not the first movie about Park’s assassination; that designation goes to the superb 2005 black comedy The President’s Last Bang. While The President’s Last Bang also centers on Kim Jae-gyu, it depicts him as a puffed-up fool who can’t properly defecate, much less seize power after assassinating the President.
 

Kim gets a far more sympathetic portrayal in The Man Standing Next. He might be tragic, but he’s still a hero—he opposes President Park and the Chief Presidential Bodyguard’s plans to violently suppress pro-democracy demonstrations, and reacts with disdain when the Chief remarks “Cambodia killed three million people, is it such a big deal if we kill one or two million?” Casting Lee Byung-hun, one of Korea’s most handsome actors, certainly doesn’t hurt Kim’s image either.
 

Since 2005, Park Chung-hee’s legacy has taken a nosedive after his daughter Park Geun-hye was impeached after winning the presidency. Correspondingly, Kim Jae-gyu’s reputation has enjoyed an upswing—especially among South Korea’s liberals. In the wake of Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, many in Korea made pilgrimages to Kim’s grave and even helped crowdfund a journalistic reassessment of Kim’s actions. Today’s political environment is certainly more conducive for a movie like The Man Standing Next. 

 

Narrative complexity aside, as long as South Korean democracy lives, The Man Standing Next will likely remain in the country’s public discourse. The movie enjoyed great audience reception upon its premiere, and we can only hope that it sparks rich political discussions that lead to more films that examine modern Korean history.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Man Standing Next (Korean: 남산의 부장들)—South Korea. Dialog in Korean. Directed by Woo Min-ho. First released January 22, 2020. Running time 1hr 54min. Starring Lee Byung-hun, Lee Sung-min, Kwak Do-won, Lee Hee-joon.

The Man Standing Next is currently screening in South Korea and at CGV Cinemas in the Los Angeles area.

source

[rubie]

  Day 6:  2020.01.27 THE MAN STANDING NEXT at Number 1 Korean Box Office with 3.2 Million Audience Admission! 

 

Source: KoBiz

 

@irilight, you've made it here! So glad and happy to see more joining the TMSN thread. Knowing too well that movie thread(s) at soompi can be a lonely place, I'm grateful to have fellow fans like yourself, @peonie and @mistymorning posting & sharing articles. info plus tidbits about THE MAN STANDING NEXT. Really means a lot!

 

And the review you've just posted is simply great and glowing to read. It explains so well why TMSN is receiving such an amazing response at the box office. Despite a serious theme with already tragic ending, the production had done well in engaging the general public to go out and  watch the movie. The writer however, brought out a good point that we didn't get to see the kind of person Director Kim was before he was sidelined, perhaps 40 days highlighted in the movie is already too long to show it. I've heard good things about the three main characters in the movie played by LBH, KDW and LHJ, they played their roles so well, attributing the overall positive word-of-mouth even more.

 

So, please keep on posting and sharing in the thread. We sure hope many more movie fans will come and join us as well. There's still no confirmed dates for out of Korea screenings but it's ok because that makes it no time limit to share, right. 

 

Source: 씨네21 / CINE21

 

History asks. Why did Kim Jae-gyu, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, have to shoot Park Jung-hee? However CHIEFS OF NAMSAN Is not a film that answers historical questions. It is a film that clearly draws the line of fiction and follows the inside of a figure thrown in the middle of history within the scope of imagination. Vol.1240 THE MAN STANDING NEXT Main Article.

 

 

Source: g4eun_s2

 

If it was a different ending, Korea would have been a lot different.

[rubie]

January 28, 2020

 

Movie theaters suffer amid coronavirus outbreak

Cinemas announce preventative measures to avoid coronavirus

 

Lee Byung-hun, right, and Lee Hee-jun in a scene from 'The Man Standing Next' / Courtesy of Showbox

By Kwak Yeon-soo The Korea Times

 

Movie theaters suffered during the Lunar New Year holiday as ticket sales dropped year-on-year amid a nationwide fear of the Wuhan coronavirus.

 

The Lunar New Year holiday is traditionally one of the high seasons for cinemas here. Last year, the local box office totaled 72.1 billion won ($61 million) during the five-day holiday, attracting more than 8 million moviegoers from Feb. 2 to 6.

 

But this year, with the shorter holiday period and the outbreak of the deadly virus, the box office grossed only about 44.4 billion won ($37.7 million), according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). Multiplexes attracted only about 4.9 million moviegoers from Jan. 24 to 27.

 

"The coronavirus outbreak may have brought about the decline in ticket reservations and sales during the Lunar New Year holiday," a KOFIC official said. "However, a bigger reason for the lower attendance compared with last year is that there were no family movies that could be enjoyed by people of all ages."

 

Despite subdued cinema admissions numbers, the political thriller "The Man Standing Next" came out victorious at the box office, selling more than 2.6 million tickets during the holiday.

 

The accumulated attendance for the film has reached 3,226,090 since its Jan. 22 release, according to the data from KOFIC, Tuesday.

 

Based on the best-selling book of the same name, "The Man Standing Next" tells the hidden story of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) and its political maneuvering in the 1970s. It depicts the intense feud between former and then-incumbent spy chiefs in 1979 before one of them assassinated President Park Chung-hee.

 

The film was followed by "Hitman: Agent Jun" which attracted 1.2 million moviegoers during the holiday, and has 1,474,767 viewers so far, according to box-office data.

 

"Hitman" is an action-comedy film that revolves around a spy-turned-webtoon artist.

 

Struggling to create a hit webtoon, Jun, played by Kwon Sang-woo, whose stories containing confidential information of his former employer, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), are accidentally posted on his website.

 

As the stories go viral, he becomes the target of the NIS and a group of terrorists.

 

The third most-watched movie during the Lunar New Year holiday was "Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP," a comedy starring Lee Sung-min.

 

In the film, Tae-joo, a spy with the ability to communicate with animals, tries to find the missing VIP, a Chinese panda, with the help of a military dog.

 

In an attempt to increase ticket sales and encourage moviegoers to return to the theaters, major multiplexes have announced "preventative" measures against the Wuhan coronavirus such as providing hand sanitizers and thermometers at theaters.

 

"To avoid being exposed to coronavirus, we have advised our employees to carry around hand sanitizers and wear disposable masks," a CGV official said.

 

yeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr 

 

Source: winners_ms

40 days before the assassination
#Shaky Loyalty #The GunShot of the Day
# Sir, what do you want me to do?
# I'm next to you. Do what you want to.
# I don't keep my number two alive
# Your country is tomorrow
# Lee Byung Hun Lee Sung Min #Kwak Do Won Lee Hee Jun

 

Spoiler

 

 

Source: Eddy Kim (disclaimer: Google translate)

Watch a movie at the end of the holiday ~

 

It was interesting to see if you are curious in the times of modern and contemporary history. Lee Byung Hun's acting is always right ~ There is no hope for people who have forgotten history. Isn't the result of today from the choices in the past?

 

 

Photo: kkang.si

 

Unique THE MAN STANDING NEXT tickets with 2 gunshots

 

[rubie]

January 27, 2020

 

World Box Office Analysis 24th - 26th January 2020: Bad Boys For Life remains at the top, The Man Standing Next is the top new film at 5

Robert Hyde | 25th Frame

 

The reunion of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence is proving to be a good one as Bad Boys For Life remains at the top of the global charts for a second weekend while South Korean movie The Man Standing Next is the top new film of the week at number 5.

Bad Boys For Life
The cop buddy movie directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah that was 17 years in the making remains at the top of the global box office this weekend with a gross of $76 Million from 59 countries.

This pushes the movies total global gross to $215.6 Million after 2 weeks of release.

 

1917
Director Sam Mandes war movie sits at number 2 again this week as the movie makes $39.5 Million over the weekend from 31 countries.

As the film picks up more awards before the Oscars this puts the movies total global gross at $200 Million after 3 weeks.

 

Dolittle
Despite the slow start the Robert Downey Jr. starring movie is still at number 3 this week with a weekend take of $25.7 Million from 56 countries.

The film has now taken $91 Million after 3 weeks of release and will make over $100 Million in total in the coming days.

 

Jumanji: The Next Level
Hanging onto a place on the top 5 is the Dwayne Johnson starring movie with takes $17.5 Milion from 61 countries.

The film has now taken $737.4 Million over 8 weeks and altohugh will not go over the magic $1 Billion mark has performed well.

 

The Man Standing Next

 

Based on a true story of the assassination of South Korean President Park the Woo Min-ho directed movie lands at number 5 with a weekend gross of $15.8 Million from a single country release.

 

This weeks top 10 World Box Office films

 

1. Bad Boys For Life - $76,000,000
2. 1917 - $39,500,000
3. Dolittle - $25,700,000
4. Jumanji: The Next Level - $17,500,000
5. The Man Standing Next - $15,837,000
6. The Gentlemen - $14,130,000
7. Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - $10,673,000
8. Little Women - $10,300,000
9. Frozen II - $9,549,000
10. Spies In Disguise - $8,690,000

 

Watch behind-the-scene filming clip at servicevision_korea
 

If not mistaken, this company provides the cameras for THE MAN STANDING NEXT. This is the scene when Kim Gyu Pyung's gun jammed after he shot the president and he rushed to get another. Definitely an intense scene to shoot and nerve-wrecking to watch.

 

Source: heo_won2 (disclaimer: Google translate)
.

Movies watched alone during the holiday season
CHIEFS OF NAMSAN
A little bit of fiction in the past
For me who like that movie style
It was a movie that suited my taste.
⠀
The cast actors lineup was good
Movies I Watched Impressive and Fun
Who was the director of Insiders,
I also believed that it was director Woo Min Ho's work
⠀
In my very eyes,
Increasingly mad to protect your power
Actor Lee Sung-min is going to go crazy
I think you digested it well.
⠀
In fact, it looks like the president
I think I lost some weight and I dressed up too
Similarly, actor Lee Hee-jun
You'll gain some weight to digest your bodyguard character.
You really wanted to hit one.
⠀
The factions formed under the president
Grossly choking factions
I think most of the office workers watch this movie
I felt like I was thinking about my work life.
⠀
I guess it's the same
⠀
It's one of the things that happened in history
I've got a little political story
It's a bit difficult to write honest reviews
((Scratch scratching))
⠀
There was a 2% regret about the annual output
But all the time
It's enough to focus!
⠀
Casting lineup Once again clap clap

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  Day 7:  2020.01.28 THE MAN STANDING NEXT at Number 1 Korean Box Office with 3.41 Million Audience Admission! 

Source: KoBiz

 

 

January 28, 2020

 

Korea Box Office: ‘Man Standing Next’ Dominates Holiday Weekend With $25 Million Haul

By SONIA KIL Variety.com

Locally-made political drama, “The Man Standing Next” dominated the four-day Lunar New Year holiday weekend box office in South Korea. Opening on Wednesday (Jan. 22), the Showbox release earned $24.5 million from 3.23 million admissions over its opening six days. It accounted for more than 53% of the total holiday weekend box office.

 

Set 40 days before former South Korean President Park Chung-hee’s assassination in 1979, the Lee Byung-hun-starring film revolves around the relationships and conflicts among second-in-command characters who were at the peak of the power struggle.

 

Opening on the same day, Lotte’s “Hitman: Agent Jun” and Megabox’s “Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP” landed in second and third, respectively. “Agent Jun” earned $11.2 million from 1.47 million admissions between Wednesday and Monday, while “Missing VIP” earned $3.53 million over the same period.

 

Disney’s “Spies in Disguise” also opened on Wednesday and landed in fourth place. The animation starring Will Smith and Tom Holland as voice actors earned $2.3 million over opening six days.

 

South Korean comedy “Secret Zoo” slipped to fifth from the previous weekend’s top place. The Acemaker Movieworks release earned $1.24 million over the weekend for a total of $8.35 million after two weekends on release.

 

Source: truedew77

CHIEFS OF NAMSAN (Fiction vs Real)

 

Clockwise from top, left
Lee Sung Min (Park Jung Hee)
Lee Byung Hun (Kim Jae Kyu)
Lee Hee Jun (Cha Ji Cheol)
Kwak Do Won (Kim Hyung Wook)

 

[rubie]

January 29, 2020

 

Korean Box Office

‘Man Standing Next’ wins the holiday weekend at the box office

 

BY LEE JAE-LIM INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

A series of new films hit the local box office over the Lunar New Year holiday and knocked the previous week’s film off the box office charts over the long weekend.

 

“The Man Standing Next” shot to first place in the rankings in its debut weekend, selling over 2 million tickets across 1,659 screens. Inspired by a true story, the film provides the perspective of Kim Gyu-pyung (played by Lee Byung-hun), the director of the former Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) under former president Park Chung Hee. KCIA was an all-powerful organization in Park’s regime allowed to do anything under the pretense of detaining anti-government or pro-communist forces. On Oct. 26, 1979, the director, who was known to be one of the president’s associates, assassinates Park (played by Lee Sung-min).

 

The gripping film tells the story of the 40 days that led the second-most-powerful person in the country to make that choice on Oct. 26.

 

“Hitman: Agent Jun” placed second place with 929,000 people seeing the film at 1,121 screenings. Actor Kwon Sang-woo portrays the character Jun, a former hit man and current web comic series artist. Formerly known as a legend, Jun quit the National Intelligence Agency (NIS) to fulfill his dream of becoming a web comic artist. However, after his series receives only bad reviews, he drunkenly decides to draw up a story containing confidential knowledge that ends up going viral overnight. By becoming a popular artist, he simultaneously becomes a target for the NIS and a terrorist organization they are trying to get rid of.

Another comedy featuring an NIS agent, “Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP,” followed in third, drawing 289,000 viewers to 692 screenings. This agent, Zoo Tae-joo (played by Lee Sung-min), who despises animals, one day suddenly retains the ability to communicate with animals after a car accident. With his newly acquired ability, he must save a missing VIP for the sake of his organization and diplomatic relations with China. The animals in the movie are voiced by a star-studded cast, including Shin Ha-kyun, Yoo In-na, Park Jun-hyung, Lee Jung-eun, Lee Sun-kyun and Lee Sun-jae.

 

Spoiler

Animated film “Spies in Disguise” landed in the fourth spot, attracting 175,000 people to 712 screens. The film features lead voices of Hollywood stars Will Smith and Tom Holland as Lance Sterling and Walter Beckett, an elite agent of secret spy organization H.T.U.V (Honor, Trust, Unity and Valor) and a geeky MIT graduate fresh off of campus working as a scientist at the agency.

 

When H.T.U.V gains information on the trade of an illegal drone from Japanese arms dealer Katsu Kimura, the group sends Lance to acquire the weapon.

 

However, the cybernetically-enhanced terrorist Killian manages to thwart Lance and the rest of the agency, and H.T.U.V is led to believe that Lance is a traitor.

 

To make matters worse, while Lance goes to Walter’s home to help him disappear, he swallows a concoction and transforms into a pigeon. Before Walter can make an antidote, the duo is chased by H.T.U.V agents. Now as a pigeon, he and Walter must stop Killian from carrying out his revenge against the agency.

 

“Secret Zoo” rounded out the top five, selling 131,000 tickets through 603 screenings.

 

Review: movie_is

I saw the managers of Namsan on the day of the release, but because of the New Year

 

In conclusion, I thought it was a movie I really want to see. Based on a true story, acting enthusiastic actors, textured composition

It was also a movie I liked because it had three elements that I liked.

 

Lee Byung Hun's acting continues to feel that no one can ever be flawed. It seems that the film is shining even more in a movie with good probability and probability.

 

And I didn't know that Lee Sung-min would look like President Park. Real makeup, too, admired and helped me focus more.

 

Unfortunately, it was regrettable not to mention blindness, but it was a bit of a fictional element to the people of our generation who didn't know about the incident, except for the shooting. If you think you can see the movie, I hope to see it.

 

I was grateful that I didn't live in those days when the medium wasn't developed, and at that time when I wasn't aware of anything at all.

 

I still don't think of politics like politics, but at least I wouldn't have deceived people, so I wouldn't have killed people indiscriminately.

 

Would Kim Jae-kyu be better than Chun Doo-hwan if he became president? At the same time, I thought it would have been better than at least the frontal circumference. At the same time, I think that our country is moving well.

 

The things that should never happen again, and the politics of the times that should not be repeated. I never knew it was so difficult to live in a country where people would live in a country.

 

Spoiler

 

 

Source: Showbox

 

The movie is full of meaning!
The more I see you, the more popping movies
# Theatre-filled viewing CHIEFS OF NAMSAN
⠀
Handwritten greeting cards and polaroid photos from the only actors in the world!
⠀
Application method
1) Shoot the tickets you see during the event so that you can see the date and upload it to your personal SNS.
2) Apply Click the link, enter the information and upload the post URL!
3) Write a comment
⠀
Submit to http://naver.me/5g6SFWzg (click on profile link!)
Please check the event period and instructions in the link.

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

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January 29, 2020

 

Park Chung-hee Assassination Film Proves Box Office Gold

 

Source: The ChosunIlbo

Actor Lee Byung-hun's latest film "The Man Standing Next" has attracted more than 3 million moviegoers.

 

According to the Korean Film Council, the film topped the box office over the Lunar New Year holiday with some 621,397 people watching the film on Monday alone.

 

The film is based on the assassination of strongman Park Chung-hee by his own intelligence chief after a heavy drinking session in 1979.

 

It imagines a 40-day power struggle among spy agency chiefs to suggest the mysterious motives behind the killing.

 

Ticket sales were given a boost by boy band Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, who watched a special screening of the film in Los Angeles, where they were attending the Grammy Awards.

 

1/29 Lee Byung Hun posted a throwback photo when they were filming on location in Washington 2 years ago.

 

BH caption: The Chiefs' Lunch 부장들의 점심식사
#themanstandingnext #washington

 

 

Source: Showbox via 익스트림무비@extmcommunity

 

CHIEFS OF NAMSAN collection of new scene stealers! 
Indispensable to the well-made! Check it out now >>

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

 

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January 29, 2020

 

INTERVIEW: Actor Lee Byung-hun proves brand power through new movies

 

Lim Chang-won Reporter(cwlim34@ajunews.com) | AJU Business Daily

 

Courtesy of ShowBox

 

SEOUL -- Lee Byung-hun showed his brand power as a leading actor in South Korea, starring in two movies that premiered one after another in a month. His delicate performance shone through "The Man Standing Next," which has attracted 3.4 million moviegoers in seven days after its release on January 22.

 

Lee's previous work, Ashfall, a science fiction film that depicts an inter-Korean operation to cope with the volcanic eruption of Mount Paektu along the border between North Korea and China, has been watched by 8.2 million people since it was released on December 19 in South Korea.

 

The back-to-back box office hit demonstrated the brand recognition of the 49-year-old who has received critical acclaim for his work in a wide range of genres. In Hollywood, he portrayed Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) and its sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), and starred alongside Bruce Willis in Red 2 (2013). He portrayed T-1000 in Terminator Genisys (2015) and Billy Rocks in The Magnificent Seven (2016).

 

"It's very rare in my filmography to see the release of films by a month. I don't think it's polite to movie fans who have seen movies and characters deeply, but actors don't decide when to release movies," Lee said in an interview with Aju Business Daily. "I've been worried a lot, but I'm glad (the audience) showed a good response."

 

Based on a true story, The Man Standing Next depicts the turbulent 40-day period leading up to the assassination of South Korea's ex-president Park Chung-hee on October 26, 1979, by his intelligence chief at the height of pro-democracy protests. Lee played the role of intelligence head Kim Kyu-pyeong in the movie.

 

As it is such a famous historical event, it's easy for him to provide the agony and perspective of a real person who once headed the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). However, he said that he decided to star in the movie because the director promised to make it with an objective view.

 

"There are movies that are defined by the idea of writers or directors. I wouldn't have participated if this work had any of those tendencies," Lee said, preaching his philosophy. "I thought that historical mysteries should remain mysteries even in movies."

 

The emotional line of each character was delicate. Lee decided to keep the character's hairstyle and glasses as he heard from those who had met with the KCIA head. 

 

Spoiler

 

"Until I tested the camera, I was really worried about whether I should adjust the external synchro rate. But I thought emotions and psychological conditions were more important between the characters, and I decided not to think of appearance, voice and tone," Lee said, describing the former KCIA head as a "very sensitive" figure who needed a lot of non-expressive acting.

 

"At that time, I was impressed by the way he was sweeping away his long bangs, and I wanted to imitate it. He was a real person, so I had a lot of data and indirect access. It helped me to act," Lee said. Through the film which showed unusually many close-up shots, he said he was able to closely commune with the audience by portraying subtle changes of emotion and worries.

 

The director always wanted to take a close-up shot, but Lee did not feel pressured about that. "I thought if If my feelings were full, I would be able to convey it to the audience."

 

As a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Lee said he would cast a ballot to support an Oscar campaign by Director Bong Joon-ho and the cast of "Parasite," the genre-bending family satire nominated in six categories. It is the first time that a South Korean-made film has earned a nod for one of the world's biggest film events.

 

"Anyway, the first time is probably the hardest. It would be nice if Parasite would be the starting point," Lee said.

 

This year, he is set to appear in "The Declaration of Emergency," an aviation disaster film, and a TV drama that tells the story of an international nonprofit organization. "The fact that work keeps coming in means (fans) want to see me. I'm just thankful. I want to keep working until someone wants to see me." 

 

(This interview was conducted by Aju Business Daily reporter Choi Song-hee)

 

Photos: hhminee

 

TMSN Art by nyan_guin

CHIEFS OF NAMSAN Lee Byung Hun's method of believable acting. That alone is enough for you to go to the theater. Take good care of your body and take a look at THE MAN STANDING NEXT

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  Day 8:  2020.01.29 THE MAN STANDING NEXT at Number 1 Korean Box Office with 3.6 Million Audience Admission! 

Source: KoBiz

 

2020.1.30 Now Playing

 

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

 

The Man Standing Next (15)
Drama/ 114/ Korean/ Jan. 22

 

On Oct. 26, 1979, Kim Gyu-pyung, the director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) shoots president Park Chung Hee in the head and kills him.

 

Forty days prior to this event, ex-KCIA director Park Yong-gak creates a wave of confusion in America when he reveals the extent of president Park’s dictatorship to the world.

 

While Kim and the president’s chief bodyguard Kwak Sang-chun clash over how to resolve the matter, the president seems to favor Kwak over Kim. Pressure begins to build up for Kim when the distance between him and the president seems to grow.

 

Based on a real life assassination of former President Park, the film takes the audience along during his final 40 days and shows what led the second most powerful person in the country, Kim, to make the choice he did.

 

The film has a star-studded cast including Lee Byung-hun, who portrays Kim Gyu-pyung, Lee Sung-min as the president, Kwak Do-won as Park Yong-gak and Lee Hee-jun as Kwak Sang-chun.

 

Source: daldal1108 (disclaimer: Google translate)

 

Didn't know how to go for two hours
I kept delaying it because I thought it was boring.
If you want to see it, it's worth it. Acting alone is worth it.

 

 

Source: Showbox

 

THE MAN STANDING NEXT: The Scene Stealers

 

[rubie]

Source: IMDb

 

Totally Shocked (9/10 stars)
26 January 2020 | by directorgod-2 

It's all about acting and Music and rhythm. Thriller movies are very dangerous to make cause 4/10 will be totally disaster. Well, after I watched this movie first thing came out from my mind is it's only Jan.26 and I've already seen the best movie released in 2020 period. You will probably say hey man, there is 11 more months to go. Nope. This is it. The movie is about Kim who assassinate the president Park which really happened in South Korea back in 1970s. Many people thought the Kim is the bad guy and the President Park is the leader who made Korean a rich country now. But you know what? That is not exactly true. After being in that seat for 18 years, he was totally corrupted. Someone had to kill him. He was a dictator which no one can touch like Kim Il Sung.

 

The last 20 minute was so intense that I couldn't even lean my back on the chair. I had to watch with my back bent toward the screen.

 

Not even one minute to feel boring. Great movie.

 

Art by jalgeuryeo

 

Art by grim_pintar

 

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  Day 9:  2020.01.30 THE MAN STANDING NEXT at Number 1 Korean Box Office with 3.7 Million Audience Admission 

Source: KoBiz

 

The Man Standing Next 남산의 부장들 trailer reviews Korean thriller KoreaGate Intense movie 

 

Published on December 11, 2019 by Mavakaga // 무비띵크_Movie Think

 

 

 

January 30, 2020

 

"Itaewon Class" PD Kim Seong-yoon Hopes It's as Successful as "The Man Standing Next"

 

Source: BNTNews via HanCinema.net

 

Spoiler

 

PD Kim Seong-yoon hopes "Itaewon Class" is as successful as "The Man Standing Next".

 

The press premiere of the new jTBC drama "Itaewon Class" was held in Seoul on the 30th with PD Kim Seong-yoon, writer Kwang Jin, and actors Park Seo-joon, Kim Da-mi, Yoo Jae-myung and Kwon Nara.

 

"Itaewon Class" is about a 'hip' revolt by stubborn and courageous youths living in this unfair world. It contains the starting of businesses of those who pursue freedom with their own values on a small street in Itaewon.

 

Meanwhile, "Itaewon Class" draws attention, as it is the first TV drama created by Showbox, a Chungmuro investing distributor which presented films such as "The Host", "The Thieves", "The Assassination", "A Taxi Driver" and more.

 

When a reporter asked Kim Seong-yoon if Showbox had any special demands, he emphasized that "Itaewon Class" was going to be a piece of work that would be recorded as an individual challenge, not just for Showbox. He explained, "The actors are playing roles that can be considered 'challenging', the writer is making his first attempt at a drama screenplay and "Itaewon Class" is my first jTBC drama ever. I hope it does as well as "The Man Standing Next"".

 

Meanwhile, jTBC drama "Itaewon Class" begins on the 31st at 10:50PM.