Hwang Jung-Min 황정민 [Upcoming Movies: “12.12: The Day”, “Mission Cross”, “Veteran 2”, “Hope”]

[rubie]

 October 6, 2014
Hwang Jung Min Hits His First Red Carpet
Source: BNTNews

[by Nawael Khelil / Photos by Kim Gang Yoo] Actors and actresses hit the red carpet of the 27th Buil Film Awards ceremony that was held at Haeundae Grand Hotel, in Busan, on October 3.
The Buil Film Awards are sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Metropolitan City of Busan and the organizing committee of the Busan International Film Festival.
Meanwhile, the Buil Film Festival was attended by Jo Yeo Jung, Kwon Ryul, Ryu Hyun Gyung, Hwang Jung Min, Jung Eun Chae, Kim Young Ae, Jo Min Soo and others. (photos by bntnewsDB) 

[pusan0]

Hi everyone!
Some news about the upcoming Hwang Jung Min next movie, International Market:
http://www.hancinema.net/photos-added-new-stills-for-the-korean-movie-international-market--74045.html

P.s: HUGE Thank You @rubie for all the updates! love this thread since I'm a big fan of Hwang Jung Min

[rubie]

October 17, 2014
4th Quarter Screen: Seol Gyung-gyu and Hwang Jung-min’s 10 Million?
Source: KOFICE

Following Song Kang-ho of “The Attorney” and Choi Min-sik of “Roaring Currents,” big names of Chungmuro will grace the screen in the fourth quarter of this year. Seol Gyung-gyu and Hwang Jung-min are in the lineup, and the audience is already curious to see what changes they will bring to the screen and especially to the box office. 
Seol Gyung-gyu takes on his biggest transformation ever in the movie “My Dictator” (director Lee Hae-joon) to be released in October. He plays a completely unexpected role—Kim Il-sung. It is not simply about being in synch with the character. Seol Gyung-gyu admits that he was more stressed out about his new role than he had ever been, and felt the pressure to portray a character that believes he is Kim Il-sung as convincingly as possible. The movie is a fictional rendition of a historical fact that someone acted as Kim Il-sung during the rehearsals for the first North-South high-level summit. Chungmuru’s most trusted stars Seol Gyung-gyu and Park Hae-il will demonstrate father-and-son chemistry in the movie. 
As the poster of “My Dictator” shows, the key factor of the movie is Seol Gyung-gyu’s transformation from head to toe. His stance and look of disapproval as he observes the street, plus the copy “I am the Great Leader of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” arouse curiosity about how Seol Gyung-gyu, looking so convincing in the role, will play the part of Kim Il-sung. Meanwhile, following the success of “New World” and “Man in Love,” Hwang Jung-min is set to return with “International Market” (director Yun Jae-gyun) in December. 
“International Market” is the latest work by director Yun Jae-gyun who made a mega hit in 2009 with “Tidal Wave” that drew in 11.45 million admissions. His first new work in 5 years stars Hwang Jung-min, Kim Yun-jin, Oh Dal-soo, Jung Jin-young, Jang Young-nam, Ra Mi-ran, and Kim Seul-gi. In the movie, Hwang Jung-min portrays the “father” of our age through Duk-soo who will go anywhere and do anything for his family. “International Market” is a touching drama with both cheerful laughter and heartwarming sentiments that only Yun Jae-gyun and Hwang Jung-min can pull off. Hwang Jung-min works almost without a break and communicates earnestly with the audience while challenging himself to a completely different character in every movie. “International Market” will also mark the beginning of his busy schedule that extends to next year.
Appearing as old men in their upcoming movies, the two actors will challenge themselves to a new image and present something worth watching to the audience. 

[rubie]

October 27, 2014
CJ Entertainment Introduces Strong Line-up for 2015
Big Stars to Shine in Diverse Stories 
by June KIM KOBIZ


Korea's entertainment giant, CJ Entertainment, introduced its line-up for 2015 during the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on the 4th of October in the Grand Hotel's Hive Club. CJ had a long slate of films that filled the screens this year from socially aware and critically acclaimed Cannes title A Girl at My Door, comedic drama Miss Granny, Thread of Lies, a family drama that marked the return of Kim Hee-ae to the silver screen, to the record-breaking history epic Roaring Currents. It’s highly anticipated 2015 line-up includes titles such as YOUN Je-kyun's Ode to My Father, KIM Hyun-seok's C'est si bon, RYOO Seung-wan's Veteran, PARK Jin-pyo's Today's Love, KIM Kwang-tae's Guest (*w/t), KANG Je-kyu's Jangsu Mart (w/t), LEE Yoon-jung's Don't Forget Me (**d/t), AHN Sang-hoon's Era of Purity (d/t), YOON Jae-gu's Secret Temptation, Baek Woon-hak's Chronicles of Evil (d/t), LEE Seok-hoon's Himalayas, JO Sung-hee's Famous Detective HONG Gil-dong (d/t), KWAK Jae-yong's Time Renegade (d/t), LEE Kyung-mi's House Full of Happiness (w/t), HEO Jong-ho's Mad Attorney (w/t), KIM Tae-yong's Set Me Free, LEE Chang-jae's The Hospice and LEE Jong-pil's Dorihwaga (w/t). 
Haeundae (2009) director YOUN Je-kyun is coming back with another blockbuster, Ode to My Father, which stars HWANG Jung-min. With the current trend of popular historical flicks, Ode to My Father may be able to find a similar response from audiences. The film goes through major events in modern history such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War through the life of Deok-su (HWANG) as he ages. Large parts of the film were shot in Busan.
Musical drama C-est si bon will also have a huge cast, with KIM Yun-seok, KIM Hee-ae, JUNG Woo, and HAN Hyo-joo, while KANG Je-kyu’s Jangsu Mart will bring YOUN Yuh-jung, CHO Jin-woong and HAN Ji-min together in a heart-warming neighborhood drama. Time Renegade will have All About My Wife star LIM Soo-jung and My Love, My Bride’s husband, JO Jung-suk, in a time-twisting thriller. Mad Attorney is set to star A Hard Day’s LEE Sun-kyun with Eungyo actress KIM Go-eun. LEE will play an ace attorney while KIM will be a prosecutor as they work together to solve a murder case without evidence. Today’s Love will be the first film for singer and actor LEE Seung-ki. LEE is famous for his music but has also become familiar through his participation in TV shows and drama series. This romantic film will partner LEE with MOON Chae-won. Although without any major stars, Set Me Free was recently introduced to the public through its screening at BIFF, and stars CHOI Woo-sik. This is KIM Tae-yong’s first feature and it deals with a rather dark personal story from the director’s life. Dorihwaga will be led by RYU Seung-ryong, who has become known through Miracle in Cell No.7, which broke box office records last year. RYU will act as a historical figure who teaches the Korean traditional musical style of ‘pansori’ to Korea’s first female singer. The student will be played by Miss A’s BAE Suzy who stepped into the world of acting through Architecture 101 (2012).

(*w/t) stands for working title (**d/t) stands for direct translation

[rubie]

October 31, 2014
“Brothers” Lee Jung-jae and Hwang Jung-min Face-off: “Big Match” vs. “International Market” in December
Source: KOFICE

Thicker than blood in the movie “New World,” Lee Jung-jae and Hwang Jung-min who made “Brother” an in-word of the year will face each other as rivals in December. Lee Jung-jae returns to the screens with “Big Match,” an action movie about Ik-ho (Lee Jung-jae) who tries to save his older brother from ingenious villains who have taken over the entire city. While Lee Jung-jae returns in an action flick, Hwang Jung-min will bring a touching drama to the cinema in December. Starring in the movie “International Market” set in Busan, Hwang Jung-min leads the story about a man named Duk-soo who has never once lived for himself. The selling point of “Big Match” is Lee Jung-jae, whose movies became box office hits one after another from “The Thieves” in 2012 to “The New World” and “Face Reader.” Expectations are high especially because Lee Jung-jae will take on a role he has never attempted before “International Market” is the latest work by Yun Jae-gyun who directed “Tidal Wave.” Words are spreading that the movie received great reviews at the monitoring preview, and other movies that were preparing for their release at around the same time are stealthily stepping out of the competition. The focus now is on who the audience will choose as the winner, Lee Jung-jae or Hwang Jung-min, the two inseparable friends in “New World.”

[rubie]

October 30, 2014
25 Years of the Best Asian Films
by matthewgist-54-206142 IMDb
1. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)2. Raise the Red Lantern (1991)3. To Live (1994)4. Princess Mononoke (1997)5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)6. J.S.A.: Joint Security Area (2000) 7. Failan (2001)8. Spirited Away (2001)9. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)10. Oldboy (2003)11. 3-Iron (2004)12. A Bittersweet Life (2005) 13. Fearless (2006)14. The Warlords (2007)15. The Chaser (2008)16. The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008) 17. Breathless (2008)18. Thirst (2009)19. Castaway on the Moon (2009)20. The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)21. Aftershock (2010)22. I Saw the Devil (2010) 23. The Front Line (2011)24. Masquerade (2012) 25. New World (2013)

[rubie]

November 10. 2014
Hwang Jung-min in 'International Market'



Actor Hwang Jung-min (L) poses at an event in Seoul on Nov. 10, 2014, to promote the new film "International Market," the story of a married couple living through the turbulent and poor days up to now after the 1950-53 Korean War. At right is actress Kim Yun-jin. (Yonhap) (END)

[rubie]

November 11, 2014
Stunning 2015 Lineup from ShowboxStar Directors and Big Name Actors
 by June Kim KOBIZ
Showbox Entertainment also released its upcoming titles during the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) at the Showbox party which took place at Bay 101. Their 11 titles cover a range of genres and boast many star directors and big name actors. We Are Brothers is currently in theatres, with character actors KIM Sung-kyun and CHO Jin-woong as the leads. It is directed by JANG Jin of Guns & Talks (2001) and Someone Special (2004). The director of Tazza: The High Rollers (2006) and The Thieves (2012) is back with another star-studded epic, Assassination, which has cast HA Jung-woo, JUN Ji-hyun and LEE Jung-jae, and will be set in 1930s China. Director CHOI Dong-hoon has produced strong heist and action films throughout his career and many have great expectations for this new title.
Based on YOON Tae-ho’s webtoon, Insiders, by Man of Vendetta (2010) director WOO Min-ho, is an action crime genre which deals with corruption in Korean society. The film will feature LEE Byung-hun and CHO Seung-woo. Sado is about a famous character in Korean history, the Prince Sado who died after being put into a rice box by his father. LEE Joon-ik has shown strength in period films through the critically acclaimed King and the Clown (2005) while mature actors SONG Kang-ho of Snowpiercer and YOO Ah-in of Tough as Iron will play the king and the prince respectively. MOON Geun-young features in a supporting role. A familiar name in the gangster genre, director YOO Ha is back with Gangnam Blues. Set in the 70s, this action drama with idol LEE Min-ho and veteran actor KIM Rae-won will take place in the famous Gangnam district and unravel the history of its development. The Detective K sequel, period action film Detective K: The Farmhand’s Daughter, will feature the return of actor KIM Myung-min, along with OH Dal-su and LEE Yeon-hee. KIM Sok-yun, who directed the first film will take up the directorial reigns again. The film is to be released in February. In the Mood for Love with MOON Chae-won and YOO Yeon-seok is a melodrama about a couple that meet on the KTX, Korea’s high-speed rail system, to Busan. CHO Kyu-jang is taking the director’s chair. Based on a real event, Geuk-bi-su-sa is about a young child that gets kidnapped twice in the late 70s. KIM Yun-seok will play the detective while YOO Hae-jin will also play a major role. It will be directed by KWAK Kyung-taek. Yeo-reum-ae Nae-li-neun Noon, or Snow That Falls in Summer (d/t), is an omnibus melodrama with JI Jin-hee, SUNG Yu-ri and KIM Sung-kyun. From the director of Le Grand Chef (2007), JEON Yun-su. JEON Do-yeon and director LEE Yoon-ki partner up again for A Man and a Woman, after working together on My Dear Enemy (2008). Playing the protagonist of a forbidden love, JEON will perform alongside GONG Yoo of Silenced (2011) with snow-covered Finland as their background. Director LEE Il-hyung’s directorial debut, Geom-sa-wae-jeon is about an innocent public prosecutor who was framed for a murder and decides to take revenge by gathering talented criminals to help him. HWANG Jung-min of New World (2012) will take the role of the public prosecutor.

[rubie]

November 18, 2014

Hwang Jung-min and Kang Dong-won team up in revenge thrillerhttp://www.dramabeans.com/2014/11/hwang-jung-min-and-kang-dong-won-team-up-in-revenge-thriller/

[rubie]

November 21, 2014
Blue Dragon film awards in Seoul

Actor Hwang Jung-min (L) attends a handprint event for the 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards in Seoul on Nov. 20, 2014. From left are Hwang, Han Hyo-joo, Lee Jung-jae, Ra Mi-ran, Yeo Jin-goo and Park Ji-soo. (Yonhap) (END)

[rubie]

November 21, 2014
Actors Get Their Handprint Done For The Blue Dragon Film Awards
Source: BNTNews

[by Sora Ghim, photo by Kwon Hee Jung] The Blue Dragon Film Awards held a handprinting ceremony for the actors at the Yeoido CGV. 
The Blue Dragon Film Awards are one of the top movie awards in South Korea. It started in 1963 to promote and improve the Korean film industry. This year marks the 35th ceremony. 
Meanwhile, actors Hwang Jung Min, Han Hyo Joo, Lee Jung Jae, Ra Mi Ran, Yeo Jin Goo, and Park Ji Soo were at the event. The 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards will be held on December 17. (photo by bntnews DB)

[rubie]

November 25, 2014
Hwang Jung-min in 'International Market'

Actor Hwang Jung-min poses at an event in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2014, to promote the new film "International Market," the story of a married couple living through the turbulent poor days of the modern era after the 1950-53 Korean War. (Yonhap) (END)

[rubie]

November 25, 2014
A poster of movie 'International Market' revealed
Source: STARN News
A poster for 'International Market' was released.

Movie 'International Market' will be officially released on December 17th, and a poster shows the whole family of Duk Soo (played by Hwang Jung Min) was released.
The poster shows Duk Soo's family members posing for a photo in front of a small shop under a snowfall.
'International Market' will show a story of Duk Soo and his wife, Young Ja (played by Kim Yoon Jin)'s family, and the poster shows the two showing a bright smile together, holding two kids.
In addition, the mother (played by Jang Young Nam), the aunt (played by La Mi Ran), the youngest sister (played by Kim Seul Gi), and Dal Gu (played by Oh Dal Soo) are also posing together, standing around Duk Soo and Young Ja.
The poster also includes Duk Soo's father (played by Jung Jin Young), and many people are showing huge anticipation for the touching story that 'International Market' will present to many movie fans this winter.
Meanwhile, 'International Market' will be officially released on November 17th.
/Reporting by Lee Mi-Ji en@starnnews.com

[rubie]

November 25. 2014
Local & Hollywood fare to hit screens before year-end
By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times
As "Interstellar" continues to dominate local screens having amassed over 7 million tickets in under three weeks, the final holiday season of the year is fast approaching with both Korean and Hollywood films seeking to attract moviegoers in the run-up to Christmas. 
Hollywood's Twentieth Century Fox kicks things off with the local release of Ridley Scott's "Exodus: Gods and Kings" that hits screens in Korea on Dec 3. Rather tellingly, this release date is a day earlier than other territories thereby premiering in Korea first. 
Based on the book of Exodus, this biblical adaptation shares much in common with Darren Aronofsky's "Noah" that debuted in Korea in March. Although releasing major films in Asia first is a growing trend by the Hollywood studios given the size of the markets such as China and Korea, the large Christian population in Korea is perhaps another factor in its early release date. 
Starring Christian Bale (famous for playing Batman in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy), he plays Moses as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses played by Joel Edgerton as he leads 600,000 slaves in their escape from Egypt and its deadly cycle of plagues. 
The scope of the film is believed to be Scott's most ambitious yet, but as with any biblical adaptation, much like "Noah" focus will be on how the story has been told. While "Noah" opened well here, and performed strongly in most countries, Aronofsky's bold interpretation of Noah wasn't a hit with most audiences in Korea, and thus ticket sales dropped significantly after its opening weekend.
From December 10, audiences will have a chance to see the biographical film "The Theory of Everything" by James Marsh that was well-received following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. 
Following the life of the renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking, the film looks at how he became a groundbreaking figure in his field while also having to deal with his illness after he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 
The film has attracted particular praise for the performances including the lead Eddie Redmayne who has been tipped for an Oscar nomination earlier next year for his acclaimed role as Stephen Hawking. 
Actor Hwang Jung-min, center, stars in Yoon Je-gyun's "Ode to My Father" that is set in post-war Korea. / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment
The Christmas season then kicks into gear a week later on December 17 with the release of Peter Jackson's concluding part to his latest franchise "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" along with CJ entertainment's major end-of-year film "Ode to My Father" starring Hwang Jung-min. 
Last year's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" had a disappointing theatrical run generating little over 2.28 million admissions marking a drop compared to the first film. However, this was in part due to the fee dispute between the film's Hollywood distributor and some of the major exhibitors here that hurt the sales for the film because many theaters in Seoul couldn't show the film, but this has since been resolved. 
The latest Hobbit film based on J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel sees Middle Earth hanging in the balance where Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) finds himself along with the lives of his friends in the Battle of the Five Armies. 
Going up against the final part of "The Hobbit" is Yoon Je-gyun's new film "Ode to My Father" that takes viewers back to post-war Korea depicting the lives and difficulties of couple played by Hwang Jung-min and Kim Yunjin. 
With a reported budget of 14 billion won ($13.1m) and shooting locations including Thailand, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Busan where the International market is located ― and hence the literal title of the movie, "Gukje (international) market" -- there is much riding on this film. 
But with Yoon as director who also helmed the 2007 hit "Haeundae" together with an engaging storyline and historical backdrop, it could attract that all important wide demographic. 
Also to hit screens in December is Lee Won-suk's eagerly awaited period drama "The Royal Tailor" that stars Han Suk-kyu, Ko-soo and Park Shin-hye about the lives of those working within the Sanguiwon -- the Korean title of the film -- who are responsible for the attire worn by royalty during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). 
Director Lee attracted much critical praise for his feature debut "How to Use Guys With Secret Tips" in 2013 despite it failing at the box office. His latest will face some stiff competition, but given the popularity of period dramas at the box office and its strong ensemble cast and talented director, it should make a lasting impression once it hits screens. 
Before the year-end "Unbroken" directed by Angelina Jolie is scheduled for release in local multiplexes (exact date TBA). Based on the novel "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand, the film follows the American Olympic distance runner and Second World War prisoner of war survivor Louis Zamperini played by Jack O'Connell after he survives a plane crash in the Pacific during the war. 
With the Oscar nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins ("Skyfall") along with the Coen Brothers listed as screenwriters ― they rewrote the screenplay from earlier drafts ― also part of the production, it could be in solid contention when the Oscar nominations are announced in January. 
Other films to be released in December include "The Con Artists" starring Kim Woo-bin alongside Lee Hyun-woo and Disney's musical "Into the Woods" starring Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt that is also attracting some awards attention. Both features hit screens on December 24.

[rubie]

November 24, 2014
Hwang Jung-min to Play Today’s ‘Father’ with Wide Range of Age, from 20 to 70 in Film ‘Ode to My Father’
Source: Get It K

VIP Screening for film <Ode to My Father > was held at CGV Theater in Seongdong District, Seoul on November 24. Hwang Jung-min, Kim Yoon-jin, Oh Dal-su, Jung Jin-young, Jang Young-nam and Kim Seul-ki participated.

Film <Ode to My Father> is a story of a man named Deok-su(Hwang Jung-min) who has lived his life for only his family. This film reflects lives of fathers at that time who dedicated themselves to their families.
Hwang Jung-min said, “We have been waiting for this movie for over 1 year, too. This is our first time to see it.” He showed great acting with wide range of age, from 20 to 70. When asked about the most impressive moment when he acted, he answered, “Acting as a 70 year-old man was hardest thing to act. It was because I had never experienced that generation.  I especially cared about my posture and gesture. I tried hard to naturally act my character.”
He also said, “We finished filming in Thailand on December 24 last year. We were all really excited and happy during filming.”

Hwang Jung-min has a son in reality. Regarding the word ‘father,’ he said, “I assume all the men feel a lump in their throat when they think of the word. I also have one. My father is like God to me.”

Actor Jung Jin-young appears as the father of Hwang Jung-min. He said, “I was so happy that Jung Jin-young was cast in this film as my father. I also thought he just fit the character.”
Lastly, Hwang Jung-min said, “I watched this film from a son’s point of view.”
Film <Ode to My Father > opens on December 17. Written by Han Jihee, Photography by Ryuma, Translated by Park Kayla

[rubie]

November 28, 2014
Hwang Jung Min Thumbs Up
Source: BNTNews

[by Woorim Ahn, photo by Kim Chi Yoon] Play ‘I am you’ (screenplay by Yoon Suk Hwa) held its VIP premiere on November 27 at the BBCH hall in Sinsa-dong, Seoul.
Many celebrities such as Hwang Jung Min, Seol Woon Do, Jeon Su Kyung, Park Gun Hyung, Jang Dong Gun, Hong Suk Chun and others came to celebrate its first premiere.
After 105 years of Patriot Ahn Jung Geun’s death, play ‘I am you’ was directed as a memorial. The play tells the story of his family based on historical facts and a bit of part panto. 
Actor Song Il Gook, Park Jung Ja, Bae Hae Sun, Ye Soo Jung and others will perform in play ‘I am you’ and it will be available by December 31. (photo by bntnews DB)

[rubie]

Thanks to @Ahpheng for the highlight at Shin Ha Kyun thread
SHK-HJM TVCF for SK Telecoms

[rubie]

Source: CINE21 FB

[rubie]

Source: CINE21
NO.983 | 2014-12-09 ~ 2014-12-16

[rubie]

December 8, 2014
AFM 2014 at a Glance: Korean Films Heat Up AFMProjects focusing on Korean culture attract attention     by JI Yong-jin KOBIZ


The 2014 AFM (American Film Market) closed on November 13th. Since its inception in 1981, AFM has stepped up not only as the largest film market in North America but also a substantial world market which boasts a global-based scale of film professionals from around 70 countries participating each year. This also means that AFM has become a market where worldwide film companies gearing up with new line-ups wait for with great anticipation. For the Korean film industry, this year’s AFM was a fruitful one. CJ Entertainment as the first Korean film industry to break grounds in the British market, made its mark by achieving the English sales of the highest grossing Korean film Roaring Currents which scored 17 million in local ticket sales. Roaring Currents attracting great interest in the international market when it replaced The Host’s top score of USD 1.98 million in the U.S. box office with a USD 2.70 million. CJ Entertainment conveyed the mood at AFM by commenting “Encouraged by the great response from the U.S. and Australian market, foreign buyers showed keen interest in Roaring Currents”. CJ Entertainment films’ move into the Asian market is noted as well. The latest work from YOUN Je-kyun, Ode to My Father, and KIM Hyun-seok’s C’est Si Bon both sold its in-flight screening rights to Hong Kong while A Bastard sold its theatrical rights to Japan. Films like Ode to My Father’s overview of Korea’s modern history through a father’s unfortunate life, and C’est Si Bon‘s background set in music hall ‘C’est Si Bon’ which inspired the Korean music scene’s folk wave during the 60s and 70s are anticipated to serve as ambassadors promoting Korean culture.    Lotte Entertainment displayed strong sales output in the Asian region. Tazza-The Hidden Card starring CHOI Seung-hyun, also known as T.O.P, a member of popular idol group Big Bang, was sold to China and Singapore, and The Pirates starring SON Ye-jin and KIM Nam-gil was sold to China. Especially, Criminal Designer attracted considerable interest not only from the Chinese market but also the North American and Japanese market, and is currently in talks to close sales. The film’s male lead KIM Woo-bin’s fame as a rising Hallyu (Korean Wave) star seems to have contributed to such accomplishment. Criminal Designer dealing with a group of specialists in search of hidden money follows up from filmmaker KIM Hong-sun’s crowd-pleasing sensuous thriller Traffickers. HAN Min-hyung, Director of International Sales at Lotte Entertainment, reported that “Criminal Designer was pre-sold to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines at Busan’s Asian Film Market with an addition of sales to Singapore at this year’s AFM”. Showbox/Mediaplex, Inc. focused on its 2015 line-up such as Gangnam Blues and Detective K: The Farmhand’s Daughter over current theatrical releases at film markets, and Gangnam Blues was sold to 11 territories. With only a trailer release and no market screenings, such accomplishments testified to the level of interest from foreign buyers which the foreign press caught on as well. The November 5th Screen Daily ran a first-page coverage on Gangnam Blues emphasizing the screen debut of LEE Min-ho, now a leading force of the Korean Wave with his TV series such as Boys Before Flowers and The Heirs. Showbox also gives a positive self-evaluation on its first-half-of-the-year foreign distribution line-up such as Insiders starring LEE Byung-hun and Top Secret Investigation starring KIM Yun-seok. Period piece The Royal Tailor dealing with the subject of Korean tradition costumes was also popular at AFM, attracting buyers from Asia such as China, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as Europe and the U.S. “International sales of period pieces are not so easy if it’s not a mix-genre such as action. However, The Royal Tailor with a plausible drama-line and unique subject matter that includes a conflict structure associative of Mozart and Salliereu, and the first catwalk during the Joseon Dynasty(1392-1895) raised considerable interest from European and American buyers,” stated International distributor Finecut. Fashion King based on the popular webtoon of the same title was sold to a number of Asian territories including Japan, Singapore and Malaysia at this year’s AFM. The film displays an impressive harmony of cartoon-like structure combined with serious drama. Meanwhile, M-Line Distribution joined the race at AFM with a number of sales. Slow Video (dir. KIM Young-tak) was sold to China and Taiwan, and Whistle Blower (dir. YIM Soon-rye) to Malaysia and Taiwan. 20th Century Fox affiliated FIP (Fox International Production) produced Slow Video is a comic and moving account of a man with dynamic visual acuity or the ability to capture moments of moving objects and landscapes who falls in love. The dedicated love for a woman by a man with an unusual ability is delivered in a well-layered performance by actor CHA Tae-hyun. Already raising awareness with its storyline inspired by the notorious ‘HWANG Woo-suk Scandal’ that rocked the world, Whistle Blower was sold to 11 Asian territories including Malaysia, Taiwan and China. The film traces a hidden truth through a researcher who chose his conscience over national interest and a TV producer invested in justice and the people’s right to know. The director YIM Soon-rye was praised for a well-balanced approach to the overly heated controversial case. In addition, Dad for Rent (dir. KIM Deok-su) was sold to Taiwan. The film deals with the rather absurd subject of a daughter posting the sale of her unemployed father on internet’s second-hand site. The film avoids falling into the conventions of juvenile humor and tells the story of heartwarming family ties in a contemplative–but-not-too-serious tone. With its lively touches, the film stands out from the numerous works on the subject of father or fatherhood. The King of Jokgu (dir. WOO Moon-gi) is about the ardent passion towards foot volleyball a group of university students who are back after their military service have. It sold its theatrical rights to China and in-flight rights to Kazakhstan. This is the second time for a Korean independent film to sell its in-flight screening rights to Kazakhstan since Shuttlecock (dir. LEE Yu-bin).
ZHANG Lu’s Gyeongju was sold to China. Starring PARK Hae-il and SHIN Min-a, the film is a poetically visual account of ‘first love’ presented in aesthetics unique to filmmaker ZHANG Lu. The film boasts impressive synergy between PARK Hae-il’s cunningly smooth performance and SHIN Min-a’s dreamlike image. Meanwhile, Scandal Makers (dir. KANG Hyoung-chul) sold its remake rights to India making it a total of three territories on top of Hollywood and China. It will be interesting to see how the film will be reinterpreted in each culture. Films with subject matters uniquely ‘Korean’ stood out in terms of Korean sales at this year’s AFM. From highlighting the heroic accounts of historical figure Admiral YI Sun-shin in Roaring Currents, and period piece on Korean traditional costumes in The Royal Tailor to a trip down Korean modern history set against Busan’s Gukje Market in Ode to My Father, films with Korean subjects and sensibilities attracted considerable interest. Gangnam Blues as a noir set during the 1970s Gangnam redevelopment rush also presents a slice of Korean society. Films with unique topics were popular among foreign buyers as well such as Slow Video with its unusual premise of dynamic visual acuity, and Dad for Rent with its rather ‘cheeky’ episodes. Works based on webtoons also stood out in sales. And with the influence of the ‘Korean Webtoon Wave’, film professionals sought out films based on webtoons of the same title like Insiders and Fashion King.