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

[Guest prita]

Just curious, was that his wife on the left wearing white dress ? Anyway, I adore this actor for his talented act. HJM rawks !

[rubie]

^ Hello prita, welcome to HJM's!

Very good to see you here. I'm not sure if the person is his wife as I'm never quick enough to recognize faces especially stage/musical actors. But we do have photos of Hwang Jungmin-ssi with his wife on their wedding day, posted at post#1.. Page 1 of this thread. ^^

hwang jung min attends 'spring awakening' musical

LOL! He's soooooo simply Goo Dong Baek! Thanks anne for the captures, wonder if his wife is acting in the musical. Unfortunately I'm not too sure with unfamiliar faces..

[malenn]

Thank you Rubie for welcoming me here and thank you everyone for sharing all the updates about HJM!

[apdy]

in the news article, it says that he & his wife were in attendance but not sure if the lady in white is the wifey

i've uploaded a bunch of his interviews on y0utube, it took forever to view these clips from the korean sites & since there's lacking of his video on yt. thought i do everyone a service. (hopefully the acct won't get suspended anytime soon =D )

http://tiny.cc/3xeIm

[rubie]

July 2, 2009

5 Directors Explore Sensuality in 'Eros'

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

Amid the high tide of summer action movies, five star directors are bringing a modest omnibus project with a different sensibility.

"Five Senses of Eros," each depicting unique aspects of sensuality and sexuality, as well as featuring a host of high-profile actors, will provide moviegoers with a more colorful audiovisual experience.

Contrary to expectations, the five shorts don't deal with each of the five senses, nor are they pure erotica. Rather, participating filmmakers experiment with a distinct language and style, be it B-rate comedy or subtle melodrama, to deliver deliciously short episodes about human desire and its perceived complexities ― or basic simplicity.

Daniel H. Byun ("The Scarlet Letter") opens "Eros" with a stylish urban romance about the thrills of chance encounters and first dates. "His Concern" unfolds like a live journal ― or a guy's version of chick lit ― as it follows the stream of consciousness of a single man, played by heartthrob Jang Hyuk.

During a business trip, the young man meets an attractive woman on the train and they plan their first date. D-day comes, but despite his preparations to impress the beauty, our protagonist discovers the charms of peeling away layers of pretentiousness ― and clothing. Jang's relaxed sense of candor brings a natural touch to Byun's witty script, which has a certain consistency in both style and substance.

Melodrama maestro Hur Jin-ho ("Happiness") slows things down a bit in "Na Yeogi Isseoyo (I'm Right Here)," which depicts how a husband (played by "Marine Boy'' star Kim Gang-woo) and his terminally ill wife (Cha Soo-yeon) cherish the little time they have together playing hide and seek.

The director offers more of his meticulous care to mundane details, but he spices up the cliched formula of "love until death do us apart" as well as his signature realism with a touch of fantasy and poeticism. This is heightened by the fact that Cha has appeared in some of the most atmospheric fantasy films, such as "For Eternal Hearts." But the film's surreal feel does not make it hard to relate, as Hur shows how smell awakens a chord of memory in a way no other sense can.

Yu Young-sik ("Anarchist") takes the hint of the fantasy genre introduced in Hur's short and blows it over the top in the B-movie parody "33rd Man." This pornographic comedy pokes fun at the inseparable relationship between sex and power, and features a prototypical femme fatale (veteran TV personality Bae Jong-sook) and a virginal beauty (Kim Min-sun) and their quest for control over an unsuspecting male (funnyman Kim Su-ro).

Min Kyu-dong, who had explored homosexual eroticism in "Antique," brings something more experimental and dramatically edgy in "La Fin et le debut (The End and the Beginning)."

The talented Uhm Jung-hwa stars as a wife whose husband (special appearance by Hwang Jung-min) has died in a car accident while fooling around with another woman, who is, she is shocked to learn, none other than her friend Na-ru (Kim Hyo-jin).

As she mourns over her doubly broken heart, Na-ru magically appears before her ― quite literally ― begging for mercy, and a strangely gratifying co-habitation begins, as the two characters tiptoe the shaky line between impassioned hate and fervent desire.

In "Sunganeul Mideoyo (Have Faith in the Moment)," director Oh Ki-hwan continues exploring the libido-charged game of hearts of his feature film "The Art of Seduction." Though the film involves uniform-clad high schoolers, the story does not tone things down to PG-13.

The story shouts carpe diem like typical teenage dramas, but it is not so much about sexual awakening as you might expect. Three couples decide to swap partners for 24 hours and see what happens.

Actors make cameo appearances in other episodes, but it's clearly just for fun, as it doesn't interweave characters' relationships like montage films in the tradition of "Love Actually.'' An impressive cast of some of the most in-demand actors in some improbable roles brings something palpably different.

In theaters July 9. 19 and over. Distributed by Cinergy.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

[Guest Dahee Fanel]

I translated one of his old interviews for "Happiness" for my blog. Enjoy!

http://daheefanel.wordpress.com/2009/07/06...view-happiness/

[rubie]

^ WAH! Dahee Fanel! That is one awesome sharing, an exclusive & excellent interview with Hwang Jungmin-ssi for Happiness. Thanks so much for translating, sharing & highlighting the heartfelt interview with us. We can't thank you enough, getting to read and learn more about this fabulous actor. HJM is really lucky to have such an awesome fan like yourself. Merci! :blush:

---

July 8, 2009

Ahn is overall favorite among Koreans

http://img.news.yahoo.co.kr/picture/2009/k...k7_100410_0.gif

More on Ahn Sung Ki [wikipedia]

Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, 57, was chosen as the most likeable among Koreans according to the Gallup poll released Tuesday.

Ahn received 9.2 per cent of fan support to claim the top spot. The actor known for his wholesome image and a filmography which spans almost half a century since his start in the business as a child actor also grabbed the most votes on the same poll in 2004.

Trailing behind him were other top actors with Song Gang-ho (6.3%) and Jang Dong-gun, Seol Kyung-gu, Shin Sung-il, Jung Woo-sung, Hwang Jeong-min, Kim Su-ro, and Jeong Joon-ho following in that order.

Kim Hye-su was the sole female representation ranked at number 10.

Rank based on age groups showed a different result with Jang Dong-gun coming in at the top spot among those in their teens and 30s while Seol Gyung-gu was picked as a favorite among twenty-somethings.

Credits: kws@heraldm.com via koreaherald.co.kr l news.yahoo.com

[Guest prita]

Thanks rubie for welcoming me

Whoa HJM's translated interview......still taking bus or subway to date....indeed he's very humble and down to earth person...making me adore him even more !

[Guest Dahee Fanel]

More translated goodies pour vous:

http://daheefanel.wordpress.com/2009/07/09...a-shim-man-man/

[apdy]

Hwang Jung Min on Gong Hyung Jin Radio Show 7/2/09

there are six parts but part 1 is muted by YT cuz of song copyright; they played carlos santana & rob thomas - smooth. bummer. anyway, he talks about doing drama & jams to his songs. =D

[edit] muted issue fixed.

http://tiny.cc/cAx87

source: http://radio.sbs.co.kr/cine/

[Guest Dahee Fanel]

Another translated interview of his, this time for That Fool. Enjoy!

http://daheefanel.wordpress.com/2009/07/12...idental-couple/

ETA: A translation of his guest appearance on the talk show "Golden Fishery":

http://daheefanel.wordpress.com/2009/07/16...golden-fishery/

[apdy]

7/17/09 - Hwang Jung Min at the VIP premiere of Haeundae

[rubie]

^ Thanks so much anne for the Haeundae highlight! It's so good to see HJM-ssi at the premiere, looking healthy and rugged.. with a tinge of Dongbaek-ssi! :blush:

Some more pics from last night's screening, looks like he brought gifts for the movie cast.. perhaps? Oh.. ooh.. come to think of it.. I remember now.. it was initially speculated that HJM would be acting in the movie.. and got pretty excited about seeing him & Ha Ji Won on the big screen together but alas.. it was not to be (yet!). HJM-ssi went on to film 'Private Eye' instead.

Capture credits as stated, copied from daum.net

[rubie]

Capture from http://travel.innolife.net/innoreport/list...&ai_id=5302

[rubie]

July 17, 2009

TWITCH-PiFan 09 Review: PRIVATE EYE

Posted by Todd Brown

it is the early 1900s and Jin-Ho is master of his own destiny. Ignoring the social unrest around him - Korea has, after all, just recently been occupied by Japan - Jin-Ho has adopted a devil-may-care, path of least resistance approach to life, swaggering and smirking his way through a career as private investigator tracking unfaithful wives for jealous husbands, his only goal to make enough money to leave Korea for good and head to America. That Jin-Ho is superior to the work he does is obvious, that he knows it even more so, that he has some sort of hidden past the unspoken truth. But it is not until a young doctor-in-training comes to him with a unique problem that Jin-Ho is jolted out of his self-imposed rut. You see, our young doctor - Kwang-Su - has discovered a dead body and, rather than reporting the discovery to the police, he has taken it home for dissection and study. Which he probably would have gotten away from if not for the fact that the body turns out to be the son of a high ranking government official and daddy is officially unhappy that his son is missing. Knowing that the discovery of the carved-up body will lead to his immediate conviction as the killer the desperate Kwang-Su needs to find the real killer before the body is discovered and for that he needs professional help. He needs Jin-Ho and the bounty posted for the recovery of the corpse and / or capture of the killer is just what is needed to convince him.

With a plot that branches and twists to include opium smuggling, international politics, police corruption, a child-prostitution ring, a knife-throwing circus performer and a princess that longs for the life of a scientist / inventor, first time writer-director Park Dae-Min has very clearly bitten off slightly more than he can chew with Private Eye. There are simply too many balls to keep in the air and the result is a film with muddled focus and a tendency to jump from action sequence to plot point as quickly as possible just to fit everything in. As Park commented during the Q&A session afterward there was a good amount of material written and shot for the film that was later omitted for pacing and run time and those omissions are definitely felt with minimal background information being given on any of the major players and more than one plot thread introduced seemingly out of nowhere only to be abandoned shortly thereafter. That said, Private Eye two great strengths: the sumptuous production design and star Hwang Jeong-min as Jin-Ho.

Richly detailed and deeply immersive, Private Eye plays out in a lushly designed set that sinks the audience into an absolutely convincing history. Equal parts factual reality and artistic speculation, the sets were designed by the same team that brought Kim Ji-Woon’s The Good, The Bad And The Weird to life on screen and the results are no less impressive here. The setting and production design, in fact, ultimately ends up being at least as compelling and important as many of the characters on screen.

The real gem of the picture, however - and the element that keeps it being eminently watchable even when the plot stumbles - is the charismatic Hwang in the lead role. An absolutely perfect casting choice, Hwang so flawlessly embodies the smirking, dissolute Jin-Ho - a man for whom life clearly meant something at some point but who has abandoned any sort of ethic larger than ease and wealth. He has a devil-may-care attitude fused with playful dangerousness that makes him compelling to watch, his fusion of Asian influences with the obvious nods to American noir bringing to mind Tetsuya Watari’s performances in Nikkatsu Action pictures Velvet Hustler and Gangster VIP.

Hwang Jeong-min has long been one of Korea’s hidden gems, a consistently stellar performer generally tucked away in support roles who turns in a timeless performance here in a rare lead, a performance that masks many of the film’s obvious flaws and makes for an entertaining ride even when the going gets bumpy. Writer-director Park clearly needs some more seasoning but, thanks to Hwang’s performance here making the film a modest hit in Korea, he will certainly get the chance to learn and adapt from the experience.

Source: twitchfilm.net

[apdy]

7/23/09 - Hwang Jung Min throws the first pitch at the Doosan Bears vs. Lotte Giants baseball game...

[rubie]

August 4, 2009

Like the Moon Escaping From the Clouds Confirms Cast

Actors Hwang Jung Min, Cha Seung Won, Han Ji Hye, and Baek Sung Hyun will join director Lee Jun Ik of King and the Clown in his third historical production – Like the Moon Escaping from the Clouds (구르믈 버서난 달처럼).

Hwang Jung Min, Cha Seung Won, Han Ji Hye, Baek Sung Hyun

Like the Moon Escaping from the Clouds is being adapted into an action film from a three-book Korean manga series by Park Heung Yong. It was awarded the Republic of Korea Cartoon Culture Literary Prize by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and in 2005, translated into English by Steven D. Capener. The story is set at the end of the 16th century’s Joseon Dynasty, following Japan’s invasion of Korea.

Like the Moon Escaping from the Clouds

Cha Seung Won is cast as the protagonist, Lee Mong Hak, who dreams of overthrowing the incompetent politicial regime and starting a world revolution. He leads a peasant rebellion against societal injustice and for equality. Mong Hak excels in the art of fighting to the extent that he is called Joseon’s best butcher. Cha Seung Won is currently training in swordsmanship, horseback riding, and action scenes. Uhm Tae Woong was initially cast as this character.

Hwang Jung Min is in the role of Hwang Jung Hak, a legendary blind swordsman who faces off against Lee Mong Hak. Although Jung Hak can’t physically see, he has acute insight. Upon meeting Gyun Ja (Baek Sung Hyun) who is distressed about how to get revenge, Jung Hak teaches him martial arts as they chase after Mong Hak. Director Lee Jun Ik said that the screenplay was created with Hwang Jung Min in mind for this character.

Baek Sung Hyun has been cast as Gyun Ja. As the son of a concubine, he harbours pent-up rage against the world due to his lesser status. With the help of Hwang Jung Hak, he chases after Lee Mong Hak to avenge his father’s murder. Ryu Seung Beom was originally cast in this role; however, he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts after this production was delayed.

Han Ji Hye will play Baek Ji, a gisaeng and Lee Mong Hak’s longtime lover. When she is left behind by Mong Hak, she goes off to search for him. Lee Mong Hak and Gyun Ja fight for her love. In preparation for her first sageuk, Han is practising to play the gayageum and sing Korean poems.

The film [finally] goes into production at the end of this month and is expected to hit theatres in the first half of 2010.

Source: StarToday with credits to kpculture.com

[Guest prita]

So it's an action film, but having read the short synopsis and HJM's character here I can see that this is going to be a good film to watch. Also HJM and BSH are reuniting after That Fool. Look forward to watching it !

[rubie]

So good to see my 3 men -- LBH, SKH and Hwang Jung Min-ssi in a cool list together. :blush:

Gist guessed + google-translated at EverythingLBH.

August 20, 2009

Lee, the film industry 'Maestro' # 1

http://image.inews24.com/image_joy/200908/...730425749_1.jpg

World star and film actor Lee Byung-hun is the Maestro number one.

Male Fashion Magazine 'Esquire' in a recent site survey of 745 members had selected top actor Lee Byung Hun as number1 with 212 votes making up the 28% of the overall tally.

1. Lee Byung-hun 212 (28%)

2. Kim Myung Min 183 votes (25%)

3. Seol Kyung-gu 141 votes (19%)

4. Hwang Jeong-min 114 votes (15%)

5. Song Kang-ho 95 votes (13%)

Actors Kim Myung Min is second place with 183 votes (25%), followed by Seol Kyung-gu (141 votes, 19%), Hwang Jeong-min (114 votes, 15%), Song Kang-ho (95 votes, 13%) all in that order.

Members who participated in the survey cited the reason for choosing Lee as "a charismatic actor whose acting talent is recognized worldwide, whom the domestic film industry expected to be the Maestro," as well as "presenting the basic, and image of the perfect style reminiscent of the Maestro," they said.

Lee Byung Hun played Storm Shadow in the summer blockbuster 'GI Joe; The Rise of Cobra' is famous for his soft smile and masculine charisma, but the most significant charm that will grab the world's attention is in his intense eyes.

GI Joe opens at 1,800,000 in South Korean box-office through the audience attendance and currently settles comfortably in the number two spot at the U.S. box office after opening at number 1 record in the week before that. This ensures Lee Byung Hun's debut performance a successful evaluation in Hollywood..

The complete brand 'Maestro' with Lee Byung Hun as the exclusive model of the Edge Classic will highlight the actor's charisma and perfect body, as a sense of unique fashion style for the men's menswear. [Photo = LG Fashion Maestro]

Source: hong mi gyeong mkhong@joynews24.com l joynews.inews24.com

[rubie]

September 1, 2009

Hwang Jung Min who's currently filming his new movie at actress Jang Jin Young's wake on Tuesday. Thanks to melusine for the highlight.

Jang Jin Young (1974 - 2009)

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=310832