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

[rubie]

February 13, 2014
Hwang Jung-min, a man in love with acting
BY JUNG JI-WON Korea JoongAng Daily


Actor Hwang Jung-min By Lim Hyun-dong

Actor Hwang Jung-min has a special kind of genuineness that make him stand out in all his roles. But he also knows how to blend in, regardless of who he meets in a film. If Hwang were to be compared to coffee, he would definitely be an espresso. The strongly flavored extract that exudes a scent, which can always be improved by mixing it with milk or whipped cream, resembles Hwang. 
The 43-year-old actor recently returned to the romance genre with Han Dong-wook’s “Man in Love,” which has made 13.6 billion won ($12.8 million) since opening on Jan. 22. He plays the gangster Tae-il, who used to collect debts for a loan shark but tries to live an honest life after he meets Ho-jung (Han Hye-jin), a sweet bank clerk. 
Hwang sat down with Ilgan Sports, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, to talk about his role.
Q. Why were you so behind this movie?
A. Recently in Chungmuro [the heart of Korea’s movie scene], there has been a boom in so-called men’s movies. While it is true that many quality movies have come out, I thought audiences would want more diversity. Since there have not been many traditional romance movies in a while, I thought I should go for it - to support diversity in the industry. 
Although your 2012 hit “New World” and “Man in Love” are different genres, you played a gangster in both. Was there any pressure in taking similar roles?
If I cared about such things, I wouldn’t have chosen “Man in Love.” I just wanted to play a man who was madly in love. I was aware that my character in “New World” somewhat overlapped with Tae-il [in “Man in Love”], but I tried not to think about that. All I wanted was for anyone who has ever been had their heart broken to sympathize with the story and cry over it.
Unlike your gentle appearance in public, you are very convincing as a gangster. Do you have a gangster in you?
Yes, that’s true. Honestly, I am very good at using bad words with close friends. It’s a way of showing affection.
Considering it is a romance, didn’t you want to play a gentler character?
That’s no fun. Regardless of how affluent people are, they all show their weak side when they are in love. I am interested in showing that very humane part. I am not into showing grand and pretentious characters.
What was it like to work with Han Hye-jin?
Very pleasant. I’ve never worked with her before, but unlike the prissy image she has on TV, she was very easygoing and comfortable to work with. 
The “New World” sequel is said to depict you and Lee Jung-jae in your younger days. How is that coming?
They’re still working on the scenario. I’ve nagged the director to write it faster [because] it’s supposed to show my character in his 20s, but I’m already in my 40s.
What is your new film, “Gukje Market,” about?
It’s about our fathers’ generation. I took the role as soon as I heard that the film was about them. Fathers these days don’t get the treatment they deserve, but when you think about it, they were pivotal in developing Korea into the country it is today. 
Your next movie, “Veteran,” will begin shooting soon. Don’t you need some time to rest?
I have taken breaks for about three months before and I think that’s enough. I believe it is the responsibility of actors to try their best at acting when they come across screenplays that suit them. 

[rubie]

January 25, 2014
[HanCinema's Afterwords] KOFIC Podcast Review - Ep. 5http://www.hancinema.net/hancinema-s-afterwords-kofic-podcast-review--ep-5-65393.html

In this Episode: Pierce has a chat with film critic Jason Bechervaise about six period films coming in 2014…
KOFIC recently launched "Korean Cinema Today", a bimonthly podcast that's all about the wonderful world of Korean cinema. Hosted by Pierce Conran, the show features the latest Korean cinema news, features, discussions, and interviews with special guests from the industry.
In episode 5 Pierce has Korean film critic, journalist and academic Jason Bechervaise in studio to discuss the host of period films coming our way in 2014.
Before the two get to discussing some of this year's hottest historical flicks, Pierce starts the show by mentioning some current Korean film news. The two winners of CJ E&M's "Butterfly Project" were announced this month (an initiative launch back in 2010 to support up-and-coming filmmaking talents) and the competition chose Jo Seul-ye for "Young A's Silence" and Choi Jeong-yeol's "Glory Days" as the winners. These nascent filmmakers where selected from 79 submission (then whittled down to 11 hopefuls), and may still be awarded KRW 300 million ($290,000) to help fund their features.
North American audiences will soon have the chance to watch the big blockbuster "The Attorney". Yang Woo-seok's hit came in late last year to claim a top ten finish, and has recently pass the 10 million admissions mark locally. The film, which stars that unstoppable Song Kang-ho, will be released in 14 major cities on Feb. 7-so if you in that side of the world be sure to catch it when and where you can. Pierce then gives us some festival news from around the world, mentioning Korea's best indie film "The Fake"; a film Jason describes as a "stupendous feature" that's dark, disturbing, and "full of substance".
Some casting news was also shared. Ryoo Seung-wan's "Veteran" (the story of a detective on the trail of a plutocrat) will star Hwang Jeong-min alongside Yoo Ah-in in an exciting crime drama. The final figures for 2013 (Korea's biggest year to date) were also given. 213 million tickets were sold during the record-breaking year, 127 million of which came from Korean features. Nine of the country's top ten films were local flicks, a truly remarkable achievement that few countries can claim and it's a testament to the growing support local flicks are receiving.  
"The Face Reader" was the only period film to be released last year, but 2014 has a host of them lined up that will be hoping to attract big crowds throughout the year. Before presenting six of this year's hopefuls, Pierce and Jason briefly mention some of the period yarns that have done extremely well in the past and that they enjoyed. The big past hits include "Masquerade", "The King and the Clown", "The Face Reader", "Arrow, The Ultimate Weapon", and "The Grand Heist". Korean period films have been a constant feature in Korea's film history, but they have become scrumptious cash cows that many producers and companies are hoping to see slaughter this year. Jason and Pierce note that modern period films have become fast-paced, are less didactic, contain more "body humour", and are generally more contemporary in their story-telling style and approach to the genre.
The big six period films coming in 2014 include: "The Huntresses", "KUNDO : Age of the Rampant", "The King's Wrath", "Pirates", "Memories of the Sword", and "Battle Of Myeongryang" (aka "Roaring Currents"). Jason has his eye on Kim Han-min's "Battle Of Myeongryang" and Park Heung-sik's "Memories of the Sword", while Pierce adds that "KUNDO : Age of the Rampant" is likely to do rather well. Be sure to take a listen to the podcast to hear these two insiders share their thoughts on them all though.
Pierce closes this episode out by putting Park Chan-kyong's "Mansin: Ten Thousand Spirits" in focus; a documentary by Park Chan-wook's brother that made its world premiere at the DMZ film festival last year. Although the film is about Korea's national shaman, Pierce tells us that the film doesn't go into too much detail about actual shamanism and instead personalises its impressive tale through colourful and immersive/dynamic filmmaking, percussive music, and extensive reconstructions. Should be worth a watch.

[rubie]

March 3, 2014
NEW WORLD Invited to ClevelandKorean Shorts on Show in Tampere
by Pierce Conran KOFIC


PARK Hoon-jung’s popular gangster epic New Word has been invited to the 38th Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) along with the short Hu’s Game.
 Screening in the ‘Pacific Pearls’ section, New World, which stars LEE Jung-jae, CHOI Min-sik and HWANG Jung-min, became a hit when it was released in Korea early last year, accruing almost 4.7 million admissions. The film has racked up 15 festival invitations, picking up awards at Best Feature Film in Focus Asia at the Sitges International Film Festival and the Jury Prize from the Beaune Thriller International Film Festival. The animated short Hu’s Game, by director KIM Sung-young, will appear in a ‘Family Shorts Program’ in Cleveland. KIM’s film previously screened at the Warsaw International Film Festival among others. CIFF will unspool from March 19-30. Meanwhile the Tampere Film Festival in Finland has invited a pair of Korean shorts, SEONG Joon-su’s Haegeumni is an animation about a young girl who finds herself uprooted from her affluent lifestyle in Pyongyang. Also invited is KANG Jung-soo’s Going to Military Service. The Tampere Film Festival will take place from March 5th to 9th.

[rubie]

March 5, 2014
Girls’ Generation tops Forbes Korea’s 2014 celeb list
by Jonathan M. Hicap Manila Bulletin
Forbes Korea magazine has released its annual “Korea Celebrity 40" list, which ranked the country’s most influential and popular celebrities according to product sales, media exposure, broadcasting activities and professionalism.
Topping the list this year is Girls’ Generation, the only K-pop group to land at number one on the list three times, having ranked first in 2011 and 2012.
Girls’ Generation was fifth in 2009 when Forbes Korea began ranking celebrities, and second in 2010 and 2013.
Big Bang rose to second place this year from fifth last year.
Third is miss A’s Suzy, her first time on the list.
Apart from being a singer, Suzy is also a popular actress and product endorser who starred in the drama “Gu Family Book” last year, earning for herself the Outstanding Korean Actress award in the 8th Seoul International Drama Awards and the High Excellence For A Mini Series award in the MBC Drama Awards.
Fourth is Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, who appears for the first time on the list.
Fifth on the list is boy band EXO, the band that rose to fame last year with their hits “Growl” and “Wolf.”
Outfielder Choo Shin-Soo of the Texas Rangers is sixth followed by first-timers TVXQ and SHINee.
Kim Yuna, the 2014 Olympic figure skating silver medalist, ranked ninth, the same position she held last year.
Singer IU ranked 10th from eight last year.
Korean rapper Psy, who topped last year’s list, fell to 12th place this year.
Others on the list are actor Lee Seungi and CNBLUE, who tied at 14th place; and actor Lee Byung Hun, who is at 16th place.

[rubie]

Source: OneHallyu l ContentGallery (Korean article)
Translated by DRAGONLY0915@ONEHALLYU
March 5, 2014
2014 Forbes Power Celebrity 40 Full Rankings
Basic Background:Forbes Celebrity 40 is determined by first taking the top 100 most searched people of the year (data provided by Nate) and ranking them based on 4 different measures:1. Sales - estimated based on appearance fees, CF guarantees album sales, etc. + reported overseas income2. Media exposure - number of apperances in the top 3 newspapers, covers of 8 magazines, Ilgan Sports3. Television exposure - CF model ranking and appearances on talk shows and variety shows4. Professionalism - TV ratings for actors/MCs, total audience for movie actors, Gaon digital and physical sales rankings for singers, competition results for athletes Final list is the 40 celebrities with the highest average ranking across all 4 categories.*Note that sales especially are subject to error because data may not always be complete. Occupation is listed as Forbes categorized them. 1. Girls' Generation (singer)2. Big Bang (singer)3. Suzy (singer/actress)4. Ryu Hyun Jin (baseball player)5. Exo (singer)6. Choo Shin Soo (baseball player)7. TVXQ (singer)8. SHINee (singer)9. Kim Yuna (figure skater)10. IU (singer/actress)11. Park Inbee (golfer)12. Yoo Jae Suk (gagman)13. Psy (singer)14. Lee Seung Gi (actor)15. CNBlue (singer)16. Lee Byung Hun (actor)17. Kim Soo Hyun (actor)18. Infinite (singer)19. KARA (singer)20. Song Kang Ho (actor)21. Lee Min Ho (actor)22. Song Heung Min (footballer)23. Kim Tae Hee (actress)24. 2NE1 (singer)25. Hwang Jung Min (actor)26. Girl's Day (singer)27. Song Joong Ki (actor)28. Lee Bo Young (actor)29. Yoo Jun Sang (actor)30. Lee Dae Ho (baseball player)31. Ki Sung Yueng (footballer)32. Park Ji Sung (footballer)33. Shin Dong Yup (gagman)34. Jun Ji Hyun (actress)35. Han Hyo Joo (actress)36. Baek Ji Young (singer)37. Jang Dong Gun (actor)38. Kim Jun Hyun (gagman)39. Park Chu Young (footballer)40. Kim Min Hee (actress) By occupation:Singer:1. Girls' Generation2. Big Bang3. Suzy4. Exo5. TVXQ6. SHINee7. IU8. Psy9. CNBlue10. Infinite11. KARA12. 2NE113. Girl's Day14. Baek Ji Young Actor:1. Lee Seung Gi2. Lee Byung Hun3. Kim Soo Hyun4. Song Kang Ho5. Lee Min Ho6. Kim Tae Hee7. Hwang Jung Min8. Song Joong Ki9. Lee Bo Young10. Yoo Jun Sang11. Jun Ji Hyun12. Han Hyo Joo13. Jang Dong Gun14. Kim Min Hee MC/gagman:1. Yoo Jae Suk2. Shin Dong Yup3. Kim Jun Hyun Athlete:1. Ryu Hyun Jin2. Choo Shin Soo3. Kim Yuna4. Park Inbee5. Song Heung Min6. Lee Dae Ho7. Ki Sung Yueng8. Park Ji Sung9. Park Chu Young

[rubie]

March 7, 2014
Ryoo casts for ‘Veteran’
By Jin Eun-soo, contributing writer INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily


Yoo Ah-in and Hwang Jung-min
One of Korea’s most popular action directors, Ryoo Seung-wan, has reportedly settled on most of the cast for his newest project, a crime-thriller titled “Veteran.”
Seasoned actor Hwang Jung-min will reportedly play a detective in the film, and rising star Yoo Ah-in will be a young millionaire who comes into conflict with him, according to local reports yesterday.
Hwang, who has starred in many films over the past decade, including “New World” (2012) and “You Are My Sunshine” (2005), has worked with Ryoo before in the 2010 movie “The Unjust.”
Yoo rose to fame in the 2010 TV series “Sungkyunkwan Scandal.”
Other actors cast in the film include Yu Hae-jin, of “Tazza: The High Rollers” (2006), and Oh Dal-su, of “The Attorney” (2013). 
The model Jang Yoon-joo will also make her movie debut in the film, apparently, taking a strong supporting role.
Ryoo made a striking debut on the movie scene with the ultra-low-budget action film “Die Bad” in 2000. His most recent film, “The Berlin File,” was the fifth-biggest movie in Korea last year, earning more than 52 billion won, or about $50 million.
“Veteran” is scheduled to hit local theaters in the latter part of the year. 

[rubie]

Sorry, translation by Google only.

March 21, 2014
Korean Actors The BIG4: Song Kang Ho, Ha Jung Woo, Hwang Jung Min, Lee Byung Hun
Source: Sports Chosun
A survey by Sports Chosun by 20 professionals in the film industry picked actors Song Kang Ho, Ha Jung Woo, Hwang Jung Min and Lee Byung Hun as the BIG4 in the Korean acting industry.

1. Song Kang Ho - 14 votes2. Ha Jung Woo -  8 votes3. Hwang Jung Min - Lee Byung Hun - 5 votes each (tie)
On the factor that explains SKH's strongest points, the survey revealed that to be a great actor, the heartfelt performance would have to gain the trust of the public. The actor's long list of high-grossing movies supported the fact.

[suchadiva42]

I'm hoping to see HJM in another drama or movie soon and will continue to come here to this thread for more updates as well.

[rubie]

April 8, 2014
Hwang Jeong-min in Himalaya?
Source: StarNews via Hancinema.net

Song Hye-kyo, Kim Soo-hyeon-I and Hwang Jeong-min are reportedly starring in "House of Happiness", "Sado" and "Himalaya".
Their stories vary from one another.
Song Hye-kyo has been offered a role in "House of Happiness", a thriller by Park Chan-wook, which is about a woman whose daughter is kidnapped.
Kim Soo-hyeon-I also has been offered a position in "Sado", which is about the Prince Sado who was trapped and killed in a wooden chest by his father. Song Kang-ho is the latest addition to the cast. Kim Soo-hyeon-I is thinking it through and he will make confirmation once he's back from his Chinese fan meeting.
Hwang Jeong-min might star in "Himalaya", too. The movie was delayed once already and Kim Myeong-min gave up his role, so more sincerity is required to decide who will be the next main star. Hwang is also reportedly discussing another movie.
All agencies are claiming that media was too quick and that nothing has been officially settled yet.

[rubie]

April 14, 2014
Source: Nate

[rubie]

April 15, 2014
A photo of Jang Dong Gun with Hyun Bin unveiled

Source: STARN News
A photo of Jang Dong Gun with Hyun Bin is becoming a hot issue.
On April 8th, the photo was uploaded on an online community board.
The photo shows actor Park Joong Hoong holding the camera to take a photo, and Jang Dong Gun and Hyun Bin are both showing comic facial expressions.
Cha Tae Hyun, Hwang Jung Min, and Joo Jin Mo are also making different poses, and a great number of Netizens are showing explosive reactions.
Netizens who saw the photo left comments, such as "Korea's top actors together," "Who hosted the dinner," and "What an amazing group."
/Reporting by Kim Hye-in en@starnnews.com

[rubie]

April 15, 2014
What A Drinking Party That Consists of Korea’s Top Male Stars Looks Likehttp://www.soompi.com/2014/04/15/what-a-drinking-party-that-consists-of-koreas-top-male-stars-looks-like/#.U03qDVWSwsA

Korea’s top actors Hyun Bin, Jang Dong Gun, Park Joong Hoon, Joo Jin Mo, Hwang Jung Min and Cha Tae Hyun all reunited to have some dinner and a few drinks. This picture was posted on one of Jang Dong Gun’s fan websites under the title, “Recent drinking party.” 
Set as a selca taken by Park Joong Hoon, the picture gathered lots of attention as it showed many of the famous male actors who are quite hard to find other than in movies and dramas. Hwang Jung Min seems to be showing the fun through his comical expression, and Cha Tae Hyun through his V-Sign.
Netizens who saw the picture wrote, “The best drink party with the best casting,” “So handsome. They look like they’re having a fun time.”
On another note, Jang Dong Gun and Hyun Bin are making their movie comebacks through “Crying Man” and “The Fatal Encounter,” respectively. As for Joo Jin Mo, he is starring in the historical drama “Empress Ki,” Hwang Jung Min is making two movies “Gukje Market” that is due to be released in the later part of 2014 and “Veteran” which will be out in 2015.  Cha Tae Hyun is doing well with the variety show “1 Night, 2 Days” and is currently filming a new movie titled “Slow Video.” Plus, there will be a remake of Park Joong Hoon’s movie “Top Star” for which he directed.

[rubie]

April 28, 2014
Nominees announced for Baeksang Arts Awards by javabeans http://www.dramabeans.com/2014/04/nominees-announced-for-baeksang-arts-awards/
The nominees for the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards, whose ceremony will be held on May 27.

FILM CATEGORY

Best Picture Nominees
The Snowpiercer (dir. Bong Joon-ho)The Terror Live (dir. Kim Byung-woo)Hope (dir. Lee Jun-ik)The Attorney (dir. Yang Woo-seok)The Face Reader (dir. Han Jae-rim)
Director Award Nominees
Kim Byung-woo (The Terror Live)Hong Sang-soo (Our Sunhi)Jo Eui-seok (Cold Eyes)Bong Joon-ho (The Snowpiercer)Kim Byung-seo (Cold Eyes)Lee Jun-ik (Hope)
Actor Top Excellence Award Nominees
Ha Jung-woo (The Terror Live)Song Kang-ho (The Attorney)Jung Woo-sung (Cold Eyes)Sol Kyung-gu (Hope)Sohn Hyun-joo (Hide and Seek)
Actress Top Excellence Award Nominees
Jeon Do-yeon (Way Back Home)Shim Eun-kyung (Miss Granny)Kim Hee-ae (Elegant Lie)Eom Ji-won (Hope)Moon Jung-hee (Hide and Seek)
Supporting Actor Award Nominees
Lee Jung-jae (The Face Reader)Kim Eui-sung (The Face Reader)Jo Sung-ha (The Suspect)Lee Kyung-young (Venus Talk)Kwak Do-won (The Attorney)
Supporting Actress Award Nominees
Yeh Ji-won (Our Sunhi)Kim Young-ae (The Attorney)Jin Kyung (Cold Eyes)Ra Mi-ran (Hope)Go Ah-sung (The Snowpiercer)
New Actor Award Nominees
Im Shi-wan (The Attorney)Yeo Jin-gu (Hwa-yi: A Monster Boy)Kim Soo-hyun (Covertly, Grandly)Lee Joon (Rough Play)Kim Woo-bin (Friend 2)
New Actress Award Nominees
Park Ji-soo (Mai Ratima)Lee Jae-hye (The Russian Novel)Seo Joo-ah (Pluto)Kim Hyang-gi (Elegant Lie)Lee Re (Hope)
New Director Award Nominees
Ha Jung-woo (Roller Coaster)Eom Tae-hwa (INGtoogi: The Battle of Surpluses)Heo Jung (Hide and Seek)Lee Jong-pil (Born To Sing)Yang Woo-seok (The Attorney)
Screenplay Award Nominees
Hide and Seek, Heo JungMiss Granny, Shin Dong-ikThe Terror Live, Kim Byung-wooThe Attorney, Yang Woo-seokHope, Kim Ji-hye
Actor Popularity Award
Ha Jung-woo (The Terror Live)Yeo Jin-gu (Hwa-yi: A Monster Boy)Lee Jung-jae (The Face Reader)Kim Soo-hyun (Covertly, Grandly)Im Shi-wan (The Attorney)Gong Yoo (The Suspect)Lee Joon (Rough Play)Yoo Ah-in (Kkangchulie)Sung Joon (Pluto)Jin Young (Miss Granny)Seo In-gook (No Breathing)Jo Jung-seok (The Face Reader)Kim Woo-bin (Friend 2)Jung Kyung-ho (Roller Coaster)Kim Sung-kyun (Hwa-yi: A Monster Boy)Lee Hyun-woo (Covertly, Grandly)Go Soo (Way Back Home)Lee Jong-seok (Hot Blooded Youth)Lee Min-ki (Monster)Ok Taecyeon (Marriage Blue)Hwang Jung-min (When a Man Loves)Song Kang-ho (The Attorney)Choi Seung-hyun (TOP) (Commitment)Sol Kyung-gu (Hope)Joo-won (Catch Me)Kim Yoon-seok (Hwa-yi: A Monster Boy)Jung Woo-sung (Cold Eyes)
Actress Popularity Award
Shim Eun-kyung (Miss Granny)Park Bo-young (Hot Blooded Youth)Kim Ah-joong (Catch Me)Kwon Yuri (No Breathing)Go Ah-sung (The Snowpiercer)Jeon Do-yeon (Way Back Home)Uhm Jung-hwa (Venus Talk)Sohn Ye-jin (Accomplice)Kim Hye-soo (The Face Reader)Kim Go-eun (Monster)Gong Hyo-jin (Boomerang Family)Han Hyo-joo (Cold Eyes)Lee Yeon-hee (Marriage Blue)
Via Baeksang

[Guest ca3soc]

10/4/2014 :"The Wailing " is Actor Hwang's  new film 

Title :Hwang Jeong-min and Kwak Do-won in movie "The Wailing"

Soucre :  wstarnews.hankyung.co...

Permalink :http://www.hancinema.net/hwang-jeong-min-and-kwak-do-won-in-movie-the-wailing-68072.html

Hwang Jeong-min and Kwak Do-won have been cast for a role in the new movie "The Wailing". Famous Japanese actor and director Kitano Takeshi is also being mentioned.

"The Wailing" is a thriller about events occurring in a small country-side village during a visit from a Japanese citizen.

Kwak Do-won stars as a policeman who solves cases and Hwang Jeong-min is an expert who helps him. They have previously co-starred in "When A Man Loves A Woman".

Meanwhile, "The Wailing" is a newly presented movie by Na Hong-jin who debuted in 2010 with "The Yellow Sea".

Hi, everyone  Have a nice day Nice to meet Rubie and everyone in Hwang Jung Min 's house again . Thank for your sharing. I 'm fond of Hwang Jung Min Actor hís amazing films . My favourite films 're :"You 're my Sunshine "(2005), "Fits Legend ","The New Worrld "(2013.).. he has friendly warm smiles .

:x :x

[rubie]

April 30, 2014  15 Great South Korean Crime Films That Are Worth Your Time
BY EMILIO SANTONI Taste of Cinema
When it comes to bleak stylish thrillers and crime films, it’s hard to beat the South Koreans nowadays and all the movies listed below are fine examples of that statement. Whereas the South Korean film industry had been heavily state-regulated until the late eighties, the first fully non-government funded film, Marriage Story, appeared in 1992. Although films started to suffer less from censorship, the state still placed strict limits on the number of foreign films which were allowed to be shown in the country which made the local film industry thrive.
In 1999 Shiri was released, a spy thriller which did so well that it sold more tickets than Titanic in South Korea that year. Due to this movie’s success, larger budget films started being produced and crime thrillers gained enormously in popularity. Two years later, the gangster coming-of-age drama Friend eclipsed Shiri’s earlier sales records but it wasn’t until Chan-Wook Park’s Oldboy in 2003 that the stylish South Korean crime thriller really came of age and that critics in the West started paying attention.
Ever since, South Korea has been the undisputed champion of the genre as a plethora of films with intricate twist-filled screenplays, stunning production design and cinematography, dark themes, powerhouse performances and edge-of-your-seat storylines have found their way to the screen. Whilst it should be noted that South Korea cinema produces far more than just crime films and thrillers, there’s no denying that the nation has a real knack for the genre and that it’s these movies which have gathered most attention abroad. If there have been two defining features of these films, they would have to be their über-stylish visuals and downbeat bleak themes. All the movies listed below are prime examples of at least one, if not both, of these qualities and are essential viewing for those with a serious interest in thrillers or crime dramas.
15. The Berlin File (Seung-Wan Ryoo, 2013)With its non-Korean setting (Berlin as you might have guessed from the title of the movie) and sweeping action set pieces, The Berlin File revolves around Jong-Seong, a North Korean agent who becomes exposed when an illegal arms deal goes wrong. In the aftermath no one is sure whose side Jong-Seong and his wife, who is a translator at the North Korean embassy, belong to and soon the CIA as well as the North and South Korean intelligence agencies are all after them. Forced into a corner, Jong-Seong will need to make a decision as to where his royalties lie: his wife or his country.
Probably the most straight-forward action movie on this list, The Berlin File is maybe easiest described as a South Korean Jason Bourne film. A spy thriller with a clear emphasis on action setpieces and not so much the bleak thematic undercurrent of virtually all other films on this list,
The Berlin File is a great and easy introduction to Korean crime thrillers for Western audiences who might not be familiar with any of the films in this article yet. A clear commercial genre film, The Berlin File looks, feels and sounds great. The only thing letting this one down a bit is the convoluted plot and the sense that you have seen most of this before. Still, it’s well done and if you like spy thrillers, chances are you will not be disappointed by this action-packed spy flick.
14. Montage (Jeong Geun-Seop, 2013)15 years ago a girl was kidnapped and never found. Just days before the case’s statute of limitations expires, someone places a flower at the scene of the crime, a location which was only known to the girl’s mother, the detective that took on the case and the kidnapper himself. Then, a few days later, another kidnapping occurs which bears striking resemblances to the 15 year old unsolved case. Three people now all get involved in this new kidnapping, desperately trying to solve it: the grandfather whose grandchild was taken right from under his nose, the mother of the girl who was kidnapped 15 years ago and has never stopped looking for her and the detective who has been haunted by the 15 year old case which he has never been able to solve.
Montage starts out as your average suspense thriller and takes its time getting to the second part of the movie, tricking the audience into thinking that this is just your standard pot-boiler. But once the screenplay starts revealing more and some of the character’s motivations are brought to light, the film becomes a whole different beast and some of the events in the first half take on a totally different meaning. A more quiet and pondering mystery than most of the other entries on this list, Montage is a well directed tense thriller with a lot more to say than one might initially expect.
13. I Saw The Devil (Kim Jee-Woon, 2010)When Kyung-Chul, a serial killer, murders Joo-Yun on a snowy night and scatters her body parts, he doesn’t realise he couldn’t have selected a worse victim. Not only is her father a police squad leader, her boyfriend, Soo-Hyun, is a secret service agent of the National Intelligence Service, who becomes determined to track down the killer and make him pay. Given leads on some suspects by his father-in-law, Soo-Hyun soon manages to locate the killer. But instead of bringing him to justice, he places a tracking device on him and keeps tormenting the killer, in the process even capturing a vicious cannibal and his girlfriend who Kyung-Chul has been supplying with victimes. But once the killer finds out how Soo-Hyun is tracing him and why, he decides to go after Joo-Yun’s family to exact revenge.
You know that things are going to get nasty when South Korea decided to censor I Saw The Devil for its extreme graphic violence. Kim Jee-Woon’s answer to Chan-Wook Park Vengeance Trilogy, the film suffers in comparison and never manages to reach the same heights. But if stylish brutal films are your cup of tea than there’s plenty to like here. Violent, disturbing and with two of Korea’s greatest stars doing what they do best, I Saw The Devil is another noteworthy South Korean entry in the revenge movie genre and well worth seeing for lovers of these types of film, even though at times the story really doesn’t make all that much sense.
12. Mother (Joon-Ho Bong, 2009)Do-Joon is a shy and mentally slow young man in his twenties who is looked after by his over-protective mother. Do-Joon hangs out with Jin-Tae a lot, who the mother sees as a potential bad influence on this easily swayed Do-Joon. One day a girl is found murdered and circumstantial evidence leads the police to Do-Joon. The boy is arrested and easily convinced into signing a confession even though he doesn’t seem to recall having anything to do with the crime. His mother, convinced that her son could never have committed such a terrible act and that he might in fact be covering for Jin-Tae, starts trying to prove her son’s innocence but the deeper she digs, the more complicated the truth seems to become.
Jooh-Ho Bong’s follow-up to his international breakthrough hit, The Host, is a mystery crime drama in which the director once again manages to give his own personal twist to genre he’s working in. Featuring great performances from all involved and controlled direction by Bong, the film is filled with ambiguity and at times genuinely heartfelt. The movie was nominated for and went on to win a whole slate of awards at various international film festivals.
11. Breathless (Ik-Joon Yang, 2008)Song-Hoon is an enforcer for a local loan shark. And as the man is basically rage personified, he’s damn good at his job. Violent, brutal, obnoxious, swearing incessantly and intimidating as hell, Song-Hoon is not to be messed with and will take down anyone for very little reason. One day he accidentally spits on a schoolgirl, who tells him to get lost, and true to his nature he proceeds to knock her out. Sensing that he might have overreacted, he stays around till she wakes up and then offers to buy the still deviant girl a beer. From here on in the two develop a cautionary friendship and slowly but surely the girl manages to awake a gentler side in Sang-Hoon, which leads him to reconsider his life choices.
Breathless is without a doubt the most low-key and low-budget entry on this list. Directed, produced, written and edited by Jang Ik-June, who on top of all those duties also manages to star in the movie, Breathless is a triumph of independent and low-budget filmmaking. Grim as hell and just as bleak as the larger productions found in this article, the movie refuses to give easy or crowd pleasing answers. Another festival favourite, the film managed to take home more than twenty awards at various international festivals.
10. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (Chan-Wook Park, 2005)Lee Geum-Ja was in her early twenties when she was convicted for the kidnapping and murder of a young boy. Because of her age and innocent looks the case became a media circus and her story has been followed by many, even during her reduced 13 year prison sentence in which she became a model prisoner and made many friends on the inside. As she leaves jail, a fan procession is awaiting her outside but Lee Geum-Ja pays them no mind and immediately starts working on a plan she has been preparing for the last 13 years: revenge.
The closing chapter of Chan-Wook Park’s critically acclaimed Vengeance Trilogy, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is possibly the lightest entry in the series, which doesn’t mean we are not dealing with some serious sick subject matter here. The film has a much brighter colour palette then the previous two entries in the trilogy and tones down the visceral and brutal violence but also feels like the most personal entry in the series. If Lady Vengeance seems to fall slightly short, it’s only because it lacks the intensity of the first two films. Taken on its own merits, this is a stunning and unique vision from a director at the top of his game.
9. Memories of Murder (Joon-Ho Bong, 2003)A series of rapes and murders are occurring in a rural area in South Korea in 1986. The local small town cop assigned to the case, Park Doo-Man, has no idea how to handle the situation. After he arrests the wrong person an expert from Seoul , Seo Tae-Yoon, is sent over to help with the investigation. Both men’s styles couldn’t be more different as the local cop is used to beating confessions out of his suspects whilst Seo takes a more pragmatic investigative approach. Initially Park isn’t even convinced he is dealing with a serial killer until Seo’s predictions come true and another woman is found raped and murdered. But as the investigation is not providing any results, both men seem to slowly be reaching the end of their tether.
Based on a real case which took place between 1986 and 1991 and which constituted the country’s first recorded serial killings, Memories of Murder was a huge critical as well as commercial success upon its release. It was also one of the films that really upped the ante for South Korean filmmaking at the time. The film clearly deals with the rapidly changing political situation in South Korea in the late eighties as the country was emerging from a dictatorship as exemplified by the local police force’s brutal tactics. But despite the dark subject matter, the film also manages to be darkly humorous and it put its director, Jooh-Ho Bong, clearly on the map.
8. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Chan-Wook Park, 2002)Ryu is a deaf-mute who is working in a factory to support his ill sister who is in dire need of a kidney transplant. Unfortunately Ryu is not a match so he can’t donate one of his kidneys to her and on top of that he also loses his job. He decides to get a kidney of the black organ-trading market with his pay-out but the gangsters he deals with end up screwing him over and steal his money and kidney without giving him another kidney in return.
Only then is he contacted by the hospital as a suitable transplant has been found but now he lacks the money to pay for the operation. Ryu’s radical terrorist girlfriend than convinces him to kidnap a girl from a rich industrialist to pay for the operation. But things do not go according to plan and soon every single character in the movie is out for revenge on one another.
The first film in Chan-Wook Park’s acclaimed Vengeance Trilogy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is the perfect date film if you want to ensure that you never go on a second one. Taking depressing and bleakness to whole new heights, the movie can be hard to sit through, especially for those who go to the movies to forget about their daily worries with some escapist entertainment.
This is also not an action film so if that’s what you like about Korean thrillers, this might not be the best selection on this list. But after all those warnings, let it be known that Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a masterpiece in stylish pessimism and disturbing darkness. A nihilistic masterpiece.
7. The Yellow Sea (Hong-Jin Na, 2010)Gu-Nam is a cab driver in Yanji city, located near the borders of China, Russia and North Korea and home to a great number of Chinese-Koreans known as Joseonjok. His wife left for Korea over six months ago to make some extra money but he hasn’t heard from her since and on top of this he also has some serious gambling debts. So when the opportunity arises to go to Korea to carry out a well-paid hit for a local gangster, Gu-Nam grabs the opportunity, figuring he will also be able to look for his wife whilst he’s there. Upon arrival however it turns out that it’s all an elaborate set-up and soon the lonely Korean finds himself chased by the police, the South Korean mob, Chinese triads and a cold-blooded assassin.
After The Chaser (which we’ll find further down this list), director Hong-Jin Na delivered another action-packed thriller with The Yellow Sea. Whilst not as intricately plotted and tight as his previous effort, The Yellow Sea is a two-hour-plus gritty drama with some incredible suspense and action sequences.
Well choreographed and with stunning and moody cinematography, the movie captures the viewer in the first half as it sets up the plot and characters, only to go completely overboard during the second half, which seems to be one long violent outburst of endless fights and mayhem with handheld weapons due to South Korea’s extremely tough gun laws. Bleak, gritty, kinetic and intense, The Yellow Sea is an action thriller of the highest order.
6. New World (Hoon-Jung Park, 2013)
After having been undercover in South Korea’s largest crime syndicate, Ja-Sung has found himself in the position of being the right-hand man of the organisation’s second in charge, Jung Chung. But when the big boss is suddenly killed in a car accident, a power struggle develops between the second and third in charge and Ja-Sung, who has been desperate to leave his undercover life behind and start afresh with his pregnant wife, finds himself forced to stay as his commanding chief sees this as a prime opportunity for the police to gain full control of the organisation. And to make matters worse it’s abundantly clear that Jung Chung sees him as a genuine friend whereas his commanding officer is treating him like mere bait.
Basically the South Korean version of Infernal Affairs/The Departed, New World manages to present its often seen story of the deep-undercover cop in a criminal organisation, torn between loyalties between his gangster friends and police buddies, in such a confident and inspired manner that it still feels fresh.
If you liked Infernal Affairs or it’s American remake The Departed, New World is an absolute must-see movie. Director Hoon-Jung Park keeps building the tension masterfully as the film progresses but also manges to inject the proceedings with genuine emotional depth, even going for straight-up melodrama at times, without ever feeling forced. Whilst not the most original storyline, New World manages to be one of the best films in its genre and should not be missed.
5. The Man from Nowhere (Jeong-beom Lee, 2010)Cha Tae-Sik used to be a special forces agent until his wife and child were violently taken from him. Nowadays he lives a solitary life as a pawnshop owner, shut off from the world and seemingly not very interested in ever rejoining society. That’s until he meets the young girl who lives next door. Clearly neglected by her drug addicted mother, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. But when the mother makes the vital mistake of stealing drugs from a powerful crime lord, she and her daughter are taken by gangsters and it’s up to Cha Tae-Sik to set things straight. Initially striking a deal with the mob, Cha Tae-Sik soon finds himself besieged from all sides as both the police and various underworld figures are on his trail.
Bleak as hell and dealing with horrific themes like child abuse, organ trafficking, drug addiction, kidnapping and murder, The Man from Nowhere still manages to find a lot of heart and package the whole as a kinetic action thriller. If you like your action dark and violent and you haven’t seen this The Man from Nowhere, this movie should be on the top of your list.
4. A Dirty Carnival (Ha Yoo, 2006)A Dirty Carnival tells the story of Byeong-Du, a small-time enforcer in a local triad, who seems to solely be in the business out of necessity to support his family. With no father around, a bunch of younger siblings and a mother who is terminally ill, all of them are on the brink of being evicted and it’s up to Byeong-Du to make sure this doesn’t happen.
When he sees a chance of climbing the ranks in his organisation by killing a corrupt prosecutor for his big boss, Byeong-Du grabs the opportunity but by doing so he also invokes the ire of his direct superior, who he bypassed by working directly for their organisation’s president. Additionally he runs into an old friend from his high school days who is now a film director and who would love to get inside information on the triads in order to invigorate his film career. When Byeong-Du does so he further complicates matters for himself and his family.
A slick neo-noir and poignant melodrama, A Dirty Carnival does not glamorise the gangster lifestyle and clearly shows how for many it’s simply a dead-end career path. Just like in the previously mentioned The Yellow Sea, the action scenes are sudden and brutal as strict South Korean gun laws have made baseball bats, knives and axes the weapons of choice for small-time gangsters. A dark and sparse gangster film, A Dirty Carnival is a superior example of South Korean genre dominance.
3. A Bittersweet Life (Kim Jee-Woon, 2005)A Bittersweet Life is basically the embodiment of a super stylish gangster flick. This fantastic film manages to go effortlessly from dramatic to violent to contemplative without ever skipping a beat. The story involves a gangster’s right-hand man, who is given the seemingly simple task to look after the gangster’s younger lover in his absence, who he suspects is having an affair with a younger man. The normally cold and collected enforcer however starts to develop feelings for the young lady whilst at the same time getting in trouble with a rival gang.
Wonderfully shot and edited and featuring a great performance from the lead, Lee Byeong-Heon, whom western audiences might know from those awful GI Joe movies, A Bittersweet Life is yet another prime example of how Korea is completely on top of the crime film genre. The film also has a fantastic score which often offsets the brutality on screen. If you like gangster films, this is simply compulsory viewing.
2. The Chaser (Hong-Jin Na, 2008)Jung-ho is a ex-policeman who has turned to pimping. Lately two of his girls have disappeared without clearing their debts and he is starting to suspect foul play. When he gets a call for another girl, he sends off Mi-jin but realises too late that the number belongs to the same man who hired the last girl who disappeared. His old detective skills kick in and he goes to investigate and actually manages to catch the suspect after a lengthy chase but both men are arrested and taken to the police station. There the killer admits to murdering the women but police can’t hold him due to lack of any physical evidence. Now Jung-ho only has twelve hours to find Mi-jin, who might still be alive somewhere.
The Chaser was the debut for director Hong-jin Na, who delivered a very tense and elaborately plotted thrill-ride with his very first movie. The film took home a whole bunch of various Korean film awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. Although it’s not as well known as Park Chan-Wook’s Vengeance Trilogy, this movie comes just as highly recommended.
1. Oldboy (Chan-Wook Park, 2003)The film deals with Oh Dae-su, a husband and father, who on the day of his daughter’s birthday is kidnapped and placed in solitary confinement in a hotel-like prison for reasons which remain unknown to him nor is he told how long he will be imprisoned. During his stay in the cell, he learns through the television in his cell that his wife has been murdered and that he is the prime suspect although his whereabouts are unknown to the police.
Then suddenly, after 15 years, he is released. He receives a cellphone from a stranger and then a call from his captor. When Oh Dae-su asks who he is talking to, the captor answers that the who is not important but that he should be thinking about the why instead. From there on in, it becomes a race against the clock to find his tormentor and exact revenge as he is only given a day to solve the mystery.
Oldboy is the middle film in Korean director Park Chan-Wook’s Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr Vengeance and followed by Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. The films are thematically linked but not narratively, so there is no need to see the other movies to be able to enjoy Oldboy (although I still highly recommend to see all three of them, otherwise they wouldn’t all be on this list).
If there is one thing the Korean are good at, it’s making dark depressing and tense thrillers and amongst those Oldboy is probably the very best. It certainly is the film that got the West’s attention focused on the booming Korean film industry as Oldboy won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes and a whole other string of nominations and awards worldwide. An obvious but deserving choice for the number one spot on this list, Oldboy is a modern classic.
Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.
Author Bio: Emilio has been a movie buff for as long as he can remember and holds a Masters Degree in Cinema Studies from the University of Amsterdam. Critical and eclectic in taste, he has been described to “love film but hate all movies”. For daily suggestions on what to watch, check out his Just Good Movies Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/goodmoviesuggestions.

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March 27, 2014
Man in Love
By Derek Elley FilmBiz Asia


Engaging performances and good direction lift this odd-couple melodrama up a notch. Asian events.
StoryGunsan, western South Korea, the present day. Currently on probation, Han Tae-il (Hwang Jeong-min), 40, works as No. 2 to loan shark Du-cheol (Jeong Man-shik). Sent to take care of a problem, he finds the debtor in hospital in a coma, and there and then forces the man's daughter, bank employee Ju Ho-jeong (Han Hye-jin), to take over the contract. Intrigued by her, he finds she's financially struggling and invites her out for a meal, but she ends by walking out, insisting she'll repay the loan somehow. Aggressive on the outside but with a soft spot, Tae-il is the bad egg of his family, and lives at home with with his bus driver father (Nam Il-u) and brother Yeong-il (Gwak Do-won), both of whom nag him, plus Yeong-il's wife (Kim Hye-eun) and spoilt teenage daughter Song-ji (Gang Min-a). Tae-il gets Du-cheol to void the interest payments on Ho-jeong's contract; in return, Ho-jeong has to "repay" Tae-il by spending time with him. Unwillingly she agrees, but halfway through the deal she can't stand any more of his intrusion into her life and his bad manners. Tae-il confesses that he loves her and, when her father dies, he finally wins her love after arranging the funeral rites. Two years later, Tae-il is released early from a prison sentence because of what he tells everyone is good behaviour. He finds his father is now going senile and that Ho-jeong doesn't want to see him. In fact he was released early as he has only three months to live, and much happened after Ho-jeong finally fell in love with him.
ReviewGood chemistry between its leads, HWANG Jeong-min 황정민 | 黃晸玟 and HAN Hye-jin 한혜진 | 韓惠珍, make Man in Love 남자가 사랑할 때 an engaging, odd-couple romance before more conventional melodrama takes over during the second half. But the emotional credit accrued to that point largely carries the movie to its affecting close, thanks to a good ensemble of other players and time spent in the script fleshing them out. At two hours it's still too long for its content, but judicious trimming by 15 minutes of the more repetitive material (especially the oh-so-Korean rowing and brawling) would easily earn the film an extra point.
Debuting director HAN Dong-wook 한동욱 previously worked as a.d. on crime dramas — including RYOO Seung-wan 류승완 | 柳昇完's Crying Fist 주먹이 운다 (2005) and The Unjust 부당거래 (2010), plus Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time 범죄와의 전쟁 : 나쁜놈들 전성시대 (2012) and New World 신세계 | 新世界 — but he shows a good feel here for everyday characterisation, especially in the serio-comic first half where Hwang's rough-diamond loan shark awkwardly romances Han Hye-jin's feisty bank clerk, the daughter of one of his debtors. Hwang (Bloody Tie 사생결단 (2006), The Unjust, New World) can play scruffy gangster roles with one hand tied behind his back; the surprise is the chemistry that builds between him and Han as their seemingly impossible relationship develops. Largely a TV actress, Han, 32, who was previously miscast as a detective in crime drama No Mercy 용서는 없다 (2010), manages to hold her ground against Hwang's heavy acting guns and, apart from a central section where she's not so convincing as a young woman in love, she carries the movie through to its moving close.
Other characters are colourfully drawn, from GWAK Do-won 곽도원 | 郭度沅 as the loan shark's naggy brother, through JEONG Man-shik 정만식 | 鄭满植 as his bottom-line boss, to young GANG Min-a 강민아 | 姜敏兒 as his spoilt, foul-mouthed niece. These actors, and others, are all given scenes with Hwang which extend their characters beyond their initial stereotypes, and as a result enrich Hwang's role: Gang's final scene with him is a nice case in point, taking her whiney teenager into a more adult realm. In smaller parts, NAM Mun-cheol 남문철 is memorable as a sympathetic detective and crime-film regular KIM Byeong-ok 김병옥 | 金秉玉 briefly amusing as a corrupt Christian priest.
HWANG Sang-jun 황상준's fretted, Latin music is at its best in the light, early scenes, while the widescreen camerawork by d.p. YU Eok 유억 (Behind the Camera: Why Mr. E Went to Hollywood 뒷담화　감독이 미쳤어요 (2012)) brings an unforced feel to the provincial setting, far south of Seoul. The film's Korean title is identical to that of the 20-part TV drama When a Man Loves (2013), written by KIM In-yeong 김인영 and directed by Kim Sang-ho 김상호, which also centred on a loan shark falling for a client's daughter. The film is also known under the title When a Man Loves a Woman.

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June 29. 2014
Movie Review: Waikiki Brothers (2001) by refresh_daemon http://www.dramabeans.com/2014/06/movie-review-waikiki-brothers-2001/

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August 5, 2014
NA Hong-jin and HWANG Jung-min Team Up for GOKSEONGTHE YELLOW SEA Director Returns After 5 Years by Pierce Conran KOBIZ


NA Hong-jin, the helmer behind The Chaser (2008) and The Yellow Sea (2010) will soon begin production on his third feature, following confirmation of his leading cast. Gokseong (working title) will feature HWANG Jung-min, KWAK Do-won and CHUN Woo-hee.
Following action thriller Running Man and the upcoming comedy Slow Video, the film marks 20th Century Fox subsidiary Fox International Productions’ third fully financed film made for the Korean market. The Hollywood major was also a partner on The Yellow Sea, to which it owns the North American remake rights. Subsequent to the breakout success of hard-boiled thriller The Chaser, which crossed five million admissions domestically, director NA quickly became one of the industry’s big name directors. His stature became particularly significant overseas once he proved he wasn’t a one-trick pony with his gritty follow-up The Yellow Sea, which saw him reteam with his leads from The Chaser, HA Jung-woo and KIM Yun-seok. Though not a great deal is known about the film’s plot, it has been revealed that Gokseong will be set in a country village which has been gripped by a strange rumor and a police case. New World star HWANG Jung-min will depict a shaman in the film while KWAK Do-won, SONG Kang-ho’s foil in the courtroom hit The Attorney, will incarnate a police officer. Joining them will be Han Gong-ju actress CHUN Woo-hee as a mysterious woman. Filming is set to get underway soon and the project will be ready for release in 2015, five years after NA’s previous effort.

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September 2, 2014 

Himalaya revived, now starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woohttp://www.dramabeans.com/2014/09/himalaya-revived-now-starring-hwang-jung-min-jung-woo/


This is an interesting re-casting, given that I had just assumed the movie Himalaya was dead once its two leads, Kim Myung-min and Lee Min-ki, dropped the project last year when its production was delayed. But now the project is back on track, having cast Hwang Jung-min (A New World, Veteran) and Jung Woo (Answer Me 1994) and now gearing up for production.
Himalaya is based on the true story of a 2004 expedition to Mt. Everest in which one team member died and another, the team captain, risked his life to retrieve his body. Jung Woo will be playing the part of deceased climber Park Mu-taek; Hwang Jung-min will portray the leader, Uhm Hong-gil.
I’m always fascinated by roles that get replaced by other actors, particularly if the actors are very different—such as Lee Min-ki and Jung Woo in this case. But I can also totally see how both pairings would have worked together, and I find this new pairing just as strong as the original (which isn’t always the case when a project struggles and then brings in new talent). Dare I say that I even find this new pairing even more brimming with potential for conflict and emotional expressiveness? (Imagine Hwang Jung-min crying. Now imagine Jung Woo crying, then dying. Are you crying?)
Himalaya will be directed by Lee Seok-hoon, who has enjoyed recent success with the blockbuster summer action movie The Pirates (hm, I wonder if its box office success helped revive this film) and previously worked with Hwang in the hit comedy Dancing Queen. It’ll enter shoots in November and plans to release next year.
Via TV Report, My Daily

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September 3, 2014
Director Na Hong-jin's third movie "The Wailing"
Source: Nate via Hancinema.net

Na Hong-jin's third movie, "The Wailing" began filming.
"The Wailing" is about the creepy rumors and cases going around in a village. Kwak Do-won is the policeman Jong-goo, Hwang Jeong-min is the shaman named Il-gwang and Cheon Woo-hee is Moo-myeong, a mysterious character.
The first scene taken on the 31st was of Jong-goo riding a motorcycle with his daughter Hyo-jin, who'd picked him up.
Kwak Do-won said, "We can't be satisfied right away, but we're already halfway there just by starting [filming]. I want to be acknowledged for "The Wailing"".
"The Wailing" will be released in 2015.