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

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September 20, 2015

‘Veteran’ Hwang Jung-min selected best actor by directors

(OSEN)

The Korean Society of Cinematographers said that actor Hwang Jung-min will receive the grand actor award at the 35th Golden Cinema Film Festival, to take place on Sunday at 6 p.m. 

“Ode to My Father,” the 2014 hit film in which Hwang played the lead role, will bag the best film award while its director Yoon Je-kyoon will get the award for best director. 

Best male and female acting awards will go to Sol Kyung-gu of “My Dictator” and Kim Hye-soo of “Coin Locker Girl.”

Yoo Hae-jin of “The Pirates,” Park Chul-min of “Clown of a Salesman” will be corecipients of the best male supporting role award, while Han Ji-min of “Salut d’Amour” will take the trophy for its female counterpart. 

(K.S.C)

Kang Ha-neul of “Twenty” and Yoo Yeon-seok of “The Royal Tailor” will receive the newcomer award, along with Kim Sae-ron of “A Girl at My Door” and Hong Ah-reum of “Makgeolli Girls.” 

The newcomer director award will go to Han Jun-hee of “Coin Locker Girl” and July Jung of “A Girl at My Door.” 

Golden Cinema Film Festival was founded in 1977 to award film works on a yearly basis.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

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September 20, 2015

Veteran' sixth most-watched Korean film

Source: The Korea Times

 

A scene from "Veteran" / Korea Times file

Director Ryoo Seung-wan's "Veteran" became the sixth most-viewed Korean film, drawing more than 12.7 million viewers as of Saturday. Grouped with Korean and foreign films, "Veteran" is still the seventh most-viewed movie.

The film posted 12,728,000 ticket sales as of Saturday to top the 12,675,000 achieved by another Korean film "Assassination."

"Assassination," a story about three Korean independence fighters teaming up to assassinate the commander of the Japanese troops in Korea in the early 1930s, was the first Korean film to hit the 10-million mark this year.

"Veteran," starring Hwang Jung-min, Yoo Ah-in, Yoo Hae-jin and Oh Dal-su, is about a veteran detective who confronts the arrogant and cruel heir of a rich family as the detective delves into the mysterious death of a truck driver. 

janee@ktimes.com

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September 21, 2015

'Veteran' Moves Up to 6th Most Successful Korean Movie of All-Time

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

The crime flick "Veteran" has finally outpaced the period espionage film "Assassination." The films were released two weeks apart this summer and dominated the box office with over 10 million views each.

According to the Korea Film Council on Sunday, "Veteran" had drawn a total of 12.73 million spectators as of Saturday since its release on Aug. 7. It became the sixth most successful movie in the history of Korean cinema, moving past "Assassination" which drew some 12.68 million since its release on July 24.

At the current pace, "Veteran" will likely outpace "Miracle in Cell No. 7," the 5th most popular Korean movie ever with 12.81 million spectators.

Infused with action and humor, the crime flick is about a veteran detective who chases the arrogant heir of a wealthy and powerful family while investigating the mysterious death of a truck driver.

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September 22, 2015

‘The Throne’ soars, while ‘Veteran’ breaks record

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

Korean period drama “The Throne,” set in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), took the box office by storm, debuting in first place with 1.3 million moviegoers and making 10.7 billion won ($9.1 million) over the weekend.

Accounting for more than 50 percent of box office sales from Friday to Sunday, the historical film directed by Lee Joon-ik retells story of King Yeongjo and his ill-fated son, Crown Prince Sado, who is put to death by being locked inside a wooden chest by his own father. Veteran actor Song Kang-ho plays the father while rising actor Yoo Ah-in took on the role of his son. 

American young-adult film “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,” directed by Wes Ball, opened with 840,521 tickets sold to land in second place. It made 6.7 billion won over the weekend.

The dystopian sci-fi thriller based on the eponymous novel by James Dashner centers on a group of teenagers led by Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) who escaped from a maze created by an evil force called WCKD. The second installment picks up where the first left off, with Thomas and his group finding themselves in an even more dangerous situation. 

The film stars Korean-American actor Lee Ki-hong, who plays Min-ho, one of the members of the group. 

Marvel’s “Ant-Man” stepped down to third place, collecting 171,446 ticket admissions over the weekend, pulling its three-week total to 2.7 million ticket sales. It has so far made 22.4 billion won in Korean theaters.

Ryoo Seung-wan’s cop action flick, “Veteran,” reached a milestone on Saturday, becoming the sixth most-watched Korean film of all time and surpassing its summertime box office rival, “Assassination.” 

As of Sunday, “Veteran” sat on top with 12.8 million tickets sold (100.2 billion won), while Choi Dong-hoon’s “Assassination” had 12.7 million ticket admissions (98.3 billion won). 

It is likely that “Veteran” will set another record in the near future since the fifth most-watched film, “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” (2013) is ahead by less than 25,000 tickets admissions. 

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]

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Source: Nate

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September 23, 2015

'Veteran' has solid opening at North American box offices

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- A Korean action film made a solid dent in North American box offices in its opening week boosted by its long-lasting popularity in South Korea and favorable reviews from American critics, according to the film's local distributor.

"Veteran" made about US$360,620 over its first four days after being released last Thursday, according to CJ Entertainment America. The amount is larger than the $323,506 and the $290,995 collected by "Ode to My Father" and "Assassination," respectively, in their first week of release. Both are Korean hit films that opened in the region earlier this year.

Drawing media attention is whether the new film by director Ryoo Seung-wan will outperform "Roaring Currents" and "Ode to My Father," which were the sixth and ninth most-viewed foreign films in North America last year, respectively.

The new film's ongoing commercial success in South Korea and favorable responses from American critics and moviegoers are viewed as factors behind the solid performance there.

In South Korea, the film starring Hwang Jung-min and Yoo Ah-in became the fifth most-viewed Korean film of all time, drawing 12.81 million viewers through Tuesday, according to its South Korean distributor, CJ Entertainment.

"Mr. Ryoo isn't known for his sense of humor, but 'Veteran' is amusing throughout," Mike Hale, a film reporter for The New York Times, wrote in his review of the movie. "He delivers a solid, consistently entertaining story punctuated by the balletic action sequences he's known for."

The film is about an honest detective who takes on the pampered, sociopathic heir to a family-owned conglomerate.

A poster of the South Korean film "Veteran" (Yonhap) A poster of the South Korean film "Veteran" (Yonhap)

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September 23, 2015

‘Veteran’ gets positive reviews in U.S.

(CJ Entertainment)

South Korean film “Veteran“ has been getting positive media reviews in the U.S since its Sept. 17 release. 

The New York Times said the Korean movie provides fun from beginning to end with a well-structured plotline and graceful action scenes, a signature technique of director Ryoo Seung-wan.

(CJ Entertainment)

“Veteran” has sold more than 12.8 million tickets in Korea, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. 

Other U.S. media outlets, including Variety and Hollywood Reporter, gave positive marks to the movie. 

Variety said: “‘Veteran’ never bores the audience. Entertaining elements along with eye-catching action scenes blend in well to create a masterpiece that would be very well received by the world’s movie fans.”

Hollywood Reporter noted the performance of actors as a defining factor: “Without actor Hwang Jung-min, the movie would not be complete.”

By Lee Hye-won (hyewonlee@heraldcorp.com)

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September 23, 2015

‘VETERAN' becomes one of the top 5 most successful films of Korea

Source: STARN News

On September 22nd, movie 'VETERAN' became one of the top 5 most successful films of Korea, reaching 12,813,266 viewers and surpassing the final score of 'Miracle In Cell No. 7.'

'VETERAN' is now following 'ROARING CURRENTS (17,611,849),' 'The Host (13,019,740),' and 'The Thieves (12,983,330).'

After getting released on August 5th, 'VETERAN' maintained its #1 ranking on box office charts for the longest period of time among all of the Korean films that were released this year. 

'VETERAN' is showing absolute domination even though a great number of major films are getting released for the Korean Thanksgiving, which is just next week, and many people are now focusing their attention to the final score that 'VETERAN' will achieve.

Meanwhile, 'VETERAN' is now being played at every movie theaters all across Korea.

/Reporting by Lee Mi-Ji en@starnnews.com

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September 23, 2015

'VETERAN' showing domination in North America 

Source STARN News

Movie 'VETERAN' is getting spotlights in the United States as well.

Movie 'VETERAN' was officially released in North America on September 17th, and local magazine 'Variety' released a detailed report about the film.

'Variety' wrote, "Bristling with rough-and-ready action and a titanic clash of wills, the police thriller-comedy “Veteran” will have audiences wholeheartedly rooting for its intransigent cop hero to take down a corporate princeling for abusing his privilege."

They also wrote, "Still, in contrast with numerous Korean actioners, much of the male belligerence in “Veteran” is laced with goofy gags and self-mockery," and "Tech credits are no-nonsense, geared to convey an everyday, unglamorous atmosphere."

Another magazine 'Hollywood Reporter' wrote, "Veteran is a fast-paced (though still a bit long), tight thriller with suitably brutal close-quarters fisticuffs from action director Jung Doo-hong and cinematographer Choi Young-hwan and polished technical specs—none of which would work as well as it does if not for Hwang’s central performance."

New York Times reported, "Ryu Seung Wan isn’t known for his sense of humor, but 'Veteran' is amusing throughout, even if the funny scenes are more subdued or go on a beat or two longer than American viewers are used to. He may not have Walter Hill’s or Richard Donner’s gift for melding comedy to action and maintaining a tone of antic menace, but he delivers a solid, consistently entertaining story punctuated by the balletic action sequences he’s known for."

'VETERAN,' which has been on a roll in Korea, topping Box Office charts, is also showing absolute domination in North America as well.

For the first four days, 'VETERAN' made $36,620 of Box Office revenue. This exceeds the first-week revenue that 'Ode To My Father' and 'Assassination' made.

'VETERAN' is earning about $7,377 per screen, this approximates that of 'Maze Runner: Scotch Trial,' which earns about $7,887 per screen.

'ROARING CURRENTS' and 'Ode To My Father' had made major hits in North American region last year, and many people are now focusing their attention to whether 'VETERAN' will be able to surpass the final score of the two films.

Meanwhile, 'VETERAN' was officially released on September 17th, and it is now being played at 46 different movie theaters all across the United States.

/Reporting by Lee Mi-Ji en@starnnews.com

 

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September 24, 2015

'Veteran' Receives Good Initial Response in North America

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

The crime flick "Veteran" has gotten off to a good start in North America where the Korean film hit a week ago. 

In the first four days since its release in the U.S. and Canada on Sept. 17, the film amassed US$360,620 in box office sales, topping the $323,506 and $290,995 set by "Ode to My Father" and "Assassination" in their first week when they were released there. 

All three movies were huge box-office hits this year in Korea, attracting over 10 million viewers each. 

"Veteran" is now showing in 46 cinemas in the U.S.

At home, the film, which was released on Aug. 5, keeps breaking records and is now the fifth most successful movie of all time. It was watched by 12.813 million people as of Tuesday, moving ahead of "Miracle in Cell No. 7" with 12.811 million viewers. 

"Roaring Currents" is at the top of the list with 17.611 million viewers, followed by "Ode to My Father" with 14.257 million, "The Host" with 13.02 million and "The Thieves" with 12.983 million. 

It remains to be seen whether "Veteran" can move further up on the list. 

"Veteran" is about a veteran detective who chases the arrogant heir of a wealthy and powerful family while investigating the mysterious death of a truck driver.

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Source: MBN

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September 29, 2015

[Graphic News] ‘Veteran’ surges in box office history

Director Ryoo Seung-wan’s runaway hit “Veteran” has become the third most successful Korean film, and the fourth-biggest film in Korean box office history according to the Korean Film Council’s records. As of Monday, the film in Korea sold over 13.12 million tickets since its release on Aug. 5.

“Veteran” is joined in the top 10 by another current film - “Assassination” by director Choi Dong-hoon. With nearly 12.7 million tickets sold to date, “Assassination” is Choi’s second film in the top 10 after the star-studded 2012 film “The Thieves.” 

James Cameron’s 2009 sensation “Avatar” is the only non-Korean film to make it into the top 10 ranking third. The most-watched film of all time in local theaters is last year’s historical drama “Roaring Currents” by Kim Han-min, which sold over 17.6 million tickets.

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September 30, 2015

'Gunhamdo’ to begin filming next summer

Director Ryoo Seung-wan of hit-film “Veteran” said his next film on Hashima Island (Gunkanjima, or Battleship Island) will begin shooting from next summer. 

Hashima is an outlying island abandoned by Japan off the coast of Nagasaki, where countless Koreans were drafted as forced labor during World War II to provide life-threatening services. 

Director Ryoo Seung-wan (left) and Hwang Jung-min (CJ Entertainment)

“This film will show the draftees escaping from the island,” Ryoo said. 

Early reports have noted that “Veteran” lead actor Hwang Jung-min will once again collaborate with Ryoo for this flick.

To be titled “Gunhamdo” in Korean, the film will follow a group of American OSS agents and Korean independence fighters on a mission to evacuate a key Korean figure from the dangerous island.

Ryoo said that after “Gunhamdo” he will proceed to work on the sequels of “Berlin” and “Veteran.” 

MBC’s variety program “Infinite Challenge” recently had its participants visit the island to meet with the surviving Koreans still living there, drawing attention to the harsh history and its victims. 

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

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September 30, 2015

[V Report Plus] Top 5 Korean actors with most ticket sales since 2002

South Korea’s English broadcaster Arirang TV shared a segment from its “Showbiz Korea” program in which it singled out actor Song Kang-ho as the top generator of ticket sales in the domestic box-office. 

(Naver V app)

Between the year 2002 and now, Song garnered 74,736,952 admissions, seating himself on top of the A-list. 

Song is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his acting career this year. Of the 18 films he played lead roles in, 11 went on to become box-office hits. The actors’ proud works “The Host (2006)” and “The Attorney (2013)” each raked in over 10 million admissions, with the latter landing the 48-year-old star with the Best Actor award at the 2014 Blue Dragon Awards. 

Song’s latest flick, “The Throne,” released Sept. 16, is currently leading the box-office rankings. 

Following Song’s lead in Arirang’s ranking were actors Ryu Seung-ryong (64,971,576 admissions), Seol Gyeong-gu (62,984,832 admissions), Hwang Jung-min (58,721,711 admissions) and Ha Jung-woo (56,801,630 admissions).

Acclaimed supporting actor Oh Dal-su was not included in the list as it considered only leading roles.

Naver’s real-time broadcasting app V allows fans to interact with their favorite K-pop stars through live broadcasts. The app is available for Android and iOS. For more information, visit www.vlive.tv

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)

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September 30, 2015

Online Game Industry: The  Competition of Top Star Endorsers

Source: Hankook Ilbo

Clockwise from top: 

Asker - Hwang Jung Min

Raven - Cha Seung Won

Ghost - Lee Jung Jae

IDEA - Lee Byung Hun 

MU Origin - Jang Dong Gun

 

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September 30, 2015

Strong Opening for VETERAN in North America
RYOO Seung-wan’s Smash Hit Transitions Overseas

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

A gigantic hit at home, RYOO Seung-wan’s action-comedy smash Veteran bowed in North America to impressive numbers following its release on September 18th. The film, which was screening in 46 theaters across the continent, had a solid opening frame, where it grossed receipts worth USD 371,754, which was an improvement over recent Korean blockbusters in the market, such the USD 323,506 bow of Ode to My Father (which features the same actor, HWANG Jung-min, in the lead role) and period-action Assassination’s USD 290,995 debut.
 
As of September 29th, after two weekends on release, the film has now accrued USD 797,163 and pundits are now wondering whether it will beat the totals of Roaring Currents (USD 2.59 million) and Ode to My Father (USD 2.3 million), which were the sixth and ninth most successful foreign language releases in America last year.
 
Back in Korea, Veteran was still in fifth place on the box office chart during the Chuseok holiday, following its release almost two months ago, and has now accumulated 13.21 million admissions (USD 86.72 million) and moved up to third on the all time chart for Korean films, just behind Roaring Currents (17.61 million admissions) and Ode to My Father (14.26 million admissions).
 
In the film, HWANG stars as a tough cop who goes up against a young corporate heir played by YOO Ah-in, who currently also stars in the number one Chuseok film The Throne alongside SONG Kang-ho. The film has garnered strong responses from audiences and critics both in Korea and overseas. Prior to its stateside release, Veteran premiered in North America as part of the Vanguard section of the 40th Toronto International Film Festival.

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Source: CGV

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October 5, 2015

'Veteran' Keeps Setting New Records

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

The crime flick "Veteran," directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, climbed to third place in the all-time box office hit list here. 

Since its release in August, "Veteran" has attracted 13.31 million cinema-goers, surpassing the 13.3 million set by the Hollywood blockbuster "Avatar." The top three spots are all now filled by Korean films released between summer of 2014 and summer of 2015. 

The top place is held by "Roaring Currents," which was seen by 17.51 million, and "Ode to My Father" with 14.26 million. But "Veteran" was made with a modest budget of W6 billion (US$1=1,183).

The expansion of Korean movie market is one factor, as over 200 million people go to cinemas each year, but changing consumption patterns are also a major point. 

Kim Hyung-ho, a film market analyst, said, "Of course trends existed in the past, but with the development of social media it has spread massively both in range and intensity." 

Rather than a dramatic improvement in the level of movies, there is strong tendency to follow the mainstream. Films increasingly earn their reputation through words of mouth and the Internet, and more people go for tried and tested films. 

Meanwhile, Yu A-in, who stars in "Veteran" and another recent hit "The Throne" and is enjoying the prime time of his career, said at a panel event at the Busan International Film Festival on Saturday that he knows that fame and glory are fickle and he wants his next project to be a very sensational melodrama.

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October 5, 2015

BIFF Launches 20th Edition in Style
Star-Studded Red Carpet Opens Festivities in Busan

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

On Thursday evening, in spite of typhoon warnings in Southern Korea, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) rolled out the red carpet to welcome countless stars to the opening ceremony of the 20th edition of BIFF at the Busan Cinema Center in Centum City. Hosted by Korean star SONG Kang-ho and Afghani actress Marina GOLBAHARI, the ceremony kick-started this year’s BIFF in style, which will present some 304 films from 75 countries, among them 94 world and 27 international premieres.
 
Among the many stars who braved the poor weather in Busan, which led to the closure of the local airport, were Office lead KO Asung, Veteran star HWANG Jung-min, Chinese actress TANG Wei, top actress JEON Do-yeon and star SON Ye-jin, supporting her new film Bad Guys Always Die. The ceremony featured a special performance by Korean soprano JO Su-mi with the Busan National Traditional Music Center orchestra.
 
The event also saw the conferral of the Korean Cinema Award, which went to Berlinale Panorama curator Wieland Speck for his help over the years concerning the promotion of Korean films. Accepting the award, he said “I’ve been with the BIFF for a long time. When the BIFF was fledging, KIM Dong-ho visited Berlin to get some know-how on running a festival. I am glad to receive this award after 20 years. Cinema can bring many countries, cultures and passions together.”
 
Next, SUZUKI Toshio, TAKEDA Mikiko, AOKI Takayuki and TAI Yukari attended the ceremony representing the famed Japanese animation outfit Studio Ghibli, which was awarded the Asian Film Maker of the Year Award.
 
The 20th edition of BIFF will run until October 10th.