Lee Jung Hyun 이정현

[rubie]

December 13, 2015

Self-made Korean celebrities in China

Apart from Korean hot shot stars, who are gaining traction in China thanks to their hit soaps here, there are also some celebrities who carved out careers for themselves in the nation, starting from scratch. 

Singer-actress Lee Jung-hyun, who introduced the techno music genre to Korea in the early 2000s, extended her career into China long ago. 

In an interview with a local media outlet, she said, “At the time (when she jumped to China), there was no such word ‘Korean wave.’ But, whenever I dropped an album, Chinese singers translated the songs and they were hits. Popularity from the music has continued for almost 14 years.”

She is now starring in multiple TV dramas and commercials in China, building a strong fan base. 

“I am grateful that Chinese people seem to like Korea and have supported for me so long,” she added.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

[rubie]

December 17, 2015

Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Seo Jin, Lee Seung Gi and Lee Jin Wook's end-of-year party

Source: Nate by Hancinema.net

Actors and actresses Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Seo Jin, Lee Seung Gi, Lee Jin Wook and others had an end-of-year party.

Lee Jung Hyun posted a picture on her Instagram saying, "Year-end dinner with precious people and loving sisters".

The picture is of Lee Seo Jin, Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Seung Gi, Lee Jiin Wook and stylists. Lee Jung Hyun is shadowed by the dark but she still looks like a doll.

[rubie]

December 28, 2015

0 through 20, What Do These Figures Mean?
2015 Korean Cinema Seen through Figures

by HA Jung-min / KoBiz

2015 has been a very busy year for Korean cinema, as busy as ever. It was briefly static in the first half due to the MERS outbreak, but soon regained vitality in the summer season. Let us take a look at some of the major issues in 2015 Korean cinema through figures.
 
0_ LEE Jung-hyun Received 0 Won for Alice In Earnestland

2015 would probably be an unforgettable year for LEE Jung-hyun. She made her very strong screen debut in 1996 in A Petal and swept most rookie actor awards that year. Her popularity continued as she made a debut as a singer as well. However, as her popularity as an entertainer increased, her presence as an actress diminished.
 
Alice In Earnestland is a film to re-prove her presence as an actress. This film has been praised as among the best independent films of 2015 and LEE received the Best Actress award at the Blue Dragon Awards for the first time in 20 years since her debut. However, she was in the film without being paid to cheer up independent film scene. LEE was also in Juvenile Offender (2012) without getting paid.
 
2_ Assassination and Veteran, 2 Films with 10 Million Viewers

  

Spoiler

It has been 12 years since Silmido (2003) made the first record ever for a Korean film to reach 10 million viewers. This year, 2 films, released with 2 weeks’ difference, have successively established 10-million-viewer records. The two films to have opened a new era of 10 million viewers are CHOI Dong-hoon’s Assassination and RYOO Seung-wan’s Veteran.
 
Set in the Japanese Occupation period, Assassination made success both critique-wise and profit-wise, attracting 12.7 million audiences nationwide. Veteran was released 2 weeks later than Assassination but the speed to reach 10 million viewers was faster, it was the 4th in entire Korean film history. The final score for Veteran is 13.41 million admissions, which marks the 3rd place in the entire Korean film box office history. Assassination is at the 7th place.
 
Besides, there is one more Korean film to attract more than 10 million viewers in 2015. Ode To My Father, released in December 2014 and therefore a quasi 2015 film, has attracted 14.26 million viewers which is the second most audiences in Korean film history. It makes 15 films altogether to have reached 10 million viewers in the Korean box office history.
 
3_ 200 Million Viewers in 3 Successive Years

Spoiler

  

The total number of theater-goers adds up to 208 million in 2015. Since the number of viewers went over 200 million for the first time with 213,346,935 viewers in 2013, the number of domestic viewers hit over 200 million in 3 successive years. In 2014, a record of 215,067,760 people visited theaters. This year, the success owes to 10 or so films which each attracted more than 5 million viewers, including the two 10 million films (Assassination and Veteran), The Priests (5,439,447 viewers), The Throne (6,246,851 viewers), Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (6,126,488 viewers) and Jurassic World (5,546,792 viewers).
 
The reason why the overall number decreased than the last two years is thought to be the MERS outbreak. However, it is not time to finalize yet. The Himalayas, The Tiger, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are only at the second week of release. As December is the hottest season for films, we might as well expect the biggest number of viewers ever. 
 
10_ Success of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Re-released in 10 Years

 

Spoiler

Among the unexpected success in 2015 was that of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, re-released in 10 years. It is Michel Gondry’s fantasy melodrama, and was warmly received critique-wise as a unique melodrama. However this film only had 150,000 admissions nationwide in Korea, perhaps due to the very complex storyline.
 
That is why its current success is all the more surprising. In the first weekend of re-release it was ranked at the 8th place in the box office, and as time went by, the number of viewers kept increasing. It finally expanded screen rooms and marched on, until it went over the number of viewers at the first release, which is a very rare phenomenon. The total number of viewers that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind has received is more than 300,000 so far. 

19_ “19-geum” Movie Inside Men to Break Box Office Record

Spoiler

Inside Men has renewed the history of R-rated movies (or “19-geum” movies, meaning movies banned to younger than 19 year olds). On the 3rd day of release, Inside Men broke the record of the most admissions in one single day among R-rated movies, by attracting 489,515 viewers. It also broke the record of the fastest R-rated film to reach 1 million viewers, in just 3 days.
 
These records are all the more impressive because, even though November is traditionally a slow month for films, the number of viewers kept increasing until it broke this year’s previous record among R-rated movies held by Kingsman: The Secret Service (6,129,681 viewers), and even the all time record held by The Man From Nowhere (6,178,569 viewers) in 2010. As of December 23rd, Inside Men has reached 6.54 million viewers. Since it has been staying in the No. 5 chart for more than one whole month since release, its record may go farther.
 
20_ BIFF Is Now 20 Years Old

Spoiler

  

Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the biggest international film festival in Asia, has celebrated its 20 years’ anniversary. Under the LEE Yong-kwan - KANG Soo-yeon regime, BIFF has reached the coming of age. BIFF this year opened with an Indian film Zubaan and screened 304 films from 75 countries worldwide. BIFF this year held several special programs to celebrate its 20th year anniversary, including “Asian Cinema 100” which is a selection of the 100 most eminent Asian films and directors made by film experts from all over the world, and “Hidden Masterpieces,” as part of Korean cinema retrospective. The success of the 2015 BIFF is also reflected in numbers: it has received the biggest audience (227,377) and the most number of GVs (Guest Visit) were held, which was 353 times. 

[rubie]

January 2, 2016

This is from Lee Jung Hyun's instagram. 

She wrote: START THE NEW YEAR WITH GREAT PEOPLE. 

If not mistaken, she also wrote about going to watch 'Inside Men: The Original'

Source: Xportsnews

Top L-R: Lee Hee Joon, Dir. Jung Doo Hong, PSY, (?), Lee Seung Gi

Bottom L-R: Jo Seung Woo, Ko So Young, Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Byung Hun   (Sae Na & Min Chul from Beautiful Days)

[rubie]

Lee Jung Hyun's post on her instagram 

Photo credit: mermaidleejh

[rubie]

January 2, 2016

Lee Jung Hyun Shares Shot With Lee Seung Gi, PSY, Lee Byung Hun, Cho Seung Woo, and More

Source: Soompi by ilmare42 

On January 2, singer and actress Lee Jung Hyun shared a star-studded photo to her Instagram!

The photo is a group shot that includes big names such as Lee Byung Hun, Ko So Young, Cho Seung Woo, Lee Hee Joon, Jung Doo Hong, PSY, Kim Min Jae, and Lee Seung Gi.

Lee Jung Hyun writes as the caption, “Starting the new year off together with these amazing people~! Enjoyed ‘Inside Men: The Original.’ It was fun watching it, even the second time.”

“Inside Men: The Original” is a director’s extended cut version of the 2015 political thriller “Inside Men,” which stars two members of the group, Lee Byung Hun and Cho Seung Woo.

Source (1)

[rubie]

January 3, 2016

Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Byung Hun, Jo Seung Woo, Lee Seung Gi, Psy and Ko So young together at one spot

Source: Xportsnews via Hancinema.net

Actress Lee Jung Hyun shared a part of her recent activities.

On December 2nd, Lee Jung Hyun posted on her personal Instagram, "Beginning New Year with cool people! Watched 'Inside Men: The Original'. It's still fun to watch it again".

In the revealed photo, Lee Jung Hyun is looking in to the camera lens along with Lee Hee-joon, Jeong Doo-hong, Psy, Lee Seung-gi, Jo Seung-woo, Ko So-young, and Lee Byung-hun.

Meanwhile, Lee Jung Hyun received Best Actress Award at the 36th Blue Dragon Film Awards for her role in 'Alice In Earnestland'.

[rubie]

News bites: January 9, 2016
by awcoconuts | Dramabeans.com

A sports movie, with Yoo Ji-tae in it? I’m there. Lee Jung-hyun (The Family is Coming) is positively considering the female lead opposite Yoo in Split, a film about bowling. (Not a sport often highlighted in film, but who cares? Yoo. Ji. Tae!) [Joongang]

[rubie]

Photo credit: hino2033

[rubie]

February 24, 2016

"Battleship Island" to star Hwang Jung Min, So Ji Sub, Song Joong Ki and Lee Jung Hyun

Source: Xportsnews via Hancinema.net

Actors and actress Hwang Jung Miin, So Ji Sub, Song Joong Ki and Lee Jung Hyun are starring in "Battleship Island".

"Battleship Island" is the movie about 400 or so Joseon people risking their lives to make the escape from Battleship Island during the Japanese Invasion.

This movie is directed by Ryoo Seung Wan and the cast is the recent hottest topic.

Lee Jung Hyun, a various award winner, takes on the role of Mal-yeon, who attempts to escape Battleship Island with Lee Kang-ok (Hwang Jung Min), Choi Chil-seong (So Ji Sub) and Park Moo-yeong (Song Joong Ki).

She has been through hardships in life but hasn't been knocked out yet.

Lee Jung Hyun has been taking over the screens with her wide spectrum and she is expected leave an impressive performance in "Battleship Island".

Meanwhile, "Battleship Island" cranks in this June and will be released in July of 2017.

[rubie]

February 25, 2016

Lee Jung-hyun joins ‘Battleship’

(Osen)

Singer-actress Lee Jung-hyun has joined the film “Battleship,” which will be directed by Ryu Seung-wan.

Lee will portray a sex slave who experiences hardships while living on a Japanese island. 

In January it was confirmed that actors Song Joong-ki, So Ji-sub and Hwang Jung-min will also star in the film. 

The film tells the story of Korean people who were subjected to forced labor during Japan’s occupation of Korea.

Director Ryu is highly anticipated from the public since he had a great success with his latest movie “Veteran,” which was released last year. The film notched up about 13 million admissions at the local box office, making it the third-biggest Korean movie ever released. 

“Battleship” will start shooting in June and open in theaters in 2017.

(CJ Entertainment)

By Kim Soo-hyang (shkim@heraldcorp.com)

[rubie]

February 25, 2016

Lee Jung Hyun confirmed for new film 'Hashima (working title)'

Source: STARN News        

Lee Jung Hyun has been confirmed for new film 'Hashima (working title).'

Recently, along with Hwang Jung Min, So Ji Sub, and Song Joong Ki, Lee Jung Hyun has been confirmed for director Ryu Seung Wan's new film, 'Hashima (working title).'

'Hashima' is going to evolve around four hundred citizens of Joseon, who were moved to the Japanese island of Hashima during the Japanese occupation of Korea. 'Hashima' is the new film of director Ryu Seung Wan, who had directed 'VETERAN,' and Hwang Jung Min, So Ji Sub, Song Joong Ki, and Lee Jung Hyun have all been confirmed as lead roles.

Lee Jung Hyun made a successful film screen debut through 'ROARING CURRENTS,' and received 'Best Actress' award last year at Blue Dragon Awards. In 'Hashima,' Lee Jung Hyun is going to play as a female lead role named 'Mal Nyeon,' who tries to escape Hashima with Lee Kang Ok (played by Hwang Jung Min), Choi Chil Sung (played by So Ji Sub), and Park Moo Young (played by Song Joong Ki).

Mal Nyeon gets moved to Hashima after going through endless troubles under the Japanese colonization, but she never loosens her strong grip on hope. Lee Jung Hyun had surprised a great number of movie fans and critiques with her phenomenal performance last year, and many people are showing huge anticipation for another transformation that she will present through 'Hashima.'

Meanwhile, the first shoot for 'Hashima' is going to take place in June, and the full movie will be officially released in 2017.

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

[rubie]

March 7, 2016

LEE Jung-hyun Boards BATTLESHIP ISLAND
RYOO Seung-wan’s Latest Starts Shooting in June

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

Following her awards success in the hit indie Alice In Earnestland, LEE Jung-hyun has boarded Battleship Island. Director RYOO Seung-wan’s latest is coming together as the actress joins the already announced stars HWANG Jung-min, SO Ji-sub and SONG Joong-ki and the production is now eyeing a June start date.
 
RYOO’s film will take place on Japan’s Hashima Island (nicknamed Battleship Island) during World War II, where Korean and Chinese civilians or prisoners of war are forced to work. LEE will play a sex slave on the island while her co-stars play other unwilling island inhabitants who take part in a daring escape plan.
 
Already a popular singer, LEE has made a name for herself as a performer in acclaimed indie films, including Juvenile Offender (2012) in addition to Alice In Earnestland, as well as a supporting part in the all-time box office champ Roaring Currents (2014).
 
Expectations are high for the film, as it reunites RYOO and HWANG after last year’s all-time number three hit Veteran, and adds some major box office firepower with SO and SONG. HWANG in particular has been on a roll, having recently appeared in both the blockbusters The Himalayas and A Violent Prosecutor.
 
Filmmaker R & K is on board to produce while CJ Entertainment will finance and distribute. Battleship Island will bow at some point in 2017.

[rubie]

April 7, 2016

Shooting Begins for New YOO Ji-tae Film
Bowling Drama Co-Stars LEE Da-wit, LEE Jung-hyun

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

Old Boy (2003) star YOO Ji-tae started shooting his latest project Split on April 2nd in an abandoned factory in Incheon. The film co-stars LEE Jung-hyun, LEE Da-wit and CHUNG Sung-hwa.
 
YOO stars as Cheol-jong, a bowler who used to have a promising career but became cut off from the world after being involved in an accident. He then meets Yeong-hoon, a brilliant younger bowler who will be played by LEE Da-wit.
 
In order to prepare for the role, YOO has reportedly been spending time taking in bowling competitions and practicing the sport every day. Active since the late 1990s, YOO is primarily famous for his role as the antagonist in PARK Chan-wook’s Old Boy and has also featured in notable films such as One Fine Spring Day (2001) and Antarctic Journal (2005). This year he is also starring alongside JEON Do-yeon in a Korean TV remake of US show The Good Wife. In recent years he has also turned to directing, debuting the indie drama Mai Ratima at the Busan International Film Festival in 2012.
 
Rising star LEE Da-wit has appeared in titles such as PLUTO (2013) and KUNDO : Age of the Rampant (2014). LEE Jung-hyun most recently earned acclaim for her leading role in Alice In Earnestland (2015) while CHUNG Sung-hwa is a notable character actor with credits that include Dancing Queen (2012) and The Pirates (2014).
 
Split marks the directing debut of CHOI Kook-hee, a short film director and Korea National University of Arts graduate who previously made Blue Decoding (2002), The Springtime Of Life (2005), Life Goes On (2006) and Carnival (2007).

 

[rubie]

April 12, 2016

Filming for BATTLESHIP ISLAND Kicks Off Next Month in Chuncheon
RYOO Seung-wan’s Latest to Use 6,600㎡ Set

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

RYOO Seung-wan’s next project, the World War II escape drama Battleship Island, is gearing up for filming, which will begin next month in the city of Chuncheon in Gangwon-do Province. It’ll be all hands on deck as stars HWANG Jung-min, SONG Joong-ki, SO Ji-sub and LEE Jung-hyun will participate in the production which is set to take place on a massive 6,600㎡ set.
 
The film takes its name from Japan’s Hashima Island, which is nicknamed Battleship Island, and is known to viewers as the location that serves as the villain’s lair in Bond film Skyfall (2012). During World War II, the island was an industrial manufacturing center that utilized the forced labor of Korean and Chinese civilians or prisoners of war. Inhabitants of the island stage a daring escape with the help of Korean independence fighters.
 
The film marks the third collaboration between RYOO and HWANG, following The Unjust (2010) and last year’s phenomenally successful cop thriller Veteran. SONG takes on his first film role since military service with the project, though he is currently featured in the highly-rated TV drama Descendants of the Sun, SO is back in a lead role in a film for the first time since 2012’s A Company Man and LEE will take part after completing the currently shooting Split alongside YOO Ji-tae.
 
Filmmaker R & K is the production company and CJ Entertainment is handling financing and distribution. Battleship Island should hit screens in 2017.

[rubie]

May 2, 2016

52nd Baeksang Arts Awards Movie Nomination List

Source: Hancinema.net (click here to vote)

The 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards will be held at 8:30 PM on June 3rd at the Kyung Hee Grand Peace Palace in Seoul.



BEST FILM



"4th Place" by Jeong Ji-woo

"Inside Men" by Woo Min-ho

"DongJu, The Portrait of A Poet" by Lee Joon-ik

"Veteran" by Ryoo Seung-wan

"The Assassination" by Choi Dong-hoon

BEST DIRECTOR



"Veteran" - Ryoo Seung-wan

"The Shameless" - Oh Seung-wook

"Inside Men" - Woo Min-ho

"DongJu, The Portrait of A Poet" - Lee Joon-ik

"The Assassination" - Choi Dong-hoon

BEST LEADING ACTOR



"Inside Men" - Baek Yoon-sik

"The Throne" - Song Kang-ho

"The Throne" - Yoo Ah-in

"Inside Men" - Lee Byung-hun

"Veteran" - Hwang Jeong-min

BEST LEADING ACTRESS



"Coin Locker Girl" - Kim Hye-soo

"Alice In Earnestland" - Lee Jeong-hyeon

The Shameless" - Jeon Do-yeon

"The Assassination" - Jeon Ji-hyeon

"Beauty Inside" - Han Hyo-joo

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

"The Office" - Bae Seong-woo

"Coin Locker Girl" - Eom Tae-goo

"Veteran" - Oh Dal-soo

"Minority Opinion" - Lee Kyeong-yeong

"The Assassination" - Jo Jin-woong

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

"The Himalayas" - Ra Mi-ran

"The Office" - Ryoo Hyeon-kyeong

"The Classified File" - Jang Young-nam

"The Silenced" - Eom Ji-won

"The Throne" - Jeon Hye-jin-II

[rubie]

Thanks to the fan-highlight at PlanetBH0712

Published on May 29, 2016 by 일간스포츠

52nd Baeksang Awards: Movie Best Actor & Best Actress Nominees

[rubie]

June 23, 2016

Hwang Jung Min, Song Joong Ki, And So Ji Sub Begin Filming For New Movie

Source: Soompi by kminjungee

The highly anticipated film, “Battleship Island” (working title), which Hwang Jung Min, Song Joong Ki, So Ji Sub, and Lee Jung Hyun will be headlining, is finally underway.

On June 23, CJ Entertainment confirmed, “We started filming on June 17 at Chungju in North Chungcheong province, beginning with the scene where Lee Kang Ok, played by Hwang Jung Min, is begging to be given a job in Japan.”

“Battleship Island,” directed by Ryu Seung Wan of “Veteran” fame, takes place during the Japanese colonial era and tells the story of how 400 Joseon people bet their lives and attempt to escape Hashima Island, where they were forcibly displaced.

It will depict the unknown history behind the actual Hashima Island, also known as Gunkanjima or Battleship Island, where thousands of conscripted Joseon people were forced to work to death during the Japanese colonial era.

As previously mentioned, Hwang Jung Min will play the role of Lee Kang Ok, a hotel bandmaster who believed he was being sent to Japan, but instead was scammed and sent to the island. This film marks the second time the actor will be working with director Ryu Seung Wan.

Meanwhile, So Ji Sub will play Choi Chil Sung, Gyeongseong‘s best fighter who brought peace to the entire Jongno district. (Gyeongseong, also known as Keijo, is Seoul’s old name whilst under Japanese colonization).

Song Joong Ki will transform into independence fighter Park Moo Young, who infiltrates the island in order to rescue important figures of the independence movement against imperial Japan.

Rounding out the cast, singer and actress Lee Jung Hyun has been cast as Mal Nyun, a Joseon woman who was forced into coming to the island.

Director Ryu Seung Wan comments, “I’m happy because the first filming went smoothly, similar to flowing water. It’ll most likely become difficult, but I believe that we will continue making good progress moving forward.”

Hwang Jung Min adds, “This is only the beginning. I hope that the project will end as smoothly as it is a big project. I am not too worried because the director, and much of the staff, are colleagues I have worked with before. I’m excited because our first shoot ended well, and, moving forward, I will contemplate more about who Kang Ok is.”

It will be released in South Korean theaters sometime in 2017.

Source (1)

[rubie]

From Lee Jung Hyun's instagram, looks like a Beautiful Days' reunion at the KAFA event - with Shin Min Ah standing behind Lee Byung Hun. Sae Na, Min Ji and Min Chul, of course. 

Photo: mermaidleejh

[rubie]

Published on September 12, 2016 by Movie-bee

KAFA Film Awards part 1 full version

KAFA Film Awards part 2 full version