Ha Jung-Woo 하정우 [Drama “Narco-Saints” | Upcoming: Movies “Nocturnal”, “Ransomed” | Travel Reality Show “Bros on Foot”]

[Helena]

#튀르키예즈온더블럭 #튀르키예즈 #13화 
[ENG] We want 100M subscribers... Please help us, Jung Woo and Jung Min | Turkiyes on the Block EP. 13

 

#NarcoSaints #HaJungwoo #HwangJungmin 
[ENG] STORYTIME: How I went from prison to becoming a secret agent?! | Narco-Saints (HUMOR)

From fishy business to secret agents and pastors who aren’t really pastors… Buckle up because it’s storytime with Ha Jung-woo and boy, does he have a crazy tale to tell! Here’s the everything you need to know before checking out NARCO-SAINTS on Netflix

Watch NARCO-SAINTS on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81343748

Subscribe to The Swoon: https://bit.ly/2IiIXqV

Follow The Swoon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theswoonnetflix/

#NarcoSaints #HaJungwoo #HwangJungmin #ParkHaesoo #JoWoojin #YooYeonseok #TheSwoon #Kdrama

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220918000098
[Herald Interview] True story ‘Narco-Saints’ is based on almost unreal, director says

 

Director Yoon Jong-bin modified real story of protagonist to make it less dramatic

By Lee Si-jin (sj_lee@heraldcorp.com) | Sept 18, 2022

Director Yoon Jong-bin (Netflix)

Hit movie director Yoon Jong-bin, who made his drama debut with Netflix’s thriller crime series “Narco-Saints,” felt that the real-life story of a businessman on whom the series' protagnist, Kang In-gu (played by Ha Jung-woo), is based, was too dramatic and seemed almost made up.

“At first, I personally found it difficult to believe the three-year experience of an ordinary man working with the National Intelligence Service. It’s like a story from a movie,” Yoon said during an interview with reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, Thursday.

“After interviewing him and hearing about his past life, some of my questions were answered. But I wasn’t sure how far I could trust him with his stories," the director added.

Referring to the man as "K," the real-life Kang In-gu, Yoon said that many parts of K’s stories were overly dramatic and had a lot of cinematic cliches that he even had to leave out from “Narco-Saints.”

“K said that he shaved his head and fought with the gangs in Chinatown to get close to the drug dealers after returning to Suriname. This sounded like the stories from Hong Kong action thriller ‘Infernal Affairs’ (2002). It may sound ironic, but I tried to make the series less dramatic," Yoon told The Korea Herald.

 

Yoon Jong-bin (center) speaks with the cast and crew of "Narco-Saints." (Netflix)

Having made his name with action thrillers, ranging from “The Unforgiven” (2005), “Nameless Gangster: Rule of Time” (2012) to “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” (2014), Yoon is back with flashy gunfights and bloody action scenes. "Narco-Saints" topped the local Netflix chart two days after its release.

When asked about Jeon Yo-hwan (played by Hwang Jung-min), a character based on Cho Bong-haeng, a South Korean drug lord in Suriname, the director said he weighed between making Jeon a pastor or a Korean community leader in Suriname.

“I was looking for a job that can easily earn people’s trust. I felt that the stories would get more exciting if Jeon became a pastor,” the director said, explaining about the fictional character he created for his latest series.

Yoon said one of the most difficult tasks in making the series, which took four years, was coming up with ideas for the opening scenes.

“I got to know for the first time that I had to pitch the ideas for the series’ opening. I initially wanted the scenes to look like case files, but it turned out really bad. I changed many things to get to the finished version,” the director told The Korea Herald.

“It was a fresh experience. But the opening clip gave me a hard time until the very end,” Yoon added.

When asked to respond to the Suriname government's concerns that the film may reinforce a negative image of Suriname, which has been plagued by crime and cross-border illegal activities in recent decades, the director declined to comment.

“‘Narco-Saints’ is a drama based on the true stories of a South Korean drug dealer in Suriname. I did not feel the need to create a fictional country to present the series,” Yoon said, explaining why he had chosen an actual country for the story's setting.

The six-part crime thriller ranked No. 4 as of Saturday on the global Netflix chart, according to US-based streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol.

 

—

 

[ENG] Behind-the-scenes commentary of actors who are as good as they are acting |  Suriname |  Netflix

English subtitles will be updated soon. Please stay tuned!

Spoiler

[ENG] Ha Jung-woo Hwang Jung-min Park Hae-soo Jo Woo-jin Yoo Yeon-seok's TMI Quiz |  Suriname |  Netflix

 

 

[Helena]

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065599838828894
Gang Dong-won, Lee Young-ae, Ha Jung-woo and Han Ji -min to talk about acting career at BIFF

YonhapNews / 2022-09-19 16:57:54
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Dowon Kim.)

 

▲ These photos, provided by YG Ent, Group Eight, Workhouse Company, BH Entertainment, show Gang Dong-won, Lee Young-ae, Ha Jung-woo, and Han Ji-min. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲This schedule, provided by BIFF, shows the time table for the 'Actors' House.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, September 19 (Yonhap) -- The Busan International Film Festival revealed the actors who will be attending the "Actors' House" held during the period of BIFF this year.


"Actors' House" is a special talk program where actors representing the Korean movie industry meet their audience and talk about their acting careers and philosophies.  
The actors will share their opinions about the meaning of acting, talk about their own self-chosen famous scene, their acting philosophy, and behind-the-scenes stories from shooting.


Gang Dong-won of the movie "Broker," actress Lee Young-ae representing Hallyu, Ha Jung-woo of "Narco-Saints," and Han Ji-min of director Lee Joon-ik's first sci-fi project movie "YONDER" were invited to the "Actors' House."



Gang Dong Won, who has showcased his versatile acting in various genres such as The Priests (2015), A Violent Prosecutor (2016), and Peninsula (2020), has left a lasting impression on the audience with his restrained acting in Kore-eda Hirokazu’s "Broker."



Lee Young-ae will be attending a public event for the first time in a long time through BIFF.   Lee Youngae attracted the audience’s attention with the portrayal of her unique character in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) and went on to further surprise the public with her roles in Bring Me Home (2019) and the drama series, Inspector Koo (2021).



Actor Ha Junwoo, who is garnering much attention with the recently premiered Netflix series Narco-Saints (2022), has been very beloved over the years due to his strong acting skills and unrivaled charm.  Furthermore, as director of two films, Fasten Your Seatbelt (2013) and Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (2015), he will share his rich experiences and thoughts as both an actor and director.


Han Ji-min, participated in director Lee Joon-ik’s first sci-fi project YONDER (2022).  She will be talking about the contents of the movie "YONDER," waiting for its release, and more about her acting career on the 27th Busan International Film Festival.


The Actors’ House program is open to the public with an entrance fee of 8,000 KRW.  All profits made from the event will be donated to the international relief organization for children, "Save the Children."  Details regarding ticket purchases will be announced on the Busan International Film Festival’s official website (https://www.biff.kr/eng/). (END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

 

—

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220919000512
BIFF opening, closing ceremony tickets go on sale Friday

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com) | Sept 19, 2022

Poster for the 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)

Tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 27th Busan International Film Festival will go on sale online at 2 p.m., Friday.

This year's BIFF, which takes place Oct. 5-14, will return to its pre-pandemic full scale with 243 films from 71 countries.

This year’s opener will be Iranian director Hadi Mohaghegh's "Scent of Wind," while Japanese director Ishikawa Kei's "A Man" will close the festival.

Tickets for films screened during the festival will open online at 2 p.m. on Sept. 27.

Also, tickets for this year’s Asia Contents Awards for TV content will be held in person this year, and go on sale online starting Friday.  

Tickets can be bought on the BIFF website or via the official app. Remaining tickets also can be bought on-site.

[same as above]

From left: actors Gang Dong-won, Lee Young-ae, Ha Jung-woo and Han Ji-min will talk about their acting careers at the 27th Busan International Film Festival's special program, Actor's House. (BIFF)

Meanwhile, the BIFF also disclosed the roster for its Actor's House special program on Monday.  This year, Gang Dong-won, Lee Young-ae, Ha Jung-woo and Han Ji-min will take part in the program to talk about their acting careers.

Actor's House is an event in which leading Korean actors share intimate stories of their acting careers with the audience, unlike other talk sessions where actors primarily discuss their movies that are screening at the festival.  The program was newly launched in 2021, with Uhm Jung-hwa, Han Ye-ri, Jun Jong-seo, Cho Jin-woong, Lee Je-hoon and Byun Yo-han sharing their stories.

The proceeds from Actor's House will go to Save the Children, an international humanitarian aid organization for children. Tickets for Actor’s House are 8,000 won.

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220919000708
[Herald Review] ‘Narco-Saints’ enthralls world with gripping story, cast

 

Fiction based on true events Netflix’s 3rd most watched show worldwide

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com) | Sept 19, 2022

Ha Jung-woo (left) stars as Kang In-gu and Hwang Jung-min as Jeon Yohan in Netflix's "Narco-Saints." (Netflix)

Korean dramas have long had a thing for making viewers chuckle while drawing them into a vortex of suspense, mystery and drama.

Be it romance, legal drama or crime thriller, a good share of K-shows never lose their touch when it comes to humor and bringing out the charming side of its main characters, often banking on brilliant actors to deliver light relief while driving a serious plot.

The latest hit Netflix series “Narco-Saints” (Korean title "Suriname") is no exception.

The show also has the elements of a compelling story -- it’s based on real people and real events, and it’s about an ordinary person somehow doing extraordinary things.

Protagonist Kang In-gu, an auto mechanic by day, a karaoke bar waiter-turned-owner by night and a devoted father, wanted to make more money for his family.

He follows his friend to the other side of the world, to Suriname, to buy skate, which is discarded in the South American country but is a delicacy in Korea.

He finds himself in a Surinamese jail, however, after cocaine is found inside the fish that he ships. A Korean intelligence agent visits him in prison, asking him to work with them to nab the Korean drug lord who put cocaine in his fish. Kang accepts the proposal.

What is most intriguing is how willingly Kang takes risks outside the NIS’ plans to achieve his objectives. As he learns how heinous his target is, he doubles down as if he had been waiting all his life to become a professional undercover agent, demonstrating the calculated audacity of a businessman.

“K,” the real-life civilian on whom Kang is based, was as daring if not more, according to media interviews of the show’s producers and an investigator who was on the actual case.

Kang, played by Ha Jung-woo, one of the best South Korean actors of his generation, is not afraid of getting beaten up by gangs, whether Korean or Chinese.

But in one scene, when the villain’s henchman tries to stop him, the former judoka throws him down on a whim, expressing his irritation, to his target’s amusement.

For Ha Jung-woo fans, it is a joy to watch him play Kang, who plays his role in the operation as smoothly as Ha the actor himself.

His skills aside, Kang epitomizes the typical Korean parent who will do anything for his children’s education.

In the midst of a gripping crime thriller plotline, Kang’s aims -- supporting his family while bringing the devilish pastor-in-disguise to justice -- allow viewers to easily empathize with and even cheer for him. The second motive gradually strengthens, especially after he witnesses that the smuggling ring drugged even children.

Other main characters, also played by Korea’s cream-of-the-crop actors, add to the show’s allure.

Hwang Jung-min, who plays “the pastor,” proves once again that he is one of the best around for playing an evil role. Wearing makeup that makes his skin look filthy and diabolic, he is almost charming when he quips “you’re possessed by satan” to anyone who says anything he doesn’t like.

The real-life criminal figure on which the character is based, Cho Bong-haeng, was sentenced to 10 years in jail in 2011, and died five years later in hospital after he was temporarily released from prison for medical treatment.

Cho, claiming to know the Surinamese president personally, as does the pastor in the film, tricked troubled housewives and students into smuggling cocaine by telling them they would be transporting gemstones. However, he did not pose as a pastor or kill people, according to a former prosecutor who handled the case 11 years ago.

The story of one of the victims, a housewife surnamed Chang, was made into a film --“Way Back Home” -- in 2013.

“Squid Game” star Park Hae-soo plays the NIS agent who elegantly plays his colorful part in the mission. Another highly talented actor, Jo Woo-jin, plays a Chinese gang member who defected to the pastor’s gang to be his right-hand man.

Taiwanese actor Chang Chen plays the ruthless Chinese gang leader who chops off a traitor’s hands and feet, and hangs the corpse at the gate of Chinatown. The rivalry between Korean and Chinese criminal crime rings gives more color to the show.

The show does have its limits, however, owing mostly to its director Yoon Jong-bin’s interests that are all too evident in his filmography -- male-dominant action full of machismo and profanity -- and disregard for female characters. The two or three women with lines in “Narco-Saints” are nothing more than tools in the story.

The show has caused a stir in Suriname, with its foreign minister threatening legal action against the producers last week for depicting Suriname as a corrupt country associated with cocaine.

“Narco-Saints” became the third most watched Netflix show worldwide just five days after its release on Sept. 9, and has maintained that spot since.

[Helena]

https://top10.netflix.com/tv-non-english

Global Top 10 [ SEPTEMBER 12 - SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 ]

Weekly Top 10 list of most-watched TV (Non-English)

Spoiler

 

 

 

https://about.netflix.com/en/news/top-10-week-of-september-12-cobra-kai-and-end-of-the-road-top-english-lists
Top 10 Week of September 12: ‘Cobra Kai’ and ‘End of The Road’ Top English Lists

20 September 2022

 

Cobra Kai strikes again as Season 5 remained atop the English TV List with 95.55M hours viewed. As the most viewed title this week, the action drama appeared in the Top 10 in 83 countries. School is back in session with Season 2 of Fate: The Winx Saga. With 48.96M hours viewed, the series took fans on an emotional rollercoaster and left them wanting more.  Season 1 of The Crown continued its reign on the list, moving up to the third spot with 40.79M hours viewed, while Season 2 of the series entered the list with 16.67M hours viewed. Devil In Ohio kept fans on the edge of their seats as the series had 29.3M hours viewed. Abbi, Tilda and Juan are the heroes we didn’t know we needed. The Imperfects had an additional 35.02M hours viewed. Director Skye Borgman (Girl in the Picture, I Just Killed My Dad) is back with documentary series Sins of Our Mother, which debuted on the list with 24.39M hours viewed.  Viewers fell in love all over again with Jarrette, Iyanna, Deepti, Shayne and Natalie with the After the Alter special episodes from Season 2 of Love is Blind with 14.37M hours viewed. Stranger Things landed in the ninth spot with 13.48M hours viewed. And The Sandman closed out the list with 12.22M hours viewed.

Viewers didn’t detour from End of the Road as the action-thriller was #1 on the English Films List with 27.19M hours viewed and was in the Top 10 in 90 countries. In Do Revenge, director-writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson gives fans a fresh take on the ‘90s teen revenge drama. Starring Camila Mendes and Maya Hawke, the subverted Hitchcock-ian dark comedy entered the list with 26.67M hours viewed. Fans escaped to Italy with Love in the Villa. The rom-com had 8.87M hours viewed. Me Time brought viewers together as the buddy comedy had 7.91M hours viewed. The sinister film, starring Hugh Bonneville, I Came By, continued to keep fans entertained, pulling in 7.36M hours viewed.

Korean favorites kept fans coming back for more. Korean thriller Narco-Saints climbed the Non-English TV List, landing in the #1 spot with 62.65M hours viewed. Korean drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo had 21.97M hours viewed, Korean drama Little Women with 12.96M hours viewed and K-drama Alchemy of Souls with 10.89M hours viewed, all remained on the list. Meanwhile, Mexican thriller Diary of a Gigolo had 34.41M hours viewed and Mexican drama High Heat had 16.21M hours viewed. New series on the list included: Mexican drama El Rey, Vicente Fernández (22.71M hours viewed), Norwegian limited series The Lørenskog Disappearance (16.04M hours viewed) and Japanese anime Cyberpunk Edgerunners (14.88M Hours viewed).

For the second week, French drama No Limit topped the Non-English Films List with 25.49M hours viewed. Danish thriller Loving Adults had 4.9M hours viewed and moved up the Most Popular list to the ninth spot. Fans flocked to new titles, including the Italian drama The Catholic School, Polish drama Broad Peak, Indian drama Jogi and Japanese anime Drifting Home, which all debuted on the list.

To download Top 10 assets, visit Top10.netflix.com.

 

 

—

 

https://www.allkpop.com/article/2022/09/ha-jung-woo-joo-ji-hoon-shinees-minho-and-yeo-jin-goo-reportedly-making-new-travel-variety-show
Ha Jung Woo, Joo Ji Hoon, SHINee's Minho, and Yeo Jin Goo reportedly filming variety show in New Zealand

Posted by Dani-Dee | September 25, 2022

Ha Jung Woo, Joo Ji Hoon, SHINee's Minho, and Yeo Jin Goo are reportedly set to join an upcoming travel variety program.



According to XSports News on September 25 KST, the four celebrities are filming a new program in New Zealand. Sightings of the cast in New Zealand have already made their way through social media, and it is said that the broadcast schedule as well as the show's OTT structure are still being discussed.



Meanwhile, there is particular interest in how the chemistry between the stars will pan out. Ha Jung Woo and Joo Ji Hoon previously worked together on the 2019 film 'Kidnapped,' while Yeo Jin Goo played a younger version of Joo Ji Hoon in the 2008 film 'Antique.'


 

 

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2022/10/398_338404.html
Travel reality shows are back in the saddle

[Helena]

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/09/26/entertainment/television/NarcoSaints-Netflix-Cho-Bonghaeng/20220926144703739.html
Fact is wilder than fiction when it comes to Netflix's 'Narco Saints'

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr] | September 26, 2022

Netflix’s hit original series “Narco-Saints” is inspired by true events. The show revolves around a character that is based on drug lord named Cho Bong-haeng who was active in Suriname from late the 1990s to early 2000s and the mission by the NIS, Drug Enforcement Administration and an ordinary entrepreneur to catch him.[NETFLIX]

It’s the early 2000s — you are a typical Korean man in your 40s, an ambitious entrepreneur who’s launched a business in the far-away country of Suriname in South America, hoping to reap success as the breadwinner of your family. However, your plans go up in flames when your business partner commits fraud, leaving you at a loss about what to do.  

It seems like you’re at the darkest hour of your life, when you’re suddenly contacted by the National Intelligence Service (NIS). They want your help to catch your business partner — who astonishingly turns out to be a drug lord whose name is on Interpol’s most-wanted list. 

Sounds familiar? It’s the loose summary of the first two episodes of Netflix Korea’s popular original series “Narco-Saints,” which revolves around an ordinary entrepreneur portrayed by Ha Jung-woo, who strikes a deal with secret agents to go undercover to capture a Korean drug lord, portrayed by Hwang Jung-min, who is active in Suriname under the guise of a pastor. 

Many would be surprised to know the series is based on the real story of a drug lord named Cho Bong-haeng who operated a massive trafficking organization in Suriname between the late 1990s and early 2000s, and an ordinary entrepreneur who went undercover for the NIS to infiltrate the drug organization with the ultimate purpose of capturing Cho. 

Cho was captured at Sao Paulo International Airport in July 2009, and was transferred back to Korea in 2011 where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine of 100 million won. While Cho’s crimes were reported in detail by prosecutors and media, exactly how the drug lord was captured was shrouded in mystery. 

Entrepreneur K

One of the main figures in Cho’s capture was later revealed to be the ordinary entrepreneur, only known to the public by his initial K. His background and his involvement in the NIS mission was revealed in October 2011 in an exclusive interview with the JoongAng Sunday, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily. 

Ha Jung-woo portrays a character based on a man only known by the initial K. K was initially contacted by the NIS after he lost his business due to fraud by Cho Bong-haeng. [NETFLIX]

The Korea JoongAng Daily compared the article written by journalist Kang Kap-saeng and excerpts from the Netflix series’ by director Yoon Jong-bin and actor Ha, who had their own meeting with K, to compare the true story and the on screen adaptation.  

Yoon wrote script based on evidence compiled by prosecutors and the NIS, including recordings of K during undercover operations. 

“What I was most curious about K was this man’s motive behind dedicating three years of his life, away from his home and family, to work undercover for a spy agency,” Yoon said at a press interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, on Sept. 15, explaining that he interviewed K three times to get detailed information about his journey. 

“My first impression of K was that he was like a soldier, a sergeant,” Yoon said. “He looked really rough, someone who’s really gone through the mill — his skin was really tan, and I was immediately convinced that if it was someone like him put in the operation, he could pull it off.” 

“K and his family visited us on our second day on the set, and I felt great energy from him,” Ha said. “Even though he's of an old age, he looked brawny and energetic enough that he could still climb up a mountain in the blink of an eye. 

“Like his character, he was the breadwinner from a young age and is known to have had a tough life to provide for his family,” Ha said. “I came to learn that he played a huge role in the Suriname operation.” 

K first came to know Cho in 2006, when he partnered up with a friend to invest his entire fortune of 200 million won to launch his own business in Suriname. Instead of importing fish as in the Netflix series, his business was to supply welding rods for ships. Cho was his friend’s business partner. 

“The business flourished, but Cho was the middleman,” K said during the 2011 interview. “But Cho didn’t pay us anything. When we brought the issue up, he gave lame excuses, saying that [the clients] didn’t pay him. After some time, I got used to the language and the geography and personally visited them [the clients]. They told me they all gave the money to Cho. He snatched the money in the middle [...] That all happened in the three months after I arrived in Suriname. We tried as best as we could to revive the business, but there was no way, so I requested for help from the Korean embassy in Venezuela in November 2007.” 

Cho Bong-haeng

Cho, unlike the drug lord/pastor as the series paints him, did not start off his life of crime with drugs. He first arrived to Suriname in the 1980s and stayed there for eight years as a marine engineer. His life of crime began in Korea when he stole 1 billion won under the pretense that it was being used for the construction of buildings. When he began to be investigated by police, he fled to Suriname, obtained nationality in 1995 and set up his own fish factory, which was a cover-up for oil theft. He turned to drugs as smuggling oil grew more difficult due to escalating prices and rigid trade control. 

Hwang Jung-min, on the far left, portrays portrays the character based on the drug lord Cho Bong-haeng. Unlike in the series, Cho did not disguise himself as a pastor for his crimes. [NETFLIX]

Cho was a natural at persuasion, skilled at drawing people to his side and networking. He had good relationships with high-ranking officials and police, and was well-acquainted with the former Surinamese president Desi Bourtese, who, during the time of Cho’s crime, was a military strongman. 

However, the real Cho was no pastor. Yoon added this plot point for the story’s plausibility. 

“I thought, what kind of person and what profession would feel reliable, trustworthy, while simultaneously give out the vibe that he is a man of authority,” Yoon said. “And only the profession of a pastor came to my mind. I personally have no feelings against the church.” 

Cho turned his full attention to drug smuggling when his oil trafficking business failed. He used Koreans in Suriname as drug mules, targeting poor housewives and college students, saying that he would give them 4 to 5 million won to carry jewelry — which contained cocaine — to Europe. 

One of the housewives, who claimed she had no idea that she was carrying drugs, was caught and arrested in France in October 2004. She was 37 years old. Only known by her surname Jang, her story was adapted into a film “Way Back Home” (2013). 

When asked about Cho’s current whereabouts, Yoon replied that it remains “unknown, as both the NIS and prosecutors said that they can’t reveal that information.” 

On Sept. 17, local media outlet Channel A reported that Cho had died on April 19, 2016, at a hospital in Gwangju. He was 64 years old. His cause of death was noted as high blood pressure and heart failure. 

Cho served five years of his sentence at a prison in Haenam, South Jeolla, before he was released due to poor health. 

K the father

During the 2011 interview, K said he agreed to help the NIS because he “didn’t want to be a disgraceful father” to his two daughters and son. 

“If I leave here now, I would only be a loser, and I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything if I go back to Korea,” K said. 

To catch Cho’s attention, K intentionally went around the region causing havoc in casinos and clubs. With the NIS and Drug Enforcement Administration, K convinces Cho that he should be the middleman between Cho and a fictional Korean-American drug dealer active in Korea. 

 

Spoiler

Ha, who had met with K on the set of the series, described him as “brawny and energetic.” Director Yoon Jong-bin described K as “as someone who’s really gone through the mill.” [NETFLIX]

The real events seem to be even more preposterous than the series. Unlike K's character, who had NIS agents by his side to infiltrate the drug organization, K was alone in dealing with Cho. 

K slept with a gun underneath his pillow and admitted that there were times he questioned his choice. 

“If something went wrong, I was worried I’d never get to see my family again,” he said. “By then, however, I'd gone too far to go back.” 

Cho was caught in Brazil in July 2009, reluctantly drawn out by K under the pretense that the drug dealer demanded to meet Cho in person before closing the big deal. One of the biggest difficulties in capturing Cho was that there was no extradition treaty between Suriname and Korea at the time. 

When Yoon asked K his reason behind letting his story be adapted into a series, K said his story was all he had left of his adventure in Suriname. 

 

Spoiler

Unlike the character based on him in the series who had assistance from other undercover agents, K was alone in infiltrating the drug trafficking organization. [NETFLIX]

“I went to Suriname for my business to earn money but instead ended up losing all of it, and spent the most important three years of my life away from my family,” he said. “There’s nothing left [of this journey] but my story. Even when I tell my colleagues or friends about it, they don’t believe me. They treat me as a madman.” 

Yoon said K’s thoughts were reflected for the ending of the last episode. 

“It was very moving,” Yoon said, “that this ordinary man gave his story without any intention of profit, but just for the sake of having his story told.”  

[Helena]

https://top10.netflix.com/tv-non-english
Global Top 10 [ SEPTEMBER 19 - SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 ]


Weekly Top 10 list of most-watched TV (Non-English)

Spoiler

 

 

 

——

 

[2022-10-08] Korea Drama Awards 2022

 

Grand Prize: Ha Jung-woo (Narco-Saints)

 

Spoiler

 

photos: Naver

[Helena]

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/PYH20221013272200315
Actor Ha Jung-woo meets fans at BIFF

2022-10-13 21:44:14

 

Actor Ha Jung-woo speaks during a meeting with fans at a theater in the southeastern city of Busan on Oct. 13, 2022, during the 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). (Yonhap)

(END)


 

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

 

—

 

https://kbizoom.com/narco-saints-ha-jung-woo-i-was-worried-that-a-6-hour-movie-would-be-boring/
“Narco-Saints” Ha Jung-woo: “I was worried that a 6-hour movie would be boring” [27th BIFF]

By minnyoo | October 13, 2022

 

Spoiler

Actor Ha Jung-woo (45) introduced the Netflix drama “Narco-Saints” as “It was like a six-hour movie because the story was huge.”

 

Ha Jung-woo said at the Actors House held at the KNN Tower KNN Theater in Udong, Haeundae-gu, Busan on the afternoon of Oct 13th, “Movies usually has 2-3 hours to express its characters, but ‘Narco-Saints’ took up a long time of six hours. Movies can express the character in detail and density, but I was worried that people who watched such a long drama would feel bored or excessive when following the characters,” he explained.

Talking about meeting viewers around the world as Kang In-gu in the Netflix drama “Narco-Saints” in September, he stressed, “I filmed this long drama with caution so that it wouldn’t look boring.“

Ha Jung-woo went on to say, “When I saw the character named Kang In-gu, I wondered, ‘Does this make sense?’ I couldn’t believe a civilian could get into and struggle to survive in such a situation. The viewers probably thought, ‘How could someone live like that?’ While filming, I talked with director Yoon Jong-bin and adjusted the level,” he explained.

He was surprised to hear that the story was based on a real character, saying, “In the first part, I explained Kang In-gu’s ability as a civilian to give a justification to the character Kang In-gu. It was like building a subtext for him to survive,” he said. “Kang In-gu then met Pastor Jeon Yo-han, his subordinates Choi Chang-ho and Chang Chen.” Each person he met, he has a different reaction for them. The way he deals with them is different, but I adjusted it in detail while talking to director Yoon. Like how Kang In-gu improved his ability to speak English, I discussed with director Yoon while filming,” he explained his process of interpreting the character.

Meanwhile, Ha Jung-woo entered the film industry after winning the Rookie of the Year award for his first starring role in director Yoon Jong-bin’s independent film “The Unforgiven” (2005). Since then, his roles in “The Chaser” and “Beastie Boys” started to attract attention in earnest in 2008. Ha has appeared in “My Dear Enemy,” “Take Off” (2009), “The Yellow Sea” (2010), “Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time” (2012), “The Berlin File” (2013), “The Terror Live” (2013), “Assassination” (2015), and “The Handmaiden” (2016).

Actor House, which marks its second anniversary this year, is a section in which contemporary Korean actors that have both acting skill and star characters tell in-depth stories about their acting career and works. At the Busan Film Festival, the entire proceeds of this event, which began last year, will be donated to Save the Children to practice good deeds.

Source: nate

 

—

[ Satoshi Tsumabuki‘s instagram post ] 
Ha Jung-woo and Japanese actor Satoshi Tsumabuki (starred together in 2009 movie ‘Boat’) met again in Busan.

 

[Helena]

[2022-10-14] Incheon Airport Departure

Spoiler

photos…

 

—

[2022-10-15] 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala

Photos -> https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?events=775788225

Photos-> https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?events=775886282

 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: (L-R) Jung Woo-sung, Lee Byung-hun, Youn Yuh-jung, Honoree Miky Lee, Ha Jung-woo, and Director Yoon Jong-bin attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 2nd Annual Gala presented by Rolex at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures)

Spoiler

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Director Yoon Jong-bin, Jung Woo-sung, and Ha Jung-woo arrive at the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison /Getty Images)

 

 

[ Michelle Yeoh‘s instagram post ] 

(from left) Jung Woo-sung, Michelle Yeoh, Miky Lee, ?, director Yoon Jong-bin, Ha Jung-woo

 

[ Jonas Wood‘ instagram post ]
With LA based contemporary artist Jonas Wood

 

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20221017002300315
CJ Group's Lee Mie-kyung receives Pillar Award at U.S. Academy Museum gala

By ejkim@yna.co.kr | October 17, 2022

Korean entertainment giant CJ Group executive Lee Mie-kyung (6th from L), widely known as Miky Lee, as well as Korean actors and directors attend a gala event hosted by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2022, in this photo provided by photographer Tyrell Hampton. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Korean entertainment giant CJ Group executive Lee Mie-kyung has received the Pillar Award from the U.S. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for her contribution to the cinema industry, CJ ENM said Monday.

Lee, widely known as Miky Lee, was honored at the second annual Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala held Saturday (local time) in Los Angeles, according to CJ Group's media and entertainment arm.

Lee is behind K-pop's global success and "Parasite" (2019), the first foreign language film in history to win the Oscar for best picture. She also served as a production manager of other films released this year, including director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" and director Hirokazu Koreeda's "Broker."

Korean directors, including Park and Yoon Jong-bin, as well as actors Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung and Ha Jung-woo participated in the gala event. (END)

[Sleepy Owl]

   Event: Accidental Kisses in Dramaland

 

Accidents do happen, and so do kisses! Combine them both and we get Accidental Kisses! Come and vote for your most favorite Accidental Kisses! 

 

 

 

Your Event Organizers, 

@Sleepy Owl, @partyon, @agenth, @confusedheart

[Helena]

https://variety.com/2022/film/asia/korean-producer-barunson-international-ventures-afm-slate-1235412447/
‘Parasite’ Producer Barunson E&A Launches International Ventures, Debut Slate at AFM

By Patrick Frater | Oct 24, 2022

Barunson E&A, the Korean production company best known for its role on Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” is to expand into the international market for rights sales and separately into cross-border financing and co-production. Its sales initiative will debut at the American Film Market in Santa Monica next week.

The rights sales operation is to be headed by former CJ Entertainment staffer Choi Yoonhee set as MD of Korean and international operations, and former K-Movie executive Eunyoung (Sylvie) Kim as head of the international business division. They will open the doors at AFM with three feature films and a TV show.

The films include: “Nocturnal,” a gritty mystery action produced by Sanai Pictures (“Hunt,” “The Spy Gone North”); “Honeysweet,” a romantic comedy written by director Lee Byung-hun (“Extreme Job”); and “Love Reset,” a quirky romantic comedy about a couple losing their memories in the midst of a divorce.

 

‘Nocturnal | Night Journey | 야행’ (Director: Kim Jin-hwang. Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Kim Nam-gil, Yoo Da-in)

 

The TV series is an unscripted golf and travel reality show called “Birdie Boys,” riffing on Korea’s obsession with golf and involving five K-Pop stars Leeteuk and Shindong of Super Junior, Nichkun of 2PM, Baek-ho of Nu’Est and Kan Min-hyuk of Cnblue.

The company has already announced its attachment on the next two features from director “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho. Barunson is also attached to projects from director Kim Sung-hoon (Netflix’s “Kingdom” and “A Hard Day”; director Kim Jee-woon (“The Good, the Bad, the Weird,” Apple TV+s “Dr. Brain”); director Lee Yong-ju (“Seo Bok” “Architecture 101”; and writer Moon Ji-won (“Extraordinary Attorney Woo”).

The second strand of the international outreach will operate earlier in the production cycle focusing on co-production and film finance.

They describe their mission as “representing creative and daring projects from across the world, while its co-production and financing operations aspire to produce globally successful content with world-renowned talent, placing no restrictions on film or serial format, scale, genre, location, and language.”

Both moves reflect a growing global appetite for Korean content, growing familiarity with the country’s filmmaking talent, and moves by leading Korean practitioners to secure better rights and deal terms.

Larger Korean companies have ridden the Korean wave and expanded overseas through acquisitions, such as CJ ENM’s purchase of Endeavor Content (now renamed as Fifth Wave); JTBC Studios’ acquisition of Wiip; and Naver’s purchase of Wattpad.

Barunson has been in operation since 1996 and now has a stock market listing and a span of interests that stretch from film and TV to K-Pop and from healthcare to green investing.

“Parasite” was produced with CJ Entertainment, which also handled the Korean theatrical release and international sales.

Spoiler

https://www.screendaily.com/news/parasite-production-outfit-barunson-eanda-reveals-plans-to-go-global-with-new-sales-and-financing-arm-/5175720.article
‘Parasite’ production outfit Barunson E&A reveals plans to go global with new sales and financing arm

BY MICHAEL ROSSER | 24 OCTOBER 2022

 

SOURCE: BARUNSON E&A
‘PARASITE’

Barunson E&A, the South Korean production company behind Oscar-winner Parasite, is to expand into international co-production, financing and sales, beginning at the American Film Market next week.

The Seoul-based firm will divide its global operations into a sales division and a co-production and financing division, and is set to present an initial line-up of three features and a reality TV series at the AFM.

Korean and international operations will be overseen by Yoonhee Choi as managing director while Sylvie Eunyoung Kim will lead the global business as head of international division.

Formerly at CJ ENM, Choi led the overseas distribution of award-winning titles such as Parasite, The Handmaiden and The Spy Gone North, and produced three titles in 2021 including Seo Bok, Hard Hit and Nothing Serious.

Kim previously worked at K-Movie Entertainment, leading the overseas distribution of films such as The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, which is set to be remade by Paramount; Spiritwalker, which is being remade by Lorenzo di Bonaventura; and The Roundup, which is Korea’s highest grossing film of 2022 to date.

Barunson’s AFM slate will include Nocturnal, a mystery action feature produced by Sanai Pictures, producers of Hunt and The Spy Gone North; Honeysweet, a romantic comedy written by director Lee Byung-hun of Extreme Job, Korea’s second highest grossing film; and Love Reset, a romantic comedy about a couple losing their memories during a divorce.

The line-up also includes Birdie Boys, an unscripted golf and travel reality show with five K-Pop idol stars, Leeteuk and Shindong of Super Junior, Nichkhun of 2PM, Baek-Ho of Nu’est, and Min-Hyuk Kang of CNBLUE.

In addition, Barunson’s slate includes the next two features from Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, as well as projects from Kingdom director Kim Sung-hoon; The Good, The Bad, The Weird filmmaker Kim Jee-woon; Seo Bok director Lee Yong-ju; and writer Moon Ji-won of Netflix hit Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

In a statement, the company said: “Moving forward, Barunson E&A’s sales line-up aims to represent creative and daring projects from across the world, while its co-production and financing operations aspire to produce globally successful content with world-renowned talent, placing no restrictions on film or serial format, scale, genre, location, and language.”

 

——

https://zapzee.net/2022/10/26/ju-ji-hoon-yeo-jin-goo-ha-jung-woo-and-shinees-choi-minho-confirmed-to-star-in-a-new-variety-show/
Ha Jung Woo, Ju Ji Hoon, SHINee’s Choi Minho and Yeo Jin Goo Confirmed to Star in a New Variety Show

By HANA LEE

Credit: Walk House Company, H& Entertainment, SM Entertainment, Janus

A new travel variety show starring Ha Jung Woo, Ju Ji Hoon, SHINee’s Choi Minho and Yeo Jin Goo will premiere during the Lunar New Year holiday season next year.

According to OSEN’s reports on October 25th, the upcoming variety show Ticketing with Two Feet (literal title) will be released on TVING next year over the Lunar New Year holiday season.

Ticketing with Two Feet is a travel variety show that features four stars—Ha Jung Woo, Ju Ji Hoon, Choi Minho and Yeo Jin Go— embarking on an exciting journey together in New Zealand. Ha Jung Woo, who has a serious passion for walking and even published a book called Walker, Ha Jung Woo, will be on the road trip with his friends Ju Ji Hoon, Choi Minho and Yeo Jin Goo.

The new program in its planning stage is already garnering attention for its star-studded cast as it’s a rare opportunity to see the four stars together in one show.

Ha Jung Woo recently received favorable reviews for his role in Netflix series Narco-Saints. All eyes are now on whether he will continue his momentum with this upcoming variety show.  

Source (1)

[Helena]

WWD KOREA November issue

Spoiler

 

 

walkhousecompany: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkN5nOjAiQ1/

 

Official:  WWW KOREA | Instagram | Youtube | Twitter | tiktok | Blog

 

 

——

On 10/13/2022 at 10:37 PM, Helena said:

[ Satoshi Tsumabuki‘s instagram post ] 
Ha Jung-woo and Japanese actor Satoshi Tsumabuki (starred together in 2009 movie ‘Boat’) met again in Busan.

 

[ Sakura Ando’s instagram post ]

Actor HA Jung-woo, Japanese actors Satoshi TSUMABUKI, Sakura ANDO, Masataka KUBOTA

 

On the 18th, Japanese actress Sakura ANDO uploaded a photo of her along with HA Jung-woo, Satoshi TSUMABUKI, and Masataka KUBOTA.  Satoshi TSUMABUKI, Sakura ANDO, and Masataka KUBOTA recently visited Busan to attend the 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) for their movie 'A Man' which was selected as the closing film. HA Jung-woo visited BIFF to attend Actors House on the 13th.

 

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221026000655
Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon to star in Tving’s ‘Bros on Foot’

 

By Lee Si-jin (sj_lee@heraldcorp.com) | Oct 26, 2022 

 

From left: Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon, Choi Min-ho and Yeo Jin-goo (WalkHouse Company, H& Entertainment, SM Entertainment, Janus Entertainment)

It has been confirmed that top actors Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon will star in the Tving entertainment series titled “Bros on Foot.”

The local streaming service announced Wednesday that its upcoming show will be available in the first half of 2023.

Aside from the two veteran actors, young stars Yeo Jin-goo and Choi Min-ho, widely known as Minho of K-pop boy group SHINee, are also part of the main cast.

The four actors will be challenged with mysterious missions and quests on their journey abroad. When asked whether the show will be shot in a walkathon format, a Tving official said it could not provide further details.

“The content creators and staff are still in talks about who will be given a chance to participate and how many episodes the series will have," the official told The Korea Herald. Young people will be invited to participate in the project, giving those who have not been able to travel freely during the pandemic a chance to go abroad.

“Bros on Foot” will be Ha’s first unscripted show. The actor has not hosted any variety programs since his debut in the 2003 romance film “Madeleine.” It will also be the first time for Ju, who debuted in SBS sitcom “Apgujeong House” (2004).

One of the highly anticipated Tving titles of 2023, “Bros on Foot” will be created by production company Studio Gaon, which was behind Netflix’s “Busted!” series (2018-2021) and Disney+'s “The Zone: Survival Mission,” and TV director Lee Se-young of the hit SBS show “Master in the House.”

[Helena]

https://k-odyssey.com/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065594640388635
S.Korean first person shooter game 'Sudden Attack' releases 'Narco Saints' characters

YonhapNews / 2022-10-27 15:30:54
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Joonha Yoo)

▲This photo provided by NEXON shows characters from 'Narco Saints.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

▲This photo, provided by Nexon, shows poster of 'Narco Saints' character release. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
 

SEOUL October 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Game development company Nexon’s first person shooting game “Sudden Attack” released two of the characters from Netflix series “Narco-Saints,” Hwang Jung-min and Ha Jung-woo, addressed Nexon on Thursday.


Game characters represent characters Jeon Yo-hwan acted by Hwang Jung-min and Kang In-gu acted by Ha Jung-woo, and it will feature unique expressions and voice recorded by individual actors.


Players using the unique skins to play “Survival Mode” will receive extra 50 percent of experience points and numerous functions beneficial to the players will be available throughout the mode.


Moreover, to raise the awareness of the importance of information security, Nexon is hosting “Sudden Shield Campaign” and are providing event items to those who us OTP service which increases users security measures. (END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved

 

Spoiler

 

Cr: https://youtube.com/user/SuddenAttackmkt 

 

[Helena]

 

Spoiler

 

sr: [ + y_daoni ]

——

[Helena]

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221027000098
'Midnightluv' at Andtree Gallery invites viewers to innermost stories of four artists

By Park Yuna (yunapark@heraldcorp.com) | Oct 27, 2022

 

Spoiler

"Camel in Rain" by Yun Song-a (Andtree Gallery)

Love and comfort are what some people seek from art. The exhibition at Andtree Gallery in Seoul touches the heart with paintings by four artists that reveal their innermost thoughts and life experiences.

The exhibition “Midnightluv” at Andtree Gallery in southern Seoul, held by ArtTechTree and Connect Art, was inspired by Woody Allen's fantasy and romance film “Midnight in Paris.” Sixty-three paintings by Yun Song-a, Koh Yeo-myoung, Ha Jung-woo and Lee Tae-sung are on display at the exhibition which opened Tuesday and runs through Nov. 18.

Koh has explored needles as a subject. Needles which can hurt us is also used to stitch up wounds, healing people -- the reason why the paintings of needles evokes an ambivalent feeling in the viewer.

Yun has painted camels to portray people. Rather than criticizing the world of today, she focuses on delivering hope with the camels she paints from imagination. Just as humps are an essential part of camels -- humps store nourishment -- greed and desire are what drive humans. Her camel painting was featured in the TV drama “It’s Okay, That’s Love” in 2014.

"Untitled" by Ha Jung-woo (Andtree Gallery)

Lee and Ha are well known as actors who have expanded their career as painters. Ha started painting when he felt stalled as an actor, according to the gallery. His self- portraits and portraits of his acquaintances are done in bold colors, yet capture subtle facial nuances. Lee's abstract paintings, meanwhile, feature numerous brush strokes as if they embody the countless relationships we build throughout life.



Artist panel sessions with Yun, Lee and Koh will take place Nov. 3, 8 and 10, respectively, at the gallery. Part of the proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to Sun Blanket Foundation, a nonprofit art foundation that supports young artists, and some will go toward supporting young painter Kim Ha-min with painting materials.

Spoiler

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221028000472
ArtTechTree, Connect Art donate scholarship to 13-year-old 'painting prodigy'

 

By Lim Jae-seong By Lim Jae-seong (forestjs@heraldcorp.com) | Oct 28, 2022

 

ArtTechTree CEO Yoo Seo-yeon introduces "painting prodigy" Kim Ha-min to the audience at the exhibition "Midnightluv" on Thursday. (Lim Jae-seong/The Korea Herald)

Thirteen-year-old "painting prodigy" Kim Ha-min received a scholarship from ArtTechTree and Connect Art, the operators of the contemporary art exhibition “Midnightluv,” at Andtree Gallery in southern Seoul on Thursday.

Kim received a 2 million won ($1,410) scholarship, which came from the profits from the exhibition, where 63 pieces of works by four artists are on display.

“ArtTechTree and Connect Art joined hands with The Korea Herald to support young art talents. One of the 'Midnightluv' exhibition’s purposes is to raise funds for the support program,” said Yoo Seo-yeon, CEO of ArtTechTree, at the ceremony.

 

Display of grape-themed works by photographer and painter Koh Yeo-myoung at exhibition "Midnightluv" (Lim Jae-seong/The Korea Herald)

Kim, dubbed a "painting prodigy" by local media in 2017, has collaborated with Italian painter Mimmo Paladino, published picture books and held individual exhibitions more than four times across South Korean cities.

Before the award ceremony, Kim gave an impromptu drawing performance at the exhibition, which caught many visitors' eyes.

“It is grateful to have this chance," said Kim. "I realized that I can draw without getting nervous in front of a large audience. It was fun."

“We have carried out many projects for young artists, but Kim Ha-min is the first art prodigy we selected to support,” Yoo said. “We will continue our efforts to support talented children,” she added.

 

Painter Yun Song-a's camel-themed works are displayed at exhibition "Midnightluv." (Lim Jae-seong/The Korea Herald)

The exhibition "Midnightluv," held under the theme of love, showcases paintings by artists Yun Song-a, Koh Yeo-myoung, Ha Jung-woo and Lee Tae-sung. The pieces at the exhibition are being sold as a physical artwork or as a non-fungible token. Part of the sales profits are allocated to support burgeoning artists, including young talents.

The exhibition, which opened Tuesday, runs through Nov. 18.

 

[Helena]

https://www.screendaily.com/features/afm-2022-hot-projects-from-korea/5176042.article
AFM 2022: hot projects from Korea

BY JEAN NOH | 1 NOVEMBER 2022

South Korean sellers are bringing fresh titles to AFM — from Don Lee’s latest action franchise film to horror, comedy and a remake of a Taiwanese time-travel romance.

 

Nocturnal
Dir. Kim Jin-hwang
An action thriller from the director of The Boys Who Cried Wolf, this film stars Ha Jung-woo, whose recent credits include Netflix series Narco-­Saints. Nocturnal also stars Kim Nam-gil (Emergency Declaration) and Yoo Da-in (I Don’t Fire Myself). It follows a former gangster who finds his younger brother dead and sets out to find the prime suspect — his late sibling’s missing wife. His hunt for the truth involves his untrust­worthy former crime syndicate as well as the police, who are in hot pursuit. Sanai Pictures (Hunt, The Spy Gone North) is producing. Nocturnal is in post-­production and set for release in 2023.
Contact Barunson E&A (intl@barunsonena.com)

 

SCREEN - AmericanFilmMarket2022 Day 1

 

—

https://www.screendaily.com/news/koreas-showbox-seals-raft-of-deals-on-don-lees-men-of-plastic-exclusive/5175969.article

[BY JEAN NOH | 1 NOVEMBER 2022] …At the AFM this week, Showbox is also selling Ransomed, an action drama directed by Kim Seong-hun (Netflix series Kingdom) and starring Ha Jung-woo (Netflix’s Narco-Saints) with Ju Ji-hoon (Kingdom), as well as Another Record: Into The Daydream, a documentary directed by Yoon Dan-bi (Moving On), which follows actor Lee Je-hoon, star of Time To Hunt among other titles, on- and off-screen. 

[Helena]

On 12/15/2021 at 1:10 AM, Helena said:

Gallup Korea "Movie Stars Who Shined the Year of 2021”
1. Lee Jung-jae - 39.7% <Squid Game> (NETFLIX drama)
2. Youn Yuh-jung - 18.9% <Minari>
3. Ma Dong-seok - 11.4% <Eternals>
4. Song Kang-ho - 8.8% <Parasite> <The King's Letters> (both 2019)
5. Lee Byung-hun - 7.0% <The Man Standing Next> (2020)
6. Hwang Jung-min - 5.6% <Hostage>
7. Gong Yoo - 3.6% <Seobok>
8. Jung Woo-sung - 3.5% <Steel Rain 2: Summit> (2020)
9. Kim Hye-soo - 2.6% <The Day I Died> (2020)
10. Zo In-sung - 2.5% <Mogadishu>

11. Ha Jung-woo - 2.2%

 

Source: https://www.gallup.co.kr/gallupdb/reportContent.asp?seqNo=1347

Koreans surveyed on their favorite Movie Stars who shined 
Survey Period: November 7~24, 2022

Participants: 1771 people (13+ years old) nationwide

 

Gallup Korea "Movie Stars Who Shined the Year of 2022”


1. Lee Jung-jae - 34.4% <HUNT> (producer, director, screenplay, starring)


2. Ma Dong-seok - 18.8% <The Roundup> (producer, planning, starring)
3. Song Kang-ho - 13.5% <Broker> <Emergency Declaration>


4. Youn Yuh-jung - 7.7% <Pachinko> (Apple TV+)

5. Hwang Jung-min - 6.5% <Narco-Saints> (Netflix), <HUNT> (friendship appearance)
5. Jung Woo-sung - 6.5% <HUNT>


7. Lee Byung-hun - 6.0% <Emergency Declaration>


8. Hyun Bin - 5.5% <Confidential Assignment 2>
9. Yoo Hae-jin - 5.2%  <Confidential Assignment 2> <The Night Owl>

10. Son Suk-ku - 5.0% <The Roundup>

11. Ha Jung-woo (4.4%)
12. Kim Hye-soo (3.1%)
13. Park Hae-il (2.1%)
14. Choi Min-sik (1.9%)
15. Gong Yoo (1.8%)
16. Han Suk-kyu (1.3%)
17. Ahn Sung-ki (1.2%) 

Spoiler

 

 

 

2007-2022

Spoiler

 

 

2007


1. Jeon Do-yeon (Secret Sunshine) - 49.7%


2. Song Kang-ho - 16.5%


3. Bae Yong-joon, Ahn Sung-ki - 6.4%


5. Sol Kyung-gu- 5.0%
 


 

2008

1. Song Kang-ho (The Good, The Bad, The Weird) - 13.1%


2. Son Ye-jin (My Wife Got Married) - 11.3%


3. Kim Hye-soo (Modern Boy) - 7.4%


4. Jeon Do-yeon (My Dear Enemy), Jang Dong-gun - 7.3%


6. Jung Woo-sung (The Good, The Bad, The Weird) - 6.1%


7. Ha Jung-Woo (The Chaser, My Dear Enemy) - 5.4%


 

2009

1. Lee Byung-hun - 20.1%


2. Jang Dong-gun - 17.9%


3. Sol Kyung-gu - 17.5%


4. Ha Ji-won - 14.3%


5. Jung Ji-hoon / Rain - 8.3%


 

2010


1. Won Bin (The Man from Nowhere) - 30.7%


2. Jang Dong-gun - 14.4%


3. Kang Dong-won - 11.6%


4. Lee Byung-hun - 6.4%


5. Song Kang-ho - 5.6%


 

2011

1. Won Bin - 11.3%


2. Park Hae-il - 9.5%


3. Jang Dong-gun - 8.8%


4. Kim Ha-neul (Blind) - 8.2%


5. Gong Yoo - 5.8%


6. Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho - 4.8%


8. Ha Ji-won - 3.1%


9. Ahn Sung-ki


10. Han Seok-kyu- 3.0%
 


 

2012


1. Lee Byung-hun - 37.6%


2. Song Joong-ki - 15%


3. Kim Hye-soo - 7.6%


4. Jang Dong-gun - 7.4%


5. Ha Jung-woo - 6.4%


6. Jeon Ji-hyun


7. Kim Yoon-seok


8. Park Bo-young - 4.2%


 

2013

1. Song Kang-ho - 22.5%


2. Ha Jung-woo - 18.9%


3. Lee Byung-hun - 18.0%


4. Ryu Seung-ryong - 10.1%


5. Sol Kyung-gu - 7.4%


6. Lee Jung-jae - 6.7%


7. Kim Hye-soo - 6.3%


8. Kim Soo-hyun - 5.7%


9. Jang Dong-gun - 3.7%


10. Jeon Ji-hyun - 2.8%


 

2014

1. Choi Min-sik - 42.3%


2. Song Kang-ho - 22.2%


3. Ryu Seung-ryong - 10.5%


4. Ha Jung-woo - 9.0%


5. Lee Byung-hun - 4.5%


6. Kang Dong-won - 4.2%


7. Sol Kyung-gu - 3.7%


8. Jung Woo-sung - 3.6%


9. Hyun Bin - 3.3%


10. Kim Soo-hyun - 3.2%
 


 

2015

1. Yoo Ah-in - 26.9%


2. Song Kang-ho - 20.3%


3. Hwang Jung-min - 16.1%


4. Jeon Ji-hyun - 14.2%


5. Ha Jung-woo - 11.8%


6. Choi Min-sik - 9.8%


7. Oh Dal-soo - 6.2%


8. Lee Jung-jae - 5.8%


9. Kang Dong-won - 4.2%


10. Yoo Hae-jin - 4.1%
 

 

2016


1. Hwang Jung-min - 21.2%


2. Song Kang-ho - 18.4%


3. Gong Yoo - 12.7%


4. Ha Jung-woo - 11.4%


5. Yoo Hae-jin - 10.8%


6. Lee Byung-hun - 9.6%


7. Lee Jung-jae - 6.3%


8. Jung Woo-sung - 6.2%


9. Jeon Ji-hyun - 5.4%


10. Ma Dong-seok - 5%


11. Song Joong-ki


12. Yoo Ah-in


13. Choi Min-sik


14. Kim Hye-soo


15. Kang Dong-won


15. Sol Kyung-gu


17. Jo Jin-woong


18. Son Ye-jin


19. Oh Dal-soo


20. Ra mi-ran
 


 

2017

1. Song Kang-ho - 35%


2. Ma Dong-seok - 17.8%


3. Lee Byung-hun - 12.6%


4. Hwang Jung-min - 8.1%


5. Ha Jung-woo, Sol Kyung-gu - 6.3%
 


 

2018


1. Ma Dong-seok - 19.9%


2. Ha Jung-woo - 18.6%


3. Lee Byung-hun - 11.2%


4. Song Kang-ho - 10.9%


5. Joo Ji-hoon - 7.3%


6. Yoo Hae-jin


7. Jung Woo-sung


8. Hwang Jung-min


9. Jo In-sung


10. Cha Tae-hyun


14. Kim Hye-soo


14.


16. Son Ye-jin


16.
 


 

2019


1. Song Kang-ho - 29.8%


2. Ma Dong-seok - 18.2%


3. Gong Yoo - 8.9%


4. Jo Jin-woong - 8.5%


5. Ha Jung-woo, Lee Byung-hun - 7.1%


7. Jung Woo-sung - 4.5%


8. Yoo Hae-jin - 4.1%


9. Hwang Jung-min - 3.6%


10. Honey Lee - 3.3%


Ryu Seung-ryong (3.0%), Lee Jung-jae (2.8%), Sol Kyung-gu (2.4%), Jung Yu-mi (2.2%), Ahn Sung-ki, Jang Dong-gun (2.1%), Jo Yeo-jung (2%), Ryu Jun-yeol (2.0%)
 


 

2020

1. Song Kang-ho - 27.8%


2. Lee Byung-hun - 14.0%


3. Ma Dong-seok - 9.1%


4. Hwang Jung-min - 7.5%


5. Jung Woo-sung - 6.2%


6. Gong Yoo - 5.9%


7. Ha Jung-woo - 4.0%


8. Lee Jung-jae - 3.6%


9. Kim Hye-soo - 3.5%


10. Lee Jung-eun - 3.4%


11. Kang Dong-won - 3.3%


12. Sung Dong-il - 2.9%


13. Yoo Ah-in - 2.7%


14. Yoo Hae-jin, Kwak Do-won - 2.4%


16. Son Ye-jin - 2.0%


17. Hyun Bin - 1.9%


18. Sol Kyung-gu - 1.6%


19. Choi Min-sik - 1.5%


20. Ahn Sung-ki, Jo Jung-suk - 1.4%


22. Lee Je-hoon, Han Suk-kyu, Park Bo-gum, Joo Ji-hoon - 1.3%


26. Jo Yeo-jung, Jo Jin-woong - 1.1%


28. Park Seo-joon, Jo In-sung, Jang Dong-gun - 1.0%

2021


1. Lee Jung-jae - 39.7% <Squid Game> (NETFLIX drama)


2. Youn Yuh-jung - 18.9% <Minari>


3. Ma Dong-seok - 11.4% <Eternals>


4. Song Kang-ho - 8.8% <Parasite> <The King's Letters> (both 2019)


5. Lee Byung-hun - 7.0% <The Man Standing Next> (2020)


6. Hwang Jung-min - 5.6% <Hostage>


7. Gong Yoo - 3.6% <Seobok>


8. Jung Woo-sung - 3.5% <Steel Rain 2: Summit> (2020)


9. Kim Hye-soo - 2.6% <The Day I Died> (2020)


10. Zo In-sung - 2.5% <Mogadishu>
11. Ha Jung-woo - 2.2%


12. Yoo Ah-in - 2.0%


13. Choi Min-sik - 1.8%


13. Seol Kyung-gu - 1.8%


15. Jung Ho-yeon - 1.6%


15. Song Joong-ki - 1.6%


17. Heo Sung-tae - 1.5%


18. Oh Yeong-su - 1.4%


19. Cha Seung-won - 1.2%
20. Cho Jin-woong - 1.0%

 

2022

1. Lee Jung-jae - 34.4% <HUNT> (producer, director, screenplay, starring)

2. Ma Dong-seok - 18.8% <The Roundup> (producer, planning, starring)


3. Song Kang-ho - 13.5% <Broker> <Emergency Declaration>

4. Youn Yuh-jung - 7.7% <Pachinko> (Apple TV+)


5. Hwang Jung-min - 6.5% <Narco-Saints> (Netflix), <HUNT> (friendship appearance)
5. Jung Woo-sung - 6.5% <HUNT>


7. Lee Byung-hun - 6.0% <Emergency Declaration>


8. Hyun Bin - 5.5% <Confidential Assignment 2>
9. Yoo Hae-jin - 5.2%  <Confidential Assignment 2> <The Night Owl>

10. Son Suk-ku - 5.0% <The Roundup>
11. Ha Jung-woo (4.4%)


12. Kim Hye-soo (3.1%)


13. Park Hae-il (2.1%)


14. Choi Min-sik (1.9%)


15. Gong Yoo (1.8%)


16. Han Suk-kyu (1.3%)


17. Ahn Sung-ki (1.2%) 

 

 

[Helena]

On 10/26/2022 at 5:59 AM, Helena said:

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221026000655
Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon to star in Tving’s ‘Bros on Foot’

 

https://zapzee.net/2022/12/22/ha-jung-woo-ju-ji-hoon-choi-minho-and-yeo-jin-goo-set-out-to-hit-the-roads-of-new-zealand/
Ha Jung Woo, Ju Ji Hoon, Choi Minho and Yeo Jin Goo Set out to Hit the Roads of New Zealand

By HANA LEE | December 22, 2022

 

Credit: TVING

TVING released the first look posters of its new travel variety show titled Ticketing With Two Feet (literal title) starring Ha Jung Woo, Ju Ji Hoon, Yeo Jin Goo and SHINee’s Choi Minho. 

Ticketing With Two Feet is a road trip variety show that follows four stars embarking on a journey on behalf of those who were stuck at home over the past few pandemic years. As the four versatile actors struggle more in the show, more tickets will be given to young viewes and participants of the show. Viewers are left wondering what kind of missions they will be carrying out in the beautiful nature of New Zealand. 

The teaser poster shares a sneak peek of the chemistry of Team Dream which will send random youths on vacation. The phrase “We are not the one you used to know” catches the viewers’ eyes. With veteran entertainers Choi Minho and Yeo Jin Goo at the center, veteran actors Ha Jung Woo and Ju Ji Hoon will be appearing as regular members in the upcoming variety show for the first time in their career. All eyes are on what will happen to the four of them during their trip. 

 

Credit: TVING

Another poster has Team Dream having a chat while walking on a fresh, green meadow.

Ticketing With Two Feet is set to premiere in January 2023.

 

Source: TVING

[Helena]

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230101000123
[Newsmaker] Hollywood blockbusters, pandemic-deferred films to open in 2023

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com) | Jan 1, 2023

The year that just ended was all about finally seeing a number of movies that began production prior to the pandemic. Despite better-than-expected ticket sales, having so many options to watch comfortably at home led many film buffs and moviegoers to stay inside.

How will upcoming movies this year impact ticket sales at the cinema? From Hollywood’s megasized projects to a variety of local films finally meeting audiences after enduring setbacks and delays due to the pandemic, following are some of the movies to look for in 2023.

Pre-pandemic productions to finally hit theaters

Director Kang Je-gyu, behind various hit films “Shiri” (1999), “Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War” (2004) and “Take Off” (2009), is unveiling “Road to Boston” this year. Based on Sohn Kee-jung’s life and the story of his preparation for the first international marathon held after World War II, the film featuring actors Ha Jung-woo and Yim Si-wan had already wrapped up in January 2020, and will finally meet with audiences.

“Road to Boston” (Lotte Entertainment)

The third and final film of a trilogy spanning major events in the life of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, “Noryang: Sea of Death” also hits local theaters this year. Directed by Kim Han-min, who released second film “Hansan: Rising Dragon” in July last year, it had completed filming in 2021. Kim Yoon-seok and Baek Yoon-sik star.

Director Yim Sang-soo’s “Heaven: To the Land of Happiness,” which was invited to the Cannes Film Festival in 2020, will be released this year as well, four years after the movie wrapped. The star-studded cast that includes Park Hae-il, Youn Yuh-jung and Choi Min-sik had caught people’s attention.

Director Kwon Hyuk-jae’s “Count” is also set to be unveiled three years after completing shooting. The movie featuring Jin Sun-kyu and Oh Na-ra tells the story of a former gold medalist and physical education teacher teaming up with a rebellious student against an unfair society.

Hollywood blockbusters to land in Korea

The return of a Tom Cruise film is undoubtedly among the most exciting news for avid action movie fans here. The seventh installment in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise “Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning Part One” will finally open after four previous delays. Director Christopher McQuarrie returns as writer, director and producer.  The movie is set to premiere in July in the US, and will open here at a similar time frame.

Indiana Jones also returns to the big screen after a 15-year hiatus with a brand-new protege in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” In the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones film series, Harrison Ford reprises his role as the titular archaeologist, with his face digitally deaged using the latest technology. The movie comes from James Mangold, director of Marvel film “Logan.”

Best known for his cerebral storytelling, writer-director Christopher Nolan presents his historical war drama “Oppenheimer,” centering on physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer working on the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the atomic bomb.

Return of top-grossing directors

Some of South Korea’s most famous directors are also returning with new projects.

Director Ryoo Seung-wan, behind “The Berlin File” (2013) and “Veteran” (2015), is coming back with a star-studded cast for “Smuggle.” Kim Hye-soo, Zo In-sung, Yeom Jung-ah and Park Jung-min appear in the film.

Director Park Hoon-jung, known for 2013’s “New World,” will present his signature action noir in “The Child,” featuring Kim Sun-ho portraying a professional boxer.

Director Kwak Kyung-taek of “Friend” (2001) will newly release the drama film “Firefighter,” based on a 2001 accident that took place in Hongje-dong, Seoul, claiming six lives.

 

“Extreme Job” (2019) director Lee Byeong-heon returns with comedy-drama “Dream,” featuring Park Seo-joon and Lee Ji-eun, telling the story of a former soccer coach training a national team of unhoused people for the Homeless World Cup.

Director Kang Hyeong-cheol, know for 2011 comedy “Sunny,” will release crime action film “Hi.5,” featuring actors Yoo Ah-in, Ra Mi-ran and Ahn Jae-hong. The film is set in the 1970s, telling a story of women divers living in a peaceful seaside village who gain superpowers over a night.

Prolific actors continue on big screen

Moviegoers can expect to see prolific actors like Hwang Jung-min, Lee Byung-hun and Ha Jung-woo on the big screen again this year.

Hwang will appear in action-comedy “Cross,” alongside actors Yeom Jung-ah and Jeon Hye-jin, which centers on the story of a former intelligence agent. Hwang plays the ex-agent who now lives as a devoted husband by hiding his past, while his wife, played by Yum, is an ace member of the crime investigation unit.

Lee returns with thriller “Concrete Utopia,” starring Park Seo-joon and Park Bo-young. The movie will be the first film of the series in a cinematic universe concept revolving around the "concrete universe," where survivors from a devastating earthquake gather at an isolated apartment building.

Meanwhile, “Reborn Rich” star Song Jung-ki will make an appearance on the silver screen with two new projects, crime drama “Bogota: City of the Lost” and noir drama “Hwaran,” which just wrapped up a few weeks ago.

Park Shin-yang also is set to return to the big screen after a decade with “Devil Stay,” an occult drama that revolves the awakening of the devil inside a dead daughter.

 

—

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/01/689_342758.html
Six movies to look out for in 2023

By Kwak Yeon-soo | 2023-01-01 17

Despite the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, cinema admissions last year were weaker than expected. A total of 986.3 million tickets were sold in the January-November period of 2022, up 89.3 percent from a year earlier. However, the figure remained below half (48.3 percent) of the pre-pandemic level (2019) due to a lack of mega-hit films.

Studios latched on to blockbusters including the sequels to "The Outlaws," "Roaring Currents" and "Avatar" to attract audiences back to theaters. Many of the films conceived and shot during the pandemic have been subject to repeated delays as cinemas saw a big drop in overall attendance.

While 2023 still looks somewhat grim, in terms of reaching pre-pandemic attendance levels, there is still room for cautious optimism. Here are six movies to look out for this year, ranging from intense thrillers to sweet romance films.

'Concrete Utopia'
"Concrete Utopia" is a post-apocalyptic film that boasts a stellar cast featuring Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon and Park Bo-young. Directed by Um Tae-hwa, who was behind "Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned" (2016), the film revolves around a few survivors who gather in an apartment complex after a massive earthquake demolishes Seoul.

'The Moon' (working title)
Sci-fi blockbuster "The Moon" is helmed by Kim Yong-hwa, the director behind commercially successful films "Take Off" (2009) and "Along with the Gods" (2017-2018) franchise. It centers on a man abandoned alone in space after an accident and another man on Earth looking to bring him home safely. It stars Seol Kyung-gu, Do Kyung-soo (EXO's D.O.) and Kim Hee-ae.

Production still images of the film, "The Moon" (working title) / Courtesy of CJ ENM

'Smuggle'
Ryu Seung-wan, the director of "The Berlin File" (2013), "Veteran" (2015) and "Escape from Mogadishu" (2021), is back behind the camera with "Smuggle." A crime thriller set in the 1970s amid the backdrop of a small seaside community, the story revolves around two women who accidentally become entangled in a high-stakes smuggling racket. It stars Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Zo In-sung and Park Jung-min.

'Wonderland'
Directed by Kim Tae-yong, the sci-fi fantasy film tells the story of a virtual world called "Wonderland." It is a place for people to experience a simulated reunion with a person they cannot meet again by using artificial intelligence. The film's star-studded cast includes Bae Suzy, Choi Woo-shik, Jung Yu-mi, Park Bo-gum, and the filmmaker's wife, Tang Wei.

'Kidnapped' (working title)
"Kidnapped," starring actors Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon, tells the story of Korean hostages captured in Beirut, Lebanon in the 1980s. This marks director Kim Seong-hun's return to the big screen following his hit Netflix series "Kingdom." Ha and Ju previously starred together in "Along with the Gods" film franchise. In January, the two are set to star in Tving reality show "Bros on Foot."

'Dream'
Director Lee Byeong-heon, who helmed "Extreme Job" (2019), will return with the comedy-drama film "Dream." Starring Park Seo-joon and Lee Ji-eun (IU), the film tells the story of a former soccer coach training a national team of rough sleepers for the Homeless World Cup. 

This year will also promise some long-awaited sequels including director Ryu's "Veteran 2," in which Jung Hae-in will appear as the new villain. "The Roundup: No Way Out," the third installment of "The Outlaws" film franchise is in the post-production stage. "Noryang: The Sea of Death," the final film of director Kim Han-min's trilogy about Yi Sun-shin's naval battles, is also expected to hit theaters sometime this year.