Korean Entertainment News Update (siri 2)

katt

News Index page 101

April 13, 2009: Celebrities Serving as Guardian of Documentaries
April 13: 'Boys Over Flowers' star visits Bangkok

katt

April 13, 2009

Celebrities Serving as Guardian of Documentaries



Entertainment stars and documentaries have been thought to be an odd combination, but that perception is now changing. Recently, stars have not only been lending their voices to, appearing in and producing documentaries, but are also becoming the subjects themselves.

◇ Celebrities taking active part in making documentaries

It is no longer unusual for a star to narrate a documentary, as the genre is trying to appeal to more viewers regardless of the topic dealt with.

Actor Kim Sang-kyung recently narrated a 揗BC Special

katt

April 13, 2009

'Boys Over Flowers' star visits Bangkok


Lee Min-ho

Lee Min-ho, the hero of the KBS drama "Boys Over Flowers," gave his Thai fans a happy surprise as he visited Bangkok last week to film a commercial.

The four-day visit from April 9-12 took place despite the escalating political tension in the Southeast Asian country where a state of emergency has been declared.

Hundreds of fans crowded the international airport to welcome the 22-year-old Korean actor upon his arrival on Thursday, although the Korean adaptation of Japanese manga "Boys Over Flowers" is yet to be aired in Thailand.

Some 40 media outlets participated in a press conference held on Sunday at the Esplanade Cineplex, a major shopping and entertainment center in Bangkok.

In his interview with Thai media, Lee said he is very thankful that people recognize him through "Boys Over Flowers," and expressed hope that he will have the opportunity to visit Thailand often.

Credits: iamhyol@heraldm.com via koreaherald.co.kr

katt

Weekly Box Office 2009.04.10 ~ 2009.04.12 3-day Gross/Total Gross (won)


Private Eye / Shadow Murder (image from daum.net)

1. Shadow Kill / Private Eye (South Korea) 2,072,053,000 / 7,069,765,000

2. Fast & Furious (U.S.) 931,651,500 / 3,060,868,675

3. My Home (South Korea) 577,630,000 / 677,179,500

4. Slumdog Millionaire (U.S.) 485,754,500 / 6,368,500,000

5. SUSPECT X (Japan) 302,741,500 / 348,346,500

6. New in Town (U.S.) 255,886,000 / 307,900,000

7. The Reader (U.K.) 240,070,500 / 2,580,404,500

8. The Uninvited (U.S.) 171,647,500 / 200,115,500

9. Confessions of a Shopaholic (U.S.) 132,383,000 / 1,984,787,500

10. Missing (South Korea) 118,275,500 / 4,152,246,500

Source: KOFIC

katt

April 13, 2009

'Private Eye' surpasses 1 million ticket mark

"Private Eye," a Korean film featuring Hwang Jung-min, topped the box office for the second week in a row, signaling a welcome development for the slump-laden domestic movie industry.

"Private Eye" drew some 300,000 viewers on the weekend alone and the total figure surpassed the 1 million mark, according to the Korean Film Council data. The film, released on April 2, centers on a private investigator who gets dragged into a high-profile murder case set in Seoul in 1910, while Korea is under Japanese colonial rule.

Hwang Jung-min, an award-winning actor, plays the title role with passion, helping the relatively unfamiliar genre movie succeed at the box office. The film, based on the debut director's script, won the 2005 Makdoongyi Screenplay Contest, and Hwang's character Jin-ho sets out to solve a murder case along with a budding physician Gwang-soo (Ryu Deok-hwan), who stumbles upon an abandoned corpse in a field.



A handful of Korean films tapped into the country's early 20th century to tepid reactions, but "Private Eye" is attracting more than 50,000 viewers on a weekday, suggesting that the 2 million mark will be achieved soon. The impressive performance of "Private Eye" is a long-awaited change for the Korean film industry beleaguered by declining profits and fewer projects amid the protracted economic downturn.

Last month, neither Korean nor foreign films attracted 1 million viewers. According to CJ CGV, a multiplex operator, theaters sold a total of 7.84 million tickets nationwide in March, down 17.8 percent from the year-earlier period. The Seoul metropolitan area drew in just 2.76 million moviegoers, the lowest level in four years.

"Old Partner," a Korean documentary, performed well in March but other movies, both domestic and foreign, tanked at the box office. Even "Watchmen," a Hollywood blockbuster, failed to pull off a success, selling just 580,000 tickets last month. The market share of Korean movies also slumped 8.4 percent on year to 37.9 percent.

But things are beginning to improve this month as "Private Eye" offers a fresh impetus to the industry and top-rated Korean filmmakers such as Park Chan-wook are set to return to the silver-screen battlefield.

Director Park's new film "Thirst" is scheduled to be released nationwide on April 30, a much-awaited date for his enthusiastic fans at home and abroad, as well as Korean theater operators.

"Thirst" tackles a traditionally Western subject of a vampire, but Park earlier expressed his confidence about the artistic and commercial appeal of the film. Park devoted an unprecedented amount of time and energy to the project in the past decade, and he also pulled off an investment and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures International, marking the first deal of its kind for a Korean film.

Another major factor to watch is Song Kang-ho, who plays a priest-turned-vampire in "Thirst." Song is widely regarded as one of the top Korean actors with strong mass appeal.

Together with Park's "Thirst," Korean moviegoers are also elated about the return of director Bong Joon-ho, renowned for hit film "The Host." Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja and Korean Wave star Won Bin will star in Bong's new film titled "Mother," a tale about a mother struggling to clear a false murder charge against her son.

Thanks to director Bong's international fame and Won Bin's popularity, "Mother" is attracting keen interest from foreign media as well. Local audiences are also interested in Kim Hye-ja's return to the big screen 10 years after she played a mother figure in "Mayonnaise."

By Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com) via koreaherald.co.kr

katt

April 14, 2009

Movie Review

Stunning ending polarizes audiences in sisterhood movie

By Shin Hae-in

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- There cannot be a halfway critique for this peculiar movie: you will either like it, or hate it.

At first, "Sisters on the Road (Jigeum idaeroga joayo)" puts itself forward as a melodrama of self-discovery as two half-sisters embark on a journey in search of the younger sibling's absentee father after the sudden death of their mother.



What awaits them and what audiences won't be prepared for, however, is an astonishing ending that will leave viewers pondering long after the credits roll. For perfectionist Myeong-eun, played by Shin Min-ah, family has always been a "ball-and-chain." From her headstrong mother and talkative half-sister to soft-spoken, odd, aunt, family has been a source of humiliation that she has grown to hate. Not having a father didn't help.

Traveling back to her hometown on Jeju Island for her mother's funeral, Myeong-eun musters up the courage to put her longstanding plan into action: visit her long lost father and give him a piece of her mind.

Myeong-ju, played by Gong Hyo-iin, accompanies her neurotic little sister on the journey. A quirky, ne'er-do-well fishmonger and a single mom, she soon confronts a dilemma of whether to tell Myeong-eun a family secret that has kept hidden for decades.



Directed by Bu Ji-young, the low-key indie film, funded by the Korea Film Council, debuted at the Pusan International Film Festival last year, drawing very mixed reviews.

"I wanted to create a special story about an all women family," the Ehwa Womans University graduate told audiences at the movie's premiere Monday. "I hope the movie will make you think about how the essence of what you've been searching for all your life may actually have been right next to you all along."

Putting aside the reviews, the performances by these two versatile actresses are a sheer delight. Both still in their 20s, Gong and Shin manage to create a formidable vehicle for delivering the somewhat abstruse subject of the film to viewers. True to her reputation as an actress who can "pull off the quirkiest roles," Gong does a superb job as the boisterous yet warmhearted elder sister who has learned life doesn't always turn out the way she planned.

Shin, whose attractive looks seem out-of-place in this kind of low-key setting, also shines as the somewhat sullen and overly busy businesswoman whose subdued performance as a recently bereft daughter is nothing short of amazing. Another pith of the film is the real-life bond between the two actresses who have been close friends since teenagers. "I just thought it would be fun to do a movie with Min-ah," Gong said, while Shin described the shooting as a "fun journey with a buddy."



Working -- at least up until the secret is revealed -- within familiar melodramatic conventions, "Sisters" is a great woman's story in terms of the sheer quality of emotions that elevate into a unique and poignant cinematic experience.

"Sometimes, Myeong-eun, you just have to know when to let go," the elder sister tells her sibling who falls into a fitful sleep after mourning about her dysfunctional family. "Mom did that, I did that. You must do that and so will my daughter."

Sandwiched between mega budget films such as "My Girlfriend is an Agent," "Insa-dong Scandal," and "Thirst," all lined up for releases this month, "Sisters" may have a hard time earning commercial success. On the bright side, domestic indie films have been gaining faithful fans in recent months with the success of "Old Partner," "Daytime Drinking" and "Breathless."

The film, with a running-time of 96 minutes, will open in local theaters on April 23.

Credits: hayney@yna.co.kr via yonhapnews.co.kr

[ Last edited by  katt at 14-4-2009 16:42 ]

katt

April 14, 2009

Princes, paupers and ... Cinderella?

"Cinderella" meets Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper" in MBC's brand new Wednesday and Thursday night series "Cinderella Man." Marrying a bit of fairytale magic with classic comedy, "Cinderella Man" is, in the words of director Yoo Jung-joon: "a tart and lively tale."

"This drama is about Cinderella and a Cinderella man," said scriptwriter Jo Yoon-young, who crafted the series around a romance between a modern-day pauper-turned-prince and a Cinderella with a sense of style.

Girls' Generation sweetheart Yoona plays the series' Cinderella, a student at a prestigious Paris-based fashion school who is forced to return home and eke out a living in a small store in Dongdaemun Market after the sudden death of her father.

Korean Wave star Kwon Sang-woo stars opposite the pop pixie. Determined, it seems, to give his nunchakus a rest and prove his mettle as a thespian, Kwon is tackling not one but two roles in the upcoming series, which hits the small screen tonight.



Riffing off the classic tale of a pauper and a prince who, upon realizing that they look alike, decide to swap roles, "Cinderella Man" entrusted actor Kwon with the daunting task of winning viewers over as both Oh Dae-san -- a work uniform coordinator struggling to make it in Dongdaemun Market -- and as Lee Joon-hee, the son of the chairman of a prominent fashion apparel group.

The decision to cast Kwon, however, may be a risky move. Not only is there a 14-year age gap between him and co-star Yoona, Kwon has been suffering from negative publicity regarding his marriage to actress Sohn Tae-young -- news reports say she was pregnant prior to the wedding -- and a controversial interview with movie magazine Premiere Korea. "I don't want to talk about my wife and child," said Kwon, whose wife recently gave birth to a baby boy, at a press conference on April 2.

When asked about the controversial interview, he answered: "I was truly dumbfounded. Of course one gets angry when the front and back of what one says is cut off, just to sell a magazine." The 32-year old actor, however, remained upbeat about his upcoming roles. "I think Oh Dae-san is a really funny and silly character," said Kwon.

Co-star Yoona closed the book on the age gap issue, stating: "I do not feel that there is a huge age difference." The girl group member cemented her reputation as an actress when she carried home two 45th Baeksang Arts Awards and the 2008 KBS Drama Award for Best Female Newcomer for her role in the KBS series "You Are My Destiny" (2008).

Co-star Kwon praised his 18-year old co-star at the press conference, calling her "very talented." Poised to further her career in the world of television, Yoona revealed that her upcoming role as a modern-day Cinderella involves a less than black-and-white ending. "Later on, I think she hesitates over whether or not to become a Cinderella," said the singer and actress.

The fusing of two popular classics, a liberal dose of fashion and not one but two big stars ensures MBC's "Cinderella Man" steady-if-not-successful ratings. Flanked by KBS' soap opera worthy "Again My Love" and SBS' dramatic "Cain and Abel," the sugar-spun fantasy also offers viewers a moment of respite from an otherwise heavy line-up.

"Cinderella Man" airs tonight at 9:55 p.m. on MBC.

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldm.com) via koreaherald.co.kr

katt

April 14, 2009

Rain to Hold Fashion Show in Hong Kong



Singer and actor Rain will hold a fashion show for his fashion brand "Six to Five" in Hong Kong in June, according to J.Tune Creative on April 10.

Working as a designer and model for the brand, Rain will also give a performance himself at the F/W show, which he wants to use as an opportunity to promote the brand, as many Chinese fashion people are expected to attend.

In another effort to promote the brand, J.Tune Creative opened a Six to Five teddy bear museum in Jeju Island on April 3 in cooperation with the Korea Teddy Bear Association. It is set to build a similar museum in the Indonesian resort island of Bali after finalizing a contract, and is working to sign a deal to open another museum in Phuket.

J.Tune said that it will develop other projects using the teddy bear theme for "synergy effects."

Meanwhile, Rain held an autograph session at the Nowon branch of Lotte Department Store on April 5, and plans to hold the event at other local branches.

Source: KBS Global

katt

April 15, 2009

Ku Hye-sun Turns from Screen to Page
  

Ku Hye-sun  

Actress Ku Hye-sun is again appealing to women in their 20s, after being pursued by the rich boy in the recent Cinderella tale drama "Boys over Flowers," this time with a novel.

Published on April 1, "Tango" is a hit, selling more than 30,000 copies in only a week after its release.

It is an illustrated novel portraying a 20-something girl who grows into a real woman by going through love and heartache. The enthusiasm for the novel among young women readers can be attributed to a vivid, realistic character they find it easy to identify with.

Ku reportedly felt more pleased to see the book published because she almost lost the manuscript on her laptop in a car accident on her way back home from a location shoot for "Boys over Flowers."

The actress is apparently determined to reveal her versatility now. Besides publishing the novel and enjoying great popularity with the drama, she has also directed a short film, "The Cheerful Caretaker," which got shortlisted for the 2009 Busan Asian Short Film Festival.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

katt

April 15, 2009

Girls

katt

April 14, 2009

Singers Use New Unique PR Strategies  

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter



The "old boys" of K-pop ― Seo Tai-ji and Jo Sung-mo ― and hip-hop group Epik High are employing unique ideas and marketing strategies to lure music fans.

Jo recently released "Second Half," his first album in four years, after finishing mandatory military service. In a departure from the practice, he appeared in music channel Mnet's music documentary "Hidden Track by Jo Sung-mo" to announce his new single.

Singers usually avoid introducing their new tracks in public before the album's actual release. "It's hard to introduce all of my songs in one album and I also wanted to show how hard singers work to bring one out to the world,'' Jo said.

The program started before his album's release this month, introducing his new songs one by one, showing Jo playing the guitar and recording, along with his personal comments of how he wrote and sang the songs on the album. The program proved to be a great success, with more than 60,000 copies sold on its day of release.

Meanwhile, three-man band Epik High held an on-line showcase through the band's Web site, www.mapthesoul.com. Singers usually hold showcases before the release of new albums at stylish restaurants, cafes and clubs, but the band decided to go online. "We wanted to share the stage with everyone through the Internet instead of holding a one time event,'' Epik High member DJ Tukutz said.

After separating from their previous agency, the group founded the label "Map the Soul" and produced their new book album, "Soul: Map the Soul." The album is comprised of a book and a compact disk and is bilingual with English and Korean lyrics. Members were in charge of everything from producing and sales to promotion. Epik High currently sells the new album and the sound sources exclusively at their Web site.

When it comes to special events for promotion, it's hard to beat the so-called "Culture President,: Seo Tai-ji. The 37-year-old singer made headlines last year by making crop circles in fields in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, for the promotion of his first single, "Seotaiji 8th Atomos Part Moai." For his second single "Seotaiji 8th Atomos Part Secret" and the title song, "Juliet," Seo prepared "Missing Taiji," provoking curiosity among fans. The teaser video showed images of the movie "Romeo and Juliet," Korean cultural artifacts, Einstein and sentences like "Defining the hidden truth under dark obscurity'' and" They're all connected,'' giving a faint idea of what his new single would sound and look like.

Newcomers are also joining in with mysterious, special promotion ideas. AJ, dubbed the next Rain, made a video showing himself appearing on the streets, surprising passersby while wearing a mask. Singer MAC also posted a video of him singing and participating in the "free hug" movement at major streets in Seoul.

"The number one songs on music charts change every week, and it depends on how you promote the singer and the songs. If you don't stand out, no one will recognize you. This goes for top singers, too. If they don't have brilliant promotion ideas, they will not stay on top for long,'' an official from Cube Entertainment said.

Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

April 13, 2009

Lee Seung-chul抯 Good Deeds Revealed  



No good deed goes unnoticed, as in the case of Lee Seung-chul. It was revealed belatedly that Korea抯 famed singer Lee Seung-chul has been helping out children with heart disease for the past 17 years. He has been making donations to the Korea Heart Foundation since 1992. The singer was awarded a plaque of appreciation from the Foundation at a music hall in Seongnam where Lee is to hold a concert.

An officials of the Korea Heart Foundation said that Lee was given due recognition for his quiet charity work and for inspiring others to cherish life. The foundation celebrates the 25th anniversary of its founding this year. Together with the members of his fan club, Lee has donated profits from his concerts and CD sales to sick children every year and helped more than 100 children receive heart surgeries. Not only is he providing monetary help, he goes out to volunteer at a social service center every month.

In the meantime, Lee is busy preparing for his 10th regular album due out in late April and a grand concert to be held on May 22 and 23 at the War Memorial of Korea.  

Source: KBS World

katt

April 14, 2009

Ahn Jae-wook Underwent Throat Surgery



Singer/actor Ahn Jae-wook underwent surgery to remove an intracordal cyst in his throat in late March. He was recording a mini album to be released simultaneously in Korea and Japan when he felt something was wrong with his throat. Doctors found a cyst, which had to be taken out immediately. He is currently recuperating from the operation.

Ahn is advised not to use his voice for at least a month. His entire schedule had to be adjusted, for his voice may change after operation. He was originally scheduled to go on a three-city tour in Japan on May 27th in the wake of a mini album release in Japan. Ahn had wanted to go ahead with the recording and concerts, but his doctors were dead set against it. Ahn抯 agent relayed the singer/actor抯 message in which he said that he抯 sorry he caused so much trouble and worry for his fans and promised to come back as soon as possible to resume the recording and concert preparation.  

Source: KBS World

[ Last edited by  katt at 15-4-2009 15:00 ]

katt

April 15, 2009

Seoul Open Art Fair to Feature Celebrity Artworks



Kim Hye-soo poses in front of her artwork
at the Seoul Open Art Fair

The Seoul Open Art Fair is held from Wednesday to Sunday at the Indian Ocean Hall of COEX in Seoul. With 70 galleries participating, some 5,500 artworks by 1,200 artists will be on display, encompassing painting, sculpture, photographs, prints and installation art. Marking its fourth anniversary, the SOAF posted sales of W4.2 billion last year, according to the organizing committee (US$1=W1,326).

The artworks at this year's SOAF ranges from works by famous artists to young artists' works. "This year's event will provide chances for collectors to purchase artworks they have been hesitating to buy, even at much more affordable prices," said Lee Suk-young, head of the committee.

To garner interest in the event, artworks by famous entertainers will be also displayed at the fare. Those to be exhibited include works by singer Cho Young-nam, actresses Shim Eun-ha and Kim Hye-soo, and actor Kang Seok-woo. "Ms. Shim Eun-ha's Oriental painting and Ms. Kim Hye-soo's sensuous collage are open for public viewing," said Lee.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

katt

April 15, 2009

揟he Temptation of Wife

katt

April 15, 2009

'Cinderella Man' wants to cheer people up



MBC TV hopes its new drama "Cinderella Man" will be able to excite and entertain their viewers.

During the press conference of "Cinderella Man," the producer, scriptwriter and actors said that the drama was a fun and bright drama. They also added that they wish to cheer people up, who are experiencing the financial crisis and are worried because of the increasing unemployment.

"Cinderella Man" is set around Dongdaemun and about a man named "Oh Dae-san" living two lives after meeting Lee Jun-hee who looks exactly like him. Oh lives his own life as well as the life of Lee. The two lives are completely different. Oh is a person who has a life goal of earning 10 billion won and does everything he can to achieve this goal. And on the other hand, Lee is the son of a fashion apparel company president. The two characters are acted by Kwon Sang-woo.

Because both characters are played by the same actor, in order to shoot the scenes in which both the characters appear, a "motion control camera" was used. It is a special camera which is very expensive.

Yoon A of Girls' Generation also appears in this drama. She plays the role of Seo Yoo-jin who has a dream of becoming a fashion designer. Due to her father's death, she has to quit studying in France and return to Korea. In Korea, she experiences a life she had never thought she would be living.

"Cinderella Man" will be showing how the young people in this drama overcome their difficulties and obstacles. And since it is centered around Dongdaemun, it will also deal with the fashion industry. This may be another fun factor to watch the drama.

"Cinderella Man" will be aired every Wednesday and Thursday at 9.55 p.m. on MBC starting from April 15.

By Yeom Min-a (mina@heraldm.com) via koreaherald.co.kr, image from news.nate.com

katt

April 15, 2009

Big Stars Appearing in Documentaries

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter


MBC aired a biographic documentary on actor Kim Myung-min last Sunday

Documentaries have been regarded as serious and educational, and only recently did viewers and producers alike appreciate the impact of these programs. Many have examined interesting topics ranging from dinosaurs to polar bears and noodles, and now cameras have turned toward local stars like Myung Se-bin, Kim Myung-min and soccer star Park Ji-sung.

Myung has been out of the spotlight since her marriage and divorce, but she reappeared as a gisaeng, or Korean female entertainer, with the documentary "Gisaengjeon" last Sunday on SBS.

The actress was transformed into a beautiful gisaeng in the program, complete with the hanbok ― Korean traditional outfit ― exquisite hairstyles, accessories and make-up. "They had to hide from the public, despite their rich history in art, tradition and culture. I wanted to bring back their story and re-evaluate them," the producer of the program, Jung Gu-il, said.

The documentary touched the graceful yet tragic lives of gisaeng, comparable with Japanese geisha. While geisha culture still exists in Japan, Korea has lost gisaeng culture, and so the program focused on the meaning of the culture and what could be done to bring it back. Myung successfully worked as the narrator and depicted the life of gisaeng from start to finish.

While SBS offered the tragic lives of gisaeng, MBC brought the touching story of actor Kim Myung-min with the documentary "Celebrity Biography- Kim Myung-min Was Not There." Kim is a top star now, appearing in popular dramas like "Beethoven Virus," which won him the top prize at the 2008 Korea Drama Festival, and movies 'Open City" (2007) and "Return" (2007). But through the program, viewers were able to realize that he did not taste success immediately.

The documentary helped show Kim in a more friendly light, as he's portrayed rather harsh characters, including a coldhearted doctor, a mean yet emotional conductor and a police officer. "The objective was to present the journey of Kim as an actor: his passion, his failures and finally his success and hope," one of the staff members of the program said through a statement.

Indeed, the documentary touched viewers, especially when Kim starting crying when reminiscing about his difficult times as an aspiring actor. "I was never lazy, not one second. I prefer the word actor over star," Kim said during the program.



It seemed viewers appreciated the program as well, as viewer ratings hit 10 percent, a high number considering the time slot, and demanded reruns on MBC's Web site.

Riding on the popularity of Kim's documentary, MBC now offers the life of Park Ji-sung of Manchester United through its documentary "Do You Know Park Ji-sung?" The winger has never opened up to the press regarding his life and training in England, and so the documentary will offer fans exclusive footage of the 29-year-old player. " want to play soccer, but I don't want to become famous. I just want to be normal," Park says during the program.

The camera follows Park everywhere, from training, English language instruction, personal training and even to a birthday party his close friends Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez throw him. Along with interviews and footage of the soccer star, MBC also managed to carry out an interview with Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United. Ferguson speaks about Park and his strategies in his first interview with the Korean press.

This documentary will help soccer and Park's fans learn more about him, from his personal thoughts and hobbies to his childhood, while other viewers will have the chance to look into the popular yet lonely life he goes through every day just to fulfill his dreams as a soccer player.

MBC's "Do You Know Park Ji-sung?" will air April 19 at 10:35 p.m.

Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

April 15, 2009

Actress Kim Hye-soo Unveils Painting

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter


Actress Kim Hye-soo poses in front of one of her paintings at the Seoul Open Art Fair
(SOAF 2009), COEX, southern Seoul, Tuesday evening. / Yonhap

Actress Kim Hye-soo made her debut as a painter at the ongoing Seoul Open Art Fair (SOAF 2009) at COEX, southern Seoul, Tuesday.

Kim is well known for her sexy, stylish image in movies like "Tazza," and "Modern Boy," but, unknown to many, she is also an budding painter. She was one of several celebrities who were invited to present their paintings at the art fair.

To generate more public interest in the event, SOAF organizers introduced the "Star Art Project." Other famous celebrities who are showing their works are singer Cho Young-nam, actress Shim Eun-ha and actor Kang Seok-woo.

Kim presented delicately colored paintings, while Shim's Oriental paintings have attracted attention for their exquisite detail.

The SOAF 2009 opened to the public on Wednesday and runs through Sunday. Over 5,500 art pieces by 1,200 artists from 70 galleries are being shown at the art fair. Admission is 7,000 won for adults and 5,000 for students.

Credits: cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

April 16, 2009

Kim Ji-soo Promotes Ceramics Expo

Actress Kim Ji-soo and Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Kim Moon-soo pose for a picture at the press conference to promote the 2009 World Ceramic Biennale, at the Press Center in Seoul on Wednesday. Marking its fifth anniversary, the world expo is held for a month in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province from April 25. Kim Ji-soo is PR ambassador for the biennale.


/Newsis

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

katt

April 16, 2009

Movie Review
Pacey, rich in detail, art scandal movie leaves final regrets

   By Shin Hae-in

SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- As the end credits of "Insandong Scandal" roll, you'll realize you haven't even had a chance to assess whether you were entertained or not, so overwhelming are the speed and the breathless incoherence of the film.  



With a multiplicity of disparate elements jammed into a running time of just over 100 minutes, the creators of this frenetic crime movie should first be applauded for not choosing your run-of-the-mill backdrop.

   Titled after the South Korean neighborhood of art dealers and galleries, the film is full of details that indicate the filmmaker did his research beforehand and also shows off a refined cinematography worthy of any Hollywood action film.

   Tae-jin (Uhm Jung-hwa) -- an attractive art dealer and a dominant force on the streets of Insadong with her instinct for money-making artworks -- stumbles upon "Byeokando," a long-lost masterpiece by Korea's ancient Joseon Dynasty painter An Gyeon.

   Looking at some tens of billions of won, or tens of millions of dollars, for the painting, Tae-jin hires Gang-jun (Kim Rae-won), a talented yet dangerous art restoration expert, to repair the ancient painting. Seoul's art street begins to rumble, however, with several greedy eyes on the masterpiece and police sniffing something fishy about the whole restoration process.  



As the first South Korean film on art restoration, replication and forgery, "Insadong