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May 6, 2013
Jeong Jae-young, Han Ji-min to co-star in rom-com
By Claire Lee The Korea Herald
Jeong Jae-young and Han Ji-min have been cast as leads for an upcoming romantic comedy, the film’s distributor Lotte Entertainment said.
According to Lotte, the movie, titled “Plan Man,” is a story of opposites of contrasting qualities. Actor Jeong is playing a man named Jeong-seok, a borderline mysophobic who also gets extremely anxious when things don’t go as he planned. His love interest, So-jeong, will be played by Han. Her character is everything the opposite of Jeong-seok; she is spontaneous, adventurous and impulsive.
Jeong Jae-young (left) and Han Ji-min (right). (Lotte Entertainment)
Jeong is known for his work with his close friend and director Jang Jin, including “Someone Special” (2004) and “The Big Scene” (2005). Some of his other films include “Moss” (2010), “Glove” (2011) and “Confession of Murder” (2012).
Han made her debut in the early 2000s and has appeared in a number of TV drama series and films, including SBS’ 2009 drama “Cain and Abel” and director Kim Suk-yoon’s period drama “Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow.”
“Plan Man” will begin filming in June, and is slated to open in theaters next year. |
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May 6, 2013
Psy to Speak at Harvard
The Chosun Ilbo
Rapper Psy will give a special talk at Harvard University on Thursday, the Korea Institute at the university announced Saturday. He is to talk about the popularity of K-pop around the world and his own life story.
The "Conversation with Psy," as it is billed, will be moderated by Prof. Carter Eckert and feature Psy in discussion with Prof. Alexander Zahlten, an Asia expert. Students will have a chance to ask questions afterwards.
More than 1,000 students applied for tickets in just 12 hours Friday, but only 200 will be selected by lottery. |
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May 7, 2013
Rain Adds Touch of Glamour as Korea-U.S. Fete Ties
The Chosun Ilbo
Rain, who is still serving out his mandatory military service, left for the U.S. on Monday to attend an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance in Washington D.C.
He will host the first part of the event and perform later in the proceedings.
The celebrations coincide with President Park Geun-hye's first summit with her U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, and also honor Korean War veterans and those who lost their lives defending the country. |
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May 7, 2013
Will and Jaden Smith visit YG Entertainment
The Korea Herald
(YG LIFE)
Hollywood actor Will Smith made a surprise visit to South Korean agency YG Entertainment on Monday with his son Jaden Smith.
YG Entertainment posted photos on its official blog, YG LIFE, showing Will, Jaden Smith and its Korean singers and producers getting together at its recording studio.
In the unofficial visit, the two Smiths and YG members shared their musical interest while the emerging hip-hop artist Jaden played his music. They ate Korean traditional dishes like bibimbap and bulgogi together in the agency’s cafeteria.
Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, said the meeting with the star family was interesting and Will Smith and his 14-year-old son left a good impression.
Will Smith flew to Seoul on Monday to promote his upcoming sci-fi film, “After Earth.” The movie is set to be released nationwide on May 30.
From news report |
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May 7, 2013
'Mai Ratima' to be shown in Montreal
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
“Mai Ratima,” the first feature-length film directed by Yoo Ji-tae, has been invited to the 37th Montreal World Film Festival.
The movie has had a good run recently.
It previously won the Panel Award at the 15th Deauville Asia Film Festival in March.
Many movie critics have praised the work, indicating their surprise that “Mai Ratima” is the first feature of Yoo’s career as a director.
It has been said that the general manager of the Montreal festival personally chose the film for the Korean movie category during a visit to Korea in early April, according to local media reports.
The movie has also been shown during the ongoing festival in Berlin called Korean Cinema Today.
The movie depicts a struggling Thai immigrant who hopes to achieve the Korean Dream and a Korean man who chooses to take the low road after failing to find a job.
It will be released in Korea on June 6.
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May 8, 2013
Seo Woo breaks up with In Gyo-jin
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Actress Seo Woo has broken up with her boyfriend whom she met on set last year. Her agency confirmed that she and actor In Gyo-jin decided to break up about a month ago after having been in a relationship for about a year.
It has been said that the two agreed to focus on their work, according to local media reports.
The two started a romantic relationship while working on the SBS drama “If Tomorrow Comes” in 2011. The news about their relationship came as a shock then because the two played characters that had no romantic links or significant ties.
They confirmed the rumors after they were spotted together at a cafe in Hannam-dong, central Seoul.
Even after their romantic relationship went public, the two made no comments about each other at official events. Whenever some questions were raised about their relationship, Seo avoided going into details by saying that she would share more later.
In played similar tricks on a variety of television shows when asked about the relationship. |
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May 9, 2013
Jun Ji-hyun poses for Reebok's yoga line
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Jun Ji-hyun poses in a yoga position wearing an outfit made by Reebok in a photo released yesterday as part of the company’s advertisement campaign for the product.[JoongAng Ilbo]
Actress Jun Ji-hyun poses in an outfit from the sports label Reebok’s yoga collection in a photo released yesterday as part of the product’s advertisement campaign.[JoongAng Ilbo]
Outdoor label Reebok released photos of Jun Ji-hyun yesterday in yoga outfits, taken as part of the product’s advertisement campaign.
“We are trying to deliver the message that fitness not only benefits the body but also make things healthy for society,” said the company. |
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May 9, 2013
Lee Yo-won not sure about SBS drama
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Actress Lee Yo-won has disputed a claim that she will appear in the network’s upcoming drama “Golden Empire.”
Officials at SBS said that Lee came to a script reading with other actors to rehearse before filming, while her agency said she only went as SBS requested that she come by.
Lee was previously rumored to have joined the drama in April and said then that she was still thinking about the role.
The drama about fights to win money and political power within one wealthy family in the early 1990s will air starting July 1 after “Jang Ok Jung” ends its run.
Actor Ko Soo has confirmed his role in the drama as lead character Jang Tae-ju.
Lee would play Ko’s counterpart Choi Seo-yoon, the second daughter of a conglomerate family who contemplates whether to take over management or follow her heart.
Filming for the drama is scheduled to start this month. |
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May 9, 2013
Ryu Seung-ryong gets top Paeksang Award
By Yim Seung-hye Korea JoongAng Daily
Winners from 49th Paeksang Arts Awards after the ceremony. Winners are third from left: Kim Min-hee (Best Actress in Film); Yoo Jae-seok (Grand Prix in TV); Ryu Seung-ryong (Grand Prix in Film); Kim Hee-ae (Best Actress in TV); Ha Jeong-woo (Best Actor in Film); Son Hyun-joo (Best Actor in TV) and Ji Dae-han (Best New Actor in Film). [JoongAng Ilbo]
When the nominations for 49th edition of Paeksang Arts Awards were revealed last month, many guessed actor Ryu Seung-ryong would take home the Grand Prix last night.
“Gomawayo,” said Ryu, which means “Thank you” in Korean, in a tone of the intellectually disabled man, Yong-gu, whom he played in the melancholy movie “Miracle in Cell No. 7” as he went up onstage to receive the prize.
Although Ryu, 42, was relatively late in making a debut - in 2004 at age 35 - he rose quickly by starring in three hit films in the past year, “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” “Gwanghae” and “All About My Wife.”
Actresses show off their styles and figures on the red carpet. From left: Kim Hee-ae, Goo Eun-ae, Kim Ah-joong.
Despite a few drops of rain last night, celebrities walked down the red carpet in their best or worst dresses into the Grand Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University in central Seoul, smiling and waving at cameras and fans in hopes of taking home one of this year’s Paeksang Arts Awards.
Organized by JTBC and Ilgan Sports, this year’s Paeksang Arts Awards seemed to have found charms in “social drama.”
“The Chaser,” an SBS television drama series about a grieving detective father who seeks revenge against corrupt power and JTBC’s “A Wife’s Credential,” that deals with the forbidden romance of a married man and woman but also the zealous private education craze of Gangnam District, took home major awards. In the movie category, “Gwanghae, The Man Who Became King,” that depicts the intense aspiration of a leader, stood out among others, taking home the Grand Prize, as well as the Director Award and the Screenplay Award.
The Paeksang Arts Awards, the country’s leading awards that encompass the realms of film and television, was established for the morale of the development of Korean pop culture, art and artists in 1965. Yesterday’s Paeksang Arts Awards, which was emceed by actress Kim Ah-joong, actor Joo Won and announcer Oh Sang-jin, was aired live via JTBC from 6 p.m.
In the television category, comedian and TV host Yoo Jae-seok won the Grand Prix. Yoo has been winning grand prizes in numerous awards for being the best in the business. His No. 1 spot for this year’s Paeksang Arts Awards is also for his accomplishment in the SBS variety show, “Running Man,” which secures the No. 1 spot in its time slot with viewers’ ratings, reaching the 20 percent mark each time.
From left: Kim Min-hee, Miss A’s Suzy, Hong Soo-ah. [JoongAng Ilbo]
Best Actor and Best Actress in the television category went to actor Son Hyun-joo, 48, from “The Chaser” and actress Kim Hee-ae, 46, from “A Wife’s Credentials.” Son’s 21 years of acting on small screens, followed by impressive acting skills, should’ve given him showers of honors, but he’s been unlucky when it comes to awards. Last night, he finally fulfilled his “long-cherished desire.” On the other hand, this year’s award was Kim’s fifth award at Paeksang since its establishment. She had previously won the Best New Actress, Best Actress and two Grand Prix awards.
The drama “The Chaser” didn’t only make Son smile. It became the most awarded work last night, winning the Best Screenplay Award, and the Best Drama Award.
Unlike previous years, dramas from cable channels like JTBC’s “Wife’s Credentials” and tvN’s “Respond 1997” also achieved good results, presenting the Best Actress Award to Kim and Best New Actress Award to Jeong Eun-ji who starred in the dramas, respectively.
In the movie category, Best Actor and Best Actress awards went to Ha Jeong-woo and Kim Min-hee. Meanwhile, Ji Dae-han, a 12-year-old child actor, who is from a multicultural family, was the youngest winner yesterday, taking home the Best New Actor Award for the film, “My Little Hero.” |
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May 10, 2013
Actress Han to marry footballer Ki in July: agency
By Yoon Min-sik The Korea Herald
Han Hye-jin and Ki Sung-yueng on SBS’ “Healing Camp” (SBS)
Actress and TV show host Han Hye-jin will marry her Premier League footballer boyfriend Ki Sung-yueng in July, her agency said Friday.
“Han and Ki have decided to get married this summer, after considering each other’s schedule,” Han’s agency, Namoo Actors, said in a press release. The agency said that the couple had “very recently” decided to tie the knot and details of the wedding including the exact date, the venue and others had yet to be set.
Han and Ki, who had known each other for years before they started dating in January, have been one of the hottest couples in the country due to their strikingly good looks, fame and money on top of the fact that Han is eight years senior to her 24-year-old beau. The cheerful and perky Swansea City AFC midfielder has openly expressed his affection toward the leading lady of box office hit, “29 years,” through social media including Twitter. The actress denied pregnancy rumors.
Still, the couple may have to remain apart for a while even after the wedding due to their hectic schedules -- while Ki may have to spend most of his time in the U.K., Han’s new movie, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” has just begun filming. She is also to keep her seat at entertainment show “Healing Camp.” |
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May 10, 2013
Actress-footballer couple confirms July wedding
By Kwon Mee-yoo The Korea Times
Wedding preparations for actress Han Hye-jin, 32, and Swansea
City midfielder Ki Sung-yeung, 24, are underway. The superstar
couple will tie the knot in July, according to Han’s agency Friday./ Korea Times file
Actress Han Hye-jin, 32, and Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-yeung, 24, will be the nation's next actress-sports star couple to tie the knot.
Han's agency Namoo Actors announced Friday that Han will marry Ki in July. The agency said the date was set considering Han’s filming schedule and Ki’s soccer season.
It took only 250 days for the couple to announce the wedding since Ki appeared on Han’s talk show.
Han and Ki first met each other in 2011, when Han attended a charity soccer match in Vietnam that Ki played in. The breakthrough in their relationship came when Ki appeared on “Healing Camp,” a talk show hosted by Han last August. They disclosed their relationship to the press shortly after the talk show was aired.
The two admitted seeing each other from January on March 27 through Ki’s Twitter, but did not confirm or deny rumors regarding marriage. The official announcement came about two months later.
The agency said the two firmly trust each other and that the wedding preparations are going smoothly. “They are prudent about the wedding since it is major event in their lives and took enough time before making the decision,” the agency said in a press release.
Details including the exact date, venue and officiator have not yet been decided.
Known for his long range passing and shooting, Ki currently plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Swansea City and the national team.
He is widely regarded as one of the top young football prospects from Korea.
In 2011, he won the South Korean Player of the Year award from the Korean Football Association (KFA).
The 32-year-old Han made her breakthrough in 2005 when she starred as a young widow working as a hairdresser in the hit drama “Be Strong, Geum-soon.” Her other notable roles include So Seo-no in the historical epic “Jumong”and Korea's first female doctor of Western medicine in “Jejungwon.” She is also one of the three hosts of the popular talk show Healing Camp on SBS.
Han previously dated R&B artist Naul for nine years. |
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May 10, 2013
Hollywood fights back to reclaim Korean box offices
By Chung Ah-young The Korea Times
“Iron Man 3,” the latest in the superhero trilogy starring
Robert Downey Jr. Korea Times
A boom in Korean cinema from three mega-hit films — Thieves, Masquerade (Gwanghae: The Man Who Became The King) and Miracle in Cell No.7 — saw more than 10 million tickets sold over a sevenmonth span. However, this has apparently come to a halt due to the dominance of Hollywood blockbusters.
According to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), there has been no hit Korean film drawing more than 2 million moviegoers since New World, a star-studded noir flick of Choi Min-shik, Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae, released on Feb. 21 and which garnered 4.68 million moviegoers.
The share of Korean films in the domestic market plummeted to its lowest level in almost one-and-a-half years in April.
Recent data show that Korean films attracted some 4.5 million moviegoers last month, representing 39.8 percent of the 11.2 million total moviegoers. The figure is a sharp decline from the 63.2 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile the market share of Hollywood films rose from 23.5 percent to 55.4 percent last month.
The record is alarming given that the market share of Korean films hovered around 60 to 70 percent last year and peaked at 82.9 percent in February this year.
Iron Man 3, the latest in the superhero trilogy starring Robert Downey Jr., which was released on April 25, has contributed to lifting up the market share of Hollywood films. The movie topped the April box-office, garnering 26.368 billion won ($23.9 million) in ticket sales.
Korean director Kang Woo-suks new film Fist of Legend managed to rank second with 11.678 billion won, closely followed by Oblivion, a sci-fi adventure starring Tom Cruise, at 10.66 billion won and Running Man, a Korean film starring Shin Ha-kyun, with 9.8 billion won. G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation, the Hollywood action film directed by Jon M. Chu, came in fifth with 7.7 billion won.
Although March and April are regarded as a down time for the movie industry, Korean big-budget movies produced by large conglomerate investors and distributors such as CJ Entertainment, Lotte Entertainment and Show Box Mediaplex have struggled to draw audiences.
CJ Entertainments recent productions such as Psychometry starring Kim Kang-woo in March drew only 534,000 moviegoers while Fist of Legend starring Hwang Jung-min ended up with 1.65 million people.
Lotte Entertainments An Ethics Lesson attracted 225,618 people while Very Ordinary Couple starring Kim Min-hee received rave reviews from critics but garnered some 1.86 million people.
Show Box Mediaplexs The Gangster Shaman appeared to score a success early this year but failed to attract the anticipated 4 million moviegoers. Also the result of Paparotti which was released in March was unsatisfactory with 1.71 million moviegoers.
Worse, Running Man, a much-anticipated film fully funded by a major Hollywood studio, Fox International Productions — part of 20th Century Fox — and starring Shin Ha-kyun and Lee Min-ho, has just 1.4 million moviegoers, far short of meeting the break-even point.
The Korean films boom began faltering after Hollywood blockbuster Oblivion dominated the local box office for more than two weeks followed by Iron Man 3.
Other Hollywood films such as After Earth starring Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith and Man of Steel, a superhero series, are to be shown soon, casting a darker cloud over the Korean films.
A slew of Korean films have delayed release dates to the latter half of the year.
The Huntresses starring Ha Ji-won was originally scheduled to be shown in June but this has been postponed until the second half of the year. Alumni starring Choi Seung-hyun (K-pop group Big Bangs T.O.P.) and Secretly Greatly starring heartthrob Kim Su-hyun havent scheduled release dates yet.
Critics predict that the lull will last until Korean blockbusters Snow Piercer directed by Bong Joon-ho and Mr. Go by Kim Yong-hwa, open in July and August. |
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May 10, 2013
'Gentleman' breaks 300-million mark
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
The music video for “Gentleman,” Psy’s second world hit, broke the 300-million mark on YouTube yesterday, just 26 days after its release last month.
The video previously exceeded 100 million views within 80 hours of its release and 200 million within 212 hours. Both milestones were reached in the shortest amount of time in YouTube history.
The news is raising hopes that Psy may bounce back in the Billboard Hot 100 this week.
Experts have given rosy projections about Psy, who has started a major U.S. promotional campaign and made appearances on television shows there.
The U.S. chart will announce its newest weekly rankings today.
Psy, who previously entered the chart in fifth place early this month, slipped to 26th place the following week.
The music video for “Gangnam Style,” which made Psy a world star, has garnered more than 1.5 billion views on YouTube, maintaining its status as the most-viewed video on the Web site. |
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May 10, 2013
Charges dropped against Park Si-hoo
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Actor Park Si-hoo is free of all sexual assault charges as the aspiring entertainer who filed a complaint against him in February dropped the case on Thursday, according to the Seoul Seobu Prosecutors’ Office yesterday.
She did not specify the reason behind the sudden decision.
The prosecutors’ office’s right to investigate further into the issue expired as the alleged victim decided not to pursue the case. The office explained that it needs to have a complaint filed to continue the investigation when it comes to rape or sexual assault charges.
The troubled Park, who recently starred in hit drama “Alice in Cheongdam-dong,” had accused the alleged victim of colluding with his former manager to blackmail him. He also dropped all charges.
Park had claimed that an investigation would exonerate him as sexual intercourse with the alleged victim was consensual, though she claimed otherwise.
The aspiring entertainer had asked prosecutors to charge Park with rape, claiming Park raped her after she passed out after drinking. |
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May 10, 2013
Ki Sung-yueng, Han Hye-jin to marry
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Footballer Ki Sung-yueng and actress Han Hye-jin will wed in July according to Han’s agency yesterday. The couple previously denied rumors about their wedding after they admitted their romantic relationship in March.
“The marriage was decided very recently because it had to be thought about very carefully,” said the agency in explaining why the two previously denied the rumors. “Since the wedding comes three months after they announced their relationship, the two are very cautious but have a sturdy belief that they are meant for each other.” The wedding was scheduled for summer considering the couple’s schedule. After the wedding, Han will continue focusing on filming the movie tentatively named “When a Man Loves,” while Ki will go back to the U.K.
“Only the month the wedding will take place has been chosen, and the exact venue and other details have not yet been decided,” said the agency, adding that it will deliver more details as they become available.
The relationship between the two was revealed after Ki wore footwear inscribed with “HJ SY 24.” |
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May 10, 2013
Ryu Seung-ryong wins top prize at Paeksang
By Claire Lee The Korea Herald
Actor Ryu Seung-ryong won the grand prize at the 49th Paeksang Arts Awards on Thursday for his performance as the mentally disabled man with the mind of a 6-year-old child in this year’s box-office hit drama “Miracle in Cell No. 7.”
“‘Miracle in Cell No. 7’ is a low-budget film with a number of flaws,” said Ryu after accepting the prize. “I think a lot of people liked the film, in spite of its shortcomings, because it stood by those who are marginalized in society.”
Meanwhile, actress Kim Min-hee took home the top acting award for her role as a bank clerk in a dysfunctional relationship with her coworker in “Very Ordinary Couple,” while actor Ha Jung-woo won for his performance as a North Korean agent in “The Berlin File.”
Actor Ryu Seung-ryong stars in “Miracle in Cell No. 7.” (NEW)
“I would like to thank my costar Lee Min-ki and director Roh Deok who helped me to shape my character Young on the screen,” Kim said during her acceptance speech upon receiving the honor.
Actor Ha thanked his crew and costars after receiving the prize. “Thank you, thank you very much,” he said. “I am grateful that a lot of people watched this film. I would like to thank my costars and crew members. I will continue making entertaining films.” |
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May 11, 2013
The Chosun Ilbo
Actor Kim Kang-woo (right) poses with volunteers at a charity event for African children at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul on Friday. /News 1 |
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May 12, 2013
Kwak Kyung-taek to direct sequel to 2001's 'Friend'
By Claire Lee The Korea Herald
Filmmaker Kwak Kyung-taek is directing the upcoming follow-up to his 2001 box-office hit “Friend,” its distributor Lotte Entertainment said.
Loosely based on Kwak’s personal experience growing up in Busan, the 2001 movie dealt with four teenagers and their friendship and betrayal. The upcoming sequel features one of the four high school kids from the original, Jun-seok, who used to be the leader of the four and the son of a powerful mob boss.
Actor Kim Woo-bin stars in “Friend 2,” a follow-up to director Kwak Kyung-taek’s 2001 hit “Friend.” (Lotte Entertainment)
Actor Yu Oh-seong, who played Jun-seok in the 2001 movie, is returning as the same character in the sequel. He is now living in 2010, and how he turned out remains a mystery.
The new film is said to move back and forth in time between 1963 and 2010, telling the story of Jun-seok’s father, Cheol-joo, a famous and charismatic gangster of the 1960s. Actor Ju Jin-mo has been cast to play the role.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming actor Kim Woo-bin is starring as Seong-hoon, a 20-something ex-con living in 2010. The character is said to be the son of Dong-su, one of the four teenagers who died in a tragedy in the original movie. Top star Jang Dong-gun played Dong-su in the 2001 film.
“The movie ‘Friend’ was a stepping stone in my career,” said director Kwak through the promoters. “I am where I am now because of that film. And it feels as if being in my hometown to be on the movie set to make its follow-up. I will do my best to make a great film.”
“Friend 2” to be released in the second half of this year. |
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