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June 12, 2013
Senior actors lead TV show, defying youth-centered industry
The Korea Herald
South Korean TV entertainment shows are usually dominated by comedians and young entertainers, but a unique show featuring senior actors is trying to buck the trend.
“Ggotboda Halbae (Gramps over Flowers),” the newest show on cable TV channel tvN’s, is garnering nationwide attention weeks before its launch next week.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the unaired show became one of the most searched keywords on Naver, South Korea’s biggest Internet portal.
“Halbae” features four acclaimed actors as cohosts: Lee Soon-jae, Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung and Baek Il-seob. The cast members are aged 69 or older.
It is rare for a Korean TV show to cast such senior hosts. Most hosts of the nation’s top entertainment shows, including the top comedian Yoo Jae-suk, are in their 30s or 40s.
Only a handful of the hosts, such as 53-year-old Lee Kyung-kyu, are in their 50s.
It is also rare for actors to host such shows, although two “Halbae” cohosts have already shed their solemn image and attempted comic acting. Lee Soon-jae, the show’s oldest member at 78, was the star of popular sitcom “High Kick!” Shin Goo has also appeared in various TV sitcoms.
While “Halbae” defies every element of success in TV entertainment, it is among the most anticipated new shows among Koreans.
Its two official teasers, both released this month, attracted huge attention online.
Fans expressed their affection at the “gramps,” who squabbled with each other over trivial things. “Just the teaser video alone makes me look forward to watching the show,” said a fan in an online posting. |
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June 12, 2013
Bong Joon-ho's English debut set for Aug. 1 release
By Suk Gee-hyun The Korea Herald
Korean film distributor CJ E&M has announced the release date for director Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming thriller, “Snowpiercer.”
Bong’s English-language debut, starring Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton and Chris Evans, will hit local theaters on Aug. 1 and open later in North America, France, Japan and Russia, CJ E&M officials said in a statement on Wednesday.
The sci-fi film is based on the French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette. Set mostly on a train in a post-apocalyptic future, the film portrays all living creatures aside from riders on the train, the “Snowpiercer,” dying with the arrival of an ice age.
The train never stops and travels around the world to ensure the remaining people’s survival. The survivors must also fight their way to the first carriage, a critique of rigid social class structures.
Park Chan-wook of “Old Boy” fame co-produced the film and CJ E&M reportedly poured around 45 billion won ($39.8 million) into the project. |
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June 12, 2013
Top 7 successful idol-turned-actors
By Suk Gee-hyun The Korea Herald
There was a time when critics were not so generous in apprasing idol stars who took to acting on the big or small screen. While that prejudice is still alive, many of them have successfully overcome criticism to grow into full-fledged actors.
1. Park Yu-chun
Not many people had high expectations for Park Yu-chun in 2010 when the singer said he would start acting. Park made his first appearance on the small screen with “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and excelled at portraying Lee Sun-joon in the fusion historical drama. The selection of genre for his acting debut was perhaps an ideal one, as fusion historical dramas have historically had mass appeal. Park could have chosen the safe path of acting by choosing a romantic comedy as his follow-up project. Against his fans’ expectations, he decided to go for melodrama. With “Miss Ripley” costarring Lee Da-hae, he built his reputation as an actor. The last two dramas he starred in -- “Rooftop Prince” and “Missing You” -- also confirmed his talent for acting. Just three years into his acting career, the JYJ member garnered four major acting awards, in the KBS Drama Acting Awards in 2010, Paeksang Arts Awards and MBC Drama Awards in 2011, and SBS Drama Awards in 2012. |
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2. Lee Jung-shin
It was evident at the beginning of “My Daughter Seo-young” that Lee Jung-shin was starting from scratch. Beginning from zero, he had nothing to lose, and he had veteran actors such as Chun Ho-jin and Kim Hye-ok as mentors. Leaving all the awkward reactions and facial expressions in the earlier part of the story, his acting skills remarkably improved through the 50-part series. Competition between the CNBLUE members could have been the strongest motivation for the bassist. All four band mates have experience in acting including leader Jung Yong-hwa, who played in “You’re Beautiful” and “Heartstrings.” With “My Daughter Seo-young,” the musician gained wider recognition as an actor as well. |
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3. IU
The influx of idols in the K-drama sphere reached its peak in 2011 when “Dream High” first hit the airwaves. TV screens were brimming with young artists such as Taecyeon and Wooyoung of 2PM, Eunjung of Tiara and Bae Suzy of MissA. IU did not have many scenes in her debut drama but she made a stepping stone of it and landed her first lead role in “You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin.” Already a successful singer, IU’s acting success is likely to be judged by her current drama and the next role.
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4. Seo In-guk
The winner of Mnet’s audition program “Superstar K” did not have much luck when he first made his debut as a singer. Seo In-guk had also tried appearing on variety shows to make himself known, but he was always tagged as “the guy from Superstar K.” His fate began to change forever when he starred in “Respond 1997” with Jung Eun-ji of girl group A Pink. Riding the waves of ’90s sensation the drama made, Seo finally kicked the label of “the guy from Superstar K” and found his real name. After making his appearance in the weekend series “Rascal Sons,” Seo came back to where he belongs and gained further popularity through a new album.
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5. Bae Suzy
Without a doubt, Bae Suzy is the most successful actress among idol singers. She gave acting a try in “Dream High” but no one had expected that she would become the queen of local box office last year. “Architecture 101,” Lee Yong-joo’s megahit film that lured 4.1 million moviegoers last year, launched Bae into stardom and gave her the nickname of “everyone’s first crush.” Although she still has that reputation from her debut flick, Bae has not been able to meet her fans’ expectations in “Big” and “Gu Family Book.”
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6. Choi Si-won
Choi Si-won made his name known as an actor before making his debut K-pop group Super Junior. His first drama “Precious Family” was written by popular script writer Kim Soo-hyun, who also wrote “A Thousand Days’ Promise” and “Mom’s Dead Upset.” After playing several minor and main roles both on the small and big screens he made a breakthrough in his acting career last year with “The King of Dramas.” Choi received positive reviews for depicting his character Kang Hyun-min, a handsome but short-tempered and egoistic actor. Proving himself a real heartthrob, he made a smooth start to become the king of dramas.
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7. Kim Dong-wan
Kim Dong-wan was an actor at the age of 17 before becoming a member of boy band Shinhwa. The “Hey Come On” singer kept his dream as an actor while pursuing singing activities. With his trademark smiley face he landed more roles in popular dramas such as “Children of Heaven” in 2002 and “A Farewell to Sorrow” in 2005. In 2011, Kim played the male lead in “The Peak,” set during the Japanese colonial rule. The two-part series was recognized by the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival and took the grand prize in the TV Special-Dramatic segment. Critics say the award-winning drama provided Kim a chance to go beyond his former style of acting and helped him mature as an actor. |
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July 12, 2013
Actress Choi Ji-woo volunteers at orphanage
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Actress Choi Ji-woo smiles as she holds a child at an orphanage in Incheon.[NEWSIS]
Photos of actress Choi Ji-woo volunteering at an orphanage were released yesterday. To celebrate her birthday last Tuesday, she visited an orphanage in Incheon Monday to bathe and feed 100 infants and children.
Actress Choi Ji-woo plays a game with children at an orphanage last Monday.[NEWSIS] |
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June 12, 2013
With fame comes humility for Yoo Jae-suk
Many call the popular star the 'MC of the nation' given his track record of turning shows into hits once he takes the reins. He came to fame as an entertainer on 'Infinite Challenge' and as a talk show host on 'Come to Play,' which ran for eight years
By Park Shin-hong, Lee sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
By Kwon Hyuk-jae
When flipping through the channels on the weekend, it seems like every program features Yoo Jae-suk. On Saturday evenings, he participates in outdoor adventures on MBC’s “Infinite Challenge,” and on Sundays he runs to complete missions on SBS’s “Running Man.”
Many call the popular star the “MC of the nation” given his track record of turning shows into hits once he takes the reins. He came to fame as an entertainer on “Infinite Challenge” and as a talk show host on “Come to Play,” which ran for eight years.
Unsurprisingly, Yoo is unique among comedians. Unlike Park Myung-soo, who puts on an angry attitude, or Kim Young-cheol, who is known for mimicking veteran actors, Yoo has no particularly famous trait.
“When the CEO of one of my former agencies criticized my lack of charisma, I told him that it’s never made me uncomfortable,” said Yoo. “As it is hard to change one’s personality, I told him that unless it’s something he can buy for me, I will just live my life.”
Clearly his character is not holding him back. He has won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize for Television at the Baeksang Arts Awards last month.
Although he is always asking questions of others, he rarely takes the time to talk about his own life. So he sat down with the JoongAng Ilbo earlier this month to share his bumpy road to stardom.
Top: Yoo Jae-suk delivers entertainment news as a reporter on Entertainment Weekly in the late 1990s. Middle: Yoo wears a grasshopper hat as he is nicknamed after the insect. Bottom: Yoo waves at his wedding to MBC announcer Na Kyung-eun in 2008. [JoongAng Ilbo]
Q. What were you like when you were young?
A. I was a very funny kid. I performed lots of pranks, and I was in charge of entertainment whenever there were school events such as field trips or festivals. I studied hard when I was in an elementary school - I thought that was worth noting.
Since when did you dream of becoming a comedian?
I have loved making my friends laugh since elementary school, so it was natural for me to decide on this career. As soon as I started at Seoul Institute of the Arts in 1991, I entered the KBS College Comedy Festival. My professor said I should try it after I graduated, but I was dying to become a comedian. I receive the lowest award.
How did it feel to get that award?
I was arrogant. I expected to be ranked [at the top]. Since people always told me how funny I was, I just expected that the comedy scene would be startled by my debut. I expected that the comedians I saw on TV would be dying to take me on their shows. But then my name was announced for the lowest award. I thought something had gone wrong and that there had been a huge mistake.
What did you do?
I picked my ear while I went up to receive the award as a sign of protest. I really didn’t know what the real world was like. After I made it into broadcasting, other comedians did come to find me, but not for the reasons I expected. They were looking for the arrogant me who picked my ear in front of the cameras. Now that I think about it, I was extremely mistaken and I should have been thankful to become a comedian at all. My life as an unknown comedian started that way.
You were unknown to the public for seven or eight years. What was the problem?
It was very simple. I didn’t put in enough effort and I always blamed others. I never blamed myself for not doing well and believed others didn’t recognize my value. I was once asked to play a person who was just hit by a bomb. I had to have a messy hair, put black makeup on my face and wear the most tattered clothing. I should have put my best effort into playing that role, [but I didn’t]. Instead, I was only thinking about how I could look cleaner. I wondered why the producer hated me and used me for such roles. I never tried to come up with ideas [for the comedy shows]. I just blamed other people every night before I went to bed.
Do you regret your actions?
What I regret the most about my life in my 20s is that I spent time meaninglessly. What a waste of time. I’m so regretful of the times when I didn’t have an aim and only talked badly about others. I wouldn’t have this regret if I had put my passion into something.
When did you start having anxiety attacks onstage?
There was a time when I just wandered aimlessly and wasn’t cast for any shows. My friends, including Park Su-hong and Kim Yong-man, invited me to take part in a special program for Chuseok - a parody of New Kids on the Block.
I just started shaking when I was onstage in front of all these people I didn’t know. I forgot my lines and didn’t get the dance moves right at all. I felt burdened by my desire to really prove myself through that act.
You worked for a while as a reporter on “Entertainment Weekly” after you were discharged from the Army. How was that?
I read the script more than 100 times and marked the parts where I would mess up. But after I was called on [to present stories] I would make mistakes even before getting to the difficult parts. My eyes just wouldn’t focus. All the letters would just dance around and become jumbled. So, I was fired.
Did it get better when you were cast on the “Seo Se-won Show,” one of the most popular television programs at the time?
I was shaking then, too. My mouth was quivering and my hands were trembling. Surprisingly, audiences liked to see me talking about trivial stories while trembling. I wasn’t sure whether people would laugh at my stories, but I was shocked with the response I got. People started to call me by name and not my nickname, grasshopper. The show was the greatest turning point in my life.
After you started to put your name out there, did you realize what kept you out of the spotlight for so long?
I thought that I would always be at the center of the spotlight, outshining other performers. But I was ignored, and so I crashed down to the bottom too early in my career. I kept asking myself what went wrong. The problem was that I was only thinking about myself. Just like baseball players need to guard their positions and work together as a team, comedy is also teamwork. But, I was only thinking about standing out myself instead of considering the success of the team. I should have showed reactions to my counterparts’ good jokes, but I was narrow-minded and didn’t want to simply help them [gain popularity]. In my head, I had to be the only lead character.
You have been on “Infinite Challenge” for seven years. What’s your take on the program?
I never thought that I would be doing this program for so long. It contains traces of our lives. Park Myung-soo got married and now has a daughter, Minseo. After this, my child was born. More and more cast members got married. I should not make any wild guesses about my life, but I think my career in entertainment will remain in sync with the program.
What about “Running Man”?
After the first episode aired, many people were very skeptical of whether we could succeed as a weekend show. I got scared. I was scared of disappointing the people around me and the people who followed me [to the program] because they trusted me. If the program were to be canceled, its members would have been scattered around again.
Do you think you are at your peak?
I hope my high point has not come yet. I do want to stay in the good times until the day I stop [working], but I don’t think that’s possible. Someday [people] will say that Yoo Jae-suk is old school. I’m ready for that moment, and I don’t think I will be startled when the time actually comes. As long as I pledge to do my best for as long as I can, there is nothing to be afraid of. Of course, I will reminisce from time to time. I wonder if my son will believe me if I tell him that I used to be big.
Have you ever suffered from depression or felt the urge to take your own life?
I have spent enough time worrying, but I don’t think I have suffered from depression. And frankly, speaking of suicide, I get scared of death.
You have many different nicknames. Which one do you like the most?
Grasshopper. I hated it so much at first. In the late 1990s, a TV producer gave me a grasshopper mask and said that I should wear it to get on TV shows since I wasn’t known well. At the time, I hated being called grasshopper and just wanted to be Yoo Jae-suk. The mask also messed up my hair. But it made me who I am now.
Do you work to project a certain kind of image on your shows?
I don’t plan what I do. I just focus on what comes at the moment. If I have to speak harshly, I’m willing to do that. I don’t plan on sticking to the image I have right now. I do say this to guests on the program so that they aren’t so anxious. It is not easy to make others laugh on entertainment programs. I know this because I have gone through such struggles. Of course, it is good to have some humorous moments, but we don’t need jokes every day.
How do you want your fans to remember you?
I hope I get a review like, “Oh, he really did his best.” I could not ask for more if there are words like “fun” or “interesting” in my reviews. |
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June 13, 2013
Another year
Korea JoongAng Daily
Another year - Actor Cha Seung-won blows out candles on a birthday cake as he celebrates with fans during filming for “High Heel” on June 7 in a photograph released yesterday. Provided by Lotte Entertainment |
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June 13, 2013
Lee Joon films SNL skit with Kerr
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Lee Joon of MBlaq has filmed a skit with Miranda Kerr that will air on “SNL Korea,” a local version of the popular U.S. comedy show “Saturday Night Live.”
Lee wore a ballet body suit and plays a wannabe model. He is overcome by shyness when he runs into Kerr.
This is Lee’s second time on the program. He previously appeared with other members of Mblaq in a parody of the movie “Black Swan.”
Actor Lee Beom-soo of KBS drama “Iris 2” also took part in the segment with Kerr. He played a bully.
Meanwhile, Lee has revealed that he spent a total of 290,000 won ($255.78) in the past six years on other members of his boy group.
While on KBS talk show “Happy Together 3,” he joked that it is OK to spend less on other members as they are all from wealthy families. Host Yoo Jae-suk and others have criticized the star for being too stingy.
He also shared tips on how to save money on snacks.
He recommended buying 1.5-liter (50-ounce) bottles instead of getting single cups of coffee at franchise stores like his fellow band members do. |
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June 13, 2013
Lee Min-jung returns from the U.S.
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Actress Lee Min-jung arrived in Korea yesterday from Los Angeles after spending about a week in the United States with her fiance Lee Byung-hun, star of upcoming movie “Red 2.”
Although they left together for the vacation, the couple came back on different flights.
Lee Min-jung returned one day after her fiance, who had other engagements in Korea.
Upon arrival at Incheon International Airport, she told reporters that the trip was not a honeymoon but that wedding preparations are going well.
Early this month, the couple announced their plan to get married in August at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hannam-dong, central Seoul.
Lee Byung-hun garnered international fame after appearing in the “G.I. Joe” franchise along with Hollywood stars.
He also recently filmed “Red 2” with Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones. That movie will be released here next month.
Lee’s most recent drama “All About My Romance” ended last month. |
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June 14, 2013
Success of spy comedy reignites debate over screen monopoly
By Shim Sun-ah YonhapNews
SEOUL, June 14 (Yonhap) -- Controversy over the monopoly of screens by some blockbusters has rekindled after a new spy comedy film exceeded the 4 million mark in attendance early this week, taking up nearly half of movie screens available in the country.
Starring rising heartthrob Kim Soo-hyun, the star of the MBC TV series "The Moon Embracing the Sun," the flick "Secretly and Greatly" exceeded the 1 million mark in attendance only 36 hours after it opened on 937 screens nationwide on June 5.
In the opening weekend, it was shown on 1,310 screens, which accounts for nearly half of the screens available in the country, although the number later dropped to some 1,020.
Director Jeong Yun-cheol, known for "Marathon" (2005), openly criticized the film's screen monopoly on his Facebook page Thursday.
"I can't image how many screens upcoming big-budget films such as 'Mr. Go' or 'Snowpiercer' will take up in the future if such a film like 'Secretly Greatly' gets 1,300," he said in a lengthy posting.
"I welcome the film's commercial success, its quality aside, but we should not forget that people have morals and merchants have trade ethics to abide by."
Based on a popular webtoon with the same title posted in 2010, the comedy is about three young and handsome North Korean spies dispatched to South Korea, disguising themselves as a fool, a rock star wannabe and a high school student.
On Wednesday, the Showbox/Mediaplex-distributed movie surpassed the 4 million mark in the number of paid viewers, just eight days after opening, amid mixed reviews from critics. Showbox is one of the country's big three movie distributors.
The pace is slower than another Showbox film "The Thieves," which attracted 4.36 million viewers in eight days of opening last summer and drew 12.98 million, but as fast as Hollywood blockbusters such as "Ironman 3" and "Transformers 3."
But Jeong was not the only director who criticized the industry practice.
Last year, internationally acclaimed Korean director Kim Ki-duk unleashed harsh criticism over the practice during a news conference to mark his winning of the Golden Lion award for his savage morality tale "Pieta" at the year's Venice Film Festival.
He alleged that he and other non-mainstream directors are barred from cinemas by mainstream production companies that own big theater chains such as CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox.
"I am ashamed that there is this monopoly in Korea, even in the U.S. there is not this vertical integration of production and distribution," he said.
Box-office mega hits "Gwanghae: The Man Who Became the King," "Miracle in Cell No. 7" and even Hollywood blockbuster "Ironman 3" were not free from the monopoly debate.
But movie distributors and cinemas say they should not be blamed for making a choice based on profit-seeking.
"We have no choice but to screen lucrative films," an official of a major chain theater said, requesting not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. "Isn't it too harsh to tell us to respect viewers' rights to watch various movies at theaters even when they don't make profits." |
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June 14, 2013
Actress denies wedding rumor with Park Ji-sung
The Korea Herald
Actress Kim Sa-rang has shot down rumors that she is getting married to football player Park Ji-sung in September, Kim’s agency said on Friday.
The rumor that Park and Kim booked a hotel for their wedding quickly spread through social networking sites on Thursday.
The actress did not meet the soccer star after they shot a commercial together, the agency said.
The hotel mentioned in the rumor also confirmed it had no record of reservation for the wedding.
The rumor about the relationship between Kim and Park first broke in 2011 after they filmed a razor commercial in Britain.
Choi In-jeong, Intern reporter |
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June 14, 2013
Record-setting 'Secretly Greatly' Sells 4-Million Tickets in 8 Days
The Chosun Ilbo
"Secretly Greatly" has attracted over 4 million viewers in just eight days of its release. According to the Korean Film Council on Wednesday, the film sold 188,324 tickets that day alone to top the local box office. The accumulated number of spectators stood at 4.06 million.
Based on a popular webtoon of the same title, the movie revolves around North Korean spies who disguise themselves as a motley crew -- including a village idiot, an aspiring rocker and a high school student -- to survive in the South and complete their mission.
The movie has already set a number of records in the history of Korean cinema, including highest number of tickets pre-sold, most viewers on opening day, most tickets sold in one day, and fastest movie to attract 1 million spectators. |
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June 14, 2013
Kim: I've got nothing to hide
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Broadcaster Kim Kyung-ran hinted that she wouldn’t want to hide her romantic relationship with actor Song Jae-hee on Twitter yesterday, as she cited words from a local pastor.
“The clear mind would not need to hide anything and there is nothing to hide about a healthy relationship,” she posted.
Her post came one day after the two admitted their romantic relationship, which started in April, after they became acquainted at a church.
Song is best known for his recent role in the MBC drama, “The Moon that Embraces the Sun.”
“Song and Kim, just like any other couples, enjoy meals together at a restaurant or go read books at a bookstore,” said Song’s agency Thursday.
“We want fans to cheer their relationship so that they can continue working to build [a professional career] while growing love.” |
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June 14, 2013
Idol Groups Go Out of Fashion as Water Park Models
The Chosun Ilbo
With their striking looks and enviable physiques, idol singers have proven a natural choice to promote water parks across the nation. But that is changing as the park operators look to other TV personalities and models with a friendly image that people can relate to.
Caribbean Bay in Yongin, Gyeonggy Province is now finalizing the details of a contract with a TV celebrity in his 40s who looks decidedly unfit to promote its facilities.
"We thought that choosing stars who come across as the kind of friend you'd like to hang out and have fun with is more in line with current trends, rather than just going for a girl band or a star with a great body," said a staffer from the park.
Girls' Generation and 2PM are pictured in a 2010 advertisement for Caribbean Bay. /Courtesy of Caribbean Bay
As others follow suit, popular idol groups such as Girls' Generation, f(x), 2PM, miss A, T-ara and Secret -- all of which modeled for water parks until recently -- have all been replaced this year. Sistar is a notable service, Ocean World choosing the girl group to promote it recently.
Some industry insiders say such moves reflect the weakening power idol stars wield in the local pop music industry.
"These days, people prefer stars who feel more like the guy or girl next door, rather than those with dazzling looks," an advertising director said. As such, idol stars may lose much of their charm in the market, he added. |
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June 14, 2013
Star denies marriage rumors
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
Footballer Park Ji-sung is rumored to be getting married to actress Kim Sa-rang of the 2010 drama “Secret Garden,” according to reports yesterday through social networking services, including Facebook and Twitter.
The rumor of their September wedding was first distributed among security companies a day earlier. It even says the names of the couple are listed on a reservation made at a local hotel.
The two got acquainted in 2011 while doing a commercial photo shoot together in the United Kingdom after being chosen as models for a razor manufacturer. Kim traveled to where Park was at the time.
In previous interviews, Kim said Park is cute when you get to know him, which is very different from the masculine character he shows during football matches. Her friendly comments prompted speculation about whether the two are dating.
Two years have passed since their first encounter, and in the meantime, many have continuously raised the possibility of a romantic relationship or even marriage.
However, Kim’s agency has strongly denied the rumors. It said the rumor is absolutely not true and they didn’t meet except for the times they shot photos together two years ago.
The agency said it had confirmed the details with Kim and added that it may consider taking legal action in the future.
The hotel that was mentioned in the rumors is said to have denied that the two made a reservation for a September wedding.
Kim made her debut into the entertainment industry in 2000 after she received the highest honor at the nationwide Miss Korea pageant. She has not appeared in any TV dramas or films since “Secret Garden,” and is said to be reviewing her future projects. |
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Author
