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March 5, 2009
Rise of the 'Flower Boys'
Maybe the time has finally arrived for women in this formerly Confucian society to openly appreciate the beauty of the opposite gender. Or it may be that boys have actually become much "prettier" than before, and are beyond the traditional male attributes defined in such vocabularies as "tall, dark and handsome."
Well, the four main male characters in KBS hit drama "Boys Before Flowers" are definitely tall, handsome, and all of them jaw-droppingly rich. But that's hardly enough to describe the huge pop culture sensation that has literally engulfed Korea.
The four "flower boys" or "F4" have captivated the hearts of women of all ages in the country, be it a seven-year-old girl or 50-year-old housewife. Many men also watch it, though the majority of fans are women. "Boys Before Flowers" can be considered something like the Asian version of America's huge hits "The O.C." or "Gossip Girl" that depict a hyper-luxury lifestyle of teenagers.
The series is only mid-way through, but the cast members (led by oh-so-charming Lee Min-ho playing main character Goo Joon-pyo) have become household names. The ratings hover around the high 30 percent and could climb higher.
"By watching these unrealistically rich and charming boys going out of their way to help Geum Jan-di (main female character played by Koo Hye-sun) in her quagmires, as well as watching the scenes where she is reluctantly showered with gifts and makeovers, I get a sense of satisfaction at least inside the television," said Lee Ji-ah, a 26-year-old graduate student, who watches the show religiously.
The drama is so popular that some shows are dedicated to it. Putting a comedic spin on the series that some say are simply "too corny," such comedy programs as Gagya of MBC and Gag Concert of KBS have recreated the main characters for parody.
This is undoubtedly the big break for Lee Min-ho, 22, who was a struggling actor before the drama and now the envy of a multitude of aspiring actors. He is expected to take in as much as 1.5 billion won ($970,000) in profit this year, not to mention fast becoming the most coveted celebrity in business advertisements.
Apparel company Bean Pole, a sponsor of "Boys Before Flowers" and creator of the famous school uniform featured in the drama, has also seen a burst in recognition and a rise in sales.
Korea's largest community site Cyworld has also benefited from the latest pop phenomenon by producing emoticons for each of the five major cast members, which they say are in high demand from users. Fashion magazines are filled with pictures and stories about the flower boys, while portal sites of Korea are filled with news, pictures and blogs dedicated to them.
It seems people just cannot get enough of them. "Boys Before Flowers" or "Hana Yori Dango" in Japanese is actually a familiar story for women in their teens, 20s and 30s. The original comic book with the same title by Japan's Yoko Kamio is considered like a bible for those who enjoy Japanese romantic manga. The series ran between 1992 and 2003 to eventually comprise a whopping 37 volumes. It sold over 54 million copies by 2005.
The title is a pun on the Japanese old saying "Dumplings before flowers," referring to people who attend Hanami (flower festival), but instead of enjoying flowers, focus more on the materialistic side of the event such as getting food and buying souvenirs.
The plot is quite old school as well. Geum Jan-di, the main female character, is a girl from a poor family but has an unrivaled sense of optimism and drive and is by chance admitted to a prestigious private high school.
There she meets the infamous group of four astonishingly good looking and rich boys. The group's leader is Goo Joon-pyo, who is a spoiled heir to world-leading conglomerate Shinhwa. He is joined by mysterious and breathlessly handsome Yoon Ji-hoo, played by member of idol pop group SS501 Kim Hyun-joong, So Yi-jung played by Kim Bum, and Song Woo-bin, played by Kim Joon. Their love story moves from Seoul to New Caledonia to Macau, while their wardrobes, vehicles and houses also entertain the eyes with their over-the-top extravagance.
With their super powerful parents and backgrounds, it almost seems there's no stopping these boys, until of course, they are met by the "harsh" reality of having to follow to their destined routes, such as inheriting the Shinhwa Group.
"I actually am so over the whole immature high school love story, but I end up watching it because there's just so much to see. It is like eye candy on all aspects combined into one show," said Shin Se-young, a 35-year-old office worker.
Lee Ji-yeon, a 30-year-old single woman, explains that she is a fan of the show because it is blatantly lavish and dreamlike. She says it's easy to just fall into it without bothering to think about whether the plots are realistic or not. "It's like watching real people play out the comic book to a tee."
There are also other interpretations as to why "Boys Before Flowers" is such a great hit in Korea. The obvious reason is the near perfect casting of the F4. Fair to say, their acting skills are considered not up to par, sometimes even cringe-inducing. But main player Lee Min-ho shines, with his believable adaptation of the Joon-pyo character. Lee actually manages quite well to portray the spoiled kid of a billionaire who shows little to no respect to people around him, but turns all soft and mushy once in a while, at least to the love of his life Jan-di.
"One of the reasons for the character Goo to be so popular could be that he touches the embedded masochism of viewers by being mean and then he can be kind all of a sudden, getting the counterpart to appreciate that even more," said Kim Mi-hyun, literature critic and professor of Ewha Womans University.
It is also a shared opinion among the fans of F4 that while watching it, they forget about everything else and the less-than-rosy reality of life, especially at this time of economic hardship. "This may represent a distorted adoration or aspiration towards people with money or chaebols. It is usually the case where the worse the economy the more popular the wealthy become.
The popularity of this program also represents the new aggressive nature of consumption," Kim said. "One problem, however, with the program is that these boys represented in the stories are in their teens and spending like kings. The unreality of it may be the attractive factor but it may also provoke a sort of wild-goose chase," she said.
Whatever the reason, it appears that the F4 phenomenon is here to stay for now as fans appear to be not getting enough of it. The original manga "Boys Before Flower" is enjoying a resurrection of its sales. Over 132,000 copies were sold in the months of January and February, according to its publisher Seoul Media Group. This is a huge surge compared to about 42,000 copies in yearly sales of the past.
The series is already signing deals with overseas television networks for viewing, following the footsteps of Japan and Taiwan, which have also reprised the comic book series in television series and movies. New Caledonia, which was featured in the earlier part of the drama as the set where the main female and male characters confirm their love, is seeing an increase in the number of potential travelers.
"It will take time for the actual number of travelers to New Caledonia to rise considering the current economic situation here. But New Caledonia definitely put itself on the map of coveted travel destinations through this drama series. Now, everyone from kids to adults in their 40s and 50s know Goo Joon-pyo's New Caledonia. We are satisfied enough for having raised its recognition," said Lee Myeong-hwan, who heads the Korean office of New Caledonia Tourism.
By Lee Joo-hee ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/03/06/200903060030.asp
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March 4, 2009
Four S. Korean films to compete at French film festival
Four South Korean movies, including local box office hit "The Chaser," will compete for top honors at an upcoming Asian film festival in France, the event's organizers were quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
The Deauville Asian Film Festival has also invited "Breathless" and "Members of the Funeral" to its feature award section, and "The Chaser" and "The Divine Weapon" have been nominated for the Action Asia section. This year's Deauville festival, founded in 1999, will be held March 11-15 in the northern French city.
"A Frozen Flower" and "Beastie Boys" have been invited to the event's non-competition Panorama section. The festival will also show retrospectives of veteran South Korean directors Lee Chang-dong and Lee Yoon-ki, screening four of their films, respectively, including "Oasis" and "The Charming Girl."
Despite an overall shrink in ticket sales amid the ongoing global economic downturn, South Korean films have made it onto screens at several international events this year.
Source: koreaherald.co.kr |
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March 5, 2009
More Than Blue' Is Poetic, Luminous
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
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Lee Bo-young, left, and Kwon Sang-woo star in "More Than Blue,"
the directorial debut piece by poet Lee Won-tae. / Courtesy of Showbox/Mediaplex
Romanic poet Lee Won-tae makes his directorial debut with a classic romance, "More Than Blue." Though featuring typical elements of the South Korean melodrama, "Blue" does not attempt to squeeze out tears from viewers. Rather, the director crafts a film that is poetically sparse, and also witty and hilarious as much as it is heartbreaking.
Hallyu star Kwon Sang-woo, the heartbreaker from the tearjerker TV soap "Stairway to Heaven," plays the tragic male protagonist "K," yet another faithful one-woman man involved in a pitiful love triangle. To top it all off, he has cancer. With the little time he has left to live, he plays Cupid to marry off the woman he loves, "Cream" (Lee Bo-young), to an eligible bachelor, Ju-hwan (Lee Bum-soo), so he can rest in peace.
"Blue" however feels more classic than cliched and the undying fidelity of the love-struck characters nostalgically evokes old romances. The talented actors also bring freshness to their parts, making them very believable and worthy of every ounce of one's empathy.
The story begins in high school. Cream appears before K out of the blue, hypnotizing him in a fashion reminiscent of Gwenyth Paltrow's over-the-water fountain-kiss in "The Great Expectations." (One drawback is that the 32-year-old's posing as a high school student, despite his flawless skin, is rather awkward, particularly since many moviegoers may remember the exquisite rendition of a teenaged Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button").
The two orphans become quick soul mates. K's parents had abandoned him, but left him lots of money, while Cream lost her entire family in a car accident. Cream moves into K's house and they live together like brother and sister, father and daughter and at times husband and wife _ though the more delicate K nurses his unrequited love for Cream and patiently watches her switch from one boyfriend to another.
K and Cream give each other strange names, which they use as pseudonyms when they grow up to become a radio producer and songwriter, respectively. The two know everything about each other, but K keeps his malignant cancer secret, for he knows that Cream's biggest fear is to be left alone.
So instead, he obliquely confesses his love everyday, through tacky lyrics like "in my next life I want to be born as a ring, diary or bed so you can buy me and I can stay by your side." (The director himself wrote lyrics for sentimental pop songs by ballad-crooners like Shin Seung-hoon). But Kwon wins the audience's heart by bringing a certain tenderness to his character _ suggesting a maturation in his acting, a palpable break away from his previous roles as a romantic tough guy. K is a rare male protagonist in Korean fiction that is a pure embodiment of love, someone that can die for _ or because of _ love even if it weren't for his terminal disease.
He urges Cream to marry a healthy, goodhearted man. Even though his heart breaks when she announces that she is in love with a well to do doctor, he proceeds to do a background check on Ju-hwan and is happy to have found Mr. Perfect. Meanwhile, Ju-hwan breaks up with his fiancee (Jung Ae-ri) to marry Cream.
One of the movie's strengths is that it contextualizes the dramatic romance within a convincing reality, and in addition to having the women wear the pants (the director told The Korea Times that it's because he himself is a "doting husband"), funnyman Lee Han-wie keeps things light as a kowtowing celebrity manager. Singer Lee Seung-chul also makes a memorable appearance, particularly as he tries to sport an unctuous, post-Captain Jack Sparrow-Johnny Depp-look.
As expected of a movie by a poet, it teems with imagery of time hanging still in the air and things are left simple. Even though the film's Korean title "A Story Sadder Than Sadness" is perhaps an overstatement, it allows the viewer to peruse not so much the abstract meaning of love but what it means to be in love and to care for someone.
In theaters March 11. 105 minutes. 15 and over. Distributed by Showbox/Mediaplex.
Credits: [email protected] via koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 5, 2009
Lee Jun-ki Plans a U.S. Tour
Actor Lee Jun-ki plans to go on a U.S. tour in the latter half of this year, following the ones in China, Thailand, Japan, and Hong Kong. Lee抯 agency says that a detailed schedule is being worked out now and it抯 coordinating the event so that his overseas activities wouldn抰 be in conflict with his domestic ones.
Known for his amazing acting performance in the film 揔ing and the Clown |
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March 6, 2009
Domestic movies see 15 percent decrease at box office this year
SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- Amid a flood of new Hollywood and Chinese releases, ticket sales for South Korean movies decreased by nearly 15 percent nationwide in the first two months of this year compared with 2008, a local report said Friday.
While the overall number of moviegoers increased by 7 percent in the two-month period, only about 13 million people came to see local films, a decrease of 14.9 percent from 2008, according to the Korea Film Council data.
The market share of domestic movies also plunged by about 12 percentage points, hitting 48 percent from 60 percent last year. The market share of local films had been steadily increasing since 2002, hitting a record high of 64.9 percent in 2006.
Independent documentary "Old Partner" and comedy "City of Damnation" were the only two domestic films to top the 1 million viewer mark, while Chinese film "Red Cliff 2" drew 2.7 million viewers and Hollywood's "Valkyrie" drew 1.8 million.
The popularity of domestic movies also took a downturn, the report said.
About 40 percent of respondents said they favored watching domestic movies, compared to 50 percent who said they preferred Hollywood films. South Koreans had favored locally made films over foreign ones for seven consecutive years since 2001.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 0306003600315F.HTML |
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March 6, 2009
Park Hae-jin Goes to Africa for Goodwill Work
Actor Park Hae-jin, currently starring in MBC big-budget drama 揈ast of Eden, |
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March 6, 2009
Actress Kang Talks About Stalker's Pain
Heroine of film "Why Did You Come to My House?"
"This film is for those who adhered to criminal activity or thought of suicide because of love, and anyone who ever did harm or suffered over love," said actress Kang Hye-jeong during the presentation of her new film "Why Did You Come to My House?" at a Seoul theater Thursday.
She said her character "Lee Su-gang" is "wacky, lacks social skills, doesn't have a big dream in life, but dreams of miraculous love."
Lee rarely opens up to others, but she loves one man, Park Ji-min (played by Big Bang member Seungri), in her own unique way for ten years. To stalk him, she enters the home of Kim Byeong-hee (Park Hee-sun), which provides a good view of Park's house. She saves Kim, who was about to hang himself to death. Then she ties up his hands and legs and locks him up.
The film continues the series of "female character" films such as "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance," "My Scary Girl" and "Crush and Blush."
This is the first feature film for director Hwang Su-a, who debuted with a music video and TV commercials. She says the film is a "unique romance film that incorporates the traits of other film genres and an emotional unraveling about love and how people love."
Kang said, "I first befriended Hwang in a different film. She wrote this script partially based on myself so I feel closer to the character." "Lee's beauty lies in her unpolished nature. She's rough but also feeble. It feels real. I didn't have to be pretty, which I liked."
When asked if Lee's blind love gave anyone a hard time, Kang said, "Stalking someone for a decade is itself a painful thing to do." "She opened up people who approached her for the first time. She didn't care for anything else about her life, which must have been painful because it's isolating yourself. But she ultimately transforms her obsessive, possessive love to devotion and patience. This is hard in real life but I believe she achieved ideal love."
"I'm not as clear-cut in my own love life. I just want to live as I feel."
Actor Park Hee-sun plays "Kim Byeon-hee" who became addicted to suicide attempts ever since his wife died in a car accident. He said, "The script was good but I didn't think twice after hearing that Kang was cast. It's my first romance film but it fit me well and it's just a lovely piece."
Big Bang's Seungri, who marks his acting debut in this film, said, " Park was really nice, like an old brother, but Kang was indeed a professional. She called me up before the shoot and checked up on me. It was great to get to know talented stars. Filming went well."
Source: KBS Global |
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March 7, 2009
[MOVIE REVIEW] 'Old Partner' makes for a modern day fable
One of the most extraordinary films to have graced the cinema in recent years is about a crotchety old geezer, his nagging wife, and their 40-year-old ox.
There's a magical, if perhaps staged, moment mid-way through the documentary "Old Partner." Whether you are skeptical about the authenticity of the moment or decide to suspend your disbelief, it captures the emotions in the heart of its main protagonist.
Enjoying a rare rest on a rainy day, the farmer and his wife are on their porch together - her eating, him with his head sullenly sunk down on his folded arms resting on top of his knee looking resigned. The wife gives her man an earful that he loves the ox more than he loves her. He doesn't dignify her charge with a response - mumbling something barely audible. Moments later, the ox moans out loud, the farmer's head jerks up to see where the ox is.
"Old Partner"
It's a revealing albeit comical moment, but it is difficult to believe that was how it actually played out. Did she really ask him at that instant? Did the ox really interrupt and did the farmer really look up on his own accord? Or was all of it crafted during post-production? Whether it was staged or not, is irrelevant. The director believes the moment sums up the farmer's devotion and love for his ox in one fell swoop.
Marking his directorial debut, Lee Chung-ryul's documentary is at its core a collection of endearing moments of the basic life of a 79-year-old farmer, his wife, and the ox they've lived with for four decades. Following a muddled and essentially prosaic year in their lives, the first-time director crafts a narrative with the simplicity and charm of a modern-day fable.
In the film, the ox becomes a kind of surrogate child to the couple, and as they succumb to the passing of time, they struggle to maintain their way of life. The old man's love for his ox becomes a source of jealousy for his wife. She finds it irritating that her husband gives the ox more attention than her and she constantly nags him to ditch it for a tractor, as many neighbors around their village have done.
"I won't live," she complains to him, "unless that ox dies." Although she says it jokingly, there is an underlying sincerity to her speech. The farmer defends his old partner and friend of 40 years by claiming his ox wastes less of the crop and that food harvested by it is of better quality because he land isn't exposed to chemicals.
It becomes obvious that the real conflict between the farmer and his wife is not just about practicality, but about tradition. She is ashamed of having such an aging ox and wants to adopt a more contemporary life. He is as committed to his old ways as he is to his wife, taking immense pride in the fruits of his labor.
A friend of the old farmer even jokingly laments that his ox is better than a son, because it's always there and will never leave him for a better life in the city. The quote from the farmer's friend is a well-timed and succinct summation of life in rural Korea.
An ox's life expectancy, according to the film, is 15 years. The farmer's ox has been able to out live its expectancy by more than two decades. And when the ox is near death in the film, a series of shots show a tear in the eye of the farmer, then his wife, and then the ox.
Manipulative, yes. But who cares? In "Old Partner," these banal manipulations forge a film that is poignant and appropriately sentimental.
By Song Woong-ki ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 07/200903070040.asp |
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March 7, 2009
Jung Ryeo-won to Make Her Period Soap Opera Debut
Actress Jung Ryeo-won
"I've never expected to be in a period drama in my life," said actress Jung Ryeo-won, 28. She makes her debut in a period drama entitled "Princess Jamyeong," to air on SBS on Mondays and Tuesdays from March 10.
Jung's role requires her to handle a dagger weighing over two kilograms -- no easy task for the slim actress. However, now she has become used to it and even put on two kilograms.
"To help immerse one's self in a period drama, it's important to remain healthy and strong," said Jung.
Some three and a half years after her debut as an actress in MBC soap opera "My Name is Kim Sam Soon," Jung is about to exercise her charms in a drama.
"Princess Jamyeong" based on a traditional Korean tale is about a love shared between three people.
Credits: englishnews@english.chosun.com |
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March 8, 2009
SBS, MBC tap into female-driven plots
Fairytale princesses and disgruntled housewives join the Monday and Tuesday night line-up, promising to bring a little gender equality to a timeslot dominated by the hit KBS series "Boys Over Flowers."
Both MBC and SBS are tapping into female-driven plotlines with their latest offerings: "My Wife is A Superwoman" and "Jamyeonggo."
SBS' tragic historical romance, "Jamyeonggo," may struggle to attract viewers bogged down by a lackluster economy and in need of a pick-me-up. Yet its re-interpretation of the classic tale of "Princess Nakrang and Prince Ho-dong" promises to revamp an otherwise stale genre.
Scriptwriter Jung Sung-hee took liberties with the myth of the fallen Nakrang kingdom (c. 100 B.C.-37 A.D.), juicing it up with a new heroine. In the original version, the king of the town-state of Nakrang gives his daughter's hand in marriage to Ho-dong, son of the third king of Goguryeo.
Harboring plans to conquer Nakrang, the Goguryeo prince asks Princess Nakrang to destroy her kingdom's magical drum, the "jamyeonggo," which possesses the power to sound an alarm when invaders are near. The princess chooses love over country.
"My assistant scriptwriter gave me a clue that showed that 'jamyeonggo' was a person," said scriptwriter Jung at the press conference last week. Using the clue as inspiration, Jung fashioned the tale around a new character, the daughter of the king of Nakrang and his first wife, calling her Ja-myeong.
Jung's version presents two princesses, then, Ja-myeong, and the daughter of the king's second wife, Ra-hee, the traitor-princess of the original fable. A prophecy predicts that one of the princesses will betray her kingdom; the other will save it.
Princess Ja-myeong, played by actress Jeong Ryeo-won, must choose between her true love, Goguryeo's Prince Ho-dong, and her kingdom. Forced to cross swords with her half-sister Ra-hee, she sacrifices love and life for nation. "This is the first time that both the director and the scriptwriter have worked on a historical romance," said actress Jeong.
Also a first for the 28-year old actress, who starred in the hit MBC drama "My Lovely Samsoon" (2005), Jeong stated that she found her character "fascinating."
Both Jeong and co-star Park Min-young, who is playing Ra-hee, underwent extensive training for their fight scenes. The preview showcased the two princesses, flying through the air and twirling swords in what promises to be an action-packed series.
Starting next Monday, MBC's heroine, played by veteran actress Kim Nam-ju, will be defending a different kind of kingdom in "My Wife is a Superwoman."
Returning to the small screen after an eight-year hiatus, the 37-year old actress tackles the role of a prom queen-turned-housewife. Bolstered by friend and co-star Lee Hye-young as a school dweeb-turned-domestic goddess and "Fantastic Couple" co-star Oh Ji-ho as her less-than-ideal husband, Kim promises to garner laughs as a desperate housewife struggling to make ends meet. "I chose this because I like upbeat dramas," said Kim at the press conference on Wednesday.
The preview drew laughs, showing Kim as the popular schoolgirl and Lee as the geeky one, both of them fawning over first loves, then segueing to them as dowdy and glamorous housewives disillusioned by the challenges of married life. "I play an ugly schoolgirl who loses the man she loves," said actress Lee. "When I first did make-up for my character and went on set, no one said 'Hi' to me."
Dwarfed by enormous glasses and covered in freckles, Lee's drastic transformation into character Yang Bong-soon elicited a few chuckles from the press on Wednesday.
Will this spoof on school romances and housewives be enough to beat out KBS' "Boys Over Flowers"? "Since 'Boys Over Flowers' is a strong rival, I think we can get ratings of over 15 percent," predicted co-star Oh Ji-ho.
MBC's "My Wife Is A Superwoman" airs on Mar. 16 at 9:55 p.m.
SBS' "Jamyeonggo" airs a special tonight and two back-to-back episodes tomorrow at 9:55 p.m.
By Jean Oh ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr |
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March 8, 2009
TV Actress Jang Commits Suicide
TV actress Jang Ja-yon committed suicide at her home in Bundang, southern outskirts of Seoul, Saturday, police said. She is 27.
She has been acting in a popular Monday and Tuesday drama series of "Man Rather Than Flower" on KBS TV 2.
Police said that Jang was found to have hanged herself to death on the in-house stairs to the second floor of her home at 7:42 p.m.
The police quoted her sister as saying, "She has suffered from depression, frequently staying at home alone recently."
Jang has lived with her elder sister, since her parents were killed in a traffic accident 10 years ago, police said.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 8, 2009
Aspiring actress found dead
Jang Ja-yeon, an aspiring actress who had a role in the mega-hit KBS drama "Boys Before Flowers (also known as Boys Over Flowers)" was found dead in her home on Saturday in what appears to be a suicide case, police said yesterday. Jang, 27, appeared to have hung herself, and was found by her sister, police said.
The news sent shockwaves to fans of the hit television series, where she was cast as one of three friends who are out to get heroine Geum Jan-di.
Jang, who debuted as a television commercial model in 2006, was also anticipating the release of movie " Penthouse Elephant," in which she played a supporting role.
Despite her budding career, Jang was suffering from depression and was receiving treatment, according to police. Police said there were no signs of foul play and were expected to rule her death as suicide.
Jang was living with her sister after losing both parents in a car accident 10 years ago.
Her funeral is being held at Seoul National University's Bundang Hospital. Jang's death raised the alarm once again over the rampant number of suicides in the entertainment business lately.
Last year alone, actor Ahn Jae-hwan committed suicide in September, followed by top actress Choi Jin-sil in October and Lee Seo-hyun, a member of singing group M. Street, in December.
The phenomenon has brought to the spotlight the problem of the "Werther effect," or copycat suicides, as well as rampant and often irresponsible media coverage of suicides.
According to press reporting guidelines established by the Health Ministry, Korea Association for Suicide Prevention and Korea Journalist Association in 2004, media must protect the privacy of the dead and families, as well as refraining from offering too much detail on the case or reporting on rumored motives behind the suicide.
By Lee Joo-hee ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr |
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March 8, 2009
'Boys over Flowers' Actress Jang Found Dead in Apparent Suicide
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
Actress Jang Ja-yeon was found dead
in an apparent suicide Saturday
at her home in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province
Rising actress Jang Ja-yeon, who was currently starring in the KBS 2TV hit drama "Boys over Flowers," was found dead in an apparent suicide Saturday at her home in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
Police said that the 26-year-old actress apparently hanged herself from a stairway railing and was discovered by her sister around 7:30 p.m.
Jang was known to have had trouble with her current management agency renewing her contract. The actress had complained about the overwhelming stress to her sister during a phone call at 3:30 p.m. that day, saying she "wants to die."
According to police investigations, Jang also suffered from depression and had undergone medical treatment during the past year. About 10 years ago, Jang lost both of her parents in a car accident when she was in high school and had lived with her sister since.
A will has yet to be found, but after her family's statements about the actress' ongoing struggle with depression, police are searching for further evidence of suicide and returned Jang's body to the bereaved family without performing an autopsy.
Various stars, including the cast of Boys Over Flowers, are visiting the late actress' mortuary at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital to offer their condolences.
After her public debut in 2006 in a TV commercial, Jang rose to stardom playing Sunny, one of the three mean girls in Boys over Flowers. She was also awaiting her big screen debut in Penthouse Elephant.
- Korea Times Intern Hwang Sung-hee contributed to the article ([email protected])
Credits: chungay@koreatimes.co.kr |
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March 8, 2009
Andre Kim show blends in Thai tradition
BANGKOK -- Charismatic models in splendid dresses and 2,000 plus spectators oohing and aahing -- it is the usual "Andre Kim effect." Still, there was one more factor to consider in determining the success of the designer's show on Saturday in the Thai capital -- a royal presence.
Korea's top designer Andre Kim held a fashion show at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Center to mark the 50th anniversary of the Korea-Thailand partnership in Bangkok.
The event was jointly hosted by the Korean Embassy in Thailand and the Korean Culture and Information Service and sponsored by the Korea Foundation and the Thai royal family, particularly the support foundation of Queen Sirikit.
"Thailand is a very proud nation which has kept itself intact for centuries, but it has also successfully let the Western civilization co-mingle with its tradition. In designing the collection for the Bangkok show, I tried to incorporate that aspect into my clothes," Kim told The Korea Herald before the fashion show.
Invited to the show, titled "Andre Kim Fashion Fantasia in Bangkok" were Korea's top hallyu star Lee Jun-ki and many up-and-coming models, as well as Thailand's own May Pitchanart to walk the runway hand in hand with Lee.
Some 200 local media and hallyu fans crowded the pre-show press conference on Friday. Sareporn Laovanijya, a reporter from Thailand's Khom Chad Leuk newspaper, said that hallyu star Lee Jun-ki has a wide fan base in Thailand. She also added that she expected to see "everything" at the show introducing Korea's iconic designer to the fashion-conscious Thai public.
The fashion show unraveled over a total of six stages intended to tell a romantic love story. Opening with the well-known introductory passage of Tchaikovsky's piano concerto No. 1 as background music, the 90-minute show captivated the audience with the bold-yet-graceful combination of colors spread on a total of 175 pieces.
After an array of more wearable suits with rather subdued designs, simply accentuated with crystal buttons and big bows, the show turned to Andre Kim's signature styles, featuring voluminous dresses in brilliant tones accompanied by chiffon shawls and crystal accessories covering the models' braided hair.
Much to the amazement of Thai fans, Lee and his model colleagues walked the runway wearing form-fitting jackets and slinky pants tucked into same-color boots. Drawing a sharp contrast to their female counterparts donned in bright, often eye-popping colors, male models were clad rather monotonously in colors such as ivory, dark navy, brown, gold and gray, but not without the sophisticated embroidery highlighting the designer's signature style.
Most notably, over 20 pieces made of Thai silk provided by the royal family were presented in the third stage aptly entitled "Everlasting Glory for the Kingdom of Thailand." Kim said he was fascinated by Thailand's silk 43 years ago when he first visited the country and has wanted to use the material ever since.
After the grand finale where models dressed in white wedding gowns mesmerized the audience, Andre Kim and Lee Jun-ki were introduced to Princess Som Sawalee, who attended the event on behalf of the royal family.
Observers from Korea said the show marked a successful start of the year 2009 for the veteran designer, as he has perfectly combined his iconic Asian designs with Thailand's unique cultural elements.
Kim's next show will be in China's financial capital of Shanghai next month.
By Ahn Hyo-lim/Korea Herald correspondent ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr |
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March 9, 2009
Actress from 態oys Over Flowers |
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March 9, 2009
揃oys over Flower |
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 Weekly Box Office 2009.03.06 ~ 2009.03.08 3-day Gross/Total Gross (won)
1. Watchmen (U.S.) 1,700,609,000 / 2,170,710,000
2. Old Partner (South Korea) 3 1,423,947,500 / 15,819,250,800
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (U.S.) 792,574,000 / 9,976,862,500
4. The Scam (South Korea) 712,680,000 / 8,711,052,500
5. He's Just Not That Into You (U.S.) 326,538,000 / 5,990,891,000
6. Handphone (South Korea) 284,210,500 / 4,007,637,000
7. The Unborn (U.S.) 222,708,000 / 1,269,904,000
8. The Wrestler (U.S.) 228,605,000 / 272,110,500
9. The International (U.S.) 198,774,500 / 1,462,811,000
10. In Bruges (U.K.) 176,168,500 / 211,630,000
Source: KOFIC |
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March 9, 2009
Actress Jang Ja-yeon in Apparent Suicide
Jang Ja-yeon
Actress Jang Ja-yeon was found dead at her home in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Saturday evening in what appears to be suicide. Jang (27) had been appearing in the hugely popular TV drama "Boys Over Flowers" on KBS 2TV.
Police said that Jang's older sister found the actress hanged on stairs to the second floor of her home. She said she called her sister several times but got no answer, so she went to her home to check.
Jang lived with her sister and younger brother since she lost her parents in a car accident about 10 years ago. She made her debut as a commercial model in 2006, and recently took the role of the bad girl harassing heroine Geum Jan-di in "Boys over Flowers." Police believe she committed suicide since her family testified she had been treated for depression for a year and the fact there was no evidence of foul play.
About 250,000 fans visited her website to express their condolences on Saturday and 700,000 on Sunday.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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March 9, 2009
Comedian Han 'Ranking 45th But Dream of 2nd'
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March 10, 2009
Women's Film Festival to screen 105 movies
Website http://www.wffis.or.kr/wffis2009/main_kor.php
The 11th Women's Film Festival in Seoul (WFFIS) will kick off at Artreon Theater in Sinchon, western Seoul, on April 9, featuring 105 movies from 23 countries under the theme of "See the World Through Women's Eyes."
"The overall economy is in bad shape, which makes it difficult to organize film festival events. Although we have trimmed down the festival scale, we want to focus on what we cannot lose," said Lee Hyae-kyoung, festival director of WFFIS, at a press conference held in Seoul yesterday.
Last year, the festival featured a record 141 movies, but the organizers decided to cut down on the number of films amid the growing concerns about the economic downturn. The festival, specializing in women's perspectives and related issues, solidified its position in recent years as a key venue where not only local female filmmakers but also their Asian counterparts gather together to share their thoughts about their status in and outside of the film industry.
"The guiding principle of 2009 events is 'a new beginning.' Films go beyond boundaries and nationalities, so we return to the basic issues of labor and poverty facing women at home and abroad," Lee said.
The festival will open with Jennifer Phang's "Half-Life," a film depicting the anxiety of minorities in the United States.
The film festival, which will run through April 16, is basically non-competitive, but offers one competition section. In the Asian Short Film competition section, 18 applicants from four countries are competing for the top award. Foreign contenders in the section are "Be Beautiful" by Chen Michelle (Taiwan), "Goodbye by Song Fang (China), "Take Note" by Elite Zexer (Israel) and "With or Without You" by Chow She-Wei (Taiwan).
The jury committee is made up of Korean actress Gong Hyo-jin, director Lee Mi-yeon, director Jennifer Phang, culture critic Seo Dong-jin and a Japanese women's film festival chief Yukiko Hibino.
In the section titled "On Aging," the festival plans to screen 13 films dealing with the aging, sex and love of women. "The popularity of 'Old Partner' reflects the heightened public attention to the silver industry, and we want to explore the process of aging in this special section," said Son Hee-jeong, a festival programmer.
Major festival events include an international conference titled " Poverty and Women's Labor in Globalization Era," and the Talk in Theater, a special program where audiences can interact with directors and experts on women's issues.
WFFIS is regarded as a specialty festival that has successfully carved out a share in the increasingly crowded film festival market in Korea, as the organizers have long stuck to their novel approach to look at cultural aspects in a bid to form a new women-oriented cultural community.
The ticket price for opening, closing and nightly movies is set at 12,000 won while other films are available at 5,000 won each. For further information and ticket reservations, visit www.wffis.or.kr
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 11/200903110005.asp |
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