Korean Entertainment News Update (siri 2)

katt

March 12, 2009

Kwon Sang-woo under fire for remarks



Korean movie star Kwon Sang-woo is no stranger to self-generated scandals. But this time round he seems to have set a new record in creating cyberspace disputes.

In a recent interview with local movie magazine Premiere, Kwon offered his opinion on a wide range of topics including his recent marriage, his newborn son, former movie projects and his dreams for the future.

At the center of the dispute are Kwon's controversial remarks about his commitment to Korea, local fans and his directors. According to the full text of the interview, Kwon said he had hated living Korea since his early childhood and planned to move abroad in 10 years. Currently, he is setting up a new business to realize his "out-of-Korea" dream.

Kwon also expressed his displeasure toward director Yoo Ha, who recruited Kwon on a previous film project. But after Yoo picked another actor for his next project, Kwon said he became "displeased" and wished that Yoo's latest film, "Ssanghwajeom," would tank at the box office.

Kwon also revealed that he intentionally skipped the sound recording session for one of his film projects largely because he did not like what was going on at the production set - a highly unprofessional decision that irked many online observers.

As for "Love, So Divine," a 2004 film directed by Hur In-moo, Kwon said he felt "embarrassed" when he watched the completed film. "Frankly, our director seemed inexperienced," Kwon said.

Kwon said he would not reveal the photos of his infant son unless he got paid money comparable to the amount Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie received. The comment sparked an uproar in internet communities for his seemingly money-oriented attitude to the privacy of his own family.

Source: [email protected] via koreaherald.co.kr

katt

March 14, 2009

Ock Joo-hyun Inspired to Instruct Students in Stagecraft
  

Ock Joo-hyun  

Singer Ock Joo-hyun will teach courses in singing and musicals at Dong Seoul College. Ock, who debuted in 1998 as the member of famous group Finkle, went solo in 2003 and has since released three albums under her own name. She began her musical career in 2005, including starring roles in "Aida," "Chicago" and "Cats."

"I will try my best to transfer the hands-on experience and knowledge accumulated from my 11-year career to my students," said Ock. "I became a member of Finkle that everyone in this country knows, and worked harder and harder until I hardly had time to realize my fame. There are things that went the way I had wished and things that didn't throughout my career, but I feel especially attached to being a radio DJ and musical actress, because these are the areas that I poured out my energy the most and received the greatest sense of fulfillment."

Ock said she was often asked if singing onstage was difficult when she first started performing in musicals. "Frankly, I didn't really feel that it was difficult. I have worked with a number of world-famous musical teams, and they said my strength was vocalization," said Ock confidently, "Those who had long, extensive voice training in classical music struggle to produce their natural voice, but because I stopped classical training in order to become a pop singer, I can move freely between a natural voice and falsetto. They told me that I use the same vocalization technique as Broadway actresses do, and that I have a natural sense of tempo."

Ock is currently on a nationwide tour of the musical "Cats," and plans to release a new album in the summer.

Credits: [email protected]  
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200903/200903140001.html

katt

March 12, 2009

Korea Music Awards Honor Top Singers   



Jang Ki-ha and trio bank My Sister抯 Barbershop have won the most awards at the sixth Korea Music Awards. At the award ceremony held in Daehakro in Seoul, Jang received three awards

katt

March 13, 2009

Wonder Girls Piqued at Khmer Version of 揘obody擺/b]  



The Cambodian version of 揘obody

katt

March 11, 2009

'Boys Over Flowers' explodes in popularity
  
Popular TV dramas *record their *viewer ratings. And their *re-runs also record their ratings.

On March 1, re-runs of the KBS drama "Boys Over Flowers" were aired on KBS. Two *consecutive episodes - episodes 15 and 16 -were aired.

According to news reports, the episodes 15 and 16 re-runs recorded 9.2 percent and 11.8 percent respectively in viewer ratings. On the same day, other drama re-runs were aired on SBS, KBS, and MBC. But "Boys Over Flowers" was the highest rated re-run drama on that day, scoring an average of over 10 percent.

The SBS drama "Temptation of Wife" which is the highest rated drama in the weekly charts only had a 6.4 percent viewer rating. And two episodes of MBC's "East of Eden"  which are in direct competition with "Boys Over Flowers" every Monday and Tuesday only scored 5.8 percent and 10.2 percent respectively.

Currently "Boys Over Flowers" has an average viewer rating that falls somewhere in the 30 percent range. The drama is creating a base of *die-hard viewers especially among teenagers and women.

The drama is so popular that the main characters and the plot are being *parodied by other shows and people in the entertainment industry. KBS' *signature comedy show "Gag Concert" recently started a subcategory of the show that parodies the drama and its characters.

By Yoo Bo-lam ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEW ... 11/200903110137.asp

katt

NEWS INDEX page 94

March 15, 2009: Korean films to stage counterattack in April
March 15: 'Late Actress Was Forced to Have Sex With Showbiz VIPs'
March 16: Letter claims late actress was forced to have sex
March 16: Police Probe Jang Ja-yeon Suicide

katt

March 15, 2009

Korean films to stage counterattack in April



After a brief lull of Korean films this month, several new movies are lined up for April, including the much-hyped thriller "Private Eye" and the comic drama "Why Did You Come To My House?"

A heated rivalry is anticipated as seven Korean movies are scheduled for release, with three hitting theaters on the same day.

"Private Eye" will open in theaters on April 2. The movie features award-winning actor Hwang Jung-min as a detective chasing a murderer played by Ryu Deok-hwan during the Japanese colonial period.

Opening April 9 is "Why Did You Come to My House?" a film about a mysterious girl, played by Kang Hye-jeong, who forces herself into the home of a man, played by Park Hee-soon, who is addicted to attempting suicide.

On April 23, the comic action fare "Level 7 Bureaucrat" will be released, starring Kim Ha-neul and Kang Ji-hwan as special agents of the National Intelligence Service.

One of the most anticipated films in April is the independent "Breathless," directed by Yang Ik-june, who has already turned heads at various international movie festivals.

The most heated opening day is April 30, when three movies are scheduled to join the competition. Among the contenders is "Wandering Mr. Kim," directed by Lee Hae-jun. The film stars singer-turned-actress Jung Ryu-won and Jeong Jae-young, and is about a man who starts living on a deserted island on the Han River after a failed suicide attempt by jumping off a bridge.

Critically acclaimed director Park Chan-wook returns from the with "Thirst" after a three-year-hiatus after his box-office flop "I'm A Cyborg But That's OK." Park's new movie involves a well-respected priest (Song Kang-ho) who is turned into a vampire and falls in love with a friend's wife.

Another is "Insadong Scandal," starring Kim Rae-won and Uhm Jung-hwa, who play characters involved in a mystery surrounding the Joseon Dynasty painter An Gyeon's masterpiece "Byeokando."

Other movies that have not settled on an opening date but are likely to be released before the end of next month are director Hong Sang-soo's "You Don't Even Know" (working title) and director Jeon Soo-il's "Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells," also known as "With a Girl of Himalaya."

The crowded release schedule for April results from production companies' decision to skip the so-called "slack season" of March and avoid May and June, which is when major Hollywood blockbusters are scheduled to land here.

By Lee-Joo-hee ([email protected]) koreaherald.co.kr

katt

March 15, 2009

'Late Actress Was Forced to Have Sex With Showbiz VIPs'

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter


The late actress Jang Ja-yeon

Police have started investigating the authenticity of a note actress Jang Ja-yeon allegedly left before committing suicide on March 8. The note said she was unable to withstand the pressure of entertaining and having sex with program directors and corporate and media executives.

The former manager of the 30-year-old actress made public her alleged handwritten letters. Jang, who recently starred in the hit drama "Boys Over Flowers," was found dead in an apparent suicide at her home in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.

According to the Bundang Police Station, Jang's letter said she was beaten, forced to serve drinks, act as an escort at golf matches and coerced into sex with several program directors, CEOs and media executives. Police said they obtained the list of names mentioned in the document but would decide on making them public after confirming whether the document in question is "authentic."

The police searched nine places including Jang's former and current agencies and her residence and seized the document from a broadcasting station, Saturday. The document will first go through a graphology test to confirm her handwriting and then police will investigate the content.

The letter also had some 10 names of program directors and other VIPs, but the police said they must conduct further investigation to verify the credibility of the document before summoning those mentioned. "The document had thumbprints and a social security number and seems to have been written by Jang,'' a police officer said.

Her family members first opposed revealing the document but changed their minds and asked for further investigation since some contents of the letter had already been disclosed.

Yoo Jang-ho, Jang's former manager and head of management agency Hoyaspotainment, were in possession of the document and first leaked it to the public. He was hospitalized after a failed suicide attempt, Friday.

However, police said they are not sure whether the document they have found is the one Yoo disclosed and presumed the possibility of the existence of more than one document. Yoo said he burnt the letter in front of Jang's family and does not have any copies of the letter.

Kim Sung-hoon, head of Jang's last agency, was quoted as claiming that the documents are fabricated, adding that Jang's former manager "fabricated" the letters out of his disgruntlement over four criminal and civil lawsuits filed against him.

Meanwhile, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will provide standardized contract forms to entertainment agencies in the first half of the year. "Jang's letter aroused concern toward the unfairness of entertainers' contracts once again," a FTC official said. "We found several unfair contracts at big agencies last year, but it's almost impossible to investigate hundreds of small- and medium-sized companies.''

The FTC will continuously supervise management agencies to rid them of unfair contracts in addition to the enforcement of standard contract terms.

Credits: meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

March 16, 2009

Letter claims late actress was forced to have sex

A letter allegedly written by the actress Jang Ja-yeon days before she was found dead at her home in Bundang, Gyeonggi, claims she was forced to have sex with men, humiliated, beaten and abused with foul language.

Police said in the four-page letter addressed to her manager, surnamed Yun, Jang claimed that a former manager called Kim had verbally abused and physically assaulted her many times.

The letter was written on Feb. 28 and delivered to Yun on the same day. Jang was found dead on March 7.

The note also states that the actress, who recently appeared in the KBS TV series 揃oys Over Flowers,

katt

March 16, 2009

Police Probe Jang Ja-yeon Suicide


Jang Ja-yeon

Police are investigating the events leading up to the suicide of Jang Ja-yeon after a statement written by the actress surfaced saying she had been forced to have sex by her agency and suffered violence at their hands. Jang (29) was found dead on March 7.

Police on Saturday searched the agency's office, Jang's house, her manager's house and other related places for evidence. Jang's family, who initially did not want an investigation, said once the document was revealed, they decided to cooperate fully with the investigation because they feel it is important to find out the truth, police said.

Police are contacting the agency president, identified only as Kim, who is in Japan, to set a date for questioning. Police again questioned Jang's manager, identified as Yoo, who attempted suicide after interrogation last Friday.

"We have secured the document that appears to have written by the deceased. Since it contains such contents as violence and forced sex, we are investigating whether the contents are indeed true," a police spokesman said. The document lists the names of senior executives at broadcasters and large corporations, who could also come in for questioning. Yoo told police last Friday that the document had been delivered to Jang's family, who burned it.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

katt

Weekly Box Office 2009.03.13 ~ 2009.03.15 3-day Gross/Total Gross (won)


A Sad Story Than Sadness / daum.net

1. A Sad Story Than Sadness / More than Blue (South Korea) 1,594,069,500 / 1,961,182,500

2. Dragonball Evolution (U.S.) 1,441,739,500 / 1,605,587,000

3. Old Partner (South Korea) 937,561,100 / 17,429,990,900

4. The Accidental Husband (U.K.) 868,676,500 / 969,471,000

5. Watchmen (U.S.) 845,688,500 / 3,558,934,500

6. Friday The 13th (U.S.) 835,830,000 / 914,401,500

7. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (U.S.) 577,917,500 / 10,874,697,000

8. The Scam (South Korea) 518,088,000 / 9,583,411,000

9. Open Season 2 (U.S.) 152,723,000 / 154,806,000

10. He's Just Not That Into You (U.S.) 149,553,000 / 6,276,906,000

Source: KOFIC

katt

March 16, 2009

Korean Indie Film Wins at French Film Fest

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter


Director/actor Yang Ik-june, left, and Kim Kkobbi in a scene from "Breathless.''
/ Courtesy of Jin Jin Pictures

"Breathless" by director Yang Ik-joon won both the grand prize (Le Lotus du meilleur film) and the international critic's award at the 10th Deauville Asian Film Festival in France, which came to a close, Sunday. This is another feat in the international film circuit by the South Korean indie film, which recently won the top award at the 38th International Film Festival Rotterdam.

This is the second consecutive year the two coveted prizes went to a Korean movie at the esteemed event, following Jeon Soo-il's "With a Girl of Black Soil."

Numerous other local works appeared at the festival. Baek Seung-bin's "Members of the Funeral" competed in the competition section alongside "Breathless"; Na Hong-jin's hit film "The Chaser" and Kim Yoon-jin's big budget epic "The Divine Weapon" were shown in Action Asia; and Yoo Ha's controversial "A Frozen Flower" and Yoon Jong-bin's noir drama "Beastie Boys" were screened in the Panorama section.

The film festival also paid special tribute to Korean directors Lee Chang-dong and Lee Yoon-ki with a retrospective of their respective works, such as "Secret Sunshine" and "This Charming Girl."

"Breathless" will be released in theaters here in April.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

March 16, 2009

Choi Ji-woo Explains Dating Rumors in Japan



Actress Choi Ji-woo抯 visit to Japan has drawn great attention from the media there, amid rumors that she has fallen in love. Japanese sports dailies and broadcasters on Thursday gave intensive coverage of the Korean actress--who arrived at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Wednesday for a three-day visit until Saturday--and her relationship with actor Lee Jin-wook.

Choi was welcomed by some 150 fans waiting at the airport, despite a snowstorm, who gave her a bouquet of flowers. 揑 am very happy to visit Japan again. I have wanted to meet you again,

katt

March 16, 2009

S. Korean Takes Top Honors at Deauville Film Festival  



South Korean director Yang Ik-june抯 揃reathless

katt

March 16, 2009

[EDITORIAL] Death of a starlet



When Jang Ja-yeon was found dead in her home on March 7, people deplored the suicide of yet another entertainer, who appeared to have been depressed by her diminishing role in a TV drama. But when her former manager disclosed a note she allegedly wrote before her death stirred up a hornet's nest in the media and entertainment circles. Some celebrities' names are circulating in connection with her claim in the note that she was forced by her agency to sit at drinking parties and have sex with persons of influence.

"(...) hit me in the head with a hand and a PET bottle in a closed room... I was forced to serve the director at the golf club and...," said the handwritten note which bore her signature, resident number and her fingerprint. These words in the partly burned piece of paper shown in a KBS news cast shockingly exposed the gruesome aspects of the life of the actress, who had to depend on her agency to survive and get ahead in the entertainment world.

Police have started an investigation, interviewing people whose names appeared in Jang's note on possible charges of extortion. Staff members at her agency are denying that any form of coercion was involved in Jang's meetings with people from broadcasters or filmmakers. They argue that the "natural" way of introducing aspirants, either male or female, to people with connections is to call them to drinking places.

The details of this scandal do not seem to be too far from the truth. Before us is the suicide of an actress who apparently had an extremely stressful life attending drinking parties and engaging in other social activities that she might have found necessary to achieve "success."

Earlier, bribery involving entertainers' agents and TV program directors were exposed and quite a few have gone through criminal proceedings. Now Jang has given society yet another glimpse into the murky world of entertainment. The authorities are requested to cleanse the corrupt elements from the TV and film communities with an exhaustive investigation, so that the soul of the dead actress can be at rest.

Source: koreaherald.co.kr

katt

March 16, 2009

Actors Reunite for Music Album

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter



Actors Kim Min-jong, 37, and Son Ji-chang, 39, will return to the K-pop scene in April, reviving their popular 1990s duo The Blue, Yonhap News announced, Monday.

In a recent interview, Kim said the duo finished recording their single album, which features former hits like "Feeling Only for You" and "With You" and solos such as "Adlib Love." They will start promoting their album around April or May.

The two actors launched The Blue in 1992. They were playing leads in hit dramas at the time, and enjoyed explosive popularity among women when they debuted with ballads and dance music.

They went their separate ways for a while after their first album, but reunited in 1995 for a second project and produced many hit songs. "I yielded to (Son) Ji-chang's temptation to release this new album," Kim said, laughing. "Ji-chang always wanted to record a Best album for The Blue. At the end of 2007, we sang together at an event and got a positive response, and so I decided to take part in the project."

"It will inspire nostalgia for the generation of fans who liked The Blue.. Memories are powerful and show that we're alive," he said. Kim added that he hoped reviving The Blue would be a self-transforming experience.

"It's been 20 years since I debuted, and The Blue project will make me feel like a newcomer again. It's been a really long time since I felt this kind of passion rising from the bottom of my heart, and it feels like I'm jumping into something new," he said.

Kim currently stars in the MBC TV series "Iljimae Returns."

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

katt

March 17, 2009

Mystery thickens around Jang Ja-yeon document

Bundang police plan to summon over 10 high-profile figures listed in a document allegedly written by late actress Jang Ja-yeon before she committed suicide, if it indeed proves to be authentic.

揥e asked the National Institute of Scientific Investigation to conduct a handwriting analysis to confirm who created the document and how. If the authenticity is confirmed, we think the figures listed in the document should be summoned for questioning,

katt

March 17, 2009

Pop Star Rain Arrives at US Court


South Korean pop star and actor Rain
arrives at federal court Monday in Honolulu.
Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, and his producers
are being sued over the performer's abrupt cancellation
of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu. / AP-Yonhap

South Korean pop star Rain has arrived at federal court in Honolulu to testify in a civil lawsuit filed against him over cancellation of his 2007 Hawaii concert, The Associated Press reported.

Before entering the courthouse Monday, Rain said "Aloha," flashed a "shaka" sign to a handful of fans and was served with papers on canceled concerts in other states, including one in Los Angeles, AP said. He let the documents fall to the ground.

Honolulu-based Click Entertainment is suing Rain and his former agency for breach of contract and fraud for canceling the concert at Aloha Stadium without explanation.

Plaintiffs say Rain kept a $500,000 appearance fee. The Korean star was scheduled to testify Monday afternoon.

The courtroom was packed with fans, all female, ranging from grandmothers to teenagers.

Source: The Korea Times

katt

March 17, 2009

BoA Releasing First U.S. Album
  

BoA  

K-pop superstar BoA is releasing her first U.S. album. It comes out in America on Tuesday, in Korea and Japan on Wednesday, and later in China, Malaysia, India, Singapore and Thailand.

The self-titled album contains 11 songs including flagship song "I Did It For Love," and dance tracks "Energetic," "Eat You Up," and "Look Who's Talking." "Girls on Top," the title song for BoA's fifth album in Korea, has been arranged with new English lyrics. The album features various styles to highlight BoA's versatility.

A number of top American producers, lyricists, and composers had a hand in the album, including Sean Garrett, Brian Kennedy and Toby Gad. The video for "I Did It For Love" was directed by Joseph Kahn, who has made promos for Britney Spears, Chris Brown and Eminem and won the Best Video of the Year and Best Direction in the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.

Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 3/200903170005.html

katt

March 17, 2009

Indie Film Wonder Boy Yang Ik-june Wins 2 More Awards
  

Yang Ik-june  

Yang Ik-june, the 34-year-old star of Korean independent movie circles, has won two international film awards. On Saturday, Yang won best actor for his starring role in "Breathless," the film he also directed, at the International Film Festival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Kim Kko-bbi, who stars in "Breathless," also won best actress.

And at the 11th Deauville Asian Film Festival, "Breathless" won the Jury Prize as well as the International Critics Prize.

Yang is a rising star on the international movie scene, winning numerous international awards with his debut film, including the VPRO Tiger Awards at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in February, and being invited to 17 international film festivals.

"Breathless" is released in Korea on Apr. 16.

Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21dat ... 3/200903170016.html