Korean Entertainment News Update (siri 2)

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 26, 2008

East-Meets-Western Offers Hope for Korean Film Recovery


A poster for the film 'The Good, the Bad, the Weird.'

Invited to the Out of Competition section of the 61st International Cannes Film Festival, the Korean movie "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" screened at the Grand Theater Lumiere on Saturday (local time), giving the world its first glimpse at the potential of a bold new genre -- the Korean Western.

Warmly received, a reporter from U.S. film industry magazine Variety wondered why a U.S. distributor had yet to be decided for the movie, while Hollywood actor and director Mel Gibson's Icon Entertainment International snapped up the U.K. distribution rights.

"While In Competition puts an emphasis on the spirit of the times, Out of Competition can be considered the 'flower' of the festival in terms of popular films," the film's director Kim Jee-woon said at a press conference at the Palais de Festival earlier Saturday. "I think the invitation of my movie proves that Cannes recognizes the new experiments being made in Korean commercial cinema."

The Korean movie was in good company in the Out of Competition section, screening alongside Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", DreamWorks Animation's "Kung Fu Panda", and Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", suggesting that Korean adventure and comedy movies may have finally overcome the crisis of confidence they have suffered.


From left, director Kim Jee-woon and actors Jung Woo-sung, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho pose as they arrive for the screening of their film 'The Good, the Bad, the Weird' at the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on Saturday in Cannes. /AFP

Reminiscent of Sergio Leone's 1966 classic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" follows three men hounding each other across the Manchurian desert in the 1930s in pursuit of a treasure map. It has drawn attention since production started as it stars three of Korea's top actors -- Song Kang-ho (the Weird), Lee Byung-hun (the Bad), and Jung Woo-sung (the Good).

"The movie reflects Koreans' desires to advance into the Chinese continent beyond the narrow Korean Peninsula," Kim said, brought to life in the wild chase scene on the open Manchurian plain.

The W20 billion (US$1=W1,048) movie is expected to rescue Korea's film industry, currently suffering a dismal slump. The screening at Cannes gave grounds to those expectations, serving as a first step to a recovery of confidence.

([email protected] )

Source: Chosun

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 24, 2008

[Junior Herald] First Philippine drama to air in Korea


[image=starnews]

There are many foreign dramas and sitcoms airing on Korean television networks, entertaining and capturing the eyes of many Koreans. Although there are just so many of them playing in various channels, there is not enough variety in terms of their *origin. This is because they usually are from the U.S., Japan, and China. Therefore, it seems like we are not getting enough *diversity because those three large drama exporters are obviously not the only foreign countries that have fun, interesting dramas.

However, good news for foreign drama lovers, the first Philippine drama began airing on KBSN, a cable channel, on May 11. Called "Boys Nxt Door,"the drama is an award-winning sitcom and one of the most loved sitcoms for youth. It first *premiered on Jun. 24, 2007 in the Philippines and ended on Jan. 13, 2008.

The sitcom is a romantic, *heart-warming show about *stepsiblings who start accepting one another after the death of their father. The five siblings start living together and become very close to girls who live in front of their house.

"Buboy," the main male character in the sitcom is played by Marky Cielo, who is currently one of the most popular idol stars in the Philippines.

Boys Nxt Door will also be aired in Malaysia, dubbed in Malaysian whereas the Korean audience gets English subtitles.

Boys Nxt Door airs on KBSN every Sunday at 1:30 a.m. and two 45-minute episodes are *consecutively played.

By Yoo Bo-lam ([email protected])

Source: The Korea Herald
KBSN "Boys Nxt Door" Homepage: http://www.kbsn.co.kr/html/drama/asia_drama_04.php

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 24, 2008

[Junior Herald] New *newlyweds on 'We Got Married'

After the two couples, Alex-Shin-ae and Jung Hyung-don-Saori, left the scene of MBC's reality show "We Got Married," new newlyweds have joined the *league.

The 9th episode which aired on May 11, welcomed two new couples. Lee Hwi-jae and Jo Yeojeong, with an age difference of nine years, are a couple who just moved into their new home. The second couple, Kim Hyun-joong and Hwang-bo, are a couple enjoying their *honeymoon in Jeju Island.

Unlike the Lee-Jo couple where the *groom is the older of the two, Hwangbo is six years Kim's *senior.

The first episode with the new couples ended up in *disappointment as the rating fell by 2.3 percent from the *previous episode.


[Junior Herald] Kim Si-duk proposes on 'Gag Concert'

Proposing, *confessing love, and *revealing loved ones on stage has become a popular trend among comedians. Several comedians such as Park Ji-sun of KBS, Kim Ju-hyun of SBS, and Kim Min-su of SBS have done so in the past.

Kim Si-duk, a comedian *affiliated with KBS, joined his fellow comedians by bringing his *brideto-be on stage on "Gag Concert" aired on May 11.

"This woman is the one who stole my heart. We're getting married on May 31,"he told the audience. He made everyone laugh when he proposed with his famous line, "Please have my baby"(in the *Gyeongsang dialect), to his girlfriend.


Source: The Korea Herald

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

Entertainer union launches strike



May 26, SEOUL, South Korea -- Kim Eung-seok, who leads a union of entertainers in broadcasting and film industries, chants slogans condemning MBC TV in front of the network's headquarters in Seoul on May 26, after the union launched a strike to demand an increase in performance fees from MBC. (Yonhap)
(END)

Source: Yonhap News

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 26, 2008

Asian Stars Team Up to Help China

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter



Korean star Park Jin-young and director Kang Je-kyu, and Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan have come together to assist Chinese people battered by the massive earthquake that occurred May 12.

Top pop singer and producer Park and director Kang are joining with Chan to create an Asian version of "We Are the World,'' which touched people's hearts back in 1985 to help famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.

The project will be carried out under the theme "Asia is one, We Love Asia,'' and will be produced by Kang at the request of Chan. Kang is renowned for directing hit movies "Tae Guk Gi'' (2003) and "Swiri'' (1998).

Park will participate as the music producer and according to Park's agency, JYP Entertainment, the singer has already finished the main song that will be used in the project.

"Chan proposed a project that would show the unity of Asia. We have agreed to work on a song that will raise spirits during a difficult times in Asia, following the earthquake damage in Shichuan, China,'' JYP said.

Top Korean artists and actors will sing the song, but the agency said that nothing has been specifically confirmed at the moment.

The song will be recorded later this month when Chan visits Korea.

"Park, Kang and Chan are stars who aim for the international scene and are proud to be Asians, and this made it easier to start the project,'' JYP added.

[email protected]

Source: The Korea Times

katt

May 27, 2008

Jackie Chan, JYP join to help quake victims


Kang Je-gyu, Jackie Chan, Park Jin-young [image=starnews]

International martial-arts and action-comic star Jackie Chan will join hands with Korean singer/producer Park Jin-young and film director Kang Je-gyu to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Sichuan, China.

JYP Entertainment said yesterday that Chan has solicited the help of his two Korean friends -- Park and Kang -- to launch a charity project featuring K-pop stars. JYP, the country's leading pop artist management company led by Park, said that Park has responded by writing an inspirational song of hope which will be recorded with top-notch K-pop stars including himself.

"I'm always proud of being an Asian," said Park, the first Asian songwriter to sell a song to an American superstar (including Will Smith and Nick Carter), in a press release issued by the Korean entertainment giant. "I hope the project will provide the victims with help, though not much."

Kang, one of the country's hottest filmmakers best known for his mega blockbuster "Taegukgi (2004)," meanwhile, will produce the song's music video. "The earthquake in China is the tragedy of entire Asia. I believe we all should do what we can do to help the victims for our own goods, as well," the 46-year-old director said in the press release.

JYP said that Chan will be visiting Seoul starting today to observe the recording of the Asian version of "USA for Africa" and filming of the music video. The lineup of singers who will be participating in the project has yet to be released, though JYP said Park has been contacting a wide variety of top-notch Korean entertainers and other celebrities, including singer and actor Rain.

According to JYP, Chan is also considering giving a charity concert in China's earthquake-ravaged Sichuan Province, along with the project's participants, the plans of which are expected to be finalized in a few days.

By Lee Yong-sung ([email protected])

Source: The Korea Herald

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 26, 2008

'Taewangsasingi' Promo Event to be Telecast in Japan



A promotional event to publicize 'Taewangsasingi,' a Korean drama series starring actor Bae Yong-joon, will be broadcast live via satellite in a number of movie theaters across Japan.

Bae's management agency BOF said the '2008 Taewangsasingi Premium Event,' which will be held at the Kyosera Dome in Osaka on June 1, will be screened in 13 movie theaters via live satellite telecast and that the event will be watched by an estimated 40,000 Japanese viewers.

BOF said the satellite telecast was organized for fans who could not procure tickets to attend the promotional event. Tickets were sold out 18 minutes after ticket sales began on May 25. According to reports, the 80-dollar tickets were also sold on online auction sites for large sums of money.

Tickets sales for the movie theater telecast began on May 23 at http://www.cnplayguide.com.

The much-anticipated event will be attended by Bae, producer Kim Jong-hak, Lee Ji-ah, Mun So-ri, Park Seong-woong, Lee Phillip and Oh Kwang-rok.

The drama series was aired in Korea in September last year and recorded an average viewer rating of 30%. The series was introduced to Japan in December last year on the BS High Vision channel, the satellite broadcast of NHK.

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1525940_11858.html

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 26, 2008

The Korean Gangland Is 'a Dirty Carnival'
Yoo Ha's searing crime melodrama deserves kudos

By reporter Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

Byung-Doo, lanky and adorable, (played by TV drama star Jo In-Sung from "Something Happened in Bali") is a 29-year-old career criminal working for the middle-rank enforcer Sang-Chul (Yoon Je-Mun, a Molotov-cocktail-loving vagrant in "The Host"). Burdened with a terminally ill mother and taking care of younger siblings, Byung-Doo is feeling financial pressure as a substitute patriarch. When the big boss President Hwang (Chun Ho-Jin, "The Big Swindle," "The Crying Fist") is cornered by a corrupt prosecutor, Byung-Doo volunteers for a whack job and wins the man's trust. However, his real trouble begins when friend Min-Ho (Namkoong Min), an aspiring movie director, asks him to be a "consultant" for the latter's debut film, a gangster epic not unlike "Dirty Carnival."

[img]http://image.ohmynews.com/down/images/1/qhyunkim_382645_1[671811].jpg[/img]
ⓒ2008 CJ Entertainment/Genius Entertainment

Poet Yoo Ha's follow-up to the successful "Once Upon a Time in High School" is another intelligent, fast-moving and ultimately poignant melodrama that actually reminds one of the classic gangster pictures from Hollywood's yesteryears. Despite its self-reflexive modernistic devices, such as having a filmmaker as a character, "Dirty Carnival" shares the kind of straightforwardness and moral concerns that would not be out of place in films like James Cagney's "Angels with Dirty Faces" (1938).

Yoo, who grew up in a rough neighborhood, refuses to romanticize the thugs. They are the scum of society, parasitic worms nourished by Korea's vast underground economy and controlled by a clean-cut businessman like President Hwang, who quips, "real gangsters don't use knives, they use calculators," and never once raises his hand or voice against his underlings. (It is wonderful to see Chun returning to the type of classy villain role first shown in the underrated "Double Agent.")

The unfussy, straightforward approach is extended to the film's ugly and painful "action" scenes. They can only be aptly described as eruptions of violence, as each baseball bat swing lands with a bone-cracking crunch and each sashimi knife stab is felt by a viewer with an involuntary cringe. You are impressed as hell at Yoo's directorial prowess, but only afterwards: while you are watching these scenes, you want them to be over.

[img]http://image.ohmynews.com/down/images/1/qhyunkim_382645_1[671812].jpg[/img]
ⓒ2008 CJ Entertainment/Genius Entertainment

The movie-within-a-movie subplot could have been a mess but is handled surprisingly well. Min-Ho, an obvious stand-in for Yoo Ha himself, pays a steep price for not realizing his complicity in perpetuating the vicious cycle of violence and hypocrisy in real life through his "art." There's no tasteful "ambiguity" to sneakily rehabilitate an artist's privileged position here. At times this section appears to be a barely veiled commentary on the symbiotic relationship going on in real time between Korean filmmakers and career criminals, especially the rather ugly aftermath of the financial success of "Friends."

Jo In-Sung, who occasionally looks like an overgrown junior-high kid, with his crew-cut plate and doe eyes, was a risky casting choice for the title role but he pulls it off. While not a brilliant actor yet, Jo is believably awkward and conflicted in key emotional scenes, especially working opposite terrific supporting players like Yoon and Chun. Ironically, it is his romance with the childhood sweetheart Hyun-Joo (Lee Bo-Young), a terrain that Jo and Yoo Ha should be familiar with, that feels lifeless and cliched.

While "Dirty Carnival" does not break new ground for the gangster-film genre, and its narrative is ultimately fairly conventional, it is nonetheless a superior example of a talented director with something worthwhile to say saying it with economy and confidence, within the perimeter of an established genre.

DVD Presentation:

Genius Entertainment. NTSC. Dual layer. Region 1. Video: Anamorphic widescreen, 2.35:1. Audio: Korean Dolby Digital 5.0. Subtitles: English. Supplement: Making-of featurette, deleted scenes. Retail price: $24.95. Released: May 20, 2008.

[img]http://image.ohmynews.com/down/images/1/qhyunkim_382645_1[671813].jpg[/img]
ⓒ2008 Genius Entertainment

Genius Entertainment, a big DVD distribution company, has recently jumped into direct releasing of Asian titles. I am not sure whether this is a long-term policy or a temporary measure resulting from copyright/distribution deal disputes, but in any case, "A Dirty Carnival" receives a rather indifferently designed if qualitatively superior presentation in Region 1 DVD from Genius.

Transfer is generally satisfactory: every so often the picture gets excessively grainy and black levels get wobbly, but this might have been the problem with original film elements. The film's harrowing scenes of violence, which often employs direct overhead shots, are very effectively conveyed. The audio is equally good with unusually crisp Korean dialogues sometimes taking a back seat to the saccharine score by Jo Young-Wuk. English subtitles are above average, avoiding excessive crudeness and displaying excellent fidelity to Korean colloquialisms.

Supplementary materials include one short-form documentary on designing action sequences that is surprisingly detailed and features input from all major staff and cast members except Chun Ho-Jin. Deleted scenes mostly center on character development of Byung-Doo and Min-Ho. The supplements come with very good English subtitles.

Overall, the presentation is on a par with Tartan USA's best efforts. The only noticeable defect is a rather ugly and (literally) colorless cover design. One interesting tidbit is that all retail advertisements for the DVD show a cover with Jo In-Sung carrying a huge gun (as shown here), which is completely inappropriate given the content of the movie, whereas the copy I have received shows him holding a jackknife. I am not sure what is going on here, but if this change was due to a response to someone pointing out the incongruity of a Korean gangster casually brandishing a pistol, then Genius deserves praise.

☆☆☆★★

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 27, 2008

Park Yong-ha to Launch Fan Meeting Tour in Japan in July



Thirty thousand tickets to Hallyu star Park Yong-ha's fan meeting tour in Japan have been sold out.

According to Y&S Communication, Park will make a special guest appearance at the '2008 Premium Concert' at the Super Arena in Saitama Prefecture in Japan on June 7, and begin his fan meeting tour of eight Japanese cities in July.

Park will begin his tour in Sendai on July 5 and go on to Fukuoka on July 8, Sapporo on July 11, Niigata on July 13, Osaka on July 16, Hiroshima on July 18, Nagoya on July 20 and Tokyo on July 23 and July 24. During his tour, the actor and singer will meet with the members of his official Japanese fan club, Summerface Japan.

Y&S Communication recently announced that the tickets had sold out three weeks after ticket sales were launched. For fans who could not obtain tickets, the company extended Park's schedule in Tokyo by one more day, but those extra tickets also quickly sold out.

Park's popularity has soared in recent months due to the success of his recent drama series 'On Air' on SBS. He plans to release his sixth single album in Japan in July.

Park's management agency said although the actor had planned to focus his activities in Japan in the second half of the year, he may have to travel back and forth between Korea and Japan as he has now been offered numerous media appearances in Korea thanks to the success of 'On Air.'

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1526154_11858.html

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 27, 2008

Discomforting film on N.K. defectors premieres in Seoul

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean film depicting the harsh reality of life for North Korean defectors premiered Tuesday in Seoul.

A special advanced screening of "Crossing" was held late Tuesday at the parliament, attended by North Korean human rights groups and some prominent South Korean legislators.

The first advanced screening was at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., as part of North Korea Freedom Week in late April.

"I came here with a heavy heart, knowing that what I'm about to see today is worse in reality. I hope that a lot of South Koreans will see this movie and gain a new perspective on the issue between the two Koreas," said Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the ruling Grand National Party, before the film started.

The realistic portrayal of a father and a son, desperate to survive, made many in the audience, including Park, wipe away tears.

The story, inspired by the dramatic entry of North Korean defector Jang Gil-su and his six relatives into the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Beijing in 2001, was shot in South Korea, Mongolia and China between July and September last year.

"I give my deepest gratitude to all those who have made efforts in making this movie. I hope this movie will let South Koreans realize this is not a story about 'them,' but that of us," said director Kim Tae-gyun, who was previously known in South Korea for his commercial movies.

An increasing number of North Koreans are fleeing their impoverished country and crossing into Vietnam, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries via China, mostly on their way to South Korea.
About 12,000 North Koreans have arrived in South Korea since the three-year Korean War ended in 1953. But China has an agreement with its close communist ally North Korea to repatriate those they consider economic migrants, a policy strongly criticized by human rights groups. Critics say the deported defectors face harsh punishment, including prison and forced labor.

"My heart went out to them. I couldn't hold back my tears. We should help our brothers in any way we can by not linking the issues of North Korean refugees and food aid with political concerns," said Lee Young-ja, a 41-year-old woman who lives in northern Seoul, after the film ended.

"I believe it is time we make a prompt decision on food aid to North Korea. I personally think this is more urgent than the issue of North Korean refugees. We must do all we can to save people from starving to death," said a sister of the Catholic Church, who declined to give her name.

After the final touches are made on the film, it will be released nationwide in South Korea at the end of June, according to director Kim.

[email protected]
(END)

Source: Yonhap News

katt

News Index PAGE 11

May 27, 2008: Korean Wave Turns to Kids for New Export Growth
May 28: [MOVIE REVIEW] 'Girl Scout' short on comedy, long on realism
May 27: Korean Chick Lit Books Turned Into Dramas
May 27: Film adaptation of French comic to go global: Bong
May 28: 'Women in the Sun' heats up summer
May 26: SM & YG venture into musicals
May 28: 14th Annual Dream Concert to be Staged June 7
May 28: Wonder Girls

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 27, 2008

Korean Wave Turns to Kids for New Export Growth


'Pororo the Little Penguin'

Korean animation is sweeping the world, promoting the culture to a global audience. "Pororo the Little Penguin," which began airing on Education Broadcasting System in 2003, has been exported to 81 nations so far, including France where it has won viewing ratings of a whopping 57 percent on the country's largest terrestrial channel TF1. "Iron Kid" recently began airing across the U.S., topping the ratings list of terrestrial channels. "King of Card Mix Master" has been exported to 25 nations, and "Janggeum's Dream" to 27. Korean animation earned US$66.8 million from exports in 2006, compared to the $24.5 million earned overseas by Korean cinema. These cartoons for kids are emerging as a new edge of the Korean Wave.

The popularity of Korean animation fuels spin-off effects, boosting exports of merchandise based on the characters. Some 340 kinds of Pororo products have been created, generating W200-300 billion (US$1=W1,049) in sales and W10 billion in character royalties.

Korean-made online games for children are also growing in popularity around the world. The well-known "Maple Story" boasts some 76 million subscribers in 58 countries including Japan, China and the U.S., and has spawned hundreds of character products and comic book series. The Korean online children's game industry earned $672 million in exports in 2006, triple the size of the import market and up 19 percent from $565 million in 2005.

Children's books are another area at the forefront of the new Korean Wave. In 2006 alone, some 1,000 publishing rights deals were struck at five major international book fairs including the Taipei International Book Exhibition.

"The Korean Wave, which began in around 2000 with exports of Korean dramas and music to Asian nations, has now expanded to the children's cultural product market," said Kim Jin-kyu, an industries promotion director at the Korea Culture and Content Agency. "Because children who appreciate Korean pop culture are likely to continue consuming it as they grow up, it's important to foster business focused on children's products."

([email protected] )

Source: Digital Chosunilbo

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 28, 2008

[MOVIE REVIEW] 'Girl Scout' short on comedy, long on realism


Na Mun-hee, Kim Sun-a, Lee Kyung-shil, Koh Jun-hee [image=dailyseop]

Life is tough, especially money-wise, for these four women.

Mi-kyeong (Kim Sun-a) confronts one financial setback after another. Lee-man (Na Mun-hee) barely makes a living working at a store for a meager salary. Bong-sun (Lee Kyung-shil) struggles to find the money for her son's surgery. Eun-ji (Koh Jun-hee) is saddled with deepening debt.

The women, aged from 20s to 60s, do not need extra troubles given their dire financial conditions, but the accidental nature of life does not leave them alone. In fact, an unexpected turn of events has all of them running, screaming and fighting all the way through the end of the film.

The story development highlights a private cooperative fund, known as "kye" in Korean. This collective installment savings system, still popular among Korean housewives, has one tiny problem -- the lack of security.

In general, a single "kye" master manages the collection and management of the entire funds, and each member take turns getting a large sum of money on a monthly basis. If that master turns greedy and takes off with the money while the payment cycle is still under way, all the innocent members -- those who pay the monthly fees in hopes of getting the lump sum later -- end up empty-handed.

Mi-kyeong, Lee-man, and Bong-sun belong to the innocent camp, which means their precious savings are gone. Together with their younger acquaintance Eun-ji, the three women set out to track down the beauty parlor owner Hye-ran (Lim Ji-eun), a former kye master who has the guts to vanish with the money.

So far, so good. As far as realism is concerned, the storyline up to this point has not deviated too much from the reality often documented and reported in the Korean media. A logical jump happens when the four self-styled girl scout members go off on the woman-hunt. They drive their yellow mini-van to the front yard of a cafe in Misari, Gyeonggi Province, a place that the beauty parlor owner is said to frequent.

True to the spirit of girl scouts, the four women set up an outdoor camp in the front yard of the cafe. They cook, roast and drink as if the yard is their backyard. Miraculously, neither the cafe owner nor the police make any forceful move toward the girl scouts.

While the girl scouts have a field day, Hye-ran is hatching another plan to line her already bloated pockets. She has a boyfriend named Hong-ki (Park Won-sang), a trickster who snatches up bundles of money through embezzlement. In Hye-ran's calculation, Hong-ki's money can be turned into hers, if he falls into her trap.

Hye-ran's well-organized scheme, however, gets disrupted when the four fearsome women spot Hye-ran at the cafe, leading to a wild chase scene where bags of money get exchanged several times. A hired goon (Lee Jong-dae) also gets involved in the head-spinning hunt for money, creating a complex game of cat and mouse.

But the chase-the-money plot should not detract curious moviegoers. Although this film is packaged as a comedy and the cast members are fully qualified to evoke laughs, the actually outcome is far from a comedy.

All the four women in the yellow mini-van bellow out their troubles in a fashion that is hardly delightful. Even the baddies seem too serious, adding to unwarranted realism that drags down the tone of the film. Is there anyone who would take a movie titled "Girl Scout" seriously?

By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])

Source: The Korea Herald

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 27, 2008

Korean Chick Lit Books Turned Into Dramas

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporters


A scene from the novel-based drama 揗y Sweet Seoul.

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 27, 2008

Film adaptation of French comic to go global: Bong


Movie director Bong Joon-ho, left,
speaks at a recent roundtable held in southern Seoul. (Photo: Yonhap News)

Even with only three feature films to his name, Bong Joon-ho has become one of the few Korean directors who have been able to "catch both hares" -- commercial success and critical acclaim.

After directing short films, he made his feature film debut in 2000 with "Barking Dogs Never Bite." The story of a college instructor trying to kill his neighbors' dogs won critical recognition, but was not well-received by audiences.

Despite his humble beginning, his next two films, "Memories of Murder" and "The Host," released in 2003 and 2006, respectively, have become among the most viewed films in Korea, each setting a new record in Korean movie history.

Bolstered by critical praise, "The Host," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006, was the first Korean movie to break the $1 million mark at the U.S. box office, three weeks after its release.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the world's most popular film Web site, 92 percent of 135 movie critics rated the satirical monster flick positively.

The Korean director, who is currently working on another film, plans to start filming an adaptation of a French dystopian comic next year.

"I am aiming to release the film adaptation of 'Le Transperceneige' in 2011," said Bong at an open roundtable held this week in southern Seoul.

"Of course, everything is yet to be finalized. Right now, a Korean sci-fi writer is working on the first draft of the screenplay. What I have in mind is to mix up multinational features," he said, noting that he would like to reach a wider global audience.

"The story will be in a tone similar to Noah's Ark (from the Bible). I might cast Korean actors, English-speaking actors, and Japanese, Chinese or other Asian actors. I am not pursuing a multinational co-production for its own sake, nor a movie with publicity slogans that say 'multinationality' all over."

"But this film would have such a feature most naturally in its own story. You might be able to hear both Korean and English on the screen."

The encounter with the post-apocalyptic comic book, created on the other side of the globe, came to him out of nowhere, Bong reminisced.


The Host (Photo: Cine 21)

"I remember it was around the end of 2004. It was when I finished 'Memories of Murder' and was working on 'The Host.' I went to a comic book store near Hong-ik University. I go there once or twice a month when I am stressed out. 'Le Transperceneige' suddenly came into my sight, and I read the whole trilogy standing there. I could not wait until I got home to read.

"This train has enraptured me. I believe everyone has a fantasy about trains giving off chugs and puffs, and landscapes viewed from the window.

"What you can see from the window in this story, however, is only the world icebound, with minus 80 degrees outside. Survivors live in the train, but they can't stay in harmony even at a time of adversity."

The story is set on a train called Le Transperceneige, which is the last refuge for the few survivors of the end of world after a devastating war and glaciations. The train continues to move following a circle in a desert of snow and ice.

The train is a microcosm of human society with its different classes of passengers mirroring different political and social strata.

"Each partition of the train represents a class. In the last partition of the train, people live wretched lives. The closer to the front they are, the more luxurious life gets.

"It's not quite the same, but it can be similar to what you feel when you get off a plane and see all the empty seats in business class after you spent more than 10 hours flying in the confined economy class seats. You realize some people got there very comfortably and almost have a fit of anger," he jokingly said.

Bong confirmed the report that his fellow Korean director, Park Chan-wook, will be the producer of the movie.

"During the shooting of 'The Host,' I showed this comic to a producer of 'Memories of Murder,' but he did not like science fiction. Around that time, director Park Chan-wook established his own production company, and he said he wanted to make a movie with me. I showed him this book and he really liked it."

Park gained international fame after being awarded the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his film "Old Boy" in 2004.

He also won the Alfred Bauer Prize for "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007.

Bong said he looks forward to working with actors from various backgrounds. With directors Michel Gondry and Leos Carax, he recently finished filming the triptych "TOKYO!" which depicts the non-Japanese perspective on day-to-day life in Tokyo. The film debuted at the 2008 Cannes Festival this month.

"Before working with Japanese staff, I wondered how it would feel to direct in a language that is not my mother tongue. But once I started shooting, it was all the same to me. When you direct in your native language, you talk a lot with actors about one word in the script, since it can change the nuance. When I was directing in Japan, it was the same.


Memories of Murder (Photo: Cine 21)

"I guess it was because human beings basically express their feelings in the same way. They feel the same feelings. If you look at two foreigners talking to each other, you soon can see if they are fighting, or are in love."

Bong said he had similar feelings when he first met Jean-Marc Rochette, the illustrator of the comic, when he went to France in 2006.

"We spoke in English. And let me tell you, we spoke in broken English. But we talked about comics and movies tirelessly for two hours," he said.

Present at the roundtable were Rochette and story writer Benjamin Legrand, who succeeded the original author, Jacques Lob, after his death in 1990.

"While having drinks last night, the three of us came up with a list of Korean, French and English-speaking actors, arguing with each other who should get on 'The Train of the Snow Land,'" Bong laughingly said.

Legrand, a Paris-based screenwriter for film and TV, said he met Bong for the first time in 2006 at the world premier of "The Host" at Cannes, where he was among the judges for the film festival.

"I had seen his movies before he made a proposal to us. I liked his films very much -- I was so surprised and excited to hear from the very person," Legrand said.

Bong admitted that although he is excited and confident, it is going to be quite an ambitious project.

"It's going to be tough work. I need to use a lot of visual effects and special effects. There is a lot to prepare."

"During making 'The Host,' I had such a hard time. I am not fond of making blockbuster movies. As for 'The Host,' it was inevitable, since we had to make the monster."

"Le Transperceneige is going to be much more spectacular with all the trains and frozen scenery. But the spectacle is not what I really want to show."

"The mood and sentiment you can feel inside the train, the desperateness. The exterior should be only groundwork to show all that."

Rochette, who, according to Bong, has a style that mixes Western waterpainting with Eastern ink painting, gave Bong his vote of confidence, saying, "I believe director Bong has great capability to make his own creative world. I believe he can depict the picture of the world (in the 'Le Transperceneige') even better than I did."

Source: KOREA.net
http://www.korea.net/News/News/N ... 527010&part=106

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 28, 2008

'Women in the Sun' heats up summer


[image=osen/daum]

With summer on the horizon, Wednesday and Thursday nights are heating up -- with three brand new dramas playing at the same time, viewers will have a hard time choosing what to watch.

Will viewers opt for the gritty news drama "Spotlight," the high-flying action-packed series "Iljimae" or for KBS' latest, "Women in the Sun"?

Set to start tonight, "Women in the Sun" promises to stir things up by catering to fans of the classic melodrama. As the title suggest, women take the lead, which differentiates itself from its competition by tackling a completely different genre: the soap opera.

Nothing like a juicy soap opera to bring a little excitement to the small screen, and with veteran film actress Kim Ji-su in the driver's seat, viewers can expect to get the full-blown treatment.

Co-star Jung Gyu-woon, 25, summed it up at a press conference last week when he said, "This drama is about the fateful meeting of two sisters. It is about revenge and love."

Returning to the TV screen after starring in a number of films, Kim Ji-su tackles the hefty role of Shin Do-young, a high profile announcer. Shin has it all, the career, the man and the looks, but she also harbors a deep, dark secret.

An adopted child and fearful of losing the sole affections of her parents, Shin abandoned her five-year old sister -- the biological daughter of Shin's parents -- at a train station when she was 13 years old. And now many years later, just when she thinks she has everything she wants, her past returns to haunt her in the form of her sister, played by "Le Grand Chef" actress Lee Ha-na.

"She didn't deliberately abandon her sister," Kim, 35, defends her character at the press conference. "She went back for her ... She is a very insecure woman."

Riddled with complexities, Shin promises to be a fascinating villainess. And if anyone can pull this role off, it is Kim, who has proved her acting prowess in dramatic films like "Romance" (2006).

The same can't be said for co-star Lee Ha-na. Actress Lee -- who starred as a slapdash reporter in the hit flick "Le Grand Chef" (2007) -- plans on showing audiences that she too can play a dark character.

"This child grew up hard, but is very optimistic," said Lee, 25, at the press conference.

But not for long, when Lee's character, Yoon, uncovers the truth, she goes all out for revenge. And Yoon wants everything, including her sister's man -- played by actor Han Jae-suk.

Who will win? Viewers will have to tune in tonight to watch Lee and Kim battle it out.

Actors Han Jae-suk, 34, star of SBS' "The Lobbyist" (2007), and Jung Gyu-woon, 25, who is also starring in MBC's "Bittersweet Life" (2008) play the sisters' love interests.

"Women in the Sun" airs tonight at 9:55 p.m. on KBS 2 TV.

By Jean Oh ([email protected])

Source: The Korea Herald

adikkeluangman_

SM & YG venture into musicals
May 26, 2008



SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment, two big agencies in Korea, have expanded their businesses and ventured into musicals. The music and movie markets have slowed down for the past years while the musical industry has been growing about 30% every year, making the musical business an opportunity for both agencies to expand their businesses.

Today, May 26, a YG Entertainment official revealed that it has partnered with musical production company Seol and Company, which has already produced musicals like “Cats” and &#8220hantom of the Opera.” In the said partnership, YG plans on having its singers and actors to star in musicals that are being produced by Seol and Company.

Meanwhile, SM Entertainment made a press release today stating that SM Art Company, its subsidiary, is going to be in charge of planning and producing musicals. SM Art Company’s first musical project is “Xanadu,” which has Super Junior’s Heechul and Kangin as part of its cast.

Source: Edaily + krnloop

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14th Annual Dream Concert to be Staged June 7
2008-05-28



The Korea Entertainment Producers' Association and SBS will jointly host the 'I Love You, Korea! 2008 Dream Concert' on June 7 at the Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium in Seoul.

Top idol groups including TVXQ, SS501, Epik High, Super Junior, MC Mong, Jewelry, Maya, Wonder Girls and Girls' Generation have been invited to perform. K-1 fighter Choo Sung-hoon will also make a special guest appearance.

The annual 'Dream Concert' celebrates its 14th anniversary this year. Organizers said this year's concert was put together to promote a campaign against illegal music downloading.

Over the past 13 years, Korea's top musicians, including the Taeji Boys, H.O.T., Zechskies, Shinhwa, god and Rain have taken part in the concert. For more information on the concert, visit http://www.gmarket.com or http://www.pandora.tv.

c: KBS Global

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Wonder Girls’ “So Hot” vs Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams”
May 28, 2008



Currently, Netizens are discussing whether Wonder Girls’ new retro dance song “So Hot” includes the sampling of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” because they say that the former has the similar keyboard instrumentals of the latter.

However, today, May 28, through a phone interview with Edaily SPN, JYP Entertainmanet, Wonder Girls’ agency, cleared the issue.

“Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’ is a famous song but it wasn’t used as sampling for ‘So Hot.’ The song is an original composition of Park Jin Young,” a JYP official explained.

On a side note, Wonder Girls’ hit song “Tell Me” has the sampling of Stacy Q’s “Two of Hearts.”

Wonder Girls is set to make its comeback performance on May 31 in MBC “Music Core.”

Source: Edaily + krnloop

adikkeluangman_

Kim Jae Suk released a digital single album
May 28, 2008



After composing songs for Gummy, Wheesung, Ha Dong Kyun, Lyn and Kim Dongwan and featuring in Kim Dong Ryul’s 4th album song “Compromise” as part of the group Wanted, Kim Jae Suk, Wanted’s leader, has finally released something of his own in the form of a digital single album.

The album’s title track is entitled “Farewell Call,” which features Shinhwa member Kim Dongwan, who is a good friend of Kim Jae Suk. The single album, which was released on May 27, includes three tracks: Farewell Call, 1L of Tears and Farewell Call (Instrumental).

Kim Jae Suk will start his solo activities in June.

Source: Hankooki + krnloop

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Seo Tae Ji’s comeback on August 15
May 29, 2008



Seo Tae Ji is finally making his much-awaited comeback!

Yedang Entertainment announced today, May 29, that Seo Tae Ji is going to make his comeback at the “Eerie Taiji People Festival (ETPFEST)” on August 15 at the Jamsil ballpark, where he will be performing songs from his 8th album. This event marks the festival’s 4th run since its last one in August 2004. It was in 2004 that Seo Tae Ji released his 7th album.

The first line-up of performers for the said event, which includes famous foreign and local artists, is to be announced in June.

Source: Joynews24 + krnloop

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Fans vote for MC Mong’s follow-up single
May 29, 2008



MC Mong has given his fans the power to vote for the follow-up single after “Circus.”

The poll started last May 28 and will run for 10 days in online music sites “Bugs” and “JukeOn.” Included in the list of candidate songs are “I Love You to Death,”Crazy,” “Clown” and &#8220ersian Cat.”

According to MC Mong’s agency, selecting the follow-up single was difficult because fans love the songs in the album and it was MC Mong’s idea to give the fans the chance to choose what song they want to be promoted after “Circus.”

Impressively, all 14 tracks of MC Mong’s 4th album ranked in various online music sites’ Top 100.

Source: Edaily + krnloop

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 28, 2008

Lee Dong-gun Meets Japanese Fans



Hallyu star Lee Dong-gun is slowly getting over the tragic death of his younger brother by keeping his schedule busy. On May 25, Lee visited Japan to hold a series of fan meetings. He is also busy with shooting a drama and releasing his latest album.

Soon after he arrived in Tokyo, Lee made a guest appearance on a live radio show and talked about what he has been up to as well as his new album. The one-hour open radio show was held at Cafe M.net in Shinjuku, Tokyo to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the founding of M.net Japan, a satellite channel that specializes in Korean cultural contents.

Lee, who is currently shooting a new drama on MBC 'Every Single Night,' also made a guest appearance on a TV show in Osaka and met the members of the press and fans in Tokyo while promoting his latest film 'Cross-Scandal' which was released in Korea last year.

Fans stayed up all night to meet their favorite Korean star and when he finally made his appearance, they all cheered.

Lee says he plans to perform all the songs in his latest album live during his upcoming concert in August. He also said he is content as a singer and musician and was excited to meet his Japanese fans.

Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1526462_11858.html

katt

Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight

May 28, 2008

Jackie Chan, Choi Ji-woo to Promote Hallyuwood

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter


Left, Actor Jackie Chan / Right, Actress Choi Ji-woo

Hong Kong star Jackie Chan and Korean actress Choi Ji-woo will be the honorary ambassadors of Hallyuwood, an" Asian entertainment mecca'' in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

"Jackie Chan was chosen because of his continuous interest toward Korea and also his friendship with top Korean hallyu (or the Korean wave) stars. We thought he would be perfect to introduce the Korean culture to the world,'' an organizer of Hallyuwood was quoted as saying by Yonhap News.

Along with Chan, Korean actress Choi Ji-woo will also represent the Asian entertainment mecca. The 32-year-old actress has gained popularity not only in Korea, but also in Japan and China through dramas like "Winter Sonata (2002)'' and "Air City (2007).''

"Choi was born in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, so she was more than eager to join Chan,'' another organizer said.

The two stars will attend a ceremony proclaiming them as ambassadors and also the "Hallyuwood Start Festival,'' which will be held near the construction of the venue today.

Hallyuwood is a project developed by the Gyeonggi Province that will offer an experience where visitors can learn about hallyu and Korean culture all in one place. It will offer a theme park, shopping malls, hotels and other cultural facilities related to hallyu. It is expected to open in 2012.

Chan recently announced his project of the Asian version of "We are the World'' for the relief of victims suffering form the Shichuan earthquake with Korean singer and producer Park Jin-young and director Kang Je-kyu.

[email protected]

Source: The Korea Times
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/05/139_24917.html