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June 16, 2009
Seo Taiji to Release 8th Studio Album on June 25
Singer Seo Taiji抯 agency says he will release his 8th studio album on June 25. Entitled 揝eo Taiji 8th Atomos, |
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June 16, 2009
More Viewer Participation in TV Shows
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Lee Hong-gi, member of the pop group FT Island,
goes on a date with one of his fans in the program
"Mnet Scandal." / Courtesy of Mnet
An array of programs by cable channels are presenting programs that beckon viewers to stand in front of the camera themselves.
Cable music channel Mnet leads these programs, with a total of three programs open for viewers to join in and become a part of them. One of the most anticipated is "Superstar K," which is the Korean version of the United States' hit program "American Idol." With a winning prize of more than 100 million won and the chance to make a debut this coming fall backed by music mogul Mnet, more than 5,000 viewers applied on the first day of admissions.
"There were plenty of similar music programs that held auditions for aspiring singers but the problem with most of them was the lack of support and interest given to the winners after the program. Another important feature we focused on is that literally anyone can participate and try out to become the next top singer of Korea,'' the makers of "Superstar K" said through a statement.
The program toured around the nation in search of talented contestants for the past two months and brought out interesting participants from different regions of the country.
Kim Byung-soo, 69, is one of the many interesting contestants; just the type the program makers were searching for. Kim is a North Korean defector who arrived here in 2002 after living five years in China. Being a talented entertainer, even when he was living in the Stalinist state, he explained that his dream was to become a singer and to hold a concert back home after unification. His dreams of unification may be far away for now, but the music program has brought him a step closer to becoming a singer.
"The happiest moments of my life was the day I stepped into South Korea and the news that I made it to the first round of the `Superstar K' audition," Kim was quoted as saying. "We realize through this program that music can become everyone's dream, not only those in their teens and twenties," said Hong Soo-hyun, the director of the program.
"Superstar K" will start airing on July 24 at 11 p.m.
While "Superstar K" is gathering aspiring viewer-turned-singers to the small screen, "Mnet Scandal," "Seo In-young's Brand New Friend'' and MTV's "KARA's Meta Friend" are bringing viewers thanks to the star power of celebrities and the viewers' drive in becoming the next talk of the town.
Kim Byung-soo, 69, is a North Korean defector
and one of the contestants of 揝uperstar K, |
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June 16, 2009
Koreas' new B-movie star: a CGI pig
A greedy hunter, a detective and an ecologist appear in "Chaw," a Korean monster film that centers upon a flesh-eating wild boar, but details about the creature were sketchy at a press conference in Seoul on Monday.
The lack of information about the main character called Chaw, a man-eating boar, was apparently designed to nurture more curiosity about the film that director Shin Jung-won readily described as "B-movie."
Few Korean films are designed as B-movie, partly because of the rigidity in themes and subject matters. Despite the exceptional success of Bong Joon-ho's "Host," monster films are a rarity, still more so when the main character is a terrifying pig.
"This film has adopted a typical Hollywood B-movie monster narrative in a way that offers a chance to think about all the destruction happening in the country's nature," director Shin told reporters. Shin built his fame as a stylish storyteller in the horror comedy genre with "To Catch a Virgin Ghost" (2004), which won both critical and commercial success.
The movie is set in a small town called Sameri on Chiri Mountain, a place far removed from the hustle and bustle. The peace is disrupted violently when a parts of a formerly human body are found by ecologists staying on the mountain to study wild animals.
To catch the creature, a special squad is formed: a policeman (Eum Tae-woong), ecologist Su-ryeon (Jung Yu-mi), a long-forgotten hunter Il-man (Chang Hang-seon), a celebrity hunter (Yun Jae-mun), and a detective dispatched from Seoul (Park Hyeok-kwon).
While the hunters are real figures, the hunted could be brought back to life without the help of computer graphics. So the production crew and the main actors, flew to the United States to shoot special effects scenes.
Plenty of computer-generated images were blended into the leafy forest - the film's make-or-break battleground -- but the task was far more difficult than expected.
"Hollywood staff members found it very difficult to follow my script," Shin said. "Although they handled various subjects for special effects, it was the first time that they had to produce a Korean pig through computer graphics, which was fairly tricky."
The shooting lasted for about 40 days in San Francisco, with Korean actors negotiating with thick trees and unfriendly rocks on a daily basis.
Chang Hang-seon, clad in colorful hunter clothes, said that the U.S. special effects team often misunderstood the nuance of a scene or a dialogue. "Perhaps because of a different cultural background, U.S. staff members interpreted a scene very differently, while Korean actors took hidden meanings according to Korean conventions."
Eum Tae-woong, who plays a policeman, agreed: "At first, we expected a lot regarding the co-production with Hollywood staff members, but there were some disheartening moments. However, after the shooting was over, we formed a strong team spirit, as if we battled together in a war."
Director Shin said the film departs from other monster flicks in that it tackles environmental issues, particularly the serious destruction inflicted on Korea's ecology.
The film, produced by Soo Jack Films, will open nationwide in July.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected]) via koreaherald.co.kr, poster from CINE21 l yahoo.kr |
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June 16, 2009
'Yonsama Lunchbox' on Sale in Japan
Gosire Bento
Two of the largest convenience store chains in Japan said Tuesday they will be selling special lunchbox sets of Korean food produced by "hallyu (Korean wave)'' star Bae Yong-joon, better known as Yonsama in Tokyo, next month, Yonhap News reported Tuesday.
Digital Adventure and 7-Eleven said they will be putting the lunchboxes, dubbed "Gosire Bento," on the shelves for three days from April 24, store representatives said. The sets will be sold through pre-orders collected from June 26 through the Internet and store chains.
The lunchbox sets are the third of their kind to be produced by the South Korean actor who gained explosive popularity in the Land of the Rising Sun after playing the hero in the local TV series "Winter Sonata." Previous lunchboxes, stocked from June to Christmas last year in Japan, sold over 160,000 sets and were especially popular among middle-aged female Yonsama fans.
The latest lunchbox will be sold at 2,500 yen (about $26) _ the highest price that any lunch set has been sold for in Japan. It features 16 different dishes from Korea's ancient Goguryeo Dynasty, including bulgogi and kimchi.
Credits: koreatimes.co.kr |
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June 16, 2009
Comedian Caught Stealing Mercedes
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Comedian Kwak Han-goo
Popular comedian Kwak Han-goo was apprehended on suspicions of stealing a Mercedes-Benz, police said Tuesday. An arrest warrant was applied for him.
According to Gwanak Police Station in Seoul, the 27-year-old stole the key from a car that was parked in a repair shop in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, last Wednesday. At that time, the car remained unlocked with the key in the ignition, police said. The next day, he reportedly visited the car repair shop again and drove away with the car.
He was caught at a police checkpoint in Seoul five days after the incident. A police officer quoted Kwak as saying, "I was supposed to return the car to its owner soon."
Kwak has enjoyed popularity after appearing in the KBS TV program "Gag Concert."
The program's director cancelled the shooting schedule for Kwak's segment in the program. His private blog was bombarded with messages denouncing his wrongdoing.
Credits: pss@koreatimes.co.kr |
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 Weekly Box Office 2009.06.12 ~ 2009.06.14 3-day Gross/Total Gross (won)
1. Running Turtle (South Korea) 3,256,224,500 / 3,681,864,000
2. Night At The Museum 2: Battle Of The Smithsonian (U.S.) 2,687,387,500 / 9,558,988,500
3. Terminator Salvation: The Future (U.S.) 1,674,789,500 / 27,234,627,500
4. Mother (South Korea) 1,377,176,500 / 17,466,597,000
5. The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (U.S.) 970,335,000 / 1,154,753,000
6. Drag Me To Hell (U.S.) 740,978,000 / 873,977,000
7. Blood: The Last Vampire (Hong Kong) 378,242,500 / 479,357,500
8. Impy's Wonderland (Germany) 118,013,500 / 121,221,000
9. My Girlfriend Is an Agent (South Korea) 109,374,000 / 26,106,730,000
10. Angels & Demons (U.S.) 111,023,500 / 12,431,005,500
Source: KOFIC |
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June 15, 2009
S. Korea's 'Asia-oriented' genre film fest announces lineup
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- Some 200 domestic and international genre films will be screened at South Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) this year, event organizers said Tuesday, finalizing the lineup for the event noted for the particular attention it's paid to Asian cinema over the past decade.
Under the theme "Love, Fantasy, Adventure," the annual fete will run from July 16 through 26 in the city of Bucheon, adjacent to Seoul, featuring 202 films from 41 countries. The event will open with "M.W.," Japanese auteur Hitoshi Iwamoto's live-action adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's dark revenge manga, and close with "Merantu," considered the first Indonesian martial arts film, by Gareth Huw Evans.
Celebrating its 13th anniversary this year, PiFan organizers said the event will be paying special attention on horror films, focusing on the "unlucky number 13."
"While the number 13 is generally recognized as an emblem of fear and bad luck, it also represents unique and significant meaning when it comes to genres of horror, mystery and thriller," said PiFan chief organizer Han Sang-joon at a press conference in Seoul. "As the world's third largest fantastic film festival, we will create an event this year that matches every expectation of genre film enthusiasts."
Since its birth in 1997, PiFan has grown by leaps and bounds, delving into various genres of horror, thriller, mystery, animation and fantasy with particular attention to Eastern and Southeastern Asian cinema.
Cooperating with Japan's Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, and European Fantastic Film Festival Federation (EFFFF), the PiFan has progressed into the biggest gala of Asian film across all genres.
A total of 38 films will be screened for the first time in the PiFan, which consists of eight sections: Puchon Choice, World Fantastic Cinema, Fantastic Short Films, Forbidden Zone, Family Fanta, Ani-Fanta, Special Programs and Retrospectives.
Six awards are open to innovative feature films in the event's official competition section the Puchon Choice Feature, selected by five jurors. Four awards totaling a sum of 13 million won (US$10,200) will be given to short films selected by three jurors. A separate award, selected by the EFFFF's representative two jurors will be given to Asian films.
The PiFan also established two new prizes this year, the Netpac Award and the Fujifilm Eterna Award, to honor admirable Asian film and an independent feature by emerging Korean auteur, respectively.
This year's PiFan will also accompany events like "Fantastic Concert" and Fantastic Book Fair," open to all visitors. A broader range of topics and ideas will be exchanged in PiFan's industry program Network of Asian Fantastic Films, established last year, and the "Eat and Fun Screening" section will greet audiences not only with scary films but snacks to pass the summer night.
Tickets for the event will be on sale from June 18.
Credits: [email protected] via
yonhapnews.co.kr |
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June 16, 2009
Korean Movie Screened With English Subtitles
By John Redmond
Contributing Writer
Actress Kim Hye-ja, left, poses with director Bong Joon-ho in an event to promote
the film 揗other. |
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June 16, 2009
Rain Settles in Hawaii Lawsuit
Singer Rain and his old agency, JYP Entertainment, agreed on a settlement with Click Entertainment, which sued the Korean singer for canceling out on concerts in Hawaii. Rain lost the suit and was ordered to pay more than 8 million dollars in damage to Click Entertainment. The amount of the settlement has not been disclosed, but it抯 estimated to be much lower than the initial compensation.
Industry insiders say that the judge asked the two sides three times to come to a settlement in the wake of the first trial. This supposedly illustrated that the judge thought the jury抯 verdict was wrong. Rain and JYP Entertainment had immediately filed for an appeal after the March ruling. The settlement is expected to considerably influence another suit against Rain pending in Los Angeles.
Source: KBS Global |
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June 17, 2009
S. Korean pop star settles lawsuit in U.S.
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean pop singer Rain and a U.S.-based entertainment firm agreed to settle a lawsuit over the singer's canceled concert in Honolulu two years ago, reports said Wednesday.
In March, a Honolulu federal jury had found Rain and his agency guilty of breaching a contract with Click Entertainment Inc. for the 2007 concert and ordered them to pay the Hawaiian promoter some US$8 million in punitive charges and compensation.
File photo
After three months of legal dispute, Rain and Click Entertainment settled the case in less than two hours at a Hawaiian court on June 10, reports said. Details of the agreement on compensation and other conditions were not disclosed due to court orders.
Rain's concert was canceled a few days before the scheduled date of June 15 in 2007 at Aloha Stadium, the first stop on his U.S. tour. The tickets were sold for a maximum $300 each.
While Click Entertainment claimed it lost more than $1.5 million from the cancellation and suffered damages to its business reputation, Rain accused his Hawaiian promoter of shoddy preparation, claiming the concert stage was not properly set up.
The lawsuit had dealt a heavy blow to future activities in the United States for Rain, who gained some fame in Hollywood since appearing on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."
The 26-year-old singer and actor, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is one of the most popular male celebrities in Korea and is also widely known across Asia. He will star in the upcoming Hollywood movie "Ninja Assassin" and plans an Asian concert tour later this year.
Credits: [email protected] via yonhapnews.co.kr |
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Post Last Edit by katt at 23-6-2009 21:50
News Index page 19
June 17: TVXQ Displays Ticket Power in Japan
June 17: Rain Settles Suit Over US Concert
June 17: Top Singers Get Together for Songwriter Yoo抯 Album
June 17: 2 Given Suspended Sentence in Choi Jin-sil Suicide
June 18: Director Jeon Soo-il Talks About 'Himalaya'
June 18: Chosun Ilbo Documentary Wins European TV Award
June 18: Lee Young-ae to Earn Ph.D. from Hanyang University
June 18: Celebrities face off in the kitchen
June 17: Roora Comes Back after a Decade
June 18: Rocker Kim Jong-seo Invited to a UN Event
June 18: 'Bandhobi?Interweaves Growing Pains, Cultures
June 19: 4minute Not Worried about Competition with 2NE1
June 19: Jo Ahn: 'I Did My Best to Get Rid of My Pretty Face'
June 19: South Korean rock singer invited to perform at U.N. ceremony
June 20: Girls' Generation Shows Teaser Video
June 20: Shin Min-a Transforms into Blockbuster Icons
June 21: Jun's 'Blood' fails to draw crowds
June 21: Megabox Raises Movie Ticket Price by 1,000 Won
June 21: 'Haeundae' no typical disaster flick
June 22: Foreign K-Pop Stars Grateful to Korea for Opportunity
June 23: Ivy Watches Cho Won-seon's Concert with Her Boyfriend
June 22: Actress Under Fire for Backing Marijuana
June 23: Mise-en-Scene Short Film Festival Starts Wednesday |
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June 17, 2009
TVXQ Displays Ticket Power in Japan
The popular boy-band TVXQ has displayed its ticket power yet again. The band has been invited to the 2009 Jingu Firework Festival to be held on August 6 under the auspices of the Nikkan Sports. Some 12,000 fireworks will light up the Jingu Stadium with singers performing live at four stadiums.
TVXQ will perform at the National Stadium, which can accommodate 50,000. Tickets to the concert were sold out on the same day that TVXQ抯 participation was officially announced. Some tickets are sold on Internet auction sites. A staff worker said it is unprecedented for tickets to the festival to be sold out immediately, expressing his astonishment at TVXQ抯 popularity.
The 2006 Jingu Firework Festival featured BoA and TSZX The Grace. TVXQ is currently holding its concert tour entitled 揟he Secret Code |
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June 17, 2009
Rain Settles Suit Over US Concert
Rain
South Korean pop singer Rain and a U.S.-based entertainment firm have agreed to settle a lawsuit over the singer's canceled concert in Honolulu two years ago, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday.
In March, a Honolulu federal jury had found Rain and his agency guilty of breaching a contract with Click Entertainment Inc. for the 2007 concert and ordered them to pay the Hawaiian promoter some $8 million in punitive charges and compensation.
After three months of legal dispute, Rain and Click Entertainment settled the case in less than two hours at a Hawaiian court on June 10, Yonhap said. Details of the agreement on compensation and other conditions were not disclosed due to court orders.
Rain's concert was canceled a few days before the scheduled date of June 15 in 2007 at Aloha Stadium, the first stop on his U.S. tour. The tickets were sold for a maximum $300 each.
While Click Entertainment claimed it lost more than $1.5 million from the cancellation and suffered damages to its business reputation, Rain accused his Hawaiian promoter of shoddy preparation, claiming the concert stage was not properly set up.
The lawsuit had dealt a heavy blow to future activities in the United States for Rain, who gained some fame in Hollywood since appearing on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."
The 26-year-old singer and actor, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is one of the most popular male celebrities in Korea and is also widely known across Asia. He will star in the upcoming Hollywood movie "Ninja Assassin" and plans an Asian concert tour later this year.
Source: koreatimes.co.kr |
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June 17, 2009
Top Singers Get Together for Songwriter Yoo抯 Album
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Singer songwriter Yoo Young-suk smiles at the showcase of his new album
"Star Words" Tuesday near Hongdae. Numerous singers came together
for Yoo's album, which will be released next month. / Yonhap
Singer-songwriter Yoo Young-suk has been a prolific musician for the past 20 years, making some of the best known songs for fellow singers and working on various projects as a music director and producer. He recently released his new album "Star Words" to celebrate the 20th anniversary since his debut. This time, his friends backed him up.
"I have released many albums throughout my career, but this is the first time I've held a showcase. I'm so proud and happy!'' he said with a big smile at the event, staged at Sang Sang Madang near Hongdae, northern Seoul.
The album consists of some of Yoo's best works, but sung by some of the most popular singers here including Kyu-hyun from Super Junior, Kim Gun-mo, Hong Gyung-min and Winterplay. "I wanted to make listeners think 'I like the newly arranged one better,' instead of 'there's nothing like the original.' I'm quite satisfied,'' he added.
The guests singers who contributed to the album also appeared on stage with Yoo, among them Kyu-hyun, Kim Yeon-woo and Lee Soo-young, to sing his songs and share their experiences with him over the past few years. "Somebody had to make a special album just on Yoo, but nobody budged until he did it himself. I'm sure everyone who participated feels the same way. It's a great honor to remake the songs that I have always enjoyed listening to,'' said Yuri Sangja, who sang "To Me Forever."
Yoo may be considered old fashioned among the younger crowd, with his delicate and somewhat mellow songs, but the album managed to bring old and young generations together.
"I feel pride as a songwriter whenever I see young singers with talent. I learn music every day, and I plan to continue to with my friends,'' Yoo said.
He started his career as a singer in 1988 as a member of pop group Blue Sky. When the band broke up, he went on and formed the group White, releasing five albums. Yoo then moved on to become a composer and film music director, working on "The Classic" (2003), "Daisy" (2006) and even several numbers in the original soundtrack of hit drama "Beethoven Virus." Along with Yoo Hee-yeol, he is known as one of the best love song composers, famous for "The Love for Seven Years," "Love as it Is'' and "Sad Present." His new album will be released next month and proceeds will partially be donated to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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June 17, 2009
2 Given Suspended Sentence in Choi Jin-sil Suicide
The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday handed suspended sentences to a present and a former employees at a securities firm for spreading groundless and malicious rumors believed to have led to the suicide of the actress Choi Jin-sil.
The two were given a 10-month jail sentence suspended for two years and 120 hours of community service for claiming on the Internet that Choi had some part in the suicide of actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who apparently killed himself under pressure of huge debts, since she was one of his creditors.
The court dismissed the defendants' argument that they were unaware that the rumor was groundless and had no malicious intent.
Choi committed suicide at her home on Oct. 2, 2008, right after she brought a complaint against the two.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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June 17, 2009
Director Jeon Soo-il Talks About 'Himalaya'
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporters
Director Jeon Soo-il speaks about the meaning
of space and working with actor Choi Min-sik
in his latest feature film "Himalaya: Where the Wind Dwells"
in an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, June 11.
/ Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Director Jeon Soo-il can be grouped among "the Kim Ki-duk clan" of artists who are better appreciated in the international film festival circuit than in local theaters.
His latest film "Himalaya: Where the Wind Dwells" is slated to compete in July _ when he turns 50 _ at the 44th Karlovivary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. This means that all six of Jeon抯 features will have been invited to major cinema events.
But as much as the film, now showing in theaters, marked the comeback of "Oldboy" star Choi Min-sik, its press preview attracted a mad crowd of reporters (Some 20 people had turned up for his previous multiple award-winning "With a Girl of Black Soil").
The aforementioned Kim is known to provoke onscreen, and Jeon also does not hesitate to depict shocking characters that take performance art to an extreme degree and commit suicide on stage ("I Have the Right to Destroy Myself").
"I had Choi Min-sik in mind when I started writing the script,' Jeon told The Korea Times in a recent interview in Seoul. But "Himalaya" required no brutal violence or sweeping passions from the "hardboiled" actor Choi, because it is one of those anticlimactic movies that are more about inaction and the things unsaid.
Jeon抯 films can be as elusive as the wind but they have a certain "earthy" quality that leaves a palpable resonance in the heart of the viewer. It is perhaps because the foremost protagonist of his works is the setting, rather than a character _ the character may be as lost as the viewer, but there is always a sense of time and space.
"It is important to find a space where the protagonist _ or myself _ can search for something and feel something," said the director. The Gangwon Province native said he was inspired by the deserted coal mines near his home for "With a Girl of Black Soil" _ "a philosopher once said that the ruins of cities are beautiful but the ruins of man is even more beautiful,拻 he said pensively.
"Himalaya" is set in the stark, mountainous village of Sharkot, Nepal. A Nepalese laborer in Korea named Dorje dies in an accident, and the listless middle-aged Choi (Choi) sets out to deliver the dead man抯 ashes to his family. Once Choi reaches Sharkot, however, he cannot find the courage to tell them he抯 brought back Dorje in his suitcase.
"Delivering Dorje抯 remains is really just an excuse for Choi to escape," said Jeon, speaking from experience. "I was feeling frustrated so I was drinking, and I decided to take off at the crack of dawn," he said recalling his first trip to Nepal in 2002.
He flew to Bangkok and then boarded one of the departing flights to the Himalayas. He trekked along popular tourist routes but he soon grew tired of the teeming greenery. He wanted to explore the road less taken and ended up in Sharkot, where he would return again for personal travel and then four times for the film抯 pre-production.
The director agreed that "Himalaya" can be seen as "the Nepalese version" of his 2006 film "The Time Between Dog and Wolf," where traveling far away allows one to know oneself and where one comes from. Jeon himself, who lives and teaches in Busan, travels about 10 times a year.
An intriguing aspect of the film is that it blurs the line between fact and fiction. Moreover, it documents real sentiments. "That抯 true," said the director about the documentary-like quality of the film. "There is no artifice to the acting and shows everything as is."
It was shot in chronological order, and Choi decided not to travel to the site beforehand because he wanted to be in character _ fresh and alien to Nepal. Jeon, who teaches at Kyung Sung University, always tells his students not to embellish the narrative.
Taking Choi抯 suggestion into account, he hired non-actors from the area. He spent a lot of time with them so that they would feel comfortable with the camera and crew. A housewife Tsering Kipale Gurung played the beautiful heroine. "I saw her by chance and had to persuade her very hard to appear on film. She was a busy housewife, and had to take care of her husband and in-laws.. I was struck by the admirable transparency and confidence of the villagers,拻 he said.
"I抎 like to return to show them (the cast and villagers who helped out) the movie," he said. He also wishes to do more traveling via a semi-documentary about a penniless musician busking around the world.
In the meantime, Jeon fulfills his wanderlust by touring film festivals. It抯 at festivals where he does most of his movie watching, for he prefers raw, experimental debut movies that capture the unique perspective of newcomer directors. He rarely goes to the local cinema.
How does he feel about being labeled as an art film director? "I don抰 make my movies according to film festival standards per se," he said. "Perhaps cinema is the process of translating your inner self on film? Or perhaps it抯 a way of pursuing a different way of life." His dream, he says, is to keep making more movies. "I抳e made six, and 10 doesn抰 seem like a bad number,拻 he said.
"Himalaya: Where the Wind Dwells拻 is now showing in theaters with English subtitles. 95 minutes. 12 and over. Distributed by the Korean Arthouse Cinema Association.
A special photo exhibition of images from the Himalayas are on display through June 24 at Gwangju Theater.
Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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June 18, 2009
Chosun Ilbo Documentary Wins European TV Award
"On The Border," a documentary produced by the Chosun Ilbo on North Korean refugees, won the Golden Nymph at the Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Friday, beating entries from 300 media outlets from around the world.
One of the world's four major broadcasting festivals, the Monte Carlo Festival has been called the "European Emmys." At the festival, the Chosun Ilbo documentary also won the AMADE award sponsored by UNESCO in recognition of its contribution to improving human rights and promoting the anti-violence message.
A reportage in both print and TV, "On The Border" shed light on the situation of North Korean refugees. Traveling nine countries over 10 months from April 2007 to February 2008, the production team filmed the trafficking of North Korean women, drug dealing by the North Korean Army, famine of the North, and North Korean timber camps hidden in Siberia, and followed the entire escape route of the refugees spanning 10,000 km.
Since its release in March last year, "On The Border" has received various prestigious awards at home and abroad, such as the Korea Journalist Award and Korea Newspaper Award, the 2008 Sony Impact Award from the U.K.'s Rory Peck Trust, and the Society of Publishers in Asia awards. It has been aired or will be shown by the world's 16 leading networks including the U.K.'s BBC, the U.S.' PBS, France's CANAL+, Japan's TBS and Germany's ARD.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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June 18, 2009
Lee Young-ae to Earn Ph.D. from Hanyang University
Star actress Lee Young-ae, 38, has enrolled in the Graduate School of Theater and Cinema of Hanyang University, where she will pursue her doctorate degree. A university official said on June 8 that the actress will begin school in September. Lee applied to the university in May.
Lee holds a bachelor抯 degree from the university in German Language and Literature and she earned her master抯 degree in theater and cinema in 2001. Lee, whose popularity soared after the epic drama 揓ewel In The Palace |
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June 18, 2009
Celebrities face off in the kitchen
Starting tonight, SBS tackles the mouthwatering world of reality cooking with its new show "Showdown! Star Chef."
Headed by prominent Korean chef Edward Kwon, whose hefty resume includes the hotel head chef of the famed Burj Al Arab in Dubai, "Showdown! Star Chef" puts the spotlight on the agricultural delights of Korea's terra firma.
For each episode, a specific ingredient is selected and Kwon and his five celebrity "sous chefs" travel to the area where it is produced or cultivated.
After delving into the history and properties of the ingredient, the five "sous chefs" -- MC Park Soo-hong, actor Kwon Oh-jung, actor-and-singer Lee Hyun-woo, announcer-turned-TV personality Oh Young-sil, and actress Ko Eun-a -- compete for the right to take part in the final cook-off.
Though "sous chef" Kwon does not possess culinary expertise on par with that of Edward Kwon, actor Kwon Oh-jung did train for his role as top chef Oh Bong-ju in the hit SBS series "Sikgaek" (2008). Now actor Kwon's skills will be put to the test as he battles his co-stars.
Tonight, viewers can follow the show's cast as they trek out to Ganghwa-gun's muddy banks to catch eels, this week's special ingredient. Chef Kwon will act as judge and select two to three "sous chefs" to cook up some tasty eel dishes for their guest this week. The final winner will be selected by the guest judge and Edward Kwon.
Part foodie road trip, part cooking contest, director Lee Chang-jae says that half of the show will take place outdoors and half of it will take place in a restaurant-like studio, where a celebrity or high profile guest will be invited to take part in the judging on a weekly basis.
But MC Park, actor Kwon, actor-and-singer Lee, announcer-turned-TV personality Oh and actress Ko won't be the only ones taking to the kitchen. Gourmands will also get to see top chef Kwon in action.
Edward Kwon, whose prominent stints include the W Seoul-Walkerhill and the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, differentiated "Showdown! Star Chef" from other shows of the same genre, stating: "In contrast to regular cooking programs, the presence of stars in this show will be able to lead to an increased interest in cooking ... I hope to spread an awareness of good Korean ingredients through this opportunity."
"Showdown! Star Chef" airs its first episode tonight on SBS at 8:50 p.m. ([email protected])
By Jean Oh via koreaherald.co.kr |
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June 17, 2009
Roora Comes Back after a Decade
Roora, a popular dance group of the 1990s, has banded together again after 10 years. The group is resuming its career with a charity performance in southern Seoul Wednesday afternoon.
The quartet composed of two male rappers (Lee Sang-min and Koh Young-wook) and two female vocals (Kim Ji-hyun and Chae Ri-na) debuted in 1994 with a song entitled |
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