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Post Last Edit by katt at 29-6-2009 23:08
News Index Page 21
June 25, 2009: Girls’ Generation Poised to Break Own Record with 2nd Mini-album
June 25: Choi Ji-woo Donates W100 Million for Poor Children
June 26: Make way for a mutant boar with a bad attitude
June 26: Wedding bells for Kim Sung-eun
June 26: Get your short film fix
June 26: China's Food Safety Law Means Caution for Korean Stars
June 26: Lee So-eun Gets into U.S. Law Schools
June 25: 'Bronze Medalist' Has Charms of Sports Drama
June 26: Long-lost cinema' returns to screens in Seoul
June 26: Actor Kim Tae Ho Dies in Motorcycle Accident
June 26: Japan to Deport Late Actress' Agent
June 25: 'Old Boy' proceeds despite legal scuffle
June 26: Kim Hyun-joo to Overturn Public Perception of Legal Series in 'Partner'
June 26: Time to Get on with the Jang Ja-yeon Investigation
June 26: Super Junior Sings 'The Partner' OST
June 27: Mixed Reactions on 'Genie'
June 27: Wonder Girls Emblazons Front of US Daily
June 27: Korean pop group Super Junior at the 20th Golden Melody Awards in Taipei
June 29: Seoul Commercials Feature Korean Wave Stars
June 29: Korean film producers eye Web downloads
June 29: Yu, pioneering filmmaker, passes away
June 29: Daniel Henney to star in CBS drama
June 29: 'The Partner' Actor Lee Plays Flirty Lawyer |
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June 25, 2009
Girls’ Generation Poised to Break Own Record with 2nd Mini-album
The nine-member girl-band Girls Generation soared to stardom early this year with its song “Gee.” In an interview that was held June 22, the Girls’ Generation members spoke about how their popularity has changed their lives. All nine of them have been invited to appear on popular variety shows that further boosted their popularity. But there was a downside as well: fatigue from tight schedules. Hyo-yeon says she was surprised to learn that even elderly people recognized her on the street. Parodies of “Gee” were shown on innumerable shows while magazines introduced Girls’ Generation’s fashion and makeup styles.
Youn-a says she saw several photos of Girls’ Generation in a single magazine and that her photo was published in the “Horoscope Stars of the Year” section. In the military, there is even a joke that soldiers who join the army with several autographs of Girls’ Generation members are guaranteed good treatment for two years. The band members say their stylists receive one day off whenever they get their autographs and that they gave their autographs innumerable times to soldiers. They added jokingly that singer Kang Ta, who is currently serving in the military, was happy to get their autograph and is now treated with “all due respect” in the military.
Girls’ Generation, whose song “Gee” topped music charts for nine straight weeks, is now back with their second mini-album entitled “Tell Me Your Wish.” The title song of the album topped Mnet.com and finished second on Cyworld Music just one day after its release on June 22. It is poised to become the group’s sixth hit after “Into The New World,” “Girls’ generation,” “Baby Baby,” “Kissing You” and “Gee.” “Tell Me Your Wish,” which begins with the members chatting about their trip, sends a message of hope to people who are exhausted by mundane life. Unlike “Gee,” which was written as a “hook song” with a repetitive chorus, this song has diverse rhythm patterns and sophisticated sounds.
The album contains songs from diverse genres, such as the ballad duet song “One Year Later” performed by Jessica and Onew of SHINee, the refreshing euro-dance song “Etude,” the retro-style remix of the song “Girlfriend” and the cute song “Boyfriend,” about a girl who has a crush on a boy.
The Girls’ Generation members say they feel pressured to maintain their popularity despite the deluge of girl bands on the K-pop scene, such as 2NE1, After School, Brown-eyed Girls, 4minute and Tiara. Soo-young and Sunny said, "I saw 2NE1 and 4minute performing on stage. Their songs are very exciting and their costumes were gorgeous. I’m worried that our new military-style costumes might look less attractive. We’re pressured to top music charts again after the success of ‘Gee’ and we do want to break our own record." Soo-young added, "I hope that the lyrics of 'Tell Me Your Wish’ will become a popular catchphrase among people who need a boost of energy. We’ll stage vigorous performances on stage.”
Before the interview was over, we asked Girls’ Generation about their wishes. Youn-a says her wish is to be healthy and be able to smile happily with her loved ones. Hyo-yeon and Soo-young say they want to meet their significant others and get married, while Yoo-ri says her wish is to see Girls’ Generation remain popular for a long time. The youngest member, Seo-hyun, says she wants to become more mature because she is too dependent now as the only child in her family.
Source: KBS Global |
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June 25, 2009
Choi Ji-woo Donates W100 Million for Poor Children
Choi Ji-woo
Actress Choi Ji-woo will donate a W100 million (US$1=W1,282) worth of scholarships for poor students in Busan, her hometown.
The Busan Office of Education on Wednesday said the actress will hand out the scholarships when she attends a campaign aimed at improving the educational environment and nurturing human resources on July 1.
Since 2000, the actress has also donated W300 million to her high school in Busan to provide scholarships for needy students.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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June 26, 2009
Make way for a mutant boar with a bad attitude
Five hunters await their chance to track down a wild,
man eating boar.[Vantage Holdings]
The ultimate fight between five hunters and a bloodthirsty boar is set to hit screens on July 16.
"Chaw," which means "trap" in the Gyeonggi and North Chungcheong dialects, and seems to aspire to "chow" in English, is an action comedy that tells the tale of a wild boar gone bad that has developed a taste for human flesh.
The story begins in the tranquil town of Sammae, which has managed to stay crime-free for the last 10 years.
Things start to go horribly wrong after the townspeople find a body that has been ripped to shreds.
When it is discovered that the perpetrator of this horribly ferocious crime is none other than a mutant man-eating boar, the town is torn apart, with all of the bloodcurdling screams, wild running and general chaos that could be expected after such a calamitous event. But the idea that a single creature could destroy the town's peace and quiet also serves to unite the townsfolk, and they band together to hunt it down.
Why anyone would want to go after such a repulsive creature may be a mystery to some, but the five hunters who set off in search of the hairy beast seem to have secret motives all their own.
Representing the long arm of the law are police officer Kim (Uhm Tae-woong), who joined the squad to find his missing mother, and detective Shin (Park Hyuk-kwon), who just wants to solve the case. Joining them is a motley crew of individuals who just happen to have a skill set suitable for any boar-catching expedition.
Cheon Il-man (Jang Hang-sun), a legendary artillerist, comes along in hope of avenging his granddaughter. And why have just one marksman when you can have two? Cheon is joined by Baek Man-bae (Yoon Jae-moon), a professional gunner from abroad.
Byeon Su-ryun (Jung Yu-mi), an assistant to an ecology professor, is - like so many of us are - hoping to write a groundbreaking thesis on boar mutations.
The movie trailer shows the group racing through the dark into forests and an abandoned mine - backdrops that are also essential to any boar-gone-bad action thriller.
Director of computer graphics Hans Uhlig, who was also involved in the making of "Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi," "The Day After Tomorrow" and "The Perfect Storm," uses his considerable talents to enliven the boar's fierce eyes and blood-stained jaws to chilling effect.
Chaw was well received at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, and it is scheduled for release in a total of 15 countries including Germany, Switzerland, India, Singapore and Thailand, with deals in America and Japan still in the works.
Credits: Hannah Kim Contributing writer [[email protected]] via oongAng Daily |
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June 26, 2009
Get your short film fix
The Eighth Mise-en-Scene Short Film Festival kicked off last Wednesday at CGV Yongsan, central Seoul. The representative committee chairman this year is Bong Joon-ho, director of the current hit film “Mother.”
Other renowned filmmakers in Korea attended the opening ceremony Wednesday evening, including directors Park Chan-wook and Hur Jin-ho. Movie stars including Won Bin, Shin Min-a, Jung Jae-young, Park Hae-il and Kim Ju-hyeok also came to support the festival.
A total of 120 Korean and international shorts, from comedies and dramas to action and thrillers, will be screened at the annual event. The festival continues until Tuesday.
Source: JoongAng Daily |
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June 26, 2009
Wedding bells for Kim Sung-eun
Actress Kim Sung-eun
Actress Kim Sung-eun and football player Jung Jo-gook are tying the knot this December.
The two met last fall through their mutual friends, Park Soo-jin and Baek Ji-hoon ? another actress-athlete couple. It's not a huge surprise.
Kim caught the bouquet at actress Shin Ae’s wedding last May, sparking rumors that she would be walking down the aisle soon with Jung, who is FC Seoul’s forward.
The 26-year-old Kim is most famous for her roles in KBS-TV's 2005 drama "The Bizarre Bunch," and last year's MBC-TV series "Who Are You?"
"The exact date of their wedding is not decided yet," Sidus HQ, the management company for the actress, said in a press release. "We hope their fans wish them well and continue to provide warm support for the two."
Source: JoongAng Daily |
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June 26, 2009
China's Food Safety Law Means Caution for Korean Stars
Korean stars who appear in Chinese food advertising will have to check whether the advertiser's food is safe after a new food safety law came into effect this month. The aim is to prevent further international embarrassment after a string of scandals such as the deadly baby milk scare brought Chinese food products into global disrepute.
Under the new law, Chinese consumers can claim up to 10 times of the retail price for food that failed to meet the standard required by the law. A celebrity or organization endorsing such products in false or exaggerated advertising will be held responsible along with the manufacturer and the distributor. If any harmful substance is detected in the product and consumers suffered damage, the celebrity who appeared in the advertisement will have to compensate the victims.
From left, Jang Na-ra, Song Hye-kyo, and Jeon Ji-hyun
According to the KOTRA Business Center in Shanghai, Jang Na-ra, Rain and Super Junior currently appear in advertising for food products in China, and Song Hye-kyo, Kim Hee-sun and Jeon Ji-hyun in commercials for cosmetics and shampoo. Kwon Gi-young, the head of the Chinese office of the Korea Culture and Content Agency, said, "Since it will be difficult for celebrities to scrutinize the safety of food produced by a company, they will at least have to carefully look at its credibility and market size."
Source: englishnews@chosun.com |
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June 26, 2009
Lee So-eun Gets into U.S. Law Schools
Lee So-eun
Singer Lee So-eun has been accepted at a number of law schools in the United States. Lee's management on Wednesday said the singer, who debuted as a high schooler in 1998, received offers from Northwestern, Cornell, Georgetown and Notre Dame.
Lee had been preparing for U.S. law school since she graduated with a degree in English Literature from Korea University in 2007.
She has chosen Northwestern University Law School in Chicago. "I plan to leave for the U.S. in July, and want to focus on international and human rights law," she said.
Lee is known not only for her singing skills but also for her academic diligence. She got a perfect score on the TOEFL in the second year of high school, and won a full scholarship in her senior year in university.
Source: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/06/26/2009062600300.html |
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June 25, 2009
'Bronze Medalist' Has Charms of Sports Drama
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
A scene from "Bronze Medalist"
Pushing limits, celebrating team spirit and savoring that delicious victory _ or honorable loss _ the classic sports drama is programmed to grip viewers with an adrenaline rush. "Bronze Medalist," featuring weightlifting teenage girls, offers everything you expect from such a film, but also more.
South Korea is a country obsessed with first prizes, and Olympic silver and bronze medalists often hang their heads in shame for "letting down" fans. Last year's "Forever the Moment" spotlighted the women’s handball team’s memorable silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and "Bronze" is about another relatively unpopular sport, weightlifting, which was virtually ignored until the 2008 Beijing Olympics catapulted Jang Mi-ran to superstardom with a gold medal and three world records.
"Bronze" is not a biography on Jang, but it could well have been. It is based on the true story behind the 81st National Sports Festival in 2000, when four of five girls from the same weightlifting team swept 14 golds and one silver out of 15 competitions. This record remains unbeaten to this day, and the girls, who practiced with bamboo poles because they couldn't afford real weights, went on to become national athletes like Jang. Behind such an impressive team, of course, was a passionate coach.
Lee Beom-su, whose stardom has just begun to catch up with his hardball acting ("More Than Blue"), stars as retired weightlifter Lee Ji-bong. The movie takes viewers back to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, when Ji-bong snaps his elbow in the snatch _ just like Hungary’s Janos Baranyai during the Beijing Games. He wins a bronze medal, but is forced to retire due to a hitherto unknown heart condition.
He reluctantly accepts a coaching position at a provincial girls’ middle school, where he is more interested in fishing than initiating the zealous youngsters into his bitter world of "only pain and no gain."
Nevertheless, it is difficult for him, or the viewer, not to become fond of the improbable team members: Yeong-ja ("Muoi" screen beauty Jo An who gained seven kilograms for the role), a poor girl whose physical stamina is her only asset; shy and chubby Hyeon-jeong (Jeon Bo-mi) who nurses a crush on the most popular boy in town; book smart Su-ok (Lee Seul-bi) who wants to boost her extracurricular activity list so she can enter Harvard law school and become an FBI agent; tomboyish Yeo-sun (Choi Mun-gyeong) who wishes to succeed in order to support her ill mother; high-spirited Bo-yeong, a born weightlifter; and eccentrically fashionable Min-heui (Lee Yun-heui), who joins the team because she fancies the uniform.
Of course, it's only by chance that Ji-bong discovers the teacher in him. He catches Yeong-ja drinking milk out of the trash, and realizes that a meal plan via the team could benefit her. The school principal suggests that funding from the local administration may be possible, but they must first master the art of persuasion.
Ji-bong and the girls’ efforts to feign an enthusiastic but under-equipped team provides some generic but endearing slapstick for the next few reels. The "special" team spirit yields not only a meal service and training camp of their own, but also genuine enthusiasm for weightlifting, for both coach and trainees. Their camp becomes a haven for the lost girls, who pump up muscles and sisterhood, and for Ji-bong, who can finally come to terms with himself. Middle school, however, does not last forever, nor would Ji-bong's stubborn insistence to ignore his chest pains.
Recently, "U and Me" by Jeon Gye-su, released as part of the omnibus "If You Were Me 4," spotlighted how difficult it could be for a budding young woman to deal with being macho. Compared to the short film, "Bronze" remains within the realm of mainstream superficiality and Disneyesque political correctness, but it stands apart from typical Hollywood sport movies with dramatic counterpoints and humor that are distinctively Korean.
In addition to Lee, Jo and the group of newcomer actresses, the movie features a supporting cast of A-list veteran actors and cameos by real athletes who give the movie that extra kick and dimension.
In theaters July 1. 120 minutes. All ages admitted. Distributed by N.E.W.
Credits: [email protected] via koreatimes.com |
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June 26, 2009
'Long-lost cinema' returns to screens in Seoul
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- They might not be equipped with the most comfortable chairs or the latest in audio technology as in multiplex cinema chains, but smaller theaters in Seoul are luring film buffs this spring with long-lost classics from all over the world.
Prada Transformer, a newly constructed steel art house situated in the front courtyard of Seoul's Gyeonghui Palace, will screen 14 classics and contemporary films for two weeks beginning Saturday, all selected by renowned Mexican auteur Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
The selection by the Oscar-nominated creator of "Amores Perros," "21 Grams" and "Babel" includes Danish director Carl Dreyer's "Ordet," U.S. director Charles Burnett's "Killer of Sheep," Argentine Lucrecia Martel's "La Cineaga" and South Korean Kim Ji-woon's "The Good, the Bad and the Weird," organizers of the event said in a press release Friday. Inarritu hopes to visit Seoul during the two-week event.
Prada Transformer, designed by Rem Koolhaas, is part of an ongoing pure arts project by Italian Fashion brand Prada that opened on the grounds of the 16th-century Korean palace in April. The 20-meter-high steel venue, combining four different transformable structures, is considered one of the most unusual pieces of architecture to be spotted in Seoul.
The Seoul Art Cinema in Nakwondong, central Seoul, will hold a "Spanish film festival" from June 30 through July 12, screening 11 films made in the European country from 2005 through 2007. The annual event, established in 2003, is co-sponsored by the Korean Association of Cinematheques and the Spanish Embassy in Korea.
The selection includes Julio Medem's 2007 release "Chaotic Ana," Isabel Coixet's "The Secret Life of Words" and "The Silence before Bach" directed by Pere Portabella." The Goethe-Institute Korea, Germany's culture center in Huamdong, Seoul, has been screening classic TV crime series, relatively unknown to Korean fans.
Starting with "Taxi to Leipzig," the center will screen seven series through early September once every two weeks.
Credits : [email protected] via Yonhap News |
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June 26. 2009
Actor Kim Tae Ho Dies in Motorcycle Accident
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Photo: yahoo.kr l yahoo.com
Actor Kim Tae-ho died in a motorcycle accident Thursday morning. He was 30.
The former model was driving toward Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, when he crashed into a truck that was parked near the road. "We were heading to Chuncheon to have lunch after leaving Seoul and stopping by the Soyang Dam," his fellow motorcycle club members told the police.
According to police, Kim's driving license was revoked due to penalty points until Aug. 1.
Kim, who started out as a model and moved on to become an actor, appeared in the movie "Sex is Zero 2" and dramas "You Are Not Alone" (2004, SBS) and "Blue Fish" (2007, SBS). He was set to appear at a charity fashion show next month.
Kim is the latest in a long line of celebrities who have died in motorcycle accidents. Kim Min-soo, a member of pop group Monday Kiz, passed away last April when he crashed into a tree, while model-turned-actor Lee Eon ("Coffee Prince," MBC) also died in August the same year.
Kang Won-rae, member of pop group Clon, was injured in a motorcycle accident in 2000. The popular dancer/singer was left paralyzed from the waist down.
Credits: sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr |
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June 26, 2009
Japan to Deport Late Actress' Agent
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Japanese authorities are likely to deport the late actress Jang Ja-yeon's former agency head, according to Korea's Ministry of Justice Friday.
A ministry official said that its Japanese counterpart promised to cooperate with Korea's request for Kim Sung-hoon to be ordered to leave the country.
The Korean government had originally requested his extradition, but decided to seek deportation instead because the extradition process can take up to three months. His passport had already been cancelled. "We expect to get him from Japan in a week or a month at the longest,'' the official said.
Jang committed suicide at her home south of Seoul in March, leaving a note indicating that she was forced to provide sexual services and entertainment to media and showbiz VIPs in return for more media exposure.
Kim, who allegedly forced her to do so, has been hiding in Japan since her death, but was detained by Japanese police in Tokyo Wednesday.
Kim told the police in Japan that sexual services were not the reason for Jang's suicide, Kyodo News reported Thursday.
Credits: rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr |
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June 25, 2009
'Old Boy' proceeds despite legal scuffle
Rights wrangle with manga publisher, Park pic's producers
By Gavin J. Blair and Park Soo-Mee
Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are moving forward with plans for a remake of "Old Boy" despite a complex, behind-the-scenes rights wrangle involving the Japanese publishers of the original manga and the Korean producers of Park Chan-Wook's 2003 cult hit.
Futabasha, publisher of the manga by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya, has filed a case against Show East in Seoul, alleging the Korean company never had the right to negotiate a remake.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that Show East has shut down and its CEO, Kim Dong-Ju, has disappeared. Big Egg, a co-producer of the ultra-violent revenge flick, has also closed up shop, and its former staffers are unreachable.
"We haven't been able to confirm that Show East is bankrupt, and at this stage we're not sure what effect this will have on the legal case," said a spokesperson from Futabasha in Tokyo, who noted that legal proceedings had begun last week.
South Korean sales company Cineclick Asia, which represented Show East's "Oldboy" in international territories, actually negotiated the remake deal with Universal.
Universal brought in Roy Lee's Vertigo Entertainment, which has made a specialty of Asian film remakes, to produce the picture, and then Mandate acquired the rights from Universal.
DreamWorks, in one of its first moves in the wake of its November separation from Paramount, secured remake rights from Mandate, which remains involved in the project.
DreamWorks had no comment on the dispute between Futubasha and Show East.
Gavin J. Blair reported from Tokyo; Park Soo-Mee reported from Seoul.
Source: hollywoodreporter.com |
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Post Last Edit by katt at 27-6-2009 13:53
June 26, 2009
Jang Ja-yeon Suicide Probe Resumes
Bundang police said Thursday they will resume investigation of 13 people in connection with the suicide of the actress Jang Ja-yeon. The announcement comes after the head of Jang's management agency, identified as Kim, was arrested in Japan on Wednesday. Eight people have been indicted and four people are under investigation on various complaints involving accusations by the late actress that her agency pimped her to influential figures and threatened violence if she refused.
The fundamental question is what factors contributed to Jang's suicide. Jang was in conflict with Kim because she apparently wanted to end her contract, drawing up a list of influential figures in entertainment and politics whom she said she was forced to entertain.
Police are asking the Japanese to deport Kim promptly since he was caught staying illegally in the island country. "Because the deportation procedure is simple, we can secure custody of Kim within one or two weeks," a police spokesman said
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com |
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June 26, 2009
Kim Hyun-joo to Overturn Public Perception of Legal Series in 'Partner'
In the new Wednesday-Thursday KBS TV2 drama “Partner,” which began airing June 24, actress Kim Hyun-joo, who plays a lawyer, says she firmly believes that the series will dispel public bias about legal TV shows.
Smiling Kim Hyun-joo at drama production announcement
At the production announcement for “Partner” on June 19, Kim Hyun-joo said she wasn’t interested in the drama when she first received an offer to appear in it. But her opinion changed after she read the script and synopsis. Kim said, “Its script stood out from previous legal dramas, which were mostly too stiff and hardcore. I found it fun and I wanted to play its main character, Kang Eun-ho, who attracted me very much. Though she is a lawyer, her personality doesn’t seem to have anything to do with law. I wanted to show the cheerful and tough sides of my personality.”
Though Kim briefly appeared in “Boys Over Flowers” in a cameo, “Partner” is her first production since her last appearance on the small screen in “In-soon Is Pretty” two years ago. “Partner” contains a boxing scene involving Kim, which was filmed for eight hours. Kim said, “It wasn’t too difficult. It turned out to be easier than I thought because I had practiced hard for it. It was my first time boxing but it was fun. I want to continue to box after the drama is over.”
The drama’s producer, Hwang Ui-kyung, says Kim Hyun-joo was picked to play Kang Eun-ho because she can best portray this mature yet pure-hearted and healthy woman. “Partner,” which depicts the reality in Korea’s judicial circles and features entertaining and moving court scenes, airs at 9:55 p.m. on KBS TV2.
Credits: Jin Young-joo, KBSi, Photos by KBS Internet via KBS Global |
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June 26, 2009
Time to Get on with the Jang Ja-yeon Investigation
The head of actress Jang Ja-yeon's management agency was arrested by police in Japan on Wednesday. Identified as Kim, the CEO is wanted by law enforcement authorities on suspicion of pimping the actress to influential figures before her suicide in March. Kim is expected to be handed over to Korea within a week if Japan deports him.
Kim is a key figure in the investigation into Jang's suicide. But while police wasted time complaining that it was impossible to bring him back from Japan, where he had been hiding, an unsubstantiated list of influential figures suspected of having slept with Jang spread through the Internet, creating rumors and suspicion. The names of people who had never even met Jang or Kim were put on that list, and they experienced tremendous damage to their reputation. Police announced the interim results of their investigation on April 24 but were unable to find out who had driven Jang to suicide.
Now that Kim has been arrested, the obstacles have been removed. Police will be able to find out a lot simply by questioning Kim, who is also accused of taking money from Jang and physically assaulting her, and Jang's former manager, Yoo Jang-ho, who revealed a document containing those allegations. We will soon find out whether Jang wrote the document herself and why she killed herself.
Police must check which influential people received what type of service from Kim and which were mistakenly implicated in the rumors. Police have already searched 27 locations, including Kim's house and office, and confiscated 842 pieces of material including accounting records, 140,000 phone records and surveillance camera footage. After comparing 50,000 records of calls made using three phones each owned by Kim and Jang over the past year, police said they were able to confirm that there was not a single call made between a particular executive at the Chosun Ilbo and the two. After comparing the movements of that executive with accounts from witnesses, police said the executive had never met Jang.
But people with ulterior motives who want to slander Chosun Ilbo managers and the newspaper itself have continued to claim that the police announcement was made under pressure from influential figures. Two opposition party lawmakers, who used their immunity and revealed the names of Chosun Ilbo managers in the National Assembly and on live television, even held press conferences in parliament in May defaming this newspaper while demanding an independent counsel investigate Jang's suicide. Among those who also demanded the investigation was a group involved in a renewed movement to threaten advertisers to pull ads from this newspaper.
Police must waste no time in bringing Kim back to Korea and investigating him so that the reason behind Jang's suicide and the practices of exploiting actresses are brought to light. This will prevent rumors and defamatory comments involving the so-called "Jang Ja-yeon list" from hurting more people. People who had been taking advantage of Kim's absence to slander others should also be held responsible. The public must be able to regain confidence in the police.
Credits: englishnews@chosun.com]/size] |
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June 26, 2009
Super Junior Sings 'The Partner' OST
[TV Report]The idol boy band Super Junior wrapped up a third round of album activities this past weekend and has begun to prepare for their next album. However, we can still hear their voice in the new KBS2 drama "The Partner."
"Sorry Sorry," the title song of their third album, as well as "It's You" have been big hits. Super Junior has now sung "Hero," the theme song of "The Partner." The rhythmic song with lyrics of hope sung by SJ members Yesung, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun is expected to be a hit melody.
Rock band Rumble Fish, which is set to release their fourth regular album in July, also took part in the drama's OST. Their song "Love To Me" is a bright number about a dreamy love to come one day.
Super Junior and Rumble Fish are known to have enjoyed the recording, the songs being bright and jovial. The music director of "The Partner," Lee Pil-ho, said, "It is a court drama but not a heavy, dark story so I tried to write songs that way and cast young, fresh singers as well." After the recording, SJ members said, "The song is great and we have a good feeling about the drama cast and story also. It may be a blast. We'll also watch the drama," as they conveyed their confidence and affection about the drama to the producers.
The new Wednesday-Thursday series on KBS2 is a court drama with no guns and swords but featuring a battle of words by the lawyers. The series, combining the genres of romance, thriller and mystery with stories to amuse and touch viewers' hearts, aired its first episode on June 24.
Writer: TV Report
Copyright KBS & KBSi l KBS Global |
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June 27, 2009
Mixed Reactions on 'Genie'
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation's new song, "Genie," drew mixed reactions after the girl group unveiled the song for the first time at Music Bank of KBS-TV Friday evening.
The members of Girls' Generation, attired in marine uniforms, danced, making big leg movements.
Many Internet users reacted positively to the song, saying it was unique, charming and nice. But some other Internet users downplayed the new song, alleging that it was made in a hurry.
"Genie" ranks first in various online music charts. Girls' Generation plans to release its new mini album containing the flagship song and five other songs Monday.
Girls' Generation has been shining in the local music market since its debut in 2007 with a string of success: "Into the World" "Girls' Generation," "Kissing You," "Baby Baby," and "Gee."
Its members include Yoona, Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon, Jessica and Sunny.
Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/06/135_47553.html |
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June 28, 2009
Wonder Girls Emblazons Front of US Daily
The Wonder Girls, one of South Korea's top pop groups, has hit the front page of a leading U.S. daily newspaper.
In a story, which is accompanied by photos, in the Seattle Times, it is reported that the quintet will open for the Jonas Brothers concerts in Portland and Seattle.
The newspaper referred to the three No. 1 hits the group _ made up of Sun, Yenny, Mimi, Sohee and Yubin _ has had in Asia.
The Times quoted Sun as saying, "Performing on this tour is such an honor." The Wonder Girls was speaking on a conference call from Dallas, where they were rehearsing at the first stop on the Jonas Brothers' tour. She added that the Jonas Brothers "are very talented. They have been so kind. ... It's a great opportunity for us."
According to the newspaper, the largest daily in the state of Washington, the Wonder Girls plans on showcasing English versions of two of its popular Korean songs _ "Nobody" and "Tell Me." "We just want them to enjoy our songs, and be happy from them, and then we'll be so happy," Yenny, the most talkative of the band mates, was quoted as saying.
"Our music is retro-funky-pop music, a mix of the old and the new," Yubin, who, like all the Wonder Girls, uses her first name only. "Our songs are very easy to follow, no matter how old you are."
The Wonder Girls is produced by singer-songwriter Park Jin-Young and each of the five original members were selected through auditions. Debuting in early 2007, they became popular in the fall of that year with the song "Tell Me."
Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/06/143_47584.html |
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Post Last Edit by katt at 29-6-2009 20:10
June 24, 2009
Seoul Commercials Feature Korean Wave Stars
The Seoul Metropolitan Government kicked off overseas promotions for this year with television commercials aired in China and Japan starting June 15. Under the new campaign slogan, "Infinitely yours, Seoul," it will promote itself abroad as a city on the go 24 hours a day, where the barrier between today and tomorrow is broken down, and offering unlimited experiences.
In China, Seoul will be billed as a city of "infinite fun where diverse experiences can be enjoyed at once." In Japan, Seoul will be promoted as a city of "infinite novelty, a place you will want to revisit." "Trendy Seoul, a city of infinite surprise showing the roots of the Korean wave" is the theme in Southeast Asia.
In Europe and the Americas, Seoul will be introduced as a "city of infinite curiosity, a place to experience exotic culture." In all, four television commercials have been created to promote the city.
Cameos
K-pop stars, including Dongbangshingi, Super Junior and Girls' Generation make cameo appearances in the television ads.
The fun and excitement of spotting stars who make brief 30-second appearances is expected to lead to offline word-of-mouth marketing. Dongbangshingi will appear as hair designers, Super Junior as a club DJ, and Girls' Generation as mannequins in Myeongdong.
Unedited footage from the shootings, episodes and memories about Seoul will be available online on YouTube starting July.
Boosting Brand Awareness
The appearance of Korean wave stars is expected to translate into more tourists coming to Seoul to visit shooting locations for soap operas. The YouTube clips attracted 30,000 hits on the first day alone and a very enthusiastic response to the promotional films is expected.
Seoul embarked on overseas marketing in 2008. That year, the city called on internationally recognized cultural icons to produce their take on Seoul and used Manchester United in sports marketing effort to promote the city. In a November 2008 survey by AC Nielson, Seoul was chosen as the no.1 city people in China, Japan and Thailand wanted to visit.
In 2009, Seoul will continue to promote itself overseas with the new campaign slogan, "Infinitely yours, Seoul" as part of efforts to attract 12 million tourists.
From the Seoul Metropolitan Government via
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/06/24/2009062400730.html |
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