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Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight
October 2nd, 2008
Top Actress Choi Found Dead at Home
South Korea's iconic actress Choi Jin-sil was found dead at her home in what appears to be a suicide amid rumors that linked her to the recent death of another actor, Yonhap News reported quoting police Thursday.
Choi's mother found the actress, 40, with an elastic band around her neck tied to a shower stall in her home in southern Seoul at 6:15 a.m., officers at the Seocho Police Station said.
"We confirmed her death after receiving a call that Ms. Choi committed suicide," a police officer was quoted as saying.
No suicide note has been found.
Police have been investigating rumors that linked Choi to Ahn Jae-hwan, who was found dead inside his car in early September in an apparent suicide. Charred briquettes that would have released toxic gas and bottles of alcohol were found inside the rental minivan, investigators said.
Rumors have since circulated on the Web that Choi had lent a large sum of money to Ahn, who was reportedly in deepening debt due to a failing business. Ahn's financial troubles were seen as the chief factor leading up to his suicide.
Choi sought a police probe into the source of the rumors, calling them groundless. Police arrested a securities company employee this week for spreading the rumors that Choi lent 2.5 billion won ($2 million) to Ahn.
The previous day, the actress came to a studio to shoot a commercial, but the filming was canceled halfway through, with Choi saying she didn't feel well, according to Choi's co-star Sohn Hyun-joo from the drama series "What Husband And Wife Live By."
"From the moment she came onto the set, she looked very weary. Her face looked really bad and she found it difficult to continue and had to stop after two hours," he was quoted as saying.
Since her debut in 1988, Choi swiftly climbed the career ladder to become a household name, clinching main roles in soap operas, movies and commercials to win subsequent awards. Her girlish look and versatile talents brought her the nickname "People's Star."
She was preparing for the second season of her latest hit, MBC drama series "The Last Scandal of My Life," in which she played a 39-year-old woman who finds new love with a top actor after a painful divorce.
The actress tied the knot with pro baseball player Cho Sung-min in 2000 but their marriage ended in a divorce in 2004. Choi is survived by two children.
Source: The Korea Times |
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October 2, 2008
Star actress Choi Jin-sil found dead at home: police
SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's iconic actress Choi Jin-sil was found dead in her home in what appears to be a suicide, police said Thursday, amid rumors that linked her to the recent death of another actor.
Choi's mother found the actress, 40, with an elastic band around her neck tied to a shower stall in her home in southern Seoul at 6:15 a.m., officers at the Seocho Police Station said.
"We confirmed her death after receiving a call that Ms. Choi committed suicide," a police officer said.
Source: Yonhap News
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 81002001900315.HTML |
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Late Choi Jin-sil was Korea's sweetheart for over 20 years
SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- Choi Jin-sil, who first caught the eye of South Korean audience as an attractive 20-year-old starlet in 1988, spent the following 20 years transforming as an actress and working her way into the hearts of people around the country.
Born in Seoul on December 24, 1968, Choi grew up poor as her family struggled to make ends meet. During her adolescence, she had little contact with her father after her parents divorced.
Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 81002003000315.HTML |
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October 1, 2008
Hanwha dials up "Cell Phone"
Korean conglom unveils first film project, releasing in 2009
Written by Han Sunhee
SEOUL -- Korean industrial conglom Hanwha has unveiled thriller "The Cell Phone" as its first film project.
The group will part finance the pic and produce through its subsidiary ad agency Hancomm in partnership with new shingle Cinetori, and Fine Works. The $3.5 million pic began lensing on Monday, and will wrap in mid December. SK Telecom will distribute the film in the first half of 2009.
Helmed by Kim Han-min ("Paradise Murdered",) pic is tale of an entertainment exec, played by Uhm Tae-woong ("Sunny",) who loses his cell phone and is intimidated by an anonymous stalker (Park Yong-woo.)
Hancomm is also currently in production on TV animation "Rolling Stars", with movie projects "Secret River," a melodrama, and actioner "Black Fury" in development.
Since 2007 Hanwha has invested in various Korean films including "The Chaser," current box office champ "The Divine Weapon" and Korean western, "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" via its Hanwha Culture Content Investment Association fund.
Source: Variety Asia
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/7068/
[ Last edited by katt at 5-10-2008 10:52 PM ] |
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October 2, 2008
Top Actress Choi Jin-sil Found Dead at Home
Top actress Choi Jin-sil was found dead Thursday morning in her home in what appears to be a suicide. She was found in a shower booth with pressure band wrapped around her neck.
Police says that her body was discovered by her family member at 6:15 and police arrived at the scene around 7:30. No suicide note was found. The details and circumstances of her death are still being investigated.
Choi has been under enormous pressure lately from rumors implicating her in the suicide death of TV actor Ahn Jae-hwan, husband of Choi’s close friend, comedienne Jung Sun-hee. Internet postings accused Choi of lending about 2 million dollars to Ahn, indirectly driving him to his death. Police arrested a 25-year-old securities firm employee in late September for initiating the false rumor in cyber space.
Choi debuted in 1988 on a TV historical drama and since then has played numerous leading roles in both TV and films. She rose to stardom in the romantic TV drama “Jealousy” in 1992, and starred in such hits as “You and Me,” “Bad Woman, Good Woman,” “Rose and Bean Sprouts,” and “My Rosy Life.” Her latest starring role was in “The Last Scandal of My Life” the spring of 2008, which put her back in the limelight as the most bankable middle-aged star.
While enjoying professional success, her personal life, on the other hand, has been full of ups and downs. She married then baseball star Cho Sung-min in December 2000, but divorced him five years later. They have two children, whose last name was changed from “Cho” to their maternal sir name “Choi” this year. Well-known for her fierce loyalty and strong friendship with a small group of celebrities, which include comediennes Jung Sun-hee and Lee Young-ja and models Lee So-ra and Hong Jin-kyung among others, she was apparently devastated by the death of Ahn and the ensuing rumors. The general public suspects that the stress from the recent string of events pushed her over the edge and prompted her to take her own life. Her body is currently at rest in Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul.
Source: KBS World
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/e ... _detail.htm?No=8298 |
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October 2, 2008
Stars to gather at opening ceremony of S. Korean film festival
By Kim Young-gyo
SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- Some of Asia's most celebrated stars will gather at the opening ceremony of South Korea's largest annual film festival, which will begin its nine-day run on Thursday, organizers said.
The guest list, announced Wednesday by the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), features some of biggest names in Korean, Japanese and Chinese cinema, including Jung Jin-young, known for his impressive performance as an insecure king in the 2006 Korean film "King and the Clown."
"This year, rising film stars from across the world will visit Busan, making the festival a glorious event," PIFF said in a statement.
Kim Jung-eun, who starred in "Forever the Moment," a film revolving around South Korea's women's team at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will host the opening ceremony with Jung, which is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
Lee Byung-heon, one of the most popular Korean actors in Asia, has already booked a ticket to Busan, organizers said. Lee, known mostly for his hit TV drama "All in," was one of the driving forces behind Korea's Hallyu, or Korea Wave, a boom of Korean pop culture that swept across the region.
South Korean actor Hyun Bin and actress Lee Bo-young, who star in the festival's closing film "I Am Happy," will be at the ceremony, as will Kim Hye-soo and Park Hae-il, the stars of the soon to be released period melodrama "Modern Boy," to open later this month.
Korea's beloved veteran actor and actress Ahn Sung-ki and Kang Soo-yeon are also to appear at the event Thursday night, PIFF organizers said.
Japanese celebrity Juri Ueno, who became a popular icon in Asia with her role as the innocent Nodame in the Japanese serial drama "Nodame Cantabile", and Li Xiaolu, dubbed one of the four little empresses of China, are to meet the audience at the festival.
Aaron Yoo, a Korean-American actor who starred in the 2007 film "Disturbia," produced by Ivan Reitman, and Moon Bloodgood, an American actress and model of Korean descent, are expected to be in attendance as well.
The 13th annual PIFF will open with the screening of Kazakh film "The Gift to Stalin," tickets to which sold out in a record time of one and half minutes through on-line sales.
Directed by Kazakh film maker Rustem Abdrashev, "The Gift to Stalin" deals with the grim suppression of minority ethnic groups in the Soviet era.
Credits: [email protected], image from empas.com
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 1001007300315F.HTML |
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'90s TV Icon Discovered Dead in Her Apartment
Top Korean actress Choi Jin-shil has been found dead in her Jamwon-dong apartment in Seoul. According to police, Choi was found dead by her mother on the morning of October 2 at 6:15 a.m. The police are currently investigating the details of the incident but tentatively concluded that the actress had committed suicide.
A police official said Choi had apparently hung herself with a compress in the shower booth. Close acquaintances say that Choi had been severely depressed after the recent suicide of actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who was the husband of her close friend and popular TV and radio host Jeong Seon-hee.
Choi had recently been at the center of unconfirmed rumors alleging that Ahn had owed her an enormous sum of money which she had lent to him as a private loan. Choi had denied the rumors and asked the police to investigate the matter. A couple of days prior to her death, the police indicted without detention a woman in her 20s for spreading the rumor online.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1549173_11858.html |
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October 2, 2008
Celebrity Volunteer Group Reaches Out to Disabled Children
"People who Care," a volunteer organization made up of celebrities, has set out to help children with disabilities. The volunteer group held a special ceremony to mark the beginning of its new sisterhood with the Social Welfare Society and the Amsa Rehabilitation Center on September 29.
Nine members of the organization, including Kim Won-hee, Kim Jeong-eun, Kim Yoo-mi, Ahn Jae-wook, Eugene, Park Cheol, Yoo Da-hoon, Jeong Sun-kyung and Lee Kyung-ho, attended the cremony. They donated study assistant equipment such as a touch PDP and spent time with the children.
Actress Kim Jeong-eun, who is the publicity envoy for the Social Welfare Society, said the disabled children are in desperate need of expensive equipment to assist their studies. She went on to ask the people to show their generosity.
Meanwhile, popular TV host Kim Won-hee said the true meaning of sharing lies in providing the children with memories to cherish for a long time. She also shared her intent to visit the rehabilitation center on a regular basis with her fellow celebrity volunteers.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1549159_11858.html |
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October 2, 2008
He sparks kissing frenzy
Korean actor-singer Ryu Si Won mobbed by nursing aides during visit to Bishan Home
By Chang May Choon
KOREAN TV star Ryu Si Won, who was here for the F1 race, met hundreds of fans on Monday.
--TNP DESIGN: PRADIP --PICTURE: R'S COMPANY
But it was on a visit to the Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled that he was mobbed.
Not by the residents there, but by the nursing aides from the Philippines. Some even managed to kiss him, leaving him looking stunned.
At the home, the humble star went around shaking hands, signing autographs and hugging some of the residents, who seemed happy to see him. But far more excited were the nursing aides, some of whom went wild.
More than 10 of them rushed onto the stage to take a group photo with Si Won, and while getting ready, one of them dabbed the perspiration on his face with a red T-shirt. Then, the unimaginable happened.
One nursing aide leaned forward and kissed Si Won's left cheek, triggering a copycat reaction among the others.
SMITTEN: Korean actor-singer Ryu Si Won (with an orange garland) being surrounded by nursing aides during a photo session at the Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled. --TNP PICTURE: GAVIN FOO
The emcee had to jump in front of Si Won to stop more of the women from sneaking up on him. It turned out that it was the first time that Si Won, 36, had ever got mob-kissed by fans.
Actor loves the thrill of car racing
And he counted four pecks on his cheek, no less!
With a laugh, he said: 'No fan has ever dared to come kiss me on my cheeks. Usually it's just hugs or handshakes.'
He was not worried or offended though, because 'I can understand how a fan feels about me'. And he is used to more dangerous situations - like crashing a race car.
The actor-singer, who is also a professional racer, crashed his car in a race last month. When asked about it, his immediate response was: 'It was not my mistake... I had trouble with the car.' The accelerator pedal had suddenly got stuck and he had to crash into a guard rail to stop the car. He woke up with 'some pain' in his neck the next day, but is okay now.
So, which is worse: To crash or to lose?
Passionate about cars
'Crashing is the worst situation, because you can't even try to win or do your best,' he told The New Paper through an interpreter. 'Even if you don't win, at least you gave it your best shot.'
The boyish star of popular dramas like Beautiful Days and Wedding was in town last weekend to do a special feature on the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix for a Korean cable channel.
When asked about the crashes on Sunday, he commented that two of them were 'driver's mistakes' and one was a 'mechanic's fault'. 'I saw it all from the paddock club, the VIP area with the best view,' he said matter-of-factly.
He enjoyed the three-day event and kept raving about the 'wonderful lighting' that was specially installed for the first F1 night race in the world. 'I really really wanted to join the race and be on the tracks myself, but I had to suppress the urge because only F1 drivers are allowed to race,' he said with a reluctant smile.
'But I'll be joining a race in Korea two weeks later, and I'll think of the Singapore F1 and do a good job.' He had to miss a wedding to be here for the race.
His actor pal Kwon Sang Woo was married to actress Son Tae Young in Seoul on Sunday. Si Won said he received Sang Woo's invitation first, and then he accepted the F1 job without realising that the dates would clash.
'My excuse is that I'm going to Singapore for work and not just to enjoy the F1 race, so I believe Sang Woo understands my situation. Anyway, I already sent him a red packet and flowers too.'
One may think Si Won places racing above friendship, but he insisted both are equally important to him.
'It's just that everything for F1 was already arranged when I realised the clash of dates, so I had no choice but to come to Singapore.' Not that he was complaining, though.
Si Won's passion for racing goes as far back as kindergarten, when he fell in love with cars and started drawing pictures of them.
Safe and slow
But it never occurred to him to be a racer until 1997, when he was asked to join a race as part of a variety show.
The descendent of a famous prime minister during the Chosun dynasty hopes to juggle racing with his showbiz career, which is mostly based in Japan these days.
What he loves most about racing is not the speed or the thrill of competing, though. 'There are so many things I like about racing, but the biggest appeal is that each race is a struggle with myself. I have to fight myself in order to win.'
Away from the race circuit, Si Won professes to be a safe and slow driver. 'I drive fast only on the race tracks,' he said. 'The more you get involved in car racing, the more you tend to drive safely on the normal roads.'
Before leaving on Monday night, Si Won also met 200 of his fans at K Union at Cineleisure. So, how far does he let fans go with him?
He said he draws the line at being kissed on the lips or butt-grabbed by fans who pretend to put their hands around his waist while posing for photos. 'I won't be that happy, and I'd feel very embarrassed when fans, especially the older women, grab my butt,' he lamented.
'But I won't push them away because then they'd feel bad, so I just let them be.'
One wonders though, is it worse to be butt-grabbed or to crash his car?
Source: The Electric New Paper (Singapore)
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,178653,00.html |
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October 2, 2008
Choi Jin-sil leaves behind tragic legacy
The nation was thrown into an unprecedented shock yesterday upon the news of the death of Choi Jin-sil, Korea's iconic actress and people's sweetheart.
Choi, who took her own life at the age of 40, was one of the most loved actresses to date, having starred in numerous hit TV series and movies. She was praised for her never-aging looks and flawless acting skills.
But her hard-won glitz and fame was also overshadowed by scandals, such as an ugly divorce in 2004. Her tragic death came after being involved in a rumor surrounding the death of actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who also committed suicide last month.
Choi Jin-sil at a press conference in 2007
to promote MBC drama "Bad Woman, Good Woman"
[The Korea Herald]
Raised by a single mother in a down-and-out household, Choi first entered the entertainment business in late 1980s through her younger brother Choi Jin-young, 39, who was a model at the time. Upon her first role in a periodic MBC TV drama series in 1988, Choi was quickly noticed and rapidly rose to stardom.
One of her biggest hits was a television commercial for Samsung Electronics Co. where she used a catchy phrase that said she had her (virtual) husband in the palm of her hands. She went on to star in movies "My Love, My Bride" (1990) and "Mr. Mama" (1992), as well as TV drama series "Our Paradise" in 1990.
Choi's biggest break came in 1992, when she acted as a spunky travel agent in "Jealousy" aired by MBC. The mega-hit series was considered a harbinger of the country's now globally popular "trendy" dramas.
Choi's following roles also received vast popularity, including "Wish Upon a Star" (1996), and movies "How to Top My Wife" (1994), and "The Letter" (1997).
She won numerous awards throughout her career, including the breakthrough role awards at Daejong Film Awards, Chunja Film Festival and the Blue Dragon Awards in 1991. In 1995, she won best actress awards at Daejong Film Awards and PaekSang Arts Awards in 1991, 1995 and 1997.
She was awarded best MBC award in 1997 and best female talent award by Korea Broadcasting Prizes in 1998. Choi was also well-known among the fans for her successful rags-to-riches story, which she said enabled her family to stay close and tight.
Choi's first run-in with public tragedy was the death of her former manager Bae Byoung-soo in 1994. Bae, who put Choi on the star map, was killed by Choi's driver at the time. The actress was summoned for a court hearing as a witness.
At the height of her career in 2000, Choi married professional baseball player Cho Sung-min, drawing massive media attention. They called it the wedding of the century.
The marriage, however, was rocky and they split in 2002. The couple, who had a son and a daughter together, remained separated until August 2004, when Cho was arrested for domestic violence. The two were officially divorced a month later and Cho gave up his rights to his children in exchange for being removed from his obligation to pay off debts to Choi and her family.
Upon the divorce, Choi was forced to stay out of the limelight. A construction company that hired her as a spokesperson filed for damages worth 3 billion won, citing "damages to the company image for failing to manage her personal life properly."
Rising out of the pain, Choi returned to the small screen in 2005, taking a role of a divorced woman working her way to earn her living despite being diagnosed with cancer in "What Husband and Wife Live By." She won PaekSang Arts best actress award for the role that jerked the tears of viewers nationwide.
Her recent works included "Bad Woman, Good Woman" in 2007 and "The Last Scandal of My Life" this year. "The last scandal of my life" about a middle-aged super star falling back in love with his first love was a huge hit, prompting the so-called "jumderella" syndrome, a combination of Cinderella and "ajumma," a reference to middle-aged Korean women.
Recently, Choi was preparing for the second season of "The Last Scandal of My Life." She was also hosting a talk show in her name for a cable channel. Choi made headlines earlier this year for succeeding in her plea to change the surnames of her two children to her's. Choi's son is seven and daughter is five.
She was most recently involved in rumors surrounding the death of Ahn Jae-hwan, who committed suicide last month after allegedly suffering from heavy debt. Ahn was also a husband of Choi's close friend comedian Jung Sun-hee.
Choi was found by her mother early yesterday morning in her home in southern Seoul, an apparent suicide by hanging.
By Lee Joo-hee ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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October 2, 2008
Actress Han Chae-young Cast in NZ Horror Flick
Actress Han Chae-young has been cast as the heroine in a new film to be jointly produced by Korea and New Zealand. According to Han's management agency, the actress will take on the leading role in "Soul Mates," which will be directed by director Scott Reynolds of New Zealand.
"Soul Mates" will be jointly produced by Korean film production company Daejanggan and its New Zealand counterpart Touchdown Eyeworks. The film is a horror flick about the death of an Asian woman named Jin-hee, who lives in New Zealand. The two production companies signed an agreement of mutual support on September 29.
Han's management agency said the actress took the opportunity as it could be a stepping stone to making inroads into Hollywood. Reynolds and Han will attend the "New Zealand Reception" with New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Jane Coombs. The reception will be held on October 4 during the 13th Pusan International Film Festival period.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1549160_11858.html |
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October 2, 2008
Uhm Jung-hwa to Play Evil Role in New Movie
Singer and actress Uhm Jung-hwa takes on the role of the antagonist in director Park Hee-gon's new movie with the working title "Insa-dong Scandal."
According to the Ssamzie I-Vision production company, Uhm will play "Bae Tae-jin," a cold-hearted mogul of the fine arts industry who stops at nothing to accumulate wealth.
Filming for "Insa-dong Scandal" is set to begin next month. The story is about the restoration of a Joseon dynasty masterpiece and its secrets. Conflicts arise between "Bae Tae-jin" and the art restoration expert she hires, "Lee Kang-jun," played by actor Kim Rae-won.
Uhm has starred in numerous silver screen features, such as "Crazy Marriage," "For Horowitz" and "Singles." Currently, she is promoting the music from her latest album.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1549213_11858.html |
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October 2, 2008
Youthful drama targets weekend audience
Rarely does a weekend family drama make the splash that KBS' "Mom is that Upset" did. The hit series ended with a bang last Sunday, garnering viewer ratings of 39.7 percent nationwide, according to AGB Nielsen Media research.
Hoping to continue their winning streak, KBS is following it up with a light and comic romance about a radio producer and a disc jockey.
Celebrities Kim Sung-su and Lee Tae-ran will be playing the title roles. Actor Kim, 35, stars as a has-been pop singer who takes a job as a radio disc jockey. Actress Lee Tae-ran, 33, plays the domineering co-worker who bickers her way into his heart.
Co-star Park Hae-mi, however, expressed reservations about the decidedly more youthful bent of the upcoming family drama -- titled "My Precious You" -- at the press conference on Tuesday. "In the previous drama, 'Mom is that Upset,' middle aged characters played the lead," said actress Park, 44. "But people still shy away from focusing on older characters. Why do we target younger audiences?"
Park may have a point. She blew audiences away with her role as a wicked stepmother in SBS' "Dear Heaven" (2005). And now she promises to repeat its success.
"I am upset that the preview screening did not show clips of me," she said. "My role is as big as Kim Sung-su's and Lee Tae-ran's."
But the results are not in yet. Park is up against some stiff competition. Kim Sung-su built up a steady reputation playing rich-but-lonely men in dramas like "Full House" (2004) and "Bad Love" (2007). And Lee Tae-ran struck fear and respect into the hearts of viewers with her tough, no-nonsense role as a lieutenant in KBS' "Famous Princesses" (2006).
It looks like Lee is set to continue to draw laughs with her tomboy persona in the upcoming drama. "Lee Tae-ran's character is supremely tough in this drama," warned co-star Kim.
Kim, on the other hand, will be deviating from his standard role. "In the past, I played a happy-go-lucky gentleman, but this time around I tried to change," said the actor, who grew a beard for his role as a down-and-out single father.
If "Mom is that Upset" focused on the trials and tribulations of mothers, "My Precious You" plans on highlighting the difficulties single fathers face in Korean society.
Actor Kim's character and the father of Lee Tae-ran's character both give viewers insight into what it might be like for men to have to raise children on their own. The drama also plans to focus on the children, including actor Ji Hyun-woo, who stars as a playboy dentist.
Ji won female viewers over as the sweet and innocent hero in the hit KBS series "Old Miss Diary" (2004), building a reputation as the kind of guy an older woman would want to date. Now his new role threatens to overturn whatever points he managed to score over the past few years.
Quick to deny that his character is a player without a heart, Ji stated: "He is not a total playboy. My character just does not want to get caged in or hurt." Whatever the case, the 23-year-old actor is sure to draw laughs every time he leers or catcalls at a passing woman in "My Precious You."
"My Precious You" starts tomorrow night at 7:55 p.m. on KBS 2 TV.
By Jean Oh ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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October 2, 2008
From Ad Star to Celeb-Mom
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The late actress Choi Jin-sil
The late actress Choi Jin-sil, 40, was a quintessential star whose girl-next-door image had once elevated her to Korean sweetheart status.
Born Dec. 24, 1968, she came into the spotlight in the late 1980s. She got her television break in 1988 by appearing in the drama "The Joseon Kingdom; 500 Years." With her famed image, Choi also reigned as the "queen of commercials" through most of the 1980s. The famous quip in an ad ― delivered with a trademark smile ― "Men, they all depend on how women fashion them" is remembered as one of the most famous moments in the actress's career.
Her major break came with the television drama "Jealousy" (1992), in which she starred with fellow actor Choi Su-jong. They are still considered one of the most memorable screen couples in Korean drama history.
"Jealousy" provided a platform for her career, guiding her on her way to becoming one of Korea's sweethearts; or the top Korean sweetheart. She went on to pursue her acting career by working in dramas and finally took the next step into movies.
Her first movie was "North Korean Partisan in South Korea" (1990) with veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, and this led to many others, including "My Love My Bride" (1990) with Park Joong-hoon, and "Susan Brink's Arirang" in 1991.
Her work paid off, with her winning various awards including the Popularity Award at the Blue Dragon Award, Chunsa Film Festival and the Daejong Film Award for "My Love My Bride," and the Best Actress Award at the Daejong Film Awards with the hit movie "How to Top My Wife" (1994).
With that movie, he proved that she can act comedy as well as portray the frail characters she played on screen.
Her next hit film was "The Letter" (1997) with leading actor Park Shin-yang as her husband. The role of a wife whose husband had terminal cancer touched many fans, making the scene of Choi sobbing while watching a video of Park's last moments a memorable one.
Choi then returned to the small screen, captivating fans once again with co-stars Ahn Jae-wook and Cha In-pyo in the hit drama "The Star in My Heart" (1997). A star for the past 10 years, Choi also released an autobiography "Yes, Let's Live Truthfully Today Too," looking back at her journey from an ordinary high school graduate to a "commercial queen" and finally a famous celebrity.
But the top actress had also been mired in rumors, and she was once called in as a witness to the murder of her former manager in 1994.
In 2000, the actress surprised fans when she announced she was marrying baseball player Cho Sung-min, who was five years younger than her. After giving birth to a daughter and a son, she shocked fans once again as the couple decided to divorce in 2004.
She largely stayed out of the limelight after the divorce, raising her two kids by herself. Choi finally appeared in front of fans after a hiatus of five years with the drama "Rosy Life" (2005). She delivered a stunning performance, playing the role of a deserted wife who later discovers that she has cancer. That role resurrected her career; she was no longer the girl-next-door. Rather, she captured the image as a more approachable "ajumma" a Korean term for a middle-aged married woman. She recently made headlines as she changed the surnames of her two children to her own earlier this year.
Her last work was "The Last Scandal" with actor Jeong Jun-ho in March, where she successfully portrayed a courageous and comical ajumma.
"I am an 'ajumma' myself. I think Korean 'ajumma' are fearless. They are not afraid of anything. Although the character goes through emotional downfalls, she doesn't give up. I think it is courage that defines 'ajumma'," Choi said at the press conference for the "The Last Scandal."
For fans, she was an actress who kept on going. For friends, she was the "big sister" who led the so-called "Choi Jin-sil Association" which was a friendly group of close celebrities that included comedians Lee Young-ja, Jung Sun-hee, model Hong Jin-kyung, singer Uhm Jung-hwa.
Right before the day of her death, Choi was back shooting a commercial, the three-minute art form that first made her a superstar. She was found to to have hung herself in her bathroom when her family found her. She is survived by her two children, 8 and 6, her mother and a brother.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/10/178_32069.html
[ Last edited by katt at 3-10-2008 02:27 AM ] |
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October 2, 2008
13th Pusan Film Festival Opens
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Asia’s Largest Cinema Event Kicks Off: Movie-lovers and citizens gather at the Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) opening square at Nampodong, Wednesday evening to celebrate the pre-event of the festival. Asia’s largest cinema event marks its 13th year and will run for nine days until Oct. 10, with more than 300 films from 60 countries being presented to movie fans. / Yonhap
BUSAN ― The 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) kicked off Thursday evening with the world premiere of "The Gift to Stalin" here in this southern port city. It is Asia's largest cinema event, featuring a record number of 315 films from 60 countries including 48 international premieres over the nine-day run until Oct. 10.
The opening ceremony at the seaside Yachting Center brought together cineastes and film buffs from near and far for "The Gift to Stalin'' by Rustem Adbrashev. This is the first time for a small film from Kazakhstan to open PIFF, and what had been considered an "experimental" choice on the part of organizers proved to be a success as it set a new online sellout record of 90 seconds. The newly inserted system of allotting on-the-site reservations for those aged 50-plus and not Internet-savvy was also helpful to some, though PIFF needs to promote it better in future festivals.
While news of the death of top star Choi Jin-sil Thursday morning had many of the local press flocking back to Seoul, the festivity was well spotlighted. It also took place under pleasant autumn weather conditions ― unlike last year, when rain and the "political" postponement by the sudden appearance of presidential candidates muddled the show.
Actors Jung Jin-young, who starred in the record-breaking film "King and the Clown'' and most recently "Sunny," and Kim Jung-eun, heroine of the 2007 hit "Forever the Moment," hosted the event.
Special guests of PIFF include the makers of the opening film, esteemed director Wang Kar-wai from Hong Kong and major international festival directors, including Thierry Fremaux of Cannes, who has been visiting annually since the sixth season of PIFF, and Geoffrey Gilmore of the Sundance festival, among many others.
The star-studded roster includes Korea's top stars Hyun Bin and Lee Bo-young, who star in the closing film "I Am Happy," as well as "Modern Boy'' cast Park Hae-il and Kim Hye-soo, hallyu superstar Lee Byung-heon, "Crush and Blush" heroine Kong Hyo-jin and veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki. Also joining the festival are Japanese soap star Juri Ueno, who has a solid fan base here for "Nodame Cantabile''; China's "little empress" Li Xiaolu; ethnic Korean actors Aron Yoo and Moon Bloodgood; Lun-mei Kawi from Taiwan and Chiu Tein-you from Hong Kong.
PIFF closes Oct. 10 with the premiere of the South Korean film "I Am Happy." Directed by Yoon Jong-chan, it is about a dejected patient and heartbroken nurse who meet in a psychiatric ward.
For more information, visit www.piff.org (Korean and English).
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/10/135_32078.html |
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October 2, 2008
Kong Hyo-jin Shines in 'Crush'
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Actress Kong Hyo-jin stars as a pathetic high school teacher with a chronic case
of blushing and delusions in the movie 'Crush and Blush.'/Courtesy of Big House-Vantage Holdings
Rudy red face, frizzy hair, criminal fashion sense and a chronic case of inferiority complex and hopeless delusion, Miss Hongdangmu (carrot) is a new antihero among antiheroes. Such a pitiful role can be crafted with grace only by South Korean actress Kong Hyo-jin, who trades in her stylish image for a makeover as shocking as Charlize Theron a la "Monster."
Premiering Saturday at the 13th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), "Crush and Blush" signals the promising directorial debut of Lee Kyung-mi as well as feted filmmaker Park Chan-wook's headway into producing. Lee, who had worked on the set of Park's "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance," brings one of those rare movies that are propelled by a most unusual yet utterly believable character development, where the protagonist pushes forth the narrative by fulfilling her own destiny instead of a set of circumstances requiring a particular role.
The film wastes no time in painting an unmistakable caricature of Miss Hongdangmu. One is immediately struck by the awkward presence of the unpopular high school Russian teacher who is always looking in all the wrong places at the wrong time. She's like a cross between MTV's Daria and Morticia of the Addams Family, but neither smartly cynical nor eerily gothic, she dispels the golden rule in fashion that black goes with everything, as her uncomfortable looking turtleneck and shapeless long skirt only highlight her severe problem of going red in the face.
The unattractive 29-year-old had been infatuated with Mr. Seo (Lee Jong-hyeuk), her high school teacher-turned-colleague, for about 10 years. "Last year he sat next to me at the faculty dinner and also right next to me in the car on the way home. Clearly he must be in love with me!" insists this paragon of delusion. However, her happy thoughts are short-lived due to the arrival of every women's public enemy, the pretty woman Yu-ri (played by lovely debutant Hwang Woo-seul-hye 황우슬혜).
As Russian becomes increasingly less popular among the students, hardworking Mi-suk is assigned to instruct junior high English while Yu-ri, lax yet popular, maintains her position in high school Russian. Not only is she forced to learn English to teach it, Mi-suk must put a halt to a blooming romance between Yu-ri and Mr. Seo, who is among the beauty's many admirers. Her only hope is to keep Seo tied to his marriage for the meantime, and she forms an odd alliance with Seo's daughter and middle school loser Jong-heui (Seo Woo).
Rising starlet Seo Woo is another reason to watch the movie. The petite actress, known for some oddball TV roles, plays the perfect counterpart to Kong as another social misfit with no less psychedelic charisma. The two eccentrics deliver a multidimensional tragicomedy, spiced with what would be the American equivalent of "blonde humor" inspired by the pretty Yu-ri. Along the way, the viewer develops sympathy for the clueless Mr. Seo who gets caught in the middle of four feisty ladies (the fourth being his scary belly-dancing wife who is eight years his senior).
"Crush and Blush" brings together the most unusual characters in the most embarrassing situations. Mi-suk starts digging a hole in the school yard as to divert eyes away from her "clandestine" talk with Jong-heui, but only draws more attention to herself _ physically manifesting her shortsighted "sapjil," meaning hard shoveling and no pay, both literally and figuratively. Yet the viewer cannot help but warm to this self-esteem-less, frustrating character as she pursues her passions with utmost sincerity and futility. But life can surprise you, as the most meaningful secrets lie in things that may seem meaningless.
In theaters Oct. 16. 101 minutes. 15 and over. Distributed by Big House-Vantage Holdings.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/10/135_32046.html |
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October 2, 2008
Choi Jin-Sil Found Dead, Speculated Suicide
South Korean actress Choi Jin-Sil [File photo: CFP.cn]
Forty-year-old South Korean actress Choi Jin-Sil was found dead in her home in Seoul on Thursday, China's portal website Sina reports.
Choi's body was found at 6:15 a.m., police said. Her death is suspected to be a suicide, but all potential causes are still under investigation.
Choi became popular among Chinese audiences for her role in "Wish Upon A Star" in 1997.
Source: CRIENGLISH.com
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2008/10/02/1461s411006.htm
Star actress Choi Jin-sil found dead at home in apparent suicide
SEOUL, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's iconic actress Choi Jin-sil was found dead in her home in what appears to be a suicide, police said Thursday, amid reports that malicious rumors had weighed heavily on the star.
Choi's mother found the actress, 40, with an elastic band around her neck tied to a shower stall in her home in southern Seoul at 6:15 a.m., officers at the Seocho Police Station said.
"Given the results of an examination that spotted no trace of physical trauma on her body, we concluded that it was a suicide," Yang Jae-ho, a criminal investigations officer at the Seocho Police Station, told reporters.
No suicide note has been found, but Choi sent two text messages to her makeup assistant at around midnight asking her to take care of her two children, Yang said.
Police have been investigating rumors that linked Choi to the recent suicide of Ahn Jae-hwan, an actor and husband to popular comedian Jung Sun-hee. Ahn's large debts from his failing business ventures are believed to be the chief factor behind his death.
Rumors have since circulated on the Web that Choi, a longtime friend of Jung, had lent Ahn a large sum of money. Choi sought a police probe into the source of the rumors, calling them groundless. Police arrested a securities company employee this week on allegations of spreading rumors that Choi lent 2.5 billion won (US$2 million) to Ahn.
The previous day, the actress cancelled a commercial shoot at a Seoul studio halfway through, saying she didn't feel well, according to Sohn Hyun-joo, who co-stars with Choi in the drama series "What Husband and Wife Live By."
"From the moment she came onto the set, she looked very weary. Her face looked really bad and she found it difficult to continue and had to stop after two hours," Sohn said.
Police say Choi came home drunk at around midnight on Wednesday, telling her mother that she was saddened by the people who spread the rumors and that she had nothing to do with the money loaned to Ahn.
Despite her family's objections, prosecutors have decided to conduct an autopsy on Choi as part of their investigation into the swirling rumors surrounding her death.
"As it is an issue of public concern, there could be persistent murmurs if the causes of her death are not fully brought to light," a prosecutor said, requesting anonymity.
Although major Internet portal sites Naver, Daum and Cyworld promptly banned users from posting comments on news stories about Choi, messages linking her to Ahn still appeared after news of her suicide.
Since her debut in 1988 Choi swiftly became a household name, winning awards and clinching main roles in soap operas, movies and commercials. Her cheerful demeanor and versatile talents earned her the nickname "The People's Star."
But her life took a tumultuous turn when her outwardly impeccable marriage to pro baseball player Cho Sung-min ended in an ugly divorce in 2004. The actress had reportedly taken medication for depression since.
Police say Choi had increasingly expressed her intent to die to friends, citing the vicious rumors, as well as the burden of raising her two children, aged 8 and 6, and depression from her divorce.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturespo...007400315F.HTML
Popular S. Korean actress found dead
Oct. 2, SEOUL, South Korea -- An ambulance carrying the body of famous South Korean actress Choi Jin-sil is surrounded by police and media and it leaves Choi's home in Seoul on Oct. 2. Choi was found dead at her home earlier in the day in what police said appears to be a suicide. (Yonhap)(END)
Source: http://app.yonhapnews.co.kr/YNA/basic/Arti...AGINGPAGESIZE=5
Star actress' death looms over S. Korea's largest film festival
BUSAN, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- The death of one of South Korea's most iconic actresses looms over the country's largest annual film festival, which begins its nine-day run late Thursday.
Choi Jin-sil, 40, was found dead by her mother early Thursday morning, after apparently committing suicide due to rumors connecting her with the death of another entertainer.
Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/ ... 81002007100315.HTML |
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October 2, 2008
Choi Jin-Shil Found Dead
Posted by X at 12:25am.
Sad, sad day for Korean entertainment.
The very talented Choi Jin-Shil (40) was found dead today in her house in Seoul, police treating this as suicide. Choi was recently involved in a pretty touchy situation—mostly handled by the Korean press in bulldozer fashion as they always do—after the death of fellow entertainer Ahn Jae-Hwan, who took his life a few weeks ago in similar fashion. Don’t really feel like getting into details, but let’s just say Choi and Ahn’s wife, TV mainstay Jung Seon-Hee, were close friends, and apparently lending money to a friend makes you a loan shark. Just a look at the various news that are popping up all over the various portals, and we get frankly what are some way too cruel details on the seconds and hours leading to the tragedy. Choi had a hard but successful comeback into the business after her divorce with baseball player Jo Sung-Min, and is survived by her two young daughters.
It’s no secret that, despite her dubious choice of projects, I always liked Choi as an actress. She starred in some of the most enjoyable films and dramas of the 90s, like the ridiculously fun family drama 장미와 콩나물 (Roses & Beansprouts), or what’s still the best portrayal of the IMF crisis starting from the grass roots, 그대 그리고 나 (You and I). Choi, who started with a small role in the 1988 sageuk 한중록 (The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong), mixed very breezy work on TV—the first ever Korean trendy drama, 질투 (Jealousy) in 1992, with an eclectic choice of films, such as Lee Myung-Se’s 나의 사랑 나의 신부 (My Love, My Bride) or Jung Ji-Young’s fantastic 남부군 (Partisans of South Korea). She rarely strayed off the mainstream, but was always a really solid performer, even when the material wasn’t much to write home about, like her last drama 내 생애 마지막 스캔들 (The Last Scandal of My Life)—a title which suddenly makes you sad, all considered.
It’s really horrible writing these things, so I’ll just stop. All I can say is, thank you for everything, and you shall be missed. Rest in peace.
Source: naver.com via twitchfilm.net, images from edaily.co.kr |
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Thursday, 02 October 2008
Choi Jin-sil dies in apparent suicide
Korean actress was suffering from depression, financial woes
Written by Associated Press
One of South Korea's most popular actresses was found dead Thursday in an apparent suicide after suffering from post-divorce depression and harassment by online rumors about her allegedly irregular financial dealings, police said.
Choi Jin-sil, whose fame earned her the nickname "The Nation's Actress," is believed to have hanged herself in the bathroom of her Seoul home, said Yang Jae-ho, chief investigator at Seoul's Seocho Police Station.
"It's obviously suicide," Yang told reporters, citing a doctor's examination of Choi's body and testimony from family members and friends. He said an investigation was under way. An autopsy was planned for later in the day.
No formal suicide note has been found, but Choi sent her makeup assistant cell phone text messages twice Wednesday night asking her to "take care of (my) children no matter what happens" and telling her that "I'm sorry," the investigator said.
Her death comes a month after the suicide of a fellow actor rumored to have owed her a large amount of money.
Choi's mother told police that the actress returned home drunk around midnight Wednesday, crying and denying the rumor, before going into the bathroom, Yang said.
Choi made her debut in the late 1980s and as a bright-eyed ingenue, quickly becoming one of South Korea's best-loved actresses. She starred in a number of box-office hits, including the films "My Love, My Bride" of 1990 and "How to Top My Wife" of 1994, and TV dramas such as "Jealousy," "My Rosy Life" and last year's "Bad Woman, Good Woman."
The actress was preparing for the second season of the TV drama "The Last Scandal of My Life" in which she played a woman who finds love with a top actor after a painful divorce.
Choi herself had gone through a difficult divorce in recent years. She had married baseball star Cho Sung-min in 2000 while he was playing for the Japanese pro baseball team Yomiuri Giants, but they divorced in 2004, with the deterioration of their relationship becoming tabloid fodder. They had two children.
A friend of Choi's told police that the actress had worried about raising the children after the divorce and about her future as an actress and often said she wanted to die, police investigator Yang said.
Her mother also told police that Choi had shown signs of depression after the divorce and had been taking a sedative, Yang said.
Choi had been under stress following the rumors that she had lent money to actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who was found dead in his car last month after committing suicide.
Choi denied the rumors and asked police to investigate who circulated the claims that Ahn killed himself after Choi pressured him to repay the debt.
Yang said a securities firm employee and another suspect are under investigation for defamation.
Source: Variety Asia
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/7096/ |
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Thursday, 02 October 2008
Source: asiaeconomy.co.kr
Pusan opens with a bang
Domestic film industry woes are forgotten for one glamourous night
Written by Patrick Frater & Marcus Lim
PUSAN – There were fireworks over the Yachting Center on Thursday night as the 13th running of the Pusan Int'l Film Festival got underway in South Korea.
And as the "Habanera" from the opera "Carmen" rang out, for a few moments the troubles of the local industry were put to one side. Speaking at the massive outdoor arena, the still feisty festival topper Kim Dong-ho proclaimed Pusan the "cornerstone for enhancing the Korean and Asian film industries."
Had celebrations been more muted it would have been understandable – but that is scarcely the Pusan way and Koreans rarely do things quietly or on a small scale.
Traditionally regarded as the leading movie fest in Asia, Pusan's scale and self-importance this year stands in significant contrast to Korea's domestic film industry, which many regard as having fallen into crisis.
Production volume has slipped and profits evaporated as Korean auds – which for a few years as the Korean industry mushroomed cheerfully ignored world trends -- have turned increasingly to Hollywood movies.
Korean spectators continue to show up in impressive numbers for two or three local super-productions, but the cost of delivering these hits has grown disproportionately. And the number of smaller pics able to make stand out in the country's increasingly multiplex culture is few.
That has put several movie companies on very shaky foundations and exposed just how dependent on theatrical business alone Korean cinema has become. Secondary markets like TV and DVD contribute little. And peer-to-peer file sharing seems to have cornered the home entertainment market before legitimate online businesses or the soon to be launched IPTV services get a chance to develop.
Still, Korea and Pusan in particular seem set on remaining at the forefront of the Asian industry through a process of internationalization and cross-border co-operation. The beachfront Grand Hotel is literally wrapped in a multi-story banner proclaiming itself "the hub of Asian cinema."
The festival's opening film is an example of deliberate outreach. Helmed by little-known Kazakh director Rustem Abdrashev, "The Gift to Stalin," is a tough ethnographic history lesson set in the old Soviet era. But its child star, 9 year-old boy actor Dalen Shintemirov, warmed the hearts of the Yachting Center crowds as he ran up and down the red carpet and high-fived it with as many folk as he could.
Korea remains a cinematic success story within Asia – it boasts numerous helmers, cinematographers and scribes who are genuinely world class – and Pusan also has plenty of uplifting and inclusive things to offer.
Fest is hosting the second running of the Asia Pacific Actors Network, it is hosting an expanded series of Asian film fund presentations, plus a symposium on Asian film education. Its project market, the Pusan Promotion Plan, is top notch and more tightly focused this year, while the Asian Film Market remains modest, but has been given a useful facelift.
The int'l industry appears to be responding. European industry orgs have sent larger than ever delegations to Pusan and the number of foreign fest directors in attendance is worthy of Cannes.
In fact, emulating Cannes still seems to be on Pusan's agenda. Opening night boasted beautiful starlets, traffic jams and an outdoor theater holding several thousand spectators. Even before the fest got underway, swarms of teenage girls had clustered round the major hotels hoping for a glimpse of festival jury head Anna Karina, James Kyson Lee from NBC's "Heroes," and A-list Korean stars like Jang Dong-gun.
Source: Variety Asia, (Han Sunhee also contributed to this report.)
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/7095/ |
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Author
