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NEWS INDEX page 61
October 29, 2008: Legal Battle Expected on Late Actress’ Fortune
Oct 30: Korean TV Viewers Pick Yoo Jae-seok as Favorite TV Ad Model
Oct 30: Luxurious Set-Up for "The World They Live In"
Oct 30: Celebrity TV Journalist Becomes Culture Diplomat
Oct 30: New comedy tests Cha's star power
Oct 30: Actor Choi Ordered to Compensate Production Firm
Oct 30: Hwang Jung-min back on theater stage
Oct 30: A Not So 'Sassy' Remake
Oct 31: Fact and fiction meld in life of mysterious Joseon painter
Oct 30: Korea Drama awards announce winners
Oct 27: 2 Korean Films Win at Sitges International Film Fest
Oct 27: 2nd Seoul International Family Film Fest To Open
Oct 31: Roh抯 Scarecrows Tops 13th PIFF Awards
Oct 31: Yoon Do-hyun to Step Down from TV and Radio Shows
Oct 31: Kim Bum Signs with Japanese Agency
Nov 1: Kim Min-sun Unveils Hidden Sex Appeal through Legendary Artist
28th Korean Critics Choice Awards
KOREA DRAMA FESTIVAL 2008 (2008.11.01 - 11.05)
Nov 1: In saving for a rainy day, star earns award
Nov 2: Filmmakers eye hit with stories from other genres
Nov 2: Actor Kim Wins Top Prize at Korea Drama Festival Awards
Nov 2: Top Balladeer Gives New Twist
Oct 27: Gina Kim to Re-make The Housemaid
[ Last edited by katt at 3-11-2008 01:22 PM ] |
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October 29, 2008
Legal Battle Expected on Late Actress’ Fortune
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Ownership of late actress Choi Jin-sil's fortune is getting ugly, as both her family and her ex-husband Cho Sung-min are claiming the money.
According to her former agency SBM, Choi's brother, actor Choi Jin-young and Cho, a former pro-baseball player, recently discussed the actress' fortune being left to Choi's two children ― a seven-year-old boy and five-year-old girl.
The two parties, however, showed different opinions, SBM said. "Cho told Jin-young that he has the parental right of the children and thus the right to manage the fortune given to them, however, Jin-young was furious,'' a manager of the agency said.
When Choi and Cho divorced in 2004, Choi took the children, retaining both parental right and the right to rear them. "As far as I know, Jin-young and Choi's mother cannot use the money without Cho's permission until the children become of age. Jin-young tried to solve the problem, but Cho refused,'' the agent said.
"Cho previously said he would respect the family's opinion and do whatever he could, but changed his mind suddenly,'' he said, adding the issue is likely to go to court.
Cho, however, said through his lawyer that his real intention was falsely reported. "Cho is not interested in Choi's fortune at all. He just hopes that the fortune will be well managed by a third party, like a lawyer or a court, until the kids are of age," Cho's lawyer was quoted as saying Wednesday.
Regarding the right to rear the children, the lawyer said, "It is fine for Cho that Choi's mother or Jin-young brings them up as the kids want. Whoever the guardian will be, the childcare cost can be paid monthly through the third party."
When Choi and Cho divorced, Cho gave up both the parental right and the childcare right. But following Choi's death, Cho can apply to regain the parental right. If so, he can manage Choi's fortune as the kids' legal representative.
Choi's fortune is speculated as being anything up to 20 billion won.
Credits: [email protected], image from empas.com
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/10/117_33497.html
Related updates
October 28, 2008 by coolsmurf
Jo Sung Min and Choi Jin Shil’s Family Embroiled in Battle
October 29, 2008 by coolsmurf
Jo Sung Min Willing to Give Up Children But Not Money |
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October 30, 2008
Korean TV Viewers Pick Yoo Jae-seok as Favorite TV Ad Model
A recent study shows that comedian Yoo Jae-seok and singer Lee Hyo-ri were chosen by Korean TV viewers as their two favorite TV advertisement models in the second half of 2008.
According to the study, released by Brand 38 Research Institute on October 27, comedian Yoo Jae-seok took the number one spot with 23% of the votes.
Lee Hyo-ri, who took the fifth spot in the same poll conducted in the first half of the year, took the second spot with 16.4% of the votes. Actress Kim Tae-hee followed with 14.3%, actor Cho In-seong with 12.6% and actor Jang Dong-gun with 12.4% of the votes.
The one-to-one interview was conducted on 1,448 men and women over the age of 15 in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions from September 22 to October 1.
Source: KBS Global
[url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1553277_11858.html]http://english.kbs.c |
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October 30, 2008
Luxurious Set-Up for "The World They Live In"
The KBS 2TV drama "The World They Live In" has established itself as the season's new "luxury" drama, with a top-tier composer and photographer added to its crew for the original soundtrack and drama poster.
Yeon Yeong Entertainment produced the drama and announced on the 27th that they had hired Kim Hyung-suk, esteemed composer and producer (drama "All-In," movie "My Sassy Girl"), for the soundtrack to the drama, as well as singers Kim Jo-han, Na Yoon-kwon and As One.
The drama's O.S.T. will be released early next month and the theme song will be sung by Kim Jo-han. "We wanted a 'luxury soundtrack' to suit our 'luxury drama,'" said the agency. "We want this drama to be outstanding in every way."
The poster for the drama was shot by well-known photographer Cho Sun-hee. The shoot took place on the 14th at Anmyeon-do Island of Taean in Chungcheongnam-do.
The drama set is located in a studio at Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, and it was the first drama set built by Art Service, a company which has only done movie sets in the past.
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1553278_11858.html
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October 30, 2008
Celebrity TV Journalist Becomes Culture Diplomat
'Culture Is Useful Vehicle for Interaction With Outside World'
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Park Jung-sook, CEO of Asia Treasure Network, a social enterprise to help inter-racial children in Korea, reads The Korea Times at her office in Seoul last week. The former broadcast journalist said she has been a reader of the paper since 2004. Her column titled “Hallyu and Harvard” was published in the daily last year. / Korea Times Photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Park Jung-sook, CEO of the newly established social enterprise Asia Treasure Network aimed at helping inter-racial children in Korea, is an individual donor for a seven-year-old boy living in the Philippines. In 2005, she went on a tour of the Southeast Asian country to see the life of the little boy at first hand.
In an interview with The Korea Times last week, Park said she was "shocked" after seeing the way of life in the poor area where the little boy was living. Extreme poverty drove some mothers living in the area to keep finding a new husband when a former spouse left.
"I met a woman who raised five children from two of her former husbands and the current one. When her two ex-spouses left, she found a new husband to make ends meet. Marriage out there was a way to feed her children," she said.
The mother of the five children told Park that she had seen "Jewel in the Palace," and suddenly burst into tears upon recognizing her as the star of the Korean drama, Park recalled.
"She held my hands and kept saying, `Thank you.' I do not know exactly why she thanked me. But I clearly see that it was the power of culture that helped two people living in different worlds to feel a kind of unity," Park said.
Park, an assistant professor at the Institute of International Education of Kyung Hee University will be a special representative of The Korea Times.
"Korea was a recipient of international aid, and external assistance played a large part in helping the nation come this far in terms of the socio-economic status the people enjoy at present. Now it is time for us to give back to the international community," she said.
The 38-year-old social entrepreneur called culture a useful vehicle that can help Korea "interact" with the outside world.
Social enterprises refer to a group of businesses that are created to offer social services to the underprivileged while carrying out their usual business activities.
The Ministry of Labor has backed the activities of "caring" businesses with tax cuts and other supportive measures, after reviewing their applications to see if they meet eligibility requirements.
Park, a former broadcast journalist, is back after she left television in 2004. She had hosted several morning and talk show programs with the three major television networks here ? KBS, MBC and SBS ? from 1994 to 2004.
A career transformation occurred during the four years she was out of the public eye. The chic television journalist transformed herself into a cultural diplomat spreading the beneficial effects of international aid and social services to international relations as well as foreign diplomacy.
"Over the past decades, Korea has made international headlines several times due to its double-digit economic growth rates during industrialization making it one of the four Asian dragons, and the pro-democracy movement in the 1980s," she said.
The global media frenzy revisited the country when the Asian currency crisis hit Korea in 1997-1998, she said.
Some global economists dubbed the sudden drastic change in the country's economic status ? from a high-flying economy to a victim of the crisis ? the "crisis of success."
"Despite the series of dramatic transformations it has gone through in the past, Korea is still considered by the outside world as a country that is out there, rarely interacting with the rest of the world. This is probably because the way we have presented ourselves to the world was too unilateral, not responding to them," Park observed.
She teaches culture diplomacy every Friday as an adjunct professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Park, who was recently appointed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as a goodwill ambassador, argued Koreans could reach out through their culture to people living in underdeveloped nations.
"Japan has contributed its financial resources to establish social infrastructure by paving roads, building railways and harbors in the underprivileged world. The way Korea has changed the world is very different from Japan. We send out dedicated volunteers who educate the people out there so that they can think about better lives and making a difference in their communities,'' she said.
Park said Korea's investment in developing countries with its global outreach programs will definitely pay off in the long run.
"I have already had several positive reactions from people in underdeveloped countries. They remember Korea as a good donor country. They came to have a good image of Korea through KOICA volunteers,'' she said.
Dual Legacy of Acting Career
Park recalled her one-time acting career left a dual legacy on a personal level. In the soap opera Jewel in the Palace (2003), she played the role of Queen Munjeong, the mother of King Myeongjeong of the Joseon Kingdom. The drama was a big hit all over Asia.
"Personally, the drama had such a huge effect on me that I felt I lost, and Queen Munjeong lived in my heart,'' she said.
"There is no question that my appearance in the drama as an actress dealt a blow to my career as a professional broadcast journalist. After the Jewel in the Palace, I received several calls for actress jobs, but none from news programs,'' she said.
Before the soap opera, Park had hosted several talk show programs as a freelance journalist for 10 years.
"I made up my mind to leave the TV screen so that people would forget my one-time acting career. I thought I can take advantage of my time by learning new things and reeducating myself,'' she said.
In fall 2004, Park suddenly left Seoul to initially take part in a non-degree program at Columbia University, New York.
Park said she became an ardent reader of The Korea Times at that time. She has set the paper's Web site as her main homepage since then. When she clicked the icon of Internet Explore, the web site popped up.
"I started reading the paper online as I was curious as to what would be accurate words and expressions in English that I had in mind in Korean. I have been subscribing to the paper for four years since then. It has helped me a lot,'' she said.
Some time later, Park contributed her column about "hallyu" (the Korean wave) to the paper when she was at Columbia.
'Organic Power'
Her acting career with Jewel in the Palace led her to leave the television industry, as she wanted to cut the idea that "Park is an actress." The impact of the soap opera, however, has not ended.
"Whenever people at Columbia talked about Korea, the issues were always related to problems. They were discussing the North Korean nuclear program, violent protests in South Korea and the backlash against the free trade agreement between South Korea and the U.S. and so on,'' she recalled.
"But one very positive thing was going on there. It was hallyu. The cultural phenomenon played a larger role in shedding light on the brighter side of the country," Park said.
She was thrilled and determined to seek a master's program in international relations at Columbia to dig into the effect of the Korean wave on regional politics in Asia.
Park characterized the trend as "organic power," arguing it would help resolve conflicts in Asia and completed her master's thesis on the topic.
She refused to use soft power, which is widely used to refer to non-coercive, non-payment-based influence such as culture, when talking about the Korean wave.
"The reason I thought organic power is a more accurate term than soft power when referring to the Korean wave case is that culture tends to be top down, not bottom up. It is said that power states can generate culture and it affects weaker states. It's unlikely for less influential countries to have a meaningful effect on ones that have superior cultural standards," she said.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/116_33546.html
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October 30, 2008
[MOVIE REVIEW] New comedy tests Cha's star power
 
No Korean actor automatically conjures up a comic image on the silver screen as much as Cha Tae-hyun
This is largely due to the huge success of his role in "My Sassy Girl," which opened the floodgates for the Korean Wave of cinema across Asia. This cuts both ways, however.
Cha comes back to the big screen with another comic role in "Speed Scandal (Gwasok Scandal)," to be released on Dec. 4. It is hardly surprising that he plays a character who is supposed to create, well, comic relief.
What's surprising, though, is that he has accepted a role whose identity is somewhat similar to his own experiences as a leading star in Korea. In the film, directed by Kang Hyung-chul, Cha plays Nam Hyun-su, a former idol who captured the hearts of teenage fans.
Yes, he "was" a big star in the good old days, but he is now in his mid-30s, and his star power has significantly diminished. But Nam retains some of his recognition. That is why he keeps a DJ post at a local radio show, a situation which may remind local audiences of numerous other Korean entertainers who have followed a similar path.
Things begin to turn drastically comic, or absurd, when a young woman named Jeong-nam (played by Park Bo-young) shows up and claims to be Nam's daughter. The movie's title, "Speed Scandal," becomes clearer at this point because the central plot turn involves the male character's "speeding" during his past relationship.
The problem is, Nam has no memory of Jeong-nam, who begins to pop up everywhere and proclaim her wretched situation, to the embarrassment of the former idol.
It remains to be seen whether Cha pulls off a box-office success with his latest comic role, but what's certain is that it's time for Cha to reinvent his image and break the mold.
Early last year, he tried to tweak the formula a bit by playing a singer in "Highway Star (Bokmyeon dalho)." In the movie, co-directed by Kim Sang-chan and Kim Hyeon-soo, Cha jumped into the throat-vibrating terrain of melodramatic Korean pop songs -- a genre known here as "trot" that is quite similar in melody and lyrics to Japanese melodramatic enka songs -- but the results at the box office were hardly inspiring.
"Speed Scandal," which is partly about the life's timing, will demonstrate whether Cha still maintains the public appeal that deserves attention from local directors and producers, not least of which is because his box-office power has steadily declined since "My Sassy Girl."
The outlook remains largely negative, however. For all the peculiar plot and details, "Speed Scandal" does not attempt to redefine Cha's image. Rather, it sticks to his decade-long silver-screen persona.
In recent years, "My Girl and I," "Two Guys," "Happy Erotic Christmas" relied on Cha" trademark comic talent but failed to win laughs in the end.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected]). images copied from empas.com
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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October 30, 2008
Actor Choi Ordered to Compensate Production Firm
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Choi Min-su
A Seoul court Thursday ruled actor Choi Min-su to return 100 million won to a production company as well as pay 9 million won in damages.
A production company filed a suit earlier this year to get back the rest of a performance fee from Choi after the cancellation of the production of a television miniseries.
Choi was cast for a miniseries, "Hanggang (Han River)," and got a 200 million won performance fee in advance. But the two parties were placed in dispute as the production was cancelled.
Last November, they agreed that Choi would return 180 million won to the production company, with Choi keeping 20 million. But Choi has only paid back 100 million won and still owes 80 million won.
"Choi had a responsibility to immediately return the 80 million won, which the two parties agreed on, but he delayed without proper explanation. So we concluded that he should also pay back the 20 million won, which was exempted in the agreement, as well as the 80 million won," a court from the Seoul Central District Court said in the ruling.
The court also ordered Choi to pay an extra 9 million won in compensation for delay of the payment.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ ... 8/10/117_33574.html |
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October 30, 2008
Hwang Jung-min back on theater stage
Top-ranked actor Hwang Jung-min is in a play for the first time in eight years. He is starring in the "University of Laughs," now playing in Daehangno, Seoul.
Although his current stardom is derived largely from films, including "You Are My Sunshine!" (2005) where he played opposite the best actress at 2007 Cannes film festival Jeon Do-yeon, Hwang actually started out his acting career in theater. He made his debut in 1994 in the musical "Line 1."
"University of Laughs," based on the popular Japanese novel by Koko Mitani, depicts a seven-day confrontation between an inspector trying to ban comic plays and a scriptwriter who values humor the most in his works, and the friendship that later develops between the two.
Hwang plays the role of the playwright, while veteran actor Song Young-chang took on the role of the inspector.
"Because the play's script was so good, I couldn't help but take the role," said Hwang at last week's press conference in Seoul.
Hwang said that he felt burdened at first to lead the whole play only with Song -- the play is a two-person show -- and because of the many lines he had to memorize.
 
But the actor said he soon found the interaction with the audience thrilling.
"Unlike when shooting films, I can get instant responses on stage from the audience when doing plays -- for example, different audiences laugh at different moments -- and I think that's the charm of play acting," Hwang said.
"University of Laughs" continues through Nov. 30 at Dongsoong Arts Center. Tickets run from 25,000 won to 45,000 won. For details, call (02) 766-6007 or visit www.idartcenter.co.kr
By Koh Young-aah ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/ |
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October 30, 2008
A Not So 'Sassy' Remake
By Joon Soh
Contributing Writer
Elisha Cuthbert in a scene from the remake of “My Sassy Girl”
Anyone remotely familiar with contemporary Korean cinema will know of "My Sassy Girl," a 2001 romantic comedy about the unusual relationship between a young Seoul couple. The film, whose Korean title translates as "That Bizarre Girl," was a huge hit across Asia, fueling the "Korean wave" phenomenon and propelling its two young leads into stardom.
Given the incredible success of the original, it wasn't surprising that a U.S. company purchased the remake rights soon after its release. The project, however, took longer than anticipated to complete and now, seven years later and with the original film but a distant memory, the English-language version has finally hit South Korean theaters. (In the U.S., it was a straight-to-DVD release.)
The new Sassy Girl shares many traits with its Korean counterpart, including, unfortunately, its awkward English title. The remake stays true to the original storyline ― a shy, socially challenged college student falls for an impulsive young woman who makes bizarre demands of him. Many of the original's notorious misadventures are kept, including the drunken first encounter in the subway and the couple's surreal run-in with an AWOL soldier in an amusement park.
The new version, which takes place in New York City, has also added a few touches of its own, including the element of social class. The college student, named Charlie, is now a wide-eyed Midwestern boy who dreams of working for a tractor company, while the complicated young woman Jordan is an uptown New York girl who likes to hang out in contemporary art galleries. Another addition is Charlie's best friend Leo, a predictable sidekick character with overcharged hormones, bad hygiene and an endless stream of wisecracks.
Unfortunately, many of these changes are of the formulaic romantic comedy variety, which only serves to point out the deficiencies of the new version; namely, in trying to make the story more palatable, the American film waters down much of the original's edginess. The original sassy ― and borderline psychotic ― girl is toned down so that instead of the bizarre, we end up with the slightly quirky. Instead of vomiting in the subway train, we get a simple passing out in the station.
But the problems of the new version also point to another possibility ― that despite its massive popularity, the original film wasn't really that great to begin with. In fact, many of the problems that plague the U.S. film, such as random plot devices, incomprehensible edits and over-the-top dialogue, can be traced back to its Korean source. But moviegoers probably forgave much of it in the original Sassy Girl because they were smitten by the two charismatic lead actors, especially actress and model Jun Ji-hyun, who went on to achieve star status throughout Asia.
The new film, on the other hand, does not have Jun or actor Cha Tae-hyun to help sell the frequent lapses in narrative logic. Although Elisha Cuthbert (24) and Jesse Bradford (Flags of Our Fathers) give adequate performances, they are not enough to keep what should be bizarre from feeling, well, rather ordinary.
In theaters. 92 minutes. 15 and over. Distributed by Showbox.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/10/135_33543.html |
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October 31, 2008
Fact and fiction meld in life of mysterious Joseon painter
“Portrait of a Beauty” by late Joseon painter
Shin Yun-bok. [JoongAng Ilbo]
The dark clouds spreading over the sky foretold heavy rain last Thursday, but the gloomy weather didn’t deter visitors from inspecting a series of elegant paintings and calligraphy dating from the Joseon period.
The Kansong Art Museum in Seongbuk-dong, northern Seoul, exhibited 108 paintings from the late 14th to the early 20th century as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations. Kansong Art Museum, Korea’s first private museum, was built by the late art collector Jeon Hyung-pil (1906-1962).
Taking into consideration that the museum opens twice a year every spring and fall and that it owns many cultural treasures that were once lost or taken away during the colonial period, there seemed to be more people lining up than usual.
Every day for the past two weeks a line of visitors stretched 300 meters (984 feet) in front of the museum, and officials reckon 200,000 people have seen the exhibition since it opened on Oct. 12, buying up more than 2,000 prints of the art on display.
From top to bottom: “Scenery on Dano Day,” “A Boating Scene”
and “Await,” all by Shin. [JoongAng Ilbo]
“Such crowded scenes are unprecedented,” said Tak Hyun-kyoo, a researcher at the Center for the Study of Korean Arts. The center was set up by the museum in 1966, four years after Jeon died.
Part of the attraction has been the work of one very special Korean painter, an artist who has captured the imagination of the country in the past few weeks. Just as art lovers jam the Louvre Museum in Paris to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the star attraction at Kansong is the work of Shin Yun-bok.
Only 100 of Shin’s paintings are known to exist today, some of which are housed in the Kansong Art Museum and the National Museum of Korea. Much of his work was burnt or damaged when Japan annexed Korea during the early part of the 20th century.
The recent exhibition displayed several rare pieces, including “Portrait of a Beauty,” “Lovers Under the Moon” and “Scenery on Dano Day.”
Top: A scene from the SBS TV drama “Painter of the Wind.”above: The crowded exhibition hall
at Kansong Art Museum. The painting on the right is “Portrait of a Beauty.”
But why the focus on Shin as opposed to the work of weighty Joseon painters like Kim Hong-do, who drew portraits of King Jeongjo, or royal court painter Kim Deuk-sin? “Despite Shin’s reputation as a representative Joseon painter, we don’t know much about him,” Tak said. “People are drawn to the unknown.”
All that is known about the painter is that he was born in 1758, the son of Shin Han-pyung, a member of Dohwaseo, a government-based royal painting institute, and that his pen name was Hye-won. We don’t know if he married, where he studied or when he died.
Lee Won-bok, director of the Jeonju National Museum in South Jeolla and an expert on Shin, says his career peaked from 1805 to 1813.
All we have are his paintings as a means to know the man and his life. “Shin must have been jailed several times for breaking the period’s taboo and drawing daring and erotic paintings,” Lee said.
Although Shin was raised in a family involved in the art world, he wasn’t regulated by rules and conventions, and he tended to follow his own path. “Since Shin’s father worked at the Dohwaseo for more than 40 years until he was 75, Shin wasn’t allowed to be part of the public institute,” Lee said. |
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A film poster for “A Portrait of a Beauty,” which will open Nov. 13.
Shin appears as a female painter. [JoongAng Ilbo]
At that time, there was a law that restricted fathers and sons from sharing a workplace. This was a blessing for Shin, Lee says, since it allowed him to draw more creatively and freely without any social restrictions. Born to a middle-class family, he mingled with the upper classes and painted a romanticized version of their lives.
Portrait of a Beauty, for example, depicts a woman, perhaps a gisaeng, a singer-cum-dancer who entertained the nobility. The painting is very detailed with vivid patterns and colors. Her hair is neatly tied using castor oil, which was a common custom.
She is also sensuousously charming - Her eyes have a longing look and her lips are like cherries. It’s as if Shin had known her touching feelings from the bottom of her heart.
The detailed figures of elegant women in most of Shin’s paintings were enough to enthrall Lee Jeong-myung, the author of the novel “Painter of the Wind,” published last year in August. The book, which has sold some 400,000 copies until now, inspired the popular SBS TV drama of the same name that is currently running.
The first painting that the author can remember seeing was Scenery on Dano Day, printed on the back of a pack of Arirang brand cigarettes.
“The painting was very feminine and the figures of the women were very delicate,” he said. With no hesitation, he concluded the painter was a woman. When he found out Shin was a man, Lee was surprised and became more intrigued, drawn to the life of the painter and the people he painted.
This fascination gave birth in later years to his best-selling novel. Shin appears as a lady who disguises herself as a man to solve the mystery behind her father’s suspicious death. In the story, she develops a relationship with Kim Hong-do, who appears as her mentor.
The fictional drama, which airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:55 p.m., starring Moon Geun-young as Shin, also depicts Shin as a woman. “The novel, which the TV drama is based on, is full of imagination based on historic facts,” said Baek Ik-hyun, one of the drama’s producers.
“The production team expected a hit before the show was aired because the novel prompted a lot of curiosity along the lines of ‘what if Shin were a female painter.’”
And now a movie version of the story is scheduled for release early next month, portraying Shin as an erotic female painter (Kim Min-seon). “Since there aren’t many facts about the actual painter, the film uses a lot of artistic license to tell the story,” said Lim Jung-hye from the film’s marketing department.
Lim says that audiences today are interested more in the fictitious story about Shin than about Shin himself.
But there are voices of concern from the art world saying that the fictitious twist in the tale is too strong - presenting Shin as a woman - and that the drama and film have distorted historical facts.
Ahn Hwi-joon, head of the government’s Cultural Properties Committee and a former professor of arts at Seoul National University, said he was irritated when the novel and drama turned Shin into a woman.
“It is concrete fact that Shin is a man,” Ahn said, adding that pop culture has become too sensational. “Shin is an important painter who reflects the history and culture of the late Joseon society. That’s why we have to respect him the way he is.”
In fact, the Kansong Art Museum has been getting many calls asking whether Shin was indeed a female or a male painter. “I was dumbfounded when I heard about the calls,” Ahn said. “Why raise issues on topics that are irrefutable?”
By Lee Eun-joo Staff Reporter [[email protected]]
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2896765 |
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October 30, 2008
Korea Drama awards announce winners
Choi Soo-jong, Bae Yong-joon feted at television kudosfest
Written by Han Sunhee
SEOUL |
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October 27, 2008
2 Korean Films Win at Sitges International Film Fest
The 41st Sitges Int抣 Film Festival, Europe抯 biggest fantasy film fest, awarded KIM Ji-woon抯 The Good, The Bad, The Weird the Best Director prize when it wrapped Oct. 12 in Catalonia. The film also picked up the Best F/X award. Top prize went to Jennifer Lynch thriller Surveillance.
Also awarded was NA Hong-jin抯 The Chaser, winning the Orient-Express Casa Asia award for outstanding Asian film. KIM抯 western and NA抯 thriller were the two top grossing films at the Korean box office this year, collecting 7.1 million and 5.1 million admissions respectively.
NA抯 The Chaser recently won Best Film at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival in Korea. The tough crime-thriller follows an ex-cop-turned pimp chasing down an elusive prostitute killer.
KIM抯 The Good, The Bad, The Weird revolves around a treasure map, and stars Korea抯 top male leads, SONG Kang-ho, LEE Byung-hun, and JUNG Woo-sung. It is set in Manchuria during the Japanese colonial period.
KIM has been to Sitges twice in the past to present his previous films A Bittersweet Life and A Tale of Two Sisters. In 2006, director BONG Joon-ho received the Orient Express award for his monster hit The Host.
Credits: Nigel D扴a (KOFIC)
http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/KOFI ... mp;Gesimul_SNO=1105 |
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October 27, 2008
2nd Seoul International Family Film Fest To Open
The 2nd Seoul International Family Film Festival (SIFFF) will kick off Oct. 22, under the banner phrase 慙ooking for the Power of Family |
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October 30, 2008
ROH抯 Scarecrows Tops 13th PIFF Awards
South Korean film Land of Scarecrows shared the top prize with Japanese drama Naked of Defenses in the New Currents competition section of the 13th Pusan International Film Festival which wrapped October 10th. The award is worth US$ 30,000.
Scarecrows is director ROH Gyeong-tae抯 sophomore effort, a cinematic cross-section of marginalized characters that lives up to the promise of his 2006 daring debut The Last Dining Table.
French New Wave actress Anna Karina, who headed the jury this year also made two special mentions. Korean debut director BAEK Seung-bin抯 Members of the Funeral and Chinese feature Er Dong by Yang Jin.
This year抯 PIFF drew a new record in audience admissions with 198,818 and an overall occupancy rate of 72.3%. The fest screened 315 films including 85 world premieres. The Asian Film Market, held during PIFF, drew 4,640 participants and 132 companies.
The Asian Film Academy also ran for the 4th time during the fest, with 24 filmmakers guided in workshops and mentoring sessions under the deanship of Hou Hsiao-hsien. Festival master KIM Dong-ho presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on what will be PIFF抯 permanent home, called 慏ureraum |
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October 31, 2008
Yoon Do-hyun to Step Down from TV and Radio Shows
Singer Yoon Do-hyun recently announced his intention to step down as the host of "Love Letter with Yoon Do-hyun," a popular live music and talk show on KBS 2TV, as well as his FM radio show "Yoon Do-hyun's Music Show."
Kim Young-jun, the president of Yoon's management agency, said Yoon decided to focus his career on his upcoming eighth album as well as a nationwide tour that is scheduled for the end of the year. Kim also said Yoon needs time off from both shows as he is planning to launch a U.S. tour starting in March next year. Under the decision, Yoon will take part in the final pre-recording of the TV show at the end of November.
Yoon, who has been hosting the popular TV show since April 2002, says he was sad to leave and thanked his fans for their constant love and support over the years. Meanwhile, singer Lee Seung-hwan has taken over Yoon's radio show since early October.
Source: KBS Global |
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October 31, 2008
Kim Bum Signs with Japanese Agency
Actor Kim Bum is making an impression on audiences these days with his role as the younger version of the character played by actor Song Seung-hun in the MBC TV drama, "East of Eden." Soon, Kim Bum will be impressing audiences in Japan as well--the actor recently signed a contract with a Japanese management agency.
Kim Bum's agency in Korea, Eyagi Entertainment, announced that Kim Bum just signed with Glory Entertainment in Japan, which is owned by the Glory Group, which also has ties to a major movie production company.
"There are not many Kim Bum productions in Japan, but he is still very popular in Japan," said a representative of Glory Entertainment. "We believe in the star quality that Kim Bum has, which is why we signed him."
Kim Bum is planning to work in both Korea and Japan. In December, the actor is set to star in the KBS 2TV drama, "Boys over Flowers."
Source: KBS Global
http://english.kbs.co.kr/mconten ... /1553593_11692.html |
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November 1, 2008
Kim Min-sun Unveils Hidden Sex Appeal through Legendary Artist
While the life of Shin Yoon-bok, one of the most acclaimed artists from the Chosun Dynasty, is in the spotlight thanks to popular soap opera 揚ainter of the Wind, |
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Thanks to melusine at soompi.com for the update
28th Korean Critics Choice Awards
(제28회 영평상 영화제 "Yeongpyeong-sang," established in 1980 by the Korean Film Critics Society/Association)
Best Film: Night and Day
Best Director: Kim Ki-Duk (Dream)
Best Actor: So Ji-Sub (Rough Cut)
Best Actress: Soo Ae (Sunny)
Best Screenplay: Hong Sang-Soo (Night and Day)
Best Cinematography: Byun Hee-Seong (The Divine Weapon)
Best New Director: Jang Hoon (Rough Cut)
Best New Actor: Kang Ji-Hwan (Rough Cut)
Best New Actress: Seo Woo (Crush & Blush)
Technical Award: Jo Sang-Kyung (Modern Boy)
Best Music: Kim Tae-Sung (Crossing)
Special Honorary Award: Choi Eun-Hee
Awards ceremony to be held on November 5, 2008, 7:00 p.m. at the international conference room of the Press Center, Taepyongno, Seoul.
Source: JK News |
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Thanks to kdramafanusa at soompi.com for the highlight
KOREA DRAMA FESTIVAL 2008 (2008.11.01 - 11.05)
Official Website [Korean | English | Japanese | Chinese]
KDF 2008 AWARDS
For Dramas aired from 2007-10-01 to 1008-09-30
Grand Prize / Top Excellence Award / Excellence Award / Work Award : Judges (60%) + TV Rating (30%) + Online Poll (10%)
Netizen Popularity Award : Online Poll (100%)
DAESANG / GRAND PRIZE
Kim Myung-Min (MBC 'Beethoven Virus')
TOP EXCELLENCE AWARD
Choi Soo-Jong (KBS 'Dae Jo Young')
Kim Ha-Neul (SBS 'On Air')
EXCELLENCE AWARD
Kim Rae-Won (SBS 'Gourmet')
Han Ji-Hye (KBS 'Likable Or Not', MBC 'East Of Eden')
WORK AWARD
KBS 'Mom's Dead Upset'
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Baek Il-Seop (KBS 'Mom's Dead Upset')
NETIZEN POPULARITY AWARD
Kim Hee-Jung (SBS 'First Wives Club')
Yoon Ah (KBS 'You Are My Destiny')
Kim Hyun-Sook (TVN 'Rude Miss Young-Ae Season 3')
Kim Bum (MBC 'East Of Eden')
JURY SPECIAL PRIZE
Kim Hae-Sook (SBS 'First Wives Club')
KOREAN WAVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Bae Yong-Joon (MBC 'Legend')
Award ceremony will be held on November 1st. [Official HP schedule: Red carpet event (17:00~17:30), 2008 KDF opening ceremony (17:30~18:30), Korea Drama Awards (19:00~20:00)]
Source: GoNews 2008-10-30 13:03 | KDFO |
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