Newsen Park Ah Reum Translation Credit : Grace Danbi Hong
It′s been revealed that Lee Min Jung is pregnant.
On January 19, Lee Min Jung′s agency officially announced, "Lee Min Jung is currently in her 27th week of pregnancy."
Her agency stated, "As the wife of a family, having a child is a very blessed event, but due to unfortunate events of recent times, she was very careful in revealing her pregnancy. Also, as it′s important for the mother to remain in a stable condition, she shared that she worried about the time period to reveal her pregnancy."
"We hope that everyone is understanding that she had to worry about when to reveal the news due to many issues," said the agency. "We thank everyone for worrying about her during this time of issues. In the midst of all the worries, she plans on holding onto her heart and doing her best for her family. She will work hard to show a better image to all the people who have waited and looked after her until now."
Lee Min Jung′s scheduled date of delivery is set for April and she will be focusing on her health in Korea for the time being.
Photo Credit: Newsen
Paramount Switches Korean Distributor for Lee Byung-hun's 'Terminator: Genisys'
Sonia Kil / Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Variety
SEOUL — Paramount Pictures has dropped CJ Entertainment as its South Korean distributor for “Terminator: Genisys,” the fifth installment in the “Terminator” series. The sci-fi action film prominently features top Korean star Lee Byung-hun as a T-1000 android.
CJ, which has been Paramount’s long-term releasing partner in Korea for over a decade, revealed the news on Thursday. It previously announced the film on its 2015 distribution slate and included “T5” in a showreel during October’s Busan festival.
“The decision [not to release “Terminator: Genisys” through CJ] was made by Paramount last month as the studio has changed its international distribution strategy for the film,” said CJ.
It is not clear which company will take its place.
“Rights to Terminator Genisys are being sold in Korea. We have a tremendous partner coming aboard and will confirm their association with the project shortly,” a Paramount spokesperson in Los Angeles told Variety, without elaboration.
“The CJ news was a shock for us as well,” Lee’s agent Charles Pak, told Variety.
With a 25% market share and a mixed slate of local and Hollywood movies, CJ is by far the most powerful distributor in Korea – the world’s sixth largest theatrical market.
“CJ has long handled Paramount films’ Korean releases. However, it does not necessarily mean that all Paramount features will be released through us,” said CJ. Lotte Entertainment handled “World War Z” in Korea last year, while Woori Networks handled “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
CJ also insisted that Paramount’s “T5” decision was not connected to the major sex and blackmail scandal that has engulfed Lee in Korea.
In August last year Lee filed charges against two female entertainers, a fashion model and a singer, for seeking to extort him of $5 million. The case ended on Thursday with a Seoul court handing prison sentences to the two women.
While the verdict may have vindicated Lee, the case has left his reputation in tatters. The women had threatened to release a video clip of the three exchanging lewd jokes, and appearing to confirm an adulterous relationship. The women insisted that Lee had initiated the relationship and offered them money.
The releases of two other Lee-starring Korean-language films — “Inside Men” (Showbox) and “Memories of the Sword” (Lotte Entertainment) — are currently undated. The latter was previously scheduled to open in December last year.
Before the scandal erupted, Lee’s star had been on the rise. In his early career Lee may have been cast for his looks and physique, but in the last two years his skills as an actor, most notably in “I Saw The Devil” and “Masquerade,” saw him collect numerous performance nominations and awards.
It seems unlikely, however, that the scandal will dent his international career, which now includes four Hollywood films: the two “G.I. Joe” franchise pictures, “RED 2” and “T5”.
As far as [Lee’s] other movies go they are still doing post and do not have specific dates as of yet, but are due to release this year,” said Pak. “Our emphasis on film has been and will stay the same. Regardless of country we are looking for the best projects with a great story, director, and actors
With his squealing fans and devilish good looks, Kim Soo-hyun was the hottest star in Korea’s entertainment scene in 2014.
As he mulls a comeback after last year’s insanely popular TV series “My Love from the Star,” the actor lands on top of The Korea Herald’s list of stars to watch in 2015.
EXO-K (SM Entertainment)
In the K-pop scene, the formidable popularity of EXO, the brainchild of K-pop mogul and SM Entertainment chairman Lee Soo-man, is expected to grow, earning the boys another spot on the list.
Based on a survey of 80 experts, observers and entertainment industry insiders, conducted by The Herald Business, the sister paper of The Korea Herald, here are the four stars whose name you will be hearing a lot throughout the year.
What’s next for Kim Soo-hyun?
After a flurry of leading roles in hit TV dramas “Dream High,” “Moon Embracing the Sun,” and the wildly successful “My Love from the Star,” Kim has established himself as arguably the most sought-after actor under 30 in South Korea.
Lim Si-wan (tvN), Lee Byung-hun (Yonhap), Kim Soo-hyun (Keyeast Co.)
His most recent role as the charmingly cynical undercover alien Do Min-joon alongside Jun Ji-hyun, who plays the bewitching actress Chun Song-yi, cemented his celebrity status not only nationwide but also overseas.
Following the show’s explosive success abroad, Kim spent a large part of 2014 touring Asia to meet fans.
The actor wrapped up his lucrative year by winning Best Actor at the SBS Drama Awards.
Ten months after his last role, however, Kim is yet to announce his next big project.
Though considered for upcoming TV shows “A Scholar Walks the Night” and “Doctor Frankenstein,” he ended up declining both parts.
Observers say that 2015 will be a pivotal year in shaping the remainder of the actor’s career.
Kim’s next move will be to follow up on his meteoric rise and carefully select what may be his last work before his mandatory military service.
Yim Si-wan: from K-pop idol to actor
Originally a member of 9-member boy band Z:EA, Yim Si-wan first demonstrated his flair for acting in a supporting role in “Moon Embracing the Sun.”
In 2014, however, Yim fully came into his own and enjoyed massive popularity when he took up the lead in the critically and publically acclaimed tvN drama “Misaeng (Incomplete Life).”
Portraying the struggles of Jang Geu-rae, a meek but hardworking employee in a fiercely competitive work environment, Yim won over the sympathies of the typical office worker in modern Korea.
Amid a flood of offers, Yim, too, is said to be reviewing his options before deciding on his next role.
EXO readies for comeback
Setting themselves apart in the thick of idol bands that flood the K-pop scene in ever greater numbers, group EXO enjoyed outstanding popularity both in Korea and overseas.
According to German music ranking company Media Traffic, EXO’s single “Overdose” sold more than 447,000 copies across the globe, a significant achievement in today’s grim record market.
While EXO did go through a rough patch last year with two Chinese members, Kris and Luhan, leaving the group, the remaining 10 were able to dispel fans’ worries by delivering an immaculate performance and announcing their comeback for 2015 in December. No further details of the comeback have been released.
Lee Byung-hun’s Hollywood foray
Mired in a scandal involving an extra-marital fling and an alleged blackmailing attempt, Lee Byung-hun had a difficult 2014.
Even amid such domestic entanglement, experts anticipate Lee’s further rise abroad.
Lee is among the few Korean stars to have reaped some success in Hollywood, starring in the “G.I. Joe” films as ninja assassin Storm Shadow.
Coming up this year is “Terminator: Genisys” where Lee plays the shape-shifting robot assassin T-1000 alongside worldwide celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger.
With 2014 winding down, another big year for the local industry which cracked 100 million admissions on December 23rd, people are looking to the horizon for a glimpse of what’s in store for the new year from Korea’s major film studios. Continuing a period film trend that kicked off with Masquerade in 2012, each studio will once again present at least one costume drama in their new lineups. Beyond that, local staples such as thrillers and dramas appear prominently, but less common genres also abound along with genre hybrids.
New war and mystery films will be programmed alongside romantic thrillers, a genre that has gained traction in Korea since the success of Helpless (2012). Regardless of genre, studios are also demonstrating an affinity for films set in different time periods, with a diverse range of projects taking place at different points of the 20th century.
▶ CJ Entertainment
Following the stunning success of Roaring Currents, which soared well past any previous records to clinch 18 million admissions during the summer, CJ Entertainment is poised for another big year in 2015 with a varied lineup comprised of high profile thrillers, period films and dramas.
Following the release on the romcom Love Forecast on January 15th, their first tile of 2015, CJ’s next major title will be C’est si bon, which will be released in time for the Lunar New Year holiday, falling on February 19th. A music biopic of the popular folk duo Twin Folio, the film takes place in the 1960s, largely in the C’est si bon music bar where three young men form the C’est si bon Trio, a group that would later turn into Twin Folio. Directed by Cyrano Agency’s (2011) KIM Hyun-seok, the film stars JUNG Woo (Red Family), KANG Ha-neul (Mourning Grave), JIN Goo (The Target) and HAN Hyo-joo (Cold Eyes), while KIM Yun-Seok (The Thieves, 2012) and KIM Hee-ae (Thread of Lies) appear as some of the same characters in later sequences set in the 1980s.
For spring, CJ have five titles scheduled, including the JEON Do-yeon (Secret Sunshine, 2007) thriller The Shameless (working title), the KIM Hye-soo (Tazza: The High Rollers, 2006)/KIM Go-eun (Eungyo, 2012) vehicle Coin Locker Girl (working title), the mature drama Salute d’Amour (working title) from Taegukgi (2004) director KANG Je-gyu, the romantic thriller Perfect Proposal, with LIM Soo-jung (All About My Wife, 2012)) and YOO Yeon-seok (A Werewolf Boy, 2012), and the mystery romance Remember You (working title), with JUNG Woo-sung (Cold Eyes) and KIM Ha-neul (Blind, 2011).
The studio will reserve its big guns for the summer, which will see the releases of action thriller Veteran (working title) from RYOO Seung-wan and the period-set action drama Empire of Lust (working title). Teaming up once again with his The Unjust (2010) stars HWANG Jung-min and YU Hae-jin, as well as younger star YOO Ah-in (Punch, 2011), RYOO’s Veteran features a detective who goes up against a big corporation in what promises to be another tightly choreographed action extravaganza from the maker of The Berlin File. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) star SHIN Ha-kyun leads the cast of Empire of Lust as an army general who must keep a close eye on a young prince with ambitions to seize the throne. At the same time, he falls in love with a Gisaeng, whom he takes as his concubine, not realizing that she aims to carry out a vendetta against him. The film is being helmed by Blind’s AHN Sang-hoon.
▶ Showbox
Also primed for a big year is Showbox, the studio behind two of three biggest Korean films of all time (The Host, 2006; The Thieves). Given the recent success of high profile period films in the last two years (including their titles The Face Reader and Kundo: Age of the Rampant), the studio is anchoring its slate with a pair of costume dramas, as well as two star-driven thrillers. First out of the gate this year for Showbox will be their gangster thriller Gangnam Blues, from A Dirty Carnival (2006) mastermind YU Ha, on January 21st.
Showbox’s Lunar New Year title will follow in February. The only major Korean sequel of the year, Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island will reteam KIM Myung-min as the Joseon era detective with OH Dal-su as his sidekick. KIM Sok-yun also returns to the director’s chair for the follow-up to the 2011 hit.
Later in the year, the company will present Assassination, a 1930s thriller from The Thieves helmer CHOI Dong-hoon shot in Shanghai. Along for the ride in the high octane film will be stars HA Jung-woo (The Berlin File), JEON Ji-hyun (My Sassy Girl, 2001) and LEE Jung-jae (New World). Another thriller in the works is the LEE Byung-hun (A Bittersweet Life, 2005) vehicle Inside Men, in which the global star plays a political fixer. The film, from Man of Vendetta (2010) filmmaker WOO Min-ho, will also star CHO Seung-woo (Marathon, 2005) and BAEK Yoon-shik (Save the Green Planet, 2003).
Also scheduled for later in the year will be period drama The Throne, from King and the Clown (2005) director LEE Joon-ik and starring screen icon SONG Kang-ho (Memories of Murder, 2003) as King Yeongjo, who famously ordered his son’s death by suffocation in a large wooden chest filled with rice. Rounding out Showbox’s upcoming slate is The Classified File, a new detective thriller set in 1970s Busan from Friend (2001) director KWAK Kyung-taek. The film stars KIM Yun-seok and YU Hae-jin.
▶ Lotte Entertainment
Following the success of their films The Fatal Encounter and The Pirates this year, Lotte Entertainment will also be entering the fray by presenting a new period blockbuster in 2015, not to mention the first Korean war film since 2011’s The Front Line and major new dramas and thrillers.
Featuring major star wattage with the presence of LEE Byung-hun and JEON Do-yeon, in addition to KIM Go-eun and BAE Soo-bin (26 Years, 2012) in supporting roles, Memories of the Sword is an action period epic from PARK Heung-sik, the director of My Mother, the Mermaid (2004).
Later in the year, Lotte will present Western Front 1950 (working title), a Korean war film featuring SUL Kyung-gu (Oasis, 2002) and young star YEO Jin-gu (Hwayi: A Monster Boy). A tale of cooperation between South and North Korean soldiers at the tail end of the war, the film marks the directorial debut of The Pirates scribe CHEON Seong-il.
Also on the cards for Lotte is So-Nyeo (working title), a female-driven mystery drama from Like a Virgin (2006) co-director LEE Hae-young. The film will feature A Werewolf Boy lead PARK Bo-young as a student at a mysterious boarding school in 1938. So-Nyeo will also feature Hope actress UHM Ji-won.
Upcoming Releases - Post-Production/Completed This image has been resized to fit in the page. Click to enlarge.
Memories of the Sword
협녀: 칼의 기억 Dir: Park Heung-sik (My Mother, the Mermaid, 2004) Cast: Jeon Do-yeon (Secret Sunshine, 2007), Lee Byung-hun (Masquerade, 2012), Kim Go-eun (Eungyo, 2012) Production: TPS Company Distribution: Lotte Entertainment Filming Dates: 2013-09-05 ~ 2014-02-21 Genre: Period Action-Drama Plot: A female swordfighter raises her daughter to become a warrior to take revenge against the most powerful man in the country.
It has been announced that Lee Byung Hun‘s new movie ‘Inside Men‘ will open in cinemas across South Korea in May 2015.
Showbox Media Plex revealed today that ‘Inside Men’ will be shown between May and June, and will not be affected by the fallout from Lee Byung Hun’s blackmail case.
‘Inside Men’ is based on the web comic of the same name by Yoon Tae Ho, where another web comic of his was used for the tvN hit series ‘Misaeng.’ The movie will tell the story of corruption among the triads, prosecution, and media in Korea. Besides Lee Byung Hun, the movie also stars Cho Seung Woo and Baek Yoon Sik.
Lee Byung Hun will also appear in Hollywood blockbuster ‘Terminator: Genisys’ which opens in July 2015, and will see the actor Hun take on a meaty role as the villain T-1000.
However, another of Lee Byung Hun’s movie ‘Memories of the Sword’ continues to be left without an airing date. Lotte Entertainment revealed that the movie is likely to go on air within this year, but there’s no exact date as yet. The movie is headlined by Lee Byung Hun and Jeon Do Yeon, and was supposed to open in South Korean cinemas last December. But Lee Byung Hun’s blackmail case in late 2014 led to Lotte Entertainment delaying the release date to early this year.
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