Korean Entertainment News 2012 - 2013

katt

February 16, 2013

Yoon Eun-hye Embraces Mature Roles

The ChosunIlbo



Actress Yoon Eun-hye, who debuted as a teenage member of Baby V.O.X. before making a successful transition to acting, said she feels much more confident about her career as she approaches 30 and becomes more established in TV soaps.

"When I was younger, I was very careful about everything because I was afraid of creating misunderstandings. But now I've shed all those anxieties, and I feel much freer than before," she said.

The MBC TV drama "I Miss You" was a turning point for her. In it, Yoon played a character who had been sexually molested as a child and had tried to bury the memories. She said she initially struggled with the complexity of the character's psychological issues, and found the experience so draining that she ended up in hospital with exhaustion.

However, viewers responded positively to her performance after she invested herself fully in the role, and she was able to overcome cynical critics who had previously questioned the limits of her acting ability, garnering rave reviews along the way.

"I've always wanted to play the kind of roles that were suitable for my age," she said. "The reason I've been looking forward to turning 30 so quickly is because I always expected it would open up a broader range of roles."

Meanwhile, her short film "The Knitting" was invited to the Busan International Film Festival last year, and she said the decision to challenge herself further by taking up film directing has helped her acting.

"I used to become very sensitive when I worked on projects, because I felt so personally responsible for whatever work I was engaged in, and this may have made life harder for those working with me," she said. "But directing a film with a whole production crew made me think that I may have been mistaken in behaving like that. I realized that I need to be more flexible in how I approach things, and that helped me feel more at ease and go more with the flow this time."

Despite only recently having wrapped up her latest production, she is already thinking about her next project. She said her confidence has been buoyed by all the positive reviews she has received and now she wants to show audiences what she is really capable of.

"I want to experience so many things, because that enlarges and improves you as a person," she said.

katt

February 17, 2013

Lee accused of outing dead friend

By Moon Gwang-lip Korea JoongAng Daily



Lee Jung-jae has been embroiled in controversy since his remarks during a recent interview with a local magazine triggered speculation that late creative director Woo Jong-wan was gay.

In an excerpt of the interview that Vogue Korea disclosed on its Web site last week, the 39-year-old actor, who was a close friend of Woo’s, talked about a friend who he only identified as “Y.”

“A while ago, Y left for heaven,” Lee said in the interview. “[Before he died,] I said to Y, ‘You should stop being gay. Haven’t you been that way enough?’ But it was not easy.”

That set the blogosphere astir with guessing the identity of Y. Many speculated that it was Woo, 46, who was found dead in an apparent suicide at his home in Seoul in September.

Woo’s sexual orientation had rarely come to the surface before his death, although there was a rumor that he was gay. Some bloggers criticized Lee for “outing” the dead friend. Lee himself had also long been the subject of rumors that he was gay, which he has denied.

katt

February 17, 2013

Park Yu-chun a hot item in China

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



On Friday, JYJ’s Park Yu-chun was flown to China in a private jet.

The move came at the bidding of a Chinese network that wanted Park to take part in a special program celebrating the first full moon of the lunar calendar.

CJeS Entertainment said that the program Yuan Xiao Jie Show, starring Park, will air Feb. 24 on Hunan TV.

The agency said that because of Park’s hectic schedule, the network had to charter a plane if they wanted him on the show.

“Through the show, we expect that Park will become a well-loved Hallyu actor in China,” a spokesperson from Hunan TV told CJeS.

Park’s drama “Rooftop Prince” fared well. The show was viewed more than 100 million times on YouTube alone.

Meanwhile, the boy band member’s latest MBC work “I Miss You” achieved a similar feat - the video was viewed more than 100 million times through video sharing Web site PPTV.

katt

February 18, 2013

Lee Min-jung to replace Han Hye-jin

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



As one beauty leaves an upcoming drama, another has risen to take her spot.

After SBS announced last week that Han Hye-jin had decided to drop out of the drama “All About My Love Life,” it was leaked that Lee Min-jung was to be the replacement.

Few days later, Lee’s agency confirmed the details.

“Lee Min-jung will play the role of No Min-young, who falls for a politician from a different party,” said Lee’s agency.

Lee also added that the character’s “vibrant and bold personality” attracted her to the role.

The drama is about the secret love lives of politicians of different parties. The program will take over the time slot of the drama “That Winter, the Wind Blows.”

Han walked away from the project ahead of production, citing a busy schedule.

katt

February 18, 2013

Ko So-young shows off her own label

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Actress Ko So-young has recently unveiled an outfit designed by none other than herself.

Although unknown to all at the time, Ilgan Sports said that the outfit and bag carried by Ko at the premier of “The Berlin Files” last month were all from her “Ko So Young” line.

Ko also tweeted about her upcoming line of apparel on Feb. 18, leading up to the release of the March edition of Elle magazine. The issue is said to contain a pictorial dedicated to the label.

“To pose dressed in your own line, in front of the public, that was a strange feeling,” said Ko.

As one-half of the Jang Dong-gun and Ko So-young couple, anything worn or spotted on Ko becomes a fashion must-have.

katt

February 18, 2013

Park Shin-hye races fan for birthday

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Actress Park Shin-hye thought outside the box, to celebrate her 23rd birthday yesterday.

A day before turning over a new leaf, Park celebrated by holding a unique fan meet at eastern Seoul’s Jungnang District community center. Park kicked off the event with an opening speech and the pledge of allegiance to the national flag, like a real sporting event. Then the festivities got under way, and Park indulged in some one-legged wrestling and relays.

The fan meet lasted about three hours and ended with cake. “She always said that she wanted to meet her fans at close range,” said the agency on the unusual fan meet. Park also took to Twitter afterward to thank all her fans for coming. “To all who were there, I had just a great time thanks to you,” tweeted the birthday girl. Park has another reason to be in good spirits of late.

Her latest film “A Gift From Room 7” has exceeded the 10 million mark in ticket sales recently.

The film centers on an intellectually challenged man, Yong-gu (Ryu Seung-ryong), who is wrongly convicted of murdering a child while purchasing a gift for his beloved daughter Ye-seung (Gal So-won).

katt

February 19, 2013

Han Hye-jin sheds tears for brother-in-law

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Han Hye-jin shed tears on her TV show “Healing Camp,” while she revealed her fondness for her brother in law, actor Kim Kang-woo.

In the episode that aired Feb. 18, the show dedicated to Kim had Han telling some personal tales of hardship.

“After my father passed away, he really rose up as the son,” said Han. “He’d make sure we’d all had some water and sent us home while he kept vigil at the funeral altar,” explained the 31-year-old who saw her father pass away last November.

After wiping away her tears, Han went on to say that as recent as during the Lunar New Year, Kim had accompanied Han and her family to visit the deceased’s burial ground.

“There was ice frozen over the grave and we just thought it’d melt away soon,” said Han who said she was touched when her brother-in-law took a clothes hanger from the car and became chipping away at the ice.

“I just can’t believe how blessed we are by him,” said Han.

Kim married Han’s sister Han Moo-young, also an actress, back in 2010.

katt

February 19, 2013

Kim Hee-sun shows off her beauty at Burberry show in London

By Joohee Korea JoongAng Daily



Actress Kim Hee-sun attended Burberry Prosum womenwear atumn/winter 2013 show on behalf of South Korea on Feb. 18.

Kim watched the show with big names including Kate Beckinsale. She also met with chief creative officer , Christopher Bailey , who invited her.

Meanwhile back home, she will host a SBS show titled ‘ Hwa-Shin’ on Feb. 19.

Back in 1990s and 2000s Kim Hee-sun was synonymous with beauty when she effectively ruled the brown screen. And recently, she stared in the drama “Faith” as a lead actress. It was a time-travel drama that revolves around the love between a warrior from the Goryeo period

katt

February 19, 2013

Jackie Chan Hails 'Stuntman' Kwon Sang-woo in New Movie

The ChosunIlbo

Jackie Chan visited Seoul on Monday to promote his latest movie "12 Chinese Zodiac Heads," which he produced, directed and starred in. He also talked about his experience of working with Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo and singer Yoo Seung-jun.

The 59-year-old, who made a name for himself performing his own stunts in movies like "Drunken Master," "Armor of God" and "Rush Hour," said he was impressed by Kwon's passion and determination, as he also avoided using a stunt man for many of his stunts despite injuring his ankle along the way.

Chan said he was also surprised at how quickly Kwon mastered his lines in both Chinese and English, even though Chan suggested he act in Korean due to his lack of experience with foreign languages.

The action movie, which will be released here on Feb. 28, revolves around the protagonist's search for 12 ancient Chinese bronze statues that have been scattered across the globe. Chan said the script was inspired by the story of a bronze statue that was traded in Hong Kong in 2000. The movie took seven years to make and cost W100 billion (US$1=W1,083).

katt

February 19, 2013

U.S. Media Warms to 'The Berlin File'

The ChosunIlbo



"The Berlin File," the latest movie by director Ryoo Seung-wan, has received positive reviews from major U.S. media since it was released in 21 cities in North America last Friday.

The New York Times hailed its "exhilarating action set pieces," adding that Ryoo "brings his brand of muscular action and quicksilver agility to the shifting battleground of international espionage."

Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter praised the careful balancing of narrative tension. "With an A-team cast taking the primary roles, including Ryoo's brother and regular collaborator Ryoo Seung-bum, and featuring the return of [Swiri]'s Han Suk-kyu, along with international star [Jeon Ji-hyun], the film crackles with tense character conflict," it wrote.

"The Berlin File" drew its 6 millionth spectator in Korea on Monday, just 20 days after it was released.

katt

February 19, 2013

Woman accuses Park Si-hoo of rape

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Hallyu actor Park Si-hoo has landed in hot water after an aspiring entertainer has come forward to say Park raped her.

Seobu Police said yesterday that a 22-year-old woman identified as “A” filed a complaint on Saturday claiming the 34-year-old raped her when she passed out after having spent the night drinking with him.

Since the news broke, Park’s agency has been frantically claiming his innocence.

Eyagi Entertainment said Park had “indeed met with the woman for drinks but didn’t force her into doing anything uncomfortable.” The agency said that the two had feelings for one another, and that the sexual encounter was consensual.

Park was summoned to the police station for investigation yesterday morning; however, Seobu Police announced that the investigation was postponed at the request of Park.

“Park had recruited a new lawyer, so they needed some time to get their head around the case,” said the police.

katt

February 19, 2013

Park Chul-soo killed by drunk driver

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



Korean film veteran Park Chul-soo died early yesterday after being hit by a drunken driver.

The 64-year-old director was walking home after a day on the set in Jukjeon, Gyeonggi, when struck.

According to police, the driver was beyond the limit which normally calls for driver’s license termination when he was found at the scene.

A funeral altar has been set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Bundang, Gyeonggi.

Park was working on a new piece titled “Love Conceptually.”

The homegrown talent made his debut in the film industry in 1979 with “The Rain that Falls Every Night.”

Born in Daegu, Park’s films were met with much success during the ’80s and ’90s. Park’s film “301, 302” was critically acclaimed and helped Korean films on the international scene.

His most recent work, “B.E.D,” was controversial due to its sexual theme.

Park’s death has resulted in various media highlighting the important role that he played in the industry.

katt

February 20, 2013

Park Si-hoo to Face Police Over Rape Charge

The ChosunIlbo

Actor Park Si-hoo, who has been charged with rape, is to present himself for questioning later this week. Police said on Tuesday that Park, who failed to obey a summons for Tuesday morning, has consulted his lawyer and is willing to undergo questioning soon.

The alleged victim, a 22-year-old aspiring starlet, says she was introduced to Park (34) by a mutual acquaintance identified as Kim, who is also an actor, at a bar in the trendy Gangnam district of southern Seoul last Thursday night.

The woman said she and Park went to Park's apartment in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam at around 2 a.m. after drinking heavily and claims Park raped her when she passed out. Park says the sex was consensual.

Aspiring starlets are often associated with cases where established performers are alleged to have taken sexual advantage of them. In 2008, a member of a boy band was arrested on charges of raping an aspiring singer. In November 2011, a rapper was arrested on the same charges.

A more prominent case involves TV personality Go Young-wook (37), who was arrested last year on charges of raping a teenage girl who wanted to be a model.

A staffer with a talent agency said celebrities are often introduced to aspiring starlets. "It's easy to approach them with promises to arrange a TV appearance for them or hook them up with a talent agency," the staffer said. "In showbusiness, the most important thing is who you know."

The staffer added, "In the past, aspiring entertainers merely gawked at celebrities, but nowadays more and more of them want to meet the stars rather than producers or managers in order to increase their chances of getting a break."

But police warned of the pitfalls facing aspiring entertainers. They tend to be wary when approaching agents, who have a reputation for being predatory and little better than pimps, "but they tend to let their guard down when they meet a star," according to one police officer.

katt

February 20, 2013

Park Si-hoo caught on CCTV

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



There have been some developments on the Park Si-hoo’s alleged rape case.

A report by Ilgan Sports revealed some facts of what had transpired that night by the owner of the drinking venue, where Park and the 22-year-old aspiring actress went for their first round.

“I heard that Park was accused of rape and was gob-smacked,” said the owner of pub in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul.
“When the girl left, she had no trouble walking down the stairs on her own,” said the businessman.

If need be, the entrepreneur said he’d supply the police with the CCTV footage that documents the couple leaving.

On Feb. 19, Park was charged by the Seobu Police for allegedly raping a woman with whom he spent the night drinking.

katt

February 21, 2013

JYJ Tapped to Spread Word About Incheon Asian Games

The ChosunIlbo



JYJ have been named promotional ambassadors for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

The organizing committee held an event at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Wednesday and said it picked the boy band to promote the sporting event across Asia, where they are enjoying unrivaled popularity.

"Through their promotional activities and due to their massive presence across Asia, we hope that news of the games will spread widely across the region to ensure the event is a huge success," said Kim Young-soo, chairman of the organizing committee.

"We're really honored to have been chosen as promotional ambassadors," JYJ said. "We'll do our best to promote the games and the host city to fans in Korea and overseas."

Korea last hosted the Asian Games 12 years ago in Busan.

katt

February 20, 2013

Facing the blood-drenched mirror
Undercover cop thriller 'New World' a gory addition to Korean cinema

By Yun Suh-young The Korea Times



Park Hoon-jung’s ‘New World’ is a dark mob opera that is outrageously violent.  /  Korea Times

A recurrent subject in Park Hoon-jung’s work ― whether working as a screenwriter or director ― is men who struggle to retain a sense of integrity in environments that work against this. And he seems incapable of telling their stories without using scenes of extreme violence.

"New World,’’ opening in theaters today, is a dark and gritty gangster picture that borrows heavily from the influential Hong Kong thriller "Infernal Affairs’’ (2002) and the Martin Scorsese masterpiece it inspired, "The Departed’’ (2007).

In the director’s chair this time, Park apparently decided to distinguish this film by pushing the level of violence up against the limits of acceptability. As a result, New World becomes yet another gory addition to an already blood-soaked collection of Korean action films, which some worry are becoming one-dimensional.

The main character is Lee Ja-sung, played by Lee Jung-jae, a cop who goes undercover as a gangster. He had been embedded in the Gold Moon organized crime syndicate for eight years, during which he rose to become the right-hand man of Jung Chung, played by Hwang Jung-min, whose is being groomed as the next leader of the family.



Lee Jung-jae, center, plays the role of Lee Ja-sung, an undercover cop embedded in a crime organization and struggling to retain his inner reality.



Lee reports to Detective Kang, chief of the undercover unit, a role played brilliantly by Choi Min-sik, an actor who seems to be involved in all Park’s projects.

The word "new world’’ is the police codename for Lee’s undercover mission that is aimed at eventually dismantling Gold Moon from the core. The name becomes increasingly ironic as the movie progresses with Lee slowly becoming a product of an environment he was supposed to work against.

The source of tension is predictable. Lee finds himself increasingly identifying with the men he is deceiving and becoming increasingly frustrated over his isolation and the risks that Kang forces him to take. Lee’s identity crisis drives the movie toward a shocking conclusion, where he indeed finds himself in a ``new world’’ where the boundary between good and evil is permanently blurred.

Park has written the screenplays for several tough and gritty films such as "The Unjust’’ (2010), ``I Saw the Devil’’ (2010) and "The Showdown’’ (2011), where the plots and commentary about the darker sides of human nature seemed to exist to support outbursts of outrageous violence.  New World falls right in line.

"I wanted to portray how the three men in the movie ― Kang, Lee and Jung ― all had their own ideas of the 'new world’ that would unfold before them after their goals are achieved. In progressing toward their goals, the role of the good and evil are sometimes switched around, intended to leave the viewers confounded over who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. I think this is a genuine representation of the real world we live in,’’ Park recently told reporters.

"I want people to focus on the macroscopic drama on how power and organization can dictate a person’s own choices and life.’’

Kang is perhaps the most fully developed and complicated character in the movie. He is a cold, heartless man who sees no room for mercy and pushes the undercover mission with a relentlessness that doubles the cruelty directed at Lee.

Jung, the impulsive gangster, is portrayed as more warmhearted and ferociously loyal to his brotherhood, although displays ruthlessness when competing with rival Lee Jung-gu, played by Park Sung-woong, to take the helm of the crime group.

Stuck between them is the undercover cop who is forced to live a life that is the radical opposite of his inner life or rather his idea of it.  

Park chose to shoot the movie in tones of gray tone portending the futures of the men. In most scenes the cast is dressed in different shades of gray, whether in suits or jackets.

katt

February 17, 2013

The movie "Plaything" sheds light on shadow behind glitter

The Korea Times


"Plaything", a movie plot triggered by suicide of the actress Jang Ja-yeon in 2009, shed light on shadow behind the glitter in Korean entertainment industry including "sex in return for TV role"   .

The movie “Plaything” draws people’s attention because of the theme itself.

It is a hot button issue in Korean entertainment industry.

The suicide of the late actress Jang Ja-yeon triggered nationwide controversy over the so called “it is how it is” tradition.

After her death, an alleged suicide note was found. It included “I was forced to have sexual intercourse with so and so.”

The whole story was flared up all over the media.

The police investigation concluded that the charges against the socially eminent were baseless.

The criticism followed: the “invisible hand” had the control, investigation was not thorough.

“The movie is fiction, but it might resemble reality in some way.

The viewers might see what they expect,” said the director Choi Seung-ho.

“Even after the movie comes out, someone will continue the business that way, and others will be desperate to grab the opportunity even that way.

"This movie will shed light not on the spotlighted, but on the shadow behind that glitter. That’s enough for me,” he added.

“This movie faced layers of hurdles. Even now, we are at the risk of facing lawsuits. However, ‘Plaything’ will make sure to fix the vicious cycle amongst the entertainers, advertisers, the media, and the politicians,” said a representative of the production company.

katt

February 20, 2013

Choi Si-won smitten with Jackie Chan

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily


Choi Si-won and Jackie Chan

It seems that being in an idol band doesn’t mean you can’t be star-struck.

On Feb. 19, Super Junior’s Choi Si-won took to Twitter to post a picture of himself and Jackie Chan.

He also commented, “was such a great time with jackie chan. always our hero!” In the picture, Choi can be seen giving Chan a Super Junior M album on CD.

The two are set to appear together on the variety show “Running Man” soon.

The picture was taken when Chan was visiting to promote his latest film “Chinese Zodiac Heads.”

Choi has recently been busy touring with the sub-unit of his group, Super Junior M.

katt

February 21, 2013

CCTV Footage Backs Rape Charge Against Actor

The ChosunIlbo



Surveillance camera footage casts doubt on actor Park Si-hoo's denials that he raped a 22-year-old aspiring starlet.

The CCTV footage shows his accuser being carried on the back of the acquaintance who introduced them as they arrive at Park's home in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul on the night of the incident.

According to police, the acquaintance stopped his car in the parking lot of the apartment complex at around 2 a.m. on Friday and is then seen carrying the woman inside.

The woman had earlier told police she passed out on the night in question and on regaining consciousness discovered she had been raped. Park claims the sex was consensual.

The three met at 11 p.m. on Thursday at a bar in the trendy Gangnam district.

Police also have surveillance camera footage from the bar where they drank. It shows the woman walking down the stairs unassisted. "She did not appear drunk when she left the bar and Park was merely escorting her so that she wouldn't fall down," the owner of the bar said.

That means she became heavily intoxicated during the 10-minute journey from the bar to the apartment. The woman apparently told police that she was surprised how quickly she became drunk, suggesting that her drink had been spiked.

Police have summoned Park for questioning on Sunday morning.

katt

February 21, 2013

Bae Doo-na linked to Jim Sturgess

By Carla Sunwoo Korea JoongAng Daily



There may be a multicultural union between Hollywood and Hallyuwood soon enough. On Tuesday, U.S. celebrity news blog Lainey Gossip said “Cloud Atlas” co-stars Bae Doo-na, 33, and Jim Sturgess, 34, may have more than a movie in common.

Although the posting started off linking Sturgess to “Twilight” beauty Kristen Stewart, the Web site posited that Bae was Sturgess’ “new girlfriend.”

To prove the point, pictures of the two walking with arms linked in Venice Beach, California, a couple of weeks ago were posted. The fact that the two played lovers in the Hollywood sci-fi film and shared a “super hot sex scene” was also mentioned.

Apparently, during press conferences for their movie, Sturgess helped Bae answer questions in English, and the two were often spotted indulging in a private joke or two, complete with secret giggles here and there.

Bae’s agency has yet to comment.

When Sturgess joined fellow cast members for a promo visit to Korea in December, Bae admitted she showed him around town.