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NEWS INDEX page 77
December 31, 2008: Competition heats up at New Year's box office
Dec 31: [NEW YEAR] A dazzling array of stars born in Year of Ox
Dec 31: Hallyu Marketing Attracts Japanese Tourists to Seoul
Jan 1: Workaholic Rain Branches Out into Fashion
Jan 1: Wonder women, eye candy herald TV's New Year
Jan 1: Seoul braces for Visit Korea 2010
Jan 1, 2009, 2009: KBS Union to Join Media Strike
Jan 1: 'Beethoven Virus' Still Goes On
Jan 2: Bae Yong-joon & Park Jin-Young in Lucrative 'World Project'
Dec 29, 2008: 15 movies for geeks in 2009
Dec 30: Korean films at international fests peaked in 2007
Dec 31: Korean Hits on U.S. International Watch List
Dec 30: Happiness is cinematographer抯 choice
Dec 31: Hur Jin-ho Boards Chinese Omnibus Film
Dec 31: Indie succeeds through alternative distribution
Dec 31: Scandal Makers |
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December 31, 2008
Competition heats up at New Year's box office
Competition is heating up at the box office for the New Year's weekend starting today, with the attention focused on whether "Ssanghwajeom," a drama of homosexuality and betrayal, can knock "Speed Scandal" off from its perch.
Ticket reservation data showed yesterday "Ssanghwajeom," directed by Yoo Ha, emerged as the favorite movie for the holiday weekend, outpacing "Speed Scandal," a comedy starring Korean Wave star Cha Tae-hyun.
"Ssanghwajeom," whose English title is "A Frozen Flower," dominated 71 percent of the ticket reservations on Wednesday, according to the Korean Film Council, while "Speed Scandal" lost its momentum to stand at No. 3.
The strong ticket sales of "Ssanghwajeom" were widely expected because it not only deals with the highly sensational topics including homosexuality during the late period of Goryeo Dynasty but also features two of the country's most famous actors, Joo Jin-mo and Zo In-sung.
In the film, the nation is now under the virtual rule of China's Yuan Dynasty, and Goryeo's king (Joo Jin-mo) has to produce a son to keep his position. The only problem is that he cannot sleep with a woman and his real romantic partner is his chief bodyguard Hong Lim (Zo In-sung).
Their secret relationship begin to fall apart when the king decides to ask Hong Lim to sleep with his wife, assuming falsely that all his political problems will go away once there is a royal son.
Due to the graphic violence and frequent sex scenes, "Ssanghwajeom" is clearly targeted at adult viewers, a limitation that critics expected would limit its box-office performance in competition with other family-oriented films. Defying such predications, the historical drama seems likely to stage a solid performance in the New Year's holiday between Thursday and Sunday.
Even though the momentum has subsided a bit, "Speed Scandal" is holding up. The small-budget film, whose one and only recognizable actor is Cha Tae-hyun, already sold 4 million tickets, emerging as a sleeper hit toward the end of the year.
"Speed Scandal" appeals to Korean moviegoers largely because Cha, who built his fame with a role in Asia-wide hit movie "My Sassy Girl," plays a graceful supporting role instead of trying to do all the work in the comedy.
The film portrays a 30-something radio host (played by Cha) who has to confront his long-forgotten past in a situational comedy format. Although the plot is far from creative, it is Cha's creative choice to remain low-key that allows other characters to shine in a way that entertains many Korean viewers and helps the movie remain at the No. 1 slot at the box office for the past four weeks.
"Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea," the latest animated feature by renowned Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, is also expected to continue its strong box-office performance thanks to its lighter theme and adorable characters.
"Bolt," an animated feature that heavily relies on computer graphics, is now set to compete with "Ponyo" during the holiday period. "Bolt" is the latest film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Its voice actors include John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Malcolm McDowell, Claire Holt, Diedrich Bader and its plot centers upon a small white dog named Bolt who thinks that he has super powers.
Meanwhile, "Yes Man," a situational comedy where Jim Carrey plays a junior loans officer at a bank who keeps saying no to everyone and to every opportunity, is within the top five rankings of major ticket reservation databases.
The film depicts a transformative process through which the main character enters a new phase in his life, taking many challenges in life, including Korean language lessons.
The Korean Film Council data also showed that two Hollywood films -- "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Twilight" -- are still favored by Korean viewers at the end of the year.
But "Dalkomhan Geojitmal (Lost and Found)," a Korean romantic comedy produced and distributed by CJ Entertainment, continued to lose ground at the box office, failing to make it to the top rankings in ticket reservations. The film was released in 480 theaters thanks to CJ Entertainment, Korea's biggest film production and distribution company, but CJ's bet turned out to be misplaced.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/01/200901010029.asp
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December 31, 2008
[NEW YEAR] A dazzling array of stars born in Year of Ox
The Year of the Ox starts this year, beginning what fortune tellers believe will be a period of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Given that the global financial market remains in a protracted slump, it seems too early to expect a year of recovery, much less prosperity. What's certain though is that Korea could use plenty of fortitude and hard work to cope with the challenges of 2009.
People born under the influence of the ox, based on the Chinese zodiac, are said to be dependable, calm, and modest. This sign is also associated with those who are patient, tireless in their work, and endure hardship without complaint.
In fact, Korea needs as many ox-like politicians as possible this year if it does not want a repeat of not-so-patient Korean lawmakers using sledgehammers and fire extinguishers to get into the National Assembly.
Instead of focusing on the hopeless politicians, it's time to reflect on the meaning of the Chinese calendar, which is still widely used by Koreans.
The Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed differently to the Western solar calendar. The most prominent feature for Koreans is a system of 12 animal signs.
The animal signs represent a cyclical concept of time used to record years. Every year is assigned an animal in the order of: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The animals take turns on a 12-year cycle. This year is devoted to the ox.
While the ox has many positive traits such as dependability and strength, not all attributes are good. Many Koreans believe oxen are slow and have sluggish comprehension skills. Some traditional Korean phrases implicate the ox as an obstinate character with so much determination that it disregards others.
The ox's dependability and determination, however, do not minimize the role of the animal in Korea, which was traditionally an agricultural society. Oxen were deemed one of the most important domesticated animals because they did hard work in the field.
They also represented wealth and prosperity. The more oxen you owned, the richer you were. Selling an ox was like selling a core asset. Even in the past few decades, a number of farmers paid for their children's college education by selling these animals.
Dreaming of an ox is seen as auspicious, especially for financial status. Such dreams suggest a new income or a fortunate turn of business. Curiously, dreams about oxen are also believed to be linked with ancestors, implying that Koreans deeply associate the animals with their roots.
Oxen are also believed to have spiritual power. When a household moves to a new location, it is customary to hang an ox bone on the wall to ward off evil spirits or prevent disaster.
A host of Joseon period painters devoted their energy to portraying the animal. Kim Je, Lee Kyeong-yun, Kim Shik, Yun Du-seo, Cho Young-seok, Choi Buk and Kim Hong-do, among many others, stand out as Joseon painters adept at painting oxen and cows.
One of the reasons oxen were favored in traditional Korean paintings was that riding an ox, at least for Joseon aristocrats, meant living a frugal life away from corruption and power struggles -- a point ignored by Korean politicians living today.
Many prominent Koreans were born in the Year of the Ox, whose activities are likely to draw special attention.
Poet Kim Kyu-dong was born in 1925, an ox-year, in Gyeongseong, North Hamgyeong Province and remains active in literary circles, putting out a collection of poems in 2005.
Kim Woo-chang, a literary critic, and Lee Je-ha, who recently won the prestigious Dongri literary award, were born in 1937, another Year of the Ox.
Those born in 1961, also an ox-year, include Ahn Do-hyeon, Choi Young-mi, Shin Hyun-rim, Goh Un-ki, Bang Hyun-seok, and Lee Na-mi.
Among younger writers, Oh Hyun-jong, Lee Myung-rang, Hae I-su, Kim I-eun, Gil Sang-ho, Kim Geun were all born in the ox-year of 1973.
In classical music circles, violinists Lee Yu-ra and Kwon Hyuk-joo, and pianist Kim Tae-hyung were born in 1985. In the musicals sector, Min Young-gi and Hong Ji-min were born in 1973.
But the biggest lineup of oxen is in the entertainment industry. In 2009, the special focus will be on a host of Korean stars who were born in 1973 and turn 36 at the height of their career. Jung Woo-sung, the Korean-wave star who played a major role in the blockbuster "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird," and Lee Jung-jae, who recently attempted to change his image into a comic hero in a historical film, were born in 1973. Jeon Do-youn, who won the best actress award at the Cannes International Film Festival, was also born in the same year.
Kim Yun-jin, a Korean actor who is strengthening her position in the United States with her role in the popular drama series "Lost" also belongs to the 1973 ox-club, while leading actors such as Kim Sung-su, Song Yoon-a, Lim Chang-jung, Shin Eun-kyung, Chu Sang-mi were born in the same year.
Among the younger generation affiliated with the ox, singer Nam Kyu-ri and actress Cha Hye-ryeon were born in 1985.
By Yang Sung-jin ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/01/200901010027.asp
[ Last edited by katt at 31-12-2008 11:08 PM ] |
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December 31, 2008
Hallyu Marketing Attracts Japanese Tourists to Seoul
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
At 7 p.m. on Dec. 22 at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, rooms were filled with round tables where people, mostly women, sat and waited.
Soon, they began cheering - TV actor and singer Kim Jung-hoon appeared with a smile and talked to his "fans."
At a fan meeting dubbed "Sweet X-Mas with Kim Jung-hoon," Kim, who already has a steady fan base with hit drama Goong and his elite image as a top Seoul National University student, greeted more than 300 fans.
But for the tourists, it was more than seeing their star for couple of hours - they got to tour around Seoul and have some duty free shopping, as well as receiving high-end services from a top-class hotel. The three-day 124,000 yen (1.82 million won) item was a hit.
"It was a win-win situation. The entertainer did not have to care too much about how to collect fans and the tourists agencies had a solid chance to provide an opportunity to meet the star,拻 Park Seo-Young, a Seoul Tourism Organization staff member, said. Her company was established and is supported by Seoul city government.
The city is in fact holding several more events. Kim's meeting was the second of a kind following that of actor Kang Ji-hwan, who gained fame after a series of his dramas were exported to Japan.
On Wednesday, the last day of 2008, about 700 gathered to see M, or Minwoo from pop group Shinhwa, in concert. This time, it wasn抰 just for Japanese fans only, but for people from all over Asia, where his sex appeal works on tens of thousands.
The fans got to do a New Year countdown with their favorite stars and welcomed the New Year. The star from time to time spoke in English or Japanese for his foreign fans, while all sang along and danced till late into the night at a Yonsei University hall before returning to their hotel in rented buses.
These events have been organized as part of an effort to induce Japanese tourists searching for Hallyu (Korean culture wave) stars amid the global economic meltdown. Through them, the tourism account is fianally seeing some black owing to weakening won, experts say. It is time for the city to take a more aggressive approach to attracting more tourists to see Seoul and its pop culture, Park said.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been quite aggressive on the issue, too. He has recently designated actor Daniel Henney to become a cultural ambassador to promote the global cultural aspects of Korea. "We all understand that these stars have huge influence in the tourism industry," he said.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/12/117_37084.html
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January 1, 2009
Workaholic Rain Branches Out into Fashion
Singer Rain
K-pop superstar Rain pulls off the triple roles of designer, model and singer for newly launched fashion brand Six to Five, in which he owns a stake.
Rain took photos for the fashion catalogue from Dec. 11 to 14 in Cebu, the Philippines, in which he shows off his famous sculpted body.
Rain also held a launch show at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province on Dec. 23. At a press conference before the show, Rain said, "Although I never had professional training in fashion design, I had my own vision and idea about what people including me are comfortable wearing." Ever ambitious, the star plans top take the brand global next year, and expects annual sales of W10 billion (US$1=W1,340).
After taking to the catwalk with fellow models in his self-designed clothes, Rain sang six songs, including "It's raining," "I do" and "Rainism," bringing everyone in the audience to their feet. The show attracted plenty of fans from as far afield as Japan and China.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200901/200901010002.html
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January 1, 2009
Wonder women, eye candy herald TV's New Year
State-run broadcaster KBS is greeting the New Year with not one but two dramas: a remake of the iconic classic "Boys over Flowers" and the epic "Iron Empress."
Historical romance "Iron Empress" hatches its 80-episode-long tale tomorrow night, spicing up the Goryeo Dynasty with the bloody escapades of a warrior woman played by veteran actress Chae Si-ra.
Chae, the feline beauty who enchanted and frightened audiences in KBS' "Sea God (2004)," reprises her role as a ruthless Amazon in the upcoming drama. "Men have been playing the lead in historical romances," said Chae, 40, at a press conference held on Dec. 19. "Now, I think it is time for women to do so. This drama will show people that there was an awesome and brave female leader during the Goryeo Dynasty."
Fearsome would be a more accurate description of the heroine, who is aptly called the Iron Empress. The fourth wife of Goryeo Dynasty founder Taejo Wang Kon, the empress ruled as the regent for her son Mok Jong, the dynasty's seventh ruler.
Determined to realize her ambitious goals for the kingdom of Goryeo, she dons armor, battles against foreign invaders, and tramples her lover, her son and brother in her rise to power. The audience is invited to watch her transform into a cold-hearted warrior.
"Every year we do a big scale drama," said Senior Producer/Director of KBS Drama Team 2 Choi Jee-yeong, 39. "It represents KBS. Last year we did 'King Sejong.' Usually we cover the Joseon Dynasty, but this one looks into the Goryeo Dynasty."
Highlighting the gory reign of an empress, endowing her with a warrior's skills and the brain of a brilliant politician, KBS' big scale drama sets the tone for 2009.
The conniving queen no longer serves as the villainess of the period piece, but takes center stage. Hamlet is relegated to the corner and Gertrude gets the limelight.
The maneuver compels female audiences to tune into a hitherto male-dominated genre. And as if in response to some divine plan, KBS is also giving women some serious eye candy with its new Monday and Tuesday night drama "Boys over Flowers."
Based on the hit comic series of the same name, many would agree that "Boys" derives its popularity from F4; or four good-looking and wealthy male characters. The first TV drama version, produced in Taiwan, catapulted the four leading actors to fame. It was followed by the Japanese TV version, which also garnered success. And now, KBS looks set to hit yet another homerun with the perennial favorite.
"Boys" director Jun Ki-sang has a track record for popular yet hackneyed dramas like KBS' "Delightful Girl Choon-hyang (2005)" and SBS' "My Girl (2006)," making him a perfect fit for the lighthearted comic book fantasy. "The production company and the original comic book publisher requested that we make this drama as close to the original as possible," said director Jun in a press conference on Dec. 22.
"At first I rejected the offer to direct because it has already been produced in other countries. But when the offer came again and they said that the expectations of Koreans were different. I felt that there were challenges to be met."
A sort of "Pride and Prejudice" for Asian audiences, the surefire story of a poor girl, her rich suitor and her three knights need not rely on the potentially diverse expectations of a nation's audience to ensure its success. In the words of production company Group Eight's "Boys over Flowers" project manager Bae Jong-byung: "I think people will watch it because it is a well-written and fun story. It will do well as a remake."
The key, however, lies in the charm of its four leading actors and the pluck of its solitary heroine. All four male leads bear an uncanny resemblance to their comic book counterparts, which could be, in part, due to the extensive auditioning process they underwent.
Leader of the boy band SS501 Kim Hyun-joong stands out as Hanazawa Rui, called Yoon Ji-hoo in the Korean version. His sweet and quirky antics in the hit MBC reality show "We Got Married (2008)" have already made him something of a celebrity, and his role as the introverted, aloof yet cavalier Rui promises to attract more female fans.
"When we did the kiss scene, I was very nervous," said Kim Hyun-joong, 22, referring to his scene with Koo Hye-sun, who plays the heroine. "Koo Hye-sun said, 'Just do it.' We finished filming after 10 takes." "10 kisses," he iterated with a grin.
Actress Koo Hye-sun, smiled when asked about the 10-kiss scene, before stating: "There were technical issues." "My character could be a target for envy because she becomes a Cinderella in an instant. I think it would be best to live vicariously through her."
Koo, who gained popularity as the lead in the period drama "The King and I (2007)," is taking on the role of Makino Tsukushi -- called Geum Jan-di in the Korean version. The heroine is first pestered and ostracized by four of the most popular boys at her school before winning them over with her pluck and strength.
Actor Lee Min-ho will be playing Koo's love interest, Domyoji Tsukasa, called Goo Joon-pyo in the Korean version. Actor Kim Bum and rapper Kim Joon will be playing the remaining two male leads. "Boys" airs its first episode on Monday on KBS 2 TV at 9:55 p.m.
"Iron Empress" starts airing tomorrow night on KBS 2 TV at 10:15 p.m.
By Jean Oh ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/02/200901020019.asp
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January 1, 2009
Seoul braces for Visit Korea 2010
Seoul Metropolitan City has begun early preparations for the upcoming "Visit Korea" year in 2010.
The Visit Korea promotion will be conducted until 2012, joined by both private and government organizations to enhance national marketing.
A committee for the project was set up in September and an official declaration was made on Oct. 14, with the attendance of First Lady Kim Yoon-ok, who is serving as an honorary member.
Popular actor Bae Yong-joon has also been named an ambassador.
On Nov. 17, Seoul City, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry as well as the preparatory committee signed a memorandum of understanding for domestic and overseas promotion and marketing.
The aim is to improve the image of traveling Korea and expanding the number of inbound travelers.
Seoul City officials said they plan to play a leading role in making Korea one of the most touted travel destinations toward the end of the three-year-long campaign.
The projects include arranging an international parade of lanterns, a festival under the theme of the Korean wave, or Hallyu, plus a grand sale across the nation and supporting the development of the so-called MICE industry (meeting, incentive tour, convention and exhibition).
Upon the inauguration of Mayor Oh Se-hoon in 2006, Seoul has designated six projects to concentrate on. They include tourism, fashion design, finance and distribution service, research and development, convention and digital contents.
Together with Seoul Tourism Organization, the city plans to spread active marketing strategies starting with the neighboring countries of China and Japan to promote the Visit Korea year in 2010. They would include local road shows, participation to tourism trade exhibitions and holding various events, the officials said.
By Lee Joo-hee ([email protected])
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/02/200901020020.asp
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January 1, 2009
KBS Union to Join Media Strike
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Leaders of the trade union at state-run network KBS said the union will join a media workers |
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January 1, 2009
'Beethoven Virus' Still Goes On
Classical Music Getting Closer to General Public
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
A scene from the drama "Beethoven Virus"
Jung Eun-chae, 49, was an ordinary housewife and mother of an 18-year-old daughter before she became a member of an amateur orchestra. "I was depressed and lethargic after my daughter grew up. I thought my duty had been done. Then, I began wondering who am I and what do I live for?" said Jung.
She suddenly remembered her old hobby of playing the violin 20 years ago and decided to pick it up again. "It was hard to resume playing an instrument I quit after my high school days. But I decided to spend time for myself in practicing the instrument, and my husband fully supported me receiving private lessons," she said.
Jung and other ordinary people have recently become members of an ensemble, which was created and organized by the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Dec. 5. A total of 31 people were selected for the Sejong Nanum Ensemble, which is composed of amateurs ranging from an ordinary housewife to a dentist, a teacher and a technical mechanic.
They have different professions but have something in common ― a passion for music just as in the recent hit drama, "Beethoven Virus." The drama, which aired from Sept. 10 to Nov. 12, created a passion for classical music with its explosive popularity ― the first drama to depict the lives of classical musicians and an orchestra in Korea.
The drama portrays a talented yet extremely harsh maestro conductor Kang, fondly called "Kang Mae" played by Kim Myung-min and his attempt to lead an orchestra made up of amateurs.
The popularity of the drama was founded not only in the rare subject, but also on the reflection of individual members' humble hopes and dreams through the orchestra, and the classical music pieces arranged as easy and simple renditions. "Now my confidence is back and I am very excited about the performance, as if I were a freshman like my daughter who will enter university soon. Although I am older than the other members and I have to practice much more than they do, I am anticipating a second life," said Jung.
"The drama's popularity might be temporary but the essence of the beauty of classical music continuously appeals to the public. Nowadays, classical music is getting easier and friendlier," she said.
The formation of the orchestra was coincidental to the drama's popularity in October and also the rising interest in classical music which used to be regarded as an affectation of the upper class. According to the center, 285 people applied for the auditions, much higher than expected. The center originally planned to select only 20 members for the ensemble, but because of the large number of applicants, it picked out an additional members, making the group larger than an ensemble but smaller than an orchestra. |
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The mini-orchestra consists of 26 regular members and five semi-regular members ― 10 violinists, three violists, four cellists, one double bassist, three flutists, four clarinetists and one oboist. The semi-regular members are two trumpeters, two saxophonists and one percussionist.
Yoo Nam-kyu, conductor and judge for the orchestra audition, said it was designed to hire ordinary citizens, not professional musicians. "The levels of their musical ability vary from advanced to beginner level. But we've focused on their musical enthusiasm and the willingness to be in harmony with other members rather than the performing skills, through interviews," said Yoo.
Compared to his experience as a conductor leading professional orchestras, he felt difficulty in coordinating the various skill levels members, but their passion was much greater than that of any professional, inspiring him to teach them with fervor. "They really enjoy practicing; their enthusiasm is strong. They are easily engrossed in playing their instruments," he said.
Concerning the recent boom in classical music, Yoo said that as a classical musician, he welcomes the trend in which more and more people are enjoying the music. "The drama apparently prompted the general public to get interested in the music. But I am worried that it doesn't represent the real classical scene. It's apparently good for widening the scope of the fan base. I hope this kind of ensemble or orchestra, or whatever, will spring up more through the emergence of the Sejong Ensemble," he said.
The ensemble is now rehearsing Mozart's Divertimento No.1 K.136, Piano Concerto No.23 K.488, Symphony No.29 K.201 and Brahms' Hungarian Dance No.5. Their official debut is in February and they will take part in a music camp hosted by Chang Hyung-jun, a professor of Seoul National University and other activities organized by the center, especially charity events.
The boom in classical music may have been prompted by the drama, but was actually the culmination of local appearances by numerous classical stars such as Finnish conductor Esa Pekka Salonen with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle with the Berlin Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela who all visited Korea one after another in late 2008.
The popularity has immediately led to the success of the classical albums such as the "Beethoven Virus _ The Classis Vol. 1," a drama compilation album ― some 100,000 copies have been sold since it was released in early October.
The genre is also getting much closer to the general audience through star marketing strategy such as using actor Kim Myung-min and figure skater Kim Yuna. Actor Kim's "Classic Maestro" was the compilation album released by EMI, which includes masterpieces recommended by him.
"Fairy on Ice" is gaining popularity with 10,000 copies of the album which includes major works used by the skater in her performances, two weeks after its release.
The trend is not only happening in Korea, but also worldwide through even more innovative ways. YouTube is offering musicians around the globe the opportunity to join a symphony orchestra via video through the world's first collaborative online orchestra.
Applicants are required to submit a video of their performance of the "Internet Symphony Eroica," created by Academy Music Award-winning composer Tan Dun for this occasion. The deadline for submission is Jan. 28.
The 80 selected members for the orchestra will be able to perform alongside world-renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, learn from Chinese composer Tan Dun and many members of the London Symphony Orchestra, and consult with pianist Lang Lang.
All video entries will be combined into the first-ever collaborative virtual performance, and people around the world will select their favorites to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall in April 2009.
There is no restriction on nationality, age or type of instrument for the project. Fusion genres combining traditional classical musical instruments can be available for the orchestra if it fits the music, according to YouTube.
Cosmetics company Amore Pacific and production company CREDIA are participating as local sponsors and partners for the event.
Credits: [email protected]
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/01/135_37112.html |
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January 2, 2009
Bae Yong-joon & Park Jin-Young in Lucrative 'World Project'
Actor Bae Yong-joon, also called Yon-sama, and Park Jin-Young, dubbed a star-maker, will reportedly cooperate on a world project, according to Sports Hankook on Thursday. The newspaper said that the two Korean entertainment stars had agreed on a secret plan to found a joint-corporation targeting overseas markets, including the U.S. and Japan. Bae and Park will each invest at least W50 million (US$1=W1,340).
Bae Yong-joon (left) and Park Jin-Young
Bae and Park plan to nurture entertainers with global potential based on their expertise. Bae Yong-joon, figurehead of the so-called "Korean Wave," has established a firm bridgehead for the Japanese entertainment market through BOFi, a Japanese affiliate to the KOSDAQ-listed KeyEast, in which he is the largest shareholder. Meanwhile, Park Jin-Young secured a foothold in the U.S. market by launching JYP USA, the American division of JYP Entertainment, in New York in 2007.
Bae and Park are said to have each produced at least W50 billion worth of added value last year through creation of content. The industry's expects their venture will generate at least W100 billion worth of additional added value, the daily reported.
Credits: [email protected]
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200901/200901020008.html |
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December 29, 2008
15 movies for geeks in 2009
Story Highlights
2009 will be a bumper year for movie geeks and fanboys
There will be something for everyone from the 80s generation to Harry Potter fans
By Fei Phoon
For CNN
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The geek crowd is in for another bumper year at the movies as filmmakers continue to make a beeline for the bits of pop culture that make fanboys high five.
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" -- based on the 6th book of author JK Rowling's bestselling series -- is one of 2009's most anticipated films.
Whether you are part of the 80s generation or just old enough to watch TV, it is likely that movie offerings in 2009 will bring out the diehard fan in you. Expect confident tributes to your favorite comics, Japanese animations, cult movies and books.
What movies are you looking forward to in 2009?
1. 'Fanboys'
(Kyle Newman, 2008)
It's 1998 and four Star Wars fans can't wait to see "Episode I." So much so that they concoct a plan to break into director George Lucas' pad, the legendary Skywalker Ranch in California, and steal the film for their own enjoyment. Additional fanboy kudos for a cameo by William Shatner as himself.
2. 'Coraline'
(Henry Selick, 2009)
One afternoon, mischievous and bored Coraline stumbles upon a secret door. It leads to a crazy parallel dimension where anything is possible and her parents are more caring and fun. But as ever, such good luck comes at a price. This quirky stop-motion animation is based on a dark novella by acclaimed fantasy author Neil Gaiman.
'Blood: The Last Vampire'/empas.com
3. 'Blood: The Last Vampire' (+Korean actress: Jeon Ji Hyun/Gianna Jun)
(Chris Nahon, 2009)
Even Buffy might have a few problems competing with Saya, a 400-year-old demon-hunting vampire whose weapon of choice is a lethal Samurai sword. When she is sent on an undercover mission to an American military base in post-WWII Tokyo, she finds the perfect opportunity for a grand showdown against the highest-ranking vampire on Earth. The original 2000 Japanese animation was almost entirely in English, and its release on DVD was a hit in North America.
4. 'Watchmen'
(Zack Snyder, 2009)
This comic-based movie resurrects 1985 in an alternate universe, where the law has driven most superheroes into either retirement or vigilantism. But when a murdered man is revealed to have been a government-hired superhero, the superheroes uncover a terrifying conspiracy to eliminate them all, amidst heightened political tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
5. 'Dragonball Evolution' (+Korean actor/singer: Park Joong Hoon)
(James Wong, 2009)
Fans of the original 1984 Japanese Manga series "Dragon Ball" and its spin-off TV series have had mixed feelings about this live-action American adaptation. No doubt that the original simple premise will be preserved -- protagonist Goku journeys to seek the advice of a wise martial arts master, to gather the seven magical Dragon Balls before an alien villain can use them for his evil plans -- but will Hollywood be able to pull it off?
6. 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' (+Korean actor: Daniel Henney)
(Gavin Hood, 2009)
Hugh Jackman is back with his outrageous hairstyle and lambchop sideburns, in a backstory about Wolverine's dark past and relations with fellow mutants two decades before becoming a supersoldier under the Weapon X program.
7. 'Star Trek XI'
(JJ Abrams, 2009)
The 1960s Star Trek franchise gets an ambitious revival, thanks to "Cloverfield" director JJ Abrams and other "Trekkie" fans in the industry. This will be the 11th film in the sci-fi classic's long history, and the all-new cast includes British comedian Simon Pegg.
8. 'Terminator: Salvation'
(Joseph "McG" McGinty Nichol, 2009)
The epic battle between mankind's defender John Connor and an evil human-hating supercomputer from the future called Skynet continues well into 2018. Having defeated Skynet's cyborg assassins in past episodes, Connor gets to the bottom of Skynet's operations. Batman star Christian Bale will be Connor, who was famously played in the past by Edward Furlong and Thomas Dekker.
9. 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'
(Michael Bay, 2009)
The Autobots and the Decepticons once again come to blows in expensive and highly-destructive battles in this sequel to the highly popular "Transformers" live-action movie. Shia LaBeouf reprises his role as Sam Witwicky, the American teenager who finds himself deliciously caught up in the war between two alien races with sneaky disguise abilities.
10. 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'
(David Yates, 2009)
JK Rowling's Harry Potter returns for a sixth year at Hogwarts, the school for magic and wizardry. Harry's time is split between training with Dumbledore for his impending ultimate battle and sniffing out trouble brewing within the school grounds. But is it too presumptive to say that fans will be most anticipating the soap-like confusion of raging teenage hormones and romantic tensions between the sixth-years at Hogwarts?
11. 'GI Joe: Rise of Cobra' (+Korean actor: Byung Hun Lee)
(Stephen Sommers, 2009)
One of the world's favorite fictional good/evil dichotomies returns to outline the origins of the terrorist Cobra Organization, the main enemy of the American special mission team GI Joe. Plot details have been kept under wraps, but filming locations have been said to include the Arctic and the Sahara desert. A great excuse to revisit the characters to which we owe the coinage of the term "action figure."
12. 'Astro Boy'
(David Bowers, 2009)
After his beloved son dies in a tragic accident, a genius scientist recreates him in the form of a cute, pint-sized android. "Astro Boy," as he comes to be known, embarks on a journey to discover the meaning of his existence and uses his superhero powers to defend humans from robot enemies. This polished American-made animation features the robot first created in 1952 by the legendary Japanese Manga artist, Osamu Tezuka.
13. 'The Witchblade'
(Michael Rymer, 2009)
Little has been revealed about the cast and synopsis of this movie, which is based on the 1990s comic about a female homicide detective who acquires a mysterious gauntlet, which bestows superhuman powers on its wearer. The official Web site and a teaser poster promise its release in 2009. For now, fans are advised to check http://www.witchblade2009.com for updates.
14. 'Inkheart'
(Iain Softley, 2008)
Cornelia Funke's trilogy of books brings us a bookbinder named Mo, who by reading books aloud, has the magical ability to make the characters come alive. But after a tragic incident where several wicked characters swap places with his beloved wife, he refuses to ever read to his daughter Meggie. An evil ex-book villain then uses Meggie as bait to capture Mo, but the tables are turned when she discovers that she has the same talent.
15. 'Streetfighter: The Legend of Chun-Li'
(Andrzej Bartkowiak, 2009)
With little or no hints to go on from the production team, desperate fanboys can only head for their nearest arcade center to reminisce over Chun-Li's notoriously high-slit skirt, coupled with her signature helicopter kick. And by the way, Smallville star Kristin Kreuk will be playing Chun-Li.
Source: edition1.cnn.com |
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December 30, 2008
Korean films at international fests peaked in 2007
2007 recorded a record number of Korean films screened at film festivals around the world. On 522 occasions (excluding short film exhibitions) Korean films were showcased at international film festivals, according to the Korean Film Council抯 (KOFIC) 2008 yearbook.
The films were invited by 181 international film festivals. Europe led the competition for Korean films, 96 European film festivals (including 20 Eastern European film festivals) played host to Korean films.
27 Korean films won together 43 awards from 29 film festivals. Among the awards were the prestigious Festival de Cannes |
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December 31, 2008
Korean Hits on U.S. International Watch List
Two of South Korea抯 top box office winners for 2008 have made it into the International Watch List, a survey of the American film industry's favorite foreign films from the past year. The list is put together based on votes from over 50 US film executives. Director NA Hong-jin抯 debut thriller, The Chaser, placed third in number of votes received while KIM Ji-woon抯 kimchi-western The Good, The Bad, The Weird was seventh.
The stated aim of The International Watch List is 搕o highlight new filmmaking talent from abroad, to inspire creativity and spread the word about the international favorites of the year. |
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December 30, 2008
Happiness is cinematographer抯 choice
At the 31st Golden cinematography awards show, directors of photography awarded HUR Jin-ho抯 Happiness the Grand prize. The drama about a romance between seriously ill patients in a hospital stars LIM Soo-jung and HWANG Jung-min.
PARK Jin-hee was voted Best actress and HA Jung-woo Best actor. PARK received the recognition for her role in Shadows in the Palace and HA for his dark role in The Chaser.
The Chaser received another award in the form of Best new director nod for NA Hong-jin. Best new actor award is shared by JIN Goo (Epitaph) and Daniel Henney (My Father). The female equivalent went to HAN Yesle (Miss Gold Digger) and LEE Yeon-hee (M).
The popularity awards were won by JUNG Jin-young and SU Ae.
Credits: Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC) |
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December 31, 2008
Hur Jin-ho Boards Chinese Omnibus Film
South Korean auteur HUR Jin-ho will direct a segment in the Chinese feature Chengdu I Love You, along with Hong Kong director Fruit Chan and China抯 Cui Jian. The project was inspired by the resilience of the city and its inhabitants in the aftermath of the major earthquake which struck Sichuan province and its epicenter Chengdu on May 12, 2008.
HUR, Chan and Cui will each direct a themed 30-minute segment. HUR, known in China for his moving melodramas, Christmas in August and April Snow, will handle the segment on love, while Chan takes on family life, and Cui friendship.
The three directors visited Chengdu for five days last December and are currently writing scripts based on their observations. The project, produced by Chen Weiming, expects to begin shooting this April.
HUR, who was impressed by the Sichuan people抯 hope and resilience, told the Chinese media, "The May 12 earthquake broke many hearts in South Korea, too, and it is the reason I joined this project,"
HUR is the second South Korean director to join an omnibus project celebrating a city. Compatriot BONG Joon-ho directed a segment in Tokyo!, released this year, along with French directors Michel Gondry and Leos Carax.
Credits: Nigel D扴a (KOFIC), image from empas.com
http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/KOFIC/Channel?task=kofic.user.eng.b_filmnews.command.NewsRetrieve1Cmd&Gesipan_SCD=1 |
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December 31, 2008
Indie succeeds through alternative distribution
LEE Han-nah抯 independent film Sleeping Beauty attracted close to 200,000 viewers through a combination of a cinematic release and internet downloads, according to film company Kino-eye on 24 December, 揑n Korea, independent produced films are usually released on a small scale, commonly recording about 1,000 spectators at the box office, and after its release it抯 often difficult to have a chance to see the film. |
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December 31, 2008
Scandal Makers |
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January 2, 2009
MBC Should Be Ashamed of Farcical Awards
Internet portals were flooded with comments criticizing MBC after the broadcaster抯 annual acting awards ceremony.
The three-hour program started at 10 p.m. on Tuesday and ended at 1 a.m. Viewers blasted the ceremony for its lack of objectivity and professionalism. Others called for the ceremony itself to be scrapped next year. Angry viewers continued posting critical comments over the next 24 hours. An article about the awards ceremony posted on one Internet portal drew around 15,000 angry comments. Indeed, MBC抯 acting awards ceremony was seen by viewers as being the 搘orst |
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January 1, 2009
KBS to Launch 4 New Dramas in January
KBS will introduce four new dramas in January. The wave of new dramas will be led by 揟he Iron Empress, |
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