Jung Ji-woo (정지우)

Are family dramas' glory days over?

Source | 2008/10/09 | Permalink |

Gone are the days of Sunday night soaps and romantic comedies, as what appeared to be a blip in the SBS weekend drama line-up turns out to be something of a trend.

The highly popular family-oriented series "First Wives' Club" signaled a shift from the usual syrupy romances that SBS used to churn out. The result was a huge success.

Ending on a high note last Sunday with nationwide viewer ratings of 40.2 percent (AGB Nielsen Media Research), the hit SBS drama revealed an untapped market.

But will SBS' winning streak continue? The major broadcasting channel is willing to test the waters with yet another family drama. Starting tomorrow night, the new weekend series -- titled "Glory of the Family" -- explores the tangled and less than perfect lives of the illustrious Ha family. Centered on the filial granddaughter of the household Ha Dan-ah, played by Yoon Jeong-hee, and her twin brothers, this drama is significantly weightier and more traditional than its predecessor.

"I think ...| More

HONG Sang-soo Added to Korean Film Directors Series

Source | 2007/11/06 | Permalink |

An English book on director HONG Sang-soo, one of the most renowned auteurs at the Korean film scene, has been published following books on director IM Kwon-taek, KIM Ki-young, LEE Chang-dong and KIM Dong-won.

When HONG Sang-soo's debut work, "The Day a Pig Fell into the Well", was released in May 1996, the nation's film critics were thrown into shock. The cinematic language in the film was unprecedented in Korean film history. Since then, HONG has continued to show his own distinctive style with near perfection in his following works. This book, written by HUH Moon-yung, one of the most distinguished film critics in Korea, is intended to help readers to better understand the cinematic world of HONG Sang-soo. The book also includes analyses by prominent film critic, David Bordwell and renowned French film director, Claire Denis.

The publication is part of the 'Korean Film Directors Series', a project initiated by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) to internationally promote Korean ...| More

Local Features to Screen With English Subtitles

Source | 2004/10/24 | Permalink |

By Joon Soh
Staff Reporter

If you want to get a free crash course in contemporary Korean cinema, check out the Korea Film Archive all next week.

Twelve critically acclaimed feature films from the past five years, along with 13 short films, will be shown for five days beginning Nov. 1 at the theater of the archive, which is located in Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. All the screenings are free.

The oldest of the features is already a classic of Korean cinema. "Pakha Satang (Peppermint Candy)", the 1999 film by Lee Chang-dong, tells the story of one troubled man's life, beginning from his suicide and slowly tracing his life backwards.

Two recent films by director Park Chan-wook will be presented. "Old Boy", which garnered the director the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival this year, and "Poksunun Naui Kot (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance)", about a man bent on vengeance after his daughter is kidnapped. The films are part of Park's trilogy on the theme of reveng...| More