Park Chan-wook (박찬욱)

2008/05/08 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Major Hollywood star Charlize Theron said that her project to remake PARK Chan-wook's "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" (Chinjeorhan Geumjassi) has sparked a great interest in Korea and Korean culture.

She is discussing the possibility to visit Korea during her promotion tour for her upcoming film Hancock, an action comedy with Will Smith as a fallen action hero who receives counselling to win the public's affection back. If possible, her first visit to Korea would take place in June prior to a July 2 release of Hancock.

PARK's original "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" stars LEE Young-ae. Her character has been framed. After her release from prison, she is out to take revenge. The film is the final instalment of PARK's renowned 'revenge trilogy' which also includes Sympathy for Mr. vengeance and Cannes' Grand Prix winner Old Boy. Theron will produce and take the lead role in the Hollywood remake. Theron won an Academy Award for her role in Monster.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...

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2008/05/01 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

Who are three people that receive the credit for making "Rain" an actor?

Writer Lee Kyeong-hee added the title of 'actor' to 'singer "Rain"'. This writer wrote KBS "Sang Doo! Let's Go To School", "Rain"'s debut drama in fall 2003. At this time, "Rain" was on the verge of releasing his second album. This writer took a new face with only one album who had no acting experience and made him into a star. She also worked with him in 2005 in KBS "A Love to Kill". She even gave him tonic medicine and treated him like a son. In every album, "Rain" mentions her in his thanks.

Director Park Chan-wook appointed "Rain" for the lead role of "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK". "Rain", who was already 'Asia's star', was in high demand from many movie makers, but "Rain" revealed that he wanted to work with Director Park. "Rain", thanks to Director Park, had the honor of stepping on the red carpet at Berlin International Movie Festival with his first movie. Director Park of "Old Boy" played a big role ...

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2008/04/28 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

The Korean Wave has been spreading Korean pop culture across Asia and beyond for more than a decade, although it has barely reached Poland, in the centre of Europe. It is sad to admit, but Korean culture (traditional as well as the "new wave") does not exist in Polish minds as a distinctive identity. It is often mixed in with Chinese and Japanese cultures, which are more defined in Poland yet still often confused with each other.

Still, it is trendy nowadays in Poland to go to an East Asian restaurant, buy Chinese souvenirs, own Japanese-style furniture, follow feng-shui rules, watch an Asian movie or send kids to taekwondo or karate classes.

Although Polish knowledge of Korean culture is minimal, the present article aims to show that there is a gentle Korean wind that is blowing into Poland faster than the mainstream Wave.

There is, however, still no trace of: (1) the Korean entertainment industry invading the Polish media market; (2) any Polish fans adopting the lifestyles o...

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2008/04/27 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The world's premier film event, Festival de Cannes, will open for the 61st time May 14-25 in the southern French port city. While there are no Korean entrees this year in the main competition section, five films ― including the world premiere of the anticipated blockbuster "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" ― will shine in other sections of the festival.

"The Good, the Bad, the Weird", directed by Kim Ji-woon, will be shown in the Out of Competition section. This "oriental Western" features exciting horseback races and train rides in vast Mongolian plains.

It stars three of the hottest Korean actors ― hallyu star Lee Byeong-heon (TV soap "All In"), heartbreaker Jeong Woo-seong ("Daisy") and bona fide actor Song Kang-ho ("Secret Sunshine").

The film will receive its own gala event, complete with a red carpet event. It is anticipated to be a big highlight along with the premiere of films like Woody Allen's "Vicky Christina Barcelon...

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2008/04/25 | Source | Permalink |  Digg |  del.icio.us | Stumble It! | Share this news

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Korea is increasingly becoming an important film market ― ranking sixth and seventh in the world in terms of audience size and ticket sales, respectively, according to the Korean Film Council.

Last week, the Asia junket for the anticipated blockbuster "Iron Man" took place in Seoul ― the second big Hollywood event to be held here the one for since last summer's "Transformers".

In international film festivals, more and more Korean filmmakers and actors are stealing the limelight, notably actress Jeon Do-yeon (2007 Cannes Best Actress) and directors Kim Ki-duk (2004 Best Director awards at both Venice and Berlin), Park Chan-wook (2004 Cannes Grand Prix) and Im Kwon-taek (2002 Cannes Best Director, 2007 Dubai Lifetime Achievement Award).

Local production companies and investors are now out to play in the big league. Last year, Shim Hyung-rae's "D-War" marked the first widely released Korean film in the United States, while domestic ...

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