Choi Jin-sil (최진실)

Entertainment Business Dept. to Train Star Makers

Source | 2009/11/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Many say the Korean wave, or hallyu, is dwindling. Some say the fault is on promotion, while others argue about quality. For former entertainment reporter and now professor Hong Sung-kyu, it is the overall mindset that is preventing the wave from moving further.

"The fundamental problem in the Korean entertainment industry is that it is disposable. The reason why it's so difficult to get out of this mess is because the people working within entertainment don't realize this and are not interested in moving forward for a better future", he said during an interview last week at The Korea Times.

This has led the professor to start an entertainment business major under the Conservatory of Korea to help producers, agencies and managers learn more about the industry and how to further nurture stars.

"Culture has become an important industry for Korea, and we believe we should start producing star-makers, not just stars, in the long run. Hallyu may ...| More

Busan Film Fest 2009 Kicks Off In Style

Source | 2009/10/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Busan - The 14th edition of the Pusan (Busan) International Film Fstival (PIFF) kicked off Thursday with glitz and glam. Some 150 star cineastes and VIP guests walked the red carpet, sizzling up the cool autumn evening at the seaside resort.

The Busan Yatching Center Outdoor Theater exploded with excitement, as more than the usual number of fans who could not secure seats swarmed the venue outside. Competition was fierce among domestic and foreign press during the photo-op.

Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett and South Korean superstar Lee Byeong-heon stole the limelight as the two "I Come With the Rain" co-stars walked down the red carpet together. Also in the spotlight was actress Kim Yoon-jin, who appeared glamorous in a chic black dress. The "Lost" star attended the PIFF opening ceremony for the first time as the new face of makeup brand L'Oreal, an official partner of the event.

Meanwhile, Jang Jin, who directed the event's opening film "...| More

[ChanMi's star news] Already one year after Choi Jin-sil's death

Source | 2009/10/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

It has already been a year since the beloved star, Choi Jin-sil's death.

Family and friends have gathered in remembrance of her.

Choi had passed away last October 2nd and is being greatly missed.

...| More

Actress Choi's Urn Placed in New Tomb

Source | 2009/09/30 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Flowers laid at the newly-built tomb of the actress Choi Jin-sil in a cemetery in Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. / Korea Times

A small memorial park for the late actress Choi Jin-sil has been built in a cemetery in Gyeonggi Province.

The ash box of the late actress was placed in the new tomb in the park in the Gapsan Park Cemetery in Yangpyeong, Tuesday, 56 days after it was stolen by an apparently emotional fan identified as Park. Police caught the thief on Aug. 26, 22 days after the theft, and the urn was returned to her loved ones.

The distraught family put her ashes to rest ahead of Oct. 2, the one-year anniversary of the death of the actress.

"We've built a memorial park in a place near the tomb from which her ashes were stolen. In the 15-pyeong (48 square meters) space, the urn, her photos and autograph books have been placed", a cemetery management official said.

He said security devices have been installed to prevent the recurrence of another theft, with the tomb sp...| More

Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death in Korea

Source | 2009/08/30 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korea's suicide rate is estimated to be the highest among advanced countries, according to the National Statistical Office yesterday.

Issuing its annual death report, the NSO said a total of 12,858 people, or 24.3 people for every 100,000 Koreans, took their own lives last year, equivalent to 35 people killing themselves on average every day.

The figures represent a rise from 23.9 per 100,000 people in 2007 and 21.5 for 100,000 in 2006.

The figure for Japan, where suicide is also a major social problem, was 19.4 in 2007, and the rate for Hungary, which is also known to have a high suicide rate, was 21 per 100,000 in 2005, according to the latest data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development this year.

The NSO said given the fast growth in the suicide trend in Korea, no other OECD country comes close. "The figures for other OECD countries, even after they are updated, would not be as high as Korea's recorded last year", said Lee Ji-yeon, an official of ...| More