Kim Tae-hyeon (김태현)

Korean actress Jang Seo-hee at SBS Drama Awards [SBS]

Korean actress Jang Seo-hee won the grand prize at the SBS Drama Awards, held at SBS' Open Hall on December 31.

Jang was awarded the top honor for her role in "Temptation of Wife", which was one of the most-watched and most controversial dramas of the year for its sensational storyline.

"I didn't want to cry. I wanted to be cool about receiving [the award]".. said Jang in her acceptance speech. "I thought I wouldn't be able to win this because of the genre. I would like to thank writer Kim Soon-ok... I was in a slump for three years but she helped me make a comeback"....More

Award-winning director Kim Ki-duk has built up an international reputation with his films that starkly differ from other mainstream movies in Korea and elsewhere. He stands out largely because he never veers off from his obsessive pursuit of provocative styles and thought-provoking themes.

For better or worse, Kim did not pull any punches in making his 15th feature, "Dream" (Bi-Mong), to be released on Oct. 9. The movie is drawing keen media attention by signing on high-profile actors -- Lee Na-young from Korea and Joe Odagiri Japan -- but viewers should be aware of the cinematic puzzles director Kim routinely inserts in his films in order to grasp what is really going on in this mixture of reality and fantasy.

In the film, Odagiri plays Jin, an artist who sees himself causing a car crash in his dream. What he discovers, however, is that his dream is not a mere creation of his brain because all the details he witnessed while sleeping tu...More

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

Hit entertainer of "Infinite Challenge", Park Myeong-soo became the first comedian to cross the Military Demarcation Line by an overland route, Wednesday.

"I heard that I am the first entertainer to cross the border through the land route. It is an honor for my family", Park said.

As a part of an OBS program "Park Myeong-soo Meets the CEO", Park visited the joint industrial complex in Gaeseong in North Korea. During a one-day trip to the North, he met with South Korean businessmen and workers in the complex.

"I did not know that Gaeseong is only 12 kilometers away from Dorasan Station. It is so sad that we couldn't go there because of the division of the Korean peninsula", Pa...More

Just two decades ago, it was rare for movie fans to see actresses do nude scenes because of strict censorship and most stars were hesitant about undressing for the camera.

But as the domestic moviemaking trend took an innovative turn towards liberal expression, nude scenes no longer made much news. And interestingly, baring all turned into an effective strategy for actresses to prove their acting skills, commitment and passion for acting.

"I think of nude scenes as a crucial passage to become a real actress", said actress Eom Ji-won after shooting director Hong Sang-soo's "Tale of Cinema". "After stripping in front of the camera, I felt that I could now take any role".

Even veteran actresses with over 10 years experience have chosen to shoot nude scenes to reach a higher level of acting.

Top actresses Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Hye-soo each gained new perspectives in "Happy End" and "Hypnotized", respectively.

But despite the changes, differing views on nudity often cause conflicts between actresses and movie producers, and end up hurting the actresses' feelings. In a recent case, a dispute broke out between actress Seong Hyeon-ah and the producers of the mov...More

by Seung-Jae Lee (sjda@donga.com)

"Let's make a Korean version of 'Love Actually. What sort of love stories should we bring together? Wouldn't it be fun to have a man and a woman who are mutual enemies end up falling in love? Since the economy is so bad these days, a story about a couple keeping their love alive in the face of poverty would appeal to many. Let's balance out the generations by including a romance between middle-aged lovers. But romantic love isn't the only kind of love there is. Right, let's portray inter-generational love between an unwed mother and her daughter. Well... That's all good, but it seems a little ordinary so far. Isn't there something provocative to really spice up the movie? How about the love of a nun? That would invite too much criticism. Not if we make her a novice preparing for the life of a nun. We need some homosexual romance as well. But nothing that goes too far-we're not trying to spark controversy here. We should make it sweet and touching, like 'Love Actually' was. We should make the audience laugh in the beginning, then wring their tears at the end. If it wraps up too nice and happy, it would be too bland for Korean sensibilities. Sounds good! We'll give them sugar, and then salt. Laughter, then tears!"

This is the sort of brainstorming session that might have given birth to "The Most Beautiful Week of My Life" - "...More