Kim Tae-woo (김태우)

Lee Jae-gyoo's directorial debut "The Influence" was released this week through the internet. The three part film stars Lee Byeong-Heon fresh from his international exposure in Tran Ahn Hung's I Come with the Rain and blockbuster GI Joe. He appears alongside actress Han Chae-young who recently starred in "Good Morning President" (2009). The film also stars actors Jeon No-min, Kim Tae-woo ("The Naked Kitchen" 2008) and ...More

Performance Industry Meets the World

Among the various factors that constitute human life, culture has the greatest capacity to nurture connections and exchange. One culture quickly absorbs the advantages of another culture and develops to integrate naturally into a large wave.

The same applies to the performance industry.

While it is difficult to compare live performances with other genres as they are played out directly in front of an audience, they often borrow from the sources, forms and contents of different genres. In 2010 the performance industry will meet and interact with other genres.

Reinterpreting works from different genres

Recently, the Muk Company announced that the film "JSA - Joint Security Area" will be produced as a musical.

"JSA - Joint Security Area" is an example of one-source, multi-use in the publication, film and musical fields. Based on the 1996 novel DMZ written by Park Sang-yeon, the 2000 film "JSA - Joint Security Area" was directed by Director Park Chan-wook. It was a big hit with its star cast including Lee Byeong-Heon, ...More

Top Korean actor Lee Byeong-Heon [Asia Economic Daily]

Top Korean actor Lee Byeong-Heon has said that working on his new film "The Influence" felt like an extension of shooting his KBS blockbuster TV series "IRIS" from last year.

Speaking at the film's showcase held Tuesday at Seoul CGV Multiplex, the Hallyu star described the experience as "shooting the 22nd episode of "IRIS" because filming for "The Influence" started right after "IRIS" ended".

"It was difficult and I felt burdened but I liked working with director Lee Jae-gyoo, whom I had wanted to work with", the Hallyu star said. "Personally I like movies with an element of fantasy to it so I was able to act freely and have fun"....More

Korean films "Actresses" (left) and "The Naked Kitchen" (Right)

Eight Korean films -- including "Actresses", "The Naked Kitchen" and "A Brand New Life" -- are up for presentation at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, which kicks off in Germany on Thursday.

This year, the film festival -- which is considered one of the most prestigious film events in Europe alongside Cannes, Venice and Rotterdam -- will show more than 400 films from around the world.

In addition to the following Korean movies invited to the film fest, two Asian productions have also been selected for the opening and closing films; "Apart Together", directed by Chinese filmmaker Wang Quan'an to open the event while Japanese film "Younger Brother" by Yoji Yamada will close the festival on February 21....More

Interview with TV, film and musical actor Kim San-ho

Actor Kim San-ho [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

My name is Kim San-ho. A syllable in my name is used for everyone else in my family but I think he just flipped the name of the hospital where I was born which was "Ho San Women's Clinic"
I lived in Cheonan in the South Chungcheong Province from the day I was born on February 12, 1982 up until high school.
I am the youngest of three brothers. My family is composed of my parents, my two brothers, my eldest brother's wife and their two children. I love kids so whenever I visit my hometown, I play with the two. They always ask me to take them to Baskin Robbins (laughs).
I was a theater major at the Seoul Institute of the Arts when I enlisted for the army at the age of 21. I didn't think it was a big deal back then but after seeing one of my close friends enter the army at the age of 30, I'm relieved that I finished my term at an early age....More