Kim Yoon-seok (김윤석)

World Beware: The Wizard is Coming this Summer

Source | 2009/06/05 | Permalink |

Korea's own super hero movie "Jeon Woo-chi" is set for release this summer. The movie is highly anticipated not just because of its colloquial superhero themes but its super star cast and director. Choi Dong-hoon known for the colourfully large "War of the Flower" (2006) and "The Big Swindle" (2004) helms this ambitious Taoist action film feat. Equally as well known as Choi are its actors who are mainstays in Korean cinema. Kang Dong-won, young star of 'M' (2007) and The "Duelist" (2005) plays the mischievous time transported hero fighting against Kim Yoon-seok the detective anti hero in last year's surprise hit, thriller "The Chaser" (2008). Im Soo-Jeong from Kim Jee-woon's "A Tale of Two Sisters" fame and Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok" also appears in the film along with Yoo Hae-jin who worked with Choi on "War of the Flower" and a host of other films.

Even though a superhero flick, Cho Dong-hoon has taken the familiar family genre, fused it with Korean h...| More

[ChanMi's movie news] "Turtle" a country version of "Chaser"?

Source | 2009/06/03 | Permalink |

New film, "Running Turtle" seems to be a country version of the hit film, "The Chaser" because it cast the same stars!

It is full of humanism and comedy.

This film is to be released on June, 11 officially titled, "Running Turtle" set in a small town with no crime. However, one day a runaway criminal finds this town and steals everything from the town sheriff Jo Pil-seong.

The genre is action drama. The main actors are Kim Yoon-seok who transforms completely for this role totally different from "The Chaser". Sin Jeong-geun is also in this film as a comic character.

Kim's character chases this criminal, Song Gi-tae more passionately because of his promise to his daughter.

This film's scenario has been worked on...| More

'The Chaser' Is a Superb Thriller

Source | 2009/01/04 | Permalink |

Na Hong-jin's debut feature restores faith in Korean genre cinema
Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

Jung-ho (Kim Yoon-seok, "Tazza: The High Rollers" - "The War of Flower") is a former cop turned pimp for a "massage parlor". He is convinced that a young, dorky customer Young-min (Ha Jeong-woo, recently on a roll, also excellent in US-lensed "Never Forever") has kidnapped and sold his "girls", including Mi-jin (Seo Yeong-hee). Unfortunately, what the cops uncover is far worse: Young-min is an impotent serial killer who uses a chisel and a hammer to slaughter his female victims. While the police investigation stumbles and takes detour, Jung-ho becomes increasingly aware that Young-min's latest victim, Mi-jin, is still alive somewhere, bleeding and bound: and that he is the only person who can rescue her.

"The Chaser" is the hands-down grittiest, snazziest and gutsiest Korean thriller of 2008, possibly in last three years or so. It is difficult to believe that this is a feature film debut fo...| More

Ten Culture Trends of 2008

Source | 2008/12/22 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

1. The Death of Celebrities in 2008

The suicide death of actor Ahn Jae-hwan because his debt shocked the nation. Then, the suicide death of Korea's commercial queen and sweetheart, Choi Jin-sil, friend to Ahn and his wife/comedian Jung Seon-hee, jolted the nation. Choi's death hit the nation hard, with fellow celebrities following suit, including transsexual actress

Jang Chae-won, model Kim Ji-hoo, and vocal group M Street's leader Lee Seo-hyun.

Many stars passed away, leaving the entertainment industry and its fans grieving.

The first celebrity to leave fans was Kim Chang-ik, youngest member of the group Sanulrim. He was followed by famed composer Lee Young-hun, who died in February after suffering from colon cancer. In April, Turtleman from the pop group "Turtles" died from a heart attack, while Kim Min-soo, member of the pop group Monday Kiz, passed away after being involved in a motorcycle accident.

Model Ion also died in a motorcy...| More

[YEAR-END REVIEW (1) MOVIE] Korea's film industry grapples with slump

Source | 2008/12/18 | Permalink |

Early this year, there was only doom-and-gloom in the Korean film industry.

Major production houses and distributors feared an economic slump would further dampen the market, undercutting the already reduced share of local films.

The negative predictions turned out to be largely on the mark.

As investment sentiment hit a new low, a host of small-budget films were released, with lackluster box-office performances. The protracted slump in the video and DVD markets pushed Hollywood distributors to withdraw branch offices in Korea.

The troubles at home also affected the performances of Korean filmmakers abroad. Fewer Korean films got honors at major international film festivals. For instance, no Korean film was invited to Venice International Film Festival for the first time in 10 years. Exports of Korean films are also feared to have slowed significantly this year.

The most depressing news for Korean filmmakers is that the share of local films slumped by more than 10 percen...| More