Lee Chang-dong (이창동)

Actor Song Kang-ho [photographed by Beck Una/10Asia]

Beck: What did you find likeable and entertaining about the script for "Secret Reunion"?
Song: Ten years ago, I did the films "Shiri" and "JSA - Joint Security Area" which are both about South Korea, North Korea and men. So, "Secret Reunion" was similar to them in a way, a similar story, but the overall outline of the movie is completely different from the previous films. The film doesn't treat the South-North division as its theme but rather takes an incredibly soft, light and sophisticated approach to it. I thought that was closer to how the audience currently feels about the division and there was something lovely about a North Korean spy and a former South Korean intelligence service agent living together. I don't think I would have done the movie if it dealt seriously about the division at times like now.

Beck:But didn't you choose to do the film because of the character or the role you would get to take on?...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

In an interview at a hotel in Sokong-dong, actor Song Kang-ho said, "First of all, I could easily identify my own personality with the character I played in the movie ‘Secret Reunion' better than in any of my other movies. The character of Han-kyu in Secret Reunion seems to me to be a mix of previous characters I played before, including Doo-man ("Memories of Murder") and Kyung-pil ("JSA - Joint Security Area"). I think that my character Han-kyu is a unique character, but I also used several of my previous characters from my other movies to influence the character 'Han-kyu'. I see my role as Han-kyu to be an assorted gift of my acting experiences for my fans. I tried to show the essence of my acting through Han-kyu and to express him as a father and a husband in his daily life, even though Han-kyu is an agent of the National Intelligence Service (laughing)".

Song, who has gained growing popularity and recognition for his acting credentials, plays Han-kyu, a former agent of the NIS in the movie "Secret Reunion", which is the second movie by director Jang Hoon, whose first project as the main director was "A Movie is a Movie". "Secret Reunion" will be released on February 4....More

Actor Seol Kyeong-gu [Beck Una/10Asia]

Beck Una (Beck): And that is when you decided to take the civil service examination.
Seol Kyeong-gu (Seol): Haha. Let me explain that to you. I was dying to leave the Hanyang Repertory. I'd already graduated but that place was an extension of school while I wanted to meet a larger variety of people. I didn't think they'd let me go for no reason so I lied that I'm going to take the civil service exam. (laugh) But what's so spontaneous about me is that although I had left because I didn't like it, I didn't have anything to do right away. And I needed money but I didn't want to ask my parents for it so I ended up asking a senior of mine to give me a part-time job putting up posters. The interesting thing is that I ended up staying in the industry. Of course, if I had really taken off, I might have ended up becoming human trash. (laugh) Anyway, I had been at the job for about a month and a half? I was suddenly asked if I would want to take part in the musical "Line 1". Mr. Kim Min-ki had seen me about, putting up the posters and asked me if I would want to take part thinking that I'm hardworking. That had been my audition for it. Me and actors from all walks of life with all sorts of experience rehearsed for three months and wow, it was so much fun. That was the start of "Line 1". It also did very well. Before I took on film "Girls' Night Out", I was making two million won per month and drove a Sephia. (laugh) But after "Line 1", I had no work at all. That's when scenarist Lee Seon-mi, who used to do plays, recommended me to writer Jeong Seong-joo. And that is how I got to become part of the cast for morning TV series "Sisters". I think I'm a very person when it comes to human relationships.

Beck: Did you not think of taking on dramas after "Sisters"?
Seol: Why wouldn't I have? I was also asked to quite a lot. Not official auditions but one-on-one. But you know how you get glanced at from head to toe? I really hated the look they gave me when they do that. So after "Girls' Night Out" and then "Rainbow Trout", a man called Lee Chang-dong called me.

Beck: After he watched "Girls' Night Out"?...More