Lee Chang-dong (이창동)

Book on Korean modern artists released in English

Source | 2009/11/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The Korea Foundation (http://www.kf.or.kr/) recently released an English translation of the book "Modern Korean Artists". The publication is a compilation of articles about contemporary artists from the quarterly magazine "Koreana" from 2000 to 2008 and lists various genres of Korean art from fine arts to Korean film.

Korea Foundation explains in its announcement that although Korea's contemporary art world can't be dealt with fully within a single volume, the book provides a close-up look at several key figures who have contributed to the advancement of the modern art scene in Korea.

The book is divided into five sections: visual art, performance, music, architecture and film. In the visual art section, 12 notable artists are introduced, including Park Soo-geun, Lee U-fan, Bae Bien-u and Park Seo-bo; in performance artists, Lee Ae-ju and Kang Soo-jin; in music, 10 musicians including Kim Duk-soo, Ahn Sook-sun, Jo Sumi and Chung Myung-hoon; in architecture, the three architects J...| More

Korean-French Movie Honored at Tokyo Film Fest

Source | 2009/10/26 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The film "A Brand New Life" directed by Korean-French Ounie Lecomte won the Best Asian Film Award at the 22nd Tokyo International Film Festival, which ended on Sunday.

Lecomte was born in Korea and adopted by a French family at a young age. A joint Korean-French production, "A Brand New Life" was made with the assistance of renowned Korean director Lee Chang-dong. It tells the story of a nine-year-old girl who was deserted by her father.

The film also won the top honor, the jury prize, at the Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam last week. It will be released in Korea on Thursday....| More

An orphan struggles to overcome abandonment

Source | 2009/10/08 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Jin-hee's morning begins on a bicycle, her arms wrapped around her father's waist as he navigates the streets. She enjoys the ride and the warmth of his back as she presses into him.

It's a big day. Her father bought her new clothes, which she is now wearing. He also bought her a large cake, though it's not her birthday. She is so happy that, during lunch at a restaurant, she sings a little song for her father.

The day, however, takes an abrupt turn. Jin-hee's father drops her off at an orphanage, where she's left with a dozen children she has never met. It's the beginning of a brand new life for her, one she tries desperately to escape until she realizes that there is nowhere for her to go and that her father is not coming back.

She quickly learns that life at the orphanage is full of separation and sadness, as other children are adopted and leave her life, one by one. Her best friend Sook-hee (Park Do-yeon) lands in the arms of an American family and is whisked to a land whe...| More

Actress Jeon to Get French Knight Order

Source | 2009/10/08 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The French government will award Korea's highly-acclaimed actress Jeon Do-yeon, with the title of the Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor, France's highest (Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur), her agency said Thursday.

Launched in 1802 by Napoleon, the Legion of Honor is granted regardless of the nationality of its recipient.

The title recognizes Jeon's contribution to the culture and art fields, especially her efforts to promote Korean cinema in France. She won the Best Actress Award for her leading role in Lee Chang-dong's "Secret Sunshine" at the 60th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.

The award ceremony will take place at the French Night event on the sideline of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), which started on Thursday in the nation's largest southern port city.

Jeon spent five years starring in television dramas before achieving instant star status with her film debut opposite Han Seok-kyu in "The Contact". She has established ...| More

Korea gaining recognition as a location for film

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

More foreign filmmakers are choosing to make their movies here

Foreign film crews have become a more familiar sight around Korea in recent years, with an increasing number of production teams choosing to make their movies here.

While the increase in foreign film production activity seems sudden, it is no coincidence. In the last two years, the film commissions in Seoul and Busan have launched incentives they hope will help attract foreign filmmakers, such as financial subsidies, administrative assistance and first-class production facilities. And it's working.

The country is gaining recognition as an affordable location for film production, and many of the films shot here have gone on to box-office success, particularly in Asia.

Two of these films will be on screen at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival next month and several others are set for release later in the year.

While the film industry has not yet built the infrastructure to support something as large as ...| More