Myeong Kye-nam (명계남)

Celebrities Mourn the Late Former President Roh

Source | 2009/05/27 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Celebrities are joining the rest of the nation in mourning the late Former President Roh Moo-hyun. Rock band YB, actors Moon Seong-geun and Myeong Kye-nam, and singer Jeon In-kwon have gone down to Roh's hometown of Bongha in southern Korea to pay their last respects to the deceased leader.

Meanwhile, younger celebrities are using their online homepages as venues to pay tribute to the former president. Actor Lee Joon-ki wrote words of condolences on his mini homepage and comedian Kim Je-dong wrote that he admired the late president and wanted to drive a tractor with him. Popera singer Im Hyung-joo mourned Roh's death by saying that he still remembers how the president held his hands and smiled at him after he sang the Korean national anthem at Roh's inauguration ceremony.

Some celebrities added their own political opinions to the tributes. Rapper 60row described Roh as a young and innovative president and criticized the arrogance of the current government. MC the Max lead vocalis...| More

Korean Films at the 59th Cannes Film Festival

Source | 2006/05/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Yoon Jong-bin
The Unforgiven in Un Certain Regard

First-time feature director Yoon Jong-bin makes his international debut in the Un Certain Regard at this year's Cannes. His film is about two boyhood friends who meet during their mandatory military service and later experience the tragic consequences of habitual violence in the army. With its steady and non-self-indulgent approach to drama, the film made its world premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival to accolades from critics and audiences alike, garnering invitations from the world's most prestigious festivals.

The Unforgiven was originally 27 year-old Yoon Jong-bin's graduation film from the Film Studies Department at Chung-Ang University, based on his experiences while serving in the army himself. "Every Korean man that does military service has experiences like this", says Yoon, referringto the bullying and violence. "It's not a special story. If you are a man and live in Korean society, you can't live apart fro...| More

Film shows a refreshing drama-like style

Source | 2006/02/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

What if you have a dark secret you don't want disclosed and somebody else wants to exploit your vulnerability? "The Customer is Always Right" (Sonnimeun Wang-ida) is an intriguing fable about such a situation where inevitably, main characters collide with each other.

The story begins in an extremely clean, well-lit barbershop. Ahn Chang-jin (Seong Ji-roo) is the proud owner and self-taught professional. He does not spare money to purchase the best scissors and hair-cutting equipment; he cleans the white-colored shop every day as if no dust is allowed to step into the sacred place; he plays only classical music for his respectable, high-brow customers.

The reality, however, is that Ahn's barbershop is one of many obscure places in the equally plain back streets of Seoul. It's nowhere near the upscale district, but Ahn's peculiar obsession with the best equipment, high-brow taste, and the extreme cleanliness is entertaining.

Furthermore, he has a beautiful wife named Jeon Yeon-o...| More