Park Heung-shik (박흥식)

Actress Son Praised

2008/01/29 | Source | Permalink |

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

European directors are praising Korean actress Son Tae-yeong as one of the world's most beautiful actresses.

Son recently filmed a music video for new singer Revi in the United Kingdom, Yonhap News said Tuesday. Directors Nikita Diakur and Jonas Lund worked on the video, along with art director Thorbjorn Ankerstjerne and photographer Patricia Niven. Niven has worked as a photographer for the ad campaign of top lingerie line Agent Provocateur.

The foreign directors praised Sohn for having beautiful Asian eyes and lips and "rich, beautiful and sophisticated facial expressions". Sohn was the first Asian actress they have worked with.

Son recently appeared with Kim Kang-woo in the critically acclaimed film "The Railroad", directed by Park Heung-shik. The film won a special award given by the International Federation of Film Critics, during the 25th Torino Film Festival in Italy.

"The Railroad" is about two lost souls (played by Kim and...| More

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Actor Kim Works to Enjoy His Calling

2007/12/25 | Source | Permalink |

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

"Enjoy One's Calling" is the phrase written on actor Kim Kang-woo's cell phone. "Talented people cannot beat people who know how to enjoy life. I went through hard times when I first started acting. But one day, I realized I was doing something I wanted to do and earning money for it. The point is to take pleasure in what I do ― acting", Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Samcheong-dong in Seoul, Monday.

Kim, 29, debuted through "The Coast Guard" (2002), directed by Kim Ki-duk, when he was a senior at Chung-Ang University. "The only role I could get without any acting experience was a soldier", said Kim.

He was then noticed when he played Mu-cheol in the MBC drama "Breathless" (2003) and starred in SBS's "Three Leafed Clover" (2005). Kim has been known as "Mr. Right" since then for the honest and diligent characters he played. "It's funny. I didn't know that I had that kind of sincere image in me", he said.

Kim a...| More

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The Railroad Wins Two Awards at Torino Fest

2007/12/05 | Source | Permalink |

KIM Kang-woo received the Best Actor Award at the 25th Torino Film Festival for his acting in "The Railroad". Director PARK Heung-shik's film also won the Fipresci Award.

The Railroad premiered successfully in 2006 at the Pusan International Film Festival in the New Current section and enjoyed a limited release in Korean cinemas around May 2007. "The Railroad" is PARK's second feature film and was supported by the 2005 KOFIC Production Support for Low-budget Films.

KIM plays a man whose path crosses a woman portrayed by SON Tae-yeong. Both happened to be on the same train and end up together at the last stop before the North-South Korean border.

KIM is quickly rising to stardom this year because of the box office hit "Le Grand Chef" and is in the spotlight again because of the upcoming film "Rainbow Eyes". SON featured in the assembly cast of "Sad Movie" and numerous television dramas.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...| More

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Actor Kim Kang-woo Wins in Turin

2007/12/02 | Source | Permalink |

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Actor Kim Kang-woo won the Best Actor award for his role in "The Railroad" (Gyeonguiseon) at the 25th Torino Film Festival in Italy, Saturday.

"The Railroad", directed by Park Heung-shik, also won a special award given by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).

Kim's agency Namoo Actors quoted the 29-year old actor as saying: "I'm very glad to have received this big award, but what I cannot forget is the response from the audience". He was referring to the screening of "The Railroad, which was attended by 500 people at the film festival last week.

"As I saw the audience squeeze into the seats, laughing and crying along with the movie, I realized that movie allows people to communicate regardless of borders", Kim said.

"The Railroad" is about two lost souls (played by Kim and actress Son Tae-yeong), who find themselves stranded at the last railroad stop before the Demilitarized Zone on a snowy night. As they spend t...| More

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Gyeongui Line ("The Railroad")

2007/05/03 | Source | Permalink |

"My Wife Produced It" –

Good scenarios were few and far between for director Park Heung-shik after his latest movie, "The Twins", failed to attract audiences and received lukewarm reviews from the critics. He wrote a scenario himself, determined to "make a story he wants to tell". Film editor Park Kok-ji, his wife, reviewed it first and gave him the OK.

She said, "I have been lucky to be at the center for so long. I have spent my life in the movie business, but what is most important is my family. I participated in this movie not to make money, but to make my husband happy".

Director Park does not reveal how much the movie cost, afraid that it would be labeled a "low-budget movie". Thanks to his wife, however, A-level staff from Chungmu-ro joined them to make the movie. She said, "I made a threat, saying, 'My husband wants to work with the best team in Korea, but we don't have a lot of money. What can you do?'"

There were shots of a railway and subway car in the movie, whos...| More

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