Park Heung-sik (박흥식)

[TV review] A 'Sweet Seoul' 30-somethings can relate to

2008/07/02 | Source | Permalink |

I was feeling restless on a recent Friday at a dinner with acquaintances, watching the clock ticking away close to 10 p.m. As the clock ticked to 9:58 p.m., I finally found myself automatically standing up, mumbling the most awkward excuse that I don't even remember now, and running toward the door.

There was nothing wrong with the delicious dinner and the healthy discussion about the crisis of the Lee Myung-bak administration. The truth was that it was Friday night, and that's when I have to hail my new religion ? "My Sweet Seoul", a TV series whose two consecutive episodes air from 10 p.m. Fridays.

Go ahead and laugh at me, but all I could think of then was to not lose a single minute of "My Sweet Seoul".

I felt like the queen of the world when I finally reached my remote control at home. In my defense, I have to say that I am not alone in this new Friday religion, as it is giving birth to a big, fat group of followers including some of my friends, who are even canceling eve...| More

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Korean Chick Lit Books Turned Into Dramas

2008/05/27 | Source | Permalink |

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporters

Chick lit books have always been popular among young Korean women, especially the "Shopaholic" series by Sophie Kinsella and "The Devil Wears Prada" by Lauren Weisberger.

Korean chick lit books are also gaining popularity, and two popular books are being turned into television dramas.

The glamorous world of the fashion industry will be the backdrop for the up-coming SBS drama "Style", based on a novel written by Baek Young-ok, a former fashion reporter.

A producer from SBS said Tuesday it has finalized the purchase of the rights to turn "Style" into a drama. The drama is expected to air by March next year.

There is no word yet on who will play the lead role in the TV soap. In "Style", the main character is a 31-year-old female reporter at a fashion magazine. It gives an inside look at the world of fashion and luxury. It also deals with office politics, fierce competition in the fashion world and the luxury goods indu...| More

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From TV ad to social drama

2008/03/19 | Source | Permalink |

It was not an expected career move.
Model-turned-actress Seo Dan-bi became a household name when she fronted the television ad for KTF mobile phones.
But her latest project was live theater, among a cast of actors with disabilities.
Seo, 23, appeared in "Angels Without Wings", which was staged at Nowon Art Center last week.
"Working with disabled actors has been a thoroughly rewarding experience", said Seo.
Since her debut in 2006, Seo has mostly appeared in television commercials, including, most famously, the KTF commercial. The theater show couldn't be more different.
Her fellow actors are Kim In-moon, 69, and Kil Byul-eun, both survivors of debilitating strokes that affected their movement, and Kang Min-hwi who has Down's syndrome.
People with disabilities are not in the mainstream of society, partly because of social prejudices, Seo said, but she found that her fellow actors were able to convey a deeper and more diverse range of emotions on stage.
"Disabled actors depict p...| More

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Actor Inspired by Hungry Spirit

2007/12/04 | Source | Permalink |

Actor Kim Kang-woo, 29, must feel like flying by now.

Although "Le Grand Chef", in which he played the leading role, opened in theaters during the slowest season (November), it has attracted more than 2.6 million movie goers nationwide. Moreover, he won the Best Actor's award on Saturday (local time) at the 25th Torino Film Festival for his role in "The Railroad", which was directed by filmmaker Park Heung-sik and opened in Korea in May. Simply put, he earned recognition as an actor who can garner both critical acclaim and box office success.

Although many Korean actresses won the Torino Film Festival, only a handful of Korean actors won this prestigious international award. Surprisingly, his voice was calm when he was asked on Sunday about winning the award.

"I couldn't imagine this could happen when I came here. I was nervous when the announcement was made, but I felt rather composed when I walked up to the platform. When I gave a few words in both English and Italian, the r...| More

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PIFF's New Currents Delivers Two Winners

2006/11/03 | Source | Permalink |

The jury of the 11th Pusan International Film Festival's New Currents section appointed two winners this year: Malaysian feature Love Conquers All and the Chinese film Betelnut. Director TAN Chui Mui's Love Conquers All was regarded as a strong contender for the award, while Betelnut - directed by YANG Heng – was a surprise choice.

TAN Mui Chui is a renowned independent filmmaker who previously won acclaim for her short films. Love Conquers All is her feature film debut. The film's plot, about a woman arriving from the countryside to Kuala Lumpur and the disappearance of a man who tried hard to win her heart, is told in a subtle way.

YANG Heng's Betelnut depicts several young people spending their summer in a small town in China. The laid-back summer is disrupted when they become wrapped up in romance, only to have their regular lives continue after the summer passes.

Korean contenders for the New Currents award were PARK Heung-sik's < The Railroad > and KIM Tae-sik's < Drivin...| More

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