Seo Yeong-hee (서영희)

Gritty psycho-thriller pursues audiences

2008/02/27 | Source | Permalink |

Na Hong-jin's thriller "The Chaser" is now running at full throttle after a quiet start at the box office.
Since its release on Feb. 14, 1.7 million viewers as of last Sunday have bought tickets, edging the Hollywood sci-fi thriller "Jumper" from top spot.
The film was also sold to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Greece and Hong Kong at the Berlin Film Festival this year.
The film's success owes much to Kim Yoon-seok, the award-winning supporting actor from "The War of Flower" (2006), "Like a Virgin" (2006), and "The Happy Life" (2006).
Kim, 40, plays former detective Jung-ho, who gets fired for taking bribes. He's now a pimp in charge of a bodobang, an illicit "happy ending" massage parlor.
When the prostitutes under Jung-ho's management start to vanish, the former cop starts his own investigation.
He discovers that Young-min (Ha Jeong-woo), posing as a customer, has seduced and killed them.
The JoongAng Ilbo interviewed Kim Yoon-seok in Samcheong-dong, central Se...| More

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"Chaser" Offers Heart-Thumping Thrills

2008/01/31 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Not another serial killer story ― and for St. Valentine's Day? You've got to be kidding. But "The Chaser", coming to theaters Feb. 14, is no joke. It's a film noir with a serious message, but is entertaining despite being ridden with social criticism from beginning to end.

While giving the much-exploited genre a novel edge, it's a classic edge-of-the-seat experience with pulsating action, cynical comic relief and elusively gripping characters. Two hours fly by in no time.

"The Chaser" marks director Na Hong-jin's feature film debut. He made a name for himself in the international scene for shorts like "A Perfect Red Snapper Dish", and presents an original story that was three years in the making.

Here, the cat-and-mouse game is not between the police and criminal: In American parlance, a less-than-average Joe tracks down a serial murderer, while the corrupt police and public prosecutors prove to be rather useless.

Kim Yoon-seok, the ...| More

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Popularity rating of dramas in 2007, from top 5 to bottom 5

2008/01/07 | Source | Permalink |

As the year 2007 ended, the dramas are also changing its path. On 26th, SBS Wed-Thur drama, "Lobbyist" was finished, followed by KBS 2 "In-Soon is Pretty" on 27th. Previously, KBS1 historical drama, "Dae Jo Young" was crowned with perfection on 23rd. The following is the summary of popularity rating of dramas in 2007 (data provided by TNS Media Korea), beginning with MBC serial drama "Bad woman, Good woman" which began on 1st January 2007.

In the Department of Mon-Tue dramas… Between the dominance of "Jumong", "My Man's woman", "Coffee Prince", KBS was doomed, "Oh my God, What should we do?"

This year's KBS and SBS Mon-Tue dramas had a period of dark age due to MBC "Jumong". Strictly speaking, "Jumong" is the 'Old' drama, which began on 15th May 2006 and its leading actor Song Il-gook received a Grand Prize in 2006 MBC Drama Awards for his excellent performance. However, its popularity continued this year. When "Jumong" finally finished on 6th March, it recorded its maximum rati...| More

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dae jang geum, lovers in paris, jumong are the best drama! 2ndComing 2008-04-05 01:19:35 nurulhj 2008-02-09 21:54:50 a witch in love,coffee prince are best drama and dae jang geum.

Love Tree ("Now and Forever")

2006/04/14 | Source | Permalink |

by Seung-Jae Lee

Yeonriji (The Love Tree ("Now and Forever")), released in Korea yesterday, is a film featuring screen star Choi Ji-woo. The film reminds watchers of the TV drama Winter Sonata that made Choi the hottest Korean star in Japan and gave her the nickname "Jiwoo hime" (princess).

This film's story also involves lovers forced to separate by an incurable disease, and Choi's character resembles to her role in the drama.

Self-cloning is not always a bad thing. Replicating a specific image that was proven successful can be a commercially safe choice. The determining factor for further success is whether the actress can show signs of progress while duplicating the old image. In this regard, the Love Tree ("Now and Forever") is not likely to be remembered as a success in Choi's filmography, though it may jerk tears from some moviegoers. It seems the film features not actress Choi Ji-woo, but star Ji-woo hime.

Synopsis-

A successful CEO of a game developing venture bu...| More

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