Song Jae-ho (송재호)

"May 18" Tops 7 Million Admissions

2007/09/04 | Source | Permalink |

According to the latest box office, historical-tragedy "May 18", has surpassed 7 million ticket sales as of September 3, making it the highest grossing Korean-language film of the year. The Korean-produced but English-language D-War is thus far the overall box office champion of 2007. "May 18" is directed by KIM Ji-hoon, previously responsible for "Mokpo, Gangster's Paradise" (2005).

On "May 18", 1980 the government under then military general CHUN Doo-hwan, sent in troops to put down a civilian uprising. The repressive policies of general CHUN, who had ordered the shut down of universities, outlawed protests, censored the press, and arrested his political opposition, resulted in the Gwangju Uprising. Troops entered the city and fired into the crowds killing hundreds of civilians.

While several films have dealt with issues surrounding the Gwangju Massacre, including "The Old Garden" (2006), "Peppermint Candy" (1999), and "A Petal" (1995), "May 18" is the first to directly fo...| More

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"May 18th" to Open July 26th

2007/06/26 | Source | Permalink |

Dealing with the events leading up to one of the tragedies in Korean history known as the Gwangju Massacre, "May 18th", directed by KIM Ji-hoon, will be the second big-budget historical film released this year following "Hwangjin-y - Movie - 2007", released earlier this month.

On May 18th, 1980 the government under then military general CHUN Doo-hwan, sent in troops to put down a civilian uprising. The repressive policies of general CHUN, who had ordered the shut down of universities, outlawed protests, censored the press, and arrested his political opposition, resulted in the Gwangju Uprising. Troops entered the city and fired into the crowds killing hundreds of civilians.

While several films have dealt with issues surrounding the Gwangju Massacre, including "The Old Garden" (2006), "Peppermint Candy" (1999), and "A Petal" (1995), May 18th is the first to directly focus on the actual events leading up to that tragic day as experienced by Gwangju residents. The film is about...| More

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"We Depicted a Family That Stayed Together Through All the Ups and Downs"

2005/06/06 | Source | Permalink |

"While we were shooting this soap drama, I thought a lot about my son that I lost five-and-a-half years ago. But I tried hard to get over those feelings by instilling him in my heart".

The Korea Broadcasting System's weekend drama "Letters to Parents" (written by Kim Soo-hyun and directed by Jeong Eul-yeong), which gripped the hearts of audience members and recorded more than a 30 percent share of viewers, marked its finale yesterday.

Since first airing on October 16 last year without putting up any arousing subjects and settings, the drama got comments that it helped viewers realize the importance of family and humane warmth by simply showing trivial happenings occurring in Vice Principal Ahn's family, composed of Ahn', his wife, and his four sons and daughters. Also people say that the drama became another chance for writer Kim to prove her talented capability.

The epic center of warmth was from actor Song Jae-ho (66 years old), who ardently played Ahn. He, who writes to h...| More

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'Bang' Has Pop But Lacks Explanation

2005/02/03 | Source | Permalink |

By Joon Soh
Culture Editor

Whether intended or not, the new local film "The President's Last Bang" has certainly created a sensation in the past month. Based on the 1979 assassination of President Park Chung-hee, the news of the film's production was met with opposition from conservatives and from Park Ji-man, the president's son, taking legal action to prevent its release.

The film now finds itself at the heart of a debate on freedom of speech, with the cultural world banding together to voice their anger over the court's decision to disallow the use of documentary footage in the otherwise fictional film.

Given the political controversy that "Last Bang" has stirred up, it will be difficult to separate the movie from the politics. And the film doesn't make it any easier, mixing fiction and reality and constantly flipping back and forth between thriller and black comedy.

As the film's sardonic _ and unfortunately sexual _ English title shows, "Last Bang" doesn't quite tak...| More

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Director Brings President's Assassination to Big Screen

2005/01/25 | Source | Permalink |

By Joon Soh
Culture Editor

Bringing a controversial historical moment to the big screen has made the film "The President's Last Bang (Kuddae Kusaramdul)" a hot topic in the usual entertainment circles as well as in the political arena.

However, director Lim Sang-soo insists his film, which mixes fact and fiction to tell the story of the assassination of President Park Chung-hee on Oct. 26, 1979, wasn't made with any specific political intent in mind.

"Some are wondering whether 25 years is too short a time to have passed to be making (the incident) into a film, but I ask who should be deciding when is the right time", Lim told reporters at the world premiere of the film in Seoul, Monday. "I say whenever an artist makes it into something, that makes it the right time".

Since the project was made public in December, "The President's Last Bang" has generated reactions from conservative groups who felt a film about the assassination was inappropriate. Earlier this month, Par...| More

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