April Snow (Movie - 2005)

Heo Jin-ho Boards Chinese Omnibus Film

Source | 2008/12/31 | Permalink |

South Korean auteur Heo Jin-ho will direct a segment in the Chinese feature "Chengdu I Love You", along with Hong Kong director Fruit Chan and China's Cui Jian. The project was inspired by the resilience of the city and its inhabitants in the aftermath of the major earthquake which struck Sichuan province and its epicenter Chengdu on May 12, 2008.

Heo, Chan and Cui will each direct a themed 30-minute segment. Heo, known in China for his moving melodramas, "Christmas in August" and "April Snow", will handle the segment on love, while Chan takes on family life, and Cui friendship.

The three directors visited Chengdu for five days last December and are currently writing scripts based on their observations. The project, produced by Chen Weiming, expects to begin shooting this April.

Heo, who was impressed by the Sichuan people's hope and resilience, told the Chinese media, "The May 12 earthquake broke many hearts in South Korea, too, and it is the reason I joined this projec...| More

Bae Receives National Order of Culture Merit

Source | 2008/10/19 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Hallyu (Korean wave) star Bae Yong-joon has been given the Hwa-Gwan Order of Culture Merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at an event celebrating the 2008 Culture Day.

"I will further think about my roles as an actor and celebrity. I will also do my best to promote Korea in the future. I thank everyone here and abroad who allowed me to stand here on this honorable stage", he said after receiving the merit at a ceremony held at the Cheongju Arts Center, North Chungcheong Province Saturday. This is the first time an actor has been given the honor, which is divided into five categories, Geum-Gwan, Eun-Gwan, Bo-Gwan, Og-Gwan and Hwa-Gwan.

Having such a tight schedule, the actor arrived by helicopter, rushing through some 400 Japanese fans who have been waiting for him in front of the arts center prior to the event.

Bae, 35, was given the honor as he has continuously devoted his work and himself to promote Korean culture to the wo...| More

Actor Bae to Introduce Kimchi to Japanese Fans

2008/08/17 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Korean superstar Bae Yong-joon will expand his Korean cuisine business with Korean kimchi in Japan.

Named "Gosireh Cabbage Kimchi" and priced at 600 yen, around 6,000 won, for 300 grams, the kimchi will be in stores early next month.

The 35-year-old collaborated with Korea's National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF), also known as Nonghyup here, to get production underway. He already opened a Korean traditional restaurant "Gosireh' in Tokyo in 2006.

The kimchi will be made with Korean ingredients, all grown and prepared by the NACF. The Gosireh Cabbage Kimchi will be on shelves at supermarkets and famous department stores, including Isetan Department Store, where consumers will have the chance to sample the dish at a special event on Aug. 29-31.

"We reduced the sour flavor, and tried to deepen the taste. I believe Japanese consumers will be happy to eat it", Bae was quoted as saying by Yonhap News.

As one of the most popular ...| More

Bae Yong-joon rekindles Korean wave

Source | 2008/07/11 | Permalink |

By Lee Ji-yoon

Asia's heartthrob Bae Yong-joon visited Japan last month to promote his latest TV drama "The Legend" ( "Taewangsashingi" - "The Four Guardian Gods of the King"). Since the premiere of the movie "April Snow" three years ago, it was his first official visit to the country where he is affectionately known as "Yonsama".

Bae and other co-stars participated in the premium event held in Osaka on June 1, attracting more than 35,000 people and keen interest from the Japanese media.

The epic blockbuster drama, aired by Japanese public broadcaster NHK, is about the life of the King Gwanggyeto of the Goguryeo Dynasty (37 B.C.-A.D. 68). While King Gwanggyeto is considered the most charismatic conqueror controlling neighboring territories in Korean history, Bae played the king with a soft side.

Bae made an opening remark in Japanese, saying "It's good to see you Japanese, who are like a family to me. It's been a long time. I'm here to introduce my new drama to you. You've ...| More

KIM Ki-duk's "Dream" to compete in San Sebastian

Source | 2008/06/26 | Permalink |

"Dream" (Korean title: "Bimong"), the fifteenth film by director KIM Ki-duk, has been selected to compete at the 56th San Sebastian International Film Festival, to be held from September 18-27.

The film, which stars Japanese heartthrob Joe ODAGIRI and Korean actress LEE Na-young, centers around a man who experiences a startlingly realistic dream about a car accident, and later discovers that the accident occurred in real life.

KIM's previous films have premiered at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Karlovy Vary and Moscow, but this will be the first time for him to compete at the prestigious Spanish festival. Other Korean films that have competed at San Sebastian in recent years include BONG Joon-ho's "Memories of Murder" (2003), SONG Il-gon's "Spider Forest" (2004), HEO Jin-ho's "April Snow" (2005), LIM Sang-soo's "The Old Garden", and KIM Mi-jeong's "Shadows in the Palace" (2007).

In 2003, KIM's Spring, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring" screened out of competiti...| More