Blue Swallow (Movie - 2005)

Busan Film Fest 2009 Kicks Off In Style

Source | 2009/10/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Busan - The 14th edition of the Pusan (Busan) International Film Fstival (PIFF) kicked off Thursday with glitz and glam. Some 150 star cineastes and VIP guests walked the red carpet, sizzling up the cool autumn evening at the seaside resort.

The Busan Yatching Center Outdoor Theater exploded with excitement, as more than the usual number of fans who could not secure seats swarmed the venue outside. Competition was fierce among domestic and foreign press during the photo-op.

Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett and South Korean superstar Lee Byeong-heon stole the limelight as the two "I Come With the Rain" co-stars walked down the red carpet together. Also in the spotlight was actress Kim Yoon-jin, who appeared glamorous in a chic black dress. The "Lost" star attended the PIFF opening ceremony for the first time as the new face of makeup brand L'Oreal, an official partner of the event.

Meanwhile, Jang Jin, who directed the event's opening film "...| More

Actress Jang Jin-yeong's Death Saddens Industry

Source | 2009/09/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

One of Korea's top actresses, a favorite with critics and audiences alike, JANG Jin-yeong passed away Sep 1, at the young age of 35. Diagnosed last September with stomach cancer after a routine check-up, the actress was said to be recovering when her condition took a turn for the worse last month.

JANG's acting career took off in tandem with the boom in the Korean film industry. She debuted in "Ghost in Love" (1998), but drew attention for her strong performance opposite SONG Kang-ho in hit 2000 film "The Foul King" by KIM Ji-woon. Her role in 2001 horror "Sorum" won her numerous best actress awards in Korea, and one abroad at Portugal's Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Festival.

Her role in the 2003 hit "Singles" earned her the best actress prize at the nation's Blue Dragon Awards and won her a broad fan following. She continued to win prizes for her leading roles in "Blue Swallow" (2005) and "Between Love and Hate" ("The Unbearable Lightness of Dating" - 2006). Her ...| More

Top Actress Jang Jin-yeong Dies of Stomach Cancer

Source | 2009/09/02 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Top actress Jang Jin-yeong, who had been struggling with stomach cancer, died on September 1 at age 37. Jang's agency, Yedang Entertainment, said the actress passed away at 4:04 p.m. at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul.

Jang learned about her disease in September last year during a health checkup, and since then had undergone treatment in Seoul. Her condition improved once, and she even attended a concert of singer Kim Gun-mo in May. In July this year she received treatment in the U.S. and shortly afterward disclosed that she had a boyfriend.

The actress also received acupuncture treatment and even talked about it on TV. But she was hospitalized again because her condition deteriorated last month, and she was told that her cancer had spread all over the body and was impossible to cure.

Jang's agency said the actress had suspended her treatment last month and had been spending time with her family to prepare for her death.

Last month, Jang was transferred from Seoul National Uni...| More

Jang Jin-yeong Loses Battle with Cancer

Source | 2009/09/02 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The actress Jang Jin-yeong died at the St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul at 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. She was 37. Jang had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in September 2008 and courageously battled the illness, receiving medical treatment in the United States and seeking help from traditional acupuncture and oriental medicine.

Jang has been hospitalized in Seoul since her condition worsened recently. Doctors reportedly gave her morphine and other drugs to relieve the pain.

Jang was seen at a concert in May, when her condition temporarily improved, and announced that she had a boyfriend after coming back from the U.S. But her health began to deteriorate in August and she was hospitalized again. It is then when she learned the cancer had spread to all over her body and recovery was impossible.

Born in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Jang made her debut after winning a regional division of the 1993 Miss Korea beauty pageant. She mainly worked as a model in her early career, an...| More

Fajr Film Fest Hosts Korean Retrospective

Source | 2009/01/14 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Iran's major annual film event, the 27th Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF), held in Tehran, will showcase a retrospective of contemporary Korean films. 13 features produced from the years 2000 through 2008 will screen in the Persian capital, January 30 to February 10, 2009.

Along with the retrospective, JEON Soo-il's "With a Girl of Black Soil" (2007) was selected in the line-up of the Asian Cinema competition section. It will vie alongside North Korean film "A School Girl's Diary" by JAN In-hak and 11 other features from across Asia.

Among selections in the retrospective are titles such as PARK Chan-wook's "JSA - Joint Security Area" (2000), BAEK Woon-Hak's "Tube" (2003), KIM Ji-woon's "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" (2008), JOO Kyeong-joong's "A Little Monk" (2002), and SHIM Hyung-rae's "D-War" (2007).

In previous year's a number of Korean films have won awards at FIFF, including YOON Jong-chan's "Blue Swallow", which won the Best Screenplay award for Asian Cinema ...| More