Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul (Movie - 2004)

Isn't that the train station from 'My Sassy Girl'?

Source | 2009/09/16 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Moviegoers and drama lovers flipping through photos of Incheon and may think certain places seem vaguely familiar. With beaches, islands, an amusement park, Chinatown and Korea's largest airport, it's no wonder this metropolitan city has established itself as a filming location for movies such as the recent Cannes favorite, "Thirst".

"There seem to be all kinds of interesting sites in Incheon", says Yook Sang-hyo, director of the 2004 film "Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul". "The beautiful roads by the seaside and the busy ports make it possible for the city to be a great background for any kind of movie".

He's not kidding. According to the Incheon Film Commission, a total of 27 movies and dramas were filmed in various locations around Incheon in 2008. Thirst, for instance, found the perfect spot last year in a factory near Incheon International Airport.

But fans may also remember the locations of some popular hits from a while back.

One of the most famous on-screen sites in...| More

PARK Kwang-soo's "Meet Mr. Daddy" ("Shiny Day") Awarded at Rome

Source | 2007/10/31 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Drama "Meet Mr. Daddy" ("Shiny Day") won the Young Audiences Award at the 2007 Rome Film Festival. Director PARK Kwang-soo's drama revolves around a selfish man – played by PARK Shin-yang – who finds out that he has a young daughter. Because it's financially beneficial, he decides to keep her. Later he finds out that the girl suffers from a serious disease.

PARK Kwang-soo is a veteran writer/director whose credentials includes "Chilsoo and Mansu" (1988), featuring PARK Joong-hoon and AHN Seong-gi. He is also the director of the Asian Film Market (AFM) of the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF).

PARK Shin-yang's numerous roles include "Hi, Dharma" and the sequel "Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul". He played a gangster who ends up hiding at a Buddhist temple; the Buddhist monks and the gangsters inevitably clash in the comedies.

Rome Film Festival's second edition was held this year after Pusan International Film Festival. Rome awarded Juno (Ivan Reitman) with the best fil...| More

"Hallyu Cinema Festival Premier" to Be Held in Tokyo

Source | 2006/03/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The "2006 Hallyu Cinema Festival Premier" introducing Korean films will be held in Tokyo, Japan for almost a month from Mar. 11 to Apr. 7.

The upcoming film festival has been organized by SPO, a Japanese film production and distribution agency, to celebrate the opening of its film outlet called "CineMart Roppongi" in Roppongi, Tokyo on Mar. 11.

CineMart Roppongi has been built as Japan's first cinema multiplex that will show only Asian films. SPO began promoting the upcoming hallyu film festival on Mar. 7, carrying full-page ads on major Japanese evening dailies.

Twenty Korean films of various genres will be shown to Japanese fans during this festival. "Flying Boys" (2004) directed by Byeon Yeong-joo and starring On Joo-wan will be shown as the opening film on Mar. 11. Byun and On are expected to say greetings to fans onstage.

Other films will include "Raging Years" ("Low Life") (2004, directed by Im Kwon-taek), "Taekwon Boys / Spin Kick" (2004, directed by Nam Sang-gook), ...| More

Out of Big Stars' Shadow

Source | 2006/02/03 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

Many actors may be merely remembered as anonymous characters who stand in the shadow of big stars in popular movies. But it is also true that some actors have a chance to step out of the shadow and sparkle by themselves.

In the upcoming local comedy films, veteran actors who have long taken supporting roles and spiced up their movies with their hilarious jokes and acting are now ready to show off their charms taking their first main role.

"Considering that I had experiences like old ladies confusing me as a comedian in the past, this is definitely a good chance for me to star in this film as a main character", actor Lee Moon-sik said Thursday during a news conference at a wedding hall in Seoul where he shot his upcoming film "Detective Mr. Gong".

"But as an actor, I don't see any big difference between main and supporting roles, and as we're all working hard without distinguishing between main and supporting roles, I believe that we can have ...| More

" Marrying the Mafia II" tops box-office among comedy movies

Source | 2005/10/10 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The comedy movie "Marrying the Mafia II", starring Kim Won-hee and Shin Hyeon-joon and directed by Jeong Yong-ki, drew more than 5 million viewers nationwide as of Oct. 8, leaving behind its rival, "My Wife Is A Gangster", and setting a box-office record among Korean comedy movies.

The movie's distributor, Show Box, said on Oct. 9 that "Marrying the Mafia II", which opened Sept. 7, had drawn 1,356,942 viewers in Seoul and 5,287,702 viewers nationwide as of Oct. 8, one month after its premiere.

The previous record-setter, "My Wife Is A Gangster", drew 5.29 million viewers in September, 2001.

"Marrying the Mafia II" also broke the record of its predecessor, "Marrying the Mafia", which drew 5.2 million viewers its opening month. The feat stands in stark contrast with the sequels "My Wife Is A Gangster 2" and " Hi, Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul", both of which failed to attract as much attention as their more successful predecessors.

The popularity of "Marrying the Mafia II" is e...| More