| Here and queer in a changing society (Source) |
2008/01/17 |
Attitudes to gay people are changing, but conservative forces in Korea still hold sway
When an actor came out publicly seven years ago to say he was gay, the news hit Korean society with the force of a bombshell. It was unacceptable for someone to make such an announcement in a country deeply rooted in gender roles defined by Confucian values.
But things have changed since then, said Hong Seok-cheon with a grin. "I feel very comfortable now walking the streets".
The changes that the 38-year-old actor is referring to are not necessarily tangible, but they are undeniable. They've penetrated the most conservative elements of society, even the military.
The main theme in last year's MBC TV drama "Coffee Prince Branch No. 1" was homosexuality and the show earned high ratings; KBS aired a TV drama about bisexuality earlier this month.
Nowadays finding online or offline communities for gays in Korea is easy. Even Seoul National University, whose graduates dominate influential positio... |More
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| Asian Film Market and PPP Results (Source) |
2007/10/16 |
The Asian Film Market was again bustling in its second year although buyers tended to window-shop and take notes for later. A number of Korean films were picked up mainly for TV/DVD rights. Korean sales agent Cineclick Asia sealed a number of deals, selling all rights to KIM Ki-duk's "Breath" to Saudi Arabia-based Ghassan Production and Distribution for the Middle Eastern territories.
The company also picked up DVD/TV rights to KIM's "The Bow" and "3-Iron", along with "Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family"), "Red Shoes", "Fighter in the Wind", "Love Me Not", "Seducing Mr. Perfect", and KIM Ji-woon's "A Tale of Two Sisters" from Cineclick. More TV rights went to Japan's Nettai Museum for horror films "The Red Shoes" and "Acacia" along with "The Wolf Returns" and "Mission Sex Control". Meanwhile Hungary's Cinetel bought TV/VOD/Video rights to KIM Ki-duk's "Samaria", "Red Shoes", and "A Tale of Two Sisers".
In a major deal, CJ Entertainment sold a four-feature package to buyer Sple... |More
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| Sales at the Asian Film Market (Source) |
2006/11/03 |
This year's Pusan International Film Festival witnessed the opening of the inaugural Asian Film Market, a comprehensive film industry hub which covers many aspects of filmmaking from pre-sales, sales, and financing to production and post facilities as well as a casting network for up-and-coming stars.
In terms of deal-making, sales companies reported that not many deals were signed, however agreements and project advancement took place. The absence of many European buyers due largely to the opening of the Rome International Film Festival during the same period, was also noted, however those from Europe who did come had first pick and were pleased with their findings.
Among Korean deals made, CJ's martial arts fantasy The Restless and box office record-breaker The Host were bought from Cineclick Asia by Singapore's Queen Imperial for rights in Indonesia's growing market. Queen also picked up iHQ's Gangster High, Shadowless Sword, My Girl and I, A Day for an Affair, and pre-sales o... |More
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| This Week's New Movie Releases (Source) |
2006/09/15 |
And next, our Son Heekyung takes a look at what's showing in theaters across Korea.
Among the latest releases, a Korean melodrama and a thriller.
First up is the new Korean melodrama "Maundy Thursday" ("Our Happy Time"), a story about love and capital punishment.
Popular actors Lee Na-young and Kang Dong-won play the main characters in this movie.
For those who think the film's a typical melodrama about a couple in love think again!
The film is the fourth directed by Song Hae-seong.
In "Maundy Thursday", a death row inmate will soon face execution for the murder of three people.
ACTOR: "The mother of one of the victims visits the man in the prison, and says she will try and forgive him.
That's when he truly realizes what he's done.
The film is not an ordinary love story, but rather about mutual understanding between people".
ACTRESS: "I play a woman who attempts suicide multiple times due to her troubled youth.
These two extreme characters gradually develop a relations... |More
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