She's on Duty (Movie - 2005)

Actor Kim Soo-ro as English Teacher on Big Screen

Source | 2008/08/20 | Permalink |

By Le e Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The zeal for English education in South Korea needs no introduction, except that it has inspired hit comedies like "My Tutor Friend" and "Please Teach Me English" (2003).

Funnyman Kim Soo-ro comes back to the big screen as E.T. ― no, not an extraterrestrial, but an English teacher ― or more specifically an unconventional, "alien-like" one in the upcoming film "Our School E.T" (working title).

The 38-year-old actor ("A Cruel Attendance ", 2006) plays the role of a quirky high school physical education teacher. But the school's new policy to boost English education puts his position at stake, and he decides that teaching English is his only hope. Thus begins the simpleton's rigorous training to exercise his brain "muscles" to master English.

Kim's anxious "survival" seems to extend off screen. "I made the film thinking it would be my last. If this doesn't fare well in the box office, then I won't be getting any more offers, so I pou...| More

No pain, no gain for the streetwise ajumma squad

Source | 2008/06/11 | Permalink |

Life is tough for four ajumma, or housewives, in "Girl Scout", an action comedy directed by Kim Sang-man.

The film was released last Thursday. It is the only Korean film that was included among the top five ranking, as of Monday.

The film takes place in Bongcheon-3 dong, a deprived area in Seoul where this aggressive middle-aged squad lives.

The squad members are I-man (Nah Moon-hee), a woman in her 60s working at a supermarket to look after her unemployed son; Bong-soon (Lee Kyeong-sil), a widow who lives with an ill child; Mi-kyung (Kim Seon-ah), a divorcee; and Eun-ji (Ko Joon-hee), a caddie.

The four women are determined to raise the money to open up a store in their neighborhood.

It is their sole hope and dream.

Though they try their best, they are hit by a piece of news that comes at them like a bolt from the blue.

Hye-ran (Lim Ji-eun), who used to be one of the squad members and who is in charge of their collective savings, runs away.

The four ajumma, ran...| More

Gong Yoo to Leave For the Military Next Year

Source | 2007/12/19 | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Gong Yoo, 28, the heartthrob of the recent hit drama "Coffee Prince", will temporarily say goodbye to his fans to serve in the military Jan. 14, 2008.

"Gong will start five weeks of basic training for his military service at the Nonsan training center in South Chungcheong Province", said his agency, Sidus HQ.

The actor has been in numerous films such as "She's on Duty", "S Diary" and dramas like "One Fine Day", but his popularity peaked with "Coffee Prince". He especially became one of the favored actors among young women for his exquisite fashion sense and model-like figure.

"I am grateful for my fans, and I will do my best to successfully complete my service and return to make better films", he said through his agency.

Meanwhile, Gong was nominated for the "Best Actor", "Most Popular Actor by Netizens", and the "Favorite On Screen Couple Award" with Yoon Eun-hye ― his co-star in "Coffee Prince" ― at the MBC Drama Awards. ...| More

Kim Ki-duk's Time to Open Karlovy Vary Fest

Source | 2006/05/28 | Permalink |

By Nigel DSa
Assistant Editor / Staff Writer

Director KIM Ki-duk's new feature "Time" has been selected as the opening film of the 41st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival which begins next month in the Czech Republic.

The 13th feature film by Kim Ki-duk, "ime" will have its World Premier at the festival which is set to open June 30th in the Bohemian spa town of Karlovy Vary.

KIM's Time will star Actress Sung Hyeon-ah (The Scarlet Letter, Woman is the Future of Man) and actor Ha Jeong-woo (She's on Duty, The Unforgiven) in the lead roles. In keeping with KIM's daring perspectives on modern life and relationships, the film will tell the tale of a couple's fading love and the extreme measures they will go through, including changing their appearances, to revitalize their passion.

Karlovy Vary Festival Director Jiri Bartoska said "it is an honor for us that this year's festival will start off with the world premiere of a new film by Kim Ki-duk". Director KIM, who is no s...| More

[Festival] The Samsung Korea Film Fest Begins (Florence March 31 to April 10)

Source | 2006/03/24 | Permalink |

The Samsung Korea Film Fest Begins

Florence March 31 to April 10 the fourth edition of the South Korean Cinematography festival in Italy


Florence - Return to the Korea Film Fest, the traditional spring appointment with South Korean cinematography, coming together this year for it's fourth edition. The Festival, strengthened by renewed collaboration with Samsung Electronics Italia, will assume, for the 2006 edition, the name 'Samsung Korea Film Fest' (www.koreafilmfest.com http://www.koreafilmfest.com ). The Festival - organized by artistic director Riccardo Gelli, president of the association 'Taegukgi' - Exchange of Tuscan and Korean Cultures, in collaboration with Stensen Cinema - will take place in Florence from march 31 to april 10 in three halls: Auditorium Stensen (march 31-april 6), Alfieri Atelier (april 6-9), Cineteca di Firenze (april 10). Among the main viewings and contemporary classics, the festival, the only of it's type in all of Italy, will offer another 20 film...| More