| Actor John Cho Aims to Break Stereotypes (Source) |
2009/05/12 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
It appears that the mission of John Cho, much like his "Star Trek: The Beginning" character, is "to boldly go where no one has gone before". If the space pilot Hikaru Sulu seeks new life and new civilizations, then the Korean-American actor strives to break certain Asian stereotypes until one day it won't be necessary to do so.
"Part of my mission as an actor has been to define what an American is. I've played roles that aren't expected of an Asian", said the star of the cult comedy "Harold and Kumar', and' who popularized the term "MILF" in the "American Pie" trilogy, in an interview Monday in Seoul.
Asians being typecast as funny "is a new stereotype", said the 36-year-old, explaining that Asian Americans had hitherto been labeled as "cold, non-humorous and involved in our books".
But Cho, one of 2006 People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive, said the ultimate goal would naturally be to not worry about stereotypes for choosing parts. "Any role t... |More
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| 'Scam' Is Smart Investment (Source) |
2009/01/29 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The box office can be as difficult to predict as the stock market, and South Korean cinema in particularly is suffering amid the global financial crisis. "The Scam", the country's first stock market movie, will undoubtedly prove to be a smart investment. Unlike its scamming characters, newcomer director Lee Ho-jae-I invests the right way, with a solid, "inflation-free" script and the magic chemistry of a talented cast.
The crime drama draws in viewers without becoming too technical, as it is more about the human desire for wealth than financial matters. Losing tens of millions of won in the stock market can be only a click away on the Internet. "Click", and hopeless debtors head to the Han River.
Hallyu star Park Yong-ha (SBS's "On Air") sheds his sleek image to play Hyeon-su, a victim of such a fatal click. After losing everything, he spends five years glued to the computer screen as an unshaven, full-time "ant" (individual investor). He eventu... |More
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| Kimchi & Big Apple (Source) |
2008/02/28 |
Koreatown in New York Never Sleeps
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
NEW YORK ― Luminous skyscrapers, the hustle and bustle of yellow cabs, poker-faced pedestrians and a dizzying mosaic of different cultures: it's New York City.
In a way, the Big Apple continues to symbolize the great American melting pot. For a "genuine" New York experience, a visit to Little Italy or Chinatown ― or the newly emerging hotspot Koreatown ― is essential.
Seoul in New York: West 32nd Street
On West 32nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway lies a small block lined with Korean-style stationary stores (Morning Glory), supermarket (Han Ah Reum) and cafes galore. West 32nd Street, with its anarchic array of neon signs that read "BBQ" and "Open 24 Hours", takes you back to Korea.
Flushing, Queens may be the ultimate Korean district in New York (and on the east coast), but it has that distinct "Korean American" quality that sets it apart from mainland Korea. Like Los Angele... |More
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| NY Times Writer Explores Koreatown in Manhattan (Source) |
2008/01/25 |
New York Times reporter Seth Kugel, in his Thursday (Jan. 24) article "From Bib Bim Bop to a Huge Spa", featured several Korean spots in Manhattan, together with a four-minute video clip.
Introducing West 32nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway as "firmly surprisingly, overwhelmingly Korean", the writer said this is where many New Yorkers and visitors first taste kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage), bulgogi (marinated grilled beef) and bibimbap (spicy vegetable mixed rice). The area is also where Koreans and Korean Americans gather for parties and social events.
Kugel started at "Kunjip", "a standard Koreatown restaurant" offering generous portions of do-it-yourself barbecue and several brands of soju. He later visited "Woorijip", a reasonably priced buffet; "Bon Chon Chicken", which makes Korean-style fried chicken; and "Han Gawi", a vegetarian spot with free mushrooms and tofu.
Plenty of Korean art are also scattered throughout the city, notably at the Metropolitan Museum... |More
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| Why would Hollywood be interested in Korean stars? (Source) |
2007/12/27 |
- Strategic casting to target Asian market based on the popularity of the Korean Wave.
- Jang Dong-gun, Ha Jeong-woo, Song Hye-kyo are the first ones to make their debut in Hollywood as the main casts of American film.
One after another, an increased number of Korean stars, including Jang Dong-gun, "Rain", Lee Byeong-Heon, Jeon Ji-hyeon, Park Joon-hyung and Song Hye-kyo, had been cast in American films.
But, why would Hollywood be interested in Korean stars?
According to the analysis produced by the Film Promotion Committee, the average annual film marketing growth in America from 2000 to 2005 had been around 31,6 billion dollars. Comparing it against England (2nd – 5,2 billion) and Japan (3rd – 4,6 billion), the American market is approximately 6 time larger, the biggest market in the world. In particular, the film industry had been dramatically advanced and countless American actors are being already appearing in their films. Therefore there's seems no suitable reason t... |More
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