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July 5, 2013
Prosecutors charge 24 in Song case
By Ann Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
Prosecutors recently charged 24 of 41 netizens who are accused of spreading rumors on the Internet about actress Song Hye-gyo.
In January 2012, Song filed a criminal complaint against 41 people for fabricating and spreading groundless rumors.
Most of the accused are employed people in their 20’s and 30’s, one of whom is a doctor. From September 2008 to December 2011, they allegedly circulated rumors on blogs that Song was “sponsored” by a political heavyweight.
In the Korean language, the word “sponsor” is used to indicate a relationship in which someone receives financial help in exchange for sex.
“Song had been plagued by endless rumors surrounding her personal life for a long time, so she had no option but to take it upon herself to accuse the Internet users who fabricated and spread rumors like they are true,” her spokesperson said.
Prosecutors have recommended that the 24 netizens receive fines of 500,000 won ($437), 700,000 won or 1 million won according to their level of involvement.
The other 17 netizens have not been charged. |
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July 6, 2013
Su-zy Basking in Limelight as Hottest Starlet
The Chosun Ilbo
The multi-talented Su-zy, who is in her early 20s, has already transformed herself from a young member of girl group miss A to a much-in-demand actress.
She spoke recently about her career and personal growth after the popular MBC drama "Gu Family Book," in which she stars with actor Lee Seung-gi, wrapped up late last month.
Su-zy received rave reviews for her performance and emerged as the most sought-after starlet for her age, at a time when domestic TV screens are dominated by seasoned actresses in their 30s or 40s.
"I learned so much from doing this drama. The staff and cast were very supportive, so I was able to focus on my acting with great confidence," she said.
"Many things were new to me as it was my first action-packed fantasy period drama. But I was very happy to receive the praise of fans. Thanks to their support, I never felt tired despite the busy schedule," she said, vowing to keep improving.
She said she knows her growing popularity comes with a great deal of responsibility, and that she feels the pressure. "People are calling me the hottest actress right now. Admittedly, I have a lot of fans, but I’m also very aware of the fact that such popularity will one day fade away." |
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July 4, 2013
Jang Keun-suk welcomes foreign fans with self-promotion billboard
By Cha Yo-rim The Korea Herald
A billboard promoting Jang Keun-suk. (Tree J Company)
Hallyu star Jang Keun-suk has installed a billboard advertisement featuring himself at Gimpo International Airport. The advertisement is mainly aimed at welcoming foreign fans entering Korea.
“Jang Keun-suk wanted to repay his foreign fans for their love and support, so he participated in the making of the billboard,” said Tree J Company, the agency representing Jang.
The billboard is located at the entrance of the international flight immigration checkpoint and reads, “Jang Keun Suk Welcomes You.” The billboard includes a picture of Jang, as well as QR codes to his official homepage and his Japan-based company, ZIKZIN.
The billboard, which was unveiled Monday, will remain at Gimpo International Airport for the next three months. |
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July 7, 2013
Kwon shows another side with new medical drama
By Ahn Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
Actor Kwon Sang-woo, 37, is set to star in the upcoming drama “Medical Top Team” in October, according to his agency, Bel Actor Entertainment.
The new show revolves around a top-notch medical team, in which Kwon plays a cancer specialist who is competent and warm-hearted but straightforward to a fault.
Kim Do-hoon, director of the hit drama “Moon Embracing the Sun,” and Yoon Kyeong-ah, screenplay writer of medical drama “Brain,” teamed up for the program.
“Kwon is excited to show a different side in the drama as it is his first acting role as a surgeon since his debut,” his spokesperson said Friday.
Recently, Kwon received favorable reviews from TV viewers for his performance as an ill-fated man who seeks revenge on his ex-lover in his previous SBS drama “King of Ambition” earlier this year.
“Medical Top Team” will take over the time slot of “Two Weeks” on MBC in October. |
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July 7, 2013
Park Chan-wook directs video for Lee Jung-hyun
By Ahn Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
Park Chan-wook, the internationally acclaimed director of the movie “Old Boy” and “Thirst,” has wielded a megaphone for the music video of singer Lee Jung-hyun. It is the first time for the veteran director, 49, to work on a music video.
Lee’s agency AVA Entertainment said Friday that Park shot the music clip starring Lee and her friend, actor Jin Goo, for the title song from her upcoming EP with his brother Park Chan-kyong in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, from last Tuesday to Friday.
Previously, Lee, 33, played a lead role in the brothers’ 2011 short film “Night Fishing,” which was filmed entirely on an iPhone 4 camera and earned the brothers the “Golden Bear” award at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2011.
With her album release on July 22, the songstress will break a three-year hiatus since her seventh album in 2010. |
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July 8, 2013
Um Tae-woong Shows Marksmanship Exceeding Legendary William Tell
KBS Global
Um Tae-woong shows marksmanship with the bow and arrow exceeding that of the legendary William Tell. His target is Kim Ok-bin.
In the KBS drama <The Blade and Petal> (written by Kwon Min-soo, Directed by Kim Yong-soo & Park Jin-seok), Um Tae-woong, who plays the main character Yeon Chung will be showing off a skill beyond human power. He will be shooting an arrow, blindfolded, to hit an apple that has been placed on top of Princess Moo-young (played by Kim Ok-bin) who is the daughter of King Youngryu (played by Kim Young-chul).
In the first episode, Yeon Chung approached the princess asking her, "Will you trust me?", and drawn by him, the princess risks her life for the stunt. She read confidence in Yeon Chung's eyes that did not waver. Will Yeon Chung be able to succeed in this dangerous challenge?
Yeon Chung is the son of Yeongaesomun (played by Choi Min-soo) but his mother was a slave so he never met his father. He was born with his father's skills and brains and will do anything to meet him. That's when Princess Moo-young appears in front of him. Showing his excellent skills with the bow and arrow, Moo-young helps him to enter the palace as a royal guard.
However, that was the start of their tragic fate. The two, destined to be enemies, start to fall for each other. Um Tae-woong and Kim Ok-bin have set the bar higher for romance in historical dramas with their acting skills. They will bring tears to the audience as they portray a man and woman agonizing between true love and their duty to family. |
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July 8, 2013
Movie Stars Won Bin and Lee Na-young are 'Couple of Century'
KBS Global
A handsome new couple has emerged in the world of entertainment as top movie stars Won Bin and Lee Na-young are now known to be dating.
The couple's agency, Eden9 Entertainment, confirmed on July 3 that the two stars are an item.
Earlier a local tabloid reported that the couple started dating about a year ago. The agency had previously denied the reports that they were romantically linked, claiming that Won and Lee were like siblings and were not dating.
However, after photos of the stars on a date had been published, the agency confirmed the reports.
The two were known to have been meeting for secret dates at Lee's apartment. Won Bin had been spotted entering Lee's apartment at a late hour on several occasions.
The agency said in a statement that Won and Lee naturally developed feelings for one another while working at the same agency. |
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July 7, 2013
Actor Namgung Won: A living witness of Korean film industry
By Lee Woo-young The Korea Herald
Veteran actor Namgung Won joined a highly select group of acclaimed figures in the Korean film industry last week as he became a member of the National Academy of Arts, a state-run organization of Korean artists dedicated to promoting the development of arts in Korea.
Namgung is only the second actor to become a member of the organization, after veteran actress Hwang Jeong-soon in 2006.
The prestigious group of prominent cultural figures in Korea includes directors Kim Ki-duk, Im Kwon-taek and Byeong Jang-ho, and screenwriters Shin Bong-seung and Kim Ji-heon from the film industry.
Namgung Won (The Korea Herald)
Namgung, 79, whose real name is Hong Kyung-il, made his acting debut in 1958 with “When the Night Comes Again.” In a prolific career that spans some five decades, he has appeared in more than 300 films that range from thriller, action and war to romance and comedy. Many of them were directed by prominent filmmakers such as Shin Sang-ok, Kim Su-yong, Kim Ki-young, Jeong Jin-woo and Jeong Chang-hwa.
Namgung also starred in a string of popular action and war movies such as “The Red Scarf” (1964), “The North and South” (1965) and “Heungnam City That I Saw Last” (1987).
In the 1960s, he broadened his range, starring in a collaborative work with South Korean and Hong Kong film companies. He also starred in a Hollywood-produced war film based on the Korean War in 1981.
He took on even more diverse roles in the 1970s, playing a vulnerable middle-class man, a man with mental illness, and more.
Regarded as handsome and charismatic, Namgung also frequently starred in period films as powerful, strong figures.
Having been at the forefront of the Korean film industry, Namgung was elected the president of the 25th chapter of the Motion Pictures Association of Korea in April this year.
He also currently serves as the chairman emeritus of Herald Corporation.
The NAA, established in 1954, is a representative body of Korean artists and culture officials. It accepts members with more than 30 years of experience in acting, filmmaking, art, writing and more. It has a total of 91 members with four, including Namgung, inducted last week. |
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July 8, 2013
'Memories of the Sword' Casts Lee Byung Hun and Jeon Do Yeon as Leads
CJ E&M enewsWorld Lee, JinHo Translation Credit : Erika Kim
A giant of a movie is in the works, as Memories of the Sword announced it had cast Lee Byung Hun, Jeon Do Yeon and Kim Go Eun.
On July 8, a source for the film announced that "Lee Byung Hun, Jeon Do Yeon and Kim Go Eun have been confirmed [for the film]. It will be a collaboration of the global star, the Cannes award-winning actress and the best rookie out there."
Memories of the Sword is about two women who train to have their revenge on a man. Seol Lang (Jeon Do Yeon) hides her identity as the best swordfighter in Goryeo to train her daughter Seol Hee (Kim Go Eun) as a secret weapon for her revenge. 18 years later, they come upon the man they′re aiming for, Deok Ki (Lee Byung Hun), who has been conspiring to overtake the throne despite his being a mere concubine′s son.
Lee Byung Hun said he "made the final decision while considering Memories of the Sword in a positive light," and Jeon Do Yeon said she joined "to keep the promise with director Park Heung Sik made in the time of the film My Mother the Mermaid."
The film now boasts a top cast, as Lee Byung Hun is known as a global star through Masquerade, G.I.Joe 2 and Red 2, Jeon Do Yeon is famous as the actress who won the Best Actress Award at the 60th Festival de Cannes and Kim Go Eun won numerous rookie awards at the Daejong Film Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards last year.
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July 5, 2013
Glimpse of Bong's upcoming 'Snowpiercer' at showcase
By Yun Suh-young The Korea Times
From left are movie critic Lee Dong-jin, director Bong Joon-ho, actress Go Ah-sung and actor Song Kang-ho speaking about the upcoming film "Snowpiercer” at a showcase organized by Naver at Cheongdam Cine City, southern Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of End Credi
Director Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming film “Snowpiercer” is the focus of much curiosity among fans and reporters because, until this week, there had been no publicity promoting it. Unlike other movies, there had been no press releases or press conferences for “Snowpiercer,” scheduled to have its premiere on Aug. 1.
The first event to satisfy the curiosity of those waiting for news of the film was an hour-long online showcase which started at 9 p.m., Thursday, on the nation’s largest search engine “Naver.”
Director Bong and actors Song Kang-ho and Go Ah-sung were invited to talk about the film with movie critic Lee Dong-jin as host.
The event showed excerpts from the movie and scenes from the making of the film while Bong and the actors made comments.
The foreign cast also briefly introduced themselves on video clips and each gave their own interpretation of what the film is about. Chris Evans playing a major character, Curtis, said it was an “allegory for class warfare” and Tilda Swinton playing Mason, a vicious character, said it was “about survival and life.”
Bong, however, gave a rather simple and unexpected answer when asked where he put the most focus on while shooting the film.
“The movie sounds very profound, but I initially thought of a really intense action movie. Bodies clashing, fighting, bleeding…I simply thought of it as a very physical movie,” said Bong laughing.
“The profound meanings that our foreign actors mentioned in their explanation do constitute the basis of the story, but when I filmed it, I just thought of it as a three-dimensional movie.”
“Snowpiercer” is an action-thriller set in the future where a new ice age has killed everyone except those on a train called “Snowpiercer.” The train, powered by a perpetual-motion engine, circulates around the globe stopping at the same place at the same time of the year. As time passes, a class struggle erupts between “the poor” inhabiting in the back of the train and “the elite” living at the front. A revolution occurs as the poor try to move to the front.
Bong came up with the idea for the film from French graphic novel series “Le Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette.
“I found the series one day at a comic book store I often go to and read the whole series on the spot. I thought the story would make a great film,” said Bong.
“The basics are the same _ the ice age, the confinement in the train, the fighting inside it. But I re-wrote the scenario entirely for a year.”
It was in 2004 when Bong encountered the story, during pre-production of his 2006 film “The Host,” but he started writing the scenario after filming “Mother” (2009).
For the film, which began shooting in April last year, a 500-meter train set was created from scratch and a special effect device was brought in to simulate motion. The filming took place mostly in Prague, the Czech Republic, but some scenes were also shot in Austria.
The movie stars Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Alison Pill, John Hurt, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, and Ed Harris as well as the two Korean actors Song and Go.
The movie is director Bong's first English-language film and about 80 percent of the film is in English, excluding the parts by Song and Go.
“It was a tight schedule because we had to follow the Hollywood system. But it was fun filming with a great cast,” said Bong.
Song, who is back on screen after an 18 month hiatus, said he learned much from the Hollywood system.
“The atmosphere was great on set. The shooting ended exactly on time. But I was worried that I might get sick because the system wouldn’t allow that,” said Song.
Go said she missed the foreign cast.
“We had so many foreign actors. We’re here as Korean representatives of the film but I can’t wait to promote the movie with our foreign stars,” she said.
Some of the cast in the movie including Chris Curtis and Tilda Swinton are expected to visit Korea to promote the film.
The movie will be released on Aug. 1. |
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July 8, 2013
Suzy sells Heart Bears for heart patients
By Ahn Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
Actress and singer Suzy posted a photo of herself and a bear doll without wearing any make-up on her Twitter account.
Actress and singer Suzy uploaded a self-portrait photo with a bear doll on her Twitter account on July 8. “This doll, a “Heart Bear,” beats its heart when being hugged. All profits of the product will be used to raise funds for heart surgery on children in Korea and abroad. Please love it so much. You can help children with heart disease by purchasing this doll,” she wrote. |
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July 8, 2013
SS501 singer teases return
By Ahn Joo-hee Korea JoongAng Daily
Singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong is set to make a long-awaited return in Korea with the release of his third EP, “Round 3,” on July 22.
Leading up to his new album, he unveiled a striking teaser poster yesterday, featuring Kim topless and in excellent shape, with tattoos of Korean traditional designs on his muscular shoulders.
It is his first release in Korea since “Lucky” in October 2011.
Kim, who became famous as a member of the leading K-pop group SS501, and who starred in “Boys Over Flowers,” is said to be working on the final stages of his music video and album art.
Prior to “Round 3,” Kim released his third Japanese single, “Tonight,” on June 5. |
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July 9, 2013
Spreading word of 'The Flu'
Korea JoongAng Daily
Cast members from the upcoming movie “The Flu,” which is scheduled to be released in local theaters on Aug. 15, gather for a press conference yesterday in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. Actress Soo Ae, second from left, and child actress Park Min-ha, center, will reunite to play a mother and daughter in the film, after their previous roles in the SBS drama, “King of Ambition.” [NEWSIS] |
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July 9, 2013
Student may face charges over altered photos of Suzy
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
A high school student has been arrested on suspicion of making and distributing altered photos online of Suzy of the girl group Miss A, according to Seoul Gangnam district police Monday.
The 16-year-old, surnamed Jo, had put photos of Suzy and chief producer Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment on what appear to be animals that are having sexual activities on a Web site in December.
It has yet to be decided whether the arrested student will be charged. JYP Entertainment also said it will decide its actions after consulting with the police and talking to the student.
It is not the first time that altered photos of Suzy have been distributed online. Last year, a man distributed a photo of himself posing while practicing sexual activities on top of a signboard of Suzy’s photo.
The man, along with his mother, visited JYP Entertainment multiple times delivering apologies during the police investigation. Considering the man’s continuous efforts to apologize, Suzy and the agency dropped all the charges against him. |
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July 10, 2013
Singer Rain discharged from military service
YonhapNews
SEOUL, July 10 (Yonhap) -- Conscripted K-pop star Rain was discharged from military service on Wednesday, receiving a warm welcome from his fans.
The 31-year-old singer, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, served for 21 months as an "entertainment soldier" for an Army unit that provides TV and radio programming that promotes the military.
All able-bodied men should serve roughly two years in the South Korean military, which is still technically at war with North Korea.
Over 100 people, mostly from Japan, and reporters flocked to the front gate of the defense ministry in Seoul in the early morning to see him. Rain shortly greeted his fans and then left.
Rain is one of the most popular male celebrities in South Korea and a well-known star in other Asian countries, and has appeared in several TV series and films.
The singer was in trouble earlier this year after he was spotted on a date with Kim Tae-Hee, a top actress with a massive following in Japan, and faced disciplinary action. |
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July 9, 2013
2NE1's New Single Smashes iTunes' Charts in 7 Countries
The Chosun Ilbo
"Falling in Love," the latest single by 2NE1, topped the iTunes chart in seven countries -- Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam -- on Monday, within less than 24 hours of its release.
The girl group attempted to sing and dance in a reggae style in their new single.
2NE1 will start making TV and radio appearances to promote it from Thursday. They plan to release a new single every month until October. |
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July 10, 2013
Girls' Generation to Sing National Anthem at Dodgers Stadium
The Chosun Ilbo
From left, Tae-yeon, Tiffany and Sunny
Sunny, Tae-yeon and Tiffany of Girls' Generation will sing Korea's national anthem and make a ceremonial first pitch when the Los Angeles Dodgers meet the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium on July 28.
This comes as part of an event called "Korea Week," which is being hosted by the Korea Tourism Organization in Los Angeles in cooperation with the Dodgers to capitalize on the success and popularity of pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin and Reds' hitter Choo Shin-soo.
Various activities will take place inside and outside of Dodgers Stadium between July 25 and 28, when the two teams will play each other four times.
The appearance by members of the girl group will wrap things up on July 28, which the KTO is dubbing "Korea Day." Audiences will also be treated to Korea-themed performances and Taekwondo demonstrations. After the game, Ryu and Girls' Generation will be appointed as promotional ambassadors by the KTO.
This is not their first appearance at the stadium. Tiffany threw a ceremonial first pitch for the Dodgers in early May ahead of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. |
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July 10, 2013
Lee Byung-hun Ripped and Ready to Thrill in 'Red 2'
The Chosun Ilbo
A still from "Red 2" showing heartthrob Lee Byung-hun flashing his six-pack and sculpted physique has been released ahead of the movie's world premiere on July 18.
Lee is said to have worked out religiously and focused on training for his action scenes for over three months after receiving the script in order to fully immerse himself in the role of a killer.
The film revolves around a group of retired CIA agents who reunite after 10 years to destroy a reactivated nuclear device. Lee acts alongside Hollywood stars like Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones and John Malkovich. |
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