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July 22, 2013
Um Tae-woong the Living Action Legend Reborn as 'Man Who Walks Across Walls?"
KBS Global
A "resurrected" Um Tae-woong showcases action skills of the gods. This time, he becomes the man who walks on walls wearing a mask.
In the 5th episide of The Blade and Petal(written by Kwon Min-soo, directed by Kim Yong-soo & Park Jin-seok) which aired on July 17th, Um Tae-woong's character Yeon Chung is able to save his life due to his father, Yeongaesomun(played by Choi Min-soo)'s practical ingenuity. The episode forecast Um's "live action" such as running across walls and jumping from it as soon as he comes back alive.
In the 18th episode of The Blade and Petal which aired on July 18th, Um showcases extremely difficult action scenes including moving freely from left to right and bottom to top on huge stones. Even using wires, it is difficult even for stunt actors to stand up straight perpendicular to the wall, or run across it. Um Tae-woong said he was "Itching for some action" after his character was "dead" for some time. He was able to prove he was "alive" by flying across walls on the Mungyeong set of the drama on July 15th.
Um is known for his strength and endurance due to years of exercise. He also tries to carry out his own action scenes instead of using a stunt double. His passion for acting has created fabulous action sequences like the martial arts test to become a palace guard, and the masked line action scene when he rescues the Princess(played by Kim Ok-bin) and Crown Prince(played by Lee Min-ho).
During filming for the latest scene, Um continuously "walked" the wall and jumped. The staff members on set said Um became so comfortable attached to wires that they felt like they were a part of the props and Um was able to carry out the scene with ease just like a professional stunt actor. As he finished the scene he was given a round of applause from everyone on set. |
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July 23, 2013
Renowned TV producer found dead in apparent suicide
By Cho Chung-un The Korea Herald
Kim Jong-hak (Yonhap)
Kim Jong-hak, a star producer of hit Korean TV dramas, was found dead on Tuesday in an apparent suicide at a small rented room in Bundang, just outside Seoul, the police said.
The 62-year-old producer allegedly killed himself by deliberate smoke inhalation, according to reports. He was found lying on the bed by a building manager around 10 a.m.
Kim left a four-page note in which he apologized to his family. Kim didn’t mention his financial troubles or the accusations of fraud and embezzlement leveled against him in the note.
Kim was under police investigation after a group of actors and staff filed a complaint against him for embezzlement and fraud in February. Actors who appeared in his most recent TV drama, “Shinui,” accused Kim of not paying them, even after the drama ended late last year. Kim has denied the accusations. The police imposed an overseas travel ban on him.
The producer rose to fame in the 90s with his mega-hit dramas “Detective Inspector” and “Sandglass.” After his early success, Kim established his own production company and produced another series of hit dramas including “Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi.”
Kim has reportedly been suffering from financial troubles with “Shinui,” as it failed to make a profit. |
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July 23, 2013
Director of 'Hourglass' commits suicide
By Kim Tong-hyung The Korea Times
Kim Jong-hak, a drama director whose 1995 miniseries ''Hourglass’’ was a groundbreaking moment in Korean television, was found dead at a boarding house Tuesday in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in an apparent suicide. He was 62.
Kim was investigated by police in May on suspicions of embezzlement after the cast and crew of the SBS series ''Faith’’ filed a complaint against him over unpaid wages. He had denied any wrongdoing.
A half-burned briquette was found near Kim’s body and all the doors in the room were duct-taped. Kim left a letter for his family, where he wrote he was ''sorry,’’ but didn’t mention his legal troubles, police said.
Kim’s body was found by the owner of the boarding house, who went to the room because his guest didn’t check out in time.
''There were no signs of intrusion and Kim’s body didn’t have any external injuries. The briquette and letter point to a suicide,’’ said a police official.
Kim, who debuted as a director in the 1981 MBC detective series, ''Detective Inspector,’’ has been one of the most influential figures in Korean television.
After earning his stripes as a hit-producer with ''Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’’ (1983), ''Namhan Fortress’’ (1986), and ''Human Market’’ (1988), his true breakthrough came with the 1992 World War II drama, ''Eyes of Dawn,’’ which depict young Koreans caught in the maelstrom of turbulent history.
Kim then moved to freshly-established channel SBS, where reunited ''Eyes of Dawn’’ writer Song Ji-na for ''Hourglass,’’ which depicted the tragic relationship between three friends affected by the political and civilian oppression of the 1970s and 80s.
''Hourglass’’ was controversial because it doubled as a commentary on painful moments of Korea’s contemporary history, including the 1980 Gwangju Massacre. It also became one of the most-watched dramas in the country’s history, achieving a mind-boggling viewer rating of around 60 percent and making A-list stars out of Choi Min-soo, Park Sang-won and Ko Hyun-jung.
Kim never managed to match the success of Hourglass again. He invested five years and 100 billion won in ''Faith,’’ which ended up being the biggest television flop of 2012. |
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July 23, 2013
BoA to play heroine on new TV drama
The Korea Times
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Singer BoA makes her lead debut on the domestic small screen.
The 26-year-old singer will play the heroine in KBS’s TV drama titled “Hope for Love.”
BoA, who made her debut as a singer in 2000 and remains a top K-pop star, is not a stranger to television. She guest-starred in the role of a top singer in SBS drama “Athens” in 2010.
Her latest drama is scheduled to be broadcast in early September. She will play a clumsy 20-something who falls for bad buys all the time, starring opposite actor Choi-Daniel.
“I am fascinated by BoA’s sincere passion and strong will. You can discover new images of the actor BoA,” said Lee Eun-jin, who is the drama’s producer.
Meanwhile, the singer is awaiting the premier of her Hollywood movie debut “Make Your Move 3D.” |
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July 22, 2013
JYJ members to join military this year
The Korea Times
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Kim Jun-su, left, and Kim Jae-joong
Two members of K-pop boy band group JYJ — Kim Jun-su, 26, and Kim Jae-joong, 27 — are expected to join the army before the end of the year.
Kim Jae-joong has already received draft notice several times but postponed because of frequent concert and busy schedules. Kim Jun-su is also considering the period of enlistment.
One source said “Kim wants to serve in the military as a common soldier because of the recent controversy over the ‘entertainment’ soldiers.”
The Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that it was abolishing the “entertainment-soldier” system following public outrage and controversy over celebrities including Rain, Seven and Sangchoo who were excessively using the perks assigned to entertainers serving in units that perform for active servicemen.
Meanwhile, the other JYJ member Park Yu-Cheon, 27, will serve on reserve duty due to his asthma condition. Park’s plan for military service is unknown. |
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July 24, 2013
Top TV Producer Kills Himself
The Chosun Ilbo
A leading TV producer responsible for some of the biggest hits of the Korean Wave was discovered dead on Tuesday in an apparent suicide. Police said that the body of Kim Jong-hak was found in a small rented room in a building in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
A suicide note and burned-out coal briquettes were found in the room. Kim’s family did not want an autopsy.
Kim began working as a producer for MBC in 1977 and rose to fame in 1991 by producing the 38-episode drama "Eyes of Dawn." He became a freelance producer in 1992, and produced the mega-hit series "Sandglass" in 1995, which achieved phenomenal 64.5 percent viewership ratings for SBS, which was then a newcomer.
In 1998, he set up his own production company and produced a string of hits including "Full House" in 2004, "White Tower" and "Taewangsasingi (The Four Guardian Gods of the King)" in 2007 and "Beethoven Virus" in 2008.
But Kim sold the company in 2009, and a string of flops exacerbated his finances during the following years. The drama "Faith" he produced last year did not garner enough ratings, resulting in W640 million (US$1=W1,118) in unpaid fees for actors. Kim was also investigated by police over complaints filed by people who invested in his shows.
He was apparently devastated recently to find that a travel ban prevented him from going to China to produce a movie. He told his friends that his own life appeared to have become a soap opera.
Friends praised his eye for detail. "He was a true master of his craft who insisted on perfection, and this passion had run into a brick wall," said Kim Seung-soo at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. |
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July 24, 2013
'Grandpas Over Flowers' take off for Taiwan
By Lee Sun-min Korea JoongAng Daily
The veteran actors of cable channel tvN’s entertainment show “Grandpas Over Flowers” left Incheon International Airport yesterday to film a second batch of episodes of the show in Taiwan.
The first season, which was filmed in France, garnered much attention from local viewers when it aired earlier this month, so the producers decided to send the sudden stars on a second trip.
However, not all the members are going on the second trip together. Shin Gu of the MBC drama “Feast of the Gods,” Baek Il-sub of the film “Scout” and Park Geun-hyung of the film “Boomerang Family” gathered yesterday leaving Lee Sun-jae of JTBC drama “Childless Comfort” behind due to his other arrangements.
He and actor Lee Seo-jin of the MBC drama “Gyebaek,” a helper to the veteran actors who also decided to stay for the following season, will leave today.
Many are wondering what other three actors will lead the show as the oldest, Lee Sun-jae, and tour guide Lee Seo-jin are not there to help them find their way in a foreign country.
All the members will come back on Tuesday. |
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July 24, 2013
IU apologizes for infamous tweet
Korea JoongAng Daily
Singer IU is apologizing for the controversial photo she tweeted last November - while continuing to avoid discussing what the photo actually was about.
While on the SBS talk show “Hwashin - Controller of the Heart” on Tuesday, IU took responsibility for the infamous tweet.
“First of all, I kept on thinking, ‘Why did I do that?’?” said IU. “I can’t blame anyone because that’s what I did, and I was very sorry.”
The IU’s self-portrait showed her with Eunhyuk, a member of the boy group Super Junior, lying close together with IU seemingly in her pajamas and without any makeup. Many who saw the image thought it looked decidedly romantic and rather out-of-step with IU’s super-cute, innocent image.
She said the resulting furor made her wonder if she should address the controversy or just keep quiet.
“It was not something that made me go through a hard time, but it made me feel sorry.”
She also added that Eunhyuk asked her if she’s OK.
However, IU did not give any further details about the photo itself or whether she and Eunhyuk were a couple.
At the moment, her agency is sticking to its story that the two took the photo together when Eunhyuk paid a visit to see IU when she was sick. |
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July 24, 2013
JYJ's ex-agency rapped by watchdog
BY LEE SUN-MIN Korea JoongAng Daily
K-pop trio JYJ performing in Tokyo Dome in April. Provided by the Fair Trade Commission
Boy band JYJ may be one of the biggest groups in K-pop, but you would not know it from watching Korean television or listening to Korean radio. The trio has been all but invisible since making its debut in 2010.
Yesterday, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) confirmed what has long been suspected: SM Entertainment and the Korean Federation of Pop Culture and Art Industry - a trade organization that represents music management companies - used their clout to force local broadcasters to blacklist JYJ and pressure music distributors to limit JYJ’s album circulation.
JYJ was formed by three former members of TVXQ, one of SM Entertainment’s biggest acts and a leading group in the Korean Wave.
The three members left SM Entertainment in 2009 because of complaints over their contracts, then formed JYJ and released their first album in October 2010.
However, the break was ugly, with SM Entertainment insisting it still had exclusive rights over the three singers.
The rights issue was resolved in 2010, but SM and the Federation then sent an official document to 26 broadcasters and distributors, insisting they not support JYJ. Among those contacted by the music label were Korea’s three terrestrial channels, KBS, MBC and SBS, and several cable channel operators.
The warning letter also said that Korea’s pop culture and the Korean Wave would suffer if JYJ were allowed to perform publicly.
Given that SM Entertainment is the biggest music label in Korea - accounting for 30.3 percent of the country’s 168.5 billion won ($151.3 million) in sales last year and representing big-name idols such as Girls’ Generation, Super Junior and SHINee - the company carries huge clout in the industry.
“Although JYJ showed some great album sales, it was not able to make an appearance on music or entertainment TV programs,” said the FTC’s findings, noting that JYJ has sold almost 100,000 copies of its first album, “The Beginning,” in 2010, and more than 220,000 copies of its second album, “In Heaven,” in 2011.
The nation’s fair trade watchdog told the two entities to stop trying to harm the trio and required the Federation to notify those 26 broadcasters and distributors that it was canceling its original 2010 request.
Attempts to contact SM Entertainment by the Korea JoongAng Daily went unreturned, but local media reported the company is reviewing its legal options.
“We expect to this to be a wake-up call to groups that have created similarly unfair activities in the entertainment scene,” noted the FTC. |
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July 24, 2013
Lee Young-ae to star in variety show
The Korea Times
Actress Lee Young-ae as she appeared in an ad in the New York Times.
Leading Korean actress Lee Young-ae will make a rare appearance in a special Chuseok holiday program in September.
The 42-year-old star of the Korean drama “Jewel in the Palace” will star in the variety show where eight foreign college students majoring in Korean language or Korean literature will camp down at a “hanok” or traditional Korean residence for three days. The show tentatively titled “Welcome” and planned by the network MBC will also pit the students into two teams for a Korean language battle. The first episode planned for September will invite students of Korean language department at the Ankara National University in Turkey.
The network officials said that Lee embraced the idea. After giving birth to twins, the actress has largely been promoting popular Korean content overseas. She not only jointly created the “bibimbap” or Korean mixed-rice ad along with Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University and Dokdo advocate that appeared in the New York Times, but also featured as its model. She also invited the students and the founder of the Democracy Prep Charter School in Harlem New York that successfully adopted the Korean education model. |
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July 23, 2013
Hallyu star Jang Keun-suk attracts 10 million followers on Weibo
By Suh Hye-rim The Korea Herald
Jang Keun-suk (Tree J company)
Actor and singer Jang Keun-suk’s Weibo account followers have surpassed 10 million as of July 18, according to his agency Tree J company on Monday. Weibo is a Chinese social networking service website, which claims to have approximately 287 million active users.
Jang so for has the greatest number of followers on Weibo for a Korean celebrity. Jang first opened his account in August 2011.
Recently, popular Chinese variety show “Happy Camp” on HBS channel topped the ratings by doing a special episode on Jang. Jang’s number of followers on Weibo is likely to keep increasing as China Central Television 8 (CCTV 8) began airing his 2009 hit drama “You’re Beautiful” on July 18.
Meanwhile, Jang is due to make his comeback to the small screen in Korea through “Pretty Man,” which is scheduled to air later in the year. |
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July 23, 2013
'Snowpiercer' powerfully explores class, privilege
Bong Joon-ho’s latest sci-fi film dark, strong in narrative and visually stunning
By Claire Lee The Korea Herald
Know your position, keep your position, be the “shoe.”
This is what those who live at the bottom of Snowpiercer, a massive train carrying the last remnants of humanity, are constantly told to do in director Bong Joon-ho’s latest sci-fi movie of the same name.
“Being the shoe” is a metaphor. The people are the bottom of the bottom, lowest of the low, and should never seek to climb the ladder, or “try to be the head.”
In the very back railcar, the lowliest passengers live on protein bars made of dead cockroaches, rarely shower and have their children taken away by the rich ― those who live in the front railcar. Outside the lone train is a world of freezing death, completely covered in permanent snow and ice. After 17 years of destitution and strict segregation, the inhabitants of the last railcar organize a revolution for a dignified life.
“Mother” and “The Host” director Bong’s highly anticipated sci-fi was finally unveiled to the local press on Monday, just a week before the film’s world premiere in Seoul on July 29.
At a press conference held after the screening, Bong said the film was a “universal tale” about the powerful and the powerless, rather than a “giant global project.” The movie, featuring a star-studded international cast including Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and Chris Evans, was precisely what Bong described, while leaving much room for interpretation.
Many viewers will recall the Holocaust and North Korean propaganda, and even the cult of personality of Mao Zedong. Based on the French graphic novel “Le Transperceneige” by Jean-Marc Rochette, first published in 1982, the film is a story of survival and salvation, as well as an allegory for social classes and class warfare that is deeply rooted in the dystopian sci-fi genre.
Director Bong Joon-ho speaks during a press conference after the press screening of his latest work “Snowpiercer” in Seoul, Monday. (Yonhap News)
Bong first found the graphic novel series at his favorite comic book shop in Hongdae in 2004. He was fascinated by the concept of the remnants of humanity living on a train where each cabin is labeled by social class. The farther away from the “sacred” engine ― which is located at the very front of the train ― the more dire the poverty and more harrowing the living conditions.
The film has been compared with Noah’s Ark in the Bible by the local press, but the crucial difference between the two narratives is that the Ice Age in “Snowpiercer” is caused by a manmade disaster, not a natural catastrophe.
In a similar vein, the gigantic, amphibious monster in Bong’s 2006 movie “The Host” is not a supernatural creature: It emerges after an American military pathologist dumps bottles of formaldehyde into Seoul’s Han River. In “Snowpiercer,” it is a manmade substance called “CW-7,” invented to halt global warming, which precipitates the Ice Age that kills every living thing on the planet ― except those who made it on to the train. In Bong’s movies, disasters are not punishment from a higher power; humans suffer from their own catastrophic mistakes and failures.
While no one on the train seems to believe in God, or any spiritual power, they are taught to idolize Will Ford, the inventor of the perpetual motion engine. While the upper-class kids are told to be forever grateful to him because they would simply die if they couldn’t live on the train he created ― they repeat many times in class the engine is “eternal and sacred” and Ford is “merciful” ― for those who live in the back, Ford is their collective enemy. Viewers witness the carefully composed cult of personality, which is used to maintain order and peace ― mostly for the ones living in the forward cabins.
Viewers only get to see the front cabins as the hungry, distressed revolutionaries violently make their way forward. One of them is physically disabled (played by Ewen Bremmer) after losing an arm in a cruel punishment.
Another is a desperate mom (played by Octavia Spencer) who is searching for her son who was taken away by the authorities. Accompanying them is Namgung Min-su (played by Song Kang-ho), a prisoner who used to be the train’s security specialist, and his daughter Yona (played by Ko A-sung).
The dark, almost black-and-white frames gradually welcome color as the disgruntled group gets closer to the engine and Ford. The poor see what they did not know existed: A sushi restaurant, a huge aquarium, a beautiful greenhouse, a dentist’s office and even a night club.
The movie unveils the major ― both poignant and disillusioning ― secrets of the narrative toward the end of the movie, as well as Ford. Bong does not make Ford (played by Ed Harries) a simple villain, and many viewers will find what he says both surprising and disturbing. The secrets revealed ultimately leads one to investigate some of the deepest mysteries about what it means to be human.
The film is co-produced by Korea’s CJ Entertainment, famed Korean director Park Chan-wook and his own film studio Moho Film, and also Korea’s Union Investment Partners. Major American film studio The Weinstein Company secured distribution rights for the movie in North America, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa last year.
The film, which was pre-sold to 167 countries, opens in local theaters in Korea on Aug. 1. The world premiere of “Snowpiercer” will be held at Yeongdeungpo Times Square in Seoul on Monday. |
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July 24, 2013
Late TV producer plagued by debt
By Julie Jackson The Korea Herald
Kim Jong-hak. (Yonhap News)
Acclaimed TV drama producer Kim Jong-hak who was found dead Tuesday in an apparent suicide in a studio apartment in Bundang, just south of Seoul, suffered from legal and financial problems that may have led him to take his own life.
The man behind the 1995 megahit drama “Hour Glass” became mired in financial problems in recent years, especially after the 2012 SBS historical mini-series “Faith,” which starred former “Boy Over Flowers” actor Lee Min-ho and “Sad Love Story” actress Kim Hee-sun, largely failed. Earlier this year, some of the cast members of “Faith” filed a complaint against the producer at the conclusion of the drama for fraud and embezzlement, claiming that they had not been paid for their roles in the show.
A scene from the SBS drama “Faith.” (SBS)
It’s been estimated that the outstanding payments from the series are 600 million won ($540,000). Kim had denied any wrongdoings on his part.
With the average cost of a mini-series drama running at around 300 million won per episode, the high costs and risks of producing a program has led network broadcasters like SBS to purchase shows from independent production companies. This was the case with Kim’s most recent series, “Faith.”
“If you want to produce a show, you need writers,” said an SBS public relations official. “The reason why broadcasters sometimes seek independent production companies is because they not only have more writers on staff, but often times you find more famous and well-known writers, resulting in a better-quality production.”
However, in these cases, the purchasing broadcast companies tend to pay for only half of the total production costs, leaving the rest up to the independent producers to raise. The independent production houses, in turn, typically rely on raising funds by recruiting sponsors and including product placement advertisements within the drama, and earning profits after the airing of the drama.
Industry insiders point to a structural flaw for difficulties experienced by independent production companies. Calling Kim both a perpetrator and a victim of a flawed “outsourced production system,” the Korea Broadcasting Actors Union issued a statement stating “such tragedies will continue unless the outsourcing system that benefits only the broadcasters is eradicated.”
“Faith” was an ambitious project, three years in the making, which was initially conceived as a 3-D production.
Yet, “Faith” was a historical drama, and producers were unable to take advantage of product placement deals, such as having cast members using a particular cell phone brand. Rather, the drama relied heavily on its all-star cast.The big-name leads, ironically, did not lead to high viewer ratings but resulted in snowballing costs. “Faith” aired with disappointing viewer ratings of only 10.1 percent, ultimately resulting in a loss. |
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July 25, 2013
South Korean celebrities feel pressure on 'airport catwalk'
Jin Eun-soo, Intern reporter The Korea Herald
Sistar's Bora and Hyorin at the airport
The airport is one of the most unlikely places to dress up, as it is a place where people prefer comfortable outfits more suitable for long plane rides.
Recently, however, South Korean celebrities have become overly conscious about what to wear at the airport as media and paparazzi quickly spread pictures of them, with the public becoming fashion judges.
“I feel so much pressure when I go to the airport,” said Heo Ga-yun, a member of K-pop girl group 4Minute, on a talk show. Her colleague Hyuna also revealed that she had seen Heo coming back to their studio with loads of shopping bags full of clothes a day before going to the airport.
Other Korean girl groups such as Girls’ Generation and Sistar also revealed they change into training suits once they get on board, where there are no more paparazzi camera flashes. Dasom from Sistar said she can no longer go to the airport with casual clothes, but sometimes feels “doubtful” about it.
Stars who prefer to be comfortable rather than fashionable, like Han Seung-yeon from Kara, are often publically shamed. Han was called a “fashion terrorist” when she appeared at the airport in ordinary clothes. Now she said she “tries on dozens of clothes” before she heading out.
“To be frank, I get notified when there are reporters and paparazzi at the airport, and I start to think about what to wear once I get a call,” said a South Korean actress, hinting that the airport has now transformed into an invisible fashion catwalk to flaunt one’s cleverly staged daily style. |
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July 25, 2013
Bong Joon-ho Back on Track with Train Thriller 'Snowpiercer'
The Chosun Ilbo
As the hype for Bong Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer" continues to build, a preview generated mixed reviews from the public on Monday ranging from "as great as expected" to "not as good as Bong's previous films." The film also emerged as a popular entry on local portal sites throughout the day.
On Tuesday, as foreign media also started weighing in on the film and social networking sites kept lighting up with feedback, Bong said he had never expected such a polarized response.
Based on the French graphic novel "Le Transperceneige," the futuristic sci-fi film revolves around the last of humanity's survivors who live on a segregated locomotive during a new Ice Age.
"When I read the original French story, the first thing that fascinated me was that it was set on a train," Bong said. "This evokes feelings of romance and tranquility with its rattling sound and the passing scenery you see while on board. On the other hand, when viewed from the outside, it's just a huge iron lump rushing forward. It feels manly and destructive. I liked the story's setting from the beginning -- the train swarming with filthy survivors while a snowfield stretches out from beyond the window."
Asked how he dealt with filming in such a confined location, he said, "I might have been too ambitious, but I wanted to make the best movie ever set on a train. When shooting started, I had some misgivings, but I tried to rely more on the cast. Fortunately, I had a group of great actors at my disposal, and I used their faces as part of the background views in some of the train scenes. The faces of John Hurt and Ed Harris can make for great views."
Bong has made movies portraying social issues in Korea, but his new film has a more universal theme. "I tried something new. I wanted to deliver a better depiction of human nature," he said.
It has been 10 years since "Memories of Murder" was released. Asked how he spent the intervening decade, Bong said, "I never took any time off while making four films. There was always the next film to get started on. This is the first time in 10 years that I don't have the next one already lined up. Writing a scenario is really painful. I always feel like I'm starting to get sick just at the thought of writing one."
"Snowpiercer" will premiere here on Aug. 1. |
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July 25, 2013
'Cold Eyes' Invited to Toronto International Film Fest
The Chosun Ilbo
"Cold Eyes" has been invited to the Gala Presentations of this year's Toronto International Film Festival. The film fest, the largest of its kind in North America, will take place for 10 days from Sept. 5, drawing many moviegoers and industry figures from around the world.
Other films to be presented in the same section include "American Dreams in China" directed by Peter Chan, Ron Howard's "Rush," "The Art of the Steal" directed by Don Argott, and John Wells' "August: Osage County" starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Ewan McGregor.
"Cold Eyes" is the third Korean film to be invited to the film fest's main section, followed by "The Good, the Bad and the Weird" in 2008 and "The Housemaid" in 2010.
The movie has been sweeping the Korean box office since it was released on July 3. It revolves around a group of detectives who track down high-profile criminals |
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July 25, 2013
Seven celebrity soldiers sent to military prison for scandalous outing
By Kim Eun-jung YonhapNews
SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) -- Seven celebrity soldiers who were caught on camera drinking and entering a massage parlor were sentenced to several days in a military prison for violating the military code of conduct, the defense ministry said Thursday.
The soldiers faced unprecedented tough disciplinary actions after a local TV network last month secretly taped them. They included K-pop star Rain and Seven, drinking together in a private restaurant following a performance for a military event. Two of them were caught by a camera crew in front of a massage parlor late at night after failing to get service.
The incident caused a fierce nationwide backlash in a country where the mandatory two-year military service for all males is taken very seriously, prompting the defense ministry to abolish the controversial celebrity recruiting system last week.
The soldiers were serving for the Defense Media Agency (MDA), a unit that has provided programming for TV and radio broadcasts to promote a positive image of the military since 1997.
Following a special audit, the ministry's disciplinary committee on Thursday announced disciplinary actions for eight soldiers who damaged the public image of the military and lowered the morale of other regular soldiers.
Seven soldiers received a prison term ranging from 4-10 days, while one was grounded to his unit for 10 days. After the ruling, they were immediately sent to a military prison at the defense ministry compound, which is guarded by military police.
"These disciplinary actions applied fair and thorough sentencing rules," the committee said in a statement.
As the celebrity soldier unit was abolished, a total of 15 soldiers under the DMA will be relocated to other Army units.
The military's alleged special treatment of celebrities has frequently been the subject of criticism as several celebrities serving military duty were seen enjoying more freedom than ordinary soldiers.
Earlier this year, K-pop star Rain got in trouble when paparazzi photos showed him secretly dating top actress Kim Tae-hee. He was grounded to his unit for a week for violating the code of conduct.
The military service is a highly sensitive issue in South Korea where political candidates lose elections because they or their sons have not served in the military. Some celebrities and athletes have been arrested and forced into near exile after getting caught evading the draft. |
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July 25, 2013
Some celebs learn SNS the hard way
By Jung Min-ho The Korea Times
 
Baik Min-jung Ki Sung-yeung
Celebrities use social media as effective marketing tools for maintaining their high media profiles. But it only takes a few careless mistakes on Facebook and Twitter for such sites to become the places where careers can crash and burn.
Football star Ki Sung-yeung and actor Choi Phillip recently learned the hard way that it’s probably not a good idea to rant at your coach on Facebook or broadcast supportive tweets about your pop singer friends caught slacking off from their mandatory military duty.
Two actresses also didn’t get the message early enough and ended up taking a hit to their incomes and perhaps an even bigger hit to their career prospects.
Baik Min-jung, part of the cast from the popular musical ''A Tale of Two Cities,’’ found herself under the guillotine of public opinion after she complained about signing autographs for fans on her Facebook page. And then co-star Lim Hye-young was foolish enough to press the ''like’’ button.
''I hate autograph events. I don’t want to smile and ask 'how was the performance?’ or 'what is your name?’ to fans after a show. It gives me muscle cramps,’’ Baik wrote, making the classic mistake of biting the hands that feed her.
After facing a torrent of criticism, Baik tweeted an apology and said that she was just trying to express how tired she was. Lim also apologized on her Facebook page, saying that she ''liked’’ the message without actually reading it.
''I 'liked’ it without reading it because it had a picture of me (and her). I planned to read the post after the show.’’
But it was too late. BOM Korea, the production company staging the show, decided to suspend Baik for six performances and Lim for three for disrespecting fans.
It could be argued that the punishments were harsh considering the severity of their actions. But while Baik and Lim are obviously talented, they are not front-line names who sell tickets. Perhaps, it’s not wise to give fans a reason to dislike you when you are easily replaceable.
A series of recent social media debacles highlight how powerful it can be, not only in a positive way, but also in a negative way. Social media was critical about the worldwide success of Psy, the ''Gangnam Style’’ rapper. And it could be said that Psy was smart to use social media as a promotional tool, but not as a personal diary.
Some celebrities such as Kang Ye-bin and Clara have also drawn positive reactions to their social media pages, which are abundant in sexy photos and economic in words.
After Ki’s comments aimed at former national team manager Choi Kang-hee were targeted by Internet users earlier this month, the team were given a special lecture about the ''dangers’’ of social media. National team striker Kim Shin-wook said afterwards that he wouldn’t go near social media at all.
And one can expect that many other celebrities will eventually follow Kim’s example.
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