Korean Drama

[bag.lover]

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(source: Korea Herald 2008.03.19)
[Movie Review]'Fate' a tale of two gangsters

"Fate (Sukmyeong)" packs plenty of heart-pumping action sequences on the strength of high-profile Korean Wave stars but its heavy reliance on stylized images without offering background details stops short of expectations. In the movie, we see the downfall of a handsome and kind-hearted gangster Woo-min (Song Seung-heon) who attempts to hit it big by attacking a casino along with his close friends including Cheol-jung (Kwon Sang-woo).

Somehow, they manage to escape with bags of cash, but it turns out that Cheol-jung, a short-tempered, foul-mouthed money-will-solve-everything villain, has sold them out for a reward in a secret contract that he hopes will land him a comfortable life.

After all, Cheol-jung's unwavering belief about life is that money talks the loudest and nothing else, even lifetime friendship, counts.

Playing a scapegoat, Woo-min serves a two-year prison term, showcasing his willingness to sacrifice for his friends. Once out of prison, however, he realizes that something is amiss.

His closet buddy Do-wan (Kim In-kwon) has become a drug addict, his girlfriend is stuck in a shady trap, and his friend-turned-enemy Cheol-jung is cruising at high speed as a ringleader who commands numerous thugs and juggles up cash to get a construction project done. (In Korean cinema, gangsters are often depicted to have been involved with construction projects in addition to their time-honored sources of cash such as adult clubs, bars and prostitution.)

Woo-min and Cheol-jung stand at the opposite end of the emotional spectrum. Woo-main remains calm throughout the film, rarely revealing his real emotions.

In contrast, Cheol-jung keeps talking and shouting, almost a broken radio whose sound is almost always four-letter words.

Like many Korean gangster flicks, "Fate" zooms in on the action scenes where main characters led by Woo-min square off against countless and nameless thugs brandishing iron sticks and Japanese knives.

Amid a series of fighting scenes, director Kim Hae-gon intermittently sheds some hints about the past relationships involving Woo-min, Cheol-jung and Do-wan.

But their shared past remains largely sealed, and it's up to the audience to keep their imagination wheeling as to how they bonded with each other in the first place.

Until the final big-stakes drug deal gets started, the camera lingers around Woo-min and Cheol-jung at a pace that may test the patience of even the good-hearted audiences.

Even if such takes are designed to highlight the personal charms of Song Seung-heon, who makes a high-profile comeback after his military service, and a transformative image of Kwon Sang-woo, who takes up a baddie's role for the first time in his career, the running time devoted to capturing their cool images seems overdone.

"Fate" has been made with a careful consideration for the strengths of two main characters. But the portraits of Woo-min and Cheol-jung never go beyond admiration of their contrasting styles and panache for violence, and one comes away with such sour questions as "Why are Korean filmmakers so obsessed with a gangster genre for depicting friendship?"

Despite the longer-than-necessary running time of 123 minutes, Song Seung-heon seems at ease with himself, showcasing his "telling eyes" that express various emotions with subtlety and maturity.

But true show-stealing gigs come from Kwon Sang-woo who seems in perfect sync with his own character. All the low-life slang spitting out from Cheol-jung sound natural and even ironically insightful.

Kwon, from now on, should consider taking the role of a hot-tempered villain because, at least in "Fate," he seems more realistic and believable than ever.

"Fate," shot in Busan and on Jeju Island, is an MKDK Pictures production and will be released nationwide on March 20.

By Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com)

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[bag.lover]

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(source: JoongAng Daily)
[TV review]TV histories shed insight on politics today

March 19, 2008


“Sejong the Great” remains relevant to today’s society. [KBS-TV]

Kim Gu-il is a taxi driver with a 20-year career driving around the city. His four wheels bring home the bacon, send his three kids to school and make him an expert on Korean politics. He keeps abreast of current affairs by listening to the radio all day. I met him when I took his taxi to Itaewon one recent Friday evening, and I found myself impressed by Kim’s knowledge of politics. The traffic was heavy so we had time to chat, which made the delay bearable, although a little pricey. His thoughts about the presidency were especially inspiring. “You know, people blame former President Roh [Moo-hyun] for ruining the economy, but look at all the cars filling the streets. There is a mean side in people all joining voices to blame one person.” Kim stressed he is not a Roh supporter, and went on to share his concerns about the incumbent president. Admittedly, his discourse was not as sophisticated as Socrates, but he was convincing. Wrapping up his mini-lecture, Kim said, “I don’t understand why people want to take power. Look at the kings in the history dramas on TV. They all meet tragic endings after grabbing hold of power.”

I later took time to tune into the two most popular historical dramas on the box today ― “Sejong the Great” on KBS-TV on weekends at 9:40 p.m. and “Lee San” on MBC-TV on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m. History is the darling genre of Korean TV series. The kingdoms past are steeped in conspiracy, betrayal and love triangles. In recent months, the genre has found new appeal among viewers by making history relevant to today. The TV networks and producers have been focusing on reform-minded kings during the recent political season, which has included a presidential race for the Blue House and the debates over the upcoming elections for the National Assembly.

Lee San is about King Jeongjo of the mid-Joseon Dynasty, who is remembered for failed reforms aimed at creating a fairer society. Last week’s episode featured the king appointing his political enemies to his cabinet. “My ideal is to seek harmony in government, where we can debate policy pros and cons in an open way,” said the king. This storyline brings to mind President Lee Myung-bak’s cabinet, which has been urging appointees from the former administration to resign.

The title character in Sejong the Great is just a newborn baby in this drama, yet to be crowned. Sejong is perhaps the most respected king in Korean history. He created the Korean alphabet, Hangul, and appointed commoners to high positions in his government, to the chagrin of his higher-born advisers. No wonder Sejong has been a favorite subject of past historical dramas. In this show, we get an up-close-and-personal profile and see the king as an individual, not just as royalty.

Sejong’s elder brother is still the crown prince. He later gives up the chance to ascend the throne. In last Sunday’s episode, the crown prince lamented, “Everybody covets the throne. But in reality, people do not know that this palace is just a prison that squeezes you out.”

Perhaps Kim the taxi driver and I agree more with the crown prince. A friend of mine, who recently quit his job as a TV anchor for a seat in the National Assembly, would probably disagree. For my part, I enjoy freedom of speech over the bittersweet taste of holding the reins of power. Next time you get in a cab and the radio is tuned into a current affairs broadcast, check the driver’s name. Kim makes for a congenial host. He cruises the streets of Seoul throughout the day.

[sujiney@joongang.co.kr]

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[bag.lover]

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"Secret Sunshine" team: Director Lee Chang-dong, actress Jeon Do-yeon, actor Song Kang-ho






South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo, right and Taiwan actor Chang Chen attend the red carpet of the Asian Film Awards as part of the event at Hong Kong International Film Festival in Hong Kong Monday, March 17, 2008.




[images=sina/sohu]

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[bag.lover]

DAILY TV RATING [MONDAY 2008.03.17]


*** TNS Media Research ***

RANK / TITLE / NETWORK / NATIONWIDE / SEOUL

1. I Hate You But It's Fine <미우나고우나> / Likable Or Not (E) (KBS1) - 42.6%, 42.6%
<Monday-Friday 8:25pm>
2. Yi San <이산> / Lee San, Wind Of The Palace (E) (MBC) - 29.7%, 32.6%
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
4. Even So Love <그래도좋아> / Heart Of Destiny (E) (MBC) - 22.7%, 22.6%
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
5. Ah Hyeon Dong's Madam <아현동마님> / Opposites Attract (E) (MBC) - 20.6%, 21.9 %
<Monday-Friday 7:45pm>
6. King And I <왕과나> / King And I (E) (SBS) - 14.9%, 14.8%
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
7. Scary Girl <그여자가무서워> / A Vindictive Woman (E) (SBS) - 13.3%, 13.8%
<Monday-Friday 7:20pm>
15. Good Woman Baek Il Hong <착한여자백일홍> / The Innocent Woman (E) (KBS2) - 10.4%, 10.2% (#16)
<Monday-Saturday 9:00am>
17. Aquarius <물병자리> (SBS) - 10.2%, 9.8% (#18)
<Monday-Saturday morning serial drama>
Beautiful Days <아름다운시절> / Beautiful Days (E) (KBS1) - % (Below_Top_20), % (Below_Top_20)
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
Single Papa In Love <싱글파파는열애중> / Single Dad In Love (E) (KBS2) - 4.4% (Below_Top_20), % (Below_Top_20)
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>


*** AGB Nielsen Media Research ***

RANK / TITLE / NETWORK / NATIONWIDE / SEOUL

1. I Hate You But It's Fine <미우나고우나> / Likable Or Not (E) (KBS1) - 41.1%, 40.7%
<Monday-Friday 8:25pm>
2. Yi San <이산> / Lee San, Wind Of The Palace (E) (MBC) - 27.9%, 30.7%
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
4. Even So Love <그래도좋아> / Heart Of Destiny (E) (MBC) - 21.2%, 22.4%
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
5. Ah Hyeon Dong's Madam <아현동마님> / Opposites Attract (E) (MBC) - 20.1%, 20.8 %
<Monday-Friday 7:45pm>
6. King And I <왕과나> / King And I (E) (SBS) - 15.2%, 15.0%
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
8. Scary Girl <그여자가무서워> / A Vindictive Woman (E) (SBS) - 12.4%, 13.3%
<Monday-Friday 7:20pm>
12. Beautiful Days <아름다운시절> / Beautiful Days (E) (KBS1) - 11.2%, 10.8% (#19)
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
12. Good Woman Baek Il Hong <착한여자백일홍> / The Innocent Woman (E) (KBS2) - 11.2%, 12.4% (#10)
<Monday-Saturday 9:00am>
19. Aquarius <물병자리> (SBS) - 10.5%, 11.6% (#13)
<Monday-Saturday morning serial drama>
Single Papa In Love <싱글파파는열애중> / Single Dad In Love (E) (KBS2) - 3.9% (Below_Top_20), % (Below_Top_20)
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>

[bag.lover]

PD Lee Byeong-hoon confirmed that "Yi San" will be extended to 76 episodes (from 60); the finale will be aired on June 9th. Replacing "Yi San" is Song Seung-heon, Yeon Jeong-hoon, Jo Min-ki's "East Of Eden", it is scheduled to air in late June.
http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.h...03170848381118

The 76th and final episode of "Yi San" will air on June 9th; it will then be followed by 3 episodes of "Yi San Special". Its follow-up "East Of Eden", 50-episode drama starring Song Seung-heon, will premiere on June 23rd.
http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?news_uid=213533

Song Seung-heon [image=newsis]


"Yi San" [image=newsen]

[bag.lover]

DAILY TV RATING [TUESDAY 2008.03.18]


*** TNS Media Research ***

RANK / TITLE / NETWORK / NATIONWIDE / SEOUL

1. I Hate You But It's Fine <미우나고우나> / Likable Or Not (E) (KBS1) - 40.0%, 39.1%
<Monday-Friday 8:25pm>
2. Yi San <이산> / Lee San, Wind Of The Palace (E) (MBC) - 28.6%, 30.8%
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
4. Even So Love <그래도좋아> / Heart Of Destiny (E) (MBC) - 21.5%, 21.5%
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
5. Ah Hyeon Dong's Madam <아현동마님> / Opposites Attract (E) (MBC) - 21.2%, 21.5%
<Monday-Friday 7:45pm>
6. King And I <왕과나> / King And I (E) (SBS) - 14.9%, 14.0% (#7)
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
9. Scary Girl <그여자가무서워> / A Vindictive Woman (E) (SBS) - 12.6%, 12.1%
<Monday-Friday 7:20pm>
12. Good Woman Baek Il Hong <착한여자백일홍> / The Innocent Woman (E) (KBS2) - 11.7%, 11.8%
<Monday-Saturday 9:00am>
14. Aquarius <물병자리> (SBS) - 11.2%, 11.3% (#13)
<Monday-Saturday morning serial drama>
18. Beautiful Days <아름다운시절> / Beautiful Days (E) (KBS1) - 10.0%, % (Below_Top_20)
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
Single Papa In Love <싱글파파는열애중> / Single Dad In Love (E) (KBS2) - 4.0% (Below_Top_20), % (Below_Top_20)
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>


*** AGB Nielsen Media Research ***

RANK / TITLE / NETWORK / NATIONWIDE / SEOUL

1. I Hate You But It's Fine <미우나고우나> / Likable Or Not (E) (KBS1) - 39.1%, 38.1%
<Monday-Friday 8:25pm>
2. Yi San <이산> / Lee San, Wind Of The Palace (E) (MBC) - 28.3%, 31.8%
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
4. Even So Love <그래도좋아> / Heart Of Destiny (E) (MBC) - 21.9%, 22.8%
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
5. Ah Hyeon Dong's Madam <아현동마님> / Opposites Attract (E) (MBC) - 21.5%, 22.1%
<Monday-Friday 7:45pm>
7. King And I <왕과나> / King And I (E) (SBS) - 14.6%, 14.6% (#8)
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>
9. Scary Girl <그여자가무서워> / A Vindictive Woman (E) (SBS) - 13.3%, 14.4%
<Monday-Friday 7:20pm>
11. Good Woman Baek Il Hong <착한여자백일홍> / The Innocent Woman (E) (KBS2) - 12.2%, 12.7%
<Monday-Saturday 9:00am>
14. Beautiful Days <아름다운시절> / Beautiful Days (E) (KBS1) - 11.6%, 11.3% (#13)
<Monday-Friday 7:50am>
15. Aquarius <물병자리> (SBS) - 11.0%, 11.2% (#14)
<Monday-Saturday morning serial drama>
Single Papa In Love <싱글파파는열애중> / Single Dad In Love (E) (KBS2) - % (Below_Top_20), % (Below_Top_20)
<Monday/Tuesday 9:55pm>

[bag.lover]

Originally Posted by bag.lover

South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo, right and Taiwan actor Chang Chen attend the red carpet of the Asian Film Awards as part of the event at Hong Kong International Film Festival in Hong Kong Monday, March 17, 2008.

[images=tom]

[bag.lover]

Originally Posted by bag.lover

South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo, right and Taiwan actor Chang Chen attend the red carpet of the Asian Film Awards as part of the event at Hong Kong International Film Festival in Hong Kong Monday, March 17, 2008.

[images=tom]

[bag.lover]

Originally Posted by bag.lover

"Secret Sunshine" team: Director Lee Chang-dong, actress Jeon Do-yeon, actor Song Kang-ho

[images=tom]

[bag.lover]

Originally Posted by bag.lover

"Secret Sunshine" team: Director Lee Chang-dong, actress Jeon Do-yeon, actor Song Kang-ho

[images=tom]

[bag.lover]

Originally Posted by bag.lover

Media Preview & Press Conference on March 17 Song Seung-heon and Kwon Sang-woo's movie "Fate / Sookmyeong" (director Kim Hae-gon, MKDK production)

Song Seung-heon








[images=segye]

[bag.lover]

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(source: KBS Global 2008-03-19)
Bae Yong-jun to Voice Act for Animated Series of 'Winter Sonata'



The star of 'Winter Sonata,' Bae Yong-jun, will voice act in the animated version of the popular drama series.

Bae's management agency BOF said the actor will take on the role of Jun-sang in the animated series jointly being produced with Japan.

The animation 'Winter Sonata,' which will go into joint production in late March by Keyeast Inc. and Japan's Total Promotion Company, will be made into both small screen and large screen versions.

The preview of the animated series as well as a video message from Bae will be screened during a press conference in Tokyo on March 28.

The TV drama 'Winter Sonata,' which aired in 2002 on KBS, became a phenomenal hit in both Korea and Japan. The series was aired in Japan on NHK in 2004. The huge success of the drama series made Bae one of Asia's biggest stars.


[image=chosun]

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[bag.lover]

Korea to Produce Joint Film with US, Japan
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 14:41:18

A Korean company will produce a film with U.S. and Japanese partners.

Domestic production company Hyunjin Cinema said the movie entitled "Street of Dreams" will star Korean actor Choi Min-soo and American actors Robert De Niro and Andy Garcia.

The film, whose production budget is set at 40 billion won --- or about 39-point-six million dollars --- is about an Asian gangster in 1960s New York.

Reported by KBS WORLD Radio
Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr

Originally Posted by bag.lover

(source: Korea Times 03-18-2008 17:42) Choi Min-soo to Co-Star With De Niro By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Korean actor Choi Min-soo will co-star alongside Hollywood stars Robert De Niro and Andy Garcia in the up-coming film "Street of Dreams,'' Yonhap news reported Tuesday. "Street of Dreams'' is a 40 billion won co-production between US-based FR Productions, Korea's Hyun Jin Cinema and Japan's Wides Japan. It will be produced by Fred Roos, whose credits include "The Godfather: Part II'' and "The Godfather: Part III.'' Hyun Jin Cinema has produced Korean films such as "Holiday'' and "My Wife is a Gangster 3.'' "Street of Dreams'' is based on the true story of Montana Joe, a legendary Japanese-American gangster in the 1940s. In the film, Choi will play the role of Montana's Korean friend, Eddie. This will be Choi's first Hollywood film, having appeared in several Korean films such as "Holiday'' and "Sword in the Moon.'' FR Productions said De Niro has been cast as an Italian mafia leader. De Niro, who has won two Academy Awards, is known for memorable roles in "The Godfather Part II,'' "Taxi Driver'' and "The Untouchables.'' Garcia, who also appeared in "The Untouchables,'' "The Godfather: Part III'' and the "Ocean's'' series, will also play a mafia boss. Chinese actress Shu Qi will also star in the film. However, no actor has been cast in the lead role of Montana. There will be auditions for the role in April and May. Raymond De Felitta, who was nominated for an Academy Award for a live-action short film "Bronx Cheer," will direct the film. Roger Towne, who won an Academy Award for "Chinatown'' in 1975, wrote the script. "Street of Dreams'' is slated for release in 2009. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

[bag.lover]

Jeon Ji-hyeon (english name: Gianna Jun)

GIANNA by TRUE RELIGION


Anycall CF


[images=chosun]

[bag.lover]

Originally Posted by bag.lover

The 76th and final episode of "Yi San" will air on June 9th; it will then be followed by 3 episodes of "Yi San Special". Its follow-up "East Of Eden", 50-episode drama starring Song Seung-heon, will premiere on June 23rd. http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?news_uid=213533

There's a change in schedule. Song Seung-heon's "East Of Eden" won't start until August ~ September time frame. "Yi San" will now be replaced by Kim Seon-ah (My Name Is Kim Sam-soon) & Lee Dong-geon's 16-episode drama [밤이면 밤마다]; it is scheduled to start on June 16th.
http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.h...03201502491111
http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.h...03201504251115

Lee Dong-geon, Kim Seon-ah [image=mydaily]


Song Seung-heon [image=osen]