The Korea Times

'The Red Sleeve' director debuts new thriller

From left, actors Park Ho-san and Kim Soo-jin, director Song Yeon-hwa, and actor Ye Soo-jung pose during a press conference for MBC's new thriller series, “Hunted,” Monday. Courtesy of MBCBy Lee Gyu-leeDirector Song Yeon-hwa, who co-directed MBC's hit series, “The Red Sleeve,” earlier this year, is leading the network's new thriller series, “Hunted.” “The script for the series was very compelling. (The story) seemed predictable but it would have twists from unexpected parts. So I really wanted to work on this piece,” the director said during a press conference for the series, Monday.The four-part short series, which kicked off on Monday, revolves around a middle-aged man, Young-soo (Park Ho-san), who lives in a close-knit town in a rural area with his wife and son. One day, he goes hunting in the mountains with his friends to stop boars from damaging local people's farms. While hunting, he shoots a moving object thinking it was a boar but then hears a human voice. After coming home without knowing what he shot, he finds out that his son

Aug 5, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

'The Red Sleeve' director debuts new thriller

Entertainment

Hallyu research should be conducted beyond Korean perspective: scholars

Moderator Woo Mi-seong, left, a professor at Yonsei University, speaks while speakers listen during the 2022 KF Global Korean Studies Forum at the Westin Josun Seoul hotel, Thursday. The speakers are, from left, professor Hong Seok-kyeong at Seoul National University, professor Parc Jimmyn at University of Malaya, professor Choi Jin-hee at King's College London, and professor Jin Dal-yong at Simon Fraser University. Screen captured from YouTubeScholar discuss hallyu phenomenon and researchBy Lee Gyu-leeAwareness of “hallyu,” or the Korean wave ― a term coined in the late 1990s to describe Korea's cultural exports ― has been expanding around the world with the growing popularity of Korean content, such as director Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning film “Parasite” and Netflix's smash hit series "Squid Game.”Scholars say that the approach to studying hallyu's impact should go beyond the Korean perspective in order to expand the global phenomenon from a cultural subject into further sustainable studies in Korea itself.“Some believe that in the early days, h

Aug 5, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Hallyu research should be conducted beyond Korean perspective: scholars

Films

INTERVIEW 'Emergency Declaration' director wanted to deliver hope through disaster

“Emergency Declaration” follows a terrorist attack on an airplane. Courtesy of Showbox New film draws mixed responses from audiencesBy Lee Gyu-leeThe star-studded disaster film “Emergency Declaration,” one of the most-anticipated flicks of this year, has finally hit movie theaters, Wednesday, after a long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Han Jae-rim, director of the film “Emergency Declaration” / Courtesy of Showbox The film's director Han Jae-rim, whose previous works include the 2013 historical film “The Face Reader” and 2017 crime film “The King,” said that he wanted to deliver a message of hope through the disaster film.“I wanted to talk about hope ― that if we come together in a catastrophic situation, we can get through it,” Han said in an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday. “When I wrote the script and started filming, I had no idea

Aug 4, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

[INTERVIEW] 'Emergency Declaration' director wanted to deliver hope through disaster

Books

Popularity of film, TV adaptations lead to surging book sales

A scene from director Park Chan-wook's romance-mystery film “Decision to Leave” / Courtesy of CJ ENMScript books of film “Decision to Leave” and series “Our Blues” top salesBy Lee Gyu-leeFilms and TV series that became hits are also taking the publishing industry by storm, leading to a surge in sales of related publications including script books and original novels.The screenplay of the romance mystery film “Decision to Leave” has topped the bestsellers' list for two consecutive weeks on YES24, one of the country's leading online bookstores, even before its scheduled release on Aug. 5. Director Park Chan-wook's latest film, which won him Best Director at this year's Cannes Film Festival, hit local theaters on June 29. The film kept steady ticket sales four weeks into its release, despite a blockbuster-packed box office with several new releases. It has racked up about 1.71 million ticket sales, grossing 17.66 billion won ($13.5 million).The director's screenplay book, expected to give readers a more in-depth look into the film, kicked

Aug 3, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Popularity of film, TV adaptations lead to surging book sales

Shows & Dramas

INTERVIEW 'Yumi's Cells' creators say series redraws lines for TV adaptations

From left are director Lee Sang-yeob and co-writers Song Jae-jeong and Kim Kyung-ran who created the series adaptation of the popular webcomic “Yumi's Cells.” Courtesy of TvingTving's series follows romance, work life of single woman in 30sBy Lee Gyu-leeWhen news of the live adaptation of the smash-hit webcomic “Yumi's Cells” was announced, many of its fans had mixed reactions, both welcoming the series adaptation and showing concerns about its animated depiction of the cell characters. However, despite the concerns, the series has proven itself capable of winning viewers' hearts with its fusion of live action and animation as well as compelling storytelling delivered through the lead actor Kim Go-eun's performance. “I feel this series expanded the scope of the genres that a series can tackle. At first, no one could imagine how (the series) would come out to be. Everyone was like, 'Is it possible?' and we showed that it is possible to have both live action and animation,” Song Jae-jeong, the co-writer of the series, said in a recent interview with

Aug 2, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

[INTERVIEW] 'Yumi's Cells' creators say series redraws lines for TV adaptations

Shows & Dramas

Lee Jong-suk teams up with Im Yoon-ah for small screen noir 'Big Mouth'

From left, actors Yang Kyung-won, Im Yoon-ah, Lee Jong-suk, Ok Ja-yeon, and Kim Joo-hun pose during an online press conference for the MBC's new series, “Big Mouth,” Friday. Courtesy of MBC By Lee Gyu-leeThe actor Lee Jong-suk, who is known for playing the protagonist in romance series like “While You Were Sleeping” (2017), has taken on the lead in the new hardboiled, noir genre series “Big Mouth,” making his small screen return after three years. “At first, I was given scripts for four episodes and it was very gripping. You get swept up in the case and it makes you curious about the next episode,” Lee said during an online press conference for the series, Friday.MBC's new series, which kicked off on Friday, revolves around struggling lawyer Park Chang-ho (Lee), who has a low win rate of 10 percent.When he takes on a murder case, he gets entangled in a situation where he gets mistaken for a major con-man, dubbed Big Mouth. Caught in a dark, corrupt world that threat

Jul 30, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Lee Jong-suk teams up with Im Yoon-ah for small screen noir 'Big Mouth'

Films

INTERVIEW Lee Byung-hun resonated with father character in 'Emergency Declaration'

Actor Lee Byung-hun plays the role of Jae-hyuk in the new disaster action film, “Emergency Declaration.” Courtesy of ShowboxLee says he put own experience of fear of flying into roleBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Lee Byung-hun, one of the most prolific actors in Korea, is set to return to the silver screen with the new disaster action film, “Emergency Declaration,” two years after the political flick, “The Man Standing Next,” in 2020. Actor Lee Byung-hun / Courtesy of BH EntertainmentThe actor shared that his character of a devoted father, and the theme of the film deeply resonated with him. “Although it wasn't intended, I feel like this film has a story that people living in this time can be more immersed and empathize with as they are watching it while going through the pandemic,” Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times, Thursday. Lee plays the role of dedicated father Jae-hyuk, who is scared of flying. Despite his fear, he gets on board a flight with his daughter to move to Hawaii to find better living conditions for his daughter, who

Jul 29, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

[INTERVIEW] Lee Byung-hun resonated with father character in 'Emergency Declaration'

Films

INTERVIEW Song Kang-ho drawn to message of disaster blockbuster 'Emergency Declaration'

Actor Song Kang-ho plays the role of detective In-ho in the upcoming disaster blockbuster, “Emergency Declaration." Courtesy of Showbox Actor says theme of new film aligns with coronavirus pandemicBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Song Kang-ho is set to show another film for the year as the lead of the new disaster blockbuster, “Emergency Declaration," following the drama film, “Broker,” that won him the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival this May. Actor Song Kang-ho / Courtesy of Showbox “There are a lot of disaster movies, not only in Korea but also in Hollywood. But the fact that 'Emergency Declaration' is trying to deliver a message to its audience was very interesting,” Song told The Korea Times in an interview, Wednesday. “As we live, we will come across disasters that shouldn't happen, whether small or large. But I think the important thing here

Jul 28, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

[INTERVIEW] Song Kang-ho drawn to message of disaster blockbuster 'Emergency Declaration'

Shows & Dramas

Director, writer of 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' eager to tell story of those on autism spectrum

Writer Moon Ji-won, left, and director Yoo In-sik of ENA's hit series, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” pose during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of ENA Creators acknowledge shortcomings of seriesBy Lee Gyu-leeThe creators of the ongoing hit series, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” said that they wanted to tell the story of a person on the autism spectrum. “Normally for a story that features an autistic person, many creators would set the narrative to be from a non-autistic person and depict the autism spectrum from that person's perspective,” the series' writer, Moon Ji-won, said during a press conference at a hotel in Mapo District, western Seoul, Wednesday.“I wanted to put Woo Young-woo as the sole lead (of the series) and let viewers resonate with her directly without having any mediator in between.”ENA's 16-part series, which also streams on Netflix, follows Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), a genius lawyer on the autism spectrum, tackling challenges in

Jul 27, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Director, writer of 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' eager to tell story of those on autism spectrum

Shows & Dramas

Break up or make up: dating shows featuring ex-couples enjoy boom

A poster for Tving's dating show “EXchange” / Courtesy of Tving Dating shows feature former couples exploring former or new love By Lee Gyu-leeThe reality show, “We Got Divorced,” featuring former couples reuniting after their split, kicked off in November 2020 and created a buzz with its concept, as it was rare for divorced couples to star in a show together in Korea. The show that featured former celebrity couples reflecting on their relationship saw a strong viewership rating, earning a second season, which ended this month. Following the success of the show starring formerly married couples, a wave of dating reality shows for ex-couples, such as “EXchange” and “First Love, Again,” have hit the entertainment scene.Streaming platform Tving's reality show, “Exchange,” kicked off its second season on July 15, after garnering popularity with the first season in June last year. The show brings former couples, who broke up for various reasons, to live together. While r

Jul 26, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Lee Gyu-lee

Read more

'The Red Sleeve' director debuts new thriller

Hallyu research should be conducted beyond Korean perspective: scholars

INTERVIEW 'Emergency Declaration' director wanted to deliver hope through disaster

Popularity of film, TV adaptations lead to surging book sales

INTERVIEW 'Yumi's Cells' creators say series redraws lines for TV adaptations

Lee Jong-suk teams up with Im Yoon-ah for small screen noir 'Big Mouth'

INTERVIEW Lee Byung-hun resonated with father character in 'Emergency Declaration'

INTERVIEW Song Kang-ho drawn to message of disaster blockbuster 'Emergency Declaration'

Director, writer of 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' eager to tell story of those on autism spectrum

Break up or make up: dating shows featuring ex-couples enjoy boom

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