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Park Jin-hai

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.

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Shows & Dramas

'Han Gong-ju' draws 200,000 viewers

By Park Jin-haiThe low-budget film “Han Gong-ju” exceeded 200,000 viewers on May 9 becoming the most viewed indie film in the shortest period of time. On its opening day on April 17, some 10,000 people watched the film.  This increased to 100,000 in just nine days at an unprecedented pace, according to its distributor CGV Movie Collage on Friday.   The movie, based on the infamous Miryang gang rape in 2004, depicts the tragic story of a victimized girl. As of April 29, it reached the 150,000 audience mark, breaking the record of “Jiseul,” which sold 140, 490 tickets in 12 days. Amid the opening of such large scale commercial films as “The Fatal Encounter,” “The Target” and “Amazing Spiderman 2,” it has succeeded in attracting average audiences of 2,000 on any week day.       The film, directed by Lee Su-jin, has received a total of eight awards locally and overseas, including the 18th Pusan International Film Festival, Morocco Marakesh Film Festival and the Rotterdam Fil

May 11, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

Hallyu stars return to big screen

Song Seung-heon, left, and Jang Dong-gun — will venture into new roles in upcoming films “Obessed” and “Crying Man” respectively. / Yonhap and Korea TimesBy Park Jin-haiTwo hallyu heartthrobs ― Song Seung-heon and Jang Dong-gun ― will venture into new roles in upcoming films.Song, 37, the star of “Autumn in My Heart,” will appear in the mellow romance movie “Obsessed” in May, while Jang in the action film “Crying Man” in June.At the press previews, held over two days, the two veteran actors of 20 years looked more tense than before. Both Song and Jang, are being put to the test for their new roles.Returning to the big screen in four years with “Obsessed,” Song is no longer a gentle, sweet lover. He is a married soldier who falls in love with the wife of his subordinate.Song Seung-heon plays a role of a married soldier who falls in love with the wife of his subordinate in “Obsessed.”He said that the movie itself was a great challenge for him.“It is the first time I

May 11, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Hallyu stars return to big screen
Shows & Dramas

Migrant women get support for starting business

By Park Jin-haiThe Social Enterprise Support Network (SESNet) is running an annual program to boost the economic standing of women from other countries who reside in Korea.The eight-session program, supported by POSCO, will offer lectures on the basics of social enterprise and tips on how to start businesses as well as providing mentoring and consulting services from May 9th to July 31st.   A social enterprise is an organization that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements for people and the environment, rather than only maximizing profits for shareholders.  “It is the fifth such project, since 2010. Including up until last year, 32 teams or 80 percent of all program beneficiaries have started their own businesses, creating 119 new jobs,” said So Eun-sun, from SESNet.  Among those, 24 teams started businesses in the social economy, including cooperatives, nonprofit organizations and charities.   Anyone interested in building startups should make a team, comprised of a least two, and submit an application form before Friday to s

May 7, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Others

More career women opt for younger men

TvN’s “A Witch’s Love” is a romantic drama where a 39-year-old successful career woman dates a 20-year old courier serviceman. As drastic as it is, Korean society has changed, witnessing more and more couples with women being older than their male partners. / Korea Times fileBy Park Jin-hai, Yoon Sung-wonKim Seo-young, 39, a high school teacher, married nine years ago. At the time of their wedding, their drama-like love story was the talk of town. “I met him when he was 15. I was teaching students at a high school in Gyeonggi Province,” she said. “Of course, I had never imagined such a romance drama like a love story, a teacher marring her student, could be possible in real life.”Kim, then 24, knew him through a four-week training session for student teachers and after the short stint she returned to her regular life and friends. A few students kept in touch with her through emails, but her husband was not one of them. “One day a message was sent onto my Cyworld, a social networking service, saying that he is my former studen

May 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai
More career women opt for younger men
Shows & Dramas

Joo Won cast in Chinese film

By Park Jin-haiActor Joo Won, 26, will make a foray into the Chinese film market. His agency announced Tuesday that the actor has been cast in the upcoming “Wiao You Qiao Mu,” a joint Korean-Chinese venture. Jo Jin-kyu has been tapped as director, and Han Kyung, a former member of K-pop group Super Junior will costar. Chinese production and distribution firm, China Film, and entertainment agency, Yuehua Entertainment, have jointly invested in the production of the film. The romantic drama based on an Internet novel will depict the love story of three men and one woman. “Joo’s dramas receive a lot of support in China. Considering this, we believe the new film will be a great hit,” said Lee Sang-gyu, head of the Yuehua Entertainment’s Korean office. Meanwhile, Joo’s movie “Fashion King” will be premiered during the 67th Cannes Film Festival.

May 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Shows & Dramas

Miranda Kerr to appear in K-food show

Miranda Kerr, right, poses with Kim Sung-eun, host of “2014 Tasty Road.”One of the world’s top model Miranda Kerr met with Korean model Kim Sung-eun to discuss how to keep her body fit and slim for a K-Food variety show “2014 Tasty Road.” In its latest episode to be aired on Friday, Kerr will share her beauty tips with the show’s host Kim. The “2014 Tasty Road,” normally co-hosted by Kim and Park Soo-jin introduces the best Western and Asian fusion style foods as well as hot places for lifestyles such as beauty and shopping tips from all over Korea every Friday at midnight on O’live TV.

May 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Miranda Kerr to appear in K-food show
Shows & Dramas

Choi takes his 'art furniture' global

Choi Byung-hoon’s bent chair, created in 2007, is one of his famous "afterimage" series. It is now exhibited in the permanet collection of Vitra Design Museume, in Germany. / Courtesy of Choi Byung-hoonNY critics call it 'object of meditation' Choi Byung-hoonBy Park Jin-haiChoi Byung-hoon's artwork is both practical and esthetic. One of the most recognized pieces of the sculptor and art furniture maker is a chair which has a black sheen granite stone at the foot of a laminated and black varnished walnut veneer chair. The over 100-kilogram stone counter-balances the weight of the sitter, giving the bent wood chair balance and function. But at the same time, the stone doubles as a subject of meditation, giving the sitter a moment of peace to ponder over the myriad of years it took to be formed. It now sits in the permanent collection of the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.Choi, a 61 year-old Seoul-based sculptor, known for pioneering the field of "art furniture" in Korea has explored the relationship between functional objects and art and made them into a whole new

May 6, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Choi takes his 'art furniture' global
Shows & Dramas

HarryBigButton ready to unleash K-rock

Irish bassist Neil Smith, left, vocalist Lee Sung-soo, center, and drummer Kang Dae-hui, are the members of a post hard rock band HarryBigButton. After releasing their new album “Perfect Storm” on April 2, the band is gearing up to rock more audiences overseas. / Courtesy of HarryBigButtonHongdae band eyes Western rock marketBy Park Jin-haiLee Sung-soo roars through the lyrics with his deep voice and stomps on the stage, his shaggy hair flies rhythmically to the powerful guitar sound.As the performance heats up, his hair clings to his sweaty face and the audience of some 300 as go wild as the band, making it a giant ball of energy and passion.    The post-hard rock band HarryBigButton ― comprised of lead vocalist and guitarist Lee Sung-soo, Irish bassist Neil Smith and drummer Kang Dae-hui ― released their new album "Perfect Storm" on April 2. Based on its local popularity, it is expected to rock more audiences overseas. “The biggest asset to our band is Lee’s voice,” said Kang.Just like Kang said, Lee’s vocals, which

Apr 28, 2014By Park Jin-hai
HarryBigButton ready to unleash K-rock
Shows & Dramas

Actor Kim returns with a legal drama 'A New Leaf'

Actor Kim Myung-minBy Park Jin-haiVeteran actor Kim Myung-min, 41, returns to the small screen in two years as a lawyer in a new MBC TV legal drama, “A New Leaf,” which will go on air from Wednesday.In the 18-part series drama, co-starring with A-list stars such as actress Park Min-young, Kim will portray a cold-hearted hotshot lawyer who suffers an identity crisis after losing his memory in an accident and begins a righteous war against social ills.Kim, who earned his fame through the 2001 horror movie, “Gooseflesh,” has been taking the leading role in many popular dramas such as “The Immortal Yi Soon Shin” (2004), “Beethoven Virus” (2008) and movies including 2010 movie “Detective K: Secret of Virtuous Widow,” and achieved the nick name, “master of acting.”

Apr 27, 2014By Park Jin-hai
Actor Kim returns with a legal drama 'A New Leaf'
Shows & Dramas

Top American game developers to give advice to local companies

By Park Jin-hai Most local game firms aspire to make inroads into the North American market but find it challenging due to limited information about the dynamics of that market. Consequently, a team of leading mobile game developers from North America will share their experiences and tips to local developers in a seminar. A marketing strategy seminar, hosted by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and organized by Latis Global Communications, a Korean game localizer, will take place at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on Wednesday. Among the speakers are Anna Cho, user interface engineer of Storm8, who will compare the American and Korean game’s user experience; Alexander Wong, Ender’s Fund founder, will explain how they produced their mobile game Deadeye Derby; and Chaynor Hsiao, project manager of Play next, will present how to make a smooth transition from PC to mobile.The North American region has become a new battleground for mobile game firms from all over the world, competing to secure an upper hand in this very lucrative market. According to Newzoo, a marke

Apr 27, 2014By Park Jin-hai
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