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Kwak Yeon-soo

Korea Times Digital Content Reporter

Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.

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Films

Dropped by sponsors, indie short film festivals cancel annual events

Posters for 2020 Asiana International Short Film Festival (AISFF) / Courtesy of AISFF organizing committeeBy Kwak Yeon-sooIndie and short film festivals, which have served as a crucial gateways to success for entry-level filmmakers, are being canceled this year as major sponsors pull out due to the COVID-19-triggered crisis.The Asiana International Short Film Festival (AISFF) announced on Wednesday it will cancel this year's event after Asiana Airlines decided to drop its sponsorship. The carrier's decision came after it suffered financially due to the suspension of most of its international flights since March last year as countries strengthened their travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. Recently, Korean Air announced its plans to take over the debt-ridden carrier in 2024 after completing a takeover process next year.“The AISFF closes its doors as the sponsorship of Asiana Airlines has been discontinued due to various circumstances such as COVID-19,” the AISFF said in a statement. “We would like to sincerely thank Asiana Airlines who have sponsored

Apr 2, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Dropped by sponsors, indie short film festivals cancel annual events
Films

Seo Yea-ji returns to big screen with mystery thriller 'Recalled'

Actors Kim Kang-woo, right, and Seo Yea-ji pose during a press conference for “Recalled” in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of iFilm Corporation, CJ CGV By Kwak Yeon-soo“Recalled,” featuring Seo Yea-ji and Kim Kang-woo, is a mysterious, suspense-filled thriller that centers on the heroine's journey to find herself when her life is suddenly thrown into one filled with doubt and uncertainty.The film revolves around Su-jin (Seo), a woman suffering from post-traumatic memory loss, who conversely gains the ability to see into the future. With no extended family around to support her, Su-jin relies heavily on her apparently caring husband, Ji-hoon (Kim), until she detects his lies and deceitful, odd behavior.Her suspicions grow when a police detective starts to investigate a murder case and finds surveillance footage of Ji-hoon at the crime scene.Director Seo Yoo-min, whose screenwriting credits include “April Snow” (2005), “Happiness” (2007) and “The Last Princess” (2016), is

Apr 1, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Seo Yea-ji returns to big screen with mystery thriller 'Recalled'
Films

Kang Ha-neul was 'in tears' when reading 'Waiting for Rain' script

Actors Kang Ha-neul, right, and Chun Woo-hee pose during a press conference for “Waiting for Rain” in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Kidari ENT, Sony PicturesBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Waiting for Rain,” featuring actors Kang Ha-neul and Chun Woo-hee, is a romance drama that stirs up nostalgia for the 2000s. It features a youthful vibe and captures raw emotions that each of us can relate to.Set in 2003, the film tells the story of Young-ho (played by Kang), an unmotivated student who is studying for the college entrance exam for the third time. One day, he sends a letter to his elementary school classmate So-yeon to regain his verve and passion for life.On behalf of So-yeon who is ill, her sister So-hee (Chun) writes back and the two continue to exchange letters while trying to sort out their lives. The two agree to meet each other in person if it rains on Dec. 31.Director Cho Jin-mo, who previously helmed the comedy flick, “Suspicious Customers” (2011), and the romance drama, “Making Family” (2016), said he simply used letters as a tool to add

Mar 31, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kang Ha-neul was 'in tears' when reading 'Waiting for Rain' script
Entertainment

Despite happy portrayals, star couples confess to fake, challenging marriages

Model Ji Yeon-soo / Courtesy of SBS Plus By Kwak Yeon-sooCelebrity couples who were portrayed as having the happiest marriages, showing off their endless love with their spouses on TV shows, have started to discuss their marriage problems candidly and reveal the fact that their relationships are actually rocky.In the latest episode of SBS Plus's “Kang Ho-dong's Rice Heart,” model Ji Yeon-soo talked about her looming divorce from her singer husband, former U-Kiss member Eli Kim. Confessing that the couple was only faking their happy marriage for the cameras, Ji said that she even had experienced suicidal thoughts after Kim asked for a divorce. Ji, 41, and the former K-pop idol, 30, married in 2014, but they are now in the process of separating.“It actually feels nice that I no longer have to put on a facade after announcing my divorce. We acted like we're in love for the cameras and pretended everything was fine because we were making a living as reality TV stars. I

Mar 31, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Despite happy portrayals, star couples confess to fake, challenging marriages
Films

Comedian makes directorial debut with 'Parasite' parody

By Kwak Yeon-sooComedian-turned-filmmaker Kim Young-hee / Courtesy of Kim Young-heeComedian Kim Young-hee is making her directorial debut with an erotic film called “Gisaengchun,” which is a parody of director Bong Joon-ho's “Parasite” (whose Korean title is “Gisaengchung”).“Gisaengchun” revolves around a brazenly clueless woman named Chun who sneaks into an opulent mansion and lives off the homeowner. The film title can be broken down to mean “parasitic” (gisaeng) and “Chun,” the name of the protagonist.At a recent press conference for the film, Kim explained her inspiration for the scandalous project. “It was not simply out of curiosity, but with conscious intent that I decided to make this film. What inspired me was basically a great deal of respect and affection I have for the genre,” she said.Expressing concerns about the reality in which sex comedy films are deemed taboo, Kim expressed her wish to help revive the steamy genre and make it more entertaining for audiences.“I fell in love with

Mar 30, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Comedian makes directorial debut with 'Parasite' parody
Shows & Dramas

Song Seung-heon, Lee Ha-na confirmed to star in fourth season of 'Voice'

Actors Song Seung-heon, left, and Lee Ha-na / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-sooActors Song Seung-heon and Lee Ha-na have been confirmed to star in the fourth season of OCN's crime thriller series, “Voice.” Song will play Derrick Cho, a headstrong gang unit officer for the Los Angeles Police Department who collaborates with the Korean police to solve crime case. Lee will reprise her role as police officer Kang Kwon-joo gifted with perfect hearing-analysis skills.Song and Lee will showcase their seemingly conflicting yet ultimately complementary work relationship.“Voice” tells the story of a 112 emergency call center and its dispatch team solving mysterious crime cases using limited information they get from urgent calls. Jang Hyuk starred in the first season, followed by Lee Jin-wook who played the male lead in seasons 2 and 3. “Voice” received international acclaim and was sold to North America, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines a

Mar 29, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Song Seung-heon, Lee Ha-na confirmed to star in fourth season of 'Voice'
Films

'Shades of the Heart' captures grief, loneliness of modern people

Actor Yeon Woo-jin in a scene from “Shades of the Heart” / Courtesy of At9 FilmBy Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Kim Jong-kwan's contemplative “Shades of the Heart” is a character-driven film that captures many layers of pain through the protagonist's encounters with the people he meets in downtown Seoul amid moments of sublime beauty. The film begins with a novelist named Chang-seok (Yeon Woo-jin) meeting aimless Mi-young (IU) at a cafe located inside a bustling subway station in Euljiro. Having returned to Korea from the U.K. after a divorce, he encounters four people, including Mi-young, and engages in extended conversations to start writing a book. In the second segment, Chang-seok strolls through Seoul with his editor Yoo-jin (Yoon Hye-ri) who talks about her past relationship. Next, he accidentally runs into Sung-ha (Kim Sang-ho), a photographer taking care of his ailing wife. In the final story, Chang-seok shares a conversation with Ju-eun (Lee Joo-young), a bartender who buys memories from her patrons after losing most her memories in a car accident. The four t

Mar 27, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Shades of the Heart' captures grief, loneliness of modern people
Films

BIFF appoints new director, film market chief ahead of October event

Huh Moon-young, right, and Oh Seok-geun / Courtesy of BIFF Organizing CommitteeBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has appointed film critic Huh Moon-young as its new director. He will replace former festival head Jay Jeon, who stepped down abruptly in January after serving in the role for three years.Huh has served as head of Cinematheque Busan and program director of the Busan Cinema Center since 2005. He was the BIFF's Korean Cinema programmer for five years beginning 2002, following a journalistic career in local publications such as JoongAng Monthly and Cine21. Oh Seok-geun, former Korean Film Council (KOFIC) chairperson, has been tapped as the new co-director of the Asian Contents & Film Market event, replacing Tcha Sung-jai who served in the post for two years.A founding member of the BIFF, Oh is a renowned producer (“Camellia”) and director (“The 101st Proposition,” “Love Is a Crazy Thing”). He headed KOFIC from 2018 to January this year. Before then, he served as the director of the Busan Film Commission and th

Mar 26, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
BIFF appoints new director, film market chief ahead of October event
Films

Why Byun Yo-han took a break from acting and what he learned from it

Actor Byun Yo-han / Courtesy of Megabox Plus M By Kwak Yeon-sooIt's been a decade since Byun Yo-han stepped into films with “Working on Holiday (2011),” but the actor said he is still driven and hungry to learn. Recalling that every project felt like hitting a wall, Byun took a two-year hiatus from acting before returning to the big screen with director Lee Joon-ik's new period film, “The Book of Fish” (2021).“After a few years of acting, I was tired and felt like I needed time to reassess my career. Having taken some time off, I now want to focus on acting that I love so much,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times held via Zoom. Byun said he chose “The Book of Fish” as his first project back because the slow-paced, black-and-white film challenged him as an actor. In the film, the 35-year-old actor plays young fisherman Chang-dae who helps exiled scholar Jeong Yak-jeon (Seol Kyung-gu) write a book about sea creatures during his time on Heuksan Isla

Mar 26, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Why Byun Yo-han took a break from acting and what he learned from it
Shows & Dramas

Pandemic cast: Ordinary people taking over reality TV shows

Scenes from “My Working Vlog” features the work life of subway train operator Shim Hyun-min. / Courtesy of MBCCOVID-19 gives ordinary viewers voice, chances to share experiences on TVBy Kwak Yeon-sooIn the past, reality TV shows were more like loosely scripted dramas. But nowadays, they are starting to resemble documentaries, as producers cast “ordinary” people to give them a chance to share their experiences for the entertainment of like-minded people.Compared to families and friends of celebrities who have made frequent appearances on TV, people outside of the entertainment industry rarely get the chance to share their anxieties and frustrations on such a mass medium. With so many people staying home and losing human connections, viewers are curious about how others are getting through the tough times. A subway train operator, a photographer who has taken pictures of over 500 Korean War veterans and a marketer who boldly quit his job to run a small bookstore are considered far more interesting than a bunch of famous celebrities who stay in the limelight.Ordi

Mar 25, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Pandemic cast: Ordinary people taking over reality TV shows
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