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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

'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' star Oh Jung-se returns with powerful social drama

Actors Oh Jung-se, left, and Yoo Da-in pose after a press conference for the film “I Don't Fire Myself” held in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Jin Jin PicturesBy Kwak Yeon-sooWriter-director Lee Tae-gyeom said he wanted depict the plight of powerless workers and tackle the issue of labor abuse in his new film “I Don't Fire Myself.”“When I was going through tough times after being turned down repeatedly for projects, I came across a news article about a middle-aged woman who was dispatched to the countryside for no good reason and endured humiliation,” Lee said during a press conference for the film, Tuesday. “I realized that for all of us, work is a matter of survival. The more time you spend at the workplace, the more you may feel like your work is your life. That's why a sudden layoff leads to an increased risk of suicide. I wanted to address this issue in our film,” he added.Inspired by a true story, the upcoming film is a tale of employees who stand up against injustice in the workplace while they are on the verge of being laid off.

Jan 20, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' star Oh Jung-se returns with powerful social drama
Films

Anthology film 'Today, Together 2' reflects on meaning of family in modern Korea

A scene from the short film “Fruits” / Courtesy of Film DabinBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe omnibus movie “Today, Together 2” is a follow-up to the 2019 film “Today, Together” and is comprised of four short films depicting complicated family relationships in modern-day Korea. The films also explores intergenerational issues and counters the long-held ideal of self-sacrificing parents. Instead, the film focuses on how “detached” children overcome the absence of their parents and learn to move on with their lives. Directed by Yang Jae-joon, “Fruits” centers on a father and son who despise each other. Jong-hwan (Ki Joo-bong), a divorced and laid-off dad, is not satisfied with his son Do-jin (Park Se-joon), who repeatedly fails to pass the civil service exam and spends his days sitting in the library. Do-jin is also angry at his father who collects rotten apricots that fall from trees and embarrassingly insists on buying only groceries that are sold at a discount. However, Do-jin reconciles with his dad after witnessing his sadness at his

Jan 13, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Anthology film 'Today, Together 2' reflects on meaning of family in modern Korea
Entertainment

No more cookie-cutter TV: themes of reality shows diversify

From left, EXO Sehun, comedian Yoo Jae-suk, actor Lee Kwang-soo and singer Kim Jong-min are seen in the third season of Netflix's “Busted” / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooIn 2020, Korea's most beloved reality show format was trot music auditions. The male version of TV Chosun's “Ms. Trot” called “Mr. Trot” surged in popularity, which later led to creation of similarly themed competition shows on other TV networks, including MBC's “I Am a Trot Singer,” MBN's “Voice Trot” and SBS' “K-Trot in Town.” Outdoor travel shows, which have long dominated the late-night timeslot, have been scrapped or moved indoors due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid the glut of cookie-cutter reality and audition shows that could cause viewer fatigue, networks are trying to make breakthroughs with fresh formats in 2021.A poster for tvN's “Youn's Stay” / Courtesy of tvN“Youn's Stay,” a spin-off of tvN's popular reality show “Youn's Restaurant,” got off to a good start on Jan.

Jan 12, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
No more cookie-cutter TV: themes of reality shows diversify
Entertainment

Movie stars cross over to small screen

Actors Hwang Jung-min, left, and Choi Min-sik / Courtesy of KeyEast, C-Jes EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooWith the COVID-19 pandemic bringing film production to a standstill and canceling cinematic releases, a growing number of talented movie stars are crossing over to the small screen. These days, premium streaming services are numerous and accessible. More and more TV series are better produced with bigger budgets. Thanks to the popularity of Netflix, there is a whole new platform for actors to bring their talent to.Actor Ha Jung-woo has been confirmed to appear in the Netflix original series “Suriname.” This marks the actor's return to television 14 years after the MBC drama series “H.I.T.” The crime series will be the television debut of filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin, who has collaborated with Ha in hit films including “Beastie Boys” (2008) and “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” (2014).Based on a true story, it revolves around a man who rose to become a drug lord in Suriname, a former Dutch colony on the northern coast of South America.Hwang Jung-

Jan 11, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Movie stars cross over to small screen
Films

22nd Jeonju film festival to open in April

The 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival slogan / Courtesy of Jeonju International Film Festival organizing committeeBy Kwak Yeon-sooJeonju International Film Festival, scheduled from April 29 to May 8, will host physical screenings for its 22nd edition.Under a new slogan “Film Goes On,” the film festival organizing committee announced Friday that it plans to resume normal operations despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Last year the organizing committee presented a “hybrid” festival, combining in-theater screenings and online events, and held it over 114 days, which was the longest schedule ever in history. Based on its previous experience, the events and film screenings will be planned meticulously subject to COVID-19 social distancing levels and quarantine measures. The new slogan “Film Goes On” is directed at filmmakers and audiences who have gone through a tough year. It holds a message that “we and the film industry reeling from COVID-19 can overcome it together.” It also represents the committee's strong determination to &ldq

Jan 10, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
22nd Jeonju film festival to open in April
Films

Youn Yuh-jung continues winning streak at film critics circle

Youn Yuh-jung / Courtesy of PANCINEMABy Kwak Yeon-sooYoun Yuh-jung was named Best Supporting Actress by the Columbus Film Critics Association (COFCA) for her performance in the film “Minari,” raising the hope that she might become Korea's first actor to win an Oscar nomination.The 73-year-old actress was also a runner up in the National Society of Film Critics' Supporting Actress category, following winner Maria Bakalova of “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” and Amanda Seyfriend of “Mank.”Directed by Korean American Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari” depicts the experiences and struggles of first-generation immigrants from Korea in the 1980s, who settle in the U.S. in pursuit of their own American dream. Yoon plays the role of an eccentric grandmother named Soon-ja who changes the life of her family after moving to the U.S. Youn is enjoying a second heyday by expanding her screen presence in Hollywood. The latest COFCA award is Youn's eighth best supporting actress trophy from U.S. film critics associations and festivals.She was awarded by the Los An

Jan 10, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Youn Yuh-jung continues winning streak at film critics circle
People & Events

Former Korea Times columnist, poet Choi Yearn-hong dies

Poet Choi Yearn-hong / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kwak Yeon-sooChoi Yearn-hong, a poet who was committed to promoting Yun Dong-ju, one of the most respected Korean poets in modern history, in the United States, has died of a chronic disease in Baltimore. He was 79.His death was confirmed by Choi Hyuk, his younger brother and former ambassador to Geneva, Thursday. A memorial service for Choi will be held remotely via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Choi, a native of Yeongdong, North Chungcheong Province, made his literary debut in 1963, while studying at Yonsei University in Seoul. He then moved to the U.S. where he earned master's and doctorate degrees in political science and public administration at Indiana University. Choi taught at several U.S. colleges, including the University of Wisconsin, Old Dominion University and the University of the District of Columbia, and he also taught at the University of Seoul before retiring in 2006. He also worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as Assistant for Environmental Quality from 1981 to 1983. During his lifetime,

Jan 7, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Former Korea Times columnist, poet Choi Yearn-hong dies
Entertainment

Seol Kyung-gu, Lee Ha-nee, Park So-dam to star in espionage action film 'Ghost'

Clockwise from top-left, actors Seol Kyung-gu, Lee Ha-nee, Park So-dam, Seo Hyun-woo, Kim Dong-hee and Park Hae-soo / Courtesy of CJ ENM By Kwak Yeon-sooA much-anticipated spy action thriller has confirmed its full cast lineup, featuring some of most in-demand actors in Korean cinema today.The Lamp, the production company behind hits “A Taxi Driver” (2017), “Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission” (2019) and “Samjin Company English Class” (2020), announced the full ensemble cast and said shooting began Jan. 4. “'Ghost' is an exhilarating and action-packed feature film with stellar cast who engage in mind games. It will also feature flamboyant sets to recreate the ambience of 1930s Gyeongseong (Seoul's name at the time) and make audiences feel like they're time traveling to that period,” it said in a statement. Set in 1933 during the Japanese colonization of Korea, “Ghost” will be an espionage action film written and directed by Lee Hae-young. Lee, known to depict tense sequen

Jan 7, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Seol Kyung-gu, Lee Ha-nee, Park So-dam to star in espionage action film 'Ghost'
Films

Bae Doo-na shows off her linguistic skills in French movie '#Iamhere'

Actors Bae Doo-na, left, and Alain Chabat in a scene from the film “#Iamhere” / Courtesy of NEW By Kwak Yeon-soo“#Iamhere” is an endearing adventure movie that offers pure escapism. Mostly set in Seoul, the film is an ode to the city ― seen through the eyes of a first-time French visitor. The film begins with divorced French chef Stephane (played by Alain Chabat) preparing a wedding feast for his son Ludo (Jules Sagot). On the wedding day, however, he spots his son kissing a young man in the kitchen and feels shocked when he discovers that everyone else, including Ludo's wife, was aware that Ludo is gay. Feeling estranged from his family members, he becomes obsessed with Instagram and befriends a Korean woman named Soo (Bae Doo-na), who speaks fluent French and lives in Seoul. Developing romantic feelings for Soo, he impulsively heads off to Seoul to meet her because she told him “it would be nice to watch cherry blossoms together.” Soo agrees to pick him up at the

Jan 7, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Bae Doo-na shows off her linguistic skills in French movie '#Iamhere'
Films

Actress Moon So-ri to star in, produce female-led film 'Three Sisters'

Actress Moon So-ri in a scene from the film “Three Sisters”/ Courtesy of Little Big PicturesBy Kwak Yeon-sooAward-winning actress Moon So-ri, known for her filmmaking activities in front of and behind the camera, will debut as a producer in the film “Three Sisters.” She will also star in the family drama as Mi-yeon, a church choir conductor who leads a well-rounded life but has a painful childhood memory buried deep in her mind.Moon performs alongside Kim Sun-young, who plays her eldest sister Hee-sook, a cancer patient, and Jang Yoon-joo, who play an immature, impulsive writer named Mi-ok. In “Three Sisters,” the characters confront their past as they spiral down a dark path caused by family tensions. Moon was involved in every aspect of the film's creative process, according to film distributor Little Big Pictures.Expressing excitement about working alongside producer Kim Sang-su, who often tackles social issues in feature films, Moon explained that “Three Sisters” is an unusual portrayal of sibling relationships that many would be ab

Jan 5, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actress Moon So-ri to star in, produce female-led film 'Three Sisters'
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