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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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Entertainment

Theaters screen classical music concerts, drama series, past hits to fill void

Posters for New Year's concerts by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, left, and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Courtesy of MegaboxBy Kwak Yeon-sooMovie theater chains are screening classical music concerts, drama series and past hits to fill the void left by the postponement of film releases, as the resurgence of COVID-19 cases has delayed what was already expected to be a slow recovery for cinemas.While over-the-top (OTT) services are doing brisk business, theaters are struggling to draw audiences because of a lack of new films as major studios believe that releasing a big movie during the pandemic can be risky.Overall box office ticket sales have plummeted due to COVID-19, with the openings of many domestic and foreign films being postponed, including Disney's “Soul,” Korean sci-fi thriller “Seobok” and romantic comedy “New Year Blues.”According to data provided by the Korean Film Council, a total of 3.59 million people went to the cinema in November, down 80.7 percent from the same month last year. For the January-November period, the number of

Dec 18, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Theaters screen classical music concerts, drama series, past hits to fill void
Entertainment

K-dramas based on webtoons hailed by TV viewers

Scenes from OCN's “The Uncanny Counter” / Courtesy of OCNBy Kwak Yeon-sooK-dramas based on popular webtoons, or web comics, are gaining popularity as directors and writers look for tried-and-true content that can attract TV viewers.Webtoon, a portmanteau of “web” and “cartoon,” refers to online comics available to read on major web portals like Naver and Daum. According to data from the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the overall value of the local webtoon market jumped from 52.9 billion won ($48.3 million) in 2010 to over 880 billion won last year, with the figure expected to exceed 1 trillion won this year.OCN's “The Uncanny Counter,” adapted from Jang Yi's Daum webtoon “Amazing Rumor,” follows a teenage boy named So-mun (Jo Byung-gyu) who joins a group fighting evil spirits. Its latest episode scored 7.7 percent viewership nationwide, setting the highest rating among the cable network's dramas. It also reached No.1 on Netflix's daily top 10 list in Korea after unveiling it on Nov. 29, according to analytics firm Fl

Dec 16, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
K-dramas based on webtoons hailed by TV viewers
Entertainment

COVID-19 shock: cinema sales to drop 73 percent in 2020

A moviegoer reserves a seat at a cinema in Seoul, in this Nov. 23 file photo. / Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooThe pandemic continues to weigh on Korea's box office sales forcing many cinemas to close and major blockbuster releases to be delayed. Ticket sales will likely fall 73.3 percent to 510 billion won ($467 million) year-on-year, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) said in its annual forecast.The country's third wave of coronavirus cases infected about 7,000 people in November and the number of daily infections continue to rise in December. Due to the level 2.5 social distancing measures, cinemas and multiplexes are able to accommodate only about half the normal number of moviegoers and must close from 9 p.m. The cinema business' immediate future looks bleak as releases of highly anticipated sci-fi action flick “Seobok,” musical pic “Life is Beautiful” and Pixar's animated film “Soul” have been postponed to next year.KOFIC said the whole cinema ecosystem ― comprised of fi

Dec 14, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
COVID-19 shock: cinema sales to drop 73 percent in 2020
Films

Rise and fall of controversial director Kim Ki-duk

Director Kim Ki-duk speaks during the opening ceremony of the 41st Moscow International Film Festival, in this April 18, 2019, file photo. AP-YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooKim Ki-duk, an influential film director whose career was tarnished by accusations that he had sexually assaulted several women, died on Friday at a hospital in Latvia due to coronavirus complications. He was 59.Kim, whose films won him a Silver Bear in Berlin, an Un Certain Regard award in Cannes and a Golden Lion in Venice, enjoyed his biggest successes at European film festivals. But he failed commercially, leaving audiences divided over his depiction of extreme violence and dark content. Born in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, he grew up in a poor family before dropping out of school at the age of 14 and working in factories for years. After serving as a petty officer in the Marine Corps for five years, he briefly attended Chongshin University. At the age of 30, he moved to Paris and taught himself how to paint by visiting museums and art galleries. He got interested in making films after watching the French

Dec 13, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Rise and fall of controversial director Kim Ki-duk
Entertainment

INTERVIEW Nam Joo-hyuk on why he likes flawed characters, works tirelessly in his 20s

Actor Nam Joo-hyuk / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea By Kwak Yeon-sooActor Nam Joo-hyuk had a busy 2020, with back-to-back roles in Netflix series “School Nurse Files,” tvN series “Start-Up” and romance movie “Josee.”He said the driving force behind his tireless work this year was his “desire to live well.” “I always keep in mind that 'If you don't do anything, nothing will happen.' I don't want my 20s to be wasted, so that's why I've worked really hard so far,” he said in an interview with The Korea Times via Google Meet. Asked if he was suffering from burnout, he said: “It wasn't my intention, but my works got released one after another, making it feel more like I've worked like an ox this year. I haven't burned out, but I'm glad that I can finally take a break and reflect on the moments that made me grow as an actor.”Nam revealed that when choosing a role, he prefers flawed characters who try to be a better person. In “School Nurse Files,” he played Chinese teache

Dec 9, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
[INTERVIEW] Nam Joo-hyuk on why he likes flawed characters, works tirelessly in his 20s
Films

41st Blue Dragon Awards postponed as COVID-19 cases continue to spike

By Kwak Yeon-soo A poster for the 41st Blue Dragon Awards / Courtesy of Blue Dragon Awards organizing committee The 41st Blue Dragon Awards ceremony has been postponed after the government raised the social distancing level to 2.5.The organizing committee announced Tuesday the decision to push back the awards to early 2021 as COVID-19 continues to impact the film industry. It was originally scheduled to take place on Dec. 11. “Due to the growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, we have decided to postpone the event. It is regrettable because a diverse list of nominees were expected to compete this year. However, safety and the protection of the health of our actors, directors and staff should come first,” the organizing committee said in a statement. Meanwhile, the release dates for multiple films have been pushed back to 2021. CJ Entertainment said Monday that it will put off the premiere of sci-fi action film “Seobok,” which was originally scheduled to hit thea

Dec 8, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
41st Blue Dragon Awards postponed as COVID-19 cases continue to spike
  • Blockbusters 'Seo Bok,' 'Life Is Beautiful' premieres postpone due to COVID-19
Entertainment

Top 10 Korean movies of 2020: Virus cuts 'Parasite' triumph short

By Kwak Yeon-sooThe year 2020 started off strong for Korean cinema with “Parasite” making history by winning four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director and the International Feature Film category.Shortly after the historic moment, however, the Korean movie industry experienced a drastic pandemic-driven decline, with theaters around the country closing indefinitely and studios moving most of their big releases to 2021. Leading multiplex operators raised ticket prices as part of their attempts to survive the pandemic. Highly anticipated big budget films like “Seobok,” “Mogadishu” and “Hero” have pushed back their releases to next year. “Space Sweepers,” starring Song Joong-ki and Kim Tae-ri, is taking the safe route by premiering on Netflix in 2021.But a slew of good local films still made it onto screens during this exhausting year. Below are the 10 Korean films that caught the eyes of both domestic and international audiences. A scene from “The Man Standing Next” / Courtesy of Showbox1. The

Dec 8, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Top 10 Korean movies of 2020: Virus cuts 'Parasite' triumph short
Shows & Dramas

Star chef Paik Jong-won to host Netflix food show

Star Chef and eatery franchise owner Paik Jong-won will host "Paik's Spirit" / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooStar chef and eatery franchise owner Paik Jong-won will be working with Netflix on a new food show titled “Paik's Spirit,” the streaming giant said Friday. As the host, Paik will invite guests with extensive knowledge of Korean food and drinks and share stories across the dinner table. The history of soju (distilled alcohol), makgeolli (rice wine) and traditional liquors will be dealt with. A passionate foodie himself, Paik will unveil his philosophy on cooking and culinary inspirations.“Paik's Spirit” will be the first reality show on the streaming giant to center on Korean food, drinks and culture. It will also mark Paik's debut on the global streamer after he earned fame through local TV shows and his own YouTube channel. The release date will be announced later. Paik became a star chef after he appeared on MBC's reality show program “My Little Television,” which landed him on other cooking programs such as SBS' reality show “P

Dec 5, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Star chef Paik Jong-won to host Netflix food show
Films

INTERVIEW Han Ji-min said 'Josee' changed her perception of love, life

Actor Han Ji-min / Courtesy of BH EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Han Ji-min said her new film “Josee,” a remake of Isshin Inudo's 2003 Japanese film “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish,” changed her perception of love and life. “Getting over a breakup or losing a family member or having to say goodbye to one's dog isn't easy. It often takes time to heal and move on. But after filming Josee, I realized that I should look on the bright side and remain hopeful even when saying goodbye to loved ones,” Han said during an interview with The Korea Times via Google Meet, Thursday. “I also learned that I should be honest about my feelings. In the past, I tried very hard not to argue with people because I was too conscious about what others would think about me or my actions.”The romance drama “Josee” follows an ordinary college student named Young-seok (Nam Joo-hyuk) falling for Josee (Han), a woman in a wheelchair. Despite the social prejudice, the two fall in love. With the support of Young-seok, Josee learns to step out of her co

Dec 4, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
[INTERVIEW] Han Ji-min said 'Josee' changed her perception of love, life
Entertainment

Jun Jong-seo continues to build strong film slate with 'The Call'

Actor Jun Jong-seo / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-sooJun Jong-seo continues to build a strong film slate in her post “Burning” career, starring in acclaimed thriller “The Call,” which was released through Netflix.Playing the role of a serial killer in Lee Chung-hyun's debut feature, Jun brilliantly shows off psychotic performance that reveals her character to be just as dangerous as she is fragile.“Young-sook's character is often described as a psychopath, a sociopath and a serial killer, but I didn't want to frame her as a lunatic. Her actions don't make any sense, but my job was to find validity in her reckless behavior. I didn't see Young-sook as the villain,” she said during a recent interview with The Korea Times via Google Meet. A remake of the British/Puerto Rican thriller “The Caller” (2011), the film revolves around two women who are living two decades apart but are connected through an old phone.In the film, Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) lives in the presen

Dec 4, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Jun Jong-seo continues to build strong film slate with 'The Call'
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