The Korea Times

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Sowing seeds for Korean cinema boom in 1950s

By Kwak Yeon-sooIn Korean film history, the late 1950s are regarded as a period of revival, overcoming the post-war chaos and paving the way for the golden age of cinema in the 1960s.Through the mid-to-late 1950s, Korean cinema witnessed significant growth, laying the foundations for the current film industry. Despite the turbulence after liberation from Japanese rule (1910-1945) and the ruins of the Korean War (1950-53), both the quality and quantity of filmmaking increased rapidly by the end of the decade. In 1959, film production was in triple digits for the first time ever, with 111 films made in 1959, according to “A Look inside South Korean Cinema: K-Movie, The World's Spotlight on Korean Film.” This is a drastic jump from the 18 films produced in 1954. In the mid-late 1950s, Korean films adopted modern elements and there were more varied stories, with directors branching into genres such as action, melodrama, comedies, crime thrillers and period films.Poverty and gloom were prevalent in people's lives, but at the same time, an overwhelming sense of hope emerged in

Nov 2, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL] Sowing seeds for Korean cinema boom in 1950s

Films

INTERVIEW Lee Je-hoon prepares career turn with comedy movie

Actor Lee Je-hoon poses after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooLee Je-hoon wasn't always an A-list actor. He got his start by appearing in several independent films, which parlayed into his eye-catching role in “Bleak Night.”Along the way, Lee has achieved a broad range of work ― going from a rebellious high school student in “Bleak Night” and an icon of first love in “Architecture 101,” to a fun-loving thief in “Collectors.”After a decade of acting, the 36-year-old said he feels more responsible to not only lead the cast but the entire crew and production team. “In the past, I didn't speak up about the issues concerning the film crew,” he said. “I was busy memorizing my lines and trying to maintain the continuity. But I've come to realize that it's really important for us, as actors, to encourage the crew and create the perfect atmosphere so that they can bring out the best in themselves.”Lee said the “Collectors” script got h

Oct 30, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Lee Je-hoon prepares career turn with comedy movie

Films

'Collectors' actors confident about film's eye-catching set, good laughs

Lim Won-hee in a scene from the film “Collectors” / Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Collectors” is a fun-filled crime comedy film that can make audiences laugh cathartically amid the pandemic gloom. Apart from the story itself, the acting in the film is performed remarkably by four actors whose performances capture the light-hearted atmosphere of the film. The film opens with antiquities thief Kang Dong-goo (Lee Je-hoon) stealing a golden sitting Buddha statue from Hwangnyong Temple in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. The daring thief is given a mission to rob the ancient tombs from the Goguryeo period (37 B.C. to A.D. 668) located in China, so Kang joins hands with Dr. Jones (Jo Woo-jin), an ancient tomb mural expert. Kang then prepares an elaborate plan to find a priceless sword hidden inside Seolleung, a royal tomb from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) located in Seoul's Gangnam District. Confronted with a challenging mission, Kang recruits a team of cohorts, including Dr. Jones and tunnel digger (Lim Won-hee). The fun starts here, as looters

Oct 29, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Films

Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum's 'Seobok' is road movie of secret agent, human clone

Actors Gong Yoo, left, and Park Bo-gum in a scene from sci-fi action film “Seobok” Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe sci-fi action film “Seobok,” featuring Gong Yoo and Park Bo-gum, is the story of a growing relationship between a former intelligence agent who is terminally ill and the world's first human clone who possesses the secret to eternal life.It has been garnering much attention as one of the long-awaited projects of 2020 because the two heartthrob actors are starring together in a film for the first time.In “Seobok,” Ki-heon (Gong) is given one final mission to discreetly transport Seobok (Park) to a safe place, but they find themselves in a number of life-threatening situations as other forces seek to take possession of Seobok.Returning to the big screen a year after “Kim Ji-young, Born in 1982,” Gong said he was drawn to the script, which raises philosophical questions about the future of humanity and conveys the message that humans shouldn't be overly ambitious. “Whenever I decide to join a project, I ch

Oct 27, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum's 'Seobok' is road movie of secret agent, human clone

Films

'House of Hummingbird' wins two prizes at 29th Buil Film Awards

Jung Yu-mi, left, and Lee Byung-hun / Courtesy of Management Soop and BH EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooKim Bo-ra's “House of Hummingbird” won the best film and best screenplay awards at the 29th Buil Film Awards, held alongside the Busan International Film Festival, Thursday. A poster for “House of Hummingbird” / Courtesy of Atnine FilmBest director went to Jung Ji-woo for “Tune in for Love.” “The Man Standing Next,” which has been selected to compete for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, won the best actor for Lee Byung-hun and best supporting actor for Lee Hee-jun.The latter film is a political thriller that centers on the last 40 days before the Korean Central Intelligence Agency director assassinated then President Park Chung-hee in 1979. Jung Yu-mi won the best actress for “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,” adapted from Cho Nam-ju's best-selling novel of the same name. The best supporting actress went to Lee Re for her role in zombie blockbuster “Peninsula.”“Deliver Us From Evil&rd

Oct 23, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

'House of Hummingbird' wins two prizes at 29th Buil Film Awards

Films

INTERVIEW Eugene returns to film after 11 years due to motherhood

Eugene after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday. /Courtesy of Road PicturesBy Kwak Yeon-sooSinger-turned-actress Eugene says her new film “Paper Flower” is about finding hope in the middle of despair. The title refers to a Korean funerary tradition of placing paper flowers inside a coffin to pay tribute to the deceased.Returning to the silver screen for the first time in 11 years since horror flick “Yoga,” she chose an independent film over a big-scale commercial film because the film's message resonated with her.Her foresight has proven true, as the film already won two awards ― the Platinum Remi Award and Best Actor Award for actor Ahn Sung-ki ― at this year's WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. In “Paper Flower,” Eugene plays Eun-sook, a single mother who lives with her daughter No-el and never loses her smile even in harsh times. “Director Koh Hoon wanted Eun-sook's character to be overdramatic and bright, to the point where she sounds eccentric, so that her pain and sorrow could be better reflected

Oct 23, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Eugene returns to film after 11 years due to motherhood

Entertainment

INTERVIEW 'Star Trek' writer shares his obsession with King Sejong, Korean alphabet

A scene from the film “The King's Letters” in which actor Song Kang-ho plays King Sejong, the fourth ruler of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). / Courtesy of Megabox Plus MBy Kwak Yeon-sooKing Sejong of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) is one of the most admired historic figures in Korea. During his 1418-1450 reign, he churned out achievements in almost every field, including science, agriculture, astronomy and music. However his most outstanding achievement was the creation of Hangeul with the help of a team of scholars. Hangeul is the writing system for the Korean language, which eventually promoted the high literacy level of the general public.Joe Menosky, a television writer and producer best known for his work on several Star Trek TV series, has been a follower of Korean history and culture for nearly two decades. But it was not until five years ago that he became fascinated with Hangeul. “About 20 years ago, I worked on a couple of projects with the Korean American producer Roy Lee, who introduced me to Korean cinema and cuisine. I kept watching Korean content ove

Oct 22, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] 'Star Trek' writer shares his obsession with King Sejong, Korean alphabet

K-pop's global appeal creates Hangeul craze

Films

INTERVIEW Filmmaker explores pressure of Korea's rigid beauty standards

A scene from the film “Mirror” / Courtesy of Christina YoonBy Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Christina Yoon's short film “Mirror” explores Korea's “unrealistic” beauty standards which make women desperate to achieve aesthetic perfection. Although the movie is about Korean women, Yoon said the topic she deals with is a universal problem that anyone can empathize with.The 12-minute film tells the story of Yeona Song (played by Spring Kim), a female Korean immigrant who is self-conscious because of a large scar on her right cheek.She wears a face mask to hide the scar. At the height of insecurity, she decides to visit an unlicensed beauty clinic in Queens, New York, to remove the scar. However, she is encouraged to consider changing her entire face, and she faces the dilemma to either undergo plastic surgery or to accept the skin she's in.Yoon explained that she has always been fascinated by the masks people put on for society, creating a dichotomy between one's inner self and outer appearance. “As a Korean American woman, I felt this on many levels as a

Oct 22, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Filmmaker explores pressure of Korea's rigid beauty standards

Films

CGV to close 30 percent of its theaters due to pandemic slump

A sign on display at CGV Myeongdong Branch advises the suspension of business due to the prolonged fallout from COVID-19 pandemic, in this March file photo. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooCGV, the country's largest multiplex operator, said Monday it will reduce 30 percent of its cinemas as the pandemic continues to slam the movie industry.As part of its restructuring plan, the chain will close 35 to 40 theaters, which accounts for nearly 30 percent of its theaters nationwide, within three years. The opening of new branches will be delayed or called off, as the company's revenue is estimated to have fallen nearly 70 percent from a year earlier, a reflection of the struggles domestic movie theaters have been facing since COVID-19 hit the country in February. As for existing branches, the company will introduce a more flexible policy such as limiting the number of screenings depending on the film lineup and estimated audience size. For instance, some theaters are considering closing during weekdays and opening only on weekends to improve operational efficiency. The move comes as film

Oct 19, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

CGV to close 30 percent of its theaters due to pandemic slump

Films

Tickets on sale for Busan International Film Festival

By Kwak Yeon-sooA poster for the 25th Busan International Film Festival. / Courtesy of BIFFTickets for the 25th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) that runs from Oct. 21 to Oct. 30 are on sale, but some screenings have already sold out. Sales opened at 2 p.m. Thursday but were disrupted for an hour due to strong demand for the limited number of tickets available. Each invited film will be screened only once during the festival and the number of theaters screening them has been reduced from 37 to six.This year's lineup features 192 films from 68 countries. Among the highlights will be the screening of Pixar's “Soul,” which will be shown in Asia for the first time.Tickets for “Soul,” Kiyoshi Kurosawa's “Wife of a Spy,” which won the Silver Lion for best director at this year's Venice International Film Festival, and Lee Isaac Chung's “Minari,” which won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, have sold out.“More than Family,” in which f(X) member Krystal plays a pregnant college

Oct 16, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Sowing seeds for Korean cinema boom in 1950s

INTERVIEW Lee Je-hoon prepares career turn with comedy movie

'Collectors' actors confident about film's eye-catching set, good laughs

Gong Yoo, Park Bo-gum's 'Seobok' is road movie of secret agent, human clone

'House of Hummingbird' wins two prizes at 29th Buil Film Awards

INTERVIEW Eugene returns to film after 11 years due to motherhood

INTERVIEW 'Star Trek' writer shares his obsession with King Sejong, Korean alphabet

INTERVIEW Filmmaker explores pressure of Korea's rigid beauty standards

CGV to close 30 percent of its theaters due to pandemic slump

Tickets on sale for Busan International Film Festival

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