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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

'Shoplifters' filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda to helm first Korean film

By Kwak Yeon-sooFilmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment“Shoplifter” filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda is set to direct his first Korean film, tentatively titled “Baby, Box, Broker.” This will be Kore-eda's second film set outside Japan, following “The Truth,” which was shot in French and English.The star-studded cast includes Song Kang-ho of Oscar-winning “Parasite,” Bae Doo-na of epic sci-fi film “Cloud Atlas” and Gang Dong-won of zombie blockbuster “Peninsula.”The film centers on “baby boxes” that are left out for people to anonymously drop off their unwanted babies. “'Broker' is a story about baby boxes,” Kore-eda said. “I'm currently working on the script that revolves around three great actors. I hope to create a thrilling, heartwarming and emotional film,” said Kore-eda.“This film, like my latest French-language film 'The Truth,' will be set outside my home country and native language. I've been exploring questions like 'What can I share with the audien

Aug 27, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Shoplifters' filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda to helm first Korean film
Entertainment

Movie theaters mandate face masks

A worker disinfects a Lotte Cinema in central Seoul in this Aug. 21 photo. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooWith the number of daily COVID-19 cases bouncing back to over 300, major multiplex chains have announced tighter measures that require patrons to wear face masks while watching movies. Face masks have been required for workers but were optional for customers in common areas of cinemas, such as hallways, auditoriums and restrooms.But multiplex operators have decided to impose stricter regulations to comply with the nation's Level 2 social distancing scheme that took effect Sunday. “We will require customers to wear face masks at our theaters nationwide in accordance with the government's Level 2 social distancing scheme,” CGV said on Monday.“Those who fail to comply with our updated regulation will be denied access to the cinema or face a fine of 100,000 won ($84).”Megabox also mandated visitors wear face masks at all times, except when eating or drinking. “From now on, we will require all customers to wear masks as they enter and enjoy movies at o

Aug 26, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Movie theaters mandate face masks
Films

Type-cast bad guy, Yoon Je-moon stars as warm character in 'Fukuoka'

Actor Yoon Je-moon / Courtesy of Indie Story By Kwak Yeon-sooActor Yoon Je-moon recalled that filming nostalgic drama “Fukuoka” was refreshing because he was able to throw away his usual character of a villain and transform into that of a kind and warm-hearted man.In the film, Yoon plays Je-moon, a second-hand bookstore owner, who is dragged along on a trip by longtime customer So-dam (Park So-dam) to Fukuoka to meet his long estranged friend Hae-hyo (Kwon Hae-hyo).The two parted ways 28 years earlier after falling in love with the same girl, who eventually left both of them. Hae-hyo moved to the girl's hometown of Fukuoka to look for her, but never saw her again. Struggling to get over his ex-girlfriend, Hae-hyo has been running a bar in the Japanese city and growing old alone, just like Je-moon.Despite initial bickering, the two men and So-dam travel across the city and reflect on their past, wondering if things would have turned out differently if they had made d

Aug 26, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Type-cast bad guy, Yoon Je-moon stars as warm character in 'Fukuoka'
Music

BTS inspires hope, happiness with all-English single 'Dynamite'

BTS members pose during a global press conference to promote their new single “Dynamite” in Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of Big Hit EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooBTS dropped its highly anticipated English-language song “Dynamite” to send messages of hope and happiness to ARMYs ― its fans ― around the world struggling through the pandemic. Speaking of the new single “Dynamite,” RM said the group initially had no plans of releasing new music before its next album. It is working on a new album set for release in the fourth quarter of 2020 after dropping “Map of the Soul: 7” in February.“We came across 'Dynamite' while preparing for our next album,” RM said during an online global press conference held in Seoul, Friday. “As soon as we heard the song, we thought it was really fun and it was a song we really wanted to try. “It made us feel good we could just dance to it, and we wanted to share this feeling as soon as possible and share this energy.”J-Hope recalled that releasing the single was a last-minute decision

Aug 21, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
BTS inspires hope, happiness with all-English single 'Dynamite'
Music

Storytelling in music: K-pop labels cash in on secondary content

A large banner featuring the lyrics of BTS' “Run,” the lead song of the boy band's album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2,” is installed on the exterior of the Kyobo Building at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul, Aug. 19. It reads, “Run, run, run again. It's OK if you fall. Run, run, run again. It's OK to get hurt.” / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooFollowing the success of the “BTS World” mobile game that launched last year, the global boy band once again collaborated with game developer Netmarble to unveil “BTS Universe Story,” an interactive mobile storytelling platform, on Wednesday.This is in alignment with the recent moves of BTS' label, Big Hit Entertainment, to expand character merchandise by integrating storytelling into music, pushing the K-pop industry to a new level of possibility. Big Hit Entertainment's character brand TinyTAN is comprised of BTS-inspired animated characters. / Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment“Storytelling will be expanded in stages to include artists in our multi-label organization,

Aug 20, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Storytelling in music: K-pop labels cash in on secondary content
Entertainment

INTERVIEW Concept artist discusses success behind 'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' storybooks

Concept artist Jamsan, who worked on “It's Okay Not to Be Okay” storybooks featured in the smash-hit drama series, poses after an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kwak Yeon-sooCable network tvN's series “It's Okay to Not Be Okay” wrapped up its 16-part run earlier this month, but is still making headlines because of the children's storybooks that appeared in the smash-hit drama.Following the massive success of its fairy tale romance, the production company has decided to publish five storybooks: “The Boy Who Fed on Nightmares,” “Zombie Kid,” “The Cheerful Dog,” “The Hand, the Monkfish” and “Finding the Real Face.”Jamsan, a concept artist who joined the hugely successful TV series, said he is still overwhelmed by the overnight success of the drama both at home and abroad, which caused his career to take off. The benefits have continued even after the end of the drama. All five of the storybooks shown in the series are currently liste

Aug 20, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
[INTERVIEW] Concept artist discusses success behind 'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' storybooks
Films

Song Joong-ki returns to cinema with 'Space Sweepers'

From left, actor Yoo Hai-jin, Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri and Jin Sun-kyu pose at the press conference for the film “Space Sweepers” in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Merry ChristmasBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Space Sweepers,” featuring a star-studded cast including Song Joong-ki and Kim Tae-ri, is a sci-fi film helmed by Jo Sung-hee, who is widely known for his previous movies “A Werewolf Boy” and “Phantom Detective.”Set in 2092, the film revolves around the crew of The Victory, who have been searching for lucrative space debris. After they spot the humanoid “Dorothy” ― a weapon of mass destruction ― the members make a risky deal.Song appears as the shuttle's pilot Tae-ho while Kim plays Captain Jang. Actors Jin Sun-kyu and Yoo Hai-jin also star in the film, which is the first Korean sci-fi movie set in space.The film is Song's first in three years since “The Battleship Island.” Discussing his character in “Space Sweepers,” Song said during an online press conference Tuesday, “Tae-ho is a desperate penniless

Aug 18, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Song Joong-ki returns to cinema with 'Space Sweepers'
Entertainment

'The School Nurse Files' to premiere on Netflix in September

By Kwak Yeon-sooA poster for the Netflix original series “The School Nurse Files” / Courtesy of NetflixFantasy drama “The School Nurse Files,” starring Jung Yu-mi and Nam Joo-hyuk, is coming to Netflix in September.The streaming giant confirmed that its Korean original series will premiere in over 190 countries on Sept. 25.Based on a novel of the same name, Jung plays Ahn Eun-young, a high school nurse with the supernatural ability to see jelly-like substances that are invisible to everyone else. The jelly-like blobs are released when classical Chinese teacher Hong In-pyo (played by Nam Joo-hyuk) accidentally breaks their containment seal in the school's basement. The two face disturbing situations at the school and join hands to save students from blob attacks.The series is directed by Lee Kyoung-mi, who has created films including “Crush and Blush” (2008) and “The Truth Beneath” (2016). The scripts will be written by Chung Se-rang, the best-selling author who wrote the original novel.“In the series, I'd like to convey a tension

Aug 14, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
'The School Nurse Files' to premiere on Netflix in September
Films

Mystery thriller 'Diva' transforms Shin Min-a

From left, actors Lee You-young and Shin Min-a, director Cho Seul-ye and actor Lee Kyu-hyung at an online press conference for “Diva.” / Courtesy of Megabox Plus MBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Diva” is a disturbing, breath-taking thriller that combines mystery with the subject of diving.Shin Min-a, who won hearts in sweetheart roles from previous works, plays Yi-young, an athlete whose life is consumed with diving. One day, she is involved in a car accident with her best friend/rival Soo-jin (Lee You-young). Soo-jin goes missing and Yi-young has to cope with the stress and trauma to win the next competition. However, rumors swirl about Soo-jin, and Yi-young realizes her best friend might not be who she originally thought she was. Yi-young struggles to delve deeper into her friend's well-hidden dark side that threatens to destroy her.Shin said she was excited about returning to the screen after six years since appearing in “My Love, My Bride.” “The script was intense and fascinating,” Shin said during an online press conference in Seoul on Thursday.

Aug 14, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Mystery thriller 'Diva' transforms Shin Min-a
Films

Ha Ji-won starring 'Pawn' adds new flair to 'tear jerker' films

Director Kang Dae-gyu, second from left, poses with actors Sung Dong-il, left, Kim Hee-won, right, Ha Ji-won and Park So-yi during a press event held in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe family drama “Pawn” is a “tear-jerker” film that offers a unique yet touching exploration of a family, according to the film's cast. It revolves around Doo-seok (Sung Dong-il) and Jong-bae (Kim Hee-won), debt collectors who look intimidating but are actually kind-hearted.The two go to collect debt from an illegal immigrant named Myung-ja (Kim Yun-jin), who offers her 9-year-old daughter Seung-yi as collateral. But Myung-ja gets deported and the two are left to look after Seung-yi. The younger Seung-yi is played by child actor Park So-yi, and actress Ha Ji-won plays the older version of the character.Sung explained that “Pawn” isn't about the traditional definition of a family, it holds a message that highlights the importance of caring for our neighbors.“As a father of three children, I feel responsible to tell a warm story w

Aug 12, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Ha Ji-won starring 'Pawn' adds new flair to 'tear jerker' films
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