The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Lee Seung-gi shares intimate encounters with fans in 'Twogether'

Actor and singer Lee Seung-gi poses after an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, July 3. Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooLee Seung-gi, a singer and actor who has maintained steady popularity for his various roles in hit TV dramas and reality shows, has returned to the small screen with travel-reality show “Twogether,” starring alongside Taiwanese actor Jasper Liu.In Netflix's eight-episode series, the Lee-Liu pair travel to six Asian cities ― Yogyakarta and Bali in Indonesia, Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand and Pokhara and Kathmandu in Nepal ― to meet their local fans. The star duo complete various missions to collect clues that help them find their fans' homes under tight time constraints.Although Lee and Liu come from different cultural backgrounds and their languages are different, Lee said they had no problem communicating. “I think the language and cultural barriers have made us display more playful and energetic sides of our personalities. I mingled about 10 Chinese and 100 English words and phrases to communicate with Jasper, accompanied by a lot o

Jul 6, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Lee Seung-gi shares intimate encounters with fans in 'Twogether'

Entertainment

K-pop star Jimin leaves AOA, halts activities amid bullying accusations

Shin Jimin, right, has decided to leave girl group AOA and halt all activities amid bullying allegations. Left is former AOA member Kwon Mina. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooShin Jimin has decided to leave girl group AOA and halt all of her activities after admitting to bullying her former bandmate Kwon Mina.The singer's agency FNC Entertainment released a statement on Saturday, apologizing for causing concern through events surrounding Shin that have been unfolding recently. “From this moment forth, Jimin has decided to leave AOA and halt all of her activities in the entertainment industry,” FNC Entertainment said in a statement. “We take full responsibility for this situation, and we will manage our artists more carefully in the future.”The announcement came after Shin, the leader of AOA, posted a public apology on social media after visiting Kwon to talk things out.“I can't express everything in a short piece of writing, but I'm sorry. I'm not good enough to lead a group and what I did was wrong. I realized that I didn't understand Mina well during

Jul 5, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

K-pop star Jimin leaves AOA, halts activities amid bullying accusations

AOA leader Jimin quits band amid K-pop bullying scandal

Films

'Gwangju Video' retraces 1980 democratic uprising

A scene from the film “Gwangju Video: The Missing” / Courtesy of FEEL&PLANBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Gwangju Video: The Missing” is an archival film that retraces the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980, and the brutal government response, through national and international video footage and interviews of foreign correspondents and domestic witnesses.This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, during which hundreds of unarmed civilians in Gwangju, at the time the provincial capital of South Jeolla Province, were killed in a deadly military crackdown. While the first half of the film focuses on events leading up to the Gwangju Uprising, the latter part follows what happened in front of the Provincial Hall of South Jeolla Province on May 21, the fifth day of the protest, when soldiers opened fire on citizens, leaving hundreds injured or dead. The military force then faced massive resistance from the protesters. There are no documents, photos, videos or audio recordings providing evidence of the mass shooting that took place between 1 p.m. and 5

Jul 2, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Gwangju Video' retraces 1980 democratic uprising

Politics

Should UNESCO remove Japanese sites from World Heritage list?

A large screen displaying Hashima Island, also known as “Battleship Island” here, is seen at the Industrial Heritage Information Center in Tokyo, June 14. The center opened to the public June 15 to introduce 23 Meji Era industrial sites designated as UNESCO World Heritages. / Courtesy of Industrial Heritage Information CenterNetizens split over S. Korea seeking removal of 23 Meiji-era industrial sitesBy Kwak Yeon-sooAmid South Korea and Japan being stuck in the past over unsettled wartime forced labor reparations, netizens remain split over Seoul's diplomatic endeavors to remove controversial Japanese industrial sites, including the so-called “Battleship Island,” from the UNESCO World Heritage list.In a survey of social media users run by The Korea Times via Facebook, some said the two countries should not let the past stand in the way of cooperation for a better future, while others claimed righting the wrongs of history was essential for the two nations to move forward. The government wants UNESCO to remove 23 Meiji Era industrial sites from its World Herita

Jul 1, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Should UNESCO remove Japanese sites from World Heritage list?

Films

Zombie thriller '#Alive' survives pandemic

Yoo Ah-in in a scene from the film “#Alive” / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentFilm surpasses 1 million ticket salesBy Kwak Yeon-sooNew zombie-survival thriller “#Alive” has surpassed 1 million ticket sales within five days of its opening, becoming the first film to achieve such a feat since political comedy “Honest Candidate” in February.The film debuted at No.1 upon its June 24 premiere, and posted the highest opening weekend box office sales in five months since the COVID-19 outbreak.According to Korean Film Council (KOFIC), “#Alive” drew over 200,000 moviegoers on its opening day. This marks the highest opening day score a film has enjoyed since political thriller “The Man Standing Next” sold 252,058 tickets on Jan. 22.The box office record came despite the COVID-19 pandemic which has shown little sign of abating since the first case was reported here in January.The KOFIC data showed that the film attracted 702,968 moviegoers over the June 26-28 period, followed distantly by “Innocence” with 98,176 and “O

Jun 29, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Zombie thriller '#Alive' survives pandemic

Music

BLACKPINK kicks off new chapter with 'How You Like That'

BLACKPINK poses during a global press conference held in Seoul, June 26. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooBLACKPINK unveiled its pre-release track “How You Like That” on Friday ahead of the release of the group's first-ever full-length album, planned for September.The girl group's newest offering comes over a year after 2019's EP “Kill This Love” and on the heels of “Sour Candy,” BLACKPINK's collaboration with Lady Gaga which was released on May 29. BLACKPINK and Lady Gaga's collaborative song ranked as high as 33rd on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and peaked at 17th on the UK Official Singles Chart Top 40. It also ranked the first on the global YouTube song chart. The K-pop act's new song “How You Like That” is an intense, dynamic song written by Teddy and Danny Chung and produced by Teddy, R.Tee and 24. At the global press conference broadcast live through YouTube, BLACKPINK shared stories about the new album as well as the members' experiences during their stellar global show business career.Member Jisoo introduced

Jun 26, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

BLACKPINK kicks off new chapter with 'How You Like That'

Films

INTERVIEW Film explores families torn apart by Korean War

Filmmaker Kim Lyang poses for a photo before an interview with The Korea Times at the newspaper's office in Seoul, June 17. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kwak Yeon-sooIt was not until she turned 30 that director Kim Lyang began to pay much attention to her father's life. Before then, she was fairly indifferent toward her father Ju-young, who spent much of his time at home drinking and lamenting that he would never be able to see his relatives in North Korea again.Kim Ju-young was born in the seaside village of Dancheon-gun, South Hamgyeong Province in North Korea in 1932 during the Japanese occupation and then settled down in Busan after the Korean War.He believed he would be able to return to his hometown eventually, but this belief was crushed when the truce line was drawn. He was among the tens of thousands of Koreans whose families were separated during the war.He settled down and started a family in South Korea, but was consistently framed as “white,” a term that was used to refer to anti-communist prisoners of war or a person “whose ideology was discolor

Jun 25, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Film explores families torn apart by Korean War

INTERVIEW French filmmaker zooms in on turbulent inter-Korean relations

Films

INTERVIEW French filmmaker zooms in on turbulent inter-Korean relations

Filmmaker Pierre-Olivier Francois is seen shooting a documentary in the coastal town of Wonsan, North Korea, in 2016. Courtesy of M. LeLidecBy Kwak Yeon-sooFilmmaker Pierre-Olivier Francois, 49, first visited South Korea in 2000 as a broadcast journalist to do follow-up stories on the 2000 inter-Korean summit. His personal ties with South Korea date back to as far as 1981 when his parents adopted his brother from the country, and deepened in 1983 when they adopted his sister. However, he knew very little about the country before his first trip to Seoul.The director remembers being stunned by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's polite manner toward South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, cracking jokes and expressing his willingness to move toward a common future. Filmmaker Pierre-Olivier Francois / Courtesy of Pierre-Olivier FrancoisFrancois was also surprised when his interpreter in Seoul told him that she had thought North Koreans would have red horns on their heads until she saw Kim Jong-il on TV.All of this triggered his interest in the Korean Peninsula and its incredible, tragic hist

Jun 25, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] French filmmaker zooms in on turbulent inter-Korean relations

INTERVIEW Film explores families torn apart by Korean War

Films

'Spirits' Homecoming' director Cho Jung-rae returns with historical drama

By Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Cho Jung-rae poses for a photo during a press conference for the film “The Singer” in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Little Big PicturesDirector Cho Jung-rae, known for his 2016 film “Spirits' Homecoming,” has returned with the historical pansori drama “The Singer.” Its original Korean title “Sorikkun” is a term that refers to a traditional lyrical storyteller accompanied by a drummer. Set in 1734 during the Joseon Kingdom, the movie centers on the lives of pansori performers, who held very low social status. Pansori is a narrative music style comprised of various melodies and rhythms.In “The Singer,” Sim Hak-gyu (played by pansori singer Lee Bong-geun) embarks on a journey with his daughter Cheong (played by Kim Ha-yeon) to search for his wife Gannan (played by Lee Yu-ri), who is kidnapped.Hak-gyu performs the pansori “Simcheongga,” which revolves around a girl and her sacrifice to cure her father's blindness, on his way to find Gannan. Poverty and human trafficking are featured in the story

Jun 23, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Spirits' Homecoming' director Cho Jung-rae returns with historical drama

Films

INTERVIEW 'Acting is frightening but rewarding'

Actor Cho Jin-woong poses for a photo after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, June 16. / Courtesy of AceMaker MovieworksBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Cho Jin-woong got his start with a minor role in “Spirit of Jeet Kune Do ― Once Upon a Time in High School” (2004). Since then, he has starred in films of diverse genres, including “Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time” (2011), “Roaring Currents” (2014), “Assassination” (2015) and “The Handmaiden,” dominating every scene he is in. With more than 60 films under his belt now, the actor is still as in demand as ever. Cho credits his longevity for his ability to maintain great working relationships with fellow actors and directors and see the bigger picture. Even after he became a much-sought-after actor, he continued to reinvent himself by working alongside rookie filmmakers to diversify his portfolio.“There is a time-tested formula for making a hit film. It's pretty simple ― cast A-listed stars and invest big money. However, I'm a type of person who feels more joy w

Jun 21, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

INTERVIEW Lee Seung-gi shares intimate encounters with fans in 'Twogether'

K-pop star Jimin leaves AOA, halts activities amid bullying accusations

'Gwangju Video' retraces 1980 democratic uprising

Should UNESCO remove Japanese sites from World Heritage list?

Zombie thriller '#Alive' survives pandemic

BLACKPINK kicks off new chapter with 'How You Like That'

INTERVIEW Film explores families torn apart by Korean War

INTERVIEW French filmmaker zooms in on turbulent inter-Korean relations

'Spirits' Homecoming' director Cho Jung-rae returns with historical drama

INTERVIEW 'Acting is frightening but rewarding'

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