The Korea Times

Yeon Sang-ho shares first glimpse of zombie blockbuster 'Peninsula'

Director Yeon Sang-ho, left, and the cast of “Peninsula” pose for a photo at the online press conference for the film in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of NEWBy Kwak Yeon-sooFilmmaker Yeon Sang-ho has finally unveiled the first glimpse of the post-apocalyptic world of “Peninsula,” the sequel to 2016 box office juggernaut “Train to Busan.”“Peninsula,” which has been invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival, is expected to open in July. Set four years after “Train to Busan,” the upcoming film tells the story of the survivors and the world taken over by zombies. It is Yeon's third Cannes entry following the animated film “The King of Pigs” in 2012 and “Train to Busan” in 2016. Gang Dong-won plays Jung-seok, a former soldier who goes back to the zombie-packed peninsula on a mission, while Lee Jung-hyun plays Min-jung, a mother of two daughters and an uninfected survivor of the zombie apocalypse. Lee saves the lives of Jung-seok and his mission crew from a massive zombie attack and they join forces to escap

Jun 17, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Yeon Sang-ho shares first glimpse of zombie blockbuster 'Peninsula'

Films

In '#Alive,' two survivors struggle to escape zombie-hit homes

Actors Yoo Ah-in, right, and Park Shin-hye pose for a photo during a press conference for the film “#Alive” held at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance Branch in Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye are set to play two contrasting characters who struggle to survive and escape a zombie-hit apartment complex in the survival thriller “#Alive.”Based on the 2019 U.S. zombie horror film “Alone,” the story follows two protagonists isolated in their apartments as a zombie apocalypse erupts outside. Yoo Ah-in plays Joon-woo, a game streamer and electronics geek, while Park Shin-hye plays Yu-bin, an individualist who likes hiking. The two very different characters employ their own methods and team up for survival when all contact with the outside world is cut off. “Joon-woo is a boy-next-door type of character who many people will be able to relate to. He's an ordinary and friendly guy who has comical undertones,” Yoo said during a press conference for the film held at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entran

Jun 16, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

In '#Alive,' two survivors struggle to escape zombie-hit homes

Movie Review New zombie thriller '#Alive' takes fresh approach on loneliness

Music

BTS' virtual concert becomes world's biggest paid online music event

BTS perform during the group's virtual concert “Bang Bang Con: The Live” held at Paradise City hotel in Incheon, Sunday. Courtesy of Big Hit EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooBTS' virtual concert “Bang Bang Con: The Live,” which served as a substitute for the group's tour that was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has attracted a record-setting number of viewers from across the world.The 100-minute livestreamed concert drew some 756,000 viewers from 107 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., China and Japan, according to Big Hit Entertainment. The number of online viewers is roughly equal to the combined audience of 15 stadium concerts.“'Bang Bang Con: The Live' has become the world's biggest paid online music event,” Big Hit Entertainment said in a release. “Despite the difficulties that the music industry is facing, BTS has opened up new possibilities for online concerts.”The music label not only found an innovative way to connect its performers with audiences but also set a new profit model during the COVID-19 era. Tickets for &ld

Jun 15, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

BTS' virtual concert becomes world's biggest paid online music event

Films

Summer tent-pole films set new release dates despite increase in movie attendance

Actor Hwang Jung-min in a scene from the film “Deliver Us From Evil” / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment By Kwak Yeon-sooAmid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, several big name film studios announced changes to their summer releases of “tent-pole” films. Delayed movies include “Deliver Us From Evil,” “Hero,” “Space Sweepers” and “Mogadishu” ― the only film that appears unaffected is “Peninsula,” which is still set for theatrical release in July.On June 11, CJ Entertainment announced changes to its release calendar. Hardboiled action film “Deliver Us From Evil,” starring Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae, will be released in August instead of July.“Considering various factors such as the summer vacation and market conditions, we concluded that August would be more appropriate than July,” a company official said.This change set off a domino effect, pushing its highly-anticipated film “Hero” into the fall or beyond. “Hero,” a film version of the hit musical about Korean indepe

Jun 14, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Films

Mystery drama 'Me and Me' brings novelty yet lacks clarity

Actor Cho Jin-woong in a scene from the film “Me and Me” / Courtesy of AceMaker MovieworksBy Kwak Yeon-sooJung Jin-young made an impressive directorial debut with mystery thriller “Me and Me.” The actor-turned-filmmaker proves that his movie is certainly something of a novelty that will likely attract audiences.Although uneven, the film balances everything from humor and tragedy to mystery to fantasy in the story that traces one man's lonely struggle to get his life back.The film revolves around a police officer named Hyung-gu (played by Cho Jin-woong) who investigates a mysterious fire that took the lives of a married couple in a small town.While trying to find out why there was a cage installed in the house and the couple were locked up in the attic, Hyung-gu becomes aware of the townspeople's secret related to their deaths.One night, the townspeople invite Hyung-gu for a drink. The next day, he wakes up discovering that people refuse to recognize him for who he is ― a police officer and a father of two.Instead, the townspeople tell Hyung-gu he is a teacher

Jun 10, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Mystery drama 'Me and Me' brings novelty yet lacks clarity

Films

'Baseball Girl' presents how to break glass ceiling in sports

Actress Lee Joo-young as Soo-in, an aspiring baseball player, in a scene from the film “Baseball Girl” / Courtesy of Sidus'Itaewon Class' actress challenges baseball player role By Kwak Yeon-soo“Baseball Girl” is a coming-of-age story of a young female baseball player who competes with male athletes to break the glass ceiling in sports.The film follows the story of Joo Soo-in (played by Lee Joo-young), the only girl on her high school baseball team, who dreams of becoming a professional baseball player.Although Soo-in is capable of throwing balls at 130 kilometers per hour on average, she faces challenges to join the “men only” professional team.Her coach Choi Jin-tae (played by Lee Jun-hyuk), who initially tells Soo-in that she is never going to make it to the pro league because of her physical limitations, changes his mind after seeing Soo-in's ambition. Choi comes up with a new strategy to arrange a tryout for her for a professional baseball team. “If you can't beat boys by strength, throw something that boys cannot hit: a knuckleball

Jun 9, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Baseball Girl' presents how to break glass ceiling in sports

Films

'Innocence' actor talks on first lead role on big screen

By Kwak Yeon-sooActress Shin Hye-sun poses for a photo after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Kidari ENTShin Hye-sun, a rising actress who earned fame through 2017 smash-hit tvN drama “Stranger” and KBS' “My Golden Life,” has taken her first lead role on the silver screen.In the upcoming crime drama “Innocence,” Shin plays Jung-in, an attorney who tries to prove her long-estranged mother Hwa-ja's innocence in a murder case. Hwa-ja (played by Bae Jong-ok), a woman suffering from dementia, is accused of mixing agricultural pesticide in makgeolli (rice wine) at her husband's funeral, which led to one death and three severe injuries.Shin said she was attracted to Jung-in's character, who is strong-minded even in difficult circumstances.“To be honest, Jung-in is the kind of character that you don't want to befriend,” Shin said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. “Growing up with a violent father and negligent mother, Jung-in leaves her abusive home life before en

Jun 8, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Innocence' actor talks on first lead role on big screen

Films

Hwang Jung-min, Lee Jung-jae team up for 'Deliver Us From Evil'

Actor Hwang Jung-min, left, speaks during an online press conference for the film “Deliver Us From Evil” held in Seoul, Friday. / Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae are reuniting for a hardboiled action film “Deliver Us From Evil,” seven years after the two starred in 2013 hit crime drama “New World.”“Deliver Us From Evil” follows a story of hitman In-nam, played by Hwang, who plans to retire after carrying out one last hit. However, he gets embroiled in unexpected incidents as ruthless villain Ray, played by Lee, chases after him. Both lead actors said they were drawn to the large-scale action scenes in the film, compared with “New World,” which was a crime drama filled with mystery and suspense. “Deliver Us From Evil” was filmed in several different locations ― Thailand, Korea and Japan, according to director Hong Won-chan. His debut feature “Office” was invited to the Midnight Screenings of the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.The filmmaker explained that

Jun 7, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Hwang Jung-min, Lee Jung-jae team up for 'Deliver Us From Evil'

Films

Best-selling authors, veteran actors jump to filmmaking

By Kwak Yeon-sooNovelist-turned-director Sohn Won-pyung / Courtesy of AceMaker MovieworksNovelists and actors are making career jumps to the film industry as filmmakers, making use of their storytelling skills.Best-selling author Sohn Won-pyung is making her feature film debut with “Intruder,” which is set to hit local theaters on June 4. An adaptation of her award-winning novel “Almond,” “Intruder” centers on a woman who returns to her family after being missing for 25 years.“Almond” has sold over 400,000 copies in Korea and, in addition to Japanese and English versions, is slated for release in Spanish, Hebrew and other languages. It won the Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction in 2016 and Japanese Booksellers' Awards for translated fiction novel in 2020.The novelist-turned-director explained that filmmaking requires a degree of collaboration in contrast to writing a book, which is a private act for the most part.A subtle and creative approach to topics is the strength of novelist-turned-directors, as they write the screenplays thems

Jun 3, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Best-selling authors, veteran actors jump to filmmaking

Films

Mystery thriller 'Intruder' strips down conventional idea of family

Actor Kim Moo-yul, left, director Sohn Won-pyung and actress Song Ji-hyo at a press conference for the film “Intruder” held at Yongsan CGV in Seoul, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe mystery thriller “Intruder,” starring Song Ji-hyo and Kim Moo-yul, is poised to be the first local film to hit theaters here after having had its premiere delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The film revolves around a woman named Yu-jin, played by Song, who returns to her family after being missing for 25 years. But things start to change within the family as Yu-jin's brother, Seo-jin, played by Kim, grows suspicious of his sister.Seo-jin, who suffers from depression after losing his wife in a car accident, tries to uncover Yu-jin's secrets and discovers a shocking truth about her.The film evokes suspense through a sharp conflict between the two characters. Seo-jin's skepticism toward his sister grows as Yu-jin displays mysterious behavior and manipulates their parents psychologically. It allows the audience to raise questions about whether Yu-jin is really Seo-jin's biologi

May 29, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

Yeon Sang-ho shares first glimpse of zombie blockbuster 'Peninsula'

In '#Alive,' two survivors struggle to escape zombie-hit homes

BTS' virtual concert becomes world's biggest paid online music event

Summer tent-pole films set new release dates despite increase in movie attendance

Mystery drama 'Me and Me' brings novelty yet lacks clarity

'Baseball Girl' presents how to break glass ceiling in sports

'Innocence' actor talks on first lead role on big screen

Hwang Jung-min, Lee Jung-jae team up for 'Deliver Us From Evil'

Best-selling authors, veteran actors jump to filmmaking

Mystery thriller 'Intruder' strips down conventional idea of family

Top 5 stories