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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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Music

Woo Ji-yoon quits K-pop duo BOL4

BOL4 members Woo Ji-yoon, left, and Ahn Ji-young at a showcase held at Ilji Art Hall in Seoul on Sept. 10 last year. Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooWoo Ji-yoon has quit K-pop duo Bolbbalgan 4 (BOL4) after four years, citing concerns about the direction of her career in the future.In a handwritten letter, Woo, the guitarist and backup vocalist, thanked her fans for their love and support but admitted she had been thinking about leaving for some time.“It was a process of contemplating about my future seriously, and it occurred to me that now is an important time to embark on a new challenge, before it's too late,” she said. Woo said co-member Ahn Ji-young and their agency Shofar Music had tried to persuade her to stay, but they respected her decision.“What I started in high school for fun has now grown into a group that many people pay attention to and root for, and I want to let you know that BOL4 is a precious memory to me,” she said. “Although I won't be able to continue on as a member, I will remain as a fan and a friend who fully supports BOL4. Thank

Apr 3, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Woo Ji-yoon quits K-pop duo BOL4
Books

Acclaimed novelist bringing Korean sci-fi literature to the West

Sci-fi author Bae Myung-hoon poses in this photo provided by Blossom Creative. Courtesy of Blossom CreativeBy Kwak Yeon-sooIn recent years, science fiction has become a popular genre in Korea, with a surge in the number of sci-fi titles in bookstores.In the past decade or so young, talented writers have lifted the once unpopular literary genre and brought it to the mainstream. Some 105 original sci-fi titles were published in Korea in 2019, compared to 30 in 2005, according to data provided by Kyobo Book Center, the country's biggest bookstore chain.Author Bae Myung-hoon, 42, one of the most popular sci-fi writers in Korea, has seen a dramatic change in the status of the genre since his debut in 2005. “Over the last few years, there's been an increasing number of aspiring sci-fi writers. As their books are being published, we're seeing a profound change in the literary world,” Bae said in a recent e-mail interview with The Korea Times. “Sci-fi was really a B-genre with a small fan base, but has managed to seep into the mainstream.”Although the genre has attrac

Apr 2, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Acclaimed novelist bringing Korean sci-fi literature to the West
Books

Science fiction's golden age in Korea?

From left: sci-fi authors Jeon Sam-hye and Lee San-hwa pose with a rabbit representing union president Djuna, a pen name, in this photo provided by Science Fiction Writers Union of the Republic of Korea (SFWUK). Djuna Barnes is a postmodern authoresse who wrote “The Rabbit” amongst many other titles. / Courtesy of SFWUKBy Kwak Yeon-sooUnlike Western countries, Korea does not have a long tradition of discourse on science fiction literature.It was not until the 2000s when the Korean literary scene began to actively explore fantasy worlds and the future. A new generation of writers started traversing the line between realism and fantasy.Aliens, zombies, pseudo-humans began appearing in novels, questioning the values of humanism. Then the settings of these works expanded into virtual reality, outer space and post-apocalyptic worlds. A growing interest in science fiction spawned the launch of the Science Fiction Writers Union of the Republic of Korea (SFWUK) in December 2017 with the aim of supporting the development of the sci-fi industry and related literary endeavors.There

Apr 2, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Science fiction's golden age in Korea?
Films

'Search Out' observes social media-based cybercrime

From left, actors Kim Sung-cheol, Heo Ga-yoon and Lee Si-eon in a scene from “Search Out” / Courtesy of D&YBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Search Out” is a thriller surrounding the “dark heart of the internet,” drawing attention to the new age of cyberbullying, trolling and criminal activities connected to online games.Director Kwak Jung said the film was based on the deadly 2016 “Blue Whale Challenge” that incited participants to commit suicide. Allegedly 130 suicides in Russia were linked to the challenge but this has never been verified. The challenge was reportedly developed by a young Russian student who was arrested by the authorities in the same year.Conducted primarily through social media platforms, the game lasts for a total of 50 days, presenting the “player” with daily tasks.The daily tasks start off innocuously ― from listening to certain genres of music to watching horror films. But the tasks grow increasingly difficult as the days go on, and the final task is the person committing suicide. If the player refuses to comple

Mar 30, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Search Out' observes social media-based cybercrime
Entertainment

CJ ENM closes building after employee tests positive for COVID-19

CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong, Seoul / YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooCJ ENM has temporarily closed its building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, for disinfection after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The employee, who was confirmed Saturday to have been infected with the coronavirus, was a junior producer for Olive TV's food-themed reality show “Food Bless You 2.” The producer, who is in quarantine and receiving medical care, developed symptoms after returning from vacation in the U.S., March 18. “An employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19. We have therefore closed CJ ENM Center for disinfection and ordered employees to leave the building,” a company official said. “All of our employees have been working from home since Feb. 27 unless it is absolutely necessary to come to the workplace. All visitors who enter the building have been getting their temperatures checked.”The company explained that right after the producer started experiencing symptoms and went to get tested, all the production staff who had direct contact with the producer went into self-isol

Mar 29, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
CJ ENM closes building after employee tests positive for COVID-19
Films

Film industry urges gov't to come up with rescue plans

A movie theater in Seoul is empty amid growing fears over the spread of COVID-19, March 18. / YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooAs the number of moviegoers and ticket sales hit rock bottom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film industry urged the government to come up with emergency rescue plans so that artists and workers can overcome the unprecedented challenges they face.The Producers Guild of Korea, the Directors Guild of Korea, the Korean Film Marketers Association and many other related groups called on the government to provide various financial bailout packages, emergency rescue measures and be included in a state-led special sectors for employment support.“The Korean film industry is sinking into the abyss,” industry officials said in a joint statement. “Many firms in the industry have already given up hope and have been bidding farewell to their employees.”The statement acknowledges that the heavy delays in film releases and productions resulted in large scale unemployment among industry workers. The number of moviegoers plunged to less than 30,000 per day this

Mar 25, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Film industry urges gov't to come up with rescue plans
Films

Korean films, actors continue winning streak at international events

Director Lee Jung-sub, second from right, gives an acceptance speech after receiving the Jury Special Mention Award at the 40th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival in Portugal, which was held Feb. 28-March 7. / Courtesy of Newplus OriginalBy Kwak Yeon-sooIn the wake of Bong Joon-ho's immense success for international hit “Parasite,” Korean films and actors are continuing to make history at international film festivals. Sci-fi thriller “Fallen,” directed by Lee Jung-sub, won the Jury Special Mention Award at the 40th Fantasporto-Oporto International Film Festival, the film distributor said Tuesday. “Fallen” is the first Korean film to win the award.The FantasPorto-Oporto International Film Festival in Portugal is a major event on par with Spain's Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival and Belgium's Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. The festival specializes in film genres such as science fiction, fantasy and horror, with an emphasis on innovative storytelling and creativity.“Although it was a new challenge for me

Mar 24, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Korean films, actors continue winning streak at international events
Films

'Time to Hunt' skips theaters and goes straight to Netflix

From left, actors Park Jeong-min, Lee Je-hoon, Ahn Jae-hong and Choi Woo-shik pose for a photo in the film “Time to Hunt.” / Courtesy of Little Big PicturesBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe theatrical release of crime thriller “Time to Hunt” has been canceled and it will head straight to streaming on Netflix in the midst of COVID-19 outbreak. This marks the first time a Korean film has gone to a third-party streaming service after skipping theaters and video-on-demand services. Conventionally Netflix releases Korean films after a holdback period where they hit VOD platforms for purchase, or after the amount of time it takes for a film to be transferred to other forms of distribution. Traditionally, films usually have a two-to-three week holdback period, in which multiplex chains hold the exclusive distribution rights before the films are circulated on other distribution services.Distributor Little Big Pictures confirmed that the film will be available exclusively on Netflix starting April 10. “After a long wait, we are delighted to announce that Time to Hunt will be a

Mar 23, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Time to Hunt' skips theaters and goes straight to Netflix
Films

Movie theaters implement 'seat separation' over COVID-19

Graphics by Bae So-youngBy Kwak Yeon-sooWith a slate of films set to hit local screens in coming weeks despite the pandemic, major multiplex chains are implementing “seat separation” policies in an attempt to counter the spread of COVID-19.Megabox announced Thursday it has instituted an “Adding Safety” policy to reduce their maximum capacity by 50 percent due to the outbreak. The reduced capacity will help to ensure a safe distance between customers as the sale of tickets will be restricted to seats in even-numbered rows. Seats in odd-numbered rows will be left empty.This unusual precaution comes in line with social distancing guidelines from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. However, wheelchair-accessible seats can be booked regardless of the new policy. The ticketing system has been updated accordingly and the closed rows are now shown as unavailable.“The health and safety of our customers is very important to us. With reduced-capacity auditoriums, we are providing visitors with a choice that will let them feel safe from a social dis

Mar 20, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Movie theaters implement 'seat separation' over COVID-19
Films

Fantasy romance 'Are You in Love' bites off more than it can chew

From left, actors Sung Hoon, Kim So-eun, Kim So-hye, Lee Pan-do and director Kim Jeong-kwon pose for a photo during a press conference for the new film “Are You in Love” in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Movie OndoBy Kwak Yeon-sooFantasy romance “Are You in Love” tells the story of two people who fall in love with the help of a magical book.“Are You in Love” stars Kim So-eun playing So-jung, a bright optimistic baker who works at a cafe during the day and at night takes care of her mother, who is suffering from dementia. One day, a mysterious guest leaves So-jung a magical book titled “Are You in Love,” which brings her closer to the cafe's owner Seung-jae, played by Sung Hoon. The two later develop a romantic relationship.The film tries to mix too many genres such as fantasy, comedy, romance and drama. None of them work well in the film, giving it a lurching, lifeless quality.On the idea of including scenes about a mother-daughter relationship, director Kim Jeong-kwon explained that he wanted to stress that Seung-jae's love toward So-ju

Mar 18, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Fantasy romance 'Are You in Love' bites off more than it can chew
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