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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

Director Kim Yong-hwa returns with gripping sci-fi survival film 'The Moon'

Actors Doh Kyung-soo, left, and Sul Kyung-gu listen to a reporter's question at a press conference for the film "The Moon" in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of CJ ENMBy Kwak Yeon-sooAcclaimed director Kim Yong-hwa, behind the “Along with the Gods” film franchise, is returning to the big screen after five years with the upcoming science fiction blockbuster “The Moon.”Set in 2029, the upcoming film follows an astronaut named Sun-woo (Doh Kyung-soo) who tries to return home after an accident leaves him stranded in space. Actor Sul Kyung-gu plays the role of the former head of Korea's Naro Space Center who tries to rescue him while actress Kim Hee-ae stars as NASA's director general.Describing “The Moon” as an ambitious space film with awe-inspiring visual effects, Kim, the director, said the creative team designed the lunar roving vehicle and spacecraft and enhanced them with computer imagery. They also utilized 4K resolution and incorporated IMAX film cameras into the film's set pieces to present the highest quality imaging format suited for IMAX and Dolby

Jun 28, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Director Kim Yong-hwa returns with gripping sci-fi survival film 'The Moon'
Films

Park Ha-seon, Seo Hyun-woo to host BIFAN opening

Actors Park Ha-seon, left, and Seo Hyun-woo / Courtesy of BIFANBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Park Ha-seon and Seo Hyun-woo will co-host the opening ceremony of this year's Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN). The 27th BIFAN kicks off its 11-day run at the Bucheon City Hall Lawn Plaza in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday. It will feature a total of 262 films from 51 countries. Both actors have long ties with the festival. Park won BIFAN's Fantastic Best Actor Award in 2020 for her role in “Go Back” and Seo took home the same award in 2022 for his role in “Thunderbird.” Since her debut in 2005 with the SBS drama, “Love Needs a Miracle,” Park has been active in both film and TV dramas. Most recently, she starred in “Where Would You Like to Go?” which is currently playing in theaters. Seo, who debuted through the musical, “The Harmonium in My Memory” in 2010, has appeared in many hit films including “Honest Candidate 2” (2022) and “Decision to Leave” (2022). Up next, he will star in the N

Jun 26, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Park Ha-seon, Seo Hyun-woo to host BIFAN opening
Films

From 'Smugglers' to 'The Moon,' summer blockbuster season in full swing

Posters for films “Smugglers,” left, and “The Moon” / Courtesy of NEW, Dexter StudiosBy Kwak Yeon-soo“The Roundup: No Way Out” has kicked off the summer season with a bigger attendance than expected. The film surpassed 9 million ticket sales on the 21st day of its release, focusing attention on whether big tentpole films can continue to make waves at the box office. With “The Roundup” doing most of the swinging, a number of films are coming to theaters in the next few weeks alone, heating the summer blockbuster season. Director Ryoo Seung-wan's crime action thriller “Smugglers” is set for theatrical release on July 26. Set in the 1970s, the film revolves around two female divers who unexpectedly become involved in an illegal smuggling scheme. Actresses Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah take on lead roles as female divers. Also joining the cast are actors Zo In-sung, Park Jung-min and Go Min-si. Ryoo is well known due to directing films such as “Veteran” (2015) and “Escape from Mogadishu” (2021). Director Ki

Jun 23, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
From 'Smugglers' to 'The Moon,' summer blockbuster season in full swing
Trends

Yoon participates in language, cultural exchange with Vietnamese students

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting with a group of Vietnamese students and instructors of the Korean language at Vietnam National University in Hanoi, Thursday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooPromoting Korea's language and culture in Vietnam, especially among the youth, was a major topic of discussion as President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee met with a group of Vietnamese students and instructors of the Korean language at Vietnam National University in Hanoi, Thursday.“I heard that the Vietnamese zeal for learning Korean is strong. I see it's no exaggeration,” Yoon said during the meeting. “Earlier, I checked out the metaverse platform for Korean-language learning. Our government will do its best so you can have easy access to Korean language learning programs such as integrating digital technology into education.”Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyoon, who also attended the meeting, vowed to strengthen policies such as fostering Korean language instructors and distributing language textbooks to promote friendly relations betwe

Jun 23, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Yoon participates in language, cultural exchange with Vietnamese students
Films

Korean Film Council criticized over lax management

A logo for Korean Film Council / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has openly criticized the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) over its lax management, warning that it will no longer tolerate state-funded film organization's inefficiencies. In an unusually outspoken statement, the ministry accused KOFIC of poor financial management and unfair practices when offering film grants to support independent cinema.“The fact that state-funded KOFIC is wasting taxpayer money and giving preferential treatment to unqualified cinemas could cause public outrage,” Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon said in a statement, Thursday. KOFIC wasted a budget of 2.4 billion won ($1.9 million) over the last five years in its attempt to establish the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Film Organization (ARFO). The organization had originally allocated a budget of 6.9 billion won for five years from 2019, but its plan to set up joint film organization with ASEAN countries ultimately failed.The culture ministry said KOFIC's China office belatedly reduced its workforce. For year

Jun 19, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Korean Film Council criticized over lax management
Shows & Dramas

'Squid Game' adds more stars to season 2 cast

By Kwak Yeon-sooCast lineup for "Squid Game" season 2 / Courtesy of NetflixMany new and returning cast members will bring “Squid Game” season 2 to life, Netflix announced during its Tudum global event held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday.Joining the second season are actors Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon and Yang Dong-geun. Details about their characters have not revealed yet.Returning for season two are Lee Jung-jae, who plays the lead role of Gi-hun, Lee Byung-hun as Front Man, Wi Ha-jun as police detective Jun-ho and Gong Yoo as the mysterious salesman.The first season of “Squid Game” has been an unprecedented global success as Netflix's most-watched series, with 1.65 billion hours of viewing in 28 days. It also swept the 2022 Emmy Awards with 14 nominations and six wins as Lee became the first Asian actor to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in the Drama category.Led by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator, director and writer of “Squid Game,” the second season is set to begin filming in the latter half of this year, with its relea

Jun 18, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Squid Game' adds more stars to season 2 cast
Trends

Goryeo-era transcription of Buddhist text returns home from Japan

Bae Young-il, director of the Seongbo Museum at Magok Temple, points to an illustration inside Vol. 6 of “Saddharmapundarika Sutra,” also known as “The Lotus Sutra,” during a press event held at the National Palace Museum of Korea, Thursday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooA Goryeo-era transcription of a Buddhist sutra written in gold on indigo-dyed paper has been returned to Korea from Japan, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Thursday.The manuscript, which is Vol. 6 of “Saddharmapundarika Sutra” ― also known as “The Lotus Sutra,” is made of indigo-dyed paper in a concertina format and its front cover is decorated with a motif of four lotus flowers with vines drawn in gold and silver. The delicate and dense golden lines show that this illuminated manuscript was produced during the latter part of the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom, according to the CHA. However, the exact production date and the person who created or hand-copied it remain a mystery. In Korea, the practice of transcribing Buddhist scriptures is referred to as “sagyeong

Jun 15, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Goryeo-era transcription of Buddhist text returns home from Japan
Books

Translators - unsung heroes behind globalization of Korean literature

Still underpaid despite growing popularity of translated fictionBy Kwak Yeon-sooAfter the #NameTheTranslators hashtag went viral 10 years ago, English-language publishers have begun making an effort to intentionally credit translators on the front covers of novels. Before the social media campaign, one had to flick through a few pages of books to find out who the translator was.Sora Kim-Russell, a Korean-American literary translator who has translated over a dozen books, including four by author Hwang Sok-yong, recently observed that her latest work, “Mater 2-10,” was the first translation of that author's work to feature her name on the cover.The established translator explained that there has been a notable shift in the level of respect given to translators compared to a decade ago. To make strides, translators have become activists in their field and have requested fair contracts, fair pay and proper recognition.“While respect and recognition have improved, the pay has not. That is one area that is still lacking. It's still impossible to survive as a literary tra

Jun 15, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Translators - unsung heroes behind globalization of Korean literature
People & Events

Diplomats unveil hidden talents at Culture Communication Forum

From left, French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort, CICI President Choi Jung-hwa, French pansori singer Laure Mafo, Millenasia Chairman Eugene Bang, magician Ed Kwon and German Ambassador to Korea Michael Reiffenstuel, pose with their awards at the 2023 Culture Communication Forum held at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooDiplomats showcased their hidden talents at this year's Culture Communication Forum (CCF), creating a buzz of excitement among attendees. Under the theme of “Communication through immersion, hidden talent and conviviality,” a Hidden Talent Performance and a ChatGPT Question Competition took place at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. The 2023 CCF was hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI).Some 50 leaders attended the forum, including Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-shik, CJ Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, JoongAng Holdings Chairman Hong Seok-hyun, Poongsan Group CEO Jin Roy Ryu as well as Italian Ambassador to Korea Federico Failla, Switzerland Ambassador to Kore

Jun 14, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Diplomats unveil hidden talents at Culture Communication Forum
Films

Kim Seon-ho says he could barely watch his 'cringeworthy' big-screen debut

A scene from the film "The Childe" / Courtesy of Studio& NewBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Kim Seon-ho said he gasped audibly at the sight of his own work in “The Childe,” adding that it was weird to watch himself on the big screen. “Since it was my first time seeing myself on the big screen, I became self-conscious and began scrutinizing my every flaw,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday. “My English accent was so cringeworthy that I nearly leaped out of my seat.”Action noir film “The Childe” has garnered a lot of attention for being Kim's first big movie role following his abortion scandal in 2021. Kim's former girlfriend accused him of coercing her into having an abortion, which temporarily halted his career. The 37-year-old actor thanked director Park Hoon-jung, known for films “New World” (2013), “The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion” (2018) and its sequel “The Witch: Part 2. The Other One” (2022), for offering him such a prominent role.“I tried my best to r

Jun 13, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kim Seon-ho says he could barely watch his 'cringeworthy' big-screen debut
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