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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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Shows & Dramas

Kim Tae-hee, Lim Ji-yeon confirmed to lead thriller series 'House with Yard'

Actresses Kim Tae-hee, left, and Lim Ji-yeon / Courtesy of Story J Company, Artist CompanyBy Kwak Yeon-sooActresses Kim Tae-hee and Lim Ji-yeon have been confirmed to star in the thriller series “A House with a Yard” (working title), which will premiere in June. Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Kim Jin-young, the upcoming series follows a woman named Joo-ran whose perfectly crafted life begins to unravel after she notices a strange smell in her backyard. This marks Kim's return to the small screen, three years since her last appearance in the 2020 fantasy drama “Hi Bye, Mama!” Kim made her screen debut in 2000 as a TV commercial model and has played a lead role in several hits, including the 2003 drama “Stairway to Heaven” and 2009 spy drama “Iris.” Actor Kim Sung-oh, who recently appeared in the Netflix series “Money Heist: Korea ― Joint Economic Area,” will appear as Joo-ran's husband. Lim, who shot to fame with Netflix's “The Glory,” will play the role of Sang-eun, a victim of domestic violen

Apr 17, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kim Tae-hee, Lim Ji-yeon confirmed to lead thriller series 'House with Yard'
Films

BLACKPINK's Jennie invited to Cannes Film Festival

BLACKPINK member Jennie / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooJennie, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has been invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival, which will run from May 16 to 27. The HBO series “The Idol,” which marks Jennie's acting debut, was selected for the out-of-competition section at Cannes 2023, according to the full lineup unveiled by the festival's organizers on Thursday (local time). “Jennie has been invited to the festival, but she has not yet decided whether to attend the ceremony or not,” her agency YG Entertainment said Friday.Co-created by Abel Tesfaye, the Canadian pop star known by his stage name The Weeknd, Sam Levison and Reza Fahim, the series is set against the backdrop of the music industry and centers on a self-help guru and leader of a cult who develops a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol. It also stars Tesfaye, Lily-Rose Depp and Troye Sivan.This year, no Korean films will compete for the Palme d'Or, or the main prize, at the festival. However, director Kim Jee-woon's “Cobweb,” starring Song Ka

Apr 14, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
BLACKPINK's Jennie invited to Cannes Film Festival
Films

INTERVIEW Lee Sun-kyun says he's never encountered film like 'Killing Romance'

Actor Lee Sun-kyun / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooLee Sun-kyun, known for his intensity in “My Mister” (2018) and “Parasite” (2019), has made his biggest transformation in “Killing Romance,” an absurdist film blending fantasy, comedy, family drama and musicals.“Killing Romance” follows the story of actress Hwang Yeo-rae (Lee Ha-nee) who marries a self-obsessed chaebol executive named Jonathan Na (Lee Sun-kyun) and retires from acting. During her seven-year marriage, Hwang experiences physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her manipulative husband who controls her eating habits and forces her to “just smile” all the time. After he blocks her attempt to return to acting, she decides to kill him with the help of her next-door neighbor Beom-woo (Gong Myung), who happens to be her hardcore fan. Lee recalled the script for “Killing Romance” was so weird that he initially wanted to turn down the role.“The script was funny, silly and experimental. I was curious how director Lee Won-suk would

Apr 14, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
[INTERVIEW] Lee Sun-kyun says he's never encountered film like 'Killing Romance'
Films

Japanese anime dominates box office - Will Korean animation catch up?

From left are posters for “Suzume,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “The First Slam Dunk,” / Courtesy of Media Castle, Universal Pictures and SMG HoldingsExperts say Korea will leapfrog Japan on global animation stage in near futureBy Kwak Yeon-sooWith “The First Slam Dunk” and “Suzume” bringing a new wave of attention to animated features here, animation has become a staple in domestic cinemas.Japanese director Makoto Shinkai's anime film “Suzume” has attracted over 4.4 million moviegoers as of April 12. “The First Slam Dunk,” based on the popular “Slam Dunk” basketball manga series by Takehiko Inoue, ended up topping 4.45 million admissions in Korea. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” a U.S. animated adventure film based on the classic Japanese-made video game, and director Ayumu Watanabe's “Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko” are set to be released in theaters later this month. Although Japanese and U.S. animated films have proven to be blockbuster hits in Korea, locally p

Apr 14, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Japanese anime dominates box office - Will Korean animation catch up?
Films

'Suzume' tops box office for 5th weekend with over 4 million tickets

A scene from the Japanese animated film "Suzume" / Courtesy of Media CastleBy Kwak Yeon-sooJapanese animated film “Suzume” claimed the No. 1 spot on the box office charts for the fifth weekend in a row, attracting over 4 million moviegoers in Korea.Director Makoto Shinkai's latest animation topped 4.34 million admissions on Sunday, 33 days after hitting local theaters on March 8, according to data from the Korean Film Council. Second place went to Korean sports drama “Rebound,” which drew 212,786 viewers over the weekend with a cumulative total of 290,164. “Suzume” is soon likely to become the highest-grossing Japanese anime film released in the country, surpassing “The First Slam Dunk,” which has accumulated 4.44 million viewers since Jan. 4.A poster for the Japanese animated film "Suzume" / Courtesy of Media CastleThe fantasy anime tells the story of a 17-year-old high school girl named Suzume who helps a mysterious young man prevent a series of deadly natural disasters. The film premiered at this year's Berlin Film Festival. It sold

Apr 10, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Suzume' tops box office for 5th weekend with over 4 million tickets
Films

Jeon Do-yeon discusses her similarities with iconic character in 'Kill Boksoon'

A scene from the film, "Kill Boksoon" / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooJeon Do-yeon discussed her similarities to Gil Bok-soon, her character in the Netflix film “Kill Boksoon,” saying she is very confident but has self-doubt when it comes to parenting her teenage daughter.“Director Byun Sung-hyun regularly came over to my place and observed my relationship with my 15-year-old daughter. Obviously, he was trying to get ideas for his movie script,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.“After a while, Byun asked me, 'You're so bold, candid and confident in real life. How come you always play the roles that are either sacrificing heroes or suffering victims?' He said he wanted to give me the part that's empowering and at the top of the food chain.”“Kill Boksoon” tells the story of Gil Bok-soon, a single mother and hired killer who struggles with her work-life balance. Right before her contract renewal, she becomes involved in an unavoidable kill-or-be-killed situation. For her role, Jeon underwent a four-month tr

Apr 6, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Jeon Do-yeon discusses her similarities with iconic character in 'Kill Boksoon'
Trends

Book-shaped building to revive Busan's fading book street

Scoula di Atene, opened in Busan's Bosu-dong in March, resembles a shelf of books, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Kwak Yeon-sooBy Kwak Yeon-sooBUSAN ― It's 10 a.m. on a sunny April day in Busan's Bosu-dong. Off the main road is the blink-and-you'll-miss-it entrance to Bosu Book Street. The narrow, 200-meter-long passage is lined on both sides with independent bookstores.The bookstore alley in Bosu-dong was formed when a refugee couple from North Hamgyong Province (now North Korea) started selling vintage magazines when Busan became the country's provisional capital during the 1950-53 Korean War. By the 1970s, more than 70 bookstores were established in the area, giving the neighborhood a unique character and spirit. “Bosu Book Street is our beautiful cultural heritage that was born out of the most turbulent time in modern Korean history. Since then, the street has retained its old charms. People overcame despair and healed the wounds of war through books,” Kim Eun-ho, the president of Hangilsa Publishing, writes in his latest book “Into the Forest of Wisdom” (l

Apr 6, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Book-shaped building to revive Busan's fading book street
Films

Jeonju film festival reveals rich lineup of 247 films

JIFF executive committee head and Jeonju mayor Woo Beom-ki, center, and festival's co-directors Min Sung-wook, left, and Jung Joon-ho attend the press conference for the Jeonju International Film Festival held in Seoul, Thursday / Courtesy of JIFFBy Kwak Yeon-sooOrganizers of the 24th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), an annual celebration of independent films, have promised the program will be “bold” and “buzzy” to attract audiences. JIFF will take place from April 27 to May 6, featuring a total of 247 films from 42 countries. This year's selection includes 66 world premieres. The opening ceremony will be held at the Sori Arts Center in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.“Jeonju Independent Film House is being built on an open space previously occupied by Jeonju Dome. Unlike previous years when most events and outdoor screenings were held within the cinema street, the festival space will be expanded throughout Jeonju,” JIFF co-director Min Sung-wook said. “We will newly launch Focus: East Asian Films Now to introduce new filmmakers from

Mar 31, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Jeonju film festival reveals rich lineup of 247 films
Films

IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'

From left, actors Park Seo-joon, IU and director Lee Byeong-heon pose during a press conference for the film, “Dream” in Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooSinger-actress IU expressed how excited she was to be paired with Park Seo-joon for her first major movie role in the sports drama film “Dream,” which they filmed three years ago.Directed by Lee Byeong-heon, whose 2019 comedy film “Extreme Job” surpassed the 10 million viewers mark, it tells the story of a football coach training a team of homeless people to compete in the Homeless World Cup.In the film, IU plays the role of a TV director who wants to make a documentary on Korea's first homeless football team. “After playing serious roles in drama series, I wanted to take on lighter roles,” she said during a press conference for the film, Thursday. “I actually shot 'Dream' earlier than 'Broker.' This film took so long to finally hit the big screen.” The budding actress joins Park Seo-joon, who portrays a former football player who became a coach after his retirement.P

Mar 30, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'
Trends

Rare Joseon-era map returns home from Japan

Visitors take a look at the unfolded “Daedongyeojido,” a map of the Korean Peninsula from the 19th century, at the National Palace Museum of Korea, central Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooA rare map of the Korean Peninsula from the 19th century has been returned to Korea from Japan. The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) on Thursday unveiled “Daedongyeojido,” which was previously owned by a Japanese collector.Officials of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation flew to the country to check the condition of the relic and negotiate a deal for its return. In March, the Korean government purchased it with lottery funds and brought it back to Korea. Its price was not disclosed, citing confidentiality reasons.“Daedongyeojido,” translated as “territorial map of the Great East,” was first made by cartographer and geographer Kim Jeong-ho in 1861 during the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom. It was republished in 1864 in the form of 22 foldable booklets. The map was significant for its time, as it was one of the first attempts at a com

Mar 30, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Rare Joseon-era map returns home from Japan
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