The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Kim Da-mi says she cried while reading script for 'Soulmate'

Actress Kim Da-mi / Courtesy of United Artists AgencyBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Kim Da-mi said she was looking for a relatable, down-to-earth character after taking on strong roles in the 2018 sci-fi thriller “The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion” and 2020 hit series “Itaewon Class.” In “Soulmate,” a coming-of-age film about a lifelong friendship between girls, Kim stars as Mi-so who is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. “I shot this film in 2020 after 'The Witch' and 'Itaewon Class.' At that time, I wanted to play a more conventional character. When reading the script for the first time, the climactic fight scene between Mi-so and Ha-eun (played by Jeon So-nee) moved me to tears,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. Kim went on to talk about her similarities with Mi-so. “I'm usually shy and quiet around strangers, but talkative around my friends. On set, I'm outspoken and exuberant. I love discussing scenes with directors and my co-stars,” she said.She also discussed developin

Mar 4, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Kim Da-mi says she cried while reading script for 'Soulmate'

Entertainment

Yoo Ah-in dropped from 'Hellbound' season 2 amid drug scandal

Actor Yoo Ah-in / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Yoo Ah-in was forced out of Netflix's “Hellbound” season 2 amid an ongoing police drug investigation.Kim Sung-cheol will replace Yoo as cult leader Jung Jin-su in the supernatural thriller series. Actors Yang Dong-geun and Moon Geun-young will be joining the new installment, according to Netflix Korea. “Hellbound” will begin filming its second season in June.The first season of “Hellbound,” directed by Yeon Sang-ho, topped Netflix's most-viewed TV shows upon its release in November 2021.Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, has been under police investigation after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported that he had been using propofol, a sleep-inducing drug, for non-medical purposes on a habitual basis since 2021.Last month, Seoul Metropolitan Police collected his hair and urine samples immediately upon his return from the U.S. They sent the samples to the National Forensic Service for testing, and the results came out positive for four drugs: propofol, marijuana, cocaine and ketamin

Mar 3, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Yoo Ah-in dropped from 'Hellbound' season 2 amid drug scandal

Films

'Soulmate' is heartwarming love letter to female friendship

From left, actresses Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee, director Min Yong-keun and actor Byun Woo-seok pose during a press conference for the film, "Soulmate," in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of NEWBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Soulmate” is an endearing love letter to female friendship with two stunning performances by Kim Da-mi and Jeon So-nee. The two actresses, who co-star as best friends in the film, show that the bond of female friendship can be stronger than romantic love.Director Min Yong-keun manages to combine elaborate elements of a coming-of-age work with drama and romance while demonstrating an understanding of women's relationships. He revealed that he initially turned down directing “Soulmate” because he wasn't sure if he could depict the complexities of female friendship. “One thing that really struck me was the story of friendship that stands the test of time and distance. While adapting the screenplay, I interviewed a lot of women. Since there are a lot of women in my family. I was able to learn about friendships and the inflection points they go through,” h

Mar 1, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Soulmate' is heartwarming love letter to female friendship

Shows & Dramas

Travel reality shows featuring celebrity buddies become more common

A poster for tvN's "Europe Outside Your Tent," left, and "The Most Private Asia" / Courtesy of TVINGBy Kwak Yeon-sooIt was once the norm for travel TV shows to explore aesthetically pleasing spots while offering travel tips on things to do and places to eat. However, now that there is an abundance of travel-related content on YouTube, broadcasters are shifting their focus to show more realistic circumstances of traveling as well as the interaction between celebrities.As a reflection of the changing trend, it is becoming more common for travel reality shows to feature celebrity buddies. For travel TV shows, actors who make rare appearances on reality TV but are known for their fun personalities are highly sought after. Producers are looking to uncover the hidden sides of actors.Scenes from tvN's "Bros on Foot" / Courtesy of TVINGActors Ha Jung-woo and Ju Ji-hoon, who famously played grim reapers in “Along with the Gods” film franchise (2017-2018), are currently starring in tvN's “Bros on Foot.” In the show, they set out on a rough backpacking road trip around N

Mar 1, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Travel reality shows featuring celebrity buddies become more common

Films

Japanese director Makoto Shinkai to visit Korea in March to promote 'Suzume'

Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai, left, and actor Nanoka Hara / Courtesy of Media CastleBy Kwak Yeon-sooMakoto Shinkai, the filmmaker behind fantasy anime films, “Your Name” (2017) and “Weathering with You” (2019), will visit Korea in March to promote his new film, “Suzume.”The Japanese director will visit during March 7-9 with lead voice actor Nanoka Hara, who stars as the heroine in the film, according to the film's local distributor Showbox. Hara competed for the role with over 1,700 other applicants at the audition.A poster for the film "Suzume" / Courtesy of Media CastleShinkai's "Your Name" has sold 3.79 million tickets in Korea, making it the highest-grossing anime film here. It is followed by “The First Slam Dunk” (2023), which gathered 3.57 million admissions as of Monday, and “Howl's Moving Castle (2004),” which topped 2.61 million in ticket sales.The two will attend promotional events for the upcoming film, including a press conference scheduled for March 8.Set to be released on March 8 in Korea, “Suzume&rd

Feb 27, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Japanese director Makoto Shinkai to visit Korea in March to promote 'Suzume'

Trends

'Parasite,' 'Squid Game' music composer releases debut album via Decca Records

Musician and composer Jung Jae-il talks during a press conference for his album “Listen” held at the JCC Art Center in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Kwak Yeon-sooJung Jae-il, the musician and composer behind the soundtracks for the Oscar-winning film “Parasite” and hit Netflix series “Squid Game,” released his debut album via Decca Records. His album, “Listen,” is comprised of seven tracks of piano and minimalist string arrangements. “The songs are focused on piano because piano is my native language. I feel more comfortable communicating through piano than through spoken language,” he said in a recent press conference for his album “Listen” in Seoul, Friday.The multi-instrumentalist explained the meaning behind his album title, “Listen,” and how it was inspired by nature.“I simply named the album 'Listen' because I wanted to encourage others to listen to what nature is telling them. I believe the COVID-19 pandemic and a series of wars occurred because we didn't listen to the

Feb 27, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Parasite,' 'Squid Game' music composer releases debut album via Decca Records

Films

Cho Jin-woong says acting alongside Lee Sung-min 'exhilarating experience'

Actor Cho Jin-woong / Courtesy of Plus M EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Cho Jin-woong said he initially had no idea what to make of his character when he first read the script for political thriller “The Devil's Deal.” But the more he went over it with director Lee Won-tae and shared the possibilities of what he might do with the character, the more he wanted to step into the role of Hae-woong.“Hae-woong is a regular candidate running for general election in the beginning, but then transforms into a power-hungry politician who is willing to get his hands dirty,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “Although I had mixed feelings about the character himself, I liked the fact that it's a character-driven story.”Set in Busan in 1992, “The Devil's Deal” follows the story of a morally conflicted, opportunistic politician who embarks on a tumultuous journey as he attempts to regain his political footing following a general election fallout.The 46-year-old actor said he wanted to show the moral decay of Hae-woong and how

Feb 26, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Cho Jin-woong says acting alongside Lee Sung-min 'exhilarating experience'

Entertainment

Korea aims to become one of world's top four cultural powerhouses

Kim Jae-hyun, director general of content policy bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks during a press conference at the Central Government Complex, Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooKorea plans to become one of the world's top four cultural powers by boosting its content exports, such as TV dramas and pop music, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on Thursday.“By entering the world's top four countries with the most cultural influence after the U.S., China, and Japan, the Korean content industry will have a positive influence on the national brand image and exports of other related industries,” said Kim Jae-hyun, director general of the content policy bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.Currently, Korea is said to rank 7th in the world in terms of market share in the content industry.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism set out a goal to achieve $25 billion in content exports by 2027. The ministry will inject 790 billion won ($609 million) in 2023 and 1 trillion won in 2024 in policy funds to help increase

Feb 23, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Korea aims to become one of world's top four cultural powerhouses

President pledges all-out efforts to bolster exports

Films

Political thriller 'Devil's Deal' explores themes of power, corruption and betrayal in 1990s

A scene from the film, "The Devil's Deal" / Courtesy of Plus M EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooIn the political thriller, “The Devil's Deal,” filmmaker Lee Won-tae explores the themes of power, corruption and betrayal as he traces an aspiring politician's rise to power. The film stars Cho Jin-woong in the title role of Hae-woong, Lee Sung-min as power broker Sun-tae and Kim Moo-yul as gang boss Pil-do. Set in Busan in 1992, the film follows the story of a morally conflicted, opportunistic politician who embarks on a tumultuous journey as he attempts to regain his political footing following a general election fallout.A civilian democratic government with direct election of the president was inaugurated in 1992, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Korea's political history after three decades of military rule.Both the general election of the National Assembly and the presidential election took place the same year.Cho said he was most intrigued by the contradictions of Hae-woong, who he described as “a complex character who would sell his soul to the devil in excha

Feb 22, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Political thriller 'Devil's Deal' explores themes of power, corruption and betrayal in 1990s

Films

Koo Kyo-hwan to lead sci-fi blockbuster 'In Search of the King'

Actors Koo Kyo-hwan, left, and Seohyun have been cast in director Won Shin-yun's sci-fi film, “In Search of the King” (working title) / Courtesy of Wysiwyg StudiosBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Koo Kyo-hwan has been cast in the lead role of director Won Shin-yun's sci-fi blockbuster tentatively titled “In Search of the King.”Set in the turbulent 1980s, the film follows the story of an army surgeon named Do-jin (Koo) who stumbles across a giant, mysterious object in a town located inside the demilitarized zone.Veteran actor Yoo Jae-myung will play the role of righteous town resident Joo-bok. His other credits include “Itaewon Class” (2020) and “Vincenzo” (2021). Seohyun, an actress and member of the K-pop act Girls' Generation, will appear as the town's only nurse, Jung-ae.Actor Koo Kyo-hwan / Courtesy of NetflixWon, the director, is best known for his previous films such as “Seven Days” (2007), “Memoir of a Murderer” (2017) and “The Battle: Roar to Victory” (2019). The director revealed that the production tea

Feb 22, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

INTERVIEW Kim Da-mi says she cried while reading script for 'Soulmate'

Yoo Ah-in dropped from 'Hellbound' season 2 amid drug scandal

'Soulmate' is heartwarming love letter to female friendship

Travel reality shows featuring celebrity buddies become more common

Japanese director Makoto Shinkai to visit Korea in March to promote 'Suzume'

'Parasite,' 'Squid Game' music composer releases debut album via Decca Records

Cho Jin-woong says acting alongside Lee Sung-min 'exhilarating experience'

Korea aims to become one of world's top four cultural powerhouses

Political thriller 'Devil's Deal' explores themes of power, corruption and betrayal in 1990s

Koo Kyo-hwan to lead sci-fi blockbuster 'In Search of the King'

Top 5 stories