The Korea Times

Yim Si-wan felt conflicted about psychopath role in 'Unlocked'

Actor Yim Si-wan / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooYim Si-wan, who is again playing the role of a villain in the Netflix film “Unlocked” following his role in 2022 disaster thriller “Emergency Declaration,” said he felt conflicted about playing a psychopath in the new movie.“I initially turned down the offer because I was afraid that my role might have a negative influence on society. However, actor Kim Hee-won (who also starred in the film) persuaded me into playing the protagonist, Jun-yeong. It was a tightly-knit script with a cathartic end,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. Inspired by Shiga Akira's Japanese novel of the same name, “Unlocked” follows the story of Na-mi (Chun Woo-hee) whose life is turned upside down when she leaves her smartphone on the bus after a night out with her friends. A murderous stalker named Jun-yeong (Yim) finds the phone and returns it to her after installing spyware to track her every move. He slowly destroys her life, cutting her ties with friends and family.Yim explained that

Feb 21, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Yim Si-wan felt conflicted about psychopath role in 'Unlocked'

Films

Yoo Yeon-seok reveals why he took pay cut for 'My Heart Puppy'

Actor Yoo Yeon-seok / Courtesy of Kidari Studio By Kwak Yeon-sooActor Yoo Yeon-seok has a clear sense of purpose when it comes to the roles he chooses and the directors he works with. Before the pandemic, his goal was to land a huge role in a big-budget blockbuster with an extensive cast. However, the actor decided to take a road less traveled after reading the script for “My Heart Puppy.” A noted dog lover, he even took a pay cut for the canine-based picture.“I decided to take on a low-budget passion project because I couldn't ignore the pet abandonment issue that's becoming a growing problem nowadays. And most of all, I was deeply moved by director Kim Joo-hwan's commitment to animal welfare,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times, Friday. “My Heart Puppy” follows the story of avid dog lover Min-soo (Yoo) who lives with his golden retriever named Rooney and faces an unexpected crisis when his soon-to-be-fiancee says she is allergic to dogs.Min-soo's cou

Feb 17, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Yoo Yeon-seok reveals why he took pay cut for 'My Heart Puppy'

Films

3 Korean films invited to 73rd Berlin Film Festival

A scene from the film “Kill Boksoon” / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooThree Korean films are heading to the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, which will run until Feb. 26.Director Hong Sang-soo's 29th feature film, “In Water,” will have its world premiere in Berlin as part of the festival's “Encounters” sidebar competitive section. He has been invited to the festival for the fourth consecutive year. Hong was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Director for his 2020 film, “The Woman Who Ran.” He won another Silver Bear for Best Screenplay with 2021 title, “Introduction.” Last year, he won the Grand Jury Prize for “The Novelist's Film.” The director as well as actors Kim Min-hee and Shin Seok-ho will attend the festival to promote their new film.Director Byun Sung-hyun's Netflix film “Kill Boksoon” has been invited to the festival's Berlinale Special program, a non-competitive section that includes “documentary, feature and short films that elevate and explore cinema as an art form.”

Feb 16, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

3 Korean films invited to 73rd Berlin Film Festival

Trends

Hanji artist layers handmade paper into sculptures

Lee Seung-chul, hanji artist and professor of art at Dongduk Women's University, poses with hanji sculpture of “munsubosal” (the Bodhisattava of wisdom) after an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-minProfessor to hold hanji artwork exhibitions in Europe, USBy Kwak Yeon-sooHanji ― a traditional Korean paper made of inner bark from the mulberry tree ― has been fading from people's daily lives due to the complicated, labor-intensive process used to make it. Only around 20 workshops in Korea continue to produce high-quality hanji through centuries-old papermaking techniques called webal. Lee Seung-chul, professor of art at Dongduk Women's University, has been carrying on the 2,000-year-old tradition through his artwork and teaching.Lee, born in 1964, became a devotee of hanji in 1984 when he discovered that the material provides the foundation for Eastern painting.“In my graduate school thesis, I wrote about hanji's influence on Korean art. I traveled across the country in search of hanji-making practitioners, an

Feb 16, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Hanji artist layers handmade paper into sculptures

NewJeans' hanji artworks to be put up for auction this weekend

Films

Director Isao Yukisada says Korea-Japan TV and film collaboration 'inevitable'

Japanese filmmaker Isao Yukisada / Courtesy of Holy GardenJapanese filmmaker returns with queer film 'The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese'By Kwak Yeon-sooGiven Korea's booming cultural content industry, there is a growing list of creators in Asia and beyond that are eager to collaborate with local production companies and filmmakers. Ties have been getting stronger between the content industries of Korea and Japan in recent years. In addition to Hirokazu Kore-eda, whose first Korean-language film “Broker” helped its male lead Song Kang-ho win the best actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Takashi Miike helmed Korean-language drama series “Connect” for Disney+. Japanese director Isao Yukisada said Japan-Korea TV and film collaborations could be a great way to bring the two cultures together and showcase their strengths. “Korean content is expanding its global reach while Japanese content is in decline. So collaboration is inevitable. I'm eager to find out how K-content has become so powerful. I want to learn more about the secrets to its success,&rdquo

Feb 15, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Director Isao Yukisada says Korea-Japan TV and film collaboration 'inevitable'

Films

INTERVIEW Yoon Si-yoon attributes success to good-natured roles

Actor Yoon Si-yoon / Courtesy of Contents ZoneBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Yoon Si-yoon got incredibly lucky when he debuted in MBC's hit sitcom “Hick Kick through the Roof” (2009). He subsequently landed lead roles in TV series such as “Bread, Love and Dreams” (2010) and “Psychopath Diary” (2019) as well as films like “A Birth” (2022). Yoon credits his career boom to the good-natured roles that have been made available to him.“I was lucky. Because many of my memorable roles are of naive, good-natured guys, people often associate me with that same persona,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “For me, personally, it's exactly what I would have hoped for. But I'm afraid of being typecast as the good guy because it hinders me from playing more diverse roles.”With a filmography that encompasses comedy, horror, drama, and adventure, Yoon isn't bound to any role or genre. He expressed his desire to keep jumping into empathetic and interesting stories.“I want to do films or TV series that can resonat

Feb 12, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Yoon Si-yoon attributes success to good-natured roles

Films

Bae Doona borrows her character's words to speak out on social issues

Actress Bae Doona / Courtesy of Twinplus PartnersBy Kwak Yeon-sooBae Doona said the thriller drama film “Next Sohee” is an emotional tribute to victims of institutional abuse.Inspired by a real-life event, the film revolves around Sohee (Kim Si-eun), a high school student who starts job training at a call center. Sohee cannot bear the highly stressful work culture, which leads to her suicide. Detective Oh Yu-jin (Bae) starts to follow the traces to reveal the truth behind Sohee's death. The film accuses the company and school of negligence. “There are still many Sohees out there who are barely clinging to life after societal exploitation,” she said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “I want to say to those who are hanging in there: 'thank you for not giving up and holding on.'”“When I was in my 20s, life seemed vague at times. I could have been happy, but I was not. I want people who are going through tough times to feel less pain. I just hope for a better world for young people. The social issues that involve children or adolesc

Feb 9, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Bae Doona borrows her character's words to speak out on social issues

Shows & Dramas

Kim Ok-vin, Yoo Teo show enemies-to-lovers dynamic in 'Love to Hate You'

From left, actors Yoo Teo, Kim Ok-vin and Kim Ji-hoon pose during a press conference for Netflix's series “Love to Hate You” in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooNetflix's series “Love to Hate You” is an unusual romantic comedy with elements of romance, drama, action and comedy. It has an enemies-to-lovers dynamic and reminds viewers that love can be found in unexpected places. Directed by Kim Jung-kwon, the upcoming series follows the loathing-to-loving sparks between Yeo Mi-ran (Kim Ok-vin), a rookie attorney who hates losing to men, and Nam Kang-ho (Yoo Teo), an uptight actor who does not trust women. As they spend more time together under contract, their initial hatred and bickering turn into romance.“'Love to Hate You' is a genre-bending drama about two quirky people, and it's really their love story. Viewers will be able to relate to the characters who eventually reconcile with their pasts and put their relationship on a new path,” director Kim said dur

Feb 9, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kim Ok-vin, Yoo Teo show enemies-to-lovers dynamic in 'Love to Hate You'

Films

Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'

From left, actors Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee and Byeon Woo-seok pose during a press conference for the film, "Soulmate" in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of NEW By Kwak Yeon-sooActors Kim Da-mi and Jeon So-nee said they became best friends in real life after the duo starred in the coming-of-age film “Soulmate.”Adapted from the Chinese film of the same title, “Soulmate” centers on the lives of two friends. One is Mi-so (Kim), a free-spirited girl who wishes to travel the world after graduating from high school. The other is Ha-eun (Jeon) who is afraid of heights and a meticulous painter. Despite their differences, the two have been best friends since 1998. Then a handsome boy named Jin-woo (Byeon Woo-seok) turns up and complicates their friendship. The film then takes a unique turn, following not romance but female friendship.The next decade of Mi-so and Ha-eun's lives is traced. They take different routes after graduating from school. No longer bound together, they begin to mi

Feb 3, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'

Trends

Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars

Jimin of K-pop group BTS poses during a photo shoot before the Dior Menswear ready-to-wear Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection show during Men's Fashion Week in Paris, France, Jan. 20. Reuters-Yonhap As more K-pop icons become brand ambassadors, luxury goods market expands to younger consumersBy Kwak Yeon-sooA woman in her 40s surnamed Yoo recently bought her daughter a Vivienne Westwood cross bag for 580,000 won ($470). “My 16-year-old daughter actually asked for a Prada or Saint Laurent handbag, which are at least five times more expensive. But I told her no because it's too pricey for a high school student. Now I'm worried that she might want a more expensive item next,” she said.The thousands of luxury haul videos by precocious teenagers flaunting their shopping sprees indicate that luxury shoppers are getting younger.In a 2020 survey of 783 middle and high school students conducted by local school wear brand S'FD, 56.4 percent of respondents said they have bought

Feb 3, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

Yim Si-wan felt conflicted about psychopath role in 'Unlocked'

Yoo Yeon-seok reveals why he took pay cut for 'My Heart Puppy'

3 Korean films invited to 73rd Berlin Film Festival

Hanji artist layers handmade paper into sculptures

Director Isao Yukisada says Korea-Japan TV and film collaboration 'inevitable'

INTERVIEW Yoon Si-yoon attributes success to good-natured roles

Bae Doona borrows her character's words to speak out on social issues

Kim Ok-vin, Yoo Teo show enemies-to-lovers dynamic in 'Love to Hate You'

Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'

Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars

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