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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

'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast

Actors Paul Rudd, right, and Jonathan Majors pose during an online press conference for the film, "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania." Courtesy of Walt Disney Company KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooTime travel is a common staple of Marvel movies. The upcoming “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” will introduce many new Quantum Realm settings and a new villain who is capable of traveling through the multiverse.Directed by Peyton Reed, “Ant-Man 3” follows the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), also known as Ant-Man, who is transported to the Quantum Realm, along with Cassie (Kathryn Newton), Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). While struggling to escape the Quantum Realm, they face off against a villain called Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).Rudd, the star of the Ant-Man franchise, talked about what makes his size-shifting character stand out from other Marvel heroes. “One of the things I love about my character is that he is a regular person who doesn't have innate superpowers. He's a dad. From the first Ant

Feb 3, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast
Films

Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun

Actors Cha Tae-hyun, left, and Yoo Yeon-seok in a scene from the film “My Heart Puppy” / Courtesy of Kidari StudioBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Yoo Yeon-seok and Cha Tae-hyun are reuniting for a cute canine road film “My Heart Puppy,” 15 years after co-starring in MBC's drama ”General Hospital 2.” “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 cousin Jin-guk (Cha) suggests that he should find a new caregiver for his beloved dog. The two embark on a journey to meet a new caregiver but end up unintentionally adopting more pets of their own. Director Kim Joo-hwan, known for his 2017 action comedy “Midnight Runners,” said the film was inspired by his own experience of separation from his childhood dog.“I was so caught up with work that I wasn't there when my dog Rooney died. I felt so much guilt over it that I decided to make a film about it. I wanted to say that f

Jan 31, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Cute canine film 'My Heart Puppy' reunites Yoo Yeon-seok, Cha Tae-hyun
Films

'Count' reminds actor Jin Sun-kyu of personal experience

From left, actors Go Chang-suk, Oh Na-ra, Sung Yoo-bin, Jang Dong-ju and Jin Sun-kyu pose during a press conference for the film “Count” in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of CJ ENM By Kwak Yeon-sooJin Sun-kyu, who toiled in obscurity for 13 years before his breakthrough as a villain in the 2017 film “The Outlaws,” is set to play his first lead role in a feature film titled “Count.” The film tells the story of former Olympic boxing gold medalist-turned-school teacher Si-heon who lives in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, and inspires his rebellious students through boxing. It is a story about family, friendship and most of all, making the most out of life.Jin revealed that the script felt like it was written specifically for him.“When I read the script, I thought it was written for me. My hometown is Jinhae and my childhood dream was to be a physical education teacher. I love boxing and movie themes about hope, family and friendship. After reading it, I begged director Kwo

Jan 30, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Count' reminds actor Jin Sun-kyu of personal experience
Films

'Someday or One Day' cast says film spin-off has new plot

From left, Greg Hsu, Alice Ko and Patrick Shih, pose during a press conference for the film “Someday or One Day” in Seoul, Thursday.By Kwak Yeon-sooThe Taiwanese cast of “Someday or One Day,” a film spin-off from the 2019 hit time-travel romance drama of the same title, said they hope Korean fans of the original drama will enjoy the movie adaptation as well.The film follows Huang Yuxuan (Alice Ko) who mourns the death of her long-time boyfriend Li Ziwei (Greg Hsu). One day, she receives a mysterious cassette player that allows her to travel back in time. She attempts to change the past, hoping to improve the fate of Li.The drama version was a sensational hit after streaming on major local over-the-top platforms, creating a hardcore fan base in Korea. Tickets for the cast's meet-and-greet events in Korea were sold out within minutes. “Someday or One Day” is also set for a Korean remake, starring Jeon Yeo-been and Ahn Hyo-seop.“Compared with the series that features time loops, the movie version embraces a multiverse storyline. It centers on th

Jan 29, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Someday or One Day' cast says film spin-off has new plot
Films

Kim Hyun-joo says humanity is at heart of action film 'Jung_E'

Actress Kim Hyun-joo / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Kim Hyun-joo, best known for her lead role in Netflix's “Hellbound,” said the emergence of streaming services has allowed her to take on more diverse roles. “Now that we have plenty of streaming platform options, actors are given a wider array of roles and filmmakers are experimenting with a variety of genres. For me, personally, I was able to push my boundaries to see what else I can do differently as an actor,” she said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.Kim's latest film “Jung_E” is set in the post-apocalyptic 22nd century and follows the story of Yoon Seo-hyun (Kang Soo-youn), a researcher at Kranoid Lab who clones the brain of her mother ― an elite soldier called Yoon Jung-yi (Kim) ― to create a combat AI warrior.The film topped Netflix's non-English film chart in the first week of its release, according to data released by streaming analytics company FlixPatrol. It was on the list of Netflix's Top 10 films in 80 countries, including Germany, Spain, Turkey, Brazil an

Jan 26, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kim Hyun-joo says humanity is at heart of action film 'Jung_E'
Films

Shunsuke Michieda overwhelmed by Korean fans' support for his coming-of-age film

Japanese singer-actor Shunsuke Michieda talks during a press conference for the film, “Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,” in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooShunsuke Michieda, a member of J-pop idol group Naniwa Danshi and the star of “Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,” said he is overwhelmed by Korean fans' support and affection for his latest film. The coming-of-age romance film has attracted more than 970,000 moviegoers in Korea, becoming the third-highest-grossing Japanese live-action film released in Korea following the melodrama “Love Letter” released here in 1999 and horror film “Ju-on” in 2003.“I'm really grateful and slightly befuddled. One year ago today, I was doing a table reading for 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight,' and I never thought I'd be coming to Korea. I heard the original novel (of the same title) is popular here and the film itself offers a powerful portrait of first love,” he told Korean reporters at a press conference in Seoul, Wednes

Jan 26, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Shunsuke Michieda overwhelmed by Korean fans' support for his coming-of-age film
Films

Actress Yoon Jeong-hee dies at 78 after battle with Alzheimer's

Actress Yoon Jeong-hee / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-sooYoon Jeong-hee, one of the biggest stars of Korean cinema in the 1960s and 1970s, has died in Paris at the age of 78, according to her family on Friday. “It is with great sadness that my wife Yoon Jeong-hee passed away around 5 p.m. Thursday (local time). She died peacefully listening to our daughter Jin-hee playing the violin,” Yoon's husband pianist Paik Kun-woo said in a statement. “The funeral will be held in France attended by close family. Although she is no longer here with us, please remember her kind soul and passion for film.” No other details were released about the cause of her death. However, Yoon had long suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She was also diagnosed with diabetes.Yoon was part of the “troika” of popular actresses in Korea in the 1960s and 1970s, along with Moon Hee and Nam Jeong-im.Yoon, whose actual name is Son Mi-ja, was born in 1944 and debuted in 1967 in director Gang Dae-jin's

Jan 20, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actress Yoon Jeong-hee dies at 78 after battle with Alzheimer's
Films

Lee Jung-jae named best new director with 'Hunt' at Hawaii Film Critics Society Award

Actor-director Lee Jung-jae / Courtesy of Artist Company By Kwak Yeon-sooLee Jung-jae, the star of Netflix's global hit series “Squid Game,” was named Best New Filmmaker at 2022 Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards for his feature directorial debut “Hunt.”Set in the turbulent 1980s, the action-packed film centers on two rival agents, Park Pyong-ho (Lee) and Kim Jung-do (Jung Woo-sung), who are tasked with uncovering a North Korean spy inside the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). They investigate each other in the process of discovering a larger plot to assassinate the president.The film premiered at the non-competition Midnight Screening section of the 75th Cannes Film Festival. It was a commercial success and garnered critical acclaim, surpassing 4 million in ticket sales here and earning Lee best new filmmaker prizes at multiple awards including the Blue Dragon Film Awards in November.Last year, he was selected as the recipient of the Geumgwan Order of Cult

Jan 19, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Lee Jung-jae named best new director with 'Hunt' at Hawaii Film Critics Society Award
Trends

Barista keeps 100-year promise with Ethiopian emperor

Barista Cho Soo-kyung poses with coffee beans at her coffeehouse, Ethiopia Bet, in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukChuncheon's Ethiopia Bet is more than just a coffeehouse: Cho Soo-kyungBy Kwak Yeon-sooCHUNCHEON, Gangwon Province ― Making a perfect cup of coffee is a delicate affair, from selecting healthy green beans, roasting them and determining the perfect brewing ratio to choosing the ideal serving temperature. Barista Cho Soo-kyung, the second-generation owner of Ethiopia Bet (Ethiopia House) coffeehouse in the Gangwon provincial city of Chuncheon, learned about coffee from her mother who opened Korea's first roastery cafe in 1968 to serve high-quality Ethiopian coffee to visitors.The coffeehouse specializes in Ethiopian coffee, from the Harar, Yirgacheffe and Sidamo regions, which are all roasted daily in small batches.“My 91-year-old mother can still tell if beans are roasted properly or not. I took after her, and I have a sensitive sense of taste. I don't wear makeup, color my hair or nails because they can distort my sense of tas

Jan 19, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Barista keeps 100-year promise with Ethiopian emperor
Films

Director Yim Soon-rye recounts her first venture into blockbuster filmmaking

Director Yim Soon-rye / Courtesy of Plus M Entertainment'The Point Men' inspired by true story of Koreans taken hostage in Afghanistan in 2007By Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Yim Soon-rye, well known for making carefully observed movies on characters considered as social misfits, has made her first venture into blockbuster filmmaking with the action film, “The Point Men.”However, the film is more introspective than many other big-budget action films. There is only one death scene because the director is against making movies that kill off too many people for no reason.“There is certainly a lot of pressure because 'The Point Men' is comparably a big budget film (14 billion won). This film cost more than all of my previous films combined,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times, Monday. “The Point Men” is inspired by the true story of 23 Korean Christian volunteers taken hostage by Taliban militants in Afghanistan in 2007.The director made it clear that the film takes inspiration from a real event, but much of the drama and the characters are fict

Jan 19, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Director Yim Soon-rye recounts her first venture into blockbuster filmmaking
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