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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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Entertainment

Grieving nation cancels cultural events, but some artists say music can be way to mourn

Music artist Jang Jane shares a post from another musician Summer of Thoughts who said he would be performing as scheduled amid a period of national mourning following Saturday's crowd crush disaster in Itaewon. Captured from Jane Jane's InstagramBy Kwak Yeon-sooSome artists are speaking up over the cancellation of performances and concerts in the wake of Saturday's deadly crowd crush in Itaewon, a tragedy that took the lives of 156 people and injured 173 people more. A slew of cancellations or postponements come in line with an announcement by the government, which set a national mourning period until Nov. 5 to pay tribute to the victims. Major cultural events, including album releases, concerts and film events, have been canceled.In response, several musicians argued that the process of grieving cannot be forced and live performance is the main source of income for many people in the industry.Singer-songwriter Chung Won-young expressed his regret over the current situation, saying, “Do we have to cancel all of our performances? Is there a better way to console those affected

Nov 3, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Grieving nation cancels cultural events, but some artists say music can be way to mourn
Travel & Food

Thai chefs hope to represent Asian cuisine on global stage

Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn, left, and Chef Pichaya “Pam” Utharntharm of Thailand / Courtesy of S. PellegrinoBy Kwak Yeon-sooBANGKOK ― Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn and Pichaya “Pam” Utharntharm are the world's foremost Thai chefs who are reinterpreting classic Thai dishes. Both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), they returned to their homeland to create innovative Thai cuisines that use modern cooking techniques. Chef Ton had worked in many Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, including Eleven Madison Park, The Modern and Jean Georges before opening his restaurant Le Du in Thailand nine years ago. Originated from Thai word meaning “season,” Le Du is ranked No. 4 by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.Chef Pam trained at three-starred Jean-Georges restaurant in the U.S. She was selected in Forbes 30 Under 30 before becoming a judge of Top Chef Thailand, a cooking competition show. Her restaurant “Potong,” which translates as “simple,” serves imaginative Thai cuisine that focuses on sea

Nov 2, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Thai chefs hope to represent Asian cuisine on global stage
Travel & Food

Singaporean chef wins S. Pellegrino Young Chef Asia regional finals

Singaporean chef Ian Goh, right, poses with mentor chef Louis Han after winning the S. Pellegrino regional final of the Young Chef Academy Competition at the awards ceremony held at the Park Hyatt Bangkok, Sunday. He also won the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award in addition to the main award. Courtesy of S. PellegrinoWinner to compete in global finals next yearBy Kwak Yeon-sooBANGKOK ― Singaporean chef Ian Goh was named the winner of the S. Pellegrino regional final of the Young Chef Academy Competition held at The Food School in Bangkok, Sunday. He also took home the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award, presented to a young chef who best represents their personal beliefs within their dish.Ten Asian young chefs aged under 30 engaged in five hours of competitive cooking, showing off their technical skills, creativity and personal belief. Their dishes were judged by an esteemed panel of jury members who are chefs ― Pam Pichaya Utharntharm of Restaurant Potong in Thailand, Dave Pynt of the restaurant Burnt Ends in Singapore, Daniel Calvert of restaurant Sezanne in Japan,

Nov 2, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Singaporean chef wins S. Pellegrino Young Chef Asia regional finals
Films

Director Yoon Je-kyoon's much-anticipated film, 'Hero,' to hit theaters in December

The poster for the film, "Hero" / Courtesy of CJ ENM By Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Yoon Je-kyoon's long-awaited film, “Hero,” is finally hitting theaters in December, according to distributor CJ ENM, Wednesday. The film, which finished shooting in December 2019, was initially scheduled to be released in 2020, but got delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adapted from the original musical, “Hero,” the film tells the story of Korean independence movement activist Ahn Jung-geun's final year after he assassinated Hirobumi Ito, Japan's prime minister and the first resident general of Korea, in October 1909, about a year before Japan's annexation of Korea and the start of its colonial occupation (1910-45). In March of the following year, Ahn was executed in a Japanese prison in China.Director Yoon is behind hit films like “Haeundae” and “Ode to My Father,” which each surpassed 10 million viewers. He is currently working on K-pop-themed Hollywood film “K-Pop: Lost

Oct 26, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Director Yoon Je-kyoon's much-anticipated film, 'Hero,' to hit theaters in December
Films

INTERVIEW Kim You-jung says persevering in entertainment industry wasn't easy

Actress Kim You-jung / Courtesy of NetflixActress portrays story of first love in new film '20th Century Girl'By Kwak Yeon-sooKim You-jung is one of those few actors who found fame at a young age and has continued to find success in TV and cinema well into her adult years. However, the star said the process of persevering in the entertainment industry wasn't easy. The 23-year-old actress began her career at the age of four, working as a child model for a confectionery brand. She was thrust into limelight at the age of six, appearing as a child in “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” (2005) alongside actors Choi Min-sik and Lee Young-ae. She then went on to appear in a slew of mainstream hits as a child including “Road No. 1” (2010), “Dong Yi” (2010) and “Moon Embracing the Sun” (2012). As she moved toward her young adult years, Kim starred in various romance TV series, including JTBC's “Clean with Passion For Now” (2018-2019), SBS' “Backstreet Rookie” (2020) and “Lovers of the Red Sky” (2021), which affirmed

Oct 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
[INTERVIEW] Kim You-jung says persevering in entertainment industry wasn't easy
Films

Exhibition explores zombie genre in Korean cinema

Director Yeon Sang-ho's storyboards for “Seoul Station,” an animated prequel to the 2016 zombie thriller “Train to Busan,” are on display at the exhibition titled “All of Us are (Not) Zombies: 21st Century K-Zombie Chronicle,” held at the Korea Film Museum in western Seoul. Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooA special exhibition exploring Korea's zombie content and its rise to international fame is taking place at the Korea Film Museum in western Seoul.The exhibition, titled “All of Us are (Not) Zombies: 21st Century K-Zombie Chronicle,” features the clothing worn by actors during production of the 2016 hit film “Train to Busan,” a video showcasing how zombies move by choreographer Jeon Young who designed zombie movements in “Train to Busan,” “Kingdom” and “Peninsula,” and director Yeon Sang-ho's storyboards of “Seoul Station,” an animated prequel to “Train to Busan.” The title of the exhibition itself is also a parody of the 2022 zombie series “All of Us Are Dead.”Kim Hong-joo

Oct 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Exhibition explores zombie genre in Korean cinema
Films

Ma Dong-seok to star in comedy film 'Men of Plastic'

Actor Ma Dong-seok in a scene from the film "Men of Plastic" / Courtesy of Showbox By Kwak Yeon-sooFollowing the success of “The Roundup,” actor Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee), is returning to the big screen with the plastic surgery-themed comedy-drama, “Men of Plastic.” In the upcoming film, Ma plays the role of Dae-guk, a man who was born and raised in Apgujeong-dong, an affluent neighborhood in Gangnam District in southern Seoul where plastic surgery and skin care clinics abound, and is eager to start his own plastic surgery business.He encounters Ji-woo (Jung Kyung-ho), the most talented plastic surgeon in the area who unfortunately loses his medical license. In the blink of an eye, Dae-guk comes up with an idea on how to make his business happen and proceeds to do everything he can to secure Ji-woo as his partner. Together, they lead the way in Apgujeong-dong's plastic surgery industry.The film sees Ma team up once more with director Lim Jin-sun, who helmed the cri

Oct 24, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Ma Dong-seok to star in comedy film 'Men of Plastic'
Shows & Dramas

Travel reality shows are back in the saddle

A teaser image of SBS' “Besties in Wonderland ― If I Go Only Once” / Courtesy of SBSBy Kwak Yeon-sooAs the world opens back up, broadcasters are on board to shoot travel reality shows overseas. Countries worldwide, including Korea, have been lifting border control regulations related to the pandemic recently. This month, two shows that feature the cast traveling abroad were unveiled. KBS' travel show “Battle Trip,” which ended its four-year run in April 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19, has returned with season 2. The first two episodes of “Battle Trip 2,” which aired on Oct. 15 and 22, showed Aiki and Gabee's trip to Vietnam and Yerin and Kim Hee-jung's trip to Thailand, respectively. “The cast have travel tips that are as good as travel experts. Our show will provide a perfect guide to how to travel in an endemic world with insider tips and destination information,” the show's production team said. SBS will launch “Besties in Wonderland ― If I Go Only Once,” starring EXO's Suho, actors Lee Kyu-hyung, Lee Sang-yi, Lim Ji-

Oct 23, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Travel reality shows are back in the saddle
Films

Actors Lee Jong-suk, Kim Rae-won unite in action film 'Decibel'

Actor Lee Jong-suk in a scene from the film "Decibel"/ Courtesy of Mind MarkBy Kwak Yeon-soo Actors Lee Jong-suk and Kim Rae-won are uniting for the action thriller film, “Decibel,” which revolves around a terrorist who attempts to plant a bomb in the city and a former naval officer who tries to stop him.In the film, Lee plays the mysterious Navy captain who plans a terrorist attack with a bomb that detonates when sound pressure reaches a certain level. Kim must try to stop the villain. Singer-actor Cha Eun-woo portrays a naval officer who specializes in sonar.The film is directed by Hwang In-ho, well known for his previous works such as the horror-romantic comedy “Spellbound” (2011) and crime thriller “Monster” (2014).Director Hwang said of Lee: “Whenever the cameras started rolling, it was as if a cat was evolving into a tiger. Lee was always fully immersed in the story, which was intriguing to watch.” Lee recently wrapped up filming MBC's “Big Mouth.”“Decibel” features cool car chase sequences, and Kim also ha

Oct 21, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actors Lee Jong-suk, Kim Rae-won unite in action film 'Decibel'
Films

So Ji-sub talks marriage, starring in suspense thriller 'Confession'

Actor So Ji-sub/ Courtesy of 51kActor shares mixed feelings about K-content boomBy Kwak Yeon-sooFor actor So Ji-sub, marrying his wife, TV personality Cho Eun-jeong, has changed his priorities in life. The actor, who tied the knot in 2020 at the age of 43, opened up about how his life has changed for good after he got married.“It's been really wonderful. I feel more emotionally stable and my insomnia disappeared after marriage. I absolutely recommend marriage,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday. So has had a long and expansive career, effortlessly shifting from romance to period drama to action films. For the first time in his 28-year career, the actor made his first foray into the thriller genre, which he said was an exciting experience for him.Adapted from the 2017 Spanish film, “The Invisible Guest,” “Confession” follows a wealthy man named Yoo Min-ho (So) who is suspected of killing his mistress (Nana) in a hotel room where only the two of them were present. Claiming his innocence, Yoo hires a talented lawyer named Yan

Oct 20, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
So Ji-sub talks marriage, starring in suspense thriller 'Confession'
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