The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Actor Lee Bum-soo talks about bringing comedy to screen during pandemic

Actor Lee Bum-soo in a scene from the film, “Hometown” / Courtesy of JNC Media Group By Kwak Yeon-sooWith “Honest Candidate 2,” “Life is Beautiful” and the upcoming “Hometown,” the comedy genre is making waves with audiences these days. Actor Lee Bum-soo said he felt a lot of responsibility in wanting to make a comedy to help people get through these uncertain times.“During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were not many reasons to laugh. I also needed a break from reality at a difficult time,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “Hometown” tells the story of Ki-sae (Song Sae-byeok), a failed comedian and son of a crime boss who returns to his hometown where he unexpectedly inherits his father's position as the ringleader. In the film, Lee plays the role of Kang-don, the underboss who kills Ki-sae's father and wants to send Ki-sae away from the town so he can inherit the throne.Lee said of the comedy genre, “This is a genre that I love. It allows me t

Oct 3, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Actor Lee Bum-soo talks about bringing comedy to screen during pandemic

Films

INTERVIEW Ra Mi-ran's comedic talents shine in 'Honest Candidate 2'

Actress Ra Mi-ran / Courtesy of NEW By Kwak Yeon-sooActress Ra Mi-ran, a late bloomer who made her film debut in “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” (2005) at the age of 30, made a big impression in the role of a fast-talking politician who suddenly cannot lie anymore after her grandmother's wish comes true in “Honest Candidate.”The 2020 film saw moderate success at the box office, reaching over 1.5 million moviegoers, despite a huge drop in theater attendance at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ra earned critical acclaim for her distinctive style of comedy ― high-energy slapstick with bizarre facial expressions ― and won the Best Actress Award at the 41st Blue Dragon Film Awards in 2021.“I was overwhelmed to see all the positive feedback for 'Honest Candidate,' which gave me the courage to return in its follow-up. Some might ask, 'Why make a sequel to a film that only attracted over 1.5 million viewers?' But for me, it felt like surpassing 5 million,” she said during

Sep 30, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Ra Mi-ran's comedic talents shine in 'Honest Candidate 2'

Trends

Loan period extended for US-captured Joseon-era flag

In the left photo, Joseon General Eo Jae-yeon's “sujagi” flag is captured by the U.S. Navy during the U.S.' 1871 military engagement in Joseon, called “Sinmiyangyo.” In the right photo, the flag is on display at the National Palace Museum of Korea in 2007 after it was repatriated on loan from the U.S. / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage AdministrationBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe loan period for a rare Joseon-era flag, which had been captured by U.S. naval forces during the 1871 military action against the Joseon Kingdom and was returned to Korea on a lease, has been extended for another year.The Ganghwa War Museum confirmed, Wednesday, that it has recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, for a one-year extension on borrowing the military flag named “sujagi” for display. The loan period had been scheduled to expire at the end of September.“The U.S. Naval Academy Museum agreed recently to extend the loan period until Oct. 1, 2023, after months of negotiations,” a museum official told The Korea Times, Wedn

Sep 29, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Loan period extended for US-captured Joseon-era flag

Films

Multi-genre film 'Daemuga' adds shamanic voice to hip-hop

Park Sung-woong in a scene from the film "Daemuga" / Courtesy of Pan Cinema By Kwak Yeon-soo“Daemuga” stands apart from other films not only because of its surrealistic touch, but also by blending the genres of comedy, drama, mystery and crime.The multi-genre film revolves around three ill-fated shamans ― Ma Seong-jun (Park Sung-woong), Gangnam (Yang Hyun-min) and Shin Nam (Ryu Gyung-soo) ― who are each tasked with performing a shamanistic exorcism ritual known as “gut.” Their shared goal is to stop Son Ik-soo (Jung Kyung-ho), a ruthless gang leader, from taking advantage of the opportunities arising from a village redevelopment project.Director Lee Han-jong, who turned his previous short film “Daemuga” into a feature-length movie of the same name, explained that he wanted to touch upon numerous social issues, including youth unemployment, domestic violence and housing crisis by using the protagonists. He uses the protagonists' struggles to document different aspect

Sep 28, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Multi-genre film 'Daemuga' adds shamanic voice to hip-hop

Films

Nam Joo-hyuk returns to big screen in crime action 'Remember'

A scene from the film, "Remember" / Courtesy of Acemaker MovieworksBy Kwak Yeon-sooNam Joo-hyuk is returning to the big screen for the first time in two years as an innocent young man who becomes embroiled in a murder plot in “Remember,” directed by Lee Il-hyung, best known for his 2016 crime action film, “A Violent Prosecutor.”A Korean remake of Atom Egoyan's 2015 Nazi-hunter film of the same title, “Remember” revolves around Pil-joo (Lee Sung-min), an old man with dementia who lost his family during Japan's colonial rule of Korea (1910-45). He goes in search of vengeance against pro-Japan collaborators, whom he believes were responsible for the deaths of his family 60 years ago.Unable to drive safely due to memory loss, Pil-joo asks In-kyu (Nam), a cash-strapped man in his 20s, to be his driver for a week without sharing details about his secret scheme. But In-kyu becomes wrongfully accused of murder and ends up accompanying the old man to try to stop his killing and prove his own innocence.Nam, who made his first public appearance in months afte

Sep 27, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Nam Joo-hyuk returns to big screen in crime action 'Remember'

People & Events

What to enjoy at K-Culture Festival

From K-pop big names to aspiring artists, festival to provide enriched hallyu experienceBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe K-Culture Festival is returning in full force this year after being held online and in a hybrid format during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third edition of the festival, scheduled to take place for nine days from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 in Seoul, will feature various programs ― showcases by musicians and bands from various music genres including concerts with star-studded lineup such as NCT Dream, IVE, The Boyz, Oh My Girl and Zico; performances by artists and crafters; and other engagement activities where visitors of all ages can experience Korean traditional culture, fashion, food and more.Concerts, showcasesThe K-Culture Festival Eve will feature a mixture of classical music and pop music. Cellist Han Jae-min, who won the grand prix of the George Enescu International Competition and the third prize at the Geneva International Music Competition in 2021, and pianist Park Young-sung will perform at a special stage in Gyeongbok Palace on Sept. 30. The National Chorus of Korea, daegeum

Sep 27, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Films

'Project Wolf Hunting' actor on accidentally finding fame, playing laconic criminal

Actor Jang Dong-yoon / Courtesy of TCOBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Jang Dong-yoon found fame accidentally after giving a TV interview for stopping a robbery at a convenience store. He immediately went viral on the internet with his act of bravery and good looks. Then Jang was approached by the head of an entertainment agency. This changed the course of his life.“Acting wasn't something that was even on my radar. I was about to start my internship at a financial company when I got a call from the agency,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times in a cafe in Seoul, Friday.The up-and-coming actor was keen to express something different by playing the mysterious criminal Do-il in “Project Wolf Hunting,” a slasher film that revolves around a cargo ship that transports dangerous criminals from overseas. En route to Korea from the Philippines, the imprisoned criminals, each with their own motives, unleash a sinister force in an attempt to escape.“The film is loaded with gore elements that Korean audiences have never seen on screen before, but there is nothing

Sep 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Project Wolf Hunting' actor on accidentally finding fame, playing laconic criminal

Films

INTERVIEW At age 50, Yum Jung-ah is at top of her game

Actress Yum Jung-ah / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentActress with 31-year career takes on challenge of musical film 'Life is Beautiful'By Kwak Yeon-sooYum Jung-ah is one of the most accomplished actresses of her generation here who remains at the top of her game, but she still gets nervous before opening a movie. Ahead of the release of her new film, “Life is Beautiful,” Yum made a secret visit to a movie theater in Seoul where she sat with the audience and watched their reactions during the pre-release screening. “I saw the film in theaters four times because I wanted to witness the audience's reaction. Although I know all the details about the plot, I cry every time I watch it. Last night, the audience members were laughing and crying. One lady in the crowd was wiping back her tears with bare hands so I wanted to hand her a tissue,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday. Over the course of her three-decade career since entering the entertainment industry in 1991 as a Miss Korea pageant runner-up, Yum has solidified h

Sep 22, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] At age 50, Yum Jung-ah is at top of her game

Travel & Food

Seaside train tour offers epic coastal views, heritage sites in Gangneung

Passengers look out the window at the sea from a train running along the coast in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sept. 16. NewsisGwandong Pungryu Era Route is one of 10 Korean Heritage RoutesBy Kwak Yeon-sooGANGNEUNG ― Gangneung is a city with rich cultural heritage and incredible ocean views. The eastern coastal area stretching from Gangneung to PyeongChang, Sokcho and Yangyang is nicknamed “the jewel of Korea's real landscape painting” for its stunning scenery and coastal views. Since ancient times, scholars and travelers headed east to Gangwon Province to enjoy the beauty of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range stretching across the Korean Peninsula and visit the East Sea. Many of them composed poems and wrote travelogues, praising the natural landscape, history and culture of the Gwandong region (now eastern Gangwon Province). The region was described in the Gwandongbyeolgok, a travel journal written by Jeong Cheol during the Joseon Kingdom period (1392-1910).Among the explorers was a 14-year-old girl named Kim Keum-won (1817-?), who disguised herself as a man and traveled t

Sep 22, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Seaside train tour offers epic coastal views, heritage sites in Gangneung

Films

'Confession' actor So Ji-sub recalls handwritten letter from director

Actor So Ji-sub in a scene from the film, "Confession" / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor So Ji-sub said director Yoon Jong-seok's handwritten letter was part of the reason why he was so drawn to “Confession,” a mystery thriller that tells the story of a man suspected of murder.“When Yoon suggested that we work together on this project, he gave me a handwritten letter that included details about the character and why he wanted to work with me. I was touched by his kind words. And of course, the gripping story filled with twists was another reason I chose to take part in it,” So said during a press conference for the film in Seoul, Tuesday.Based on the 2017 Spanish film “The Invisible Guest” directed by Oriol Paulo, “Confession” has already earned acclaim from critics thanks to the film's meticulously crafted tension and actors' transformative performances. Yoon also won the Best Director award at this year's Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal. The upcoming film follows a wealthy businessman named Yoo

Sep 20, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

INTERVIEW Actor Lee Bum-soo talks about bringing comedy to screen during pandemic

INTERVIEW Ra Mi-ran's comedic talents shine in 'Honest Candidate 2'

Loan period extended for US-captured Joseon-era flag

Multi-genre film 'Daemuga' adds shamanic voice to hip-hop

Nam Joo-hyuk returns to big screen in crime action 'Remember'

What to enjoy at K-Culture Festival

'Project Wolf Hunting' actor on accidentally finding fame, playing laconic criminal

INTERVIEW At age 50, Yum Jung-ah is at top of her game

Seaside train tour offers epic coastal views, heritage sites in Gangneung

'Confession' actor So Ji-sub recalls handwritten letter from director

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