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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

'A Home from Home' sheds light on orphaned child preparing for adulthood

A scene from the film, "A Home from Home" / Courtesy of Triple Pictures By Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Lee Seung-hwan said he wanted to tell a story about an orphan's transition to adulthood and independent living in his coming-of-age film, “A Home from Home.” In the film, actor Hyun Woo-suk stars as Do-yoon, who is about to leave his orphanage when he reaches the legal age of adulthood. Unexpectedly, he is reunited with his father, Seung-won (Jung Woong-in), who reappears after 15 years to take him home. Do-yoon adjusts to his newfound family, which also includes Jae-min, his little half-brother. However, Seung-won's death makes Do-yoon the legal guardian of Jae-min, and he discovers something strange in his late father's documents while trying to claim the insurance money. As he gets closer to the truth, Do-yoon feels more confused about his identity.“I wondered what it would be like to carve out one's own path, because choosing a new direction in life comes with tons o

Jul 13, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'A Home from Home' sheds light on orphaned child preparing for adulthood
Shows & Dramas

After investing big in dramas, Netflix targets unscripted shows

Yoo Ki-hwan, the manager of content (non-fiction) at Netflix Korea / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-sooAs a move to expand its entertainment offerings, Netflix Korea is aggressively investing in various forms of unscripted series. The streaming giant unveiled four new forthcoming unscripted shows, including a dating show, a travelogue and a competition show.Netflix has released only six reality shows over the past four years: “Busted!” “Twogether,” “Paik's Spirit,” “The Hungry and the Hairy,” “New World” and “Single's Inferno.” Four of them have been released since October 2021. Yoo Ki-hwan, the manager of content (non-fiction) at Netflix Korea, explained that the streaming service is just in the beginning stages of expanding its slate of unscripted content.“We admit that, until recently, many viewers accidentally watched Korean unscripted TV shows after scrolling down for dramas and films. We've been slow in launching new reality shows. Beginning in the second ha

Jul 12, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
After investing big in dramas, Netflix targets unscripted shows
Shows & Dramas

Kim Hyang-gi, Kim Min-jae to star in 'Joseon Psychiatrist Yoo Se-poong'

The poster for tvN's upcoming series, “Joseon Psychiatrist Yoo Se-poong” / Courtesy of tvN By Kwak Yeon-sooMental health is a hot topic on Korean TV shows and a new drama series seems to confirm this trend.The upcoming period drama, “Joseon Psychiatrist Yoo Se-poong” (working title), tells the story of a physician during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) who gets expelled from the royal court after getting caught up in a conspiracy. He then meets with Seo Eun-woo (Kim Hyang-gi), who has a good understanding of patients' minds, and Gye Ji-han (Kim Sang-kyung), who practices traditional medicine in the strange village of Gyesu, and becomes a genuine doctor who supports people's mental health concerns. Kim Hyang-gi described the upcoming series as “humane,” adding that it depicts the stories of people with wounded hearts. “This emotional human drama has both funny and touching moments. This project together has been so harmonious, and I can't wait to see it when it comes

Jul 12, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kim Hyang-gi, Kim Min-jae to star in 'Joseon Psychiatrist Yoo Se-poong'
Shows & Dramas

Netflix's 'Umbrella Academy' featuring Rising Sun design causes stir

A scene from the third season of the Netflix original series, “Umbrella Academy,” featuring Japan's Rising Sun flag design / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-sooThe third season of “Umbrella Academy” on Netflix has caused a stir for featuring the Imperial Japanese Army's flag design in episodes 6 and 10, prompting a Korean civic organization to request the streaming giant to edit out the controversial scenes. The latest season of Netflix's original series, which was released on June 22, displays the Rising Sun design, which was used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II and is regarded as a symbol of its wartime aggression, in multiple scenes. Many Koreans view it as a symbol of Japan's past imperialism and militarism.The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) criticized Netflix for its ignorance and started a global petition to make Netflix remove controversial scenes from the series. VANK was established in 1999 with the mission to promote Korean cultur

Jul 11, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Netflix's 'Umbrella Academy' featuring Rising Sun design causes stir
Shows & Dramas

'In the Soop: Friendcation,' starring BTS' V, coming July 22

A poster for “In the Soop: Friendcation” / Courtesy of Disney+ By Kwak Yeon-soo“In the Soop: Friendcation,” a reality show featuring BTS' V hanging out with his celebrity friends, will premiere in July. This new show comes a month after BTS announced its hiatus for members to focus on solo projects.The four-episode series will star V, rapper Peakboy, singer-actor Park Hyung-sik from the Disney+ series “Soundtrack #1,” Choi Woo-shik from Oscar-winning film “Parasite” and Park Seo-joon, who has been confirmed to appear in “The Marvels.” The five men are collectively known as the “Wooga Squad.” The show, which is a spin-off of Hybe's reality show “In the Soop” focused on BTS, will follow the group of friends as they take a break in a remote woodland area, enjoying a getaway from the pressures of stardom. BTS' V has been featured before on the “In the Soop” series, appearing in two seasons with his bandmates in 2020 and 2021, during which they cooked dinner, played vide

Jul 8, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'In the Soop: Friendcation,' starring BTS' V, coming July 22
Films

'The Roundup' sends wrong message about mental illness, say rights advocates

Several organizations dedicated to the rights of disabled people are holding a press event in front of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea building in Seoul, Thursday, condemning the film's negative portrayal of mental illness. Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooSeveral organizations dedicated to the rights of disabled people have criticized the new film “The Roundup” for fueling prejudices by depicting a character with a mental disability as a danger to the public. A group of seven organizations, including the Korea Association for Mental Disorders and the Research Institute of the Differently Abled Person's Rights in Korea, held a press event in front of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) building in Seoul on Thursday, calling on authorities to ban screenings of “The Roundup.”The controversial scene occurs in the beginning of the film where a man, who escaped from a mental hospital, threatens the police and public with a knife as he holds two wome

Jul 8, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'The Roundup' sends wrong message about mental illness, say rights advocates
Entertainment

Actor Nam Joo-hyuk denies school bullying allegations, warns of legal action

Actor Nam Joo-hyuk in a scene from tvN drama “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One” / Courtesy of tvNBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Nam Joo-hyuk has denied allegations of school bullying from a third accuser, adding to denials last month after two other men made similar allegations. In a report published by the Sports Kyunghyang on Wednesday, a woman who wished to remain anonymous, told the news outlet that the actor was part of a group of school bullies, who invited her to group chat and disparaged her using sexual slurs and hateful comments. This incident happened in May 2012 when they were high school seniors, and the bullies apologized to her after facing pressure from teachers, she said. Nam's agency, Management Soop, immediately denied the allegation made against the actor, warning that it will file a libel suit against the accusers.“The things that happened in the group chat are very complicated and private matters. As mentioned in the article, the matter was closed with an apology at school. Therefore, we don't believe it is right to expose the full story through the media,&rdquo

Jul 7, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actor Nam Joo-hyuk denies school bullying allegations, warns of legal action
Politics

New theater production 'The Pope' coming to Seoul

A promotional poster for the theatrical play, “The Pope” / Courtesy of ACOM By Kwak Yeon-sooNew Zealand-born playwright Anthony McCarten's play “The Pope,” which centers on an imagined series of conversations between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, will come to life on stage in Korea.Veteran actor Shin Goo will portray Pope Benedict XVI, who has an uncompromising attitude toward his principles, while Jung Dong-hwan will play the role of Pope Francis, a progressive leader who feels comfortable giving open-air sermons and reaching out to the poor. The play, which premiered in the U.K. in 2019, was later adapted into a Netflix film, “The Two Popes.” Korea is the first country that licensed the theatrical play outside of the U.K. “Through the wide range of discussions between two very different men, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, the play will make the audience realize that the differences can actually bring them together. The witty dialogues and soothing music

Jul 7, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
New theater production 'The Pope' coming to Seoul
Trends

Nat'l Palace Museum exhibition highlights returned cultural heritage

A visitor takes a look at the Album of Paintings by Joseon-era painter Jeong Seon (1676-1759) at the National Palace Museum in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapAbout 40 cultural heritage items retrieved from overseas collectors on displayBy Kwak Yeon-sooA lidded bowl decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, a golden royal seal and a suit of cotton armor worn by a Korean soldier of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), are among the many other returned cultural treasures that will be on display at the National Palace Museum of Korea, starting this Thursday. Titled “Treasures of Ours Treasured by Others: Journey of Korean Cultural Heritage,” the special exhibition features some 40 cultural artifacts that had been removed from the country and have been since reclaimed via auctions and other means by the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, established in July 2012 under the Cultural Heritage Administration.“We are happy to share our accomplishments over the course of 10 years. Since 2013, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation has supported the repatriation of 784 cul

Jul 6, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Nat'l Palace Museum exhibition highlights returned cultural heritage
Films

Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woo-sung reunite after 23 years for Lee's directorial debut, 'Hunt'

Actor-director Lee Jung-jae, left, and Jung Woo-sung attend a press conference for the film, “Hunt,” at the Megabox Seongsu theater in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Lee Jung-jae, who is making his feature directorial debut with espionage action film “Hunt,” said the hardest part for him was casting his longtime friend, Jung Woo-sung, in a starring role. The two actors reunited for the film 23 years after appearing together in 1999's “City of the Rising Sun.”“I've been showing him the script since the early stages of development, but he rejected it four times. I rewrote a considerable amount of material over the course of four years and was finally able to cast him for the film,” he said during a press conference for the film at the Megabox Seongsu cinema in Seoul, Tuesday. Set in the turbulent 1980s, the action-packed film centers on two rival intelligence agents, Park Pyong-ho (Lee) and Kim Jung-do (Jung), who are tasked with uncovering a North Korean spy stealing highly classified information that could threaten national

Jul 5, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woo-sung reunite after 23 years for Lee's directorial debut, 'Hunt'
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