The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Chun Woo-hee portrays news anchor pushed to limit in thriller

Actor Chun Woo-hee / Courtesy of Acemaker Movieworks By Kwak Yeon-sooActor Chun Woo-hee was catapulted to fame after starring as a teenage rape victim in the 2013 poignant drama film, “Han Gong-ju.” After sweeping seven best actress awards for her performance, she started getting more offers that opened new doors for her to critically and commercially successful films such as “The Wailing” by director Na Hong-jin. Now she is ready for another transformation with the female-led psychological thriller, “Anchor.”In the upcoming film, Chun plays the role of a prime-time news anchor, Se-ra, whose life turns upside down after receiving a phone call from a mysterious woman named Mi-so, who claims she is about to be killed by a stalker and asks Se-ra to report her story. With the desire to break a big story and outpace her rivals, Se-ra digs deeper into the case and finds out that mysterious psychiatrist In-ho (Shin Ha-kyun) may be involved in Mi-so's death. Meanwhile, Se-r

Apr 13, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Chun Woo-hee portrays news anchor pushed to limit in thriller

Films

'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations' lands at No. 3 on Netflix movies

Actor Seol Kyung-gu in a scene from “Yaksha: Ruthless Operations” / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-soo“Yaksha: Ruthless Operations,” a film about Korean spies taking up a dangerous mission in China, has become the third most-viewed film on Netflix worldwide. It is the first time for a Korean film to be included in the top 3 on the Netflix movie chart, while there have been several dramas to do so, such as “Squid Game” and “All of Us Are Dead.”According to data by streaming analytics company FilxPatrol, the film starring Seol Kyung-gu and Park Hae-soo placed third on Netflix's global top 10 movie chart as of Monday, three days after its release. The teenage romance film, “The In Between,” topped the ranking of the most watched films on Netflix followed by the Polish action film, “Furioza.”However, in the Asia region for Netflix's most-streamed movie, “Yaksha” came out on top. Directed by Na Hyeon, well known for his 2016 crime action film, “The Prison,” “Yaksha” fo

Apr 12, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations' lands at No. 3 on Netflix movies

Films

Korean actors jump in on multilingual, global projects

A poster for the film “Broker” / Courtesy of CJ ENM By Kwak Yeon-sooAs Korean films and dramas grow in worldwide prominence, English-speaking Korean actors are building parallel careers in Hollywood, as it becomes more common for foreign filmmakers to choose to work with them.Most recently, actors Yoo Yeon-seok and Ye Ji-won starred in French filmmaker Denis Dercourt's mystery thriller “Vanishing,” which was set in Korea. When asked why he took the role, Yoo said, “I was always curious to know what differences there are between local and foreign film productions. I thought speaking English would bring out something different, and it did. I would happily do a film in other languages again.”Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda's drama film “Broker” which will hit theaters in June, features high-profile Korean actors Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doo-na and IU. Produced by CJ Entertainment, the film has been submitted for consideration at this year's Cannes film festiv

Apr 11, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Korean actors jump in on multilingual, global projects

Music

HYBE calls for swift decision on BTS' military exemption

BTS perform onstage during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP-Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooHYBE called on the National Assembly to swiftly reach a decision on BTS' possible exemption from compulsory military service, saying the unresolved issue is causing headaches for its artists. Lee Jin-hyung, the chief communication director at HYBE, said the company has been closely monitoring the changing policy on active-duty military service since 2020, when the so-called “BTS Law” was passed allowing the group members to postpone their service until they are 30 years old. Jin, the oldest member of the group, must enlist by December of this year. “We are very careful about bringing this up because we know how important the military duty issue is in Korea. However, we hope the decision (regarding BTS' possible exemption from mandatory military duty) will be reached as soon as possible,” he said during a press conference held

Apr 10, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

HYBE calls for swift decision on BTS' military exemption

Shows & Dramas

'My Liberation Notes' depicts three siblings' search for happiness

From left, actors Lee El, Lee Min-ki and Kim Ji-won pose during a press conference for JTBC's drama “My Liberation Notes” in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of JTBC By Kwak Yeon-soo“My Liberation Notes” revolves around family bonds, friendships and romantic relationships that are sure to strike a chord with viewers. The new JTBC drama is about three siblings who are completely different from each other but commute together to work from their home on the outskirts of Seoul.Director Kim Suk-yoon, who was behind JTBC's “Dazzling” (2019) and “Law School” (2021), said the upcoming series follows various trials and tribulations of the three siblings as they navigate life and search for happiness. “I think liberation carries a broader meaning in our drama. This drama looks at how adults achieve personal growth because we never stop learning until we die. It will offer plenty of cathartic moments,” he said during an online press conference for “My Liberation Notes,” Friday. On col

Apr 10, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

'My Liberation Notes' depicts three siblings' search for happiness

Films

Seol Kyung-gu, Chun Woo-hee's new film addresses social problem of bullying

From left, actor Go Chang-suk, director Kim Ji-hoon and actors Chun Woo-hee and Seol Kyung-gu pose during a press conference for the film, “I Want to Know Your Parents,” in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Mindmark By Kwak Yeon-sooThe cast of “I Want to Know Your Parents” echoed sentiments that their film is an essential and urgent story which may allow audiences to start a “much-needed” conversation about the social problem of bullying.Inspired by a true story, the nerve-wracking drama is set in the cruel world of a top-tier private school. An eighth-grade student kills himself after writing down the names of the students who bullied him. The bullies' parents are then called into the school and a dispute arises regarding the note. Unlike many other films on school bullying that follow a fragile victim or guilt-ridden parents, “I Want to Know Your Parents” is told from the perspective of the perpetrators' parents. It raises questions about the adolescents' and adults' s

Apr 7, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Seol Kyung-gu, Chun Woo-hee's new film addresses social problem of bullying

Trends

Emerging Korean artist brings new perspective to MENA cultures

Kim Sin-ae's Libyan version of “Kiss” inspired by Gustav Klimt's “The Kiss” / Courtesy of Kim Sin-aeBy Kwak Yeon-sooUntil the spring of 2020, Kim Sin-ae put in long hours at work as a ground staffer at Qatar Airways. After the pandemic-related shutdowns hit, like thousands of airline workers, she found her world upended. However, the pandemic granted time and she relished it by finding a new hobby. “During the time I was at home, I did some soul searching. I realized art was something I had to start doing because it felt fulfilling,” she said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.Although she hadn't majored in arts, art had always been a passion of hers. Kim uses an Apple Pencil and iPad to draw digital illustrations. Her works feature Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) cultures because she wants people to reexamine their perceptions of the region.“Living in Qatar for seven years, I got to know the richness and diversity of Arab cultures beyond their distorted portrayals in the media. I noticed that there are very few people who loo

Apr 7, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Emerging Korean artist brings new perspective to MENA cultures

Trends

'Not Seoul' photography exhibition allows audience to interpret city in own way

Street photographer Chae Kyung-wan, who goes by his penname, K. Chae / Courtesy of K. ChaePhotographer captures streets of Seoul during COVID-19 pandemic By Kwak Yeon-sooChae Kyung-wan, who goes by his penname, K. Chae, is a street photographer who travels around the world to express what he sees with photography. He takes pictures of people, cityscapes, landscapes, wildlife and anything of interest in his path.He has traveled to 85 countries to capture unrehearsed moments in life. His most recent plan to travel to Central Asia was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing him more time to capture the beauty of Seoul instead.“I always thought I would take pictures of Seoul when I grew older and found travel uncomfortable. Until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Seoul was the place where I spent time in the off-season. But things have changed over the past two years,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday. Chae started roaming the streets of Seoul and capturing small moments that people often miss. However, he explained that his approach to taking pictures

Apr 7, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Not Seoul' photography exhibition allows audience to interpret city in own way

Shows & Dramas

'Our Blues' writer brings together unseen sides of individual actors in omnibus drama

A teaser image for tvN's new drama series, “Our Blues” / Courtesy of tvN By Kwak Yeon-soo Drama writer Noh Hee-kyung / Courtesy of tvN Star writer Noh Hee-kyung, who penned the 2014 romance series, “It's Okay, That's Love,” and the 2016 series, “Dear My Friends,” revealed that she has watched over 100 documentaries to craft her story's setting and characters for her upcoming drama, “Our Blues.”“I lived in Jeju for a couple of years and fell in love with the island ― not just with the beautiful landscape but with its unique culture that encourages communal life,” she said in a recent written interview with The Korea Times. Noh also spoke about bringing together several individual stories to her latest drama. “I don't remember when exactly, but at some point, writing a story with two lead characters no longer interested me. We are the heroes of our own

Apr 5, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Our Blues' writer brings together unseen sides of individual actors in omnibus drama

Films

Films with social criticism to hit theaters

Posters for the film “Toxic,” left, and “Take Care of My Mother” / Courtesy of The Contents On, Cinepirun By Kwak Yeon-sooIn the absence of blockbusters, films that feature sharp social commentary and deep thinking will come to theaters this month, as will movies exploring family dynamics.“TOXIC,” based on the popular novel by So Jae-won, revolves around a fatal humidifier disinfectant scandal in Korea that caused at least 1,600 deaths (but unofficially presumed to be as high as 14,000) and affected more than 670,000 people. Kim Sang-kyung plays an ER doctor who investigates his wife's sudden death, as several victims and their families fight a chemical manufacturing corporation to uncover the truth. Lee Sun-bin portrays the victims' lawyer while Yoon Kyung-ho stars as an official at the chemical company.“TOXIC” is about how companies can commit crimes “unintentionally,” causing people to suffer through the air they breathe.“Some 14,000 people were estimated to have

Apr 4, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

INTERVIEW Chun Woo-hee portrays news anchor pushed to limit in thriller

'Yaksha: Ruthless Operations' lands at No. 3 on Netflix movies

Korean actors jump in on multilingual, global projects

HYBE calls for swift decision on BTS' military exemption

'My Liberation Notes' depicts three siblings' search for happiness

Seol Kyung-gu, Chun Woo-hee's new film addresses social problem of bullying

Emerging Korean artist brings new perspective to MENA cultures

'Not Seoul' photography exhibition allows audience to interpret city in own way

'Our Blues' writer brings together unseen sides of individual actors in omnibus drama

Films with social criticism to hit theaters

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