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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

Song Kang-ho and director Kim Jee-woon reunite for fifth film

Director Kim Jee-woon, left, and actor Song Kang-ho / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-soo“Parasite” star Song Kang-ho will reunite with director Kim Jee-woon for the fifth time in “Cobweb” (working title), which is currently in the pre-production stage.Song has starred in four other Kim films ― “The Quiet Family” (1998), “The Foul King” (2000), “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” (2008) and “The Age of Shadows” (2016). The script for “Cobweb” is written by Shin Yeon-shick, who also wrote the screenplay for the sports drama film, “One Win,” scheduled for release in May. In “One Win,” Song will star as an unsuccessful coach who pairs up with a losing female volleyball team that only needs a single win to keep it going.Though the specific plot details for “Cobweb” are scarce, the film aims to go beyond the boundaries of genre, embedding a movie-within-a-movie narrative. Actress Lim Soo-jung, who collaborated with director Kim in “A Tale of Two Sisters” (2003), will star oppos

Feb 2, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Song Kang-ho and director Kim Jee-woon reunite for fifth film
Shows & Dramas

INTERVIEW 'Our Beloved Summer' creator on depicting nostalgic young romance

Screenwriter Lee Na-eun, who recently wrote “Our Beloved Summer” / Courtesy of SBS By Kwak Yeon-sooScreenwriter Lee Na-eun is relatively young and inexperienced compared to other established writers, including Noh Hee-kyung of “It's Okay, That's Love,” Kim Eun-hee of “Kingdom” and Kim Eun-sook of “Descendants of the Sun.” However, she is unrivaled when it comes to depicting sweetly nostalgic young romance as she lives in the same time as her characters. Calling SBS's rom-com “Our Beloved Summer” a semi-autobiographical series inspired by her personal stories, the 29-year-old writer spoke on why she keeps writing about young adult romance. “I don't consider myself a technical or a talented writer. However, I can say with confidence that I have a true depth of understanding toward the characters that frequently appear in my works because I'm going through my twenties, just like they are. Viewers can empathize with the series because the story of Ung and Yeon-su in som

Feb 2, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
[INTERVIEW] 'Our Beloved Summer' creator on depicting nostalgic young romance
Entertainment

Dark side of non-celebrities shooting to fame on reality TV shows

Song Ji-ah from Netflix's “Single's Inferno” / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooIn the past, non-celebrities who possessed unique skills and expertise could become celebrities by showing off their talents in the media. However, that trend has been increasingly discarded, and “ordinary” individuals who came out of nowhere have started to take center stage, pushing aside celebrities to serve now as panel judges or observers, merely commenting on them.From cooking competitions to dating shows in which the contestants were often put into survival situations, reality shows featuring non-celebrities have seen high ratings, as viewers have grown tired of the same old TV personalities. Celebrity chefs like Paik Jong-won, Lee Yeon-bok and Lee Won-il shot to fame after showing off both their culinary skills and sense of humor in cooking shows like SBS' “Alley Restaurant” (2018-2021) and JTBC's “Chef & My Fridge” (2014-2019).Military training shows like “Fake Men” and Channel A's “The Iron Squad,” starring judges or c

Jan 30, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Dark side of non-celebrities shooting to fame on reality TV shows
Shows & Dramas

Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Min-ho's 'Pachinko' set for global release in March

Actors Lee Min-ho, right, and Kim Min-ha in a scene from Apple TV+ series "Pachinko"/ Courtesy of Apple TV+By Kwak Yeon-sooThe much-anticipated Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” will be unveiled on March 25, the streaming giant said Thursday. Adapted from Min Jin Lee's best-selling novel of the same title, “Pachinko” chronicles the lives and dreams of four generations of a Korean immigrant family in Japan. It follows a story spanning decades of Sunja's life, who is abandoned by her partner Hansu and is left with an unplanned pregnancy that could bring shame upon her family. She marries a young pastor, whom she then moves to Japan with. The Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung portrays the older Sunja while rookie actress Kim Min-ha plays the teenage Sunja. “The Heirs” and “The King: Eternal Monarch” star Lee Min-ho will take on the role of Hansu, a merchant who embarks on an illicit romance with Sunja. The series was filmed in Korea and Canada.The eight-episode series will be told in three languages ― Korean, Japanese and English ― and will de

Jan 27, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Min-ho's 'Pachinko' set for global release in March
Films

'Concrete Utopia' sequel underway with star-studded cast

From left, actors Lee Jun-young, Ma Dong-seok and Roh Jeong-eui / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-soo“The Wilderness” (working title), which is known to be the sequel to the dystopian blockbuster “Concrete Utopia,” is shaping up to have a star-studded cast. Actors Lee Jun-young and Roh Jeong-eui have joined the cast which includes Ma Dong-seok, also known by his English name Don Lee.The roles have not yet been confirmed but production is expected to begin in the first half of this year.“The Wilderness” is a post-apocalyptic dystopian film that follows the lives of a few survivors who are left in an abandoned land after a massive earthquake. Heo Myeong-haeng, the martial arts director of “The Good, The Bad, The Weird” and “New World,” will make his directorial debut with the film.The upcoming film takes place in the same cinematic universe as “Concrete Utopia,” which revolves around a few survivors who gather in an apartment complex after a massive earthquake demolishes Seoul. Fronted by actors Lee Byung-hun and Park

Jan 27, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Concrete Utopia' sequel underway with star-studded cast
Sports

Sports minister to attend Beijing Winter Olympics

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee speaks in a ceremony for the national team for the Beijing Winter Olympics at the National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, Jan. 5. YonhapBy Kwak Yeon-sooCulture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee will visit China next month to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics as chief of the Korean government's official delegation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, Tuesday.Hwang will fly to Beijing on Feb. 3 to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics scheduled for the next day. The decision to send Hwang comes amid growing calls led by the United States for a diplomatic boycott of the Games citing China's human rights violations.Korea has remained undecided over the delegation until last minute, considering both its economic ties with China and its much-needed security alliance with the U.S.The government has been expressing hopes that the 2022 Beijing Games will follow in the footsteps of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games and 2020 Tokyo Summer Games in bringing peace and prosperi

Jan 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Sports minister to attend Beijing Winter Olympics
Films

Seohyun of Girls' Generation makes film debut in sexy Netflix rom-com

A scene from the Netflix film, "Love and Leashes" / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-sooSeohyun, an actress and member of K-pop act Girls' Generation, said she wanted to explore every facet her job serves up by taking on a new challenge with the unconventional romantic comedy film, “Love and Leashes.”In the upcoming Netflix film, Seohyun plays Ji-woo, who accidentally finds out about her co-worker Ji-hoo's (Lee Jun-young) sexual fetishes, after mistakenly opening a package that belongs to him. The two enter a contractual relationship as partners in consensual play to fulfill each other's sexual fantasies.It is directed by Park Hyun-jin, well-known for her films, “Lovers of Six Years” (2008) and “Like for Likes” (2016).Although it is Seohyun's debut film, this is not the first time for the singer-actress to make an appearance on Netflix. The star was also featured in the TV series, “Private Lives” (2020) and “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” (2016), which are current

Jan 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Seohyun of Girls' Generation makes film debut in sexy Netflix rom-com
Entertainment

Food chain boosts profile on back of BTS member's mispronunciation

BTS member Jungkook mispronounces Chipotle as Chicotle in a recent BTS Bomb video. Captured from Bangtan TV YouTube channel By Kwak Yeon-sooThe American fast-food restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill changed its Twitter handle to “Chicotle” after a video of BTS member Jungkook mispronouncing its name went viral online.In a new Bangtan Bomb video released via Bangtan TV's YouTube channel, BTS members were seen enjoying burrito bowls at Chipotle after appearing in “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”The video shows Jungkook opening a chipotle bowl as he asks the film crew: “What is this, chicotle?” Soon after the video went viral, a BTS fan left a comment saying “If Jungkook said it's chicotle, then it's chicotle.” Chipotle's official Twitter handle retweeted a fan's post, who shared the video clip of Jungkook trying to pronounce chipotle, and wrote, “It's chicotle from now on.”This is not the first time that a food chain tried to seek a promotional boost from B

Jan 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Food chain boosts profile on back of BTS member's mispronunciation
Films

'Candlelight Revolution' discusses costs of bad leadership, impeachment of Park Geun-hye

A scene from the documentary film, “Candlelight Revolution” / Courtesy of JUGIJA Co.LLC.By Kwak Yeon-soo“Candlelight Revolution,” a documentary about the mass protests that played a major role in toppling former President Park Geun-hye, will premiere on Feb. 10, just a month before the March 9 presidential election.The controversial timing of the release of the documentary has raised eyebrows among conservative politicians for being potentially political. However, the directors ― freelance journalist Joo Jin-woo and actor Kim Eui-sung, though liberals who regularly discuss their views on social media ― deny that claim, emphasizing the film's purpose of educating the importance of choosing good leadership.“One day in the summer of 2018, I was listening to the radio and I heard Rep. Woo Sang-ho (of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea) telling behind-the-scenes stories of the politics surrounding the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye. They were so intriguing that I suggested that Joo make a film based on these unknown stories,” Kim said d

Jan 24, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Candlelight Revolution' discusses costs of bad leadership, impeachment of Park Geun-hye
Films

Political films to hit theaters ahead of 2022 presidential election

A footage of Kim Dae-jung delivering a speech in the documentary film “President” / Courtesy of Blue Film WorksBy Kwak Yeon-sooWith only seven weeks before the 20th presidential election, political films are flooding the market in an effort to keep voters engaged and enraged.Most prominent is Byun Sung-hyun's star-studded “Kingmaker,” inspired by a mysterious political strategist in the 1960-70s named Eom Chang-rok who worked for former President Kim Dae-jung, serving under him from 1998 to 2003.A string of political documentaries aim to take advantage of the heightened political climate. “President” traces Kim's meteoric rise through footage of his impassioned speeches calling for democracy and an end to the military dictatorship, punctuated with current-day interviews given by his close aides. It follows the timeline of Kim's first presidential race from 1971 to becoming the first opposition to win the presidential election in 1997 on his fourth run. He won the Nobel Prize in 2002 for his reconciliation efforts with North Korea. “Kim became

Jan 21, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Political films to hit theaters ahead of 2022 presidential election
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.