The Korea Times

'Dune' tops 1 million admissions, sparks renewed interest in best-selling novel

A scene from the film, “Dune” / Courtesy of Warner Bros. KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Dune,” the latest film adaption of Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi-novel of the same title, has topped a cumulative 1 million admissions here, becoming the 10th movie to achieve the feat this year, data showed Monday.The sci-fi blockbuster sold a combined 126,000 tickets over the Friday-to-Sunday period, bringing its combined total to over 1 million since Oct. 20, according to the data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).The film became the 10th foreign title this year to reach the milestone in 2021, following Marvel Studio's “Black Widow,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “F9” and “Venom 2.” The film sparked a new wave of interest in the source material, restoring its status as a best-selling science fiction novel. More than 200,000 “Dune” books have been sold this year, according to an official at Minumsa, one of the leading publishing houses in the country.It stars Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides who trave

Nov 8, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Dune' tops 1 million admissions, sparks renewed interest in best-selling novel

Films

Han Hyo-joo, Byun Yo-han star in Japanese big budget thriller 'The Sun Stands Still'

Actress Han Hyo-joo in a scene from the film, “The Sun Stands Still” / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooLately an increasing number of Korean actors are starring in Japanese films. Actress Choi Hee-seo appeared in Japanese director Yuya Ishii's human drama “The Asian Angel,” and actors Song Kang-ho, Bae Doona and Gang Dong-won were cast in Hirokazu Kore-eda's “Broker.”Han Hyo-joo and Byun Yo-han have now taken on roles in the Japanese big budget thriller “The Sun Stands Still.”Eiichiro Hasumi's big screen adaptation of Shuichi Yoshida's spy novel series follows a pair of corporate spies who are looking to steal confidential solar energy technology. Experienced spy Kazuhiko Takano (Tatsuya Fujiwara) and his partner Ryoichi Taoka (Ryoma Takeuchi) must report to their employer every 24 hours during their mission, or otherwise bombs implanted in their chests will explode. While risking their lives, the duo find out that other corporate spies and double agents are seeking the revolutionary new technology.Shot in several countries, including B

Nov 8, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

Han Hyo-joo, Byun Yo-han star in Japanese big budget thriller 'The Sun Stands Still'

Films

'Eternals' draws more than 1 million moviegoers on fourth day of release in Korea

A scene from the film, “Eternals” / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooMarvel Studio's blockbuster “Eternals” has seen the cumulative number of moviegoers top 1 million on the fourth day of its release, box office data showed Sunday. The film, released on Nov. 3, attracted 492,000 people on the previous day, bringing its combined total to over 1.19 million, according to data from the Korean Film Council.It overtook “Fast & Furious 9: The Fast Saga” and “Venom 2,” both of which drew more than 1 million moviegoers on the fifth day after their release. Directed by Oscar-winner Chloe Zhao, “Eternals” tells the story of a group of superheroes who ward off their long-standing enemies, the Deviants, to protect Earth. Ma Dong-seok, also known by his English name Don Lee, stars in the film as Gilgamesh. He will next appear in the crime action film, “The Roundup,” a sequel to 2017's “The Outlaws.”In addition, BTS member Jimin has been credited as the producer and songwriter of “Frien

Nov 7, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Eternals' draws more than 1 million moviegoers on fourth day of release in Korea

Films

INTERVIEW 'Perhaps Love' offers new take on dysfunctional family comedy

Actor Ryu Seung-ryong / Courtesy of NEWBy Kwak Yeon-sooWhen actor Ryu Seung-ryong made his big screen debut in 2004's “Someone Special” at the age of 34, he had no idea he, in his career, would portray such a diverse range of characters, from a Qing dynasty general wearing a long single braid in “War of the Arrows” (2011) to a Casanova for hire in “All About My Wife” (2012) and mentally challenged father in “Miracle in Cell No. 7” (2013).“I always look for opportunities to play diverse characters, but film directors and screenwriters have always exceeded my imagination. It's just exciting to see how they come up with such original stories and characters,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times via Zoom, Friday.In his upcoming comedy film “Perhaps Love,” Ryu plays best-selling author Hyun, who is stuck in a seven-year slump. Hyun attempts to reboot his career by co-writing his next novel with an aspiring writer who comes out as gay and confesses his love for him.Meanwhile, his ex-wife is dating his best

Nov 7, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] 'Perhaps Love' offers new take on dysfunctional family comedy

Films

Yoon Kye-sang plays 7 different characters in action-packed film 'Spiritwalker'

Actors Yoon Kye-sang, right, and Park Yong-woo in a scene from the film, “Spiritwalker” / Courtesy of Megabox Plus MBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Yoon Kye-sang plays multiple characters with very different personalities in director Yoon Jae-keun's fantasy action film, “Spiritwalker.”The movie is about a man named I-an (Yoon), who loses his memory after a car accident and subsequently wakes up in a different body every 12 hours with no memory. As he attempts to find his true self and make his way back to his own body, I-an realizes that he is being chased by a spy agency. The director explained that he came up with the movie idea a decade ago, while he was writing a screenplay in a public library. “I was writing the script for another film. One day, I felt as if everything was so mundane and boring. I wished I could wake up the next time as somebody else, and then thought that it would be fun to make a movie based on that premise,” he said during a press conference for the film, Thursday. Actor Yoon, who is reuniting with the “The Outlaws” produ

Nov 4, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

Yoon Kye-sang plays 7 different characters in action-packed film 'Spiritwalker'

Entertainment

EXCLUSIVE Fox Entertainment, 'Masked Singer' creator clinch deal for global music game show

A scene from the sixth season of Fox's singing competition show, “The Masked Singer” / Courtesy of Fox Fox's Alternative Entertainment Head Rob Wade discusses Korea's creative renaissance By Kwak Yeon-sooFox's version of “The Masked Singer,” a singing competition based on a format that first aired here on MBC, has enjoyed high viewership ratings and is now in its sixth season in the U.S. One year after buying the unscripted rights to the popular show's format, Fox bought the format rights of another Korean “mystery music” game show, “I Can See Your Voice,” in 2020, which has been renewed for a second season. Rob Wade, president of Alternative Entertainment and Specials at Fox Entertainment, attributed the success of both shows to taking risks and looking outside the U.S. for content“One of the great things about working at Fox is that we take risks. We will always be the people that buy shows that we're afraid of. Ever since we did that, many buyers are buying shows

Nov 4, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

[EXCLUSIVE] Fox Entertainment, 'Masked Singer' creator clinch deal for global music game show

Films

INTERVIEW Jang Hyuk radiates charisma as ruthless villain in 'Tomb of the River'

Actor Jang Hyuk / Courtesy of JNC Media GroupBy Kwak Yeon-sooJang Hyuk, an actor who radiates one-of-a-kind charisma, is back in action. Best known for starring in the 2010 historical drama “The Slave Hunters,” the action star has been a fixture of the genre.In the upcoming crime action film, “Tomb of the River,” Jang plays the villainous Min-suk who attempts to take over a luxury resort in Gangneung, owned by local gangster Gil-suk (Yu Oh-seong).Describing his character as a ruthless villain, Jang said that he felt compassion and connection with Min-suk.“When I read the script for the first time, I imagined Min-suk as a person who is not living in the present. He had gone through hard times, which left him mentally deranged, and he is still stuck in his own world, just drifting through life. His laid-back and aloof personality makes him only scarier,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times via Zoom, Tuesday.Because there were not that many lines for Min-suk, Jang was given more freedom to express his character through facial expressions

Nov 3, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Jang Hyuk radiates charisma as ruthless villain in 'Tomb of the River'

Films

'Escape from Mogadishu' leads nominations for 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards

A scene from the film, “Escape from Mogadishu” / Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe nominations for the 42nd annual Blue Dragon Film Awards were announced Monday with director Ryoo Seung-wan's “Escape from Mogadishu” taking the lead as the most nominated film.“Escape from Mogadishu,” which drew the highest number of moviegoers among films released this year, received 10 nominations for awards. Based on a true story, the film follows stranded South Korean and North Korean embassy workers who join hands to escape Somalia during the civil war in 1991. Among the 10 nominations were those for Best Picture and Best Director. Actors Kim Yoon-seok and Zo In-sung were nominated for Best Actor, while Koo Kyo-hwan was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. The film was recently selected to compete for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. “'Escape from Mogadishu' impresses viewers with quality action and suspense, well combined with the dramatic story of inter-Korean tension and cooperation,” the Korean Film

Nov 1, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

'Escape from Mogadishu' leads nominations for 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards

People & Events

Winners of 52nd Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards

Fiction Grand Prize winner Youngjae Josephine BaeThe Korea Times is pleased to announce the winners of its 52nd Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards.This year, the Grand Prize in fiction, awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, goes to Youngjae Josephine Bae for her translation of novelist Park Hyoung-su's “The Tall Dwarf.” The Grand Prize in the poetry category is awarded to Joanne Park for her translation of poems by Yu Hyoung-jin, including “Adolescence.” The Commendation Award winner for fiction is Clare Richards for her translation of Kim Keum-hee's “Half of His Egg Muffin.”We congratulate all participants and winners for their hard work and hope for more entries next year, as Korean literature needs more skilled translators to reach a global audience. The awards are sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KB Financial Group.Poetry Grand Prize winner Joanne ParkGrand Prize in fiction: Youngjae Josephine Bae (Park Hyoung-su's “The Tall Dwarf”)Grand Prize in poetry: Joanne Park (Yu Hyoung-j

Nov 1, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

Winners of 52nd Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards

Shows & Dramas

Disney+ offers sneak peek into new, original K-drama, 'Moving,' starring Zo In-sung, Han Hyo-joo

Actors Zo In-sung, left, and Han Hyo-joo / Courtesy of IOK Company, BH EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooDisney+ is one of the latest streaming giants to cash in on the global success of K-dramas, with a new action hero thriller titled, “Moving,” debuting on the platform in the second half of 2022.The series boasts a star-studded cast, including: Zo In-sung, Han Hyo-joo, Cha Tae-hyun and Ryu Seung-ryong. Based on a webtoon by Kang Full, the story follows three teenagers discovering their supernatural powers and their parents who conceal their own unusual powers. Together they battle dark forces that threaten multiple generations across different time periods.Each of the characters is bestowed with a unique set of gifts, including flight, superhuman senses, the power to heal and brute strength. Zo, known for his roles in hit dramas including, “The Winter the Wind Blows,” (2013) and “It's Okay That's Love” (2014),” plays Doo-sik, a secret agent who has the ability to fly. “I enjoyed reading Kang's original story, and the unique universe is bea

Oct 29, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo

Kwak Yeon-soo

Read more

'Dune' tops 1 million admissions, sparks renewed interest in best-selling novel

Han Hyo-joo, Byun Yo-han star in Japanese big budget thriller 'The Sun Stands Still'

'Eternals' draws more than 1 million moviegoers on fourth day of release in Korea

INTERVIEW 'Perhaps Love' offers new take on dysfunctional family comedy

Yoon Kye-sang plays 7 different characters in action-packed film 'Spiritwalker'

EXCLUSIVE Fox Entertainment, 'Masked Singer' creator clinch deal for global music game show

INTERVIEW Jang Hyuk radiates charisma as ruthless villain in 'Tomb of the River'

'Escape from Mogadishu' leads nominations for 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards

Winners of 52nd Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards

Disney+ offers sneak peek into new, original K-drama, 'Moving,' starring Zo In-sung, Han Hyo-joo

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