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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

Horror film 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' tops Korean box office

Actors Patrick Wilson, right, and Vera Farmiga in a scene from “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea By Kwak Yeon-sooThe American horror film “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” is soaring in local box offices, topping charts for three consecutive days since its release, data showed Sunday.Released on Thursday, the third installment in “The Conjuring” franchise garnered a total of 233,620 tickets from Thursday to Saturday, grossing over 2.35 billion won ($2.1 million), according to the data by the Korean Film Council.Directed by Michael Chaves and inspired by the 1981 murder trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, “The Conjuring 3” revolves around a detective couple Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) who investigate a murder that may be linked to a demonic possession.Disney's “Cruella,” which premiered on May 26, attracted 109,592 moviegoers on Saturday, adding to a total gross of 5.35 billion won. The film is t

Jun 6, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Horror film 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' tops Korean box office
Shows & Dramas

SBS's hit drama 'Penthouse: War in Life 3' off to strong start

From left, actors Kim So-yeon, Lee Ji-ah and Eugene pose during an online press conference for “The Penthouse: War in Life 3,” Friday. Courtesy of SBS By Kwak Yeon-sooThe villainy continues as SBS's drama series, “The Penthouse: War in Life,” reached over 19 percent in viewership ratings with the first episode in its third and final season, continuing its success from previous seasons.According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode aired Friday scored a 19.5 percent viewership rating nationwide, the highest of all 3 season openers. The 12th episode of season 2 scored a 29.2 percent viewership nationwide, the highest rating for the second season. Unlike the first season that aired on Mondays-Tuesdays and the second season that aired Fridays-Saturdays, season 3 will air only on Fridays.Directed by Joo Dong-min, whose works include SBS's “The Family is Coming” (2015) and “Return” (2018), “The Penthouse: War in Life” revolves around familial conflicts between the resident

Jun 6, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
SBS's hit drama 'Penthouse: War in Life 3' off to strong start
Entertainment

Actor Ha Jung-woo apologizes after indictment for alleged illegal propofol use

Actor Ha Jung-woo / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Ha Jung-woo has issued an apology after prosecutors summarily indicted him over the alleged illegal use of propofol, a sleep inducer used for surgery or medical procedures. On May 28, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office sought a fine of 10 million won ($8,980) against him. A summary indictment does not require a formal trial.In a statement, Ha said he has fully cooperated with the investigation and accepts the monetary penalty imposed on him.“As an actor who has been receiving way more love than I deserve, I should have acted with higher self-discipline. I didn't recognize I was at fault because it was part of the treatment. I have reflected deeply upon my naive judgment and I sincerely apologize to you all, including my company and family, for causing trouble. I promise I will be more cautious of my actions in the future,” he said.Prosecutors have been investigating the case since last year, focusing on allegations he received around 10 shots of the anesthetic drug without proper prescriptions at a plas

Jun 6, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actor Ha Jung-woo apologizes after indictment for alleged illegal propofol use
Films

German documentary 'Who We Are' opens 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival

A scene from “Who We Are,” the opening film of the 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival / Courtesy of SEFFBy Kwak Yeon-sooThis year's Seoul International Eco Film Festival (SEFF), Asia's biggest environmental film fest, kicked off a seven-day run Thursday through June 9.Under the slogan “ECOvolution” ― a compound mix of “eco,” “revolution” and evolution” ― 64 films from 25 countries that feature environmental issues will be screened during the festival at Megabox Seongsu in Seoul. For those unable to attend, digital screenings are also available through the festival's website and broadcaster MBC. The 18th edition of SEFF will open with “Who We Are,” a documentary by German filmmaker Marc Bauder. It features contemporary thinkers and modern scientists who diagnose the current state of the world as they examine the relationship between climate change and the global economy.“The film was selected as the opening film because it looks at human history in the context of a massive crisis,” said Seo Do-eun, a

Jun 3, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
German documentary 'Who We Are' opens 18th Seoul International Eco Film Festival
Shows & Dramas

Remake boom of K-dramas is a testament to their brilliant storytelling

By Kwak Yeon-sooK-dramas have a wider audience than ever thanks to the success of global streaming platforms and a rising demand for diversified content. According to data from the Korea Communications Commission, Korea's over-the-top (OTT) market grew by 23 percent in 2020 from the previous year. A boom in OTT services has led to a surge in binge-watching of TV productions, such as tvN's inter-Korean romance “Crash Landing On You,” JTBC's coming-of-age drama “Itaewon Class” and OCN's fantasy action series “Uncanny Counter.” They were ranked in Netflix's top 10 list, variably across Asia, North America and Europe.According to a report from the Korean Information Society Development Institute, K-drama exports were worth $273.27 million in 2019, up 11 percent from $241.89 million a year earlier. In a nod to the international success of K-dramas, the foreign adaptation business is booming.A string of K-dramas have gotten or are getting foreign adaptions this year. In March, the Philippines started airing a remake of tvN's 2018 romantic drama “En

Jun 3, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Remake boom of K-dramas is a testament to their brilliant storytelling
Films

Couple strives to fix broken relationship in 'Sweet & Sour'

Actors Jang Ki-yong, left, and Chae Soo-bin, in a scene from “Sweet & Sour” / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-sooThe romantic comedy film, “Sweet & Sour,” depicts a bittersweet relationship filled with authentic dialogue and realistic situations, according to director Lee Gye-byok, who previously helmed quirky comedies such as, “Cheer up, Mr. Lee” (2019) and “Luck-key” (2016).At a press conference for the film, Tuesday, Lee explained that the relationship problems portrayed in the upcoming film are both cynical and realistic.“When dating someone, there aren't always joyous and loving moments. Sometimes, the feelings of a relationship turn sour or bitter. I wanted to tell a story that is authentic and realistic,” he said.He added that the upcoming film's title was named after a popular chewy candy in Korea.“When I was working on the script for 'Sour & Sweet,' I frequently enjoyed sour and sweet flavored chewy candies,” he said. “One of these candies will taste sour

Jun 2, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Couple strives to fix broken relationship in 'Sweet & Sour'
Films

Youn Yuh-jung's never-before-released film to be unveiled in July

By Kwak Yeon-sooPoster for “An Experience to Die For” / Courtesy of Blue Film WorksLate legendary director Kim Ki-young's never-before-released film “An Experience to Die For,” starring Academy Award-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung, will meet audiences this summer.Film distributor Blue Film Works said on Monday that Kim's 1990 film will be remastered in 4K and showcased for moviegoers in July. The film was screened at the 3rd Busan International Film Festival in 1998 during a retrospective screening of Kim's films, but has never been released officially in theaters. It has been reported that Kim refused to release it in theaters after shooting had finished, saying he wasn't satisfied with the final product. “An Experience to Die For” is a suspense-revenge drama that revolves around two women ― Yuh-jung (Youn), who lost her son due to her husband's fault, and Myung-ja (Lee Tam-mi), who divorced her husband due to his infidelity. Feeling betrayed, the two women plan to murder each other's husbands. This marks Youn's third collaboration with director Ki

May 31, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Youn Yuh-jung's never-before-released film to be unveiled in July
Entertainment

Beauty YouTuber Dawn Lee dies at 30 from cancer

Beauty YouTuber Dawn Lee / Screenshot from Dawn Lee's InstagramBy Kwak Yeon-sooDawn Lee, a popular beauty YouTuber whose real name was Lee Jung-joo, died of cancer, Sunday. She was 30. The YouTuber's agency, Ice Creative, confirmed her death in a statement shared on Instagram. “It is with an extremely heavy heart that I share the loss of my dear friend Dawn Lee this morning. She was a bright light in this world. I will always remember the courage and bravery she showed us while fighting cancer. Sending prayers your way,” the agency's CEO, Kim Eun-ha, wrote on Sunday.Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in February 2019, and later announced publicly that the cancer was terminal. But she stayed positive as she vowed to fight the disease and shared the process on her YouTube channel.She filmed makeup and hair styling tutorials, as well as a vlog to share her daily life and interact with her over 640,000 subscribers. She had an empowering effect through sharing her personal journey with chemotherapy, offering hope and courage to other cancer patients. In N

May 31, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Beauty YouTuber Dawn Lee dies at 30 from cancer
Shows & Dramas

Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min confirmed to star in 'Suriname'

Actors Ha Jung-woo, left, and Hwang Jung-min / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment By Kwak Yeon-sooPark Hae-soo, Yoo Yeon-seok and Jo Woo-jin will join Ha Jung-woo and Hwang Jung-min in the star-studded cast of “Suriname,” a new Netflix Korea original series.Filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin, whose credits include “Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time” (2012), “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” (2014) and “The Spy Gone North” (2018), is set to helm his first TV series. Based on a true story, “Suriname” revolves around a man named Jeon Yo-han (Hwang) who rose to become a drug lord in Suriname, a former Dutch colony on the northern coast of South America. Ha, who is set to star in a TV drama for the first time in 14 years since 2007's “H.I.T.,” will star as a businessman named Kang In-goo who gets embroiled in drug-related crimes but chooses to cooperate with the National Intelligence Service. Park, who left a strong impression on viewers by playing the merciless villain in the 2020 dystopian ac

May 28, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min confirmed to star in 'Suriname'
Films

Much-anticipated animated films coming to theaters in June

A scene from “Luca” / Courtesy of Walt Disney KoreaBy Kwak Yeon-sooEarly this year, two animated films from the United States and Japan became unexpected saviors for the virus-hit film industry. Disney-Pixar's “Soul” attracted more than 2 million moviegoers, becoming the first film in eight months to achieve the feat since “Deliver Us From Evil.” “Demon Slayer” from Japan also surpassed 2 million in ticket sales, becoming the sixth-most-viewed Japanese film of all time, following “Your Name” (2016), “Howl's Moving Castle” (2004), “Spirited Away” (2001), “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” (2008) and “Love Letter” (1995).With anticipated releases like Disney-Pixar's “Luca” and Studio Ghibli's “Earwig and the Witch,” June will likely be an interesting month for fantasy anime fans. “Luca,” a coming-of-age story set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, will release in theaters on June 17. It follows two young boys who form a strong fri

May 28, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Much-anticipated animated films coming to theaters in June
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