Director Lee Isaac Chung honored to join 'Mandalorian' team American film director Lee Isaac Chung, who directed Disney+ sci-fi space adventure series "Mandalorian" Season 3 Episode 3, is seen in this photo provided by the streaming service. YonhapAmerican film director Lee Issac Chung said Friday he was honored to join the production team for Disney+ sci-fi space adventure series "Mandalorian" as he has long been a fan of the "Star Wars" saga.Chung, known for the Golden Globe-winning film "Minari" (2020), is one of the six directors behind the eight-episode "Mandalorian" Season 3, taking the helm of Episode 3 released Wednesday. Set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order, "Mandalorian" is the story of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. It stars Pedro Pascal as the titular character, a lone bounty hunter who goes on the run to protect the Force-sensitive child Grogu.Chung said he enjoyed watching the first season of the TV show while he was editing "Minari" in 2019 and wished to be part of the live-action series of "Star Wars.""Even though what I was editing and making was very different, IMar 17, 2023
Film 'Rebound' to continue basketball boom following 'The First Slam Dunk' A scene from the film "Rebound" / Courtesy of Barunson E&ABy Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Jang Hang-jun said he wishes to capitalize on the recent interest in basketball with “Rebound,” a film about the endeavors of a high school basketball team as they compete in a series of tournaments with the hope of winning a title. Japanese anime “The First Slam Dunk” has been experiencing immense popularity here, surpassing 4 million tickets sales in cinemas. It became the highest-grossing Japanese anime ever to be released in Korea.“This is the first time I showed support for a Japanese movie. I checked the box office data for 'The First Slam Dunk' every morning. 'Rebound' is coming out with perfect timing. It would be nice to continue the basketball boom, which was triggered by 'The First Slam Dunk,'” Jang said during a press conference for “Rebound” in Seoul, Tuesday. The film, based loosely on the true story of the JungAng High School basketball team in Busan, follows enthusiastic basketball coach Kang Yang-hyun (Ahn Jae-hong) as he tries to ralMar 14, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Japanese animation 'The First Slam Dunk' tops 4 mil. admissions in Korea Visitors to a Seoul theater take a photo of the poster of the Japanese animated film "The First Slam Dunk," in this file photo taken Feb. 16. YonhapThe Japanese animated film "The First Slam Dunk" has drawn over 4 million moviegoers in Korea, data showed Monday. The film adaptation of the popular Japanese basketball comic book series "Slam Dunk" topped 4 million admissions Sunday, 67 days after it hit local theaters on Jan. 4, according to the data from the Korean Film Council.It was another record for the film, which became the most-viewed animated Japanese film released in the nation by garnering an accumulated 3.81 million viewers on March 5.Directed by the original manga writer Takehiko Inoue, the movie has attracted both older and younger audiences with its captivating story of an undefeated spirit and nostalgia for the 1990s. (Yonhap)Mar 13, 2023
Film to be made about pioneering sculptor Kwon Jin-kyu Kwon Jin-kyu, a pioneer of modern sculpture in Korea, left, and his “Self Portrait” (1968) / Courtesy of Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation, SeMABy Park Han-solA documentary film examining the life and works of the pioneering realist sculptor Kwon Jin-kyu (1922-73) will go into production, according to film studio Myung Films.The production house signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week with the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) and the Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation on the filming of the movie tentatively titled, “The Story of Kwon Jin-kyu.”Myung Films and the foundation are set to take charge of the production, and SeMA will cooperate by providing relevant archival materials and facilitating the shoot taking place inside the museum.In 2021, SeMA became the recipient of the late artist's sculptures, paintings and drawings totaling 141 ― all donated by the Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation. The museum subsequently mounted “Kwon Jin Kyu Centennial: Angel of Atelier” last year, the largest retrospective of the artist to date, in coMar 10, 2023By Park Han-sol
'Cultural commonalities between Japan, Korea led to anime boom in Korea' Japanese director Makoto Shinkai, left, and actress Nanoka Hara, pose during a press conference for the animated film, “Suzume,” at Megabox Seongsu theater in Seoul, Wednesday.By Kwak Yeon-sooMakoto Shinkai, the filmmaker behind fantasy-adventure anime films such as “Your Name” (2016) and “Weathering with You” (2019), said Japan and Korea share cultural commonalities and that is why Japanese animated films are huge in Korea.“Japan and Korea have similar landscapes and culture, and I think these factors contributed to my film's success here. I think a cityscape reflects the needs and desires of its citizens. In that sense, Seoul reminds me of Tokyo. Although Japan-Korea political relations have had their ups and downs, I hope the two countries keep moving toward deepening cultural ties,” he told Korean reporters during a press conference for his new film, “Suzume,” in Seoul, Wednesday. “Suzume” tells the story of a 17-year-old high school girl named Suzume who helps a mysterious young man named Souta to prevent a Mar 8, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Son Suk-ku, Kim Sung-cheol confirmed to star in 'The Comments Army' Actors Son Suk-ku, left, and Kim Sung-cheol / Courtesy of Acemaker MovieworksBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Son Suk-ku and Kim Sung-cheol have been confirmed to star in “The Comments Army” (working title), a film based on a popular novel of the same name by Chang Kang-myoung.The crime drama film is loosely based on the National Intelligence Service's reputed involvement in the 2012 presidential election by publishing thousands of pro-Park Geun-hye posts and comments online. The election saw Park defeat Moon Jae-in.In the film, Son will play the role of a journalist named Sang-jin, an investigative journalist who was suspended after exposing wrongdoings by a conglomerate. With the aim of returning to the newsroom, he investigates the “army of internet trolls” accused of meddling in the election.Son's career took off when he played the enigmatic Mr. Gu with a troubled past in the JTBC series, “My Liberation Notes,” in 2022. He played a vicious killer in crime action film, “The Roundup,” which became one of the 2022's top-grossing films in Korea. Mar 7, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
'The First Slam Dunk' becomes most-viewed animated Japanese film in South Korea A scene from the film "The First Slam Dunk" / Courtesy of SMG Holdings"The First Slam Dunk" has become the most-viewed animated Japanese film released in South Korea ever, data showed Sunday.The film posted a total of 3.81 million admissions earlier in the day, outnumbering the top-selling animated Japanese film "Your Name." (2016), which sold 3.8 million tickets, according to the data from the Korean Film Council.It took 61 days for the basketball animation to break the seven year-old record since it hit South Korean theaters on Jan. 4."The First Slam Dunk," a film adaptation of the popular Japanese basketball comic book series "Slam Dunk," has stayed atop the South Korean box office for 11 consecutive days since it rose to the position on Jan. 27, the fourth week of its release in the country. (Yonhap)Mar 5, 2023
INTERVIEW Kim Da-mi says she cried while reading script for 'Soulmate' Actress Kim Da-mi / Courtesy of United Artists AgencyBy Kwak Yeon-sooActress Kim Da-mi said she was looking for a relatable, down-to-earth character after taking on strong roles in the 2018 sci-fi thriller “The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion” and 2020 hit series “Itaewon Class.” In “Soulmate,” a coming-of-age film about a lifelong friendship between girls, Kim stars as Mi-so who is tough on the outside but soft on the inside. “I shot this film in 2020 after 'The Witch' and 'Itaewon Class.' At that time, I wanted to play a more conventional character. When reading the script for the first time, the climactic fight scene between Mi-so and Ha-eun (played by Jeon So-nee) moved me to tears,” she said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Thursday. Kim went on to talk about her similarities with Mi-so. “I'm usually shy and quiet around strangers, but talkative around my friends. On set, I'm outspoken and exuberant. I love discussing scenes with directors and my co-stars,” she said.She also discussed developinMar 4, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Soulmate' is heartwarming love letter to female friendship From left, actresses Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee, director Min Yong-keun and actor Byun Woo-seok pose during a press conference for the film, "Soulmate," in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of NEWBy Kwak Yeon-soo“Soulmate” is an endearing love letter to female friendship with two stunning performances by Kim Da-mi and Jeon So-nee. The two actresses, who co-star as best friends in the film, show that the bond of female friendship can be stronger than romantic love.Director Min Yong-keun manages to combine elaborate elements of a coming-of-age work with drama and romance while demonstrating an understanding of women's relationships. He revealed that he initially turned down directing “Soulmate” because he wasn't sure if he could depict the complexities of female friendship. “One thing that really struck me was the story of friendship that stands the test of time and distance. While adapting the screenplay, I interviewed a lot of women. Since there are a lot of women in my family. I was able to learn about friendships and the inflection points they go through,” hMar 1, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
Japanese director Makoto Shinkai to visit Korea in March to promote 'Suzume' Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai, left, and actor Nanoka Hara / Courtesy of Media CastleBy Kwak Yeon-sooMakoto Shinkai, the filmmaker behind fantasy anime films, “Your Name” (2017) and “Weathering with You” (2019), will visit Korea in March to promote his new film, “Suzume.”The Japanese director will visit during March 7-9 with lead voice actor Nanoka Hara, who stars as the heroine in the film, according to the film's local distributor Showbox. Hara competed for the role with over 1,700 other applicants at the audition.A poster for the film "Suzume" / Courtesy of Media CastleShinkai's "Your Name" has sold 3.79 million tickets in Korea, making it the highest-grossing anime film here. It is followed by “The First Slam Dunk” (2023), which gathered 3.57 million admissions as of Monday, and “Howl's Moving Castle (2004),” which topped 2.61 million in ticket sales.The two will attend promotional events for the upcoming film, including a press conference scheduled for March 8.Set to be released on March 8 in Korea, “Suzume&rdFeb 27, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo
