Korean actor Park Seo-joon to star in 'The Marvels' Korean actor Park Seo-joon / Korea Times fileKorean actor Park Seo-joon will star in the upcoming American superhero film "The Marvels" to be released in July 2023, Marvel Studios said Tuesday. The most profitable film studio under the Walt Disney Company unveiled the footage and cast members of the sequel to "Captain Marvel," directed by Nia DaCosta, during Disney Content Showcase held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.The Walt Disney Company introduces new movies and series during Disney Content Showcase held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore in this photo provided by Disney, Nov. 30. YonhapThe 33-year-old actor will play alongside Brie Larson and Iman Vellani, but the exact nature of his role was not disclosed.He is the third actor of Korean descent to star in a Marvel movie, following Soo-hyun, known as Claudia Kim, in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) and Korean American Ma Dong-seok, or Don Lee, in "Eternals" (2021)Park has carved out his acting career through hit TV series, like the romantic comedy "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim" (2018) and the drama "Itaewon Class" (2020). He Nov 30, 2022
Jo Woo-jin teams up with Jung Kyung-ho in action comedy film 'Boss' Actors Jo Woo-jin, left, and Jung Kyung-ho / Courtesy of YOOBORN Company, Management AllumBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Jo Woo-jin, Jung Kyung-ho and Park Ji-hwan are set to star in “Boss” (working title), an action comedy film directed by Ra Hee-chan, known for his previous works, “Going by the Book” (2007) and “Mr. Idol” (2011).Jo will star as Soon-tae who reluctantly joined a gang to keep his family-run Chinese restaurant afloat. Eventually, he gets promoted to the crime ring's second-in-command position, but instead of taking over the gang's leadership, he wants to start a franchise with his restaurant that has been handed down for generations. The actor is having quite the year with films “Kingmaker” and “Alienoid,” followed by the Netflix series “Narco-Saints.” He can be seen next in “Harbin,” a spy action film that tells the story of Korean independence activists in the early 1900s. He will star alongside actors Hyun Bin, Jeon Yeo-been and Lee Dong-wook.Meanwhile, Jung will be playing the role of KangNov 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Auteur Park Chan-wook, late actress Kang Soo-youn win 2nd-highest order of cultural merit Director Park Chan-wook / YonhapKorea Popular Culture and Arts Awards honors 28 cultural iconsBy Dong Sun-hwaCannes-winning filmmaker Park Chan-wook and late actress Kang Soo-youn won the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit ― the second-highest national order of cultural merit ― at the 2022 Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, Thursday. Nobody received the highest order of cultural merit this year. Hosted and organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in cooperation with Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the awards ceremony took place at the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea (NTOK) in central Seoul. It intends to honor those who have played a pivotal role in facilitating the growth of the nation's culture and arts industry. Park, who won best director at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in May with his romance thriller, “Decision to Leave,” said he would continue to delve deeper into the themes of human beings and the world. “Since my films often do not depict our country and people as beautiful and respectful entities, I am not sNov 25, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
'A Birth' retells of life of Korea's first priest A scene from the film, "A Birth" / Courtesy of Min FilmBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Yoon Si-yoon, who portrays Korea's first priest, St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, in “A Birth,” said he focused on depicting Kim as a young adventurer rather than a religious figure in the upcoming biographical film. “I thought it would be impossible to sympathize with Catholic priest Kim Dae-geon. I asked myself, 'How dare I say that I understand him?' So I tried to approach him as a bold adventurer who was eager to explore the unforeseen world and accept Western culture through religion, languages and education,” he said during a press conference for the film, Wednesday. “A Birth,” directed by Park Heung-sik, focuses on the period from when Kim left to study in Macau, until he was martyred for his faith at the age of 25. Born and raised a Catholic, Kim traveled to a seminary in Macau and China at the age of 15 and was ordained as a priest in a cathedral in Shanghai in 1845. During the wave of persecution of Catholics under the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), Kim was beheaded in 1846Nov 24, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Park Chan-wook, late actress Kang Soo-youn to receive cultural merit Director Park Chan-wook, winner of the award for best director for 'Decision to Leave' poses for photographers during the photo call following the awards ceremony at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 28. AP-YonhapCannes-winning director Park Chan-wook and late iconic movie star Kang Soo-youn will be awarded the second-highest national cultural merit for their contributions to the development of Korean pop culture, the government said Thursday.Park and Kang were chosen as the recipients of the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the second-highest class of the Korean cultural decoration, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said.Actress Kang Soo-youn / Korea Times fileThe 59-year-old filmmaker won best director at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in May for his romance thriller "Decision to Leave." It was his third Cannes award following the Grand Prix for "Oldboy" (2003) and the Jury Prize for "Thirst" (2009).Born in 1966 in Seoul, Kang debuted as a child actor at age 3 and went on to become the first Asian actor to win the best actress awaNov 24, 2022
'Birth' puts first Korean priest's life in broader historical context A scene from "Birth," a biopic on St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, is seen in this photo provided by production company Rafael Pictures. YonhapSt. Andrew Kim Tae-gon (1821-1846), the first native Korean Catholic priest, died for his belief at the age of 25, but his short life of dedication, sacrifice and adventure is still worth looking back on after two centuries. "Birth," directed by Park Heung-sik, seems like a religious film made for Catholics, but it recounts the martyr's life in the broad context of Korean Catholicism during the late period of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and Western imperialism in Asia in the 19th century.The biopic sheds light on the birth of Korea's first priest (played by Yoon Si-yoon) amid harsh religious oppression by the monarchy, which feared Christianity as a colonizing force and repressed it with several persecutions.Through extensive research of Kim's letters and historical documents, the story recounts milestone moments of his life through narratives of him and other compatriots as well as scenes of his voyage by sea and land routes.Born to a family of ChrNov 24, 2022
Actor Kwon Sang-woo experiences alternate life in fantasy-comedy film 'Switch' From left, actors Kwon Sang-woo, Oh Jung-se, Lee Min-jung and director Ma Dae-yun attend a press conference for the film, “Switch,” in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooActors Kwon Sang-woo and Oh Jung-se will star in fantasy-comedy film “Switch” as best friends who have their identities swapped on Christmas. “Switch” is a humorous story that follows A-list actor Park Kang (Kwon) who wakes up one Christmas morning to find himself living an alternate version of his own life in which he had chosen to marry his girlfriend and settled into a quiet family life with two adorable kids. Oh initially plays the role of Kang's overworked manager, Jo Yoon, but thanks to some fantastical forces, he finds himself in an alternate reality where he suddenly becomes a famous actor.The film brings out the importance of relationships and values that govern our choices in life by juxtaposing career success with the emotional fulfillment arising from deep and abiding love and affeNov 23, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
China resumes online streaming of Korean movie after 6 years Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for press affairs, briefs reporters at the presidential office in Seoul, Nov. 22. YonhapChina has resumed online streaming of a Korean movie after six years, the presidential office said Tuesday, lifting a ban placed on all Korean cultural content over the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in the South.The decision was made on the occasion of President Yoon Suk-yeol's summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Indonesia last week, Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for press affairs, said.The 2019 film, "Hotel by the River," by Korean director Hong Sang-soo, was earlier reported to be streaming on a Chinese OTT platform."During the Korea-China summit, President Yoon stressed the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries' peoples, and especially the need for communication between young generations," Kim said during a press briefing."President Xi expressed his agreement at that time. We believe that on the occasion of this summit, China responded with the OTT measure," she said.KNov 22, 2022
'Avatar: The Way of Water' to have world premiere in Korea The official poster of "Avatar: The Way of Water" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea"Avatar: The Way of Water" will hit theaters in Korea on Dec. 14, making it the first country in the world to screen the 2009 sci-fi blockbuster's long-awaited sequel, its local distributor said Tuesday.Director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau as well as the film's cast, including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, plan to visit Seoul on Dec. 9 to meet local audiences ahead of the film's premiere, Walt Disney Company Korea said. The second installment of "Avatar" comes 13 years after the first story and reportedly has a run time of over three hours.Set 15 years after the events of the first film, the sequel follows the journey of Jake Sully and Neytiri's newfound family of five children.The official trailer of the upcoming film features stunning visual effects work exploring the aquatic scenery on the planet of Pandora. "Avatar" is touted as a breakthrough in terms of its filmmaking technology and still remains the highest-grossing film of all time worldwide. (Nov 22, 2022
Kim Go-eun says it was tough singing live in musical movie 'Hero' Actors Kim Go-eun, left, and Jung Sung-hwa attend a press conference for the film, “Hero,” held in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap Film on independence fighter to hit theaters in December By Kwak Yeon-sooActress Kim Go-eun said she regretted accepting her role in the musical film, “Hero,” adding she even cried because she was unhappy with her singing.Adapted from the original musical “Hero,” the film tells the story of Korean independence movement activist Ahn Jung-geun's (played by Jung Sung-hwa) final year after he assassinated Hirobumi Ito, Japan's prime minister and the first resident general of Korea, in October 1909, about a year before Japan's annexation of Korea and the start of its colonial occupation (1910-45). In March of the following year, Ahn was executed in a Japanese prison in China.In the upcoming film, Kim plays Seol-hee, a palace maid who supports Korea's independence movement by passing secret information to activists. Director Yoon Je-kyoon did not rely oNov 21, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
