'The Apartment with Two Women' explores mother-daughter relationship The new film, “The Apartment with Two Women,” depicts a complicated relationship between a mother and daughter. Courtesy of Challan Film New film features realistic narrative of complicated relationshipBy Lee Gyu-leeRelationships between loved ones, especially among family members, can be complicated, going through a constant phase of conflicts and love. Director Kim Se-in of film “The Apartment with Two Women” / Courtesy of Challan Film The new film, “The Apartment with Two Women,” explores this complicated yet ironic relationship between mother and daughter, through a candid, realistic narrative of Korean culture. “Our society places boundaries on women to put them into a set of prejudice and stereotype of a mother-and-daughter relationship and motherly love. And women are solely responsible and accountable for the issues that arise within that stNov 3, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Actress Son Ye-jin expecting baby in December This file photo shows the wedding of Hyun Bin, left, and Son Ye-jin, provided by VAST Entertainment on April 11. YonhapKorean actress Son Ye-jin is expecting a son in December, her management agency MSteam Entertainment said Friday. The 40-year-old tied the knot with actor Hyun Bin in March and announced her pregnancy in June.The celebrity couple had worked together as co-stars of the 2018 film "The Negotiation" and "Crash Landing On You," cable TV channel tvN's 2019-20 global hit rom-com TV series. (Yonhap)Oct 28, 2022
Director Yoon Je-kyoon's much-anticipated film, 'Hero,' to hit theaters in December The poster for the film, "Hero" / Courtesy of CJ ENM By Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Yoon Je-kyoon's long-awaited film, “Hero,” is finally hitting theaters in December, according to distributor CJ ENM, Wednesday. The film, which finished shooting in December 2019, was initially scheduled to be released in 2020, but got delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adapted from the original musical, “Hero,” the film tells the story of Korean independence movement activist Ahn Jung-geun's 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.Director Yoon is behind hit films like “Haeundae” and “Ode to My Father,” which each surpassed 10 million viewers. He is currently working on K-pop-themed Hollywood film “K-Pop: LostOct 26, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
INTERVIEW Kim You-jung says persevering in entertainment industry wasn't easy Actress Kim You-jung / Courtesy of NetflixActress portrays story of first love in new film '20th Century Girl'By Kwak Yeon-sooKim You-jung is one of those few actors who found fame at a young age and has continued to find success in TV and cinema well into her adult years. However, the star said the process of persevering in the entertainment industry wasn't easy. The 23-year-old actress began her career at the age of four, working as a child model for a confectionery brand. She was thrust into limelight at the age of six, appearing as a child in “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” (2005) alongside actors Choi Min-sik and Lee Young-ae. She then went on to appear in a slew of mainstream hits as a child including “Road No. 1” (2010), “Dong Yi” (2010) and “Moon Embracing the Sun” (2012). As she moved toward her young adult years, Kim starred in various romance TV series, including JTBC's “Clean with Passion For Now” (2018-2019), SBS' “Backstreet Rookie” (2020) and “Lovers of the Red Sky” (2021), which affirmedOct 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Exhibition explores zombie genre in Korean cinema Director Yeon Sang-ho's storyboards for “Seoul Station,” an animated prequel to the 2016 zombie thriller “Train to Busan,” are on display at the exhibition titled “All of Us are (Not) Zombies: 21st Century K-Zombie Chronicle,” held at the Korea Film Museum in western Seoul. Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooA special exhibition exploring Korea's zombie content and its rise to international fame is taking place at the Korea Film Museum in western Seoul.The exhibition, titled “All of Us are (Not) Zombies: 21st Century K-Zombie Chronicle,” features the clothing worn by actors during production of the 2016 hit film “Train to Busan,” a video showcasing how zombies move by choreographer Jeon Young who designed zombie movements in “Train to Busan,” “Kingdom” and “Peninsula,” and director Yeon Sang-ho's storyboards of “Seoul Station,” an animated prequel to “Train to Busan.” The title of the exhibition itself is also a parody of the 2022 zombie series “All of Us Are Dead.”Kim Hong-jooOct 25, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Ma Dong-seok to star in comedy film 'Men of Plastic' Actor Ma Dong-seok in a scene from the film "Men of Plastic" / Courtesy of Showbox By Kwak Yeon-sooFollowing the success of “The Roundup,” actor Ma Dong-seok (aka Don Lee), is returning to the big screen with the plastic surgery-themed comedy-drama, “Men of Plastic.” In the upcoming film, Ma plays the role of Dae-guk, a man who was born and raised in Apgujeong-dong, an affluent neighborhood in Gangnam District in southern Seoul where plastic surgery and skin care clinics abound, and is eager to start his own plastic surgery business.He encounters Ji-woo (Jung Kyung-ho), the most talented plastic surgeon in the area who unfortunately loses his medical license. In the blink of an eye, Dae-guk comes up with an idea on how to make his business happen and proceeds to do everything he can to secure Ji-woo as his partner. Together, they lead the way in Apgujeong-dong's plastic surgery industry.The film sees Ma team up once more with director Lim Jin-sun, who helmed the criOct 24, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Jeong-sun' wins grand jury, best actress awards at Rome Film Fest This scene from "Jeong-sun" is captured from the website of the 2022 Rome Film Fest. Yonhap"Jeong-sun," a Korean film depicting a victim of an intimate video leak, has brought home two prizes at the 2022 Rome Film Fest, the event's website showed Sunday. The international film event awarded the Grand Jury Prize to the film directed by Jeong Ji-hye and Best Actress to Kim Kum-soon who played the main role in the film, according to an announcement on the website. The film tells a story of how a single middle-aged woman named Jeong-sun, who had an intimate video of her filmed by a boyfriend and leaked. She reclaims her identity fighting the video leakage.It was the only Korean film among the 16 titles that competed in this year's Rome Film Fest, its 17th edition, held on Saturday at the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone. (Yonhap)Oct 23, 2022
Action film 'Decibel' uses noise-sensitive time bombs to create unique sense of terror The poster of the Korean action film "Decibel" is seen in this image provided by its distributor Mindmark. YonhapThe upcoming action film "Decibel" will show unique terror scenes with time bombs that respond to noise, which were designed to build suspense and up the stakes, its director said Friday. "Decibel" tells a story of a former Navy captain (Kim Rae-won) tracking down a terrorist (Lee Jong-suk) who threatens to detonate bombs that respond to noise in crowded settings. The time bombs tick faster when noise levels surpass 100 decibels, posing a greater risk in places like football stadiums, water parks and playgrounds.Director Hwang In-ho said he changed the design of the bomb in the original scenario to create a new type of suspense."I was inspired by my childhood experience in a swimming pool. I used to jump into the water at the sound of a whistle after 10-minute breaks," Hwang said during a press conference. "It started with this question: What if a time bomb were to speed up at the sound of a whistle?"Hwang said the special effects team focused on creating vivid explosion sOct 21, 2022
Actors Lee Jong-suk, Kim Rae-won unite in action film 'Decibel' Actor Lee Jong-suk in a scene from the film "Decibel"/ Courtesy of Mind MarkBy Kwak Yeon-soo Actors Lee Jong-suk and Kim Rae-won are uniting for the action thriller film, “Decibel,” which revolves around a terrorist who attempts to plant a bomb in the city and a former naval officer who tries to stop him.In the film, Lee plays the mysterious Navy captain who plans a terrorist attack with a bomb that detonates when sound pressure reaches a certain level. Kim must try to stop the villain. Singer-actor Cha Eun-woo portrays a naval officer who specializes in sonar.The film is directed by Hwang In-ho, well known for his previous works such as the horror-romantic comedy “Spellbound” (2011) and crime thriller “Monster” (2014).Director Hwang said of Lee: “Whenever the cameras started rolling, it was as if a cat was evolving into a tiger. Lee was always fully immersed in the story, which was intriguing to watch.” Lee recently wrapped up filming MBC's “Big Mouth.”“Decibel” features cool car chase sequences, and Kim also haOct 21, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
So Ji-sub talks marriage, starring in suspense thriller 'Confession' Actor So Ji-sub/ Courtesy of 51kActor shares mixed feelings about K-content boomBy Kwak Yeon-sooFor actor So Ji-sub, marrying his wife, TV personality Cho Eun-jeong, has changed his priorities in life. The actor, who tied the knot in 2020 at the age of 43, opened up about how his life has changed for good after he got married.“It's been really wonderful. I feel more emotionally stable and my insomnia disappeared after marriage. I absolutely recommend marriage,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday. So has had a long and expansive career, effortlessly shifting from romance to period drama to action films. For the first time in his 28-year career, the actor made his first foray into the thriller genre, which he said was an exciting experience for him.Adapted from the 2017 Spanish film, “The Invisible Guest,” “Confession” follows a wealthy man named Yoo Min-ho (So) who is suspected of killing his mistress (Nana) in a hotel room where only the two of them were present. Claiming his innocence, Yoo hires a talented lawyer named YanOct 20, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
