Busy actor Lee Sung-min has spent a third of his life in character Actor Lee Sung-min / Courtesy of Acemaker MovieworksLee plays old man seeking revenge in new film “Remember”By Kwak Yeon-sooLee Sung-min is among the most diligent actors in the entertainment industry. Not only does he play lead roles, but makes frequent guest appearances in various films and television series.This summer he made cameo appearance on Lee Jung-jae's directorial debut film, “Hunt,” and Netflix series “Narco-Saints.” This month he plays a man in his 80s suffering from dementia looking for belated revenge in crime action film “Remember.” He has more projects already under his belt ― Disney+'s “Shadow Detective” and JTBC's “Reborn Rich.”“I can't say no to people. I spend long periods of time pretending to be somebody else, so I feel emotionally comfortable when acting. As long as it doesn't ruin my career, I am willing to help out fellow directors,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday. Lee said it is important for him to work with the director who he Oct 20, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Project Wolf Hunting' wins two awards at Spain's Sitges Film Festival Director Kim Hong-sun, left, and actor Choi Gwi-hwa of the Korean sci-fi action thriller "Project Wolf Hunting" pose for the camera after the film won the Special Jury Prize and Special Mention in the official competition section of the 55th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in the Spanish city of Sitges, Oct. 15. YonhapThe Korean sci-fi action thriller "Project Wolf Hunting" has received two awards at this year's Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, the film's local distributor said Tuesday.The movie by director Kim Hong-sun earned the Special Jury Prize and Special Mention in the official competition section of the festival's 55th edition Saturday (local time), TCO said.The Spanish annual event, taking place in Sitges, Catalonia, is one of the world's most well-known genre film festivals, specializing in fantasy and horror movies. "Project Wolf Hunting," released in Korean theaters on Sept. 21, is about a riot that takes place on a cargo ship used to transport the most heinous criminals incarcerated aboard from Manila to Busan."I've received great inspiration anOct 18, 2022
Yeo Jin-goo takes break from heavy material with light-hearted time travel-romance 'Ditto' Actor Yeo Jin-goo in a scene from the film "Ditto" / Courtesy of CJ CGVRemake of 2000 film 'Ditto' features different dialogue, themesBy Kwak Yeon-sooYeo Jin-goo, who is returning to the big screen after five years with time travel-romance film “Ditto,” said he has always wanted to do a romantic comedy while he is still in his 20s. “I had been filming heavy material, mainly portraying mature and serious characters. I wanted to try fun, lighthearted acting roles and include romance in my filmography while I'm in my 20s,” the 25-year-old said during a press conference for the film, Monday.“I grew up watching movies set in the 1990s and 2000s, and the 90s rom-coms were always so enjoyable and heartwarming that they even made me envious of the older generation.” “Ditto” is a remake of the 2000 fantasy romance of the same title about two college students living in different eras who are able to communicate with each other using an old radio following a lunar eclipse. It involves a blend of fantasy, romance and drama.Yeo plays Yong, a mechaniOct 17, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
CJ Group's Lee Mie-kyung receives Pillar Award at US Academy Museum gala Korean entertainment giant CJ Group executive Lee Mie-kyung, 6th from left, widely known as Miky Lee, as well as Korean actors and directors attend a gala event hosted by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, Oct. 16. YonhapKorean entertainment giant CJ Group executive Lee Mie-kyung has received the Pillar Award from the U.S. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for her contribution to the cinema industry, CJ ENM said Monday. Lee, widely known as Miky Lee, was honored at the second annual Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala held Saturday (local time) in Los Angeles, according to CJ Group's media and entertainment arm.Lee is behind K-pop's global success and "Parasite" (2019), the first foreign language film in history to win the Oscar for best picture. She also served as a production manager of other films released this year, including director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" and director Hirokazu Koreeda's "Broker." Korean directors, including Park and Yoon Jong-bin, as well as actors Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung and Ha Jung-woo participated in thOct 17, 2022
'Confidential Assignment 2' tops box office for 5 straight weekends The poster of "Confidential Assignment 2: International" is seen at a Seoul theater, Sept. 12. Yonhap"Confidential Assignment 2: International," the Korean action-comedy sequel to a 2017 hit, has remained No. 1 at the local box office for the fifth consecutive weekend, data showed Tuesday.The film, starring Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin, drew 303,787 viewers over the extended Hangeul Day holiday weekend from Friday to Monday, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. Its cumulative total has reached about 6.6 million admissions since its release on Sept. 7. "Life is Beautiful," a Korean musical film featuring Yum Jung-ah and Ryu Seung-ryong, came in second with 193,000 viewers over the cited period."Smile", an American horror movie, took fifth place with 51,000 viewers on the first weekend of it hitting local theaters. (Yonhap)Oct 11, 2022
Lithuanian documentary 'Mariupolis' opens European Film fest EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez speaks during the opening ceremony of the European Union Film Festival 2022 at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in central Seoul, Oct. 5. Courtesy of Delegation of the EU to KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooA feast of European films is offered throughout October as the European Union Film Festival 2022 brings 19 award-winning titles from Europe to Korea. The Delegation of the European Union to Korea, along with the embassies of the 18 EU member states and Ukraine, is presenting the festival at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in central Seoul on weekends through Oct. 23.EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez emphasized that the event, returning after a two-year hiatus, is organized through cooperation among the embassies of EU member states as well as Ukraine. "It really is a work of the Europe team, together trying to bring through culture diplomacy the realities and the cultural diversity that is certainly one of the key assets of Europeans," Castillo Fernandez said during the opening ceremony of the festival on Oct. 5."These are 19 fOct 10, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Busan film festival brings OTT dramas to the fore A visitor looks at posters of new drama series at Netflix's pop-up store in Busan on Oct. 6, where the Busan International Film Festival is being held. YonhapThe Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has constantly evolved to attract movie buffs and the Asian cinema industry, and this year it set an expanded stage for highly anticipated over-the-top (OTT) dramas to reflect their rising popularity. Running in full-scale without social distancing measures for the first time in three years, the 27th edition brought together high-profile guests and movie fans at home and abroad with a packed lineup of 243 films from 71 countries, including 89 world premieres. It opened in the southern port city Wednesday and runs through Oct. 14.BIFF has established itself as Asia's largest-film festival and has gained more attention this year as South Korea has cemented its status as a global cultural powerhouse, thanks in part to the explosive success of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite (2019)" and the Netflix series "Squid Game" (2021).What stood out in this week's festival was the On Screen sectioOct 9, 2022
James Cameron says 'Avatar 2' is allegory of ecological threats Director James Cameron of “Avatar: The Way to Water,” on the screen, and producer Jon Landau, center, take part in an event at a theater in Busan after a special screening of an 18-minute video footage of the film during the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Thursday. Courtesy of BIFFBy Kwak Yeon-sooBUSAN ― James Cameron, the director of “Avatar: The Way to Water,” said his forthcoming film is an allegory of marine ecological threats.Director James Cameron of “Avatar: The Way to Water” / Courtesy of BIFFFollowing a special screening of an 18-minute video footage of “Avatar 2,” which was shown to a limited number of audiences during the 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), he and producer Jon Landau, who is visiting Busan, discussed creative and technical improvements in the sequel.“In the first film, we saw a mining operation on Pandora. In the new film, we will see damage being done to the marine ecosystem. It's an allegory of what indigenous people are experiencing,” Cameron said during a press conferenceOct 7, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Tony Leung says he is willing to star in Korean film if language barrier is overcome Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai listens to a reporter's question during a press conference held at KNN Theater in Busan, Thursday, during his visit to the Busan International Film Festival. YonhapHong Kong actor reflects on 40-year acting careerBy Kwak Yeon-sooBUSAN ― Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai said he is willing to appear in Korean films or series if given a chance and if the language barrier can be overcome.“I've been a big fan of Korean cultural content and actors like Jeon Do-yeon and Song Kang-ho. If I can overcome the language barrier, I would love to star in Korean films and dramas. Recently, I watched 'CODA,' a film about a hearing daughter in a deaf family. Maybe if given a role that doesn't have barriers of language, I would seriously consider it,” he said during a press conference held at the KNN Theater in Busan, Thursday.Leung is well known for his roles in “Chungking Express” (1994), “Happy Together” (1997) and “In the Mood for Love” (2000), all directed by Wong Kar-wai. He has also appeared in three Golden LiOct 6, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
Biopic of Korea's first Catholic priest to hit local theaters next month The poster of “A Birth,” a biopic of Korea's first Catholic priest, Andrew Kim Dae-geon / Courtesy of Min FilmBy Park Han-solA portrait of Andrew Kim Dae-geon (1821-46) / Korea Times fileA biopic centering on the life of Korea's first Catholic priest, Andrew Kim Dae-geon (1821-46), is set for theatrical release next month.Produced in celebration of the bicentenary of Kim's birth and UNESCO's recognition of him last year, “A Birth” charts the pilgrimage taken by the country's iconic religious leader in the early 19th-century Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).Kim, who was born and raised a Catholic, journeyed to a seminary in Macau and China when he was only 15 and was subsequently ordained as a priest in Shanghai in 1845 at the age of 24.During the wave of persecution of Catholics by the neo-Confucian regime of Joseon, he was executed for his faith at 25. He is buried at what is now known as the Saenamteo Martyr's Shrine in Seoul's Yongsan District.During Pope John Paul II's visit to Korea in 1984, the Korean priest was canonized and made a saint.The biopic, starring Oct 6, 2022By Park Han-sol
