Film festival organizers, actors express solidarity with people of Myanmar Actors Jin Sun-kyu, left, and Park Ho-san posted photos of themselves doing the three-finger salute on Instagram, March 30, to show support for the people of Myanmar. Screen captured from Jin Sun-kyu's and Park Ho-san's InstagramBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe organizers of Korean film festivals have expressed solidarity with the people of Myanmar in their opposition to the military coup, showing support for their collective bravery in fighting for democracy.In a joint statement released Tuesday, the organizers condemned the violence against peaceful protestors that has led to numerous deaths of civilians, including children.The presidents of 11 film festivals, including the Busan International Film Festival, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival will hold a press conference April 30 during the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival to voice support for the filmmaking community in Myanmar.The filmmakers are taking part in the civil disobedience movement aimed at restoring democracy, and protecting human rights and fundamental freedApr 20, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
KOFIC's secretary general facing fresh allegations over misappropriating taxpayers' money By Kwak Yeon-sooLogo of the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) / Courtesy of KOFICThe Korean Film Council's (KOFIC) secretary general is facing fresh allegations of misappropriating taxpayers' money.The local media outlet, Cine 21, reported Wednesday that newly-appointed KOFIC secretary general Kim Jung-seok spent taxpayers' money at night clubs, escort clubs and massage parlors while serving as secretary general of the Jeonbuk Independent Film Association in 2005.Independent filmmakers condemned KOFIC for turning a blind eye to such accusations, pressuring the organization to reconsider appointing the controversial figure to the post.“Kim exploited his position and misappropriated 35 billion won ($31.3 million) for personal use, spending it at entertainment venues, clubs and massage parlors. Paying back the expenses doesn't erase his problematic history,” they said in a joint statement, Friday.“The major problem is that this wasn't a one-time thing. He repeatedly spent tax money in such disgraceful places and paid it back when his embezzlement was exposed. His wrongdoing Apr 18, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Grandmother featured in 2002 hit family drama 'The Way Home' dies at 95 Kim Eul-boon / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-sooKim Eul-boon, who starred in director Lee Jeong-hyang's endearing family drama, “The Way Home” (2002), has died at the age of 95.“Kim passed away peacefully on April 17. We'd really appreciate if those who remember her could cherish her memory,” Kim's family said in a statement, Sunday.Kim rose to fame after playing a mute grandmother who looks after her spoiled grandson in “The Way Home.” The film tells a story of a seven-year-old city boy, Sang-woo, who comes to stay with his grandmother in a remote village while his mother looks for work. Although conflict arises in their relationship, Sang-woo learns the value of family through his grandmother's endless patience and love.Before taking on the role, she had no acting experience and had never been to the cinema. Director Lee discovered her in a village in Yeongdong County, North Chungcheong Province, where she had lived her whole life.“The Way Home” attracted more thaApr 18, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Oscars show reinvented as a movie - with masks, longer speeches In this Feb. 24, 2016, file photo, an Oscar statue is pictured underneath the entrance to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP-YonhapThe Oscars ceremony next week will have the look and feel of a movie, giving winners more time for speeches, while coronavirus masks will play a major role, producers of the show said on Saturday.The coronavirus pandemic and a trio of new producers have led to a reinvention of the traditional show where the world's highest movie honors are handed out before a seated theater audience of more than 4,000 A-list stars and industry executives.Much of the April 25 ceremony will instead be held at the Art Deco Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, where a stage is being built and where presenters will be doing more than opening an envelope with the winner's name."It's not going to be like anything that's been done before," director Steven Soderbergh, who is producing the show with Stacey Sher and Jesse Collins, told a news conference.Soderbergh, who directed the 2011 movie "Contagion," said the pandemic had "opened up an opportunity to try something that hasnApr 18, 2021
'Peaky Blinders' actor Helen McCrory dies of cancer at 52 Actress Helen McCrory arrives at the British Academy Television Awards in London, May 8, 2016. McCrory, who starred in the television show “Peaky Blinders” and the “Harry Potter” movies, has died. She was 52 and had been suffering from cancer. Her husband, actor Damian Lewis, said Friday that McCrory died “peacefully at home” after a "heroic battle with cancer.” AP-YonhapBritish actor Helen McCrory, who starred in the television show ``Peaky Blinders'' and the ``Harry Potter'' movies, has died, her husband said Friday. She was 52 and had been suffering from cancer.Her husband, fellow actor Damian Lewis, said McCrory died ``peacefully at home'' after a ``heroic battle with cancer.''``She died as she lived. Fearlessly,'' Lewis wrote on Twitter. ``God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.''McCrory was one of Britain's most respected actors, making her mark by playing a succession of formidable and sometimes fearsome women. She played the matriaApr 17, 2021
Sci-fi film 'Seobok' opens, topping local box offices Sci-fi film “Seobok” hit theaters on Thursday. Courtesy of CJ ENM By Lee Gyu-leeThe sci-fi action film, “Seobok,” finally premiered after a COVID-induced delay, Thursday topping local box offices. The film sold over 45,000 tickets on its opening day, netting 405 million won ($362,000) in gross sales, which took up about 60 percent of total ticket sales that day.Directed by Lee Yong-joo, best known for the hit romance film, “Architecture 101,” the film revolves around ex-intelligence agent Ki-heon (Gong Yoo) and the first-ever human clone Seobok (Park Bo-gum).Ki-heon, who is suffering from a terminal illness, is given the last mission of his life: to take Seobok to a safe haven. The two form a bond as they embark on a journey through multiple life-threatening attacks from groups trying to take “possession” of Seobok. The film was originally supposed to hit local theaters in December. However, as virus infection cases surged nationwide, distributor CJ ENM decided to hApr 16, 2021By Lee Gyu-lee
INTERVIEW Actor Um Tae-goo has many faces Actor Um Tae-goo / Courtesy of Netflix By Kwak Yeon-sooActor Um Tae-goo is innately driven toward playing strong characters, but that doesn't define who he is in real life. The 38-year-old actor confessed that he actually dislikes violence and horror movies. Instead, he finds simple pleasure in sipping iced vanilla latte and watching cute videos of his dog.During an interview with The Korea Times, Um shared insights and memories about everything from his strengths and weaknesses as an actor, why he's attracted to noir films, his hopes of gaining higher levels of recognition and how he stepped into the shoes of a mobster for “Night in Paradise.”In director Park Hoon-jung's sixth feature “Night in Paradise,” Um plays Park Tae-goo, who is driven by the urge to take revenge against an organized crime gang, Buksung, which killed his sister and niece in a deadly car accident. Outraged over the loss of his family members, he stabs gangsters and the head of the gang, which Apr 15, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho encourages filmmakers to speak up against anti-Asian violence Bong Joon-ho / Korea Times fileBong Joon-ho, writer-director of Oscar-winning South Korean black comedy "Parasite," has called for filmmakers to address issues of recent anti-Asian crimes in the United States. Bong shared his view on the spate of recent racially charged violence in the United States and the film industry's role during an appearance as the guest speaker for Chapman University's Dodge College Master Class series held virtually on April 7 (U.S. time), the Hollywood Reporter said. "As someone who is a part of mankind, as a person, it is quite fearful to watch the hate crimes against Asian Americans and the Black Lives Matter movement," Bong said, though he admitted that he has to see the matter from an outsider's perspective as someone in Korea."Creating a film takes a lot of time and a lot of money; it is a big unit that cannot really respond quickly to issues that are currently happening in society. … But ironically, because of that, creators and filmmakers can be bolder with dealing with issues and they should not be afraid to confront them," he noted.He went oApr 14, 2021
INTERVIEW Gong Yoo contemplates what it is to be human in sci-fi film 'Seobok' Gong Yoo / Courtesy of Management SOOPBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Gong Yoo said he came to think a lot about life and death while filming “Seobok,” a sci-fi film about the relationship between a terminally-ill man and a human clone.“Through this film, I was able to look back at my own life and pose questions about what kind of human I want to be. I think how you live is more important than living a long life,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times via Zoom, Tuesday. Directed by Lee Yong-joo, “Seobok” tells the story of a Ki-heon (Gong), a former intelligence agent who is suffering from a terminal illness and is given a final mission to secretly transport the world's first human clone, Seobok (Park Bo-gum), to a safe haven. However, they find themselves in a number of life-threatening situations as other forces seek to take possession of Seobok. The 41-year-old actor revealed that he initially turned down the role. “I read the script and at first, I rejected the offer because I couldn't give a clear-cut answer to the film's big question,&Apr 13, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Bong Joon-ho to appear at 93rd Academy Awards as presenter Bong Joon-ho / Korea Times file By Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Bong Joon-ho, whose film “Parasite” won four awards at last year's Academy Awards ― Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film ― will take part in the 93rd Oscars ceremony as a presenter.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday a number of this year's presenters, which also included Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. Additional presenters will be announced at a later date. It is still unclear which category Bong will present, but U.S. outlets such as Deadline predicted he will give the Best Director Award.He will likely meet the cast of “Minari,” which has earned six nominations ― Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Score. Bong has shown continuous support for “Minari,” hosting talks with director Lee Isaac Chung and actress Youn Yuh-jung. He previoApr 13, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
