Song Ga-in's concert film to hit local theaters this week An official poster for the film, "Song Ga-in THE DRAMA"/ Courtesy of Pocketdol StudioBy Park Han-solThe sound of trot is set to roar once again, this time at the local box office, not on the small screen, as the concert film, “Song Ga-in THE DRAMA,” starring the trot sensation, is set to hit theaters Feb. 11. The official poster and the trailer for the singer's film have been unveiled in 100 Megabox theaters nationwide. The movie comes after soaring demand from her fans who wish to see Song's concert onscreen, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has rendered most musical events impossible. A chance to immerse oneself in the captivating concert-like surroundings will be available for all those who could never attend the sold-out event in person.“Song Ga-in THE DRAMA” will also feature previously undisclosed content, including behind-the-scenes and interview clips as Song gives her sincere thoughts about the preparation process for her first solo concert in 2019.“I wasn't trying to just give people a concert. I was truly enjoying it,” she says in the fFeb 7, 2021By Park Han-sol
'Iconic actress fighting Alzheimer's, diabetes alone without proper care' Actress Yoon Jeong-hee / Korea Times fileYoon's husband refutes claim, saying contents of petition are groundlessBy Kwak Yeon-sooSpeculation is mounting over the wellbeing of Yoon Jeong-hee, 77, who dominated the silver screen in the 1960s and 1970s as one of the three most-sought-after actresses, after an online petition claimed that the ailing star suffering from Alzheimer's disease and diabetes has been neglected by her immediate family ― her husband and daughter. An anonymous person posted a petition on the website of Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, claiming, “Yoon is in a lone fight against Alzheimer's and diabetes in an apartment in the suburbs of Paris without being properly cared for by her spouse, because they live apart.” The real names that appeared in the original text were removed by the administrator for privacy reasons. “It has been two years since her husband has seen her (Yoon). Her daughter lives nearby, but she's unable to take proper care of the actress because she's busy with her own work and family life. (Yoon's) siblings asked the daughter to allow theFeb 7, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Sci-fi films, young adult thriller among six new Obama projects for Netflix Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama greet guests during the first day of the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. October 31, 2017. Reuters-YonhapBarack and Michelle Obama's production company announced six new projects in development for Netflix, Friday, including a love story with a supernatural twist and a young adult thriller.The former president and first lady's Higher Ground Productions will adapt British-Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid's novel "Exit West" into a film, according to a statement from Netflix. The book tells the story of a young couple who find magical doors to transport them to other places and land in the middle of a global refugee crisis.Other film projects include a science-fiction movie, "Satellite," which will be produced with T Street, a production company run by "Star Wars" director Rian Johnson and producer Ram Bergman. Another is "Tenzing," the story of the Nepalese-Indian man who first reached the summit of Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand."The Young Wife" is a feature film that followsFeb 6, 2021
'Space Sweepers': adventure of four misfits aboard spaceship Victory in 2092 In the cinematic world of "Space Sweepers," the universe is divided into two different worlds in 2092, when Earth is nearly destroyed by pollution. Courtesy of NetflixWhat will Earth be like in 2092? Will everyone have fair access to cutting-edge technology that allows for a peaceful and pollution-free environment?Director Jo Sung-hee, who has created fairy tale-like films such as "A Werewolf Boy" (2012) and "Phantom Detective" (2016), pictures a slightly pessimistic future of Earth and humanity in his fourth feature "Space Sweepers."In the cinematic world of "Space Sweepers," the universe is divided into two different worlds in 2092, when Earth is nearly destroyed by pollution.A group of upper class people live in a new clean habitable world in outer space, where key components that allow habitation, such as air and light, are sophisticatedly controlled by the UTS Corporation, a company that created and manages the artificial world.On the other hand, the hopeless Earth remains home to the majority of people without the means to escape to UTS' new “island.”Hence some of tFeb 6, 2021
Oscar winner, 'Sound of Music' star Christopher Plummer dies Actor Christopher Plummer seen at a press conference for "The Forger" during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12, 2014, in Toronto. Plummer, the dashing award-winning actor who played Captain von Trapp in the film "The Sound of Music" and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award winner in history, has died. He was 91. Plummer died Friday morning at his home in Connecticut with his wife, Elaine Taylor, by his side, said Lou Pitt, his longtime friend and manager. AP-YonhapChristopher Plummer, the dashing award-winning actor who played Captain von Trapp in the film ``The Sound of Music'' and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award acting winner in history, has died. He was 91.Plummer died Friday morning at his home in Connecticut with his wife, Elaine Taylor, by his side, said Lou Pitt, his longtime friend and manager.Over more than 50 years in the industry, Plummer enjoyed varied roles ranging from the film ``The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,'' to the voice of the villain in 2009's ``Up'' and as a canny lawyer in Broadway's ``Inherit the Wind.'' In 2019 he starred as murFeb 6, 2021
'Outdated' Golden Globes rules cause stir again over 'Minari' An official poster for the film “Minari” / Courtesy of Pan CinemaBy Park Han-solWith ethnic Korean American director Lee Isaac Chung's critically acclaimed immigrant drama “Minari” landing a nod for Best Foreign Language Film at this year's Golden Globe Awards, the long-standing controversy surrounding certain rules set by the organizer, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), has emerged once again.The nominees for the 78th Golden Globes were announced by HFPA, Wednesday (local time) and “Minari” was nominated alongside Thomas Vinterberg's "Another Round” (Denmark), Jayro Bustamante's "La Llorona” (France, Guatemala), Filippo Menghetti's "Two of Us” (U.S., France) and Edoardo Ponti's "The Life Ahead” (Italy).The biggest surprise took place in the best supporting actress category in which Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung, who has so far nabbed 20 trophies from international film awards, wasn't nominated. The same treatment was given to Steven Yeun in the best drama actor category and Chung in the best director and best sFeb 4, 2021By Park Han-sol
'Minari' earns one Golden Globe nomination A scene from the film “Minari” / Courtesy of Pan CinemaBy Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Lee Isaac Chung's moving immigrant drama “Minari” was nominated in one category for the upcoming 2021 Golden Globe Awards, organizers said Wednesday.The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organizer of the Golden Globes, released the list of nominees for its 2021 awards, and announced “Minari” had been nominated for “Best Foreign Language Film.”The Globes honor achievements in film and television and the ceremony is often considered an unofficial kickoff to the awards season, with the Oscars following. Controversially, “Minari” was not allowed to compete for the top prize, but instead for the best foreign language film, because the characters in the film predominantly speak Korean. The film is nominated alongside director Thomas Vinterberg's “Another Round,” Jayro Bustamante's “La Llorona,” Edoardo Ponti's “The Life Ahead,” and Filippo Menghetti's “Two of Us.”Despite much anticipation, actress Feb 3, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Yoo Teo plays Paralympic snowboarder in rom-com 'New Year Blues' Actor Yoo Teo / Courtesy of Acemaker Movieworks By Kwak Yeon-sooActor Yoo Teo said his own experience recovering from a sports injury helped him get into character for “New Year Blues.” In the upcoming romantic comedy, Yoo plays Paralympic snowboarder Rae-hwan who is about to marry Oh-wol (Choi Soo-young of Girls' Generation) his girlfriend of seven years.“From ages 12 through 20, I played basketball. I was serious about becoming a professional basketball player and I was scouted by several teams. But I suffered cruciate ligament injuries twice and ruptured my Achilles tendon. When I was 17, my doctor told me that I'd be lucky if I could walk comfortably. I walked on crutches for six months,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times held Wednesday via Google Meet. “Of course I don't know what it's like to lose a limb in an accident, but I used my personal experience to understand how Rae-hwan grows from his pain.”Helmed by Hong Ji-young, the director behind Feb 3, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Blade Runner meets Goonies in 'Space Sweepers,' featuring Song Joong-ki From left, actors Jin Sun-kyu, Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri and Yoo Hai-jin pose during a press conference for the film “Space Sweepers” in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe cast of “Space Sweepers,” Korea's first movie set in space, expressed satisfaction with the film's upcoming release at a press conference on Tuesday.“Space Sweepers” is set in the year 2092 when Earth has become barely habitable, and follows the story of a spaceship crew who sell space junk for a living. During one of their searches for space debris, they discover a mysterious cybernetic being who, as they learn later, is a dangerous weapon capable of mass destruction.When the crew members learn what she is capable of and that she is wanted by the UTS Space Guards, they decide to strike a profitable deal.Song Joong-ki plays the intelligent pilot Kim Tae-ho of spaceship Victory, who is able to think on his feet and come up with useful schemes. Despite this, he's not entirely happy with his life.“When I first came across Tae-ho's character, I imagined hiFeb 2, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
IU joins star-studded movie cast Singer IU performs at the 35th Golden Disc Awards at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Jan. 9. / Courtesy of Golden Disc AwardsBy Park Han-solActor and singer-songwriter IU will star in the award-winning Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's upcoming film, tentatively titled “Baby, Box, Broker,” production company Zip Cinema announced Monday.The singer has thus joined the film's star-studded cast which includes Song Kang-ho of Oscar-winning “Parasite,” Gang Dong-won of zombie thriller “Peninsula” and Bae Doo-na of epic sci-film “Cloud Atlas” and Netflix original series “Kingdom.”The details regarding her role in the movie have not been confirmed yet.“Broker” centers on individuals whose relationships revolve around the baby box, a controversial facility which provides a heated box in which people can anonymously leave unwanted babies. The film, on which the acclaimed filmmaker and local staff have been working on the script for the past five years, is scheduled to begin production during the first half of thisFeb 1, 2021By Park Han-sol
