Zombie film 'Peninsula' tops 1 million admissions on 4th day The zombie action film "Peninsula" topped 1 million admissions in South Korea on Saturday, the fourth day of its run, the film's distributor said.Released Wednesday, the sequel to the 2016 megahit zombie blockbuster "Train to Busan" attracted 1.01 million viewers as of 8:10 a.m., according to Next Entertainment World Co., or NEW.Its pace matched that of the 2014 drama "Ode to My Father," the fourth-most watched film at the South Korean box office with a total of 14.3 million moviegoers.On the opening day, it drew 350,000 viewers to set the highest first-day score in 2020.Meanwhile, it is also on a roll outside Korea, topping box offices in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia where "Peninsula" hit local screens this week.Directed by Yeon Sang-ho and starring Gang Dong-won and Lee Jung-hyun, "Peninsula" tells a tale of survivors on the zombie-infested Korean Peninsula four years after the events in "Train to Busan."The new movie was officially invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival and pre-sold to over 180 nations and territories, including Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Britain, and France.Jul 18, 2020
INTERVIEW Gang Dong-won plays not-so-prominent role in 'Peninsula' Gang Dong-won / Courtesy of NEWSince the 2004 teen drama "Romance of their Own," Gang Dong-won has carved out a presence as a much-adored actor of graceful posture and elegant actions, with a long reach.From his role in the martial arts film "Duelist" (2005) and the action comedy "Woochi" (2009) to the period action film "Kundo: Age of the Rampant" (2014) and the mystery thriller "The Priests" (2015), the model-turned-actor has easily wowed audiences from his first appearance on the screen.And Gang is handsome as ever as a soldier who tries to help his family escape from a South Korea overrun by the zombies of "Train to Busan" in the film's sequel, "Peninsula," directed by Yeon Sang-ho.But Jung-seok, Gang's character, is slightly different from his previous roles that always lead the story from beginning to the end and whose charm and heroic actions are well highlighted.“This movie tells the story from Jung-seok's point of view,” the actor said in an interview Tuesday. “He leads the audience to the Peninsula in the beginning. But later, his role is to help other chaJul 15, 2020
INTERVIEW Yeon Sang-ho has no fear of trying new genres, crossover films Director Yeon Sang-ho poses before an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of NEWBy Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Yeon Sang-ho says he has never been afraid of tackling new genres. In recent years, the animator and live-action filmmaker has gravitated toward the scope of blockbuster action films, opening the gateway for K-zombie flicks. Well-known for his creative approach and smart storytelling skills, the filmmaker is back with “Peninsula,” the sequel to 2016 mega-hit “Train to Busan.”Yeon confessed that he had initially been reluctant to direct a “Train to Busan” sequel because his 2016 film received such a strong reaction that he wondered if he could actually make another film to tell a new story. “I honestly felt two ways about directing the sequel to Train to Busan. Many encouraged me to produce the second installment, but I wasn't sure if there's more story left to tell. It was when I started planning Peninsula that I found the joy of imagining the world in ruin,” he said during an interview with The KorJul 15, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
TikTok fined W186 million in S. Korea over privacy issue In this file photo illustration taken on April 13, 2020 the social media application logo TikTok is displayed on the screen of an iPhone, in Arlington, Virginia. TikTok has been caught up in the escalating disputes between the United States and China, with the Chinese-owned firm accused of acting as a spying tool for Beijing ― an allegation it denies. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP)South Korea's telecommunications regulator said Wednesday it fined video sharing platform TikTok Pte Ltd. 186 million won ($155,000) for mishandling user data amid growing global privacy concerns of the social media service.The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said the social media app popular among teenagers violated local telecommunication laws by collecting data of children under the age of 14 without parental consent, and did not properly notify users of its overseas transfer of personal data.TikTok illegally collected 6,000 pieces of data of users younger than 14, while local user data were transferred to its servers in the United States and Singapore without prior notification, according to thJul 15, 2020
'Okay! Madam' tells of hilarious rescue operation from hijacked plane From left, actors Lee Sang-yun, Park Sung-woong, Uhm Jung-hwa, Bae Jung-nam and Lee Sun-bin pose at a press event held in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of PlanItBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe upcoming action comedy “Okay! Madam” is an homage to the Hong Kong action flick “Yes Madam!” the film's director said Monday. Director Lee Cheol-ha said he strived to infuse humor to the action film, allowing audiences to enjoy amusing scenes along with human moments. “I'm of a generation that grew up watching Hong Kong action movies. With Okay! Madam, I want to revive the genre,” Lee said in a press event streamed online. “I constantly thought about how to create the pacing and the rhythm that I want in order to carry laughs and thrills until the end of the film.”The filmmaker revealed that “Okay! Madam” was shot inside an actual Boeing 777 aircraft, and thus the production team had to position cameras on the ceilings.Uhm Jung-hwa, who co-starred with Park Sung-woong, said the film has it all ― hilariously funny moments and white-knuckle action scenes.Jul 13, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Hyun Bin heads to Jordan to film 'Negotiations' amid pandemic Actor Hyun Bin. Korea Times fileBy Dong Sun-hwaActor Hyun Bin headed to Jordan Monday morning to film the thriller “Negotiations” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "Negotiations" is the first Korean flick to start overseas shooting following the virus outbreak that has deterred international travel. Hyun Bin and other actors, including Hwang Jung-min, took a charter flight from Incheon International Airport. After they arrive in Jordan, they will go through COVID-19 checks and then self-isolate for eight days before to start filming. The exact date of their return is unknown, but the Jordanian government reportedly allowed two months for the shooting.Crew members initially planned to visit the Middle East country in March, but had to put off the plan when Jordan banned entry to people coming from Korea, due to a spike in confirmed virus cases here.The film revolves around a National Intelligence Service agent (Hyun Bin) and a diplomat (Hwang) trying to arrange the release of Koreans kidnapped in the Middle East. Yim Soon-rye ― who was behind the success of popular movies includJul 13, 2020By Dong Sun-hwa
Actor Ha Jung-woo under investigation over alleged propofol abuse Actor Ha Jung-woo was summoned for questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. Courtesy of CJ ENM By Lee Gyu-lee, Park Si-soo Prosecutors have summoned actor Ha Jung-woo for questioning in an ongoing for alleged illegal use of propofol, an intravenous short-acting anesthetic. The prosecution recently questioned him, focusing on allegations he got around 10 shots of the milky sedative drug without proper prescriptions at a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam, southern Seoul, between January and September, 2019. Investigators say Ha got the shots with prescriptions issued to his younger brother and manager. The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office, in charge of the case, will soon decide on his indictment.The actor reportedly denied the allegations, claiming getting the shots was part of legitimate medical treatment for skin trouble. His agency disclosed text messages between Ha and his primary doctor as evidence. The agency added that getting the shots Jul 13, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
Zombie film '#ALIVE' tops box office for 18 days Yoo Ah-in stars in film “#ALIVE.” Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaZombie-thriller “#ALIVE” topped the local box office for 18 consecutive days as of July 11, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Sunday. The movie ― featuring Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-hye ― has had an accumulated 1.7 million audience nationwide since opening on June 24, the council said. More than 57,000 moviegoers watched the film on Saturday alone. American drama “Bombshell,” starring Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman, ranked No. 2, garnering more than 27,000 ticket sales on the same day. The star-studded flick was released on July 8 and drew a cumulative audience of 72,000 here.Shin Hye-sun and Bae Jong-ok's drama film “Innocence” came third. #ALIVE zeroes in on people isolated in their apartment in the wake of zombie attack. They struggle to survive amid the crisis, without having any means to stay connected to other people. On June 28, the zombie-thriller also became the first movie to attract more than a million filmgoers since FJul 12, 2020By Dong Sun-hwa
'Peninsula' casts commentary over human desire to outlive Director Yeon Sang-ho, third from right, poses with the cast of “Peninsula” at the press conference held in Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times fileBy Kwak Yeon-sooFollowing the success of “Train to Busan,” “Peninsula” is another Korean zombie film that casts a commentary on people's desire to live and find hope in the worst situation.Set four years after the hit “Train to Busan,” the upcoming blockbuster tells the story of the survivors and a world taken over by zombies.Gang Dong-won plays Jung-seok, a former soldier who goes back to the zombie-packed peninsula on a mission, while Lee Jung-hyun plays Min-jung, a mother of two daughters and an uninfected survivor of the zombie apocalypse. Lee saves the lives of Jung-seok and his mission crew from a massive zombie attack and they join forces to escape the devastated land.Director Yeon Sang-ho said he wanted to go with a different ending compared with “Train to Busan,” carrying a message of hope and positivity. “In the movie, all the characters have the desire to escape the pJul 10, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Legendary film composer Ennio Morricone dies aged 91 Ennio Morricone, the Oscar-winning Italian composer whose haunting scores to Spaghetti Westerns like "A Fistful of Dollars" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" helped define a cinematic era, died on Monday. He was 91. ReutersEnnio Morricone, the Oscar-winning Italian composer whose haunting scores to Spaghetti Westerns like "A Fistful of Dollars" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" helped define a cinematic era, died on Monday. He was 91.Morricone broke his femur 10 days ago and died at dawn in a clinic in Rome, his lawyer Giorgio Assumma told Reuters. Outside the clinic, Assumma handed reporters a death notice written by the composer himself, beginning "I, Ennio Morricone, am dead.”In a moving one-page text, Morricone thanked his close friends and family for their companionship, naming his children and grandchildren and saying "I hope they understand how much I loved them.”He dedicated "the most painful goodbye" to his wife Maria Travia, whom he married in 1956, saying "to her I renew the extraordinary love that bound us together and that I am sorry to abandon." He saiJul 6, 2020
