INTERVIEW Actor Jung Hae-in takes on challenge with film and reality show Heartthrob actor Jung Hae-in took on the role of a rebellious teenager in new comedy film “Start-Up,” a change from his usual image of a sweet boyfriend figure dramas. Courtesy of FNC EntertainmentBy Lee Gyu-leeThis year has been full for heartthrob actor Jung Hae-in, starring in TV series “One Spring Night” and film “Tune in for Love,” and winning multiple awards. As the year comes to an end, he decided to wrap the year on a different note, breaking out of his comfort zone to challenge himself with new comedy film “Start-Up” and reality show “Jung Hae-in's Walking Report.”Known for his roles as a sweet, romantic boyfriend figure in melodramas, the 32-year-old actor took on the part of a rebellious teenager in the film. “I had so much fun. I am very curious about things I haven't experienced, so this was very exciting,” he said in the interview with The Korea Times, Thursday, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul. Jung plays 18-year-old Sang-pill who lives alone with his grandmother. He has no interest in stDec 15, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Park Jung-min talks about his real personality Actor Park Jung-min poses before the interview held at Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Thursday./ Courtesy of NEWBy Jung Hae-myoung Thirty-two year-old actor Park Jung-min has come back to play a rebellious teenage troublemaker in the new film “Start-up.” At a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Thursday, Park met with journalists to talk about the film before its release. As a hard-working actor, Park is never settled. He has taken various roles such as an independence movement fighter in “Dong-ju: The Portriat of the Poet,” a servant with Downs Syndrome in “That's Only My World,” and a mysterious technician in “Svaha: The Sixth Finger.”“I usually doubt myself. When I get feedback from people, I only take on negative comments, because that's what helps me improve,” he said. When asked what he liked best about this film, he said: “I think on the set it was great that I worked well with various people. For the film, I focused on showing the relationship with the mother, and thought that went well.”“Like Taek-il, I myself Dec 13, 2019
Actor Lee Byung-hun confident with his new film 'The Man Standing Next' Actor Lee Byung-hun. Korea Times fileStar actor Lee Byung-hun said Thursday that his forthcoming movie "The Man Standing Next" is a stylish film noir about a political dynamite in 1979 that changed the South Korean modern history.Directed by Woo Min-ho of the 2015 box-office smasher "Inside Men," "The Man" is the film adaptation of a best-selling non-fiction with the same title written by a newspaper reporter, exploring the behind-the-scenes power struggle among high-ranking officers of the national spy agency and the government of strongman President Park.President Park is the name of the main character in the film modeled after President Park Chung-hee, who ruled the country for 18 years until his assassination in 1979 at the hands of his intelligence chief, Kim Jae-kyu.The flick focuses on their emotions and intricate relationships during the 40 days before Oct. 26, 1979, the day of the presidential assassination."This film is based on the true story, and it is also a film noir that is sophisticatedly designed," Lee said at a press conference in Seoul. "It is about the real event Dec 13, 2019
Actors team up for slapstick movie 'Start-Up' The cast members of the new comedy “Start-Up” ― Park Jung-min, from left, Yum Jung-ah, Choi Sung-eun, Yoon Kyung-ho and Jung Hae-in ― pose for pictures during a press conference in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeThe new comedy film “Start-Up” is set to hit theaters, with creators hoping that it will encourage viewers to start the new year feeling refreshed.“I wanted the film to send the message that you can always go back to 'start-up' (your life),” director Choi Jeong-yeol said during a press conference for the film, Tuesday, in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Lead actor Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee, was unable to attend the conference as he was filming for the upcoming Marvel superhero flick “Eternals.”The comedy film revolves around rebellious teenager Taek-il (Park Jung-min) and his best friend Sang-pil (Jung Hae-in) who turns to the private loan business for quick money. After an argument with his mother, Jung-hye (Yum Jung-ah), over his decision to drop out of high school, he decides to leave home and gets a delivery Dec 11, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
'Parasite' earns three Golden Globe nominations Director Bong Joon-ho accepts the Hollywood Filmmaker Award for "Parasite" at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills, California in this November file photo. He has been nominated in three sections for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. Reuters-YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeDirector Bong Joon-ho's satirical thriller “Parasite” earned three Golden Globe nominations, becoming the first Korean film to be nominated for the awards. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organizer of the Golden Globes, released the list of nominees for its 2020 awards, Monday, and announced “Parasite” had been nominated for “Best Foreign Language Film,” “Best Director,” and “Best Screenplay.” The awards honor achievements in film and television and the ceremony is often considered an unofficial kickoff to the awards season, with the Oscars following.The nominations for the upcoming acclaimed awards have created high anticipation after the film made a mark at the North America box office, amid superhero flicks and streaming-giant Netflix's filmDec 10, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
Disney's 'Frozen 2' tops 10 mil. admissions in Korea "Frozen 2" surpassed 10 million admissions in Korean theaters. YonhapDisney's sensational "Frozen 2" surpassed 10 million admissions in South Korean theaters Saturday.The animated movie set the record at 2:40 p.m., according to Walt Disney Korea, the local film distributing unit of the U.S. giant, based on a real-time box-office tally from the Korean Film Council.It exceeded the mark on the 17th day since its Nov. 21 release and became the 27th film to reach the milestone of a 10 million box office in South Korea.Its 2014 predecessor, "Frozen," posted a total attendance of 10.3 million, becoming the first animated film to achieve the feat in the country.Thanks to the success of the first film, "Frozen 2" has smashed the box office here since the first day of its screening.About 1.66 million people saw the animated film on its first Saturday alone, on par with the all-time daily high set by Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame" in April this year.It also sparked a heated debate over anti-monopoly regulations in the country as the flick accounted for 74 percent of all showings available on locaDec 7, 2019
Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea Anna and Olaf in the “enchanted forest.” Korea Times fileBy Cho Hae-minWalt Disney's animated blockbuster “Frozen 2” is expected attract 10 million moviegoers in Korea over the weekend.According to Korean Film Council (KOFIC) data, the film has topped the Korean box office chart for 15 days since premiering on Nov. 21. The movie has attracted 9.3 million filmgoers through Thursday. “Frozen 2” is the first animated film to hit 9 million tickets within two weeks, breaking the record of “Frozen,” which took 33 days to do so in 2014.Meanwhile, the film's popularity has also led to some controversy, with a local civic group called the Public Welfare Committee recently filing a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office that the film's dominance in Korean theaters violated anti-monopoly laws. Korean law defines a commercial enterprise with more than 50 percent of market share as a “market-dominant enterprise.” The group argued that 88 percent of the country's screens were showing the film which, the group claimeDec 6, 2019
Actor Lee Si-eon turns to serious character in thriller film 'Killed My Wife' Director Kim Ha-ra, from left, actors Ahn Nae-sang, Wang Ji-hye, and Lee Si-eon attend a press conference for the mystery thriller “Killed My Wife,” at Yongsan CGV in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of KthTV show star takes on first lead role in filmBy Lee Gyu-lee Many actors rose to stardom through roles in iconic movies. For actor Lee Si-eon, however, his career launch pad was not a movie in which he appeared, but was a reality show. His name came to be known to the public through MBC's hit show “I Live Alone,” drawing fans' attention for his goofy and funny personality.He is set to turn his reality-show image upside down with his very first lead role in his 10-year career with the new mystery thriller film “Killed My Wife.”“I had a different tone with this film, compared to how I seem on 'I Live Alone.' So instead of trying to create a different image, I just tried to show a different side of me which I think is more relevant to my actual personality,” he said during a press conference for the film, Thursday, at Yongsan CGV in Seoul.The myDec 6, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
INTERVIEW 'Forever young' actress focuses on role, not looks in new movie Actress Lee Young-ae returns to the silver screen in the thriller “Bring Me Home.” Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea, Good PeopleBy Dong Sun-hwaGetting older is one of the toughest challenges for actresses and only a chosen few are privileged to overcome it, get adjusted and remain in people's hearts. Now at 48, Lee Young-ae, who has been adored as the “beauty who never ages,” is taking her chance to be one of them as she returns to the big screen in the thriller “Bring Me Home” after a 14-year hiatus. And the actress from “Dae Jang Geum” (Jewel in the palace) that triggered the hallyu (the Korean culture) craze in the early 2000s, appears cool about her return. “I lose some, but win some as I grow older,” Lee told The Korea Times at a hotel in downtown Seoul. “I believe aging is more of a benefit for my career, because my experience is reflected in my acting. If my performance in 'Bring Me Home' garners good reviews, I think age would be a contributing factor.” After “Bring Me Home” was screened for theDec 3, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
Director Johnson recreates Christie's murder mystery with 'Knives Out' A poster for director Rian Johnson's new mystery film “Knives Out,” is a modern adaptation of an Agatha Christie style murder mystery. Courtesy of All Star EntertainmentBy Lee Gyu-leeWriter and director Rian Johnson, who directed “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” has created an entertaining, modern-day whodunit film based on Agatha Christie's murder mystery style in “Knives Out.”A murder in a closed area, full of suspects with a possible motive, sounds very similar to Christie's “Murder on the Orient Express,” the most recent movie of which was in 2017 with an A-list cast. While paying homage to her work, this film tries to reinterpret it with relentless twists and turns, going through flashbacks, and incorporating bits and pieces of satire from politics and comedy.The film starts with a maid finding Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), the patriarch of the house, with his throat slit the morning after celebrating his birthday with his family. The 85-year-old bestselling mystery novelist has amassed extreme wealth from his career and has spDec 2, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
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