Entertainment - The Korea Times

Netflix series 'Glitch' inspired by UFO experience of writer's wife

Gin Han-sai, the writer of Netflix series "Glitch," is seen in this photo provided by Netflix. YonhapNetflix's new sci-fi mystery series "Glitch" began as a story about unidentified flying objects (UFO) and added elements of conspiracy theory and religion to deal with a broad range of contemporary social issues, its writer said. Gin Han-sai wrote "Glitch," directed by Roh Deok, which centers on a young woman who joins forces with a UFO enthusiast to investigate her boyfriend's sudden disappearance and stumbles into a wild conspiracy. The 10-episode series was the second-most streamed drama series on Netflix Korea in the first week of its release on Oct. 7, and is now ranked fourth.Following his sensational debut work "Extracurricular" (2020) on teenage crimes, Gin once again captured viewers' attention with an unusual plot about UFO and extraterrestrials that blended crime thriller, pseudo-religion and women's comradeship. The 37-year-old said he doesn't believe in UFOs but was struck by the personal experience of his wife, who claimed she saw a UFO in her early childhood. "I had lon

Oct 20, 2022

Netflix series 'Glitch' inspired by UFO experience of writer's wife

Netflix's teen romance film '20th Century Girl' evokes nostalgic feel for '90s

From left to right, Park Jung-woo, Roh Yoon-seo, Kim Yoo-jung, and Byeon Woo-seok attend a press conference for the upcoming Netflix original movie "20th Century Girl" at CGV Yongsan, Oct 19. NewsisThe upcoming Netflix original movie "20th Century Girl" is a sweet teen romance set in 1999 that will make the audience feel nostalgic for the '90s with retro items, fashion and music, its director said Wednesday. The story centers on a 17-year-old girl who keeps close tabs on a boy in school on behalf of her best friend and she ends up in a love story of her own.Against the backdrop of the '90s, Bora (Kim Yoo-jung) secretly records Baek Hyun-jin (Park Jung-woo) on a camcorder and strikes up a friendship with his friend Poong Un-ah (Byun Woo-seok) to learn more information about Baek.Director Bang Yoo-ri said she wrote the script based on her own experience of exchanging diaries with her friend, thinking the story could resonate with a broader audience. "It began with a diary I exchanged with my friend," the 39-year-old said in a press conference. "About 80 percent of the diary was about a

Oct 19, 2022

Netflix's teen romance film '20th Century Girl' evokes nostalgic feel for '90s

INTERVIEW 'Little Women' writer creates well-woven story of sisters

TvN's thriller drama series, “Little Women,” follows the story of three sisters. Courtesy of tvNBy Lee Gyu-leeTvN's thriller drama series, “Little Women,” recently wrapped up in success, offering a refreshing, modern take on Louisa May Alcott's coming-of-age novel of the same name. Screenwriter Chung Seo-kyung of the series, “Little Women” / Courtesy of tvNThe 12-part series, which ended with its highest viewership rating of 11.1 percent on Oct. 9, followed the story of three sisters: bookkeeper In-ju (Kim Go-eun), journalist In-kyeong (Nam Ji-hyun) and high school student In-hye (Park Ji-hu). Though debt-ridden due to irresponsible parents, In-ju comes across a large sum of money that was left by her deceased co-worker. As In-ju digs into her co-worker's death, the three sisters cross paths with the country's richest and most influential family and go against the family to reveal their dark conspiracy. “The reason I came up with this series was I had a question: 'What if three sisters, who are living in poverty, get a huge sum of money?' The

Oct 18, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

[INTERVIEW] 'Little Women' writer creates well-woven story of sisters

Jun Jong-seo, Jin Seon-kyu fascinated by one-take scenes in 'Bargain'

From left, actors Jin Seon-kyu, Jun Jong-seo, director Jun Woo-sung, and actor Chang Ryul pose during an online press conference for Tving's new original series “Bargain,” Monday. Courtesy of TvingTving's disaster thriller set for release on Oct. 28By Lee Gyu-leeTving's new original series, “Bargain,” starring actors Jun Jong-seo of the crime series, “Money Heist: Korea,” and Jin Seon-kyu of the hit comedy film, “Extreme Job,” is set to release on Oct. 28.The crime-thriller series is an adaptation of director Lee Chung-hyun's award-winning short film of the same name in 2015, about a school girl and a man bargaining for prostitution. Director Jeon Woo-sung, who was part of the production team of the original short film, picked up the story and developed it into a six-part series. “It did worry me and put a sense of pressure to expand the story from the short film,” the director said during an online press conference for the series, Monday. “I felt that the series can make use of the one-take cinematography technique th

Oct 18, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Jun Jong-seo, Jin Seon-kyu fascinated by one-take scenes in 'Bargain'

Romance dramas to suspense thriller series set to hit screens this month

A poster for KBS series, "Curtain Call," left, and the Tving series, "Bargain" / Courtesy of Victory Contents, TvingBy Lee Gyu-leeA string of series, from the star-studded drama, “Curtain Call,” to the mystery thriller, “Shadow Detective,” is set to be released in the next few weeks. KBS' new series, “Curtain Call,” brings together a lineup of stars, including veteran actress Go Doo-shim as well as Kang Ha-neul, Ha Ji-won, Kwon Sang-woo, and Sung Dong-il. The drama series, set to go on air on Oct. 31, revolves around an aspiring actor, Yoo Jae-heon (Kang), in a local theater troupe. Despite growing up as an orphan and going through financial hardship, he always remains optimistic and high-spirited, working hard to make his name as an actor. One day, he gets an offer to pretend to be a man who defected from North Korea and is the grandson of an elderly woman, Ja Geum-soon (Go), the founder and owner of one of the largest hotel chains in Korea, to fulfill her last wish.Pretending to be the lost grandson, Jae-heon's life changes as he meets Geum-soon'

Oct 16, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Romance dramas to suspense thriller series set to hit screens this month

Netflix music show 'Take 1' to offer blockbuster performances by top musicians

From left, Lee Chan-hyuk of AKMU, producer Kim Hak-min, and Lee Su-hyun of AKMU pose during a press conference for Netflix's new music show, “Take 1,” in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Gyu-leeNetflix is set to debut its first Korean music show, “Take 1,” which will offer dynamic, big-budget performances from Korea's renowned musicians across genres. “We came up with the idea of this wild project where we ask singers, 'If you are to sing one last song of yours before you die, what would it be?' And then we prepare that stage and tear it down after the performance,” Kim Hak-min, the show's creator and producer, said during a press conference for the show in Seoul, Thursday. The seven-part music show invites well-known artists ― soprano Sumi Jo, solo artists Yim Jae-beom, Park Jung-hyun, Rain and You Hee-yul, K-pop duo AKMU and girl group Mamamoo ― for each episode to choose a song and create the greatest performance of their lifetime.The producer, whose previous shows include JTBC's music shows, “Sing Again” and “Sugarma

Oct 14, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Netflix music show 'Take 1' to offer blockbuster performances by top musicians

INTERVIEW Director of Netflix's 'Glitch' calls series her turning point

Netflix's new series “Glitch” revolves around two friends hunting for clues in an alien mystery. Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Gyu-leeDirector Roh Deok, who helmed Netflix's new genre-bending Korean original series “Glitch,” said that working on the series has led her to reach a turning point in her career. Director Roh Deok of Netflix's original series “Glitch” / Courtesy of Netflix“This project took up about two to three times the turnaround time of a film. And a lot has happened during the process, personally. I think the way I approach the actors and production staff has changed a lot,” the director said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Jongno District, central Seoul, Wednesday. “In the past, my priority was focused on making a good project. But with this one, I also learned to be there for the staff and those working together and put faith in them, which I felt actually helped them. This series has become a turning point.”Released last Friday, the series debut for the director, whose previous work inclu

Oct 13, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

[INTERVIEW] Director of Netflix's 'Glitch' calls series her turning point

Song Hye-kyo donates guidebooks to Utoro museum to mark Hangeul Day

Actress Song Hye-kyo / Captured from InstagramBy Dong Sun-hwaActress Song Hye-kyo and Professor Seo Kyung-duk ― an active promoter of Korea ― have donated 10,000 Korean/English guidebooks to Utoro Peace Memorial Museum, Japan, in celebration of Oct. 9 Hangeul (Korean alphabet) Day. Utoro is a neighborhood near Kyoto where some 1,300 Koreans were forced into labor for Japans' military during World War II. Seo, a professor of general education at Sungshin Women's University, delivered the news about their donation on his Facebook account, Sunday. “The guidebooks will be placed on the first floor of the museum, which opened in April,” he said. “We produced these books for the convenience of visitors and they are available in English as well. We believe people of all genders and ages will be able to understand the history of Utoro with the help of our books.” The professor added that he and Song made the contribution to preserve Utoro's history. “Two years ago, we donated a bulletin board that is currently at the entrance of Utoro village and this time, we m

Oct 9, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa

Song Hye-kyo donates guidebooks to Utoro museum to mark Hangeul Day

Joo Won to lead tvN's new comedy action series

By Lee Gyu-lee Joo Won / Courtesy of tvN Actor Joo Won is making a small screen comeback with tvN's upcoming comedy action series. The network announced, Friday, that the actor will be taking the lead role in the series, “Stealer” (literal translation), set to go on air in the first half of next year. His last small screen appearance was SBS' action romance series “Alice” in 2020.Directed by Choi Joon-bae, whose previous work includes the mystery, suspense series “Mouse,” the caper-genre series will revolve around a group of government officials who form an unofficial team named “Karma” to retrieve missing cultural assets. Joo will play the role of Dae-myung who is an official at the Cultural Heritage Administration. He is easygoing with little interest in his work. One day, he gets accused of having a connection with a mysterious thief, dubbed Skunk, and joins Karma to hunt down the thief. “Although it is fictional, it tells a meaningful story. I was drawn to how the

Oct 8, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee

Joo Won to lead tvN's new comedy action series

Director Lee Joon-ik says Tving sci-fi drama 'Beyond the Memory' coming after failed attempt

Lee Joon-ik, left, Korean director of Tving's new drama series "Yonder," and Shin Ha-kyun, its lead character, attend the 27th Busan International Film Festival's "Open Talk" session held at an outdoor theater of the Busan Cinema Center, Oct. 7. YonhapKorean director Lee Joon-ik said Friday he is finally introducing Tving's upcoming series "Beyond the Memory" next week following one failed attempt a decade ago as he thought the time is ripe for the near future sci-fi drama. Part of the six-episode series was premiered at the 27th Busan International Film Festival on Thursday in the "On Screen" section for highly anticipated drama series from streaming platforms. Set in 2032, the drama presents the story of a widower (Shin Ha-kyun) who receives a mysterious message from his dead wife (Han Ji-min) inviting him to a place named Yonder where the dead can live on by uploading their memories. It is based on Kim Jang-hwan's 2011 sci-fi novel "Good-bye Yonder." The 62-year-old master of Korean period dramas, best known for "The King and the Clown" (2005), began working on the novel's script

Oct 7, 2022

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