Kim Nam-gil becomes criminal profiler in 'Through the Darkness' Actors Jin Seon-kyu, from left, Kim So-jin, and Kim Nam-gil pose for pictures during the online press conference for the SBS new crime series “Through the Darkness,” Tuesday. Courtesy of SBS By Lee Gyu-leeActor Kim Nam-gill is set to return to the small screen in the role of Korea's first criminal profiler in SBS' new crime series “Through the Darkness,” scheduled to premiere this Friday.“Working on this series has given me an opportunity to look into the work of a criminal profiler as a profession,” the actor said during the online press conference for the series, Tuesday. “I've been playing characters that are similar to me. And as I often took part in comedies and action genre flicks, I've actually been longing for roles that require a more delicate portrayal.”Based on the nonfiction novel of the same name by former profiler Kwon Il-yong and former journalist Ko Na-mu, the series revolves around Korea's first profiler Song Ha-young (Kim) who get inside the minds Jan 12, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Korean Symphony Orchestra names mezzo-soprano Choi Jung-sook as new CEO Hwang Hee, right, minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, appoints mezzo-soprano Choi Jung-sook as the CEO of the Korean Symphony Orchestra, a government-funded performing arts organization, in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismBy Park Ji-wonMezzo-soprano Choi Jung-sook, a former adjunct professor of vocal music at Sookmyung Women's University, has been named as the new CEO of the Korean Symphony Orchestra, a government-funded performing arts organization, replacing Park Sun-hee.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Tuesday that Choi will lead the state-funded orchestra with a term of three years.Choi, a graduate of the Sookmyung Women's University Department of Vocal Music, the Conservatory Arrigo Boito of Parma, Italy, and the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, has performed in Korea and Europe. She has been working as a board member of Korea's Regional Culture & Development Agency since last year.“Based on her experiences and expertise, it is believed that she will activate cooperation with government-fundJan 12, 2022By Park Ji-won
INTERVIEW Jung Woo-sung on becoming executive producer of 'The Silent Sea' Actor Jung Woo-sung is the executive producer of Netflix's Korean original series, “The Silent Sea.” Courtesy of NetflixBy Lee Gyu-leeNetflix's latest Korean original series, “The Silent Sea,” has created a buzz among K-drama fans not only due to its star-studded cast members, like Gong Yoo and Bae Doo-na, but also because of its executive producer, Jung Woo-sung who is a famous actor.The series has topped the streaming service's official weekly top 10 charts for non-English series, about a week after its premiere on Dec. 24.Jung, who made his producer debut with the 2016 romance film, “Remember You,” said that leading the sci-fi series, set on the moon, as the executive producer, was a huge challenge for him. “Producing a series is a very difficult thing to do. For 'Remember You,' I was also the lead actor, so I wasn't really able to have a third-person perspective. However, with 'The Silent Sea,' as I only took part as a producer, I was able to take a step back in overseeing the project and learn a lot,” Jung said in an interview withJan 12, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Korean movie, TV series released in China for first time in about 6 years A scene from "Saimdang: Memoir of Colors." / Courtesy of SBSA South Korean movie and a TV series have been officially released in Chinese theaters and via a local streaming platform for the first time in about six years, raising cautious hopes that the years-long cultural freeze between the neighboring countries is thawing.The comedy film "Oh! My Gran" (2020), starring veteran actress Na Moon-hee, hit Chinese theaters in December, becoming the first Korean-made film released in China since the period action movie "Assassination" in 2015.Last week, the state-owned Hunan Broadcasting System's online video platform Mango TV streamed Korea's 2017 fantasy romance series "Saimdang: Memoir of Colors." The broadcaster's local TV channel also aired a dubbed version of the TV series featuring "Dae Jang Geum" star Lee Young-ae and Song Seung-heon.This is the first time in about six years that a Korean TV series has been broadcast through an official platform in China. "Saimdang" was completed in 2016 and aired in Korea in 2017. But its Chinese release was put on hold for years after Beijing impJan 11, 2022
Moon congratulates 'Squid Game' actor for winning Golden Globe best TV supporting actor This image from the homepage of the Golden Globe Awards highlights O Yeong-su as the winner of Best Supporting Actor ― Television, Monday. Screen Capture from the homepage of Golden Globe AwardsPresident Moon Jae-in on Monday congratulated O Yeong-su for winning best TV supporting actor at this year's Golden Globe Awards for his role in "Squid Game." The 77-year-old O became the first South Korean actor ever to secure an acting trophy at the American awards show. In a message posted on social media, Moon delivered his respect and gratitude to the actor, saying that O's career, over more than 50 years, has made a deep impression on the global stage. Moon also praised other actors, actresses and production staff of "Squid Game" for displaying the potential of Korean culture. O played the elderly participant Oh Il-nam, who is secretly behind the deadly contest, in which debt-ridden people compete for 45.6 billion won (US$37.9 million) in prize money. (Yonhap)Jan 10, 2022
'Squid Game' actor O Yeong-su wins Golden Globe This handout image released by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) shows HFPA Grantee, Founder and Executive Director of Kids in the Spotlight Tige Charity, presenting the Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Series, Limited Series, or Television Movie Award on stage during the 79th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, Sunday. Korean actor O Yeong-su won the award at this year's Golden Globe Awards. AFP-YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeActor O Yeong-su has become the first Korean actor to clinch a Golden Globe Award for his role in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series, “Squid Game.” Actor O Yeong-su performs during Netflix's original series, “Squid Game.” Courtesy of NetflixDuring the 79th Golden Globe Awards, held behind closed doors without a broadcaster or streaming on Jan. 9 (PST), the actor won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role on Television. The smash-hit series become the first Korean series to earn three nominations at the Golden Globe Awards: Best Television Series, Best PerforJan 10, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Veteran actor sees career breakthrough in sunset years Actor O Yeong-su, left, features a poster for a theatrical show “Last Session.” YonhapBy Kang Hyun-kyungActor O Yeong-su, 78, is a late bloomer who eventually saw the dramatic rise of his career against all odds in his sunset years. Debuting as a theater actor in 1963, he has appeared in over 200 productions, including theatrical shows, movies and TV series. Among other works, he appeared in late director Kim Ki-duk's 2003 romance film, “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring,” and the 2009 TV series, “Queen Seondeuk.” In those works, he played a Buddhist monk. Despite his prolific career mostly in theatrical shows, O has been an obscure actor for the most part of his nearly six-decade acting career, and like many other theater actors who helplessly endure “cold and starving days” as a result of their choice to live a life by their passion, he barely made ends meet. The Netflix original series, “Squid Game,” has become a game changer in his life. His career took off as the Netflix show became a global sensation. There he plJan 10, 2022By Kang Hyun-kyung
Choi Min-sik to star in Disney+ original series 'King of Savvy' Actor Choi Min-sik / Courtesy of C-Jes EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooChoi Min-sik, one of the most successful movie stars in Korea, has officially signed on to star in the Disney+ original series, “King of Savvy,” previously reported to be titled, “Casino.”“King of Savvy” is a crime action drama about a casino mogul who takes risks and tries to get back into the game. It will be written and directed by Kang Yoon-sung, who helmed “The Outlaws,” and is reported to have a budget of over 20 billion won ($16.7 million). While Choi has remained active in the film industry, “King of Savvy” is Choi's first TV project in 24 years, since he starred in MBC's 1997-98 drama, “Love and Separation.” The 59-year-old actor received crucial acclaim for his role in the 2003 action thriller, “Oldboy,” and achieved commercial success with his role in the 2014 film, “Roaring Currents,” which is by far the highest-grossing film in Korea, with over 17 million admissions.Most recently, Choi played a terminally ill Jan 10, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
O Yeong-su wins Golden Globes best TV supporting actor for 'Squid Game' O Yeong-su / Yonhap South Korean actor O Yeong-su has won best TV supporting actor at this year's Golden Globe Awards for his role in "Squid Game."In the winners list of the annual awards event thrown by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), Sunday (local time), the 77-year-old actor won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role on TV for his role in the Netflix original series.He beat Billy Crudup and Mark Duplass of "The Morning Show," Kieran Culkin of "Succession" and Brett Goldstein of "Ted Lasso" to clinch the award.O played the elderly participant Oh Il-nam, who is secretly behind the deadly contest, in which heavily debt-ridden people attempt to win 45.6 billion won ($37.9 million) in prize money.The 79th edition of the Golden Globes was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles with no audience and no television broadcast after a Hollywood boycott for its alleged lack of diversity. (Yonhap)Jan 10, 2022
Jang Dong-yoon, Nana to co-star in new fantasy romance series Actors Jang Dong-yoon, left, and Im Jin-ah will play the lead characters in the new fantasy romance series “My Man is Cupid” (unofficial translation). Courtesy of Dongyi Company and Pledis EntertainmentBy Lee Gyu-leeActors Jang Dong-yoon and Im Jin-ah, better known by her stage name Nana from when she was a member of the now disbanded girl group After School, will be co-starring in the upcoming fantasy romance series, “My Man is Cupid” ― a translation of the tentative Korean title.The series' production company, HB Entertainment, announced Friday that the two were cast as the lead actors and production is set to begin. “'My Man is Cupid' is a series that will be an oasis to fans who have been longing for a fantasy romance film with characters they can fall head over heels for,” the studio said in its statement. “We ask for much support for our series which will bring heart-fluttering romance in 2022.“ Directed by Nam Tae-jin, who recently led the popular period series “Lovers of the Red Sky,” the new series will revolve arouJan 9, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
