무한도전팀, 오늘(23일) 평창에 뜬다 (서울=코리아타임스) 우지원 인턴기자 = 국민예능 MBC ‘무한도전’ 팀이 평창 올림픽의 성공적 개최를 기원하며 평창에서 촬영을 진행한다. MBC 관계자에 따르면 '무한도전'의 제작진과 멤버들은 오늘(23일) 강원도 평창에서 촬영을 진행한다. 촬영은 평창과 강릉 일대에 위치한 '2018 평창 동계올림픽'의 경기장에서 이뤄지며 다양한 동계 올림픽 종목을 체험하는 형태로 진행된다.MBC 관계자는 이번 촬영이 평창올림픽에 대한 국민의 관심을 고취시키는 데 도움을 줄 것이라 기대했다. 한국 갤럽이 지난 1~2일 전국 성인 1천 3명을 대상으로 실시한 여론조사에서 평창 올림픽에 관심이 없다고 밝힌 응답한 사람은 49%로 높게 나타났다. 개막까지 1년도 남지 않았지만 최순실 사태 등 각종 악재가 겹치면서 올림픽이 국민들의 관심을 끌지 못한 것이다.‘무한도전’과 평창과의 인연은 각별하다. 지난 2009년 방송된 봅슬레이 특집에서는 동계올림픽 비인기 종목 중 하나인 봅슬레이에 도전해 썰매 종목 불모지인 한국 국가대표팀에 투자를 이끌어냈다. 2011년 2월에는 ‘평창 올림픽 유치 기원 특집’에서 웃음을 주는 여러 미션으로 국민적 관심을 환기시키며 평창 올림픽개최지 유치에 힘을 보탰다. 가장 최근인 2015년에는 평창의 알펜시아 스키 점프대를 배경으로 ‘무한도전-영동고속도로가요제’ 특집을 열기도 했다.Mar 23, 2017
'Defendant' closes with warning for crooked real world Promotional photo for SBS legal thriller "Defendant" / Courtesy of SBSBy Park Jin-haiThere was no surprise ending for SBS’s hit drama “Defendant,” which has driven viewers for the past two months with its thrilling cat-and-mouse case.The legal thriller, starring veteran actors Ji Sung and Um Ki-joon ended Tuesday with a mostly expected finale _ justice prevailed and the bad guy got punished.Cha Min-ho, Cha Myung Group's evil vice-chairman played by Um, who killed his twin brother to assume his identity, was sentenced to death, despite trying to get off by bribing a judge and pretending to be insane.Ji’s character prosecutor Park Jung-woo, framed by Cha for the death of his wife, visited his wife’s charnel house with his daughter and promised to make the world that his daughter would be living in more beautiful.Park, entering another crooked conglomerate, said to his colleagues, “We only have to catch those people whom our bosses say to leave alone.”The 18-part drama has had its share of criticisms that it repeats the samMar 22, 2017
Actor takes best memories from 'Rebel' Kim Sang-joongBy Park Jin-haiThe half-mark episode of “Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People,” MBC's 30-part period drama, starring veteran actor Kim Sang-joong and Yoon Kyun-sang, aired this week. Telling the story of Hong Gil-dong, a popular Korean literary figure based on a real life Joseon-era person, during the violent time-period, the Monday-Tuesday drama has enjoyed a steady rise in viewership ratings and positive reviews from viewers and critics.A solid plot, great performances of all cast members and the production staff’s efforts have been acknowledged for its success. But, if one should name just one critical element that made all this, no one would deny it was actor Kim Sang-joong, who played the role of Amogae, Hong's father and a greedy nobleman's slave.By portraying a slave named Amogae, which literally means nobody, the 51-year-old veteran actor emotionally identified with the character who lives a miserable life, deeply touching hearts of viewers with his acting.With the 14th episode, Kim leaves the drama as Amogae dies in peace after he and his son seeMar 21, 2017
Cooking entertainment shows evolving into various challenges The cast of Youn's Kitchen / Courtesy of tvNBy Yun Suh-youngTwo newly launched cooking entertainment shows are changing the paradigm of cooking on TV.Whereas previous shows were focused on chefs cooking meals in a competitive game mode, the two new shows - "Youn's Kitchen" and "Yosanghan Kitchen" - have shifted the cooking protagonists to celebrities.For Youn's Kitchen, which will start airing this Friday at 9:20 p.m. on cable entertainment network tvN, celebrities such as Youn Yeo-jung, Jung Yu-mi, and Lee Seo-jin open their own small Korean restaurant on a small island next to Bali, Indonesia. The show broadcasts how the three deal with managing the restaurant as well as cooking the meals themselves. Veteran actor Shin Goo will star as a part time employee.The three amateur "chefs" received cooking lessons from Korean chef Lee Won-il to learn how to cook bulgogi, the main dish of the restaurant, and learn how to operate and manage a restaurant from restaurateur Hong Seok-chun who runs several restaurants in Itaewon, Seoul.Producer Na Young-suk, who has produced successful shows in Mar 21, 2017
Comedian Lee Gook-ju embroiled in sexual harassment controversy Lee Gook-juFemale comedian Lee Gook-ju has been embroiled in a sexual harassment controversy after a young actor’s comment about Lee’s on-screen behavior toward male guests went viral. After a recent episode of MBC’s virtual marriage variety show “We Got Married” showed Lee and her virtual husband Sleepy having physical contact, Lee had been targeted by online harassment. Lee on Saturday declared war on social media on those people who have attacked her for her looks. One of the comments said, “If I were you, even if I get a fat payment for the shoot, I would never do it with her. If someone wants to see the end of capitalism, make him look at Sleepy.”Lee commented, “You guys must be very handsome. But, don’t worry. Even if you pay me 10 billion won, I have no intention to do it with you… I don’t get hurt (from your attacks), but I won’t sit back and watch, either. Expect what comes next.”Actor On Si-woo triggered the controversy by saying, “Did you feel bad about the online attacks? How dMar 20, 2017
온시우의 이국주 '성추행' 저격… 정당? 배우 온시우가 개그우먼 이국주를 공개적으로 비난해 파문이 일고 있다.논란은 이국주가 19일 자신의 SNS에 올린 '악플러'를 향한 경고문에 온시우가 비판하는 댓글을 달면서 시작됐다. 이국주는 같은 날 MBC '우리 결혼했어요' 방송 후 쏟아지는 악성 댓글을 캡쳐한 사진을 자신의 SNS에 게재하고 인신공격성 댓글 작성자들에 대한 법적 대응을 하겠다고 경고했다. 온시우는 댓글을 통해 “댓글로 조롱하니까 기분 나쁜가요?”라며 “당신이 공개석상에서 성희롱한 남자 연예인들은 어땠을까요? 대놓고 화낼 수도 없게 만드는 자리에서 씁쓸히 웃고 넘어갔을 그 상황. 이미 고소 열 번은 당하고도 남았을 일인데 부끄러운 줄이나 아시길” 이라며 이국주를 비난했다.페이스북 캡쳐논란이 확대되자 이국주와 온시우 모두 해당 글을 삭제했다. 이번 논란으로 인해 온라인 상에서 떠돌던 이국주의 ‘성희롱’ 행동이 다시금 화제가 되고 있다. 일부 네티즌들은 이국주가 함께 출연한 상대 남성에게 동의 없이 뽀뽀를 하거나 엉덩이를 만지며 평가적 발언을 일삼았던 무례한 행동을 다시금 지적하면서 온시우의 발언을 "사이다"라고 평했다. 반면, 인신공격성 댓글에 대해 경고한 이국주에게 성희롱 논란으로 대응한 것은 적절치 않았다는 반응도 따르고 있다. 이와 함께 온시우가 데뷔한지 얼마 되지 않은 신인배우라는 점을 꼬집으면서 이번 사건이 자신의 이름을 알리기 위한 ‘노이즈 마케팅'이라는 지적도 있다. 디지털뉴스부 @ Mar 20, 2017
Villainous characters captivate drama viewers Kim Jae-wook from OCN's crime drama "Voice" / Courtesy of OCNBy Park Jin-haiGentlemen in slick suits give kind and gentle smiles, but these bear a chilliness that makes viewers shudder.The small screen is thriving with attractive-looking villains.By imprinting strong images of creepy psychopathic characters, TV dramas have succeeded in creating extreme tension for viewers. And actors who play the evil antagonists are gaining more popularity than their righteous protagonists.Um Ki-joon of SBS legal thriller “Defendant” and Kim Jae-wook of the recently finished OCN crime drama “Voice” are now enjoying golden years in their acting careers with their latest villainous characters. After years of playing lesser recognized small roles, Um and Kim have now emerged as some of the most trustworthy and hottest actors.Um plays the roles of Cha Min-ho, Cha Myung Group’s evil vice-chairman, and Cha Sun-ho, his older twin brother in “Defendant.” Um, playing the roles of the twins, heirs to a shady company, freely switches from one to the other opposinMar 15, 2017
'The Liar and His Lover' to tell story of first love A promotional photo for tvN's romance drama "The Liar and His Lover" / Courtesy of CJ E&M By Park Jin-haiAt the start of spring, tvN will launch a new romance drama to make viewers heart flutter.“The Liar and His Lover,” a same name Japanese manga-based drama, will feature the love story about a depressed genius music composer Kang Han-kyul, played by Lee Hyun-woo, who had been living hiding his identity meets a high school student Yoon So-rim, played by Red Velvet’s Joy.“It is my latest project I accepted with great excitement. As the title of the drama signals, it is about love and lies. I wish viewers who would begin watching it with a little excitement end up realizing that they keep love in their hearts, too,” said director Kim Jin-man, during the press meeting at Imperial Palace Hotel in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Kim says although there are musical elements in it, but it is not a music-focused drama, but a sweet romance with music. “I wanted to show that love and music can change the world that we are living iMar 15, 2017
Content creator Lee aims to become Korea's Jon Stewart Content creator and media critic comedian Lee Young-joo / Courtesy of Lee Young-jooBy Jhoo Dong-chanLee Young-joo may have been a lesser-known figure in the star-studded lineup when he was first cast for a discussion panel of top cable channel JTBC’s new show, “Chayinanun Class.” But the content creator and media critic comedian was named the most frequently searched figure at the nation’s top internet portal Naver shortly after the show was first aired on March 5. The 33-year-old, who hosted the JTBC Digital Newsroom’s foreign affair show, “Brave New World,” and operates his own independent media Youtube channel, UpsetLab, attracted a great deal of audience attention for his cutting remarks and incisive questions during the show. Lee said “democracy is like underwear” when former welfare minister and show host Rhyu Si-min asked what democracy is during the show.“The first thing we wear is underwear after taking a shower. We then wear shirts and pants,” Lee said. “Likewise, I believe democracyMar 13, 2017
'Strong Woman Do Bong-soon' defies gender role stereotype A scene from “Strong Woman Do Bong-soon” / Courtesy of JTBCBy Park Jin-haiPoster for “Strong Woman Do Bong-soon” / Courtesy of JTBC“Strong Woman Do Bong-soon,” cable network JTBC's Friday-Saturday romantic comedy, is a rare drama. Unlike most stories featuring a lovely but fragile Cinderella character often saved by a leading male character in dangerous situations, “Strong Woman” revolves around a female with Wonder Woman-like superpowers.Do Bong-soon, played by actress Park Bo-young, a 1.6 meter-tall girl stops a bus that runs out of control and tosses bad guys effortlessly into the air.The cartoon-like fantasy romance drama tells the story of Do, born with Herculean strength which is passed down to women in her family for generations.However, Do has lived all her life hiding her real strength because of the curse that she would lose her power if she uses it for personal gains. She also wants to look “normal” to her long-time crush rookie detective In Guk-doo who said once that he likes feminine women.A young gaming companyMar 13, 2017
