Entertainment - The Korea Times

Young Star Jung il-woo Returns With Iljimae

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Young star Jung Il-woo is back as the stylish and righteous warrior Iljimae, the Joseon Kingdom's Robin Hood. Originally a comic strip, it has been made into dramas most recently last year. But MBC is aiming to bring the popular storyline to the next level with ``Iljimae Returns'' (working title). ``It's an old story, but the plots and characters are very modern. I just thought Iljimae was charming and cool, but as I started to get to know him better, I realized that he was actually a very sad person. I still need to analyze him,'' Jung said at the press conference for the drama last week. ``Iljimae'' was a comic serial strip series in the Daily Sports, a daily newspaper focused on sports and entertainment, from 1975 to 1977. The work of famed cartoonist Ko Woo-young, its catchy plot and interesting characters helped it become a hit and it's only just reached its peak in popularity. Jung will be the third actor to portray Iljimae after fellow actors Jang Dong-kun and Lee Jun-ki. Jang appeared in a 1993 drama and Lee in the SBS drama. The

Jan 13, 2009

Park Yong-ha Returns as Scam Artist

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The economic crisis is chilling the winter weather, but South Korea's first stock market movie ``The Scam'' is expected to turn the temperature up a notch. A hotel ballroom was crowded with over 300 reporters in Seoul Tuesday for the appearance of top Korean talent, including hallyu star Park Yong-ha. He plays the role of a jobless, self-taught trader who hits the jackpot. But little did he know he disrupted a big stock market scam led by a gangster trying to reinvent himself as a financial mogul (Park Heui-soon). ``I mostly played suave roles in melodramas, so I was drawn to my disheveled, desperate character. Also, the script was so gripping, despite my zero knowledge of stocks,'' said the ``On Air'' star, who is also a popular singer in Japan. He sported a semi casual look with a crisp white T-shirt and gray suit. The 31-year-old plays his first prominent film role ever since starring in an obscure project 10 years ago (``When It Snows on Christmas'') and a supporting role in ``Again.'' Continuing the recent Korean film industry trend, th

Jan 7, 2009

JYP, Yonsama to Produce Drama

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon and star producer Park Jin-young are teaming up to produce the television drama ``Dream High.'' Bae's company Key East and Park's company JYP Entertainment announced Tuesday that they reached an agreement to co-produce a drama about the lives of students attending a school for performing arts. JYP Entertainment and Key East will invest in the joint corporation to be formed this month. Both companies will be directly involved in the drama production. Park will be personally in charge of music production and choreography. Bae will supervise the screenplay and production. The drama, which is expected to air in 2010, appears to be similar to the worldwide hit Disney movie ``High School Musical.'' ``Dream High'' will feature students singing, dancing and acting as they try to achieve their dream to become entertainers. There are plans to hold open auditions to find young talented actors, singers and performers for the drama. ``We have the advantage of having an actor (Bae) and a music executive (Park). Combin

Jan 7, 2009

Idol Stars Gearing Up for Various Activities

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The idol forecast for 2009 will be bright with new groups, individual activities, concerts and tours. Super Junior, the 13-member pop group, saw some of its members branching out here and also abroad through smaller ``units'' like Super Junior-T, Super Junior-Happy, Super Junior-M and Super Junior-K.R.Y, but this year will see all of the members getting together as one whole group. ``We think we show our best performances when we are all working together. We will show everyone what Super Junior has in store this year, all together,'' the members said at a recent press conference before their concert scheduled for this month. The group will release its third album in March. While the members of Super Junior are getting back together, Big Bang is gearing up for solo activities. The five-member pop group is holding concerts from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 and will greet fans individually through different projects. Victory, known as Seung-ri here, has started performing solo songs recently. His song ``Strong Baby'' was included in the group's alb

Jan 6, 2009

Idol Group Big Bang to Offer Big Show

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Iconic boy band Big Bang had a busy year in 2008, and the five-member group is staging a concert titled ``Big Show'' to celebrate the New Year and thank fans. Comprised of TOP, Victory, G-Dragon, Dae-sung and Tae-yang, the group will perform at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium, one of the biggest concert venues in Seoul. The group's reputation for bringing hoards of fans to their concerts is nothing new, and it's been proven once again that Big Bang is still one of the top idol groups in the business. The three-day concert tickets were sold through Internet Web site G Market, with more than 200,000 fans logging on to buy tickets when the sales opened, with more than 180,000 fans doing the same during the second stage. Big Bang originally planned on holding three concerts ― one on Jan. 31 and two the following day ― but after fans demanded more, the group's agency, YG Entertainment, decided to hold another on Jan. 30. With further Internet ticket bookings planned for Jan. 6, the agency estimated that more than 52,000 fans will appe

Jan 5, 2009

New US Dramas to Greet Fans This Year

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Interest in television dramas was high last year, and cable channels are gearing up for another busy year. Cable channel Catch On is offering new seasons of some of the most popular television series, including the fifth season of ``Desperate Housewives,'' the fourth of ``My Name is Earl,'' the second of ``Californication'' and ``Dirty Sexy Money.'' ``Dirty Sexy Money'' will air every Monday at 11 a.m. The five desperate, yet comical and sexy housewives, will be screened every Tuesday at 11 a.m., while ``My Name is Earl,'' the American sitcom starring Jason Lee as a petty fellow trying to undo the wrong he committed, will greet fans every Friday at 11 a.m., followed by ``Californication'' starring David Duchovny at 11: 30 a.m.. Cable channel XTM brought viewers ``Saving Grace,'' starring Holly Hunter as a smoking and binge-drinking detective. Fans will get to see a new side of the Academy Award-winning actress, who won acclaim for her impeccable performance in the film ``The Piano.'' ``Saving Grace'' airs every Thursday at midnight.

Jan 4, 2009

Whats on Cultural Horizon in 2009?

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The year 2009 is now finally around the corner, and it is about time to prepare for the New Year. The past year was an interesting one, and readers can now preview what is planned in 2009. Dramas Historical Dramas on the Rise: The three major networks are planning to air three distinctive historical dramas next year, MBC with ``Queen Seondeok,'' KBS with ``Empress Cheonchoo'' and SBS with ``Jamyeonggo'' (working titles). The three dramas will touch on the lives of powerful women during the period in which the programs are set: the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392), the Silla Kingdom (668-935) and the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D.668), respectively. Starring Ko Hyun-joung and Lee Yo-won, ``Queen Seondeok'' will carry the story of the first queen to rule during Goryeo, while ``Empress Cheonchoo'' will bring back the courageous grand daughter of King Taejo (47-165), played by Chae Si-ra, and her lifelong struggle to protect the country her ancestors built. ``Jamyeonggo'' is based on the folk tale of princess Nak-rang and Goguryoe's prince Ho-don

Dec 30, 2008

Dooly to Return to Small Screen

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter One of Korea's first animation characters ``Dooly'' will appear on the small screen for the first time in 21 years, with the aim of making the small green dinosaur an international culture asset. At a press conference for the airing of the new animation last week at SBS, cartoonist Kim Soo-jung appeared with a bright smile, evidently happy to be introducing his new work. ``If I were to give it a grade, I would give it 75 out of 100. I'm pretty much satisfied,'' Kim said. The new 26-episode television series will start on Christmas morning and continue though next year every Thursday, the first time the character will be on television in a long time. Unlike the past when he worked only as the cartoonist, Kim actively joined the project as a director. ``I wasn't satisfied with the previous episodes, so I participated in every part of the process this time, from scenarios to editing,'' he said. Dooly started as a short comic strip in 1983, and was animated for television in 1987. The story of the stranded dinosaur and the famil

Dec 23, 2008

Boys Over Flowers to Air in January

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The famous Japanese cartoon ``Boys Over Flowers'' by Yoko Kamio will be broadcast next year through the small screen, complete with a Korean version of ``Flower 4,'' that features handsome boys and a headstrong heroine. Fans, reporters and camera crews packed the press conference held at a hotel in central Seoul, confirming the anticipation the drama has stirred for fans here. The drama has cast four actors who were chosen from auditions: Lee Min-ho (Tsukasa Domyoji, or Goo Jun-pyo in the Korean version); Kim Hyun-joong (Rui Hanazawa, or Yoon Ji-hu); Kim Bum (Sojirou Nishikado, or So E-jeong); and Kim Jun (Akira Mimasaka, or Song Woo-bin). Actress Ku Hye-sun will play Tsukushi Makino, or Geum Jan-di. The story ― about four boys and one lucky girl, spiced with the right mix of love triangles, troubles in school and parents and luxurious adolescent life ― captivated Asia, first through its original comic book, then through an animation, dramas from Japan and Taiwan and a movie. Why another one, particularly a drama? ``I was asked to mak