The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 3

    30 people purchased 8,000 homes: data

  • 5

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 7

    Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors

  • 9

    National Assembly passes motion to arrest DPK chief

  • 11

    Gender equality minister nominee in hot seat over remarks on abortion

  • 13

    S. Korea condemns Russia, seeks to mend ties with China

  • 15

    Honey-dipped cookie to represent 'K-desserts' at global food expo in Germany

  • 17

    Aespa's VR concert to hit theaters Oct. 25

  • 19

    KG Mobility seeks breakthrough in Europe

  • 2

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 4

    BTS defies K-pop's 'seven-year curse'

  • 6

    BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo

  • 8

    Rights experts from 17 countries demand release of North Korean escapees in China

  • 10

    Seoul invites ambassadors to introduce new halal foods in Korea

  • 12

    Yoon says arms deal between N. Korea, Russia would be 'direct provocation' against S. Korea

  • 14

    US striving to stop NK's potential weapons support to Russia 'wherever we can': Blinken

  • 16

    Top court upholds life sentence for woman over drowning husband for insurance money

  • 18

    COVID-19 deaths hit record high in Korea for 2022

  • 20

    From friend to foe: NK athletes of 2018 joint Korean teams return as rivals to S. Korea

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sat, September 23, 2023 | 16:45
Films
Musical film 'Life is Beautiful' features songs from 1970s to 2000s
Posted : 2022-09-14 15:49
Updated : 2022-09-14 16:09
Kwak Yeon-soo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A scene from the film, 'Life is Beautiful' / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
A scene from the film, "Life is Beautiful" / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

By Kwak Yeon-soo

"Life is Beautiful," which promises laughter and tears, is a jukebox musical film featuring Korean songs from the 1970s to 2000s.

Director Choi Kook-hee said he picked out the best retro songs from artists including Shin Joong-hyun, Choi Ho-seob, Lee Seung-chul, Lee Juck and Toy that dominated the eras from the 1970s to early 2000s. Some of the iconic songs featured in the film are Lee Moon-sae's "Unpredictable Life" and "The Cult of Solo," as well as Lim Byung-soo's "Ice Cream Love."

"We tried to select songs that can propel the arc of characters and convey a heightened sense of emotions," he said during a press conference for the film, Tuesday. "The script first reminded me of my mother. Anyone who has a mother or a family will be able to relate to the story."

The comedy-drama film follows Se-yeon (Yum Jung-ah), who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Her dying wish is to reconnect with her first love, so she asks her husband, Jin-bong (Ryu Seung-ryong), to help her locate him.

Jin-bong reluctantly agrees to accompany her, and the couple soon embark on a journey across the country, visiting cities like Mokpo, Busan and Bogil Island located in South Jeolla Province.

Actress Park Se-wan portrays the younger version of Se-yeon while singer-actor Ong Seong-wu stars as Se-yeon's first love in the flashback subplot.

The actors practiced their singing parts and choreography for almost a year ahead of the filming, according to director Choi.

A scene from the film, 'Life is Beautiful' / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
From left, actors Park Se-wan, Yum Jung-ah, Ryu Seung-ryong and director Choi Kook-hee pose during a press conference for the film, "Life is Beautiful," in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

Describing "Life is Beautiful" as a film that reminds people of the value of small things in life, Ryu said the cast focused on conveying the character arc through the songs.

"We didn't want the songs to disrupt the storyline. We recorded songs in the studio and played them back on set for us to lip sync to. However, it was more challenging than I thought," he said.

Yum said it was her dream to star in a musical film. "Both singing and dancing were difficult. The recording process was also hard," she said.

Ryu said he was happy to star alongside Yum, whom he greatly admired. "We clicked immediately because we are both married and have kids. She was friendly from the moment we met, calling me 'oppa,'" he said.

Yum said she has always wanted to work together with Ryu. "I've watched Ryu's 'Extreme Job' a couple of times, and every time I was impressed by his comedy acting," she said.

Park, who plays the role of the younger Se-yeon, said she tried to mimic Yum by frequently staring at her photos. "I didn't adopt Yum's gestures or habits. I just looked up Yum's pictures and tried to mimic her smile," she said.

"Life is Beautiful" will hit local theaters, Sept. 28.


Emailyeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlightScientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight
2Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors
3Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday
4Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales
5Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech
6Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry
7Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI
8Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater
9Saudi Arabia celebrates 93rd National DaySaudi Arabia celebrates 93rd National Day
10'Songpyeon' for low-income families 'Songpyeon' for low-income families
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
2[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
3Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
4[INTERVIEW] 'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema INTERVIEW'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema
5[INTERVIEW] Seoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea INTERVIEWSeoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group