The Hyacinth Papers

Boys over Flowers' Actress Jang Found Dead in Suicide

2009-03-08T14:43:00.002-04:00

Boys over Flowers' Actress Jang Found Dead in Apparent Suicide
03-08-2009 18:29

Actress Jang Ja-yeon was found dead in an apparent suicide Saturday at her home in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Rising actress Jang Ja-yeon, who was currently starring in the KBS 2TV hit drama ``Boys over Flowers,'' was found dead in an apparent suicide Saturday at her home in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.

Police said that the 26-year-old actress apparently hanged herself from a stairway railing and was discovered by her sister around 7:30 p.m.

Jang was known to have had trouble with her current management agency renewing her contract. The actress had complained about the overwhelming stress to her sister during a phone call at 3:30 p.m. that day, saying she ``wants to die.''

According to police investigations, Jang also suffered from depression and had undergone medical treatment during the past year. About 10 years ago, Jang lost both of her parents in a car accident when she was in high school and had lived with her sister since.

A will has yet to be found, but after her family's statements about the actress' ongoing struggle with depression, police are searching for further evidence of suicide and returned Jang's body to the bereaved family without performing an autopsy.

Various stars, including the cast of Boys Over Flowers, are visiting the late actress' mortuary at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital to offer their condolences.

After her public debut in 2006 in a TV commercial, Jang rose to stardom playing Sunny, one of the three mean girls in Boys over Flowers. She was also awaiting her big screen debut in Penthouse Elephant.

Korea Times Intern Hwang Sung-hee contributed to the article
(ssung_86@hotmail.com).

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr p

LINK to article.

2009-The Year of the Earth Ox

2009-01-25T11:56:00.003-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

PEACE
HEALTH
PROSPERITY
JOY

Distinctive Reinterpretation Shines in Musical '200-Pound'

2009-01-24T13:13:00.001-05:00

The buzz word in this year's musical trend was``movical,'' referring to the combination of movies and musicals.

The boom in re-creating the cinematic arts on the musical stage cashes in on the success of hit films such as ``Radio Star'' and ``The Harmonium in My Memory.'' Yet such musicals could be boring if they simply follow the same storyline of the film.

However, a new musical, ``200-Pound Beauty,'' based on the 2006 film of the same title, simply took the worries away by distinctively reinterpreting the original work.

The musical, starring singer-turned-actress Bada, better known as Choi Sung-hee, and actress Yoon Gong-ju, who both portray Kang Han-byeol, and actor Song Chang-ui, who takes the role of Han Sang-jun, opened Thursday at Chung Art Hall in Seoul.

The musical effectively condensed the story of the film version into an intensive comical show, with diverse musical elements and reinterpreted characters.

Using many musical numbers in addition to familiar songs already in the film, the musical invented more sophisticated stage sets, helping them change more quickly and spontaneously.

The most difficult part of the musical rendition was to portray the highlight of the story in which Han-byeol ― the title character ― transforms from a more-than-200-pound woman into a slim and beautiful woman after cosmettic surgery.

To portray the transformation, the musical used special make-up and specially designed stage sets, lights and costumes. In the surgery scene, the obese Han-byeol's change occurs like magic while a musical number is played.

The musical put more emphasis on the character of Lee Gong-hak, a top cosmetic surgeon who also happens to be her phone-sex customer, who was played by veteran actor Kim Sung-ki. Kim wonderfully inhabits the character with his unique mannerisms, a crucial part of the show for entertaining the audience.

Main actress Yoon exerted her energetic vocal capacity, displaying vocal tones reminiscent of the film heroine Kim A-jung's voice.

Her acting and singing were superb, fitting for the role of a top singer, but with much more accurate pronunciation and powerful resonance.

However, Song, who played Sang-jun, a famed music producer, was a little bit disappointing, as his timbre was a little unstable.

The musical was faithfully loyal to the basic plot but cut unnecessary parts and then filled the gaps with witty lyrics tinged with musical imagination and catchy musical numbers to escalate dramatic tension.

The original work's scenes of cinematic sophistication were replaced with musical elements with the help of the diverse staging.

Not only the actors and actresses but also the chorus and dancers superbly supported the story.

The musical reaches the same conclusion as the film, but its finale, in which Han-byeol and Sang-jun sing a duet, was a fresh twist possible only in the musical genre.

Broadway composer Tim Acito and stage designer Brian Prather were part of the creative team.

The musical ``200-Pound Beauty'' will be on stage until Feb. 1 at the Chungmu Art Hall, central Seoul. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 90,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3485-8721 or visit www.musicalbeautifulgirl.com.

By Chung Ah-young,Staff Reporter
12-02-2008
The Korea Times
Article link.

`200-Pound Beauty' Goes on Stage

2009-01-24T12:57:00.004-05:00

I recently saw the movie, and was surprised to discover it has been made into a musical. It's a great idea.

A local hit film ``200-Pound Beauty'' has been made into a musical, starring singer-turned-actress Choi Sung-hee, better known as Bada, former member of all-girl group S.E.S. and rising actor Song Chang-ui.

Based on the popularity of the film that attracted 6.62 million viewers in 2006, the much-hyped romantic comedy musical will follow the same storyline. But the genre being different, the musical differently portrays the highlight of the story in which Kang Han-byeol _ the title role _ transforms from a more-than-200-pound woman into a slim and beautiful woman thanks to a plastic surgery.

Han-byeol has a gifted voice who dreams of becoming a singer but can't appear on stage because of her ugly figure, and instead dubs her voice for a prettier singer from behind the stage.

While singing backstage, she falls in love with Han Sang-jun, a music producer played by Song who highly appreciates her musical talent. To recover her confidence as a singer, she undergoes plastic surgery and becomes a famous singer with a totally different look, getting closer to Sang-jun as a top star. But as she becomes popular, she feels guilty about hiding the truth and finally reveals her secret to the public.

To portray her transformation, the musical uses special make-up designers such as renowned makeup artist Chae Song-hwa and magicians such as Lee Eun-gyeol and Choi Hyun-woo, along with specially designed stage sets, lights and costumes.

To ensure a successful performance, Broadway composer Tim Acito and stage designer Brian Prather were added to the creative team.

``It will be magic as she (Han-byeol) transforms into a gorgeous woman during one scene while a musical number is played,'' said director Kim Dong-hyuk. However, the production company has kept more details about the scene secret.

The musical will feature songs that were used in the film such as ``Maria'' and ``Byeol.''

The musical, which has been in preparation for the past two years, is also targeting overseas markets such as China, Singapore and Hong Kong.
By Chung Ah-young, Staff Reporter
11-18-2008

The Korea Times
Article link.

Typhoon Fengshen

2008-06-22T08:33:00.000-04:00

To my friends and readers from the Philippines,

I am deeply saddened and distressed to learn of Typhoon Fengshen, and of the resulting loss of lives.

It is also true that many are waiting for word of the lost. My dearest wish is that your loved ones will be found alive.

I convey my deepest condolences to the families who have suffered deaths of their loved ones.

There are no correct words for this.

You mean so much to me. My comments here are not hollow. I grieve with you, not only for lives lost, but also, for all the pieces of your lives you may have lost.

Hyacinth

A Message From A. Ho - Hong Kong

2008-05-17T11:54:00.000-04:00

Thank you very much for posting a blog entry on the China quake and thinking of the quake victims.

Tens of thousands of people lost their lives in the 7.9-magnitude quake in Sichuan, China. The death toll is rocketing.

Just weeks ago, Myanmar, China’s neighouring country, was hit by a cyclone and a large number of survivors are desperate for relief aid.

In Hong Kong, people from all walks of life have pitched in to help the quake victims in Sichuan. Large amount of donations comes from business tycoons while other people do whatever they can to show their support to their countrymen.

May I appeal to the readers of this blog to lend a helping hand to those who were struck by the natural disasters? Keep the victims and the rescue workers in your prayer. Send donations to the charitable organizations which are organizing relief aid to China and Myanmar.

There is an old Chinese saying that goes like this, “Giving is happier than receiving”.

A. Ho
Hong Kong, China

Lydia Shum

2008-04-09T07:01:00.002-04:00

I am saddened to learn of the death of Hong Kong actress Lydia Shum, on February 19, 2008.

She was an immortal in my mind; a woman whose screen presence never failed to make me laugh.

I discovered her in the earliest days of my Asian film adventure.

A nice remembrance piece is posted at Sensasian's web site which includes her impressively extensive filmography.

This direct link will take you to the rememberance piece in the event the item is no longer on the homepage.

She will be missed.

Running 7 Dogs - without getting bitten.

2007-12-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

A tasty dish, but is it for you?

Recipe: Take a pissed off mob boss, a desire for revenge, and incompetent employees. Mix well.

Then sit and laugh yourself silly.

Simply put: South Korea meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

This is one of the darkest black comedies to come along in a while. It has the accidental disaster atmosphere of Pulp Fiction, peppered with discord between two enforcers, which leads to a very funny scene where the pecking order between them is reestablished.

Add Lee Ji-hyeon (La Belle co-star, and absolute best actress in the world when it comes to droll deadpan), and it gets better and better

There will not be spoilers here. So you don't get a synopsis out of me.

You either like insane, slightly twisted Korean humor, AND have a strong stomach for gore (not as gory as American gore BTW), which makes you a category one, or you're squeamish and don't find whacked out twisted Korean humor funny. If you're in category one, jump in and have a laugh or ten. Category two? Watch something else.

The ending is typically Korean in a delicious way, and fits the crime.

I absolutely refuse to put a morality-tale spin on this commentary. I picked up on one elsewhere, and it gave me a strong desire to rant about the descent into mediocre thinking we have become so placidly accepting of for too many years now.

I love the flick, have watched it a lot of times, and will close by saying, it is just plain bloody funny. And bizarre. And outrageous.

By A. Murray

Running 7 Dogs available at:
Available at:
HK FLIX:$9.95

YesAsia:$13.49

Amazon: Used (2) $8.34 + $8.37-New $9.03-$12.99
Type title into search bar at Amazon

Available also through eBay and Half.com. Prices vary.

Shipping costs at e-Bay are always an issue for me.

Best buy used: Half.com at $5.00
Set shipping rate 1st DVD/VHS $2.99 via Media Mail. Additional movies shipped from same seller, same transaction, $1.89.

Fantasy Couple/Couple or Trouble/Couple in Trouble

2007-10-17T16:57:00.000-04:00

NOTE: SEE PRICE CHANGE INFO BELOW.

Whatever you call it, the show is the same. Slippery title aside, this is a gem.

It is now available on E-Bay, where you're likely to get burned on the price due to auction fever and shipping cost, HK Flix, where you'll get the best deal, YesAsia, or Amazon.com.

This is a Region 0 (all region) version. Good for you MBC, now you're cookin' with gas.

Prices:
E-Bay? Anybody's guess. (NOTE:Auction ended at $72.00 + $7.25 postage. A whopping savings of .70 below HK Flix, without the safty of a real live company guarantee (seller did promise to replace defective discs).
Hk Flix: $79.95 + Free Shipping in U.S. PRICE CHANGE: $80.95 + Free Shipping
YesAsia: $89.99 + Probably Free Shipping globally.
Amazon: $99.99 + Free Shipping Price Change: $89.99 + Free Shipping
Easiest returns for defective merchandise:Amazon

Unless your brain is sleeping, you know I recommend HK Flix.

In addition to giving the best price this time around, they are wonderful to deal with. They stand behind their products, sell very good all-region DVD equipment, are friendly and helpful, and have an incredible DVD inventory covering everything imaginable. They're the apple of my eye.

Other perks available are the informative newsletter currently offering a 5 day long 10% discount on ALL DVD's by clicking a link in the letter, by the way. They also give a few Flix Bux for customer reviews they post. Flix Bux are handy to put toward future shipping, or a DVD you might want. And they do add up.

I want to point out here, my comments re E-Bay are not a slam against them or their sellers. BUT, I do feel a lot safer buying from people I've come to know and trust. like HK Flix. I have had fairly extensive communication with them, and you do get to know each other that way.

They keep the customer informed about the status of an order, they pack shipments like the professionals they are, and they ship quickly for the most part. I've never waited weeks for a package as I have at times through other sources.

I buy wherever I get the best deal. I'm not a blind follower. But common sense tends to be the deciding factor in most of my dealings online. Common sense dictates HK Flix is the best place for buying Fantasy Couple.

Check out their inventory, and their comments regarding some of the things they sell. At times these people are so brutally honest and funny, they completely crack me up. I love funny smart people.

Go shop. ;)

Hallyu Singers Concert Coming to Hawaii

2007-09-28T20:13:00.000-04:00

The poster below will give you information concerning the participants at this upcoming event.

There is a second photo below it with the text line from the bottom of the main poster enlarged for your viewing convenience.

Please click both images to enlarge them enough to see the text.

If you're in Hawaii, this may prove to be another great Korean event. Hope you can attend!

Best wishes,
Hyacinth

Text from main poster:

Samwoo Marketing Concepts
1311 Kapiolani Blvd., #600
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Tel: (808) 597-7979
Fax: (808) 597-1569
kim@samwoomc.com
www.samwoomc.com

Movies being screened at...

2007-09-25T16:15:00.000-04:00

CENTER FOR KOREAN STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MÂNOA

KOREAN FILM SERIES
FALL 2007

Tuesdays at 7 PM

Sept 18 The King and the Clown
Sept 25 Over the Border
Oct 2 Time
Oct 9 Family Ties
Oct 16 Cruel Winter Blues
Oct 23 Woman on the Beach
Oct 30 Schoolgirl’s Diary
Nov 6 Milyang (Secret Sunshine)
Titles are subject to change.

All showings will be with English subtitles.

Notice from Benton Pang.

Sounds like fun. Go if you can, and enjoy!

Oh Ji Ho says, "I Am Really Oh Ji Ho"

2007-07-12T16:37:00.001-04:00

"I Am Really Oh Ji Ho" - Special Disguise As A Fat Man in SBS, "Oh Sujung"

After Kim Ah Joong disguised herself in the movie, "200 lb Beauty," Oh Ji Ho is taking on the disguise as a fat man.

SBS “Oh Sujung” is the next drama to be aired after "Bad Couple," starting on the 28th. The male lead character played by Oh Ji Ho had to wear a special disguise to act as an unattractive man.

On June 30th, Oh Ji Ho went to the office of a special effects makeup team, CELL, to do a special effects makeup test for the role of fat and unattractive Mansu in "Oh Sujung." The result of the two-hour long makeover produced a fat man who seemed totally unlike the former Oh Ji Ho.

"Oh Sujung" is a drama about Oh Sujung who chooses to marry a partner solely based on their wealth and background, and when the unattractive Mansu fails his law entrance examination, she dumps him on the day of their wedding.
Mansu gets traumatized by this and sets on a path of revenge to transform himself, and after succeeding in America by eight years of dieting and exercise, he becomes a professional golfer who exceeds Tiger Woods in terms of wealth and looks.

The fat version of Oh Ji Ho will be shown in episodes one, two and three.

Posted at Broasia

July 5, 2007

Oh Ji Ho News Article

2007-07-11T05:17:00.001-04:00

The Electric New Paper (Article)

HE'S BACK & HOTTER THAN EVER
By Chang May Choon
July 10, 2007

WHAT'S a hunk like him doing in a slapstick comedy?

Oh Ji Ho found his co-star Shu Qi 'terribly beautiful'. Ji Ho prefers being recognised more as a good actor than a sexy star.

So said Taiwanese babe Shu Qi, referring to co-star Oh Ji Ho in the Korean film My Wife Is A Gangster 3, currently showing in theatres here.

She plays a Hong Kong triad chief's daughter who goes into hiding in Seoul with the help of a Korean gangster (Lee Bum Soo) and his two sidekicks, one of them played by JiHo.

Shu Qi told The New Paper recently: 'I feel he (Ji Ho) is quite good-looking. He is suave and (pointing to her arms) quite well-built.

'I was wondering why someone like him would play a comedic role. Then I realised he wasn't fully established (as an actor) yet.'

But things are set to change.

A year after filming My Wife Is A Gangster 3, Ji Ho is now establishing himself as a popular leading man for romantic comedies on TV.

He had shot to fame in Korea late last year in the highly-rated drama Fantasy Couple, even winning a Best Screen Couple award with his pretty co-star Han Ye Seul.

The media labelled him a 'kkot mi nam' (Korean for pretty boy) for his 'sculpted face' and Adonis-like body that he often flaunts on screen.

Fans adored his nice guy image and affable charm.

But the untimely suicide of his ex-girlfriend, who worked as a bar hostess, drove the heartbroken man out of the limelight for months since January.

Ji Ho, 31, has since returned, hotter than ever. Last week, he dominated headlines in Korea for donning a fat suit in his comeback TV project, a romantic comedy entitled Seducing Karl.

He plays a 150kg man who flunks the bar exam and gets dumped on his wedding day.

So, he decides to change himself and after eight years, he becomes a professional golfer and gets wooed by his ex-fiancee (Uhm Jung Hwa of Seducing Mr Perfect fame).

In his own words, Ji Ho goes from 'obese to hot and charismatic'.

He wrote in an e-mail interview with The New Paper: 'It will be a huge transformation and hopefully, it will also be the most important turning point in my acting career so far. You'll be very surprised at my new look!'

When he visited Taipei two months ago to promote his drama Fantasy Couple, he had already won over the local media and fans with his friendly, obliging ways.

He even lifted petite Taiwanese host Chamder Tsai Tsan Der effortlessly. She merely clasped her hands around his right arm and the muscle man reportedly hoisted her off the ground with ease.

Also, he seemed to live up to his reputation as a loving boyfriend - as evidenced by how he was crushed by his ex-girlfriend's death, lashing out at reports that spoke ill of her.

Despite the media controversy over their mismatched relationship, Ji Ho appeared to have won more support from fans who were touched by how he handled the scandal with honesty and heartfelt emotion.

PAINFUL PAST

Seven months later, he seems to have put his painful past behind him.

When he was in Taipei in May, he spoke about how he has gradually recovered over the past few months, reported United Daily News.

Although he claimed it is still too early to embark on another relationship, he said he prefers cute girls with beautiful eyes, and he likes his girlfriend to rely on him for everything.

He would even help her repair her toilet, he added.

When asked if he would continue to date a woman if he finds out she is a gangster, he wrote: 'Of course I would be a little bothered, but I think it's our love that matters the most.'

On his impression of Shu Qi, he wrote, 'She's terribly beautiful!'

He went on to add that he initially found her 'cold', but grew to admire her professionalism.

'I'm sure it wasn't easy filming in Korea since she's not used to the lifestyle here, but she always had a positive outlook, which brightened up the mood around the set.

'I wished I could speak Chinese and wondered how she would express her feelings (without) the language barrier.'

NOT THAT PERFECT

His sense of humour showed when it came to the popular description that he has 'sculpted' facial features.

'It's too much! I don't think my face is that perfect. There are so many better-looking people in the world.'

Then, he added with a hint of mischief: 'But that doesn't mean I don't feel good hearing that.'

So is it out of vanity that he keeps baring his beefy body - which he attributes to regular games of football, baseball and basketball? Or is he planning to be a sex symbol?

This time, he gave a more typical answer - he prefers being recognised as a good actor than a sexy star. 'Although it's nice to flaunt my body from time to time, the story should dictate the action on the screen,' he said.

But he did confess to being lousy at making people laugh, even though his more notable works are romantic comedies.

The former model was first noticed as the baddie in the office comedy Super Rookie in 2005, before landing his first leading role in the tearjerker Autumn Shower.

But the latter, which co-stars Kim So Yeon (Seven Swords) as his comatose wife, bombed.,

Ji Ho said he enjoys doing both melodrama and comedy. He credited the success of Fantasy Couple, in which he plays a handyman who tricks an amnesiac heiress (Ye Seul) into becoming his housekeeper, to its 'great script' and production crew.

The drama is available here on VCD and DVD.

Finally, for someone who has the looks, the body, the personality, good roles and loyal fans, what does he think he lack?

'I think there's much more for me to learn about acting. I want to be better at what I do. The more popular I become, the greedier I get in the search for diverse and quality roles.'

- Additional reporting by Ho Lian-Yi

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,135393,00.html

Notes by Hyacinth:
This is rather a trashy article, but if you're hungry, it might suffice. It is reproduced as it is found online at the site.

I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would describe Oh Ji Ho's body as "beefy", being rail thin as he is.

Be that as it may, here's what's passing for news on the web these days.

Oh Ji Ho - My Wife is a Gangster 3 is now available!

2007-04-12T15:28:00.001-04:00

My Wife is a Gangster 3, is here at last, and I for one, am tickled pink to see Oh Ji Ho in another breakaway role; out of frequently cloying routine dramas, back into movies where he is given the opportunity to strut his stuff unconfined by the de rigueur morality play structure of many, though not all, K-Dramas.

He has expressed desire in the past to do movies; to finally make the break into something where versatility is desired, and innovation is lauded. Here he is!

Ladies, and gentlemen, allow me to show you the product, and it is a beauty!

Behold.

Click image to enlarge.

This Limited Edition set is in Region 3 format. It will not play in a Region 1 DVD player. If you have a Region 3 player, or a Region-Free/Region 0 player, you're in business.

Online order sources are: Yes Asia, and DVD From Korea.

HK Flix is still on a pre-order basis.

As a potential buyer, you should explore all avenues, and select the merchant that best suits your needs.

HK Flix has an impressive array of Region Free/Region 0 DVD players, in a wide range of prices.

My confidence in them is so great, I unhesitatingly urge you to look at their stock of "Hardware".

These are Region Codes:
Region 1 - U.S., U.S. Territories, Canada, and Bermuda

Region 2 - Japan, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East, including Egypt

Region 3 - Southeast Asia, East Asia, including Korea and Hong Kong

Region 4 - Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean

Region 5 - Former Soviet Union, Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia

Region 6 - China

By owning a Region Free/Region 0 player, you can enjoy movies from any country you wish. You are not limited to only the movies available at local venues, but from sellers like HK Flix, a company specializing in the unique and interesting from all over the globe.

I love browsing their selection of International DVD's. It's better than TV! No popcorn though, you have to supply that yourself.
Hyacinth

Memories of Murder - A Hyacinth Review

2007-01-13T16:25:00.000-05:00

Walking in Dangerous Rain

I watched this movie some time ago. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Everything taking place onscreen was riveting, from the simple act of walking down a dark lonely road in the rain, to a wild chase by three desperate detectives. This movie held me in thrall.

As a new viewer of Asian movies at that time, I tried to analyze the reason I tend not to be interested in western works any longer. I finally came to the conclusion that it has to do with the accessibility of the players. They seem to be people first, actors by choice, and stars, by the public making them so.

In Memories of Murder, I saw this human factor almost too painfully. By the end of the story, I was in tears. Even now, the mood prevails. It's been so long since these crimes took place, and I don't know absolutely that they remain unsolved, but I think it's the case, and I think about that.

The actors have become the people in my mind, and the horrible sense of defeat that becomes palpable eventually, is heartbreaking. When one relates to the inroads made on the health; mental and physical; of the detectives, who are ultimately portrayed as tireless and completely dedicated to the case, you realize that you've watched something that is historic. You have seen the probable truth.

The way this movie draws you into it, so that you are walking through dangerous rain, with a warning shout in your throat as you see a potential victim, points to the brilliance of the director and the players.

It is difficult to say, "I love this movie", just as it is hard to say, I love Silence of the Lambs, because love is a peculiar word to use for such fare.

But yes, I love it for the fact that during it, I was in a small village in South Korea in a terrible era of air-raid warnings, military dictatorship, and the hopeless pursuit of a serial killer, and landed back here in this time and place with a thud, only after turning off the DVD player, and going to the kitchen for a glass of water. I was there, I felt the desperation, and I felt the defeat and the sorrow of the detectives, who were essentially decent enough human beings when all was said and done.

There are not many movies that can time-travel you into their present. This will do it.

I most seriously recommend that you view the interviews with the director and the stars (all of them are stars of a special kind in my mind) in order to dispel some of the hold the story will have on you.

These are incredibly interesting people, and it's a sheer joy to see them smiling and peaceful. They're intelligent, educated and articulate. The younger members of the cast, the less seasoned, are so beautiful in their desire to do it right.

They definitely did it right. They were wonderful, and they thanked the interviewer. How lovely that was to see.

I watched the movie using the English subtitles rather than the English dubbing because I wanted the authenticity of the real voices and sounds. The subtitles were very good.

(Note-they are excellent in fact. At the time I wrote this I hadn't yet had the exciting experience of trying to figure out what in hell all that strangely written dialogue across the screen means. I have now viewed enough K-Drama to realize there is no meaning a lot of the time that can actually be accused of having anything to do with the plot. So, "what does that mean?", is a question that will probably not be answered in my lifetime.)
H.

It's not all show biz...

2007-01-11T11:08:00.000-05:00

If you are here as a repeat viewer, you are aware that this site, and those connected with it, Oh Ji Ho, Lee Ji Hyeon, and to a lesser degree, One Two Three Testing, are oriented toward South Korea. The focus here at The Hyacinth Papers, has been to this date, geared in the direction of Asian entertainment.

But there are other things that capture my attention. These things are generally of a serious nature, and have touched me in some way, rather deeply.

Beginning today, I will be posting articles of that sort along with things I find in English pertaining to entertainment.

The articles posted below this notice, are arranged in reverse chronological order. The most recent, and very troubling one, being first. Scroll down to continue.

As always, I thank you for stopping by.
Hyacinth

9 Koreans abducted in Nigeria

2007-01-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

Nine Koreans and one Nigerian were kidnapped from an oil services base by militants in southern Nigeria's volatile oil-producing Niger Delta yesterday afternoon Korean time, the Foreign Ministry said.

Armed militants used dynamite to attack a dormitory of the pipeline-laying construction site in Ogu, Bayelsa state, at 4:50 a.m. local time, the ministry said.

Gunshots were fired during the 40-minute assault, Han Sang-ho, a Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. official in Nigeria, told YTN. The attackers landed at the coastal site in three vessels, the ministry said. The site was reportedly guarded by some dozen soldiers.

The identity of the militants was not immediately confirmed.

"We're making efforts to locate the men and their captors," Ekiyor Wilson, the state governor's spokesman said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the kidnapping.

The region's main militant group responsible for dozens of previous and on-going kidnappings, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, was quoted by AP as saying that it was not responsible.

Korean Foreign Ministry's Overseas Resident and Consular Affairs Bureau head Kim Bong-hyun confirmed that the kidnapped workers were unharmed at the time of the kidnapping. But the abductees, who contacted the company immediately after their capture, can no longer be reached by their mobile telephones, he said.

The abducted Koreans include: Lee Mun-sik, 45; Hong Jong-taek, 41; Kim U-seong, 48; Kim Nam-sik, 42; Choi Jong-jin, 39; Yun Yeong-il, 53; Choi Jae-chang, 28; Park Yong-min, 32; Kim Jong-gi, 47.

It was not immediately made known what the abductors were demanding for their release.

Foreign Minister Song Min-soon spoke via telephone with his Nigerian counterpart later in the evening upon arriving in the Philippines for a regional forum.

Before leaving for the airport, Song held a brief press conference in Seoul, saying, "We will seek every possible means for the prompt release of the workers and will continue to work closely with the Nigerian government.

"Please rest assured that the government is doing everything it can," Song said, addressing the families of the abductees.

Cheong Wa Dae and the Foreign Ministry of Korea presided over emergency meetings to discuss measures.

The ministry mobilized a 24-hour emergency crisis headquarters.

The oil-rich Bayelsa state has been mired with rampant hostage-takings.

Five Chinese oil workers remain held captive by unidentified militants since last Friday.

Since Dec. 7 last year, three Italians and one Lebanese have been held hostage by the most prominent armed separatist group in the region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta.

MEND last Sunday threatened to step up its attacks on oil fields unless its political demands were met.

The group is demanding the release of former Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was jailed on corruption charges and separatist leader Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, who is being held on charges of treason.

The group also wants a larger share in oil revenues for the locals, and compensation for communities affected by oil pollution, according to news reports.

Nigeria has been going through deep internal conflict after incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo tried and failed to amend the constitution to allow himself to be reelected for a third term.

The country will hold a presidential election on April 21.

Last June, MEND had kidnapped five Korean workers, three of whom also belonged to Daewoo, but released them about 40 hours later.

"This is one abduction too many. We as a government will do everything humanly possible to secure the release of the men and put a stop to the criminal activities of the militants," Welson Ekiyor, state governor spokesman, was quoted as saying yesterday by AFP.

Last year, about 37 Nigerian troops and some 12 Nigerian oil workers were killed by the militants. Over 60 foreigners, mostly oil workers, were kidnapped.

Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, gets more than 95 percent of its foreign exchange earnings from its oil revenues. But the country lost about 570 billion naira ($4.4 billion) in revenue last year due to frequent unrest in the delta region, news reports said.

By Lee Joo-hee
2007.01.11
Link to original article at The Korea Herald.

UPDATE:
Talks begin for abductees' rescue

The Korean government yesterday said negotiations have begun with Nigerian militants for nine Korean oil workers who were taken hostage in an overnight raid at the volatile oil-rich Niger Delta area on Wednesday.

The kidnappers contacted the Korean side early in the morning and full-fledged negotiations were set to begin in the evening Korean time.

The Foreign Ministry refused to identify the abductors, citing safety concerns for the hostages, but said the Korean workers are confirmed to be unharmed so far.
An unidentified group early Wednesday kidnapped the nine South Koreans and one Nigerian in the Niger Delta region, south Nigeria.

The armed militants stormed Daewoo Engineering and Construction's oil facility on the outskirts of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa state.

More than 60 foreign oil workers have been abducted in Africa's largest oil-producing country in the past year.

Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Shim Yoon-joe called in Nigerian Ambassador Abba Abdullahi Tijjani yesterday morning to discuss the hostage situation. He has also asked Lagos to help release the kidnapped workers.

Photo text: Officials from an emergency team at Daewoo Engineering and Construction in Seoul check the map of Nigeria where its nine workers were taken hostage by militants Wednesday. [The Korea Herald]

The largest separatist group in the region, the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta, denied any involvement in the latest abduction. MEND was responsible for a 40-hour kidnapping of five Korean workers in June last year.

Sources said it was most likely done by a smaller group possibly wanting ransom money.

"We cannot verify yet the detailed demands of (the kidnappers)," Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Ho-young told reporters.
Close cooperation from the Nigerian government is crucial, Seoul officials said.

The Nigerian government reportedly told Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon that President Olusegun Obasanjo understands the gravity of the situation and is taking a personal interest in the case, Kim said.

Seoul has dispatched several officials, including its ambassador to the Cote D'ivoire, to Nigeria to help with the negotiations. An additional three or four officials from the Foreign Ministry, the National Intelligence Service and the National Police Agency were set to be dispatched to the area, sources said.

By Lee Joo-hee
2007.01.12
Link to original The Korea Herald article.

Father's Long March to Save Family Moves Nation

2007-01-11T10:50:00.000-05:00

"He was a true hero." Since rescuers Wednesday found the body of James Kim, who struck out on his own in search of help after becoming stranded with his family on a mountain road in the Oregon wilderness, messages of condolence have poured in from all over the world.

Photo text: CNET Senior Editor James Kim with his wife Kati and baby daughter./From CNET website/Yonhap

Desperate struggle

In the steep, rugged backcountry of Josephine County, Oregon, Big Windy Creek is battered by harsh gales, just like its name suggests, and lined with sheer cliffs on each side. It was in a snowdrift at the bottom of this gorge that James Kim's body was found, wearing tennis shoes and a jacket and sweater. It had been four days since he set out on foot in search of help, and 11 days since the family first ran into trouble. The spot where he was finally located was a mere 1.6 km from the spot where his family was rescued on Monday.

Oregon police involved in the search said it seemed that Kim, after heading off in an easterly direction, wandered some 13 km through the ravine, adding if he had instead gone west, he would have come out in the direction of a road. Kim would certainly have been dripping wet for a significant amount of his trek, police say. Joe Hyatt, a member of the local Swift Water Rescue Team who were following Kim’s trail said, "There were areas that we passed where the only option for us to pass through was to enter the water and physically swim. I can only describe him as an extremely motivated individual."

Out of determination to save his family, Kim fought through thick snow and treacherous terrain and swam through icy waters in his quest. "It seems superhuman to me that he was able to cover the distance he had,” said a shaken Josephine County Undersheriff Brian Anderson.

Photo text: Josephine County Undersheriff Brian Anderson breaks down and walks away from the microphones while announcing on Wednesday that the body of James Kim has been found in the Siskiyou National Forest after an intense search./AP-Yonhap

Wave of sympathy

U.S. broadcasters CNN, Fox News and ABC, which had been covering the rescue efforts live, each aired features on the story. Broadcasters showed scenes of Undersherriff Anderson breaking down in the middle of a press conference while discussing the loss.

On the homepage of CNET, where Kim worked as a senior editor, an article commemorating his life said, “Those who knew him say they aren't surprised that Kim, in the last act of his life, demonstrated the ultimate expression of devotion to his wife and daughters.” The string of condolences continued there as well. A site set up by Kim’s colleagues hoping for his safe return has also been inundated with messages of condolence. Link Here

The colleagues have launched a fundraising effort to aid the now fatherless family. In a message, they said news of Kim being found dead was devastating for all of them but thanked the rescue team for their efforts.

Family tragedy

On Nov. 17 Kim and his wife Kati (30) had gathered up their two daughters Penelope (4) and Sabine (7 months) and headed off on a Thanksgiving road trip. After visiting a friend’s house in Portland, Oregon the family headed back south along the coast towards home but got lost in a snowstorm. Kati received the terrible news while recovering in a local hospital. She had managed to keep her children warm throughout the ordeal but suffered severe frostbite of her hands and feet. The French instructor got married to Kim in 1999. Kim loved golf, but when his first daughter was born four years ago, he almost completely gave up the game just so he could spend more time with his family. Kati's father, Phil Fleming, said Kim was simply a “heroic father.”

December 8, 2006
Link to original Digital Chosun Ilbo article.

Korean Athlete Dies at Doha Games

2007-01-10T19:04:00.000-05:00

One of Korea’s top horseback riders Kim Hyung-chil (47) sustained fatal injuries during an accident mid competition at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar on Thursday. He was the first Korean athlete to die during an international competition and the first fatality in equestrian events at the Asian Games. Kim was taking part in a cross-country event of the overall equestrian competition when he went down the eighth jump on a 2,470 m course with 23 obstacles.

The site of the crash was a 1.1 m step-type obstacle that should not have been that difficult for the rider, but the horse made it off the ground too early and its front legs were caught on the upper part of the jump. The horse then turned in midair and Kim hit the ground first, and the horse came down on top of his head and chest. Kim was rushed by ambulance to Hammed General Hospital near the athlete’s village but doctors were unable to save his life. “When Kim was being rushed from the scene, his helmet was still on but there was blood dripping from his head,” said Park Won-oh, the secretary general of the Korean Equestrian Federation. He added it looks as if Kim was crushed under the weight of the 500-kg horse.

The chief of the medical team at a press conference said doctors attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation but could not restart Kim’s heart.

Kim, who had 30 years on horseback, was the oldest member of South Korean team of the Asian Games. He won a bronze medal in the group competition in equestrian jumping in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games. Since 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, he participated in the Asian Games four times in a row. Since the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, he turned to eventing, capturing silver at the 2002 Busan Asian Games in group competition. Kim had a doctorate in equestrian studies from Yong-in University. His father, who died in 2002, was also a horseman and took part in 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. He leaves behind his wife So Won-mi (41), 11-year-old daughter Kim Min-ji and son Min-seop.

December 8, 2006

Link to original Digital Chosun Ilbo article.

Korea: Blockbusters flop as star marketing fails

2007-01-08T16:23:00.000-05:00

Lee Byung-hun, Chung Ji-hoon (Rain), Daniel Henney and Jung Woo-sung share two things. First, they are indisputably top Korean actors commanding high casting fees. Second, their latest films all flopped at the box office.

The Restless

"Once in a Summer," a melodrama starring Lee along with Su Ae, failed to meet box-office expectations. "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK," a much-touted film by world-renowned director Park Chan-wook, was far from OK in terms of ticket sales, despite Chung's growing international reputation. Even though Daniel Henney revealed his sexy chest in "Seducing Mr. Perfect," theaters closed down the film hurriedly. "The Restless," a big-budget Chinese-Korean joint flick, was also sucked into the growing list of box-office failures.

What went wrong? The primary reason, of course, is that big-name stars do not necessarily bring box-office profits - unless the films involved are high quality or at least appealing to mainstream moviegoers in Korea. "Once in a Summer," released on Nov. 30, featured solid storytelling and a high-profile cast including Lee. Strangely enough, local audiences did not respond enthusiastically, with just 300,000 tickets sold.

The lackluster response came as a puzzling development for local filmmakers, who focused on Lee's soaring popularity in Japan and Southeast Asia.

More unsettling were reactions to director Park's "Cyborg." As he has commanded international fame with his award-winning "Oldboy," the local press did not spare coverage on his next project, which had been kept under the wraps right before its formal release.

As the film featured Chung, one of the biggest Korean Wave stars, and Lim Su-jeong, also a leading actress here, critics expected Park's love story to see another commercial success. Chung also frantically promoted the film since it was his silver screen debut.

But the film sold just 730,000 tickets, a crushing defeat for the celebrated Park and Chung. Although Park held on to a smidgeon of dignity with the film being invited to compete in the 57th Berlin Film Festival, its commercial failure sent a clear message: his not-so-spectacular storytelling left local audiences unimpressed.

"Seducing Mr. Perfect," with Daniel Henney, was largely designed to capture the hearts of female viewers. But the film sold just 700,000 tickets across the nation, failing to break even.

The major reason was that the production team relied too much on Henny's charms, while ignoring other negative factors. The film's basic storyline - a female worker falling in love with a handsome boss - was far from innovative, and too many English conversations baffled some Korean audiences.

"The Restless" was a huge flop considering that production and marketing costs reached a whopping 10.9 billion won ($12 million). The film boasted top stars including Jung Woo-sung and Kim Tae-hee, as well as high-quality computer graphics. But it sold just 1.44 million tickets in the box office, far lower than the needed breakeven of 4 million viewers.

Meanwhile, the relatively low-budget "200 Pound Beauty," featuring Kim A-jung, is staging a strong performance at the box office, attracting more than 4.5 million audiences across the nation, thanks largely to its tacky plastic surgery theme.

By Yang Sung-jin
2007.01.09
The Korea Herald link.

Oh Ji Ho - A New Year

2006-12-30T10:24:00.001-05:00

This,

NOT this.

The sun rises at the Unification Observatory in Goseong, Gangwon Province. The year comes to a close with tension between the two Koreas following the North's missile and nuclear tests, and suspension of inter-Korean dialogue. [Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald]
2006.12.29

Peace, Health, and Happiness to all.
Hyacinth

"My Wife is a Gangster 3" to Be Released in Hong Kong in February

2006-12-24T16:29:00.000-05:00

The Korean comic action film "My Wife is a Gangster 3" will be shown at theaters in Hong Kong next February.

The film's producer Hyunjin Cinema said Tuesday that it has decided to release the film in Hong Kong right before Chinese New Year in February considering the high expectations for the film there. It had planned to release it as soon as in January, but concerns over illegal copying made it decide on February, it added.

"My Wife is a Gangster", the first in the series released in 2001 in Korea, garnered some 5.3 million viewers locally, and topped the box offices of Asian nations including Hong Kong and Vietnam upon its overseas release in 2002. In Hong Kong particularly, it ranked fourth among all the movies released in 2002.

"Shu Qi and Lung Ti, who starred in the movie, are very curious because they have not seen the completed film yet", Hyunjin Cinema president Lee Sun-yeol said. "They viewed the trailers when they came to Korea to promote the film and expressed satisfaction. They are now looking forward to the film's release in Hong Kong".

The third installment of the series has already attracted much attention from Asian nations such as Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam as well as Germany by being sold for a total of 660,000 US dollars (620 million won) at the American Film Market held in L.A. in early November.

The producer said that because the series has high brand recognition in Asian nations and Shu Qi is popular in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia (her birthplace), it expects that the third installment will also become successful in those countries.

"My Wife is a Gangster 3" deals with events involving Aryeong (Shu Qi), the daughter of the most powerful mafia boss in Hong Kong who escapes to Korea due to a power struggle, and a group from the Korean gangster organization Dongbangpa, who try to protect her.

2006/12/20)

Link to original KBS Global News article.

Taiwanese Star in Korea to Promote New Gangster Film

2006-12-24T16:19:00.000-05:00

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi (30) is in the country to promote the Dec. 28 release of her new film "My Wife Is a Gangster 3". She is the sole lead in the third installment of the series, which made it to the top of the box office in Hong Kong as well as Korea. The actress reported the Korean Wave is still being felt in Hong Kong, adding it was an honor to be cast as the lead in her first appearance in a Korean film.

Shu Qi became known in Korea for her work in "City of Glass" (1998) with Leon Lai and her role in the Hou Hsiao-hsien film "Three Times" (2005). In 1996 she appeared alongside Leslie Cheung in "Viva Erotica" in a role that won her Best New Performer and Best Supporting Actress at the 16th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards. In "My Wife is a Gangster 3" she plays the heir to an organized crime empire in Hong Kong that has been forced to temporarily flee to Korea following a power struggle back home. Opposite her in the film is Lee Beom-soo, who steps forward as her protector not knowing her identity and himself is a "No 3" in a domestic organized crime syndicate.

Even though it was hard communicating with her fellow actor, it wasn't all that critical, she says. Lee was "like a big brother", she said, and whenever they were not shooting he would seek her out to go and eat together. When it was cold he would offer her some of his clothing. Asked if being put up for comparison with actress Sin Eun-kyung, who formerly played the role, was a burden, she said, "To say that I didn't ever think about it would be a lie". The two stars both have shown their tough sides, like when they battle 50 men with a sword in each hand, but their style in love is a little different. "While Sin Eun-kyung loves in a tough way, like a gangster, I show both softness and toughness at the same time", Shu said.

She has been told thousands of times that she is sexy, and it is hard to tell which character is closer to real her: the sexy woman from "Viva Erotica" or the pure and innocent girl in sporty clothes from "City of Glass". "In reality, I'm so conservative that I even feel embarrassed when I see other actresses wearing sexy clothes on TV". When someone reminded her that she has been in the business for 10 years and has been in more than 150 films, she looked surprised and her eyes widened. Time has flown, and she did not even know how she had already shot so many, she admitted.

Already Shu has appeared in four films this year. "From now on, I want to take my time selecting films", she promises.

(2006/12/07)
My source: HanCinemaNews.
Original article link: Chosun Ilbo Culture

Daniel Henney as 'Mr. Perfect'

2006-11-28T13:07:00.000-05:00

If you want to capture the heart of Daniel Henney (one of the hottest Korean-American actors who sets most female hearts aflutter in Korea), please laugh a lot. For Henney says he loves a woman when she laughs.

Another crucial tip to seduce the heartthrob: please learn some wrestling. Henney thinks a woman doing who can wrestle is "sexy."

The two tips are drawn from Henney's silver screen debut, "Seducing Mr. Perfect" (Mr. Robin Kkoshigi), a typical chick movie in which he is being seduced by Um Jung-hwa at a highly upscale M&A firm.

Henney plays Robin, an M&A specialist who graduated from Harvard Law School and also has an MBA under his belt. He is appointed as the head of the M&A firm in Seoul, and one of his (sexy) employees is none other than June played by Um Jung-hwa.

Neither of them knows the identity of each other, at least when they first encounter through a fender-bender. June pretends to have no knowledge of English when she is confronted by the fluent English of this gorgeous-looking Mr. Perfect who drives a luxurious Volvo sedan. But Robin is no fool; he takes a picture of June with his cell phone camera and snatches her phone to dial his own number to get her telephone number in a couple of seconds - thanks to the caller ID system.

It turns out that Robin is adept at snatching everything - a company as a merger wizard, and a woman's heart as a relationship expert. When they meet again in the office, June finally notices a new reality: she is the assistant of a Hollywood actor-like handsome boss who throws about snappy, pretentious remarks as if he's the smartest guy in the world.

June wants to get some advice from this wise boss. She has long been stuck with messy relationships. She tries to be kind and gentle, but her former boyfriends have dumped her because of her extremely nice character.

Robin offers a challenging game to her: seducing him and by doing so, learning a lesson or two about what men really want.

Of course, if it were a typical Hollywood film, his overly cartoonish offer might be taken as serious sexual harassment involving all sorts of lawsuits. But the film is certainly a Korean one, and characters do not care about such needless political correctness at all, even though "Seducing Mr. Perfect" is the first ever Korean movie whose lines are mostly in English (most foreign viewers will be able to understand the plot thanks to plenty of English conversations).

The film does not have any surprises as a romantic comedy. A predictable plot, all-too-familiar developments that produce a trite ending. But it does have some bonus scenes for female viewers. For instance, at a press preview on Monday, when Robin opens his hotel room door topless, many female reporters sighed out of pleasant surprise.

Many of the details capturing Robin's life - the designer suits, residential hotel rooms, jogging in a wet sports T-shirt in a park and much more - are designed to entertain female moviegoers who buy movie tickets to watch today's new "Mr. Perfect," known as Daniel Henney.

So, it's a bad idea if a couple watches this film together. The woman will love it, often oohing and aaing whenever Henney gives a cool pose or shows of his well built body. But the man is likely to get annoyed when he feels he's constantly compared to this guy with extremely good looks and an easy smile.

Director Kim Sang-woo said at a press conference that he wanted to tell a typical story in a typical way. But what about not-so-typical Mr. Perfect? On his first ever acting for a feature film, Henney said, "I'm not perfect. It was difficult to act, and difficult at times, but it came out OK."

In the film, Robin seems extremely cold in his talk and manner, and Henney said he modeled the character after his former high school basketball coach who always ranted in a stern manner. He also added that he found Um's wrestling scene quite "sexy."
So, if you are determined to conform to Mr. Perfect's ideal woman, please learn some wrestling (details are clearly demonstrated in the film) and also laugh a lot.

By Yang Sung-jin

2006.11.29

The Korea Herald
Link to original article.

My Wife is a Gangster 3 Tops Pre-Sales to Asia

2006-11-25T19:55:00.000-05:00

Click image to enlarge.

The American Film Market (AFM) saw a number of Korean films sold to various markets, with pre-sales on Korean sequel My Wife is a Gangster 3, closing successive deals throughout Asia. Korean distribution arm Showbox claims deals to Asian markets for the film reached a record high for any Korean film sold at AFM to Asian countries, not including Japan.

The original My Wife is a Gangster was a domestic box-office sensation in 2001, selling over 5 million tickets nationwide. The third outing for the franchise has already created a buzz, as it stars Taiwanese beauty Shu Qi as the gangster wife. She is known in the west for her award-winning roles in Hou Hsaio Hsien's films Three Times and Millenium (sic) Mambo and for her role in The Transporter.

The current sequel is directed by JO Jin-kyu who also directed the original, and is produced again by Hyunjin Cinema. Showbox said total pre-sales to Asia was at $660,000 so far, with the film sold to Sahamongkol International for Thailand, Panorama Distributions for Hong Kong, Scholar Multi-media for Taiwan, Dynamic Film International for China, Cathay Keris Films for Singapore and Malaysia, PT Amero Mitra Film for Indonesia, and BHD for Vietnam.

Korean sequels do tremendously well at home, often simply by virtue of being a sequel. Other hit sequels include Marrying the Mafia 2 and 3, Another Public Enemy and My Boss, My Teacher. In production are the sequels Mapado 2 and My Tutor Friend 2, while plans to produce sequels to The Host and Tazza: The High Rollers are already being discussed.

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)
Link to original article.

Oh Ji Ho - Gangster3 Official Web Page

2006-11-24T19:21:00.001-05:00

The official site is up and running. There is a trailer, and other goodies to see. Click anywhere on this announcement to get to the page.

Click image to enlarge.

China Draws up Drama-Based 'Weird Korean Customs' List

2006-11-17T20:33:00.000-05:00

Click image to enlarge.
Chinese fans of Korean soap operas were baffled to see Koreans use both spoons and chopsticks to eat, but not as surprised as when they saw women pull each other's hair during fights and managers strike their subordinates on the back of the head. Other notable features of Korean society for the Chinese couch potatoes are the vast difference in treatment meted out to rich and poor here and the number of marriages of convenience. In all, the China Finance Information Network drew up 80 strange Korean customs as gleaned from TV dramas. Here are 12 of them:

1. When Koreans lift their glass to drink any alcoholic beverage with someone senior, they always turn to one side.

2. If a Korean's glass is empty they pass the bottle to the person sitting with them. (In Korean culture it is frowned upon to pour yourself a glass; the proper etiquette is pouring for each other.)

3. Koreans are already putting the next bite of food in their mouths before they finished chewing the last bit.

4. Koreans use chopsticks for the side dishes but spoons for rice and soup.

5. If a Koreans suffer indigestion after meals, they treat it by pricking their fingers with needles. (This is an old folk remedy.)

6. Elderly Koreans often say, "Now that I've reached old age, I see every eyesore." (read: "My goodness, times have changed," "Where's the world heading?" etc.)

7. Korean women often resort to hair-pulling when fighting.

8. When someone hits a subordinate, it is always on the head, and most often across the back of the head.

9. The wealthy have contempt for those without, and those on the lower rungs kiss the feet of their superiors. Korean society treats the wealthy and the poor completely differently.

10. If you go into a house you must take off your shoes.

11. After sleeping, the blankets and pillows go in the closet. If Koreans go into a room, they always shut the windows and doors.

12. Many marriages are arranged for expediency or convenience.

Link to original article found at KPopVideo.

Oh Ji Ho - Gangster 3 sells like hotcakes at AFM

2006-11-17T20:20:00.000-05:00

“My Wife is a Gangster 3” Sold at AFM
11/15/2006

The Korean comic action film “My Wife is a Gangster 3” has garnered much attention from Asian buyers at the recently-held American Film Market. Showbox, the film’s distributor, said Tuesday that the film had been sold for a total of 660,000 dollars (620 million won) to eight Asian nations -- Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. “The price is the highest ever paid for a Korean movie at the market by Asian nations except Japan,” it added.

“In the case of Thailand, it signed a deal to invest and distribute the movie in the country instead of just importing it, which shows that the country is confident of its success,” Showbox said. “Vietnam agreed to pay a price similar to what it paid to buy “King Kong, making the movie the most expensive Korean movie it has imported.” Vietnam is reported to have high expectation for the film because it stars Shu Qi, a Hong Kong actress who enjoys great popularity in Vietnam.

“My Wife is a Gangster 3” also sold to Germany, and the distributor expects more sales after the film is completed because other countries like the U.S., Britain and France also showed great interest. “Since the remake copyright of “My Wife is a Gangster 1” was sold to Hollywood in 2001, foreign buyers have showed considerable interest in this movie series,” it said.

Starring Lee Beom-soo, Hyung Young, and Oh Ji-ho in addition to Suh Qi, the movie will be released on Dec. 28. 2006

Link to original article at KBS Global.

Remaking the Extraordinay

2006-11-08T10:33:00.000-05:00

Click image to enlarge.

NO!
I don’t like re-made movies anymore than I like rebuilt electronics. Neither ever seems to make the grade.

When I read some time ago that Martin Scorsese was re-making Infernal Affairs, calling it The Departed, I just shook my head. It seems that there’s an inability on the part of American film-makers to admit there are some things other countries do well, in fact they do them better in a lot of cases.

An American mob movie can’t hold a candle to a Chinese movie about Triad activities. America lacks subtlety and class in too many ways, and no one has more class than Francis Ng as the Triad boss of Infernal Affairs ll.

Who could be more soul wrenching than the beleaguered Chan Wing Yan (Tony Leung)

or more vastly entertaining than the powerful Hon Sam (Eric Tsang)? The driven, intelligent, and in some cases empathetic SP Wong Chi Shing (Anthony Wong) is irreplaceable. Who could do it better?

Andy Lau (Inspector Lau Kin Ming)

has a dim view of The Departed. The title alone conveys nothing. A hamburger eaten and digested is departed. The title, Infernal Affairs however, speaks long and hard of degrees of Hell.

I was happy to note Andy Lau was a bright star at Pusan. He works very hard, and as a most a talented individual, he certainly deserved all the recognition given him. While there, he was asked his opinion of the remake. It wasn’t flattering.

This link will take you to a site I recently found called Asianbite.

You can read Andy Lau’s comments there.

It is hoped there will not be a remake of Infernal Affairs ll. The idea of trying to cast a replacement for Francis Ng turns my heart to ice.

My Wife is a Gangster 3 set to open in December

2006-10-19T18:52:00.000-04:00

Korean, Taiwanese Stars to Compete at Korean Box Office
KBS Global Entertainment News
2006-10-18

Korean top actress Kim Tae-hee will have to compete with Taiwanese top actress Suh Qi at the box office in December, when movies starring the two are released simultaneously.

The competition between “The Restless” and “My Wife is a Gangster 3” is tantamount to competition between CJ Entertainment and Showbox, the country’s two largest film distributors. Because CJ and Showbox have earned approximately the same amount of profits from the success of “The King and The Clown” and “The Host,” respectively, the success of the new films will decide the winner of the box office this year.

The competition has already started as the two revealed three-minute previews of their films as part of an event at the Pusan International Film Festival. CJ held an event entitled “Invitation to ‘The Restless’” at the Haeundae Grand Hotel in Pusan (also spelled Busan) on Saturday, while Showbox gave a presentation to introduce its lineup at a nightclub in Haeundae, Pusan on Monday.

“The Restless,” set in an imaginary place in mid-heaven where dead spirits must stay for 49 days, set itself apart with eye-catching computer graphics. Kim impressed viewers with her sharp actions in which she flourished a long sword wearing a loose outfit.

Suh Qi, wearing a traditional Chinese dress, also impressed viewers with her powerful actions in “My Wife is a Gangster 3,” which features a grander scale compared to the previous titles in the series.

The FTA's Effect On Korean Cinema

2006-07-12T09:35:00.000-04:00

If you are not a fan of off-beat Korean movies such as Mi in (La Belle) or Memories of Murder for example, you might not understand why I hate the FTA, and what it does. You might be inclined to skip this article entirely.

I think you should put yourself in the shoes of the great indie producers and directors of Korea.

Did you see Fargo? If you did, be aware that it was put before you by the Cohn Brothers; a pair of mavericks who gave America one of it's best and most memorable films. The Cohn Brothers were indie producers on a shoestring budget, who gathered a cast of brilliant actors interested in the art form over the money.

Would you have wanted to miss Fargo? You might have if big studios made it impossible for such works to get a remotely fair shake. The FTA will not give the indies a fair shake. It will kill some of the most entertaining film out there.

Much of the work coming from Korea these days infinitely eclipses the average garbage America puts on the screen.

FTA Effect On Korean Cinema

"When the recent screen quota reduction cut the number of days which Korean movies could be shown in theaters from 146 to 73, critics and supporters alike turned raucous over its possible effects on the local film industry. There has been little talk, however, over its possible deleterious implications on low- to mid-budget independent art films.

For those who find themselves agreeing with Andre Bazins old Cinema du Cahiers crowd that cinema really is an art form, or those who seek a little more from movies than the passive viewing of the same overused formulas, the screen quota reduction could signal a larger problem than the United States vs. Korea cultural battle.

Korea is currently undergoing what some critics call a renaissance in cinema. During the latter half of the 1990s, Korean cinema entered a remarkable boom.

Commercial filmmakers such as Chang Yoon-hyun and Kang Je-gyu made their debuts alongside arthouse directors like Kim Ki-duk and Hong Sang-soo. Since then, Korean movies have not only done well at home, but have also garnered international attention, bringing home numerous awards from the international film circuit.

Supporters of the screen quota reduction argue that a more open market in Korea will intensify competition and raise the quality of local fims in the long run. That is assuming, however, that quality is simplistically pegged to market forces and economic success.

Hollywood will continue what it does best - mercilessly making and distributing the same tired formula. To compete with the general fare, Korea will be forced to adopt Hollywood blockbuster models - not just in movie content but in distribution and production practices as well.
(emphasis mine)

Korean blockbusters may still be able to compete with major Hollywood films in terms of market share. The real losers are likely to be independent films or low-budget films that - prior to the screen quota reduction - already existed on the margins, and screened in small arthouse theaters.
(emphasis mine)

Why take the risk of investing in movies that have an unsure future, when theaters can invest in Hollywood blockbusters that aggressive marketing alone can often ensure profit?

The reduction of the screen quota will invite every major Hollywood distributor into Korea, and if Hollywood dominates other international markets as well, such blockbuster successes are not the only things Korean filmmakers need to worry about.

Though illegal in the United States, companies often add a handful of extra movies (even third-rate ones that go straight to DVD in the United States) into a package deal when a theater signs up for a major movie. Korea should prepare for every throwaway prequel, sequel, and sequel to the sequel, etc. that Hollywood can muster.

Though Korean distribution giants may hold their own, block-booking, as the practice is known, will effectively bump smaller independent distributors out of the picture.

Take, for example, the case of international film festival regular Kim Ki-duk, who, though largely unsuccessful in Korea, has helped make a name for Korean cinema around the world, winning prizes at numerous film festivals.

A recognized auteur of cinema, the question is not whether Kim will be able to compete with an increased number of Hollywood movies in Korea; he already didnt stand a chance against the high-budget Korean films prior to the reduction.

The screen quota, Kim himself argues, is precisely what gave him and other low budget filmmakers a chance to survive.

The screen quota allowed production companies to roll out films with marginal box office power since they had to be screened for a certain period. Hollywoods permanent vacation in Korea will mean that production companies will not even begin to produce these films.

New investments henceforth will translate to higher returns for companies at the expense of low-budget films. Distributors and producers alike are set to benefit, when their combined investments are attuned to box-office appeal.

Not to say that low-budget or independent films are synonymous with the artistic; often they are just as empty of meaning as their big money counterparts. But they thrived in a system that allowed diversity, from which cinematic gems such as Kim Ki-duk emerged.

With little chance of an outlet, a whole sector of Korean film faces extinction. A high market share does not signify a healthy national cinema; Korea must maintain and further develop the independent undercurrent art scene which, though largely unseen, prevents the artistic stagnation of the national industry.
(emphasis mine)

As arthouse theaters that play primarily non-Korean films are likely to benefit from the reduction, Korean cinephiles may be reduced to watching the latest David Lynch picture, wondering what could have been."

By Chris Ro
The Korea Herald
2006.07.12

Michelle est bon!

2006-06-14T20:42:00.000-04:00

Michelle has a photo posted at her blog, "Confessions of a Korean Fangirl from the USA", of herself with Oh Ji Ho on the day he departed from Hawaii to return to Korea.

She's very funny, and writes great stuff. Drop in to her blog and say hello. You won't regret it.

She's a diehard K-Fan, and I'm a diehard Michelle fan!

Won Bin Discharged

2006-06-03T03:56:00.000-04:00

Due to the severity of an old knee injury and subsequent surgery while on duty, actor Won Bin has been officially discharged from active military service.

The news article at Chosunilbo (English Edition) may be accessed by clicking here.

The potential exists, according to this article, that he"... could face some negative publicity due to his sudden discharge."

My question is:WHY?

Is it possible the Korean public is so entrenched in a dumbed down, robotic, knee-jerk mind-set that encourages suspicion regarding any erroneously perceived wrong-doing where military obligation is concerned, with no further investigation whatsoever?

I would prefer to think not.

Time will tell the story however.

Putting my two-cents-worth in here, I unequivocally disagree with the notion that a man should be criticized for an extremely painful, potentially crippling injury recieved through no fault of his own. His subsequent release from military service is the result of the decision of military officials based off practical considerations. The Army is not a recuperation facility for long term medical conditions.

Get well soon Won Bin! Our good thoughts are with you!

A bit of seroius Won Bin eye-candy for the girls.
Click image to enlarge (if you can handle it)

Oh Ji Ho - My Wife is a Gangster 3

2006-05-19T22:10:00.000-04:00

There is a very nice article about Oh Ji Ho making his new movie, My Wife is a Gangster 3. You can click on this announcement, and be taken directly there, Enjoy!

Oh Ji-ho and The Silver Knife

2006-05-12T17:21:00.000-04:00

Oh Ji Ho and The Silver Knife (Eunjangdo - 2003)
A Culture Clash

Click image to enlarge.

The Silver Knife is funny, though it has been compared to "Sex is Zero", and came up wanting according to the party commenting, with whom I disagree. I think it holds its own pretty well, and I really like the cast.

This movie introduced me to Yun Da-hun's charm. He’s a good actor and a very funny man. Another new face for me at the time I bought The Silver Knife, was the fantastic Song Jae-ho.

As the father of Min-seo, he is impossible; an entrenched Confucian in heart and soul. He is dictatorial, and hard to get along with except when it comes to consorting with his peers---the other village elders. Then, all present are in accord. That accord does not spill over into the family dynamics.

Min-seo lives with her family in Andong. The most precious family treasures, in the eyes of her Confucian father, are the Yeolnyeomun (gate of virtue) which is part of the historic site occupied by the family, and the eunjangdo (silver knife), both symbols of a woman's chastity. The Yeolnyeomun, a perpetual reminder, is located conveniently just outside the house.

At the age of twelve, upon reaching womanhood, Min-seo is solemnly given the gift of a small ornamental silver knife by her father, with the admonishment that she is now responsible for her continued purity. Virginal she is, and virginal she will remain. She (also solemnly), accepts the knife, and the obligation it carries. She takes her responsibility so seriously, that she even layers herself with extra underwear to prevent any possible opportunity for assault against her state of grace. Her schoolmates, on discovering this, chide her for it mercilessly, but she remains staunchly faithful to tradition.

Fast forward to Min-seo desiring to go to college, in, of all damnable places, the great wicked city of Seoul. From home to perdition in one small leap. Her father flat out refuses to allow it of course, saying among other things, "Seoul corrupts the mind".

Aided by her mother, who doesn't want Min-seo to live the life she herself must live, and by her brother who feels the same way, she manages to leave home. The departure scene is very amusing, with the mother in a physical grappling match against the father, who is nearly foaming at the mouth in rage. The term, "going ballistic" fits here nicely.

Min-seo's train ride to Seoul is not without incident. She handles it with great aplomb…and her trusty silver knife. Of course.

The sex scenes are all very, very funny.

There's a sexy dance contest, during which Oh Ji-ho once again strips down to the nitty-gritty, wearing only a dinner plate as protection from chilly drafts.

There's a condom scene between two other characters, which takes place in the back seat of a car that is utterly bizarre, and therefore priceless.

Oh Ji-ho is Ju-haek, the smitten boyfriend who is dying to get into the (now figurative) much layered underwear of the pristine Min-seo. He is the soul of chivalry and protectiveness coming undone in the grip of young lust. He plots and schemes alone, or with the help of his friends, trying to come up with a plan that will land him between the sheets with his ice princess. The situations arrived at are so ridiculous, you have to sit and laugh at them.

There are other characters always either getting it on, or trying to with mixed results that are invariably weird and funny as hell.

This is over-blown comedy done with a heavy hand, and I can't think of any people other than the Korean filmmakers who could do it so well. They have a certain special kind of touch.

Toward the end of the movie, Ju-haek makes an impassioned statement that is quite powerful, decrying the tradition of the silver knife, which was as often used for committing suicide after dishonor, as it may have been to defend honor by turning it upon the man who attempted intimacy. Oh Ji-ho shines in this sequence, and you see his potential, as yet unexpressed elsewhere. (2003)

There is also a scene of tenderness between Ju-haek and Min-seo that takes place on a bridge, which will touch any heart that allows itself to be reached by a simple act of caring that says, this is love, doing something like this is what makes love real.

If you are looking for a basically jolly movie with strange characters, a lot of sexual innuendo, and buffoonery galore (a specialty of Oh Ji-ho's), this is it.

Click image to enlarge.

A. Murray
26 April 2006

Oh Ji-ho Music Video

2006-05-10T13:08:00.000-04:00

A music video by V.O.S. featuring Oh Ji-ho can be viewed at my experimental page, One Two Three Testing. For access, see links to your right.

La Belle (Mi in) Reviewed...again

2006-05-06T18:32:00.000-04:00

La Belle (Mi in)
Commentary by A. Murray
April 27, 2006

What a much discussed and often misunderstood movie!

Because there is frequent nudity and apparent sexual activity, untold numbers of people have labeled it either as pornography or soft-core pornography whether they’ve seen the film or not. Korean law prohibits full frontal nudity in movies made there, so you see breasts and buttocks, nothing more. The sex in La Belle is definitely not the real thing.

The movie is NOT pornography. Hard-core pornography deals with very explicit sexual acts. Pornography consists of displaying intimate parts of the body during sexual activity. It relies greatly on tiresome close-ups that usually resemble pink machine parts hammering into other pink machine parts. I will not stoop to a critique of porn flick background music, or the moaning groaning vocal overlays.

La Belle does none of this.

Something a lot of people don't seem to understand about La Belle, is the fact it’s surreal. When recognized as surreal it reaches a level where it must be processed through intellect first. Surrealism demands that of the viewer. Because it is abstract, it keeps you saying to yourself, did I really see that? Do I understand this, or am I totally off base?

In this case, it's a frequently surrealistic erotic story that could be simply told. Journalist meets woman. Woman is a nude model.

Woman loves a man who cares very little about the fact she exists, other than using her for sex.

Journalist becomes obsessed with woman to the degree that he no longer functions in his professional capacity as a writer. They both go down the tubes.

End of story.

But...

Seeing La Belle is like being submerged in a pool of sensuality surrounded by beautiful imagery. The director, Yeo Kyun Dong, has a fine eye when it comes to line, and gives us an uncluttered elegant framework for the film. Dancer, Ahn Eun Mi, contributed her talent as a "body choreographer", working with the stars Oh Ji Ho and Lee Ji Hyeon for a month, teaching them how to move fluidly. It is this kind of attention that makes La Belle something very special.

The vision of the director, the talent of the choreographer, and the abilities of composer/pianist, No Yeong Shim, who wrote and performed the music, acting in concert with each other, gives us a beautifully crafted view of sex and love in their many variations and tones.

The film opens with a shot of a writing desk and chair. The camera approaches slowly, finally showing an open book with a fountain pen lying across the page. The doorbell rings several times. We hear the voice of a man. He says, “she’s back”. And so begins the tale of a journalist, and a model….

The man (Oh Ji Ho) is obsessed with the woman (Lee Ji Hyeon) with whom he is having an affair, while at the same time wanting to be free of her. He is filled with self-loathing, seeing himself as weak. The relationship is mainly sexual in nature, devoid of any real connection, and therefore, ultimately frustrating. The gratification of the act of sex dissipates quickly, and both are left empty.

Click on photo to enlarge.

While he wishes his love were reciprocated, it is not. He fantasizes about her being the woman he wants her to be in apparent real-time scenarios woven into the actual scene being played out, as he copes with the truth. She is not who or what he longs for her to be.

She wishes for the man she can’t have...the lover of her choice, the abuser who beats her and uses her in an offhand way. She waits for calls from him, and lives with one ear tuned to her cell phone. When he does call, she leaps into action, racing to dress, put on make-up, and leaving as fast as possible to get to him.

This is witnessed time after time by the writer, whose home she has moved into since she seems to have nowhere else to go.

These afflicted lovers have terrible emotional scenes. When the woman returns after a visit with the other man, either drunk or beaten physically, the writer is always there and takes care of her in spite of his desire to be shed of her. They both seem to sink deeper and deeper into a swamp of inner disgust and driving sexual desire.

Director Yeo Kyun Dong uses visual clues throughout that may or may not be picked up by the viewer. In one scene the couple is out walking, one on either side of the street, although they are theoretically walking together. What could describe the separation between these minds and souls better than such a simple device? He also did interesting things with audio other than merely supplying us with a remarkable musical background.

The very sounds in the film--the clattering departures of the woman, her slamming of the door, her frequent shrillness, her noisy occupation of another's space…is jarring. All this, opposed to the introspective silence of the writer and his isolation when he is alone or quietly writing as his lover sleeps, is calculated and clever, simply because it works on the subconscious, and tells us so much about the characters, without saying a word.

Click on photo to enlarge.

When viewed through the intellect first, without expectation, but with the mind open to the surreal, this becomes a little gem in it's own right. The majority of gems taken from the earth are flawed. It goes without saying that it is a most beautiful film physically, but also that it is flawed.

Some of the flaws lay in the acting ability of Oh Ji Ho who was relatively inexperienced at the time La Belle was made. He was widely criticized for this by online critics, and it took some of the bloom off the rose. Fortunately, he is a doggedly stubborn individual, who doesn’t quit or let go easily, and has made remarkable strides in his work. What he did have then, and still has, is beauty.

In my opinion, he was simply too young for the role even though he looked older than his twenty-four years. In the love scenes, he was exquisite. I have never seen any to compare with them. Where some of the film is done with voice-over narrative, Oh Ji Ho shows his stuff while reciting the lines. In this, he exonerates himself. He reads beautifully. His voice is like honey. His tempo is flawless.

Lee Ji Hyeon, on the other hand, is unquestionably excellent as the desperate woman filled with longing for the man she loves so futilely, while living with a man she eventually feels nothing less than disdain for, a man she uses as a sexual soporific to quell the pain of her life. Her acting ability stuns, as one would be stunned if dropped into a vat of ice water. She takes your breath away. Seeing this talented dynamic woman at work causes you to fall under the spell she weaves. She’s a powerhouse of phenomenal magnetism and energy.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Oh Ji Ho and Lee Ji-Hyeon are good-looking people. Both have nice bodies. They are agile and graceful, and totally believable in the love scenes, which are incredibly sensuous and caressing. This is where the choreographic expertise of Ahn Eun Mi shows brilliantly. Even so small a detail as the positioning of the actors’ hands during the love scenes comes into play with a huge payoff. The physical aspects of the love scenes are stunningly beautiful. They are always riveting.

So, one might say the film is choppy in a sense. When it flows it’s divine, when it stalls it becomes awkward.

Since the reader may not have seen this movie, I will refrain from divulging more of the plot, or the events that take place. I suggest you see it.

Technical Note:
My copy is the Spectrum version from Korea. Generally, Spectrum does a fine job, with excellent picture and sound quality. This version has both. Unfortunately though, it has the worst subtitles I’ve ever seen. They confuse rather than clarify.

I’ve watched the film three times, the last time without subtitles since I'm now familiar with the story line. I was able to enjoy it a lot more without reading the titles. Because I enjoy listening to the Korean language, I kept the sound on.

Brought to you by The Hyacinth Papers.