[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

The Vanished(Korea)Opened March 7ThrillerDirected by Lee Chang-heeThe body of a recently deceased business mogul Yoon Sul-hee (Kim Hee-ae) goes missing, and the widower Park Jin-han (Kim Kang-woo) is called in by the police for questioning. It soon becomes apparent that Park hides a dark secret related to his wife’s death and detective Woo Jung-sik (Kim Sang-kyung) attempts to dig up what Park has buried. Tomb Raider(US)Opened March 8Action, AdventureDirected by Roar Uthaug Lara Croft (Alicia Vi

March 9, 2018

[Herald Interview] ‘Entertainer’ Lee Seung-gi eyes new album this year

There was a time when Lee Seung-gi was hailed as the “Korean little brother” -- referring to his wholesome, likeable image that was beloved by those across all ages.Now 31, the actor/singer/show host said he wants to be remembered just as an “entertainer,” who approaches various sectors of entertainment in an equally devoted and serious manner. “I like that the nickname has gradually phased out. People all know me now as Lee Seung-gi, and that’s how I like it. A rare entertainer in Korea who doe

March 9, 2018

Director Hong Sang-soo ended romance with actress Kim Min-hee: report

Award-winning Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo has recently broken up with actress Kim Min-hee, about one year after they went public with their extramarital relationship, an online media outlet reported Friday."The two broke up a month ago," Sports World said, citing a movie industry person who is well acquainted with Hong's situation. "Hong had worried about Kim's future very much." Director Hong Sang-soo (left) and actress Kim Min-hee are seen together during a press conference where the two co

March 9, 2018

More actresses accuse Kim Ki-duk, Cho Jae-hyun of sexual assault

More allegations of sexual assault involving filmmaker Kim Ki-duk and actor Cho Jae-hyun were raised Tuesday night in an episode of MBC’s investigative news show “PD’s Notepad.”Kim, who has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, has been accused of sexually assaulting an actress, while veteran actor Cho has been accused of sexually assaulting staff on set and students at a college where he taught.  Kim Ki-duk (left) and Cho Jae-hyun celebrate winning the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice

March 7, 2018

‘Snatch-Up’ to use humor in depicting struggles of life

Seven men, seven different motivations and seven different reasons they each should snag a bag full of cash -- this is the plot that drives the upcoming comedy action flick “Snatch-Up” by director Heo Jun-hyeong.“(The film) captures the comedic elements that come at unexpected moments. I tried to make it different from existing crime-themed films,” Heo said in a press event for the film Monday. The cast of “Snatch-Up” poses for a photo with director Heo Jun-hyeong at a press event in Seoul on Mo

March 5, 2018

[Herald Review] Chasing phantoms of one’s guilt

A plot twist is a double-edged sword in filming. When used right, it could blow the audience’s mind. But in clumsy hands, it could blow up in your face.“The Vanished” by rookie director Lee Chang-hee is a rare film that toys with viewers’ perception and manages to leave them satisfyingly shaken in the end. The thriller is a remake of the 2012 crime thriller “The Body,” directed by Oriol Paulo. The body of the recently deceased business mogul Yoon Sul-hee -- played by Kim Hee-ae -- goes missing,

March 4, 2018

'Black Panther' tops 5 mln in attendance

Marvel's latest superhero movie "Black Panther" surpassed 5 million views on its 18th day of theatrical release in South Korea on Sunday, its local distributor said. (Walt Disney Company Korea)   It became the first film ever to hit the 5 million threshold this year.   The Ryan Coogler film had stayed atop the Korean box office since it opened on Feb. 14 before being pushed to No. 3 by two new Korean releases: "The Princess and the Matchmaker" and "Little Forest." But it still remains popular, d

March 3, 2018

[Newsmaker] Oh Dal-su apologizes for sexual harassment

Actor Oh Dal-su on Wednesday issued a public apology for sexually harassing fellow actors a few decades ago.“The series of events are all my fault...I bow my head in apology for anyone who has been hurt because of me,” he said.Stage actress Uhm Ji-young and others have recently accused Oh of sexual attacks in the 1990s.Oh, who had initially denied the allegations, said the allegations were not exactly the same as he remembered. “I wanted to verify (the allegations) and talk to them. I was frustr

Feb. 28, 2018

Oh Dal-su sinks deeper into harassment scandal

The sexual harassment scandal surrounding popular actor Oh Dal-su took a new turn recently, as his accuser appeared on local TV for an official interview.Theater actress Uhm Ji-young appeared on JTBC News Room on Tuesday evening to disclose the details concerning her accusation. She said that she had been performing in a play in the early 2000s, when Oh came to see it. Oh Dal-su (Yonhap)After Uhm asked Oh for an advice, Oh supposedly took her to a motel. She said that he tried to undress her and

Feb. 28, 2018

Jang Dong-gun to blur line between good and evil in ‘Seven Years of Night’

Director Choo Chang-min managed to do something that nearly no one had managed to do: He made Jang Dong-gun, one of the most marketable figures and the perennial sex symbol of Korean cinema, somewhat unattractive.“The point (of casting Jang) was how it would be if an actor whose face represents the good depicted the evil,” Choo said, in a press conference for the upcoming movie “Seven Years of Night” held in Seoul on Tuesday. The thriller, based on a novel of the same name by Jung Yoo-jung, foll

Feb. 27, 2018

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

Fifty Shades Freed(US)Opened Feb. 21Drama, Romance, ThrillerDirected by James FoleyBelieving they have left behind shadowy figures from their past, newlyweds Christian and Ana fully embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. But just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.Black Panther (US)Opened Feb. 14Action, Adventure, Sci-fi Directed by Ryan Coogler T’Challa

Feb. 23, 2018

[Herald Review] Match made in hell

Lee Seung-gi is a multi-talented entertainer who shines in many roles, excelling as a singer, a show host, comedian and actor. Sadly, “The Princess and the Matchmaker” is not one of them.Directed by Hong Chang-pyo, the flick marks the hallyu star’s return to the silver screen after being discharged from his mandatory military service last year. Filming was finished in 2015, but the movie was kept under wraps for nearly three years. Looking at the final product, it is not hard to guess why.The st

Feb. 22, 2018

[Herald Review] Sanctuary in the ‘Little Forest’

The fact that “healing” -- referring, in Korea, to the process of relieving stress with relaxing activities -- was the key word of 2010s shows Koreans’ frustrations with the hectic city life. In a county where over half of the population is concentrated in the metropolitan area, farming has become something of a symbol for the laid-back life that city-dwellers dream of.Director Yim Soon-rye’s “Little Forest” follows a young woman typically deemed a failure -- she fails to land a teaching job, an

Feb. 21, 2018

Stage director apologizes for sexual harassment, denies rape allegations

Acclaimed stage director Lee Youn-taek on Monday apologized for his acts of sexual harassment which he admitted went on for 18 years but denied allegations of rape.During a press conference held at the 30 Studio in Jongro-gu, Seoul, on Monday, Kim So-hee, head of the Yeonhee Street Theatre Troupe, said that the troupe had been aware of the various sexual misconduct allegations involving Lee and that she has decided to disband the group in order to take responsibility. Lee Youn-taek speaks at a p

Feb. 19, 2018

Open ‘Gate’ for comic satire of reality

Caper film “Gate” hopes to be “better than the news,” keeping the elements of comedy while reflecting reality by satirizing Choi Soon-sil. The main plot of the film centers on a group planning to rob a secret safe. The former thieves, a prosecutor, a hacker and two friends team up, each for their own reasons. Veteran actors Jung Ryeo-won, Im Chang-jung, Jung Sang-hoon, Lee Kyung-young, Lee Moon-sik and rookie Kim Do-hoon form the main cast of the comedy caper. The cast of “Gate” (JNC Media Group

Feb. 19, 2018

S. Korean director rejects #MeToo charges at Berlin fest

BERLIN -- A South Korean director in the eye of a #MeToo storm defiantly rejected abuse accusations against him at the Berlin film festival Saturday, saying he ensures no one “suffers” on the sets of his ultraviolent, sexually explicit art movies.Acclaimed filmmaker Kim Ki-duk, who has picked up prizes at the Cannes, Venice and Berlinale festivals, faced a barrage of questions from reporters about allegations of physical and sexual abuse by an actress he worked with in 2013. Director Kim Ki-duk

Feb. 18, 2018

Actress ‘hurt’ by Berlin film fest, says it ignored allegations against director Kim Ki-duk

A Korean actress has expressed her disappointment with the Berlin International Film Festival organizers for their inviting filmmaker Kim Ki-duk to the event while championing the values of the global #MeToo movement.The same actress, who wishes to remain anonymous, accused the prize-winning filmmaker of physically and sexually abusing her during the filming of “Moebius” in 2013. Kim was fined 5 million won ($4,600) in December on the physical assault charge. Other charges were dismissed due to

Feb. 13, 2018

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead (Korea)Opened Feb.8Comedy, CrimeWhen a series of unusual murders occurs, Detective K (Kim Myung-min) and his partner (Oh Dal-soo) are once again called into action as they discover a trail of bodies with mysterious bite marks. Along the way, the pair comes across with a woman with mystical powers and a hidden past.Paddington 2(US)Opened Feb.8Animation, Adventure, ComedyPaddington (Voiced by Ben Wishaw), now happily settled with the Brown family and a popula

Feb. 9, 2018

Kim Ki-duk’s film still headed to Berlin amid film fest’s #MeToo drive

While the upcoming 68th Berlin International Film Festival has announced that it disqualified certain films over sexual misconduct allegations, Korean film director Kim Ki-duk’s work remains on its program. The film festival director Dieter Kosslick said to the press Tuesday that certain productions had been disqualified from participating because a director, screenwriter or star related to the production was involved in credible sexual-assault allegations. Kim Ki-duk (Yonhap)Mentioning that “le

Feb. 7, 2018

‘The Body’ a mystery of missing body in morgue

An ambitious professor who has been living an affluent but miserable married life murders his wife, thinking he has committed the perfect crime. Then the woman’s body goes missing from the National Institute of Scientific Investigation. A tenacious detective starts chasing the truth of the mystery. Upcoming thriller “The Body,” starring Kim Hee-ae, Kim Gang-woo and Kim Sang-kyung, unfolds with the creepy tagline “A corpse of my wife I killed has disappeared,” zooming into the three characters’ t

Feb. 6, 2018