Filming of the much-anticipated crime flick “Drug King” featuring Bae Doo-na, Song Kang-ho and Jo Jung-suk has wrapped up, according to an Instagram post by Bae on Saturday. Bae uploaded a photo of herself receiving a bouquet of flowers from a member of the filming crew.“That’s a wrap,” Bae captioned the photo. Actor Song is also seen clapping in the picture.  (Bae Doo-na's Instagram)The film set in 1970s Korea traces the story of the infamous drug kingpin Lee Doo-sam, who was a major distributo

Film Oct. 8, 2017

Historical drama “The Fortress” topped the Korean box office by a wide margin over the Chuseok holiday.　The film amassed 424,409 viewers across the country Saturday, according to the Korean Film Council’s statistics, ranking first place daily for five consecutive days since Tuesday. 　 “The Fortress” (CJ Entertainment)The film directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk tells the story of the 1636 Chinese invasion of Joseon and stars Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yoon-seok and Park Hae-il. It has sold over 2.6 million tick

Film Oct. 8, 2017

While family-themed films and blockbuster flicks have traditionally fared well in the holiday box office, some moviegoers may want to peruse more low-key indie pieces during the long Chuseok break, lasting stretching from Sept. 30 to Oct. 9. 　A number of Korean cinemas specializing in indie pieces, such as Indie Space, are offering a selection of delightful small-scale films. “Goodbye My Hero” (Cinema Dal)Unemployed father, young son In “Good Bye My Hero,” a documentary film by director Han Youn

Film Oct. 4, 2017

Directors have called Park Hae-il a “blank sheet,” an actor who absorbs and completely transforms through the roles bestowed upon him. With boyish features and a difficult-to-fathom aura about him, Korean film fans say he possesses a Janus-like charm, similar to the Roman god of duplicity – you can’t quite tell whether he embodies good or evil. Park says he’s familiar with the description. “Director Yim Soon-rye told me I was like a white canvas that could become any color, after filming ‘Waikik

Film Oct. 4, 2017

Koreans this year will enjoy the longest Chuseok holiday ever, stretching from Sept. 30 until Oct. 9 for many people. And many young Koreans are opting to spend at least a portion of the mini-vacation alone, surveys show. Six out of 10 twenty-somethings said they will be spending the holiday alone, according a survey of 1,190 people conducted by part-time job listing portal site Alba Chunkuk Tuesday. The reasons behind the solo-holiday were part-time jobs at 27.2 percent and the stress of relati

Culture Sept. 29, 2017

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (UK)Opened Sept. 27Action, adventure. Directed by Matthew VaughnThe headquarters of Kingsman, hidden inside a tailors shop, has been destroyed and the fate of the planet is at risk once more. Eggsy (Taron Egerton), now a full agent with a year of experience under his belt, and Merlin (Mark Strong) follow the Doomsday protocol and seek the help of Kingsman’s American counterpart Statesman, located in a Bourbon whiskey distillery in Kentucky. The elite agents from both

Film Sept. 29, 2017

“Welcome! First Time in Korea?” the travel reality show featuring foreign visitors in Korea starred a quartet of Russian friends in its Thursday episode.The episode featured Russian-Korean social media personality Svetlana Yoo and her three Russian friends Regina, Elena and Anastasia in Korea.　 “Welcome! First Time in Korea?” (MBC every1)The girls, in their 20s, planned out their travel around shopping for cutesy items and visiting animal cafes around Seoul. 　Upon their arrival in Korea, Yoo’s t

Television Sept. 29, 2017

“The Good Doctor,” the ABC remake of a Korean television series, got off to a good start in the US.The first episode of the show which aired Monday evening at 10 pm (Eastern Standard Time) topped ratings in its time slot. 　The show amassed a 2.4 percent viewership among viewers aged 18 to 49, meaning that some 1.18 million viewers tuned in, according to American ratings site TV By The Numbers. 　NBC’s “The Brave” and CBS’ “Scorpion” trailed behind at 1.3 and 1.0 percent, respectively.　In the US,

Television Sept. 28, 2017

Kim Yoon-seok’s criteria for choosing film projects is simple. 　“I pick the best scripts,” he said in an interview Tuesday at a cafe in Palpan-dong, Seoul.　The acclaimed actor, known for his gloomy gravitas, has starred in films such as Na Hong-jin’s 2008 thriller “The Chaser.” 　French novelist Guillaume Musso proclaimed himself a fan of Kim, which is how Korean producers were able to obtain remake rights for Musso’s novel “Will You Be There?” The film, with Kim taking the lead role, opened in K

Film Sept. 27, 2017

From comedians to singers, a handful of Korean celebrities are crossing over to YouTube to create content in their respective fields or share their hobbies.　K-pop duo Akdong Musician’s Suhyun opened beauty channel “Mochi Peach” in June; girl group f(x)’s Amber started comedy and daily life channel “What The Pineapple!” in 2015; former girl group 2NE1’s Sandara Park launched a channel of her daily activities, called “Dara TV,” in June.　A range of other channels are also available, set up by comed

Television Sept. 26, 2017

The setting is North Korea. The day is Christmas in an unspecified near future. The notorious hermit kingdom has collapsed from a coup d’etat.This is the premise of upcoming film “Steel Rain,” set to hit local theaters in December. 　The film stars actor Jung Woo-sung as Uhm Cheol-woo, a top North Korean special agent who flees to South Korea with the North’s leader to escape the uprising. 　 Jung Woo-sung stars in “Steel Rain.” (NEW)The film is written and directed by Yang Woo-seok, who previousl

Film Sept. 26, 2017

A roster of top Korean actors including Lee Byung-hun and Kim Yoon-seok and director Hwang Dong-hyuk tackle a painful historical event in the upcoming film “The Fortress.” The film is a period piece that deals with a Chinese invasion which took place in 1636, prompting Joseon’s King Injo to take refuge in Namhansanseong, a mountain fortress located some 25 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Within the fortress’ walls, Joseon officials desperately debated the course of action -- whether to surrender

Film Sept. 25, 2017

Award-winning film director Song Hae-sung was charged Sunday with verbally abusing a handicapped female taxi driver while under the influence of alcohol, police said Monday. Song hurled abuse at the taxi driver when she pressed the “extra charge” button on the taxi’s meter at around 11 p.m. Friday while traveling to Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from Yeouido in Seoul, according to the taxi driver’s testimony, police said.  Director Song Hae-sung (Yonhap)“He saw that my left arm was a prosthetic and

Film Sept. 25, 2017

The reality show featuring K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri’s life on Jeju Island, “Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast,” wrapped up Sunday evening on JTBC.　In the final episode, Lee shed tears after reading a heartfelt goodbye letter written to her by singer IU, who stayed as a guest and helper at Lee’s Jeju home throughout the show. 　"Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast”(JTBC)The show, which kicked off in June, surpassed a 9 percent viewership rating at its peak, according to Nielsen Korea, a new record for JTBC variety sho

Television Sept. 25, 2017

Hip-hop trio Epik High will hold concerts in November for its upcoming album, YG Entertainment announced Sunday.The concerts, titled “We’ve Done Something Wonderful,” will take place on Nov. 3 and 4 at Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Tickets will be available starting at 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 at ticket.interpark.com.  A poster for Epik High’s upcoming concert (YG Entertainment)The group’s upcoming album will be its first release in three years since “Shoebox” in 2014, which fea

Performance Sept. 24, 2017