Japanese Actor Ken Watanabe to Make First Visit to Korea

Back in town Rain brings us up to speed

To say that Rain has come a long way from his humble beginnings as a dancer for ex-producer Park Jin-young would be a gross understatement. With two Wachowski Brothers' films under his belt -- one of which is slated for release next year -- and a...

Rain Tests His Own Boundaries

One of the busiest stars in the local entertainment business would be none other than singer and actor Rain. The 27-year-old star has a new album out, is waiting for the release of his recently finished Hollywood film ``Ninja Assassin'' and is appe...

Song Hye-kyo Returns to Small Screen

Korean dramas are full of entertainment, with cliched yet dramatic plots, cute and handsome male characters, both main and supporting, and always a young pretty heroine. Among these heroines is Song Hye-kyo, 26, who will appear in the new drama...

Rain Finally Unveiled in Asia

Korean pop sensation Rain has officially returned to Asian fans. The 26-year-old singer was not only back home, but better than ever. At his show, held at MBC Dreamcenter in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, fans from Japan, Taiwan, China and Korea wh...

PIFF Wraps Up 9-Day Run

The 13th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) closed Friday with the premiere of the South Korean film ``I Am Happy'' directed by Yoon Jong-chan. This year's festival featured the largest number of films and world premiers, receiving good r...

Superstar Rain Returns

World star Rain kicked off his singing career in Korea after a 2-year hiatus by appearing late Thursday for the filming of his comeback special. After he released his fourth album in 2006, he has concentrated on his acting career, appearing in the ...

It Will Be 'Rain'ing Again in Korea

Korean pop star Rain is returning to the local music scene for the first time in two years. The 26-year-old singer will release his new album ``Rainism,'' hold a showcase and also appear in a two-day special program on MBC this and next Friday. ...

J.Tune Entertainment's Fashion Line to Incorporate Paul Klee's Works

Rain's management agency J.Tune Entertainment, which recently declared its intent to expand into the fashion business, will incorporate works by Swiss artist Paul Klee into its fashion brand "Six to Five." The agency recently announced that it s...

Rain Produces Special Comeback Show with MBC

Singer Rain will take part in producing a special program with MBC to celebrate his return to the K-pop scene. Rain plans to release his much-anticipated special album in October. The special program featuring Rain is expected to be similar to...

[TALK OF THE TOWN]Pop star Rain wows the crowd at Olympics closing ceremony

Any remaining doubts that Rain is a global star were dispelled last Sunday at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Beijing National Stadium. Rain, whose real name is Jeong Ji-hun, sang “Beijing, Beijing, I Love Beijing” in Ch...

Rain Drinks In Olympics Emotion

Singer Rain has spoken about performing at the Beijing Olympic closing ceremony on Sunday. The Korean singer sang the closing theme song “Beijing, Beijing, I Love Beijing” with other Chinese stars, including Hong Kong-based Kelly Chen, Taiwanese ...

Rain Says Closing Ceremony Performance Was 'Electrifying'

Singer and actor Rain performed "Beijing, I Love Beijing" with popular Chinese entertainers during the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics held at the Main Olympic Stadium, or the "Bird's Nest," on August 24. Rain performed with popular...

Rain Holds 'Summer Vacation with Rain' Fan Meeting

Singer and actor Rain is back in Korea. Rain's management agency JTune Entertainment said Rain will hold a fan meeting on July 27 at the Seoul Olympic Park's Olympic Hall. The theme of the fan meeting, to be attended by both Korean and other ...

[MOVIE REVIEW]'The Good, The Bad, The Weird' aspects of English subtitles

"The Good, The Bad, The Weird," a $17-million oriental Western by veteran filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, topped the domestic box office in its opening weekend, selling a record 2.19 million tickets in four days since its release on Thursday. The strong ...

"Kimchi Western" debuts amid great interest

The much-awaited Korean movie The Good, the Bad, the Weird based on a spaghetti Western and nicknamed a "Kimchi Western" after the nation's signature spicy national dish, is expected to be the hottest pick of local theatergoers here but viewers...

Rain Makes Forbes List Again

Singer and actor Rain has once again found his name on the pages of U.S. economic journal Forbes. According to a representative from J.Tune Entertainment, Rain was one of the names in the July 14th article, "10 Celebs and their Cells, " which...

Rain Among Top Global Cell Phone Celebrities

Korean superstar Rain has been featured in U.S. business and financial news magazine Forbes once again. The singer and actor was featured earlier this week on Forbes.com as one of ten celebrities representing major cell phone brands from across the g...

Rain to Return to Music this Fall

Since his entry into the Hollywood movie market, singer and actor Rain has been a busy man. He has finally announced that he will be returning to the music business this September. Rain held an official event with his Japanese fan club, "The C...

Korean Movies to Shine at Int'l Film Fests

South Korean movies continue to make their way around the globe to vie for prizes and reach a wider audience. Some notable trips to international film festivals include feted director Kim Ki-duk's latest work ``Dream,'' the anticipated summer blo...

"The Host" Sequel Set for China

"The Host" was a Korean box office blockbuster directed by Bong Jun-ho and, while its Korean sequel is in the works, a Chinese sequel is also in its early stages. Last week, Chungeorahm Films met with director Ning Hao, his production company ...

Rain Heads to Japan from Berlin Movie Shoot

Actor and singer Rain (Jung Ji-hoon, 26) has been in Berlin filming a movie, but he will be flying to Tokyo, Japan on the 30th for a free admission meeting with his fans at JCB Hall. His agency, J.Tune Entertainment, recently posted photographs o...

New technological step in Korean animation

After Ryoo Seung-wan's "The City of Violence" (Jjakpae) and Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" (Cyborgjiman Gwaenjanha), "Life is Cool" (Geunyeoneun Yeppeotta, English translation: "She was beautiful") will be the next instalment of CJ En...

Film adaptation of French comic to go global: Bong

Even with only three feature films to his name, Bong Joon-ho has become one of the few Korean directors who have been able to "catch both hares" -- commercial success and critical acclaim. After directing short films, he made his feature film ...

Five Korean films join Cannes fest

The 61st Cannes Film Festival has begun with fanfare, spicing up the festive mood for moviegoers all around the world. The ebullient mood remains largely the same here in Korea, but one thing is palpably different: There's no chance of a Korean movie...

Rain in Dance Battle on "The Colbert Report"

Singer and actor Rain finally met the popular U.S. comedian Stephen Colbert, the same man who lampooned him on national TV. Rain was in L.A. for the premiere of his Hollywood debut in "Speed Racer," and on the night of the 5th, he showed off h...

Rain Makes into Encyclopedia Britannica

World star Rain (real name Jung Ji-hoon) has been listed in the Year in Review 2007 of the Encyclopedia Britannica Online. He is only the third Korean figure to be included in the biographies section of the Britannica. The other two are poet Ko U...

Rain's Agency Targets Japanese Market

Rain's entertainment agency J. Tune Entertainment (CEO Cho Dong-won) is preparing to launch a cellular content service for Japanese fans. On April 28th, a J. Tune representative announced that they have signed a contract with ACCEL Corporation...

Name Mix-Up Dampens Rain's Hollywood Debut

Singer and actor Rain had an embarrassing moment at the premier of his Hollywood debut film "Speed Racer" at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday. The 26-year-old Korean superstar was introduced as Taejo Togokhan, the name of his characte...

Premiere of Film "Speed Racer" to be Held in Tokyo

The premiere of "Speed Racer," a film by the Wachowski brothers in which singer Rain makes his Hollywood film debut, will be held in June. The film premiere, to be held at the Tokyo Dome on June 25, will invite 35,000 audience members. The fil...

Racy Rain shifts into top gear

Role in Wachowski brothers’ movie leads to other Hollywood jobs Pop star Rain has leapt into the Hollywood limelight. He’s been cast in “Speed Racer,” a live action film by the Wachowski brothers, the creators of “The Matrix” (1999). Speed Ra...

Rain in "TIME" Magazine for 3rd Consecutive Year

Actor and singer Rain was asked for an interview with the weekly U.S. journal "TIME," according to J. Tune Entertainment. Every year, "TIME" magazine presents a select list of "100 of the World's Most Influential People" and currently, Rain ha...

Rain to Begin International PR Tour for 'Speed Racer'

Actor and singer Rain will begin a world tour for the promotion of the simultaneous international release of Hollywood's "Speed Racer" on May 8th. According to Warner Brothers Korea, Rain starts his promotional tour in Korea on the 20th, then ...

Samsung Unveils Promotional Music Video Starring Rain

Samsung Electronics has unveiled the 2008 Beijing Olympics theme song and the music video that will be used for advertising its Anycall mobile phones. Singer and actor Rain, who is one of the hottest celebrities in Asia, stars in the music video....

'Secret Sunshine' Snags Three Awards at Asian Film Fest

From left, actor Song Kang-ho, actress Jeon Do-yeon, director Lee Chang-dong attend the red carpet of the Asian Film Awards as part of the event at Hong Kong International Film Festival in Hong Kong on Monday. /AP Korean film "Secret Sunshine" b...

Korean Films Receives Accolades Overseas

Korean films have been receiving accolades at international film festivals. 'Girl of the Himalayas' directed by Jeon Soo-il received the best cinematography and the audience's choice awards at the 9th annual Las Palmas International Film Festi...

Rain Unveils Samsung's Olympic Theme Song in Beijing

To introduce Samsung Electronics' Anycall mobile phone model for the Beijing Olympic Games, singer Rain attended the "Press Conference for Samsung Advertisement Model, Rain" held in Beijing, China on February 21. During the press conference, S...

Rain receives award for promoting nation's image

Rain (Jung Ji-Hoon), one of the most successful and admired performers in Asia, yesterday received the 2008 Korea Image Stepping Stone Award, which is given annually by the Corea Image Communication Institute. The awards ceremony was held in the G...

Hollywood Calls for Rain

Rain speaks at a press conference held to announce a strategic partnership between his agency J.Tune and the William Morris Agency of the U.S. at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Wednesday. /Yonhap Korean pop idol Rain has snagged his first leading r...

Top Star Rain Joins WMA

Singer and actor Rain is set to launch his career in the United States. He recently signed a contract with William Morris Agency in Hollywood. Rain's management agency said it has decided to join hands with an internationally renowned agency W...

Major Korean Films Offered With English Subtitles

CGV Yongsan in central Seoul will devote a screen to the exclusive showing of popular domestic movies with English-language subtitles, an unprecedented move by a movie theater. ``It's to serve the many foreigners in Korea who want to watch Kor...

Retro movies rediscover colonial era

Gyeongseong is emerging as a popular background for Korean films, reflecting the public's recent penchant for retro style, and filmmakers' newfound interest in the Japanese colonial period -- evidence of their quest for fresh characters and themes. ...

[Talk of town]Sending some Rain to wash away oil

The number of volunteers flocking to Taean, South Chungcheong to clean the area’s oil-ravaged coasts exceeded 1,150,000 as of Monday. Pop star Rain is among the helping hands. Despite his busy performance schedule, he headed for the damaged coas...

Rain to Sing Theme for Beijing Olympics

Korean pop idol Rain has been tapped to sing the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Rain, who is a star across much of Asia, will be the first Korean to sing an Olympic theme song since quartet Koreana sang "Hand in Hand" for the Se...

Must-See Films in 2008

This year, a long lineup of star-studded movies, both homegrown and Hollywood imports, awaits release with Korea's hottest stars and bona fide actors gracing the silver screen throughout 2008. While a high profile cast hasn't always guaranteed...

Rain May Sing Olympic Theme

Singer Rain may sing the theme song for this year's Beijing Olympics. He recently received a request from the Olympic organizing committee and is positively reviewing it. He was asked to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Doha Asia...

Cheonggye Stream to be Backdrop for 'The Host 2'

The sequel to the number one summer blockbuster film of 2006 'The Host' will be made. The story of 'The Host 2' will take place in the Cheonggyecheon area in Seoul, which was restored by the newly elected president Lee Myung-bak. The president...

`The Host 2' Features Monsters in Cheonggye

For people who visit the Han River, some may have wondered if there is anything living under the deep waters. That fantasy was brought to life in the 2006 hit movie ``The Host,'' and for fans that enjoyed the thriller, news of a sequel will indee...

[Talk of town]TV stations axe music awards

Roll out the red carpet, bust out the couture and summon the stars. It’s that time of the year: awards ceremonies season. But not in Korea. For this first time there won’t be any year-end music awards ceremonies aired on terrestrial stations in ...

Tour to Filming Sets

Dramatic Legacy Still Goes on Locations Nationwide By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Does a mega-hit drama or film leave a tourist attraction behind it? Even after dramas end, their legacy seems to remain through film sets. Since the set...

MTV, Rain Campaign Against Human Trafficking

MTV, one of the world's largest and influential television network, has launched ``End Exploitation and Trafficking'' (EXIT), a global campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking. Along with Thai star Tata Young, Korea's pop singer Rain...

10 Hallyu Stars

The Korea Times, the nation's first English daily, turns 57 on Nov. 1. The TOP 10 Series, which will feature the biggest news stories, scandals, events, figures, surprises and memorable moments in the coming weeks, in celebration of the anniversa...

A girl needs heartbreak to be a woman

Perhaps Lim Su-jung has bid farewell to her girl years. It’s a disappointment, but the 27-year-old actress has made her choice. Now in her late 20s, she is only doing what is natural. “Happiness” is a film about a young woman who falls in love w...

'Secret Sunshine' Not Satisfying

Directed by Lee Chang-dong (2007) According to the Buddhist tradition, because the world is subject to impermanence, to live is to suffer. To overcome suffering, it is said, we must steer a middle course between self-indulgence and complete withdr...

Actresses Gain Presence Onscreen

While the female persona Korean entertainment remains largely reminiscent of Hollywood during the 1950~60s, a few in recently released or upcoming films are beginning to reflect, with some realism, Korean women today. Women onscreen tend to be...

Lim Soo-jung Grows Up in New Tearjerker

Some thought she was going to be girl forever, but suddenly Lim Soo-jung has become a woman. Now she plays a victim of chronic lung disease over eight years in Director Heo Jin-ho’s latest film “Happiness,” to be released on Oct. 3. In the movie,...

Singer Rain to Perform in China

Korean singer, Rain, 25, will hold a large-scale concert next month in Shanghai. The show, which was initially planned in April as part of the singer's world tour, ``Rain's Coming," had been cancelled due to difficulty in finding a venue and g...

'D-War' Breaks Korean Box Office Record in U.S.

"D-War", the Korean-made monster movie from director Shim Hyung-rae, earned US$1.55 million on its opening day Friday in the U.S. According to U.S. entertainment industry newspaper Variety and box office reporter Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo...

Rain Resumes Singing

Singer Rain will make a comeback to the stage by participating in a Chinese event on September 24 after a four-month hiatus. Rain, who suspended his singing career in May due to the filming of the movie "Speed Racer," will participate in a Kor...

[MOVIE REVIEW]Upbeat spin on Korean men

For the family. For the company. For the future. There is almost always some excuse for not doing something that we really want to do. We proudly call it "sacrifice" that is necessary for our happiness. After all, our true wishes will be realize...

Rain Takes Part in Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign

Korean actor and singer Rain will take part in an anti-human trafficking campaign with the help of global music network MTV and the U.S. Agency for International Development. MTV and the U.S. Agency for International Development will produce a...

‘D-War’ Sets Local Box Office Record

``D-War,'' a science fiction blockbuster produced by comedian-turned director Sim Hyung-rae, attracted a total audience of 2.95 million in the first five days of its release, breaking the local box office record set by ``Pirates of the Caribbean: At ...

1st Cinema Digital Seoul Fest Wraps with Awards

The inaugural edition of the Cinema Digital Seoul festival (CinDi) came to a close after a weeklong run July 20 – 27. The event screened 40 innovative digital features, of which 20 films from 9 Asian countries were in competition for the fest’s two ...

Full House Season 2 in the Making

Season 2 of the hit KBS drama series 'Full House' is in the making. Park Chang-sik at Kim Jong-hak Production says "Jo Jeong-hwa has been working on the script for a year and the script is ready for the 3rd episode so far. Overseas shooting is...

A Fresh Start for Korean Cinema: Overview of the First Half of 2007

Korean films have delved into new topics and covered a wide range of genres the first half of the year. Coming off of a disappointing year at the box office, the Korean film industry has answered with a number of truly noteworthy works of art. Alth...

Korean filmmakers face uphill battle

In the second half of 2006, Korean films led by "The Host," "Tazza: The High Rollers" and "200-Pound Beauty" enjoyed strong showings at the box office, outsmarting Hollywood blockbusters. This year, the situation has been completely reversed. B...

Black House Will Screen In Japan

Black House (Geomeun Jib) is currently a hit in Korean cinemas and will next attempt to woe Japanese audiences. The horror film will open in October in 250 Japanese cinemas, a number equaling BONG Joon-ho’s The Host’ Japanese release. Monster and ...

'Black House' to Open in Japan in October

The Korean thriller 'Black House,' starring veteran actor Hwang Jeong-min, will open in 250 theaters in Japan in October. The hit film is based on a best-selling Japanese novel that has sold a million copies. A film official says that Black...

[Talk of the town]Los Angeles cancellation is No. 5 on pop singer Rain’s United States tour

At a fan event in Los Angeles last week, Rain said that he was “sorry” and “upset” about a last minute cancellation for a performance in the city’s downtown Staples Center. “I tried my best, but there were problems with setting up the stage even...

Pop Singer Rain Cancels L.A. Concert

Korean pop sensation Rain canceled a concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, just one hour before he was due to go on stage. Star M, the Korea-based producer of the singer's world tour, blamed the situation on financial problems w...

(LEAD) S. Korean pop singer Rain cancels concert in L.A.

(ATTN: UPDATES with details) LOS ANGELES, July 1 (Yonhap) -- A concert in Los Angeles by South Korean pop singer Rain was abruptly canceled about two hours before his performance, the singer's Seoul-based producer said Sunday. Rain was to perform...

Secrets of The Host's success revealed by Director Bong

Director Bong, Joon-Ho is revealing the details on the planning and production of The Host. The Cultural Content Planning and Creation Academy by the Korea Culture and Content Agency (KOCCA, CEO: Suh, Byung-Moon) is offering an open lecture by di...

Rain to Star in Special CNN Ad

Korean singer Rain will be the main model for a special advertisement on the world's biggest news channel CNN. This special type of ad that restrains the sending of commercial messages has appealed more to customers and has actively been used ...

Singer Rain Cleared for US Concert

Korean pop star Rain can now use his stage name for his ``Rain's Coming'' world concert tour in the United States. Yonhap News reported the Nevada state district court on Thursday dropped the lawsuit filed by music company Rain Corp. challenging t...

Korean Films Attack the Big Apple

Korean cinema will take a big bite of the Big Apple as the 2007 New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) begins Friday. The festival will feature more than 30 works from the East, of which almost a third are Korean. The event will take place at the I...

'The Host' Sequel Planned For 2009

By Seo Dong-shin Staff Reporter Chungeorahm Film, the film production and distribution company of the blockbuster hit ``The Host,'' plans to release a sequel to the film in 2009. But director Bong Joon-ho, the driving force of the original, wi...

Chungeoram to produce sequel to film 'The Host' with different director

By Kim Hyun SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- The producer of the South Korean monster movie "The Host" said Monday that it is now in preproduction on a sequel to the blockbuster hit, aiming for its release in 2008. Chungeoram Productions said shooting ...

"Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family") Wins Top Prize at Home

The nation's oldest film awards ceremony, the Grand Bell Awards, gave its top prize to low-key hybrid-family-drama "Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family") , directed by Kim Tae-yong. The film, which has toured a number of international film festivals...

New York film festival showcases Korean shorts

Award-winning short films of various genres from Korea's Mise-en-scene's Genre Film Festival (MGFF) will be invited to the 6th annual New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) from June 22 to July 8 in New York City. Launched by the Subway Cinema in 20...

Korean pop star on 'Billboard' cover

Korean music producer and singer Park Jin-young has become the first Korean to appear on the cover of the prestigious U.S. magazine "Billboard", which is dedicated to the music industry. Park Jin-young, who produced the Korean heartthrob singer Ra...

Singer Rain Postpones US Concerts

K-pop superstar Rain postponed his concerts in the United States this month, as he faces a lawsuit over the use of the name "Rain". Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, was originally scheduled to hold concerts in Honolulu, Hawaii on June 15, At...

U.S. Band Rain Thwart's Korean Star's American Tour

The Korean singer Rain's concerts in the U.S. as part of his world tour have been postponed due to controversy over his stage name. His Korean name "Bi" means "Rain" in English, but the singer faces legal action filed by U.S. recording firm Rain Corp...

44th Grand Bell Award Nominations

One of South Korea's top two annual film awards ceremonies will take place June 8th in the city of Daejeon. The 44th Grand Bell Awards, which is televised nationally, will be accompanied by the week long Daejeon Film Festival which will showcase 66 d...

Daejong Film Festival Opens

Curtains have gone up for ONE of Korea's most prestigious movie events, the Daejong Film Festival. The week-long festival is showcasing 66 domestic films, including the sci-fi romance "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" by director Park Chan-wook, and the...

Vietnam to Host Korean Film Fest

Actress Kim Ah-joong and director Park Chan-wook will be present at the 2007 Korean Film Festival in Hanoi. The festival opens May 31st at the National Convention Hall and will mark the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and So...

[Talk of the town] New York love letter

Park Chan-wook, the celebrity director of "Oldboy", is soon to make a film in New York, along with a dozen or so other directors from a variety of countries. It will be called "New York, Je T'Aime" (New York, I Love You). Park agreed to the project a...

Korean to join world's most celebrated directors for New York tribute

Park Chan-wook, already considered by many film buffs to be Korea's greatest director, has received more foreign recognition of his talents. He has been asked to join some of the world's most celebrated filmmakers to participate in making Emmanuel...

Rain Lands Part in Hollywood Movie

The Korean singer and actor Rain has a foot in the door in Hollywood after being cast in "Speed Racer", the next film by the Wachowski brothers, who created "The Matrix". Rain is to play a character who takes part in high-speed car races to secure hi...

Rain to Debut in Hollywood in Wachowski Film

Korean pop star Rain will make his debut in Hollywood in the action-adventure "Speed Racer" by the Wachowski brothers. Rain will play a supporting role as a race car driver who is a link between two main characters. Andy and Larry Wachowski, creato...

Rain secures role in Hollywood action film

Rain, set for world concert tour, poses at the U.N. Plaza in Manhattan on May 11. Korean pop singer Rain will make his Hollywood debut in May 2008, playing an Asian car racer in an action adventure. Rain has already gained popularity throughout A...

JUNG Ji-hoon in Talks with The Wachowski Brothers

Pan-Asian pop star Rain – who uses his real name JUNG Ji-hoon for his acting career – is negotiating about a role in the Hollywood film Speed Racer of the directing duo the Wachowski brothers. JUNG's agency also announced that the talks have reached ...

It might be small, but it's noisy

JEONJU, North Jeolla ― Pristine air, welcoming people, and some of Korea's loveliest surviving premodern architecture and folk culture ― these are Jeonju's perpetual treasures. But, once a year, this provincial capital with the heart of a small town ...

[Talk of the town] When it Rains, it pours

April was not a cruel month for Rain, also known as Bi or as Jeong Ji-hun, his given name. Rain had plenty of good news, including the announcement on April 27 that People magazine in the United States, had selected him as one of its Most Beautiful P...

Top Stars Win Andre Kim Awards

Top Korean fashion designer Andre Kim gave recognition to Korea's most beautiful and popular stars during his 2007 Best Star Awards at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, Monday evening. Actress Lee Young-ae, who starred in the hit MBC drama "Dae Jang...

Rain Named to People's 'Most Beautiful' List

Pop music star Rain is on People magazine's annual "100 Most Beautiful People" list. His promotional agency says the 25 year-old singer has made the list for the first time, and is among seven people on the list from outside the US. Last year, Time...

Rain Makes Global List of 100 Most Beautiful People

Korean singer Rain has made People magazine's annual list of the world's 100 most beautiful people. The singer's agency, JYP Entertainment, said Thursday that the list includes seven non-Americans including Rain, adding that a half-page article wi...

KIM Ji-woon Starts Shooting Western

Filming started April 25th on director Kim Ji-woon's Oriental western adventure The Good, The Bad, and the Weird. The film will showcase an ensemble of stars in the central roles with Lee Byeong-Heon, ("the good"), Jeong Woo-seong ("the bad") and Son...

Ken Watanabe Puts Heart In Latest Film

A press conference was held on Monday at Yongsan CGV theaters for Ken Watanabe, the star of the film "Memories of Tomorrow". It was his first visit to Korea. While it's not uncommon for foreign actors to come to Korea to promote their movies, Ken'...

Rain Atop Time 100 Online Vote

Singer Rain could well be named as one of the world's top 100 influential people by Time magazine for the second year. The singer current sits atop the ongoing online survey to determine this year's Time 100 list. Rain made it on the list for t...

Two Films Go to Cannes

Films by two renowned South Korean directors are heading to this year's competition section of Cannes Film Festival, arguably the world's most prestigious film festival. The two films are Lee Chang-dong's "Miryang", the English title of which is "...

Top Producer Talks About Three-Star Hat-Trick

Next Wednesday, the stellar triumvirate of Song Kang-ho, Lee Byeong-Heon and Jeong Woo-seong gather to start filming "The Good, the Bad and the Weird". Simply by starring the three stars, the movie is generating huge advance buzz. The Chosun Ilbo spo...

Fathers take center stage in Korean films

Melodramas, horror flicks, gangster comedies and thrillers have one thing in common for Korean moviegoers: they are not so popular at the box office. To find a breakthrough, filmmakers have been exploring other alternative genres and themes, one of w...

Rain to Perform at Prestigious Tokyo Dome

In yet another confirmation of his stature as an international star, Rain is scheduled to be the first Korean singer to hold a concert at Japan's Tokyo Dome stadium. The pop sensation traveled to Japan on Wednesday, two days after returning from last...

Hallyu Events Continue in Europe

The Korean pop culture wave of "Hallyu" is continuing in Europe in the form of various Korea-related exhibitions and film festivals. The Korea Foundation says that an exhibition of Korean traditional paintings opened at a public Asian museum in Gr...

2 Korean Films Awarded at 9th Deuville

Local blockbuster "The King and the Clown" and low-budget drama "Ad-Lib Night" took home two of the four main awards handed out the 9th Deuville Asian Film Festival in France. With a 5-day run this year from March 28 to April 1st, the event has, sinc...

Director Is Back, Milder

Famous filmmaker Kim Ki-duk is back with a new film. And he is visibly a lot milder. Kim was at the center of attention last year after his harsh remarks and ensuing apologies about the film industry in Korea touched off controversy when he releas...

Song Kang-ho tests his versatility again

Song Kang-ho played an eccentric yet strangely charming gangster in "No. 3" (1997), when he gave a funny lecture to his underlings about how to beat up enemies: "A long time ago, there was a man named Choi Young-ui, and he staged a showdown with the ...

Kim Ki-duk's New Work Sold to France

Director Kim Ki-duk's 14th film "Breath" has been sold to French distributor ARP before its domestic release. Film marketer CineClick Asia said Tuesday that it sold "Breath" at the Hong Kong Film Market held from March 20 until 23. The French dist...

"The Host" Exceeds 1 Mil. in US Earnings

The film "The Host" has earned one million US dollars at the US box office in the three weeks after its release there, its producer Chungeorahm said Tuesday. Having been released in 71 theaters on March 7, the film raked in 320,000 dollars for the...

Rain Refreshes Harvard High-Flyers After Chosun Ilbo Visit

Some 60 students of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government stomp and whistle, while several shout in Korean, "I love you!" and "You are gorgeous!" They are responding to the image of their hero, the workaholic Korean superstar, on the scre...

'Host' eats rivals at Asian festival

The Korean monster flick "The Host" walked off with four grand awards at the debut of the Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong last week. "The Host" picked up best picture, best actor, best cinematographer and best visual effects awards. The film's lea...

S. Korean film 'The Host' tops US$1 mln in U.S. box office sales

SEOUL, March 27 (Yonhap) -- Box office sales of the South Korean satiric monster flick "The Host" have broken the US$1 million mark just three weeks after the U.S. release of the film, the film's producer said Tuesday. Ticket sales for the movie, ...

The Host Wins the Most at 1st Asian Film Awards

South Korea's all-time blockbuster "The Host" dominated prizes at the very first edition of the Asian Film Awards which took place March 20th in Hong Kong. The inaugural event aspires to be the Asian film industry's equivalent to the Oscars, recogniz...

[MOVIE REVIEW] 'Small Town Rivals' puts comic twist on friendship

Rivalry is a double-edged sword: It can be a bitter yet healthy pill to accelerate sound competition, or it can cut into a formerly amicable relationship, driving a wedge between friends. Either way, rivalry is an interesting theme for filmmakers,...

[UPGRADING KOREAN CULTURE (3)]Online fans reshaping pop music world

More and more Korean pop stars are making some serious noise all across Asia. Not to mention such established stars as Boa and Rain, many young, up and coming singing and dancing talents are now targeting overseas markets from the very beginning, eve...

"The Host" Tops Asian Film Awards

South Korea's monster flick "The Host" has dominated Hong Kong's inaugural Asian Film Awards after winning four awards out of its five nominations. The movie, directed by Bong Joon-ho, won the Best Film, Best Cinematographer and Best Visual Effect...

S. Korean thriller towers above all in Hong Kong film festival

SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's record-breaking monster thriller, "The Host", has prevailed in the 1st Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, winning four prizes, event organizers said. The movie won best film Tuesday night, with its leading ma...

Brussels Fantastic Invites 2 Korean Films

Two of last year's big budget fantasy thrillers have been invited to compete at the Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film (BIFFF), set to run April 5th – 17th, 2007 in Belgium. Bong Joon-ho's record-smashing monster film "The Host" and Jo...

'The Host' Tops Chinese Box Office for 2nd Straight Week

Korean blockbuster monster movie "The Host" has topped the Chinese box office for a second straight week. The film directed by Bong Joon-ho has raked in some nine-point-two million yuan --- about one-point-one billion won --- in ticket sales since...

Song Kang-ho Wins Best Actor at HK Film

HONG KONG _ The South Korean film "The Host" shone at the Asian Film Awards yesterday, grabbing four awards. "The Host" won Best Film, Best Cinematographer and Best Visual Effects awards. Its main actor Song Kang-ho won the Best Actor Award. The B...

City Looking to Become Hub for Entertainment

HONG KONG _ Rain shone in yesterday's gala event for the Hong Kong International Film Festival. But he was not the only one who sparkled the festival. The city was in a big festive mood thanks to many international stars who stepped onto the red c...

'The Host', 'The Restless' Invited to Brussels Fantastic Film Festival

The movies "The Host" by director Bong Joon-ho and "The Restless" by director Jo Dong-oh have been invited to compete in the international category of the 2007 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, according to Pusan International Film Fest...

American Viewers Enticed by Korean Movie "The Host"

In a strong showing for a foreign film, the Korean movie "The Host" opened in the United States on 74 screens and grossed $320,000 in its first weekend. It has also received very strong reviews from the nation's leading film authorities, including Th...

"The Host" Tops Chinese Box-office

The movie "The Host" by director Bong Joon-ho topped the Chinese box-office last week by grossing around 5.2 million yuan in China. The movie became the first Korean film to ever top the Chinese box-office in the first week since its opening there...

Yoon Do-hyeon Band to Perform at 2007 SXSW Festival

YB (Yoon Do-hyeon Band) will participate in the SXSW (South By Southwest) Festival in Austin, Texas, U.S.A. March 14 through 18 (local time) and will sing at Maggie Mae's Club in Austin on March 17 at 8:30 p.m. YB's manager, Daeum Entertainment Co...

Heo Jin-ho Brings us Happiness

Melodrama auteur Heo Jin-ho is back with a new film titled "Happiness". Starring Hwang Jeong-min ("Bloody Tie", "You are my Sunshine") and Im Soo-jeong ("I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK"), it is the tale of Young-su (HWANG) and Eun-hee (IM) who meet as p...

Sacrificing showers to explore our mental desert

The 57th Berlin International Film Festival, which ended Sunday, selected two Korean films for their official competition. One was Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK". The other was a co-production that involved Korea, Mongolia and France ...

Berlinale Market Fruitful for Korean Distributors

Several Korean titles have been sold internationally at the recent Berlin International Film Festival. Asian and European markets are the main destinations for the Korean films. Park Chan-wook's award-winning "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" has been...

Award Winner

"I came to Berlin for the first time six years ago for the movie, "JSA - Joint Security Area". Back then people thought Korean movies were unfamiliar and I felt rustic. I feel proud seeing Korean films being acknowledged in the global arena now". ...

Director Park 'Overwhelmed' by Berlin Film Fest Prize

"I'm more than overwhelmed, since Berlin was the first film festival I'd ever attended. Back then I was more like a loutish country boy. To think of it now, Berlin is the festival I've attended most, since this is my fourth visit after 'JSA - Joint S...

Film Director Park Wins Award in Berlin

Director Park Chan-wook's "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" has won the Alfred Bauer Prize for science fiction comedy at the Berlin International Film Festival. The award is named after a famous German director of photography and is one of the festiva...

S. Korean star director wins Alfred Bauer prize at Berlin film festival

BERLIN, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean film director Park Chan-wook won the Alfred Bauer Prize for a science fiction comedy at the annual Berlin film festival on Saturday for opening up new perspectives in cinema art. The award for "I'm a Cyborg...

PARK Wins Berlin's Alfred Bauer Prize

South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook won the Alfred Bauer Prize, one of the 8 main awards at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival, for his imaginative comedy "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK". The festival, also known as the Berlinale, announced the...

Rain Raising AIDS Awareness with World Tour

Singer Rain, currently on a global concert tour, is raising AIDS awareness among his Asian fans as a goodwill ambassador for the international relief agency World Vision. Wearing an AIDS charity bracelet in concerts in Hong Kong, Singapore and Mal...

Director Park upbeat on Korean films

Leading Korean director Park Chan-wook expressed optimism about Korean films in an interview with Korean media at the 57th Berlin Film Festival on Sunday. Park noted that it was the Berlin filmfest that introduced him and his "JSA - Joint Security...

"I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok" Draws Interest at Berlin Film Festival