HomeActor/ActressJeong Joon-ho
Jeong Joon-ho
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`Last Scandal': A New Drama of Strong Spirited Ajumma
Dramas have always been the center of attention among Koreans with their cheerful characters played by young, hip and stylish celebrities. This year, the fever will go on, but this time it will be led by none other than ``ajumma.'' ``Ajumma'' is a Korean term that refers to middle-aged women who are married and usually represented as strong, fearless and dependable. Two television networks have already aired dramas depicting the lives of these women: MBC's ``A Beauty's Unmatched, Park Jeong -geum,'' and SBS's ``First Wives Club.'' Now, Korean fans will welcome another drama full of romance, humor and humanity, all conjoined into the life of a normal, but courageous ``ajumma.'' Choi Jin-sil and Jeoung Jun-ho, from ``Marrying the Mafia'' (2002), have teamed up with director Lee Tae-gon for the new drama, ``The Last Scandal'' (working title) a Cinderella story of a 39-year-old ``ajumma.'' At the press conference, Korea's famed actress Choi Jin-sil, from ``Rosy Life'' (2005), explained why she chose to portray this particular character. ``As an actress, it may be natural to want a role that is glamorous and pretty, but I'm more comfortable with acting as an ordinary person. Reality is an important factor in dramas, and so I wanted to portray the life of a real person,'' she said. Hong Seon-hee, played by Choi, lived with her husband, 13-year-old daughter and her parents-in-laws. One day, her husband disappears and it is up to Hong to take care of the household. While she struggles to make a living, she meets Song Jae-bin, played by handsome movie star Jeoung. Hong and Song were once high school sweethearts but now lead drastically different lives. Hong is a stubborn ``ajumma,'' while Song has become a popular celebrity. The two coincidently meet, and their feelings for each other start to blossom, as if they were in high school again. Jeong seemed excited about the drama as it is his first television drama appearance in two years. ``I feel awkward because it has been a long time since I starred in a drama, and especially because Song is an arrogant character,'' he said. Lee, the director, defined ``Scandal'' as a ``trendy housewife drama.'' ``The drama is about `ajumma' who feel helpless or even hopeless when it comes to romance. I wanted to portray the romance of people who believe their good days are over,'' Lee said. Distinctive actor Jung Woong-in from the movie ``My Boss, My Hero'' (2002) and model-turned-actress Byeon Jung-su will also perform as prominent characters. Jung will play Jeong's brother and the CEO of his agency, while Byeon will play Jeong's former lover. When asked about what she thought about Korean ``ajumma,'' Choi smiled. `I am an `ajumma' myself. I think Korean `ajumma' are fearless. They are not afraid of anything, and this is what I will be portraying. Although Song goes through emotional downfalls, she doesn't give up. I think it is courage that defines `ajumma','' Choi said. The drama will air for the first time at 9:40 p.m., Saturday, March 8 on MBC.
Actor Jung Jun-ho to Promote Baekje Cultural Festival
Actor Jung Jun-ho has been named public relations envoy for the 53rd Baekje Cultural Festival which will be held in Buyeo, Gongju and Ilwon in October. Lee Wan-gu, provincial governor of South Chungcheong Province, said the annual Baekje Cultural Festival will become an internationally renowned cultural festival by 2010. Upon appointing the popular actor, the governor asked him to dedicate himself to actively promoting the festival. Jung said in his acceptance speech that he feels honored to have been appointed a PR agent for such a large and significant cultural festival that will be held in his home province. He also promised to do his best so that this year's festival will be a great success. The actor said the event will be a wonderful opportunity for visitors to travel 1,300 years back in time to learn more about the culture of the ancient Baekje Dynasty.
[MOVIE REVIEW] 'The Houseguest' overstays its welcome
![[MOVIE REVIEW] 'The Houseguest' overstays its welcome](/kmovie_news/thumbnail/070802_houseguest_thumb.jpg)
Chu Yo-sup (1902-1972) wrote the memorable short story "Saranbang sonmin-gwa eomeoni (The Guest in My Mom's House)." Published in 1935, the creative tale portrays the subtle emotional tension between a widow and a house guest from the perspective of a six-year-old girl. Emotions are intentionally suppressed, reflecting the strict social norms placed on Koreans at the time. "Sarangbang seonsuwa eomeoni (The Houseguest and My Mother)," directed by Im Yeong-seong, borrows the title from the famous short story, but does not follow the original plot. In contrast to Chu's refined storytelling, "The Houseguest" pursues a shamelessly trite Korean filmmaking format: Different cinematic elements are crammed onto the big screen not because they are essential but because the director wants to rescue a deplorable script. In the film, Deok-gun (Jung Joon-ho) is 100 million won in debt to gangsters thanks to his irresponsible father who is now behind bars. Desperate to pay back the money, he takes on a peculiar assignment from an old lady, for a sizable fee, and drives down to a nondescript fishing town to track down her granddaughter. Deok-gun unpacks his luggage at a boarding house run by Hye-joo (Kim Won-hee), a single mom who lives with her bright yet rebellious teenage daughter Ok-hee (Ko Eun-ha). With his search getting nowhere, Deok-gun notices that Hye-joo has saved exactly 100 million won in her bank account, and hatches a woo-and-run scheme that gets the plot rolling. The movie juxtaposes the shattered father-son relationships with the solid mother-daughter bond in a way that stresses the importance of being part of a family. But the movie fails to introduce meaningful details about Deok-gun's relationship with his father in the prison, nor does it offer any clues about why and how Hye-joo gave birth to Ok-hee at the age of 15. Even though there are a growing number of single moms in Korea, it is rare to see a 15-year-old girl become a mother overnight. The movie does not -- intentionally or simply out of laziness -- provide convincing background stories that explain Hye-joo's difficult circumstances. For most Korean moviegoers, the film's casting suggests that the selling point of "The Houseguest" is its comedy. After all, Jung Joon-ho (My Boss, My Hero) and Kim Won-hee (Marrying the Mafia 3) are the country's leading comic actors. Unfortunately, the movie is not a pure comedy. In the first half of the film, numerous attempts are made to generate laughter, but most of the supposedly funny scenes are either overly simplistic or embarrassingly tacky. For instance, as with other Korean comedy films, "The Houseguest" characters go to a noraebang, or karaoke, but their uninspired performances evoke sympathy rather than genuine laughter. Sidekicks often use foul language for no apparent reason, along with exaggerated gestures that are hardly funny. Seong-chil (Im Hyeong-joon), who has a crush on the widow, mistreats his buddies in the village, again without generating any meaningful dramatic effect. Toilet humor, inserted for dubious reasons, is simply lamentable. Toward the end of the film, the central characters encounter a melodramatic development intended to tug at the heartstrings of the audience, but the impact is minimal at best. "The Houseguest" incorporates many of the old Korean filmmaking practices. Famous actors are recruited to increase its commercial odds at the box office but their acting does not exude genuinely creative energy. Nor does the hybrid genre -- a half-baked melodrama trapped in a comedy -- break any cinematic ground. Perhaps it would have been much better if "The Houseguest" had faithfully reflected Chu Yo-sup's short story, where the guest does not overstay his welcome. By Yang Sung-jin
Jung Joon Ho Meets A Woman He Wants To Marry
The most eligible bachelor in the Korean movie industry, Jung Joon Ho, has recently declared that he wishes to marry within the year, and now confessed that he has met a woman who he wishes to marry. On the 25th, before the release of "Love Room Player And Mother," Jung Joon Ho said in an interview, "Lately through my acquaintances, I have been introduced to some people, and among those who I've met, there is one woman who makes me want to get married. I have only met her a few times, but I get along with that woman very well, so I plan to try seeing her seriously." Jung Joon Ho did not reveal the woman's exact age or name. He said, "It is still in the early stages of our meeting, so I honestly do not know if I will marry this person in the end. Just as I had declared that I will marry within this year, if things do not go well with this person, then I plan to meet other people." Jung Joon Ho said that his ideal woman "should be someone he relates and connects to very well, gets along with everyone, and is a social woman." And he said that this woman who he is currently meeting is close to his ideal. In response to the questions about getting married within six months without a partner, Jung Joon Ho replied with a laugh, "I live by the lunar calendar, so it's not six but seven months." Whether Jung Joon Ho will really get rid of his bachelor status or not will be closely watched.
