HomeActor/ActressKim Min-joon
Kim Min-joon
김민준
<Evil_Punk>38 days ago (Dec 02, 2008 12:58:38)
I love kim min joon. he`s soooo sexy and hot. also sweet <3
<helaena>61 days ago (Nov 09, 2008 12:26:53)
i like min joon a lot,he's soooo cute...
<helaena>61 days ago (Nov 09, 2008 12:26:57)
i like min joon a lot,he's soooo cute...
<helaena>61 days ago (Nov 09, 2008 12:27:32)
i like min joon a lot,he's soooo cute...
SBS puts money on 'Tazza' drama
In the hopes of carrying a trilogy of dramas based on the works of cartoonist Hur Young-man to a successful end, SBS starts airing the final installment tonight. The broadcasting channel kicked off a trio of Hur's dramas in April with "I Love You," followed up with the hit series "Sikgaek" in June and will now complete the set with "Tazza (The War of Flowers)." Like "Sikgaek," the original comic series was already made into a blockbuster movie in 2006. The film wowed audiences with its ruthless plotline, superbly executed by actor Cho Seung-woo and actress Kim Hye-soo, becoming the second-biggest film of the year. The small screen version plans on repeating that kind of success. The drama's formula to success lies in a revamped storyline, an infusion of humor and a brand new character. Planning to capitalize on the riveting tale of a skilled cardsharp -- or "tazza" in Korean -- named Goni, the bare bones of the plot remains intact, with favorite characters Madame Jung and Ah Gwi still in the script. Cardsharp Young-min, played by actor Kim Min-jun, will stir things up, radically changing the structure of the story. "This character is not in the original version," said the 32-year old actor at the press conference held last week, who likened Young-min to villain Anakin Skywalker a.k.a. Darth Vader from "Star Wars." Kim, who won women over in SBS' "Lovers in Praha" (2005), takes on the complex role of a high school dropout and close friend of Goni. Attempting to raise money to pay for his grandmother's surgery, he ends up losing at a round of "hwatu" -- an Asian card game -- and crosses over to the dark side, learning the tricks of the trade from top cardsharp Ah Gwi. Actor Jang Hyuk will be joining in on the game as Goni. Having showcased his mastery of the art of mixing comedy with action as a wannabe thug in the flick "Jungle Juice" (2002), the 31-year old actor promises to draw laughs. "I created my own new character," said Jang at the press conference. Unlike Cho Seung-woo's artful portrayal of Goni in the movie, which was serious, dark and sharp, Jang's hero is bright, outgoing and downright funny, relying on street smarts and talent rather than a suave demeanor to get him out of trouble. Even the way Jang runs is very Chaplin-esque, making him perfect for a TV version, which needs to keep things rated PG. "I received gambling lessons," said Jang, who admits that in real life he would make a terrible cardsharp. "My teacher told me I did not have a money-making face. A tazza's face needs to be ordinary, unnoticeable." Though Jang may not have the face of a pro, he is excited to prove to audiences that he can take on the role. And so is actress Kang Sung-yeon. Well aware that she has some big shoes to fill as femme fatale Madame Jung, Kang remained confident that her interpretation of the character would be radically different. "Actress Kim Hye-soo left such a strong impression as Madame Jung in the movie, but the drama is different," said the 32-year old actress. "I will be showing her human side, making her someone that people can relate to." Another actress will be trying her luck at gambling in the drama version as Goni's childhood sweetheart, Young Min's first love and Madame Jung's apprentice. Han Ye-seul, who rose to fame in the hit drama "Fantastic Couple" (2006), is taking on the crucial role. Veteran actor Kim Ghab-soo will be playing the ruthless cardsharp Ah Gwi, while actor Son Hyun-joo will be bringing in the laughs as Goni's sidekick, Go Gwang-ryul. "Tazza" airs its first episode tonight on SBS at 9:55 p.m.
Movie-Based Dramas to Fill TV Screens
Amid the ongoing search for catchy, stylish, attractive ideas for local dramas, many drama-makers have turned to themes that have already been seen to be popular. Movie-based dramas are no longer new, but the race for the best-made remake is expected to get more competitive with ``IRIS,'' ``Tazza'' (working title), ``Friends: The Unfinished Tale'' (working title) and ``Beat.'' The 1999 movie ``Swiri'' was a steppingstone for Korean cinema, being considered the first blockbuster movie that captivated local movie fans with its distinctive plot and action scenes. Now the hit movie that depicted the lives of secret agents is coming back to television screens as ``IRIS.'' In order to bring movie-like elements onto the smaller screen, the drama will be written and produced by Taewon Entertainment and Kang Je-kyu Film, both famous movie agencies here, and will boast a budget of 20 billion won. Korean heartthrob Lee Byung-hun (``All-in,'' 2003) will appear as the mysterious secret agent, his first drama in five years, along with pop group Big Bang's T.O.P as an assassin. It will be directed by director Kang Je-kyu and produced by Lee Hyeong-min (``Sorry, I Love You,'' 2004). ``IRIS'' will be aired next year. Another movie-based drama, ``Tazza'' is expected to be released this coming August. The movie ``Tazza: The High Rollers'' was a big hit back in 2006, with the attractive Kim Hye-soo as the seductive Madam Jeong and actor Cho Seung-woo as a gambler. Actor Jang Hyuk (``Windstruck,'' 2004) and Kim Min-jun (``Doctor Bong,'' 2007) will play the ambitious gamblers, while actress Han Ye-seul will appear as the heroine Gwang-sook. This will be Han's first show in two years after her hit drama ``Fantastic Couple'' (2006). The role of Madam Jeong is still vacant with candidates such as Sung Hyun-ah and Kang Sung-yeon on the list. While the movie depicts the thrilling lives of professional gamblers, the drama ``Tazza'' will portray the competitive gambling race between two talented and ambitious young gamblers. The sad yet stylish story of four best friends living in Busan is also coming to television audiences next year. During a press conference of his new movie ``Eye for an Eye,'' director Kwak Kyung-taek mentioned that he is planning to re-create the popular movie into a 16-series drama. According to Zininsa Film, the drama's production company, the drama will be filmed in Busan and will be entirely pre-produced before actual airing, which is slated for early next year. Actors Hyun Bin (``My Lovely Samsoon,'' 2005) and Kim Min-jun will star as the main characters, which were played by Jang Dong-kun and Yoo Oh-seong in the movie version. Fans of Jung Woo-sung (``A Moment to Remember,'' 2004) and Ko So-young (``Apartment,'' 2006) will be thrilled to find that the movie which opened the door to the two actors' stardom will be made into a drama. ``Beat'' was one of the first Korean movies to deal with the lives of teenagers back in 1997. With stylish scenes, memorable lines and fresh faces, the movie instantly became a hit and even now is considered to be unsurpassed in Korean teenage movies. Film company Kim Jong-hak Production recently announced plans to remake the film, but with a slight twist. The drama will be based on teenagers living during the 90s, with some modern elements added. The drama is expected to greet fans next year.
Blockbuster 'Friend' to Be Reproduced as TV Series
Will a TV drama version of the blockbuster "Friend" be as thrilling as the original movie? Avid fans certainly hope so. The mega-hit, which garnered a record-high 8.2 million ticket sales in 2001, will be remade as a 16-episode TV series titled "Friend: the Untold Story," said to be aired in the first half of 2009. "I have decided to direct the drama with untold episodes added to the original movie. The scenario is in the process of being written," said Kwak Kyung-taek, who catapulted into stardom as the film director and scenario writer. "All the episodes will be shot in Busan, just like the original film," Kwak said, refusing to reveal which TV broadcaster will show it. Kim Min-jun, 32, who starred in Kwak's 2007 film "Love," will replace Yu Oh-sung as the gangster Jun-sok, and Hyun Bin, 26, will replace Jang Dong-geun as Jun-sok's friend Dong-su. Oh and Hyun Bin will play the two leading characters among the four friends in the movie, according to the 42-year-old director. Hyun Bin starred in TV soap operas "Queen of Snow(2006)" and "My Name is Kim Sam-sun(2005)." The original movie depicted the director's experience with his friends, a semi-autobiography set in his hometown of Busan. The actors use a strong regional dialect. Many movie-goers, especially male adults, were attracted because it reminded them of their high school days.
Gangsters in love and actors who diet create a comeback
Mainstream movie director Gwak Gyeong-taek, 41, is back on screen for the first time in two years with his new film, “A Love.” The title itself is a big surprise for many movie fans because Gwak isn’t the kind who puts soppy love stories on screen. He is better known for directing aggressive and violent action films such as “The Champion” (2002) and “Mutt Boy” (2003). But once the film A Love gets going it’s obvious there’s more to the story than romance. The storyline of A Love is similar to Gwak’s record-breaking box office hit, “Friend” (2001), starring Jang Dong-geon. Characters in both films are aggressive and loyal and the script revolves around the life of gangsters who speak in rough Busan dialects ― The film takes place in Busan, where Gwak was born. Gwak got the idea for the story while filming “Friend.” It was the life story of one of the film’s characters. “He was the right-hand man of the gangster upon whom the movie was based,” said Gwak. “Of course he’s not involved in any violent activities now.” Gwak even wanted to take a few days off and go to some deserted island to hear the man’s stories. Unable to do that, the friend wrote Gwak a 100-page hand-written letter about his life. “I read it in one sitting,” said Gwak. “And that’s how the shooting for A Love began.” Thirty percent of the story is based on the guy’s real life and the rest is based on additional material. In A Love, In-ho, the main character, played by Joo Jin-mo, is so loyal to his first love Mi-joo, played by Park Si-yeon, that he goes to prison to protect her from a gangster, played by Kim Min-jun. While in jail, In-ho loses contact with Mi-joo and, when he meets her again after a few years, he continues to protect her. All characters in the film speak in a Busan accent and Gwak says that gives the movie more charm. “If the characters spoke in Gyeongsang accent, the love story would have been rather blunt,” said Gwak. “And it was easy for me to find places to film, like the Taejongdae [a famous lighthouse in Busan] and Jagalchi Market [one of oldest fish markets in Korea].” Joo is not from Busan, but he had other qualifications. “Although he was brought up in Seoul, he is a country boy like us,” Gwak said. “When Joo saw the screenplay, he realized the main character was similar to himself ― somebody searching for platonic love.” Although Joo was a good psychological fit for the character, filming wasn’t that easy. Joo had to gain weight to film the first half of the film and then lose 16 pounds for the latter part. Gwak said Joo’s passion for the role was essential for him to cope with the stress of the weight gain and loss. Actor Kim Min-jun also impressed Gwak with his enthusiasm. “Kim called me one day and said that he wanted to appear in one of my movies ― regardless of the part,” said Gwak. “He even wanted to appear as a cameo.” As soon as Gwak received Kim’s phone call, the character that Kim plays in A Love came to Gwak’s mind and he wrote the part especially for Kim. “Casting the right characters is always difficult,” said Gwak. “Perfect timing is necessary, Kim’s call was serendipitous, it came at just the right time.” Gwak’s approach in A Love is distinctive. “As a young child, I was shocked by the 1940 film ‘Waterloo Bridge’ [directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor],” Gwak said. “I could never understand how the male character could talk about the good old times when his love died because of him. I thought that unmanly.” So Gwak decided on different approach in his film. He opts for more realism and gives tragedy its proper place in the drama. “You could say my films are dark-colored or have deep love,” Gwak said. “Though it is hard to find such daring love in real life, there are definitely some people out there whose love is as passionate as that of the people in my films.” Filming his can’t-live-without-each-other-love story made Gwak become more emotional. But for his next piece, he plans to shoot a more pleasant genre, like a comedy. “I want to direct a comedy in that makes people smile for several hours after the movie is over.”
'Forever, Asian Star Culture Expo In Japan' Opens in Tokyo
The opening ceremony for the second FACE In Japan:Forever, Asian Star Culture Expo In Japan, was held in grandeur on the 1st at the Tokyo Dome City Freedom Hall. This expo is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Comme....
