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Kim Myung-min
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[TV review]Sadomasochistic joy of the Maestro’s insults
![[TV review]Sadomasochistic joy of the Maestro’s insults](/kmovie_news/thumbnail/14214856_thumb.jpg)
Sadomasochistic joy of the Maestro’s insults I had no idea that I would be thrilled to hear “You’re a lump of shit.” In a TV drama, that is. My heartfelt apology to you if the use of the S word ruined your lunch, but let me tell you that there is something deadly attractive about the line “lump-of-shit” when articulated by lead actor Kim Myung-min. And I am not the only one who feels this way. The drama “Beethoven Virus” on MBC-TV, is enjoying smooth sailing with an audience rating well over 15 percent on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 p.m. The show is about a rabble of amateur classical musicians building their musical dreams under the baton of their stern conductor. Starring Kim, Beethoven is a very good reason to be home before 10 p.m. This story is a rather tried-and-trusted story about every Tom, Dick and Harry collaborating to realize their dreams, but this program sparkles with the jewel that is Kim and his virulent tongue. I am now hunting online for a collection of scenes in which Kim speaks the line. Type in the name of the actor on an Internet portal site, and you are given “lump of shit” as a related keyword. A lump-of-shit medley in Kim’s voice from the drama has even evolved into a ringtone. Yes, there is a sadomasochistic kind of fun here, but his resonant voice and lucid pronunciation gives fragrant spice to the line. It is just one of many signature vituperations of the lead character, Maestro Kang Gun-woo (Kim), an amazingly talented yet cold-blooded conductor. The lump-of-shit line comes from a scene in which Maestro Kang (nicknamed by Koreans as Kang Ma-ae) curtly berates a middle-aged woman who wants to pursure her long-lost dream of becoming a professional cellist. “You don’t practice but you want to look good as a performer in an orchestra and plus, you have this vain pride as a music school graduate,” Kim said, poker-faced, hardly moving any of his facial muscles. “You deserve to be called a hopeless nuisance, a stumbling block and, most precisely, a lump of shit.” Ouch. His other relentless comments include, “Juilliard? Play like a dog, and you’re in there. What’s so great about Juilliard?” and “Your performance was rubbish, and you disgraced Brahms.” Listening to his rants is a pleasure and his acrimonious ways are strangely cathartic. What’s intriguing here is that viewers are more than willing to embrace these ruthless words, which is rather unexpected in a country like Korea, where beating around the bush is often considered better manners than being direct. But I’ve noticed a trend these days on television here for characters in dramas to be more aggressive in the way they speak. Perversely, it’s seen as charming by some viewers, giving them a sense of liberation. What makes Maestro Kang’s ruthless speech more special is that he knows what he is doing. He is so talented he doesn’t have to care about manners. His wagging tongue hurts the listeners at first but it eventually works to move the hearts of his orchestra, egging them on to realize their dreams. Maybe this is why many viewers say they’d like people like Maestro Kang in their offices. The danger is that we might see unqualified and untalented Maestro Kang mimics badgering us at work. Thankfully, we have that lump-of-shit video online to watch, to see how the master does it.
Nominees Announced for the 2008 Korea Drama Festival Awards
Nominees for the 2008 Korea Drama Festival Awards, scheduled for November 1st at Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, were announced yesterday on October 7. For the best acting award, nominees include respected actress Kim Hye-ja of “Angry Mom,” charismatic actor Choi Soo-jong of “Dae Joyoung,” acclaimed actors Kim Myung-min of “White Tower” and Jo Jae-hyun of “New Heart,” and top actresses Bae Jong-ok of “My Man’s Woman” and Kim Ha-neul of “On Air.” Nominees for the best drama category include “Legend,” “Angry Mom,” “Dae Joyoung,” and “Gourmet.” Life time achievement nominees are Choi Bul-am, Baek Il-seop, Na Moon-hee, and Kang Bu-ja. The first international festival for a single genre, the festival will feature a wide variety of interesting events, such as drama photo exhibition at the Jinju National Museum, Asian drama screening show, an international forum on Korean dramas, and a talent search.
Actor Kim Myung-min Attends First Fan Meeting in Japan
Actor Kim Myung-min attended a fan meeting event in Japan for the first time. Kim's management company K&Entertainment said the actor attended the fan meeting at the Nagano Sun Plaza in Tokyo on April 20. The fan meeting was organized to celebrate the official release of the DVD of "White Tower," a popular drama series in which Kim starred. Kim was accompanied by actor Lee Sun-kyun, among others. Prior to the fan meeting, Kim held a press conference with Japanese reporters. After the fan meeting, the actor personally shook hands with his fans who attended the event. "White Tower" is a popular Japanese drama series which was aired in Japan in 1978 and 2003. The drama was remade into a Korean version last year and became a big hit. Kim appeared in the drama as cool-headed surgeon Jang Jun-hyuk. In the meantime, Kim has been cast in the brand new drama series on MBC TV "Beethoven Virus." He will take on the role of orchestra maestro Kang Gun-woo alongside new actress Lee Ji-ah, who rose to stardom through her performance in "The Story of the First King's Four Gods."
`Open City’: Freshness Turns Stale
Loaded with action and marked by sexual tension, ``Open City'' is yet another urban crime story set in the gritty streets of Seoul. But what sets it apart is that the cat and mouse game involves a network of professional ― and really scary ― pickpockets. Lee Sang-ki makes a big directorial debut with a high-profile cast and a novel subject matter. He zooms into the world of ``corporate'' pick pocketing, but the story soon turns sour with some poorly crafted ``Basic Instinct'' elements and cliched family tragedies that are inherent to Korean dramas. Son Ye-jin (``A Moment to Remember,'' 2004) trades in her innocent image for a dangerous persona, going all out with the hint of sex appeal she showed as a perky playgirl in ``The Art of Seduction'' (2005). She's ravishing, but like her character's cheesy name Baek Jang-mi (homonym for ``white rose'' in Korean), the new role seems to be an awkward fit. Jang-mi is the boss of an organized gang of pickpockets that's affiliated with the Japanese Yakuza. The group has been pulling tricks internationally, and Jang-mi plans to expand her turf by conquering Seoul's hot spots like Dongdaemun and Myeong-dong. But it isn't easy ― Korean and Japanese authorities are tracking her down while competing gangs are out to get her. When a nasty rival tries to corner her, young and able detective Jo Dae-yeong (Kim Myung-min) comes to the rescue. Throughout the movie, our so-called femme fatale seems more like a typical damsel in distress, except that she has a taste for low-cut dresses and red stilettos. Dae-yeong eventually figures out she's a prime suspect, but falls prey to her lies and sexual maneuvers. Meanwhile, to manifest her grand plans, Jang-mi turns to Gang Man-ok (Kim Hae-sook), a veteran pickpocket who just got out of prison and is determined to stay clean. To complicate things, Man-ok happens to be Dae-yeong's mother. The poor detective must crack down on the pick-pocketing underworld and deal with his traumatic childhood memories while having to stop himself from stealing glances at Jang-mi's cleavage. ``Open City'' reveals the intricate workings of the street-smart theft. First, the group chooses a target in a crowded marketplace or bus. While ``the antenna'' watches their back, another member creates a distraction so ``the machine'' can quickly slit open a purse or coat pocket of the oblivious victim. The movie warns that anyone can be a victim, as these thieves, well dressed in fine suits, look like typical businesspeople. Also, if you do happen to catch them in the act, don't try to apprehend them as they will slash your arm and run. Apart from the realistic portrayal of the crime, the relentless violence among the gangs seems unnecessary. Some of the police action sequences are well-crafted ― Kim Myung-min, a late bloomer who recently rose to stardom, shows his tough side as he beats six armed mobsters with a stick. But the emotional spectrum involving the mother-son conflict feels old and contrived like a second rate TV soap. The biggest blow yet to the film is its focus on style over substance. While Son is smoldering with her array of off-the-runway outfits, she's no Sharon Stone. It could have delved more into her cover as a tattooist ― the skin-bearing art had inspired a host of erotic films in Japan ― but it's just another stylish touch to the otherwise cliched drama. Some of the supporting characters also stop short of being stylized caricatures, like the heroine's mysterious and beautiful sidekick (Shim Ji-ho), who mimics the classic bodyguard character immortalized by Lee Jung-jae in the all-time hit Korean TV soap ``Sandglass'' (1995). It is worth seeing if you're a big fan of the lead actors. If not, it seems like a big-budget, star-studded campaign to raise awareness about pickpockets ― you'll think twice about the safety of your wallet in public places.
SON Ye-jin as a Criminal Kingpin
SON Ye-jin has been cast in the action thriller Open City (Moobangbi Dosi). She will play a femme fatale who leads an international criminal organization. KIM Myeong-min will play opposite of SON and LEE Sang-gi is directing the film. KIM will pla....
Son Ye Jin, returns to the screen in two years as a femme fatal pickpocket
Top star Son Ye Jin will turn into an 'international' pickpocket. In the upcoming movie 'Open City' directed by Lee Sang Ki, Son Ye Jin will act as the boss of a pickpocket organization displaying her femme fatal charm. Scheduled to open in....
