Hero at 12th PIFF

Japanese Heartthrobs to Attend PIFF

A large number of Japanese heartthrob movie stars is expected to attend the 12th Pusan International Film Festival opening next month in the southern Korean port city.

Topping the list is the ever popular Takuya Kimura who will arrive in Korea Oct. 4. He has been invited to the festival’s Open Cinema section featuring his film ‘Hero.’

The film is about a motivated prosecutor fighting against a conglomerate conspiracy, and has topped the Japanese box office for the third week. Top Korean actor Lee Byung Hun also appears in the movie.

The 5000 tickets for ‘Hero’ sold out in one day after PIFF began advance ticketing.

Also visiting from Japan is Tatsuya Fujiwara, famous for the ‘Death Note’ series.

Others include Erika Sawajiri, Miura Haruma and Sei Asina.

Source: english.kbs.co.kr

3rd week #1

“HERO” still shows its strength

The “HERO” drama franchise, starring Takuya Kimura and Takako Matsu, is still running strong, according to recent numbers.

On the 23rd, Fuji TV aired “Drama Legend HERO,” a director’s cut that added new scenes to last year’s special episode. While ratings failed to meet the original’s 30.9% viewership, the program still averaged a healthy 22.1%.

Meanwhile, the film version topped the box office for its third consecutive week. So far, it has grossed about 4.8 billion yen on 3.75 million admissions.

Source: tokyograph.com

Byunghun Pics

Sweet photos courtesy the MagicBox, thanks to Elaine-EverythingLBH, soompi.com

Info provided by ylin – captures from the Making of the ‘Monochrome Man in Monochrome City’, taken on the day LBH left Paris after the photo-shooting.

No Cuts please

Gist from a Japanese news update provided by ylin-EverthingLBH, soompi.com

An article from Japan today reported the Japanese fans’ feedback to the publisher of “A Monochrome Man in A Monochrome City,” the 3rd photobook by Lee Byung Hun stating they were sad to see BH’s face being “cut” and printed acrossed two pages of the photobook.

The publisher have reportedly taken the feedback positively with hopes that something can be done to rectify the situation.

Source: www.mainichi-msn.co.jp

Time to be Thankful

Wishing Mr. Lee Byung Hun & family 

Bountiful Korean Thanksgiving Day, Chuseok 2007

No better or worse, but just just like Hangawi
Golden fields dancing underneath the wide blue sky …
Mountains have put on their colorful autumn outfits to welcome Hangawi (Korean Thanksgiving Day).

This year Chuseok comes early on September 25, 2007, one of Korea’s major holidays. According to the solar calendar, the official Chuseok holiday is from September 24 to 26. However, because this year’s Chuseok is right after the weekend, the holidays will be from September 22 to 26 for 5 days.

Find out more at english.tour2korea.com

Good News GBW

Source: star.moneytoday.co.kr & sina.com, translated gist provided by ylin-EverythingLBH, soompi.com

 Dir. Kim Jee Woon’s oriental western epic ‘The Good, the Bad and the Weird’ (GBW) will finally conclude the China filming by mid-October and the whole crew will be returning to Korea on 18 October. It’s also mentioned that photo-shooting for the movie poster will take place on the 22nd of the same month.

LBH have been travelling to and fro between China-Hong Kong as he is also currently shooting “I come with the rain.”

On a separate note, according to several Hong Kong reports, ByungHun will be back in HK next week to shoot a car chasing scene with Shawn Yue.

LBH Arena Tour 2007

Translated by ylin from article at sohu.com courtesy Ping-bhjwlove.com

Lee Byung Hun will be holding concerts in Japan, estimated 50,000 people attending

Lee Byung Hun will be the first Korean Star to hold large-scale concerts in Japan and this has raised the concerns of Japanese media and fans.

According to the Japanese media, Lee will be having 5 concerts starting 15 November in Osaka, Fukuoka, Tokyo and Nagoya. They concerts are expected to attract 50,000 viewers.

Lee’s Tokyo Dome fan meet held in May last year, successfully attracted 42,000 fans. According to a staff from the previous concert said “These upcoming concerts will an updated version of the last performance at Tokyo Dome, which will fully demonstrate the charm of Lee Byung Hun”.

The producer who had worked with Lee last year said, “We find new charm from Lee each time we meet him and it looks like it is developing daily”.

Reservation for the concert tickets will start from 19 September in Japan.

Women Weekly treat

Thanks to Chie for sharing the pics, highlighted by ylin-EverythingLBH

LBH poses for Japanese Magazine “Women Weekly” October issue

 

All In telenovela

Hallyu Spreading to Americas, Europe

The Korean pop culture wave ‘Hallyu’ is spreading across the world, to the US, Europe and Latin America.

The 2nd International Creative Cultural Industry Exhibition has opened at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seoul, and 54 broadcast firms from 17 countries including Fox TV and TV Azteca have come to buy Hallyu content.

The number two broadcaster in the US, Fox TV, held talks with IMTV and five other Korean firms on Tuesday.

The Korean Wave is expected to hit Mexico as well.

TV Azteca, the second largest private broadcast in Mexico, has also come to the expo to purchase the Korean dramas ‘Jumong’ and ‘All In.’ An Azteca official says that Korean dramas well suits the Mexican sentiment.

An editor from Shanghai’s biggest broadcaster SMG Group expressed interest in Korean documentaries about its culture and people’s lives saying that “Hallyu is still going strong in China and will continue on for a considerable time.”

Source: KBS Global

Summer’s Tale – Best Movie at 15thChunsa

September 14, 2007

CONGRATULATIONS! to “Once in a Summer” for winning 5 awards out of 11 nominations

– thanks to ylin for the update

1) THE BEST FILM
2) Best Director – Jo Geun Sik
3) Best Supporting Actor – Oh Dal Soo
4) Best Music – Shim Hyun Jeong
5) Best Newcomer (Actress) – Lee Se Eun

Credits: yum yum dimsum’s photo thread at www.soompi.com

Full winners’ list at www.koreanfilm.org, thanks to nkw88

Previous entry – Once in a Summer at 15th Chunsa