`Scam’ Is Smart Investment

From left, actors Kim Min-jung, Park Yong-ha, Park Heui-soon and Kim Moo-yeol star as con artists in South Korea's first stock market movie ``The Scam,'' which will come to theaters Feb. 12. /Courtesy of Showbox/Mediaplex

The box office can be as difficult to predict as the stock market, and South Korean cinema in particularly is suffering amid the global financial crisis. ``The Scam,’’ the country’s first stock market movie, will undoubtedly prove to be a smart investment. Unlike its scamming characters, newcomer director Lee Ho-jae invests the right way, with a solid, ``inflation-free’’ script and the magic chemistry of a talented cast.

The crime drama draws in viewers without becoming too technical, as it is more about the human desire for wealth than financial matters. Losing tens of millions of won in the stock market can be only a click away on the Internet. ``Click,’’ and hopeless debtors head to the Han River.

Hallyu star Park Yong-ha (SBS’s ``On Air’’) sheds his sleek image to play Hyeon-su, a victim of such a fatal click. After losing everything, he spends five years glued to the computer screen as an unshaven, full-time ``ant’’ (individual investor). He eventually reaches the top of the game after a painful diet of instant noodles and sacrificing the cost of three luxury sedans. He vows to quit once and for all when he achieves his goal, a nine-digit savings account that will support his mother and studious younger brother.

One day he hits the jackpot, not knowing that there are repercussions to disrupting a stock market scam. He ignites the fury of Hwang, a gangster-turned-financier bidding for entry into the top percentile of the rich and powerful. Park Heui-soon (``Seven Days’’) brings another fresh mobster persona, who feigns elegance in his initialized Italian shoes, only to resort to kicking people for dramatic effect. He also begins every sentence with an ``OK’’ even though he cannot tolerate the full English phrasings of his Korean-American partner.

Hwang, however, doesn’t dwell on past indiscretions. He recognizes Hyeon-su’s talents and employs him for the biggest scam yet, also giving him a nice makeover. Hyeon-su joins the other members of Hwang’s dream team for the 60 billion won heist: Min-hyeong, an elite stock broker who doubles as the think tank of fraudulent trades (musical star Kim Moo-yeol makes his big screen debut); sexy private banker Seo-yeon (Kim Min-jung of MBC’s ``New Heart’’); Park, a second-generation chaebol CEO facing a management crisis (veteran supporting actor Jo Duk-hyun); and Bryan (Jun Kim, ``West 32nd’’), a Korean-American fund manager who fakes foreign investment as a ``black-haired foreigner.’’

These are professional stock gamblers who win the house by reading everyone else’s cards. They opt for new scientific technology, the cream of the crop for stock scams. Park’s chaebol company invests heavily in a friend’s new environmental research and Seo-yeon has one of her clients buy the company’s shares. They have a famous broadcaster hype public attention while Bryan creates the illusion of foreign investment, and the cash starts flowing in from blind ``ants.’’

A bigger scam, however, unfolds within the ring of scam artists. Outsider Hyeon-su becomes the ultimate insider as he becomes the pawn in a tangled web of backstabbing intrigue.

As much as the film is about people sitting around gnawing away at money matters and monitoring stock transactions online, space is strictly limited to rooms with computers. Nonetheless, ``The Scam’’ never loses its speedy narrative flow and dramatic tension, which is edged with humor. Moreover, it draws in viewers with a full cast of idiosyncratic characters that breathe with life no matter how small their roles are. In these times of economic woes, such a smart film investment will benefit not only the makers of the movie but moviegoers as well.

In theaters Feb. 12. 119 minutes. 18 and over. Distributed by Showbox/Mediaplex.

Authentic Japanese Ramen at 81 Banya

Miso chya-syu ramen at Ramen 81 Banya in Itaewon /Korea Times Photo by Lee Hyo-won

Seoul has its fair share of ramen eateries, but Ramen 81 Banya on the main drag of Itaewon is an undying favorite among aficionados of the savory Japanese noodles.

The owner, 57-year-old Mr. Kasahara, brought over his 25-year cooking know-how from Japan in 2003, and his handmade noodles have since been bringing in a string of faithful customers. One young man, who spent a month-long trip in Japan eating ramen twice a day, claims that 81 Banya is the singular local eatery that remains uninfluenced by Korean ramyeon.

The restaurant’s ``Japan-ness’’ can be found in every corner of its slim, humble interior. Furnished by just a couple of tables and a long counter lined with stools, it feels like stepping into a Japanese eatery. Ramen manics can also pick up a copy of a Ramen bible in Korean for 5,000 won.

The menu is very simple, with two types of noodles and a few variations of each. The soy sauce-based syo-yu ramen (7,000 won) has a lighter, refreshing taste and comes with a slice of chya-syu, or fatty pork imported from France. The miso or Japanese bean curd flavored ramen (8,000 won) comes without the chya-syu. It isn’t salty but has a deep, tangy flavor that is very soft on the palate. Both are topped with green bean sprouts, corn and seaweed, of which extra portions can be ordered for 1,000 won each. Each additional slice of chya-syu is also 1,000 won.

Many ramen lovers often prefer the chya-syu ramen (11,000 won), which comes with a generous serving of the scrumptious pork. Meat lovers will appreciate it while those who crave steamy noodles will find it a bit much. Some go a step further and add butter (1,000 won) to their miso chya-syu ramen (13,000 won). While this may sound like cholesterol abuse, the taste is at least more savory than greasy. But this, too, is for the more ``experienced’’ ramen eater.

The true highlight of the place, though, is the ramen-eating competition found in many Japanese manga (comics). Anyone can brave the jumbo size: four servings of any ramen selection. The prize? Forfeiting the price of 20,000 won and a picture mounted in the hall of fame.

There are several rules: you can’t let the noodles go cold, and you must finish the meal within 20 minutes; you must remain seated at all times; and lastly, you must surrender without hesitation if it is too much. Regarding the last rule, there is a 30,000-won fine should a clean up be required in the wake of any biological hazard one might cause, as it may become difficult to keep the noodles down (in addition to the price of the ramen, the total would be 50,000 won).

Over the years, less than 300 of over 1,500 contestants have succeeded. The record of 3 minutes, 51 seconds, set by a young man, remains unbroken, while a female contender tops the scoreboard with 9 minutes, 7 seconds. Those who find the regular portions a bit small, but are not ready for the jumbo size, can order the big selection, which is an additional 2,000 won for each bowl.

Also included in the menu are fried rice and curry rice, both costing 6,000 won and available in mini portions at 3,000 won. Japan’s dry Asahi beer is served cold for 6,000 won.

Open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a short break to make noodles between 3 and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Closed on Mondays. Located next to Itaewon Hotel near exit 2 of Itaewon Station on subway line 6. Call (02) 792-2233.

Love in the Time of Cholera

GENEVA, Jan 27, 2009 (AFP) - The death toll from the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe is approaching 3,000, with over 56,000 people infected by the disease, the latest statistics from the World Health Organization showed Tuesday.

The outbreak, which started in August, has killed 2,971 people and infected 56,123 others. The previous count released on Friday recorded 2,773 deaths and over 50,000 cases of infection.

Ay me!
I've been devouring my favorite author G.G.M.'s novel, "Love in the Time of Cholera," with ardent fervor, relishing in the idea of such a "romantic" virus. Yet I've been painfully ignorant of how people are still perishing from it (and I used to work for the Red Cross!). My oblivion makes me blush crimson.

"...the weak pulse, the hoarse breathing, and the pale perspiration of a dying man. [...] the symptoms of love were the same as those of cholera." But Death is in no way beautified. Cholera serves to show the deathly effects of love.

According to the UK's Telegraph, UN reports that the epidemic could top 60,000 cases in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are increasingly concerned about the lack of funding received for the Zimbabwe Cholera Appeal. How can we help? Visit www.alertnet.org/thepeople/members/218536.htm

52 Quintessential Modern Korean Designs Chosen

The Korea Design Foundation has selected tin delivery containers, palace-shaped wedding halls and ``Red Devil’’ T-shirts among 52 ``quintessentially Korean’’ designs from the past half-century.

The Foundation, an organization within the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced the list Tuesday for the purpose of exploring and promoting Korea’s design heritage. Selection standards were based on the items’ influence on everyday Korean life and embodiment of the Korean spirit, rather than aesthetics or design value.

• The ``cheolgabang,’’ or tin delivery container widely used for delivering local Chinese cuisine, has no known inventor, but is deemed a ``perfect design,’’ even from a cultural anthropological standpoint.


• The bright red ``Be the Reds!’’ T-shirt, of which over 20 million were sold during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.


• Instituions like Wedding plazas mimicking Western castles that dot the country are rooted in a fascination of the West, while omnipresent garden-style ``galbi’’ (Korean barbecue) restaurants reflect the rise of the middle class. Also included are the retailer E-Mart, which changed consumption patterns here, and Hansem’s system kitchen, found in the latest homes (particularly en masse in apartment buildings).


• Also included on the list are characters such as Hodori, the 1988 Seoul Olympics mascot; animation characters Pororo and Dooly. Even commercial items were selected for their cultural significance, and the reason for choosing Dooly was that the baby dinosaur and its cartoon friends resemble the typical Korean next door, and it would be difficult to doubt their ``nationality.’'


• Electronics such as the iRiver MP3 player, LG Chocolate phone and ``cheonjiin’’ or the ``hangeul’’ (Korean alphabet) system used in cellular phones.


• Landmarks such as the Olympic Stadium and Tower Palace apartment buildings, Cheonggye Stream, Gyeongbu Highway and the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-shin in Gwanghwamun.


• Judges also selected things that mark quotidian Korean life including ``samgyeopsal hoesik’’ or dinner with co-workers over boned rib pork barbecue,


• Longtime bestselling items like Monami’s 153 ball point pen, Shin ``ramyeon’’ (instant noodles), Chilsung Cider, Bingrae’s banana-flavored milk, OB Beer and terry towels dubbed ``Italy towel.’’


• Many ``firsts,’’ such as the Seun Shopping Center in Jongno, the first of its kind Seoul, Keum-Sung black and white television, and the first Korean cabs known as ``sibal taxi.’’


• Things inspired by tradition like Korean metallic spoons that are thinner than those made in China and Japan, Dimchae kimchi refrigerator, Cucu rice cooker and ``dolchimdae’’ or masonry mattresses (which draws inspiration from ``ondol'' heating system). Another ``historical'' item is a portrait of the late protester Lee Han-yeol, which is almost as symbolic like Heroic Guerilla (Che Guevara photo) here.
  

The foundation plans to compile a list of such Korean designs each year, and collect and exhibit the chosen items overseas beginning this year. ``Considering its emphasis on socio-cultural significance and common usage, the list is bound to be skewed by the subjective views of the judges,’’ said the foundation. ``However, collecting such lists over the years to come will be beneficial in studying the nature of Korean design and promoting it overseas.’’

Pianist Kim Sun-wook Returns From London

Revisiting my series of interviews with "the next generation of classical musicians" that won me a little trophy from The Korea Times :) Mr. Kim is an old spirit possessing a boy's body, who seems to burn in his heart a steady, fiery love for music that leaves room for nothing (no one) else... He appears impossible to disturb like a rock, as he conquers the stage with unbelievable weight (spiced with dreamy head tilting a la Mr. Lang Lang). I look forward to his growth in the international music scene.


Young virtuoso pianist Kim Sun-wook, 20, returns from London to give a concert in Seoul, Saturday, with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (Radio Symphony Orchestra). /Photo courtesy of Vincero

South Korea’s hottest young pianist Kim Sun-wook has returned home after expanding his horizons in Europe.

Exactly a year has passed since my last interview with him as part of ``the next generation of classical musicians,’’ when he had just signed with international arts management company Askonas Holt. After spending six months in his new London home, the 20-year-old appeared slimmer and much more relaxed and confident.

But one thing remained unchanged, his undying diligence and ardent passion for the stage, which is ``like a drug addiction.’’ Just like last year, the Seollal (Lunar New Year’s) holiday meant practice time, especially before his concert with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (Radio Symphony Orchestra) Saturday in Seoul and Monday in Gyeonggi Province.

His secret to success remains quite simple, he said -- ``practice makes perfect.’’ This comes despite having already played Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, the featured piece in the upcoming performances, in 2007 with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France led by maestro Chung Myung-whun.

Kim decided to revisit the piece in order to show fans his musical progress -- a strong affirmation to display a different level of pianism.

The pianist rose to stardom here as one of the youngest winners of the 2004 Leeds Piano Competition among other major international events. . ``Nobody recognizes me here either,’’ he said, laugh, that Korean fans barely recognize him offstage. Moving to London was a stepping-stone to a larger classical music scene. ``What did I see in London? I saw my place as a debutant. There were endless performances by artists my age.’’












>>More

Read a previous interview with Kim Sun-wook

Best of Voices 2: The Most Beautiful Voices & Great Videos

Various Artists (Universal)

The second ``best’’ album from Universal’s eight serial compilations, featuring the most beloved voices of modern times, is now in stores.

The package includes two CDs with 32 tracks, of which five are presented as music videos in the accompanying DVD.

The popular singers offer timeless songs, ranging from pop to classical, including ``Prayer’’ by Secret Garden, Schubert’s ``Ave Maria’’ by Nana Mouskouri and ``Only Time’’ by the Vienna Boys Choir.

Fans can also see the music video for ``Rejoice’’ by mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, who recently visited Seoul with Placido Domingo.

Read about Voices 8

Vienna Phiharmonic's 2009 New Year's Concert

Daniel Barenboim, Vienna Philharmonic
`New Year’s Concert 2009’
Decca

The Vienna Philharmonic concert is an event that classical music fans look forward to each New Year. This live recording is no exception, and can satisfy those who weren’t able to attend the actual show.

This year, maestro Daniel Barenboim conducted the ensemble, which, for the first time in its New Year’s concert history, played Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 ``Farewell’’ in honor of the late composer’s bicentenary. The only regret about the stellar performance is that it only features the fourth movement.

Also included are, without fail, the traditional Austrian waltzes and polkas by Strauss I and II as well as Barenboim’s humor and a little bit of politics that heighten the festivity. The DVD is also available in stores.

Mid-Budget Film Gives Hope to Local Cinema

Woohoo! My first front page story in quite a while :)

The South Korean film industry had already been staggering for over two years and was hit especially hard by the global economic crisis. But the 2009 season begins hopefully, as ``Scandal Makers,’’ a mid-budget film, continues to top the box office for a whopping seventh week and signals positive market trends.

As of Wednesday, the family comedy has attracted over 6.59 million viewers since its release Dec. 3, according to Lotte Entertainment. It is expected to sell more tickets over the Seollal (Lunar New Year) holiday, and perhaps break the 6.62 million record for domestic comedies set by ``200-Pound Beauty’’ in 2006.

The feat, in terms of numbers, may not seem big when compared to homegrown blockbusters that brought in over 10 million viewers. But ``Scandal Makers’’ points to something significant: first, it is a smaller franchise starring familiar faces rather than superstars, being thus an unexpected hit with a snowballing effect like the 2005 dark horse ``King and the Clown.’’ Second, it signals market trends that are expected to endure.

``Scandal Makers’’ is about a star DJ (played by funnyman Cha Tae-hyun) that must face unforeseen consequences of his adolescent philandering when he discovers that he already has a daughter and a grandson at the age of 30. This past weekend (Jan. 17-18), the low-key film reclaimed the top box office spot in three weeks, beating the big budget epic ``A Frozen Flower’’ starring superstars Zo In-sung and Joo Jin-mo. >>More

Poems on Rembrandt’s Religious Paintings

"Drawn to the Light: Poems on Rembrandt’s Religious Paintings"

(렘브란트를 만나다)
Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, Jo Eung-jung (조은정); English text translated to Korean by Moon Ji-hyuk; Gachi-Changjo (가치창조): 159 pp., 10,500 won

With the exhibition ``Great Masters of European Art: Meet Rembrandt’’ currently ongoing at Seoul Arts Center (예술의전당 through Feb. 26), this book of poems inspired by the Dutch painter will be of interest to art aficionados, poetry lovers and readers of any age.

I wasn't able to appreciate the exhibition as much because of a headache, but the selection was good. Ah, memory tide. Amsterdam was the first European city I visited while living in Paris, and the Rembrandthaus (Rembrandt's old house/studio) was such a treat!

This book features Rembrandt’s representative works including his ``Self-Portrait as a Young Man’’ (1628) and etchings like ``Autoportrait aux yeux hagards’’ (1630). Accompanying the images are poems by McEntrye, an English professor at Westmont College in Santa Barabara California who has published several books of poetry on Van Gogh and Vermeer. Also included are texts by Jo, a curator at the Busan Museum of Art.

They say a picture says a thousand words, and the poetic nature of Rembrandt’s paintings make them a natural fit for the poetry. McEntrye’s writings illuminate overseen details of the canvas and give flight to limitless imagination. Even the most diehard Rembrandt fans will be able to appreciate the poet’s visions.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

F. Scott Fitzgerald (Translated from English to Korean by Kim Sun-young)

Munhakdongnae: 412 pp., 11,000 won

The Korean translation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic is now available, in time for the Feb. 12 release of the film version starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchette. The movie recently topped 2009 Oscar Nominations with a total of 13 including Best Picture.

Books that inspire major motion pictures tend to sell well, but ``Benjamin Button’’ is a must read for anyone of all ages. The florid language of ``The Great Gatsby’’ author does not wholly come across, as with many translations, but the original short story is laid out extensively over 400 pages. The vivacious 1920s American jazz era comes to life, and will be particularly intriguing considering Koreans’ recent heightened interest in early 20th-century Korea, when jazz and other cultural novelties were introduced.

Benjamin Button’s case is truly curious, as he is born with the physical appearance of a 70-year-old man and ages backwards, becoming younger by the year. His wife, on the other hand, of course matures with time. This star-crossed romance may appeal to Koreans who have always loved such stories as ``Il Mare.’’

A graphic novel illustrated by Kevin Cornell, which also includes the story in text in the back, is also available in Korean (Novelmine: 200 pp., 10,000 won).

`Marine Boy' Stays Afloat With Supporting Acts

"Marine Boy" (마린보이, S. Korea)

Directed by Yoon Jong-seok (윤종석). Starring Kim Kang-woo(김강우), Cho Jae-hyun (조재현), Park Shi-yeon (박시연).

It’s about time the Korean Peninsula saw a maritime action flick. ``Marine Boy’’ indeed features the most water treading sequences in South Korean cinema -- something only a fearless newcomer like Yoon Jong-seok can brave -- but it keeps afloat with classic premises like dramatic tension and great supporting characters.

An ocean-crossing drug mule the movie has named ``marine boy’’ calls for extensive oceanic shoots that make up about 20 percent of the film, yet this is no big budget version of drug mule stories like ``Maria Full of Grace’’ nor is it a raw crime thriller like ``The Chaser.’’ A complex ``trust no one’’ formula fuels the seaside story, but an obscure love triangle rather than underwater skirmishes crafts the drama. While the two-hour running time could have been cut shorter, Cho Jae-hyun and other bona fide actors keep the film from completely conforming to Hollywood.

The vast ocean blue invites viewers to plunge right into the narrative with the protagonist. `Le Grand Chef’s’ rising star, Kim Kang-woo, bares his six-pack abs as Cheon-su, a youthful hedonist who gives swimming lessons by day and gambles by night in order to escape to Palau. But his one-way ticket to paradise is forever lost when he loses a big poker game and lands in 10-digit debt. >>More

Read about the director and actors discussing "Marine Boy."

Who Will Direct Park Chan-wook's Hollywood Remake?

Reports of remakes of PARK Chan-wook’s vengeance trilogy films have been headline news in the entertainment industry over the past year. The latest comes from the mouth of director Danny Boyle (Golden Globe winner for Slum Dog Millionaire) who told Empire Online that he has been asked to direct the remake of PARK’s Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.

The film, PARK’s final installment in the revenge trilogy, made news earlier last year when actress Charlize Theron announced she would produce the project and take the lead role (play by LEE Young-ae in the original).

Boyle, who has won numerous awards for hits such as Trainspotting, The Beach, and 28 Days Later, was expected to direct The Bromeliad trilogy for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks, but announced that the project had fallen through, making Lady Vengeance a serious possibility. Boyle added that he had just bought a DVD of PARK’s first installment, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.

The news follows on reports late last year that Spielberg and Will Smith were considering a remake of PARK’s 2004 Cannes Grand Prize winner Old Boy. An exciting surmise would be that Spielberg may back Lady Vengeance with Theron starring and producing and Boyle directing.

(Source: KOFIC http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/)

Read more about Korean film remakes.
KOFIC also has a book in English about director Park Chan-wook.

MoMA to Screen Korean Colonial-Era Films

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York will screen Jan. 28-Feb. 1 some of the earliest known Korean films, made in the 1930s and '40s under the Japanese occupation (1910-45).

The seven films to be screened were rediscovered in 2003 and 2004 at the Chinese Film Archive and restored in new 35mm prints by the Korean Film Archive.

This is the first time these carefully restored prints will be shown outside of Korea. They present a rare visual record and narrative resource to this little-known period. The exhibition titled “Korean Films Made During the Japanese Occupation.”

Films included in the event are "Sweet Dream" (1936)—the earliest known Korean "talkie" which was recently recognized as a Korean national cultural property— "Spring in the Korean Peninsula" (1941), "Angels on the Street" (1941) and "Straits of Chosun" (1943).

Yuni Cho of The Korea Society, New York, co-organized the event with MoMA. Commenting on the upcoming program, she said, “The dramatic content of the films is shaped by the censorship of their era, and several are uncomfortably pro-Japanese. Yet simultaneously, their rich aesthetics and formal experimentation reach beyond imperial Japanese ideology to express transcendent themes of longing, loss, and duty.”

MoMA has shown several series on the work of Korean filmmakers, including recent exhibitions such as "Im Kwon-Taek: Master Korean Filmmaker" (2004) and Kim Ki-Duk (2008).

(Source: KOFIC http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/)

Read more about Korean film history and the Korean Film Museum.
Read about "Modern Boy," a contemporary Korean film set during the Japanese colonial era.

Kim Myeong-min's Classic: Maestro

Various Artists (EMI)

The TV series ``Beethoven Virus'' took Korea by storm last year, and the winds don't seem to have settled down just yet. Following Deutsch Grammophon's best selling soundtrack album, EMI presents a compilation of the some of most frequently played songs in Western classical music ― packaged with the face of ``Maestro Kang,'' actor Kim Myeong-min.

(Kim's tailored look on the show helped middle aged men dress in style. I absolutely loved his brown Oxfords!)

Like the drama, the four themed CDs cater to those who are new to the genre. ``Passion,'' for example, features the first movement from Beethoven's 5th Symphony and the Choral from the 9th.

But ``Relax'' is, disappointingly, an exact replica of Sony BMG's ``Relax Vol. 1: Smooth Classics.'' Nevertheless, the album features performances by top artists, including the Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan.

Top Cineastes to Grace Art Film Fest

(Director Park Chan-wook/Yonhap Photo)

That special time of the year has come around, when South Korea's top filmmakers and actors turn into film festival programmers. The 4th Cinematheque Friends Film Festival will take place Jan. 29-March 1 in Seoul, and director Park Chan-wook and some 20 other cineastes will meet with the audience to show and discuss 26 movies they have personally selected.

``I don't think there is a film festival like the Cinematheque Friends Film Festival anywhere else in the world,'' Park told reporters last week in Seoul. ``Where else can you see all the representative cineastes ― directors, critics and stars ― gather in one place to introduce, watch and discuss old movies with fans?'' >>More

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's Digital Concert Thrills Fans Worldwide

By Do Je-hae

Staff Reporter

The Berliner Philharmoniker, or the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO), is grabbing headlines worldwide for its 'Digital Concert Hall' project, designed to broadcast an entire season of its performances online. No other major orchestra in the world has taken such a bold step in reaching its audience through the Internet.

Pamela Rosenberg, the intendant of the BPO, was eager to speak with The Korea Times about the project, which was first inspired three years ago by the ``fascinating prospect of performing for an audience of theoretically unlimited size.’’

``It is our experience that there are many more people who would like to come to our concert beyond seats available. This is the case with our performances in Berlin and even more so in our concert tours throughout the world. With the Digital Concert Hall, we want to create an additional, virtual venue, particularly for music lovers who otherwise have no opportunity to be here live at our home concert hall,’’ Rosenberg said during an interview with The Korea Times.

Featuring a performance of Brahms's First Symphony in C minor, the premiere concert on Jan.6 was broadcast online from the Philharmonie in Berlin, garnering huge public and media support. Around 2,500 tickets were sold for the debut, nearly as many seats as were available. ``That is a very good beginning when you consider that people are not used to paying for audiovisual content in the Internet,’’ said Rosenberg.

There are two options when exploring the digital concerts at http://dch.berliner-philharmoniker.de/. One can watch them via live stream Web cast or access them from the on-demand archive of past concerts. A single ticket costs 9.90 euros, while a season ticket, at 149 euros, provides visitors access to about 30 concerts throughout the 2008-2009 season. >>More

Tom Cruise Hypes Up Seoul

So Tom Cruise came to Seoul for "Valkyrie's" Asian premiere. I had a prepubescent crush on the guy back in his "Top Gun" days, but didn't care much for him afterward. In person, he was genuinely courteous (thanking reporters for coming on a Sunday) and gave off this magnetic force... After locking eyes with Mr. Cruise for about 15 minutes as he answered my questions, I am indeed starstruck. Though it doesn't compare with that moment of eternity I felt with Senor Domingo.


Tom Cruise left his mark in Seoul with a hand printing ceremony at a local theater Saturday. Over 500 enthusiastic fans attended the event. /Yonhap

The snow over the weekend in Seoul seemed to melt away with the arrival of superstar Tom Cruise, whose latest film ``Valkyrie’’ makes its Asian premiere here Jan. 22.

[The 46-year-old greeted fans with enthusiasm...] Word of his extended service to fans spread quickly online, with Netizens calling him ``Kind Uncle Cruise.’’ ``The nickname is lovely. I would say the same about the country and the people of this country,’’ the actor told reporters Sunday in a packed hotel ballroom.

From left, Mr. Cruise, director Bryan Singer and writer/director Christopher McQuarrie promote "Valkyrie" in Seoul. /Yonhap

The ``Top Gun’’ hero appeared younger than ever in his sexy, form-fitting black shirt. When asked about the secrets of his youth, he said that, being a busy actor and family man, he doesn’t ``have time to age.’’ >>More (``I always wanted to kill Hitler -- I hate that guy," he said...)

Read the movie review of "Valkyrie"

Winter, the Way It Used to Be...

In the winter, kimchi and other fermented vegetables and sauces were stored in ``jangdok'' or clay pots. These pots were buried in the ground for natural refrigeration. This tradition continues to this day, with many urbanites trading in jangdok for modern kimchi refrigerators. / Korea Times File

The temperature may be falling below zero these days, but they say Korean winters aren't as harsh as they used to be. The Han River, once a popular resort for ice skating and fishing, rarely freezes. How did people bear the cold back in the days? Here's a peek into how Koreans endured the winter chills during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).

Home Sweet Home

``Hanok'' (traditional homes) were designed to be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They used ``ondol,'' or an underfloor heating system that transfers heat directly from a stove to the bottom of a masonry floor. Basically, houses sat elevated on a huge fireplace. Koreans enjoy ondol to this day and boast a unique ``jjimjilbang'' (sauna) culture in which people relax in various precious stone-encrusted ondol rooms.

A major source of wood smoke was the kitchen. Cooking rice in a ``gamasot'' (iron pot built into a clay fireplace) would produce the smoke necessary for heating floors.

Inside, one would sit on a nicely heated ondol floor (shoes off, of course) and keep even warmer with a`` hwaro'' (brazier). One would take wood from the ondol fireplace and put it in the hwaro and carefully cover it with ash to keep it burning. The hwaro was also used to light pipes, warm irons and roast simple food, like sweet potatoes. The hwaro flame was then used to relight the fireplace. Its versatility made it a household necessity that mothers guarded with care.

The cold weather kept people at home, and pastimes included simple indoor games like ``finding the ring.'' Girls sat around in a circle and passed around a ring, while the ``it'' person would guess who had it.

Fun in the Snow

The frightful weather didn't discourage people from indulging in outdoor fun. `Jegichagi'' (kicking a shuttlecock), for example, is a game that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. But it was particularly practiced in the winter and early spring, as it encouraged the player to break a sweat while getting fresh air outside.

The Han River was transformed into a playground for everyone: children played with snowballs and sleighs and spun tops on ice while adults enjoyed ice fishing. As recently as the 1960s, when modern refrigeration was rare, the frozen river provided citizens with ice cubes that were stored in sawdust until the summer.

In an agricultural society strongly rooted in shamanism and dependent on Mother Nature, snowfalls had a deeper meaning. Snow was used for fortune telling, with heavy snowfall forecast as the harbinger of good barley crops and ample rain. This custom was actually stemmed from careful observation and farming experience. The insulating effect of snow prevented barley roots from rotting and produced heat when melting, rendering soil moist, healthy and germ free. Furthermore, the amount of winter snow is correlated with summer precipitation, so heavy snowfall was usually followed by lots of rain in June.

Winter Wear

Joseon's citizens braved the winter without compromising fashion. Men and women wore quilted cotton or silk ``hanbok'' (traditional clothes). They layered themselves with undergarments, pants or skirts, fur-lined vests and full-length coats. They also wore ``tosi'' (wristlets) for insulation and men tied ``daenim'' (cloth ribbons) around their ankles.

Thermal ``beoseon'' (socks) were double-layered and stuffed with cotton for extra warmth. People didn't forget to wear a hat that covered the ears and cheeks. Unisex hats were called ``nambawi,'' while women enjoyed ornate ``jobawi,'' and children, quilted patterns called ``gulle.''

Commoners, who didn't have the privilege of traveling by palanquins as aristocrats did, kept their clothes dry from the snow by wearing ``dorongi'' (tightly knit straw waterproof capes) and ``satgat'' (cone-shaped reed hats). There were short, wooden skis and snowshoes, as well as ``wanggoljipsin,'' or straw snow boots.

New Year Wishes

In addition to New Year's, ``jeongweol daeboreum'' (Jan. 15 of the lunar calendar) was an important day. Traditionally, the sun symbolized the male while the moon represented the female and fertility. A full moon falls on the 15th night of each lunar month, and so people prayed for prosperity and health during the first full moon of the year. Jeongwoel daeboreum falls on Feb. 9 this year.

Various festivities took place on the special day, ranging from special snacks to games and rituals. In the morning, people ate hard-shelled nuts to ``crack'' the chances of getting boils. Already looking forward to having a safe summer, people greeted one another saying ``please buy my heatstroke.'' Cows also got a special treat of multigrain rice, as it was believed to bring a fruitful year of farming.

Children flew kites with ``misfortune'' written onto them and cut the strings at sunset, bidding farewell to bad luck. At nightfall, people gathered to watch the full moon, and good luck supposedly went to the first person to see it.

A winter treat was ― and still is ― ``patjuk,'' or red bean porridge. The sweet concoction is often served with rice cake balls, making for a hearty snack. The color red is also traditionally believed to ward off bad spirits. A popular eatery serving patjuk is The Second Best Place in Seoul. The name comes from the owner's claim that her patjuk will always be second best after her mother's. It is located on the main strip in Samcheong-dong, northern Seoul, near Gyeongbok Palace. Call (02) 734-5302.

Also see "Summer, the Way it Used to Be..."
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/

'Selected Screenplays by Kim Ki-young II'

"Selected Screenplays by Kim Ki-young II" (김기영 시나리오 선집 2)
Edited by Kim Hong-jun. Korea Film Archive: 624 pp., 25,000 won

Director Kim Hong-jun brings a second volume of selected screenplays by the late Kim Ki-young (1919-1998), one of South Korea's most celebrated cineastes.

Last year, Kim's representative film ``The Housemaid'' was digitally restored and screened at the 61st Cannes Film Festival in 2008 ― in time for the 10th anniversary of his death. The Korea Film Archive (한국영상자료원) also honored the director with a retrospective and other events.

Having directed a documentary on Kim, the editor of the book carefully chose six scenarios including that of ``The Sea Knows'' (1961). The book provides a unique opportunity to appreciate movies that are very rare or no longer available. For example, readers can flick through the ``director's cut'' of ``Ban Geum-ryun'' (1981). It includes the script of the 30-minute scene that was cut in the theater release.

The book is more than just dialogue and stage directions. It includes Kim's own commentaries on the story and its theme, which reflect his intentions and creative impulses. Also included are images of original movie posters and still cuts.

Domingo Is Still King of Opera

This is one concert to remember. I grew up listening to the maestro's rendition of "Thoughts on Mt. Keumkang (Geumgang; 그리운 금강산)" and oh, the thrill of hearing it live!

(Photo/Yonhap)

Placido Domingo showed he still reigns high as one of the century's greatest singers in his Seoul recital Tuesday.

At 67, the silver-haired Spaniard sang with the fervent ardor of a young Romeo ― waltzing onstage with diva Katherine Jenkins and giving six encores, including a local favorite he sang here 14 years ago.

Jenkins will undoubtedly be invited back after this impressive Korean debut, but the night's dark horse was the striking, jewel-toned South Korean soprano Lee Ji-young. Forward-thinking Domingo makes sure his reign is more than memorable, as he continues to pave paths for young talent. >>More

Read about Mr. Domingo's press conference in Seoul

'Red Cliff 2' Arrives to Delight Its Fans

"Red Cliff 2" ("Chi Bi 2 적벽대전2: 최후의 결전" South Korea/China/Taiwan/Japan)
Directed by John Woo. Starring Tony Leung (양조위), Takeshi Kaneshiro (금성무), Chang Chen

Finally. The second and conclusive part to the epic John Woo movie ``Red Cliff'' has arrived, just in time for the Seollal (Lunar New Year) holiday. Fans who waited half a year for the ultimate battle sequence will not be disappointed.

If Hollywood action draws inspirations from the Trojan War, then Asian cinema's biggest project -- an 80 billion won investment by South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China -- can turn to the famous Red Cliff battle, which took place almost two millennia ago and highlights the Chinese historical tome ``Romance of the Three Kingdoms.''

``Red Cliff 2'' is epic in all senses of the word: the hottest stars bring classic history to life, and a grand spectacle of fire and water redefines the art of warfare. It's quite long too. But the minutes fly by as the movie offers more of the ingenious war mechanics and martial arts action that embellished the first of the franchise. >>More

It's just too bad the franchise cannot be appreciated in full outside of Asia (except on DVD). A 2 hr. 25 min. international version (the two films mashed into one) has been prepared, the director announced Jan. 6. I doubt it will do justice to the epic scale of the two films.

Read about the first film
Read about the Asian Premiere event in Seoul

Kwon Sang-woo Resumes Romantic Role

Actors Kwon Sang-woo, left, and Lee Bo-young walk down the aisle in a

cathedral wedding scene for the film ``A Sad Story'' in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

Newly wed actor Kwon Sang-woo (권상우) was caught walking down the aisle once again ― this time with actress Lee Bo-young in the upcoming movie ``A Sad Story'' (working English title; 슬픔보다 슬픈 이야기).

As its title suggests, the film is about heartbreaking, unrequited love. The wedding shoot, revealed to the press Monday in a Seoul cathedral, featured Kwon's character walking down the aisle with the woman he loves (Lee Bo-young 이보영) ― but only to marry her off to another man (Lee Beom-soo 이범수).

Kwon returns to the romance genre after foraying comic or tough guy parts, such as in ``Fate 숙명." He said he drew inspiration from his own marriage for his latest role. ``I think being married enables me to think more deeply about playing melodramatic parts. Like my movie character, Kay, I also needed a lot of courage to bear the fruits of my love,'' he said. >>More

Mayuko Kamio `In Recital'

Mayuko Kamio

`In Recital'

(RCA Red Seal)

Japanese violinist Mayuko Kamio makes her recording debut with Sony BMG. A winner of the 2007 Moscow International Tchaikovsky Competition, she was also the youngest artist, at age 13, to perform at the Kennedy Center in New York.

The young virtuoso chooses a repertoire of Bizet, Tchaikovsky and Stravinksy.

Her fiery rendition of ``Carmen Fantasie'' shows there is room for yet another violinist to shine through the myriad of rising stars. Isaac Stern had long hallmarked the Franz Waxman composition written for the 1946 film ``Humoresque.'' But Kamio topples the monopoly and offers something of her own color.

Sol Gabetta's 'Cantabile'

Sol Gabetta

`Cantabile'

(RCA Red Seal)

Sol Gabetta brings a selection of ``cantabile'' opera arias and songs. The Prague Philharmic Orchestra, led by conductor Charles Olivieri-Munroe, accompanies the Argentinean cellist.The CD includes romantic classics like Gounod's ``Je Veux Vivre'' and Offenbach's ``O Mon Cher Amant.''

Gabetta allows the cello to sing rich, mellifluous tunes, expressing all the subtle quivers of the human voice. The musician often says ``I dance with my cello,'' of course not literally, but one can almost see the cello waltz to the music in her rendition of Faure's ``Pavane''

The bouncy bonus track, ``Figaro's Aria'' by Rossini, features pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa.

Placido Domingo to Dazzle Korean Fans

(Photo/Credia)
This guy is like Christmas: he really spreads the happy virus around. I loved asking him questions!

He inspired 101 curtain calls lasting 75 minutes in Vienna and a 300-kilogram statue in Mexico City. It is Placido Domingo, and he is back in Korea.

``Every morning, I wake up and it's a great feeling to know I can still sing,'' said the maestro about the prospects of retiring in a press meeting held at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel, Monday. He has no concrete plans to retire, though it ``certainly is closer.''

``The thing I can guarantee is I won't make the mistake of singing one more day than I could, or singing one day less than I could,'' he said. He also plans to remain a tenor until the end, even though he has assumed baritone opera roles

Domingo turns 68 on Jan. 21 and celebrates the 40th anniversary of his debut March 15. The latter coincides with the 105th anniversary of the NY Met -- double celebrations for him!. >>More

Joseon Films in Newspaper Articles 1911-1917

Joseon Films in Newspaper Articles 1911-1917 (신문기사로 본 조선영화 1911-1917)
Edited by the Korean Film Archive (한국영상자료원); Korean Film Archive: 478 pp., 30,000 won

The Korean Film Archive brings the first volume in a series of research materials on Korean cinema during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45).

This is a compilation of newspaper articles that appeared between 1911 and 1917 in the Maeil Shinbo, the only Korean language daily published at the time.The first Korean film was produced in 1919, and so this book covers the “prehistoric” times of Korean film history.

The clips include detailed reports on the local cinema, theater and entertainment scene. We learn that theatergoers complained about students cutting class to watch a movie and couples displaying too much affection in public.

The articles, however, are difficult to read since they retain archaic spellings and Chinese characters. The twopage background information that opens each chapter (on each year) is very useful.

'Valkyrie' Redeems Tom Cruise

So this review got posted onto various Tom Cruise fan sites... I get e-mails from Scientologists. The Internet makes the world flat. Mr. Cruise, Singer and McQuarrie are coming to Korea next week!

"Valkyrie" (USA)
Directed by Bryan Singer. Written by Christopher McQuarrie.
Starring Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy

Forget the love-struck Scientologist ― for a couple of hours at least.

``Valkyrie'' eclipses Tom Cruise's very public personal life and even his Hollywood action star glitz as the actor melts into his role as a serious, likeable hero rising against Hitler.

This is not another Tinseltown World War II flick. Perhaps the only commonality the film shares with its predecessors is the finely crafted music (though not including Wagner's namesake opera). It also opts for distinct visuals, and the color palette stays away from the usual shocking red sea of Nazi banners. The effect is stark and simple yet effective, like the narrative itself.

``The Usual Suspects'' partners Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie reconstruct past events into a gripping, modern classic, and not even the potpourri of American, British and German tongues mars its incredible believability.

``Adolf Hitler is dead.'' On July 20, 1944, the Fuhrer's life is threatened by another assassination plot. In trust is treason, however: the perpetrators are none other than high-ranking German officers who want to ``show the world that not all Germans are like Hitler.'' >>More

Korean Film Remakes Debut in U.S.

Hollywood adaptations of such South Korean movies as ``The Tale of Two Sisters’’ make nationwide releases in the United States at the end of the month.

``The Uninvited," the Dreamworks version of the Kim Jee-woon thriller inspired by a famous Korean folktale ``The Tale of Two Sisters,’’ will appear in theaters Jan. 30. Brothers Charles and Thomas Guards direct the franchise and actresses Arielle Kebbel (``The Grudge 2’’) and Emily Browning (``Lemony Snicket’s: A Series of Unfortunate Events’’) have replaced Korean stars Lim Soo-jung and Moon Geun-young, respectively.

Meanwhile, ``Possession,’’ based on ``Addiction’’ starring Lee Byung-hun and Lee Mi-yeon, will be released Jan. 23. Directed by Joel Bergvall and Simon Sandquist, the Hollywood rendition stars Lee Pace as a man claiming to be his brother opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Of the Korean movies that have sold adaptation rights to American producers, three have been released: ``The Lake House" based on Lee Hyun-seung’s ``Il Mare’’ in 2006 and ``Mirror’’ inspired by Kim Seong-ho’s ``Into the Mirror’’ and ``My Sassy Girl’’ adapted from the Kwak Jae-yong film of the same title in 2008.

'Marine Boy' Explores Drug Trafficking

From left, actors Cho Jae-hyeon, Park Si-yeon and Kim Kang-woo. (Photo/Yonhap)

The upcoming film ``Marine Boy'' (마린보이) involves treading water, but it has nothing to do with the nickname Koreans affectionately give to swimming star Park Tae-hwan (박태환).

Written and directed by newcomer Yoon Jong-seok, this crime movie is about a former swimming athlete (Kim Kang-woo 김강우) who, desperately in debt, becomes employed as a ``body packing'' drug mule by a heartless drug lord (Cho Jae-hyun 조재현). After swallowing a 10-meter-long drug package, this ``marine boy'' must swim across waters between Korea and Japan. Among the many things that beckon death, an alluring beauty (Park Si-yeon 박시연) tries to seduce him.

``As long as there are drugs, there will be those who transport drugs. What makes this movie unique is not its subject matter, but rather, the name `marine boy.' There is something beguiling about its duality, how these criminals are called something that romantically calls to mind the popular cartoon ``Marine Boy'' or the star swimmer Park Tae-hwan,'' the director told reporters at a press event in southern Seoul, Monday. More >>

I'm excited about this film... a big budget version of inspired works like "Maria Full of Grace." It stars my fav actor Mr. Cho! He's rather squat and ajushi but oh so hot. It's also nice to see Mr. Kim take on a strong persona (it was a pleasure to interview him before).

Park Yong-ha Returns as Scam Artist

(Photo/Coming Soon) From left, actors Park Yong-ha (박용하),

Kim Min-jun (김민정), Park Heui-soon ( 박희순) and Kim Mun-yeol (김문열).

The economic crisis is chilling the winter weather, but South Korea's first stock market movie ``The Scam'' (작전) is expected to turn the temperature up a notch.

A hotel ballroom was crowded with over 300 reporters in Seoul Tuesday for the appearance of top Korean talent, including hallyu star Park Yong-ha (박용하). He plays the role of a jobless, self-taught trader who hits the jackpot. But little did he know he disrupted a big stock market scam led by a gangster trying to reinvent himself as a financial mogul (Park Heui-soon 박희순).

Park Heui-soon makes me look forward to this movie. He's that charismatic actor from "Seven Days" (세븐 데이즈) opposite "Lost" babe Kim Yun-jin. Also, musical actor Kim Mun-yeol (김문열)'s screen debut is noteworthy--he's so gorgeous in person!!

``I mostly played suave roles in melodramas, so I was drawn to my disheveled, desperate character. Also, the script was so gripping, despite my zero knowledge of stocks,'' said the ``On Air'' star, who is also a popular singer in Japan. He sported a semi casual look with a crisp white T-shirt and gray suit. The 31-year-old plays his first prominent film role ever since starring in an obscure project 10 years ago (``When It Snows on Christmas'' 크리스마스에 눈이 내리면) and a supporting role in ``Again" (미워도 다시한번)

``The Scam'' (작전) is slated for release Feb. 12 and is distributed by Showbox/Mediaplex. >>More