Gyeonggi Province Aims to Become Film Hub

Gyeonggi Province is stepping up efforts to become a cinematic hub with actor Cho Jae-hyun as its front man. The Gyeonggi Film Council named the top actor as its new chair Thursday to promote filmmaking in the region.

The 44-year-old star of the upcoming film ``Marine Boy'' accepted his two-year tenure at a ceremony Friday in downtown Seoul.``This is a great honor and I hope the special guests with us today will serve as the council's advisory committee,'' said the versatile actor, who has appeared in art films such as Im Kwon-taek's ``Beyond the Years'' and hit TV soaps like ``New Heart'' (MBC). >>More

This is great news. And not just because I am totally in love with Mr. Cho (I sigh every time I see him with how gorgeous he is in person). Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, has great potential to become a cultural hub -- everything is way too centered on Seoul!

Gyeonggi-do hosts the annual Pucheon (Bucheon) International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan), the largest of kind in Asia, and will be home to big franchises like Hallyuwood, a K-drama theme park, Universal Studio theme park and Paramount Movie Park. Also, many artists like director Park Chan-wook, live in the rising hot spot, Heyri.