He’s everywhere. Perhaps not on quite as many shop windows and skincare advertisements in Seoul as Park Bo Gum, but pretty-faced actor Byeon Woo Seok is hardly avoidable in the metropolis. But can he live up to the powerhouse beside him in Perfect Crown? Multi-hyphenate and nation’s princess IU displays Seong Hui-ju as a strong-willed…
Tag: Korean Artist
Empowering Models: Inside KMCAA’s Vision for Cultural Recognition – In Conversation with Chairwoman Lee Sun-jin
The Korea Model Culture and Arts Association is slowly changing how the modelling industry is understood in South Korea. Established as a non-profit organisation, its mission is to protect the rights of models, improve working conditions, and elevate their role within the wider cultural and artistic environment. The association positions models as cultural contributors who…
James An on “We Can Smile” and “Solitaire” – Exclusive Interview
James An is an artist who really understands the contradictions of modern life, especially how we present ourselves. His new release, We Can Smile, came from a moment of meeting fans in Hongdae (Seoul), which made him think about what’s real versus what’s performative. He doesn’t reject social media, but sees it clearly: even if…
28th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Chung Ji-young, Director of “My Name”
Centered on the painful and long-silenced history of the Jeju April 3rd Incident, My Name becomes a way of looking back at what has been forgotten. In our interview with director Chung Ji-young, he talks about the emotional responsibility of dealing with a history that was suppressed for decades, and how he chose to approach…
28th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Tae-yong (Director) and Jang Hye-jin (Actress) of “Number One”
Kim Tae-yong has previously directed intense, serious films, driven by youth, energy, and a desire to change the world. Now in his 30s, his perspective has softened. His latest film, Number One, screened in competition at the 28th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, reflects that shift with a much warmer tone. This fantasy…
28th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Chang Hang-jun (Director) and Yoo Hae-jin (Actor) of “The King’s Warden”
South Korea’s connection with its own historical roots is deeply embedded in popular culture. Period movies and costume melodramas have always held their own space, even during the nation’s gloomy times. From The King and the Clown (2005) and Masquerade (2012) to The Night Owl (2022), and back to the numerous retellings of the popular…
28th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Do-young, director of “Once We Were Us”
After her film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (2019) sparked loud controversy in South Korea for its social and political criticism, the actress and director Kim Do-young has returned with her second feature, Once We Were Us, part of the competition at the 28th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. This emotional drama is a…
28th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Yoo Yeon-seok
Yoo Yeon-seok smiles often when he speaks, and sitting with him during the interview at the Far East Film Festival, there is so much calmness emanating from him. He made his acting debut in 2003 with a small role in Oldboy before returning to the screen in 2008 to fully resume his acting career. Since…
28th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation With Yoon Ga-eun (Director) and Jang Hye-jin (Actress) of “The World of Love”
From Guest (2011) and Sprout (2013) to The World of Us and The House of Us, Yoon Ga-eun’s films have consistently returned to childhood as a space of emotional intensity rather than innocence. With The World of Love, her third feature, she continues this exploration, but in a more unsettling form. Explaining the origins of…
28th Far East Film Festival: “My Name” Review
On April 3, 1948, Jeju Island became the site of a coordinated armed uprising as communist guerrillas launched pre-planned attacks on police stations, officials, and civilians. In the early hours, hundreds of insurgents struck multiple targets, killing officers, destroying homes, and using fear to deter participation in the May 10 elections that would lead to…
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