kdrama and kpop

By Gary C.W. Chun


Korean actor Jung Woo-sung is hoping to become more than "just" the megastar that he is in Asian cinema.

Looking much younger than his 35 years, the affable and handsome Jung knows he'll have to work hard to make his face known on a larger world stage, but he's willing to take on the challenge -- much as he did to prepare for his co-starring role in the Korean box-office hit "The Good The Bad The Weird."

He plays a stoic bounty hunter in the action movie that reportedly has reached an audience of close to 7 million in South Korea, and has already received international exposure through screenings at the Cannes, Telluride and Toronto film festivals. "The Good The Bad The Weird" has been picked up for U.S. distribution by the independent IFC Films.

The film was also the closing-night feature at the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival. Jung and director Kim Jee-woon took part in a press conference Saturday at the Halekulani Resort, just before a sold-out screening that night at the Dole Cannery multiplex.

Jung, speaking through an interpreter, said that after he first read the script, "I was already getting mentally prepared in how I was going to portray (bounty hunter Park Do-wu), how he would talk this way and help visualize his look."

Getting into character, Jung put on a couple of pounds, grew a mustache and learned to ride a horse. He would later learn some of the required stuntwork, like twirling a rifle after each gunshot -- while riding.

He laughed when he described his Western-styled outfit as unimaginably uncomfortable, but enjoyed the location work in Manchuria, where he's become such a presence in Chinese films that the inside joke on set was that Jung was really a professional Chinese actor.

While Saturday's press conference was not a public event, a handful of Jung's female fans still got wind of it, and were waiting patiently in the lobby to get their up-close moments with the star.

Local resident Hiromi Shimada came ready for autographs, her bag filled with movie posters and photos taken the previous morning at Jung's airport arrival.

The star-struck Shimada took a shine to Jung not only because he's "nice-looking," but because "his characters are nice and warm-hearted," referring in particular to previous roles in movies that also played at the festival, "Sad Movie" and "A Moment to Remember."

Because he's serious about his acting, Jung is very particular about the roles he chooses to play. After leaving the islands, he takes on the lead in a Korean-Japanese co-production of the popular manga title "City Hunter." He said he hopes that role will help him overcome any English-language barrier so that he can make a go of it in Hollywood or Europe.

"It all depends on the script and the actor I want to be," he said. "I want to keep my integrity as an Asian actor. It has to be the right role, because, to be blunt, a place like Hollywood is ultimately a business market."

Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin

http://www.starbulletin.com/features/20081020_hiff_pt1.html

By Jeff Chung

Korean film megastar Jung Woo Sung will attend The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival in October for the closing-night film, "The Good, The Bad and The Weird," a Korean western that has been a blockbuster hit for 2008.

Jung will be at HIFF to screen his film and also to receive the Achievement in Acting award for his accomplishment in cinema.

Jung Woo Sung had his debut in 1994, in the film "The Fox with Nine Tails." He was born on March 20, 1973, in South Korea. Although he has not done TV dramas, he has several movie hits that have been successful in other Asian countries.

He starred with Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi in the 2001 movie "Musa," and with Son Ye Jin ("Summer Scent," "April Snow" and "The Art of Seduction") in 2004's "A Moment to Remember," which was successfully released in Japan in 2005. Jung became a big hit in Japan, making it into the top 10 list for Korean actors in that country.

Jung starred in "Sad Movie" in 2005 and was invited to HIFF for the opening night film, but he had a prior commitment in Japan for the release of "A Moment to Remember."

In 2006, Jung appeared in "Daisy" with Jun Ji Hyun ("My Sassy Girl"), notable because it was directed by Hong Kong director Andrew Lau, and filmed in the Netherlands. Also in 2006, Jung was in the film "The Restless" with actress Kim Tae Hee. There was a huge party celebrating the release of "The Restless" at the Pusan International Film Festival. Side note: Mayor Mufi Hannemann was invited to the CJ Entertainment party launching the film "The Restless" and took pictures with stars Jung and Kim at Pusan.


Coming to town: Korean megastar Jung Woo Sung
will attend HIFF next month

"The Good, The Bad and The Weird" premiered at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. It is one of the most successful films this year in the domestic Korean market. It has already taken in more than $7 million 7 million admission at the Korean box office.

Megastar Lee Byung Hun ("All In," "Bittersweet Life") and Song Kang Ho ("Memories of Murder," "JSA," "The Host" and "YMCA Baseball Team") are co-stars.

The Weird is played by Song, who steals a treasure map from the Japanese. The Bad is played by Lee, who is paid to get the map back. The Good is played by Jung, who is a bounty hunter who tracks down the other two. The setting is in Manchuria in the 1930s.

Director Kim Ji-woon's films "Bittersweet Life" and "Tale of Two Sisters" have been showcased at HIFF in previous years. Kim was in Hawai'i three years ago with Lee Byung Hun for the screening of "Bittersweet Life." The director is also invited to this year's screening of "The Good, The Bad and The Weird," Oct. 1 at Dole Cannery. The director and Jung are expected to make an appearance at the screening.

Jung has expressed that he is honored to accept the Achievement in Acting Award from HIFF and looks forward to attending this year. Past recipients of the award include Samuel Jackson, Maggie Cheung and Ken Watanabe. This will be Jung's first award outside of Korea.

You can watch Jung's previous movies on KLIFE, channel 81, Oceanic Cable digital video on demand channel. "Sad Movie" and "Daisy" will be available in October.

For more information on HIFF, go to www.hiff.org. For more on Jung, visit www.sidushq.com/star/jwsung.

Source: The Honolulu Advertiser, thanks to the highlight by Kuri-LBH.SG

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbc...ENT16/809210328