Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta,” a mother-and-son drama with a violent streak, won the Golden Lion award for best film at the 69th Venice Film Festival Saturday, the first time a Korean director has claimed the top prize at a major film festival.
The director also is the first Korean to win prizes at the Venice, Cannes and Berlin international film festivals.
Kim’s bleak tale received a rare standing ovation after its screening and was chosen by judges over the 17 other films shown in Venice.
Instead of an acceptance speech, the 51-year-old director sang “Arirang,” a traditional Korean song and the title of a cinematic self-portrait that recounts Kim’s struggles as a director and sometimes troubled relationships with colleagues. He described “Arirang” Saturday as “the answer to my questions throughout life.”
“I express my endless thanks to all actors, actresses and staff who took part in this movie,” Kim was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency. “I also would like to honor all of you who chose ‘Pieta.’ ”
When asked how he felt about receiving the award, he picked up the Golden Lion and kissed it.
Tears rolled down the cheek of an emotional Jo Min-su, the lead actress in “Pieta,” as she expressed how happy and proud she was that a Korean film received the top prize for the first time.
During the festival’s closing ceremony, lead jurist Michael Mann said the Korean movie stood out because it “seduced you viscerally.”
Kim’s 18th film, “Pieta,” tells the story of a ruthless debt collector (played by Lee Jung-jin) who cripples debtors who fail to pay up by injuring them for the insurance money.
The brutality of his day-to-day life is interrupted by the appearance of a woman (Jo Min-su) who claims to be his mother. He struggles for redemption as an enormous secret between the two unravels.
Taking its name from Michelangelo’s famous statue of Mary cradling the body of Christ, the prolific director said the movie is intended to be a condemnation of “extreme capitalism,” describing money as the film’s “third protagonist.”
He also injected aspects of religion into the movie. “Religion is so closely connected to humans and I think if anything, this element of existence should be expressed through love,” he said at a July press conference at Seoul Anglican Cathedral. “I think sex, in a way, is a prayer of sorts, so instead of dichotomizing the two [sexuality and religion] I think of the elements more as a singular chunk of our lives.”
Although his films have not been commercial successes in Korea, they have been well received by critics abroad. “My works are introduced as commercial movies, not art, outside Korea,” Kim said in July. “I don’t know why Koreans seem to have trouble understanding my films.”
Kim’s previous drama “3-Iron” (“Bin-jip” meaning the empty house) won the best director award at the 2004 Venice film fest, while “Samaritan Girl” received the second-place Silver Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival the same year. ” Last year, the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes went to “Arirang.”
“Pieta” hit theaters Thursday in Korea and is expected to get a boost after taking the top nod in Venice. According to the Korea Film Council, it had 8,673 views at the box office for its first day, compared to total ticket sales of 12,293 for “Breath” (2007) and 28,412 for “Time”
According to a survey undertaken by travel specialist Cosmojin Tour, singer Psy is the Korean that foreigners would most like to meet.
The travel agency announced the results Aug. 30, taken from a survey that ran between Aug. 23 and 24; more than 150 individuals had taken part in the online questionnaire.
“Psy received 56 percent of the votes,” said a spokesperson from Cosmojin. Trailing behind the “Gangnam Style” singer was soccer player Park Ji-sung (17%), President Lee Myung-bak (12%) and figure skate Kim Yu-na (9%).
When questions when further by asking respondents why they wanted to meet those people, the answers were not all that surprising.
Seventy-two percent said “because they are famous,” while 19 percent and 7 percent said “out of curiosity” and “to make them my role model.”
Psy’s fame knows no bounds. Just days ago Britney Spears mentioned the K-pop singer’s video on Twitter and asked, “Anybody wanna teach me?”
Britney Spears has jumped on the “Gangnam Style” bandwagon after encountering the video for the first time.
On Aug. 29, the U.S. pop star tweeted, “I am LOVING this video - so fun! Thinking that I should possibly learn the choreography. Anybody wanna teach me? haha.”
Spears also included a link to the video, again putting Psy’s hit in the spotlight.
Since being released on July 15, the video has gone viral worldwide and pop music stars including Katy Perry, T-Pain and Nelly Furtado have raved about the clip.
It has also been covered by global media outlets from CNN to the New York Times.
Figure skating star Kim Yu-na performs during a gala ice show at a rink inside the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in southeastern Seoul yesterday. During the three-day show, held under the theme of “To the Ice World,” Kim danced to “El Tango de Roxanne” as well as Michael Buble’s “All of Me.”
Korean music group Wonder Girls will start its Asian tour in Singapore next month, the event's organizer said Thursday.
The group has so far visited the United States and Asian countries many times for joint performances with other K-pop singers. It, however, would be the first time that the group has toured around Asian nations for solo performances.
According to CJ E&M, the "Wonder World Tour 2012" will begin in Singapore on Sept. 8 and will continue in four other Asian nations till November. The four are Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Vietnam.
The company said the Vietnam performance scheduled for late November, in particular, was hailed by the group's fans there because they rarely have a chance to see K-pop singers live.
"We organized the concert in part to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Vietnam. We hope the concert will help further spread the boom of K-pop in Vietnam and boost exchanges between the two nations," an official with the entertainment company said.
Meanwhile, the girl group will visit the New York-based radio station Z100 on Sept. 5 for a live video chat with its fans around the world, according to the group's management agency.
The video chat will last for about one hour from 2 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Standard Time), the agency said.
On the same day, the girls will also present a solo live show on America's largest online radio platform called "iHeartRadio."
The one-hour live show will be aired on the Web sites of some 70 radio stations across the U.S. affiliated with iHeartRadio.
Singer Psy entertained over 30,000 audience members at his solo concert at the Jamsil Sports Complex Stadium in Seoul on Saturday.
The show was Psy’s first concert following the release of his latest album, titled “Gangnam Style,” last month.
The album’s title track, as well as its unique “horse riding” dance, has been receiving sensational reviews worldwide. The music video of the song, which has received more than 24 million views on YouTube, was featured on CNN, in the Los Angeles Times, and on France’s M6 TV, prior to his Saturday performance.
Psy performed most of his hits, including “Champion,” “The Paradise,” “Right Now” and “Gangnam Style,” during the show which went on for more than three hours.
The concert, titled “Psy’s Summer Stand: The Drenched Show,” made sure the audience was “drenched,” with water constantly spewing out from the stage during the performance. The 30,000-strong crowd, uniformly dressed in blue-colored raincoats provided by the concert producer, waved glow sticks in excitement.
Reporters from foreign media outlets, including CNN, ABC, Wall Street Journal and Reuters were present to cover the concert.
K-pop girl group 2NE1, singer Sung Si-kyung, and comedian Noh Hong-cheol appeared as guest artists.
The show was temporarily suspended after a stage curtain caught fire during the fireworks that accompanied the performance of Psy’s 2000 song “The End.” The concert resumed after the fire was put out. No one was hurt.
After Psy went off the stage upon the finale, “Gangnam Style” played through the speakers and the audience danced the famous “horse riding” dance to the music as a group. Seemingly touched, Psy returned to the stage and downed a bottle of soju on the spot to show his appreciation for his fans.
Pop star Nelly Furtado took some time to rave about K-pop and Psy’s “Gangnam Style” at a press conference for her new album in Singapore.
While promoting “The Spirit Indestructible” on Friday, Furtado said that just days ago she enjoyed watching “this amazing K-pop video.”
The 33-year-old Canadian singer laughed as she talked about “the guy doing the horse moves.” Although she couldn’t recall the name of the video straightaway, the press caught on and helped her out by yelling “Gangnam Style!”
Furtado went on to say that she’s enjoyed K-pop “over the years” and that she ran into the music frequently through her local Korean restaurant.
Furtado revealed that she actually wanted Big Bang’s T.O.P to feature in her single “Big Hoops,” which was released in April. She added that due to being “so far away in Canada,” working with K-pop stars has been nearly impossible.
Meanwhile, Psy was mentioned on page 1 of Time magazine’s World Briefing section.
Did you ever listen to Psy's "Gangnam Style"?
Psy's song is responsible for an internationally viral sensation that's got millions around the globe viewing the music video through Youtube.
On Youtube, Gangnam Style now surpassed 30 million views, and it was featured on the Times magazine. Moreover, fans upload parody videos on Youtube, which is proof that the song's choreography, and the repeated lyrics is addictive.
If you haven't listened to the song, don't fret and give it a try!
PS. It is very addictive LOL
Lee Hyori’s boyfriend Lee Sang-soon may be forgiven if he feels a tad
uncomfortable looking at Lee Hyori’s latest pictorial for the July edition of
men’s magazine L’Officiel Hommes.
In pictures released on June 19, Lee
can be seen in various, seductive “artistic” poses with top male model Matthew
Terry. The two collaborated to promote Calvin Klein jeans and underwear and
some of the shots are being declared by netizens as “too hot for those under
19.”
According to a representative from the magazine, the set was a very
awkward one indeed as the two celebrities had to dive straight into sexual
poses. “Lee Hyori was the more initiative one, jumping right into it and
breaking the ice,” said the representative, who also said in the end it was a
great shoot, due to Lee’s efforts.
Lee is one of the nation’s top
entertainers and is as comfortable singing on-stage as she is making the public
laugh with her witty comments on variety shows. Meanwhile, Terry is a
relatively new face, but nevertheless a rising star, having made his debut
earlier this year for Calvin Klein.
Most of the judges in audition programs stare at the stage but the judges in Voice Korea turn their back on the stage. M.net's Voice Korea is one of the audition program to determine successful applicants by their voice only. How can they find good applicants who have exceptional ability and possibility as a singer by their voice? In Voice Korea, There are several famous Korean singers(They are mentors) to choose the mentees limited in number. The judges can't turn their chair to see an applicants hastily and they can't just wait for a talented applicant. How did they pick up a good voice?
Voice Korea is a tournament and applicants compete with each other.
This song is the fastest in their new album(2012) and much loved by many fans in their last world tour. This song is totally different to any other song in the album. Whenever i listen to this, i feel i become a bad boy and like to screw up something. lol
Let's get together! We Gon' Party Like lilililalala
Open your mind and Get your head empty! Light the fire! lilililalala
Don't ask me the answer but take it and go ahead as you feel. ALRIGHT
Face to the sky, Raise up your hands! I'd like to jump up. OH
NANANANANA NANANANANA "WOW FANTASTIC BABY"
DANCE I WANNA DAN DAN DAN DAN DANCE FANTASTIC BABY
DANCE I WANNA DAN DAN DAN DAN DANCE WOW FANTASTIC BABY
What a mess! HEY it's my turn! HEY
Shake the ground! 3 minutes aren't enough RACE WAIT
Heated mood! HUH CATCH ME ON FIRE HUH
Here I come up! NANANANA
I'm superior in everything to the others.
Let's run on the filed. It's so easy for us.
The sky is thoroughly blue.
Don't question anything, just feel who you are.
Let's jump with your heart beatings until the curtains falls. YE
I CAN'T BABY DON'T STOP THIS. Today i get degenerated.
WOW FANTASTIC BABY
DANCE I WANNA DAN DAN DAN DAN DANCE FANTASTIC BABY
DANCE I WANNA DAN DAN DAN DAN DANCE WOW FANTASTIC BABY
BOOMSHKALAKA X 3 DAN DAN DAN DAN DANCE**
Catch me if you can, I'm a player forever.
Tonight there is no taboo for me. mama just let me be your lover
Cross over this chaos. NANANANANA
My whole style is shocking and My sense is exceptional.
My pace is so fast and My youth is entirely different with others. HOLD UP NANANANANA
Let's jump with your heart beatings until the curtains falls. YE
I CAN'T BABY DON'T STOP THIS. Today I'm degenerated. YE
WOW FANTASTIC BABY
DANCE I WANNA DAN DAN DAN DAN DANCE FANTASTIC BABY
DANCE I WANNA DAN DAN DAN DAN DANCE WOW FANTASTIC BABY
I don't like horror movies or thriller movies a lot. I thought "Why do i have to be shuddered with dread as i pay money?" But this movie totally changed my mind.
This two people are main characters. The left woman(her name is Sua) is a blind person and the right boy(Gi sub) is a young troublemaker. Two people pursue a murder suspect.
Sua and her guide dog(her name is Dal-e) are waiting to cross the street at crosswalk.
Crossing the road is no problem for common people but it is very hard thing for her. Watching this scene, I felt " i became a blind "
In the movie, she had been in a police academy before she lost her sight in the accident.
This scene is that she witness a accident. She use every her sense and what she learned in the academy. It is very helpful to the criminal investigation.
Gi sub is the other witness. he appear a young rebel but his memory and sight are a great help to trace the suspect.
They say what they saw in the accident and their testimonies are quite different. But they finally settle their disagreement cooperate with each other.
This scene was very thrilling. The person who is standing behind sua is the murder.
She falls on the platform.
he calls her secretly and let her know where the murder is now.
Police men. He isn't the murder. lol
She sacrifices herself for sua. I was so sad.
This dog is quite famous in Korea and she appears in many Korean movies.
She starred as the main character in "마음이(Ma em e)"
Han Hee-jun has become the first Korean to appear in the final of "American
Idol." He made it into the Top 13 of the hit Fox TV audition program last
Thursday and will compete against the other finalists on Wednesday. The show is
now in its 11th season.
"American Idol" is hugely popular in the States,
where it regularly attracts viewer ratings of up to 30 percent, and has inspired
copycat shows around the world, including Korea's own "Superstar K." Some of the
program's season winners have gone on to enjoy huge success, notably Season 1
winner Kelly Clarkson.
While some young hopefuls of Korean descent have
progressed through the rounds, however, none have yet made the final.
Korean-Americans John Park, runner-up of "Superstar K2," and Paul Kim, who
appeared in MBC's "Star Audition," made it to the Top 24 in Season 9 and Season
6 of American Idol, respectively.
Among the Top 13, 10 are selected
based on viewers' votes and the remaining three are chosen by the show's three
judges. Han advanced by popular demand from fans.
Han moved to the U.S.
when he was 12 and currently lives in Flushing, New York, which has a large
Korean community. Although he is an American citizen, he still holds Korean
citizenship.
The 22-year-old, who works with missionaries at a charity
that helps people with disabilities, said he decided to take part in "American
Idol" to help the charity with its fundraising efforts. Han said volunteering
helped him overcome some of the challenges he faced when he was struggling to
adapt to his new life in the U.S.
I'd like to go on a trip and take a walk along with this beautiful road. This road is called "Bau" It is located near Dae kwan ryeong in Kang won do Korea. Dae kwan ryeong is one of the famous travel sites in Korea and a lot of people visit to enjoy their vacations especially during the summer season.
The calm trail to sun ja ryeong(ryeong means "the hill"). It seems to have rained.
I think this view makes people refreshed and comfortable. So nice!~
This plant is "symplocarpus nipponicus makino"
What a long name is...It looks like a chestnuts' peel.
I love this kind of path through a forest.
Cross a stream on Stepping-stone
This place is Dae kwan ryeong's ranch. We need to pay a fee to enter this ranch but i think we come to buy this beautiful view at a very cheap price.
We can see a flock of sheep. Sometimes i hope that i lived in a suburb like this place.
Alphensia Resort to held Peyongchang winter olympic 2018
This is the top place of this ranch. This place is quite famous place to be a cover of many books in Korea. Seeing this place, I feel like praying for my family.
If i were the only resident who lives in above small hut, Could i survive from the bad weather such as typhoon or heavy snow & rain?
A grove of pines. Can you feel this fresh air from this picture?
Last week, more than ten thousand Korean Wave fans have gathered in Paris to participate in KBS Music Bank Pop Festival.
Although it was the first time KBS Music Bank performed in Europe, Korean Wave fans came not only from France, but came from all over Europe, including Italy, and Spain. Blond French youths cheered for K-Pop artists, Girl's Generation, Shinee, 2PM, and fanatically followed their songs and dance moves. Some burst into tears of joy, and a few audiences became too absorbed that they fainted.
The popularity of K-Pop seems to be elevated, and the status of South Korea's idol groups, influence of K-Pop have expanded to an unprecedented level. Now it is not an exaggeration to say that K-Pop artists representing Korea are in a way the 'national icon.'
