Korean Slate

@Koreatown on Twitter Expanding!

2010-11-06T23:56:00.000-07:00

Scoop! The folks managing the @Koreatown Twitter account are moving ahead with the Visit Koreatown organization!

Isn't it amazing? Well, after the media coverage they've been getting, they had to do something, right? Korea Daily even put Lee on the front page under the banner "Boom Up Koreatown" -- it was like, you're being given this huge amount of exposure, you better use the account for purposes just as grand.

Their plan is to more proactively use the Twitter and Facebook accounts in encouraging visitors to check out Koreatown and then use social media to service the visitors before their trip and during.

And we're not just talking about out-of-towners like tourists. There are quite a number of Los Angelenos on the fringes who haven't been to Koreatown and still have an outmoded perception of what our neighborhood is like.

So these twittering folks who've been volunteering their time and resources during the accounts' surge in popularity these past few months... they have to get formally organized.... find funding...

As it happens, they're social-media mavens but totally clueless when it comes to raising cash. Still... despite that, they managed to sign on last week such establishments as KONY Pizza, 37sixty, Kalbi Burger and Genwa Korean BBQ.

Remember the names -- they're like the providers of the seed money for what could possibly be the most phenomenal thing to happen to our neighborhood.

[Update: Lee clarifies that she didn't really pitch VisitKoreatown.org to the businesses. It was more like explaining to them the value of tweeting about their offerings to 3,000 locals. I think she called them sponsored tweets.]

Everyone's excited. I for one will start posting their feeds all over the place. Maybe I'll do an sm audit for them too. Although what they really need are fundraisers. If anyone's interested in helping out, their email is volunteer AT visitkoreatown.org

Earth Day 2009 - Koreatown, Los Angeles

2009-04-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

지구의날 행사

The KYCC (Koreatown Youth and Community Center) helped with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's “Million Trees Los Angeles” program on Earth Day 2009 by giving away 200 fruit trees.

Very popular with the Korean residents of the area... within 20 minutes of 11 AM, which was the official start of Wilshire Center's Earth Day event, the truck that brought in the trees was close to empty!

The lady was asking about an orange tree!

Pictures of Earth Day 2009 at Wilshire Center

California law on Korean Tteok

2009-04-20T18:55:00.000-07:00

Surprised to learn that there are provisions in California law governing Korean tteok (Korean traditional rice cakes).

Happy Birthday, Tim Kang!

2009-03-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

Korean-American actor Tim Kang was born on March 16, 1973. He plays Kimball Cho on the TV show The Mentalist.

Watch Michelle Madison interview Tim Kang for the TV Guide network!

Korean Movie No Regret on DVD

2009-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

No Regret (2006)

Starring: Kim Dong-Wook, Lee Young-Hoon

Director: Leesong Hee-il

DVD release date in the US: March 31, 2009.

VIEW TRAILER

Korean Horror Film

2007-01-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

Whispering Corridors (1998)

Director: Ki-hyeong Park

DVD release date in the US: February 2005

Movie length: 105 minutes

OldBoy

2006-12-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

Oldboy

NYT mention (scroll down)

South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook directed this violent and offbeat story of punishment and vengeance. Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is a husband and father whose reputation for womanizing is well known. One day, for reasons he doesn't understand, Oh Dae-su finds himself locked up in a prison cell, with no idea of what his crime was or whom his jailers may be.

Mr. Vengeance Chan-woo Park.

2006-04-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

long NYT magazine article on director Park Chanwook

another public enemy

2006-03-31T12:39:00.000-08:00

Another Public Enemy (2005)

Kyung-gu Sol as Chul-jung Kang
Shin-il Kang as Shin-il Kim
Jun-ho Jeong as Sang-woo Han

Director: Woo-Suk Kang

DVD release date in the US: March 28, 2006

Movie length: 143 minutes

the sequel to Public Enemy, one of the most successful Korean crime thrillers of all time

list of 2005 blockbusters here -- finally!

2006-02-27T22:35:00.000-08:00

1. King and the Clown
2. Welcome to Dongmakgol
3. Marrying the Mafia 2
4. Marathon
5. Typhoon
6. Another Public Enemy
7. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
8. Mapado
9. You Are My Sunshine
10. All For Love

but none available on dvd yet... at least not here in north america...

A Korean Tale of Two Sisters

2005-12-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

A Tale of Two Sisters

Actors: Kap-su Kim, Jung-ah Yum, Su-jeong Lim, Geun-yeong Mun, Seung-bi Lee

Director: Ji-woon Kim

DVD release date in the US: March 29, 2005

Movie length: 115 minutes

Two young sisters recovering from an unnamed trauma must face a mysterious past in this excellent South Korean shocker. A worldwide hit upon its release and based on an old Korean fairy tale; two sisters (wonderfully played by Su-jeong Lim and Geun-yeong Mun) come to live with their cold and distant father and turn-on-a-dime stepmother in a house where nothing is as it seems.

Revenge Was Never This Sweet

2005-12-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)

Starring:
Kang-ho Song as Park Dong-jin
Du-na Bae as Cha Yeong-mi
Bo-bae Han as Yu-sun
Dae-yeon Lee as Choe
Kan-hie Lee as Park Dong-jin's ex-wife
Ha-kyun Shin as Ryu
Ji-Eun Lim as Ryu's sister
Se-dong Kim as Chief of Staff
Jae-yeong Jeong as husband of Dong-jin's ex-wife's
Kwang-rok Oh as Anarchist

Director: Director: Chan-wook Park

DVD release date in the US: November 2005

Movie length: 129 minutes

story of the deaf Ryu and his sister who needs a kidney transplant

A Bizarre Love Triangle on DVD

2005-10-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

A Bizarre Love Triangle (2003)

Hyo-jin Kong as Keum-sook
Kwang-il Choi as Doo-Chan
Eun-ji Jo as Eun-Hee

Director: Mu-yeong Lee

DVD release date in the US: September 2005

Movie length: 90 minutes

film by Ki-duk Kim on DVD

2005-09-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

3-Iron (2004)

Director: Ki-duk Kim

DVD release date in the US: September 2005

Movie length: 88 minutes

central character does not utter a single word!

South Korean thriller based on a true story

2005-08-31T12:32:00.000-07:00

Memories of Murder (2003)

Cast:
Kang-ho Song as Detective Park Doo-Man
Roe-ha Kim as Detective Cho Yong-koo
Hie-bong Byeon as Sergeant Koo Hee-bong
No-shik Park as Baek, Kwang-ho
Jong-ryol Choi as Du-man's father
Mi-seon Jeon as Kwok Seol-yung
Sang-kyung Kim as Detective Seo Tae-Yoon
Jae-ho Song as Sergeant Shin Dong-chul
Seo-hie Ko as Officer Kwon Kwi-ok
Hae-il Park as Park Hyeon-gyu
In-seon Jeong

Director: Joon-ho Bong

DVD release date in the US: August 2005

Based on the 1986 true story of South Korea’s first serial killer.

Kim Ki-Duk's Bad Guy on DVD

2005-07-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

Bad Guy

Director: Kim Ki-duk

DVD release date in the US: June 2005

Movie length: 101 minutes

another Kim Ki-Duk film out on DVD

2005-05-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Samaritan Girl (2004)

Yeo-reum Han as Yeo-Jin
Eol Lee as Yeong-ki
Oh Young as Musician
Lee Jong-Gil as Happy Guy
Jung-gi Park as Murder Victim
Seung-won Seo as Man in his 30s
Jung In-Gi as Ki-Su
Yook Sae-Jin as Policeman #2
Seo Min-Jung as Jae-yeong
Kwon Hyun-Min as Salesman
Im Gyun-Ho as Tidily Guy
Shin Taek-Ki as Suicide
Gul-seon Kim as Second Salesman
Yoo Jae-Ik as Pedestrian
Jin-bae Jeon as Policeman #1

Director: Ki-duk Kim

DVD release date in the US: May 2005

Movie length: 97 minutes

Slate article on Oldboy

2005-03-25T11:08:00.000-08:00

Article in Slate about Park Chan-Wook's Oldboy, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and features Choi Min-Sik as the lead. David Edelstein says he's found his "great vengeance director."

Lee Eun-ju commits suicide

2005-02-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

Has anyone else heard? Lee Eun-ju, who starred in Taegukgi, hanged herself! Used a necktie and did it at home. So young -- only 24, 25.... She had been upset since doing nude scenes in The Scarlet Letter.

Tae Guk Gi now on DVD

2005-02-24T17:26:00.000-08:00

Tae Guk Gi - The Brotherhood of War (2004)

about two brothers during the Korean War (think Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers in Korean)

smashed box-office records when it played in South Korea in 2004

Rated R - not for sale to persons under age 18

Director: Je-gyu Kang

U.S. DVD release date: February 2005

Run time: two and a half hours

set consists of two DVDs

a film by Chul-Soo Park

2005-01-31T12:44:00.000-08:00

301/302 (1996)

Starring: Sin-Hye Hwang, Eun-jin Bang

Director: Cheol-su Park

DVD release date in the US: January 2005

Movie length: 98 minutes

Official Selection:
Sundance Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival

the title refers to the apartment numbers of the main characters

List of 2004 Korean Blockbusters

2005-01-27T18:24:00.000-08:00

Here it is finally. Last year's most popular movies at the Korean box office. Taegukgi is going to be released in the United States in February. Amazon is now taking preorders.

1. Taegukgi

2. My Little Bride

3. Once Upon a Time in High School

4. Ghost House

5. A Moment to Remember

6. My Brother

7. Fighter in the Wind

8. Windstruck

9. Romance of Their Own

10. The Big Swindle

director Si-myung Lee's 2009 on DVD

2004-12-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

2009: Lost Memories

rated R (not for sale to persons under age 18)

one of South Korea's highest-grossing movies in 2002

the DVD was released in the US market in November 2004

action-packed and provides insight into the Japanese-Korean relationship

imagine if:
- Tokyo had sided with Washington in the second world war
- Berlin had been nuked instead of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Korea had remained a Japanese colony

ooooh....

Korean New Wave's Oasis

2004-12-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

Oasis (2004)

love story of an ex-convict and a woman with cerebral palsy

the dvd was released in the United States in November 2004

runs for 132 minutes

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring

2004-10-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring

this film is highly praised for its cinematography; no surprise since it's directed by Kim Ki-duk (The Isle)

U.S. release date: September 2004

Korean Ring Virus on DVD

2004-09-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Ring Virus

Korean adaptation of the Japanese Ringu; some consider it better than the original

release date in the US: August 2004

runs for 95 minutes

New DVDs of this film are always back-ordered on Amazon, but look under "More Buying Choices" on the right of the product page and you can usually find brand-new ones being sold for less than ten bucks.

Conduct Zero the hilarious Korean comedy

2004-09-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

Conduct Zero (2002)

live-action comedy that was Korea's 10th highest blockbuster in 2002

director: Geun-shik Jo

DVD release date in U.S.: August 2004

run time: 100 minutes

Take Care of My Cat on DVD

2004-08-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Take Care of My Cat (2002)

Doo-na Bae, Yo-won Lee, Ji-young Ok, Eun-shil Lee and Eun-joo Lee play five girlfriends from Incheon who are coming to terms with adulthood

directed by Jae-eun Jeong

DVD release date in US: July 2004

run time: 112 minutes

watch the movie trailer at the film's official site!

korean pro wrestling

2004-06-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Foul King (2000)

Banchig'wahng -- hilarious comedy about a salaryman who's decided to become a pro wrestler

Actors: Kang-ho Song, Sang-Myeon Park

Director: Ji Woon Kim

DVD release date in the US: May 2004

Movie length: 112 minutes

Im Kwon-taek's Painted Fire

2004-03-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

Chihwaseon (2002)

translated into English as "Painted Fire"

the story of the great 19th-century Korean painter Jang Seung-up

director: Im Kwon-taek

release date of the DVD in the US: February 2004

run time: 116 minutes

the film has a cool official site...

I want to change.
I really want to chage!
My heart burns to change.

yet another jopok movie - yay!

2004-02-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

Hi Dharma! (2001)

Actors: Park Shin-yang, Jung Jin-young, Kim In-moon, Park Sang-myun, Lee Won-jong, Kim Soo-ro, Kang Sung-jin, Lee Moon-shik, Hong Kyung-il, Ryu Seung-soo, Im Hyun-kyung, Kwon Oh-min, Kim Young-joon, Lee Dae-yeon, Lee Moo-hyun, Jung Kyu-han, Park Yong-bum, Choi Yoo-jin, Kim Young-heon, Im Chul-min & Lee Sung-geun

jopok (gangster) comedy bringing together all those associated with the genre

Director: Kwan Park Chul

DVD release date in the US: January 2003

Movie length: 97 minutes

the best Korean movie of 2002

2004-01-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

The Way Home (2002)

Korean title is Jibeuro

the best Korean film of 2002

stars Eul-boon Kim and Seung-ho Yu

directed by Jeong-hyang Lee

DVD release date in the U.S.: December 2003

run time: 88 minutes

korean historical epic

2003-12-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

Musa (2001)

historical action epic about diplomats from Koryo exiled to the Gobi desert by the Chinese

stars Woo-sung Jung, Ziyi Zhang, Sung-kee Ahn and Jin-mo Ju

directed by Sung-su Kim

the dvd was release in the U.S. in November 2003

runs a bit over two hours

Kim Ki-duk's The Isle on DVD

2003-06-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

The Isle (2000)

highly praised for its cinematography

Director: Kim Ki-Duk

stars Jae Hyun Cho, Hang-Seon Jang & Suh Jung

the second most walked-out-of Korean film on the art-house circuit

DVD release date in U.S.: May 20, 2003

Run Time: 89 minutes

My Sassy Girl soundtrack on CD

2003-02-21T17:06:00.000-08:00

My Sassy Girl

U.S. release date: January 2003

Track Listings
1. Intro
2. I Believe
3. Love & Longing
4. Episode 1
5. If You Return To Me
6. Episode 2
7. Ready For Goodbye
8. Big Money
9. Solitary Wonder (Of The Winter)
10. Episode 3
11. Lullaby
12. Feeling In Love
13. Episode 4
14. Lost Memory
15. I Believe (with Piano)
16. I Believe (Japanese Version)

south korean submarine movie

2003-02-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

Phantom the Submarine (1999)

fictional account of a secret nuclear submarine of the South Korean navy

stars Jung Woo-Sung, Choi Min-Soo, Chung Woo-Seong and Yoon Ju-Sang

directed by Byung-chun Min

DVD release date in the US: January 2003

Movie length: two hours flat

Korean Guns... on DVD

2002-12-24T16:36:00.000-08:00

Guns & Talks (2001)

a quartet of killers for hire in Seoul

stars Hyeon-jun Shin, Bin Won (Won Bin), Jae-yeong Jeong & Ha-kyun Shin

directed by Jin Jang

DVD release date in the US: November 2002

movie length: 123 minutes

korean romantic fantasy

2002-10-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ditto / Donggam (2000)

romantic fantasy of a love occurring in the same space but twenty years apart

stars Yoo Ji-tae, Kim Ha-Neul, Park Young-Wu, Ha Ji-Won & Kim Min-Ju

directed by Jeong-kwon Kim

DVD release date in the US: September 2002

Movie length: close to two hours

The Quite Family running the inn

2002-08-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

The Quiet Family (1998)

stars Choi Min-Shik, Song Kang-ho, Lee Yeon-sung, Na Mun-hee and Park In-hwan

directed by Kim Ji-woon

DVD released in the United States in July 2002

run time: 105 minutes

black comedy about a family running an inn whose guests die one after another

Korean Joint Security Area (JSA)

2002-08-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Joint Security Area / JSA (2000)

Actors: Lee Byeong-Heon, Song Kang-Ho, Lee Young-Ae, Kim Tae-Woo, Sin Ha-Gyun, Choi Sang-Woo, Kim Myeong-Su & Herbert Ulrich

Director: Chan-wook Park

action-suspense movie about relations with North Korean soldiers across the DMZ; eclipsed Shiri as King of Korean Blockbusters

DVD release date in the US: July 2002

Movie length: 2 hours

Friend from Korea

2002-07-08T16:26:00.000-07:00

Friend (2001)

also Chingu, Chingoo, Chin Gu, or Chin Goo

gangster drama-comedy about friendship in seventies Pusan

#1 movie in Korea in 2001

stars Yoo Oh-Sung & Chang Dong-Gun (Jang Dong-Kun)

directed by Kwak Kyung-Taek

DVD released in the US in June 2002

runs for 113 minutes

korea's best comedy in 1999

2002-07-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

Attack the Gas Station

Chuyuso Subgyuk Sageon -- quirky comedy that was second only to Shiri in being the most popular film in Korea in 1999

Actors: Lee Sung-Jae, Yoo Oh-Sung, Kang Sung-Jin and Yu Gee-Tae.

Director: Kim Sang-Jin

DVD release date in the US: June 2002

Movie length: runs for close to two hours

korean suspense thriller now on dvd

2002-06-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Tell Me Something (2000)

suspense thriller starring Han Seok-gyu, Shim Eun-ha & Jang Hang-seon

directed by Chang Yoon-hyun

DVD release date in the US: May 2002

Movie length: runs close to two hours

Shiri (Swiri) on DVD

2002-05-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

Shiri (1999)

spy thriller involving North Korean agents

overtook Titanic as the #1 movie at the South Korean box office

directed by Je-gyu Kang

stars Suk-kyu Han and Min-sik Choi

DVD release date in US: April 2002

another choi min shik movie out on dvd

2002-05-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

Happy End (2001)

infidelity focusing on a career woman, her unemployed husband and a former college sweetheart

stars Choi Min-shik, Chun Do-yeon and Ju Jin-mo

directed and written by Jung Ji-woo

dvd released in the US: April 2002

movie runs for 100 minutes

award-winning Korean Zen movie

2002-03-15T20:07:00.000-08:00

Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? (1989)

the title is a Zen koan: Dharmaga Dongjoguro Gan GGadalgun?

the movie revolves around the relationship of a dying Zen master, an orphan and a monk

awarded the Golden Leopard at the 1990 Locarno Film Festival

the first Korean film to ever receive a theatrical release in the United States

director: Yong-Kyun Bae

DVD release date in U.S.: February 2002

run time: 137 minutes

Lies (Gojitmal) on DVD

2002-02-23T13:43:00.000-08:00

Lies (1999)

Actors: Sang Hyun Lee and Tae Yeon Kim

Director: Sun-Woo Jang

based on Jang Jung-il's novel, Lie to Me (aka Tell Me a Lie), which was banned in South Korea; the author was jailed on obscenity charges

the sex acts in this movie can be hard to stomach for some; dubbed the most walked-out-of-movie on the art-house circuit

the story revolves around the sadomasochistic relationship of a married sculptor and an 18-year-old schoolgirl

filming locations: South Korea and France

theatrical release: November 2000.

DVD release date in U.S.: January 15, 2002

run time: 115 minutes

korean dvds

2002-01-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

@ koreanslate

director Im Kwon-taek's Chunhyang

2001-12-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Chunhyang (2000)

the first Korean film to compete in the Cannes Film Festival

actors & actresses: Lee Hyo-jeong, Cho Seung-woo, Lee Jung-hun

director: Im Kwon-taek

DVD released in the United States in October 2001

rated R (not for sale to persons under age 18)

korean dance with sword

2001-09-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

Bichunmoo / Dance with Sword (2000)

based on a comic book popular in the eighties

fantasy romance with swordplay in the style of Hong Kong's
historical martial arts genre

stars Shin Hyeon-jun and Kim Heui-seon

directed by Kim Young-Jun

DVD release date in the US: August 2001

Movie length: runs for about two hours