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3 Netflix Korean Drama Series That Made It To The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)

Thursday, September 23, 2021

6 K-Drama Cast with Best On & Off-Screen Chemistry

Friday, April 09, 2021

Good chemistry is like a breath of fresh air that elevates the viewing experience to a whole other level. There’s an extra burst of sweetness when we see friendships continue from filming into real life.

In the past year, we’ve had the privilege of watching several excellent K-dramas, thanks to the actors’ sizzling chemistry. Not only are they a joy to watch on-screen, they never fail to make viewers smile when the cameras are off too, such as the cast of the following shows.

Love Alarm S2

Love Alarm features a difficult love triangle between Kim Jojo (Kim So-hyun), Hwang Sun-oh (Song Kang), and Lee Hye-yeong (Jung Ga-ram). There’s a lot of heartfelt feelings on-screen and playful dynamics off-screen. You can notice the overall chemistry feeling more relaxed and comfortable in the second season. A second season does mean that the cast gets to spend more time with each other and this can help friendships grow stronger. You can see how friendly the main leads are as they joke around behind the scenes.

Witness more of their off-screen chemistry here:

Sisyphus

Sisyphus focuses on genius engineer Han Tae-sul (Cho Seung-woo) and a woman named Gang Seo-hae (Park Shin-hye) who comes from the future to save him. On-screen, the pair’s teamwork is a delight to watch with Tae-sul’s ingenuity and Seo-hae’s fearlessness perfectly complementing one another.

Off-screen, the actors are adorable as they joke around and strike funny poses. Both actors are known for maintaining friendships made on set and are very friendly with their co-stars. The duo’s partnership chemistry is one of the best facets of the series.

See more of their off-screen chemistry here:

Lovestruck in the City

Lovestruck in the City shows couple Park Jae-won (Ji Chang-wook) and Lee Eun-o (Kim Ji-won) fall in love on the beach and find their way back to each other after returning to the city. Their chemistry is sizzling and you can see the affection they have for one another as they gaze at each other. The actors’ amazing chemistry with previous co-stars is further testament to their acting skills. Although we know they’re acting, many fans can’t help but ship them.

View more of their off-screen chemistry here:

Space Sweepers

Sure, Space Sweepers is a film, but the cast members are so fun and natural together that we think they deserve an honourable mention!

The movie is about four misfits - played by Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Sun-kyu, and Yoo Hai-jin - who unearth explosive secrets while salvaging space debris in the year 2092. The found family squabble and have their differences while working and living together on a spaceship, but their family-like chemistry is entertaining to watch.

Off-screen, the actors freely tease each other and joke around, even when they’re trying to one-up another in a game of Jenga. Check out more of their off-screen chemistry here:

Crash Landing On You

Crash Landing on You tells the love story between North Korean soldier Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) and South Korean heiress Yun Se-ri (Son Ye-jin). From their bickering to their heartfelt love for one another, their chemistry is simply fire. Having worked together previously through the movie The Negotiation, the pair had the advantage of already having a friendly relationship. The co-stars are definitely one of the most loved reel-to-real couples in K-dramaland.

Enjoy more of their off-screen chemistry here:

Hospital Playlist

Hospital Playlist centres on five friends (Cho Jung-seok, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myeung, Jeon Mi-do) who are all doctors working at the same hospital. The close relationship between friends who have been there for each other through thick and thin is also apparent in the friendships amongst the actors. In addition to filming the first and second seasons, the group also regularly spent time with each other for band practice. They certainly make it believable that the group has been friends for over 20 years!

Watch more of their off-screen chemistry here:

Which cast do you think had the best on and off-screen chemistry? Watch them all on Netflix!

#ALIVE

8 Korean Movies With No Romance But So Much More To Love

Monday, February 15, 2021

Looking for an exciting movie to watch, but not big on romance? We’ve got you covered with these entertaining Korean movies that focus more on non-romantic stories. From space adventures to serial killers, there’s plenty of content to enjoy sans romance. Check out some thrilling options here.

Space Sweepers

If you’re seeking action and adventure, Space Sweepers is just right for you! Four misfits aboard a spaceship collect space debris to make ends meet in 2092. One day, they come across a highly dangerous and sought after humanoid. Eager to benefit monetarily, the space sweepers decide to make a trade. However, they unearth some massive secrets in the process.

Steel Rain

The division of the Korean Peninsula makes for unique storytelling opportunities and Steel Rain is no exception. North Korean agent Eom Chul-woo (Jung Woo-sung) escapes a coup taking the country’s injured leader to South Korea in an attempt to keep him alive. He ends up working with South Korean senior presidential secretary Kwak Chul-woo (Kwak Do-Won) as they try to prevent a Korean war. The action thriller provides an interesting look at the layered tensions between the two Koreas.

Time to Hunt

Time to Hunt tells the story of outlaw friends who plot a money heist in order to escape their miserable prospects in their dystopian world. Before they are able to flee to paradise, a vicious killer is hired to hunt them down. A gripping cat-and-mouse chase ensues as the cruel assassin instills terror in the robbers. It’s an engaging watch for lovers of crime and heist films.

Svaha: The Sixth Finger

Svaha: The Sixth Finger follows the story of pastor Park (Lee Jung-jae) who makes a profit off of investigating corruption by religious cults. He comes across a new group with mysterious origins. With help from his Buddhist monk friend and others, Park uncovers startling discoveries about the new religious group. Incorporating some thriller and horror elements, the film exposes how people manipulate religion. You’ll be left contemplating philosophical questions and surprised by unexpected twists.

Psychokinesis

Psychokinesis is unlike any superhero movie you have seen thus far. A father who walked out on his family several years ago suddenly gains telekinetic superpowers after drinking water tainted by a meteor. He later attempts to help out his estranged daughter who is involved in a real estate battle with a large construction company. While there is a tiny dash of romance, the heart of the movie lies within the father and daughter’s relationship.

#ALIVE

#ALIVE is a riveting and surprisingly relatable zombie flick. Oh Jun-u (Yoo Ah-in) is locked up inside his apartment as a mysterious zombie outbreak rampages the city. He encounters his neighbor Kim Yu-bin (Park Shin-hye) who lives in the building across from him and they help each other. Together they desperately seek a way out and try to stay alive.

The Host

The Host is a monster film featuring a mutant creature that is the product of illegal toxic chemical dumping. When the monster captures a girl, her family members race to save her. Her father, grandfather, aunt, and uncle face many obstacles but they don’t give up on trying to protect her from the dangerous creature. Blending action, adventure, and political commentary, The Host will get you emotionally invested in the story.

The Call

The Call starts out with Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) moving into an old family home and getting a call from Young-sook (Jun Jong-seo). The two are connected by phone in the same home but are living 20 years apart. The calls transform into an intense fight for survival as serial killer Young-sook tries to manipulate her own fate at Seo-yeon’s expense. A terrifying take on the time travel genre, The Call showcases suspenseful twists and turns. Which movies will you be hitting up next? Check out all of these movies, and more, on Netflix!

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Jin Sun-Kyu

Star-Studded Cast Song Joong Ki, Kim Tae-Ri, Jin Sun-Kyu & Yoo Hae Jin at 'Space Sweepers' Press Conference

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

Netflix upcoming blockbuster movie 'Space Sweepers' starring popular stars - Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Sun-kyu and Yoo Hae-Jin is set to premiere on 5 February. Set in the year of 2092, 'Space Sweepers' tells the story of the crew of a space junk collector ship called 'The Victory'. One day, they discover a humanoid robot named Dorothy, known to be a weapon of mass destruction. With the whole space on the frantic hunt for Dorothy, the Victory crew comes up with a dangerous plan to trade Dorothy for a large sum of money.

Today, the star-studded cast together with director Jo Sung-hee attended the press conference where they talked about their characters and some behind-the-scene stories about the film.

Q. What made you decide to join the cast of Space Sweepers?

Song Joong-Ki (SJK): When I first listened to the story of Space Sweepers, I instantly thought of this image in my head of a stunning spacecraft with the Korean flag and its name—Seung-ri-ho—written in Korean, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. After reading the script, I thought, “Wow, director Jo Sung-hee is going to create another amazing film. I have to do this. I can’t let anyone else play Tae-ho.”

Kim Tae-Ri (KTR): The biggest reason why I decided to join the cast was, of course, my character. Captain Jang is a simple person, but has a kind heart, which I was drawn to. It was also a special character that I hadn’t seen before. Secondly, I was excited about the film being the “first of its kind.” I wondered, “How would the first Korean space sci-fi turn out and how can I contribute to this project?”

Jin Sun-Kyu (JSK): The moment I learned that it was a sci-fi film, I was drawn to the project as I had been wanting to try a new genre for a while. The script was very fun, and it made me feel like I was working on a Hollywood film. Everything about the film was new and intriguing, so I let the production team know that I wanted to participate in this project as soon as I finished reading the script.

Q: What was it like on set while you were filming?

Yoo Hae-Jin (YHJ): I thought everyone in the cast, Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, and Jin Sun-kyu, was quite similar in personality. We had a fair share of laughs on set, but at the same time, I felt calm and focused working with the rest of the cast. I thought that the chemistry among the cast was great.

JSK: It was really great. I think everyone on this project—the director, filming crew, and cast—is quite similar in personality. Director Jo is both a great person and a talented director. Everyone would often mention how great the relationship among the cast and the overall filming crew was on set.

KTR: It was great. After all, the film is a story about the crew on board Victory who are much like a family under the leadership of Captain Jang. I got along with the rest of the cast from the very beginning. And I gradually became close to the filming crew as well, so I could get a lot of great energy from everyone on set

Q: Please tell us what Space Sweepers is about and how you came up with the story.

Director Jo Sung-Hee: The story for the film started around 2008 or 2009 from a conversation I had with a friend of mine, who told me about space junk. I learned that disposed industrial objects in space, or space debris, move extremely fast. I imagined that it would be very hazardous to collect and clean up the debris flying around faster than bullets. The story really began with two ideas: space debris and space workers who clean up the debris.

Q: SJK, how did you feel about working with director Jo Sung-hee again after A Werewolf Boy?

SJK: When I first listened to the plot of Space Sweepers while we were still filming for A Werewolf Boy, I thought it was exactly the kind of lovely and heart-warming film that director Jo Sung-hee would make. After receiving the script, I couldn’t keep myself from reading it through and the first thought that struck me was: “Director Jo never disappoints!” I genuinely have such great faith in director Jo. When he mentioned that he would pass the script to me, I already made up my mind to take on the project without even reading it yet. I was so happy to be able to work with him on our second project together where he brought another amazing idea onto the screen.

Q. Tell us about your character and what you focused on to bring the character to life.

KTR: Captain Jang is the commander of the debris-collecting spaceship Victory. She gets a lot of headache because of her troublemaking crew, but she is charismatic, smart, competent, and all in all, very cool. She is the leader among a group of people. As you follow the story of the film, I’m confident that you will clearly see how she leads her people in this spaceship and why she is considered the captain.

SJK: Tae-ho is the pilot of the spaceship Victory and has an unmatched ability as a pilot. He is also an opportunist and realist who values money more than anything in the world. As soon as I read the script, I first decided that I would not try to look cool in this film. Tae-ho seems like a cheerful guy, but he carries sadness in him underneath that facade, so I wanted to portray that duality of the character well.

JSK: Tiger Park is in charge of the engine room of Victory. He is physically strong and can sometimes be rough, but surprisingly, he is also the one who runs the household on the spaceship.

YJH: Bubs is a robot that throws a harpoon to collect space debris on board the debris collection spaceship Victory. He does much of the hard labor required, and therefore, complains a lot. I know I may be biased, but he is such an adorable character. But when he collects space debris or fights the enemy, he can be of great help because he has stronger power than humans.

Q. Please share a short message for the viewers.

KTR: We have created Korea’s first sci-fi film set in space after celebrating the 100th anniversary of Korean cinema recently. We worked very hard to create a family film that can be enjoyed by everyone, so I hope you are excited to watch it. On top of the visual spectacles created by VFX, the film is filled with heart-warming stories of individual characters, so I hope you enjoy it.

Mark you calendar and watch Space Sweepers on 5 February at your comfort home!

photo credit to Netflix