Since 2017, KOREA BRAND EXPO has been hosting events that introduce finest products and services from Korea’s prominent SMEs. This year, they are hosting an online event to show extensive lists of Korean products. Celebrities such as Girl's Generation Yuri, famous makeup artist PONY and youtuber Sunnydahye however are joining for the Hallyu contents which runs until 5 February.

[B2C] Hallyu Contents 25 Jan ~ 5 Feb 2021

Asides, you can share the event to your social media and stand a chance to win Samsung Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition, Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and Galaxy Buds Live. 

How to Join?

More than 50 Korean companies will be joining, so be sure to check out the event to know more about the Korean products! 

Greetings from Yuri:

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):

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

1) Sisyphus: The Myth

2) Vincenzo

3) Hello, Me!

Get ready for Netflix’s upcoming outer space sci-fi blockbuster Space Sweepers! Starring popular stars Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Sun-kyu, Yoo Hai-jin, and directed by Jo Sung-hee of A Werewolf Boy and Phantom Detective, Space Sweepers is a galactic adventure you don’t want to miss out on.

Seollal or the Korean Lunar New Year is the most celebrated holiday in Korea. It follows the Lunar schedule and it's celebrated in similar ways to the Chinese New Year. Most people travel back home to visit their relatives, spend time with their family members and to pay respect to their ancestors and feast. It was also believed that celebrating the Lunar New Year would attract good luck and chase the bad and evil spirits away. Although both festivals share similarities but when comes to food, these are the differences: 

i. Tteokguk (Rice Cake Soup)

photo credit: Koreanbapsang

Tteokguk carries special significance during Seollal. It represents health and symbolise rich and prosperity. By having Tteokguk also means growing another year older and have a new beginning for the New Year. Since it's hard to find Tteokguk in Malaysia, you can always replace with Tteokbokki (the spicy rice cake): https://shp.ee/6fyvcgj

ii, Japchae (Glass Noodle)

photo credit: Serious Eats

Japchae is made with glass noodles and various vegetables. It's one of the most iconic Korean food that often served as a side dish or mixed with a main dish. You will rarely see a Seollal table without japchae on it. If you're a Korean food maniac, you definitely familiar it: https://shp.ee/f97w2nt

iii. Jeon (Pancake)

photo credit: CJ - CheilJeDang

It's a traditional must-eat New Year dish in Korea. There are many types of Jeon but during Seollal, these are the popular ones that you should try - Kimchi Jeon, Saengseon Jeon (seafood pancake), and Hobak Jeon (Pan fried Zucchini). 

Make your Chinese New Year celebration a little different this year by having traditional Korean foods. Catch the K-wave in the culinary form! Search HERE for more K-foods options and you may check out with below Shopee's voucher codes to receive a discount on your purchase.

*Above voucher codes are valid on 25 January only. 

Happy Shopping!