ID Password  
  Forgot Password or ID | Sign Up  
 
     
Welcome to KoreanFest.com
 

Bestseller-turned-movie reveals real-life case of widespread child abuse

The Crucible’ to release in September starring Gong Yoo and Jung Yoo-mi


When popular novelist Gong Ji-young started publishing her online serial novel “Dogani” (The Crucible) in 2008, readers were shocked that it was based on a real-life story. Inspired by the mass sexual abuse at a school for hearing impaired children in Gwangju from 2000 to 2004, the novel attracted more than 16 million online readers.

The novel’s film adaptation, which stars actor Gong Yoo and actress Jung Yoo-mi, aims to once again raise awareness on the shocking real-life case in which the offenders ― the teachers of the school including its principal ― received probation and 10-month prison sentences.
Actor Gong Yoo and actress Jung Yoo-mi pose for a photo during a press meeting promoting their upcoming film, “The Crucible,” in Seoul, Monday. (Yonhap News)

Director Hwang Dong-hyeok, whose last film “My Father” (2007) was also based on a true story of a Korean-American adoptee, said he had to think over for a month to decide whether or not he should direct the upcoming movie.

“I was hesitant because it was a based on a true story,” Hwang told reporters during a press meeting held in Seoul, Monday.

“And ironically, I decided to go with it because it deals with a true story. It had the right reason to be told to the world.”

For actor Gong Yoo, who is still best known as the cocky yet charming cafe owner in the 2007 MBC hit drama show “Coffee Prince,” the upcoming film could very likely be a turning point in his career.

He stars as Kang In-ho, a newly-appointed art teacher at the school for hearing-impaired children. The character eventually becomes aware of the terrible physical and sexual abuse that his students have been enduring, and tries to unveil the case against his fellow teachers and superiors along with human rights activist Seo Yoo-jin (Jung Yoo-mi).

It was Gong, after all, who initiated the whole project. He read the hard copy edition of author Gong Ji-young’s novel while he was serving his military duty, as his superior gave him the book as a gift when Gong got promoted as a sergeant.

“My superior told me he thought the book would ‘suit’ my taste,” Gong told reporters.

“I was totally hooked when I read the book, and my heart was beating hard as I finished reading. During my last military vacation, I contacted author Gong and asked her if this story can ever be made into a movie.”

Often called “romantic” and “sweet,” Gong said he is not fully comfortable with the way he has been described by the media and the public.

“I think these adjectives have a lot to do with the characters I played in films and shows (more than me),” he said. “I try to focus on each and every film that I am given. I don’t plan ahead to play certain characters to be perceived in a certain way.”

Gong said that in the original novel the Kang In-ho character is portrayed as a much more ordinary, weak-kneed individual who is conflicted between his conscience and the need to financially support his daughter.

“I didn’t want to be portrayed as a hero, but the movie required some action scenes,” Gong said.

“There are scenes where my character tries to attack fellow teachers with a flowerpot and break the window in anger. And that anger was a complex one, one which contained all kinds of emotions and grudges against the world and himself. Expressing such anger was certainly challenging.”

Jung Yoo-mi, who is famous for her effortless acting style and performances in “Oki’s Movie” (2010) and “Caf Noir” (2010), said the acting itself wasn’t very difficult.

“I just had a lot of break time compared to others, and many days off,” she said. “I think that was rather challenging.”

Director Hwang said though he did not talk to any of the real-life offenders or victims, some of the extras who appear in the film in fact went to the school in Gwangju.

“Author Gong said her novel contained only the half of what actually happened, as the real case was too gruesome and terrible,” Hwang said.

“The movie ― because it contains both sound and visuals ― depicts even less than the half. But it still is shocking and powerful.”

According to the film organizers, the school principal died of cancer in 2011, while the rest of teachers continue to work at the same school.

“The Crucible” opens in theaters on Sept. 22.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldm.com)

 
 

  Korean Festival Forum  
   Designer bridges music and fashion
Lee Ju-young, daughter of female designer Sul Yun-hyoung and C’est Si Bon music café owner, dresses top musicians This is the sixth in a series of articles on up-and-coming Korean designers. ― Ed. Her parents equally influenced her ― Lee Ju-young, founder and designer of the brand Resurrection, loves both music and fashion. Lee’s mother is Sul Yun-hyoung, a veteran women’s wear designer, and her father used to own C’est …
   Bestseller-turned-movie reveals real-life case of ..
The Crucible’ to release in September starring Gong Yoo and Jung Yoo-mi When popular novelist Gong Ji-young started publishing her online serial novel “Dogani” (The Crucible) in 2008, readers were shocked that it was based on a real-life story. Inspired by the mass sexual abuse at a school for hearing impaired children in Gwangju from 2000 to 2004, the novel attracted more than 16 million online readers. The novel’s film adaptati…
   Sunghui Chang, the 15th Annual Frances Locke Memor..
Its 15th Annual Frances Locke Memorial Poetry Award Winner Sunghui Chang of Sugar Hill, GA for her poem “Gardenia’s Scent” Sunghui Chang has been awarded the $1,000 first prize in this year’s 15th annual Frances Locke Memorial Poetry Award for her poem “Gardenia’s Scent” which will appear in the Autumn (October) 2011 issue of The Bitter…
   Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity, Guggenheim Museum, New..
For the hot, tired and frazzled masses, the Guggenheim Museum offers an oasis of cool serenity this summer. “Marking Infinity,” a five-decade retrospective of the art of Lee Ufan, fills the museum rotunda and two side galleries with about 90 works in a Zen-Minimalist, be-here-now vein. National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto “From Line,” a 1977 work, is an example of Mr. Lee's making the brush stroke his primary device over t…
   2018 Winter Olympics Go to South Korea 강원도 ..
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false EN-US KO X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 …
   U.S. scholar explores Asian literature
Professor Emanuel Pastreich, director of the Interdisciplinary Studies Program of the Kyung Hee University (Park Hyun-goo/The Korea Herald) An American professor has brought the classical novels of the novelist Park Ji-won of the Joseon period onto the global stage by translating ten short stories into English. Emanuel Pastreich, who goes by the Korean name Lee Man-yeol, recently published two books in English with Seoul Natio…
   French hallyu fans greet K-pop idols
On June 8, Charles de Gaulle Airport was filled with young French people gathered to greet K-pop idol groups, including Girls’ Generation, F(X), SHINee and TVXQ, who arrived in Paris for the SMTown Live World Tour on June 10 and 11. By Yoon Sojung Korea.net Staff Writer
   Brooke Shields Expresses Her Love of Gochujang
Actress Brooke Shields looks at Korean red pepper paste gochujang at a supermarket in New York on May 24. /Courtesy of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries American actress Brooke Shields is the latest in a line of American celebrities to show an interest in the health benefits of Korean food. The Blue Lagoon (1980) starlet was seen shopping for gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) and other ingredients at a Korean market in Ne…
   Kimchi Chronicles
New star-powered kimchi documentary heralds new food trend Friday, May 2011 AL LARGE EXTRA LARGE REIKA ENLARGE Build a show around French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and his half-Korean wife Marja as they travel around South Korea sampling the country's staple food, kimchi; add a few random and gratuitous appearances by actors like Hugh Jackman and Heather Graham; and what do you…
   Korean-American writer shares Pulitzer for local r..
A Korean-American writer was among awardees of the 2011 Pulitzer Awards announced Monday. John J. Kim of The Chicago Sun-Times received the award in the local reporting category for their documentation of crime-ridden Chicago neighborhoods. He shared the prize with staff writers Mark Konkol and Frank Main. The Pulitzer Board gave awards in 13 out of 14 categories for journalism and in seven categories for the arts. The results were announced Monday…
   The Rhythm of Spring!
Korean American Student Arts Circle of Greater Atlanta presents the Korean traditional performing art event and a Day Cafe at Korean Cultural Center. You will experience awesome sounds and dances from the Korea. Programs are SAMGOMU (REE DRUM DANCE), DANSO AND HEAGUM, HWAGWANMU (FLORAL CORONET DANCE), SANGMO, GAYAGEUM, SULJANGGO, BUCHAECHUM, SAMULNORI February 26, Saturday, 7:00 pm Korean Cultural Center 1009 Industrial Court Suite-A, S…
   A Korean American Artist Gyun Hur was awarded for ..
Hudgens Prize Winner Named The winner of the $50,000 Hudgens Prize visual arts competition was finally announced at the special Award Ceremony on the evening of November 30 at the Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth. The packed crowd at the invitation-only event held its collective breath as Linda Lindeborg, Chairman of the Hudgens Prize Committee, revealed the win ner. Gyun Hur of Atla nta was chosen as the recipient of th…
   Tomae Park, Sin-ja Exhibition
ACOM Gallery Art Atlanta, GA December 18, 2010 - December 24, 2010 Opening Reception : Saturday 18 Dec. 2010 2:00 pm Free Admission It is our pleasure to announce an exhibition at Atlanta Conservatory Art Hall by a renowned Koren painter, Ms. Tomae Shinja Park. She has been producing traditional oriental style paintings for more than 30 years. In her masterpieces she has captured the natural beauty of Korea…
   ‘U.S. dramas distort S. Korea image’
The image of the Han River Grand Bridge in the U.S. television series “Lost” (left photo) and its actual appearance Many images of South Korea in hit American television series have been “distorted,” raising concerns over their detrimental impact on the country’s overall image, a ruling party lawmaker pointed out Thursday. Rep. Hong Jung-wook of the Grand National Party said that shows such as “Lost,” “24”…
   Peace Corps' seeds spawned KOICA
U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens discusses one of the Peace Corps volunteers with KOICA Vice President Chang Hyun-sik. (Yoav Cerralbo/The Korea Herald) Peace Corps’ seeds spawned KOICA One of John F. Kennedy’s dreams was realized in 1991 when KOICA opened its doors and hearts to help developing countries learn and grow. “Let us hope that other nations will mobilize the spirit and energies and skill of their …
처음  1  2  3  4  5  맨끝





Donation

678-978-2220