A nude scene of Jang Ja-yeon? Kind of makes me NOT want to watch it even more, considering the alleged reasons for her suicide.

Jang ja yeon?
Oh dear... how could they still show the movie? The poor girl ): RIP.

LOL, the taglines remind me of those cheesy perfume commercials.

cant wait for this to happen love jan hyuk in his role in tazza

One would think that they would have taken out the scene involving Jang Ja-yeon. Ever since that scandal, I have not been able to look at a single young starlet, especially in supporting role, without wondering private hell they are in behind the scenes.

The movie sounds like soft porn to me. And the fact that the women in the posters are faceless and highly eroticized turns my stomach. Welcome to globalization: where sexism is mainstream and indistinguishable from culture to culture.

It seems so odd to me that while K-dramas are almost obsessively "clean," many K-movies border on the pornographic. It's a dichotomy I don't see in other entertainment worlds. South Asian dramas and movies are generally equally modest. American TV (basic) is mostly modest, and most American/Hollywood movies are very clean. The occasional NC-17 movies fare terribly in theaters...

My point is: I wonder why Korean movies tend to shift to such overt sexual content and portrayal. Is there no Cinema Board in Korea? Do these pornographic movies not get slammed with a rating and limited distribution, making producing these shows exorbitant and ultimately untenable? The two industries I am most familiar with, Indian and American, have so many officials reviewing a movie before its release that many scenes considered "offensive" end up on the cutting board.

Additionally, in both South Asia and American industries, doing skin flicks often mark the end of one's career. It appears that in the Korean industry, not only do big stars take on these roles, their careers are not really affected negatively.

All I could think about is that they could have used someone with a butt on the second poster.

"many K-movies border on the pornographic."

The sex is more frank. I respect that, as it's not as aestheticized/anesthetized as typical Hollywood fare.

But, yeah, very sexist posters. And Jang Hyuk is sending off major "marriage is not agreeing with me" signals. :(

seeing lee sang woo just broke my heart. but he look so uncomfortable in that picture. oei.

yeah, korean movies can really go shocking on ppl. well, my observation is that the most 'conservative' people ends up being the most 'open' to things like these, vice versa.

"And Jang Hyuk is sending off major “marriage is not agreeing with me” signals."

Yeah, totally agree with that. And he's even in Ogamdo. Hmmm....

Honestly, I don't like these kind of stories where sex is seen as something so 'free-for-all'. Sends the wrong message. :S

I watched Ogamdo last week (Jang Hyuk was adorable and Kim Kang-woo, oh Kim Kang-woo...) and ran across news of this movie at HanCinema afterwards when I went to look up Ogamdo's cast list. The teaser trailer up at the site for this movie is..well, about what you'd expect from seeing the posters, heh. I really liked the song used for the trailer though. It sounds familiar but damned if I can place it. -_-

As for the posters, I've gotta say Jang Hyuk doesn't look particularly possessive. When I first glanced at his poster, I thought he was Jo Han-seon. And Lee Sang-woo....soooo loverly.

One would assume that the sceens with Jang Ja-yeon would have approval from her family, if not and this was approved by her 'less than respectable' agency, I really feel for her family....... Not a good idea in my eyes.

R.I.P. Jang Ja-yeon, may the Heavens/Karma be kinder in your next world.

at least the third poster is relatively decent. the rest are *puke* ....

Nom_Kitteh: You voiced my sentiments exactly. I don't really get the drastic range of freedom given to K movies either. You'd almost think it's because of the stifling environment generated by the TV industry that propell actors and ent people to release it tenfold when they move on to cinema. But my other thought is; South K cinema really looked toward Europe and their aritistic freedom when the country became globally prominent. Perhaps there are political and geosocial reasons why S K's cinema industry has "grown" so much in the past decade.

....Those posters are disturbing>. Even the third one. The women look less like a real living/breathing human than faceless, overly sexualized beings to play out the straight male's fantasy. And keeping the nude scene with Jang Ja Yeong? Really? I mean, the word tasteless can't even express how much fail and disgust I feel at the very thought of it.

I don't really have much to add to the debate about South Korean film culture. . .except that I'm not against movies of a more sexual nature. If anything, I'm happy that they show more movies like that.

When I first started watching k-dramas, I was honestly shocked at the lack of, not only sex, but TALK of sex. It's not that I wanted SEXSEXSEXSEXSEX in my dramas, but it was like even the talk of it was prohibited. The most explicit would be a mild kiss (I've since watched a lot more k-dramas and found some that did talk about it, but still, not that many). Now, this isn't a bad thing; it'd be interesting to see the statistics of teenage pregnancy in the East compared to the West, but I wondered at how it might affect the viewers of the dramas, especially the young people.

Put it this way. I grew up in a religious household where my parents were reluctant to talk to me about sex. When I was 9, my mom handed me a book called Tweens: All You Need To Know About Your Growing Body and I read it back to front. Told me everything I needed to know. But I learned the rest from friends and the teen shows on the WB. It makes me wonder what sex education is like in Korea. Is it talked about? If it's not talked about on regular TV broadcasting, where does it get talked about? Is there a sex ed classroom?

And adding to that, are these movies age restricted? Do teens sneak into them if they are?

This comment went all over the place.

This is just messed up. Especially the fact that they still decided to keep a scene with Jang Ja Yeon in it. RIP.
Why do actors take up roles in these kind of movies anyways? I don't get it.

@chajjye, Lee Sang Woo broke my heart too :(

To keep Jang Ja-Yeon's nude scene in the movie is not only tasteless but shows total disrespect for the dead and her family. The family must have suffered enough since hearing about the suicide and the reasons for it. Now, they'll have to face further humiliation due to selfish and heartless movie producers who think they can increase ticket sales with one more nude scene?? I for one will not be supporting this movie - this utterly makes me sick to the stomach.

They should let that poor girl's soul rest in peace.

Looks like an extremely sexy movie. And all the male leads look hot. Forgive me for being shallow but I wanna see the movie. Ha.

I think it's too early to judge just how good and justified the inclusion of Jang Ja-yeon's scenes will be, but I must say this: Jang Ja-yeon committed suicide not because she was forced to *act* certain roles in dramas/films, but because of demeaning acts outside of work. So, I see nothing wrong in the film including her scenes. It's her work, and I am sure we can all respect that. (Whether the producers may be exploiting and cashing in on the controversy of her suicide is hard to know, particularly at this point in time when the film has not even been screened yet.)

Let me use an example for contrast, although the comparisons are not necessary identical: "Oh, Heath Ledger died a tragic accidental death, let us deleted all the scenes he filmed for us in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus!" But that would probably dishonour his effort and talent if the producers really did so!

@5
Korea makes all kinds of films (Korean Cinema's ability to multi task and mutli genre is what makes it one of the world's most vibrant film industry) and if you don't want overtly sexual ones there are plenty of sweet rom coms with no sex scenes.

I for one prefer how Korean films portray sex to Hollywood's . It's more natural and realistic.
The excitement of watching Korean films comes from feeling that anything is possible. Hollywood seems to offer only one kind of film experience.

All who are responding to me: I was not arguing the merits, or lack of, of these sexually explicit movies. Obviously skin-flicks and/or pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry and we all know that sex sells, so I am not even addressing that issue. To each his/her own -- I don't care what one watches or enjoys.

I was exploring more the reasons why mainstream Korean cinema seems to have this dichotomy between TV and movie world and how and why these kinds of movies, especially with mainstream actors in the lead, get made so often, and how on earth they manage to even make money, and how the rating system operates. It's an oddity when compared with other vibrant industries.

@ 12: you have hit upon a good point: Possibly there is more of an European sensibility underlying the development of Korean cinema, which would explain the kind of sex-diffused movies Korea makes. In grad school we used to mock French films for their oh-so-self-important depictions of sexual exploits of disaffected bourgeois, shot in sepia with funky camera work, all of which, at the end of the day, made for some boring-ass cinema. Some of the Korean "sexy" fall into that category for me: look at meh, imma talkin abut sex.

Personally, I prefer gritty sex in movies not trying to comment on gritty sex, but that's just me. Check out the uncut version of Lost in Beijing -- quite possibly one of the finest commentary on postmodern Asia that I have seen...

"In grad school we used to mock French films for their oh-so-self-important depictions of sexual exploits of disaffected bourgeois, shot in sepia with funky camera work, all of which, at the end of the day, made for some boring-ass cinema."

Yeah, but I LOVE those films. :D Nothing better than disaffected youths in Frommian circumstances, talking, smoking and boinking each other in complete boredom. Oh freedom, terrible terrible freedom!! :D

"Nothing better than disaffected youths in Frommian circumstances, talking, smoking and boinking each other "

Well, I can think of a million things better than that...but that's where we part ways, I believe.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All this said, as long as the objectification of women is not unbearable, I will probably check out this movie for its hot men, especially Jang Hyuk. After all, the last time I checked, I believe I still had a pulse.

ATTENTION DRAMABEANS!! :))
sorry just a correction
i think lee min jung plays dong hyuks wife, jang hyuk's little sister, and lee sang woo's first and only love... i'm 100% sure cuz i just watched the interview of the three men on youtube... you can check it out too but just to clarify so people don't get confusedddd :)))

"Well, I can think of a million things better than that…but that’s where we part ways, I believe."

That's pretty close to my K-drama ideal, actually. Dramas with no stories and lots of talking.

@nom_kitteh

I don't know why but I think it's wonderful that we can get to see the actors in different images and roles.
I almost got a heart attack when the second lead in Full House turned up in a film called Sweet Sex and Love looking very very different. So free spirited and attractive. The film turns off people because of the sex scenes but I thought it had a great message. ....Great Sex doesn't equate Love. Then he was back to his stiff self in the very bad Bad Love.
I hear Jang Dong Gun acted in Kim Ki Duk's The Coast Guard for nothing. And I was very happy to see the lead actor in My delightful girl Chunhyang in Kim Ki Duk's wonderful 3 Iron.
I am glad the big stars have the freedom and clout to do whatever roles they want and the Korean audience is willing to accept them. Maybe that's why Korean cinema is so vibrant and dynamic.
I liked Lost in Beijing a lot. I found it very french new wave.

@15
I'm not sure about the sex ed, but I do know that at the movies, you have to show your IDs to purchase a ticket for a movie rated 15 and up. An employee checks your ticket at the door to the room.

A bit late response.
Well..Let's be reasonable about the inclusion of late Jang Ja Yeon's footage in the film.
There is another upcoming movie she was cast. She played a yoga teacher, yupp, quite a decent role compared to the one in Penthouse Elephant. Both movies were produced before she died tragically. If her scenes in that movie are considered okay, but the ones in Penthouse elephant are not because of the nude scenes, what a double standard it is.
Whether they are comic scenes, or nude scenes, they are all what she's done as an actress. do you think the inclusion of her nude scenes disrespects her? That means, in other words, we admit actors or actresses must feel shameful about their sex scenes in their movies. Indeed, it's not easy for them to act those scenes as many of them confess in their interviews. They should get over a certain barrier which makes them shy.
My 2 cent opinion is the best way to respect the late actress is to look at her works as they are.

If the marketing promoter of the movie takes advantage of the late actress, that's another thing. I am not quite sure if that's happening or not, considering the media has been crazy about her. Either the media are themselves overheated or the promoter (or the movie company) is selfish.

As for the posters, I like the atmosphere of the first one, which looks quite expressive. Jang Hyuk does not look possessive because he should not. That's the concept of that poster. He is possessive of his ex-girlfriend, not the lady on the poster. Lee Sang Woo on the third poster looks lovely.

I am not sure how this movie turns out to be, but can't wait to see it with my trust in Jang Hyuk.

Know there is point to good article....

....but Jang Hyuk making it very difficult to read.

God. I LOVE that man. I mean, I had a point when I sat down to read this.
Then I scrolled down and saw Jang Hyuk.

Now I'm in my own world.

hahahaha, oy.

@20 and 29--
There is an extremely important detail that has been left out of this discussion; Jang Ja Yeon's character commits suicide in the film. If Heath Ledger's character had died of a drug overdose in "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus", there is absolutely NO WAY that scene would have been included; filmgoers would have been outraged, and Terry Gilliam (director) is far too kind of a fellow to capitalize on such a tragedy.

I feel very strongly that this is exactly what is happening to the memory of Jang Ja Yeon. I am nothing short of surprised and angered that the director Seung Ku Jeong would include her death scene...her family, friends, and fans have suffered enough; as well, what kind of message does that send to other actors/actresses? That what you suffer, either through depression and/or at the hands of your management, ultimately doesn't matter, because ratings, box-office, and the almighty dollar matter more?

It is not too uncommon in the States for aspiring actors/MOSTLY actresses to have "couch" auditions in the hopes of getting a job...but I was definitely shocked to learn that %-wise, such incidents are much higher in South Korea, particularly those who are forced by their management companies. What does that do a person's self-esteem, that the value of their worth is based only on what they can provide sexually, both in life and on film?

Sometimes people take an acting job because they want to portray a certain character, others because they are desperate for work. Of course some actors/actresses are very comfortable in portraying their sexuality onscreen, but some definitely aren't. From what I've read about Jang Ja Yeon, she fell into the latter category.

Now, I am hopelessly in love with Korea, and I would also be the first person to criticize America and the culture when it's done wrong, (for example, 2000-2008, I AM SOOOOOOO SORRY!!! But we're totally fixing it now!) but I have to admit, if these same circumstances surrounding an actress had occurred with a film here, that film would not have been released.

"Jang Ja Yeon’s character commits suicide in the film. "

okay, that's just wrong. That can't be in the film! :(

Jo Dong Hyuk is also the guy from the movie AEIN/THE INTIMATE/THE LOVER..

why is he starring yet in another movie whose theme is also like this one?

haha

but he's handsome :D

Unfortunately SEX sells PERIOD. I don't mind seeing sex scenes in movies as long as the women are not portrayed as an object. But to show a nude picture of an actress who committed suicide because of it, it's just pure tasteless and unethical.

where cna i watch this :[

i don't like this movie so far, don't want to see lee min jung in such an image like this. i'm a big fan of her and i like those childish act of her. but it's all about job though it's not really a big deal but still love lee min jung.

[…] עוד על הסרט […]