The number of moviegoers during the extended Chuseok holiday surged nearly 50 percent, largely driven by the success of the crime-action film "I, the Executioner," reported Yonhap News Agency Thursday.

From Saturday to Wednesday, local theaters saw 4.66 million visitors, a 49.7 percent increase compared with the 3.11 million recorded from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 last year, according to the Korean Film Council. However, this year's figure remains lower than the 5.13 million attendees recorded over the three-day Chuseok holiday in 2019.
The strong performance is attributed to "I, the Executioner," a sequel to the 2015 blockbuster "Veteran." The film alone attracted more than 3.9 million viewers over the five-day period, accounting for an impressive 84.5 percent of total moviegoers. The movie doing well was not a surprise but the number of admissions was not predicted. Movie distributors basically refused to counter-program against “I, the Executioner” giving it an overwhelming number of screens (2500) over the holiday week and a 79 percent total revenue share.

The third biggest gross went to “Begin Again,” a 2023 US movie. It has drawn 3 percent of gross revenue during holiday week and a gross total since its mid-August release to $20.8 million in Korea. During its US run, it barely broke even with $16 million box office. But it was a smash hit overseas bringing its gross revenue to $69 million.

Movie studios decided to wait until late December through February calendar period to release their best films then because those weeks are traditionally this is the largest admission period. With any investment, trying to “time the market” is a risky strategy.

I watched a documentary about some child stars and even though the technicalities may be different between East & West, the difficulities and pressures and expectations are the same and it made me teary eyed.

I didn't particularly idolize anyone when I was a child or teen but I grew up during the Britney Spears era and remember how she was treated. In hindsight, it's gross and outrageous yet at the time people acted like it was totally okay because "she's a role model" or she's supposed to be one.

I feel kpop idols go through similar things nowadays.

One thing I admired about Lee Seung Gi is that seems to be fairly well adjusted given he was in the machine since he was 15 (I counting when he got scouted and started training)

And all the other idols/entertainers who started young. I don't many idols or entertainers' name. I think BOA (from Marry My Husband) started young.

Hell, even the people who are technically adults when they get into the industry deserve a hug and acknowledgement because it is BRUTAL.
It's just worse because kids and teens are stil developing and they're extremely vulnerable.

And I don't know if anything ever changes for the better or just evolves and adapts to the changing media landscape.

I've broached this subject before but once again I'm reminded about male friendships/dynamics in SK. I don't know if this is just a thing in Asian culture in general but it's certainly a thing in SK. Where bromances seem to be fostered. They can even refer to each other as 자기야 (which translates to honey or darling). Do women also do this? I don't notice strong female relationships in real life or onscreen (except for Business Proposal).
But the way it translates onscreen is still interesting to me because it's often a thing that's said when they cast talks about the cast chemistry; for example with No Gain No Love, I think Kim Young Dae said he got along with Shin Mina but he especially got along with Lee Sang Yi (I'm not sure if this was really said. Someone said he said it and I haven't found a SINGLE promotional video english subbed). And then when had his scenes with him, folks loved the "bromance" even though it was only a couple of scenes together. There's even guys who are known for being friends and hanging out or the iconic bromance of Lee Jung Jae & Jung Woo Sung.

Is it the cultural aspect of men and women being separated to prevent possible dating or dating rumors? I saw a video from I don't know how long ago where Lee Hyori said she didn't really associate with guys when she was younger because if she wasn't interested in them, she didn't need to be around them. I understand it as a preventative measure against predatory men or dating rumors but still, is it a larger cultural thing of men and woman not being allowed to solely be platonic? Jennie and BamBam were hanging out in LA, they were spotted, and then instantly the agencies have to get involved and make an official comment.

I wonder what happened to some korean actors such as Jo Yoo Jung. She was Still 17 (Thirty but Seventeen) and Adult Trainee. The latter she was a lead paired with Ryeoun.

The guy from My Secret Terrius, Kim Sung Joo, who played the tech guy. I guess he retired to have a normal life? And then I wonder what type of job you get into after being an actor.

There were some other actors I was curious about but I forgot who they were.

This weekend four of the eight dramas listed are ending! I'm watching them all too: Beauty and Mr. Romantic, Bad Memory Eraser, Good Partner, and Cinderella at 2AM.

I'm not quite sure what's coming up in their place next week (except of course Iron Family, the new weekender)...but I bet someone here knows? What's starting to air next weekend? Or, dare I ask, during the week, next week?

I also note on Hulu's website that Judge from Hell will not be starting up this weekend, but will instead start airing on Wednesday, September 25.

Let me see, what can I talk about that's not related to my current favorite secondary couple with their own upcoming spinoff...

An OST track from Destined With You came up on my shuffle mode during my commute this morning. It made me think about how there were actually parts of that drama that were very, very good, although there were certainly parts that were not.

Also, my new obsession with Lee Sang-yi made me realize that I technically never finished watching My Demon. I never watched the final episode.

NOTES FROM 9TAILEDVIXEN'S 3RD WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 2024

1. THIS WEEK IN LIFE

This has been a rough week

- a friend died from cancer after battling it for over a year
- another friend finally opened up to tell all of us that the boyfriend that she left was an abusive gaslighting POS
- work is burying me as my anti-violence against women nonprofit heads prepares for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

I'm now on my 3-day Mental Health weekend to just decompress and get some equilibrium back and process some big feelings.

In happier news:
- I managed to complete 3/4s of a full Aerial Yoga flow for the first time - after practicising for about 7 months, I'm finally getting there!
- I baked a Double Chocolate Buttermilk cake and it came out DELICIOUS!

2. THIS WEEK IN KOREAN WOMEN'S NEWS

(A) North Korea executes 2 women who fled and were forcibly repatriated from China

North Korea has executed two women who had been forcibly repatriated from China for helping other North Koreans in China escape to South Korea, a human rights organization told Radio Free Asia.

“These two women were executed because they had sent North Korean escapees from China to their enemy country, South Korea,” Jang told RFA Korean.

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-china-forced-repatriation-escapees-execution-09172024143449.html

(B) From spy cams to deepfake porn: fury in South Korea as women targeted again

South Korea holds the unenviable title of the country most targeted by deepfake pornography. Its female singers and actors constitute 53% of the individuals featured in deepfakes worldwide, according to a 2023 report by Security Hero, a US startup focused on identity theft protection.

Several years after South Korea made international headlines with its molka problem, the government is again under pressure to stamp out this wave of online sex crimes. A large protest is scheduled to be held in Seoul on 21 September.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/13/from-spy-cams-to-deepfake-porn-fury-in-south-korea-as-women-targeted-again

Hi so we had some office drama this week

in the meeting a department was fried for not loving kids and asking another colleague about the concept of an event that involved kids rearranging books without consent and it became a commotion how we do not appreciate young readers.
and the lending dep was like fried 18 minutes, and we the clueless bystanders had even no idea what we had done wrong

and then today my boss and a colleague pop up before I am about to film a clip which had been agreed on, and I had gone thought hell of a trouble to book the time for bc we had to match 5 ppls schedule write a script and get the camera - and my reading partner left in tears and later she spent 2 and a half hours in the office and yet the bosses do not understand how they are killing all will in people to do something fun. humor is not our concept, weird is not our concept

arghh
I can see why Tim Burton would do whatever the heck he wants in Beetlejuice - not a great movie but I get why he made it. he is an animator and stop motion artist but studios hate stop motion for the time and money it takes and would prefer 3D and AI but Tim Burton is trying to and is showing you do Not. Need. A.I. if you know what you are bloody doing. If you are a real artist, it is not only futile but it would be boring and bland.

ok my hours are done, I flee

go see Beetlejuice, you will not know which drug you took by the end.

Sigh... @db-staff - Er, help? The system has put my original comment in the moderation queue again and all I was commenting about was this week's Korean women's news and baking a cake...

When I discover a Korean actor or entertainer who is good at speaking english, I get interested in them and their works. Like I could feel meh about the project I'm watching but as soon as they speak english well, I'm like "well, I would like to know more about you". That's what happened with Taecyeon, Ahn Hyo Seop, and Park Min Young.

I *think* I saw Abyss first and it's whatever but then Ahn Hyo Seop spoke english and I did a double take. And then I watched a Business Proposal only because I recognized him from Abyss.

My introduction to Taecyeon was Vincenzo where he often used english. I think my favorite moment is when he's freaking out after losing. "[However many] MILLION DOLLARS!!! AHHH!!! Am I dreaming? I've never lost twice in my life. STAY IN THE CAR!
And because of that drama, I watched in other dramas such as Blind, Heartbeat, The Secret Royal Inspector and Joy, and Bring it on Ghost (Let's fight Ghost).

I think my first Park Min Young drama was Her Private Life. Same as above, after seeing her in that, I looked at some of her other roles. I think I saw her in Busted next and she was the brain of the whole show haha. Again, her knowledge of english was helpful in some cases. I don't think I've seen *that* many of Min Young's projects (probably cause they don't particularly appeal to me since I'm not a huge romcom fan). I have seen Healer and Marry My Husband. I tried City Hunter but I didn't past episode 1. (I'm not into Lee Min Ho). I tried What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and the last thing I remember from that was the mom asking if her son was gay and barely being able to get the word out. So is that episode 2 or 3?
I know it's considered a classic but eh.

Similarly I watched some Jackson Wang appearences because I heard him speak english during a Buzzfeed thing. I learned of The Rose group from the same thing.

Finished One Spring Night.
Worst use of OST ever!