Writer Kim Eun-hee, Director Jang Hang-jun Hope for Award

The movie "The Man Who Lived with the King," released on February 4th, has the competitiveness of a "holiday movie" for all generations with its history-based story filled with laughter and tears. Set in Cheongnyeongpo in 1457, it tells the story of village chief Um Heung-do (played by Yoo Hae-jin), who volunteers for exile to revitalize the village, and the young former king Lee Hong-wi (played by Park Ji-hoon), who was dethroned.

Yoo Hae-jin, who said he was curious "about how Danjong lived after his exile," revealed, "The story of what time he had in the process leading up to his death, and his relationships with the people around him, was captivating." Park Ji-hoon, a former member of the group Wanna One, plays the exiled king and made an effort to lose 15kg. "I wanted to convey the feeling of Danjong being nothing but bones in exile." Director Jang Hang-jun, directing a historical drama for the first time, aims to capture audiences of all ages before the Lunar New Year with his characteristic wit and the "tears" in the latter half.

"Humint," opening on February 11th, is director Ryoo Seung-wan's new film, depicting the tense operations of North and South Korean agents against the backdrop of Vladivostok, Russia. "Number One" is a film that tells the story of family love, with Choi Woo-sik and Jang Hye-jin reuniting as mother and son after "Parasite."

Director Ryoo Seung-wan said, "After finishing 'Smugglers,' I strongly felt the desire to film a movie featuring Jo In-sung and Park Jeong-min prominently," adding, "In fact, I started with the names and surnames of Section Chief Jo and Park Geon already decided. The two actors were the starting point for this film." "Number One" is based on the Japanese author Sora Ueno's novel "The Number of Times You Can Eat Your Mother's Home-Cooked Meal Is Now 328," and it borrows a fantasy setting related to a mother's dining table. Choi Woo-sik expressed his satisfaction, saying, "In 'Parasite,' the ensemble of many actors was the main focus, so I regretted not having many opportunities to exchange emotions one-on-one (with Jang Hye-jin). This time, I was able to communicate to my heart's content and have the desired back-and-forth banter. Since we started as already close friends, it was easy to act without any awkwardness."

The Korean film industry began the new year of 2024 carrying the sorrow of losing actor Lee Sun-kyun. Lee Sun-kyun was investigated for two months over drug use allegations, and his request for a private investigation was ignored. Ultimately, despite the lack of conclusive evidence, he took his own life.

Many fellow actors visited the wake to accompany Lee Sun-kyun on his final journey. Some actors were reportedly so shocked that they shed tears or could barely stand.

Seungri, a member of the group Big Bang, showcased his acting skills on MBC's entertainment program "Infinite Challenge" by performing in situational comedies in four languages: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and English. In particular, he provided great laughter by improvising the role of Director Kwon, who flees to America, in the "Infinite Company" segment.

Seungri, along with Yang Se-hyung, sequentially acted out the same scene in Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and English, with each of the four versions having a different feel.

Director Jang Hang-jun's new film "The Man Who Lived with the King" is setting box office records, surpassing 14 million cumulative viewers. In the past, his wife, writer Kim Eun-hee, expressed her gratitude to her husband, director Jang Hang-jun, when she received the Writer Award at the "51st Korea Broadcasting Awards."

Writer Kim Eun-hee added, "I am truly grateful to my husband. I hope there will be an opportunity for me to present an award to my husband directly next time," creating a heartwarming moment. The movie "The Man Who Lived with the King" is receiving acclaim from all generations for its touching portrayal of the deposed Danjong spending the end of his life interacting with the villagers in his place of exile, Yeongwol.