On Screen and On Scene: 'As One'

As One dramatizes the historic conjoining of the North and South Korean ping pong teams for the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships in Chiba, Japan. At the beginning, there’s more that separates the two teams than a net and the 38^th parallel. The stoic and militaristic North Koreans are preyed upon by their more expressive and relaxed South Koreans, which is met with violent response. The bitter rivalry between the team’s top female players accentuates the long distance the players need to go towards working together.

But they did -- to unparalleled success. The similarities in the drive and the humanity of the players helps to overcome their differences. Soon, the young players are arguing to stay together, rather than be ripped apart by political forces.

Ha Ji Won at the Korean International Table Tennis Event

As part of the movie promotion, Jiwonnie and the cast of her new movie "Korea/As One" attended the Korean International Table Tennis event.

‘As One’ to open in select theaters across North America *UPDATED SCHEDULE*

Actress Ha Ji Won‘s latest film ‘As One‘ (Korean Title: ‘Korea‘) will be making its way into select North American theaters on Friday, June 1.

‘As One’ is based on the true story of the first unified Korean sports team since the Korean War. Ha Ji Won stars as the South Korean ping pong star Hyun Jung Hwa, and Bae Doo Na plays the role of Rhee Boon Hee from North Korea. The two athletes were teamed up by politicians from their respective countries to compete as Team Korea at the 41st World Table Tennis Championships in 1991.

Late-night pub fare celebrates 'Korea'

To mark their film “Korea” exceeding one million views, actresses Bae Doo-na and Ha Ji-won will don aprons as waitresses to treat lucky fans to a night of feasting at a pub in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul.

The event is set to take place tonight, and participants were selected from applicants who registered through the movie’s official Web site and Me2Day site.

According to Korean Film Council, the film, which opened on May 3, was viewed by some 1.2 million viewers in just 10 days since its release.

Other cast members and director Moon Hyun-sung will also attend the event.

The proceeds from the night’s sale of food and beverages will benefit charities that help marginalized youth and defectors from North Korea.

The film is based on a true story about a friendship that emerged between table tennis players from the North and the South back in 1991 when the two Koreas joined forces to compete as one nation at the World Table Tennis Championships, subsequently winning a gold medal in the process. 

"Korea/As One" Stage Greeting

This Stage Greeting was held last May 13, 2012

When ping-pong diplomacy stirred Korea

TOKYO - Two decades have passed since the end of the Cold War, but Korea still remains divided at the 38th parallel. Without having signed a peace treaty after the Korean War ended in 1953, North and South Korea are still technically at war.

For Pyongyang, the head of its neighboring state is a key target in its smear campaigns. In recent months, North Korean state media has even stepped up its rhetoric against the "traitorous" South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, branding him a "rabid dog" or a "rat" or a "tiger moth".

Movie 'Korea/As One' Public Screening Photos

Busy Ha Ji Won Flies in a Helicopter to ‘Korea’ Press Conference

Forget limos and flashy cars! Ha Ji Won, the main actress of the movie Korea, set to come out on May 3, flew in a helicopter to the press conference.

On May 1, Ha Ji Won rode a helicopter from Deok Jeok Island to Seoul to arrive at the special screening of Korea, held at the Central Government Complex building. She had been filming the MBC drama, The King 2Hearts in Deok Jeok Island earlier.

 To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Education Center for Unification, a special screening of the movie was held. Along with Ha Ji Won and Bae Doo Na, Hyun Jung Hwa, the director of the Korean national table tennis team, whom the movie was based on, as well as the movie director, Moon Hyun Sung, attended the event.

At the screening, Ha Ji Won revealed that in order to make the schedule, she flew over in a helicopter. She also said, “North and South Korea are the only countries in the world that are still divided. I believe that one day unification will occur, and I hope that through this movie, unification will come a little closer.”

A person involved with the film added, “Ha Ji Won had to ride a four-person helicopter from Deok Jeok Island to Seoul. The cost fee was probably not little, but Ha Ji Won was very firm on participating in this event and decided to use it.”

When Will Ha Ji Won’s Muscles Get to Rest?

On April 16 Ha Ji Won appeared at a screening of “Korea” which will release on May 3. She talked about the rigorous preparations she went through for “Korea.” She stated, “People expected that I would be able to learn table tennis within a day. That is why I started with so much pressure. However, I was the worst at swinging and kept making mistakes.”

Movie 'Korea/As One' VIP screening and Press Conference

This VIP Screening and Press Conference was held last April 16, 2012. 

WIN VIP Tickets to the Special Screening of AS ONE in Los Angeles!!

GOOD NEWS to all 1023Rs in the US!! 

As some of you may have heard, Ha Ji Won will be coming to Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 5th to promote her newest movie AS ONE (KOREA) and Asian Movie Buzz are giving away pairs of VIP Tickets to the Special Preview Screening of the movie!

Here's how to JOIN!

Ha Ji Won: 'I Want to Share Feeling of Reunification'

The movie "Korea" held a production presentation.

Actress Ha Ji Won revealed her feelings about playing the real life table tennis player Hyun Jeong Hwa of the unified table tennis team in the movie "Korea" at the production presentation held at Apgujeong CGV on April 4, saying, "I have not been interested in reunification or inter-Korea relations before, but I seem to have had a little change inside me while filming 'Korea.'

I want to share those feelings with friends." She continued, "When I read the script, I cried after finishing reading it. The power of the script was huge enough to make me feel like playing the current table tennis coach Hyun Jeong Hwa." She explained how she decided to appear in the movie.

[IMG] 'As One' Press Conference

CJ Entertainment - Picture The Future 2010-2011 Lineup

CJ Entertainment's 2010-2011 Lineup feat. Ha Ji Won's latest movie "Korea/As One"

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