Jo In-Seong Movies
- 2008
Director Yoo Ha helms the period saga A Frozen Flower as a plunge into the intrigues and machinations of the Korean dynastic era. The period is the late 14th century, and the last waning gasp of the centuries-old Goryeo Dynasty. As that regime comes to a bitter end thanks to the machinations of the Yuan Dynasty, The Goryeo king responds by organizing a military force known as Kunryongwe, led by the daunting commander Hong Lim. The leader captivates the king to an alarming degree - to such an extent, in fact, that he almost completely diverts the regent's attention away from his queen, leaving her with tremendous feelings of reluctance and hesitancy about this relationship. Meanwhile, the manipulativeness of the Yuan doubles: they unsuccessfully attempt to subvert the king by placing a threatening ruler in a high position, but the king - sensing this Machiavellian scheme - adamantly refuses, much to the consternation of the top-tiered Goryeo officials. The ruler also devises a complex and wickedly clever scheme to protect the Goryeo line for future generations by appointing Hong Lim to impregnate the queen and father a new ruler with her. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jo In-Seong, Joo Jin Mo, (more)
A small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family in writer/director Yoo Ha's epic crime drama. Byeong-du (Jo In-seong) is a twenty-nine year-old Seoul gangster who's looking to rise up through the ranks. Though his ambition is unmistakable, Byeong-du finds his family's financial problems taking a heavy emotional tool as he attempts to intimidate the locals into paying off their lingering debts. It seems that a local real-estate developer is attempting to pressure Byeong-du's mother into selling the family home, but Byeong-du's boss Sang-cheol (Yun je-mun) can't be bothered to care about the problems of his low-level cog. When a rival gang shows up looking to put the hurting on Byeong-du's gang, Sang-cheol blatantly violates the gangster code and Byeong-du becomes right hand man to powerful crime kingpin Hwang Heui-jang (Cheon Ho-jin). Later, after cementing his loyalty to Hwang by killing a local prosecutor, Byeong-du runs into former school chum Min-ho (Nam-gung Min). It seems that Min-ho is about to shoot a gangster film, but first he needs some help getting the script finished. Unfortunately for all involved, Byeong-du's fateful decision to help out his old friend will have tragic consequences. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jo In-Seong, Cheon Ho-jin, (more)
- 2003
Writer/director Kwak Jae-yong followed up the phenomenal success of his influential debut feature, My Sassy Girl, with The Classic. Ji-hyae (Son Ye-jin of Chihwaseon) is a shy college student who has a crush on theater student Sang-min (Jo In-seong). Unfortunately, her friend Soo-gyung (Lee Sang-in) has already begun dating the guy. Ji-hyae helps her friend compose romantic e-mails to Sang-min and sometimes socializes with them, but feels like a third wheel. Sang-min seems to like her, but Soo-gyung insists that it's only because Ji-hyae is her friend. Ji-hyae is clearing out her family's home when she finds a box of love letters and an old journal and begins reading about her mother, Sung Joon-hee (also played by Son), the granddaughter of a wealthy politician, and her forbidden dalliance with Oh Joon-ha (Cho Seung-woo of Chunhyang), a poor boy from the same hometown. The two developed a romantic infatuation, but Joon-hee's father had already planned for her to marry Tae-soo (Lee Gi-woo), the son of a business associate. The situation grew more complicated when Tae-soo befriended Joon-ha at school, and asked his help in winning over Joon-hee. This tale is intercut with Ji-hyae's story, set in the present day. The Classic was shown at the 2004 New York Korean Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Starring:
- Son Ye-jin, Jo In-Seong, (more)
