'The Foul King' Video Received Enthusiastically By Movie Fans

The wrestling comedy "The Foul King" was recently selected as one of the most popular videos of 2000 in Korea.

"The Foul King," directed by Kim Jee-woon, was ranked fourth in a survey conducted by Utum Bugum, a club for video stores in the YMCA organization, according to Min Kyung-a, a YMCA public information officer.

In this annual survey, Utum Bugum records video rental sales from Jan. 1 to Nov. 10 at its membership stores across the country.

"As far as rental videos are concerned, Koreans like action movies － anything from Hollywood or Hong Kong," said Miss Min. "This year there were many good Korean films that attracted public attention, and 'The Foul King' was a success in both domestic and international markets."

Most Koreans agree that the film's popularity comes from viewers being able to relate to the main character, Yim Dae-ho, played by Song Gang-ho.

"The main character represents the human being in all of us. I can really relate to him as a white-collar worker. We have little power and deep inside our hearts we want to be more," said Roh Young-yoo, a secretary.

"The Foul King" is about a timid and frustrated banker, Dae-ho, who leads a boring life and endures daily harassment at work. His boss, a power-obsessed bank manager, loves to physically humiliate Dae-ho by putting him in headlocks. He escapes his routine existence and finds passion in wrestling. Through constant discipline and training, he gains the self-confidence to cope with his personal and professional problems.

The film treats Dae-ho's transformation from a weak, shy man into a ruthless wrestler with plenty of humor.

The movie contains few actual wrestling scenes, though it does boast a spectacular fight scene at the end.

Kim Jee-woon made his directorial debut in 1998 with the hit, "The Quiet Family." The talented cast of "The Foul King," his latest film, includes Jang Ji-young, Park Sang-myun and of course Song Gang-ho, who found stardom with his humorous and realistic portrayal of Dae-ho. The actor is known for his supporting roles in films such as "The Quiet Family" and "Shiri."

by Kim Jae-seon