[Talk of the town]Interstellar TV show will make a star out of Korea’s first astronaut

Put your seatbelts on for a space shuttle ride next month with Yi So-yeon, 29, the first Korean to journey into space.
SBS TV announced Monday its plan to air “2008 Space Korea,” a live broadcast of Yi’s adventures from April 8 to 19.
SBS has rented a relay mobile in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, where the launch pad of the space shuttle is located.
“We [SBS] have been planning the special feature since 2006,” said Bae Cheol-ho, the director. A total of 10 billion won ($9.96 million) was invested, according to Bae.
“Details of Yi’s everyday life in space will be delivered thoroughly,” he said.
An hour of live broadcast will be aired each day in April 12, 14, 16 and 17. Specific hours are not yet set.

Fight flick flies to Tribeca Film Festival
The Korea-China joint production, “Three Kingdoms - Resurrection of the Dragon,” is set for release April 3.
The film is directed by martial arts director Daniel Lee and stars Maggie Quigley, Andy Lau and Sammo Hung
The story is based on the 15th century Chinese novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” which was written by Luo Guanzhong.
It is a story of the late Han Dynasty, when the Chinese empire was divided into three kingdoms.
In the film, Zhao Zilong (Lau), a common man, commands an army to liberate Han land from an evil warlord. His heroism becomes the stuff of legend.
The joint production was selected as one of the entries for the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, which takes place in New York from April 23 to May 4.
“I’m honored,” said Lee at a press screening at CGV Yongsan, central Seoul, on Monday. “I hope fans get more interested in the historic Three Kingdoms story.”
Local film company Taewon Entertainment co-produced and bankrolled the film.

Rumors of ill-health surround Zeta-Jones’ last-minute no-show
Korean fans of Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta-Jones have been left disappointed following the sudden cancelation of her trip to Korea, which was scheduled for yesterday.
Zeta-Jones was due in town to promote her latest feature film, “Death Defying Acts,” which opens tomorrow.
Reasons for the cancelation have been kept quiet, though Yiga Film, the company in charge of promotion, said her health suffered while she was in Sydney on a previous engagement.
By Lee Eun-joo