Samar Yahya

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — As part of the 8th Asian Film Festival, organized by the Asian Consuls General Club (ACGC), Korean Consul General Nak-young Oh held a Korean movie night at his residence hereThursday.



The Korean movie night was inaugurated by a speech delivered by Nak-young Oh followed by the screening of a Korean documentary "Mr.Go."



Nak-young Oh welcomed all guests and expressed his honor to present the Korean Movie Night as part of the Asian Film Festival that is considered as one of the most distinguished cultural and social events held by ACGC in Jeddah for 8 years now.



"My special appreciation to Consul General of Japan Matahiro Yamaguchi, the coordinator of ACGC, as well as Consul General of Indonesia Dharmakirty Syailendra, who has hosted more than half of these film festivals at his premises...with their dedications the film festival went smoothly," he said.



"Mr. Go, "directed by Kim Yong-hwa, refers to world’s first baseball-playing gorilla and his 15 year-old trainer Wei Wei. It provides a valuable chance for everyone to look back at life.



It mainly revolves around a young circus ringmaster Wei Wei who only has a bat-swinging gorilla Ling Ling to depend on as her only family member and friend after her grandfather dies in the Great Sichuan Earthquake, leaving behind an insurmountable debt.



When a loan shark threatens to sell Ling Ling and the circus kids to cover the debt, Wei Wei has no choice but to allow Ling Ling to be scouted in the Korean Baseball League by the materialistic sports agent Sung.



Ling Ling, now dubbed "Mr. Go," becomes an instant hit with fans and leads his team Doosan to a miraculous winning streak. No pitcher can stand up to Mr. Go’s powerful single-handed swing, and they watch helplessly as the ball flies out of the park.



His popularity grows so immensely that even fans of his opposing teams cheer for him, and single-handedly attracts worldwide media attention to the league.



Wei Wei and Sung are stunned and blinded by the sudden success, and neglect to detect Ling Ling’s worsening knee injury, just as Japanese clubs are drafting groundbreaking trade propositions.



Guests were received by the consul general and his spouse, who prepared Korean snacks including Gimbap, a popular dish made of rice and various ingredients and wrapped in seaweed.



Other featured dishes were Kimchi, a side dish mainly made from cabbages and variety of seasonings; Galbi, a marinated beef short ribs in Korean soy sauce;  Jumeok Bap, rice ball with tiny dried anchovies; and Haemul jeon, fried pancake of seafood or hobakjean made with squash.