He probably would admit it himself, that it hasn't been a very positive last few years for Choi Min-Shik, one of Korea's best actors.
One of the most outspoken film personalities against the screen quota cut and the FTA with the US, a lot of the superficial knee-jerk reactions (on the tune of "why are millionaires driving expensive foreign cars protesting alongside farmers?") the people showed ended up hurting his career, and when he made the mistake of starring in a couple of, let's just say "touchy" commercial ads (how do you spell "glorified loan sharks?"), things got even worse. Choi, whose last appearances on the big screen were 2005's 친절한 금자씨 (Sympathy for Lady Vengeance) and 주먹이 운다 (Crying Fist), has been avoiding the limelight, returning to his roots by recently starring in a theater play, 필로우맨 (Pillow Man). But, finally, it seems his hiatus will soon come to an end.
Choi is starring in director Jeon Su-Il's 히말라야, 바람이 머무는 곳 (Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells), as a man who goes to Nepal to return the urn of a local man, who died in a work-related accident in Korea. With the exception of Choi, the entire cast will be made of Nepalese non-professional actors. Jeon still hasn't made much of a name for himself either in Korea or in the festival circuit, but he's certainly shown potential. He directed the little-known gem from 1999, 새는 폐곡선을 그린다 (The Bird who Stops in the Air) starring Seol Kyung-Gu, and both 2002's 나는 나를 파괴할 권리가 있다 (My Right to Ravage Myself) and 2005's 개와 늑대 사이의 시간 (Time Between Dog & Wolf) -- not to be confused with the MBC drama -- are pretty solid, powerful indie flicks. The PIFF jury just announced the film will be screened at this year's festival, and although there's no theater release date announced, it should come in late 2008/early 2009.
As for Choi, just to celebrate his return, and hope he'll just forget the last few years, a line from his most impressive performance, Park Chan-Wook's 올드보이 (Oldboy) -- although it of course originated somewhere else:
웃어라, 온 세상이 너와 함께 웃을 것이다. 울어라, 너 혼자 울 것이다. Laugh, and the entire world shall laugh with you. Cry, and you shall cry alone.