''Born to Sing'' (; lit. "National Singing Contest") is a 2013 South Korean comedy-drama film starring Kim In-kwon and directed by Lee Jong-pil. Produced by comedian and variety show host Lee Kyung-kyu, it was released in theaters on May 2, 2013. The film is based on '' National Singing Contest'', an actual TV show that is the longest-running Sunday TV program in Korea since its premiere in 1980. The show travels nationwide with its host/ emcee Song Hae, and currently broadcasts on Sundays at 12:10 p.m. on

KBS1 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, ...

(its English title is ''Korea Sings''). The touching and moving anecdotes shared by previous contestants led to the film ''Born to Sing'', which tells the dynamic and intertwining stories of people seeking redemption at a singing contest.

Plot

The TV program ''National Singing Contest'' is set to film in the city of Gimhae,

South Gyeongsang Province South Gyeongsang Province ( ko, 경상남도, translit=Gyeongsangnam-do, ) is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is at Changwon. It is adjacent to the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. The UNESCO World H ...

. Because the contest is well known as a ticket to becoming a star singer, a number of locals scramble to appear in the televised show. Among the applicants is Bong-nam ( Kim In-kwon), a financially inept, socially awkward man who works as an assistant at his wife's hair salon during the day and as a personal driver for intoxicated businessmen at night. But Bong-nam's lifelong dream has always been to sing. When he hears the news that the country's most popular singing contest will be held in his hometown, he takes part in the preliminary auditions without telling his wife Mi-ae (

Ryu Hyun-kyung Ryu Hyun-kyung (born March 10, 1983) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1996 at age 12 as the younger counterpart of the protagonist in the SBS TV series ''Oxtail Soup''. In 2010, Ryu drew attention with her supporting rol ...

). But soon, his stunning performance makes him the talk of the town, and he becomes an overnight star among the middle-aged women in the city. Hyun-ja (

Lee Cho-hee Lee Cho-hee (born October 4, 1989) is a South Korean actress. She was an ambassador for the 2013 Sangsang Madang Cinema Music Film Festival. Career Lee Cho-hee had a career breakthrough with her role as Song Da-Hee on the KBS weekend drama "O ...

) is Mi-ae's younger sister. She works for a local health drink company, and has a crush on Dong-soo, a guy in the PR department (

Yoo Yeon-seok Yoo Yeon-seok (born Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984) is a South Korean actor. After making his acting debut in 2003 with a small role in '' Oldboy'', he resumed his acting career in 2008. His notable works include the films '' Re-encounter'' (2 ...

). The company CEO orders Hyun-ja to enter the singing contest in order to promote their drink, which she does with Dong-soo's help. Mayor Joo Ha-na (

Kim Soo-mi Kim Soo-mi (born Kim Young-ok on September 3, 1949) is a South Korean actress. She has had a prolific career in film and television. Kim debuted in a talent contest in 1970, then shot to fame in ''Country Diaries''. The landmark TV series aired f ...

) is running for reelection and thinks an appearance in the contest will boost her bid. Unfortunately, she is tone-deaf and a terrible singer. Maeng (

Oh Kwang-rok Oh Kwang-rok (born August 28, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Theater References External links Oh Kwang-rokat SidusHQ iHQ Inc., doing business as SidusHQ () is one of the leading talen ...

), the section chief at city hall, is in charge of helping the production while they film in Gimhae, and he gets pressured by the mayor to find a way of getting her in. Bo-ri ( Kim Hwan-hee) lives with her grandfather (Oh Hyun-gyung). She helps him prepare for his audition, though he keeps forgetting the lyrics. But Bo-ri's mother arrives and wants to immigrate to Canada. So her grandfather is determined to join the contest to leave a lasting memory for his granddaughter.

Cast

* Kim In-kwon as Bong-nam *

as Mi-ae *

as Hyun-ja *

as Dong-soo *

as Mayor Joo Ha-na *Oh Hyun-gyung as Grandfather Oh * Kim Hwan-hee as Moon Bo-ri *

Shin Eun-kyung Shin Eun-kyung (born 15 February 1973) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in '' Downfall'' (1997) and '' My Wife Is a Gangster'' (2001). Shin is most prominent Korean actress in the 1990s, alongside Shim Eun-ha, ...

as Bo-ri's mother *

as Section chief Maeng *

Kim Yong-gun Kim Yong-gun (; born May 8, 1946) is a South Korean actor. His sons Ha Jung-woo Kim Sung-hoon (born March 11, 1978), better known as Ha Jung-woo (), is a South Korean actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. One of the highest gr ...

as CEO Hong * Song Hae as himself * Kim Tae-won as himself *Yoo Yeon as Accidental sister *Jung Suk-yong as health store owner *Jung Kyung-soon as Mi-ae's mother *Lee Se-rang as hair salon customer *Kim Kyung-ae as elderly woman Hong *Seo Young-ju as screenwriter Jung *Seo Dong-soo as producer Shin *Kim Joong-ki as Chinese restaurant owner Jong-bae * Lee Kyung-kyu as man in ending scene music video (cameo)

Awards and nominations

2014 50th

Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...

*Nomination - Best New Director: Lee Jong-pil 2014 34th Golden Cinema Festival *Best New Cinematographer: Kim Jong-seon

References

External links

* * * * {{hancinema film, Born_to_Sing, Born to Sing 2013 films 2010s musical comedy-drama films South Korean musical comedy-drama films 2010s Korean-language films 2010s South Korean films