Look who’s rising

There is a Korean expression, "a dragon born from an open ditch," referring to someone great who came from humble origins, but here it also happens to be the title of the movie being shown in the theater - apparently the story of former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak, who rose to fame and recognition for the Cheonggyecheon project, the reconstruction of a stream in central Seoul. Lee is seen rising out of the Cheonggyecheon in the poster.

The dragon is sometimes used to symbolize a national leader. Lee happens to want to be Korea’s next president, and currently he enjoys overwhelming popularity. The moving being shown is described as a "Blockbuster that will overwhelm the monster in the Han River."

The recent Korean smash hit film, "The Host," was about a monster that came out of the Han River.

(Hankyoreh Geurimpan, 3 January 2007)