CGV unveils advanced format lineup for February

ScreenX, 4DX and IMAX screens showcase fresh titles from Marvel's latest to Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey 17" Multiplex cinema chain CGV has unveiled its premium and large-format slate for February. Marvel's "Captain America: Brave New World," Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey 17" and the supernatural anime "Exorcism Chronicles" are among the lineup to screen at ScreenX, 4DX and IMAX theaters. The theater chain steps up the viewer experience through ScreenX's three-wall panoramic display, 4DX's senso

Feb. 6, 2025

At CJ ENM's Visionary tribute, celebrating border tale that changed Korean cinema

Park Chan-wook, cast of 2000 film 'Joint Security Area' reunite In the fall of 2000, as South Korea and North Korea engaged in their first tentative steps toward reconciliation, a film about four soldiers from the South and the North playing cards across the world's most fortified border opened in theaters. The premise seemed improbable, even dangerous, as the South's National Security Law, more strictly enforced back then, punished any depiction of North Korea in the media in a favorable light.

Feb. 5, 2025

Star producer Na Young-suk to create Netflix original

Netflix 2025 lineup includes boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in 'Physical: Asia' Netflix unveiled its 2025 content slate on Tuesday, promising a diverse lineup spanning TV series, films and entertainment shows. The global streaming powerhouse detailed its strategic vision at the "Next on Netflix 2025" press event on Tuesday, emphasizing its commitment to genre-spanning storytelling. "In the content industry, it's easy to fall into the temptation of repeating past successes. However, that is a trap.

Feb. 4, 2025

'Exhuma' shares Jury Prize at France's Gerardmer Fantasy Film Festival

Jang Jae-hyun's occult thriller shares Jury Prize with Canadian feature 'Rumors' as 'In a Violent Nature' claims Grand Prix South Korean supernatural thriller "Exhuma" split the Jury Prize at France's Gerardmer International Fantastic Film Festival on Sunday, continuing the momentum for Korean genre films in the international film festival circuit. Director Jang Jae-hyun's boundary-crossing horror film shared the honor with "Rumors," a Canadian feature from Guy Maddin and the Johnson brothers. R

Feb. 3, 2025

‘Squid Game’ actor Lee Joo-sil dies at 81

Lee Joo-sil, who appeared in Netflix's global hit drama series “Squid Game,” has died at the age of 81, her agency said Monday. Lee had battled stomach cancer since being diagnosed with it in November, her agency, 1230Culture, said. In the second season of “Squid Game,” Lee played the mother of police officer Hwang Jun-ho, played by Wi Ha-joon, who in the first season infiltrated the game as a guard to search for his missing brother. Her other major roles include the mother of Park So-yun, a cha

Feb. 3, 2025

'Hitman 2' tops Lunar New Year holiday box office, selling 1.26 m tickets

"Hitman 2," starring Kwon Sang-woo, claimed the top spot at the box office during the six-day Lunar New Year holiday. According to the Korean Film Council, the action-comedy topped the holiday box office by selling 1.268 million tickets from Saturday to Thursday, bringing its cumulative total to 1.51 million. Coming in second was "Dark Nuns," a supernatural thriller starring Song Hye-kyo, which sold 1.05 million tickets during the holiday, pushing its total to 1.18 million. "Harbin," which premi

Jan. 31, 2025

Sequels, remakes dominate Seollal box office

Risk takes back seat to proven formulas as studios chase familiar hits In South Korea, where the Lunar New Year traditionally sends millions flocking to multiplexes for family entertainment, this year's cinema offerings suggest an industry increasingly wary of original bets. As Koreans gear up for the six-day holiday, theaters are rolling out the most risk-averse holiday lineup in recent memory — three new releases, each a sequel or remake. Leading the pack is "The Priests 2: Dark Nuns," an occu

Jan. 27, 2025

Robert Pattinson's Korean food adventure turns spicy during 'Mickey 17' press tour

Robert Pattinson's first brush with Korean street food turned into a hilarious ordeal of sweat and laughter as The Batman star kicked off the press tour for Bong Joon-ho's latest sci-fi venture "Mickey 17." In a clip posted on the film's official Instagram account on Thursday, Pattinson hit up a local Yongsan eatery with director Bong. The actor dives straight into the tteokbokki, only to discover that the supposedly "mild" dish was actually the "very spicy" option -- a prank set up by the staff

Jan. 24, 2025

Korean Film Council rolls out AI-enhanced masterclass in Saudi Arabia

The Korean Film Council has launched a global film education initiative in Saudi Arabia in partnership with the Korean Academy of Film Arts and NEOM Company to assist emerging Saudi filmmakers. Director Kim Tae-yong of "Late Autumn" and "Wonderland" is heading the six-day intensive program that began Jan. 21, joined by "Wonderland" producer Park Kwan-soo and KAFA professor Na Kyung-chan. The masterclass breaks new ground by incorporating OpenAI's "Sora" for AI-powered storyboarding. It builds on

Jan. 24, 2025

Adaptation of Baek Hee-na's 'Magic Candies' lands Oscar nomination

Animation made Academy shortlist after New York festival jury prize win "Magic Candies," the Japanese adaptation of South Korean author Baek Hee-na's beloved children's books, was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at this year's Academy Awards Thursday. The 20-minute Toei Animation production, directed by Daisuke Nishio, weaves together two of Baek's works to tell the story of a boy who discovers magical candies that unlock the inner thoughts of people, pets and even objects around him. The

Jan. 24, 2025

KOFIC to invest in medium-budget films to revitalize local cinema

The Korean Film Council on Thursday laid out a plan to bolster the production of mid-budget films this year, aiming to revitalize the struggling local film industry. The state agency will allocate approximately 10 billion won ($6.94 million) to support films with budgets ranging from 2 billion to 8 billion won, emphasizing their pivotal role in the Korean cinema landscape. Selected projects must begin production within six months of signing the contract and can receive up to 30 percent of their

Jan. 23, 2025

Hit webtoon 'Stagtown' to be made into film

Naver Webtoon rides wave of popular big-screen adaptations Popular horror series "Stagtown" will be expanding from phone screens to the big screen with its own live-action adaptation, Naver Webtoon announced Wednesday. "Stagtown" was discovered through Naver Webtoon’s global amateur creator platform, Canvas. Since its official 2021 serialization on the company's English-language platform Webtoon, the series gained significant popularity in North America, surpassing 18 million views. The story fo

Jan. 22, 2025

Director Hong Sang-soo's latest makes sixth straight Berlinale run

South Korean arthouse icon Hong Sang-soo's latest feature "What Does Nature Say to You" will compete at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, which opens Feb. 13 in Berlin. This is Hong's sixth consecutive Berlinale nomination. The auteur has had a notable presence at Berlinale. "On the Beach at Night Alone" earned Kim Min-hee Best Actress in 2017, "The Woman Who Ran" won Best Director in 2020, "Introduction" received Best Screenplay in 2021, "The Novelist's Film" claimed the Grand Jury P

Jan. 22, 2025

At 'Mickey17' preview, death on repeat in outer space

Robert Pattinson visits Seoul as disposable space worker in Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho's latest "How did I survive that?" asks a frost-covered Mickey (Robert Pattinson), lying mangled in an icy pit. His supposed friend, played by Steven Yeun, approaches with an unsettling grin, only to ask with morbid fascination: "What does it feel like to die?" The chilling scene, unveiled Monday at Seoul's Yongsan CGV in a first-look preview of Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey17," suggests something more grotesque than

Jan. 20, 2025

Korean cinema tests AI waters

From AI-restored classic to virtual actors, industry ventures into machine learning technology The AI revolution that's been shaking up Hollywood for the past few years has made its way to South Korean shores. From remastering classics to creating productions entirely through generative AI, the local film industry is starting to test out using AI tools for experimental projects. This week brings a remastered version of "Leafie, a Hen into the Wild." The 2011 animated feature gets new life throug

Jan. 19, 2025