Shin Hyun-joon pays tearful tribute to late co-star Kim Soo-mi At Monday's press event for "Thunderstruck Cop" at CGV Yongsan in Seoul, emotional tributes to the late actor Kim Soo-mi overshadowed the typical prerelease discussions. "Mom always hoped this would open during Lunar New Year," said Shin Hyun-joon, who consistently referred to Kim as "mom" throughout the conference ― a testament to their bond forged through multiple on-screen mother-son pairings. Kim, who passed away in October at 75

High-profile ‘Harbin,’ ‘Bogota’ falling short of breakeven goals despite star power The commercial viability of South Korea's two major year-end film releases is being tested by streaming platforms and pandemic aftershocks that continue to threaten theatrical prospects. Even with star power and heavyweight promotion, these productions are struggling to recoup their large-scale investments in an increasingly risk-averse market. "Harbin," CJ ENM's period epic starring Hyun Bin, has accumulated 3.8

Lead star Robert Pattinson to kick off global press tour in Seoul on Jan. 20 Bong Joon-ho's highly anticipated sci-fi adventure "Mickey 17" is set to premiere in Korea on Feb. 28, a week ahead of its global release, Warner Bros. Korea announced Friday. The $150 million blockbuster marks Bong's first directorial project since his Oscar-winning masterpiece, "Parasite." Adding to the buzz, lead star Robert Pattinson will visit Seoul on Jan. 20 for the first major promotional event for the film. The

"Forbidden Fairytale" (South Korea) Opened Jan. 8 Romance/Comedy Directed by Lee Jong-seok Fairy tale writer-turned-content moderator (Park Ji-hyun) tasked with tracking adult content stumbles into the world of online erotic fiction when a chance encounter with a publishing executive leads to an unlikely side gig. "Bogota: City of the Lost" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 31 Action Directed by Kim Seong-je After his family immigrates to Colombia in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, 19-

Japanese animation based on Korean author‘s tale of magical sweets and hidden voice among 15 international contenders for Academy Award A Japanese adaptation of acclaimed Korean children's author Baek Hee-na's work has landed on the Academy Awards shortlist. "Magic Candies," directed by Daisuke Nishio of Toei Animation, joins 15 entries from 13 countries competing for Best Animated Short Film. The film qualified for Oscar consideration after winning the Jury Prize at the New York International C

Chinese entries lead with 91 films among 328 Asian submissions Jeonju International Film Festival has received 662 submissions from 86 countries for its upcoming International Competition, organizers announced Wednesday. Asian films dominated the entries with 328 submissions, followed by Europe (269) and North America (110). China led individual countries with 91 entries, while India and Iran submitted 65 and 48 films, respectively. Narrative films made up the majority with 380 entries, while 21

When serious sister-in-law of ‘Reborn Rich’ decides to make people laugh, result is unexpectedly charming Park Ji-hyun slouches comfortably in a fleece jacket, her hair in a medium-length bob, radiating more of a college sophomore vibe than silver screen starlet. Speaking with a group of reporters at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Monday, she presents a stark departure from her breakthrough role as the ice-cold, calculating sister-in-law of a corporate dynasty in "Reborn Rich," a character tha

The Korean historical drama film "Harbin" has been sold to 117 countries, its distributor said Wednesday. "It is meaningful in that the movie with a distinctly Korean narrative achieved successful international sales," CJ ENM said in a press release. The movie has already premiered in several markets, including the United States, Singapore and Indonesia, with releases scheduled in Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan later this month. The distributor attributed the strong global interest to multipl

Song Jae-rim's final act overshadowed by muddled script Camera flashes erupted like strobe lights Monday at Seoul's Yongsan CGV theater to capture an emotional scene: An otherwise staid film promotion event transformed into an impromptu memorial. The press conference for "Crypto Man," an upcoming cryptocurrency drama, kept circling back to its absent star -- Song Jae-rim, who was found dead at his home in November. Director Hyun Hae-ri broke down as she discussed Song's casting as the film’s mai

Featuring ordinary people, 'I’m Solo, Love Forever' soars to No. 1 on Netflix Korea “I’m Solo, Love Forever,” a low-budget show without a single celebrity cast member, has soared to the No. 1 spot on Netflix Korea as of Sunday, surpassing the globally popular “Squid Game 2.” The Korean dating show, a spin-off of SBS’ “I’m Solo,” presents a hyperrealistic portrayal of singles navigating the challenges of finding a partner. In this sequel, cast members who previously failed to find love on "I’m So

Indie gem captures the healing journey of three burnt-out idols The K-pop industry's harsh toll on artists has prompted exposures of life behind the glory -- exploitative contracts, grueling training, body-shaming and psychological trauma that lingers long after the curtain falls. Korean cinema has largely skirted the issue, until "Time to Be Strong" zeroed in. Fresh from a hat trick at May's Jeonju International Film Festival -- which included the Grand Prix and Best Actor awards -- director Na

"Bogota: City of the Lost" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 31 Action Directed by Kim Seong-je After his family immigrates to Colombia in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, 19-year-old Guk-hui (Song Joong-ki) enters the local Korean black market. Under a powerful kingpin's wing, he transforms from a desperate newcomer into a ruthless crime lord. "Harbin" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 24 Drama/Action Directed by Woo Min-ho Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (Hyun Bin) and his comrades

Big names keep rolling in despite industry crunch As the new year dawns, Korean cinema finds itself at a precarious crossroads. The industry, still reeling from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, faces a dual crisis: Streaming platforms are making theaters increasingly obsolescent, and risk-averse investors are gravitating toward safe bets, with remakes, sequels, and adaptations stacking up one after another. In a telling sign, Korea's five major production houses have barely squeezed out t

Major film promos, pressers on hold South Korea's film industry has begun scaling back promotional circuits following Sunday's devastating plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, which claimed 179 lives when a Jeju Air flight from Bangkok crashed into a wall after veering off the runway. Hive Media Corp., the production company for "Secret: Untold Melody," called off Monday's press conference at Seoul's Megabox Coex in an announcement late Sunday. In a statement to re

Netflix's "Squid Game" Season 2 has ranked No. 1 on a global popularity chart for TV shows available on the streaming giant, just one day after its release, data showed. Netflix's Korean original series "Squid Game" Season 2 topped streaming analytics website FlixPatrol's global chart for top TV shows on Netflix on Friday (U.S. time) after its release the previous day. Of 93 nations compiled by FlixPatrol, it was the most-viewed TV show on the streaming service in 92 nations, including South Kor