Director Lee Yong-joo, who is known for “Architecture 101,” a hit romance film that came out in 2012, has returned with a science fiction film about the first human clone “Seobok.” “I changed the genre of movie that I make, and this was not done on purpose,” Lee said during a press conference held at CGV Yongsan in central Seoul. “My first film was the horror film ‘Living Death,’ and it was about human fears. After that, I have always wante

In the film “Minari,” Korean grandmother Soon-ja, played by Youn Yuh-jung, arrives in the US with her luggage packed with seeds for Korean vegetables and other home goods for her daughter. Youn’s own bag has been overflowing with trophies from the US for her acting in “Minari” alone, and on Monday, she added another feather to her cap with one from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards. At the BAFTA ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Yo

Nobody (US) Opened April 7 Comedy Directed by Ilya Naishuller Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) is a seemingly ordinary man. Hutch does his best both at work and home, but he and his wife Becca (Connie Nielsen) have not been intimate in years, and his son Blake has no respect for him as a father. One night, a man and woman break into his house. Instead of stopping the burglars, Hutch lets them get away, worsening his relationship with his family. Book of Fish (Korea) Opened March 31 Drama Direc

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation announced on Thursday that 2021 Hanbok Culture Week kicks off Friday and will run until April 18. Established in 2018, the event has been held annually in the third week of October to promote the beauty of Korean traditional costume. This year it will be held twice, once in spring and once in autumn, according to the Korea Craft & Design Foundation. “2021 Hanbok Culture Week is prepared as a safe

After watching Lee Joon-ik’s “Book of Fish” along with only a couple of other moviegoers at Dongdaemun Megabox in Seoul on Tuesday, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee promised to support the local film industry, which is suffering financially due to COVID-19. “This film is directed by a renowned movie director, who made films ‘The King and the Clown’ and ‘The Throne,’ but there are not many in the audience. This weighs on me,” H

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- The pandemic and female directors are the focus of this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival, which announced its lineup at a press conference at the Jeonju Digital Independent Cinema on Tuesday. Under the slogan “Film Goes On,” the 22nd Jeonju International Film Festival will be a hybrid event screening 186 movies -- 116 features and 70 shorts -- from 48 countries. A total of 45 films are competing in the international competition, the

Works of art are among the items that can now be bought at a department store. Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture said it has opened “S-store” on the fourth floor of Lotte Department Store in Gangnam, Seoul, Friday. A total of 63 artworks by 26 artists are on display at the store. The price of the art pieces ranges from 10,000 won to 1 million won, according to SFAC. The store is part of the SFAC and Lotte Department Store Gangnam’s project to jointly create a structure

Even after winning more than 30 awards for her supporting role in “Minari,” 73-year-old South Korean actor Youn Yuh-jung looked shocked when she brought in another trophy -- this time at the 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards. At the 2021 SAG Awards on Monday, Youn was honored for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role for playing Soon-ja, a Korean grandmother in the US-made film. “I don’t know how to describe my feelings, being recognized by West

Multiplex chain CJ CGV will screen 11 films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards at its 35 theaters starting Saturday. “Nomadland” directed by Chloe Zhao, “Judas and the Black Messiah” directed by Shaka King and “Quo Vadis, Aida?” directed by Jasmila Zbanic will be screened before their official release as part of the special screening program that will give theatergoers an opportunity to watch Oscar nominated films, the cinema operator said. &ldq

The organizers of the Asiana International Short Film Festival on Wednesday announced that this year’s festival has been canceled, after Asiana Airlines decided to drop its sponsorship. “Asiana International Short Film Festival closes its doors, as the sponsorship of the Asiana Airlines has been discontinued due to various circumstances such as COVID-19,” the Asiana International Short Film Festival secretariat office said in a statement. Established in 2003, the short film

The Korean Film Council’s investigation into blacklisting of film industry figures has come under fire for failing to reflect victims’ voices and not dealing with all major cases. Filmmakers immediately condemned the investigation results presented during a briefing on March 9 and launched a petition drive calling for a reinvestigation. The blacklist refers to a list of nearly 9,300 artists or groups who were unfairly excluded from government subsidies and support or who were sur

Godzilla vs. Kong (US) Opened March 25 Action Directed by Adam Wingard Godzilla and Kong are the last known active titans on Earth‘s surface. One day, Godzilla suddenly attacks secret lab Apex Cybernetics. To avoid further disruption and protect mankind, Kong and his protectors undertake a dangerous journey to find the energy source of Hollow Earth. However, they unexpectedly find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla. 　 The Box (Korea) Opened March 24 Drama Directed by Yang Jung

The Ven. Jimong, chairperson of the Social and Labor Affairs Committee of the Jogye Order, the nation’s largest Buddhist sector, walked into the Myanmar Embassy to Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, late Thursday morning, holding a large envelope that says “Request for Assistance with Obtaining a Special Entry Permit to Myanmar.” The committee explained that the envelope contained documents requesting the Myanmar Embassy in Korea issue special entry permits for three Korean monks -- th

  Some visitors may experience a wave of nostalgia after viewing old pop LP records, old-style record players and a nickel-silver “dosirak” container (lunchbox) at the National Folk Museum of Korea. The items are on display in Permanent Exhibition Hall 2, which reopened March 20 after extensive renovation. “Previously, the exhibition here focused on showcasing relics from the late Joseon era. The new exhibition not only showcases items from the Joseon era but also items

Employees of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism wear hanbok to work Wednesday. To promote wearing Korean traditional attire, the Culture Ministry has assigned the last Wednesday of each month as “A Good Day to Wear Hanbok.” (Culture Ministry) By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)

The Social and Labor Affairs Committee of the Jogye Order, the nation‘s largest Buddhist sect, on Tuesday announced that it will request the Myanmar Embassy in Korea to issue special entry permits for three Korean monks on Thursday. The permits will be for Ven. Jimong, the chairperson of the committee, along with Ven. Hyedo and Jongsu.　 “We see that it is a religious person’s duty to go to the scene where people are suffering and are in sorrow,” an official of the comm

Making an impression on people who have just stepped off their planes are works of media art with traditional Korean cultural elements newly installed at the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon Airport. Eight pieces of media art -- three works in the form of media walls, four kinetic artworks and one transparent LED display -- have been installed in the area between the arrival gates and immigration checkpoint, according to the National Palace Museum of Korea on Monday. The three media wa

The writer and cast of SBS ‘Joseon Exorcist’ on Saturday released apology statements for taking part in the show that depicts Korean history inaccurately. “I sincerely apologize for the trouble my inconsiderate script has caused to viewers over the past few days,” writer Park Kye-ok said in a statement. “I should have learned from my past mistakes and presented a better story as a writer, I made viewers angry with my lack of judgment.” The apology statement

As more and more K-pop singers gain prominence on the global stage, the demand for English-language K-pop content is on the rise. Comments on many of the videos featuring K-pop stars contain requests for English subtitles. “I sometimes joke with my (BTS) Army friends that the biggest fear as international Army is not having subtitles for BTS videos,” a BTS fan living in the Philippines, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Korea Herald. Army is the band’s official

The Box (Korea) Opened March 24 Drama Directed by Yang Jung-woong Aspiring musician Ji-hoon (Chanyeol) has a fear of performing in front of the public. He can sing only when he wears a box. One day, Ji-hoon meets once-popular producer Min-Soo (Jo Dal-hwan), and the two men sign a contract to hold 10 performances together.  The Mauritanian (US) Opened March 17 Drama Directed by Kevin Macdonald Attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) dec