'Hallan' takes Jeju's largely forgotten massacre to the screen

Jeju Island draws millions of tourists each year. They come for the cherry blossoms and volcanic beaches, the UNESCO-designated heritage sites and swanky honeymoon resorts. What most visitors don't know is that the island's soil holds the remains of over 30,000 people killed between 1947 and 1954 — by some estimates, roughly 10 percent of the island's population at the time. The Jeju 4.3 Incident — the term used to describe this period of violence — started as an uprising against plans to hold s

Nov. 15, 2025

The splendor and emptiness of 'Kokuho'

There's something that continues to compel us about the pursuit of artistic greatness — the idea that someone might sacrifice everything for their craft, even their loved ones and fortune, might even destroy themselves in service of beauty. These stories have remained a staple of film since its inception, from "A Star is Born" (1937) and "The Red Shoes" (1948) to "Whiplash" (2014) and "The Brutalist" (2024), and they keep finding audiences for the simple reason that we can't look away from peopl

Nov. 14, 2025

Lee Kun-hee collection makes Smithsonian debut after US govt. shutdown delay

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington opens its doors Saturday to unveil a landmark exhibition of Korean masterworks collected by the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee. The show is starting one week behind schedule after a US federal government shutdown temporarily closed the museum. "Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared" marks the first time the collections of the late Samsung chairman have traveled outside Korea. It features about 200 objects spanning fro

Nov. 14, 2025

Movies in theaters this week

"Now You See Me: Now You Don't" (US) Opened Nov. 12 Crime/Thriller Directed by Ruben Fleischer The Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher) reunite to recruit three young illusionists for a high-stakes diamond theft from a crime syndicate, in this latest installment of the magician-heist franchise. "Predator: Badlands" (US) Opened Nov. 5 Sci-fi/Action Directed by Dan Trachtenberg An undersized Yautja warrior (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) crash-lands on a dea

Nov. 14, 2025

Webtoon Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation to co-produce 10 webcomic adaptations

Webtoon Entertainment announced Wednesday it will enter an agreement with Warner Bros. Animation to co-produce 10 webcomic series for global distribution, the latest move from the South Korea-founded platform to broaden its global animation output. The companies will draw projects from Webtoon's Korean and English-language platforms. Development support comes from Webtoon Productions and the company's Japanese IP business teams. Four titles have been confirmed. Two Korean originals — "The Stella

Nov. 13, 2025

Romance classic 'A Werewolf Boy' gets Philippine remake

The 2012 Korean melodrama "A Werewolf Boy" is getting a Philippine remake, with production now underway through a joint partnership between Viva Films, Studio Viva, and CJ ENM. Filipino actors Rabin Angeles and Angela Muji will head the film in their first lead roles on the big screen. Angeles will play the feral boy originally played by Song Joong-ki, while Muji will step into Park Bo-young's role as Sun-yi. Veteran actress Lorna Tolentino will round out the cast. Director Crisanto B. Aquino, k

Nov. 11, 2025

Seoul, Paris finalizing state visit by President Macron to mark 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year

"The 140th anniversary is more than a cultural celebration," French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux told reporters Tuesday at the French Embassy in Seoul. "It encompasses every dimension of the two countries' relationship -- political, military, economic, scientific and cultural." Tuesday's press conference marked the official launch of programming for 2026, when Korea and France will commemorate 140 years of diplomatic ties since the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation was signe

Nov. 11, 2025

Asian Prince gets lost in 'Love Barista'

The room erupted in laughter when Lee Kwang-soo admitted he'd only just spoken the film's Korean title "Prince Alone" — a playful nod to his nickname "Asian Prince" — out loud for the first time. "I don't know, it's just embarrassing," he said at Monday's press conference at CGV Yongsan, visibly squirming at his own discomfort. "Saying 'Hello, I'm Lee Kwang-soo from "Prince Alone"' feels awkward coming out of my mouth." Director Kim Sung-hoon immediately seized the opening. "Well, you know, I'm

Nov. 10, 2025

Hollywood sequels dominate year-end as Korean films vanish from cinemas

The 2025 year-end slate brings an unusual lopsidedness to Korean theaters. While a trio of highly anticipated Hollywood sequels prepares to take over, major domestic releases have fallen by the wayside — a telling snapshot of where the local film industry finds itself heading into 2026. Leading the charge from Hollywood is James Cameron's "Avatar: Fire and Ash," the third installment in the epic franchise, hitting theaters Dec. 17. Korea gets the film ahead of the US release by two days — a move

Nov. 9, 2025

The patient craftsman's Korean canvas

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — Time slowed down in Sharjah. The emirate's film festival moved at its own languid pace, with long gaps between screenings and plenty of empty hours to fill. Ahn Jae-huun, there as a juror for the animation competition, had just come back from a local museum when we sat down to talk. "I saw this Chinese mother and her little boy at the museum today," he says. "The kid was bouncing around everywhere, totally restless. And I thought: It's totally fine that you're lik

Nov. 8, 2025