'My Daughter is a Zombie' lurches past 4.3 million admissions in record run

The zombie comedy "My Daughter is a Zombie" has topped the Korean box office for 18 consecutive days since its July 30 release, drawing 4.31 million viewers and grossing 40.8 billion won ($ 29,400) through Sunday, according to data from the Korean Film Council. The film crossed the 4 million mark over the Liberation Day holiday weekend on Aug. 15, becoming the first title of 2025 to reach that milestone. It has overtaken "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" (3.36 million) and Korean crime

Aug. 17, 2025

Argentine Korean director Cecilia Kang wins best emerging director award at Locarno

Cecilia Kang won best emerging director at the Locarno Film Festival on Saturday for "Hijo Mayor" ("Elder Son"), her first fiction feature examining Korean immigration to South America. The filmmaker competed in the festival's Filmmakers of the Present section, which showcases first and second features. The prize, awarded by the City and Region of Locarno, recognizes a director who has spent nearly a decade chronicling the Korean diaspora experience. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1985 to K

Aug. 17, 2025

Lee to host public film screening to commemorate 80th Liberation Day anniversary

President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday he will host a movie screening for members of the public this weekend as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. In a social media post, Lee said he plans to watch "La Resistance," a documentary film on the Korean independence movement, on Sunday at a movie theater in Seoul and shared a website link for the public to apply for the event. The exact location and time were not disclosed for security r

Aug. 16, 2025

Anime 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' storms Korean box office

The timing couldn't be more awkward — a Japanese anime film is dominating Korean theaters just as the country celebrates its independence from Japanese colonial rule. The latest installment from the hit manga-and-anime franchise "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" has already racked up 411,835 presale tickets, claiming 53.2 percent of all tickets sold as of Friday. At this rate, the film appears on track to sell nearly one million tickets before its Aug. 22 release. With exclusive premium screenings

Aug. 15, 2025

Liberation Day on the big screen, with stories of Korean resistance

As South Korea marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonial rule on Aug. 15, the film industry is rolling out a slate of works that grapple with the country's defiant history. This year's lineup spans documentary, drama and experimental formats, each offering a distinct perspective of the independence movement and its enduring legacy. Leading the slate is "La Resistance," a documentary on Gen. Hong Beom-do, a guerrilla commander who led Korean force

Aug. 15, 2025

Claudia Kim to host BIFF closing ceremony

The Busan International Film Festival has tapped actor Claudia Kim as solo host for its closing ceremony on Sept. 26, organizers announced Monday. Kim will present the inaugural Busan Awards to winners of the festival's new competitive section — marking BIFF's historic shift to competitive status after 29 years as a non-competitive event. Kim bookends the festival's 30th edition, whose opening ceremony will be hosted by actor Lee Byung-hun. The festival runs Sept. 17-26 at the Busan Cinema Cente

Aug. 11, 2025

Park Chan-wook expelled from Writers Guild of America over 2023 strike violations

The Writers Guild of America has expelled director Park Chan-wook and writer Don McKellar for continuing work on HBO's "The Sympathizer" during the 2023 writers' strike. The announcement, made public Friday, marks one of the most high-profile disciplinary actions stemming from the 148-day work stoppage. The expulsion carries significant professional consequences for the "Oldboy" director as it encompasses virtually all scripted content produced by Hollywood's major players. Park is now barred fr

Aug. 11, 2025

BIFF unveils Asian cinema retrospective for 30th edition

The Busan International Film Festival announced Friday its special program "Defining Moments of Asian Cinema," featuring retrospective screenings and talks with major Asian filmmakers for its 30th anniversary edition. The program marks the third iteration of the festival's Asian Cinema 100 initiative, first launched in 2015. It follows previous editions surveying the best Asian films (2015) and best Asian films by female directors (2021). Festival organizers selected 119 titles through a survey

Aug. 8, 2025

Lee Chang-dong returns with Netflix's 'Possible Love'

Acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong returns to marquee filmmaking with Netflix's "Possible Love," the streamer announced Tuesday. The project marks Lee's first feature since his acclaimed psychological thriller "Burning" (2018). The Netflix film reunites Lee with powerhouse actors from past critically celebrated works. Jeon Do-yeon, who won for best actress at the Cannes Film Festival for Lee's "Secret Sunshine" (2007), will star alongside Sul Kyung-gu, the leading actor from Lee's loved earlier f

Aug. 5, 2025

Actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55

Actor Song Young-kyu was found dead Monday morning inside a parked vehicle in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, police said. He was 55. Authorities said there were no signs of foul play. An investigation is ongoing, with plans to question family members to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. The veteran actor, best known for his supporting role as the gruff squad chief in the 2019 box office hit "Extreme Job," had been under scrutiny since late July, when it was revealed he had been arre

Aug. 4, 2025

Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice’ to open this year's Busan International Film Festival

Park Chan-wook’s latest film, "No Other Choice," will open the 30th Busan International Film Festival on Sept. 17, festival organizers announced Monday. The black comedy marks Park’s return to feature filmmaking three years after "Decision to Leave." Based on Donald Westlake’s 1996 novel "The Ax," the film follows a laid-off middle-aged man who begins eliminating rival job seekers in a desperate bid to secure employment and support his family. Park reportedly spent 17 years developing the screen

Aug. 4, 2025

Box office suffers historic first-half decline as theaters adapt survival strategies

It's almost a truism at this point to say that movie theaters are in deep trouble, and Thursday's midyear report from the Korean Film Council confirmed that yet again with hard numbers. According to the report, box office revenue declined 33 percent year-on-year to 408 billion won ($293 million) in the first half of 2025, with attendance dropping 32.5 percent. Only two films managed to break the 30 billion won threshold: Tom Cruise's Hollywood blockbuster "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoni

Aug. 3, 2025

Cue the popcorn — Korea is giving out 6,000 won discounts on movie tickets

Moviegoers in South Korea can receive discounts of 6,000 won on regular admission prices starting Friday at 10 a.m. The joint initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Film Council, aims to revive the struggling cinema industry and boost consumer spending. The ministry allocated 27.1 billion won ($19.6 million) of the second supplementary budget to the program, which passed a National Assembly vote on July 4. Moviegoers can claim up to two coupons each through the

July 23, 2025

Yoon Ga-eun's 'The World of Love' selected for Toronto's Platform competition

South Korean director Yoon Ga-eun's latest feature "The World of Love" has been selected for the Platform section at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, the film's local distributor Barunson E&A said Wednesday. The selection marks the first time a Korean film has competed in the festival's prestigious auteur-focused competition. The Platform section, founded in 2015, primarily showcases distinctive works from early-to-mid-career filmmakers. It serves as the festival's only competitive

July 23, 2025

Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice’ heads to Venice competition

Director Park Chan-wook’s upcoming feature "No Other Choice" has been selected for the main competition at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, festival organizers announced Tuesday evening during a livestream unveiling the official lineup. An adaptation of Donald Westlake’s 1996 novel "The Ax," "No Other Choice" follows a laid-off middle-aged man who begins eliminating rival job candidates to secure employment and support his family. Lee Byung-hun stars alongside Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-m

July 22, 2025