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Summer's zombie fare banks on family feels
Summer movie season calls for crowd-pleasers, and “My Daughter is a Zombie” pitches something unexpectedly offbeat — a zombie comedy that swaps gore for giggles, turning the undead apocalypse into a heartwarming family romp. On Monday, director Pil Gam-seong and cast introduced the film at a press conference at Seoul’s CGV Yongsan, offering a first look at their family-friendly spin on the zombie genre. Based on a web comic that ran from 2018 to 2020, the film follows Jung-hwan (Cho Jung-seok),
June 30, 2025 -
Director Yu Hyun-mok's long-lost 'Im Kkeok-jeong' unearthed in US
Renowned South Korean film director Yu Hyun-mok's 1961 film "Im Kkeok-jeong" has finally surfaced again at the US Library of Congress after being lost for over six decades. The historical film was screened at the Cinematheque KOFA in Seoul on Thursday as part of a special retrospective celebrating the 100th anniversary of the filmmaker's birth. "The US Library of Congress had a film titled 'General Rim Kog Jung,' which I thought could be a North Korean film. But it turned out to be director Yu's
June 27, 2025 -
Film and the forgotten war: The Korean War on the silver screen
Wednesday marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, one of the most deeply felt tragedies in Korea's modern history. With the peninsula technically remaining at war, it’s a fitting moment to look at how cinema has grappled with this enduring wound. Korean War films reveal how representations of the conflict have transformed across eras, shaped by shifting political climates and national perspectives. Each era produced its own version of the war, filtered through the anxieties of the moment a
June 24, 2025 -
Animation ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ hits No. 1 on Netflix in 26 countries, tops 93 charts
An animated film about a K-pop girl group that battles evil spirits is now one of Netflix’s most-watched titles worldwide. "K-Pop Demon Hunters," co-directed by Korean-American filmmaker Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, debuted June 20 and quickly topped Netflix’s global chart, according to data from FlixPatrol. Between June 21 and 22, it held the No. 1 position globally, ranking first in 26 countries and landing in the Top 10 in 93. Viewership has been especially strong not only in Asia but als
June 24, 2025 -
Park Chan-wook wants to film 'Human Acts' by Nobel laureate Han Kang
Filmmaker Park Chan-wook would like to adapt “Human Acts” by Nobel laureate Han Kang into a film if given the chance. “Just reading the first chapter, I thought, ‘Wow, this is just masterfully written.’ It struck me as a masterpiece from the start,” he said. The comment came during a session titled “Park Chan-wook’s Literary Anchors” with literary critic Shin Hyoung-cheol, held Friday at the Seoul International Book Fair at Coex. When asked whether there are any Korean novels he dreams of adapti
June 23, 2025 -
Korean horror films tap everyday anxieties for spine-chilling thrills
Summer in South Korea traditionally means one thing: audiences flocking to darkened theaters for a good scare. It's a peculiar cultural ritual where horror films offer an icy jolt to counter the sweltering heat — a shiver down the spine in place of a cool breeze. But this year’s slate of Korean horror marks a departure from the genre’s usual paranormal suspects. Gone are the vengeful spirits and timeworn curses that once haunted screens. Instead, filmmakers are leaning into the anxieties of mode
June 22, 2025 -
Danny Boyle redefined zombie horror with '28 Days Later.' After more than 2 decades, he’s back to continue the story
Danny Boyle opened Wednesday's virtual press conference with self-deprecating humor. "I'm sorry I'm not in. I'd love to come to Korea, but I'm in London parked in front of a green screen," the director quipped. Humility aside, his timing couldn't be better. "28 Years Later" has dominated Korean advance bookings for two consecutive days, moving nearly 50,000 tickets ahead of Thursday's theatrical release. The film's early momentum suggests audiences are primed for Boyle's return to the franchise
June 18, 2025 -
Korean noir 'Mercy For None' tops Netflix's non-English series chart
The action noir "Mercy For None" claimed the top spot on Netflix's global non-English series chart, the streaming giant said Wednesday. The series garnered 7.6 million views for the week ending on Sunday, far outperforming the runner-up, "Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30,000 Ft." which drew 4.2 million views. Adapted from the hit webtoon "Plaza Wars," "Mercy For None" centers on Ki-jun (So Ji-sub) as he reenters the criminal underworld to avenge the mysterious death of his younger brother Ki-seok (L
June 18, 2025 -
‘Omniscient Reader: The Prophet’ bets big with star power and fan-favorite IP
What happens when you‘re the only person who’s read an obscure web novel, and then its story becomes reality? That mind-bending premise drives “Omniscient Reader: The Prophet,” this summer’s most ambitious tentpole in local theatres, built on a web comic juggernaut that‘s amassed over 425 million views worldwide since its launch in 2020. Adapted from the smash hit web novel "Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint" which first launched in 2018 and later spawned the comic, the film has everything riding on
June 17, 2025 -
Diving into uncharted waters
The Sewol Ferry disaster of 2014 remains one of Korea’s most deeply felt national tragedies. While public attention has long focused on those who were on board, the stories of civilian divers who risked their lives to recover victims' bodies have largely remained in the background. "Sea Tiger," Jung Yoon-chul’s (“Marathon,” “A Man Who Was Superman”) first film in eight years, brings those overlooked narratives to the fore through an experimental approach that strips cinema down to its theatrical
June 16, 2025 -
Korean comedy 'Hi-Five' hits million-ticket milestone
Korean comedy "Hi-Five" crossed one million admissions on Saturday, marking a milestone for local cinema amid generally favorable but mixed audience reactions. According to the Korean Film Council's latest box office data, the superhero comedy reached 1,040,358 total admissions as of Saturday evening, hitting the benchmark nine days after its May 30 release. The film ranked second in daily ticket sales with 134,333 admissions, trailing only the Hollywood live-action remake "How to Train Your Dra
June 9, 2025 -
World Webtoon Festival to return with global push
South Korea’s flagship web comic showcase is returning for a second year — this time, on a larger scale. As with last year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will host the event, with the Korea Creative Content Agency overseeing operations. The 2025 World Webtoon Festival will take place Oct. 19–22 at the sprawling Lotte World Mall complex in Songpa-gu, Seoul, a 244,000-square-meter mixed-use development. The new venue marks a shift from last year’s boutique setup in Seongsu-dong to on
June 8, 2025 -
Ocean films return to Busan
The Korea International Ocean Film Festival is running for the eighth time from June 19-22 at Busan Cinema Center. Co-hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and the Korea Ocean Business Corp., with support from the International Ocean Film Foundation, this year’s festival brings together 33 films from 10 countries under the theme “Where the Sea Touches Us.” "Her Shark Story," directed by Ignacio Walker and Denis Arqueros, opens the festival on June 19 at 6 p.m. The documentary follows marine biologis
June 6, 2025 -
Lee Byung-hun to headline Korean dub cast for 'The King of Kings'
Actor Lee Byung-hun will lend his voice to Charles Dickens in the Korean dubbing of "The King of Kings," joining a star-studded cast for the animated film that has become the highest-grossing Korean production in US box office history. Thursday's cast announcement by Mofac Studio revealed Jin Sun-kyu as Jesus, Lee Ha-nee as Catherine Dickens alongside Lee and Yang Dong-geun as Peter. Veteran actors Cha In-pyo (Pontius Pilate), Kwon Oh-joong (King Herod), and Jang Gwang (High Priest Caiaphas) rou
June 6, 2025 -
'The Pact' taps former first lady's controversies for box office surprise
On the eve of South Korea's presidential election, an unlikely contender has made waves at the box office. "The Pact" — a darkly provocative occult thriller — claimed second place in nationwide ticket sales Monday, an unexpected showing for a low-budget production with a partisan political agenda. According to the Korean Film Council's latest box office data, "The Pact" drew 60,140 viewers on its opening day Monday, narrowly edging out $400 million Hollywood juggernaut "Mission: Impossible — Fin
June 3, 2025