‘Officer Black Belt’ explores world of probation officers

Netflix original film “Officer Black Belt” explores the world of probation officers -- a little covered topic in Korea -- with witty comedy and thrilling action sequences. This coming-of-age comedy action “Officer Black Belt” revolves around Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin) who has exceptional martial arts skills and goes on to assist probation officer Kim Sun-min (Kim Sung-kyun). The two pair up to keep an eye on criminals wearing ankle monitors. Director Jason Kim (“Midn

Sept. 10, 2024

Jung Hae-in says he felt no pressure to match ‘Veteran’ performance in ‘I, the Executioner’

Jung Hae-in of “I, the Executioner” said he didn’t feel under pressure to match up to Yoo Ah-in’s portrayal of ruthless villain Jo Tae-oh in the film’s prequel “Veteran,” despite the huge buzz Jo created in the 2015 original. Filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan’s upcoming action blockbuster -- also known as “Veteran 2” -- picks up the story of veteran detective Seo Do-chul (Hwang Jung-min) nine years after the first installment, as he is joined by

Sept. 10, 2024

[Herald Interview] Amit Ulman’s ‘The City’ turns cult theater play into hip-hop-inspired film noir

JECHEON, North Chungcheong Province – In Amit Ulman’s “The City,” a cynical detective named Joe is visited by mysterious nightclub singer Sarah on a stormy night. Following her request to help investigate her sister’s disappearance, Joe navigates complicated and suspicious circumstances with gangs, killers and corrupt police -- as well as Sarah. While the 81-minute movie sticks to a typical film noir formula popular in the 1940s and '50s, a stylish crime flick

Sept. 9, 2024

13th Swedish Film Festival opens Sept. 10 in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu

The 13th Swedish Film Festival will open on Sept. 10 and take place in Seoul, Busan, Incheon and Daegu until Sept. 29. This annual film festival aims to introduce the latest Swedish films as well as shed light on the creativity of Swedish creators and their introspection through films. The 13th edition of the festival will look into the definition of “community” and “individual” through movies, according to the event organizer. The festival will kick off at Seoul’s

Sept. 6, 2024

Park Bo-young, Ahn Jae-hong to host Busan film fest opening ceremony

Actors Park Bo-young and Ahn Jae-hong have been announced as the hosts of the opening ceremony of the 29th Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off Oct. 2. The 29th BIFF’s opening ceremony takes place at the Busan Cinema Center BIFF Theater at 7 p.m., Oct. 2. Park, 34, made her acting debut with drama series “Secret Campus” (2006) and rose to prominence as a leading rookie in Korean cinema after hit family comedy “Scandal Makers” (2008). In 2015, her film

Sept. 6, 2024

Park Chan-wook-produced Netflix period flick ‘Uprising’ to be released Oct. 11

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will be released Oct. 11, the global streaming platform confirmed Friday. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. “I’ve been writing the screenplay (for this project) for a long time and completed it in 2019. Because it’s a perio

Sept. 6, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Lim Young Woong: Im Hero the Stadium” (South Korea) Opened Aug. 28 Documentary Directed by Jung Hyun-cheol, Jo Woo-young South Korean hit trot singer Lim Young-woong's two concerts in May that attracted a combined 100,000 people at Seoul World Cup Stadium come to the big screen. “Alien: Romulus” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Horror/Sci-fi Directed by Fede Alvarez Set in 2142, a group of young space colonizers go on an adventure and land in a derelict space station, only t

Sept. 6, 2024

Adaptation of Dutch best-seller ‘A Normal Family’ highlights ‘Korean’ elements

Dutch author Herman Koch’s best-seller novel “The Dinner,” which has been adapted into films around the world three times already, becomes “A Normal Family” in the hands of director Hur Jin-ho, who said he has highlighted “Korean elements.” Hur, the director behind the country’s legendary 1998 romance flick “Christmas in August,” marks his return to the silver screen with the adaption. His latest work was the JTBC series “Lost&rdq

Sept. 4, 2024

Netflix Korean period film ‘Uprising’ to open 29th BIFF

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will open the 29th Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 2, the first time for a streaming platform movie to open Asia’s largest film festival. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. The period film stars Gang Dong-won, in the role of C

Sept. 3, 2024

[History through films] ‘The Man Standing Next’: President’s assassination revisited

The 2020 suspenseful history flick “The Man Standing Next” revisits one of the most pivotal incidents in Korea’s modern history: the 1979 presidential assassination. The late President Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea with an iron fist for 18 years, is a highly debated figure in the country’s history. So is his right-hand man Kim Jae-gyu, the then director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency who pulled the trigger against Park. More than 40 years have passed an

Sept. 3, 2024

Young Seoulite’s love, friendships explored in ‘Love in the Big City’

When it was published in 2019, “Love in the Big City” gained popularity for its refreshingly frank portrayal of Seoul’s queer scene, gaining international recognition when it made the International Booker Prize longlist in 2022. Now Park Sang-young’s bestseller has been adapted as a movie following the friendship of two young Seoulites: Jae-hee and Heung-soo, who know and understand each other better than anyone else -- even themselves. Kim Go-eun, who impressed critics a

Sept. 2, 2024

[Herald Review] ‘Concerning My Daughter’: Learning how to love someone without understanding

Sang-ok (Oh Min-ae) is a mother in her 50s working as a caregiver at a nursing home. When Sang-ok’s 30-something daughter unexpectedly moves into her house with her girlfriend of seven years, Sang-ok is forced to live with them. “Maybe I let you study too much,” Sang-ok says to her daughter, a part-time instructor at a college. Sang-ok hurls a barrage of questions at her daughter: “What can you guys do together? Can you guys register as a married couple? What about having

Sept. 1, 2024

[What to Watch] 3 summer horror films that are killer at beating the heat

The summer heat seems to be taking its time in going away, meaning there are still ample reasons to watch the latest horror films in theaters. Several horror movies, from Korean occult genre to entertaining Hollywood films, are being released in cinemas now through early September. “Spring Garden” Directed by Koo Tae-jin, the movie revolves around So-hee (Jo Yoon-hee) who lost the joy of everyday life after the sudden death of her husband. She goes to live at a rural mansion -- N

Aug. 31, 2024

'Past Lives' star Yoo Teo cast as lead in Hollywood film 'Karoshi'

South Korean actor Yoo Teo, acclaimed for his performance in the Oscar-nominated romance drama "Past Lives" (2023), has been officially cast as the lead in the upcoming Hollywood action thriller "Karoshi." "Karoshi" is written and directed by US filmmaker Takashi Doscher, who is known for his award-winning thriller "Still" (2018). The film is produced by 87eleven Action Design, a US production company popular for producing multiple hit action flicks such a

Aug. 30, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Alien: Romulus” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Horror/Sci-fi Directed by Fede Alvarez Set in 2142, a group of young space colonizers go out for an adventure and land in a derelict space station, only to face the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a closed-down space. “Twisters” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Action/Adventure Directed by Lee Isaac Chung Retired tornado chaser and meteorologist Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is persuaded to return to Oklah

Aug. 30, 2024

29th BIFF selects 12 world premiere films of emerging directors

The 29th Busan International Film Festival announced Thursday 12 selections for the “Korean Cinema Today -- Vision” section, which premieres indie films of up-and-coming independent film directors in Korea. A world premiere in this section has been regarded as a stepping stone for garnering attention in the domestic and international film industries, as the films go through official release at cinemas here or receive invitations to prestigious international film festivals. The select

Aug. 29, 2024

[News Analysis] Are movie tickets in Korea too expensive?

Veteran actor Choi Min-sik’s remarks on an interview show recently have sparked debate about whether movie tickets at South Korean cinemas are indeed expensive. While his comment drew mixed reactions, the country’s largest multiplex cinema chain decided to halve its ticket prices for four days. “Movie theaters have raised (ticket) prices a lot. Please lower them a bit. If you suddenly raise them like that, I wouldn’t go anywhere either (even as an actor). Do you think peo

Aug. 27, 2024

20th JIMFF to kick off next week, features 98 music films

The 20th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival will kick off Sept. 5 for a six-day run, with a program combining contemporary music and cinema and live concerts. Under the slogan of “Superascendo,” which means “to transcend” in Latin, the festival will screen 98 movies from 37 countries and hold music concerts by 26 performers. The slogan represents JIMFF’s commitment to advancing into a new era, reflecting on its 20 years of history while looking forward

Aug. 26, 2024

The 29th BIFF to hold special program on late actor Lee Sun-kyun

The late actor Lee Sun-kyun will get special attention during the 29th Busan International Film Festival when it presents a special program entitled “In Memory of Lee Sun-kyun.” Six of Lee’s films will be screened and a special talk event will be held as part of the program that sheds light on Lee’s work. “Through the program, the festival aims to reflect on and commemorate the achievements of the late actor, whose diverse and profound performances have represented

Aug. 23, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Twisters” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Action/Adventure Directed by Lee Isaac Chung Retired tornado chaser and meteorologist Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and test a groundbreaking tornado tracking system. “Land of Happiness” (South Korea) Opened Aug. 14 Drama Directed by Choo Chang-min Passionate lawyer In-hoo (Jo Jung-suk) strives to defend his client Tae-joo (Lee Sun-kyun), a soldier implicated in the assassination of P

Aug. 23, 2024