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Baek Byung-yeul

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.

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Films

Actor Koo Kyo-hwan turns immortal in 'Reawaken Man: The Red'

Director Baek Jong-yeol teamed up with actor Koo Kyo-hwan to adapt the popular webtoon "Reawakened Man" into the action film "Reawaken Man: The Red." The director said he focused on reshaping the original comic's premise into a fast-paced action film about an unemployed youth who gains the ability to revive after death. "The original webtoon has a very famous premise about an ordinary person acquiring a completely extraordinary power," Baek, a former commercial and music video director who previously directed "The Beauty Inside" (2015) and Netflix's "Believer 2" (2023), said Wednesday. "My main focus was figuring out how to effectively reconstruct this narrative within the short runtime of a film medium." "Reawaken Man: The Red" follows Seok-hwan (Koo), an unemployed young man. After dying, he realizes he possesses a supernatural ability to revive 72 hours after death, which makes him the target of a mysterious group. Koo continues his impressive box-office streak following his lead role in director Yeon Sang-ho's "Colony," which hit Korean theaters in May and drew over 5.9 million movieg

10h agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Koo Kyo-hwan turns immortal in 'Reawaken Man: The Red'
Films

Lee Chang-dong explores power of human connection in 'Possible Love'

Master director Lee Chang-dong says his new feature film "Possible Love" explores how human affection and personal bonds can sustain people through economic hardship and societal pressure. "The movie is literally a story about love," Lee said during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. "It goes beyond romantic love to explore the love people experience throughout their lives, asking what kind of love is possible for us and how we can protect it." The story centers on a laid-off worker and his wife who cross paths with a wealthy couple living in a completely different social tier. Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) works at a mask factory, while her husband Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu) suffers from severe trauma after losing his job during a violent strike crackdown. Their quiet struggle changes when they meet documentary filmmaker Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jung) and her husband Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). When Ye-ji invites the struggling couple to Sang-woo's beachfront villa for a joint summer vacation, long-suppressed desires and deep-seated class tensions begin to surface. The project faced severe funding hurdles durin

1d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
Lee Chang-dong explores power of human connection in 'Possible Love'
Films

'Portrait of a Family' delivers warmth amid dark realities

Filmmaker Lee Ji-won, who earned critical acclaim with her 2018 movie "Miss Baek," is expanding her thematic scope from isolated individuals to nontraditional family ties in "Portrait of a Family," crafting a story that explores resilience in the face of harsh realities. The film follows baseball star Joong-goo (Ryu Seung-ryong) and high-profile actor Nam-mi (Ha Ji-won), whose lives fall apart when Joong-goo's secret daughter Dong-joo (Kim Si-a) appears. Eight years after their public downfall, the estranged family must reunite, as Dong-joo becomes embroiled in a middle school student's death. While the movie tackles uncomfortable social issues, such as power imbalances and prejudice, its strength lies in its emotional core. Rather than leaving audiences in despair, Lee offers a message of hope and tries to show how broken people can find solace by choosing to stand by one another. Ryu brings deep emotional weight to the lead role. He captures the quiet pain of a fallen star who finds his sole motivation in his drive to protect his daughter. "Even when everything collapsed, the small bac

1d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
'Portrait of a Family' delivers warmth amid dark realities
Films

'The Intern' remake to offer fresh Korean twist on hit Hollywood film

Remaking a beloved Hollywood film was a daunting task, but director Kim Do-young focused on highlighting the unique charm of her Korean cast and adapting the story to reflect modern Korean sentiment. Speaking during a press conference in Seoul on Monday, the director, known for her empathetic storytelling in films like "Kim Ji Young: Born 1982" (2019) and "Once We Were Us," (2025) shared her approach to bringing the 2015 hit film "The Intern" to Korean audiences. "Because the original was so widely loved, remaking it was not easy," Kim said. She said her focus was on making the original narrative feel relevant to modern Korean viewers. "Since the original came out over a decade ago, times and perspectives have changed. I tried to reflect Korean cultural nuances, such as modern workplace slang, while capturing a relatable office life story for audiences across all generations." The upcoming film, scheduled to hit local theaters on Sept. 16, follows Sun-woo (Han So-hee), the passionate CEO of a fast-growing fashion startup. The story unfolds as Gi-ho (Choi Min-sik), a veteran worker with 37

2d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
'The Intern' remake to offer fresh Korean twist on hit Hollywood film
Films

Korean stories becoming Hollywood's favorite sources

Hollywood is showing a growing interest in Korean storytelling that goes beyond K-dramas and K-pop, and the latest adaptation project highlights this expanding focus. While Hollywood previously focused on acquiring finished series for streaming platforms or remaking proven box-office hits, major studios and publishers are now reaching further upstream. Instead of relying solely on mainstream hits, they are trying to secure rights to original literary works and older cult properties to rebuild stories from the ground up. "The DallerGut Dream Department Store," a fantasy novel written by Korean author Lee Mi-ye, is being developed into a live action movie by Disney, U.S. entertainment news outlet Deadline reported Aug. 12. Screenwriter Patrick Ness, known for adapting young adult works, including the "Chaos Walking" trilogy and "A Monster Calls," will write the screenplay for the adaptation. The story follows a protagonist Penny who sells dreams to sleeping customers at a department store, only to face a mystery when strange things begin to happen to the customers. Lee's novel sold more th

Aug 22, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean stories becoming Hollywood's favorite sources
People & Events

Global Elim Foundation awards scholarships to 32 international students

The Global Elim Foundation, established by Yoido Full Gospel Church to support multicultural communities, is set to hold a scholarship ceremony for 32 international students from 18 countries on Aug. 25, the foundation said Friday. The ceremony will take place at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, with diplomats representing 15 nations in attendance. The recipients were selected through official recommendations from their respective embassies in Korea, followed by a review of their enrollment status, academic plans and living conditions. The scholarship recipients represent 18 countries, with five nations in Latin America, eight in Asia, four in Africa and one in the Middle East. Peru and Honduras accounted for the largest number of recipients with three each. Students from countries including Tajikistan, Ecuador, Kenya, Nepal, Iraq, Sudan, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Laos and Cambodia were also selected for the scholarship. The students are currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs across 29 universities nationwide, including Seoul National University, Korea University, Ewha

Aug 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Global Elim Foundation awards scholarships to 32 international students
Films

'The Odyssey' tickets selling for over $70 in Korea

Christopher Nolan's latest blockbuster, "The Odyssey," has created a severe ticket scalping frenzy in Korea, prompting the state-run Korean Film Council to begin collecting reports from the public on illegal resales. "The Odyssey" is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. Korea has no theater equipped with 70-mm film projection to display the movie in its full 1.43:1 aspect ratio. The closest venue is the CGV theater at Yongsan Station, Seoul, making its tickets among the most sought-after in the country. When ticket sales opened on Aug. 5, CGV's website and mobile application experienced severe slowdowns due to massive traffic. The first two screenings on opening day sold out within minutes, except for wheelchair-accessible seats and front-row spots. The surge in demand shifted to online secondhand marketplaces. On platforms such as Bunjang and Karrot Market, tickets originally priced between 17,000 won and 21,000 won appeared for nearly 100,000 won ($72). On Thursday, listings on Karrot Market showed a pair of side-by-side seats at the CGV theater in Yongsan being r

Aug 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The Odyssey' tickets selling for over $70 in Korea
People & Events

FEBC-Korea holds patriotic concerts to mark 70th anniversary

Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea’s choir hosted its annual FEBC-Korea Children's Choir Patriotic Concert in Yeosu and Iksan, drawing a record audience of more than 10,000 people to mark the broadcaster's 70th anniversary. The event took place at Jinnam Sports Center Park in Yeosu, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, on Aug. 13 and Iksan Gymnasium in North Jeolla Province on Aug. 14, ahead of Aug. 15 Liberation Day, the Christian radio broadcaster said Thursday. The concert brought together around 700 children from 13 regional branches across the country. Through a mix of choral music, dance, acting and visual media, the young performers showcased Korea's history, the joy of liberation and a vision for peace and national unity. This year's event carried special weight as FEBC-Korea celebrates 70 years of radio broadcasting mission since its founding in 1956. The host cities were chosen for their historical significance. Yeosu holds the legacy of Adm. Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) and Pastor Son Yang-won (1902-1950), while Iksan served as a center for independent movement and e

Aug 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
FEBC-Korea holds patriotic concerts to mark 70th anniversary
Travel & Food

K-culture boom is reshaping Seoul's hotel market

Korean culture is driving a surge in foreign visitors to Seoul, reshaping the city's hotel market and leading hotel operators to upgrade facilities and rebrand their properties to attract higher-spending international travelers. In the first half of 2026, foreign arrivals to Korea reached a record 10.71 million, rising 21.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. Unlike in the past, when group tours focused mainly on shopping, foreign tourists are now often visiting Korea for K-pop concerts, drama filming sites and medical services, leading to higher expectations for accommodation. "As K-culture continues to attract more international tourists to Korea, demand for various hotel options, ranging from budget accommodations to high-end luxury properties, will keep growing," an official at a hotel in Seoul said on condition of anonymity. Major hotel operators in Seoul are already shifting their business strategies to align with this changing trend. In June, Lotte Hotels & Resorts announced the rebranding of its flagship downtown hotel, Lotte Hotel Seoul, as

Aug 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
K-culture boom is reshaping Seoul's hotel market
Films

'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' promises intense finale for hit franchise

Director Choi Kook-hee said Tuesday he feels deep responsibility and pride in directing "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub," the final chapter of Korea's iconic casino thriller franchise. "It is an honor and a heavy responsibility to wrap up a 20-year journey," he said during a press conference in Seoul. Choi is known for directing the 2018 financial drama "Default" and the 2022 musical film "Life Is Beautiful." "While the film revolves around gambling like its predecessors, this installment focuses more on human nature, envy, jealousy and betrayal." Scheduled to hit local theaters on Sept. 23, "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" serves as the fourth and final entry in the hit series based on Huh Young-man's popular comic book. The franchise launched with "Tazza: The High Rollers" in 2006, followed by "Tazza: The Hidden Card" in 2014 and "Tazza: One Eyed Jack" in 2019. In Korean, "Tazza" refers to a master gambler or card shark skilled in deception. The upcoming film centers on a high-stakes revenge match set on the global gambling stage. The plot follows Jang Tae-young, played by Byun Yo-han, who

Aug 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' promises intense finale for hit franchise
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