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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

Jeonju Int’l Film Festival to open with tribute to late actor Ahn Sung-ki

The 27th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) will kick off its 10-day run Wednesday, featuring 237 films from 54 countries. This year’s edition seeks to broaden the festival’s cinematic scope by bridging the gap between historical retrospectives and contemporary social discourse. With 78 world premieres on the schedule, the event is set to reinforce its status as a premier platform for independent and experimental cinema that challenges conventional narratives. A highlight of the opening will be the presentation of a special lifetime achievement award to the late Ahn Sung-ki, the legendary actor who passed away earlier this year. The festival organizers established the award to honor Ahn’s lifelong contribution in elevating Korean cinema. Ahn’s son, Ahn Philip, will accept the award on behalf of his father. The opening ceremony will be hosted by actors Shin Hyun-joon and Go Won-hee. The festival will open with the film "Late Fame," directed by Kent Jones. Based on a story by Arthur Schnitzler, the film portrays an aging former poet whose quiet life is revitalized by a new g

Apr 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jeonju Int’l Film Festival to open with tribute to late actor Ahn Sung-ki
Films

‘Salmokji’ leads quiet box office revival for Korean horror

Korean horror films, which have struggled to find broad commercial success in recent years, are seeing a quiet resurgence at the local box office, demonstrated over the last three weeks by "Salmokji: Whispering Water." The film, which opened April 8, crossed 2 million admissions as of Monday, according to the Korean Film Council, becoming the first Korean horror film to reach that milestone since "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum" in 2018. The success of "Salmokji" is particularly notable given the loss of the prestige and footing for the genre in recent years, which once served as a launch pad for many stars, starting with the "Whispering Corridors" franchise in the 1990s. However, the film's consistent performance suggests that horror is regaining its competitive edge among local movie fans. The film follows a road survey crew that returns to a remote reservoir to investigate a mysterious figure captured in their footage. The film went viral shortly after its release, with viewers sharing clips of people reacting with fright during screenings and posting smartwatch screenshots showing spiking h

Apr 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Salmokji’ leads quiet box office revival for Korean horror
K-pop

BTS returns to US stage after 4 years

K-pop powerhouse BTS has commenced its highly anticipated North American tour in Tampa, Florida, marking the group's first full-scale concert series in the region in four years. The group opened the North American leg of its “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’” at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa with performances on Saturday, Sunday and a third show scheduled for April 28 (local time). The performances mark their first return to the U.S. stage since their April 2022 shows in Las Vegas. The extensive tour will span 12 cities across North America for a total of 31 performances. Due to overwhelming demand, tickets for all initial dates sold out immediately, prompting organizers to add extra shows in cities including Tampa, Stanford and Las Vegas. Tampa has embraced the group's arrival by transforming the city into a festival zone. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared videos on social media showing the city hall illuminated in purple, the color associated with BTS and its fandom, ARMY. The city’s bridges are also set to remain lit in purple through April 29. Local infrastructure has coordinated to

Apr 26, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
BTS returns to US stage after 4 years
Films

Leaders use cinema visits to signal political, social agendas

From a movie about a state massacre to an independent film tackling youth employment, Korea’s top leadership has recently utilized cinema visits as a tool to communicate the current administration’s core values and policy directions. Over the past few months, President Lee Jae Myung, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young have each made appearances at theaters. These visits are being interpreted by industry observers as a strategic move to highlight sensitive historical issues and hidden social problems through the lens of popular culture. On April 15, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung attended a screening of "My Name" at a theater in Seoul. The drama centers on a mother whose repressed memories of the Jeju April 3 massacre resurface after decades. The tragedy involved a violent state-led crackdown on the island between 1947 and 1954, resulting in the deaths of up to 30,000 residents. The president had previously promoted the film on social media, describing it as a work that delicately portrays the pain of an era and the process of healing. To emphasize public

Apr 26, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Leaders use cinema visits to signal political, social agendas
Shows & Dramas

Streaming platforms bet on sports broadcasting to lock in subscribers

Streaming platforms are increasingly turning to live sports broadcasting as a strategy to retain subscribers, with the trend now extending beyond traditional sports into esports, industry officials said Thursday. As platforms look for new ways to hold onto subscribers in an increasingly crowded market, live sports and esports are emerging as some of their most reliable tools. They said the appeal of live sports for streaming platforms is rooted in the nature of the content itself. Unlike dramas or films, which viewers tend to watch once before moving on to another content, sports events can continuously garner viewers with new games and competitions held on a regular basis. This gives fans a recurring reason to keep their subscriptions active. “Diversifying content lineups, broadening subscriber demographics and the relatively lower production costs compared to making original series or movies are among the key reasons why sports events, including esports, are becoming increasingly attractive to streaming platforms,” an official from a local content industry said on condition of ano

Apr 23, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Streaming platforms bet on sports broadcasting to lock in subscribers
  • Jinju to host Esports Championships Asia 2026
Travel & Food

Westin Seoul Parnas expands family benefits through May

The Westin Seoul Parnas hotel is set to expand its family-oriented services by launching an extensive buffet promotion. The hotel said its On:Table restaurant is running a promotion until the end of May, offering various benefits including complimentary meals for children and specialized group packages. For parents dining with children, Parnas Rewards members can receive one free buffet meal for a child under the age of 12 for every two accompanying adults. This expansion of benefits to elementary school students aims to provide more practical value to family visitors. The hotel will also provide kid-friendly services such as premium children's tableware, a Gourmet Stamp Passport to encourage exploration of the buffet menu and a sketchbook and nontoxic crayon set. As part of the festivities, the hotel is hosting the On:Table children’s recipe contest until Sunday. Children aged 5 to 12 are invited to submit their dream menus. The grand prize winner’s recipe will be featured at the buffet from May 2-5, and the winner will receive a meal voucher for two at On:Table. Other prizes include

Apr 23, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Westin Seoul Parnas expands family benefits through May
People & Events

Rev. Billy Kim to lead children's choir on US tour to thank veterans

The Rev. Billy Kim, chairperson of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea, will embark on a tour across the United States from April 24 to May 5, accompanied by the FEBC-Korea Children’s Choir in Busan to deliver a message of gratitude and the gospel. The Christian radio network said Wednesday that the tour is designed to express deep gratitude to American veterans who served during the 1950-53 Korean War. Under the slogan “God Bless America, Thank You Veterans!” they will share a message of hope with both the Korean American community and local residents. The Christian radio network said the children’s choir will act as civilian diplomats and present high-quality performances blending choral music with traditional Korean dance. "I am delighted to express our gratitude through the pure voices of children to the United States and the veterans who helped South Korea during its most difficult times," Kim said in a statement. Kim, former president of the Baptist World Alliance and a globally recognized spiritual leader, will accompany the choir throughout the itinerary to deli

Apr 23, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Rev. Billy Kim to lead children's choir on US tour to thank veterans
People & Events

FEBC-Korea holds nationwide seminars to revive gospel mission

Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea concluded a series of FEBC Nationwide Pastors’ Conference events to commemorate its 70th anniversary, calling on the Korean church to restore its core mission of spreading the gospel, the Christian radio network said Wednesday. On Monday, FEBC-Korea, led by Rev. Billy Kim, hosted the pastoral seminar and evangelism rally at FEBC Art Hall in Seoul, drawing around 700 church leaders from across the country to discuss the spiritual challenges of the modern era. Tyson Coughlin, lead pastor of Vizion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, served as the keynote speaker. Coughlin, who has been described as a next-generation leader, shared his personal testimony of overcoming ministerial failure to achieve spiritual revival, FEBC-Korea said. "Every promise comes with a problem," Coughlin told the audience during his sermon. "There is a divine purpose in every trial, which ultimately leads us to trust in God alone. God reverses our situations to reveal his glory, and the ultimate promise is the lord himself." The American pastor recounted his experience

Apr 22, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
FEBC-Korea holds nationwide seminars to revive gospel mission
Shows & Dramas

'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience

Netflix series “If Wishes Could Kill” is an eight-part horror series that blends various genres including occult and action to keep viewers engaged, director Park Yoon-seo said Tuesday. “While short films can effectively create fear in a brief moment, I put significant effort into this as a longer series,” the director said during a press conference in Seoul. He added that he focused on building a believable plot to ensure audiences stay immersed. The eight-part series follows high school students who are suddenly warned of their imminent deaths through a curse from a wish-granting app called Girigo. The story depicts their desperate struggles to escape the curse and survive. Park said he integrated elements of occult, action and school dramas into a traditional horror framework. He believes this combination will prevent the audience from feeling bored throughout the eight episodes. “I wanted to go beyond the limits of standard horror,” the director said. “By combining different genres, I made sure there is never a dull moment from the beginning to the last episode.” Regar

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'If Wishes Could Kill' combines genres for immersive horror experience
Trends

Neukgu Bread: Escaped wolf inspires bakers, sports teams

Neukgu, a gray wolf that escaped from O-World theme park in Daejeon, has become inspiration for the city's snack lovers. Harehare, a bakery in Daejeon, recently launched a limited-edition "Neukgu bread" to celebrate the animal's safe return, featuring the wolf’s face drawn in chocolate on the crust. The bakery reported that its daily stock of 50 buns sells out within minutes of opening. The wolf escaped from the zoo on April 8 and was recaptured by the authorities on April 17, but the attention didn't die down after its return to the theme park. In addition to Neukgu Bread, LG Electronics' Best Shop's Daejeon store used its massive digital billboard to send a message to the wolf on behalf of the townspeople. The previous "Come back, Neukgu" plea was replaced on April 17 with a celebratory "Thank you for coming back, Neukgu" message, which remains visible and part of the advertising rotation for the billboard. Equally intriguing is how Neukgu's story has become intertwined with the city's sports scene. People are calling Neukgu a "living lucky charm" because Daejeon's football and baseba

Apr 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Neukgu Bread: Escaped wolf inspires bakers, sports teams
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