The Korea Times

Pixar showcases fresh imagination in animal adventure ‘Hoppers’

Pixar Animation Studios returns with its lates“ original production, “Hoppers,” a breath of fresh air in the world of animation. Directed by Daniel Chong, the new animated feature explores the intersection of animal adventure and human imagination through the eyes of a human using robot technology. The story follows a young girl named Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), who accidently participates in a groundbreaking scientific experiment involving a technology known as “hopping,” which allows a human to control an animal body. Through this process, Mabel successfully transfers her consciousness into a highly realistic robotic beaver. As she navigates the wild, she manages to enter the secret society of animals and starts to experience life from a completely different perspective. Her journey quickly transforms into an unexpected adventure filled with discovery as she learns to survive in the wilderness and communicate with the creatures around her. Mabel's actions as a dedicated nature lover and environmentalist may remind viewers of the 1994 Studio Ghibli masterpiece “Pom Poko,

Mar 3, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Pixar showcases fresh imagination in animal adventure ‘Hoppers’

Films

'The King's Warden' hits 9 mil. viewers, offers lifeline to Korea's struggling film industry

The historical drama "The King’s Warden" officially crossed the 9 million viewer mark on Monday, providing a much-needed breakthrough for the Korean film industry, which has been suffering from a shortage of big-budget releases and frozen investment sentiment. According to the film's distributor Showbox, the film reached a cumulative audience of 9 million on its 27th day of release. This record-breaking pace is faster than previous epic box office hits such as "The King and the Clown" (2005), which took 50 days to reach the same milestone, and "Masquerade" (2012), which took 31 days. Notably, the film saw its highest daily turnout on Sunday, drawing 817,205 viewers, surpassing its previous peak during the Lunar New Year holiday and proving that the film still has momentum. The film's broad demographic appeal and close timing with the Lunar New Year holiday proved successful in a moment when new domestic releases are scarce, drawing in viewers across the gender and age spectrum. The film is now closing in on 10 million admissions, a threshold no Korean film has crossed since "Exhuma" in

Mar 2, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

'The King's Warden' hits 9 mil. viewers, offers lifeline to Korea's struggling film industry

Films

Park Chan-wook named 1st Korean to head Cannes jury

Renowned filmmaker Park Chan-wook has been appointed as jury president for the 79th Cannes Film Festival, a historic move that makes him the first Korean director to lead the prestigious panel. On Thursday, the festival organizers announced that the 62-year-old director, widely known for his 2003 film “Oldboy,” will preside over the competition jury for the upcoming event, which is scheduled to take place from May 12 to 23 in the French resort city. While another prominent Korean director, Bong Joon-ho, previously led the 2011 Camera d’or jury, which awards the prize for the best first feature film, Park is the first Korean to head the main competition jury that awards the Palme d’Or, the highest prize of the festival. “Park Chan-wook’s inventiveness, visual mastery and penchant for capturing the multiple impulses of women and men with strange destinies have given contemporary cinema some truly memorable moments,” said Iris Knobloch, director of the festival, and director Thierry Fremaux in a joint statement. Regarding his appointment, Park expressed excitement about watchi

Feb 26, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Park Chan-wook named 1st Korean to head Cannes jury

Trends

Han Kang to 'Culinary Class Wars': Korean wave expands beyond K-pop to food, literature

The Korean Wave, also known as hallyu, is rapidly diversifying beyond music to reshape global lifestyles, influencing what people buy, eat, read and where they travel, according to a new government report, Wednesday. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism released its annual analysis of trends in the global market in 2025, finding that Korean cultural products are evolving into daily lifestyle content that is changing consumer behavior worldwide. Lee Eun-bok, director of overseas public relations policy for the ministry, said the latest analysis confirmed that the Korean wave has become a key component in popularizing Korea's image worldwide. "Hallyu has become a major strategic asset that drives national brand value and industrial competitiveness as it has moved beyond a simple content trend," Lee said. The findings draw on data collected from 30 countries, combining 5,608 overseas media reports gathered through 35 Korean Cultural Centers and seven cultural promotion offices, alongside approximately 1.49 million hallyu-related posts and mentions from social media platforms includin

Feb 25, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Han Kang to 'Culinary Class Wars': Korean wave expands beyond K-pop to food, literature

Films

'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' turns franchise inside out with moral flip

The legendary horror franchise “28 Days Later” returns with a bold and disturbing new chapter that challenges the traditional boundaries of the postapocalyptic genre. Directed by Nia DaCosta, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is a direct sequel to last year’s “28 Years Later,” directed by Danny Boyle. The story follows a young boy named Spike (Alfie Williams), who is captured by a sadistic cult led by the delusional Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). While Spike struggles to survive a series of brutal gladiatorial games in an abandoned water park, the narrative shifts to the isolated bunker of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). Kelson has dedicated his life to studying the infected from within a massive monument built of human remains. While the opening act may feel chaotic or confusing to some, the film eventually rewards patient viewers with a deeply layered and philosophical experience that flips the script on what it means to be a monster. The most striking element of the fourth installment of the franchise is the thematic exchange between humans and the infected. In a brill

Feb 25, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' turns franchise inside out with moral flip

Shows & Dramas

Shin Hye-sun takes on her most ambiguous role in 'Art of Sarah'

Actor Shin Hye-sun said that her role in the new Netflix series “The Art of Sarah” was the most ambiguous character she has ever portrayed in her career. "I usually start a project only after I have a clear plan for the character, but this time was different," Shin told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday. "The story was so interesting that I really wanted to find out how it ends as soon as I read the script.” The eight episode series tells the story of Sarah Kim, played by Shin, who lives a life of lies to act like she comes from a background of luxury. Her carefully crafted world begins to collapse as she is pursued by detective Mu-gyeong (Lee Jun-hyuk), who is determined to uncover the truth behind her fake identity. Shin portrayed multiple personas in the series, including Mok Ga-hee, Kim Eun-jae and finally, Sarah Kim. She explained that playing such an elusive figure required her to be flexible rather than following a fixed acting style. "The script was not very kind in terms of explanations and I actually felt more confused as I read it," she said. "I decided to focus

Feb 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Shin Hye-sun takes on her most ambiguous role in 'Art of Sarah'

People & Events

Global Elim Foundation grants scholarships to 33 int'l students

The Global Elim Foundation, established by Yoido Full Gospel Church to support multicultural communities, granted scholarships to 33 international students from 27 different countries on Friday, with the aim of helping them grow into global leaders and settle successfully into Korean society. Since its launch in 2022, the foundation has supported approximately 240 international students. It serves as a hub for multicultural support by offering counseling and education, and plans to expand its programs to help more students and immigrants settle into Korean society. Lee Young-hoon, the chairman of the foundation and senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, congratulated the scholarship recipients and said the foundation was created to bring people together regardless of their country or culture. "Today’s gathering is more than a luncheon because our hearts build the boundaries of nation, culture and language," Lee said. "Studying abroad is never an easy journey as the challenges of language barriers, financial burdens and loneliness can be overwhelming." He further encouraged the stud

Feb 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Global Elim Foundation grants scholarships to 33 int'l students

Films

Budget-friendly films revitalize Korean box office in early 2026

The Korean film industry is seeing a notable recovery already this year, according to industry experts, as the strong performance of mid-budget movies provides a much-needed boost to a market that has struggled for a long time without any blockbusters. They said the box office is currently being led by three distinct mid-budget hits: the historical drama "The King’s Warden," the romance "Once We Were Us” and the breakout musical drama "Choir of God." These films, all produced with modest budgets compared to typical blockbusters, are being praised for their storytelling and strong acting rather than relying on massive spectacle. Leading this resurgence is "The King’s Warden," directed by Jang Hang-jun. As of Thursday, the movie has garnered over 4.17 million admissions, dominating the Lunar New Year holiday season. Produced on a budget of around 10 billion won ($6.9 million), the film has already easily passed its break-even point and is now the highest-grossing film released so far this year. Joining this success is "Once We Were Us," starring Mun Ga-young and Koo Kyo-hwan. A rema

Feb 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Budget-friendly films revitalize Korean box office in early 2026

Shows & Dramas

'Agents of Mystery' returns for Season 2 on massive new scale

"Agents of Mystery" is returning as a massive open-world adventure that expands its mystery-solving scale to outdoor locations. The second season of the Netflix's puzzle-driven series follows the success of the first season in 2024, which tracked a team of investigators solving strange cases that science cannot explain. "We received some complaints during the first season because it felt too short," producer Jung Jong-yeon said during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday, explaining that the new season expands from six episodes to nine and utilizes outdoor filming to enable more active, dynamic storytelling. The show is the latest project from Jung, who is widely regarded as a master of the mystery and escape show genre, with previous hits such as "The Great Escape," "The Devil's Plan" and "High School Mystery Club." While the first season mostly focused on indoor undercover investigations, the new season aims to captivate global audiences through a significantly larger production scale and improved team chemistry. Returning cast members include comedian Lee Yong-jin, singer John Park, s

Feb 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

'Agents of Mystery' returns for Season 2 on massive new scale

Films

Can ‘King’s Warden’ join ‘10 mil. viewer club’ after Lunar New Year success?

"The King’s Warden" is quickly emerging as a strong candidate for the "10 million viewer club" after gathering explosive momentum during the Lunar New Year holiday, box office data showed Wednesday. The historical drama directed by Jang Hang-jun garnered more than 4 million admissions as of Wednesday, reaching its break-even point and dominating the domestic film market, according to the Korean Film Council. In the local film industry, where success is measured by the number of tickets sold rather than box office revenue, hitting the 10 million mark is considered the indicator of a blockbuster. While 2024 saw two such hits with "Exhuma" and "The Roundup: Punishment," the local film industry failed to produce a single 10-million-seller last year. This stagnation was attributed to the shifting of investments toward streaming platforms, with annual admissions last year totaling just 105.48 million, just half of the 200 million recorded annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. "The King’s Warden" tells the story of Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), who was exiled t

Feb 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul

Baek Byung-yeul

Read more

Pixar showcases fresh imagination in animal adventure ‘Hoppers’

'The King's Warden' hits 9 mil. viewers, offers lifeline to Korea's struggling film industry

Park Chan-wook named 1st Korean to head Cannes jury

Han Kang to 'Culinary Class Wars': Korean wave expands beyond K-pop to food, literature

'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' turns franchise inside out with moral flip

Shin Hye-sun takes on her most ambiguous role in 'Art of Sarah'

Global Elim Foundation grants scholarships to 33 int'l students

Budget-friendly films revitalize Korean box office in early 2026

'Agents of Mystery' returns for Season 2 on massive new scale

Can ‘King’s Warden’ join ‘10 mil. viewer club’ after Lunar New Year success?

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