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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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Shows & Dramas

After military duty, Korea's top stars choose streaming over TV

A noticeable shift is underway in how Korea's top male stars stage their return to the entertainment industry after completing mandatory military service. Increasingly, their chosen comeback venue is not a major TV network, but a global streaming platform. This marks a sharp departure from the well-worn path that once defined how a returning star rebuilt public visibility. Actor Song Kang, who gained global recognition through Netflix's hit series "Sweet Home," leads the current trend. He marks his return with tvN's upcoming series "Four Hands, Two Sonatas," premiering Aug. 29 and streaming globally on Netflix. It is his first acting project since being discharged October 2025, following a nearly two-year hiatus. Ironically, "Four Hands, Two Sonatas" serves as a final project before military enlistment for Lee Jun-young, who co-stars in the series and began his service on July 21. Lee Do-hyun, who remained popular during his military stint thanks to his award-winning role in the 2024 hit film "Exhuma," is also returning through Netflix. He will star in the fantasy series "Grand Galaxy Hot

Aug 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
After military duty, Korea's top stars choose streaming over TV
Films

Premium seats reshaping Korea's summer box office

As local movie fans become more careful with their spending at theaters, high-end cinema experiences led by the IMAX giant screen are emerging as the main catalyst behind Korea’s summer box office rebound. The domestic box office is seeing a strong comeback as major summer blockbusters bring crowds back to theaters. Driven by the hot weather and peak holiday season, people are heading to air-conditioned cinemas for big-screen visual spectacles they cannot get at home on streaming platforms. According to recent data by CJ CGV, the nation's largest cinema chain, nationwide theater attendance reached roughly 9.55 million from July 29 to Aug. 9. This marks the highest summer attendance since 2019, and showed a 45.6 percent jump from the same period last year. The multiplex chain added visitor numbers at CGV theaters alone rose 58.1 percent. Instead of going to regular screens, moviegoers are choosing high-tech theaters that offer an experience worth the ticket price. Data from the Korean Film Council showed that Hollywood blockbusters "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" captured

Aug 17, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Premium seats reshaping Korea's summer box office
Films

Local films wait for fall as Hollywood owns Korean summer

Korea's box office is having one of its strongest years since the COVID-19 pandemic, but for now, it belongs to Hollywood. As of Thursday, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has seen 6,390,094 admissions in Korea, according to data from the Korean Box Office Information System. Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," which opened Aug. 5, saw 2,615,953 admissions and together, the two movies are dominating local screens. The overwhelming presence of Hollywood blockbusters becomes even clearer when looking at Na Hong-jin’s "Hope," which entered the summer lineup as one of the most anticipated Korean releases of the year. The sci-fi thriller, which competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, has drawn 4,430,105 admissions to date, a disappointing result given the massive expectations for the film. In a summer dominated by Hollywood blockbusters, even strong local titles were left struggling for screen space. Korean distributors have read the room. Rather than compete head-on with two of the biggest global releases of the year, domestic studios have quietly reshuffled their autumn slates, pushing their most

Aug 14, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Local films wait for fall as Hollywood owns Korean summer
Films

'The Journey to Gyeong-ju' balances tragedy, humor in grief-driven road trip

Eight years after her youngest daughter went missing during a school trip, a grieving mother sets out on a road trip with her remaining three daughters to get revenge on the killer, recently released from prison. This premise drives "The Journey to Gyeong-ju," the commercial debut by director Kim Mi-jo, who previously won the Grand Prize at the Jeonju International Film Festival with "Gull" (2021), a powerful indie drama about an elderly woman seeking justice. "The Journey to Gyeong-ju" follows Ok-sil (Lee Jeong-eun) and her three daughters, Jang-ju (Kong Hyo-jin), Young-ju (Park So-dam) and Dong-ju (Lee Yeon), as they head to the southeastern city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, to deliver their own justice to Baek Sang-hyun (Byun Yo-han), the killer who received a lenient sentence. Their deadly plan often goes wrong in funny and awkward ways, but the mother’s strong desire for revenge makes the story deeply moving. The city of Gyeongju is where the youngest daughter, who is also named Gyeong-ju, suffered the terrible tragedy on her school trip, making the family's road trip

Aug 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The Journey to Gyeong-ju' balances tragedy, humor in grief-driven road trip
People & Events

Why new US ambassador visited Youngnak Church

New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel has drawn attention by visiting Youngnak Church shortly after arriving in Seoul to assume her post. Behind her visit lies a deep family connection, intertwined with the historical roots of the venue as a sanctuary for North Korean refugees rebuilding their lives in the South. According to church officials and local reports, Steel visited the Protestant church in Jung District, central Seoul, right after arriving at Incheon International Airport on July 30. She returned to attend a Sunday service on Aug. 2, where church leaders introduced her to those attending the service. When asked by a local reporter whether she plans to attend services regularly, Steel gave a silent nod. A church official confirmed on Wednesday that Steel visited the venue accompanied by her aunt, who remains an active member of the church. "We understand that she visited with her aunt, who still attends our church," a church official told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity, citing privacy concerns. "While we cannot confirm whether she'll continue to attend, any

Aug 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Why new US ambassador visited Youngnak Church
People & Events

GKL, Gangnam Medical Tour Center team up to promote wellness tourism

Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) has partnered with the Gangnam Medical Tour Center to launch the K-Medical Wellness Experience Zone, an interactive showcase aimed at attracting overseas visitors and boosting the local economy through medical and wellness tourism. The state-run casino operator said Wednesday that the event will run through Aug. 31 on the third floor of its Seven Luck Casino Gangnam Coex branch in southern Seoul. The Gangnam Medical Tour Center, run by Gangnam District Office, is a comprehensive medical tourism support center that provides international patients with one-stop services ranging from medical consultations and interpretation to airport pick-up. The initiative leverages the high-traffic location as a direct marketing touchpoint for Gangnam's medical tourism. International visitors can try different wellness experiences, including skin analysis, K-beauty sessions, stress index testing and massages. The venue also promotes health products from local small and medium-sized enterprises. The joint campaign aims to direct casino foot traffic straight into local clinics, cr

Aug 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
GKL, Gangnam Medical Tour Center team up to promote wellness tourism
Films

'Green Concrete' documentary questions cost of urban renewal

For Koreans, who must endure scorching summers and freezing winters, apartment complexes have long served as the ultimate symbol of housing efficiency as well as their most prized financial assets. Beyond property value and redevelopment, these concrete complexes also preserve residents' memories, neighborhood bonds and urban nature. Director Lee Sung-min’s documentary film, "Green Concrete," explores this tension by capturing the demolition of a massive residential complex in southern Seoul's Gaepo-dong. Over seven years from 2017, the 103-minute documentary shows both the changing cityscape and the fate of the trees planted there for decades. Lee, who grew up in the complex, initially returned to document the space before its disappearance. What started as a personal recording effort soon grew into a collective project gathering former residents to share old photos and memories. Through these shared stories, the film portrays the vanishing apartment complex as one of the few remaining green spots in a concrete-dominated landscape. Rather than choosing a side in the redevelopment debate

Aug 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Green Concrete' documentary questions cost of urban renewal
Shows & Dramas

Actor Ha Young apologizes over great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities

Actor Ha Young issued a public apology following mounting controversy over her great-grandfather’s pro-Japanese activities during colonial rule, which lasted from 1910-45. On Tuesday, her agency Bistus Entertainment released a statement on behalf of the actor, whose real name is Ahn Ha-young, expressing deep regret for her initial denial and previous on-air remarks about her family. "Regarding our earlier statement claiming the allegations were 'groundless,' secondary verification confirmed that the name of her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang-ho, does indeed appear on the 1916 counselor roster of the Daejeong Friendship Association," the agency said. "Ha Young has a heavy heart from unintentionally causing controversy, and we sincerely apologize for causing confusion by dismissing the claims without a thorough investigation." The controversy erupted after Ha appeared on a KBS talk show on Aug. 7, where she spoke proudly of her family's background in the medical field. During the show, she said her great-grandfather studied Western medicine in Japan, opened the nation’s first private West

Aug 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Ha Young apologizes over great-grandfather's pro-Japanese activities
Films

Son Sook donates earnings as 'Spirits' Homecoming' returns to honor sex slavery survivors

Veteran actor Son Sook revealed that she donated all her earnings from "Spirits' Homecoming" (2016) to support survivors of Japanese military sex slavery, ahead of the film's 10th-anniversary re-release. In the film, the 82-year-old actor played the present-day elderly version of the main character Young-ok, a survivor of Japan's wartime sex slavery. On Aug. 26, the movie is scheduled for nationwide re-release with an extended cut version. Ahead of the film's return to theaters, the 82-year-old actor explained why she declined her initial appearance fee and donated all her box office bonuses. "Because the film holds a deep place in my heart, asking for compensation was never a consideration," Son said Monday through the movie’s distributor Connect Pictures. "Money was never the priority for a project with such profound meaning." Son recalled the difficult production conditions at the time, praising director Cho Jung-rae for his dedication to completing the movie. The actor expressed deep sorrow over the sharp decline in the number of surviving victims over the past decade. When the orig

Aug 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Son Sook donates earnings as 'Spirits' Homecoming' returns to honor sex slavery survivors
Films

'The Assassin(s)' unravels mystery behind 1974 killing of first lady

Director Hur Jin-ho emphasized maintaining a balanced, unbiased perspective when depicting the mystery surrounding the 1974 assassination of first lady Yuk Young-soo in his new movie "The Assassin(s)." "When I first thought about making this story into a film a decade ago, it was not an easy topic because some figures involved are still alive," Hur said during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. "Through extensive research and interviews, I tried to maintain a balanced and objective perspective without prejudice, while also incorporating the cinematic tension and pace of a mystery thriller." Inspired by the Aug. 15, 1974 assassination of the wife of President Park Chung-hee, "The Assassin(s)" follows three men as they pursue their suspicions and chase hidden motives. Although based on real events, the movie does not explicitly use the real names of the historical figures it depicts. In the movie, six gunshots ring out live on national television during a Liberation Day ceremony, but only four bullets are recovered, leaving two unaccounted for in official records. The plot revolves around

Aug 10, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The Assassin(s)' unravels mystery behind 1974 killing of first lady
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