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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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Trump Jr. vows ‘patriotic capitalism’ for stronger America

DOHA — Donald Trump Jr., son of United States President Donald Trump, said Sunday that America must abandon its decades-long practice of being the "big, dumb guy with a checkbook" for the world, arguing that allies must increase their contributions to global security and reconstruction efforts. He made the remarks during a session at the Doha Forum 2025, where Trump Jr. and Omeed Malik, co-founder and president of the venture capital firm 1789 Capital, asserted their commitment to an economic philosophy of "patriotic capitalism." Trump Jr. said that the U.S. public doesn't want to keep carrying the largest financial load for international wars. “The American public isn't going to do what they used to do for years, or we're just going to be the big, dumb guy with a checkbook, and we're going to cover all of the world's problems, and no one else has to do their part,” said Trump Jr., who’s also serving as a partner of 1789 Capital, arguing that the U.S. will no longer accept the disproportionate burden of reconstruction efforts. He emphasized the need for greater cost-sharing globa

Dec 7, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Trump Jr. vows ‘patriotic capitalism’ for stronger America
Others

Global South needs bold action to earn media agency: experts

DOHA — The Global South lacks the power to shape international media narratives, and rather than waiting for established Western outlets to change their ways, nations there are required to create “breathtaking” moments to force a shift in perspective, Oh Young-jin, president-publisher of The Korea Times, said Sunday at the Doha Forum 2025. He made the proposal during a session titled "Reclaiming Agency in International Media" in which participants discussed how media agencies from the Global South, which refers to developing nations located primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, could build narrative power. "The word 'reclaiming' suggests taking back something that once belonged to you. But in reality, the Global South never truly had ownership over how it is represented in international media. There is nothing to 'reclaim,' because that agency was never theirs to begin with,” Oh said during the panel discussion at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort. The Korea Times is participating in the forum as a media partner. Oh argued that the media industries in powerful nations of the Global

Dec 7, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Global South needs bold action to earn media agency: experts
Others

AI risks in warfare demand new global rules

DOHA — As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes the landscape of modern warfare, experts at the Doha Forum 2025 held Saturday called for immediate international action to establish rules before AI destabilizes global security. Their discussion took place during a session themed "AI as a Double-Edged Sword: Strategies for Responsible Use in the Military Domain,” which was held in partnership with the Jeju Peace Institute, a leading Korean think tank. The panelists explored the ethical, legal and security implications of integrating AI into military systems. Yun Byung-se, former foreign minister of Korea and current chair of the Global Commission on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM), said that AI is a transformative force comparable to the discovery of fire, not just a simple tool. "AI is no longer a niche technology. It is a civilizational technology, reshaping nearly every domain of human activity like an unbound Prometheus," Yun said. "As a dual-use, transformative technology, AI offers extraordinary opportunities, while at the same time introducing deeply conse

Dec 6, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
AI risks in warfare demand new global rules
Others

Doha Forum 2025 calls for accountability, global health action

DOHA — The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum opened Saturday in the Qatari capital, bringing together global leaders to discuss pressing international challenges under the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress.” Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani delivered the opening address, issuing a stark warning about the deteriorating state of global security caused by a failure of international accountability. "As we gather today, our world is witnessing an unprecedented worsening of crises," Al Thani said during the opening ceremony at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort. He attributed this decline to "the lack of accountability and the lack of solutions." “This represents a direct threat to peace and security when crises are managed with the logic of force instead of law, and when the aggressor remains free from any accountability,” the prime minister said. Established in 2000, the Doha Forum has become a premier platform for global dialogue. This year’s theme “Justice in Action" calls on stakeholder

Dec 6, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Doha Forum 2025 calls for accountability, global health action
Others

Korea's success is blueprint for 'Justice in Action' at Doha Forum

Korea's development story provides a compelling example of inclusive governance and public trust, making it key to achieving "Justice in Action," the central theme of the upcoming Doha Forum, according to Mubarak Ajlan Al-Kuwari, executive director of the forum. "Korea’s experience shows that progress and justice can advance together," the executive director told The Korea Times in a recent written interview, underscoring the country's rapid transformation into a leading innovation-driven economy built on strong institutions, social investment and public trust. "At Doha Forum, we see Korea’s development story as a compelling example of how inclusive governance can create opportunity and stability. Korea’s leadership in digital governance, civic participation and education highlights how growth becomes most sustainable when it is grounded in fairness and accountability,” Al-Kuwari said. The Doha Forum is a leading global platform for diplomacy and dialogue. The 23rd edition will gather policymakers and decision-makers in Qatar on Saturday and Sunday to discuss critical global cha

Dec 3, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea's success is blueprint for 'Justice in Action' at Doha Forum
Shows & Dramas

‘The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' unpacks midlife crisis

Anchored by the powerful performance of actor Ryu Seung-ryong, the recently-ended drama "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim" left a profound message of comfort and self-reflection for the middle-aged in Korea. The JTBC drama, which ended its 12-episode run on Sunday, followed a stereotypical middle-aged corporate manager Kim Nak-su’s (Ryu) challenging journey of losing everything and finding his true self hidden beneath corporate success, striking a deep chord with viewers. The drama follows Kim’s fall from grace. Previously proud of his status as a corporate manager and a Seoul homeowner, he plunges into a series of crises, including demotion, early retirement and financial fraud. A turning point occurs when Kim begins to look inward and advises his colleague Do Jin-woo (Lee Shin-ki), who fails executive promotion, with sincere advice. “Be honest with yourself. It might help you live a better life." After losing everything he valued, Kim finally faces what he truly wants to protect: his family including himself, rather than the success he chased. The drama’s immense popularity, stemming f

Dec 2, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘The Dream Life of Mr. Kim' unpacks midlife crisis
Films

‘Concrete Market' to subvert disaster film clichés

"Concrete Market," an upcoming disaster film, is set to subvert established genre clichés, its director Hong Ki-won said Monday. "The film's focus is the fresh idea of people trading to survive after a catastrophe, using the unique setting of the 'Hwanggung Market,” the director explained during a press conference in Seoul. "Concrete Market" depicts events that unfold after a massive earthquake, where the only remaining apartment complex houses the Hwanggung Market, a place where survivors trade goods to survive. Notably, the film shares a similar worldview with the 2023 movie "Concrete Utopia." The film features Jung Man-sik as Park Sang-yong, the highest authority in the market, while Hong Kyung plays Tae-jin, Park's right-hand man. Lee Jae-in stars as Hee-ro, an 18-year-old high school student. Director Hong said that the project was originally made as a drama series before being adapted into a feature film. "When it was a series, we focused heavily on Hee-ro's narrative of seeking revenge for her friend Se-jung. In the film, various supporting characters and spaces blend together,

Dec 1, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Concrete Market' to subvert disaster film clichés
Films

Korean cinema turns to AI, low budgets as industry slump continues

Filmmakers are turning to micro-budget production and using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to inject vitality back into the industry, as Korean cinema faces a sharp decline in output, soaring costs and weak box office returns. Director Yeon Sang-ho is among the filmmakers leading this experimental shift. Known for "Train to Busan" (2016) and the Netflix series "Hellbound," Yeon achieved unexpected success this year with "The Ugly," a film made on an exceptionally small budget. He plans to apply the same low-budget strategy to his upcoming project. Produced on a budget of around 200 million won ($136,275), "The Ugly" attracted over 1 million moviegoers and grossed approximately 11 billion won, achieving a return more than 50 times its production cost. Building on that success, CJ ENM and Yeon’s production company, Wowpoint, recently announced that the director will make a new film, "Paradise Lost," with a budget of around 500 million won. The new project will center on a mystery surrounding a boy who returns nine years after his disappearance. It will star veteran actor Kim Hyu

Dec 1, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean cinema turns to AI, low budgets as industry slump continues
Films

Bong Joon-ho expresses AI concerns, championing human creativity

Director Bong Joon-ho shared strong views on artificial intelligence (AI) at the Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco, joking that he would form an army to destroy AI, while also crediting the technology for making people seriously think about what only humans can do. Serving as the jury president for the 22nd edition of the film festival, the Korean director responded to a question about the rise of AI during a press conference on Saturday (local time). He expressed mixed feelings about the technology as the film production community has increasingly felt the impact of AI. “My official answer is, AI is good because it’s the very beginning of the human race finally seriously thinking about what only humans can do. But my personal answer is, I’m going to organize a military squad, and their mission is to destroy AI,” he said. Aside from this humorous answer, Bong has often spoken about how much AI has affected filmmakers and his own creative process. At a global conference in Seoul last September, Bong said that the technology has been a great shock to the film industr

Nov 30, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Bong Joon-ho expresses AI concerns, championing human creativity
Shows & Dramas

Sports reality shows find new life through competitive realism

Korean sports reality shows are witnessing a surge in popularity as they focus on the authentic drama of intense competition and athletic growth and move away from celebrity-driven entertainment shows. The current trend is to feature professional athletes as protagonists, moving past formats that relied on non-athletic celebrities playing sports for laughs. By showcasing the players' genuine efforts and real stories, the programs give viewers an experience as real and intense as watching a professional match. Leading this trend is Channel A’s new series “Baseball Queen,” which premiered Tuesday. It offers a refreshing pivot from recent baseball-centered shows such as JTBC’s "A Clean Sweep" and "Burn to Win,” which mainly focused on the rivalry between retired male baseball legends and had begun to lose steam due to similar formats and narrative arcs. Instead, “Baseball Queen” differentiates itself by casting top-tier female athletes from other fields who are taking on the challenge for baseball for the first time. The show’s premiere recorded a peak minute-by-minute viewe

Nov 27, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Sports reality shows find new life through competitive realism
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