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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

Yim Si-wan embraces his inner villain in Netflix thriller ‘Mantis’

Actor Yim Si-wan is known for tackling diverse roles, but his latest challenge as lead in the Netflix thriller "Mantis" pushed his boundaries. Yim spoke with unwavering dedication about his performance, saying that seeing the final action scenes has inspired him to get even better at the action genre. "It’s a professional thing, but I always watch my work thinking I could have done better," Yim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Tuesday. "I felt that most about the action scenes this time. I prepared diligently, including taking kickboxing lessons and attending action school, but seeing the final product left me with the regret that I could have performed the action even better." The film, a spin-off of the hit Netflix film "Kill Boksoon," features Yim as Han-ul, a top-tier contract killer who fights using dual sickles. "Mantis" expands the universe of "Kill Boksoon," this time focusing on a new generation of assassins vying for the top spot in the killer organization M.K. ENT. Yim's character is an A-list killer returning from vacation to face his trainee contemporary and rival,

Oct 2, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Yim Si-wan embraces his inner villain in Netflix thriller ‘Mantis’
People & Events

Cultural experiences to enjoy during Chuseok holiday

The upcoming Chuseok holiday, with an extended break running through Hangeul Day on Thursday, promises to be a cultural feast, with major historical sites and performance venues opening their doors for free. Numerous attractions across the country will offer free admission on the day of Chuseok, and some throughout the extended holiday period. A key highlight is free entry to some of the nation's key heritage sites. Four of the major royal palaces — Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, Deoksu Palace and Changgyeong Palace — will be free to visit. Major institutions such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and the Suwon Museum of Art, are also participating in the free-admission program. Seoul heritage, artistic celebrations Seoul is set to host a spectacular range of events, seamlessly blending traditional heritage with contemporary artistry during the holiday. The National Museum of Korea (NMK) will be the epicenter for traditional performances. NMK and the Foundation for Korea Traditional Performing Arts will host "The Art Spot Series," a free creative perfo

Oct 2, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Cultural experiences to enjoy during Chuseok holiday
Films

Korean content industry on alert as Trump eyes 100% tariff on foreign films

U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to impose a 100 percent tariff on movies made outside his country could, if realized, significantly threaten the thriving Korean content industry, which is heavily reliant on global streaming platforms, industry experts said Tuesday. Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, said the actual implementation of a 100 percent tariff on foreign films and content "is highly likely to violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and diplomatic friction with allies is inevitable." He said, "Currently, Korean content is distributed globally through streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney and Amazon. As Korean dramas and films have a significant proportion of overseas exports and investment, they could be directly hit if the U.S. strengthens regulations.” The professor warned that high tariffs or other trade restrictions could result in financial losses for Korean content companies and cause them to cut back on spending and new projects. “It is more reasonable to view the impact as a slowdown in growth rather than a complet

Sep 30, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean content industry on alert as Trump eyes 100% tariff on foreign films
Films

Korean remake of 'The Intern' confirms cast, begins filming

The Korean remake of the globally successful film “The Intern” has finalized its cast, featuring top actors Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee, and officially began filming Monday, production companies Warner Bros. Korea and Anthology Studios said. The film is a localized adaptation of the 2015 Hollywood hit “The Intern,” which starred Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. The Korean version, tentatively titled “Intern,” tells the story of Seon-woo (Han So-hee), the passionate CEO of a fashion company, who hires retiree Gi-ho (Choi Min-sik) as an intern; his wealth of life experience leads to an unexpected and meaningful workplace relationship. The production companies said the remake will be directed by director Kim Do-young and will also include actors Kim Kum-soon, Kim Jun-han, Ryu Hye-young and Kim Yo-han. Choi, arguably one of Korea's most famous actors, will portray a retiree who takes the internship to start a new chapter in his life — a role expected to showcase the actor’s irreplaceable presence and deep-seated acting skills. Han takes on the role of the charismatic CEO of a

Sep 30, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean remake of 'The Intern' confirms cast, begins filming
Films

BIFF 2025 30th Busan film festival closes on high note

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) concluded its 10-day run Friday, solidifying its status as Asia’s top cinematic event and making a successful debut as a competitive film festival. Despite the challenges faced by the domestic film market, this year’s festival drew a total of 175,889 visitors, around 20,000 more than last year’s event. The festival introduced its new competitive section, the Busan Award, as it enters its third decade. The grand finale took place at the outdoor stage of the Busan Cinema Center, where the inaugural Busan Award winners were announced. The Best Film Award, regarded as the top honor, was given to Chinese director Zhang Lu’s “Gloaming in Luomu.” The movie was unanimously chosen by the jury, and Zhang, who won the festival's New Currents Award for new filmmakers in 2005, expressed his deep connection to the festival. “I stand here again after 20 years,” Zhang said. “I hope to be on this stage when BIFF celebrates its 100th anniversary.” “Gloaming in Luomu” depicts a woman’s journey to trace a former lover’s presence in

Sep 28, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
[BIFF 2025] 30th Busan film festival closes on high note
Films

Films to watch at Chuseok this year

With a full week of Chuseok and other holidays ahead from Oct. 3 to 9, there’s no better time to escape into the big screen. From dark comedies and gangster spoofs to touching animations, this year’s lineup offers something for every kind of moviegoer. This year’s box office race is heating up with highly anticipated domestic films — Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice,” the gangster comedy “Boss” and Yeon Sang-ho’s low-budget feature “The Ugly,” alongside Hollywood film “The Wedding Banquet” and animated features such as “Bad Girl: Run Hani,” “Your Letter” and “Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc.” The movie lineup for the holiday season presents a fascinating mix of genres. “Oldboy” director Park’s “No Other Choice,” which premiered on Wednesday, is a black comedy about a man’s desperate battle to regain control of his life after being abruptly laid off. Starring Lee Byung-hun, the film has already garnered praise at the Venice, Toronto and Busan film festivals. While the story is dark, the film is noted for being more accessible than

Sep 26, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Films to watch at Chuseok this year
Films

Audiences may find healing in slow pace of sincerity in 'Your Letter,' says director

Director Kim Yong-hwan sought to translate the original comic version’s emotional impact into a unique animated experience in his debut feature film, “Your Letter.” "When I first read the original work, a beautiful resonance remained," Kim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul Thursday. "The sincerity contained in the letters and the characters' kind actions created a powerful emotional echo. Translating that unique sensibility into the animation was crucial." Adapted from the webtoon of the same title, the film follows transfer student So-ri as she embarks on a nostalgic scavenger hunt, guided by a series of mysterious letters she finds in her desk. Though he considered various plot approaches in the early stages, Kim thought maintaining the core of the original was essential. "Our primary mission was to effectively translate the webtoon's emotional strength into animation," he said. The team expanded on the 10-episode source, adding new settings and story layers to create a distinct cinematic version. Kim believes the central role of the letter is what helps the film stand out i

Sep 25, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Audiences may find healing in slow pace of sincerity in 'Your Letter,' says director
Films

New killers expand ‘Kill Boksoon’ universe in thriller ‘Mantis’

Upcoming Netflix movie "Mantis" expands the universe of the 2023 action thriller "Kill Boksoon," this time focusing on a new generation of contract killers. "It's a spin-off of 'Kill Boksoon,' a story about Mantis, who was mentioned about twice in 'Kill Boksoon' as being on vacation. Because of Gil Bok-soon (Jeon Do-yeon), M.K. ENT (a killer organization) is in chaos," director Lee Tae-sung said during a press conference at a theater in Seoul Thursday. "If Gil Bok-soon and Cha Min-kyu (Sul Kyung-gu) were the top figures of their generation, this film describes stories of younger generation killers." "Mantis" is an action movie that depicts the showdown for the top position in the contract killing industry among Han-ul (Yim Si-wan), an A-list killer also called Mantis, who returns after a vacation; his trainee contemporary and rival Jae-yi (Park Gyu-young); and retired killer Dok-go (Jo Woo-jin). Lee explained that he co-wrote the script with director Byun Sung-hyun, who directed the previous film, and wanted to tell a story about what happens after the killer organization M.K. ENT collap

Sep 25, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
New killers expand ‘Kill Boksoon’ universe in thriller ‘Mantis’
Films

Gangster comedy ‘Boss’ offers unique twist on classic genre

Director Ra Hee-chan believes his film "Boss" will be compelling for audiences this Chuseok holiday season because it flips the traditional gangster movie formula by focusing on characters finding their true identities rather than on a fight for power. "The ironic situation where they don't want to be the boss felt like an effective way to present a comedy," the director said after the film's premiere in Seoul, Wednesday. "I worked to write a deeper story that combines comedy with the dilemma of gangsters who have other dreams." He added that the film's unique concept and its characters differentiate it from other gangster comedies. "The fact that these gangsters are seeking their own identity and dreams, not just loyalty, is what makes it different," he said. The film's humor comes from the intense rivalry between Soon-tae and Kang-pyo, two second-in-commands who are desperately trying to avoid becoming the boss. Jo Woo-jin portrays Soon-tae, a talented Chinese restaurant chef who wants to be the best in his field but is stuck as the gang's second-in-command. Jung Kyung-ho plays Kang-pyo

Sep 24, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Gangster comedy ‘Boss’ offers unique twist on classic genre
People & Events

Bucheon, Busan to bring comic culture to life with autumn festivals

As September wraps up, two festivals will celebrate comics culture in Bucheon and Busan. Both festivals feature programs for fans and professionals alike, showcasing the creative energy and cultural impact of the industry. The Bucheon International Comics Festival (BICOF), will run from Friday to Sunday at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Designed as a family-friendly event, the nation’s leading comics festival has diverse programs to engage visitors of all ages. The festivities begin with the outdoor BICOF comic cafe, where visitors can browse a curated library of over 1,000 comic books while enjoying live indie band performances and webtoon soundtrack concerts. The food truck zone will be twice the size of last year’s to offer a wide array of local specialties. A special highlight for families will be on Saturday evening, when the animated film “Heartsping: Teenieping of Love” will be screened at the Korean Manhwa Museum for free. This event is expected to make the festival even more family-friendly and popular with the community, organizers said. The thre

Sep 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Bucheon, Busan to bring comic culture to life with autumn festivals
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