The Korea Times

Photographer blends AI, art in ‘photo revolution’

In the heart of Insa-dong, Seoul, a cozy neighborhood where traditional Korean culture and contemporary art are gathered, photographer Oh Seung-hwan is challenging the definition of photography. At his exhibition “AI Photo Revolution” at Gallery Index, running through Sept. 15, the veteran photographer presents a series of photo works created by combining his own artistic vision with artificial intelligence (AI). The exhibition coincides with the recent publication of his book, “AI Photo Revolution,” the first book in Korea to explore the theoretical and practical aspects of images generated using the emerging technology. Oh, a former photojournalist and photography professor, describes his professional identity simply as “just a photographer.” He believes that art is a way of communicating one’s feelings to others, and for him, visual communication is the most powerful tool. “The very first form of art was cave paintings. It was a way of leaving an index that ‘I am alive,’” Oh told The Korea Times at the gallery Wednesday. “Visual language is so powerful that it

Sep 4, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Photographer blends AI, art in ‘photo revolution’

Trends

Korean webtoon giants turn comics into videos to capture short-form generation

Korean webtoon platforms Naver Webtoon and Kakao Webtoon are racing to reshape digital comics into a new hybrid form of entertainment by merging traditional scrolling panels with dynamic video content. As short-form video continues to dominate online platforms across generations, especially young users, the country’s two biggest webtoon players see an opportunity to extend their reach and boost audience engagement beyond the conventional reading experience. “The webtoon industry is increasingly recognizing the importance of providing content that aligns with the consumption habits of users, especially the younger generation, who prefer shorter content,” an official from the local webtoon industry said. “It appears that leading players in the industry are making this move to meet this demand.” Webtoon Entertainment, a parent company of Naver Webtoon which oversees the platform’s global business, recently introduced a new feature called Video Episodes on its English-language service. Rather than the familiar vertical scroll, readers using Video Episodes service can watch chapte

Sep 3, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Korean webtoon giants turn comics into videos to capture short-form generation

Films

In comedy flick ‘Boss,’ gangsters scheme to avoid crown

In movies, the No. 2 of a mafia organization usually fights fiercely for the boss's seat. But the upcoming film “Boss” turns this common plot on its head as right-hand men of the crime family in this comedy film try to avoid becoming the boss. "When I first heard the movie’s hook was a 'war to avoid becoming the boss,' I chuckled. That laughter and humor lasted throughout the several years of working on the film,” director Ra Hee-chan said during a press conference in Seoul Monday. He described the movie as "not just another generic gangster film, but a fresh and visually entertaining comedy-action film." "When I first heard about this project, it felt very original. With a cast of actors who are so good at comedy, I wasn't worried about that aspect," Ra said. "I focused on the tension among the gang members who are trying to get away from something, and the threats facing the organization." The film revolves around the intense comedy of two right-hand men, Soon-tae and Kang-pyo, who are fiercely trying to give up the top spot. Actor Jo Woo-jin plays Soon-tae, the head chef of a C

Sep 1, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

In comedy flick ‘Boss,’ gangsters scheme to avoid crown

People & Events

Korea's World Webtoon Awards to highlight top global creators in online comics

The 2025 World Webtoon Awards are set to take place in Seoul in October, celebrating the best and brightest in the global webtoon industry, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday. Hosted by the culture ministry and its affiliate Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), the event aims to honor outstanding works, encourage professionals in the industry and solidify Korea's reputation as a global leader in online comics. This year's awards ceremony, the second of its kind, will be held Oct. 22 at Lotte Cinema’s Lotte World Tower branch. The list of 26 finalists for the main awards has been announced, chosen from a pool of 99 candidates. The ministry said the selection process was highly competitive, drawing a surprising 1,338 recommendations from readers worldwide and demonstrating the immense global popularity of online comics. The nominees include 23 Korean works and three works by Japanese artists. Among the awards, the Reader’s Choice Award is introduced for the first time this year, offering fans chances to vote for their favorite webtoon works. The winner will be de

Sep 1, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Korea's World Webtoon Awards to highlight top global creators in online comics

Films

Is Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' next 'Parasite' on the horizon?

Filmmaker Park Chan-wook’s highly anticipated new film “No Other Choice” received rave reviews at its premiere during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, sparking early comparisons to Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning "Parasite." The film, which has been a passion project for Park for two decades, finally debuted to a global audience on Friday night (local time) in Italy, as it was invited to the competition section of the festival. Following the screening, the audience erupted in a standing ovation that lasted for over nine minutes, according to local media. Earlier on Friday, during a press conference featuring the director and lead actors Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Yeom Hye-ran and Lee Sung-min, Park explained that the film was born out of a 20-year journey. “The reason I never gave up on this project for 20 years is that whenever I told people the story, no matter the time period or country they came from, they would always say it was relatable and timely,” he said. “I believed it would be made into a film one day.” Based on Donald E. Westlake's novel

Aug 31, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Is Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' next 'Parasite' on the horizon?

Films

Queer N. Korean defector searches for belonging in Seoul in ‘3670’

Director Park Joon-ho’s debut film “3670” offers a rare and empathetic glimpse into everyday life of a queer North Korean defector as he explores ideas about identity and belonging in contemporary Korean society. The title itself carries a coded meaning. Within Korea’s gay community, “3670” translates to “Meet in front of Exit 6 at Jongno 3-ga Station at 7 p.m.” Rather than being exclusive, the film turns the code into a doorway to broader understanding and empathy. At the center of the story is Cheol-jun (Cho You-hyun), a young, gay North Korean trying to manage his life in Seoul. He is introduced to local LGBTQ+ gatherings in Jongno and Itaewon by his neighbor, Yeong-jun (Kim Hyun-mok). After mingling with people, Cheol-jun realizes he is more than just a defector or just a queer person. He is also a friend, brother, part-time worker and young adult dealing with the same everyday struggles as his peers. Instead of relying on familiar tropes, “3670” focuses on the ordinary but delicate ties of love and friendship. Audiences are also able to relate to the connection b

Aug 28, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Queer N. Korean defector searches for belonging in Seoul in ‘3670’

Films

Is 'KPop Demon Hunters' wake-up call Korean cinema needs?

What does a singalong screening of a K-pop-inspired animated film at Asia’s biggest film festival say about the future of Korean cinema? That’s the question swirling after the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) announced a special event for Netflix’s "KPop Demon Hunters" — which became the platform’s most-watched film ever — and now a cultural phenomenon filling theaters in North America. For many in Korea’s film industry, the movie’s meteoric rise poses a pressing question: can its global success serve as a road map for revitalization and international growth at a time when the industry is still struggling to emerge from a post-pandemic slump? The organizers of the nation’s largest film festival seem to think so. BIFF will host a special singalong screening of the film during the festival, with director Maggie Kang in attendance. This decision reflects a wider desire within Korea’s film industry to become a more competitive player on the global stage. Kim Young-deok, director of the Asian Contents & Film Market at BIFF, said that while this film was produced by

Aug 28, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Is 'KPop Demon Hunters' wake-up call Korean cinema needs?

Films

Busan Int’l Film Festival turns 30 with star-studded lineup, new awards

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will be a star-studded affair with an unprecedented lineup of renowned filmmakers and actors from around the world, including Sean Baker and Guillermo del Toro, the organizers said Tuesday. "We have built the best-ever international guest lineup for the 30th anniversary," Jung Han-seok, director of the festival, said during a press conference in Seoul. "The greatest filmmakers of our time will all gather in Busan next month." This year's BIFF, running from Sept. 17 to 26, promises a cinematic feast with 241 films to be screened, an increase of 17 from last year. The biggest difference of this year’s event is that it now transforms its format from a noncompetitive to a competitive format. The festival has secured the attendance of prominent figures such as global luminaries, including Iranian master Jafar Panahi, who will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award during the festival. Panahi won the Palme d'Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for "It's Just a Small Accident.” American director Sean Baker, whose 2024 film "Anora

Aug 26, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Busan Int’l Film Festival turns 30 with star-studded lineup, new awards

K-pop

Top singer Kim Gun-mo to return to stage after 6-year hiatus

Kim Gun-mo, one of the most iconic and successful singers to emerge from the 1990s K-pop scene, is set to make a comeback with a nationwide concert tour after a six-year hiatus. The 57-year-old singer’s upcoming concert tour will begin with a show in Busan on Sept. 27, followed by performances in Daegu on Oct. 18 and Daejeon on Dec. 20. The tour is expected to expand to Seoul and other major cities next January, according to concert production company IStar Media, Tuesday. The singer abruptly halted his career in 2019 after sexual assault allegations were made against him. At the time, he was enjoying a career resurgence on the popular TV show "My Little Old Boy." Kim was acquitted of the charges in 2021 after a police investigation, but he has remained out of the public eye ever since. “Kim Gun-mo never let go of his music for a single moment, even though he had been away from the stage,” the concert production company said. "His music never stopped during the hiatus." Fans are eager to see if Kim will address the past six years during his concerts, as he has not given a single in

Aug 26, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Top singer Kim Gun-mo to return to stage after 6-year hiatus

Films

Gong Myung, Shin Eun-soo lead nostalgic romance 'Love Untangled,' set in 1998 Busan

Director Namkoong Sun said her new Netflix movie “Love Untangled” is a work filled with small, relatable moments, adding, "It will be a movie that audiences can enjoy comfortably and with an open heart." "Teenagers are obsessed with the little things. This film captures that feeling well," the director said during a press conference in Seoul Monday. According to the director, curly hair plays a central role in the film. "It's a setting that can reflect the feelings of teenagers, not just the protagonist, who suffers because of their appearance," she said. "The curly hair is the protagonist's complex, something she can't control. Our film asks viewers if it's really necessary to change that." "Love Untangled" is a teen romance set in Busan in 1998. It follows 19-year-old Park Se-ri (Shin Eun-soo) as she makes a plan to overcome her lifelong complex by straightening her curly hair and then confessing her love to her crush. But things get complicated when she gets entangled with a new transfer student, Han Yun-seok (Gong Myung). "Han Yun-seok is a very gentle and emotional character," Gon

Aug 25, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Baek Byung-yeul

Read more

Photographer blends AI, art in ‘photo revolution’

Korean webtoon giants turn comics into videos to capture short-form generation

In comedy flick ‘Boss,’ gangsters scheme to avoid crown

Korea's World Webtoon Awards to highlight top global creators in online comics

Is Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' next 'Parasite' on the horizon?

Queer N. Korean defector searches for belonging in Seoul in ‘3670’

Is 'KPop Demon Hunters' wake-up call Korean cinema needs?

Busan Int’l Film Festival turns 30 with star-studded lineup, new awards

Top singer Kim Gun-mo to return to stage after 6-year hiatus

Gong Myung, Shin Eun-soo lead nostalgic romance 'Love Untangled,' set in 1998 Busan

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