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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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Trends

Are Korea’s webtoon platforms becoming gateway for global pop culture?

Korean webtoon platforms such as Naver Webtoon and Kakao Webtoon are rapidly transforming from local digital comics hubs into pillars of global pop culture, creating major cross-industry intellectual property (IP) hits and exemplifying the power of digital-native storytelling. The distinct vertical-scrolling format of webtoons, optimized for mobile viewing, and their adaptability to diverse genres position Korean platforms as a prime conduit for both exporting original IP and importing or reimagining global franchises. On Wednesday, Webtoon Entertainment, the U.S. parent company of Korea’s Naver Webtoon, announced a multi-year global content partnership with the Walt Disney Company. Through this deal, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and 20th Century Studios’ most beloved franchises such as Spider-Man, Avengers and Star Wars will be reborn as vertically scrolling webtoons specifically tailored for mobile devices. Around 100 different titles will be sequentially launched within a dedicated Disney section in the English-language Webtoon app, marking Naver’s entry as a key player in mainstre

Aug 15, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Are Korea’s webtoon platforms becoming gateway for global pop culture?
Films

'Only God Knows Everything' explores true meaning of faith

How cruel can a distorted belief make a person? And how should a priest, who serves as God's representative, deal with the dilemma they face when their own faith is shaken? Director Paek Seung-hwan poses these questions in his new film "Only God Knows Everything,” which explores the dark side of people who fall into cults and what true faith really means. This thriller follows Do-un (Shin Seung-ho), a newly ordained priest. When he hears a confession about the death of his mother, who disappeared 13 years ago, he becomes entangled in a dilemma between revenge and his faith, and begins to unravel the secrets behind her disappearance. "I have been involved in various religious activities myself and often wondered if my beliefs were right, or what was the right thing to do when I saw the dark side of religion," Paek said after the premiere on Wednesday. "So when I first read this screenplay, I thought I should make a film that explores these kinds of questions." He added that the original title of the film was "The Borderliner" with the subtitle "Only God Knows Everything," but he decided

Aug 13, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'Only God Knows Everything' explores true meaning of faith
Films

Korean animation 'Bad Girl: Run Hani' to hit theaters this October

The beloved Korean TV animation “Run Hani” will make its big-screen debut this October with its first official theatrical release “Bad Girl: Run Hani” (tentative title), marking the 40th anniversary of the original series. On Wednesday, the film’s distributor NEW said the animated feature based on cartoonist Lee Jin-joo's original comic "Run Hani” will be released in cinemas nationwide. The company also unveiled a special poster inspired by the Taegeukgi (national flag of Korea) in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, which falls on Friday. The image features the characters Aeri and Hani running boldly against the Korean national flag, symbolizing both nostalgia for a timeless story and pride in the nation’s history. The original comic and TV series follow Hani, a talented sprinter from a troubled background, whose strong will drives her forward alongside her devoted teacher and rival Aeri. In a twist that sets it apart from the original, the upcoming film places Aeri in the central role, NEW said. The narrative promises to reveal Aeri’s backstory and

Aug 13, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean animation 'Bad Girl: Run Hani' to hit theaters this October
Films

Japanese anime 'Demon Slayer' logs record presales despite Liberation Day sensitivities

Japanese animated feature "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba — Infinity Castle" is showing notable presale success in Korea, signaling strong anticipation despite the sensitive atmosphere surrounding National Liberation Day, a holiday commemorating the end of Japanese colonial rule which falls on Aug. 15. The film’s release timing, Aug. 22, just days after this significant historical holiday, adds layers of cultural and historical complexity to how it is received by Korean audiences. However, many fans of this popular comic book-based animation argue that cultural content should be appreciated on its own merits, questioning the necessity of attaching historical and political issues to a work of fiction. According to data from the Korean Film Council, the film has already surpassed 320,000 presale tickets, securing the top spot in ticket reservations with 321,806 presale ticket record as of Tuesday. This impressive figure suggests a strong fan base and high anticipation for the movie, which is based on the massively popular comic book by Koyoharu Gotouge. The original comic series has s

Aug 12, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Japanese anime 'Demon Slayer' logs record presales despite Liberation Day sensitivities
People & Events

FEBC-Korea to host patriotic concert in Incheon to commemorate 80th Liberation Day

Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea will hold its annual Children’s Choir Patriotic Concert in Incheon on Friday to mark Liberation Day, which this year commemorates the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. The large-scale performance, featuring about 700 children from FEBC-Korea’s regional children’s choirs, will take place at Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon. This year’s concert carries special meaning as it also marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of Protestant missions in Korea and the 75th anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation during the 1950-53 Korean War. Organizers chose Incheon for its historic significance as a center of the independence movement, the birthplace of modernization and Christian mission work in Korea and the site of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur’s pivotal landing operation in 1950 that turned the tide of the Korean War. Incheon has long served as a gateway to the world through its port and airport, and it is also where FEBC-Korea first began broadcasting, making this year’s celebration espec

Aug 12, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
FEBC-Korea to host patriotic concert in Incheon to commemorate 80th Liberation Day
Trends

80th Liberation Day Are Korea, Japan culturally getting closer?

Eighty years after Korea's liberation from Japan, a profound cultural shift is reshaping the relationship between the two nations. For decades, the flow of pop culture was largely a one-way street, with Korea absorbing Japanese influences. Now, a vibrant two-way exchange is underway. This cultural rapprochement is forging new bonds that are proving more durable than the often-rocky diplomatic landscape. Experts on both sides say that a shared future will be built on mutual understanding, collaboration and appreciation for each other’s cultures. Great reversal from Japanese influence to K-culture’s rise For decades, Korean popular culture was heavily influenced by its neighbor. Cultural critic Bae Kook-nam said from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule period through the 1990s, Japan's influence was "absolute." "For instance, our trot music was influenced by enka, the Japanese singing genre, and early Korean dramas, films and entertainment shows were also heavily influenced by Japan," Bae said. This one-sided flow of culture, however, began to shift dramatically in the late 1990s. The popul

Aug 12, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
[80th Liberation Day] Are Korea, Japan culturally getting closer?
Shows & Dramas

Tim Burton’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 dives into family dynamics

Director Tim Burton, known for his unique dark-fantasy aesthetic, revealed that the new season of Netflix series "Wednesday" dives deeper into the family dynamics of the Addams household. "This season, we delve a bit more into the family relationships," Burton said during a press conference in Seoul Monday. "Everybody's got a weird family and this one is no different. So we just explore the mother-daughter [dynamics] and Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her mother and Wednesday. The family dynamic is a bit richer." After its 2022 premiere on Netflix, "Wednesday" quickly became a global hit, setting a record with over 1.7 billion hours viewed to become the most-watched English-language TV series on the platform. The show follows Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) as she navigates her time at the supernatural Nevermore Academy, investigating a series of gruesome murders while mastering her emerging psychic abilities. The show's massive success led to a second season, with the first four episodes of the new season unveiled on Aug. 6. Ortega, who stars as the titular character Wednesday, also

Aug 11, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Tim Burton’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 dives into family dynamics
Films

'My Daughter is a Zombie' smashes box office, hits 3 mil. views in just 11 days

The Korean box office is buzzing with the success of “My Daughter is a Zombie," a comedic drama that has captivated audiences nationwide as the zombie-comedy film officially surpassed 3 million cumulative viewers on Saturday, just 11 days after its release on July 30, making it the fastest film of 2025 to reach this milestone. According to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the movie logged 3,000,558 viewers as of 8:05 p.m. on Saturday. This achievement places "My Daughter is a Zombie" at No. 4 on this year's box office chart, overtaking blockbusters like "Mickey 17." The film’s remarkable speed reaching the 3 million viewer milestone is unprecedented this year. For instance, "Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning" took 23 days, “Yadang: The Snitch” took 23 days and “Mickey 17” and "F1: The Movie" needed 39 days and 40 days, respectively, to hit the same mark. The film's success also echoes that of previous summer hits. It matched the record of 2023's top summer film, "Smugglers," and reached the milestone one day faster than 2024's "Pilot." This string of hits fur

Aug 10, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'My Daughter is a Zombie' smashes box office, hits 3 mil. views in just 11 days
Arts & Theater

Culture minister pledges comprehensive support to globalize K-musicals

Chae Hwi-young, minister of culture, sports and tourism, is pledging to strengthen the support system for Korean musicals, from their creative beginnings to their entry into international markets, to help them find more audiences on global stages. "To ensure Korean musicals are competitive on the global stage, we need a seamless support system that connects the creative phase with overseas market entry," Chae said Saturday during his visit to a performance of the Korean musical “Swag Age: Shout Out, Joseon!” in Seoul. He said the ministry would provide "all-around support for this entire process." This visit is part of a broader trend of the minister engaging directly with the arts community, having also recently visited a play at the Myeongdong Arts Theater on Aug. 3 to inspect working conditions and hear opinions from artists. The domestic musical market has shown steady growth as ticket sales in 2023 reached 459 billion won ($330 million) and accounted for over 70 percent of all performing arts ticket sales, according to data from the Korea Arts Management Service’s 2024 survey

Aug 10, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Culture minister pledges comprehensive support to globalize K-musicals
Films

‘Pretty Crazy’ offers hilarious spin on demonic possession

Director Lee Sang-geun, who won over audiences nationwide with his 2019 disaster blockbuster “Exit," is back after six years with his new comedy "Pretty Crazy," which promises to cool down the summer heat. His latest film is a whimsical comedy-fantasy that follows a familiar-but-fresh premise — a woman who turns into a demon every night. The film showcases his signature blend of humor and heart as it follows the chaotic journey of Sun-ji (Yoona), a woman who runs a bakery by day but becomes a mischievous devil by night. Her misadventures are handled by Gil-gu (Ahn Bo-hyun), a part-time worker who reluctantly becomes her protector. The film marks a long-awaited comeback for Lee, who spent three years on post-production after wrapping filming in 2022. "When I debuted six years ago, I didn't know anything, so I wasn't as nervous," Lee said at the film’s premiere. "Now, I feel a hundred times more anxious. I'm so curious to see how the audience will receive this new work, and I hope they can feel the sincerity we put into it." Lee shared that the film's protagonists, like the lead in

Aug 6, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Pretty Crazy’ offers hilarious spin on demonic possession
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