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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

Actor Jung Il-woo makes Japanese debut with Amazon thriller 'Criminal'

Japanese director Daishi Matsunaga expressed deep satisfaction with his collaboration with actor Jung Il-woo in the Japanese original series "Criminal," streaming on Amazon's Prime Video. "I have long been influenced by Korean cinema, so presenting this series in Korea holds immense personal significance for me," Matsunaga said during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. "Jung left a strong impression on me, and seeing his performance in 'Highway Family' (a 2022 Korean movie) convinced me that he had untapped potential I wanted to bring out." Based on the popular novel by Ai Ota, "Criminal" follows a detective, a journalist and a survivor who team up to track down a huge conspiracy triggered by a random murder. The seven-part crime thriller debuted globally on Amazon's streaming platform Prime Video on July 17 and has held the top spot in Japan for three consecutive weeks. "I would like to express my gratitude for the immense popularity," Jung said. "While it is a mystery thriller, the story follows the characters from an observer’s point of view. That sense of mystery keeps viewers e

Jul 30, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Jung Il-woo makes Japanese debut with Amazon thriller 'Criminal'
People & Events

Yoido Full Gospel Church to host 35th Overseas Chinese Conference in Korea

Yoido Full Gospel Church will host the 35th Overseas Chinese Conference in Korea (OCCK), bringing together around 3,000 Chinese-speaking pastors and believers from across the globe to foster spiritual revival and strengthen global mission work. The five-day event, running from Aug. 3-7, will take place across three key venues including the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, the Osanri Choi Ja-sil Memorial Fasting Prayer Mountain and the Yeongsan Training Center, both in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Organized by the headquarters of the OCCK and managed by the Church Growth Worldwide, the gathering has drawn participants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia and other regions worldwide. Throughout the conference, attendees will participate in various programs centered on sermons, Holy Spirit revival assemblies, prayer sessions and fellowship. Marking its 35th edition this year, the annual conference serves as a flagship international mission project. It has played a vital role in connecting the Korean church with the global Chinese-speaking Christian community, contributing signif

Jul 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Yoido Full Gospel Church to host 35th Overseas Chinese Conference in Korea
Travel & Food

Seoul claims 4 spots on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026, Zest retains No. 2 ranking

Korea continues to prove its strong presence in the regional cocktail scene, with four local spots enshrined on the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 list. The annual ranking, announced Tuesday night during a ceremony held in Macau, features the top drinking spots across 22 Asian cities. Zest retained its position, coming in second, while Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou took the number 1 spot. This achievement highlights the steady growth of Korea's bar industry. Zest was named the best bar in Korea for the third consecutive year. Located in Cheongdam-dong in southern Seoul, it continues to draw international acclaim for its zero-waste philosophy, eco-conscious operations and deep commitment to sourcing seasonal local ingredients. Joining Zest on the list were three other prominent venues representing diverse styles. Alice, located in Seoul's Gangnam district and known for its unique atmosphere, took 13th place. Bar Cham, set inside a restored hanok in Jongno District in Seoul, placed 33rd for its focus on locally produced spirits and traditional Korean ingredients. Meanwhile, fashion-inspired newcomer

Jul 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Seoul claims 4 spots on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026, Zest retains No. 2 ranking
Films

Director of award-winning animated film dies ahead of release

Hur Bum-wook, the director of the acclaimed animated feature "Pig That Survived Foot-And-Mouth Disease," passed away following a fire, according to the movie’s distributor Indiestory on Tuesday. He was 43. Hur passed away Tuesday morning while receiving medical treatment following an accidental fire on July 23. A press screening for "Pig That Survived Foot-And-Mouth Disease," which was originally scheduled for July 24, was abruptly canceled on the morning of the event due to the accident. The film was slated to open in local theaters on Aug. 5, but its release has been tentatively postponed. "We will announce future release schedules after the bereaved family and production crew have time to grieve and process this loss," Indiestory said in a statement. Born in 1983, Hur established himself as a distinct filmmaker in the local independent animation scene starting with his 2009 short "Ordinary Meals," followed by "City of Good People" (2011), “On the White Planet” (2014) and "Galapagos" (2019). "On The White Planet" won the Grand Prix for Best Feature Film at the Holland Animation Fil

Jul 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Director of award-winning animated film dies ahead of release
Films

Jecheon music film fest gears up for 22nd edition with new hosts, award finalists

The 22nd Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) is gearing up for its six-day run this September with a fresh hosting lineup and an eclectic music competition. Comedian Jang Do-yeon and actor Moon Sang-min will host the opening ceremony on Sept. 3 at the city in North Chungcheong Province, event organizers said Tuesday. This marks Jang’s second consecutive year as host, following her performance alongside film director and festival executive director Jang Hang-jun last year. "I remember laughing much more than expected while hosting last year's ceremony," Jang said. "I am relieved and grateful to be invited back this year." Moon, who gained prominence through TV series such as "Under the Queen's Umbrella" (2022) and "Wedding Impossible” (2024), expressed his excitement for his festival hosting debut. "It is an honor to join so many people who love both film and music," Moon said. Launched in 2005, JIMFF stands as Asia’s premier music-themed international film festival, combining cinematic screenings with live outdoor music performances. Surrounded by Jecheon's beautiful

Jul 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jecheon music film fest gears up for 22nd edition with new hosts, award finalists
Films

'Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage' delivers bigger action, laughs on high seas

The 2020 action-comedy hit "Okay! Madam" returns with a grander scale as former secret agent Mi-young (Uhm Jung-hwa) takes her high-octane moves on a luxury cruise ship. "Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage" follows the former agent and her family whose peaceful ocean vacation turns into a chaotic rescue operation after a ruthless criminal syndicate hijacks their vessel in the middle of the ocean. Expanding on the original setup, the sequel mixes fun physical humor with even more exciting action scenes. Uhm delivers a standout performance as she performs sharp martial arts and underwater scenes that go beyond plain slapstick. Director Lee Cheol-ha expressed deep relief and joy while introducing the sequel. "I had planned a three-part series from the very beginning, and it took six full years to present this second installment," Lee said after the premiere on Monday. "I am deeply grateful and moved that our actors joined us again to enrich this film, and I sincerely hope it performs well so we can realize our dream of making the third installment." Uhm also expressed her excitement about reprising the

Jul 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage' delivers bigger action, laughs on high seas
Travel & Food

No. of foreign tourists exceeds 10 mil. in 1st half

Korea is on track to achieve its ambitious annual target of attracting over 22 million overseas visitors this year, driven by a strong rebound in travel numbers for the first half of the year and aggressive government measures to stamp out unfair business practices targeting tourists. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism released data showing that the nation welcomed 10.71 million foreign visitors from January to June. The milestone was buoyed by a sharp monthly surge in June, when 1.99 million overseas tourists visited the country, up 23.1 percent from the same month last year. The steady influx bolsters prospects for reaching the government’s target of 22 million to 23 million foreign tourists for this year. A report released by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute last month projected foreign arrivals to reach 22 million this year, marking a 16.2 percent increase from 2025. Visitor numbers from key markets grew strongly in June. China led the arrivals with 650,000 visitors, followed by Japan with 350,000 and Taiwan with 220,000. Southeast Asian nations, the Am

Jul 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
No. of foreign tourists exceeds 10 mil. in 1st half
Films

'The Journey to Gyeong-ju' takes family on road trip for revenge

Director Kim Mi-jo described her new movie "The Journey to Gyeong-ju" as a story about enduring grief and the deep strength of family love. "I was curious about how those left behind overcome the pain of loss and deal with emotional rupture. I wanted to tell a story about people who push forward until the very end," Kim said during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. “Ultimately, it is a story about intense love, and I believe it will reach anyone who has someone they love." "The Journey to Gyeong-ju" revolves around a mother, Ok-sil (Lee Jeong-eun), and her three daughters as they embark on a road trip to the historic southeastern city of Gyeongju to avenge their youngest family member, Gyeong-ju, who went missing during a school trip eight years ago. The upcoming revenge drama is Kim's commercial feature debut. She previously earned critical acclaim at domestic and international film festivals with her award-winning debut film "Gull” (2021). "The story stems from a setup where four women who have never killed even an insect set out to deliver their own justice," Kim said. "I wanted

Jul 27, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The Journey to Gyeong-ju' takes family on road trip for revenge
Films

Nolan reinterprets ancient myth as deeply human drama in 'The Odyssey'

Renowned director Christopher Nolan has returned to the big screen with "The Odyssey," taking on one of humanity's oldest epics and reinterpreting it into an immersive, deeply human drama. Based on Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, the 172-minute film follows Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his grueling 20-year journey back to his homeland of Ithaca after leading the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War. Along the way, Odysseus faces tough challenges from gods and monsters, including the giant Polyphemus, the witch Circe and the sea goddess Calypso. Meanwhile, back in his home of Ithaca, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) stands up against dangerous men trying to take his throne, while his son Telemachus (Tom Holland) struggles with growing up without a father. Nolan uses his signature nonlinear storytelling to condense the vast 20-year narrative into a tight, compelling structure. Instead of showing Odysseus as an unbeatable mythic hero, the film focuses on the mind of a lonely, tired soldier. He is driven not by victory, but by trauma and a deep longing to find redemption and return home. The dir

Jul 25, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Nolan reinterprets ancient myth as deeply human drama in 'The Odyssey'
Films

'Spirits' Homecoming' returning to theaters

"Spirits' Homecoming," a widely discussed movie addressing the tragedy of Japanese military sexual slavery, is returning to theaters in an extended cut to mark its 10th anniversary, bringing renewed attention to an issue with only five surviving victims remaining. Connect Pictures, the film's distributor, said Friday that the extended version of "Spirits' Homecoming" — subtitled "Sister, Let's Go Home" in Korean — will open in theaters nationwide on Aug. 26. Directed by Cho Jung-rae, the original 2016 film was based on traumatic experiences of the late Kang Il-chul, one of the victims, and her drawing “Burning Women.” Made possible through crowdfunded donations from more than 75,000 citizens, the movie drew more than 3.58 million viewers and sparked nationwide attention upon its release. The updated 132-minute version adds six minutes of previously unreleased footage. By incorporating the stories of women from other Asian nations who suffered under the same system during World War II, the new version expands its narrative scope to emphasize cross-border solidarity and friendship

Jul 24, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Spirits' Homecoming' returning to theaters
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