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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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Korean Heritage

Korea welcomes international creators to share its UNESCO heritage sites with world

Korea wants to share its cultural treasures with the world through a new initiative that invites foreign content creators residing in the country to explore and promote the nation’s UNESCO-listed heritage. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday that it will host the 2025 UNESCO heritage and attractions tour program from June to November to highlight the universal value of Korea’s cultural assets. The program, “Unlock Korea’s Treasures,” will help foreign creators produce their own content as they visit key heritage sites across the country. Over five tours, participants will delve into both tangible and intangible heritage. “Even foreigners who have lived in Korea for a long time rarely get the chance to deeply explore its history and culture,” a culture ministry official said. “We hope this program will allow them to experience Korea’s invaluable heritage firsthand and serve as cultural ambassadors to the world.” Korea currently boasts 16 UNESCO World Heritage sites, with another 23 items on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and 20 inscrib

May 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea welcomes international creators to share its UNESCO heritage sites with world
Films

‘When I Sleep’ offers tender look at grief, growth

“When I Sleep” delves into the intertwined journeys of three women navigating their sleepless nights as director Choi Jung-moon offers a gentle exploration of grief that extends beyond death. "When I started writing the screenplay for 'When I Sleep,' the emotion I thought deeply about was grief. I thought not only about the grief that comes from death but also the grief of people who were by my side, changing and parting ways,” Choi said during a press conference Wednesday at a theater in Seoul. She added that she wrote the story while thinking about "people who have suffered because they are women, and those around me who resemble me." The movie delicately portrays the universal struggles of individuals grappling with their inner turmoil. It follows Seon-ah (Jung Ji-in), Ji-soo (Oh Woo-ri) and Bo-mi (Park Bo-ram) as they embark on a trip to visit a loved one’s grave, a journey that quickly takes an unsettling turn. The three protagonists carry their own burdens. Seon-ah, who works at an advertising company in Seoul, is engaged in a secret office romance with her superior. She le

May 22, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘When I Sleep’ offers tender look at grief, growth
Films

'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho joins livestream to celebrate Son Heung-min’s Europa League win

Filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, best known for his 2019 Oscar-winning movie “Parasite,” brought his signature enthusiasm to the world of football, joining a live broadcast to cheer on Korean footballer Son Heung-min and his team, Tottenham Hotspur, as they won the UEFA Europa League title on Thursday. Tottenham ended their 17-year title drought with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain. The decisive moment came in the 42nd minute, when Brennan Johnson scored. The 55-year-old filmmaker, who had pledged earlier this year to join a live commentary if Tottenham reached the final, fulfilled his promise by appearing on football commentator Park Moon-sung’s YouTube channel Dalsu Live. Comedian Kim Shin-young, who made her big screen debut through director Park Chan-wook’s 2022 film “Decision to Leave,” also attended the broadcasting. Despite having slept only three hours before the match, which kicked off at 4 a.m. Korea time, Bong’s passion was clear from the start. When Son began the match on the bench, Bong predicted,

May 22, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'Parasite' director Bong Joon-ho joins livestream to celebrate Son Heung-min’s Europa League win
Films

Africa Film Festival brings continent’s vibrant cinema to Korea

The Africa Film Festival, organized by the Korea-Africa Foundation, is showcasing the diversity, creativity and cultural depth of African cinema, bringing the vibrancy and rich narratives of the continent to Korean audiences. The seventh edition, which opened Tuesday, runs through June 15 and unfolds across three cities — in Seoul through May 26, in Busan from May 27 to June 1 and for the first time in Jeonju from June 12 to 15 — marking a significant expansion in its reach. Launched in 2019, the festival intends to break down negative stereotypes and introduce the many diverse facets of Africa through the power of film. Now in its seventh year, the festival continues to grow, offering a more comprehensive look at the continent’s cinematic landscape. Highlighting the festival’s mission to foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding, Kim Young-chae, president of the Korea-Africa Foundation, said in his opening remarks that “this festival is not just about watching films but about building strong bridges between Korea and Africa, and shaping a future based on mutual respec

May 21, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Africa Film Festival brings continent’s vibrant cinema to Korea
Films

Why Jeonju is now Korea's hottest filming location?

Korean filmmakers and streaming giants are turning their cameras to Jeonju, a city where tradition and cinematic innovation meet, making the city in North Jeolla Province one of the hottest filming locations for movies and dramas. From the bustling Hanok Village — a cluster of traditional Korean houses — to the city’s film studio complex, Jeonju’s blend of history, culture and modern infrastructure is drawing the attention of both domestic and international production teams. The city’s recent partnership with New Zealand’s Kumeu Film Studios — famed for producing global blockbusters like “Avatar” and “Mulan” — signals Jeonju’s growing ambitions as an international film industry hub. The agreement, made last year, includes plans for Asia’s second Kumeu Film Studios and a virtual production facility. “Jeonju has made film and video production one of its core development priorities for over 20 years,” an official from Jeonju City Government's culture, sports and tourism bureau said. “The city’s Hanok Village and tranquil atmosphere make it an ideal locati

May 20, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Why Jeonju is now Korea's hottest filming location?
Politics

Presidential contenders look to attract young voters with range of game industry policies

As the June 3 presidential election nears, candidates are stepping up efforts to win over voters in their 20s and 30s — a demographic widely seen as pivotal to the outcome — by incorporating the game industry into their campaign strategies. While candidates have made ambitious promises such as disclosing the odds for randomized in-game item purchases and improving gamers' rights, experts noted many of the pledges made by previous presidents have not been fully realized, raising questions about whether the next administration will fulfill its promises. "The game industry is not only a form of cultural content that allows presidential candidates to appeal to young voters, but also a sector of significant industrial value," an official in the local game industry said on condition of anonymity. "However, since many of the pledges made by previous candidates to promote the industry have not been properly implemented, we have to wait and see whether their policies will actually be fulfilled." Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has taken the most proactive approach, launch

May 20, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Presidential contenders look to attract young voters with range of game industry policies
Politics

Korea’s 2025 presidential debate to air live around the globe

Korea’s 2025 presidential candidate debates will be broadcast live to a global audience, with real-time English interpretation available to viewers in 135 countries, state-funded English broadcaster Arirang TV announced Friday. The first debate for the June 3 presidential election, focusing on economic issues, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday, with subsequent sessions addressing social integration and political polarization later in the month. The live broadcast marks a milestone for Korean democracy, as the debates will be accessible not only to domestic voters but also to the 7 million overseas Koreans and other international viewers interested in Korean politics, Arirang TV said. The initiative aims to highlight the transparency of Korea’s political process and introduce the candidates’ visions and policies to a global audience, reinforcing the country’s commitment to democratic values, the broadcaster noted, adding that this is their first attempt at a live broadcast of this kind. Four leading candidates — Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the Pe

May 16, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea’s 2025 presidential debate to air live around the globe
People & Events

Hong Seok-cheon receives 2025 Pride Award

Veteran actor and television personality Hong Seok-cheon was honored Friday at Pride Gala, an annual event celebrating diversity and inclusion in Korea’s LGBTQ+ community, for his 25 years of impact on LGBTQ+ rights. The gala, hosted by the nonprofit organization Sinnaneun Center, is held each May in conjunction with the International Day Against Homophobia, which falls on May 17. The event brings together opinion leaders, activists and artists to recognize those who have made significant contributions to LGBTQ+ rights and to promote greater acceptance through culture and the arts. The 54-year-old celebrity rose to fame in the late 1990s and made history in 2000 as Korea’s first openly gay celebrity when he came out on national television. His announcement was met with immediate backlash, leading to his removal from TV shows and widespread discrimination. Despite these challenges, Hong has continued his career gradually and has become a prominent advocate for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Since then, Hong has become a familiar face on TV programs and has also established himself

May 16, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Hong Seok-cheon receives 2025 Pride Award
Films

‘Yadang: The Snitch’ expands global release amid international acclaim

Korean crime thriller “Yadang: The Snitch,” is making a strong impression both at home and abroad as it continues its global rollout. After opening in Indonesia on April 23 and in North America on April 25, distributor Plus M Entertainment confirmed Friday that the film will soon hit theaters in Vietnam, Mongolia, Taiwan, Australia, the U.K. and Thailand. The film’s overseas expansion follows its success at the domestic box office. Since its release here on April 16, “Yadang: The Snitch” has drawn more than 3 million moviegoers in less than a month, becoming the top-grossing film of the year so far. The movie’s popularity is driven by its tightly woven plot, unpredictable twists and the powerful performances of its leading cast, including Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin and Park Hae-joon. Audience ratings have remained consistently high, with CGV’s Golden Egg Index climbing to 97 percent and Lotte Cinema’s viewer score reaching 9.4 out of 10 in the second week. “Yadang” is a Korean slang term for informants who provide information about drug dealers and buyers to the police

May 16, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Yadang: The Snitch’ expands global release amid international acclaim
Films

Movie-inspired products take over as Korean films team up with brands

Korean movies are increasingly teaming up with various brands in a mutually beneficial strategy that allows filmmakers to connect more effectively with audiences amid a sluggish market, while also enabling brands to cultivate a more approachable image through cinematic tie-ins. "As the film industry struggles to recover from the slump we've been in since the COVID-19 pandemic, many filmmakers are seeking more effective marketing strategies, and collaborations with brands are a growing trend in this effort," an official from the local film industry said, Thursday. "Given the aligned needs of both brands and film production companies, we anticipate this trend will continue." “Big Deal,” an upcoming film mainly dealing with the Korean distilled alcoholic beverage "soju," is one of the prime examples of this trend. Set during the 1997 financial crisis, the film tells the story of a struggling soju company battling for its future. To enhance authenticity, the movie’s production partnered with Mokpo-based Bohae Brewery to develop a new soju flavor specifically for the movie. This collabor

May 15, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Movie-inspired products take over as Korean films team up with brands
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