The Korea Times

Film on justice’s mentor gains attention post-impeachment

In the wake of the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, a 2023 documentary titled "A Man Who Heals the City" is set to return to screens this month. The film chronicles the philanthropic endeavors of entrepreneur Kim Jang-ha, including his influence on the Constitutional Court’s acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae, who delivered the decisive impeachment ruling. The film's distributor Cinema Dal said Thursday that the documentary about Kim, who dedicated over 60 years to helping the less fortunate, will be screened in CGV movie theaters and independent cinemas nationwide this month. While the specific release date is yet to be confirmed, the decision comes amid overwhelming public demand for the film to return to theaters. The surge in interest followed the Constitutional Court's unanimous ruling on April 4 to impeach Yoon, who abruptly declared martial law in December, plunging the nation into political turmoil. Kim developed a bond with Moon when he was a struggling high school student from a poor farming family, and supported him with scholarships until he graduated from u

Apr 10, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Film on justice’s mentor gains attention post-impeachment

Lifestyle

Netflix invests in translation talent with LTI Korea

Netflix is investing in Korean translation talent through its partnership with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), as part of its effort to bring Korean content to global audiences. Meredith Wright, director of partner engagement, globalization at Netflix, highlighted the company’s mission at an event Tuesday. "Our mission is to make local stories to be enjoyed globally through translation," Wright said. In 2024, Netflix and LTI Korea launched a training course aimed at developing translators specializing in video subtitling. The course was designed to enhance technical skills and practical knowledge for video subtitlers, who typically worked with various Korean mediums including literature and web novels. Young Jay Paik, director of globalization at Netflix, also emphasized the crucial role of video subtitling in global expansion during the event. Participants gained practical experience through hands-on exercises using Netflix's Korean productions, learning the importance of video translation and how to utilize Netflix's tools. The program aims to build a sustain

Apr 9, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Netflix invests in translation talent with LTI Korea

Films

Rami Malek's 'The Amateur' offers fresh take on spy genre with underdog hero

Actor Rami Malek, star of the new espionage film “The Amateur,” believes the movie stands out from traditional spy thrillers by featuring an underdog protagonist, promising audiences the unique satisfaction of seeing an ordinary person achieve extraordinary things. "I think what resonated so much about ('Bohemian Rhapsody') was an underdog story, someone you least expect and is overlooked, who goes on to do something really special, extraordinary and moves people. And there is a real underdog story here with this film that I think if you like watching someone rise above all the obstacles to achieve something special, you can relate ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to ‘The Amateur,’" Malek told Korean media during an online press conference on Wednesday, referencing his Academy Award-winning role as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018). "The Amateur," which hit theaters here Wednesday, follows Charles Heller (Malek), a CIA cryptographer with no field experience, embarking on a mission to avenge the murder of his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan). He uses his exceptional intelle

Apr 9, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Rami Malek's 'The Amateur' offers fresh take on spy genre with underdog hero

Films

REVIEW ‘YADANG: The Snitch’ takes viewers on gritty ride through Korea’s drug underworld

"YADANG: The Snitch" is a crime thriller that delves into the shadowy side of "yadang," a Korean slang term for informants who provide information about drug dealers and buyers to the police or law enforcement authorities. The film plunges viewers into the murky depths of Korea's drug trade as it follows the intertwined stories of Lee Kang-su (Kang Ha-neul), a yadang who has a name in Korea's drug scene, Koo Kwan-hee (Yoo Hae-jin), a prosecutor seeking to climb the ladder using Lee's information, and Oh Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon), a detective determined to crack down on drug crimes. The film follows the successful formula of Korean crime thrillers like "Inside Men" (2015) and "The Unjust" (2010), skillfully weaving in elements from real-life news stories about the collusion between crime syndicates and powerful figures. While using familiar elements found in crime thrillers, “YADANG: The Snitch” adds stylish visuals, exciting action, and a well-crafted plot that keeps the tension high throughout. At the center of the gripping story are the outstanding performances of the leading trio.

Apr 8, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

[REVIEW] ‘YADANG: The Snitch’ takes viewers on gritty ride through Korea’s drug underworld

Politics

Yoon Suk Yeol's meteoric rise, dramatic fall

Following the Constitutional Court’s ruling, Friday, Yoon Suk Yeol's tumultuous presidency came to an abrupt end, marking only the second time in the nation’s history that a president has been removed from office midway through their term. His downfall was triggered due to his shocking Dec. 3 martial law declaration, which eventually led to his impeachment and removal from office, sealing the fate of a leader who rose to power promising to uphold the principles of the law. Now stripped of his presidential authority and facing the possibility of criminal charges, including insurrection, Yoon leaves behind a complicated legacy, having transitioned from a prominent prosecutor to a controversial president, ultimately departing under a cloud due to the constitutional crisis he himself caused. From being seen as an upright prosecutor to becoming a deposed president as a consequence of his out-of-the-blue martial law declaration, Yoon's dramatic rise and fall serves as a cautionary chapter in Korea's political and constitutional history. Born in 1960, Yoon’s path to prominence was unconve

Apr 4, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Yoon Suk Yeol's meteoric rise, dramatic fall

Films

CJ ENM-backed film soars to 7th in Vietnam’s all-time box office

CJ ENM's investment in the Vietnamese film market produced impressive results as a film the Korean entertainment giant backed, produced and distributed climbed to seventh place in Vietnam’s all-time box office rankings, the company said Thursday. "The Ancestral Home," which premiered Feb. 21, was a project in CJ ENM's Vietnamese unit, CJ HK Entertainment. The company was involved in the film from its initial funding and production stages through to its distribution and marketing efforts, all specifically tailored for the Vietnamese market. The movie, a horror drama about family, legacy, ghosts and a hidden conspiracy, garnered 2.58 million viewers as of March 5 to enter the top 10 highest-grossing films in Vietnam and moved up to the seventh position on March 8, with a total of 2.75 million viewers. The film exceeded 3.07 million admissions as of Thursday, the company said. Writer-director-actor Huynh Lap’s deep understanding of local culture and audience preferences is considered a crucial factor in the film's success. Huynh is a notable figure in Vietnam's entertainment industry a

Apr 3, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Films

'When Life Gives You Tangerines' actor to lead movie on Jeju Uprising

Actor Yeom Hye-ran, who impressed viewers with her portrayal as a mother working as a "haenyeo" (woman diver) on Jeju Island in the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," is set to appear in another film set on the southern island, this time centered on the Jeju April 3 Uprising. The film’s production companies, Let's Films and Aura Pictures, said Thursday that renowned filmmaker Chung Ji-young began shooting his latest film, whose Korean title translates to "My Name Is." The film is set against the backdrop of the Jeju April 3 Uprising and Massacre, which resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people amid ideological conflicts on Jeju Island between 1947 and 1954, a period marked by state-led suppression and widespread civilian casualties in the aftermath of Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule. The film depicts the story of a middle-aged woman named Jeong-sun, who cannot remember anything before the age of 8, as she gradually recalls memories related to the Jeju April 3 incident. Yeom will portray the lead role. The production companies aim to com

Apr 3, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

'When Life Gives You Tangerines' actor to lead movie on Jeju Uprising

Trends

Studio Ghibli-inspired AI feature sparks copyright debate

A new image-generation feature in OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o, allowing users to transform ordinary photos into visuals that resemble the distinctive style of Studio Ghibli animations, is taking the internet by storm, flooding social media feeds with whimsical portraits reminiscent of works by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. However, at the same time, this viral trend is sparking a fierce debate over copyright, artistic ownership and the future of creative industries in the age of generative artificial intelligence (AI), according to industry officials. This popular AI feature raises critical questions about copyright infringement through training data and fuels fears of artistic devaluation among creators. While AI is evolving into a powerful assistive tool for animators, there still are unresolved legal and ethical challenges. The new ChatGPT feature enables users to simply request images in the iconic aesthetic of the Japanese animation studio led by Miyazaki, widely known for its heartwarming picture style and soft textures. The ease of use has led to widespread adoption, turning the A

Apr 1, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Studio Ghibli-inspired AI feature sparks copyright debate

Entertainment

Celebs face pressure over wildfire relief contributions

The outpouring of support from celebrities here for wildfire relief efforts has been overshadowed by intense online criticism, where public figures are being judged based on their donation amounts, with netizens deeming some as insufficient. Controversy erupted as online communities began compiling lists of celebrities who had donated to relief efforts, ranking them by amount of contribution. This quickly led to backlash, as it led to a wave of criticism directed at those who had donated smaller amounts, or had not yet made any public contributions. Fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, wildfires rapidly spread across the southeastern part of Korea starting March 14, scorching over 48,000 hectares of forest and marking the nation’s most extensive wildfire disaster in history. Amid all this, Bbaek Ga, a member of K-pop band Koyote, revealed that he was deeply hurt by online comments criticizing the group’s 30-million won ($20,442) donation at a radio show on Friday. "We decided to donate after seeing the helicopters carrying water during our performance at an outdoor stage. As soo

Mar 30, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Celebs face pressure over wildfire relief contributions

Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Diversity, distinctive aesthetics shape Korean theater’s global appeal

With the global theater landscape evolving rapidly, Korean theatrical works are stepping onto the global stage, showcasing distinctive storytelling and artistic diversity. This year’s World Theatre Day falls on Thursday, offering a timely moment for the global theater community to reflect on the medium’s power to transcend borders and foster interconectedness. That message particularly resonates in Korea, where productions are beginning to reach audiences well beyond their traditional home base. “I think the fact that people from all over the world interact with each other in a festive way through the medium of theater is what makes World Theatre Day so meaningful. I hope that this year's World Theatre Day will be a time for people around the world to share messages and empathy through theater,” Park Jung-hee, artistic director of the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK), told The Korea Times in an email interview Tuesday. World Theatre Day, established in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute and first celebrated in 1962, is an annual celebration every March 27, dedic

Mar 27, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

Baek Byung-yeul

Read more

Film on justice’s mentor gains attention post-impeachment

Netflix invests in translation talent with LTI Korea

Rami Malek's 'The Amateur' offers fresh take on spy genre with underdog hero

REVIEW ‘YADANG: The Snitch’ takes viewers on gritty ride through Korea’s drug underworld

Yoon Suk Yeol's meteoric rise, dramatic fall

CJ ENM-backed film soars to 7th in Vietnam’s all-time box office

'When Life Gives You Tangerines' actor to lead movie on Jeju Uprising

Studio Ghibli-inspired AI feature sparks copyright debate

Celebs face pressure over wildfire relief contributions

INTERVIEW Diversity, distinctive aesthetics shape Korean theater’s global appeal

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