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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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Films

Korean stories becoming Hollywood's favorite sources

Hollywood is showing a growing interest in Korean storytelling that goes beyond K-dramas and K-pop, and the latest adaptation project highlights this expanding focus. While Hollywood previously focused on acquiring finished series for streaming platforms or remaking proven box-office hits, major studios and publishers are now reaching further upstream. Instead of relying solely on mainstream hits, they are trying to secure rights to original literary works and older cult properties to rebuild stories from the ground up. "The DallerGut Dream Department Store," a fantasy novel written by Korean author Lee Mi-ye, is being developed into a live action movie by Disney, U.S. entertainment news outlet Deadline reported Aug. 12. Screenwriter Patrick Ness, known for adapting young adult works, including the "Chaos Walking" trilogy and "A Monster Calls," will write the screenplay for the adaptation. The story follows a protagonist Penny who sells dreams to sleeping customers at a department store, only to face a mystery when strange things begin to happen to the customers. Lee's novel sold more th

Aug 22, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean stories becoming Hollywood's favorite sources
People & Events

Global Elim Foundation awards scholarships to 32 international students

The Global Elim Foundation, established by Yoido Full Gospel Church to support multicultural communities, is set to hold a scholarship ceremony for 32 international students from 18 countries on Aug. 25, the foundation said Friday. The ceremony will take place at Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, with diplomats representing 15 nations in attendance. The recipients were selected through official recommendations from their respective embassies in Korea, followed by a review of their enrollment status, academic plans and living conditions. The scholarship recipients represent 18 countries, with five nations in Latin America, eight in Asia, four in Africa and one in the Middle East. Peru and Honduras accounted for the largest number of recipients with three each. Students from countries including Tajikistan, Ecuador, Kenya, Nepal, Iraq, Sudan, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Laos and Cambodia were also selected for the scholarship. The students are currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs across 29 universities nationwide, including Seoul National University, Korea University, Ewha

Aug 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Global Elim Foundation awards scholarships to 32 international students
Films

'The Odyssey' tickets selling for over $70 in Korea

Christopher Nolan's latest blockbuster, "The Odyssey," has created a severe ticket scalping frenzy in Korea, prompting the state-run Korean Film Council to begin collecting reports from the public on illegal resales. "The Odyssey" is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. Korea has no theater equipped with 70-mm film projection to display the movie in its full 1.43:1 aspect ratio. The closest venue is the CGV theater at Yongsan Station, Seoul, making its tickets among the most sought-after in the country. When ticket sales opened on Aug. 5, CGV's website and mobile application experienced severe slowdowns due to massive traffic. The first two screenings on opening day sold out within minutes, except for wheelchair-accessible seats and front-row spots. The surge in demand shifted to online secondhand marketplaces. On platforms such as Bunjang and Karrot Market, tickets originally priced between 17,000 won and 21,000 won appeared for nearly 100,000 won ($72). On Thursday, listings on Karrot Market showed a pair of side-by-side seats at the CGV theater in Yongsan being r

Aug 21, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The Odyssey' tickets selling for over $70 in Korea
People & Events

FEBC-Korea holds patriotic concerts to mark 70th anniversary

Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea’s choir hosted its annual FEBC-Korea Children's Choir Patriotic Concert in Yeosu and Iksan, drawing a record audience of more than 10,000 people to mark the broadcaster's 70th anniversary. The event took place at Jinnam Sports Center Park in Yeosu, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, on Aug. 13 and Iksan Gymnasium in North Jeolla Province on Aug. 14, ahead of Aug. 15 Liberation Day, the Christian radio broadcaster said Thursday. The concert brought together around 700 children from 13 regional branches across the country. Through a mix of choral music, dance, acting and visual media, the young performers showcased Korea's history, the joy of liberation and a vision for peace and national unity. This year's event carried special weight as FEBC-Korea celebrates 70 years of radio broadcasting mission since its founding in 1956. The host cities were chosen for their historical significance. Yeosu holds the legacy of Adm. Yi Sun-sin (1545-1598) and Pastor Son Yang-won (1902-1950), while Iksan served as a center for independent movement and e

Aug 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
FEBC-Korea holds patriotic concerts to mark 70th anniversary
Travel & Food

K-culture boom is reshaping Seoul's hotel market

Korean culture is driving a surge in foreign visitors to Seoul, reshaping the city's hotel market and leading hotel operators to upgrade facilities and rebrand their properties to attract higher-spending international travelers. In the first half of 2026, foreign arrivals to Korea reached a record 10.71 million, rising 21.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. Unlike in the past, when group tours focused mainly on shopping, foreign tourists are now often visiting Korea for K-pop concerts, drama filming sites and medical services, leading to higher expectations for accommodation. "As K-culture continues to attract more international tourists to Korea, demand for various hotel options, ranging from budget accommodations to high-end luxury properties, will keep growing," an official at a hotel in Seoul said on condition of anonymity. Major hotel operators in Seoul are already shifting their business strategies to align with this changing trend. In June, Lotte Hotels & Resorts announced the rebranding of its flagship downtown hotel, Lotte Hotel Seoul, as

Aug 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
K-culture boom is reshaping Seoul's hotel market
Films

'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' promises intense finale for hit franchise

Director Choi Kook-hee said Tuesday he feels deep responsibility and pride in directing "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub," the final chapter of Korea's iconic casino thriller franchise. "It is an honor and a heavy responsibility to wrap up a 20-year journey," he said during a press conference in Seoul. Choi is known for directing the 2018 financial drama "Default" and the 2022 musical film "Life Is Beautiful." "While the film revolves around gambling like its predecessors, this installment focuses more on human nature, envy, jealousy and betrayal." Scheduled to hit local theaters on Sept. 23, "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" serves as the fourth and final entry in the hit series based on Huh Young-man's popular comic book. The franchise launched with "Tazza: The High Rollers" in 2006, followed by "Tazza: The Hidden Card" in 2014 and "Tazza: One Eyed Jack" in 2019. In Korean, "Tazza" refers to a master gambler or card shark skilled in deception. The upcoming film centers on a high-stakes revenge match set on the global gambling stage. The plot follows Jang Tae-young, played by Byun Yo-han, who

Aug 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' promises intense finale for hit franchise
Shows & Dramas

After military duty, Korea's top stars choose streaming over TV

A noticeable shift is underway in how Korea's top male stars stage their return to the entertainment industry after completing mandatory military service. Increasingly, their chosen comeback venue is not a major TV network, but a global streaming platform. This marks a sharp departure from the well-worn path that once defined how a returning star rebuilt public visibility. Actor Song Kang, who gained global recognition through Netflix's hit series "Sweet Home," leads the current trend. He marks his return with tvN's upcoming series "Four Hands, Two Sonatas," premiering Aug. 29 and streaming globally on Netflix. It is his first acting project since being discharged October 2025, following a nearly two-year hiatus. Ironically, "Four Hands, Two Sonatas" serves as a final project before military enlistment for Lee Jun-young, who co-stars in the series and began his service on July 21. Lee Do-hyun, who remained popular during his military stint thanks to his award-winning role in the 2024 hit film "Exhuma," is also returning through Netflix. He will star in the fantasy series "Grand Galaxy Hot

Aug 18, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
After military duty, Korea's top stars choose streaming over TV
Films

Premium seats reshaping Korea's summer box office

As local movie fans become more careful with their spending at theaters, high-end cinema experiences led by the IMAX giant screen are emerging as the main catalyst behind Korea’s summer box office rebound. The domestic box office is seeing a strong comeback as major summer blockbusters bring crowds back to theaters. Driven by the hot weather and peak holiday season, people are heading to air-conditioned cinemas for big-screen visual spectacles they cannot get at home on streaming platforms. According to recent data by CJ CGV, the nation's largest cinema chain, nationwide theater attendance reached roughly 9.55 million from July 29 to Aug. 9. This marks the highest summer attendance since 2019, and showed a 45.6 percent jump from the same period last year. The multiplex chain added visitor numbers at CGV theaters alone rose 58.1 percent. Instead of going to regular screens, moviegoers are choosing high-tech theaters that offer an experience worth the ticket price. Data from the Korean Film Council showed that Hollywood blockbusters "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" captured

Aug 17, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Premium seats reshaping Korea's summer box office
Films

Local films wait for fall as Hollywood owns Korean summer

Korea's box office is having one of its strongest years since the COVID-19 pandemic, but for now, it belongs to Hollywood. As of Thursday, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has seen 6,390,094 admissions in Korea, according to data from the Korean Box Office Information System. Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," which opened Aug. 5, saw 2,615,953 admissions and together, the two movies are dominating local screens. The overwhelming presence of Hollywood blockbusters becomes even clearer when looking at Na Hong-jin’s "Hope," which entered the summer lineup as one of the most anticipated Korean releases of the year. The sci-fi thriller, which competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes, has drawn 4,430,105 admissions to date, a disappointing result given the massive expectations for the film. In a summer dominated by Hollywood blockbusters, even strong local titles were left struggling for screen space. Korean distributors have read the room. Rather than compete head-on with two of the biggest global releases of the year, domestic studios have quietly reshuffled their autumn slates, pushing their most

Aug 14, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Local films wait for fall as Hollywood owns Korean summer
Films

'The Journey to Gyeong-ju' balances tragedy, humor in grief-driven road trip

Eight years after her youngest daughter went missing during a school trip, a grieving mother sets out on a road trip with her remaining three daughters to get revenge on the killer, recently released from prison. This premise drives "The Journey to Gyeong-ju," the commercial debut by director Kim Mi-jo, who previously won the Grand Prize at the Jeonju International Film Festival with "Gull" (2021), a powerful indie drama about an elderly woman seeking justice. "The Journey to Gyeong-ju" follows Ok-sil (Lee Jeong-eun) and her three daughters, Jang-ju (Kong Hyo-jin), Young-ju (Park So-dam) and Dong-ju (Lee Yeon), as they head to the southeastern city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, to deliver their own justice to Baek Sang-hyun (Byun Yo-han), the killer who received a lenient sentence. Their deadly plan often goes wrong in funny and awkward ways, but the mother’s strong desire for revenge makes the story deeply moving. The city of Gyeongju is where the youngest daughter, who is also named Gyeong-ju, suffered the terrible tragedy on her school trip, making the family's road trip

Aug 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The Journey to Gyeong-ju' balances tragedy, humor in grief-driven road trip
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