Why does this Korean film couple shun the spotlight at home as awards pile up overseas?Actor Kim Min-hee won praise in Locarno for her performance in her first film shot since giving birth to her first child with director Hong Sang-soo. While she continues to garner critical acclaim abroad, she and Hong have kept a low profile in Korea, where their relationship remains controversial. Kim won the Pardo for Best Performance for her work in Hong's 35th feature film, "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes," at the closing ceremony of the 79th Locarno Film Festival on Saturday. Kim previously won the award for Hong's "By the Stream" in 2024, marking her second win in two years. Kim took the stage to thank Hong and her colleagues. "I am deeply grateful to the director, who made a film as beautiful as poetry, and to our colleagues," Kim said. "I'd like to share the award with them." Kim, who went public with her relationship with Hong in 2017 and gave birth to their son last year, also mentioned her baby during her acceptance speech. "Thank you so much. I am with my baby right now," Kim said, choking up. "From now on, I will act with nothing but genuine love," she said. "Whenever I feel troubled16h agoBy Xportsnews
BIFF taps 'The Table: Day and Night' as opening filmThe Korean film "The Table: Day and Night" will open this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), organizers said Wednesday. Directed by Kim Jong-kwan, the film follows four couples and their lively yet tender conversations that take place at a single cafe, according to BIFF. Its ensemble cast includes Kim Min-ha, Han Sun-hwa, Lee Hee-jun, Shim Eun-kyung and Kim Dong-hwi. "'The Table: Day and Night' is an elegant and assured film in which the cinematic interests, style, perspective, and world that Kim Jong-kwan has persistently explored as a filmmaker reach a provisional culmination," BIFF said in a release. Kim, who made his directorial debut with the acclaimed short film "How to Operate a Polaroid Camera" (2004), has also helmed "Come, Closer" (2010), "The Table" (2017) and "Shades of the Heart" (2021). He also took part in the Netflix original series "Persona" (2019) by producing one of its segments "Walking at Night." The 31st edition of BIFF is scheduled to run from Oct. 6-15 in the southeastern port city of Busan.18h agoBy Yonhap
Why Korean animation studios tap screen starsActors Kim Hyang-gi, Park Bo-gum, Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul are lending their voices to animated features. As A-list actors increasingly take on voice acting roles, Korean animation studios are reshaping how they market their original features. Jung will lend his voice to the Korean animated film "Gill," scheduled to hit theaters Sept. 9. Adapted from author Gu Byeong-mo's novel of the same name, "Gill" follows Gon, a boy who develops gills one day when he is thrown into deep water, and the characters who inhabit his new world. Kang, Lee Chung-ah, Yoo Jae-myung and Kim Sun-young join Jung in the voice cast. The casting reflects a growing industry trend of Korean animation studios recruiting popular live-action stars to voice their original characters. Kim Hyang-gi, Park Ji-hu and Lee Joo-young previously led the voice cast for the animated film "Pilgrims," which opened in June. In July, actor Park Bo-gum voiced the protagonist in the animated feature "David," which drew significant attention and topped the specialty box office. Celebrity casting serves as a highly effective promotional t1d agoBy Hankookilbo
Ma Dong-seok joins Netflix's 'Extraction 3' alongside HemsworthKorean American actor Ma Dong-seok will join the cast of Netflix's action franchise "Extraction" for its third installment, his agency said Tuesday. Ma, also known as Don Lee, will appear in "Extraction 3," currently in production, alongside Chris Hemsworth and Idris Elba, according to Big Punch Entertainment. The film continues the series' focus on Tyler Rake, a former special forces operative turned mercenary played by Hemsworth, who undertakes dangerous rescue missions against international criminal syndicates. Details of the plot and the roles of new cast members, including Ma, have not been disclosed. Sam Hargrave returns to direct after helming the previous two films of the series, with "Citadel" writer David Weil penning the screenplay. Ma, who rose to international attention with his roles in films such as "The Roundup" series and "Train to Busan," is also shooting "The Roundup 5," the fifth installment in his popular crime film series, in which his character Ma Seok-do is promoted to lead a metropolitan investigation unit. Filming began in May and it is scheduled for release nex1d agoBy Yonhap
'Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub' promises intense finale for hit franchiseDirector 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, who1d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
Premium seats reshaping Korea's summer box officeAs 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" captured2d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
Director Hong Sang-soo, actor Kim Min-hee win awards at Locarno film festDirector Hong Sang-soo and actor Kim Min-hee have clinched awards at this year's Locarno Film Festival for their latest film, "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes." Hong received the award for best direction at the 79th edition of the film festival in Switzerland on Saturday, while Kim, the director's long-time partner, won best performance along with Italian actress Monica Bellucci for her role in Italian drama "Kettice." "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes," Hong's 35th feature, follows Sang-hee (Kim Min-hee), who heads to the southern Korean island of Jeju to find her divorcee mom whom she last saw 10 years ago. It marked the fifth time Hong was invited to the Locarno film fest to screen his work. He won the best director award for "Our Sunhi" (2013) and the top Golden Leopard prize for "Right Now, Wrong Then" (2015). Kim previously clinched the best performance award at the festival for her role in Hong's "By the Stream" (2024).Aug 16, 2026By Yonhap
SIWFF champions beauty of human imperfection in filmA flickering screen once was a sign of technological limitation. This year, the Seoul International Women's Film Festival (SIWFF) is using it as a sign of authenticity. Rounding out the summer and wrapping up the month of August, the 28th SIWFF will run from Aug. 20-26. Screenings and industry panels will take place across seven days at Megabox Sinchon and the Korean Film Archive's Cinematheque KOFA, under the festival's longtime slogan, "See the World Through Women's Eyes!" This year's theme, "Reimagining F," is a continuation from last year, where the "F" has stood for female, film, fellowship and festival. This year’s edition adds a new focus: the flicker. The trailer for the festival sets up the idea. An old CRT television flickers, a praxinoscope spins through a childlike animation and then artificial intelligence (AI) prompts appear typed out on an old typewriter. The imagery plays off the imperfection of older analog tools to contrast against the ideas of smooth, generated work that increasingly defines art made with AI. It's a nod to the literal flicker of early film projectionAug 16, 2026By Justin Kyle
Local films wait for fall as Hollywood owns Korean summerKorea'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 mostAug 14, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Kim Min-hee attends Locarno film fest with director Hong Sang-sooActor Kim Min-hee and her longtime partner, director Hong Sang-soo, attended the Locarno Film Festival this week, foreign media reports showed Friday, in what marked their first public appearance together following the birth of their son. Kim and Hong attended the screening for the director's latest feature, "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes," which was invited to the international competition section of the 79th edition of the annual film festival held in Switzerland, according to the reports. Kim, who gave birth to her first child with Hong last year, reportedly discussed her life as a new mom juggling an acting career during a conversation with the audience following the screening. "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes," Hong's 35th feature, follows Sang-hee (Kim Min-hee), who heads to the southern Korean island of Jeju to find her divorcee mom whom she last saw 10 years ago. Alongside her role as Sang-hee, Kim also served as the production manager. It marked the fifth time Hong was invited to the Locarno film fest to screen his work. He won the best director award for "Our Sunhi" (2013) and the top Golden LeAug 14, 2026By Yonhap
