Old gods in a new world: K-folk horror to binge after 'Salmokji'"Salmokji" recently surpassed 3 million ticket sales, becoming one of the most successful Korean horror films at the box office. In the film, a camera crew goes to Salmokji — a real reservoir in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province — to retake a set of road view photos, only to find themselves trapped and hunted by water ghosts. With its use of isolated countryside locations, historically documented ghosts and shamanistic imagery, "Salmokji" delivers a masterclass in Korean folk horror — a subgenre that focuses on traditional Korean curses and spirits, sometimes coexisting or in conflict with newer religious beliefs. Here is a list of some K-folk horror media to check out if you’ve watched "Salmokji" and find yourself wanting more. 1. "The Wailing" (2016) In "The Wailing," written and directed by Na Hong-jin, the remote village of Goksung experiences a spree of violent murders by residents who seem to have contacted a mysterious illness. While toxic mushrooms are blamed, rumors whisper of a Japanese hermit being the one responsible. When police officer Jong-goo's daughter, HyoMay 16, 2026By Kim Young-moo
From I.O.I to Cannes: K-pop idol Kim Do-yeon’s rise as an actressKim Do-yeon is steadily establishing herself as one of Korea’s rising young actors, moving from a Blue Dragon Film Award win to a Cannes Film Festival invitation in less than a year. “This award will become a great source of strength for my acting,” Kim said while accepting the Best New Actress trophy at the Blue Dragon Film Awards last November. “I want to become an actor who continues to think and reflect more deeply, but never hesitates.” Six months later, the former I.O.I member is now heading to Cannes Film Festival. Kim stars in “Dora,” which was invited to the Directors’ Fortnight section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, opening May 12. It marks the first Korean film invited to the section in three years since director Hong Sang-soo’s “In Our Day” in 2023. “Dora” tells the story of a family that leaves Seoul for a seaside villa during midsummer, where a young woman named Dora, who suffers from an unknown illness, experiences love for the first time, gradually unsettling everyone around her. The film is the third feature by director July Jung, known forMay 16, 2026By Hankookilbo
Vin Diesel drives 'Fast and Furious' tribute in CannesCANNES — Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez will lead a cast reunion of "The Fast and the Furious" stars on Wednesday in Cannes ahead of a special screening to mark the 25th anniversary of the original movie. Diesel and Rodriguez posed with fellow actor Jordana Brewster and the daughter of late co-star Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013, at the French film festival Wednesday. "The Fast and the Furious" will be screened in a midnight slot later in the day, bringing some Hollywood razzle-dazzle to Cannes where U.S. studios are notably absent. Hollywood majors such as Universal, Disney or Sony, as well as streaming giants Netflix and Amazon, have decided against launching any of their blockbusters on the French Riviera, unlike in previous years. Reasons for their absence include cost-cutting, a growing preference for tightly controlled social media-led launches, and the risk that a mauling from the Cannes critics can doom a movie. The first edition of the "The Fast and the Furious", a street-racing thriller, helped launch a franchise that has grossed more than seven billion dollarMay 13, 2026By AFP
Ra Mi-ran takes on fantasy challenge with 'The Mysterious Candy Store'Actor Ra Mi-ran expressed both excitement and pressure in taking on the lead role for the upcoming fantasy film "The Mysterious Candy Store Jun Chun Dang," based on the hit Japanese children's book series. "I felt a sense of responsibility in playing Hong-ja because the original work is loved by so many people," Ra said during a press conference at a theater in Seoul, Wednesday. "I was motivated by the desire to create a Korean version of the story and to challenge myself with the fantasy genre after focusing on more realistic roles in the past." "The Mysterious Candy Store Jun Chun Dang" is a fantasy drama based on the best-selling Japanese novel series "Mysterious Candy Store Sentendo" by Reiko Hiroshima. The story follows the mysterious owner of a candy store who sells magical treats that grant wishes to lucky customers holding specific coins. The original book series is a major cultural phenomenon in Korea with more than 2 million copies sold. Its popularity has led to various adaptations including an animated series and a movie in Japan and a musical in Korea. The musical version heMay 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Park Chan-wook vows 'pure audience' approach as Cannes jury chiefKorean director Park Chan-wook said he will evaluate films at this year's Cannes Film Festival with the "pure eyes of an audience." Speaking at a press conference in Cannes, France, for the festival's competition jury, held before the festival opened Tuesday (local time), Park outlined his dual approach to viewing and evaluating the entries as the jury president. "I want to watch the films with a sense of excitement, without prejudice, preconceptions or fixed ideas, waiting to see which work will surprise me," Park said in a video of the event posted on the festival's website. "But when it comes time to discuss them, I will speak as a professional with clear views and an understanding of cinema history." Asked by a reporter whether art should be separated from politics, Park rejected the idea. "It is strange to think of politics and art as opposing concepts," he said, adding that films with political messages should not be seen as "the enemy of art" if expressed effectively. The 79th edition features three Korean films across sections, underlining the country's growing global cinematic prMay 13, 2026By Yonhap
Korean cinema ascends from Cannes outsider to global standard-bearerFor years, Korean cinema arrived at the Cannes Film Festival as a celebrated outsider, a source of visceral, high-concept energy that reliably jolted the traditional hierarchy. This year, as the 79th edition of the festival begins, that energy has been translated into institutional power. The most visible sign of this new status is the appointment of Park Chan-wook, the director of "Oldboy" and "Decision to Leave," as the first Korean to serve as president of the main competition jury. His role as the festival’s lead arbiter marks a transition for the Korean film industry: It is no longer just a trend to be watched, but a standard-bearer for the medium. To turn this symbolic prestige into structural influence, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) launched an expansive commercial offensive on the Croisette. Operating from a dedicated pavilion in the International Village, the council is moving beyond the promotion of finished films toward a strategy of deep-rooted international integration. At the heart of this effort is the "KO-PICK" initiative, a program designed to embed Korean producersMay 13, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda to visit Korea next monthAward-winning Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda will visit Korea next month to promote his recent work "Sheep in the Box," its distributor said Tuesday. Kore-eda will be accompanied by child actor Rimu Kuwaki for his visit scheduled for June 4-5, according to Media Castle. "Sheep in the Box" portrays a Japanese couple who welcomes a humanoid robot resembling their late son into their family. The sci-fi drama is one of the 22 films that have been invited to compete for the top honor at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It will premiere at the film fest and hit Korean theaters on June 10.May 12, 2026By Yonhap
Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller 'Hope' eyes win at CannesDirector Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller film "Hope" will vie for the top honor at this year's Cannes Film Festival set to begin Tuesday, alongside 21 other titles invited to the competition section of the 79th edition of the prestigious film awards. "Hope" is the first Korean film in four years to compete for the Palme d'Or since renowned director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" and "Broker" by award-winning Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda, produced by Korean companies and starring Korean actors, were both invited for competition in 2022. The blockbuster portrays the sudden appearance of mysterious entities in a small coastal town near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, with Hwang Jung-min playing a local police chief and Zo In-sung appearing as a villager. The movie's star-studded cast also includes "Squid Game" star Jung Ho-yeon and Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell. "Hope" is set to have its global premiere in Cannes on Sunday, with Na and the cast expected to attend a red carpet event during the festival set to run through May 23 inMay 12, 2026By Yonhap
Supernatural horror 'Salmokji' hits 3 mil. admissionsThe supernatural horror film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" has attracted more than 3 million viewers, just about a month after its release, data showed Monday. The Korean film logged 147,323 admissions from Friday to Sunday, bringing its total audience number to 3.02 million, according to the Korean Film Council. The figure ranks just behind the 2003 movie "A Tale of Two Sisters," which reigns as the most-watched Korean horror film at 3.14 million admissions. Premiering April 8, "Salmokji" follows a filming crew, led by Soo-in (Kim Hye-yoon), who travels to a location to complete a shoot within a deadline — only to find themselves sinking deeper into an inescapable, swamp-like terror as time runs out. The filming location, Salmokji, is a reservoir in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province, long rumored among locals to be a paranormal hotspot with a history of reported ghost sightings. "The Devil Wears Prada 2," a prequel to the 2006 Hollywood comedy "The Devil Wears Prada," topped the weekend box chart with 195,514 admissions, followed by the animation "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" wiMay 11, 2026By Yonhap
Jeonju film festival concludes with focus on hidden realitiesThe 27th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) wrapped up its 10-day run on Friday, reinforcing its identity as a hub for independent and alternative cinema by shining a spotlight on the hidden realities of disappearing spaces and those suffering in the shadows of society. This year’s festival, held under the slogan "Beyond the Frame," showcased 237 films from 54 countries. The festival recorded a high seat occupancy rate of 82.1 percent, with 442 out of 610 screenings selling out. The festival concluded with the screening of the documentary "The Longest Night: Namtaeryeong," directed by Kim Hyun-ji. The documentary captures the aftermath of Korea’s martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, focusing on the protesters who gathered in southern Seoul on Dec. 21. "I discovered hope in the way different people faced one another and accepted their differences at Namtaeryeong, which is why I chose this subject," Kim said during a press conference on the closing day. Earlier on Wednesday, the festival announced its major award winners, highlighting films that delve into the anxieties of rMay 10, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
