Korean films win awards at Italian film festA Korean documentary chronicling the short-lived martial law imposition in late 2024 won three prizes at an Italian film festival, while the films "My Name" and "The King's Warden" also picked up audience awards, organizers said Monday. The MBC documentary "The Seoul Guardians" won the Silver Mulberry, the runner-up prize decided by an audience vote, at the 28th Far East Film Festival held in the northeastern Italian city of Udine from April 24 through Saturday, according to the organizers. The documentary also earned the Black Mulberry critics prize and received a special mention for the White Mulberry award for first-time directors. "My Name," a mystery drama set against the backdrop of the 1948 Jeju April 3 uprising, and the period drama "The King's Warden" both won the Crystal Mulberry, the third-place audience award. Held annually, the Far East Film Festival is one of the biggest film festivals in Europe dedicated to East Asian cinema. This year, a total of 52 films, including six from Korea, were invited to the competition section.May 4, 2026By Yonhap
'The Devil Wears Prada 2' controversy: Racism or overreaction?The much-anticipated sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada" has run into controversy just before its release, with debate erupting over possible racial insensitivity toward Asian characters. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” premiered in South Korea on April 29, marking its first release anywhere in the world. The film had already generated strong buzz ahead of its debut, fueled by its return nearly two decades after the original, the reunion of its main cast, and visits to Korea by stars Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. However, about a week before its release, the film became embroiled in allegations of racism, shifting public sentiment from excitement to a mix of anticipation and concern. At the center of the controversy is the character Jin Chao, played by Chinese-American actor Helen J. Shen, who serves as an assistant to Andy, portrayed by Hathaway. Some online users raised concerns that the pronunciation of the character’s name resembles a derogatory term historically used in Western contexts to mock Asians. Critics also pointed to the character’s styling in promotional footage, sayiMay 2, 2026By Hankookilbo
Horror comedy 'Teaching Practice' tackles school issues with ghosts, humor"Teaching Practice: Idiot Girls and School Ghost" is a horror comedy that combines supernatural elements with a message of encouragement for teachers, its director Kim Min-ha said Wednesday. "I want them to know there is a movie that cheers for them while they protect our schools, and I hope this story allows them to dream again,” the director said during a press conference in Seoul. The film is a high school horror comedy that follows Eun-gyung, a passionate student teacher played by Han Sun-hwa, who returns to her former high school. She and the girls of a mysterious dark magic club face a deadly mock exam against ghosts representing different academic subjects like mathematics and foreign languages. To protect her students from these supernatural forces, Eun-gyung leads the young club members in a fight for survival. The director explained that his motivation for the film came from seeing the struggles of teachers and the overwhelming growth of private academies. "I wanted to create a high school horror comedy because I was inspired by the 'Whispering Corridors' series made by my senApr 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Tang Wei expecting 2nd child with director Kim Tae-yongThe "Decision to Leave" star Tang Wei revealed Wednesday she is expecting her second child with her husband, Korean director Kim Tae-yong. "There will be yet another baby horse at my house soon," she wrote on Instagram. "It is a big surprise, and I am very happy," she added. "Everyone is really excited about it." The announcement came amid recent pregnancy rumors after she was spotted with a visible baby bump at a public event. The two married in 2014 and welcomed a daughter in 2016.Apr 29, 2026By Yonhap
ReviewHong Sang-soo captures actor's quiet day in ‘The Day She Returns’The films of Hong Sang-soo often feel like a warm conversation with an old friend. His 34th feature, "The Day She Returns," is no different. While his work can sometimes feel complex or experimental, this latest project finds a peaceful rhythm in the everyday moments of a woman returning to her craft. The story follows actor Bae Jeong-su (Song Sun-mi). After a long break from acting following her marriage and subsequent divorce, Bae takes on a role in a small independent film. The movie captures the protagonist during a day of interviews at a German restaurant in Hanam, outskirt of Seoul, to promote her return. Shot in black and white, the film focuses on Bae as she gives three consecutive interviews with three young female journalists. Although the setting remains the same, the energy of each conversation shifts. The actor tries her best to answer every question with honesty, yet she carefully protects her private life when the reporters ask about her divorce or her young daughter waiting at home. As the interviews go on, the usual green soju bottles — a signature item in Hong’s worApr 29, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jeonju Int'l Film Festival to kick off with 237 filmsThe Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), Korea's largest showcase of indie and house cinema, was set to kick off Wednesday evening, featuring 237 films from 54 countries, organizers said. The 27th edition of the festival will begin its 10-day run with an opening ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Sori Arts Center in Jeonju, about 190 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the organizers. American filmmaker Kent Jones' "Late Fame," which follows a poet whose quiet life is upended when a group of young admirers rediscovers his long-forgotten work, will open the festival. The film had its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in August last year. Throughout JIFF's 10-day run, 237 films will be available for screening across Jeonju, including 140 international titles, up by 13 from the previous year, organizers said. A total of 421 films from 70 nations have been submitted to JIFF's international competition section, while 10 films, including four documentaries, will compete in the Korean competition section. This year, a special program will take place inApr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Jeonju Int’l Film Festival to open with tribute to late actor Ahn Sung-kiThe 27th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) will kick off its 10-day run Wednesday, featuring 237 films from 54 countries. This year’s edition seeks to broaden the festival’s cinematic scope by bridging the gap between historical retrospectives and contemporary social discourse. With 78 world premieres on the schedule, the event is set to reinforce its status as a premier platform for independent and experimental cinema that challenges conventional narratives. A highlight of the opening will be the presentation of a special lifetime achievement award to the late Ahn Sung-ki, the legendary actor who passed away earlier this year. The festival organizers established the award to honor Ahn’s lifelong contribution in elevating Korean cinema. Ahn’s son, Ahn Philip, will accept the award on behalf of his father. The opening ceremony will be hosted by actors Shin Hyun-joon and Go Won-hee. The festival will open with the film "Late Fame," directed by Kent Jones. Based on a story by Arthur Schnitzler, the film portrays an aging former poet whose quiet life is revitalized by a new gApr 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Salmokji’ leads quiet box office revival for Korean horrorKorean horror films, which have struggled to find broad commercial success in recent years, are seeing a quiet resurgence at the local box office, demonstrated over the last three weeks by "Salmokji: Whispering Water." The film, which opened April 8, crossed 2 million admissions as of Monday, according to the Korean Film Council, becoming the first Korean horror film to reach that milestone since "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum" in 2018. The success of "Salmokji" is particularly notable given the loss of the prestige and footing for the genre in recent years, which once served as a launch pad for many stars, starting with the "Whispering Corridors" franchise in the 1990s. However, the film's consistent performance suggests that horror is regaining its competitive edge among local movie fans. The film follows a road survey crew that returns to a remote reservoir to investigate a mysterious figure captured in their footage. The film went viral shortly after its release, with viewers sharing clips of people reacting with fright during screenings and posting smartwatch screenshots showing spiking hApr 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Ha Jung-woo, Son Suk-ku cast in Netflix's political film 'The Generals'Ha Jung-woo and Son Suk-ku have been cast in Netflix's new political film by director-screenwriter Yoon Jong-bin, widely recognized for revisiting turbulent chapters of modern Korean history. The upcoming film, whose working title is "The Generals," is based on the true story of late former President Roh Tae-woo, whom Netflix described as a "man who has always stood just to the side of absolute power." Roh served as the country's 13th president from February 1988 to February 1993. The former president will be played by Son, while Ha will portray another late former president, Chun Doo-hwan, who ruled the country from September 1980 to February 1988 and was described by Netflix as "the dictator" who wielded "absolute power and authority." Ha has previously worked with the director on multiple projects, including "The Unforgiven" (2005), "Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time" (2012) and "Narco-Saints" (2022). The cast also includes the "Revolver" star Ji Chang-wook as "a military academy junior who Roh regards as a thorn in his side" and Hyun Bong-sik of "The Match" as a friend to both Chun anApr 27, 2026By Yonhap
Supernatural horror 'Salmokji' tops weekend box officeThe horror film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" has continued its reign on the weekend box office chart, data showed Monday. The Korean film recorded 343,463 admissions from Friday to Sunday, bringing its total audience number to 1.98 million, according to the Korean Film Council. Premiering on April 8, the movie follows a filming crew, led by Soo-in (Kim Hye-yoon), who travel 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. As of 9 a.m., the movie led ticket reservation rates at 8.9 percent among films currently in theaters, putting it on track to surpass the 2 million admission mark later in the day. Meanwhile, Hollywood sci-fi "Project Hail Mary," which premiered on March 18, came in second with 128,982 viewers for the three days to push its cumulative audience to over 2.49 million.Apr 27, 2026By Yonhap
