Celebrated abroad, sidelined at home: Hong Sang-soo marks 30 years in cinemaKorean director Hong Sang-soo marks 30 years in cinema and a seventh consecutive invitation to the Berlin International Film Festival, yet persistent public backlash continues to overshadow his domestic reception. The director's 34th feature film, "The Day She Returns," hits Korean theaters May 6. Despite the major milestone, Hong will maintain his decade-long absence, shunning the domestic press and skipping all local promotional events and press conferences. Hong has built a formidable legacy since his debut with "The Day a Pig Fell into the Well." To mark his 30-year career, the Korean Film Archive will hold a special exhibition titled "Hong Sang-soo Retrospective: Introduction." His latest work premiered in the Panorama section of the 76th Berlinale, extending his run of appearances at the prestigious European festival and garnering favorable reviews ahead of its domestic launch. "The Day She Returns" follows a formerly beloved actress who reenters the independent film scene and faces reporters following a long maternity hiatus. The film features frequent collaborators Song Sun-mi,Apr 23, 2026By Hankookilbo
Will 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' face backlash with Chinese viewers over racism claims?Ahead of next week’s release of "The Devil Wears Prada 2," calls for a boycott are growing as critics say the film depicts a Chinese character with a racist stereotype. According to Chinese media outlets on Wednesday, the character at the center of the film's racism controversy is Qin Zhou, played by Chinese American actor Helen J. Shen. The character, who appears as an assistant to Andrea Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, drew backlash from Chinese netizens in that the name resembles “ching chong,” a racist slur historically used in the West to mock Chinese people. "'Ching chong' is a symbolic racist slur historically used in the West to ridicule Chinese immigrant workers in the 19th century," wrote Hong Kong's Oriental Daily News. "It implies contempt and discomfort towards Chinese accents and intonation." Qin Zhou’s portrayal in the film also drew criticism. She is depicted in checkered shirts and glasses, openly criticizing her superior in public and behaving in a self-important manner. Criticisms arose that the character reinforces a Western stereotype in that Chinese people eApr 22, 2026By Hankookilbo
Documentary about Kim Bomsori, forgotten Polish composition wins top prize at film festivalA film featuring Korean violinist Kim Bomsori and capturing her musical journey to revive a long-forgotten composition won a top prize at a French documentary festival. The film, “Bacewicz x Bomsori,” received the Jury Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film at the ONE Country ONE Film Festival earlier this month, according to Kim’s global agency. The France-based festival focuses on documentary cinema and cultural storytelling, highlighting diverse human stories from around the world. The Jury Grand Prix is the festival’s highest honor. Directed by Polish filmmaker Jakub Piatek, the documentary closely follows Kim as she prepares to perform “Polish Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra” by Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-69), a work that remained unpublished and was largely forgotten for many years. The film reflects Kim’s commitment to reviving this overlooked composition, revealing not only her artistic discipline and musical insight, but also her deep engagement with the composer’s life, historical context and creative voice as she brings Bacewicz’s music into the present day. ConvApr 22, 2026By Anna J. Park
Culture minister signs co-production deal with Indian film industry leadersCulture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young met with senior figures from the Korean and Indian film industries Tuesday at Korean Cultural Centre India in New Delhi to discuss ways to expand bilateral film industry cooperation. The meeting was arranged to combine the production scale and creativity of India — the world's largest film-producing country by volume — with Korea's strength as a global content powerhouse, with the aim of broadening avenues for cooperation and elevating cultural exchanges between the two countries. The session also included a co-production signing ceremony for the Korea-India joint film project “AMOR” (working title). Korean production company Flix Oven — a Seoul-based studio focused on film and series development with an emphasis on cross-border co-productions — signed an agreement with an Indian counterpart, with production slated to begin in September. Following the signing ceremony, key figures from both countries' film industries engaged in in-depth discussions on collaboration. "India exerts tremendous influence in the global content maApr 21, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
InterviewJung Woo revisits personal history, growth in 'Audition 109'For actor Jung Woo, returning to the character of Jjanggu after 16 years was not just a career move, but a deeply personal journey. In his directorial debut, “Audition 109,” the actor explores the struggling years of an aspiring actor, a narrative that serves as a spiritual successor to his 2009 breakout film “Wish.” Jung said the project began with a few episodes he had written years ago. “I wrote the original draft for ‘Wish,’ and I often wondered what happened to Jjanggu after that story ended,” Jung told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday. “I kept those notes in storage until the production finally got under way. We went through six or seven rounds of revisions to turn those memories into a screenplay.” “Wish” gained a massive cult following, particularly among male audiences who found deep resonance in its raw and nostalgic depiction of high school brotherhood and growing pains. Due to these high expectations, Jung initially turned down the offer to direct “Audition 109.” However, he eventually realized that he was already performing the duties ofApr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Supernatural horror 'Salmokji' surpasses 1 mil. admissionsThe horror film "Salmokji: Whispering Water" has surpassed 1 million admissions, continuing its box office reign, data showed Friday. The Korean film had drawn a cumulative audience of 1.04 million as of Friday morning, according to the Korean Film Council. It marked the fastest pace for a horror film since "Metamorphosis" in 2019. The movie also exceeded its break-even point of cumulative tickets sold Tuesday. Premiering last Wednesday, 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. The film topped ticket reservation rates at 22.5 percent as of 9 a.m., followed by "Project Hail Mary" at 17.5 percent and "My Name" at 7 percent.Apr 17, 2026By Yonhap
French Cinema Week 2026 expands nationwide for 140 years of France-Korea tiesFrench Cinema Week 2026 will return this spring with an expanded nationwide program, to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea. Supported by TV5MONDE and other sponsors, the event will run from April 24 to May 10 across Seoul, Busan, Gwangju and Incheon. Now in its sixth edition since launching in 2021, French Cinema Week has established itself as a key cultural platform for Korean cinephiles. The 2026 lineup showcases a diverse range of voices and styles in contemporary French cinema. This year’s program reflects its growing scale and ambition, presenting 10 critically acclaimed French films that have never been released in Korea. Featured titles include "The Little Sister" directed by Hafsia Herzi, "The Great Arch" by Stephane Demoustier, "Meteors" by Hubert Charuel, and "Animale" by Emma Benestan. Other highlights include "Queens of Drama" by Alexis Langlois, "Dandelion’s Odyssey" by Momoko Seto and "That Summer in Paris" by Valentine Cadic. The selection includes works recognized at major international film festivals including Cannes, Berlin anApr 17, 2026By Anna J. Park
From ‘The King’s Warden’ to ‘Salmokji,’ film locations turn into tourism hot spots in KoreaKorea’s struggling film industry is making a strong comeback — and this time, the impact is spilling far beyond theaters. From historic exile sites to eerie reservoirs, filming locations featured in hit movies are drawing crowds and boosting local economies. The historical drama “The King’s Warden” has emerged as one of the biggest hits in recent years. Released on Feb. 4, the film surpassed 10 million viewers in just 32 days, becoming the first Korean film in two years to reach the milestone. As of Tuesday, it had drawn more than 16.4 million viewers, securing its place as the second most-watched film of all time in Korea. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film tells the story of a village leader seeking to revive his community and a young dethroned king during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty era. Its main filming location, Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province — historically associated with King Danjong’s exile — has seen a dramatic surge in visitors. Local reports said the number of tourists increased up to eightfold during peak periods, particularly as the fiApr 16, 2026By Xportsnews
Jung Woo returns as Jjanggu in directorial debut ‘Audition 109’Actor Jung Woo is taking a bold new step by taking on dual roles as lead actor and co-director in his latest film, “Audition 109,” a spiritual successor to the 2009 cult classic “Wish.” The actor and director said this film marks a significant milestone in his career as the 45-year-old brings his own life stories to the big screen. He also expressed deep affection for his character, Jjanggu, which has also been his nickname since he was a toddler and remains inseparable from his identity as an actor. “It is difficult to talk about the character Jjanggu without mentioning the film ‘Wish.’ This character is also something I cannot leave out of my life as an actor,” Jung said during a press conference Thursday. “It was a pleasure to play Jjanggu again after 16 years. While there were physical challenges and pressure in directing and acting simultaneously, it was a joyful and thankful experience to turn my own story into a movie.” “Audition 109” follows the journey of Jjanggu, a rookie actor who repeatedly faces failure but never gives up on his dream. While the 2009 fApr 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
REVIEW 'Mismatch' finds light humor in role reversalsIn the comedy drama "Mismatch," Bong-su (Oh Dae-hwan) has long felt like a burden to his family following a failed business venture. With him on the sidelines, his wife, Sung-hye (Oh Yoon-ah), stepped up as the breadwinner and eventually built a small wallpaper company from the ground up. Now, working under his wife's roof, Bong-su remains seen as incompetent by those around him, including Sung-hye herself, all while secretly clinging to his old dream of making it as a stage actor, one he never got the chance to follow. One day, an unfortunate accident leaves him with a severe head injury, one that muddles his sense of who the people around him really are. He begins mixing everyone up, mistaking his wife for his daughter, his daughter for a friend, his father for his brother and his brother for his boss. Treating everyone around him as whoever he thinks they are, the film finds humors in the chaos: Bong-su scolds his father as if he were a disobedient son and hangs out with his daughter's friends as though they were his own. With his wife, whom he now believes to be his daughter, he becoApr 16, 2026By Yonhap
