‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Oscar win sparks debate after acceptance speech is cut offThe animated Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters” celebrated a historic night at the Academy Awards — but its victory was quickly overshadowed by controversy after an acceptance speech was abruptly cut short on stage. The film’s original song “Golden” won Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards, held Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony was hosted by Conan O'Brien. The film also won Best Animated Feature, giving “KPop Demon Hunters” two Oscars in a single night. However, the celebratory moment sparked online debate after the acceptance speech for “Golden” was interrupted by the play-off music typically used to signal speakers to wrap up. EJAE, who was the singing voice for Rumi of the fictional idol group HuntRix in the film, spoke first on behalf of the performers. “Thank you so much to the Academy,” EJAE said. “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop. Now everyone is singing our song, and in all of the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud.” EJAE appeared emotional as she delivered her speech. But controversy erupted when producer Lee YMar 16, 2026By Xportsnews
'KPop Demon Hunters’ wins big at Oscars with 2 awardsNetflix animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters” secured wins for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). The Oscar followed the Korean culture-inspired animation’s earlier wins at the Golden Globes in January and Grammy Awards in February. “KPop Demon Hunters” beat out competitors like “Arco” “Elio,” “Little Amelie or the Character of Rain” and “Zootopia 2” in the animation race, and tracks from “Diane Warren: Relentless,” “Sinners,” “Viva Verdi!” and “Train Dreams” in the song category. The awards highlighted the global impact of the movie, which has smashed Netflix viewership records with more than 500 million cumulative views since its release last June. The recognition for both its storytelling and the original track “Golden” underscored the power of cross-cultural collaboration in today’s film industry. Directed by Korean Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, the action-fantasy film follows K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey of girl band Huntrix, who also secretly protect tMar 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ eyes Oscars following Golden Globe, Grammy wins“KPop Demon Hunters,” the Netflix animated feature that sparked a massive cultural phenomenon and has seen record-breaking viewers numbers since its release last year, is now at the center of international attention as fans wait to see if it can continue its historic winning streak at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday evening (local time). The film has been nominated in two major categories at this year's Oscars — the Best Animated Feature and the Best Original Song. In the animated feature race, the film is in competition with "Arco," "Elio," "Little Amélie or the Character of Rain" and "Zootopia 2." Meanwhile, the film’s hit track "Golden" is vying for the award for original song trophy against tunes from "Dianne Warren: Relentless," "Sinners," "Viva Verdi!" and "Train Dreams." Directed by Korean-Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, the action-fantasy film follows three K-pop superstars — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — who also secretly protect the world from evil spirits. The animated feature has achieved worldwide success, becoming the most-watched title in Netflix history with over 5Mar 15, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'KPop Demon Hunters' to return for sequelNetflix's record-breaking animated feature "KPop Demon Hunters" will get a sequel, the streaming company said Friday. Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, who directed the original, will return to helm the sequel to Netflix's most popular film of all time, according to the company. "I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters," Kang was quoted as saying. "There's so much more to this world we have built, and I'm excited to show you. This is only the beginning." Since the film, produced by Sony Pictures Animation, premiered in June 2025, it has garnered more than 500 million views. "We're excited to write their next chapter, challenge them and watch them evolve -- and continue pushing the boundaries of how music, animation and story can come together," Appelhans said of the sequel. The film has received Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for "Golden." The award ceremony will be held Sunday (U.S. time).Mar 13, 2026By Yonhap
'The King's Warden' surpasses 12 mil. admissionsThe Korean hitorical drama "The King's Warden" has drawn more than 12 million moviegoers nationwide, the film's distributor Showbox said Wednesday, extending its run as one of the biggest box-office successes in recent years. The number surpasses the 11.91 million admissions recorded by "Exhuma," the most-viewed film of 2024, making "The King's Warden" the 20th title in Korean cinema history to cross the 12-million mark. Released on Feb. 4, the film reached 10 million admissions on March 6, becoming the first title in two years since "Exhuma" and "The Roundup: Punishment" (2024) to achieve the feat. In South Korea, 10 million ticket sales is widely regarded as the benchmark for big success for commercial films. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, "The King's Warden" reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during the latter's exile in the village. The film has drawn praise for its ensemble performances, which allow viewers toMar 11, 2026By Yonhap
Yoo Hae-jin’s 170-million-admission legacy shines in 'The King's Warden'Actor Yoo Hae-jin insists his foundational acting style never changes, yet his ability to create new personas throughout his filmography continues to drive record-breaking box-office numbers that few in the Korean film industry can match. His latest period drama, "The King's Warden," crossed the 10-million viewer mark on Friday, marking his fifth 10-million-admission film. The milestone solidifies Yoo's status as a guaranteed box office draw. While audiences see him as a versatile chameleon, his bankability — built on some 170 million tickets sold over 30 years—stems from his complete immersion in every role. The actor plays Eom Heung-do, the head of Gwangcheongol village in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, who interacts with the exiled King Danjong. Despite his reputation as a man who walked straight out of a history textbook, Yoo downplays the idea that he creates entirely new personas. "My acting is always the same. It's not different. It's just Yoo Hae-jin," Yoo said before the film's release. "Since I am not an actor who shows completely different acting, my biggest goal is to fit iMar 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Interview‘The King’s Warden’ producer says success of movie ‘beyond our wildest dreams’The historical drama “The King’s Warden” has emerged as one of the biggest recent box office hits in Korean cinema, a breakout success that even its producers did not foresee. Lim Eun-jung, CEO of production company Onda Works, said she still finds the scale of the film’s success difficult to process. “I am simply thankful to the director, actors and the staff,” Lim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul Wednesday. “To be honest, I never imagined we would reach the 10-million-viewer milestone. Given how difficult the market has been lately, our initial goal was just to break even. Before the release, the director and I cautiously whispered to each other that we hoped to double the break-even point since it was a holiday season, but the actual response from the public has been beyond our wildest dreams.” Set during the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the film follows the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon), who is exiled to Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, where he forms a bond with the village chief, Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hae-jin), and discovers a renewed will to live despiteMar 11, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Why 'The Ultimate Duo' took 7 years to reach theatersIt took seven years, a global pandemic and a drunk driving scandal before crime action film "The Ultimate Duo" made it to theaters. The buddy detective thriller starring Bae Sung-woo and Jung Ga-ram will finally open on April 2, nearly seven years after filming wrapped in 2019, bringing an end to one of the industry’s more unusual release delays. Director Park Cheol-hwan, making his feature debut at 53, was candid about what the long wait meant to him. "I began my directing career a bit late, but I hope the audience will simply judge the film on its own merits,” Park said during a press conference in Seoul Monday. "I took a conservative approach to the production without using excessive camera techniques, which helped the movie maintain a timeless feel despite the long wait. I am truly satisfied with the final version of the film after the long editing process." “The Ultimate Duo” follows Jae-hyeok, a veteran detective played by Bae who has been demoted to a rural town. He teams up with a passionate rookie officer Jung-ho (Jung) and travels to Seoul for a final high-stakes investiMar 9, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Crime action film 'The Ultimate Duo' finally opens after years of delayThe crime action film "The Ultimate Duo" finally sees the light of day after nearly seven years: It finished production in 2019, only to be derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a drunk-driving incident involving lead actor Bae Sung-woo in November 2020. At the press event in Seoul on Monday, the actor offered a public apology over the incident. "All the hard work put in by the director and crew should not be overshadowed by my fault," he said. "I will do my best to make it right." The film follows the story of Jae-hyuk (Bae), a once-decorated detective exiled to a backwater post after botching a high-profile investigation. When Jae-hyuk arrests a small-time thief, he quickly realizes the man is a prime suspect in a murder case in Seoul, which is supposedly already closed with an alleged killer in custody. Determined to uncover the truth, he heads to Seoul alongside his partner, rookie detective Jung-ho (Jung Ga-ram). But once there, their investigation hits wall after wall. Inspired by a real crime in Japan, the film is helmed by Park Cheol-hwan who directed Disney+'s 2024 sci-fi series "Mar 9, 2026By Yonhap
'The King's Warden' surpasses 11 mil. admissionsThe Korean historical film "The King's Warden" has attracted more than 11 million viewers as of Sunday, just two days after reaching the 10 million milestone, the film's distributor said. The film drew a cumulative total of 11.17 million viewers as of Sunday, the 33rd day since its release, including about 754,000 moviegoers on Saturday alone, according to Showbox. The pace of reaching the 11 million mark was faster than that of other films that have surpassed the 10 million milestone, including "Exhuma" (2024), "12.12: The Day" (2023), and "Masquerade" (2012). Directed by Jang Hang-jun, "The King's Warden" reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) during the latter's exile in the village. The film has drawn praise for its ensemble performances, which allow viewers to deeply connect with the young king's suffering and the villagers who rally wholeheartedly to his side, as well as its stunning depiction of the real-life exile location, among others.Mar 8, 2026By Yonhap
