Yeom Hye-ran takes on another devastating Jeju story in 'My Name'It's 1998 and Jeong-sun (Yeom Hye-ran) is driving down a narrow country road on Jeju Island. Dappled sunlight dances through the trees overhead as a light sea breeze blows in from the coast. Throw in a few tangerines or camellia blooms and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque vision of what Jeju has to offer. But then the wind picks up, scattering leaves and petals in a swirl around the car. The sight of it sends Jeong-sun spiraling, triggering long-forgotten memories buried deep by her and others alike from 50 years prior. "Unbowed" director Chung Ji-young hasn't forgotten, though. The socially minded auteur continues to shine a much-needed spotlight on the darker chapters of Korean history with scenes like this in his latest film, "My Name," which debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this month. What starts out as the story of a teenage boy and his mother weaves in generational trauma inextricably bound to the island they both call home. Yeom is no stranger to this thanks to her Baeksang Award-winning turn in last year's "When Life Gives You TangerinesFeb 26, 2026By David Opie
'Before We Knew': Kim Sae-ron's last film captures familiar love, if imperfectlyThe coming-of-age film "Before We Knew" centers on two childhood friends who go through emotional shifts and awkward stumbles of first love. Just before middle school graduation, Yeo-ul (Kim Sae-ron) is caught off guard when her longtime friend Ho-su (Lee Chae-min) confesses that he has liked her all along. The unexpected admission leaves Yeo-ul in a spin, putting their cherished friendship on uncertain ground. To her, Ho-su is as close as family, and that is precisely what makes her so afraid of losing him. The film quietly traces the ordinary teenage lives of the two and their mutual friends — incomplete, anxious yet brimming with fresh and youthful excitement. Their shared world is built on small, familiar things: a mutual love of basketball, cooking ramyeon after school and confiding in each other about family troubles. There are no dramatic twists or grand gestures. What draws audiences in is precisely that ordinariness, the kind of everyday moments that feel so familiar, because everyone has lived them or will. Yet the film's rough edges leave something to be desired. Its executionFeb 25, 2026By Yonhap
Review'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' turns franchise inside out with moral flipThe legendary horror franchise “28 Days Later” returns with a bold and disturbing new chapter that challenges the traditional boundaries of the postapocalyptic genre. Directed by Nia DaCosta, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” is a direct sequel to last year’s “28 Years Later,” directed by Danny Boyle. The story follows a young boy named Spike (Alfie Williams), who is captured by a sadistic cult led by the delusional Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). While Spike struggles to survive a series of brutal gladiatorial games in an abandoned water park, the narrative shifts to the isolated bunker of Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes). Kelson has dedicated his life to studying the infected from within a massive monument built of human remains. While the opening act may feel chaotic or confusing to some, the film eventually rewards patient viewers with a deeply layered and philosophical experience that flips the script on what it means to be a monster. The most striking element of the fourth installment of the franchise is the thematic exchange between humans and the infected. In a brillFeb 25, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The King's Warden' reigns over weekend box office as total audience inches closer to 6 millionThe historical film "The King's Warden" continued its reign atop the weekend box-office chart, data from the Korean Film Council showed Monday. The film drew 1.41 million moviegoers from Friday to Sunday, bringing its cumulative audience to over 5.8 million since its Feb. 4 opening — more than double its break-even point of approximately 2.6 million. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, whose previous works include the action comedy "Break Out" (2002) and the sports drama "Rebound" (2023), "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 young, deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) during the latter's exile in the village. The film is distantly trailed by "Humint," directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, which drew 239,368 moviegoers over the weekend. The action thriller has attracted 1.57 million viewers since its release Feb. 11.Feb 23, 2026By Yonhap
Park Ji-hoon's gaze in 'King's Warden' wins over Gen Z fansActor Park Ji-hoon has found a career-defining role in the historical film "The King's Warden," driving the movie to the top of the local box office with his nuanced portrayal of the tragic Joseon Dynasty monarch. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film depicts King Danjong's exile to Cheongryeongpo in 1457. Park plays the deposed teenage monarch alongside veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin, who portrays Eom Heung-do, a village chief who initially attempts to exploit the king to enhance his town's reputation. Shedding his K-pop idol persona, Park anchors the narrative through restrained dialogue and minimal physicality. He relies instead on his delicate, expressive gaze to convey the emotional turmoil of a young king stripped of his throne, humanizing the historical figure for a contemporary audience. Fans have embraced his performance, bestowing Park with affectionate nicknames such as "My Danjong-nim" and "Danjong Oppa" — a term typically reserved by young women for older brothers and close male friends — alongside "Hong-wi Oppa" in reference to the king's personal name, and "Your Majesty." BuoFeb 21, 2026By Xportsnews
Budget-friendly films revitalize Korean box office in early 2026The Korean film industry is seeing a notable recovery already this year, according to industry experts, as the strong performance of mid-budget movies provides a much-needed boost to a market that has struggled for a long time without any blockbusters. They said the box office is currently being led by three distinct mid-budget hits: the historical drama "The King’s Warden," the romance "Once We Were Us” and the breakout musical drama "Choir of God." These films, all produced with modest budgets compared to typical blockbusters, are being praised for their storytelling and strong acting rather than relying on massive spectacle. Leading this resurgence is "The King’s Warden," directed by Jang Hang-jun. As of Thursday, the movie has garnered over 4.17 million admissions, dominating the Lunar New Year holiday season. Produced on a budget of around 10 billion won ($6.9 million), the film has already easily passed its break-even point and is now the highest-grossing film released so far this year. Joining this success is "Once We Were Us," starring Mun Ga-young and Koo Kyo-hwan. A remaFeb 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Can ‘King’s Warden’ join ‘10 mil. viewer club’ after Lunar New Year success?"The King’s Warden" is quickly emerging as a strong candidate for the "10 million viewer club" after gathering explosive momentum during the Lunar New Year holiday, box office data showed Wednesday. The historical drama directed by Jang Hang-jun garnered more than 4 million admissions as of Wednesday, reaching its break-even point and dominating the domestic film market, according to the Korean Film Council. In the local film industry, where success is measured by the number of tickets sold rather than box office revenue, hitting the 10 million mark is considered the indicator of a blockbuster. While 2024 saw two such hits with "Exhuma" and "The Roundup: Punishment," the local film industry failed to produce a single 10-million-seller last year. This stagnation was attributed to the shifting of investments toward streaming platforms, with annual admissions last year totaling just 105.48 million, just half of the 200 million recorded annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. "The King’s Warden" tells the story of Danjong, the sixth king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), who was exiled tFeb 19, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The King's Warden,' 'Humint' vie for box-office crown during Lunar New Year holidayTwo Korean movies, "The King's Warden" and "Humint," are competing for first place at the domestic box office during the Lunar New Year holiday, data showed Saturday. "The King's Warden," a historical drama, is leading the box-office chart, with an advance ticket sales rate of 44 percent as of 9 a.m., outperforming the 28.7 percent logged by action thriller "Humint." Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the former reimagines historical events through a fictional lens, following the unlikely friendship between village chief Eom Heung-do (Yoo Hai-jin) and the young, deposed King Danjong (Park Ji-hoon) during the latter's exile in the village. It has attracted nearly 1.5 million viewers since its Feb. 4 release, becoming the first Korean film this year to surpass the 1 million admission milestone. The runner-up, Ryoo Seung-wan's action thriller "Humint," has drawn a cumulative audience of 304,738 since it was released Wednesday. Short for human intelligence, "Humint" follows Manager Cho (Zo In-sung), a South Korean national intelligence officer who forms an unlikely cooperation with Park Gun, a NorthFeb 14, 2026By Yonhap
Korean film 'Pavane' offers story of love, salvation“Pavane,” an upcoming Netflix film, is a youthful melodrama following a woman hiding from the world due to her appearance and two men who find hope through their encounters with her. “I have dreamed of making a melodrama since I was a teenager, when I used to write in my diary that love saves humanity and every movie is ultimately about love,” director Lee Jong-pil said during a press conference for the film in Seoul on Thursday. He said he focused on sending a message to those who might be questioning their own lives that they will eventually meet someone and fall in love in some way. “Pavane” is based on the Korean novel “Pavane for a Dead Princess” by Park Min-gyu, published in 2009. It centers three people who have closed their hearts to the world but eventually become a light for one another. Actor Ko A-sung plays Mi-jeong, a woman who hides from the uncomfortable stares of others, while Byeon Yo-han portrays Yo-han, a free-spirited man, and Moon Sang-min plays Gyeong-rok, a young man who gives up his dream of becoming a dancer and must face the harsh reality of lifeFeb 12, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Park Jeong-min talks 'Humint,' Blue Dragon fame, future plansAfter a viral performance at the Blue Dragon Film Awards — Korea’s equivalent of the Oscars — actor Park Jeong-min’s life took an unexpected turn. Autograph requests became frequent. Old friends reached out. One message read, "Hey, you finally made it." Park, however, was baffled. "What was I before then? How far do I have to go to have 'made it'?" Park said during an interview with the Hankook Ilbo Monday. "It’s actually my dad who’s loving the attention. I’m still just bewildered." Park’s recent career trajectory, including a starring role in director Ryoo Seung-wan’s spy thriller "Humint," has cemented his status as a top-tier actor. Yet, when asked about his newfound status as a "heartthrob" capable of making fans swoon, Park tilted his head. "I’ve never thought about it. I think they’re reading too much into it," he said, prompting laughter in the room. "I never intended or aimed for that appeal. The world sometimes gives you strange gifts from unexpected places. My way of staying grounded is to think, 'This, too, shall pass.'" Park insists he has never successfuFeb 12, 2026By Hankookilbo
