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
Korean film industry in peril: Can ‘Humint’ revive box office?Action scenes unfold carefully and ferociously, while romance lingers in quiet melancholy. Director Ryu Seung-wan, long regarded as one of Korea’s most reliable action filmmakers, expands his range with "Humint," a spy thriller that balances spectacle with emotional undercurrents. The film opened on Wednesday. And with a production cost of 23.5 billion won ($16 million), excluding marketing expenses, the film stands among the most anticipated Korean releases of the first half of the year. The title combines the words “human” and “intelligence.” Set partly in Vladivostok, Russia, the story follows the clash and uneasy cooperation between South and North Korean agents revolving around a female North Korean informant working at a restaurant. At first glance, the premise evokes the cerebral espionage dramas associated with John le Carré. Yet "Humint" ultimately leans closer to the brooding atmosphere of Hong Kong noir, blending intelligence warfare with unresolved romance and internal tensions within North Korea. The story follows Jo, a National Intelligence Service officer playedFeb 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Park Jeong-min explores new territory as romantic lead in action-thriller 'Humint'In Ryu Seung-wan's upcoming action thriller "Humint," Park Jeong-min, acclaimed for his versatility in both indie and commercial films, is ready to showcase yet another facet as an actor: a romantic lead. He plays Park Gun, a North Korean intelligence officer who arrives in Russia's Vladivostok, ostensibly tasked with monitoring Hwang Chi-sung (Park Hae-joon), the North Korean consul general there, who is suspected of being involved in human and narcotics trafficking. Park's real purpose, however, is to search for Chae Sun-hwa (Shin Se-kyung), a former lover whom he broke up with after a relationship went sour over the brutal interrogation of Sun-hwa's father. "It meant a lot to me that the director saw my potential to play a romantic role and trusted me to pull it off," Park said at an interview with local reporters on Monday. "Before him, no director had taken the chance of casting me in that kind of role," he laughed. Despite the powerful action sequences required in the film directed by the "Veteran" and "I, the Executioner" director, the actor said the most important part in his perfFeb 9, 2026By Yonhap
'The King's Warden' opens at No. 1 at weekend box officeThe historical drama "The King's Warden" debuted at No. 1 at the weekend box office, drawing more than 760,000 moviegoers, data from the Korean Film Council showed Monday. Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film attracted 761,831 viewers from Friday to Sunday, bringing its cumulative audience number to over 1 million. The movie, released Wednesday, 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 runner-up was "Choir of God," a film about North Korea, facing international sanctions, seeking $200 million in aid by creating its first fake praise troupe. Released Dec. 31, the film drew 103,799 viewers over the weekend, pushing its cumulative audience to 1.1 million. The romance drama "Once We Were Us," which had dominated the chart for four consecutive weeks, slipped to the No. 3 spot with 82,473 viewers. Its cumulative audience reached 2.48 million.Feb 9, 2026By Yonhap
Veteran director, producer Jeong Jin-woo dies at 88Director Jeong Jin-woo, a key figure in Korean cinema's formative years, has died, according to his family. He was 88. Jeong passed away at a hospital in Seoul at around 8 p.m. Sunday. He had been hospitalized after a fall while walking his dog about two months ago, and his condition reportedly worsened after he contracted COVID-19. A leading director in Korean cinema from the 1960s, he is widely credited with helping shape the renaissance of Korean filmmaking. Jeong made his directing debut with "The Only Son" in 1962. Over the more than 50 films he directed, he became known for innovative storytelling and visual experimentation in works such as "Does Cuckoo Cry at Night" (1980) and "Mugoonghwa-Korean National Flower" (1995). He was also one of the few Korean directors whose movies received global recognition in the 70s and 80s. His film "Long Live the Island Frogs!" competed at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1972, while "The Family Tree" was invited to the 42nd Venice International Film Festival in 1985. In 1967, he helped found the Korean Film Directors Association and serveFeb 9, 2026By Yonhap
Yoo Ji-tae says he shows ‘Vigilante’ when his sons misbehaveActor Yoo Ji-tae has shown many faces on screen — from gentle, romantic leads to chilling villains and characters with imposing gravitas. Married to actress Kim Hyo-jin and a father of two sons, he is also known as a devoted family man. When reporters commented that he seems softer than before, Yoo widened his eyes and laughed, saying, “Is that so?” Yoo stars as Han Myeong-hoe in the film “The King’s Warden,” which opened Feb. 4. He said he even altered his appearance for the role. Known for enjoying the physical transformations required for his projects, Yoo explained that he gained more weight than expected this time. “I put on more weight than I originally planned,” he said. “The director wanted a slimmer look, but I thought that might overlap with the image of Prince Geumseong, so I felt a sturdier build wouldn’t be bad. I like working out, and if I have time, I actually enjoy the whole process of shaping my body like this.” Asked which actor he would like to work with again, Yoo immediately named Jeon Mi-do. “She’s such a great actress,” he said. “HerFeb 7, 2026By Hankookilbo
Ryoo Seung-wan's 'Humint' delivers high-stakes spy storyDirector Ryoo Seung-wan described his upcoming spy film "Humint" as a collective masterpiece created by a team of highly skilled filmmakers who pushed their capabilities to the limit. "I wanted to make a movie where everything looks great on the big screen, from the beautiful scenery to the small emotional changes in the characters," Ryoo said during a press conference in Seoul Wednesday. “I am truly thankful because the entire crew, including the local team in Latvia, did their very best to make this film look amazing." “Humint” focuses on the psychological tension between intelligence agents from South and North Korea who must navigate a world of constant suspicion in Vladivostok. The story is about a South Korean agent (Zo In-sung), a North Korean officer (Park Jeong-min) and an informant (Shin Sae-kyeong) whose lives get mixed together, creating a tense story filled with trust and betrayal. Unlike typical action movies that rely on fast pacing, "Humint" builds suspense by focusing on individual choices and how they affect national security. Ryoo emphasized that the deep emotionsFeb 4, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Arden Cho reveals she was ready to retire before voicing Rumi in 'KPop Demon Hunters'"I think Korean Americans living in the U.S. all feel this — a desire to be recognized and loved in Korea. As an actor working in the States, I know people here might not know me well, but getting attention through 'KPop Demon Hunters' makes me incredibly proud." Arden Cho, the voice behind lead character Rumi in the Netflix animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters," sat down for an interview at the ASEM Tower in Gangnam in southern Seoul on Friday. Visiting Korea for a commercial shoot, Cho spoke about her deep connection to her heritage. "I’ve been coming to Korea often for vacations for the past six or seven years. I just love it here," she said. "Because I was born and raised in the U.S., I’m curious about so much of the culture. Every time I visit, I see and learn something new. It feels revitalizing." She rattled off a list of her favorite foods — gimbap (seaweed rice rolls), tteokbokki (spicy stewed rice cakes), naengmyeon (noodles in a chilled broth), kimchi stew and spicy stir-fried squid — with the same enthusiasm as her character Rumi. "You just can't find jokbal (braised pFeb 3, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean filmmakers urged to take creative leadership in productions with HollywoodKorean filmmakers must move beyond the passive role of selling original content and secure creative leadership in Hollywood partnerships to overcome the current domestic slump, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). KOFIC, a state-run agency that supports and fosters the local film industry, warned in its report released Friday that the industry can no longer grow just by relying on local box office sales or selling remake rights. "A shift in the North American market entry paradigm is urgent," said Han Sang-jun, chairman of KOFIC. Stating the importance of the North American market, which is the largest in the world, he emphasized that the council must establish a practical policy foundation that reflects the actual needs of the field to ensure that Korean film professionals can secure their share on the global stage. “We need to prepare a promotion base centered on on-site demand along with the transition of the North American entry policy paradigm," he said. He added that he expects this study to serve as a major resource for pushing forward policies that vitalize Korean filmFeb 1, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
