'KPop Demon Hunters' wins Best Animated Feature, Best Song at Critics ChoiceNetflix's hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has clinched two prizes at the Critics Choice Awards, winning Best Animated Feature and Best Song. The movie directed by Korean Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang was named Best Animated Feature at the 31st Critics Choice Awards held Sunday (local time) in Santa Monica, California. It beat out major studio contenders, including Disney's "Zootopia 2" and Pixar's "Elio," as well as "In Your Dreams" and "Arco." "KPop Demon Hunters" also secured the Best Song award for "Golden," adding a second trophy on the night. The American film tells the story of a fictional K-pop girl group, Huntr/x, who uses their music to fight evil spirits and save the world. By topping high-profile titles from traditional animation powerhouses Disney and Pixar, the film has boosted its profile in the run-up to the Academy Awards, where it is now seen as a strong contender.Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
Korean screen legend Ahn Sung-ki dies at 74Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, widely regarded as a foundational figure in Korea’s modern film history, died at age 74. Ahn passed away Monday morning at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Seoul’s Yongsan District, with family members at his bedside in the hospital’s intensive care unit. He had been hospitalized in an unconscious state since collapsing at his home on Dec. 30 after choking on food. After being diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019, he underwent treatment and was told the cancer was in remission in 2020. However, the disease reportedly returned during follow-up observations, and he has been battling the illness ever since. Despite his health challenges, Ahn remained committed to the film industry. He made public appearances in 2023, including attending the opening ceremony of the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Born in 1952, Ahn debuted as a child actor in director Kim Ki-young’s “The Twilight Train” (1957), as well as in Kim’s renowned horror film, “The Housemaid” (1960). Throughout a career spanning more than six decades, he appeared in oJan 5, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul and Pyo Kyung-min
'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack resurges to No. 3 on Billboard 200The soundtrack for Netflix's hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" (2025) has surged back into the top tiers of the Billboard 200 albums chart. Billboard said in a preview of this week's chart Sunday (U.S. time) that the soundtrack jumped seven spots to No. 3. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units, comprising physical album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Despite an 18 percent dip in weekly consumption, the soundtrack earned 51,000 equivalent album units, fueled by steady streaming numbers. Global pop star Taylor Swift's latest studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," logged its 12th non-consecutive week at No. 1, further cementing Swift's status as a chart juggernaut.Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
Review‘Sugung’ gives voice to women fighting to keep pansori aliveFor most Koreans, pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) is just a cultural asset to be preserved. But for master pansori singer Jung Ei-jin, it is a disappearing art that she is determined to keep alive. In the documentary "Sugung — The Underwater Palace" released on New Year's Day, director Yoo Su-yeon explores the pansori piece "Sugungga" as performed in the "dongpyeonje" or eastern style, one of the two main styles along with "seopyeonjae" or western style, through the voice of Jung. The film is not just a simple record of old music. It is a gritty and honest look at how women artists struggle to survive while also fighting to keep a disappearing tradition alive. The documentary first gained attention through screenings at the Jeonju International Film Festival and Seoul International Women’s Film Festival in 2023. Jung was born into a family of famous pansori masters, but despite her background and talent, she had to stop singing for 30 years to take care of her home and family. While she finally started singing again and built a successful career, she still felt hurt byJan 3, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Avatar 3' becomes fastest 2025 film to top 5 mil. admissions in KoreaDisney's "Avatar: Fire And Ash" has become the fastest 2025 release to surpass 5 million admissions in Korea, box-office data showed Friday. The sci-fi tentpole drew about 358,000 moviegoers Thursday, taking a 50.7 percent revenue share and maintaining its lead at the local box office, according to the Korean Film Council. The movie's cumulative admissions stood at about 5.01 million as of 7 a.m. The third entry in James Cameron's 16-year-old blockbuster franchise reached the 5 million mark in 17 days after its release, two days faster than Disney's popular animated sequel "Zootopia 2." "Zootopia 2" placed second Thursday with around 137,000 viewers and a 16.2 percent revenue share. It has attracted a total of 7.84 million moviegoers since its local release on Nov. 26.Jan 2, 2026By Yonhap
‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ scores global box-office success in 4DX and SCREENXSci-fi tentpole “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is proving its box-office power in global markets, posting standout results across premium formats including SCREENX, 4DX and ULTRA 4DX. CJ CGV announced Tuesday that the blockbuster film posted the highest opening-weekend seat occupancy rate among this year’s releases worldwide in SCREENX, 4DX and ULTRA 4DX theaters. The occupancy rate for 4DX theaters in the opening weekend alone was nearly double the average of any films released this year, while ULTRA 4DX, which combines features of SCREENX and 4DX, reached about 2.5 times the average, underscoring audiences’ strong demand for premium cinema. "'Avatar: Fire and Ash' has clearly demonstrated the value of premium-format viewing experiences not only in Korea but around the world," CJ 4DPLEX CEO Bang Jun-sik said. "We’ll continue strengthening our globally competitive special-format theaters going forward." The film's performance in North America has also been notable. During its opening week, the share of box office for SCREENX and 4DX was more than 1.5 times higher than the average shareDec 30, 2025By Lee Gyu-lee
Why do Netflix’s Korean films keep disappointing viewers?Netflix’s Korean original films are facing a slump, as several highly anticipated releases have failed to meet expectations, drawing mixed reviews despite their large-scale productions, star-studded casting and ambitious storytelling. The latest example is “The Great Flood,” released on Dec. 19, which follows people fighting for survival inside a flooded apartment building after a catastrophic disaster. Marketed as a disaster blockbuster that blends science fiction elements with Korean sentiment, the movie shot to the top of Netflix’s global film rankings immediately after release but reactions have since split sharply. Critics say the film suffers from poorly connected plot devices, a weak link between its scenario and artificial intelligence concept, unbalanced character dynamics and an overly complicated narrative. The criticism adds to a series of recent disappointments. Other Netflix Korean originals released this year including “The Mantis,” “Love Untangled” and “Wall to Wall” briefly climbed the rankings before quickly fading from view. Though each film diffeDec 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
ReviewLiving next door to Cheong Wa DaeFor decades, Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul’s Jongno District stood as an immovable monolith of power, serving as the site of the presidential office and residence since the Republic of Korea government was established in 1948. However, for director Ahn So-yon, it was simply the neighboring building with the blue roof just a stone's throw from her childhood home. In her documentary "The Blue Roof from the Window," released on Christmas Eve, Ahn turns the camera inward to document the 50-year odyssey of her own family, following three generations living under one roof. More than just a personal video diary, it asks the public to think about the people living near crucial public landmarks. The documentary shows that while political activity and civic participation is important, they can also make life very difficult for the ordinary citizens who live next door. Her grandparents moved to the red brick house in a neighborhood located less than a kilometer from Cheong Wa Dae in the late 1970s. During the years of military rule, the neighborhood was filled with security guards, which kept tDec 25, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Is there a future for Korean cinema?“‘2025 was a year full of hit films and hope,’ is what I wish I could say…” Actor Moon So-ri, who served as the host, opened the event with bitter humor. The 26th Women in Film Korea Festival, held on the afternoon of Dec. 16 at IndieSpace, an independent cinema in Mapo District, Seoul, served as a stark reflection on the current state of Korean cinema, caught between despair and hope. The ceremony featured the presentation of the Women in Film Awards, with independent films taking home most of the honors. The top prize went to director Yoon Ga-eun for “The World of Love,” whose lead, Seo Soo-bin, also won Best New Actress. “People and Meat” received the Producer Award, given to Jang So-jung, head of Dorothy Film, and the Screenplay Award for Lim Namu. Director Lee Ran-hee won Best Director for “The Final Semester,” while Han Ye-ri took Best Actress for “Spring Night.” Among commercial films, “Omniscient Reader” was the only title to be recognized, with cinematographer Jeon Hye-jin winning the Technical Award. The results mirrored the reality faced by KoreaDec 24, 2025By Hankookilbo
InterviewPark Hae-soo embraces Netflix’s ‘Great Flood’ as testament to human resilience, growthActor Park Hae-soo has built a reputation as one of Netflix’s most recognizable Korean stars, thanks to standout roles in Season 1 of “Squid Game,” “Money Heist: Korea — Joint Economic Area” and “Narco-Saints,” earning him the nickname “Netflix civil servant.” Though well-acquainted with international success, the overwhelming response to his latest Netflix project, “The Great Flood,” has struck a deeper chord. Park sees its global popularity — ranking No. 1 in 71 countries — as a sign of the world’s growing interest in Korean-style storytelling, which combines spectacle with emotional depth. “I am truly thankful that the film is being well-received in English-speaking regions. It feels like a testament to the high expectations and genuine interest people now have for Korean productions,” Park told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Tuesday. Directed by Kim Byung-woo, known for “The Terror Live” (2013), “Take Point” (2018) and “Omniscient Reader” (2025), “The Great Flood” is a sci-fi disaster film that showcases a desperate struggle fDec 23, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
