'No Other Choice' wins Best Film at Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe dark thriller "No Other Choice" won Best Film at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards on Wednesday, with director Park Chan-wook taking Best Director and lead actress Son Ye-jin earning Best Actress. Based on the 1997 satirical thriller novel "The Ax" by American novelist Donald E. Westlake, the film follows the story of a desperate father of two who wages his own personal war for survival after losing his long-time job. It was director Park's fourth win in the same category of the festival. Lee Sung-min won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a rival to the protagonist. The Best Actor award went to Hyun Bin for his portrayal of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910) in the period drama "Harbin." Park Ji-hyeon took home Best Supporting Actress for playing Mi-joo, a mysterious cellist caught in a complex relationship with her friend's fiance, in the erotic thriller "Hidden Face." The Best New Actor award went to Ahn Bo-hyun for his role in the romantic comedy "Pretty Crazy," as a man who gets involved with a woman in the neighborhood who turns into a completely different pNov 20, 2025By Yonhap
InterviewKim Hyang-gi embraces motherhood in ‘Hallan’Kim Hyang-gi, a seasoned actor with 20 years of experience, said that when she took on her first role as a mother in the upcoming movie "Hallan," she focused mostly on the strong story of survival, rather than worrying about being cast as a maternal character. “I didn't think much about playing a mother, from the moment I read the screenplay until we wrapped up filming,” the 25-year-old actor told The Korea Times during an interview in Seoul, Tuesday. “In that era, it was natural for someone my age to be a mother. More importantly, I felt the mission was to showcase the story of the mother and daughter.” “Hallan,” which is the name of an orchid from the province, is inspired by the tragic Jeju Uprising in 1948, where the government forces killed tens of thousands of islanders during an anti-communist campaign. The movie follows the arduous journey of a mother, Ah-jin (Kim), and her daughter (Kim Min-chae) as they seek refuge in the mountains and travel across the sea to survive. “Hallan” ensures history is not forgotten, presenting the stories of the people caught withinNov 19, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'Zootopia 2' to explore diversity, growth through new worlds, charactersThe beloved animal-centric world of "Zootopia" (2016) is returning to the big screen after nine years, with its creators and actors promising an even more timely and resonant adventure. Compared to the original, "Zootopia 2" will challenge the beloved duo of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde by taking them to new and unfamiliar environments, while maintaining their strong partnership, according to director Jared Bush. “When we're stepping into a new story, we knew this really had to center around Judy and Nick and their partnership, and the whole point of this movie is to really start to push them out of their comfort zones,” Bush said during an online press conference with Korean reporters Tuesday. The sequel picks up only a week after the end of the first film, with newly established partners Judy (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick (Jason Bateman) tackling a new case involving the sudden and mysterious appearance of reptiles in Zootopia’s otherwise mammal‑dominated world. Reprising her role as the energetic bunny cop, Goodwin said this tight timeline between the films allows the audNov 18, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Cross-cultural romance 'Love Barista' serves up all-too-familiar flavorAn Asian superstar impulsively disappears during an overseas commercial shoot. He then crosses paths with a local woman, who, despite the star's overwhelming popularity across the region, has no idea who he is. From there, it's hardly surprising where their relationship is headed. This "seen-it-all-before" story forms the narrative of the upcoming romantic comedy "Love Barista," starring Lee Kwang-soo and Vietnamese actress Hoang Ha. Lee portrays the superstar Kim Jun-woo, who is increasingly anxious that his seemingly stellar career may be nearing its end, as rising talents threaten his once-formidable position and his fan base begins to thin. His anxiety often manifests as stomach trouble. During a trip to Vietnam, where he enjoys especially high popularity, he is accidentally left behind while in the restroom, as his manager boards the plane, completely forgetting him and taking Jun-woo's passport and wallet in the process. An angry Jun-woo decides to go silent, purposefully punishing his manager and staff for their negligence. Cutting off all contact, he kicks off his own unscheduleNov 14, 2025By Yonhap
Korean film 'The World of Love' sparks conversation in China after years of hallyu banGentle, yet uplifting and empowering. These are among the reviews flooding Chinese social media after “The World of Love,” a Korean independent film directed by Yoon Ga-eun, began making waves internationally. The film, which opened in Korean theaters in late October, has already garnered critical acclaim abroad, including in China — a market that has been largely closed to Korean films and cultural products for several years due to political tensions. A touching and nuanced exploration of resilience and agency in the aftermath of trauma, “The World of Love” swept two major awards at the ninth Pingyao International Film Festival in late September. Last week, the film also made a splash at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. Since then, it has gained significant traction in China, with enthusiastic word-of-mouth propelling its popularity. Discussions about the film’s themes and positive reviews continue to grow on RedNote, a leading lifestyle-sharing platform in China. The film begins with a depiction of Joo-in’s seemingly ordinary daily life, gradually revealing the traumatiNov 13, 2025By Alyssa Chen
'Hallan' revisits lingering pain of Jeju's April 3 UprisingAlmost seven months after the Jeju April 3 Uprising archives were added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, a new film about the tragedy is set to hit theaters, inviting audiences to revisit one of the darkest chapters in modern Korean history and to remember its victims once more. Starring actor Kim Hyang-gi, “Hallan” follows Ah-jin, who struggles to protect her six-year-old daughter Haesaeng (Kim Min-chae) while hiding in the forests of Mount Halla from police and soldiers in the late 1940s. The title, “Hallan,” refers to an orchid native to Jeju Island. Director Ha Myung-mi said the film was born from her deep empathy for Jeju residents. “In 2013, I moved to Jeju Island. Every year, I took part in the memorial ceremony for the uprising. But just feeling sad didn’t seem enough — I felt guilty for the islanders,” Ha said during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. “I began to wonder how I could truly empathize with them, and realized that understanding their stories could be a way to share that sorrow. That’s why I decided to make this film.” The Jeju AprNov 12, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Review'Deprivation' explores heartbreak of infertility amid Korea’s demographic crisisKorea has long been known as a nation with one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, earning it the unfortunate moniker of a society that discourages childbirth. Amid this demographic crisis, however, there are still couples who desperately wish to have children, often suffering in silence when they cannot conceive. Set for upcoming release, the 2024 film “Deprivation” shines a light on these couples, chronicling the intense frustration and emotional toll caused by repeated attempts at in vitro fertilization. Co-directed by Kim Sol-hae and Lee Do-jin, the 85-minute feature follows Ji-yeon (Kim See-eun), who is desperate to conceive and explores every option, and her husband, Do-jin (played by director Lee himself), who is emotionally exhausted by the series of attempts and failures and wondering if they should simply be content with their life as a couple. The film openly depicts the heartbreaking journey as the couple’s love fails to create a child, and their initial hope slowly turns into sadness. Ji-yeon’s desperation is painfully clear, sometimes crossing into tragicomedy.Nov 12, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc’ hits 3 million viewers, dominates box officeThe “Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc” has surpassed 3 million admissions, continuing its impressive run in Korean theaters. According to the KOREA Box-office Information System on Tuesday, “Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc” drew more than 3 million viewers as of 11:34 p.m. that day. Since its release on Sept. 24, the film has swept theaters, drawing major attention by exceeding 1 million viewers in 12 days and 2 million in 24 days. Among animated films released this year, it is the second to surpass the 3 million mark, proving its sustained popularity. Now entering its eighth week in theaters, the film maintains strong audience ratings — 96 percent on CGV Golden Egg Index, 9.4 out of 10 on Lotte Cinema and 9.5 on Megabox — fueling expectations that its long-term success will continue. Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s globally popular manga “Chainsaw Man,” which has sold more than 31 million copies worldwide, the film tells the explosive story of Denji, a boy who becomes the chainsaw man after making a contract with the chainsaw devil Pochita, and his fateful encounNov 12, 2025By Hankookilbo
Korean cult classic inspires Hollywood remake 'Bugonia'"Bugonia," a Hollywood adaption of the 2003 Korean cult film "Save the Green Planet!," marks a key moment in the ascent of Korean cinema within the global film industry. Beyond traditional notions of cultural exchange, this high-profile adaptation, directed by Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, demonstrates how Korean stories and creative industries are now influencing Hollywood’s most ambitious projects. The film, which was released in the U.S. on Oct. 31 and quickly climbed to second place at the box office with $1.8 million in ticket sales, underscores the growing appetite for Korean narratives in mainstream global filmmaking. The Korean original, directed by Jang Joon-hwan, earned acclaim for its inventive genre mix of black comedy, suspense and social commentary. Despite failing to succeed commercially, the movie's reputation grew over the years to become a cult classic. "Bugonia," which premiered at this year’s Venice International Film Festival to critical acclaim, retains much of the original storyline, focusing on a troubled young man (Jesse Plemons)Nov 11, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘World of Love’ draws global attention as Korea’s indie film sector faces deeper strainKorean independent cinema is attracting growing attention overseas, with its careful storytelling and expressive range earning praise at top festivals. Yet, behind the bright spotlight, long-standing challenges continue to weigh on the industry. Director Yoon Ga-eun’s recently released “The World of Love” is enjoying a run of international invitations. It began with the Toronto International Film Festival, followed by selections and awards at Pingyao International Film Festival and Warsaw International Film Festival. It was also invited to compete at Tokyo Filmex and the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, showing strong interest from global programmers. “The World of Love” follows an unpredictable 17-year-old high school student whose impulsive remark sets off a chain of events that shakes everyone’s world. The domestic response has been just as strong. Despite its limited screen count, the film is on the verge of surpassing 80,000 admissions. Word of mouth pushed it to No. 4 on the overall box office chart. Riding this momentum, a script book was released. Preorders opened on NoNov 10, 2025By Hankookilbo
