'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
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ sequel set for 2029 releaseThe hit K-pop fantasy film “KPop Demon Hunters” is officially getting a sequel. According to Bloomberg and Variety on Wednesday (local time), Netflix and Sony have finalized a deal to produce the follow-up to the 2025 animated hit, with a global release planned for 2029. The original “KPop Demon Hunters” follows three K-pop superstars — Rumi, Mira and Zoey — who secretly battle dark forces threatening the world behind their dazzling stage personas. Produced by Sony and distributed globally by Netflix, the film became a breakout sensation upon its release in June. It made history as Netflix’s first animated film to surpass 300 million views and propelled its theme song “Golden” to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In August, a sing-along screening event brought in 19.2 million dollars in just two days, reflecting the movie’s passionate global fan base. The sing-along version recently returned to theaters for the Halloween season. Director Maggie Kang, who visited Korea for a press conference in August, previously hinted at ideas for the sequel. “We didn’t reveaNov 6, 2025By Xportsnews
Comedy reigns at box office: Why Korean audiences are laughing againComedy is dominating Korean theaters this year, signaling a shift in audience taste. From “My Daughter Is a Zombie,” the year’s biggest box-office hit, to “The First Ride,” which recently broke the winning streak of Japanese anime films, moviegoers are turning to laughter as the genre leading the post-summer box office. “The First Ride” has topped the domestic box office for six consecutive days, overtaking “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc,” the Japanese anime that had been leading global charts. Released on Oct. 29, the film follows five longtime friends — Tae-jung (Kang Ha-neul), Do-jin (Kim Young-kwang), Yeon-min (Cha Eun-woo), Geum-bok (Kang Young-seok) and Ok-sim (Han Sun-hwa) — as they embark on their first overseas trip together. Driven by word of mouth, the comedy has won praise for its cast chemistry and heartfelt storyline. The reunion of director Nam Dae-joong and actor Kang Ha-neul, who previously worked together on the 2023 hit “Love Reset,” also boosted anticipation. “As a comedy that people can enjoy together, it offers a strong reason for audiences to retNov 6, 2025By Hankookilbo
How ‘The World of Love’ and ‘The Ugly’ became Korea’s quiet box-office surprisesIn Korea’s movie market, where blockbuster budgets have long been equated with box office success, small independent films are defying expectations. Audiences are proving that good storytelling can outperform massive marketing budgets through word-of-mouth buzz — and two films are leading the charge: “The World of Love” and “The Ugly.” Released on Oct. 22, “The World of Love” has rapidly gained momentum. Within five days, the independent film surpassed 30,000 viewers, and it is now close to reaching the 50,000 mark less than two weeks after its release — an impressive feat considering the small number of screens nationwide showing the film. The story follows an 18-year-old high school girl named Joo-in, who is targeted by a series of unsettling anonymous notes after arguing over a petition being circulated by her classmates. Directed by Yoon Ga-eun, who earned acclaim for her delicate storytelling in “The World of Us” and “The House of Us,” the new film is her first feature in six years. Critics and filmmakers alike have praised the film’s emotional precisionNov 1, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Byung-hun nominated for Best Actor at Gotham AwardsActor Lee Byung-hun has been nominated for Best Actor at the Gotham Awards — regarded as a precursor to the Academy Awards — for his performance in “No Other Choice.” The film tells the story of Man-soo, a man who seemingly has everything until he is suddenly laid off. Determined to protect his wife, two children and hard-earned home, he desperately battles to find employment. Directed by Park Chan-wook, the film marks the acclaimed director’s first feature in three years since “Decision to Leave,” and has drawn attention since its release. “No Other Choice” has been nominated in three categories at the 35th Gotham Awards — Best International Feature, Best Screenplay and Best Actor. The film previously earned a nine-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and was also featured at the Toronto and New York film festivals, amplifying its global momentum ahead of Oscars season. Meanwhile, Lee recently received the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit at the 2025 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards held at the National Theater ofOct 31, 2025By Hankookilbo
Jung Il-woo credits universal family theme for Korea-Vietnam joint filmActor Jung Il-woo said he did not anticipate the massive box-office success of the Korean-Vietnamese joint film "Leaving Mom" in Vietnam, expressing gratitude for the positive reception. "I didn't know it would be such a hit. I cried a lot and was very moved after watching the film. I had a feeling that these emotions would be conveyed to the Vietnamese audience, but I am grateful that it has become a bigger success than expected," he said during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. "Leaving Mom" is a drama that follows Hoan (Tuan Tran), a street barber who cares for his mother, and Le Thi Han (Hong Dao), who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Hoan embarks on a journey to take his mother to his long-lost older brother in Korea. Actor Jung made a special appearance as Jeong-min, Le Thi Han’s Korean husband in her younger days. The movie topped the Vietnamese box office for 15 consecutive days, attracting 2 million viewers. This film was a Korean-Vietnamese collaboration. Korean production staff, including director Mo Hong-jin, worked with the Vietnamese crew for more than three yearsOct 29, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
