AI takes lead in 'Run to the West,' leaving narrative behindThe promotion of the action-fantasy film "Run to the West" has focused more on its use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating visual effects than on its own cinematic merits. As a result, viewers are left to analyze the technical execution of the AI-assisted visuals, rather than becoming immersed in the narrative itself. The sentiment is also echoed by the cast. At Monday's press conference, lead actor Byun Yo-han joked that he felt as if he was attending "some kind of a scientific hearing" and he feels "like I need to prove something here." The actor portrays Jang-won, a national intelligence officer tasked with protecting Jae-beom (Yang Se-jong), a presumed billionaire who amassed his fortune through illegal gambling operations in the Philippines. While engaged in a car chase, Jang-won, Jae-beom and others are suddenly caught in a car accident. The next thing they know, they have been transported to "the intermediate world," a concept from Buddhism referring to the space where the soul stays after death before moving on to their next life. In this chaotic, in-between realm, they arOct 15, 2025By Yonhap
Black comedy 'Good News' reimagines real-life hijacking for modern eraThe upcoming Netflix movie "Good News" is based on a true story but will present a narrative that can resonate with the current generation through reimagined characters, director Byun Sung-hyun said. "This film was inspired by the true story of a plane hijacking incident that occurred in the 1970s. It doesn't completely follow the true story," Byun said during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul Tuesday. "We incorporated a story that can be relevant to the current generation. We wanted to show this through recreated characters, not real people." The black comedy film is based on the Yodogo hijacking incident, a 1970 event where nine members of the Japanese communist group Red Army Faction hijacked a plane traveling from Tokyo to Fukuoka and demanded the pilots fly to North Korea. Yodogo was a nickname for the aircraft. Sul Kyung-gu, one of the lead actors, plays Nobody, a mysterious troubleshooter whose name is not known. Sul said he had many concerns about playing the character. "This character was neither this nor that and just called as Nobody. So, honestly, I was confused," said SulOct 14, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
The ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ composer who made her own hit ‘Golden’ too high to singSinger-songwriter EJAE, best known for her work on the record-breaking Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” opened up about the challenges of performing her own hit song “Golden” live. During her guest appearance on KBS Cool FM’s “Lee Eun-ji’s Gayo Plaza” on Monday, EJAE spoke candidly about the pressure that comes with performing a song she composed herself — especially one that dominated the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks. In the film, EJAE provided the singing voice for Rumi, a member of the animated girl group Huntrix, and also wrote and composed “Golden” — the movie’s centerpiece song. She also arranged several other key tracks featured in the film. “Of course there’s pressure,” she said when asked whether the song’s high notes make live performances difficult. “It’s an animation, and the story behind the character was more important. If I had written it for real singers, I would have made it differently.” EJAE explained that the song intentionally includes extremely high-pitched sections to reflect Rumi’s emotionaOct 13, 2025By Xportsnews
Korean short film fest returns after 4-year hiatusThe Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival (MSFF), one of Korea’s top contests for emerging cinematic talents, is poised for a return as the 21st edition is set to open its doors Thursday after a four-year hiatus. Running through Monday at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul, the five-day film fest’s return marks a crucial moment for Korea's film industry here at a time when the industry is undergoing significant upheaval. Since its launch in 2002, the MSFF has distinguished itself as Korea's sole short film festival centering on films of diverse genres. It is also famous for playing an incubator role by finding next generation filmmakers, with support from major industry figures like Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook. The festival was suspended after its 20th edition in 2021 due to operational difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic but was resurrected this year by filmmakers who joined forces. The enthusiasm for the festival among young filmmakers was intense. It invited submissions of short films across its five distinct genre sections — social commentary; romance and melodrama; cOct 13, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Boss’ surpasses 2 million viewers in 10 daysThe comedy-action film “Boss” surpassed 2 million moviegoers on its 10th day of release, according to data from the Korean Film Council’s box office information system on Sunday. The film follows a group of gang members who competitively yield leadership to one another in an attempt to display their loyalty and advance their personal ambitions. “Boss” reached the milestone faster than Park Chan-wook’s hit “No Other Choice,” and became the first October release since the pandemic to attract over 2 million viewers — a sign of the film’s strong word-of-mouth. The film topped advance ticket sales and set records for the biggest opening-day audience and fastest climb to 1 million viewers for a post-pandemic October release. Its offbeat premise of a cutthroat competition to give up the boss’s seat and the lively chemistry among cast members have drawn enthusiastic responses from audiences. “Boss” is now showing in theaters nationwide. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea TimOct 13, 2025By Hankookilbo
Audrey Nuna realizes reach of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ on trip to KoreaNEW YORK — Audrey Nuna didn’t realize how far “KPop Demon Hunters” had traveled until she visited Korea. “I went to Korea a few weeks after the film started taking off,” she told Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” that aired Tuesday evening. “I got off at Dongdaemun Station and this cute little grandpa was doing a street performance of ‘Golden’ on this Korean traditional instrument. He was so swagged out. I had to do a double take.” The 26-year-old Korean American singer, who voices one of the leads in the hit animated film, said the moment stayed with her. “In Korean culture, it’s a big deal if an elderly person is impressed by you,” she said. “You can get into an Ivy League school — that makes sense to them. But for the older generation to embrace something like this, it’s something different.” That intergenerational connection captures what “KPop Demon Hunters” and its fictional trio Huntr/x have achieved since the film’s release in June. The project’s soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while its breakout single “Golden” haOct 9, 2025By Jane Han
Comedy flick ‘Boss’ dominates Chuseok box office, sets new post-pandemic recordThe Korean comedy-action film "Boss” emerged as the champion of the Chuseok holiday box office this year, securing the No. 1 spot for five consecutive days and setting a new record for a Korean film released in October since the COVID-19 pandemic. Released Oct. 3, the movie quickly surpassed 1 million admissions faster than any other Korean film released in October since 2020. On Tuesday, the film recorded 322,760 admissions. Its accumulated attendance stands at 1,308,140, demonstrating its widespread popularity. The film's momentum successfully beat out competing titles, including award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s "No Other Choice" and the Japanese animation "Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc," and securing its position as the most broadly appealing choice during the family-centric holiday period. The movie’s success is rooted in its highly original premise as high-ranking gang members desperately try to yield the boss position to one another to pursue their own personal dreams, rather than fighting for the crown. In the movie, which offers an ironic twist on the conventiOct 8, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'KPop Demon Hunters' star Arden Cho on language challenges, kimbap scenes, and what's nextWith “KPop Demon Hunters” continuing its strong run near the top of Netflix’s global charts, Korean American actor Arden Cho is reflecting on the journey that made the project so special. Cho, who voices the character Rumi, said stepping into voice acting for the first time — and doing so in Korean — was both intimidating and deeply rewarding. “The fact that 'KPop Demon Hunters' isn’t just another animated film but one that captures Korean rhythm and culture makes it truly meaningful,” Cho said, looking back on her experience. Taking on a new challenge in voice acting “What’s special about this film is that even though it’s an American animation produced in English, it’s infused with Korean sensibility and cultural nuance,” she said. “Even Jinu’s mannerisms and tone of speech carried a Korean flavor. We all put a lot of thought into how to make the English dialogue sound natural to Korean audiences.” Recording lines in Korean was one of Cho’s biggest challenges. “My Korean isn’t perfect, so I was really worried — especially with words like honmun,Oct 8, 2025By Hankookilbo
Regional collaboration fuels Southeast Asia’s rise in global cinemaBUSAN — With Southeast Asian films breaking box office records and winning international acclaim, a new wave of regional collaboration is transforming the Asian film industry. Cross-border projects and co-productions — from Indonesia’s “On Your Lap” to Malaysian-Indonesian venture “The Fox King” — are not only expanding storytelling possibilities but also signal a more connected and cooperative cinematic production landscape across Asia. “On Your Lap,” known as “Pangku” in Indonesia, dominated this year’s Busan International Film Festival’s (BIFF) Vision Awards competition, which recognizes rising independent Asian filmmakers. After holding its world premiere at BIFF, the film collected an impressive four out of 24 awards, voted on by audiences and critics. Marking the celebrated Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian’s directorial debut, the film revolves around a young woman (Claresta Taufan) who works as a “kopi pangku” waitress, where women sit on men’s laps as they drink coffee, hoping to secure a better life for her family. The protagonist embodies strOct 4, 2025By Esther Kim
InterviewYim Si-wan embraces his inner villain in Netflix thriller ‘Mantis’Actor Yim Si-wan is known for tackling diverse roles, but his latest challenge as lead in the Netflix thriller "Mantis" pushed his boundaries. Yim spoke with unwavering dedication about his performance, saying that seeing the final action scenes has inspired him to get even better at the action genre. "It’s a professional thing, but I always watch my work thinking I could have done better," Yim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Tuesday. "I felt that most about the action scenes this time. I prepared diligently, including taking kickboxing lessons and attending action school, but seeing the final product left me with the regret that I could have performed the action even better." The film, a spin-off of the hit Netflix film "Kill Boksoon," features Yim as Han-ul, a top-tier contract killer who fights using dual sickles. "Mantis" expands the universe of "Kill Boksoon," this time focusing on a new generation of assassins vying for the top spot in the killer organization M.K. ENT. Yim's character is an A-list killer returning from vacation to face his trainee contemporary and rival,Oct 2, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
