Second-run films emerge as box office lifeline amid Korean film industry slumpSecond-run films are emerging as a sweet alternative amid a prolonged slump in the Korean film industry. As more rereleases achieve surprise box office success, they are establishing themselves not just as nostalgic throwbacks but as a viable survival strategy. This year, more than 10 films are being rereleased every month, including renowned titles such as the sci-fi hit “E.T.” (1982), Japanese animation “Perfect Blue” (1997), classic “Doctor Zhivago” (1965) and blockbuster “The Godfather” (1972) this month alone. A notable trend is the use of marketing events featuring actors visiting Korea, going beyond simple re-screenings. For example, Japanese director Nobuhiro Yamashita's 2005 film “Linda Linda Linda” will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a rerelease on Sept. 17. To commemorate this, the lead actors will hold a press conference in Korea on Sept. 12. The film, which became a topic of discussion due to Korean actor Bae Doona's role as a Korean exchange student, follows a group of high school girls who form a band just before their school festival. Bae is also sSep 5, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean Film Council selects 'No Other Choice' as Oscar contenderPark Chan-wook's black comedy "No Other Choice" has been selected by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) as the country's official submission for next year's Academy Awards. KOFIC's selection committee cited the film's "cinematic completeness, relevant themes surrounding job termination, exceptional ensemble performances and positive evaluations from North American distributors" as key factors behind its decision. "The movie's humorous take on a universally relatable tragedy makes it a strong contender for Oscar recognition," it said. The film will be submitted in the Oscar's Best International Feature Film category, which is dedicated to films produced outside the United States. Each country is permitted to submit only one film. Adapted from the mystery novel "The Ax" by American writer Donald E. Westlake, the film is a dark thriller following Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun), a middle-aged man who, after being abruptly fired from a paper company, takes extreme measures to secure a new job by dealing with his competitors. The film premiered internationally last week at the Venice International Film FSep 3, 2025By Yonhap
‘Squid Game’ star Anupam Tripathi lands first lead role in Korean film ‘Rhapsody for the Dead’Indian actor Anupam Tripathi, best known for his role as Ali in the hit series “Squid Game,” is stepping into a new chapter of his career as the lead in the Korean mystery film “Rhapsody for the Dead.” In a recent interview, the actor opened up about the turning points that shaped his journey, revealing both personal struggles and professional aspirations. In “Rhapsody for the Dead,” Tripathi plays Anuat, a man haunted by a horrific past and hidden secrets, who crosses paths with Soo-ah (played by Im Do-hwa), a young woman cursed to die when she turns 25. The story unfolds over a single night, leading the two characters to confront a chilling destiny. Tripathi said he was surprised when the director offered him the leading role. “I asked why they chose me,” he recalled. The director said they saw a new side of him after watching “King the Land” that went beyond what people knew from “Squid Game.” “It’s the first time a Korean movie is being released with me as the lead actor," he added. "For an Indian actor, this isn’t something that happens often, so I’m bSep 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Lee Byung-hun first heard of ‘No Other Choice’ 17 years ago, now leads Venice entryVENICE, Italy — Actor Lee Byung-hun said his collaboration with director Park Chan-wook on “No Other Choice” has been nearly two decades in the making, recalling that he first heard about the project 17 years ago while filming in Hollywood. The film, which had its world premiere in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on Aug. 29, features Lee as Man-soo, a middle-aged man laid off after 25 years at a paper mill. Struggling to protect his family and home, Man-soo devises a desperate plan to eliminate potential competitors for a new job. The role demanded Lee’s signature balance of restraint and intensity, producing what IndieWire praised as a performance that “anchors Park’s tragic yet comic tone with elegance.” Lee said his first conversation about the project dates back to around 2007, during the filming of “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” “Director Park was in the U.S. with director Kim Jee-woon, and over dinner he mentioned the story,” Lee recalled in an interview on Lido Island the morning after the premiere. “I half-jokingly told him, ‘ISep 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Son Ye-jin says Venice red carpet debut was ‘overwhelming and moving’VENICE, Italy — Actor Son Ye-jin said walking her first-ever red carpet at the Venice International Film Festival left her “nervous, thrilled and overwhelmed.” After the official screening of Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” on Aug. 29, she said, “I even felt tears coming to my eyes.” The following day, in an interview at a hotel on the Lido, she spoke with her signature half-moon smile. The project marks Son’s return to acting after a three-year break. Since her marriage to actor Hyun Bin in 2022 and the birth of their first child, she had stepped away from the camera. “No Other Choice” is her first film in seven years, following “The Negotiation” in 2018. In the film, Son plays Mi-ri, a housewife who struggles to hold her family together after her husband loses his job. It is her first collaboration with Park Chan-wook, a director she has long admired. “As an actor, you always dream of being invited by director Park. I was the same,” she said. When the offer came, she was still debating when to resume work after childbirth. “I worried whether I could conSep 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
Actor Jung Heon makes directorial debut with ‘One Lucky Day,’ wins int'l acclaimActor Jung Heon has marked his debut as a director with the short film “One Lucky Day,” which has been screened at major international film festivals and recognized with multiple awards, signaling a new chapter in his 14-year career. In an exclusive interview, Jung said he sets new goals for himself each year, and last year’s challenge was to produce a film. That effort became “One Lucky Day,” known in Korea as “Double Parking.” “It wasn’t a sudden decision. I had been developing another script for months, but ended up writing this one instead. Since my goal was to make a film, I took on both the screenplay and directing from the start," he said. "As I wrote the story, I realized the main character reflected much of myself, so I decided to play the role as well.” From actor to director To back up his choice to cast himself, Jung prepared rigorously. He drew 49 storyboard sheets, visited the filming site seven times before shooting and balanced directing with acting throughout the production. “Before each take, I checked the composition through the viewfinders of bothSep 2, 2025By Hankookilbo
In comedy flick ‘Boss,’ gangsters scheme to avoid crownIn movies, the No. 2 of a mafia organization usually fights fiercely for the boss's seat. But the upcoming film “Boss” turns this common plot on its head as right-hand men of the crime family in this comedy film try to avoid becoming the boss. "When I first heard the movie’s hook was a 'war to avoid becoming the boss,' I chuckled. That laughter and humor lasted throughout the several years of working on the film,” director Ra Hee-chan said during a press conference in Seoul Monday. He described the movie as "not just another generic gangster film, but a fresh and visually entertaining comedy-action film." "When I first heard about this project, it felt very original. With a cast of actors who are so good at comedy, I wasn't worried about that aspect," Ra said. "I focused on the tension among the gang members who are trying to get away from something, and the threats facing the organization." The film revolves around the intense comedy of two right-hand men, Soon-tae and Kang-pyo, who are fiercely trying to give up the top spot. Actor Jo Woo-jin plays Soon-tae, the head chef of a CSep 1, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Rave reviews make 'No Other Choice' top Venice contenderPark Chan-wook's latest film, "No Other Choice," has received critical acclaim following its international premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, emerging as one of the strongest contenders for the top prize. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes as of Monday, the film holds an impressive 100 percent from an initial batch of 17 reviews, which have lauded the film's blend of dark humor and social commentary. "No Other Choice isn't just Park's funniest film, but his most humane, too, and that's quite something for a comedy as violent as this one," BBC wrote. "The film is extremely amusing, certainly, but it's simultaneously a poignant study of the desperation of the long-term jobless and the needless cruelty of the corporate world. It's also a warning," wrote Screen International. Guardian said, "It may not be Park's masterpiece but it is the best film in the Venice competition so far." "The rare film that feels sympathetic toward its protagonist without ever rooting for him, and Lee's elastic performance as Man-soo is key to the balancing act of Park's tragicomic tone," accSep 1, 2025By Yonhap
Park Chan-wook hopes viewers reflect on how often they say ‘no other choice’VENICE, Italy — Director Park Chan-wook returned to the Venice International Film Festival for the first time in 20 years with his new film “No Other Choice,” which drew a nine-minute standing ovation following its world premiere on Friday. The black comedy follows middle-aged Man-soo (Lee Byung-hun), who is laid off after 25 years at a paper company. Facing humiliation in temporary jobs and rejection from potential employers due to age, he begins to believe that eliminating competitors is the only way to get rehired. His awkward yet bold attempts set off a chain of grimly comic events. His new film premiered the previous night in the competition section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. It marked his first time walking the festival’s red carpet in 20 years, since presenting “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” in 2005. “No Other Choice” is based on American writer Donald Westlake’s 1997 novel “The Axe,” which was previously adapted into the 2005 film “The Axe: An Absurdly Dangerous Guide to Employment” by Greek filmmaker Costa-Gavras. Park first encountSep 1, 2025By Hankookilbo
Is Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' next 'Parasite' on the horizon?Filmmaker Park Chan-wook’s highly anticipated new film “No Other Choice” received rave reviews at its premiere during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, sparking early comparisons to Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning "Parasite." The film, which has been a passion project for Park for two decades, finally debuted to a global audience on Friday night (local time) in Italy, as it was invited to the competition section of the festival. Following the screening, the audience erupted in a standing ovation that lasted for over nine minutes, according to local media. Earlier on Friday, during a press conference featuring the director and lead actors Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Yeom Hye-ran and Lee Sung-min, Park explained that the film was born out of a 20-year journey. “The reason I never gave up on this project for 20 years is that whenever I told people the story, no matter the time period or country they came from, they would always say it was relatable and timely,” he said. “I believed it would be made into a film one day.” Based on Donald E. Westlake's novelAug 31, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
