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
'Golden' from 'Kpop Demon Hunters' OST tops British Official chart for 4th week"Golden," the smash hit single from the original soundtrack of the Netflix animation film "Kpop Demon Hunters," has topped the British Official Singles Chart Top 100 for a fourth week. According to the chart unveiled Friday (local time), "Golden" claimed the top spot for the third consecutive week. It first reached No. 1 on the chart on Aug. 1. The song by the film's fictional girl group Huntr/x is sung by Ejae, a composer who trained at SM Entertainment; Korean American singer Audrey Nuna; and South Korean-born U.S. artist Rei Ami. The track is the first K-pop song to reach No. 1 in 13 years since Psy topped the chart with "Gangnam Style" in 2012. "Golden" also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States earlier this week. Other songs from the soundtrack also performed high on the British chart, with "Soda Pop" and "Your Idol" ranking fourth and sixth, respectively. "Takedown" also came in at 27th. The animated sensation has officially become Netflix's most-watched movie of all time. The film has amassed 236 million views since its release on June 20, surpassing the previous rAug 30, 2025By Yonhap
Queer N. Korean defector searches for belonging in Seoul in ‘3670’Director Park Joon-ho’s debut film “3670” offers a rare and empathetic glimpse into everyday life of a queer North Korean defector as he explores ideas about identity and belonging in contemporary Korean society. The title itself carries a coded meaning. Within Korea’s gay community, “3670” translates to “Meet in front of Exit 6 at Jongno 3-ga Station at 7 p.m.” Rather than being exclusive, the film turns the code into a doorway to broader understanding and empathy. At the center of the story is Cheol-jun (Cho You-hyun), a young, gay North Korean trying to manage his life in Seoul. He is introduced to local LGBTQ+ gatherings in Jongno and Itaewon by his neighbor, Yeong-jun (Kim Hyun-mok). After mingling with people, Cheol-jun realizes he is more than just a defector or just a queer person. He is also a friend, brother, part-time worker and young adult dealing with the same everyday struggles as his peers. Instead of relying on familiar tropes, “3670” focuses on the ordinary but delicate ties of love and friendship. Audiences are also able to relate to the connection bAug 28, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
InterviewDirector Kwon Han-sl on why AI filmmaking is new genre, not gimmickGYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a new tool for filmmakers, but the next great cinematic shift, says director Kwon Han-sl. "From black-and-white to color, from theaters to streaming — our medium has always evolved with technology," he said during a media interview Wednesday. "AI filmmaking is the next turning point. If you embrace it, you become a pioneer. If you don't, you fall behind." Kwon speaks about AI with keenness and optimism. For him, AI is not simply another tool in the filmmaker's kit, but a technological inflection point on par with the invention of the camera or the arrival of streaming platforms. Kwon is the founder and CEO of Studio Freewillusion, launched in June 2023 as Korea's first AI video tech studio. Within its first year, the company made international waves when its debut project, "One More Pumpkin," earned the Grand Prize at the inaugural Dubai International AI Film Festival in March 2024. Most recently, Kwon visited Gyeongju to deliver a keynote at the APEC 2025 High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative IndusAug 28, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Is 'KPop Demon Hunters' wake-up call Korean cinema needs?What does a singalong screening of a K-pop-inspired animated film at Asia’s biggest film festival say about the future of Korean cinema? That’s the question swirling after the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) announced a special event for Netflix’s "KPop Demon Hunters" — which became the platform’s most-watched film ever — and now a cultural phenomenon filling theaters in North America. For many in Korea’s film industry, the movie’s meteoric rise poses a pressing question: can its global success serve as a road map for revitalization and international growth at a time when the industry is still struggling to emerge from a post-pandemic slump? The organizers of the nation’s largest film festival seem to think so. BIFF will host a special singalong screening of the film during the festival, with director Maggie Kang in attendance. This decision reflects a wider desire within Korea’s film industry to become a more competitive player on the global stage. Kim Young-deok, director of the Asian Contents & Film Market at BIFF, said that while this film was produced byAug 28, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
Venice Film Festival kicks off with Paolo Sorrentino’s ‘La Grazia,' questions about GazaVENICE, Italy — The Venice Film Festival is kicking off with the world premiere of Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” on Wednesday. The 82nd edition of the glamourous international film festival is playing host to many Hollywood stars, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Dwayne Johnson, and famed auteurs, from Guillermo del Toro to Kathryn Bigelow, who all have films debuting over the next 10 days. The conflict in Gaza has also already been an everpresent topic both outside the festival's walls, where protesters gathered, and during the news conferences. The festival, which takes place on the Lido, chose to open with the newest film from one of Italy’s most revered working filmmakers. “La Grazia” stars Sorrentino’s longtime collaborator Toni Servillo as a fictional Italian president who is paralyzed by indecision near the end of his term, grappling with signing a bill that allows euthanasia and mourning his late wife. Sorrentino said that he was inspired to write the film by a real case of an Italian president who pardoned a man that had killed his wife, who was suffAug 27, 2025By AP
Intrigued by Netflix K-drama 'Aema'? 13 best 1980s Korean erotic films rankedThe new Netflix K-drama series "Aema" takes us back to 1980s Korea, when the film industry, egged on by a government keen for cultural distractions, was gearing up to make "Madame Aema," Korea's first erotic film. The film ushered in a decade of erotic content, paving the way for classics that are memorable for themes and ideas that go beyond mere titillation. Below, we rank the 13 best erotic films from 1980s Korean cinema. Alas, "Madame Aema" did not make the cut. 13. 'The Parrot Cries with Its Body' (1981) Known for his 1960s youth films, Jeong Jin-woo was among the first filmmakers to embrace the erotic trend. One of his contributions was "The Parrot Cries with Its Body," a film in which two siblings engage in a tawdry tryst in a countryside hut after learning that they are not related. Curiously, the film boasts that it was filmed on a Todd-AO 70mm film camera in its opening credits, likely a marketing gimmick as the technology never made it to Korea. 12. 'Mulberry 2' (1988) Though a far cry from its hit predecessor, "Mulberry 2" tends to be unfairly dismissed as a cash-in sequel. Yes, tAug 27, 2025By SCMP
'KPop Demon Hunters' emerges as Netflix's most-watched film everThe animated sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" has officially become Netflix's most-watched movie of all time. The film has amassed 236 million views since its release on June 20, surpassing the previous record holder, the action-comedy "Red Notice," which had 230.9 million views, according to Netflix. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the Netflix original film centers on Huntr/x, who live a double life, balancing their music careers with their duties as warriors who protect the world from demonic spirits, like the overlord Gwi-Ma and the soul-stealing Saja Boys. The film's soundtrack has also achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first ever to have four songs -- "Golden," "Your Idol," "Soda Pop" and "How It's Done" — simultaneously in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Capitalizing on its immense popularity, a theatrical sing-along version of the film was released for a limited time in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Britain. This offline event was a massive success, grossing an estimated $18 million over the weekend and topping the U.S. box office, accordAug 27, 2025By Yonhap
Shin Seung-ho takes on new challenge with priest role of patience and restraintActor Shin Seung-ho is challenging himself with a new transformation, stepping into the role of Father Do-un in the upcoming film “Only God Knows Everything.” For Shin, the film’s appeal lies not in surface-level intrigue but in its heavy narrative and the inner struggles of its characters. “When I first read the script, I thought this wouldn’t be an easy film to watch,” Shin said in a recent interview. “Do-un is a character who has much to show, but at the same time, there are many aspects that require restraint and patience. That difficulty worked positively for me and gave me a chance to learn a lot.” In contrast to earlier performances that often included explosive emotional outbursts, Shin explained that this role demanded a more subdued approach, requiring him to convey restraint and inner conflict. “Looking at my filmography, this was an area I had little experience in, which made it more appealing. In the end, it became a very positive project for me,” he said. “Only God Knows Everything” marks Shin’s second collaboration with director Baek Seung-hwan afAug 27, 2025By Hankookilbo
