Can Korean cinema sustain its rebound?After years of struggling to recover from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea's film industry is finally showing signs of life again. Driven by a string of local box office successes led by the historical drama “The King's Warden,” Korean films have regained momentum in theaters this year, raising hopes that the industry may be emerging from one of the most difficult periods in its history. According to data from the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the nation's theaters attracted 31.9 million admissions during the first quarter of 2026, up 53.2 percent from 20.82 million a year earlier. Total box office revenue rose 58.7 percent year-on-year to 318 billion won ($211.2 million). Korean films accounted for much of that recovery. Domestic films generated 233.3 billion won in ticket sales and drew 24.01 million viewers during the January-March period, more than double the previous year. The biggest contributor was “The King's Warden,” which became a rare phenomenon in the postpandemic era. The film, which opened on Feb. 4, attracted 15.73 million viewers in the first quarter aloneJun 3, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'Colony' director seeks experimental turn in AI era“It has been 10 years since I started making commercial films,” director Yeon Sang-ho said. “During that time, I spent years collaborating within commercial cinema and streaming platforms. While shooting 'The Ugly' last year, I began longing to work within a new system. For the next 10 years, I want to work in a different way from the past 10 years. I have a strong desire to try more experimental things.” Yeon, who helped expand Korean zombie cinema with "Train to Busan" and "Peninsula," has returned with his third zombie thriller, "Colony." The film follows survivors trapped inside a building sealed off after the outbreak of a mysterious infection. Its central idea is the "evolved zombie," a concept Yeon connects to questions about the collapse of individuality in the age of artificial intelligence. In a recent interview at a Seoul cafe, Yeon said he focused on expressing "collective intelligence, evolution and the harm they can cause" in an intuitive way. "I thought about how far humans and groups can evolve," he said. Since opening May 21, "Colony" has sold more than 3.1 millioJun 2, 2026By Hankookilbo
Haenam County turns Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' filming site into retro tourist drawHaenam County, South Jeolla Province, plans to turn the main filming location of Na Hong-jin's Cannes competition title "Hope" into a 1970s and '80s-themed tourist draw. The county announced Thursday it is developing the project in the rural village of Namchang. The area served as the fictional Hopo Port in the Demilitarized Zone during a 100-day shoot that began in October 2023. The county will invest 1.1 billion won ($730,000) to merge the film sets with local resources. As part of the initiative, the local bus terminal will be remodeled to resemble the film's police station and serve as a visitor information center. Commercial storefronts will reinstall signboards used during the production. The street will also feature movie props, including sculptures of aliens and mysterious creatures, as well as a vintage Hyundai Stellar police car. The county plans to expand tourist infrastructure by installing information boards detailing the film's background and production process at key locations. Additionally, photo zones will connect to historical sites such as Dallyangjinseong Fortress, HaJun 1, 2026By Hankookilbo
'Colony' tops weekend box office, breaking 3 mil. admissionsThe zombie thriller "Colony" topped the weekend box-office chart, drawing more than 3 million admissions since its release, data showed Monday. The Korean film had logged 3,474,934 accumulated admissions as of Sunday, adding 971,034 admissions over the weekend, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council, which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. It hit the 3-million milestone on its 10th day of release Saturday, faster than the 14 days it took the megahit "The King's Warden" (2026) to reach. "Colony" is the latest zombie thriller from director Yeon Sang-ho, whose previous works include "Train to Busan" (2016). It follows biotechnology professor Se-jeong (Jun Ji-hyun) and a group of survivors who fight to escape a building quarantined due to a virus outbreak. The blockbuster also stars Koo Kyo-hwan as a lone wolf researcher who controls zombies, and Ji Chang-wook and Kim Shin-rok as survivors battling the zombies, alongside Jun. It premiered at the Midnight Screenings section of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival last month. On the weekendJun 1, 2026By Yonhap
InterviewUm Tae-goo showcases unexpected rapper charms in 'Wild Sing'Actor Um Tae-goo is widely recognized for his deep, husky voice and quiet personality. Having built a reputation through intense, dark roles, the actor has rarely been associated with high-energy comedy. However, the 42-year-old is set to shock audiences by transforming into a rapper in the upcoming comedy film "Wild Sing." Um portrays Sang-gu, who constantly talks in a high voice, loves hip-hop and even makes cute faces while dancing. The actor said Thursday that taking on this unconventional character was a terrifying challenge that pushed him to his physical and mental limits. "Everything about this role was a burden, including the comedy genre itself, the rapping and keeping the character's tension so incredibly high," Um told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul. "Intellectually, I always knew that comedy is the most difficult genre of acting, but experiencing it made me realize how truly challenging it is to make someone laugh. I now deeply respect actors who specialize in this field." Directed by Sohn Jae-kon, "Wild Sing" follows Triangle, a former idol group that attempts a comebackMay 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Review'Wild Sing' revisits K-pop's early days with heart and humorAt a time when retro is back in style, a movie filled with the late 90s, early 2000s aesthetics of the K-pop scene paying homage to first-generation acts, such as H.O.T. and Shinhwa, does not come as a complete surprise. In the Korean comedy "Wild Sing," starring actors Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo and Park Ji-hyun and directed by Son Jae-gon, the ensemble faithfully reenacts the earlier days of the K-pop industry as top-ranking idol dance group Triangle. Gang plays Hyun-woo, the group's good-looking but somewhat clumsy leader, while Uhm and Park portray Sang-gu, the youngest member of the group and rapper, and Do-mi, the trio's sole female member who serves as the actual leader of the group behind the scenes, respectively. The film does a solid job in reviving the aesthetics of the past, ranging from a sand-filled playground (which have been mostly replaced with urethane foam blocks) where Hyun-woo practices his head spins to televised broadcasts featuring live telephone votes by fans for top singers of the week. In terms of music style, it also captures the mid-90s mood of the K-pop scenMay 27, 2026By Yonhap
Real actor or AI? 'Colony' child star goes viral for resemblance to Koo Kyo-hwanChild actor Choi Woo-jin sparked online debate after viewers said his striking resemblance to Koo Kyo-hwan in "Colony" made his scenes appear to have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Choi plays the younger version of Seo Young-chul, Koo's character, in the sci-fi thriller. The child actor made a strong impression despite his limited screen time. The physical similarities prompted social media users to compare the boy's scenes to Koo's old graduation photos. Some viewers said on social media, "I thought it was made with AI." Choi's representative clarified the rumors on the actor's official social media. "Not AI. It is 14-year-old actor Choi Woo-jin," the post said. The viral moment coincides with a massive opening weekend for the zombie thriller. Released on Thursday, "Colony" topped the box office by drawing 1.28 million moviegoers between Friday and Sunday. The movie surpassed 1 million ticket sales on Sunday, making it the fastest film this year to reach the milestone. "Colony" marks director Yeon Sang-ho's return to the zombie genre after six years. The plot follows suMay 26, 2026By Hankookilbo
Zombie thriller 'Colony' breaks 2 mil. admissionsThe zombie spectacle "Colony" has drawn more than 2 million admissions following its release last week, data showed Tuesday, hitting the milestone at the fastest pace among films released this year. The Korean film had recorded 2,018,644 accumulated admissions Monday, just five days following its release on Thursday, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council. It maintained its No. 1 spot on the daily box office chart for a fifth straight day Monday with 517,011 admissions. The Hollywood film "Michael" came in second with 109,384 admissions, followed by the animated film "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" at 38,095. "Colony" is the latest of director Yeon Sang-ho's zombie thrillers that include megahit "Train to Busan" (2016). It follows biotechnology professor Se-jeong (Jun Ji-hyun) and a group of survivors who fight to escape a building quarantined due to a virus outbreak. The blockbuster also features Koo Kyo-hwan as a lone wolf researcher who controls zombies, and Ji Chang-wook and Kim Shin-rok as survivors battling the zombies, alongside Jun.May 26, 2026By Yonhap
Na Hong-jin's 'Hope' falls short of Palme d’Or win at CannesDirector Na Hong-jin’s film “Hope” fell short of winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, but the genre-bending work remained one of the most talked-about entries in this year’s competition. Set in a remote harbor village near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, "Hope" follows a police chief and a rookie officer as they confront a mysterious being. Anchoring the spectacle, the ensemble cast — including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell — gives performances anchored in fraught human reactions: fear, panic, denial and opportunism. Despite missing the top prize, “Hope” drew significant attention throughout the festival, emerging as a dark horse with its unconventional mix of thrills, comedy, action and science fiction. The film generated strong buzz at Cannes, selling to major international markets and mirroring the success of Park Chan-wook’s "Decision to Leave" (2022). Critics described it as a rare surprise in an otherwise subdued lineup. Na said the film stems from his contempMay 24, 2026By Lee Hae-rin and Baek Byung-yeul
Culture minister congratulates film director Jin Mi-song on Cannes winCulture Minister Chae Hwi-young has sent a congratulatory message to South Korean film director Jin Mi-song for winning Second Prize in the La Cinef section for student films at this year's Cannes Film Festival, his office said Saturday. In the message sent Friday, Chae said Jin's "Silent Voices" moved people all over the world with its "quiet but deep resonance" delivered through the everyday lives of an immigrant family. "I send applause of encouragement as your sincere attention and directing ability that delicately captured the various aspects of an individual's emotions led to a precious result on the world stage," he wrote. "Your award demonstrated the potential of the next generation of South Korean cinema, and will give new courage and inspiration to our young people in the film industry," he added. The La Cinef section is a competition section dedicated to works produced by emerging filmmakers attending film schools. This year, 19 student films were chosen out of 2,747 films submitted globally, according to the organizers. "Silent Voices" follows a day in the life of a family whoMay 23, 2026By Yonhap
