Tom Cruise visits Seoul to promote new 'Mission: Impossible' filmHollywood star Tom Cruise returned to Korea on Wednesday, marking his first visit in two years — this time to promote the latest installment in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. Cruise arrived at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul aboard his private jet around 4:20 p.m. He was greeted by a large crowd of enthusiastic fans, some chanting his name and waving posters featuring scenes from his blockbuster films, including the "Mission: Impossible" and "Top Gun" series. Wearing a bright smile, Cruise spent about 20 minutes greeting fans, signing autographs and taking selfies. He occasionally posed with a heart gesture made with his fingers — a popular sign of affection in Korea — before departing the airport in a waiting vehicle. The actor is in town to promote "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning," the eighth film in the long-running action franchise. It marks his 12th visit to the country since his first trip in 1994 to promote "Interview with the Vampire." His most recent visit was in 2023 for "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One." The actor has earnedMay 7, 2025By Yonhap
Korean box office slump deepens as 10-million viewer blockbusters fadeIt’s becoming harder to find a “10-million viewer” film in Korea’s theaters. The year’s most-watched Korean film, “Hitman 2,” has drawn just over 2.54 million moviegoers, a far cry from the box office highs of previous years. Industry insiders are voicing growing concern over what they see as a deepening crisis. Currently leading the 2025 Korean box office, “Hitman 2” tells the story of Jun, played by Kwon Sang-woo, a once-successful webtoon writer who becomes entangled in a real-life terror attack mimicking his latest series — and ends up wrongly accused. The film has offered audiences laughs and suspense, but its viewership numbers remain modest. The political drama “Yadang: The Snitch” ranks second with 2.22 million viewers, while the fact-based sports film “The Match” follows in third place. Bong Joon-ho’s “Mickey 17,” classified as a foreign release, surpassed 3 million admissions, but given its A-list lead, Robert Pattinson, and a reported production budget of $118 million, its box office performance is viewed as underwhelming. Meanwhile, “CaptainMay 7, 2025By KTimes
'Yadang' leads box office over extended holiday, becomes year's most-watched local filmThe Korean crime-action film "Yadang: The Snitch" dominated the local box office during the extended holiday period ending Tuesday, data showed Wednesday. Over the six-day period, the film attracted approximately 831,000 admissions, achieving a 26.9 percent seat occupancy rate, according to data from the Korean Film Council. The six-day period, which commenced with Labor Day, included two public holidays — Children's Day and Buddha's Birthday — with the exception of May 2. The film topped the daily box office charts every day, except for May 5, when Warner Bros.' "A Minecraft Movie" briefly claimed the top spot. With its cumulative audience now at 2.67 million, "Yadang: The Snitch" has become the most-watched Korean film released this year, surpassing "Hitman 2," which drew 2.54 million. Directed by Hwang Byeong-guk, the film centers on the intertwined ambitions of a cunning criminal informant, a driven prosecutor who recruits him, and a detective who risks everything to take down a major drug trafficking ring. "A Minecraft Movie" secured the second spot on the holiday box office chartMay 7, 2025By Yonhap
'Boy in the Pool' delves into teenage scars, growthDirector Ryu Yeon-su's teenage drama, "Boy in the Pool," offers a tender and nuanced exploration of adolescence, tracing the intertwined journeys of a boy and a girl navigating the ups and downs of friendship, rivalry and self-discovery. "Boy in the Pool" delicately portrays the universal struggles of teenagers grappling with their identities and charting their life's course. Set against the backdrop of a nostalgic summer in 2007, the movie revolves around 13-year-old Seok-young, a girl with a passion for swimming, who moves with her mother and younger sister to her late grandmother's house. There, she encounters Woo-ju, a peculiar boy with webbed toes. Intrigued by Woo-ju's unique feature, they soon become friends and discover the secret behind his remarkable swimming skill. Bonded by their mutual love for swimming, they form a strong connection, cemented further by a childhood promise to swim together always. However, as they grow, Seok-young's lack of talent begins to breed jealousy towards the naturally gifted Woo-ju. Their paths diverge when Woo-ju leaves for Seoul to pursue his dreMay 2, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
‘Ma Dong-seok said I was scary’: Seohyun transforms in ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’Actor Seohyun has taken a bold step away from her “model student” image, revealing a darker, more intense persona in “Holy Night: Demon Hunters.” According to Seohyun, even her co-star Ma Dong-seok told her she looked “scary” — a compliment that marked a turning point in her acting career. In a recent interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Seohyun spoke about her experience filming the action-horror movie. The film tells the story of a special team called “Holy Night,” made up of Ba-woo (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seohyun), and Kim Gun (Lee David), who possess extraordinary abilities and confront an evil cult that throws the city into chaos. Seohyun plays Sharon, a demon hunter with mystical powers. “I’m drawn to projects that have something alluring, where I feel confident I can show a new side of myself,” she said. “The script for ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’ was simply entertaining, and the character Sharon was especially captivating. I really wanted to bring her to life.” Since the film’s release, Seohyun has received praise for her transformatioMay 1, 2025By KTimes
'Fengshui' director Park Hee-gon dies at 56Film director Park Hee-gon, known for works such as “Fengshui” and "Target" died on Wednesday at 56. According to his family and industry sources, Park died after a long illness. His family said he had been in a coma since suffering cardiac arrest in late 2023. Although he showed signs of recovery earlier this year, he ultimately did not regain consciousness. Park graduated from Kyungwon University with a degree in English Language and Literature. He made his directorial debut in 2009 with the art heist film “Insadong Scandal,” starring Uhm Jung-hwa and Kim Rae-won. In 2011, he directed the sports drama “Perfect Game,” based on the legendary rivalry between Korean baseball icons Choi Dong-won and Sun Dong-yeol. He followed up in 2018 with the period political thriller “Fengshui,” starring Cho Seung-woo. His final film was the 2023 thriller “The Target,” led by actor Shin Hae-sun and released last August. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.May 1, 2025By KTimes
InterviewBae Doona finds contagious charm in romantic comedy ‘Virus’Actor Bae Doona, known for her intense performances in genres like thriller drama “Stranger” and zombie period drama "Kingdom,” is making a refreshing return to the romance genre after almost a decade with the upcoming quirky comedy "Virus." "After the mellow 'Air Doll’ (2009), I mainly did disaster and somewhat dark genre works. I actually missed a soft, warm and bright story," Bae told The Kore Times during an interview at a cafe in Seoul on Wednesday. "I think the virtue of a movie is to make the audience feel good and laugh for no reason. I had a longing for such a movie. That's when I encountered 'Virus.'" "Virus" presents a whimsical premise — what if a virus makes people fall in love uncontrollably? Bae plays Taek-sun, a woman infected with this peculiar virus, leading to unexpected entanglements with researcher Soo-pil (Son Suk-ku), her former classmate Yeon-woo (Chang Ki-ha) and Lee Kyun (Kim Yoon-seok), the only expert seeking a cure. Bae expressed her delight in revisiting a lighter genre after a while after a while, especially with a film that had its own journey ofApr 30, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
'K-Number': unfinished search for birth family by overseas Korean adopteesFor over 70 years, Korea has sent more children overseas for adoption than any other country in the world. Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, an estimated 170,000 children — some unofficially say closer to 200,000 — have been adopted abroad. The Korean documentary film "K-Number" takes its name from the identification numbers assigned to these children, written on their adoption records like serial tags on lost identities. At the heart of the documentary is Mioka Miller, one of many adoptees on a seemingly endless journey to find her birth family in Korea. Found on the streets in the early 1970s at the estimated age of eight, she was adopted to the United States and has spent decades trying to piece together her past. Mioka cannot remember her Korean name and has returned to Korea multiple times in search of her birth mother — only to encounter forged documents and redacted records at every turn. Another powerful thread follows Kaylin Bower, who successfully reconnects with her birth mother and visits Korea to see her again. Despite the reunion, her birth mother repeatedly tellsApr 30, 2025By Yonhap
Jeonju Int'l Film Fest kicks off 26th edition with 224 filmsThe Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), Korea's premier platform for indie and art house cinema, kicks off Wednesday featuring 224 films from 57 countries. The 26th edition of the annual festival will begin its 10-day run with an opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at the Sori Arts Center in Jeonju, located about 190 kilometers south of Seoul. Following the ceremony, the Romanian film "Kontinental '25," directed and written by Radu Jude, will open the festival, JIFF said. The comedy-drama film depicts the moral crisis a bailiff suffers after a homeless man she tries to evict commits suicide. It won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February. JIFF will conclude with the Korean documentary film "In the Land of Machines," directed by Kim Ok-young. The film follows the lives of three migrant workers from Nepal employed in Korea. Throughout the festival, 224 movies will be screened across Jeonju. Among them, 80 films will have their global premieres at the festival. A special section focusing on democracy will feature six films that examine pApr 30, 2025By Yonhap
Netflix's 1st Korean animated film 'Lost in Starlight' set for May releaseNetflix is gearing up to release its first Korean animated feature film, "Lost in Starlight," with the global premiere scheduled for May 30. The streaming giant unveiled a teaser poster and a trailer for the highly anticipated film on Tuesday. "Lost in Starlight" is written and directed by Han Ji-won and features the voices of acclaimed actors Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung. Set in Seoul in the year 2050, the film weaves a romantic tale between Nan-young (voiced by Kim), a determined astronaut with dreams of Martian exploration, and Jay (Hong), a gifted musician who has temporarily set aside his artistic ambitions. Their initial encounter blossoms into a heartfelt journey as they navigate their personal aspirations and a burgeoning love for each other. “They gaze affectionately at each other, setting the stage for this love story that has traveled 225 million kilometers to melt our hearts,” Netflix said in a statement. The poster captivates with its blend of pink and twilight hues, setting a tender scene for a romantic moment between Nan-young and Jay. The accompanying tagline, "Never forApr 29, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul
