Review'The Assassin(s)' tackles 1974 first lady killing through journalist eyes"The Assassin(s)," an upcoming historical thriller, revisits the 1974 assassination of first lady Yuk Young-soo by focusing on capturing the emotional weight of living in a cruel era. Director Hur Jin-ho explained he chose to tell the story through the eyes of investigative journalists to reflect the political climate of that time realistically. "I didn't approach this film with the goal of solving a hidden secret all at once," Hur said after the premiere of the movie in Seoul, Tuesday. "While it follows the format of a mystery thriller, I wanted to show the atmosphere of 1974. Journalists naturally became the central medium to ask questions about that society." "The Assassin(s)” opens with the Aug. 15, 1974 shooting of the first lady during a Liberation Day ceremony. Although official records concluded that second-generation Korean-Japanese gunman Moon Se-kwang acted alone, the movie delves into long-standing doubts about unaccounted-for bullets and missing audio evidence. Beyond the mystery, the movie clearly shows how the government abused its power at the time. It shows how authoriSep 8, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean content companies look beyond box office to IP rightsKorean intellectual properties (IP) are increasingly generating revenue not just from the original films or shows, but from secondary markets years after their initial release. A clear example of this trend is "Miracle in Cell No. 7," a 2013 Korean hit film that drew over 12 million viewers. The movie is now making money through a remake of a remake. On Tuesday, NEW, the media company behind the original film, announced that "2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7" — a sequel to its Indonesian remake — will be remade again for the Philippine market with a release set for Dec. 25. This marks the first time rights to a sequel created entirely outside Korea have been resold to a third country. The deal allows the original Korean rights holder to collect additional royalties without writing or filming the sequel in Korea. "Miracle in Cell No. 7" has already been remade in Indonesia, Turkey and the Philippines. The first Philippine version earned more than 1.1 billion won ($8.2 million) at the local box office in 2019. Lee Jung-ha, head of NEW’s subsidiary Content Panda, called the movie "a massive cSep 8, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Romance film starring Bae Suzy, Lee Jin-wook to release in December"Seven O'Clock Breakfast Club for the Brokenhearted," a Korean romance drama starring Bae Suzy and Lee Jin-wook, will open in theaters in Korea in December, the film's distributor said Tuesday. The film follows flight attendant Sa-gang (Bae) and business consultant Ji-hoon (Lee), who meet at a breakfast gathering for people who have broken up with their lovers, according to BY4M Studio. It also stars Yoo Ji-tae and Keum Sae-rok. Based on a 2012 novel of the same name authored by Korean writer Baek Young-ok, the film was screened at the Busan International Film Festival last year. Im Sun-ae, known for "An Old Lady" (2020) and "Ms. Apocalypse" (2024), directed the film.Sep 8, 2026By Yonhap
Can 'Possible Love' win Lee Chang-dong top prize at Venice film festival?Filmmaker Lee Chang-dong’s "Possible Love" received a seven-minute standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival on Sunday (local time), with early reviews praising the director's strong comeback. The positive response builds hope that Lee might win the top prize he missed two decades ago. Twenty-four years after winning the Silver Lion for best director with "Oasis" in 2002, Lee is back at the Italian film festival, this time vying for the festival's top prize, the Golden Lion. "Possible Love” is his first film since 2018's "Burning.” The Hollywood Reporter called it "a profound meditation on trauma, loss of dignity, yearning and class envy," describing the film as "a sad but beautiful chamber piece, fleshed out by a superlative ensemble." The International Cinephile Society gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "an absolute knockout of a film about love having the possibility to bridge divides and deliver freedom, even for a brief moment." At the film's press conference the same day, Lee addressed the eight-year gap since "Burning.” “I felt our lives themselvesSep 7, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
'The Odyssey' tops weekend box office for 5th weekChristopher Nolan's adventure-packed epic "The Odyssey" reigned atop the weekend box office chart for the fifth straight week as it exceeded 10 million admissions, data showed Monday. The film added 698,395 admissions over the weekend, bringing its total admissions to 10,027,997 as of Sunday, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. Based on Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey," the film follows the perilous homecoming journey of Odysseus (Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, after winning the Trojan War. Its star-studded cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron and Zendaya. It is now the second most-watched film in Korea this year and is also the 10th foreign film ever to top 10 million admissions in the country. American films also ranked second and third with "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," adding 146,678 admissions and the low-budget horror hit "Obsession" attracting 138,442 admissions on its first weekend since release, respectively. The Korean film "Road to Gyeong-juSep 7, 2026By Yonhap
'The Odyssey' tops 10 mil. admissions in KoreaChristopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" surpassed 10 million admissions in Korea on Sunday, becoming the second film to reach such a milestone this year, its local distributor said. The film, released Aug. 5, has also become the 10th foreign film ever to top 10 million admissions here. Based on Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey," the film follows the perilous homecoming journey of Odysseus (Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, after winning the Trojan War. Its star-studded cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron and Zendaya.Sep 6, 2026By Yonhap
Review'Perfect Shoot' captures triumph of Korea's first developmental disability handball leagueTaking the court for the first time in their lives, athletes with developmental disabilities are redefining what it means to compete. The new sports documentary "Perfect Shoot" offers an intimate look at the nation's first handball league All Win Peak, created specifically for players with developmental disabilities. Directed by Oh Kyu-ik, the film was originally produced to be released on MBC Chungbuk, a local branch of major broadcaster MBC, but the project expanded into a feature-length theatrical release after it gained widespread recognition. The documentary traces the origin of the league back to 2021, when the Sports Support Center for the Disabled at Seowon University launched an initiative to establish developmental disability handball teams. Backed by corporate sponsorship and local welfare funding, 10 teams were formed across the country. Handball was officially designated as a demonstration sport by Special Olympics Korea in 2022, paving the way for the historic launch of the national league in 2023. Oh captured the journey over a three-year period, following players from theSep 5, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Yim Si-wan to host BIFF closing ceremonyActor-singer Yim Si-wan has been selected as the emcee for the closing ceremony of this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), its organizers said Friday. The closing ceremony will feature the presentation of the Busan awards for works that competed in BIFF's main competition section introduced last year, according to the organizers. Yim, who first debuted as a member of K-pop boy group Ze:a, made his debut as an actor in the historical romance TV drama "The Moon Embracing the Sun" (2012). He has also appeared in the workplace drama "Misaeng" (2014) and the second and third seasons of the global megahit Netflix series "Squid Game." Meanwhile, actor Kim Min-ha, who appeared in the historical saga "Pachinko," will host the opening ceremony. The 31st edition of BIFF is slated to take place in the southeastern city of Busan from Oct. 6-15.Sep 4, 2026By Yonhap
Tangled gazes: Lee Chang-dong explores desire and class in 'Possible Love'Eight years after the poetic devastation of "Burning," director Lee Chang-dong is stepping back into the international cinematic spotlight, bringing with him a hypnotic modern melodrama about class divide, hidden desire and emotional distance. His latest project, "Possible Love," distributed globally by Netflix, has secured the prestigious Auteur Award at the 49th Mill Valley Film Festival — making Lee the first Korean filmmaker to receive the honor. The recognition comes alongside his Tribute Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, cementing a triumphant festival circuit run that includes invitations to Venice, New York, San Sebastian, Zurich and Vancouver. The film revolves around two couples brought together under the guise of an artistic pursuit: Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), who plays a laid-off factory worker, and Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon), who plays his wife, both harboring deep economic and emotional wounds, along with Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a wealthy documentary director, and her husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). When Ye-ji picks up her lens to capture the working-class couple'Sep 3, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korean director Lee Chang-dong wins Mill Valley Auteur AwardRenowned Korean director Lee Chang-dong has won the Auteur Award at this year's Mill Valley Film Festival, Netflix said Thursday. Lee, whose latest feature "Possible Love" has also been invited to the Spotlights Program of the festival set to take place in San Francisco next month, is the first Korean to receive the award, according to the streaming platform. The award recognizes Lee's unique cinematic world and accomplishments, it added. The recognition is the latest among numerous accolades the veteran director has earned. Most recently, he became the first Korean to win the TIFF Ebert Director Award, a lifetime achievement honor presented at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). "Possible Love" has also been invited to compete at the main competition section of the prestigious Venice International Film Festival. The film will hit Korean theaters on Sept. 23 and will be available on Netflix from Nov. 6.Sep 3, 2026By Yonhap
