[Herald Interview] Lee Eung-bok expresses 'Korean spirit' of monster horror in 'Sweet Home'

The star director of hit Korean TV dramas "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" (2016) and "Mr. Sunshine" (2018), Lee Eung-bok is back with the much-awaited second season of Netflix's "Sweet Home." Lee's first season of "Sweet Home," a 10-part Netflix original series, gained a global following in 2020, making it to the Netflix US top 10 list as the first Korean TV drama to do so. "When I decided to direct 'Sweet Home', I didn't

Dec. 5, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Our Season’: a relatable story for all moms and daughters

The plot of director Yuk Sang-hyo’s “Our Season” is quite simple. Bok-ja (Kim Hae-sook) visits her daughter Jin-joo (Shin Min-a) as part of her “vacation from heaven” after suddenly passing away. Despite Bok-ja’s excitement over the prospect of seeing her daughter again, she is startled to find out that Jin-joo has quit her job as a professor at UCLA and settled down in the countryside to open a restaurant. Together with Jin-joo's best friend, Mi-jin (H

Dec. 5, 2023

49th Seoul Independent Film Festival to screen indie Korean animations

The 49th Seoul Independent Film Festival, the only independent film festival in South Korea that features a competitive showcase, will for the first time screen independent Korean animation films from the 1980s and 1990s in local theaters. This year's Independent Film Archive Exhibition, being held alongside the film festival, will feature six indie Korean animations from the 1980s and '90s created using the cel animation method. Cel animation involves the manual creation of two-dimens

Dec. 3, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“12.12: The Day” (South Korea) Opened Nov. 22 Drama/Action Directed by Kim Seong-su The film covers nine hours on Dec. 12, 1979 during a coup attempt by Gen. Chun Doo-hwan (Hwang Jung-min), an officer in the new military. Another commander, Lee Tae-shin (Jung Woo-sung), tries to stop the secret plan. “Five Nights at Freddy'” (US) Opened Nov. 15 Horror/Mystery Directed by Emma Tammi Mike starts working as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. Spending

Dec. 2, 2023

[Herald Interview] ‘Our Season’ Kim Hae-sook wants to play mothers of all kinds

Veteran actor Kim Hae-sook, mostly known for her mother role in hit projects “My Brother” (2004), “Sunflower” (2006) and “Mom” (2010), stars once again as a mother in “Our Season.” Kim plays Bok-ja, a deceased woman who has come to visit her daughter Jin-joo (Shin Min-a) in the world of the living as part of her “vacation from heaven” led by a guide (Kang Ki-young). While Bok-ja can see her daughter from a close distance, Jin-joo cannot

Dec. 1, 2023

Lee Jung-jae donates W50m to support senior actors

Actor Lee Jung-jae has donated 50 million won ($38,000) to the Korean Senior Filmmaker Association to support members of the local film industry, according to Shin Young Kyun Arts and Culture Foundation. The donation included the 20 million won the actor received in prize money for the film artist award at the 13th Beautiful Artist Award organized by the Shin Young Kyun foundation in October. “Whenever I hear of senior members inthe industry who devoted their youth to film but are living a

Dec. 1, 2023

ASEAN filmmakers' works to be screened in Busan

Works by filmmakers from Korea and Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries will be screened at the Korea Foundation ASEAN Culture House in Busan in December. Films to be screened include the works of directors who participated in the Film Leaders Incubator, a film-making training program organized by the Busan Film Commission and funded by the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund. Also known as FLY, the program accepts aspiring filmmakers from ASEAN member countries and South Korea, and pr

Nov. 30, 2023

[Herald Review] '12.12: The Day' avoids usual pitfalls of historical films

On Dec. 12, 1979, one of the most significant days in modern Korean history, Gen. Chun Doo-hwan led a military coup, establishing expanded martial law and leading to the shutdown of the National Assembly and universities, as well as the arrests of dissidents and members of the political opposition. The event later led to the Gwangju Democracy Uprising of May 1980. The director of “12.12: The Day”, Kim Seong-su, who has helmed various hit action noirs, including “Beat” (

Nov. 29, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Single in Seoul’ a bland rom-com about modern single life

Im Soo-jung and Lee Dong-wook seem like a good match in Korean romance flicks – as seen in Lee’s special appearance as Im’s ex in “Search WWW” (2019) -- but their reunion in “Single in Seoul is something of a disappointment. Directed by Park Bum-soo and produced by the team behind “Architecture 101,” a 2012 hit film about young love, this romantic comedy film revolves around Young-ho (Lee) and Hyun-jin (Im), who slowly fall in love despite their di

Nov. 28, 2023

'12.12: The Day’ attracts 1.8m moviegoers in five days since opening

“12.12: The Day,” a political drama revisiting a military-led coup that took place in 1979, has attracted 1.87 million moviegoers in the first week of release, according to Korean Film Council data on Monday. The movie, which was released on Nov. 22, recorded the second-highest number of moviegoers in the opening week this year. “The Roundup: No Way Out” recorded 4.5 million admissions during its opening week in June. On Saturday and Sunday, a total of 1.2 million moviego

Nov. 27, 2023

‘Smugglers’ wins best picture at 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards

Director Ryoo Seung-wan’s blockbuster “Smugglers” on Friday won best picture at the 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards, a prestigious film awards show in South Korea. The 130-minute crime action film tells the story of a group of “haenyeo”-- female divers from Jeju Island -- who become involved in illegal smuggling to make ends meet. “Smugglers” secured an additional three trophies, including best supporting actor for Zo In-sung, best new actress for Go Min-

Nov. 26, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Five Nights at Freddy'” (US) Opened Nov. 15 Horror/Mystery Directed by Emma Tammi Mike starts working as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. Spending his first night shift on the job, he soon notices that his work at Freddy's won't be so easy to endure. “The Boy and the Heron” (Japan) Opened Oct. 25 Animation Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Twelve-year-old Mahito finds a new home following the death of his mom. But after encountering a talking

Nov. 25, 2023

[Herald Interview] Cha Seung-won feels less stressed about juggling different roles

The 2018 crime action film “Believer” gave Cha Seung-won a new image as the merciless villain Brian Lee recognized by his white suit and signature bob-cut hairstyle. Cha reprises the role as the director of an industrial company that secretly operates an illegal drug testing lab in the second installment of the franchise, “Believer 2,” which was released on Netflix on Nov. 15. “Believer 2” was ranked No. 1 on Netflix’s global top 10 non-English film sect

Nov. 24, 2023

Kim Hye-soo to step down as host of Blue Dragon Film Awards after 30 years

Actor Kim Hye-soo will wrap up 30 years of hosting one of South Korea's most prestigious film awards on Friday. Kim will host the Blue Dragon Film Awards ceremony, the 44th edition, for the last time at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Fellow actor Yoo Yeon-seok will co-host the ceremony. Kim first took on the role as emcee in 1993 after rising to stardom through her debut film “Ggambo” (1986). She has since hosted the ceremony every year, except for in 1998. During her decadeslong

Nov. 24, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“The Boy and the Heron” (Japan) Opened Oct. 25 Animation Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Twelve-year-old Mahito finds a new home following the death of his mom. But after encountering a talking heron who tells Mahito that his mom is still alive, he decides to leave the town in search of her, which leads him to a whole other world. “The Marvels” (US) Opened Nov. 8 Action Directed by Nia DaCosta A sequel to “Captain Marvel” (2019), the film follows the story of C

Nov. 17, 2023

‘Concrete Utopia,’ ‘Moving’ sweep 59th Daejong Film Awards

Director Um Tae-hwa’s dystopian thriller “Concrete Utopia” swept Wednesday’s 59th Daejong Film Awards. Hosted by actor Cha In-pyo and comedian Jang Do-yeon, the award ceremony, also known as the Grand Bell Awards, was held at Gyeonggi Arts Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on a smaller scale than in previous years. “Concrete Utopia” won the most coveted best picture award and five other awards, with Lee Byung-hun snatching the best actor award for his role i

Nov. 16, 2023

‘Concrete Utopia’ clinches best picture at Daejong Film Awards

Um Tae-hwa’s dystopian thriller "Concrete Utopia" won best picture at the 59th Daejong Film Awards, one of the major film awards in South Korea, on Wednesday. The film secured an additional five trophies, including Best Actor for Lee Byung-hun, Best Actress, Sound Effects, Visual Effects and Art Direction. The disaster thriller unfolds the narrative of the residents of an apartment complex that survived a catastrophic quake in Seoul. Ryoo Seung-wan received the best director

Nov. 15, 2023

Song Kang-ho retrospective to be held at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in LA

South Korean actor Song Kang-ho’s films will be screened at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles from Dec. 7 to Jan. 13, 2024. Thirteen films starring Song, including “Joint Security Area” (2000), “The Host” (2006), “The Good, the Bad, the Weird” (2008), “Thirst” (2009), "The Age of Shadows” (2016) and “Parasite” (2019), will be screened. Song, 56, who debuted as a film actor in 1996, started drawing a

Nov. 15, 2023

‘Believer 2’ returns as 'midquel' with new characters, stronger plot

“Believer 2,” the much-awaited second installment of the 2018 crime action franchise, “Believer,” which attracted an audience of 5.2 million, will hit screens later this month as a “midquel,” the country’s first-ever flick that explores a story within the timeframe of the previous film. “Believer 2” is directed by Baek Jong-yul, who is known for the stylish mise-en-scene in the 2015 hit romance flick, “Beauty Inside,” and who has

Nov. 14, 2023

[New on the Scene] Joo Jong-hyuk eager to show his versatile acting

Joo Jong-hyuk, better known as his character “tactician Kwon Min-woo” in the 2022 hit series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo," transforms into a completely different person in "Iron Mask," the actor's first venture into non-indie film. “Iron Mask,” which has the Korean title of “One-Ten-Thousandth of a Second,” follows the story of Kim Jae-woo (Joo), who joins an athlete boot camp for the national kendo team selection. There, he meets Tae

Nov. 13, 2023