Netflix original film “Officer Black Belt” explores the world of probation officers -- a little covered topic in Korea -- with witty comedy and thrilling action sequences. This coming-of-age comedy action “Officer Black Belt” revolves around Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin) who has exceptional martial arts skills and goes on to assist probation officer Kim Sun-min (Kim Sung-kyun). The two pair up to keep an eye on criminals wearing ankle monitors. Director Jason Kim (“Midn

Jung Hae-in of “I, the Executioner” said he didn’t feel under pressure to match up to Yoo Ah-in’s portrayal of ruthless villain Jo Tae-oh in the film’s prequel “Veteran,” despite the huge buzz Jo created in the 2015 original. Filmmaker Ryoo Seung-wan’s upcoming action blockbuster -- also known as “Veteran 2” -- picks up the story of veteran detective Seo Do-chul (Hwang Jung-min) nine years after the first installment, as he is joined by

JECHEON, North Chungcheong Province – In Amit Ulman’s “The City,” a cynical detective named Joe is visited by mysterious nightclub singer Sarah on a stormy night. Following her request to help investigate her sister’s disappearance, Joe navigates complicated and suspicious circumstances with gangs, killers and corrupt police -- as well as Sarah. While the 81-minute movie sticks to a typical film noir formula popular in the 1940s and '50s, a stylish crime flick

The 13th Swedish Film Festival will open on Sept. 10 and take place in Seoul, Busan, Incheon and Daegu until Sept. 29. This annual film festival aims to introduce the latest Swedish films as well as shed light on the creativity of Swedish creators and their introspection through films. The 13th edition of the festival will look into the definition of “community” and “individual” through movies, according to the event organizer. The festival will kick off at Seoul’s

Actors Park Bo-young and Ahn Jae-hong have been announced as the hosts of the opening ceremony of the 29th Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off Oct. 2. The 29th BIFF’s opening ceremony takes place at the Busan Cinema Center BIFF Theater at 7 p.m., Oct. 2. Park, 34, made her acting debut with drama series “Secret Campus” (2006) and rose to prominence as a leading rookie in Korean cinema after hit family comedy “Scandal Makers” (2008). In 2015, her film

Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising” will be released Oct. 11, the global streaming platform confirmed Friday. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), gained attention as award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s first-ever project with Netflix. Park has participated as a co-screenwriter and producer. “I’ve been writing the screenplay (for this project) for a long time and completed it in 2019. Because it’s a perio

“Lim Young Woong: Im Hero the Stadium” (South Korea) Opened Aug. 28 Documentary Directed by Jung Hyun-cheol, Jo Woo-young South Korean hit trot singer Lim Young-woong's two concerts in May that attracted a combined 100,000 people at Seoul World Cup Stadium come to the big screen. “Alien: Romulus” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Horror/Sci-fi Directed by Fede Alvarez Set in 2142, a group of young space colonizers go on an adventure and land in a derelict space station, only t

Dutch author Herman Koch’s best-seller novel “The Dinner,” which has been adapted into films around the world three times already, becomes “A Normal Family” in the hands of director Hur Jin-ho, who said he has highlighted “Korean elements.” Hur, the director behind the country’s legendary 1998 romance flick “Christmas in August,” marks his return to the silver screen with the adaption. His latest work was the JTBC series “Lost&rdq

Asia’s largest film festival to screen 279 films from 63 countries

The 2020 suspenseful history flick “The Man Standing Next” revisits one of the most pivotal incidents in Korea’s modern history: the 1979 presidential assassination. The late President Park Chung-hee, who ruled South Korea with an iron fist for 18 years, is a highly debated figure in the country’s history. So is his right-hand man Kim Jae-gyu, the then director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency who pulled the trigger against Park. More than 40 years have passed an

When it was published in 2019, “Love in the Big City” gained popularity for its refreshingly frank portrayal of Seoul’s queer scene, gaining international recognition when it made the International Booker Prize longlist in 2022. Now Park Sang-young’s bestseller has been adapted as a movie following the friendship of two young Seoulites: Jae-hee and Heung-soo, who know and understand each other better than anyone else -- even themselves. Kim Go-eun, who impressed critics a

Sang-ok (Oh Min-ae) is a mother in her 50s working as a caregiver at a nursing home. When Sang-ok’s 30-something daughter unexpectedly moves into her house with her girlfriend of seven years, Sang-ok is forced to live with them. “Maybe I let you study too much,” Sang-ok says to her daughter, a part-time instructor at a college. Sang-ok hurls a barrage of questions at her daughter: “What can you guys do together? Can you guys register as a married couple? What about having

The summer heat seems to be taking its time in going away, meaning there are still ample reasons to watch the latest horror films in theaters. Several horror movies, from Korean occult genre to entertaining Hollywood films, are being released in cinemas now through early September. “Spring Garden” Directed by Koo Tae-jin, the movie revolves around So-hee (Jo Yoon-hee) who lost the joy of everyday life after the sudden death of her husband. She goes to live at a rural mansion -- N

South Korean actor Yoo Teo, acclaimed for his performance in the Oscar-nominated romance drama "Past Lives" (2023), has been officially cast as the lead in the upcoming Hollywood action thriller "Karoshi." "Karoshi" is written and directed by US filmmaker Takashi Doscher, who is known for his award-winning thriller "Still" (2018). The film is produced by 87eleven Action Design, a US production company popular for producing multiple hit action flicks such a

“Alien: Romulus” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Horror/Sci-fi Directed by Fede Alvarez Set in 2142, a group of young space colonizers go out for an adventure and land in a derelict space station, only to face the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a closed-down space. “Twisters” (US) Opened Aug. 14 Action/Adventure Directed by Lee Isaac Chung Retired tornado chaser and meteorologist Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is persuaded to return to Oklah