Director Bong Joon-ho opened up on the controversy that has been surrounding his film “Okja” and its backer Netflix’s decision to release it simultaneously in theaters and online in Korea, at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday.　The director assumed responsibility for the kerfuffle in Korea. “I think (this situation) has arisen from my cinematic ambition. Netflix hasn’t tried to push through with theatrical releases (abroad) but Korea is a unique case.“That is because of me. While filming w

Balladeer Lim Seul-ong, a member of K-pop quartet 2AM, is set to return with two new songs in a digital album on June 20, according to the singer’s agency Sidus HQ on Wednesday. The album will consist of two tracks: “That’s Right” and the title track “It’s You” (unofficial translation), a soft ballad promising eternal love. Rapper Beenzino is featured in the song.An image for Lim Seul-ong’s upcoming digital album “It’s You” (Sidus HQ)Lim participated in the producing of the tracks, according to

Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” is a delightful coming-of-age story that centers on the warmth between living beings. But the way its little heroine Mija, a free spirit with a big heart, comes to terms with the world is perhaps more brutal and realistic than any crime-ridden thriller.The film begins as the head of a multinational food and research conglomerate, Lucy Mirando, played by Tilda Swinton, announces the discovery of stunning super pigs in the wilderness of Chile.Some 20 of these amazing creature

“Warriors of the Dawn,” led by actors Lee Jung-jae and Yeo Jin-goo, will hit North American theaters Friday, according to the film’s distributor 20th Century Fox Korea. Fox will be screening the film in some 30 theaters in North America. 　 “Warriors of the Dawn” (20th Century Fox Korea)The film, which hit local theaters on May 31, was presold to the Philippines, Taiwan, New Zealand and Australia at the 70th Cannes Film Market in May. 　“Warriors” is the fifth Korean-language period film to be pro

Bong Joon-ho’s latest film “Okja,” which has been receiving international attention both for its unique story and the controversy surrounding its backer Netflix, was screened to the press Monday for the first time in Seoul.The film centers on the relationship between Mija, a country girl living in the mountains and played by 13-year-old Ahn Seo-hyun, and Okja, a super pig who boasts remarkable physical capabilities, intelligence and gentleness.Mirando, a multinational food research corporation h

Hong Sang-soo’s latest film “The Day After,” which competed at the Cannes Film Festival in May, is set to hit local theaters on July 6, the film’s producer Jeonwonsa announced Monday.　Hong’s 21st film, the black-and-white dramedy stars Kim Min-hee, Jung Jae-young, Cho Yun-hee in a story about a married publishing company employee and the aftermath of his affair.　 Kim Min-hee stars in “The Day After.” (Jeonwonsa)It is Hong’s fourth film to be invited to the competition category at Cannes, followi

K-pop dancing diva Lee Hyo-ri is set to release a new album in the beginning of July, her agency Kiwi Media Group said Monday. “The album had originally been planned for June, but we have decided to release it in the beginning of July,” the agency said. “We are in the process of working on the last touches of the album and have not yet specified a date.” Lee Hyo-ri (Kiwi Media Group)Lee worked with composer Kim Do-hyun to produce the album. It will mark the songstress‘ return to the music scene

Actress Tilda Swinton was spotted entering the country at Incheon Airport on Monday morning.Dressed comfortably in a beige cap and navy frock, Swinton was accompanied by her husband, German visual artist Sandro Kopp.  Tilda Swinton lands at Incheon Airport on Monday morning. (Herald Pop) Tilda Swinton lands at Incheon Airport on Monday morning. (Herald Pop)Swinton, along with other cast members of the upcoming film “Okja,” will participate in various promotional events for the film during her st

INCHEON -- A local court issued an arrest warrant on Friday for a daughter of a late businessman who controlled the operator of a sunken ferry that killed hundreds of passengers in 2014.The Incheon District Court issued the warrant for Yoo Sum-na, the daughter of Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of Cheonghaejin Marine Co., in light of risks that she "might flee or destroy evidence." Yoo Sum-na, the daughter of the late Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the Sewol ferry, arrives at the Incheon

A Korean period drama film tracing the life of the Korean empire‘s last princess, Deokhye, will be released in Japan on June 24, Lotte Entertainment said Friday. Son Ye-jin stars in “The Last Princess.” (Lotte Entertainment)“It is very rare for a film set during the Japanese occupation of Korea to be released in Japan,” according to an official at Lotte Entertainment, the film’s local distributor. “It will be shown in some 20 to 30 theaters throughout Japan.” Titled “The Last Princess,” the film

Boy band Astro has entered the Billboard music charts again with its fourth EP “Dream Part 1,” coming in at No. 6 on the World Album charts as of Friday, the group’s label Fantagio Music announced. 　Astro made the Billboard World Album charts last year with its first and second EPs “Spring Up” and “Summer Vibes.” 　 Astro’s fourth EP is listed on the Billboard World Albums chart. (Billboard)With the listing of its recent EP, released May 29, the six-member band which debuted in 2015 features alon

The Villainess(Korea)Opened June 8Action. Directed by Jung Byung-gilAfter losing her father as a child, Sook-hee (Kim Ok-vin) is raised and trained to be a ruthless killer by a group of lethal gangsters. She becomes pregnant after marrying gangster boss and mentor Joong-sang (Shin Ha-kyun), only to be captured and recruited by the Korea Intelligence Agency to work as a spy. Sook-hee undergoes yet another fierce training process to be reborn with a new identity, and a desire for vengeance. Wonder

Director Roger Michell has tackled many different genres in his long career, including romantic comedies, dramas and thrillers. “My Cousin Rachel” offers the chance to sink his teeth into a juicy, gothic romantic melodrama, based on a 1951 novel by Daphne Du Maurier. The story was adapted to the silver screen in 1952 with Olivia de Havilland and Richard Burton in the lead roles, and now Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin tackle the story of passion and paranoia. In this tale, impetuous, distrustful ma

There is so much riding on “The Mummy,” far more than its skeletal shoulders should have to withstand. The studio behind the summer horror-adventure flick, Universal, is kicking off its “Dark Universe,” with the film, its answer to the Marvel or DC cinematic universes. So they’re dusting off the familiar names that have graced cinemas for nearly a century now, like “Bride of Frankenstein” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Those, and other monsters, were popularized in the 1930s with the Val