The upcoming period drama Forbidden Dream (working title) completed four months of production on January 23, after filming in various locations all around the country. The film reunites actors CHOI Min-shik and HAN Suk-kyu for the third time and marks the eighth feature-length directorial outing for the renowned melodrama specialist HUR Jin-ho. HUR’s work follows the forgotten story of King Sejong...

LIM Won-hee, KIM Won-hae and YOON Je-moon have been added to the cast of Astronomy. The Joseon Era costume drama is the latest work from melodrama hitmaker HUR Jin-ho. The actors will join previously set leads CHOI Min-sik and HAN Suk-kyu in the film that will depict the relationship between King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty and the astronomer JANG Yeong-sil. Prolific character actor LIM Won-hee r...

Lotte Entertainment has announced its intention to develop the Korean version of Mexican comedy hit Instructions Not Included. The Korean studio will partner with an outfit affiliated with Lionsgate, Globalgate Entertainment, currently preparing several localized versions of the title. Released in 2013, this modestly-budgeted family comedy about a playboy whose lovechild winds up on his doorstep o...

Korean Film Council(KOFIC) has completed its structural adjustment, with a newly established executive branch. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (minister DO Jong-hwan) has been building a new executive department, beginning with the appointment of non-standing commissioners on October 23rd last year, with the additional appointment of non-standing commissioners on December 13th, and th...

Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) will host director HUR Jin-ho masterclass at CGV’s Cine Library in Myeong-dong, on April 14th. The masterclass will be an opportunity to share director HUR’s film world and directing know-how for filmmakers, film students and general audiences. HUR graduated from the Philosophy department of Yonsei University and completed the 9th ...

Korean films maintained high market share in August 2016 as ever. According to the report on Korean film industry by Korean Film Council (KOFIC), local films recorded 69.1% of market share in August after 60.9% of July. However, the number of domestic film viewers was 20.55 million and the sales for domestic films was USD 148 million, which decreased by 2.6% and 0.8% respectively, compared to the...

Box Office Report of 2016 After five years of consecutive growth, the Korean film industry remained healthy in 2016, though the half-decade streak of gains came to an end as the industry essentially remained flat. Admissions reached 217.02 million, which was down just 0.1% from 2016. A wide range of hits accounted for the hefty admissions total in a year that welcomed just one new member to the va...

After a few years of major growth at the beginning of the decade, the Korean box office has remained flat once again, with this year’s total to date staying at the same level as 2015. However, where gains have been made is in the local industry, which has churned out several major hits and found itself with a significantly better market share than last year. Local Hits Edge Out Hollywood as Box Of...

Hollywood Claims Edge in Slow Weekend After six weeks of local dominance during Korea’s biggest moviegoing season, local films lost the majority market share for the first time as business cooled off significantly, yet with the Chuseok(Korean Thanksgiving Day) holiday and a pair of homegrown tentpoles on the way this is likely to be a short-lived win for Hollywood, which accounted for 56% of sale...