PARASITE Marks New Milestone for Korean Films in America

Months after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first ever Korean film to walk away with the coveted Palme d’Or prize, BONG Joon-ho’s PARASITE continues to gain traction overseas as it begins its theatrical releases in several wester...

Forward-Facing Busan International Film Festival Wraps 24th Edition

Following 10 days packed with 300 films from 85 countries, a parade of stars, a busy industry market and a wide-arranging selection of special events, this year’s 24th Busan International Film Festival closed its doors on October 12. 189,115 attendees were cou...

From Stage to Screen, K-pop Stars on the Move

One of Korean cinema’s chief assets has long been its formidable stable of screen performers. Many of the industry’s leading lights have come from the stage (such as SONG Kang-ho), while many others got their start working on the small screen (including JEON D...

Film Directors Migrate to the Small Screen

Much like we’ve witnessed in several western markets over the past decade, the lines between the film and TV worlds are also beginning to blur in Korea. Major Hallyu stars have frequently crossed this line, but the content creators have largely remained in the...

The Spirits Are Strong as Occult Films Invade Local Screens

Last month, just shy of the two thirds mark of the year, the Korean box office welcomed its third mainstream occult film. Metamorphosis became the second of these to top the charts (after SVAHA : THE SIXTH FINGER) as the genre becomes an increasingly common fi...

Female Characters: At the Forefront of the Film Industry

Disney’s Aladdin has taken the third spot of the Korean box office of 2019 releases and is now 13th in the all-time charts, having brought in 12.23 million audiences in Korea. What could explain that Aladdin, which represents the biggest leap for female charac...

Korea Cinema’s Growing International Profile

News stories of Korean films being adapted abroad, of Korean stars going to Hollywood, or even of Hollywood trying to break into Korea have become so common over the years that they scarcely elicit the surprise they may have in the past. However, of late Korea...

Korean Indie Cinema Heats Up for a Busy August

Korean cinema posted its best performance ever during the first half of 2019, from Extreme Job all the way to PARASITE, both of which went over the ten million viewer mark. As summer got underway however, and BONG Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or winner began to cool on t...

Local Blockbusters Prepare to Go Head-to-Head as Summer Heats Up

Following a busier than usual late spring and early summer period, which has already welcomed two new members to the 10 million viewer club, the Disney titles Avengers: Endgame and Aladdin, and with BONG Joon-ho’s PARASITE a few days away from reaching the mar...

23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Embraces New Digital Formats

Taking place three weeks earlier than usual this year, the 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) was markedly cooler than previous editions but the weather didn’t prevent the festival from heating up Asia’s genre film community with a pack...