Coming-of-age indie film continues impressive run at box office SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Low-budget film "The World of Love" directed by Yoon Ga-eun has attracted over 60,000 viewers since its release late last month. The impressive feat for an independent film came after positive word of mouth boosted its popularity, with the 119-minute film still drawing hordes of moviegoers in its second week since its release on Oct. 22. In particular, it continues to draw viewers despite being shown on fewer screens, becoming the only film in the top 10 at the box office to maintain a double-digit seat occupancy rate for five consecutive days. "The World of Love," which earned critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, revolves around a teenage girl who becomes isolated and ostracized after refusing to participate in a school-wide petition. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 10:54:57

Japanese director of Korean descent to visit Seoul next month to promote his hit film SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - Japanese film director and screenwriter of Zainichi Korean descent Lee Sang-il will visit Seoul next month. His visit, slated for mid-November to promote his latest film "National Treasure," also known as "Kokuho" comes ahead of its release in here on Nov. 19. The film, an adaptation of a novel by Shuichi Yoshida that chronicles the passionate lives of men devoted to art over half a century, was an instant hit in Japan shortly after its release, drawing over 10 million viewers in about three months. The film also earned critical acclaim when it was invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival in France in May and the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in the country's southern port city last month. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-23 09:43:41

Director Park Chan-wook wins award at film festival in Spain SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Award-winning director Park Chan-wook added another gong under his belt as he won an award given to the best director with his latest film "No Other Choice." Park won the award at this year's Sitges Film Festival, which wrapped up in Spain last Sunday. The festival, the world's largest genre film festival, showcases fantasy and horror films celebrated for their creativity. Park has long been the festival's favorite, having previously won awards for "Oldboy" (2003), "Three… Extremes" (2004), "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" (2006), "Night Fishing" (2011), and "The Handmaiden" (2016). Earlier the thriller was invited to the Venice International Film Festival last month, becoming the first South Korean film in more than a decade to compete there. About a week later, it also won the International Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. Park's 12th feature, an adaptation of American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "The Ax," revolves around a man who believes he has achieved everything in life until he is suddenly laid off and must find a new job to support his family. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-20 15:21:54

Animated film 'Your Letter' sold to over 160 countries ahead of global release SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Animated film "Your Letter" has been sold to over 166 countries ahead of its global release. Countries where the film has been pre-sold include Japan, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and the U.K. Praised after its premiere at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in September last year, the 96-minute film was released here the following month. Starting with its overseas release in Viet Nam earlier this month, the film is set to hit local theaters in Indonesia and Malaysia this week, and in Singapore and Thailand next week. It is also scheduled for release in North America early next year. Directed by Kim Yong-hwan, the film tells the story of a student who transfers to a rural school and finds a mysterious letter that leads her on a treasure hunt. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-20 10:14:44

Swedish royals tour SM Entertainment to explore K-pop's global reach SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visited SM Entertainment on Thursday, highlighting the growing cultural ties between Sweden and South Korea and the global influence of the K-pop industry, the company said Friday. The royal couple’s visit to the Seoul-based entertainment powerhouse was part of their official trip to South Korea, which focuses on fostering exchange in the cultural and creative sectors. At SM Entertainment’s headquarters, the couple was greeted by co-chief executives Jang Cheol-hyuk and Tak Young-jun, along with Chief A&R Officer Lee Sung-soo and Chief Global Officer Choi Jung-min. They toured key creative spaces, including recording and artist studios, and were briefed on SM’s global production system and digital technology infrastructure. Prince Daniel described SM Entertainment as a “true music company,” expressing particular interest in the collaboration between Swedish composers and K-pop producers — a partnership that has shaped the sound of many global hits. He praised the “creative synergy” between the two countries’ music industries. During the visit, the royals met with members of Hearts2Hearts, a rookie girl group under SM, to discuss their musical activities and training process. The artists presented the couple with signed albums and merchandise, gifts the royals called “unforgettable.” In a meeting with company executives, discussions centered on K-pop’s international influence and the sustainability of its creative ecosystem. Co-CEO Jang Cheol-hyuk underscored the long-standing collaboration between SM and Sweden’s music scene, expressing hope for continued partnership and innovation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-17 09:51:17

K pop to drum up APEC celebration on Oct. 10 SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - South Korea, home to K-pop, is hosting APEC Music Festival on Oct. 10 to drum up celebratory mood toward the 2025 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held in Gyeongju. The event to stage on Gyeongju Civic Stadium is co-hosted by North Gyeongsang Province and Gyeongju governments with support from the APEC Summit Organizing Committee. KBSN, the main broadcaster. Performers include Billie, NCT Wish, Choi Yena, ONF, ONEUS, WEi, Youth Fear, Izna, Jung Daehyun, Kickflip, Ha Sungwoon, H1-KEY, and HATSUHATSU, showcasing a wide range of K-pop genres. The concert will be livestreamed on the KBS K-pop YouTube channel, which has 9.91 million subscribers, and broadcast globally starting Oct. 21 on KBS2, KBSN, and KBS World channels. Fans worldwide can also watch via KBS World YouTube, which has 20.3 million subscribers. A special program, 'Woman On Music' (WOM), will take place on Oct. 24 at Bomun Lake, featuring female artists from South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and Vietnam. The 90-minute show will deliver messages of hope for future generations. An event official stated, "The 2025 APEC Music Festival is more than a concert; it's a platform to showcase Korean culture's strength globally. It will express the APEC Summit's core themes of 'connectivity, innovation, and prosperity' through cultural language." Tickets will be available for free via NOL Interpark starting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 30. Meanwhile, the Silla Cultural Festival will also take place in Gyeongju from Oct. 10 to 12, featuring traditional and modern performances, street art, and the Silk Road Festival. Together, these events will transform Gyeongju into a celebration of history and popular culture. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-30 14:58:00

Pop-up stores for popular South Korean time-slip series set to open across Asia SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - Following the huge success of cable channel tvN's period drama "Bon Appétit, Your Majesty," pop-up stores selling merchandise and other goods in three Asian countries are expected to keep captivating fans. The drama's production company, Studio Dragon, said on Tuesday it will open pop-up stores in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, with the one in Seoul running from Thursday through next week. In Japan, these stores will be available from Wednesday to Oct. 10 in Tokyo, before touring several Japanese cities including Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Osaka. The drama's script featuring memorable lines and scenes will also be available for pre-order starting Thursday, along with photobooks and other merchandise. "Thanks to the drama's overwhelming popularity, we've prepared a variety of merchandise including posters, postcards, stickers, embroidery, key rings, and utensils," said a Studio Dragon staffer, expressing hopes to delight fans. The 12-part time-slip series, along with a special episode, which concluded early this week, topped Netflix's global chart for non-English TV shows for two consecutive weeks and remained in the global top 10 for five weeks, amassing 32.4 million views and 265.8 million viewing hours within a month, making it one of this year's top dramas. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-30 14:53:50

Rookie boy band's debut album ranks 15th on Billboard 200 SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - K-pop boy band CORTIS's debut album has made it onto the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart for this week. According to Billboard's latest chart released Tuesday, the quintet's "Color Outside The Lines" ranked 15th, just a few weeks after its release earlier this month, an impressive feat for a rookie K-pop act. The album contains five tracks including "What You Want," a song about pursuing dreams with confidence. CORTIS also ranked 24th on the American music chart's "Artist 100," which evaluate the "most popular artists across all genres" based on weekly album and track sales. The five-member group debuted with the album on Sept. 8, becoming the first new boy band in about six years from K-pop behemoth Big Hit Music, after Tomorrow X Together (TXT) in 2019. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-24 10:10:39