Kang Ha-neul's crime thriller draws over 3 million viewers SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Filmmaker Hwang Byeong-guk's latest crime thriller has attracted over 3 million moviegoers in about a month since its release in mid-April, according to its distributor, Plus M Entertainment. "YADANG: The Snitch," starring Kang Ha-neul and Yoo Hae-jin, became the first R-rated South Korean film to reach the milestone in about six years, following the 2019 action thriller "The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil," which was released shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. With the overall absence of hit domestic films, the crime thriller's box-office feat was boosted by a surge in theater attendance during its third week of release, as many viewers flocked to cinemas during the long holiday weekend, which included Children's Day, Buddha's Birthday, and the makeup holiday earlier this month. The film, which revolves around a broker who profits by providing drug-related intelligence to investigative agencies, is soon expected to become the most-watched film of this year, surpassing award-winning director Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi blockbuster "Mickey 17," which has drawn 3.1 million viewers so far since its release in late February. 2025-05-13 16:11:28

Experts debate diplomatic strategies amid shifting global landscape at seminar in Seoul SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - A number of lawmakers and experts gathered in Seoul on Monday for a seminar to discuss diplomatic strategies and security measures amid a rapidly shifting global political landscape. Hosted by Aju Business Daily, the seminar was held in Yeouido, where participants engaged in a heated debate over strengthening the alliance with the U.S. in response to North Korea's continuous development of its nuclear weapons program as well as other global challenges since President Donald Trump began his second non-consecutive term in January this year. Kim Geon of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) called for an even stronger alliance with the U.S. "In an era where global uncertainty grows and competition deepens, it is crucial to clearly analyze where we stand and where we are headed, and to establish strategies to swiftly cope with challenges," he said, adding, "At the core of this should be our alliance with Washington." The diplomat-turned-lawmaker also emphasized the importance of "concerted diplomacy" in collaboration with the government, businesses, academics, and citizens. Another PPP lawmaker, Yoo Yong-won, suggested tactics for approaching Trump. "Some call Trump a 'rugby ball' because he often takes unpredictable bounces. But as these cases accumulate, we may be able to anticipate some of his moves." Stressing the need for a strategic approach when dealing with Trump, the military reporter-turned-lawmaker also shared his past experience covering the American president's first photo-op with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in 2018, where the former real estate tycoon persuaded Kim with his vision of turning the isolated country's Wonsan into an international tourist spot. Veteran lawmaker Park Jie-won of the main opposition Democratic Party, who opened the seminar, pointed out that the country is facing a major crisis across all areas. "Both internally and externally, a strong tempest is expected to bring a sea of change, but we will turn this crisis into an opportunity," he said. Kim Jun-hyung, a lawmaker from the minor Rebuilding Korea Party founded by disgraced former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, said he has been working closely with Park and other fellow lawmakers to devise measures to effectively respond to the challenges posed by the new Trump administration. "Given the unprecedented nature of the current U.S. administration, we should come up with innovative strategies, rather than simply reiterating the importance of the bilateral alliance as we did in the past, since that approach is no longer effective," he warned. 2025-05-12 17:40:08

North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into East Sea SEOUL, May 8 (AJP) - North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday, according to military authorities here. The missiles were launched from the North's eastern coastal city of Wonsan at around 8:10 a.m. "We detected signs of the launch and closely monitored the situation," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. "We have also heightened surveillance in preparation for possible additional launches, maintaining close coordination with intelligence agencies from the U.S. and Japan." Thursday's launch came shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected several facilities including visits to factories producing artillery and tanks last week. The North has conducted four ballistic missile launches so far this year including an intermediate-range hypersonic missile in January, a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) about a week later, and a close-range ballistic missile (CRBM) with a slightly shorter range than an SRBM in March. The renegade country seems to opt for minor provocations with short-range missiles rather than long-range ones, in an apparent move to draw U.S. attention without provoking it. However, some pundits speculate that these missile launches may be linked to its weapons exports to Russia amid their deepening military ties. 2025-05-08 14:39:06