Period drama dominates box office over Lunar New Year holiday SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden" has attracted over 4 million viewers since its release earlier this month. According to the Korean Film Council, the period drama has topped the box office for seven consecutive days since last Friday, when South Korea's biggest Lunar New Year holiday began, drawing a cumulative 4.17 million viewers since its release on Feb. 4. Last Tuesday alone, it drew about 661,449 viewers, the h February 19, 2026

Marco Landi says AI will expand cinematic creativity as festival moves to South Korea SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - Marco Landi, the former president of Apple and a leading figure in the global artificial intelligence sector, says the technology should be viewed as a tool for augmented imagination rather than a threat to human creativity. Landi, who currently serves as the president of Institut EuropIA and founded the World AI Film Festival (WAIFF), shared his vision for the future of cinema and technology during a recent interview. His remarks come as the festival pr February 5, 2026

'Bedford Park' Wins Sundance Special Jury Award for Debut Feature SEOUL, February 01 (AJP) -"Bedford Park", a romance starring Korean actors Son Suk-ku and Moon Choi, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Debut Feature at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, marking a strong showing for Korean-led storytelling at the world’s leading showcase for independent cinema. The award, which recognizes a first-time feature director, was presented during the festival’s closing ceremony in Park City, where the film had its worl February 1, 2026

S. Korean actress Bae Doona appointed to Berlin International Film Festival competition jury SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - South Korean actress Bae Doona has been appointed as a member of the international jury for the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. The festival organizers announced on Wednesday that Bae will join a panel of six other cinema professionals to determine the winners of the Golden and Silver Bears in the main competition category. The jury is led by German director Wim Wenders, who was previously named jury president. Bae will serve alongside a diverse January 29, 2026

Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' fails to make BAFTA final nominees SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's film No Other Choice failed to make the final list of five nominees competing for next month's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. Among the five final nominees, announced on Tuesday about a month ahead of the annual awards, were Iran's "It Was Just an Accident," Brazilian historical thriller "The Secret Agent," Norway's "Sentimental Value," Spanish-French January 28, 2026

Seoul weighs weekly half-price movie tickets to lure audiences back to cinemas SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korea is considering offering half-priced movie tickets and free admission to royal palaces every Wednesday, instead of once a month, as part of a broader effort to revive cultural consumption — though doubts remain over whether the move can rescue a struggling cinema industry. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday it plans to expand “Culture Day,” currently held on the last Wednesday of each month, to every Wednes January 21, 2026

Japanese teenage actor to visit Seoul next month as film becomes sleeper hit SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Japanese actor Soya Kurokawa will visit Seoul next month as his latest film "National Treasure," also known as "Kokuho became a sleeper hit in South Korea, the film’s distributer said on Monday. Directed by Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter of Zainichi Korean descent Lee Sang-il, the film has attracted over 200,000 moviegoers in about eight weeks since its release in mid-November last year, an impressive feat for an indie film her January 19, 2026

Actor Lee Byung-hun appears on US late-night talk show SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - Actor Lee Byung-hun appeared on NBC's late-night talk show "Late Night with Seth Meyers" earlier this week, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his latest films. After walking on stage to loud cheers at a studio in New York on Tuesday, Lee recounted a few episodes from the set of award-winning director Park Chan-wook's film "No Other Choice," drawing laughter with witty answers that garnered repeated applause from the au January 15, 2026

Hong Sang-soo's latest film set for world premiere in Berlin SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - Director Hong Sang-soo's latest film has been invited to compete at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, which opens next month. "The Day She Returns" will get its world premiere in the festival's non-competitive section, organizers said Wednesday, praising Hong's 34th feature for offering a "subtle reflection on the acting profession itself." The film revolves around a woman who completes an independent f January 15, 2026

K-pop anime wins two awards at Golden Globe Awards SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Netflix's hit anime "KPop Demon Hunters" won two awards at the annual Golden Globes in the U.S. on Sunday. The 110-minute film by Korean-Canadian director Maggie Kang won "Best Motion Picture – Animated" and "Best Original Song -Motion Picture" at the 83rd prestigious awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, recognizing both excellence in international film and television. After earning three nominations about January 12, 2026