South Korea among top markets for highest-grossing 'Avatar' franchise SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - "Fire and Ash," the third installment in director James Cameron's epic "Avatar" franchise, dominated the South Korean box office during the holiday season, making the country one of the film's top five global markets. According to Box Office Mojo, an American-operated website that tracks box-office revenues, South Korea ranked among the global top five markets for the CGI-heavy spectacular, earning US$44.12 million, just behin January 8, 2026

Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial feature set for release later this month SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Actor Lee Hee-jun's directorial debut feature is set to be released later this month. "Rectangle, Triangle," slated to hit local theaters on Jan. 21, tells the story of a family gathering meant to be pleasant but instead brings long-simmering conflicts to the surface. Beneath its comic setup, the film lays bare the emotional rifts that have built up under the name of family, leaving a lasting impression. The 46-minute film starring Jin Sun January 7, 2026

Final season of 'Squid Game' wins Critics Choice award again SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - Netflix's hit South Korean series "Squid Game" won an award for the Best Foreign Language Series at the annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on Sunday. The third and final season of the dystopian thriller beat Apple TV's comedy "Acapulco" and Netflix's Japanese series "Last Samurai Standing" to claim its third Critics Choice honor, having previously won for its first season in 2022 and its sec January 5, 2026

K-pop anime wins two gongs at Critics Choice Awards SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" won two prizes at the annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on Sunday. The 110-minute film by Korean-Canadian director Maggie Kang won an award for "Best Animated Feature" and also received a gong for "Best Song" with its main theme song, "Golden" at the 31st prestigious awards which "honor the finest in cinematic and television achieveme January 5, 2026

Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki loses battle with cancer SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki died at a hospital in Seoul on Monday with his family by his side. He was 74. Ahn had been unconscious in the intensive care unit at Soonchunhyang University Hospital for about a week after collapsing at home last Wednesday due to choking on food and being taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest. He had been receiving treatment for blood cancer since 2019. Ahn made his debut in 1957 with director Kim Ki-young's "Twili January 5, 2026

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop to appear on US talk show SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Actor Ahn Hyo-seop will ring in the new year with an appearance on a popular U.S. talk show. He is set to appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Jan. 12, riding the wave of popularity from Netflix's hit South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters," in which he lent his voice. The 100-minute K-pop-themed anime became one of Netflix's most popular films, accumulating 500 million views worldwide within ab December 31, 2025

Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki in critical condition after collapsing at home SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki was rushed to a hospital in Seoul after his health suddenly deteriorated, his agency said on Wednesday. According to his management agency Artist Company, he was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest after collapsing at home from choking on food the previous day. He is reportedly in critical condition. Making his debut in 1957 with director Kim Ki-young's "Twilight Train," he has appeared in more than 150 fi December 31, 2025

New year to bring box-office hope for domestic films SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - As the Year of the Snake draws to a close, a slew of domestic films stands ready to usher in the new year, after Hollywood blockbusters dominated the year-end box office. With no single standout hit seen among domestic films, "Zootopia 2," Disney's sequel to the 2016 hit animated film, and "Fire and Ash," the third installment in director James Cameron's epic "Avatar" franchise, have dominated the holiday season, drawi December 31, 2025

Park Chan-wook film No Other Choice opens in five US cities ahead of national release SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's latest feature, "No Other Choice," opened in a limited release in five United States cities on December 25. Neon, the film's U.S. distributor, announced the Christmas Day opening via its website and social media channels. The film is currently screening in Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. According to the distributor, the release will expand nationwide in January. The film stars Lee December 26, 2025

"No Other Choice" , "Golden" enter Oscar shortlists for 98th Academy awards SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) -South Korea has secured two high-profile spots on the Academy Awards shortlists, with “No Other Choice” advancing in the International Feature Film category and “Golden,” from animated feature K-Pop Demon Hunters, shortlisted for Best Original Song, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. No Other Choice — a darkly comic thriller that examines moral compromise and social pressure through an ordinary man pu December 17, 2025