K-Content in 2025: The year animation won — but largely without Korea SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Animation was the biggest winner in Korea's film and streaming market in 2025 — a year otherwise marked by stagnation — but much of that success bypassed Korean creators. Japanese R-rated animated films dominated domestic box offices, while local streaming releases struggled to gain traction against international blockbusters such as "KPop Demon Hunters." Industry observers warn that if Netflix's reported pursuit of Warner December 15, 2025

Park Chan-wook's film picks up more nominations at US awards SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Director Park Chan-wook's latest film "No Other Choice" has been nominated for the annual Critics Choice Awards to be presented early next month. Park's 12th feature, adapted from American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "The Ax," earned two nominations for "Best Adapted Screenplay" and "Best Foreign Language Film." The 139-minute thriller revolves around a man who believes he has achieved everything December 10, 2025

AI sparks a creative rebirth in Korean short films SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s short drama market is undergoing a rapid transformation as artificial intelligence moves from an experimental tool to a full-scale production engine, slashing costs and widening the boundaries of what can be created. At the center of the shift is Vigloo, operated by Spoon Labs, which will release a slate of AI-driven short dramas in 2025, including "My Savior from Hell" and "Seoul: 2053." The projects were dev December 10, 2025

Park Chan-wook's film earns multiple Golden Globe nominations SEOUL, December 9 (AJP) - Award-winning director Park Chan-wook's latest film "No Other Choice" has been nominated for the annual Golden Globe Awards. According to nominations for the prestigious awards unveiled on Monday with winners to be revealed next month, Park's 12th feature will compete against "Blue Moon," "Bugonia," "Marty Supreme," "Nouvelle Vague," and "One Battle After Another" in the category of &quo December 9, 2025

Coming-of-age indie film becomes this year's biggest sleeper hit SEOUL, December 1 (AJP) - Low-budget film "The World of Love" has attracted over 150,000 viewers since its release in late October, becoming this year's biggest sleeper hit. According to the Korean Film Council, the 119-minute film directed by Yoon Ga-eun, reached the impressive milestone as of the end of November, consistently attracting viewers. The film's success has been driven by strong word of mouth, with viewers and critics alike praising it, despite December 1, 2025

'Avatar' sequel to get world premiere in South Korea in time for Christmas SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - The third installment of director James Cameron's epic "Avatar" series will have its world premiere in South Korea in mid-December, just in time for Christmas, the film's distributor Walt Disney Company said on Monday. Expectations for the upcoming franchise "Fire and Ash" are already high ahead of its release slated for Dec. 17, as it is set to depart from the previous serene setting of its fictional planet Pandora to explo November 10, 2025

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 November 3, 2025

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 aft October 23, 2025

Once Asia's creative powerhouse, Korean cinema faces its reckoning SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Korea's once-vibrant movie scene is struggling to bring audiences back to theaters, and without serious soul-searching, it may follow the same decline once seen in Japanese and Hong Kong cinema. Multiplex chains are shuttering nationwide, often blaming global streaming platforms for their decline, but insiders argue the problem runs deeper — a shortage of compelling, diverse stories worth watching on the big screen. "The audience isn October 20, 2025

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 previ October 20, 2025