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  From the 2025 lull to the 2026 pipeline: can Korean cinema bounce back? SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - After a year that many in the industry would rather forget, Korean cinema is lining up a high-stakes reset for 2026. The drought of 2025 was historic for all the wrong reasons. For the first time since 2012—excluding the pandemic years—not a single film crossed the 10-million-admissions mark. Even the symbolic 5 million barrier proved elusive. Big names stumbled, audience momentum stalled, and production volumes fell to nearly half their pre- January 12, 2026
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  K-Pop Demon Hunters claims double "golden" at Golden Globes SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Harvesting last year’s syndrome K-Pop Demon Hunters has finally reached the moment awards seasons are meant to deliver: recognition catching up with momentum. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards held on Jan. 11 in Los Angeles, Netflix’s animated feature claimed two of the night’s most coveted prizes — Best Animated Motion Picture and Best Original Song – Motion Picture for its breakout hit “Golden.” It was a January 12, 2026
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  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
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  Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon sweep top honors at 40th Golden Disc Awards SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) - Stray Kids, Jennie and G-Dragon took home the top honors at the 40th Golden Disc Awards, held Friday at Taipei Dome in Taiwan, as the ceremony marked its four-decade milestone with an expanded grand prize lineup. Stray Kids won the Album of the Year (Daesang), G-Dragon claimed Digital Song of the Year, and Jennie became the first recipient of the newly introduced Artist of the Year Daesang. Stray Kids earned their first grand prize seven years afte January 11, 2026
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  Stray Kids to perform at star-studded charity concert in France later this month SEOUL, January 8 (AJP) - K-pop boy band Stray Kids will attend at a charity concert in France later this month. The eight-member band will perform along with global stars such as American singer-songwriter and actress Christina Aguilera, American rapper A$AP Rocky, and South Korean rapper G-Dragon at Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes, also known as the Yellow Coins Gala, slated to be held at a multipurpose indoor arena in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris on Jan. 22. Organ January 8, 2026
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  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
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  Stray Kids, Jennie to headline major US music festival 'The Governors Ball' SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Jennie and K-pop boy band Stray Kids will headline The Governors Ball Music Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the U.S. Organizers of The Governors Ball Music Festival announced on Tuesday the lineup for this year's event, scheduled to take place from June 5 to 7 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York. HYBE's Korean-American joint girl group KATSEYE, which has been nominated for Best New Artist a January 7, 2026
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  Ramyeon, haenyeo among latest Korean-origin words added to Oxford English Dictionary SEOUL, January 07 (AJP) -As Korean dramas, music and food continue to spread across global streaming platforms and dining tables, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added eight new Korean-origin words to its latest update, underscoring how Korean culture is becoming part of everyday English usage. The newly added entries include ramyeon, haenyeo and sunbae, along with bingsu, jjimjilbang, ajumma, Korean barbecue and officetel. The additions follow last year’s inclusion January 7, 2026
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  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
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  Excitement builds ahead of BTS' full-group comeback SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - Excitement is building for K-pop juggernaut BTS' full-group comeback in late March, with pre-events and other promotional activities already underway in Seoul. Promotional displays for the septet's fifth album, set for release on March 20, covered the staircases to the main hall of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on Monday. In a press release, their management agency Big Hit Music said, "BTS beg January 6, 2026