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

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

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

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

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

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 explore a fiery

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

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

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