Soundtrack for K-pop anime reaches No. 3 on Billboard 200 albums chart

SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - The soundtrack for Netflix's latest animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" ranked No. 3 on this week’s Billboard 200 albums chart, the American music chat said Sunday. Released on June 20, the album jumped five spots from No. 8 the previous week, becoming "the highest-charting soundtrack to an animated film since 'Encanto' spent nine weeks at No. 1 in 2022." The previous top-performing soundtrack was "Wicked," whic

July 7, 2025

Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' voted 'best film of 21st century' by NYT readers

SEOUL, July 4 (AJP) - Director Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning film "Parasite" has been voted the "best movie of the 21st century" by the readers of the New York Times. According to the daily, a survey of over 200,000 readers choosing the top 100 films named Bong's 2019 film as their top pick, followed by David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" (2001) and the Coen brothers' "No Country for Old Men" (2007). Another film by Bong, &quo

July 4, 2025

'Mercy for None' becomes Netflix's No. 1 non-English show less than two weeks after release

SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - Netflix's latest South Korean series has topped the American streaming giant's chart for non-English-language shows, just less than two weeks after its release. "Mercy for None," starring So Ji-sub and Lee Jun-hyuk, has racked up over 7.6 million views since its release on June 6, claiming the top spot for the week ending last Sunday. The adaptation of a popular webtoon, compared by many to actor Keanu Reeves' "John Wick" fra

June 18, 2025

Upcoming thriller about noise pollution set to chill moviegoers next week

SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - A press preview for director Kim Soo-jin's upcoming thriller was held at a multiplex in southern Seoul on Monday, about a week ahead of its release. The stars of "Noise" including Lee Sun-bin, Kim Min-seok and Han Su-a, gathered for the event to promote the film. The film, which marks the up-and-coming director's feature-film debut, revolves around a woman who becomes the target of relentless noise complaints in her apartment complex, as s

June 18, 2025

'Mission: Impossible' final installment draws over 1 million viewers in less than a week

SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" attracted over 1 million moviegoers less than a week after its release here last week, distributor Lotte Entertainment said on Wednesday. The eighth and final installment in the action-packed franchise, released last Saturday, swept the box office by drawing about 424,000 viewers on its opening day alone. The Hollywood blockbuster starring its perennial star Tom Cruise achieved the feat in just five days si

May 21, 2025

Kang Ha-neul's crime thriller draws over 3 million viewers

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Filmmaker Hwang Byeong-guk's latest crime thriller has attracted over 3 million moviegoers in about a month since its release in mid-April, according to its distributor, Plus M Entertainment. "YADANG: The Snitch," starring Kang Ha-neul and Yoo Hae-jin, became the first R-rated South Korean film to reach the milestone in about six years, following the 2019 action thriller "The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil," which was released shortly befo

May 13, 2025

Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film set for release later this month

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - The late actress Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film is set for release later this month. Directed by Lee Seong-jong, "Guitar Man" deals with the story of a once-promising but now aimless guitarist struggling to navigate a rapidly changing world. Isolated and cynical, he begins to rediscover hope after joining a live-club band where he meets a female keyboardist. Currently serving as the CEO of dental-care provider Sungwon Pharmaceutical, the versati

May 13, 2025

Filmmaker Hong Song-soo invited to Cannes's jury

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Director Hong Sang-soo has been invited to serve as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival, slated to be held in the Mediterranean resort city next month. Hong, famous for his mostly improvised micro-budget films, will join eight other filmmakers including Italy's most sought-after actress Alba Rohrwacher, American actress Halle Berry and Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia. Together, the jury, led by French actress Juliette Binoche, will

April 29, 2025

Soo-young of Girls' Generation to make Hollywood debut in action thriller

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Singer-turned actress Soo-young is set to make her Hollywood debut in the American action thriller "Ballerina," which is slated for release in June. "Ballerina," a spinoff of the John Wick series, revolves around a young assassin who seeks revenge for the murder of her father. The member of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation has been cast in a supporting role, helping the assassin, played by Ana de Armas, known for her roles in &quo

April 28, 2025

Young South Korean filmmaker's animated short to compete at Cannes Film Festival

SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Director Joung Yu-mi's animated short film has been invited to this year's Cannes Film Festival, which opens in the Mediterranean resort city next month. According to the festival's organizers, "Glasses" will be screened as part of the International Critics' Week section and will compete with about a dozen others for an award recognizing innovative works by emerging filmmakers. No other South Korean films have been invited to comp

April 18, 2025