Tom Cruise to return to Seoul next month to promote final installment of 'Mission: Impossible'

SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - Hollywood star Tom Cruise will visit Seoul next month to promote his latest "Mission: Impossible" series with other cast members accompanying him. "I am so excited to share that I'll be returning to Seoul with the cast of 'Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning' in May," he said in a video message earlier this week. "I look forward to seeing you all very, very soon." His upcoming visit will be his 12th trip to the

April 15, 2025

Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi film tops North American box office

SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho's latest film "Mickey 17" topped the North American box office in its opening week, making him the first South Korean filmmaker to achieve such a feat. According to tracker Box Office Mojo, the sci-fi film, released last Friday, earned an estimated US$19.1 million in its first three days at more than 3,800 theaters across North America. Despite a strong start, ticket sales fell short of industry projections

March 10, 2025

Late actress Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film slated for release this fall

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron' s posthumous film will be released this fall. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Adapted from Kakao Page's hit webtoon series, "Everyday We Are" explores the moments of first love and friendship among high-schoolers. Kim portrays

February 21, 2025

Yoo Ah-in's scenes deleted from the upcoming film's trailer due to drug scandal

SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - Sports drama film "The Match" starring actors Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in will meet movie fans next month as it finally set a release date. According to the film's distributor BY4M Studio, the much-awaited film directed by Kim Hyung-joo will hit local theaters on March 26, ending its prolonged delay caused by Yoo's drug-related scandal that emerged in 2023. The biopic, based on a real-life story, revolves around board game Go, known as

February 20, 2025

Actor Yoo Ah-in released with suspended sentence for habitual drug use by appellate court

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Actor Yoo Ah-in was released on Tuesday after an appellate court handed down a suspended sentence for habitual drug use. The 39-year-old had been sentenced to one year in prison at his first trial and had been detained. The Seoul High Court sentenced Yoo to one year in prison on Tuesday, with a two-year suspension, along with a fine of two million won ($1,385). The court explained that the severity of the sentence in the first trial was excessive and un

February 18, 2025

Actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at home

SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron, known for her role in the South Korean action-thriller film "The Man from Nowhere," was found dead at her residence in Seoul. The police received a report at 4:54 p.m. on Sunday that the 24-year-old had been found unresponsive in her home in Seongsu, eastern Seoul. According to a police official, a friend who had planned to meet her made the discovery and alerted authorities. Kim gained prominence as a child actress in 2

February 16, 2025

Hollywood stars to visit Seoul for promotional events of Bong Joon-ho's upcoming film

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - A couple of Hollywood stars starring in director Bong Joon-ho's latest film will visit Seoul next week, according to its distributor Warner Bros. British actress Naomi Ackie, American actor Mark Ruffalo, and Korean-American actor Steven Yeun will meet fans, while participating in a slew of events to promote Bong's "Mickey 17," which is set for release here on the last day of this month. The sci-film is Bong's first movie in several

February 10, 2025

Netflix to release final season of 'Squid Game' in June

SEOUL, January 31 (AJP) - Netflix's megahit South Korean series "Squid Game" will come to an end with its third and final season in June, the global streaming giant said on Thursday. Netflix teased the dystopian thriller's upcoming season with a promotional poster, hinting at new competitors entangled in another ruthless contest along with the show's main characters including the enigmatic "Front Man." Scheduled for release on June 27, the final se

January 31, 2025

Occult thriller 'Dark Nuns' tops local box office on debut

SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - "Dark Nuns," a Korean occult movie, took the top spot at the box office on its opening day, Friday, attracting over 163,000 viewers and accounting for 51.3 percent of daily ticket sales, according to the Korean Film Council. As of Saturday morning, the film had a reservation rate of 37.3 percent, with over 201,000 advance tickets sold, signaling its potential to dominate weekend box office rankings. The movie depicts nuns performing a f

January 25, 2025

Hong Sang-soo's latest film invited to Berlinale

SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - Director Hong Sang-soo's latest film has been invited to compete at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, which opens next month. It marks the sixth consecutive year Hong has been invited to the festival since 2020, having taken home awards five times for his films including "A Traveler's Needs" (2024) and "The Woman Who Ran" (2020). Hong's 33th feature, "What Does That Nature Say to You," which wil

January 24, 2025