Historical spectacle 'Harbin' dominates Christmas box office

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - "Harbin" has attracted over 1 million moviegoers, just two days after its release on Christmas Eve. According to the Korean Film Council on Thursday, the historical espionage film drew about 847,819 viewers on Wednesday alone to reach the milestone, after attracting around 381,000 on the first day of its release. Set in Harbin, China, the film portrays the patriotic journey of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Hirobumi Ito,

December 26, 2024

Historical espionage film 'Harbin' set for release in North America

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - "Harbin," starring South Korean heartthrob Hyun Bin, is set to hit theaters across North America early next month, film distributor Well Go USA Entertainment said. Slated for release in various cities including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle and Toronto on Jan. 3, the historical espionage film, revolves around the sacrifices and struggles of Korean independence fighters including Ahn Jung-geun, who fought for his country during Japan's imperial expa

December 24, 2024

Filmmaker behind hit coup flick speaks out over martial law attempt

SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Filmmaker Kim Sung-su, who directed last year's critically acclaimed film "12.12: The Day," has openly criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol over his abrupt declaration of martial law earlier this month, calling him "deranged." The historical film, set against the backdrop of a military coup in South Korea in the late 1970s, depicts disgraced former president Chun Doo-hwan, who seized power in December 1979 following the assassination

December 18, 2024

Gang Dong-won embraces maturity after action-packed Netflix film

SEOUL, November 1 (AJP) - Actor Gang Dong-won's first Netflix film, "Uprising," has captured global attention since its release on Netflix early last month. Available on the U.S. streaming platform starting from Oct. 11, the film ranked among the top 10 in over 70 countries, amassing an impressive 17.6 million viewing hours in its first three weeks. Expressing his excitement over the film's simultaneous reach to viewers across the world, Gang said in a recent in

November 1, 2024

Old movies make comeback to theaters with nostalgic appeal

SEOUL, October 25 (AJP) - Classic movies are making a comeback in theaters at a time when nearly every film is readily available at home through streaming services. Possibly drawn by the immersive allure of big screens along with the sheer magic of shared cinematic experiences, an increasing number of moviegoers are returning to theaters to rediscover classic films. Ha Min-ji, 24, recently watched the 2004 American romantic drama "The Notebook." She was among around 66,000

October 25, 2024

Intriguing drama to lure moviegoers with complex moral themes this fall

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Filmmaker Heo Jin-ho's latest film "A Normal Family" is set to attract many moviegoers this fall with its enthralling story about ethical quandaries. The family-centric drama, released on Wednesday, revolves around two wealthy parents struggling to cope with a crime committed by their teenage kids. Based on the Dutch novel "The Dinner" by Herman Koch, the Korean adaption was first unveiled at the Toronto International Film Festiva

October 16, 2024

Period drama 'Uprising' now available on Netflix after debut at Busan film fest

SEOUL, October 11 (AJP) - Netflix' latest South Korean film "Uprising" is generating excitement among movie fans as it became available on the U.S. video-streaming platform on Friday. Set in the Joseon Dynasty, the period drama created initial buzz due to the involvement of acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who contributed to both the production and screenplay. It gained further attention as the curtain-raiser for this year's Busan International Film Festival (B

October 11, 2024

Busan film fest to open with Korean historical drama

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - The annual Busan International Film Festival is set to kick off with an outdoor red carpet event in the southern port city on Wednesday, featuring some 224 films from 63 countries. Netflix's Korean historical drama "Uprising" opens this year's festival, which marks its 29th year. The film, starring Gang Dong-won and Park Jeong-min, explores the complex relationship between two close friends from different social classes. The much-anticipate

October 2, 2024

'Veteran' sequel exploring complex theme of justice poised to draw 6 million moviegoers

SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - Director Ryoo Seung-wan's latest film "I, the Executioner" attracted over 300,000 moviegoers on Sunday alone, remaining at the top of the Korean box-office chart for 10 consecutive days since its release earlier this month. The action-packed crime film, a sequel to Ryoo's 2015 hit "Veteran," is expected to continue its dominant solo run since there are no big rivals including Hollywood blockbusters. Its cumulative attendance i

September 23, 2024

Ko Ah-sung 'seeks escape' in her latest film

SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) -Actress Ko Ah-sung returned to the silver screen with her new film, "Because I Hate Korea," which hit local theaters last week. As its provocative title might suggest, especially to many Koreans, the film revolves around a woman in her late 20s who decides to move to New Zealand in search of happiness, quitting her job and leaving her family and boyfriend behind. "'I should do this, otherwise, I would forever regret not doing it.'

September 4, 2024