[Herald Interview] ‘Citizen of a Kind’ shows power of film based on true story

Director Park Young-ju’s upcoming commercial film debut, “Citizen of a Kind” is based on true events from 2016 in which Kim Seong-ja, a middle-aged laundry shop owner, helped lead to the arrest of a criminal organization boss after a gang member had asked her to rescue him in a phone call. The film revolves around Duk-hee (Ra Mi-ran), who travels to Qingdao, China, to capture the boss of a criminal organization after she falls victim to a voice phishing scam. It was Son Jae-min

Jan. 21, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ra Mi-ran expresses story of self-esteem, personal growth in "Citizen of a Kind"

Ra Mi-ran, best known for her comic relief roles in a slew of hit Korean dramas such as "Reply 1988" (2015) and "Dr. Park's Clinic" (2022), said her new comedy film "Citizen of a Kind" tells story of the personal growth of an individual and what it means to maintain one's self-esteem through hardships. "Citizen of a Kind" is the story of an ordinary individual named Duk-hee, who falls victim to a voice phishing scam and travels to China to captur

Jan. 19, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Alienoid Part 2” (South Korea) Opened Jan. 10 Action Directed by Choi Dong-hoon Lee Ahn (Kim Tae-ri) accidentally falls back in time to the late Goryeo Kingdom, and all she needs to do to come back to 2022 is to find the divine sword, which happens to also be sought by several different stakeholders for various reasons. “Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifi

Jan. 19, 2024

Director Jang Jae-hyun’s ‘Exhuma’ invited to Berlinale

Occult thriller "Exhuma" by Jang Jae-hyun, known as a master of Korean occult films, has been invited to the 74th Berlin International Film Festival. The film's distributor, Showbox, said Thursday that the movie will be presented in the Berlinale’s Forum section, dedicated to “avant-garde and experimental” film genres and discovering “fascinating new faces,” according to the festival organizer. Berlinale opens Feb. 15 for a 10-day run. Previously invi

Jan. 18, 2024

'Argylle' actors say director Matthew Vaughn's new spy action thriller 'feels at home here'

Actors Henry Caville, Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell from English filmmaker Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming spy action thriller, “Argylle,” began a promotional tour in Seoul, Thursday. Director Vaughn, well-known here for his “Kingsman” spy franchise, was absent due to health reasons. “Argylle” follows Elly Conway (Howard), a reclusive author who writes best-selling espionage novels in which an agent, Argylle (Caville), unravels a global spy syndicate. B

Jan. 18, 2024

Choi Min-sik returns with “Exhuma,” his first-ever occult flick

Veteran actor Choi Min-sik of “Old Boy” who gained huge popularity last year with Disney+ series “Big Bet” stars in his first-ever occult flick, “Exhuma,” directed by "K-occult master" Jang Jae-hyun. “I personally don’t watch scary films. I suffer after watching them. But I not only had curiosity in the occult genre, I wanted to know more about how the director would delve into this superstitious, abstract concept in a cinematic way,&rdqu

Jan. 17, 2024

Post-apocalypse Netflix original ‘Badland Hunters’ packed with Don Lee action

A household name in South Korea for crime-action franchise flicks, actor Don Lee – also known as Ma Dong-seok here – has joined hands with his long-time partner, martial arts director Heo Myung-haeng, for Netflix original film “Badland Hunters." The dystopian action film, which opens on Jan. 26, is Heo’s directorial debut film. Set in a post-earthquake Seoul where society has completely collapsed, fearless hunter Nam-san (Lee) goes out to rescue Soo-na (Roh Jeong-eui

Jan. 16, 2024

Hit foreign films reopen at local theaters

Hit foreign films with large fan bases are reopening at local theaters. Japanese animation “The First Slam Dunk” began its second round of screening on Jan. 4 to celebrate the first anniversary of its theatrical release at cinemas nationwide. The film adaptation of the popular Japanese basketball comic book series "Slam Dunk" topped 4.7 million tickets sold in just two months after it hit local theaters in January last year. Following the movie’s success, special scre

Jan. 15, 2024

[What to watch] 'Kim Dae-jung on the Road,' experimental film at Emu Cinema

Away from big blockbusters and crowded multiplex chains, enjoy a cozier and calmer cinema experience at Emu Cinema. Emu Cinema, located in Jongno-gu, Seoul is part of the four-story building, Emu Art Space, which also houses a bar, a cafe and a gallery. The small cinema screens Korean and foreign-language independent films as well as other non-blockbuster films and classics. Tickets cost 9,000 won and students get a discount at 8,000 won. For early screenings, seniors, and moviegoers with disabi

Jan. 13, 2024

Netflix ‘The Bequeathed’ the most ‘Korean’ thriller: director

“The Bequeathed” director Min Hong-nam said Friday he was focused on creating the most “Korean” thriller, while making the drama, which will be Netflix Korea’s first original this year. Having worked as the assistant director to Yeon Sang-ho in “Train to Busan” (2016), “Psychokinesis” (2018) and “Peninsula” (2020), Min is making his directorial debut with the six-part series, which was produced and co-written by Yeon. “The p

Jan. 12, 2024

Bong Joon-ho questions legitimacy of drug probe into Lee Sun-kyun

Cultural figures including internationally acclaimed “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho criticized police and media outlets in connection with the death of actor Lee Sun-kyun. They said they would band in unity to submit the so-called “Lee Sun-kyun Act” to protect artists’ human rights. Lee, 48, died last month amid a weekslong police investigation into allegations he had used illegal drugs. The Association of Solidarity of Cultural Artists, a newly established organi

Jan. 12, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Wish” (US) Opened Jan. 3 Animation Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn Veerasunthorn Seventeen-year-old Asha interviews for an apprentice job to King Magnifico of Rosas on the day of her grandfather Sabino's 100th birthday. The interview goes well until Magnifico declines Asha's requests for Sabino's wish to be granted, seeing the wish as a potential threat to his power. “Noryang: Deadly Sea” (South Korea) Opened Dec. 20 History/Action Directed by Kim Han-min I

Jan. 12, 2024

[Herald Interview] Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri say “Alienoid” is about relationships

Actors Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Tae-ri said “Alienoid” wraps up the story on humans’ fate and relationships, which also well-translated the two actors’ close friendship to the screen. “After watching the completed version of part 2, I thought that yes, this is what director Choi wanted to say, a story on relationships and fate,” Ryu said in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul on Jan. 3. He said that the close friendship between him and Kim was also transla

Jan. 11, 2024

Youn Yuh-jung, Yoo Hae-jin unite in cute canine film ‘Dog Days’

Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung is returning to the silver screen with a cute canine film, “Dog Days.” She has received critical acclaim with international projects like “Minari” (2020) and Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” (2022). Youn said she decided to star in the comedy-drama flick “Dog Days” due to a promise she made to director Kim Deok-min. “I decided to star in this film just because of director Kim – not because he is super talent

Jan. 10, 2024

Bong Joon-ho, other artists call for probe into Lee Sun-kyun’s death

South Korean actors, artists and filmmakers have turned out en masse, calling for a probe into the circumstances behind prolific actor Lee Sun-kyun's death. The world-renowned actor 48, died last month in an apparent suicide amid a weekslong police investigation into allegations he had used illegal drugs. The Association of Solidarity of Cultural Artists (direct translation), a newly established organization of 29 culture and arts groups, including the Busan Film Festival and the Korea Ente

Jan. 9, 2024

[Herald Interview] Director Choi Dong-hoon felt like rookie after completing 'Alienoid Part 2'

Choi Dong-hoon is one of the most renowned filmmakers in Korea today, with two films that attracted more than 10 million moviegoers – “The Thieves” (2012) and “Assassination” (2015) – as well as a huge fanbase for his unique works like “Tazza” (2006) and “Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard” (2009). For this veteran director, the upcoming film, “Alienoid Part 2,” made him feel as if he was a rookie all over again. He debuted in

Jan. 9, 2024

[Herald Review] All riddles solved in ‘Alienoid Part 2,’ but movie still a muddle

Putting the disgraceful performance at the box office of “Alienoid Part 1” behind him, renowned moviemaker Choi Dong-hoon returned with the second part to the Korean sci-fi flick that combines Korean folklore, a year and six months after the first part released in theaters. “Alienoid Part 2” continues to tell the story of magician-like gurus, or “dosa” in Korean, from the late Goryeo Kingdom and their connection to aliens, robots and humans living in 2022. Whi

Jan. 9, 2024

Celine Song’s ‘Past Lives’ named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics

Korean Canadian filmmaker and playwright Celine Song’s directorial debut, “Past Lives,” was named Best Picture of 2023 at the National Society of Film Critics Awards. “Past Lives,” a semi-autobiographical romantic drama film about Korean writer Nora (Greta Lee) living in New York who reunites with her childhood sweetheart, Hae-sung (Teo Yoo), after 20 years, won the top prize at the 58th annual awards. Other contenders were “Oppenheimer” and “The Z

Jan. 7, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Noryang: Deadly Sea” (South Korea) Opened Dec. 20 History/Action Directed by Kim Han-min In 1598, the seven-year Japanese invasion of Korea nears the end as Joseon national hero Adm. Yi Sun-sin leads an allied fleet of Joseon and Ming to the Noryang Strait and annihilates the Wae army. “12.12: The Day” (South Korea) Opened Nov. 22 Drama/Action Directed by Kim Seong-su Over the course of nine hours on Dec. 12, 1979, Gen. Chun Doo-gwang (Hwang Jung-min) attempts a coup,

Jan. 5, 2024

Korean occult film, series open the new year

An occult film and a separate series on such topics particular to Korea are opening the year, targeting foreign audiences as well as those interested in Korean-style occult thrillers. “The Bequeathed,” a Netflix original series set for release on Jan. 19, is a six-part occult thriller directed by Min Hong-nam, who worked as an assistant director under Yeon Sang-ho on 2016's landmark zombie thriller “Train to Busan.” The series revolves around Seo-ha (Kim Hyun-joo), w

Jan. 2, 2024