Director Jung Ju-ri's drama thriller, “Next Sohee” starring Bae Doo-na, will be released in local cinemas in February. “Next Sohee” is director Jung’s newest release since “A Girl at My Door” (2014) which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. "Next Sohee" sees Jung reunited with Bae after "A Girl at My Door," and features Kim Si-eun as the other protagonist. This is Kim's full-length

Film Jan. 2, 2023

The year that just ended was all about finally seeing a number of movies that began production prior to the pandemic. Despite better-than-expected ticket sales, having so many options to watch comfortably at home led many film buffs and moviegoers to stay inside. How will upcoming movies this year impact ticket sales at the cinema? From Hollywood’s megasized projects to a variety of local films finally meeting audiences after enduring setbacks and delays due to the pandemic, following are

Film Jan. 1, 2023

For Kim Byoung-jin, chief executive chef of the three Michelin-starred restaurant Gaon, 2023 will be a new year like no other. It will be his first year outside the kitchen. After 20 years of raising Korean fine dining to a new level, one of the most famous Korean “haute cuisine” restaurants Gaon is closing Jan. 1, albeit temporarily, for reorganization. Kim, who is also the president of the Gaon Society, which operates a number of fine dining restaurant brands in Korea, will also

Food Jan. 1, 2023

“Gentleman” (South Korea) Opened Dec. 28 Crime/Action Directed by Kim Kyung-won Private detective Ji Hyun-soo (Ju Ji-hoon) pretends to be a prosecutor in order to find his missing client, fight evil crimes and track down outlaws masterminded by Kwon Do-hoon (Park Sung-woong), the head of a large law firm. Together with merciless prosecutor Kim Hwa-jin (Choi Sung-eun), Ji works on solving a murder case to prove his innocence after he is falsely accused of being the killer. Hero (Sou

Film Dec. 30, 2022

Filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, who directed the first Korean zombie-thriller to attract more than 10 million viewers at local cinemas, is returning with the new sci-fi film “Jung_E.” Yeon’s new dystopian action thriller is set in the 22nd century, when humans and AI robots exist only in outer space due to climate change. After a civil war breaks out in the post-apocalyptic era, humans at an AI research lab endeavor to develop the warrior AI robot Jung_E and clone its brain to win the

Film Dec. 29, 2022

Most of Kim Sea-kyeong’s career as a chef was cooking American cuisine in the US, but one thing he dreamed of for a long time was reinterpreting Korean food -- what he calls his “soul food” -- the way he had mastered through Western recipes. “After working many years in the US with locals, I came to notice that what people aren’t familiar with is the way Korean food is enjoyed, such as side dishes, the experience can be made better through the concept of ‘bans

Food Dec. 27, 2022

This past year has been extraordinary for the film industry, finally set free from some of the constraints and anxieties of the coronavirus pandemic. A number of brilliant projects wowed and excited moviegoers, but ticket sales failed to return to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that sluggish sales for local cinemas may linger into 2023. However, this does not diminish hope for even better films set to be released next year. Here is a recap of the South Korean film industry in 2022. Sequels br

Film Dec. 27, 2022

“Avatar: The Way of Water” (US) Opened Dec. 14 Action Directed by James Cameron The sequel to 2009's “Avatar” tells the story of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Ney'tiri (Zoe Saldana) leaving their home and exploring regions of Pandora to fight a difficult war against humans. The film has brought the protagonists back with their three children for “a new kind of” family story, according to Walt Disney, and is largely set in water, also introducing

Film Dec. 24, 2022

Award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s romance thriller “Decision to Leave” has made it to the 2023 Oscars shortlist for international feature films, according to the event organizer Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. A total of 15 films were chosen to advance to the next round of voting for the 95th Academy Awards, which is slated to take place on March 12 at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Prior to the ceremony, the Academy typically announces a shortlist of 10 to 15 fi

Film Dec. 22, 2022

ATLANTA – Posco Group has unveiled its ambitious vision to become the most coveted company when it comes to battery materials, a burgeoning industry riding high on the electric push among global carmakers. “The world’s renowned electric vehicle manufacturers have been contacting Posco in recent years,” said Posco America Representative President Do Han-eui during a press conference in Atlanta on Dec. 10. Highlighting the group’s second battery material business va

Industry Dec. 21, 2022

Next month’s annual Palm Springs International Film Festival will feature four Korean films including Park Chan-wook’s romance thriller “Decision to Leave,” nominated for the best international feature film award. Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Broker,” July Jung’s “Next Sohee” and Kim Jung-eun’s “Gyeong-ah’s Daughter” are among the 134 films from 64 countries that will be shown during the 34th edition of the 10-day festiv

Film Dec. 21, 2022

Actors Hwang Jung-min and Hyun Bin said shooting for their upcoming movie “The Point Men” was challenging as the majority of scenes took place overseas in Jordan, where the scorching heat proved exhausting. Although the movie is set in Afghanistan, based on the true event when 23 South Korean missionaries were captured as hostages in 2007, director Lim Soon-rye suffered various setbacks and chose Jordan after visiting the country three times. “I focused on portraying the tens

Film Dec. 20, 2022

SALTA, Argentina -- When Posco purchased a 17,500-hectare salt lake in the Argentinian highlands of Salta four years ago, little did they know they would strike gold -- or something even better. Last year, a survey conducted by US consulting firm Montgomery & Associates found that the lake contains 13.5 million metric tons of lithium reserves, more than six times Posco’s initial estimate of 2.2 million tons in 2018. The Mars-like landscape, 4,000 meters above sea level and some 1,500 k

Industry Dec. 20, 2022

A total of 13 out of 42 skiers isolated on ski chairlifts have been rescued at Aplensia ski resort in Gangwon Province, the country’s fire authorities said Monday. The reason for the chairlift malfunction remains unclear as of 6:30 p.m., fire authorities said. They said there were no reported casualties. Passengers on the lift included children, who were rescued first. Cold protection supplies have been delivered to the other passengers. An official at Alpensia Resort said engineers are

Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2022

There are a number of South Korean period action films set in 1933, when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. Although director Lee Hae-young’s upcoming period action film “Phantom” shares the same background, the film’s plot revolving around five protagonists is about action and mind games between characters hunting down a spy called Phantom. “I did not depend too much on the historical record. Instead, I based it on information regarding a group of independence

Film Dec. 19, 2022