Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee to headline Korean remake of 'The Intern,' out Sept. 16A Korean-language remake of the hit 2015 Hollywood comedy, "The Intern," will arrive in theaters on Sept. 16, Warner Bros. Korea announced Tuesday alongside the release of the film's first poster and trailer. The film pairs veteran actor Choi Min-sik with rising star Han So-hee in a story about a fashion startup CEO who takes on a much older intern. Han plays Seon-woo, who built her company into what the film describes as a dark horse of the fashion industry within three years of its launch. Choi plays Gi-ho, a 37-year veteran of the workforce who joins her company as an intern late in his career. The project reimagines "The Intern," the 2015 film directed by Nancy Meyers that starred Robert De Niro as a 70-year-old retiree who takes a "senior intern" position at a fast-growing startup run by Anne Hathaway's character. The U.S. film grossed more than $194 million worldwide against a $35 million budget — more than five times its production cost — and also drew a strong following among Korean audiences. Choi, one of Korea's most decorated actors and known internationally for films such6h agoBy Jhoo Dong-chan
Korean film academy launches largest overseas showcase in BrazilThe Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) has launched its largest overseas retrospective to date in Brazil, celebrating the 20th anniversary of its feature film program with screenings, filmmaker talks and new partnerships aimed at expanding film industry cooperation between the two countries. The retrospective is being held as part of the 15th Korean Film Festival in Brazil, organized by the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil. The program opened on Thursday at the Cultural Center Sao Paulo and will run there through Aug. 14 before traveling to other Brazilian cities and continuing online through October. The showcase features 45 films, including 20 feature-length works — among them animated titles — and 25 short films produced through KAFA, Korea's leading state-run film training institution. The feature lineup includes acclaimed films such as "Bleak Night," "Alice in Earnestland," "After My Death," "Aloners" and "Square." About 200 guests, including members of Brazil's film industry and local audiences, attended the opening ceremony, which featured a Korean food reception followed by1d agoBy Jhoo Dong-chan
Christopher Nolan brings 'The Odyssey' to Korea, champions big screen experience for fansFilmmaker Christopher Nolan said his long-awaited first visit to Korea with his new film "The Odyssey" is an opportunity to reaffirm why movie theaters still matter and continue to offer a collective experience and universal human themes that streaming platforms and small screens can never replace. At a press conference held in Seoul, Monday, ahead of the film’s Wednesday release here, Nolan, who said he has “wanted to come to Korea for a very long time,” described cinema as a uniquely shared yet intimate art form. “When you read the original book, it’s experiential. But going to the theater and sharing it with other people is both a personal and a collective experience,” he said. “The way the camera tells you the story is something other mediums can’t provide. I think it’s an experience only theaters, only films, can offer." The film follows the 10-year voyage of the Trojan War hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) as he struggles to return home to Ithaca, confronting inner conflict and moral dilemmas that Nolan believes still resonate today. Asked what message he hopes audiences1d agoBy Lee Hae-rin
'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' debuts atop weekend box officeThe latest Spider-Man film, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," claimed the top spot on the weekend box-office chart in Korea, drawing more than 3 million moviegoers in just four days upon its release, data showed Monday. The Hollywood blockbuster added 2,252,935 admissions over the weekend, bringing its total admissions to 3,384,152 as of Sunday, according to the data released by the Korean Film Council, which compiles admissions from Friday through Sunday for its weekend chart. The latest installment of the series starring Tom Holland, it was the fastest film released this year to attract 1 million moviegoers in Korea, reaching the milestone on just the second day of its release. It also became the fastest to pass the 2 million and 3 million marks. As of 8:03 a.m. Monday, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" accounted for 43.7 percent of ticket presales, followed by the action-packed Hollywood epic "The Odyssey," set for release Wednesday, at 38.7 percent. Na Hong-jin's sci-fi action thriller "Hope" continued to perform strongly, ranking No. 2. The Korean film added 335,808 admissions over the weekend1d agoBy Yonhap
'Spider-Man 4' becomes fastest 2026 film to top 2 mil. admissions in KoreaThe latest Spider-Man film has become the fastest film of 2026 to attract 2 million moviegoers in Korea, reaching the milestone just three days after its release, the film's local distributor said Saturday. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," the fourth installment starring Tom Holland, hit the 2 million mark Saturday morning, its local distributor, Sony Pictures, said. The achievement beat the previous record for the year set by Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller "Hope," which took four days to reach the same threshold after its release on July 15. According to the distributor, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" also became the fastest foreign film released in Korea since 2023 to reach 2 million admissions. The movie follows an adult Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as he confronts new threats while grappling with having been forgotten by everyone who knows him, including his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon).Aug 1, 2026By Yonhap
Film follows Korean high school seniors who chose the mountains over collegeBeing a high school senior and not knowing what to do with your life is considered a major problem in Korea. When four students submit blank career-planning forms ahead of their counseling sessions, they immediately find themselves under special supervision. Their teacher, determined to rehabilitate these wandering souls and send them to universities in Seoul, begins preparing them for admissions interviews. The students are forced to give all the right answers, down to what they like and what they want to do with their lives. The exercise does little to lift their spirits. They already spend most of the school day sleeping and see their school as a lifeless place. But when the school farm where they used to raise rabbits, chickens and ducks is slated to close, the students begin to realize what they want. Unveiled at a press screening last Wednesday, "The Mountain Goats," the tentative title of the independent film, follows four students who begin building a life in the mountains with their college entrance exams looming. Each student has a different reason for moving to the mountains.Jul 30, 2026By Hankookilbo
Lee Chang-dong becomes first Korean to win TIFF Ebert Director AwardKorean auteur Lee Chang-dong has become the first Korean director to win the TIFF Ebert Director Award, a lifetime achievement honor presented at the Toronto International Film Festival. Netflix said Thursday that Lee will receive the prize at the festival's annual Tribute Awards ceremony on Sept. 13, recognizing his original vision and cinematic innovation in a career spanning nearly three decades. The award, named after the late U.S. film critic Roger Ebert, has previously gone to Mexican director Guillermo del Toro; British filmmakers Mike Leigh and Sam Mendes; American director Spike Lee; Canadian director Denis Villeneuve; and Chinese director Chloe Zhao. The recognition comes as "Possible Love," Lee's first feature in eight years following the critically acclaimed "Burning" (2018), is set to make its North American premiere at the festival, which runs from Sept. 10-20. Starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, the Netflix-backed film centers on the intertwined lives of two married couples — a laid-off worker and his wife and an affluent documentary filmmaJul 30, 2026By Yonhap
'Spider-Man 4' draws over 680,000 moviegoers on opening day, tops Korean box officeThe latest Spider-Man film drew more than 680,000 moviegoers in Korea on its opening day to claim the top spot at the box office, data showed Thursday, setting a new high for any release this year. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," the fourth installment starring Tom Holland, attracted about 688,000 viewers Wednesday, accounting for 83.2 percent of all ticket sales, according to the data from the Korean Film Council. The figure surpassed the opening-day attendances of Na Hong-jin's sci-fi thriller "Hope" with 333,000 and Yeon Sang-ho's zombie thriller "Colony" with 199,000, both released earlier this year, according to Sony Pictures, the local distributor of the Spider-Man film. It also exceeded the first-day results of previous entries in the franchise: "Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017) with 540,000, "Spider-Man: Far From Home" (2019) with 670,000 and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021) with 630,000. The new film follows an adult Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as he confronts new threats while grappling with having been forgotten by everyone who knows him, including his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), and bJul 30, 2026By Yonhap
Director of award-winning animated film dies ahead of releaseHur Bum-wook, the director of the acclaimed animated feature "Pig That Survived Foot-And-Mouth Disease," passed away following a fire, according to the movie’s distributor Indiestory on Tuesday. He was 43. Hur passed away Tuesday morning while receiving medical treatment following an accidental fire on July 23. A press screening for "Pig That Survived Foot-And-Mouth Disease," which was originally scheduled for July 24, was abruptly canceled on the morning of the event due to the accident. The film was slated to open in local theaters on Aug. 5, but its release has been tentatively postponed. "We will announce future release schedules after the bereaved family and production crew have time to grieve and process this loss," Indiestory said in a statement. Born in 1983, Hur established himself as a distinct filmmaker in the local independent animation scene starting with his 2009 short "Ordinary Meals," followed by "City of Good People" (2011), “On the White Planet” (2014) and "Galapagos" (2019). "On The White Planet" won the Grand Prix for Best Feature Film at the Holland Animation FilJul 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jecheon music film fest gears up for 22nd edition with new hosts, award finalistsThe 22nd Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) is gearing up for its six-day run this September with a fresh hosting lineup and an eclectic music competition. Comedian Jang Do-yeon and actor Moon Sang-min will host the opening ceremony on Sept. 3 at the city in North Chungcheong Province, event organizers said Tuesday. This marks Jang’s second consecutive year as host, following her performance alongside film director and festival executive director Jang Hang-jun last year. "I remember laughing much more than expected while hosting last year's ceremony," Jang said. "I am relieved and grateful to be invited back this year." Moon, who gained prominence through TV series such as "Under the Queen's Umbrella" (2022) and "Wedding Impossible” (2024), expressed his excitement for his festival hosting debut. "It is an honor to join so many people who love both film and music," Moon said. Launched in 2005, JIMFF stands as Asia’s premier music-themed international film festival, combining cinematic screenings with live outdoor music performances. Surrounded by Jecheon's beautifulJul 28, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
