InterviewLee Sun-bin embraces comedy, chaos in movie about college entrance examIn the upcoming comedy film "Ugly Duckling Ms. Maeng," actor Lee Sun-bin plays Maeng Bo-ram, an earnest provincial high school teacher who unexpectedly finds herself locked away in a top-secret camp to draft questions for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). Ahead of the movie's theatrical release, Lee expressed both anxiety and anticipation during a recent interview in Seoul, saying the unique subject of the annual exam posed its own challenges. "This moment right before the release is both the time I want to avoid and the moment I look forward to," Lee told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Wednesday. "I tend to be harsh on myself and worry about my shortcomings. At the same time, I am deeply curious whether audiences will recognize actors’ intentions behind the performance. It feels like I am scared, but also eager to face the verdict as soon as possible." The movie centers on the 40-day isolation period where test developers are completely cut off from the outside world under strict security. Lee said that while the CSAT is an inescapable part of life in Korea, the secre1d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' wins Korean film critics awardKorean auteur Lee Chang-dong's Venice-winning film "Possible Love" was named the best film of the year by an association of Korean film critics on Tuesday. Jeon Do-yeon, one of the film's leads, was also named best actress, according to the list of winners for this year's Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. "Possible Love," Lee's first feature film in eight years, follows the intertwined lives of a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary maker and her affluent husband. The film won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival. Director Na Hong-jin's sci-fi blockbuster "Hope" clinched three awards in the categories of best director, best actor for lead Zo In-sung and best cinematography. Also among the winners were Park Ji-hoon, who won best new actor for his performance in "The King's Warden," which has become the most-watched film in Korea this year, and Seo Su-bin, who won best new actress for "The World of Love." In addition to "Possible Love" and "Hope," the films "The Assassin(s)," "The King's Warden," "The World of Love," "Sal2d agoBy Yonhap
Taiwan content agency partners with 'The Roundup' producer at Busan film festivalTaiwan’s state content agency signed a partnership with the Korean production house behind “The Roundup” crime-action franchise during the 31st Busan International Film Festival, as part of a push to expand film and TV cooperation between the two sides. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), established in 2019 under Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture to support the production, financing and overseas expansion of Taiwanese films, series, music, comics and games, signed a memorandum of understanding with B.A. Entertainment on Oct. 12 at the Paradise Hotel Busan, the agency said. B.A. Entertainment also produced “The King’s Warden,” which drew 16.9 million moviegoers this year, and “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil.” Under the agreement, the two will cooperate on co-planning and co-producing content, talent development, financing and international distribution. “Building international partnerships and connecting resources is essential for Taiwanese content to reach the global market,” TAICCA Chairperson Sue Wang said. The agreement will help Taiwan’s original stories2d agoBy Jhoo Dong-chan
'Ugly Duckling Ms. Maeng' tackles high-stakes drama of Korea's CSATDirector Lee Yong-jae said he chose the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) as the subject of his debut movie “Ugly Duckling Ms. Maeng” because the crucial exam means so much in Korea, even rerouting flights and bringing daily life to a halt across the nation. “The CSAT is a matter of interest for all citizens," Lee said at a theater in Seoul, Monday after the premier of “Ugly Duckling Ms. Maeng.” “I thought taking on this story would easily draw interest from audiences. No matter which part of our society you look at, you can see many different sides of it. As a new director, telling a story in one restricted space also helped save time and money." "Ugly Duckling Ms. Maeng" is a comedy about Maeng Bo-ram (Lee Sun-bin), a Korean language teacher at a high school in a small provincial town. Maeng accidentally becomes test developer for the CSAT due to an administrative error. Inside the locked camp, where the team members developing the test are isolated from the outside world for 40 days, she gets caught up in chaotic clashes with ambitious professors while trying her best2d agoBy Baek Byung-yeul
ReviewDeceased director offers grim, uncompromising final workThe late director Hur Bum-wook left behind a grim yet compelling cinematic legacy with his second and final animated feature, "Pig That Survived Foot-And-Mouth Disease." The film was originally scheduled for release on Aug. 5, but Hur tragically passed away on July 28 at age 43 due to injuries sustained in an accidental fire days earlier. As a result of his unexpected death, the release of the movie was delayed until this month. His final work stands as an unforgettable testament to his artistic vision, diving deep into the raw violence and dark realities of modern society through its parallel tales of a man and a pig. In "Pig That Survived Foot-And-Mouth Disease,” a pig named H survives a mass burial pit during a disease outbreak and strives to become human after drinking a farm owner's blood. Meanwhile, a young military deserter named Jeong-seok, who suffered relentless abuse from his superiors, rejects his humanity and chooses to become a beast. As the pig learns about human cruelty, power struggles and greed, Jeong-seok falls into deep despair and a cycle of self-destructive actionsOct 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK'Hope,' 'The Assassin(s)' show widening gap between reviews, viewersIs there a right way to enjoy a movie? How a movie makes us feel is personal, and everyone should be free to speak their mind — yet two major Korean movies released this year show how starkly different those reactions can be. As of Wednesday, Na Hong-jin's "Hope" has been seen by 4.59 million viewers, while Hur Jin-ho's "The Assassin(s)" has drawn 3.08 million. Together, the films demonstrate a gap between critics' verdicts and ordinary audience reactions. "Hope" is a classic case of mixed expectations. Made with a massive budget, it arrived in July as Na's first feature since "The Wailing" in 2016. Many viewers walked in expecting a tense thriller and walked out confused or angry. Common complaints were that the story felt thin, the ending felt at odds with the rest of the film and the computer graphics felt awkward. Some felt the movie was not a complete story and just a setup for a sequel. Critics saw something else, lauding Na's films for demanding people engage in interpretation without offering easy clues — something that leaves some viewers frustrated. Renowned critic Lee DongOct 16, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Seoul Whistler Film Festival explores stories of injustice, resistanceA whistle is about the simplest instrument there is. It takes one breath to blow, and once it sounds, it's hard to ignore. The Seoul Whistler Film Festival (SWFF) is built around the people who take that breath. For its third year, it's making considerably more noise. The festival will run Oct. 23-25 at Arthouse Momo, the independent cinema located inside Ewha Womans University's ECC complex in western Seoul. It will screen 47 films from 18 countries: 10 features and 37 shorts, animations and experimental works. The "whistler" in the name is the whistleblower. SWFF's mission is to tell the stories of people who resist and speak out for justice, human rights, peace, life, the environment and democracy. It also tells the stories of people who expose the pain, conflict and absurdity they carry inside. "Both threads run through the lineup, often in the same film," said Yoon Sol-ji, the festival's executive programmer. "We don't split these into sections — one person's story can carry both at once, which feels closer to how injustice actually works on people." The opening film exemplifies whOct 16, 2026By Justin Kyle
Iranian film 'Midday Meal' wins top honor at 31st BIFFIranian director Majid Majidi's "Midday Meal" won the Best Film Award, a grand prize at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on Thursday, securing a direct entry for consideration at the upcoming Academy Awards. The top honor was announced during the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center outdoor theater in Busan. Hosted solely by actor Yim Si-wan, the event wrapped up a 10-day festival run that began on Oct. 6. Jury President Zhang Yimou praised "Midday Meal" as the ideal film and noted that all seven jury members agreed unanimously on the selection. Starting this year, the grand prize winner under the Busan Award competition section automatically gains qualification to submit for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. The Best Film Award also comes with a cash prize of 50 million won ($37,180). Receiving the award, Majidi expressed his gratitude to the festival. He said it was an honor to receive such a huge prize on his first visit to Busan, adding that the energy came from the love of his late mother. "This award means everything to my joOct 15, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Interview'Train to Busan' director builds low-budget paradise to test human existenceDirector Yeon Sang-ho said his latest low-budget psychological thriller "Paradise Lost" explores human identity, the double-edged nature of filling a loss and a story written by his mother. The director explained that the movie uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to examine human existence and emotional boundaries, rather than simply warning about its dangers. "Trying to replace what you've lost always has two sides," Yeon told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Wednesday, recalling how he often discussed existential literature, such as Albert Camus' "The Stranger," during his college years. "The main character So-young's choices may or may not be emotionally understandable to viewers by the end, but I think that gap creates a necessary story in today's AI-driven world." The film centers on So-young (Kim Hyun-joo), a mother trapped in grief nine years after her son Sun-woo went missing along with 12 other children on a school bus. To endure her pain, she interacts daily with a virtual version of her child through an augmented reality program. However, she collapses when a growOct 14, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Han Ji-min, Koo Kyo-hwan cast as married couple in upcoming disaster comedy filmActors Han Ji-min and Koo Kyo-hwan have been cast as a married couple contemplating divorce in an upcoming disaster comedy film, its distributor said Wednesday. With the working title "The Typhoon," the comedy follows Jae-yi (Han) and Jin-mo (Koo), as they encounter a mega typhoon during a trip for a relative's wedding, according to CJ ENM. In the film, Jin-mo appears as a graduate of a prestigious university who is now an average office worker, while Jae-yi appears as a stay-at-home mom aspiring to become a YouTuber, and is a talented former employee of a publishing house. The cast also includes Oh Jung-se, Han Sun-hwa and Kim Eung-soo. The film is directed by Lee Jeong-ho, who helmed "Broken" (2014) and "The Beast" (2019). Shooting began earlier this month, and the film is set for release next year.Oct 14, 2026By Yonhap
