Netflix period flick ‘Uprising’ opens 29th BIFF, in first

BUSAN -- Netflix original Korean period film “Uprising,” opened the 29th Busan International Film Festival on Wednesday, the first time that a major streaming platform movie has opened Asia’s largest film festival. “Uprising,” directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight FM”), follows the story of Cheon-young (Gang Dong-won), a personal servant and member of the slave class, and his young master Jong-ryeo (Park Jung-min), set in the mid-Joseon era (1392-1910). In

Oct. 2, 2024

[New on the scene] Noh Sang-hyun says his ‘Love in the Big City’ character inspired heartful acting

After leaving a strong impression as Protestant minister Baek Isak in the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,” Noh Sang-hyun makes his big screen debut with “Love in the Big City,” where he plays a young gay man living in Seoul. When asked if people around him ever commented on or worried about him playing an LGBTQ+ character for his first-ever movie role, Noh simply said he was determined to play Heung-soo. “I understand why people worried (about me playing Heung-soo), but

Sept. 30, 2024

Korean American documentary ‘Free Chol Soo Lee’ wins Emmy

“Free Chol Soo Lee,” a 2022 US documentary about a Korean immigrant who was wrongfully convicted in 1973 of murdering a gang leader in San Francisco, won an award at the 45th News & Documentary Emmy Awards. “Free Chol Soo Lee” won in the Outstanding Historical Documentary category during the Emmy Awards, which took place in New York on Thursday local time, according to the film's distributor, Connect Pictures. The four other contenders were: MSNBC’s “

Sept. 29, 2024

[New in Town] Yeongdong Garden’s squash stew a filling choice for office workers

For many office workers, one worry will never go away until their final working day: What should I have for lunch? In a bustling Samseong-dong area in southeastern Seoul, there are various food alleys behind Samseong Station on Subway Line No. 2 and Bongeunsa Station on Subway Line No. 9. From Korean barbeque to Japanese restaurants with sushi counters and grab-and-go sandwich shops, the area boasts varied offerings. But when it comes to filling and healthy Korean meals, they are hard to find. A

Sept. 28, 2024

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Transformers One” (US) Opened Sept. 25 Animation/Science fiction Directed by Josh Cooley Set on Cybertron, the home planet of the Transformers, future sworn enemies Optimus Prime and Megatron are friends who have bonded like brothers. “I, the Executioner” (South Korea) Opened Sept. 24 Crime/Action Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan Veteran detective Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min) teams up with rookie cop Park Sun-woo (Jung Hae-in) to track down a serial killer taunting police b

Sept. 27, 2024

‘Dirty Money’ follows ironic situation of detectives on the run

Kim Min-soo, one of the writers behind crime noir films “The Merciless” (2017) and “Kingmaker” (2022), will release his debut crime flick “Dirty Money” on Oct. 17. “Dirty Money” revolves around detectives Myung-deuk (Jung Woo) and Dong-hyuk (Kim Dae-myung), who become involved with tainted money and make the choice to run away with it, dreaming of committing a perfect crime. Seung-chan (Park Byung-eun), a cynical team leader of an investigative squ

Sept. 26, 2024

CJ ENM seeks to diversify its presence at 29th BIFF with TV series, K-pop documentary

South Korean entertainment conglomerate CJ EJM, a leading movie distributor as well as the operator of the country’s largest multiplex chain CJ CGV, is seeking to diversify its presence at the 29th Busan International Film Festival by showcasing its series and a documentary. According to CJ ENM subsidiary Tving, a leading domestic streaming platform, two of its original series “Dongjae, the Good or the Bastard” and “Way Back Love” are screening at the BIFF’s O

Sept. 24, 2024

[Herald Review] Two misfits’ evolving friendship, chemistry spice up ‘Love in the Big City’

“Why it doesn’t make sense that we live together? I mean, the house price in Seoul is so damn expensive!” In a conservative country like South Korea, it’s hard to imagine two friends -- man and woman -- living under the same roof. If that line were from a typical K-rom-com, the next scene would show two friends found in the same bed and falling in love, almost inevitably. But in director Lee Eon-hie’s “Love in the Big City,” they get to know and understa

Sept. 24, 2024