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Asian cinema: Korean films

Asian cinema: Korean films
From the stylish blockbusters of Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho to art-house gems by Hong Sang-soo and Kim Ki-duk, this is the place to go for reviews, interviews and features about movies both classic and new from South Korea.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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Dylan So debuts in Papa as a young murderer troubled by voices

The 18-year-old Hong Kong actor has won over audiences playing a quiet high schooler – who kills his family.

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How director Jia Zhangke captures China’s rise in his gritty films

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Korean actress Kim Min-hee and film director Hong Sang-soo, who it has been revealed are having a child together, who will be the first for both of them. Photo: Instagram/hong.sangsoo, Reuters/Pool
What's hot in Korea

Korean actress Kim Min-hee pregnant with first child at 42

Director Hong Sang-soo, 64, left his wife for actress Kim Min-hee in 2015. The child she is carrying will be the first for both of them.

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Asian cinema

Review | K-Family Affairs: how a family endured 30 years of Korean political turmoil

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Exhuma, Twilight of the Warriors lead Asian Film Awards nominations

Asian cinema

Best movie roles of Squid Game season 2’s new players

Do they look familiar? From Park Sung-hoon to Kang Ha-neul, we look at films new Squid Game actors were in before entering the deadly arena.

Kang Ha-neul as Kang Dae-ho, or player #388, in a still from Squid Game season 2. The actor is among those in the new series with impressive portfolios. Photo: Netflix
TV shows and streaming video

Where Squid Game creator gets his inspiration, his ‘darker’ next project

The young Koreans buying cryptocurrency and gambling online inspired some of the new characters in Squid Game season 2, Hwang Dong-hyuk says.

What's hot in Korea

Song Joong-ki opens up on Bogota struggles and why he supports Hyun Bin

Song, whose new film Bogota: City of the Lost was heavily delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, says he is driven by a sense of challenge.

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What's hot in Korea

‘I’m second,’ says South Korean star Hyun Bin on life now he’s a dad

Hyun Bin says his son and his wife, Crash Landing on You co-star Son Ye-jin, are his priorities, and reveals the pressures of making Harbin.

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Korean actor Hyun Bin with his wife Son Ye-jin. The couple married in March 2022 and had their son in November the same year. Photo: Instagram/hyunbinactor
Asian cinema

Review | Hidden Face, a Korean erotic thriller, serves up scandalous fun

This sexy K-movie follows a conductor who sleeps with the replacement player for his cellist fiancée, who seems to have disappeared.

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K-pop, Mandopop, other Asian pop

Are Winner’s Song Min-ho and Korean actress Park Ju-hyun dating?

‘Impossible to verify’ report the K-pop star is dating actress, his agency says. ‘Difficult to confirm’ a relationship, her agency says.

Asian cinema

The 12 best Asian films of 2024, including The Last Dance

From a Thai tear-jerker to a Korean cross-dressing romcom and a hand-drawn Japanese anime, our pick of the best Asian films of the past year.

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Michael Hui in a still from The Last Dance.
Cinema

Will these films draw Koreans back to cinema after protests over Yoon?

Cinema-going fell in South Korea amid mass protests after President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration. Distributors hope for a rebound.

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Lee Hee-joon (left) and Song Joong-ki in a still from Bogota: City of the Lost, one of two big domestic productions distributors hope will draw South Koreans back to cinemas. Photo: Plus M Entertainment and Watermelon Pictures
K-drama news

Profile | Meet Lim Ji-yeon, star of K-dramas The Glory and The Tale of Lady Ok

Lim found fame in steamy drama Obsessed, stopped being typecast after her role in The Glory, and has not looked back since.

Fame and celebrity

Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung on fame and her sense of humour

Youn Yuh-jung, who won an Oscar for her role in Minari, shares her views on celebrity, and what makes her laugh.

K-drama news

AI-driven K-dramas, movies ring in new era of freedom for creators

Producers in Korea use ChatGPT and similar software to script dramas and films, and do AI editing. It cuts costs but there are still hurdles.

A still from Korean AI-powered film Mateo. Creators say AI opens the door for anyone to create content, but question whether it can sustain viewer engagement. Photo: MBC C&I
K-drama news

Profile | Meet Jung Yu-mi, star of coming K-drama Love Your Enemy

Jung Yu-mi has appeared in films such as Train to Busan, Korean dramas including The School Nurse Files, and reality TV show Youn’s Kitchen.

Jung Yu-mi in a still from Love Your Enemy.
SCMP Highlights

Recap | Gladiator II, Love in the Big City, Cesium Fallout: our latest film reviews

We review six diverse films, from Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator II and the empowering tale of The Last Dance, to the stellar Love in the Big City and Hong Kong blockbuster Cesium Fallout.

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Asian cinema

Review | Love in the Big City: Kim Go-eun shines in 5-star romantic comedy

Korea’s rampant misogyny and homophobia are highlighted in this intelligent romcom, boosted by a fine performance from Kim Go-eun.

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K-drama news

Profile | Meet Kim Tae-ri, beloved Korean actress of Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born

Kim Tae-ri burst onto the scene in acclaimed 2016 erotic thriller The Handmaiden, and she has only gone from strength to strength since.

Kim Tae-ri in a still from Jeongnyeon: A Star Is Born.
Asian cinema

10 of the best movies at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2024

This year’s programme includes a drama ripped from Hong Kong headlines, a social satire in a near-future Japan and a modern romantic drama.

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The top 5 Korean premieres at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival

Our pick of Korean movies that premiered at the film festival, from crime comedy collection The Killers to period action thriller Uprising.

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Asian cinema

How Gang Dong-won prepared for role in Netflix’s Uprising by playing golf

Korean star Gang Dong-won talks about practising his sword swing on the golf course, and how Netflix allows filmmakers more artistic freedom.

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Gang Dong-won as Cheon-yeong in a still from Uprising. Photo: Lee Jae-hyuk/Netflix
Asian cinema

Review | Hear Me: Our Summer, Korean remake of deaf romance, is problematic

The film’s demeaning portrayal of the deaf community and a final reveal that is insulting in its sheer stupidity make this one to miss.

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Hong Kyung (left) and Roh Yoon-seo as Yong-jun and Yeo-reum in a still from Hear Me: Our Summer (category TBC), directed by Cho Sun-ho. Photo: KC Ventures Co., Ltd & Plus M Entertainment & Movierock Inc
Asian cinema

Review | Bogota: City of the Lost – abysmal ‘crime’ movie starring Song Joong-ki

Song Joong-ki stars as an immigrant who becomes a Colombian crime lord in Korean movie Bogota: City of the Lost, a one-star waste of time.

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Asian cinema

Review | Uprising: Gang Dong-won leads a rebellion in lavish Netflix movie

Big on sword-fighting, but lacking in narrative, Netflix historical movie follows two friends who end up on opposing sides in a rebellion.

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What to do in Hong Kong

5 movies and TV shows to watch in Hong Kong this weekend, September 27-29

Inside Out 2, Wolfs and The Judge from Hell all hit streaming services while Stuntman and I, the Executioner open in Hong Kong cinemas today.

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Hwang Jung-min in a still from I, the Executioner, one of our five movies and TV show picks to watch in Hong Kong this weekend together with Inside Out 2, Wolfs, Stuntman and The Judge from Hell.
Asian cinema

Review | Officer Black Belt: Kim Woo-bin stars in fun Netflix action comedy

Kim Woo-bin plays a martial artist who finds some much-needed purpose in new Netflix action comedy Officer Black Belt, directed by Jason Kim.

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Kim Woo-bin in a still from Officer Black Belt. Photo: Soyun Jeon/Seowoo Jung/Netflix
Cinema

Giant panda and her South Korean keeper focus of ‘heartwarming’ film

Documentary Hello, Grandpa, a mix of live-action and animated scenes, tells the story of Fu Bao, a giant panda born in South Korea, her bond with her zookeeper and her bittersweet relocation to China.

K-drama news

Profile | Meet Park Ju-hyun, feisty star of new K-drama Perfect Family

The South Korean star was close to becoming a K-pop trainee before pursuing an acting career. She’s been on the ascendant since 2020’s Extracurricular, and had a star turn in drama series Mouse.

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