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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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Run clubs have arrived in Hong Kong to combine exercise and community

This booming subculture is attracting runners of all abilities and from all walks of life to join up and enjoy a workout together – and buy the merch.

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This week in PostMag: Hong Kong’s wellness trends for 2025

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How Transcendental Meditation transformed my life, as it did for The Beatles

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6 wellness retreats to try in Southeast Asia in 2025

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Why change can be good for your mental health – even though it’s hard

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Louis Koo Tin-lok (front) in a still from Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In.
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Exhuma, Twilight of the Warriors lead Asian Film Awards nominations

Both movies are up for best picture at the 18th Asian Film Awards, as are All We Imagine as Light, Black Dog and Teki Cometh.

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

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

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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Korean actor Song Joong-ki, 39, says that his new movie, Bogota: City of the Lost, is fundamentally about responsibility. Photo: Instagram/hi_songjoongki
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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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.

Song Min-ho of K-pop group Winner and actress Park Ju-hyun, who are reported to be in a relationship. Photo: Instagram/korea_fans_panama
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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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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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.

Lim Ji-yeon in a still from The Glory. Photo: Netflix
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.

Youn Yuh-jung backstage at the 2021 Oscars ceremony, where she won for best actress in a supporting role for Minari. Photo: AFP
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.

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.

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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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Paul Mescal as Lucius in a still from Gladiator II (category III), directed by Ridley Scott. Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen co-star. Photo: Paramount Pictures
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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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Kim Go-eun as Jae-hee in a still from Love in the Big City.
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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.

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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Asian cinema

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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A still from The Land of Morning Calm, which premiered at the 2024 Busan International Film Festival.
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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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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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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Lee Hee-joon (left) and Song Joong-ki in a still from Bogota: City of the Lost. Photo: Plus M Entertainment and Watermelon Pictures Co., Ltd
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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Gang Dong-won as Cheon-yeong in a still from Uprising. Photo: Lee Jae-hyuk/Netflix
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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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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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.

A still from Hello, Grandpa. The documentary traces the journey of Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in South Korea, and her special relationship with the zookeeper who raised her, ahead of her relocation to China. Photo: Acomz
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.

Korean actress Park Ju-hyun. Photo: Instagram/@charmgirl_1005.
Asian cinema

Review | Pilot is a Korean cross-dressing comedy that takes on gender imbalance

Jo Jung-suk stars as a disgraced pilot working for a rival airline as a woman in this cross-dressing comedy – less a tale of deception than one that highlights gender imbalance in today’s world.

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What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do this weekend, August 9-11, in Hong Kong

A neon signs exhibition, a K-pop girl group pop-up store, a boozy night out and more awaits those looking for entertainment in Hong Kong this weekend.

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