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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
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Chunling Fong, director of Farmhouse Production in Hong Kong. Photo: Alexander Mak

Can this new wave of Hong Kong farmers bring agriculture back to the city?

Netflix docu Kiss The Ground argues that sustainable regenerative farming practices are a potential solution to our climate crisis – meet the Hong Kong food producers getting down to earth.

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The British surrender Hong Kong to the Japanese on Christmas Day in 1941. Photo: SCMP

Hong Kong’s darkest December brought a season without peace or goodwill

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Plaques that form part of the Benin Bronzes, which were taken from Africa by British troops in 1897, on display at The British Museum in London. Photo: Getty Images

Should museums return antiquities to their countries of origin? Some say no

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The inaugural ceremony of the Tian Tan Buddha statue rising before the Po Lin Temple on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, in 1993. Photo: SCMP Archives

The rocky path to enlightenment: the building of Hong Kong’s Big Buddha

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St Vincent at Clockenflap at Central Harbourfront, Hong Kong, in November. Photo: Clockenflap

Our favourite PostMag music stories of 2024, from Herbie Hancock to St Vincent

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Content from SCMP's Specialist Publications
Park Ji-hyun as Mi-ju (left) and Song Seung-heon as Sung-jin in a still from Hidden Face.
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?

Asian cinema

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

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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.

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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.

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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Kim Go-eun as Jae-hee in a still from Love in the Big City.
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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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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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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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.

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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Jo Jung-suk in a still from Pilot.
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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Japan

Film recalls the resilience of Korean factory girls in Japan

A Song of Korean Factory Girls tells the story of 30,000 Korean women, mostly teenagers, who faced discrimination while working in textile mills in Japan during the colonial era.

Asian cinema

Review | Mission: Cross, Korean spy caper on Netflix, is an action-packed romp

In Netflix action comedy Mission: Cross, Yum Jung-ah shines as a top detective who discovers her husband (Hwang Jung-min) is a retired special forces operative.

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Hwang Jung-min (left) and Yum Jung-ah in a still from Mission: Cross. Photo: Netflix
What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do this weekend August 3-4 in Hong Kong

There is plenty to do this weekend – feline fans can hit the Cat Expo in Wan Chai, MTR enthusiasts an exhibition in Wong Chuk Hang, and those looking to escape the heat an ice rink in Discovery Bay.

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The Hong Kong Cat Expo 2024 is on in Wan Chai. Photo: May Tse
What to do in Hong Kong

5 movies or shows to watch this weekend August 3-4 in Hong Kong

The weekend’s viewing highlights include recent Godzilla and Planet of the Apes films, a ‘reverse heist’ caper, and from Korea, a historical hijack story and a mystery manhunt thriller.

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Asian cinema

Review | Hijack 1971 tells true story of Korean Air Lines jet hijacked to North Korea

First-time director Kim Sung-han ably conjures an era of high tension between North and South Korea, the context in which the events of Hijack 1971, inspired by true events, take place.

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