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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.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

The setting-up of
the night market at Drum
Tower Square, in Kaifeng,
Henan province. Photo: Getty Images

Making tracks through China’s past and present

High-speed rail may have modernised journeys through northern China, but centuries of urban history are still in evidence on a pilgrimage from the capital to the caves used by a strengthening Communist Party.

Reading Time:8 minutes

Futatsugame Beach, at the north end of Sado Island, Japan. Photo: Cameron Dueck

Sado Island’s cultural renaissance: a Japanese journey from exile to artistic haven

Reading Time:7 minutes

A member of the Sado-based taiko drumming troupe Kodo performs on an o-daiko drum. Photo: Getty Images

This week in PostMag: let your mind wander with our autumn travel edition

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The living room of Harry Sun's Central flat, designed by Dominic Cheung of Crimson Company. Photo: Elizabeth Au of HHM Studio (hhm-studio.com)

Can a Hong Kong flat blend modernity with vintage charm?

Reading Time:4 minutes

The skeletons of a family in an ancient sacrifice pit in China.

Reflections | How Ching Ming’s paper offerings evolved from human sacrifice

Reading Time:2 minutes

Bird song was a signature feature of Mong Kok's Wan Loy Teahouse, seen here in 1987. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: 50 years of Hong Kong’s yum cha teahouse tradition

Reading Time:1 minute

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Content from SCMP's Specialist Publications

Kim Hye-jun in a still from A Shop for Killers season two. Photo: Disney+

Profile | Who is Kim Hye-jun, star of K-dramas A Shop for Killers and My Bias, My Boss?

Kim Hye-jun, who started in advertisements and on Saturday Night Live Korea, first dreamed of being a designer or a nurse, not an actress.

15 Aug 2026 - 7:15PM

Review | Number One: Parasite stars reunite for food-themed family drama

5 Aug 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

10 must-see movies and programmes at Hong Kong’s Summer IFF 2026

3 Aug 2026 - 9:15PMvideocam

My Sassy Girl at 25: how Jun Ji-hyun’s star turn changed South Korean cinema

Jun Ji-hyun’s role as a brash young woman in the 2001 romcom subverted gender stereotypes, today inspiring actresses like Park Eun-bin.

23 Jul 2026 - 1:09PMvideocam

Jun Ji-hyun (left) and Cha Tae-hyun in a still from My Sassy Girl. Photo: Film Movement.

Profile | Who is Nam Joo-hyuk, star of Netflix K-drama The East Palace?

Returning to the screen after three years, model-turned-actor Nam Joo-hyuk has starred in a number of hit Korean dramas.

18 Jul 2026 - 12:45PM

‘Oldboy’ Choi Min-sik on revenge, craft and Notes from the Last Row

Choi Min-sik points out parallels between 2003’s Oldboy and his new role in Netflix series Notes from the Last Row.

7 Jul 2026 - 10:32AMvideocam

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TV shows and streaming video

Review | Human Vapor: Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi anchor Netflix’s bold sci-fi thriller reboot

This exciting tale of a mysterious serial killer who can turn into a murderous cloud of gas is a reimagining of a classic Japanese thriller.

29 Jun 2026 - 7:00AMvideocam

Uta Uchida in a still from Human Vapor. Photo: Netflix.

From the Vault: culturally significant films

In the From the Vault feature series, the South China Morning Post’s film experts reflect on culturally significant films celebrating notable anniversaries.

24 Jul 2026 - 7:18PM

What’s showing this year at Asia’s top genre film festival BiFan?

The 2026 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival boasts a formidable programme of horror, action, science fiction and fantasy titles.

24 Jun 2026 - 7:15PM

Profile | Meet Park Ji-hyun, star of Flex X Cop and See You at Work Tomorrow!

After making a late start in acting, Park quickly rose to the top playing layered characters in K-dramas from Yumi’s Cells to Reborn Rich.

13 Jun 2026 - 12:45PM

Park Ji-hyun in a still from Wild Sing (2026). The Korean actress broke into the acting industry relatively late in life, but then quickly became a household name known for her depth and versatility. She will star in the upcoming drama series See You at Work Tomorrow! on Prime Video.

American cinema

The rise of liminal space horror movies like Backrooms and Exit 8

Box-office hit Backrooms highlights a growing obsession with eerie liminal spaces like hallways, alleyways and empty shopping centres.

3 Jun 2026 - 3:15PMvideocam

Renate Reinsve in a still from Backrooms.

How Colony features a new kind of zombie to reflect modern fears

Director Yeon Sang-ho of Train to Busan fame explains how AI and social media anxiety inspired the zombies in his new horror film.

19 May 2026 - 8:55PMvideocam

Review | Hope: director Na Hong-jin of The Wailing fame returns with a monster mess

A promising beginning and strong performances are not enough to save Hope from being a messy spectacle with woeful CGI monsters.

18 May 2026 - 1:47PMvideocam

Profile | Who is Cha Eun-woo, K-pop idol starring in Netflix K-drama The Wonderfools?

Since his 2014 debut, the ‘Face Genius’ has embodied a fantasy figure in many roles. His latest hits screens as he performs military service.

16 May 2026 - 12:45PM

Cha Eun-woo as Lee Un-jeong in a still from The Wonderfools. Photo: Netflix.

Review | Colony: Jun Ji-hyun returns in slick but empty zombie thriller

Jun Ji-hyun stars as a biotech professor battling bloodthirsty zombies in Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho’s new film.

16 May 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Jun Ji-hyun as biotech professor Kwon Se-jeong in a still from Colony (category IIB, Korean), directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Koo Kyo-hwan and Ji Chang-wook co-star.

How The King’s Warden sold 16 million tickets and saved the Korean box office

Producer Lim Eun-jung, director Jang Hang-jun and actor Yoo Hae-jin explain why the historical drama struck a chord with Korean audiences.

12 May 2026 - 5:15PMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Seoyeon Jang, who plays Eunice in Netflix’s Beef Season 2

The latest season of Beef stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and Charles Melton – but what do you know about Seoyeon Jang, who plays Eunice?

24 Apr 2026 - 6:00PM

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Profile | Who is Byeon Woo-seok, IU’s co-star in romance K-drama Perfect Crown?

Coming to prominence in shows like Record of Youth and Strong Girl Nam-soon, Byeon Woo-seok returns this weekend in a hotly anticipated role.

11 Apr 2026 - 3:15PM

Byeon Woo-seok (left) and IU in a still from Perfect Crown. Photo: Disney+.

Review | Humint: dynamic Korean spy thriller from Ryoo Seung-wan on Netflix

Starring Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min and Park Hae-joon, Humint rewards patient viewers with some of the best heroic bloodshed in recent times.

31 Mar 2026 - 11:46PMvideocam

The 10 most-watched Korean films of all time, including The King’s Warden

Can The King’s Warden overtake The Admiral: Roaring Currents and Extreme Job to become the most-viewed South Korean film of all time?

24 Mar 2026 - 5:15PMvideocam

Profile | Who is Seo In-guk, star of Netflix K-drama Boyfriend on Demand?

From his musical beginnings to his breakout role in Reply 1997 to his turn in Boyfriend on Demand, Seo In-guk stands out for his versatility.

14 Mar 2026 - 4:15PM

Korean singer-turned-actor Seo In-guk recently starred in the K-drama series Boyfriend on Demand. Photo: Ji Sang Chung/Netflix

Profile | Who is Shin Hye-sun, star of Netflix K-drama The Art of Sarah?

Breaking out in 2016’s Five Enough, Shin Hye-sun has gone on to make her mark in series including Mr. Queen and Welcome to Samdal-ri.

14 Feb 2026 - 5:15PM

Korean actress Shin Hye-sun is currently starring in the K-drama series The Art of Sarah. We examine Shin’s rise from audition rejections to K-drama stardom. Photo: Netflix

What is it like to win the lottery? These 10 Asian movies have the answers

Winning the lottery can change your life forever, for good or bad. These 10 films from across Asia explore luck, wealth and greed.

11 Feb 2026 - 6:15PMvideocam

The 10 most successful Korean art-house films of all time

As Yoon Ga-eun’s The World of Love hits Hong Kong cinemas, we look at Korean indie films that conquered the box office as well as festivals.

27 Jan 2026 - 4:15PMvideocam

Why M+ and Chanel are bringing rare Asian avant-garde films to Mubi

Streaming platform Mubi teams up with Hong Kong’s M+ museum and Chanel to put the spotlight on 10 films, including a John Woo short.

22 Jan 2026 - 4:51PM

John Woo in a still from “Dead Knot” (1969), which is streaming on Mubi as part of its partnership with M+ and Chanel.

Profile | Who is Go Youn-jung, rising star of Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated?

After starting out as a model, Go rose to K-drama stardom in series such as Alchemy of Souls and Moving. Now she leads her first romcom.

17 Jan 2026 - 5:15PM

Go Youn-jung in a still from Can This Love Be Translated?. Photo: No Ju-han/Netflix.

Loved Back to the Past? 10 Asian time travel gems you may also enjoy

After the success of Louis Koo’s Back to the Past, here are 10 other Asian time-travelling movies that are well worth checking out.

15 Jan 2026 - 7:15PMvideocam

Korean film icon Ahn Sung-ki remembered: 5 of his best films

Known affectionately as ‘The Nation’s Actor’, South Korea’s Ahn Sung-ki starred in more than 100 feature films during his long career.

5 Jan 2026 - 7:45PMvideocam

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