Webtoons, the digital comics that have been the source material for scores of Korean films and TV series, are to receive a major boost from the South Korean government.
Yu In-chon, minister for culture, sports and tourism, on Tuesday said that the government will foster webtoon platform development, launch a major webtoon festival in the autumn of this year and by 2027 open a school dedicated to the emerging genre.
Webtoons emerged in the early years of the 21st century shortly after the mass market a acceptance of smart phones – a technology sector where Korea’s Samsung Electronics is a major manufacturer – and are vertically-scrolling comics designed for consumption on a small screen.
As a relatively new medium webtoons have escaped some of the strictures of Japan’s manga business or the cartoon industry in other countries. Instead, they have diverse story genres, are cheap to produce, which allows creators from non-professional backgrounds to participate,...
Yu In-chon, minister for culture, sports and tourism, on Tuesday said that the government will foster webtoon platform development, launch a major webtoon festival in the autumn of this year and by 2027 open a school dedicated to the emerging genre.
Webtoons emerged in the early years of the 21st century shortly after the mass market a acceptance of smart phones – a technology sector where Korea’s Samsung Electronics is a major manufacturer – and are vertically-scrolling comics designed for consumption on a small screen.
As a relatively new medium webtoons have escaped some of the strictures of Japan’s manga business or the cartoon industry in other countries. Instead, they have diverse story genres, are cheap to produce, which allows creators from non-professional backgrounds to participate,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
If 2017's “Steel Rain” was an idealistic, rather narrowed down look at the quest for Korean reunification and the forces that may come between that, then its sequel, “Steel Rain 2: Summit” is the broader, more refined version of the same vision. It may be entirely unrelated to its predecessor but it is hard to avoid making comparisons, especially given both share the same ambitious end goal. However, where the latest instalment thrives is in its dedication to acknowledging the rest of the cogs in the cluttered machine that is the strained inter-Korea relations, and the ways that all sides can manipulate each other in the quest for fiscal, and non-fiscal, power and gains.
“Steel Rain 2: Summit” is available from Echelon Studios
Central to proceedings are the leaders of three countries crucial to the quickly arriving peace summit: US President Smoot (Angus Macfadyen), South Korean President Han Kyeong-jae (Jung Woo-sung...
“Steel Rain 2: Summit” is available from Echelon Studios
Central to proceedings are the leaders of three countries crucial to the quickly arriving peace summit: US President Smoot (Angus Macfadyen), South Korean President Han Kyeong-jae (Jung Woo-sung...
- 4/11/2023
- by Nathan Sartain
- AsianMoviePulse
Epic Pictures Group announces the acquisition of South Korean action feature A Man Of Reason for North America ahead of the film’s anticipated world premiere at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Special Presentation section. A Man Of Reason is the directorial debut of famed Korean actor Jung Woo-sung, who also leads the cast alongside Kim Nam-gil (Lovers Vanished) and Park Sung-woong (For The Emperor).
The film follows Jung as Soo-hyeok, a man who wants to live a normal life after spending 10 years in prison. Upon visiting his long-abandoned girlfriend, he finds out he is the father of a young girl but his attempts to cut ties with his former gang are unsuccessful when his old boss begins to question his loyalty and uses his newly discovered daughter as leverage. Forced into a corner and with nothing to lose, Soo-hyeok must resort to violence to...
The film follows Jung as Soo-hyeok, a man who wants to live a normal life after spending 10 years in prison. Upon visiting his long-abandoned girlfriend, he finds out he is the father of a young girl but his attempts to cut ties with his former gang are unsuccessful when his old boss begins to question his loyalty and uses his newly discovered daughter as leverage. Forced into a corner and with nothing to lose, Soo-hyeok must resort to violence to...
- 9/8/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
South Korean thriller premieres in Special Presentations on September 14.
Epic Pictures Group has acquired North American rights to TIFF selection and South Korean action thriller A Man Of Reason ahead of its world premiere in Special Presentations.
Jung Woo-sung makes his directorial debut in the film from Studio Take Co. and stars in the story of a former gang member who tries to live a normal life following 10 years in prison.
After reconnecting with his girlfriend and learning he has a daughter, the man is forced to revert to old ways to protect his daughter when his old boss tries...
Epic Pictures Group has acquired North American rights to TIFF selection and South Korean action thriller A Man Of Reason ahead of its world premiere in Special Presentations.
Jung Woo-sung makes his directorial debut in the film from Studio Take Co. and stars in the story of a former gang member who tries to live a normal life following 10 years in prison.
After reconnecting with his girlfriend and learning he has a daughter, the man is forced to revert to old ways to protect his daughter when his old boss tries...
- 9/7/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The Toronto Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its In Conversation With… series, to be headlined with appearances by Damien Chazelle, Viola Davis and Eddie Redmayne.
Oscar-winning writer-director Chazelle will discuss his career that stretches from Whiplash and La La Land to his upcoming film Babylon, which stars Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.
Davis and director Gina Prince-Bythewood will take part in their own informal conversation about their artistic drive and Hollywood careers as their collaboration on The Woman King has a world bow in Toronto next month. Davis is also known for her work on the TV series How to Get Away With Murder and movies like Fences, Widows, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and action-thriller The Old Guard.
Eddie Redmayne, who will be at TIFF this year with My Policeman, will also be on hand to talk about his movie career,...
Oscar-winning writer-director Chazelle will discuss his career that stretches from Whiplash and La La Land to his upcoming film Babylon, which stars Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.
Davis and director Gina Prince-Bythewood will take part in their own informal conversation about their artistic drive and Hollywood careers as their collaboration on The Woman King has a world bow in Toronto next month. Davis is also known for her work on the TV series How to Get Away With Murder and movies like Fences, Widows, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and action-thriller The Old Guard.
Eddie Redmayne, who will be at TIFF this year with My Policeman, will also be on hand to talk about his movie career,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Magnolia Pictures has snapped up domestic rights to Hunt, the feature directorial from Squid Game Emmy nominated star Lee Jung-jae, which made its world premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight section.
Magnolia Pictures plans a December theatrical release.
A stylish espionage action film set in the 1980s, Hunt follows two agents in Korean Central Intelligence who are tasked with hunting a spy within the agency and then learn of a grand plot to assassinate the South Korean president. The pic will also play as a Gala Presentation at TIFF next month.
‘Squid Game’ Creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk On Breaking Hollywood’s Rules To Ignite A Global Phenomenon
Jung-jae also wrote and produced the movie, and stars in it alongside Jung Woo-sung (Steel Rain), Jeon Hye-jin (The Throne), and Squid Game‘s Heo Sung-tae.
“Lee Jung-jae has delivered a wild ride of a film.” said Magnolia...
Magnolia Pictures plans a December theatrical release.
A stylish espionage action film set in the 1980s, Hunt follows two agents in Korean Central Intelligence who are tasked with hunting a spy within the agency and then learn of a grand plot to assassinate the South Korean president. The pic will also play as a Gala Presentation at TIFF next month.
‘Squid Game’ Creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk On Breaking Hollywood’s Rules To Ignite A Global Phenomenon
Jung-jae also wrote and produced the movie, and stars in it alongside Jung Woo-sung (Steel Rain), Jeon Hye-jin (The Throne), and Squid Game‘s Heo Sung-tae.
“Lee Jung-jae has delivered a wild ride of a film.” said Magnolia...
- 8/15/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Further titles include ’Contorted’, ‘The Hill Of Secrets’, ’The Novelist’s Film’.
Korea’s Finecut has closed a string of deals led by Cheon Myeong-kwan’s action noir Hot Blooded and Hong Jun-pyo’s animation Chun Tae-il: A Flame That Lives On, both set to Cannes market premieres.
Best-selling author Cheon Myeong-kwan’s directorial debut, Hot Blooded has sold to Japan (New Select), North America (Epic Pictures Releasing), Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia (Cj Enm Hong Kong), Philippines (Viva Networks)
Starring Jung Woo (Best Friend), Kim Kap-soo (Steel Rain) and Choi Moo-sung (Last Child), the film previously sold to The Jokers Films...
Korea’s Finecut has closed a string of deals led by Cheon Myeong-kwan’s action noir Hot Blooded and Hong Jun-pyo’s animation Chun Tae-il: A Flame That Lives On, both set to Cannes market premieres.
Best-selling author Cheon Myeong-kwan’s directorial debut, Hot Blooded has sold to Japan (New Select), North America (Epic Pictures Releasing), Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia (Cj Enm Hong Kong), Philippines (Viva Networks)
Starring Jung Woo (Best Friend), Kim Kap-soo (Steel Rain) and Choi Moo-sung (Last Child), the film previously sold to The Jokers Films...
- 5/18/2022
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Multi-starrer Christmas films have been being released around the holiday season for a while now and the fad seems to have finally reached South Korean shores. After “New Year Blues” last year, this year sees director Kwak Jae-yong, who is no stranger to the mushy romance genre after having made such classics as “My Sassy Girl”, “Windstuck” and “The Classic”, take on a similar project, with a massive star-cast boasting of impressive talents both young and young-at-heart.
Synopsis
The story of people who met each other at Hotel Emros during the New Year holidays, each with their own stories and creating relationships in their own ways.
As expected from the storyline, the characters are divided in both the staff and guests working in the Hotel. The staff comprises of Han Ji-min (“Miss Baek”), who plays the hotel manager, Lee Dong-wook (“The Beauty Inside”) as the hotel’s CEO, Yoona (“Exit”) as the receptionist,...
Synopsis
The story of people who met each other at Hotel Emros during the New Year holidays, each with their own stories and creating relationships in their own ways.
As expected from the storyline, the characters are divided in both the staff and guests working in the Hotel. The staff comprises of Han Ji-min (“Miss Baek”), who plays the hotel manager, Lee Dong-wook (“The Beauty Inside”) as the hotel’s CEO, Yoona (“Exit”) as the receptionist,...
- 11/30/2021
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
If 2017’s “Steel Rain” was an idealistic, rather narrowed down look at the quest for Korean reunification and the forces that may come between that, then its sequel, “Steel Rain 2: Summit” is the broader, more refined version of the same vision. It may be entirely unrelated to its predecessor but it is hard to avoid making comparisons, especially given both share the same ambitious end goal. However, where the latest instalment thrives is in its dedication to acknowledging the rest of the cogs in the cluttered machine that is the strained inter-Korea relations, and the ways that all sides can manipulate each other in the quest for fiscal, and non-fiscal, power and gains.
“Steel Rain 2: Summit” is screening at the Florence Korea Film Fest
Central to proceedings are the leaders of three countries crucial to the quickly arriving peace summit: US President Smoot (Angus Macfadyen), South Korean President...
“Steel Rain 2: Summit” is screening at the Florence Korea Film Fest
Central to proceedings are the leaders of three countries crucial to the quickly arriving peace summit: US President Smoot (Angus Macfadyen), South Korean President...
- 5/23/2021
- by Nathan Sartain
- AsianMoviePulse
Released three years, ago, the geopolitical action-thriller Steel Rain was a solid success on the charts but one that was completely overshadowed by two films that hit theaters within a fortnight of its release, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds and 1987: When the Day Comes. Given its closed narrative and what was a positive but muted reception, it hardly seemed a likely candidate for the sequel treatment, still a rarity in the Korean film industry. Yet, three years later that's exactly what we got, but what's even more surprising is that despite returning with the same director, stars and theme, Steel Rain 2: Summit completely reinvents itself and manages to surpass its predecessor in almost every way. Tensions are high in Fear East...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 10/29/2020
- Screen Anarchy
As if reality hasn't been sufficiently harrowing, especially over the past few months, Steel Rain 2: Summit proposes that the leaders of North Korea and South Korea meet with the leader of the United States to hammer out a proposal for peace on a nuclear submarine. What a surprise: things go wrong! The film is a sequel to a film based on a webtoon by director Yang Woo-suk (The Attorney), as explained by our own Pierce Conran in his Steel Rain review, published in December 2017, which was generally favorable, noting: "For the right viewer, Yang's latest pushes all the right buttons and even the rest of the audience should find at least a few elements to keep them in their seats." The new film...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 9/10/2020
- Screen Anarchy
‘Unhinged’ topped the box office in six countries, including new markets Russia and Austria.
South Korean box office rose 68% at the weekend, thanks to the arrival of strong local title Deliver Us From Evil, directed by Hong Won-Chan (2015’s Office).
Cj Entertainment’s action thriller grossed a handy $10.6m for the August 7-9 period, and $15m since its August 5 opening date. Admissions were 1.39m for the weekend period, and just over 2.03m since Wednesday – 78% of the total market. The film reunites Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae who appeared together in 2013’s New World.
Deliver Us From Evil’s numbers are...
South Korean box office rose 68% at the weekend, thanks to the arrival of strong local title Deliver Us From Evil, directed by Hong Won-Chan (2015’s Office).
Cj Entertainment’s action thriller grossed a handy $10.6m for the August 7-9 period, and $15m since its August 5 opening date. Admissions were 1.39m for the weekend period, and just over 2.03m since Wednesday – 78% of the total market. The film reunites Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae who appeared together in 2013’s New World.
Deliver Us From Evil’s numbers are...
- 8/11/2020
- by 1100901¦Charles Gant¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Action thriller “Steel Rain 2: Summit” dominated the South Korean box office in its opening weekend. In doing so, it knocked “Peninsula” from the perch where it had been for the past two weeks.
Released on Wednesday by Lotte Entertainment, “Steel Rain 2” earned $4.92 million from 663,000 admissions over the weekend. Over its five days to date, it has accumulated $7.03 million from 1.02 million ticket sales.
Directed by Yang Woo-suk, the film imagines a three-way summit meeting between North Korea, South Korea and the U.S. to finally bring to an end the Korean War that played out between 1950-53.
The film sees Jung Woo-sung play the South Korean leader, Yoo Yeon-seok portray the North Korean leader and Angus MacFadyen play the U.S. president. While the three leaders are conferring they are kidnapped by a zealous North Korean general and spirited away on a nuclear submarine.
It is a sequel to...
Released on Wednesday by Lotte Entertainment, “Steel Rain 2” earned $4.92 million from 663,000 admissions over the weekend. Over its five days to date, it has accumulated $7.03 million from 1.02 million ticket sales.
Directed by Yang Woo-suk, the film imagines a three-way summit meeting between North Korea, South Korea and the U.S. to finally bring to an end the Korean War that played out between 1950-53.
The film sees Jung Woo-sung play the South Korean leader, Yoo Yeon-seok portray the North Korean leader and Angus MacFadyen play the U.S. president. While the three leaders are conferring they are kidnapped by a zealous North Korean general and spirited away on a nuclear submarine.
It is a sequel to...
- 8/3/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
A North Korean soldier found himself on the wrong side of the Dmz with his injured and dying Supreme Leader and reluctantly working with a South Korean delegate in 2017’s “Steel Rain“, a film that was met with mixed reactions. This, however, did not dampen the director and actors’ spirits as both lead actors Jung Woo-sung and Kwak Do-won return for a thematic sequel to the film this year with “Steel Rain 2: Summit”.
Synopsis
“Summit: Steel Rain” is a futuristic film about a crisis near the brink of war after three leaders are kidnapped by a North Korean nuclear submarine in a coup d’état during a summit between the two Koreas and the United States.
Once again, director/scriptwriter Yang Woo-seok places the action in a hypothetical diplomatic situation. However he mixes things up with the casting. Where Jung Woo-sung played the North Korean soldier in the first film,...
Synopsis
“Summit: Steel Rain” is a futuristic film about a crisis near the brink of war after three leaders are kidnapped by a North Korean nuclear submarine in a coup d’état during a summit between the two Koreas and the United States.
Once again, director/scriptwriter Yang Woo-seok places the action in a hypothetical diplomatic situation. However he mixes things up with the casting. Where Jung Woo-sung played the North Korean soldier in the first film,...
- 6/15/2020
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Korean actor Jung Woo-sung is to exec produce a mystery sci-fi thriller for Netflix.
The streaming service has ordered The Silent Sea (w/t) from the Innocent Witness and Steel Rain star.
The series is set in a precarious future where Earth is running out of water. It follows a group of elite scientists who set off for the moon to retrieve some unknown samples from an abandoned research station.
The drama is based on the eponymous 2014 short film directed by Choi Hang-yong, which garnered attention at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. Choi will direct the series.
The Silent Sea will be written by Park Eun-kyo, who wrote Mother, the 2010 film directed by Parasite and Snowpiercer director Bong Joon-ho.
It is the latest Korean drama for Netflix, which has been incredibly active in the country. Last week, it partnered with Mr. Sunshine director Lee Eung-bok to adapt popular Korean horror...
The streaming service has ordered The Silent Sea (w/t) from the Innocent Witness and Steel Rain star.
The series is set in a precarious future where Earth is running out of water. It follows a group of elite scientists who set off for the moon to retrieve some unknown samples from an abandoned research station.
The drama is based on the eponymous 2014 short film directed by Choi Hang-yong, which garnered attention at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. Choi will direct the series.
The Silent Sea will be written by Park Eun-kyo, who wrote Mother, the 2010 film directed by Parasite and Snowpiercer director Bong Joon-ho.
It is the latest Korean drama for Netflix, which has been incredibly active in the country. Last week, it partnered with Mr. Sunshine director Lee Eung-bok to adapt popular Korean horror...
- 12/23/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Korean indie sales company M-Line Distribution is handling rights to “Not in This World,” a drama by actor-director Park Jung-bum. The film has its premiere this week in the Korean Panorama section of the Busan International Film Festival.
“World” tells the story of a hermit, who is lured out of his lonely mountain existence by a woman, played by Moon Ye-ji, that he hears singing. But the man’s attempts to help her out of difficulties take him to an unexpected place.
Park is best known for his multi-hyphenate roles on “The Journals of Musan” and “Alive.” He produced “World” through his Secondwind Film company.
M-Line’s other standout offering at Busan’s Asian Film Market is the previously announced “Beasts Clawing at Straws.” The noir crime film features superstar Jung Woo-sung opposite Jeon Do-yeon, who earned the best actress award at Cannes for “Secret Sunshine.”
Adapted from a Japanese novel by Sono Keisuke,...
“World” tells the story of a hermit, who is lured out of his lonely mountain existence by a woman, played by Moon Ye-ji, that he hears singing. But the man’s attempts to help her out of difficulties take him to an unexpected place.
Park is best known for his multi-hyphenate roles on “The Journals of Musan” and “Alive.” He produced “World” through his Secondwind Film company.
M-Line’s other standout offering at Busan’s Asian Film Market is the previously announced “Beasts Clawing at Straws.” The noir crime film features superstar Jung Woo-sung opposite Jeon Do-yeon, who earned the best actress award at Cannes for “Secret Sunshine.”
Adapted from a Japanese novel by Sono Keisuke,...
- 10/5/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Showbox, one of South Korea’s leading studios, is launching sales of disaster comedy “Sinkhole” at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Film Market. Helmed by “The Tower” director Kim Ji-hoon, the film is the story of the events that follow the appearance of an urban sinkhole that swallows an entire apartment building.
It stars fashion model-turned-actor Cha Seung-won, Kim Sung-kyun (“Fengshui”) and Lee Kwang-soo (“Tazza: One Eyed Jack”). Aiming for a 2020 release, “Sinkhole” started shooting in August and is currently in production.
Showbox is also handling international sales of “The Man Standing Next,” a film by “Inside Men” director Woo Min-ho. Based on the fact-based novel of the same title, “Man Standing Next” tells an untold story of Korean Central Intelligence Agency and its political maneuvering in the 1970s. With a star-studded cast that includes Lee Byung-hun (“Inside Men”), Lee Sung-min (“Spy Gone North”), and Kwak Do-won (“Steel Rain...
It stars fashion model-turned-actor Cha Seung-won, Kim Sung-kyun (“Fengshui”) and Lee Kwang-soo (“Tazza: One Eyed Jack”). Aiming for a 2020 release, “Sinkhole” started shooting in August and is currently in production.
Showbox is also handling international sales of “The Man Standing Next,” a film by “Inside Men” director Woo Min-ho. Based on the fact-based novel of the same title, “Man Standing Next” tells an untold story of Korean Central Intelligence Agency and its political maneuvering in the 1970s. With a star-studded cast that includes Lee Byung-hun (“Inside Men”), Lee Sung-min (“Spy Gone North”), and Kwak Do-won (“Steel Rain...
- 10/4/2019
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
“Steel Rain” duo Jung Woo-sung and Kwak Do-won are reuniting in political action drama “Summit: Steel Rain.”
While the director and key cast from “Steel Rain” remain the same, Lotte Cultureworks has come on board to replace the film’s previous investor-distributor Next Entertainment World. Lotte will be handling the film’s international sales at Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Film Market.
Jung and Kwak, who played the roles of an elite North Korean agent and South Korean chief of foreign affairs who secretly conduct a mission to prevent nuclear war in the Korean peninsula, are returning to “Summit” as South Korea’s president and a North Korean official, respectively. “Steel Rain 2” will see a summit of leaders of South Korea, North Korea and the U.S., where they intend to discuss North Korea’s nuclear issue and a peace settlement for the Korean peninsula, but instead end up...
While the director and key cast from “Steel Rain” remain the same, Lotte Cultureworks has come on board to replace the film’s previous investor-distributor Next Entertainment World. Lotte will be handling the film’s international sales at Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Film Market.
Jung and Kwak, who played the roles of an elite North Korean agent and South Korean chief of foreign affairs who secretly conduct a mission to prevent nuclear war in the Korean peninsula, are returning to “Summit” as South Korea’s president and a North Korean official, respectively. “Steel Rain 2” will see a summit of leaders of South Korea, North Korea and the U.S., where they intend to discuss North Korea’s nuclear issue and a peace settlement for the Korean peninsula, but instead end up...
- 10/3/2019
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
A sequel to “Steel Rain,” a Korean hit political drama from 2017, is now preparation. “Steel Rain” earned $30 million from the local box office and was sold to Netflix.
The sequel is known to keep most of the key elements from “Steel Rain.” Director Yang Woo-seok and investor-distributor Next Entertainment World return. Production will be handled by Woojeong Film, the company behind 2018’s hit “1987: When the Day Comes.”
According to the agencies of Jung Woo-sung and Kwak Do-won, the two actors have been offered to leads in the sequel too, and are expected, but not yet confirmed, to return. In “Steel Rain,” Jung and Kwak respectively played the roles of an elite North Korean agent and South Korean chief of foreign affairs who secretly conduct a mission to prevent nuclear war in the Korean peninsula.
Although their roles in the sequel have yet to be confirmed, industry sources say that...
The sequel is known to keep most of the key elements from “Steel Rain.” Director Yang Woo-seok and investor-distributor Next Entertainment World return. Production will be handled by Woojeong Film, the company behind 2018’s hit “1987: When the Day Comes.”
According to the agencies of Jung Woo-sung and Kwak Do-won, the two actors have been offered to leads in the sequel too, and are expected, but not yet confirmed, to return. In “Steel Rain,” Jung and Kwak respectively played the roles of an elite North Korean agent and South Korean chief of foreign affairs who secretly conduct a mission to prevent nuclear war in the Korean peninsula.
Although their roles in the sequel have yet to be confirmed, industry sources say that...
- 6/6/2019
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
2017’s smash hit “The Outlaws” propelled its lead Ma Dong-seok into superstardom and established its debutant director Kang Yoon-sung as a talent to watch out for. While he is already signed on to direct a sequel to his debut feature, his sophomore film “Long Live the King” is set to release soon.
Synopsis
Jang Se-chool is a gangster boss. He has been in love with Kang So-hyun for the past 3 years, even though she tries to push him away. One day, in order to make him give up on her, Kang So-hyun tells him that she wants to be a first lady. Jang Se-chool is confused by her comment. Meanwhile, his friend Jung Choon-taek is a death row convict. His friends tells him that his execution date has been set. Nobody can save him except, possibly, the South Korean president. To marry Kang So-hyun and to save his friend, Jang...
Synopsis
Jang Se-chool is a gangster boss. He has been in love with Kang So-hyun for the past 3 years, even though she tries to push him away. One day, in order to make him give up on her, Kang So-hyun tells him that she wants to be a first lady. Jang Se-chool is confused by her comment. Meanwhile, his friend Jung Choon-taek is a death row convict. His friends tells him that his execution date has been set. Nobody can save him except, possibly, the South Korean president. To marry Kang So-hyun and to save his friend, Jang...
- 5/17/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Following the worldwide blockbuster that emerged from ‘Train to Busan,’ it was inevitable that the studio responsible for the film would be tasked with providing a follow-up zombie film. Transporting the action back-in-time to the Feudal period of South Korean history, many of the same elements were placed into this new film.
“Rampant” is screening at the Udine Far East Film Festival
During a supposed trade between each other, Lee Chun is accused of treason against the court and sent to a remote province in the country due to his status as Prince of Joseon. Finally returning home with his concierge Hak-soo, he soon finds that the rumors are false about a band of rebels threatening to overrun the country, when they encounter a horde of flesh-eating zombies running wild in the province. Meeting up with royal guards Eul-ryong Deok-hee and Dae-gil, the group prepares a series of defenses at...
“Rampant” is screening at the Udine Far East Film Festival
During a supposed trade between each other, Lee Chun is accused of treason against the court and sent to a remote province in the country due to his status as Prince of Joseon. Finally returning home with his concierge Hak-soo, he soon finds that the rumors are false about a band of rebels threatening to overrun the country, when they encounter a horde of flesh-eating zombies running wild in the province. Meeting up with royal guards Eul-ryong Deok-hee and Dae-gil, the group prepares a series of defenses at...
- 4/30/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Following the worldwide blockbuster that emerged from ‘Train to Busan,’ it was inevitable that the studio responsible for the film would be tasked with providing a follow-up zombie film. Transporting the action back-in-time to the Feudal period of South Korean history, many of the same elements were placed into this new film to be released by WellGo USA on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital on February 26.
During a supposed trade between each other, Lee Chun is accused of treason against the court and sent to a remote province in the country due to his status as Prince of Joseon. Finally returning home with his concierge Hak-soo, he soon finds that the rumors are false about a band of rebels threatening to overrun the country, when they encounter a horde of flesh-eating zombies running wild in the province. Meeting up with royal guards Eul-ryong Deok-hee and Dae-gil, the group...
During a supposed trade between each other, Lee Chun is accused of treason against the court and sent to a remote province in the country due to his status as Prince of Joseon. Finally returning home with his concierge Hak-soo, he soon finds that the rumors are false about a band of rebels threatening to overrun the country, when they encounter a horde of flesh-eating zombies running wild in the province. Meeting up with royal guards Eul-ryong Deok-hee and Dae-gil, the group...
- 3/2/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
The rise of Ryu Jun-yeol as an actor has been an interesting one to watch. Starting his film career in the excellent 2015 social thriller “Socialphobia”, he really exploded on the scene in 2017 with three important and appreciated supporting roles in hit films “The King”, “A Taxi Driver” and “Heart Blackened”. These were followed by equally lauded roles in “Little Forest” and “Believer” in 2018. Only two months into the new year, we have the trailer for his second film of 2019, and his first leading role, in director Park Noo-ri’s “Money” (literal title).
Synopsis
Il-Hyun begins to work as a stock broker. His dream is to become rich. Il-Hyun meets a stock market scammer known as “Ticket Man”. He asks Il-Hyun to help in a stock market scam. Meanwhile, Han Ji-Cheol works for Financial Supervisory Service and has chased “Ticket Man” for a long time. He senses something suspicious with Il-Hyun.
Synopsis
Il-Hyun begins to work as a stock broker. His dream is to become rich. Il-Hyun meets a stock market scammer known as “Ticket Man”. He asks Il-Hyun to help in a stock market scam. Meanwhile, Han Ji-Cheol works for Financial Supervisory Service and has chased “Ticket Man” for a long time. He senses something suspicious with Il-Hyun.
- 2/13/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
“For the past decade, Next Entertainment World has continuously challenged itself whenever there was an opportunity,” said Kim Woo-taek, chairman of Next Entertainment World.
Indeed, New, celebrating its 10th anniversary at Busan, has come a long way in a short time, developing itself from a second mover in the industry into a total entertainment company, overcoming hurdles and implementing innovative decisions. Take, for example, the company’s beginnings. When Kim launched New in 2008 with only four employees, the Korean film industry had been dominated by long-established, vertically integrated big companies. Cj Entertainment had been the top Korean distributor since 2003, with Showbox the a runner-up. The Korean arms of Hollywood majors had boasted strong lineups. A fledging in such a saturated industry, New started its domestic distribution business with foreign titles including Catherine Hardwicke’s “Twilight.” In its second year, when it launched investment-distribution operations of Korean titles, it became one of the top five distributors.
Indeed, New, celebrating its 10th anniversary at Busan, has come a long way in a short time, developing itself from a second mover in the industry into a total entertainment company, overcoming hurdles and implementing innovative decisions. Take, for example, the company’s beginnings. When Kim launched New in 2008 with only four employees, the Korean film industry had been dominated by long-established, vertically integrated big companies. Cj Entertainment had been the top Korean distributor since 2003, with Showbox the a runner-up. The Korean arms of Hollywood majors had boasted strong lineups. A fledging in such a saturated industry, New started its domestic distribution business with foreign titles including Catherine Hardwicke’s “Twilight.” In its second year, when it launched investment-distribution operations of Korean titles, it became one of the top five distributors.
- 10/5/2018
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
‘Shoplifters’.
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) today announced the nine films nominated for this year’s Best Asian Film award.
This is the second year Aacta has presented the award, which forms the foundation for the organisation’s Asia International Engagement Program. The award is meant to recognise the calibre of films from the Asian region and their growing popularity in Australasia and around the world – Asian films have contributed $36 million to the Aussie box office in the last 12 months.
This year’s nominees are: Joon-Hwan Jang’s 1987 When the Day Comes (South Korea); Yang Ya-che’s The Bold, The Corrupt and the Beautiful (Taiwan); Muye Wen’s Dying to Survive (China); Dipesh Jain’s Gali Guleiyan (India); Amit V. Masurkar’s Newton (India); Raj Kumar Hirani’s Sanju (India); Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters (Japan), which won the Palme d’Or; Australian director Seth Lareny’s...
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) today announced the nine films nominated for this year’s Best Asian Film award.
This is the second year Aacta has presented the award, which forms the foundation for the organisation’s Asia International Engagement Program. The award is meant to recognise the calibre of films from the Asian region and their growing popularity in Australasia and around the world – Asian films have contributed $36 million to the Aussie box office in the last 12 months.
This year’s nominees are: Joon-Hwan Jang’s 1987 When the Day Comes (South Korea); Yang Ya-che’s The Bold, The Corrupt and the Beautiful (Taiwan); Muye Wen’s Dying to Survive (China); Dipesh Jain’s Gali Guleiyan (India); Amit V. Masurkar’s Newton (India); Raj Kumar Hirani’s Sanju (India); Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters (Japan), which won the Palme d’Or; Australian director Seth Lareny’s...
- 10/3/2018
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Initiatives include new Kofic committee, Peace film festival and line-up of North Korean films at Bifan fest.
South Korea’s film industry is moving towards forging closer ties with North Korea, following the groundbreaking Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula announced April 27.
The Korean Film Council (Kofic) has set up a special committee for North-South Korean film exchange, which was launched on July 5. Following in the footsteps of a similar committee that Kofic operated 2003-2008, before the advent of previous conservative administrations, this new committee is expected to develop exchange projects and symposiums, and is...
South Korea’s film industry is moving towards forging closer ties with North Korea, following the groundbreaking Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula announced April 27.
The Korean Film Council (Kofic) has set up a special committee for North-South Korean film exchange, which was launched on July 5. Following in the footsteps of a similar committee that Kofic operated 2003-2008, before the advent of previous conservative administrations, this new committee is expected to develop exchange projects and symposiums, and is...
- 7/10/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Based on Yang Woo-suk’s 2011 homonymous webtoon, “Steel Rain” attempts to deal with the scenario of a North Korean coup d’état, through a Hollywood blockbuster approach, for the most part.
Eom Cheol-woo, a North Korean agent, is tasked with an assassination mission, only to become witness to a terrorist attack which is actually a coup d’état, involving an Us army helicopter. After the disaster that follows, Eom ends up in the South, along with his injured No. 1. Through a number of adventures including a young obstetrician and a plastic surgeon, Eom ends up with Kwak Cheol-woo, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security for the S. Korean government, who also happens to be the ex-husband of the aforementioned plastic surgeon. The two of them try to prevent the breakout of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.
The basic idea of the film, of the cooperation...
Eom Cheol-woo, a North Korean agent, is tasked with an assassination mission, only to become witness to a terrorist attack which is actually a coup d’état, involving an Us army helicopter. After the disaster that follows, Eom ends up in the South, along with his injured No. 1. Through a number of adventures including a young obstetrician and a plastic surgeon, Eom ends up with Kwak Cheol-woo, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security for the S. Korean government, who also happens to be the ex-husband of the aforementioned plastic surgeon. The two of them try to prevent the breakout of a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.
The basic idea of the film, of the cooperation...
- 5/29/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Based on the testimony of infamous South Korean spy “Black Venus,” who once infiltrated the highest ranks of North Korean leadership, Yoon Jong-bin’s “The Spy Gone North” recounts a tortuous operation that’s more fascinating and far-fetched than many fictional espionage yarns. Instead of the usual dose of action and suspense one expects of this genre, watching this dense 140-minute political drama unfold is like fumbling through a long tunnel that’s nonetheless worth it when the ray of light emerges at the end. Though nowhere near as crowd-pleasing as the recent espionage action-fantasy “Steel Rain,” this well-crafted work deserves to be seen for its thorough account of intricate workings of secret service and political skullduggery.
After debuting with the violent and intense independent film “The Unforgiven,” which screened in Cannes’ Un certain regard section in 2005, Yoon went on achieve commercial success. Even so, a strain of social critique,...
After debuting with the violent and intense independent film “The Unforgiven,” which screened in Cannes’ Un certain regard section in 2005, Yoon went on achieve commercial success. Even so, a strain of social critique,...
- 5/17/2018
- by Maggie Lee
- Variety Film + TV
South korea’s film distribution market is in the midst of such rapid change that it’s likely to soon face a new chapter in its existence.
There are multiple factors behind this shakeup, not the least being the agreement between Disney and 21st Century Fox for the Walt Disney Co.’s $52.4 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox. One result will probably be for the two studios’ Korean offices to be merged by this summer.
That will clearly impact the releasing patterns of their lineups. Also, according to the Korean Film Council’s annual report, the two companies together accounted for 15.9% of the total box office revenue in 2017, which exceeds Cj Entertainment’s 15%.
At the same time, traditional market leaders including Cj Entertainment and Next Entertainment World have been losing their grip. The Kofic data shows that Cj Entertainment has been the top local distributor in the country since 2003. It remained on top last year,...
There are multiple factors behind this shakeup, not the least being the agreement between Disney and 21st Century Fox for the Walt Disney Co.’s $52.4 billion acquisition of 20th Century Fox. One result will probably be for the two studios’ Korean offices to be merged by this summer.
That will clearly impact the releasing patterns of their lineups. Also, according to the Korean Film Council’s annual report, the two companies together accounted for 15.9% of the total box office revenue in 2017, which exceeds Cj Entertainment’s 15%.
At the same time, traditional market leaders including Cj Entertainment and Next Entertainment World have been losing their grip. The Kofic data shows that Cj Entertainment has been the top local distributor in the country since 2003. It remained on top last year,...
- 5/10/2018
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
Hong Kong film icon Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia, who is rarely seen in public these days, will be on hand to open the 20th edition of the Far East Film Festival in Udine. She will also receive the festival’s lifetime award, the Golden Mulberry.
The opening film is set to be Korean thriller “Steel Rain, an actioner backed by streaming video platform Netflix. There are currently no plans to show it on the big screen again. Also on the opening night agenda is Malaysian drama “Crossroads: One Two Jaga.”
The festival program runs 20-28 April and includes films from 11 East Asian territories, 5 world premieres and a trio of restored titles. Among the classics is Johnnie To’s “Throw Down,” brought back to life by the Italo-Hong Kong company L’Immagine Ritrovata.
New for the 20th edition is the launch of the White Mulberry competitive section. It will include 21 films by first or second time directors.
The opening film is set to be Korean thriller “Steel Rain, an actioner backed by streaming video platform Netflix. There are currently no plans to show it on the big screen again. Also on the opening night agenda is Malaysian drama “Crossroads: One Two Jaga.”
The festival program runs 20-28 April and includes films from 11 East Asian territories, 5 world premieres and a trio of restored titles. Among the classics is Johnnie To’s “Throw Down,” brought back to life by the Italo-Hong Kong company L’Immagine Ritrovata.
New for the 20th edition is the launch of the White Mulberry competitive section. It will include 21 films by first or second time directors.
- 4/12/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The Far East Film Festival launches its 20th edition on 20 April with Netflix’s South Korean spy thriller Steel Rain, playing for the very first time on the big screen. The world premiere of Namron’s Malaysian drama Crossroads: One Two Jaga will also screen on Opening Night at the festival in Udine, Italy. A total of 81 films from 11 Asian territories will be screened over 9 days, closing on 28 April with Indonesian war thriller Night Bus. Hong Kong screen legend Brigitte Lin is this year’s guest of honour, with the festival screening 6 of her best-loved films, including Ronny Yu’s The Bride with White Hair, Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express and Raymond Lee’s Dragon Inn. Among this year’s highlights include Korean thrillers...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/11/2018
- Screen Anarchy
A combination of old favorites and new commercial hits dominate the lineup at the 20th Far East Film Festival held in the northern Italian city of Udine later this month.
Opening night at the specialist Asian film festival will see a world first and perhaps last, with a screening of South Korean spy thriller Steel Rain. Directed by Yang Woo-suk, the Netflix original stars Jung Woo-sung and has never been shown in a theater before — and there are no plans to do so in the future. Malaysian drama Crossroads – One Two Jaga also will screen on opening night.
Feff will screen 81...
Opening night at the specialist Asian film festival will see a world first and perhaps last, with a screening of South Korean spy thriller Steel Rain. Directed by Yang Woo-suk, the Netflix original stars Jung Woo-sung and has never been shown in a theater before — and there are no plans to do so in the future. Malaysian drama Crossroads – One Two Jaga also will screen on opening night.
Feff will screen 81...
- 4/11/2018
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Festival closer will be Emil Heradi’s Indonesian war thriller Night Bus on April 28.
Celebrating its 20th edition, the Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine, Italy is set to open with Korean espionage thriller Steel Rain and the world premiere of Nam Ron’s Malaysian crime drama Crossroads: One Two Jaga on April 20.
Directed by Yang Woo-seok, Jung Woo-sung-starrer Steel Rain was released in South Korea last December where it clocked up more than 4.45 million admissions according to the Korean Film Council (Kofic). It was released worldwide on Netflix last month, but this will be the film’s “world...
Celebrating its 20th edition, the Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine, Italy is set to open with Korean espionage thriller Steel Rain and the world premiere of Nam Ron’s Malaysian crime drama Crossroads: One Two Jaga on April 20.
Directed by Yang Woo-seok, Jung Woo-sung-starrer Steel Rain was released in South Korea last December where it clocked up more than 4.45 million admissions according to the Korean Film Council (Kofic). It was released worldwide on Netflix last month, but this will be the film’s “world...
- 4/11/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
A combination of old favorites and new commercial hits dominate the lineup at the 20th Far East Film Festival held in the northern Italian city of Udine later this month.
Opening night at the specialist Asian film festival will see a world first and perhaps last, with a screening of South Korean spy thriller <em>Steel Rain</em>. Directed by Yang Woo-suk, the Netflix original stars Jung Woo-sung and has never been shown in a theater before — and there are no plans to do so in the future. Malaysian drama <em>Crossroads – One Two Jaga</em> also will screen on opening night....
Opening night at the specialist Asian film festival will see a world first and perhaps last, with a screening of South Korean spy thriller <em>Steel Rain</em>. Directed by Yang Woo-suk, the Netflix original stars Jung Woo-sung and has never been shown in a theater before — and there are no plans to do so in the future. Malaysian drama <em>Crossroads – One Two Jaga</em> also will screen on opening night....
- 4/11/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Report notes strong trend for global Ott buyers of Korean films such as Train To Busan and The Handmaiden.
South Korean film industry exports went up by 17.5% last year, according to a 2017 market analysis published today by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).
Exports totaled $118.8m with completed films taking in $40.1m, a sum down 7.2% from the previous year.
In contrast, export of services such as VFX and Di almost doubled to $78.1m, with demand for services on large-scale Chinese films at a steady flow.
The government-funded agency noted the most remarkable recent trend was global Ott buyers of Korean films – e.g. Netflix picking up worldwide rights to Train To Busan and Pandora and Amazon Studios picking up The Handmaiden for the Us in 2016. In 2017, Netflix snapped up North-South Korean action thriller Steel Rain and Yeon Sang-ho’s sci-fi thriller Psychokinesis before local release.
Asia accounted...
South Korean film industry exports went up by 17.5% last year, according to a 2017 market analysis published today by the Korean Film Council (Kofic).
Exports totaled $118.8m with completed films taking in $40.1m, a sum down 7.2% from the previous year.
In contrast, export of services such as VFX and Di almost doubled to $78.1m, with demand for services on large-scale Chinese films at a steady flow.
The government-funded agency noted the most remarkable recent trend was global Ott buyers of Korean films – e.g. Netflix picking up worldwide rights to Train To Busan and Pandora and Amazon Studios picking up The Handmaiden for the Us in 2016. In 2017, Netflix snapped up North-South Korean action thriller Steel Rain and Yeon Sang-ho’s sci-fi thriller Psychokinesis before local release.
Asia accounted...
- 2/12/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.