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'Clementine,' Korean cinema's oft-memed cult classic
Making a film is hard, making a good film harder still. But to craft something so spectacularly awful that it ascends to legendary status takes a special kind of genius. This series digs up the gems of Korean cinema remembered for their extraordinary badness. This is the first installment. A search for the 2004 film "Clementine" on Naver Movie, Korea's go-to platform for film ratings, reveals something peculiar: a wall of unanimous, rapturous praise rarely seen even for timeless masterpieces. "
Jan. 9, 2026 -
Movies in theaters this week
"Good Fortune" (US) Opened Jan. 7 Comedy/Drama Directed by Aziz Ansari A hapless angel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Aziz Ansari) and a wealthy tech investor (Seth Rogen). "Father Mother Sister Brother" (US) Opened Dec. 31 Comedy/Drama Directed by Jim Jarmusch Three sets of adult siblings pay visits to their distant, enigmatic parents in this triptych spanning the US, Ireland and France. "Once We Were Us" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 31 Romance Directed by Kim Do-y
Jan. 9, 2026 -
Across 70 years and 170 films, Ahn Sung-ki charted history of Korean cinema
Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki, one of Korea’s most beloved actors and a moral anchor of its cinema, died Monday at the age of 74. He had been receiving treatment in an intensive care unit and was hospitalized in an unconscious state for six days after he collapsed at his home on Dec. 30. Over a career that spanned nearly seven decades, Ahn became known for his calm authority and remarkable range. He appeared in more than 170 films, a body of work that mirrored the evolution of modern Korean cinema i
Jan. 5, 2026 -
Ahn Sung-ki, revered actor who shaped Korean cinema, dies at 74
Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korea’s most beloved and respected actors, died Monday. He was 74. Ahn had been receiving treatment in an intensive care unit, with his family at his side, according to officials. He had been hospitalized in an unconscious state for six days after collapsing on Dec. 30 while eating at his home. The actor had been living with blood cancer since 2019 and had recently been focusing on recovery while preparing to return to acting. Though declared to be in remission in 2020,
Jan. 5, 2026 -
Beloved star Ahn Sung-ki, six-decade fixture of Korean cinema, dies at 74
Ahn Sung-ki, one of the country's most beloved actors, widely known for his warm public image and decades-long contributions to Korean cinema, died Monday. He was 74. He had been receiving treatment in an intensive care unit of a Seoul hospital after collapsing while choking on food at his home Tuesday. He died at the hospital at around 9 a.m., surrounded by his family, according to the Korea Film Actor's Association. Ahn, affectionately known as the "Nation's Actor," appeared in approximately 1
Jan. 5, 2026 -
2026 Korean cinema preview: Less is more?
By now, the lament over Korean cinema's postpandemic struggles has become something of a truism: the rows of empty seats at multiplexes, the tentpoles that fizzled on arrival, the investors backing out. And yet 2025 managed to add even more insult to the injury: For the first time in years, not a single homegrown production crossed the threshold of 10 million admissions, long considered the gold standard for megahit status here. Hollywood imports "Zootopia 2" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash" made a la
Jan. 4, 2026 -
Home invasion suspect files countersuit against Actor Nana
South Korean actress Nana, formerly a member of the girl group After School, has been sued by a man accused of breaking into her home and attempting a robbery in November, her agency Sublime said Friday. According to the agency, the man, in his 30s, recently filed a complaint against Nana on charges of attempted murder and aggravated bodily injury. The man was arrested on Nov. 15 on charges of robbery and bodily injury after he allegedly broke into Nana’s residence using a ladder. Police said he
Jan. 2, 2026 -
Movies in theaters this week
"Once We Were Us" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 31 Romance Directed by Kim Do-young Two strangers (Moon Ga-young, Koo Kyo-hwan) meet on a bus, fall in love while chasing their dreams in the city and reunite a decade after parting ways, in this Korean remake of the 2018 Chinese film "Us and Them." "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 24 Romance Directed by Kim Hye-young A listless high schooler (Choo Young-woo) falls for a classmate with anterograde amnesia,
Jan. 2, 2026 -
Veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki in critical condition
Veteran Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki, 73, was rushed to the emergency room on Tuesday and is currently in critical condition, according to local media reports on Wednesday. Ahn was reported to have collapsed at his residence on Tuesday afternoon after choking while eating. He was transported to a nearby hospital, reportedly in a state of cardiac arrest, and was admitted to the intensive care unit upon arrival. Ahn had publicly revealed during an interview in 2022 that he had been battling blood canc
Dec. 31, 2025 -
'Avatar: Fire and Ash' steamrolls through year-end box office at record pace
"Avatar: Fire and Ash" is tearing through the Korean box office at a record pace, crossing 4 million admissions in just 12 days — the fastest any 2025 release has hit that mark as moviegoers flocked to theaters over the Christmas holiday weekend. According to the Korean Film Council's box office tracker, James Cameron's sci-fi threequel had racked up 4.04 million admissions as of Monday morning, edging out "Zootopia 2" by a single day to set the new benchmark. The $400 million blockbuster raked
Dec. 29, 2025 -
Park Si-hoo walks his long road back to cinema
"I'd been looking forward to this for almost 15 years," Park Si-hoo says Thursday in an office in central Seoul. Having spent years away from cinema, he missed the feel of a film set: Slower pace of shooting, the close-knit vibe among the cast and crew. "Then I got to Mongolia for the shoot — minus 38 degrees — and it was harder than any TV drama I've done." The freezing location work was for "Choir of God," a made-for-the-holidays weepie about North Korean soldiers who form a fake church choir
Dec. 28, 2025 -
Movies in theaters this week
"Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 24 Romance Directed by Kim Hye-young A listless high schooler (Choo Young-woo) falls for a classmate with anterograde amnesia who loses her memories each day (Shin Si-ah), in this Korean remake of the 2022 Japanese film based on Misaki Ichijo's novel. "Avatar: Fire and Ash" (US) Opened Dec. 17 Sci-fi Directed by James Cameron In the third instalment of the sci-fi franchise, the Sully family grapples with grief after
Dec. 26, 2025 -
Park Hae-soo rides another wave of global fame
"I only heard about it this morning," Park Hae-soo says. "They briefed me right before this interview. It still hasn't quite sunk in." Seated in a Samcheong-dong cafe on a Tuesday afternoon, Park is processing the news that his latest film, "The Great Flood," has rocketed to the top of Netflix's global charts — No. 1 in over 50 countries — within days of its Dec. 19 release. The news landed just hours ago, relayed by a staffer during a pre-interview meeting. Park pauses, almost bashful. "I'm jus
Dec. 24, 2025 -
Korean cinema confronts its toughest year in decades
By nearly every meaningful measure, 2025 will be remembered as one of the most challenging years in the history of Korean cinema. Investment in film production dried up, leading to a sharp decline in wide-release titles. Theater closures accelerated across the country. Audiences continued their migration away from multiplexes. Even the most anticipated productions from celebrated filmmakers failed to generate the enthusiasm that exhibitors had counted on. If the year demonstrated anything conclu
Dec. 23, 2025 -
'Zootopia 2' tops 2025 ticket sales in Korea as 'Avatar' gains ground
Disney is closing out the year with a potent one-two punch at the Korean box office. According to the Korean Film Council's ticketing tracker, "Zootopia 2" had racked up 6.33 million admissions as of Monday morning, becoming the first 2025 release to crack the 6 million mark. The animated sequel overtook "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle," previously the year's top-grossing title, on Thursday, just 23 days after its Nov. 26 opening. The Jared Bush-directed follow-up to the 2016 original has shatter
Dec. 22, 2025