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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 pre-Chinese New Year rush at the Kowloon-Canton Railway terminal in Hung Hom, in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives

In pictures: crossing the Hong Kong-mainland China border through the decades

Discover how Hong Kong-mainland border crossings transformed from slow, queue-filled journeys in the 1970s to today’s seamless high-speed rail trips.

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Songkhla’s hidden charm: the town poised to put southern Thailand on the tourist map

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Trump’s Beijing banquet: will it be Big Macs or Huaiyang cuisine in the Great Hall?

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Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from Stübli to Blanc de Noirs

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The cross-cultural love story that forms the heart of the Africa Centre

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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.
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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.

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

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Byeon Woo-seok (left) and IU in a still from Perfect Crown. Photo: Disney+.
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Review | Humint: dynamic Korean spy thriller from Ryoo Seung-wan on Netflix

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

John Woo in a still from “Dead Knot” (1969), which is streaming on Mubi as part of its partnership with M+ and Chanel.
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Profile | Who is Go Youn-jung, rising star of Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated?

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

South Korean ‘nation’s actor’ Ahn Sung-ki dies at 74

Ahn collected over 40 major movie awards in his lifetime, including winning the Grand Bell Awards for best actor five times.

South Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki attends the 11th Busan International Film Festival in 2006. Photo: AP
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The 12 best Asian films of 2025: Ne Zha 2, Kokuho and more

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Profile | Who is Kim Woo-bin, star of K-dramas Our Blues and Genie, Make a Wish?

Kim Woo-bin, who is marrying fellow K-drama star Shin Min-a this month, has proved he has the acting chops to match his good looks.

Korean actor Kim Woo-bin has starred in hit films and TV series including The Heirs, Twenty, Uncontrollably Fond, Our Blues and Genie, Make a Wish. He will marry his fellow K-drama star Shin Min-a this month. Photo: Instagram/kimwoobin
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Arata Iura (left) and Ryo in a still from Distance (2001), which was conceived in the aftermath of the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, carried out in March 1995 by the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult.
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Korean actor Choi Woo-shik recently starred in the Netflix series A Killer Paradox and Melo Movie, and found fame in Parasite and Train to Busan. Photo: Netflix
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A still from Another World, the opening film of the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2025. The festival runs from October 22 to November 9.
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Review | The People Upstairs: cheeky sex comedy directed by and starring Ha Jung-woo

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Can the Busan International Film Festival help Korean cinema stay on top?

BIFF’s new director sees the festival as an antidote to shrinking cinema audiences and a beacon for where Asian cinema is headed.

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