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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'The Pact' taps former first lady's controversies for box office surprise
Political thriller outperforms Hollywood blockbuster despite limited release On the eve of South Korea's presidential election, an unlikely contender has made waves at the box office. "The Pact" — a darkly provocative occult thriller — claimed second place in nationwide ticket sales Monday, an unexpected showing for a low-budget production with a partisan political agenda. According to the Korean Film Council's latest box office data, "The Pact" drew 60,140 viewers on its opening day Monday, narrowly edging out $400 million Hollywood juggernaut "Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning" (59,953 admissions) and trailing only the homegrown comedy "Hi-Five" (75,614 admissions). These numbers were despite the film's relatively limited theatrical release: Just 1,296 screenings on 536 screens nationwide, roughly a third of its competitors. "The Pact" follows an ambitious woman named Ji-hee (Kim Gyu-ri) who climbs the social ladder through plastic surgery, identity fraud and dark rituals to eventually set her sights on controlling the entire country. Whether directly stated or not, audiences swiftly made the connection to Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose impeachment following his shock Dec. 3 martial law declaration led to Tuesday's snap presidential election. Allegations of the couple's involvement with shamanistic practices have dogged them since the earliest days of Yoon's political ascent — from the Chinese character for "king" mysteriously appearing on Yoon's palm during televised debates to their controversial decision to abandon the Blue House in Seoul for a new presidential office about 6 kilometers south. Suspicions swriled throughout Yoon's tenure that spiritual advisers introduced by the first lady were pulling strings behind the scenes in major policy decisions. The film's Korean title, "Shinmyung," is the most glaring reference: It's Kim's given birth name (Myung-shin) backwards. The former first lady legally changed her name to Keon Hee in 2008. The nature of the production also points to the work's political intent. The film was bankrolled by progressive YouTube channel Openmind TV, which has faced multiple defamation lawsuits from public figures, and lost on one occasion. While producers claim their story draws from verified investigative reporting, the clearly fictionalized story frequently veers into unsubstantiated territory, depicting graphic shamanistic rituals taking place in the presidential office — scenarios for which no concrete evidence exists. "The Pact" is not the first purported expose on the former first lady to hit theaters. In December last year, documentary "The First Lady," exploring corruption allegations surrounding Kim, sold 84,888 tickets in its theatrical run — an impressive figure for low-budget independent cinema.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'Hi-Five' tops weekend box office, edging out 'Mission: Impossible 8'
South Korean action comedy "Hi-Five" seized the top spot at the local weekend box office, unseating the latest "Mission: Impossible" installment, data showed Monday. According to the Korean Film Council, the comedy movie, directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol, drew approximately 380,000 moviegoers from Friday to Sunday. Premiering Friday, the movie follows five ordinary people whose lives take a dramatic turn after receiving organ transplants. "Hi-Five" ended the reign of "Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning," Tom Cruise's eighth installment of the popular action franchise, which had held the No. 1 position since its local theatrical debut May 17. It has attracted a cumulative audience of 2.47 million to date. During the weekend, the film attracted about 371,000 moviegoers. Coming in third was "Big Deal," starring Lee Je-hoon and Yoo Hae-jin, which sold 131,000 tickets over the weekend. Inspired by a real-life story, the film revolves around two men entangled in a merger case during the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. (Yonhap)
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Good Boy: Park Bo Gum says he'd ‘love to do an Indian musical', talks Muhammad Ali as he gears to pack a punch in upcoming K-drama
Park Bo Gum is on a winning streak after his portrayal of the resilient Gwan Sik in the Netflix' hit When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring alongside IU. The actor is now gearing up to pack a punch in Good Boy. He takes to the boxing ring as Yoon Dong Ju, a former gold medalist boxing champion. However, Dong Ju's days of glory are behind him. How does he salvage his one-time 'good boy' reputation. He enters the police special task force through a special recruitment programme with fellow athletes Kim So Hyun and Lee Sang Yi. Also Read | Park Bo Gum reveals he was ghosted by IU's on-screen lover after Tangerines wrap-up: 'I texted… but no reply' Talking to the Indian Express as part of global media interaction, the actor said when it came to choosing his projects, he had a fairly simple approach. 'When I look for potential projects, the first thing I ask myself is, is this a good, entertaining story? And the second one is: does it make me think? And also, I like to think whether this is something that you can watch with your family and discuss,' says Bo Gum. The action comedy Good Boy follows a group of former national athletes who become police officers. Swapping medals for badges, the one time champs turn into vigilantes in their fight against corruption, injustice and crime. The actor reveals Good Boy was the first project he took on return from his military enlistment in 2023. 'This was a challenge I took on for myself. I had never done an action comedy and crime investigation genre before.' Also read: Kim So Hyun admits there was 'no escaping' from Park Bo Gum after he didn't let her 'enjoy a meal alone' The actor recalls Muhammad Ali's famous quote 'Impossible is nothing,' to describe his character. 'Yoon Dong Ju may seem like a simple bulldozer who only uses his fists, but inside, has a strong sense of justice'. Having earned nicknames such as the 'Nation's Little Brother' and 'Nation's Crown Prince', Park Bo Gum eventually transitioned to being known as the 'Nation's Boyfriend'. He first gained attention for his portrayal of the Baduk champion Choi Taek in Reply 1988, almost a decade ago. This was followed by several noteworthy performances in Love In the Moonlight (2016), The Encounter (2018) and Record of Youth 2020. When asked to detail a glorious moment in his 15 year career, he earnestly responds, 'Anytime someone remembers a character that I played in a project, I feel I have achieved something'. The Korean Film Council described Bo Gum as an actor whose innocent masculinity was rarely seen in Korean cinema. Known for his portrayal of men who showcase a strength of character, and embrace their vulnerability on screen, Bo Gum acknowledges it comes from a place of empathy. 'I feel I relate well to people, maybe that's the reason I can display a full range of emotions. When I am going through a script, the first thing for me is to understand if I relate to the character I am playing. I gravitate towards stories and roles that can be conversation starters .' As Korean content continues to be a global phenomenon across streaming platforms, Park Bo Gum who has been a prominent face of the Korean wave says , 'In the past, the subject matters that were dealt with in K dramas were not as diverse as we see today. Thanks to streaming services and different outlets, we now have a plethora of K dramas that explore different subjects, as well as genres and themes. In Good Boy too, the storylines of the many characters are relatable. Our music composer has incorporated new genres into the narrative, to give you a wholesome experience.' The multi-hyphenate Park Bo Gum is also a singer and musician and one of the cultural ambassadors of South Korea. Known for his love to explore diverse cultures, the actor says he would love to be part of an Indian musical. 'If opportunity allows, I would love to visit India for a production, or maybe do a musical, within India. If that happens, I would love to join the cast alongside my co-star Sang Yi from Good Boy, that would make me happy.' Good Boy's cast includes actors Kim So Hyun( My Lovely Liar),Lee Sang Yi(Spice Up Your Love) ,Heo Sung Tae( Hunt) and Tae Won Seok( Bloodhounds). The show premieres on May 31st Prime Video.
Korea Herald
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Kim Sae-ron film set for May 30 release
Late actress to make final screen appearance in music drama A film featuring the late South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron will open in theaters May 30 following a press screening and audience Q&A session on May 21, the production company announced Monday. "Guitar Man," produced by local pharmaceutical firm Sungwon Pharmaceutical, centers on a struggling musician who finds purpose through his art. Kim plays Yoo-jin, a keyboardist in the band. Production materials describe her character as someone whose warmth helps the isolated protagonist reconnect with others. "Sae-ron showed bright energy on set and was full of passion. I had hoped she would make a wonderful comeback," said Sungwon Pharmaceutical CEO Lee Sun-jung, who also directed and starred in the film. "As our film's original soundtrack is titled 'A World Without Pain,' I hope she is happy in a world without pain now." According to local media reports, production initially began under director Shin Jae-ho, known for past films including "100 Days with Mr. Arrogant" (2004), "Untouchable Lawmen" (2015) and "Showdown" (2016). However, the latest Korean Film Council database now lists Lee as the film's director, indicating a mid-production change in leadership. In a previous interview with Hankook Ilbo following Kim's death, Shin described Kim as "incredibly professional" despite her young age. "She had the presence of a senior colleague. Among the cast of 'Guitar Man,' she had the most experience and showed remarkable skill," Shin was quoted as saying. Another film featuring Kim, "Everyday We Are," is also scheduled for a posthumous release later this year. Kim, who died in February at age 24, had been reportedly attempting a career comeback through the film "Guitar Man" after being largely excluded from the entertainment industry following a drunk-driving incident in May 2022. She was fined 20 million won (approximately $15,000) for the incident, which significantly damaged her public image and career prospects. Kim rose to fame in the 2010 thriller "The Man from Nowhere," where she played a kidnapped child opposite lead actor Won Bin. The breakout performance earned her best new actress at the Korean Film Awards, establishing her as one of the most promising child actors of her generation.
Korea Herald
12-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Trump's film tariffs might actually help South Korea
If the 100 percent tariffs go forward, Korea may see local streaming platform, non-English market growth, experts say On May 4, US President Donald Trump declared 100 percent tariffs on all foreign-made films, arguing that aggressive incentives from other countries were driving productions abroad and threatening the survival of the US film industry. No additional information has since been provided on how the tariffs will be imposed and the lack of details in the announcement has drawn backlash from governments and entertainment industries around the world. France's culture minister has since pledged to defend the country's support system for local cinema, while Australia's film industry has urged actor Mel Gibson -- who started his career in Australia and is reportedly an advisor to Trump -- to intervene. India's film sector, which earns about 40 percent of its international revenue from the US, expressed concerns that American distributors might reduce their acquisition of Indian films, potentially pushing the industry further toward digital platforms. Major Hollywood studios and US entertainment guilds have also warned that the tariffs could increase production costs and harm international box office performance, which now far surpasses domestic earnings. In South Korea, the response to Trump's announcement of the 100 percent tariffs has been more measured. Given the relatively small share of US-bound film exports, experts say the immediate impact on South Korea's film industry is likely to be minimal. According to data from the Korean Film Council, the export value of Korean films in the past year totaled $41.93 million. Of that, only $4.21 million -- around 10 percent -- came from exports to the US. 'Korean film exports are mostly for video release (such as CD or video on demand content) rather than theatrical screenings,' said Kim Yoon-zi, a senior researcher at Export-Import Bank of Korea. 'A large portion of Korea's movie exports goes to Asia, particularly Japan, while relatively little is exported to Europe or the US. If tariffs are imposed only on film prints, the impact is unlikely to be significant for Korea.' Possibly due to the anticipated minimal impact, major production companies including CJ ENM, Studio Dragon and SLL said they have yet to issue any formal guidelines in regards to the recent announcement, instead adopting a wait-and-see stance as the specifics of the tariffs remain unclear. However, Kim warned that the financial fallout could extend beyond exports. 'When foreign productions shoot on-location in Korea, we earn revenue from location fees -- and that amount actually exceeds our film export earnings to the US. Potential losses in this area could be more significant,' said Kim of Export-Import Bank of Korea. Streaming and series: a potential silver lining Given the unclear criteria as to what Trump's tariffs will apply to, experts note that if the scope expands to include streaming originals and series, there could be a silver lining: A potential retreat by Netflix and Disney+ might open the door for local platforms to regain market share. 'From the perspective of domestic streaming platforms, tariffs could actually work in their favor by putting pressure on Netflix and Disney, giving local services some breathing room,' said pop culture critic Kim Hern-sik. 'Korean terrestrial broadcasters and network productions may also see a rebound, with fewer Korean originals being commissioned by Netflix due to tariff constraints.' The tariffs could also prompt Korean producers to pursue growth more actively in non-English-speaking markets, where they are already seeing steadily increasing returns. Recent hits such as "When Life Gives You Tangerines," "Karma" and "Weak Hero" have performed strongly across non-English markets, underscoring a growing appetite for K-content globally. 'Just a few years ago, our main goal was to make it onto American rankings and to be judged by US critics. But now, the trend is changing. Streaming service platforms have become more global, with their user bases have becoming more diverse,' said Kim Hern-sik. The Korea Creative Content Agency, a government organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has made localized content a key pillar of its global expansion strategy. The agency currently operates 25 overseas business centers around the world, which serve as hubs for distributing and creating content tailored to local audiences. Of the 25 centers, six are located in English-speaking countries, while the rest are spread across non-English-speaking regions. KOCCA said it plans to open five additional centers this year as part of its continued push into global markets. "We have an overarching strategy to strengthen the localization of diverse content, tailoring it to fit various markets in a more customized way," a KOCCA official said. Tving, one of South Korea's largest streaming platforms, is also preparing for full-scale global expansion, targeting markets with strong demand for K-content such as North America, Southeast Asia and Japan. To minimize up-front costs, the company said it plans to adopt a direct-to-consumer business model, first showcasing its content through branded sections before directly acquiring users. Tving said it aims to reach 15 million subscribers by 2027, with an even split between domestic and international users. A merger with rival platform Wavve, which has been a long-held initiative for Tving in recent years, is seen as key to achieving the goal. According to Tving, the merger would not only boost subscriber numbers but also secure sufficient content to compete globally. 'Merging with Wavve would create a virtuous cycle -- expanding our subscriber base would increase our capacity for content investment, which would accelerate global expansion,' Tving CEO Choi Joo-hee said in a February earnings call.
