Korea Box Office Has Strongest Weekend of 2021

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefLeading Korean entertainment conglomerate CJ ENM is to break the theatrical window in the world’s fourth largest movie market with a simultaneous cinema and streaming release for “Seobok,” one of the year’s hottest Korean movies.The group said that it will distribute the sci-fi actioner in theaters on April 15 and also make it available on its own streaming service, Tving.While Hollywood studio Disney has chosen to release titles such as “Mulan” with simultaneous

Carole Horst Triumph and pain were bedfellows last year for the Korean film industry. But Berlin’s European Film Market and the imminent Hong Kong FilMart see Korean companies putting on a brave face.Korean cinemas were in a defensive mode early on in the coronavirus pandemic, as a population familiar with epidemics chose to stay away from crowded places.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefJapanese hit animation “Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train” enjoyed a 32% surge to move to the top of the Korean box office. It grossed $745,000 over the weekend to expand its cumulative total to $7.74 million in just over four weeks of release.“Demon Slayer” had not previously topped the Korean chart.

Diane Min, head of format sales at CJ ENM; Bonggyu "River" Kang, executive producer and showrunner for KBS Media’s The Return of Superman; and Jongwoo Kim, producer of MBC documentary Meeting You sat down with Rebecca Sun of The Hollywood Reporter to discuss their unscripted shows and the expanding international market for Korean entertainment in a THRPresents Q&A powered by Vision Media.

An Asian horror dream team has formed aroundThe Medium, a supernatural horror flick that will be co-produced by South Korea's Showbox and Thai studio GDH 599. Korea's Na Hong-jin, the visionary auteur behind The Wailing, Yellow Sea and The Chaser, will produce the film based on an original story he developed.

Netflix says its spending in Korea will top $500M in 2021 as the streamer doubles down on local content production after hits including #Alive.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefTop Thai director Banjong Pisanthanakun and Korean director-turned-producer Na Hong-jin (“The Chaser”) have teamed to create new Thai horror film “The Medium.”Now in post-production, “The Medium” is a horrifying story of a shaman’s inheritance in the Isan region of Thailand.

BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Big Bang’s G-Dragon have reportedly been in a relationship for the past year.This is according to a new report from South Korean entertainment site Dispatch, which was released today (February 24).

Rebecca Davis editorChina’s state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) announced late Monday evening that it has signed a strategic partnership in program development and online video with South Korean public broadcaster KBS.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefKorean theatrical box office slipped back into its rangebound new normal over the weekend, with nationwide gross takings of just $3.32 million between Friday and Sunday.

GOT7 member Jackson Wang has revealed that he was not allowed to promote his solo material in South Korea while under his former label JYP Entertainment.Back in 2017, while still under JYP, Wang started his own label called Team Wang, through which he released a slew of solo material. Including his debut solo album ‘Mirrors’ in 2019, and singles such as ‘100 Ways’ and ‘Fendiman’.

EXCLUSIVE: The highly anticipated Train to Busan remake at New Line looks to be gaining steam as sources tell Deadline, Timo Tjahjanto in negotiations to helm the studio’s remake based on the South Korean blockbuster hit.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBig Hit Entertainment, the South Korean company that brought BTS to the world, and Universal Music Group today announced an expanded strategic partnership that will see the two companies working together to “increase opportunities for artists through innovation and technology, whilst expanding the global reach of K-pop music and culture around the world,” according the announcement.

Manori Ravindran International Editor“Saturday Night Live” is back for more high jinks in Korea.Leading Korean producers ASTORY, best known for dramas such as Netflix’s hit series “Kindgom,” are bringing back the storied sketch show, which will again be hosted by comedian Shin Dong-yeob (pictured).