A new wave of assertiveness is sweeping through South Korean universities, challenging long-held traditions of professorial authority. Today’s students are becoming increasingly vocal about their academic rights, especially concerning their grades. "When I first started teaching here, students would barely come in after major exams to ask for clarification," said a Korean professor who wished to be identified simply as Don. He has been teaching international relations at a privat

Hashtag Korea Dec. 20, 2024

Visual record of endangered species National Geographic's "Photo Ark" exhibition, now on display in Seoul, opens with a stark warning: Time is running out for many of Earth's wondrous creatures. The ongoing project, helmed by photographer Joel Sartore since 2006, is a global initiative that has captured more than 15,000 species in human care. The exhibition turns out to be a powerful equalizing force. A tiny mantis commands the same frame size as a towering elephant, each sho

Culture Dec. 20, 2024

"Firefighters" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 4 Drama Directed by Kwak Kyung-taek Rookie firefighter Chul-woong (Joo Won) and his veteran teammate Jin Seop (Kwon Do-won) find their relationship pushed to the brink after a rescue operation ends in tragedy. The duo must face their greatest challenge yet that will test not only their courage but also their fractured bond. Based on a true story. "Mufasa: The Lion King" (US) Opened Dec. 18 Drama/Adventure Directed by Barry Jenkins Yo

Film Dec. 20, 2024

Star actor Song Joong-ki's latest overseas venture was, ironically, his first. "Bogota: City of the Lost," which screened for reporters Thursday at Megabox Coex in Seoul, wrapped after an unusually prolonged production -- first halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia in 2020, with completion taking several additional years. Although audiences now know Song from his Italian escapades in "Vincenzo" and Belgian journey in "My Name is Loh Kiwan," "Bogo

Film Dec. 19, 2024

A historical drama about Korea's legendary independence fighters is hitting IMAX screens just in time for the holidays. But first, its creators had to wrestle with the weight of history. "Harbin," starring top actor Hyun Bin as independence activist Ahn Jung-eun, follows the 1909 assassination of Ito Hirobumi, the first Japanese Governor-General of Korea and the first Prime Minister of Japan. The film reimagines a scenario in which, during his time in the armed resistance against

Film Dec. 18, 2024

In a dimly lit meeting room at the French Embassy in Seoul, filmmakers Cagla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti recall a defining moment at Busan's UN Memorial Cemetery. There, they bumped into a Turkish woman examining tombstones for traces of her grandfather, a soldier who fought in the Korean War. The chance meeting in 2018 would grow into "Ghost and Found," their latest multimedia project, which came out of the 2 1/2-month Villa Busan residency that ended just last week. The in

Film Dec. 18, 2024

Actor Ra Mi-ran was awarded the Film Artist of the Year honor at the Women in Film Korea festival on Monday, in recognition of her achievements as one of the industry’s most versatile and reliable performers. Known for her seamless transition between comedy and drama, Ra has built a reputation for portraying characters with authenticity and depth, often stealing scenes with her nuanced performances. Ra’s rise has been anything but overnight. After years in theater, she spent nearly a

Film Dec. 17, 2024

The shadow of "The Exorcist" (1973) haunts every occult film daring to tread the path of demonic possession. "The Priests 2: Dark Nuns," coming to theaters Jan. 24, takes on that specter by shifting the lens to territory rarely explored -- the world of nuns wrestling with dark forces beyond the church's sanctions. This spin-off of the 2015 Korean hit "The Priests" pivots from its predecessor by bringing two women to the fore. Where the original played like a su

Film Dec. 16, 2024

As National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik read out the results of the impeachment vote Saturday, the crowds filling Seoul's Yeouido district erupted in celebration. Car horns blared through the streets as tens of thousands of protesters, who had gathered throughout the day, broke into jubilant cheers and singing. "I declare that the impeachment motion has passed – 204 in favor, 85 against, 8 abstentions, three null votes," Woo said, confirming the passage of the motion to imp

Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2024

Last week's martial law debacle in South Korea, which nearly paralyzed the country and damaged its worldwide reputation, left many wondering about the odd nature of power grabs. While the attempt, fortunately, had failed, one might expect better planning for such a flagrant assault on the country's democratic institutions. The bizarrely amateurish and poorly thought out execution has sparked renewed questions about the president's judgment, including whispers about his notorious d

weekender Dec. 14, 2024

Hours before a critical impeachment vote against President Yoon Suk Yeol, tens of thousands of protesters poured into Seoul's streets Saturday, transforming the capital into a vivid display of a nation divided. By early afternoon, an estimated 85,000 people had converged on Yeouido, home to the National Assembly, according to police estimates. The crowd, demanding Yoon's removal from office, filled main thoroughfares and narrow alleyways, moving in a slow human tide toward the parliame

Social Affairs Dec. 14, 2024

"Firefighters" (South Korea) Opened Dec. 4 Drama Directed by Kwak Kyung-taek Rookie firefighter Chul-woong (Joo Won) and his veteran teammate Jin Seop (Kwon Do-won) find their relationship pushed to the brink after a rescue operation ends in tragedy. The duo must face their greatest challenge yet that will test not only their courage but also their fractured bond. Based on a true story. “Moana 2” (US) Opened Nov. 27 Fantasy/Adventure Directed by Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason

Film Dec. 13, 2024

On the night of Dec. 3, just minutes after President Yoon Suk Yeol's shocking declaration of martial law, dozens of elite military commandos descended on an obscure office building on the outskirts of Seoul. Their target was the headquarters of the National Election Commission -- the country's otherwise staid bureaucratic body that oversees elections. The raid proved anticlimactic -- the commandos only managed to snap a few photos of internal server systems before retreating, failing t

Politics Dec. 11, 2024

The lyrics of "Into the New World," Girls' Generation's 2007 debut single, echoed through the streets of Yeouido on Saturday evening: "Our rough road is before our eyes. Unknown future and walls. I won't change, I'm not giving up." What could have been a scene from a K-pop concert was, in fact, a massive demonstration being held in response to an unthinkable development in South Korean democracy: a president's shock declaration of martial law. The str

Social Affairs Dec. 7, 2024

When South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the world Tuesday night with an unexpected declaration of martial law — the first the country has seen since achieving full democracy in 1987 — his choice of words offered a revealing glimpse into his worldview. An analysis of key terms from his televised speech suggests a leader who increasingly views politics through an extremist lens and with a siege mentality, experts say. 'Legislative dictatorship' (ipbeob dokjae) &qu

Politics Dec. 5, 2024