The Best of K-Drama & Movies: Kinocine

During the 2026 Lunar New Year season in Seoul, Ozu Yasujiro’s 1959 masterpiece Good Morning (Ohayo) returned to theaters. Known for his "tatami shots," Ozu is celebrated for a style that contemplates life through fixed low-angle cameras, restrained editing, and repetitive daily dialogues. Unlike Akira Kurosawa, who depicted grand history and passion, Ozu captured the lives of common people with a minimalist eye. Good Morning is a vivid manifestation of this aesthetic. The setting is a newly developed suburban housing complex in 1950s Tokyo. The film unfolds through the landscapes of narrow alleys where small misunderstandings and rumors drift between tightly packed houses. Children play pranks on their way to school and gather at a neighbor's house after class to watch sumo wrestling on television. Their longing for modern gadgets reflects the rapid modernization and the dawn of a consumer society in Japan. At the heart of the story are two brothers, Minoru and Isamu, wh...

Director Jang Hang-jun is perhaps best known to the public as the husband of star writer Kim Eun-hee, a witty raconteur, and a frequent face on entertainment shows. While he has a long career as a screenwriter and director, it might be difficult for some to immediately point to a single "signature" masterpiece. However, Jang’s talent extends far beyond comedy. From his debut script The Adventures of Mrs. Park to his previous thriller Open the Door, he has consistently shown a sharp eye for human drama. His latest film,  The King's Warden (왕과 사는 남자= The Man Who Lives with the King), reveals his true depth as a storyteller, showcasing a profound perspective on history and character. The film tackles one of the most enduring stories in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty: the tragedy of King Danjong and his uncle, Grand Prince Suyang. In 1457, Lee Hong-wi (Danjong) is ousted from the throne and exiled to Cheongnyeongpo, a remote mountain village in Yeongwol. Amidst the looming ...

To coincide with the release of director Ryoo Seung-wan’s new film HUMINT , he recently published a book titled Conditions of Fun with interview specialist Ji Seung-ho. Since his shocking debut with Die Bad, Ryoo has consistently delivered groundbreaking works, evolving from a Chungmuro indie darling to a major powerhouse of Korean cinema. As the book's title suggests, his films advance step by step within the boundaries of Korean reality while maintaining a sharp focus on public appeal. HUMINT was conceived shortly after The Berlin File. While the geopolitical situation between North and South Korea remains largely unchanged, public perception and scrutiny toward the National Intelligence Service (NIS) have shifted significantly. This film dramatizes a scenario Ryoo Seung-wan imagined: What if North Korea was involved in the drug trade and illicit business across its borders? What if the South Korean NIS launched a secret operation in response? HUMINT is the high-stakes confrontat...