Asian Drama

A fatigued man wakes up at a bar with a bartender who will forever change his life as he gets to know more about her. Three criminals have somewhat accomplished their task of kidnapping their target, but their overall mission seems to go nowhere in the end. In the late 1970s, a mysterious woman runs a bar where a deadly situation will affect the lives of everyone. Two killers are looking for their faceless victim, who shows up at a diner every day at 6 o'clock sharp. Four incredibly talented Korean filmmakers, four intriguing cinematic visions, four astounding stories revolving around murderers for hire. (Source: fantasiafestival.com) ~~ Adapted from the short story "The Killers" by Ernest Hemingway. ~~ Release dates: Jul 24, 2024 (Festival) || Oct 23, 2024 (Cinema)

Duration: 1 hr. 59 min.

Content Rating: 18+ Restricted (violence & profanity)

Set in the 1990's, Park Ha Kyung teaches Korean literature at a high school. To escape her ordinary days, Park Ha Kyung decides to take one day trips on Saturdays. During her one day trip, she walks around, eats different foods, and meets various people. She realizes she receives comfort and empathy through her travels.

Soma Yui and Torino Naoki were childhood friends, but they met again as adults. Just as he decides to propose to Yui, Naoki suddenly disappears from Yui's sight after being embroiled in a mysterious incident. Naoki continues to wander in this world as a spirit without knowing that he has died.

Naoki asks Uozumi Yuzuru, a detective who is the only one able to see Naoki, to convey his feelings to Yui, but Naoki ends up breaking up without properly saying "thank you, goodbye, and I love you" to the person he loves the most.

Kim Jun Hee, a member of the immensely popular five-membered band, Indigo AREA, has suffered setbacks and deep wounds, and now her boyfriend, the vocalist, suddenly announces that he is leaving the band.

The story depicts the process of Jun Hee escaping from her narrow world of values, regaining her music, and becoming a strong "human being," while also finding the connections that are essential to survive. A new slice-of-life story of healing and courage.

Toto Bank President Ichihara is in a hotel suite romancing his secretary Nana when he suddenly loses consciousness. Four women arrive to perform CPR, but their efforts to save him are in vain. They calmly rid the room of evidence, then ensure the deletion of all records pertaining to the president’s stay. Previously, the president had stipulated that should he die suddenly, his death must be be made to appear as if he had died at home. Keitaro is a former litigation clerk who worked as a political secretary and is now running a ramen restaurant . He ordered the four women to deal with the situation happening in the hotel room. Together restauranteur Keitaro, housekeeper Satsuki and secretaries Chiyo, Nana, Fujiko, Saran and Miwa, form a shadow corps, whose mission it is to help the weak and punish evil-doers. With their combined skills and experience, they are a force to be reckoned with.

On a gloomy Monday morning, my week begins. Although I am sleepy, I put on my make-up and I leave home for work at a bank. I take the subway filled with passengers and get off at the nearest subway station from work. I meet Maki Fujikawa at that subway station. She is my closest colleague at work. While talking with each other, we get to our workplace.

A bank, that the Korean government holds equity in, is on the verge of bankruptcy. The country is worried that they will soon face another financial criss similar to what happened in 1997. People in the Financial Services Commission struggle to prevent another similar incident.

Chae Yi Heon is a chief in the Economic Policy Bureau at the Financial Services Commission. He does his best as an economic bureaucrat. His father is the best economist in South Korea, but Chae Yi-Hun hides the identity of his father.

Heo Jae is the chairman of the Financial Services Commission. He is an ambitious man. He experienced the Korean Financial Crisis in 1997. At that time, he became disillusioned with the powerless Korean financial infrastructure. His objective is to improve the country's financial infrastructure at any cost.

Lee Hye Joon begins work at the International Finance Bureau of Ministry of Economy and Finance. During the Korean Financial Crisis, she was a kid and her family struggled through that time. She dreams of owning a building.

Takahata Isao’s animated artistry in Only Yesterday (1991) comes to life in Hakota Yuko’s delicate story of a woman’s mnemonic journey. Trapped in her anemic career and love relationship, a 30-year-old TV commercial director returns to her countryside home in the company of a free-spirited friend. In a bittersweet reunion with an alienated family, her childhood memories of freedom and yearnings creep in the dreamlike blue hour, transcending into a lyricism of self-realization – at once whimsical, agonizing and yet hopeful.

It is the job of the press to cover corporate crime, government plots and society. It is in this context that young female reporter on the beat Erika rolls up her sleeves and goes to work regarding what seems to...

In the wake of prolonged famine, the palace arranges Princess Song Hwa’s marriage in an attempt to correct the cosmic misfortune. A renowned diviner, Do Yoon, is brought in to find the perfect husband who will have the best marital harmony with the princess. From candidates all over the country, four prospective husbands with different astrological signs are shortlisted.

However, the princess refuses to accept that her life partner will be chosen solely based on fortune reading and decides to check out the candidates herself before the final decision. As she sneaks out of the palace, Do Yoon finds out about this and follows after her.

Shin Seok Heon, who works as security guard, happens to gain a psychokinesis supernatural power after drinking water polluted by a meteor matter. He then learns that his ex-wife was killed by one of the paid vandalizes set on destroying her daughters restaurant to build a shopping center. He then meets his daughter, Roo Mi, and gets involved in the fight to protect the neighborhood.

In real life, Kwon Yoo is just an unemployed man who lives day by day by eating cup noodles, but in the virtual game world he is the best leader. Kwon Yoo is then framed for a murder. With the help of hacker Yeo Wool, he tries to uncover the truth behind the murder case.

Seoul Station (Korean: 서울역) is a South Korean animated zombie film directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Released on August 18, 2016, the film stars Ryu Seung-ryong, Shim Eun-kyung and Lee Joon in the lead roles. The film was shown at the 2016 Edinburgh Film Festival.

The film serves as the prequel to the live-action film Train to Busan by the same director.

Several groups of people try to survive a zombie pandemic that unleashes itself in downtown Seoul.

Seok Woo, his estranged daughter Soo An, and other passengers become trapped on a KTX train (high-speed train) heading from Seoul to Busan during a disastrous virus outbreak in South Korea.

Seven years old, Hee Joo, loses her detective, single father to Ki Beom, a notorious serial killer who is caught after murdering his cheating girlfriend and sentenced to only 15 years in prison because the court failed to find evidence linking him to the other killings. Detective Dae Yeong takes in Hee Joo and raises her.

Fifteen years later, Hee Joo is the mascot of the police precinct, where she volunteers. When Ki Beom is released from prison, he gets complicatedly involved with the girl who has been waiting 15 years to find out who murdered her father.

Hae-Gwan's (Lee Sung-Min) daughter Yoo-Joo (Chae Soo-Bin) is missing. People around him tell him that his daughter died in the fire that took place at a subway station in Daegu, but Hae-Gwan refuses to believe she is dead. To find Yoo-Joo, he goes everywhere and anywhere. One day, he receives a phone call that the caller saw Yoo-Joo on an island. Hae-Gwan goes to that island, but he can't find her there. At night, Hae-Gwan sits on rocks by the sea. He sees a light fall into the ocean and he is then swept by big waves. Hae-Gwan then finds himself on the beach. He sees something unusual and first believes it is a landmine. It turns out it is actually an AI satellite robot which saves every conversation made on a phone. Hae-Gwan thinks he can find his daughter with the help of the robot. He names the robot Sori ("Voice").

Jang Gil San was a legendary hero, born to a runaway slave and raised by entertainers, who dreamt of a nation for the common people. This drama is the third in a series by SBS featuring chilvarous thieves, following Im Kkeok Jung and Hong Gil Dong.

Shin Do Young is an announcer who instigates the jealously of all women around her because of her superior looks, great abilities, and great background. But Do Young has a deep, dark secret. She was actually abandoned at an orphanage when she was young but luckily she was adopted by a nice couple. The couple were unable to have their own children but were surprised when their biological daughter was born. Do Young, afraid that her parents would no longer love her anymore abandoned her 5 year old little sister, Ji Young, at a train station. Years have passed and Do Young meets a joyful girl, Sa Wol, who becomes her personal shopper. What happens when Do Young's terrible misdeed is revealed and that Sa Wol is actually the sister she abandoned at the train station all those years ago?

The story of Hwang Jin Yi, the famous 16th century Gisaeng. This story is about the life of Joseon-era dancer, musician and poet, Hwang Jin Yi, who seeks perfection in her art relentlessly and the hardship facing women due to their lowly social status. Hwang Jin Yi (Ha Ji Won) is the illegitimate child of a noble and Heon Keum (Jun Mi Sun), a noted musician gisaneg. The story centers on the four men in her life and her pursue in the art of dancing. Her first love with a nobleman's son Kim Eun Ho (Jang Geun Suk) ends in tragedy. Her love affair with Kim Jung Han (Kim Jae Won) does not have a happy ending either. Byuk Kye Soo (Yoo Tae Joon) is the Emporer's relative who are obsessed with her and tried every trick but still could not have her. Finally there is her devoted bodyguard Yi Saeng (Lee Shi Hwan) who never deserted her in times of need. Meanwhile, there is Bu Yong (Wang Bit Na) who not only is Hwang Ji Yi's rival in dancing but also in love.

Musical prodigy Cha Yoo Jin (Joo Won) dreams of conducting orchestras, but despite his ambitions and international upbringing, he's begrudgingly stuck in South Korea because of a traumatic childhood accident. Cue Seol Nae Il (Shim Eun Kyung), a nutty classmate who eschews the rules and plays everything by ear, from music to life. Though initially repelled by her unrefined ways, Yoo Jin slowly discovers Nae Il is the unique melody to his harmony: combined, the two create a song that makes their hearts soar.

King Gwanghae (Lee Byung-Hun) has been the King for the past 8 years. He now suspects that someone within the royal court is attempting to poison him. In response, King Gwanghae orders his councilor Heo Gyun (Ryoo Seung-Ryong) to find someone that looks like him to sit in his throne. Heo Gyun then comes across a clown named Ha-Sun (Lee Byung-Hun), who performs lewd shows in front of drunken noblemen. Ha-Sun indeed strongly resembles King Gwanghae and is even able to imitate the way King Gwanghae speaks. Heo Gyun takes Ha-Sun to the royal palace without giving any explanations. At night, Ha-Sun takes the King's seat, while the King slips away to his mistress's home. A short time later, King Gwanghae collapses and is taken to a safe house. Meanwhile, Ha-Sun continues his ruse as the King until the King can recover. Slowly, Ha-Sun's own personality comes out and the people in the King's inner court notice the changes. The King appears more humane to those around him and far less volatile. While Ha-Sun's true voice comes out, enemies within the King's inner circle plan their next move.

Oh Mal Soon is a 74-year-old widow that realizes she is becoming a burden on her family. As she is roaming the streets, she comes across a photo studio and dresses up for a self-portrait. When she walks out, she mysteriously regains her physical appearance from the age of 20. Making the most out of this one in a lifetime opportunity, she changes her name to Oh Doo Ri and decides to enjoy the best out of her youth…

Around midnight, on the northern riverside road, a 4 car accident occurs resulting in one fatality. Coming out of a Mercedes Benz, Do Yeop (Kim Su Ro) & Sang Kil (Han Jae Seok) start to argue with married couple Sang Do (Ryoo Seung Ryong) & Pal Nyeo (Jang Yeong Nam). In another car there is depression support group member Yeo Na (Shim Eun Kyeong) & the president of the depression support group Jung Sang (Kim Byeong Ok). There's also an awkward father & son, Ho Man (Song Young Chang) & Ji Yong (Lee Ji Yong). They all have to go to the police station.

At the police station, there's a group of people, including delivery guy Cheol Joo (Ryu Deok Hwan) & his friends.

To identify the victim the police go through her items and attempts to load her USB flash drive onto a computer. The USB flash drive is protected by a password.

The people at the police station work together to try to gain access to the USB flash drive.

On the USB flash drive the answer to the 30th question from a quiz show giving out $1.3 million dollars is discovered. All the people at the police station now know the final question to the quiz show. If they can correctly answer the other 29 questions they will make a lot of money. On the day of the quiz show, all the people from the police station show up at the studio.

Shim Gun Wook is a stuntman whose secretly plotting revenge against Haeshinm Group, a large corporation to whom Hong Tae Sung is the heir. As he works to destroy the family by first seducing the youngest daughter, Hong Mo Ne, he finds himself at a crossroad when Mun Jae In enters his life. Determined to correct the wrong, Gun Wook is about to risk it all, and take down anyone who gets in his way.

Shim Gun Wook is a mysterious, seductive, fatally charming man who is highly ambitious in achieving his goal. After his parents' death, he believes that President Hong of Haeshin Group is the caused of all this misery. Thus, he takes a step to get closer to his enemy by preying charmingly into the youngest daughter of Hong family, Hong Mo Ne who has fallen madly and hopelessly in love with Gun Wook's charm and good-looks.

Moon Jae In is a strong, independent woman, who has been living for herself and her younger sister, Won In. After getting dumped by her boyfriend, she is determined to snag Hong Tae Seong, the family's most rebellious son with a hidden past. He was born out of wedlock, and took by the rich family after they found out that his DNA matches. His life will become complicated once Shim Gun Wook steps in to cause all the turmoil.

Tae Seong's oldest sister, Hong Tae Ra was born as the first daughter of the Hong family. All her life, she has always been the obedient oldest daughter. She has never said no to her parents and went through an arranged marriage to a prosecutor. Tae Ra lives her life like the typical upper-class housewife, raising her only daughter, So Dam. But soon after she meets Gun Wook upon a coincidence meet, she throws herself into a heated love affair with the man who can both have the face of an angel and a devil at the same time.

This drama portrays the life of the 19th king of Goguryeo, Hwanwoong, who was sent from the heavens to make the world a better place. He falls in love with Saeoh and gives her the joojak necklace; however, Kajin becomes jealous since Saeoh has given birth to Hwanwoong's son. She takes the baby and throws him off a cliff. Saeoh, thinking that her son had died, is overcome with grief and turns into the black joojak to destroy the world. Hwanwoong is the only one who could stop her. Afterwards, Hwanwoong returns to the Heavens and prophecizes that 2000 years later, the true Joo Shin king will come to Earth. With the help of the four gods, he will rebuild Joo Shin.

The president's daughter, Yoon Jae-hee (Jun Do-yeon) is a Korean diplomat in Prague. She has only recently recovered from a devastating break up five years earlier with Ji Young-woo (Kim Min-joon), the son of a prominent Korean businessman. Choi Sang-hyun (Kim Joo-hyuk) is a detective who goes to Prague searching for his ex-girlfriend Hye-joo (Yoon Se-ah). Hye-joo broke up with Sang-hyun over the phone from Prague and Sang-hyun can not accept it.

Sang-hyun meets Jae-hee in Prague and misunderstandings abound. Eventually the two help each other and become friends. When they return to Korea love blossoms, but their respective ex's and very different social status put it to the test.

Romania, 2005. One of the last vampire families on earth decides to disguise themselves and live among humans until "the glory of their empire" revives. They are sent to different places all over the world that are considered safe by their leader.

However, a group of vampires takes the wrong ship and happens to come to Korea. On board, they run into a timid and unlucky man Doo-il. One of the vampires bites him by mistake and he becomes one of them. They promise Doo-il that they will return him into a human on the day when their leader comes to find them. He doesn't have any other choice but to live with them. They are disguised as a family of five and start new lives in Seoul. Can they really go back to their country safely when their leader comes to find them?

While watching the vampires who disguise themselves as a human family, the viewers will witness both their human sides and the humans' inhuman sides. Can Seoul be a safe place for them?

Jang Bo Go was a slave from Shilla (a Korean dynasty that lasted from 57 B.C. until 935 A.D.) He was sold in China during the Tang Dynasty, where he was trained as a gladiator-slave. Through hard work and perseverance, he made it back to Shilla and became a successful sea merchant. The sea passage at the time was plagued by pirates and Jang Bo Go went head to head with them in battles and managed to keep the pirates at bay.

This epic drama tells the story of a historical figure blending it with intrigue and battle of wit to make it into a successful drama of all times.