Comedy reigns at box office: Why Korean audiences are laughing again

Comedy is dominating Korean theaters this year, signaling a shift in audience taste. From “My Daughter Is a Zombie,” the year’s biggest box-office hit, to “The First Ride,” which recently broke the winning streak of Japanese anime films, moviegoers are turning to laughter as the genre leading the post-summer box office. “The First Ride” has topped the domestic box office for six consecutive days, overtaking “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc,” the Japanese anime that had been leading global charts. Released on Oct. 29, the film follows five longtime friends — Tae-jung (Kang Ha-neul), Do-jin (Kim Young-kwang), Yeon-min (Cha Eun-woo), Geum-bok (Kang Young-seok) and Ok-sim (Han Sun-hwa) — as they embark on their first overseas trip together. Driven by word of mouth, the comedy has won praise for its cast chemistry and heartfelt storyline. The reunion of director Nam Dae-joong and actor Kang Ha-neul, who previously worked together on the 2023 hit “Love Reset,” also boosted anticipation. “As a comedy that people can enjoy together, it offers a strong reason for audiences to retWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times