SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Two South Korean films have entered commercial release in Ivory Coast, marking the first time Korean historical and horror films have received regular theatrical releases in the West African country, the South Korean Embassy in Abidjan said Monday.
The release represents a rare expansion of Korean cinema into sub-Saharan Africa, where commercial screenings of Korean films have remained limited despite the global rise of Korean popular culture. While Korean films have become increasingly familiar to audiences in North America, Europe and parts of Asia, theatrical distribution across much of Africa has been relatively uncommon.
Leading the release is The King's Warden, director Jang Hang-jun's historical drama that attracted 16.9 million moviegoers in South Korea. The film opened July 16 at Pathé Cap Sud cinema in Abidjan as the opening title of the 2026 Korean Film Festival. Director Kim Soo-jin's horror film Noise also premiered at the festival, and both films have since moved into commercial theatrical release through a local distributor, giving Ivorian audiences access beyond the festival screenings.
The festival was organized to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Ivory Coast and drew about 500 guests, including Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck, government officials, diplomats and business representatives.
Remarck noted that cooperation between the two countries had grown to span economic, educational, technological and cultural fields since diplomatic ties were established, calling film "an extraordinary vehicle" for bringing people closer together.
South Korean Ambassador Chang Seo-ik said culture was "the most beautiful bridge" between nations and expressed hope that the festival would deepen mutual understanding and cooperation.
Visitors also took part in Korean cultural activities before the screenings, including trying on hanbok, Korea's traditional attire, and having their names written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet.
The festival opened a weeklong Korean cultural program in Abidjan that also included a Korean consumer goods expo and the Ivory Coast preliminary round of the K-pop World Festival.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
