South Korean Film Industry Battles Box Office, Streamer Struggles

News Snapshot:

Lightning struck twice in February, when the normally arthouse-focused Berlin festival played world premieres of the two biggest recent commercial movies from South Korea — occult drama “Exhuma” and “The Roundup: Punishment.” Cannes may get lucky if Ryoo Seung-wan’s “I, the Executioner” (aka “Veteran 2”) turns out to be as strong as its 2015 predecessor, “Veteran,” a crime thriller that Michael Mann is planning to remake. But Ryoo’s Midnight Screening slot thriller is the only Korean film tapped in Cannes’ official selection — way lower than in previous years, which saw high-profile triumphs such as “Parasite.” Normally a filmmaking powerhouse...