NapRyang(납량): Midnight Scream in NY
Presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York
Thursday, August 6th, 2026 at 9:00 PM
- Salmokji: Whispering Water (살목지)
Friday, August 7th, 2026 at 9:00 PM
- A Tale of Two Sisters (장화, 홍련)
Thursday, August 20th, 2026 at 9:00 PM
- The Wailing (곡성)
Friday, August 21st, 2026 at 9:00 PM
- My Daughter Is a Zombie (좀비딸)
Korean Cultural Center New York
(122 E 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016)
Ticket: FREE (RSVP REQUIRED)
* RSVP and seating are first come, first served.
* Limited same-day standby tickets available.
* For an additional question, please contact to film@koreanculture.org
* Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance.
* Please note: After three no-shows without notice, you may be subject to restrictions on future reservations.
* All contents featuring Korean dialogue will have English subtitles available.
In August, as part of It’s Time for K-Culture, the Korean Cultural Center New York’s Korea on Screen series proudly presents a special Late-Night Horror Film Series.
In Korea, there is a time-honored summer tradition known as “Napryang” (납량)—literally meaning “bringing in the cool.” It reflects the unique cultural wisdom of beating the sweltering summer heat by sending a chilling shiver down your spine through eerie stories and hair-raising spectacles.
To honor this tradition, we have curated a selection of iconic works that have shaped and illuminated the history of Korean horror cinema. From psychological suspense to supernatural thrills, these masterpieces have captivated audiences worldwide with their distinctly Korean sensibilities, emotional depth, and original storytelling.
Beat the summer heat and immerse yourself in the spine-chilling suspense and eerie atmosphere of Korean cinema. We invite you to discover—or rediscover—the unique appeal and enduring power of Korean horror.
For any inquiries, please contact the Korean Cultural Center New York at film@koreanculture.org.
◆ Program
Salmokji: Whispering Water (살목지)
Thursday, August 6th, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Director: Lee Sang-min
Synopsis: An unidentified figure appears in the road-view footage of Salmokji Reservoir, a place long haunted by strange rumors—despite never having been captured on camera before.
With a strict deadline to complete a reshoot before the end of the day, producer Su-in (Kim Hye-yoon) and her film crew head to the reservoir.
As filming begins, Gyo-sik (Kim Jun-han), a senior colleague who had mysteriously disappeared, suddenly reappears. One unexplained incident follows another, plunging the crew into mounting chaos and terror.
Amid the escalating nightmare, Gi-tae (Lee Jong-won) races toward Su-in, but the harder they struggle to escape, the deeper they are drawn into the darkness lurking beneath the reservoir.
“You'll never make it out alive.”
A Tale of Two Sisters (장화, 홍련)
Directors: Kim Jee-woon
Friday, August 7th, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Synopsis: In a remote rural village, at the end of a quiet country road lined with wildflowers, stands a solitary Japanese-style wooden house. By day, the house is picturesque enough to seem as though the sound of a piano might drift from its windows. But when darkness falls, it takes on a chilling and ominous presence.
It is in this house, steeped in an unsettling atmosphere, that two beautiful sisters, Su-mi and Su-yeon—neither quite children nor adults—begin living with their elegant yet emotionally volatile stepmother. From the day they move in together, a terrifying family ghost story begins to unfold.
After returning home from a lengthy stay in Seoul for treatment, the sisters are warmly welcomed by their stepmother, Eun-joo. Despite her apparent affection, the girls clearly feel uneasy around her. From their very first day back, strange occurrences begin to plague the household. Family members experience disturbing visions and suffer from recurring nightmares.
Determined to care for her younger sister and her father, Moo-hyeon, in place of their deceased mother, Su-mi takes on the role of protector. Su-yeon, who bears a striking resemblance to her late mother, lives in constant fear. Tensions quickly escalate between the sensitive and unstable Eun-joo and the two sisters, while their father remains a passive observer of the growing conflict.
As Eun-joo's emotional instability deepens and fear begins to consume the household, Su-mi struggles desperately to protect her sister. Meanwhile, a series of increasingly bizarre and terrifying events unfolds throughout the house…
The Wailing (곡성)
Thursday, August 20th, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Director: Na Hong-jin
Synopsis: Never be deceived.
The bait has been taken.
A quiet village is thrown into chaos by a series of mysterious and violent incidents that begin shortly after the arrival of a mysterious outsider. Although the police initially conclude that the cases are the result of mass wild mushroom poisoning, rumors quickly spread that the stranger is responsible for everything that has happened.
Police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) begins to believe the rumors after meeting a woman known only as Moo-myeong (Chun Woo-hee), who claims to have witnessed the events firsthand.
When his daughter Hyo-jin starts exhibiting symptoms similar to those of the victims, Jong-goo becomes desperate. Determined to save her, he confronts the outsider and seeks the help of the shaman Il-gwang (Hwang Jung-min).
But as the mystery deepens, Jong-goo finds himself drawn into a terrifying battle between faith, fear, and the unknown…
My Daughter Is a Zombie (좀비딸)
Friday, August 21st, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Director: Pil Gam-Sung
Synopsis: “My daughter is a zombie—the last remaining zombie in the world.”
Jung-hwan, a zookeeper who specializes in caring for fierce wild animals, spends his days bickering with his teenage daughter Su-a, an aspiring dancer with boundless passion.
When Su-a becomes infected with a zombie virus that has spread across the globe, Jung-hwan takes her to Eunbong-ri, a quiet seaside village where his mother, Bamsoon, lives, determined to protect her at all costs.
As society grows increasingly intent on identifying and isolating the infected, Jung-hwan begins to notice signs that Su-a may still retain part of her humanity. She seems to understand human speech, responds to the dance she once loved, and even reacts to the sting of her grandmother Bamsoon’s trusty backscratcher.
Refusing to give up on his daughter, Jung-hwan draws on his years of experience as a tiger keeper and embarks on an unconventional mission: training his zombie daughter in the hope of bringing her back to herself.