New Korean Movie Night: Western Avenue
Presented by Korean Cultural Center New York
Thursday, May 1, 2025, 7:30 PM
Korean Cultural Center New York
(122 E 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016)
Tickets: Free (RSVP Required)
* RSVP and seating are first come, first served.
* Limited same-day standby tickets are available.
* For an additional question, please contact film@koreanculture.org
There will be a Q&A session with the Director, Yoo Seok Jong, and lead actor, Jongman Kim, followed by the showing!
The Korean Cultural Center New York proudly presents New Korean Movie Night, a regular screening series showcasing a diverse range of Korean and Korean American films, including short films, documentaries, and independent productions. This initiative is dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers while enhancing accessibility and appreciation for Korean cinema in New York City.
As part of this ongoing series, this screening highlights Western Avenue, the Amazon Prime series converted into a movie. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with the Director of the film, Yoo Seok Jong, and lead actor, Jongman Kim.
Through New Korean Movie Night, the Korean Cultural Center New York aims to further engage local audiences with Korean cinema by offering a variety of programs. The initiative also seeks to provide a platform for more Korean filmmakers to expand their presence in New York.
For any inquiries, please contact the Korean Cultural Center New York at film@koreanculture.org.
◆ Program
◆ Western Avenue (2024)
Director: Yoo-Seok Jong
Running Time: 90 min 00 sec
Synopsis:
Sejong Production, a small Korean American film production company located in Koreatown LA. Filmmakers, who are united with dreams and passion for filmmaking, have a special journey challenging the Hollywood past the glass ceiling for immigrants and minorities.
Producer: John Kim, Yoo Seok Jong, Alix Yumi Cho, Jongman Kim
Principal Cast:
Jongman Kim - Ian Jeon
Ian Oh - Eugene Kang
Hayden Won - Kyle Song
Theresa Kim - Dain Kwon
Laura Im - Mina Im
Josh Jong - Eddie Han
Hyesoo Cho - Jamie
Achievements and Accolades
Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), AWFF 베스트디렉터
Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) 2024년 스페셜 스크리닝 선정작품
Director: Yoo Seok Jong (종유석)
Yoo Seok Jong was born in Korea, studied in China, and has been living in the U.S. since his 30s. He originally majored in law but began his late filmmaking career to become a film director, which was his childhood dream. Yoo Seok is well known as a cinematographer for major TV programs and Korean shows on platforms such as Netflix and Disney Plus. His first short film Maron Doll (2017) was awarded with 12 accolades and 15 nominations. The documentary In Between 0.5 (우리사이0.5) won the grand prize at the 2023 Korea Broadcasting Awards. Jong’s most recent work, Western Avenue (2024), covers the story of ongoing immigrant lives and is streaming on Amazon Prime. Director Jong is currently producing the first CGV original work 6 Days.
Lead Actor: Jongman Kim (김종만)
Jongman Kim is an actor, producer, director, writer based in Los Angeles, CA and Seoul, South Korea. He is best known for appearing in Netflix’s Yacha (2022), Idol (2019), which premiered at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth (2008) and Clytaemnestra (2021), which was featured in The New Yorker's ‘BEST MOVIES OF 2022’ list.
His television credits include a recurring role on the Disney+ series Hyper Knife (2025), a recurring guest role on the Netflix series Love (created by Judd Apatow), as well as on ABC's Speechless and FX's You are the Worst.
He appeared as Elvis in Apple's worldwide iPhone commercial (which has reached over 100 million views on YouTube), and starred in MGM International's Bellagio Hotel and Casino 2021~2024 national campaign, which won the 2022 CANNES Silver LIONS Awards.
He starred in the Music Video Film Undertow for "Son Lux”, Oscar nominee composer of A24's feature film Everything Everywhere All at Once: wins 7 Oscars including Best Picture, and in the North Korean short film To the Lights.
He recently starred in Starbucks SUPER BOWL AD 2025 and GM-Netflix SUPER BOWL AD 2023 with Will Ferrell. A billion people watched this ad live worldwide during the SUPER BOWL, and it was watched by 113 million people in the US.
He starred in an award winning short film Sarajin which won Best of Fest, Best Actor, Best Director at 2024 Catalina film festival. And he won another Best Actor award at the 2024 Wyoming international film festival. Sarajin premiered at Tribeca, TIFF and Palm Springs etc.
He was producing and starring in a Western Avenue TV series (a story about Korean immigrant filmmakers in LA, released on Amazon Prime Winter 2024).
Upcoming projects include, producing and starring in a feature film Lies without a face. He is directing, producing, writing and starring in another feature film Beyond the horizon.