Jurassic World: Rebirth
Bae Dongmi(“CINE21” reporter): Deep in the jungles of French Guiana, South America, covert genetic experiments on dinosaurs are underway. Inside a research facility, a mutant dinosaur known as D-Rex—created through genetic manipulation—is being held in captivity. An accident occurs when a chocolate bar wrapper inadvertently slips into the chamber's locking mechanism, triggering the door to open. The enormous D-Rex escapes and devours the scientists. Jurassic World: Rebirth, a reboot of Jurassic Park (1993), kicks off with an unrealistic yet clever opening scene that sets the tone for a new chapter. Warning sirens and red emergency lights underscore the dangers of the mutant dinosaur, while the classic soundtrack evokes memories of the original film and quickens the viewer’s pulse. What began as an absurd idea—a chocolate wrapper unleashing a terrifying beast—soon becomes a horrifying reality before the audience’s eyes.
Thirty-two years after humans first revived dinosaurs, and seventeen years since D-Rex escaped into the Guiana jungle, people are no longer amazed by dinosaurs. The Brachiosaurus, once a majestic symbol in Jurassic Park, is now just a traffic nuisance. The only ones still interested in dinosaurs are capitalists. A major pharmaceutical company seeks to extract DNA from dinosaurs with large, powerful hearts to develop new drugs. Martin (Rupert Friend), an employee at the company, offers ten million dollars to intelligence agent Zora (Scarlett Johansson) and paleontologist Loomis (Jonathan Bailey) in exchange for dinosaur blood. But what awaits them are claws and jaws so massive, they can barely be captured in the same frame as a human. Forget the money—their immediate goal becomes escaping the island alive.
Why revisit Jurassic Park? Director Gareth Edwards offers a witty answer with a chocolate bar wrapper. Yet just as the humor of the opening unleashes the perilous D-Rex, the laughter quickly fades, replaced by a visceral fear of being hunted by an unknowable and colossal force. Edwards subtly reminds us how insignificant humans are in the face of nature. As the characters descend into despair, the film draws a powerful metaphor: Homo sapiens have survived for about 200,000 years, but dinosaurs ruled for over 100 million. Just like the dinosaurs, humans too can face extinction. Jurassic World: Rebirth stands firmly on its own, making it thoroughly enjoyable even for those unfamiliar with the previous Jurassic Park or Jurassic World installments. It is, indeed, a welcome “rebirth.”
MinumsaTV (YouTube)
Yoon Haein: MinumsaTV is a YouTube channel run by the publishing group Minumsa, best known for its World Literature Series. Instead of typical content like new release promotions or author interviews, the channel showcases the daily lives of publishing staff. Editors, marketers, and designers from Minumsa share books they’re currently reading, show off hobby-related items, or film unboxings. With vlogs of office meetings and lunch breaks, the channel often feels like an office sitcom. A tarot card enthusiast reads coworkers’ fortunes, and cooking competitions break out among culinary-minded staff. Department heads, with an average tenure of 14.3 years, engage in “mistake battles” recalling their rookie days, and share workplace anecdotes that resonate with office workers. Rather than a corporate PR channel, MinumsaTV feels more like a relatable workplace vlog—thanks in large part to the charismatic and engaging presence of marketing team lead Jo Aran, nicknamed the “idol of Paju”* for her warm persona and seamless hosting.
Of course, every conversation eventually leads back to books. Yet MinumsaTV doesn’t preach that “books aren’t hard.” Instead, it highlights the genuine joy of reading through the lives of its employees. Editors casually pull out books they read on their commute, or introduce new books they picked up for a hobby. The channel doesn’t shy away from showing that even editors struggle to finish books amid deadlines, or that it’s perfectly normal to read multiple books at once—showcasing “parallel reading” as a viable method. They also introduce the core plots of literary classics from the World Literature Series using a World Cup-style format, presenting complex texts in an approachable way. Even in an era dominated by short-form video, MinumsaTV leverages the “Shorts” format to promote the richness of classical literature and make reading more accessible. These consistent efforts have earned the channel nearly 300,000 subscribers and led to guest appearances from actor Park Jung-min—who runs the publisher Muje—and members of the girl group Miyao, who share a passion for books.
We live in a time where “text is trendy” coexists with a “literacy crisis.” While the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair drew about 150,000 visitors, news reports still highlight a steady decline in adult reading rates in Korea. Nonetheless, following the daily lives and conversations of Minumsa employees—balancing between office sitcom and intellectual enrichment—reveals that there are many ways to engage with books, and reminds us why people still need them. As editor Kim Min-kyung aptly put it, “Of all the addictions I’ve experienced, text addiction is the hardest to quit.” Everyone featured on MinumsaTV speaks about their love of books and reading with sincerity and passion. The intrinsic value of books, the thrill of a good story told through text, and the joy of literary experience—these are what MinumsaTV ultimately conveys.
*Paju Book City is a publishing complex in Paju, South Korea, where many publishers are headquartered.
“Heosse!” (CHUDAHYE CHAGIS)
Kang Ilkwon (Music Critic): Since many may be unfamiliar with the band CHUDAHYE CHAGIS, this must be said first: “Make time for them—your time will be well rewarded.” If their sound matches your taste, you’ll experience electrifying joy; even if not, the encounter with their groundbreaking music will be unforgettable. Their 2020 debut, Under the Dangsan Tree Tonight, combined an unimaginable mix of genres—shamanic music (muga), R&B, and funk—with touches of hip-hop, reggae, dub, and rock, producing music that felt like a spell. That year, CHUDAHYE CHAGIS became one of the defining names of originality in Korean pop music, and Under the Dangsan Tree Tonight was hailed as a standout alternative album, both in Korea and abroad.
Five years later, the band returns with their second album Ethnic Minority. Chudahye’s vocals, rooted in the seodo folk singing style, remain deeply evocative. The band’s signature “psychedelic shamanic funk” sound is as dazzling as ever. Among the tracks, “Heosse!” best captures their musical and spiritual ethos. The throbbing bass, the explosively textured live drum beats, and vocals that resemble gongsu (spiritual messages delivered during a ritual) create an overwhelming impact. If this mystical, extraordinary music moves you, don’t stop at Ethnic Minority—go back to their first album as well. As I said before, “Your time will be well rewarded.”
*CHUDAHYE CHAGIS is a band formed by Chudahye, known from the folk-rock band SsingSsing, Lee Simun from Windy City and Soul Sauce (aka Nohsuntech & Soul Sauce), Kim Jaeho of Windy City, Cadejo, and 3RD CHAIR, and Kim Dabin of Fling.