'Dune 3,' 'Avengers: Doomsday' set to shake up year-end box office

Korean theaters are bracing for a massive year-end at the box office, capped by a rare same-day clash between Hollywood blockbusters "Dune: Part Three" and "Avengers: Doomsday" on Dec. 16. With domestic distributors setting the pace in November with major releases, local theaters are building strong momentum toward one of their highest-grossing year-end finishes. According to data from the Korean Film Council, cumulative attendance reached 105.77 million as of Sunday, nearing last year’s full-year total. Powered by hit movies such as "The King's Warden" and "The Odyssey," the local box office surpassed the 100 million mark in October, reaching the milestone more than two months earlier than last year. Among the upcoming titles, Korean cinema takes the spotlight first in November. Mystery drama "White Blast," starring Kim Yoon-seok and Koo Kyo-hwan, hits screens on Nov. 18. Directed by Hong Eui-jeong, whose debut feature "Voice of Silence" earned widespread critical acclaim, the film reunites the two lead actors five years after their collaboration on the hit action film "Escape from Mo