Edited by Hwang Hong Sun
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
With the recent popularity of Korean films, theaters have begun to get crowded again. Following Peninsula �and Steel Rain 2: Summit, Deliver Us From Evil has attracted 2 million viewers in just 5 days since its release. Small and medium-sized movies such as Okay! Madam and The Golden Holiday will then fill the rest of the summer theaters. From then on, the rush of Korean film will continue. Let’s take a look at what kind of movies we will meet, from blockbusters that have been postponed their release to movies that compete with various genres.
Space Sweepers
Space Sweepers, set in the year 2092, is about the crew of space junk collector ship The Victory jumping into a dangerous deal after discovering a humanoid robot named Dorothy that’s known to be a weapon of mass destruction. It will be directed by Jo Sung Hee, who showed extraordinary worldview and directions in A Werewolf �Boy �and Phantom Detective, and present solid lineup of Kim Tae Ri, Song Joong Ki, Jin Sun Gyu, and Yoo Hae Jin. Attention is focusing on what Space Sweepers will accomplish in the Korean film market, a barren land of SF genre, after raising expectations by showing high visual effects quality and thrilling production in the trailer. It will be released on September 23.
Sinkhole
Sinkhole is about what happens when a newly built villa falls into a sinkhole with its residents trapped, drawing attention with a new type of disaster story. Director Kim Ji Hoon, best known for his disaster movies Sector 7 and The Tower, will be in charge of directing, and Cha Seung Won, Kim Sung Kyun, Lee Kwang Soo, and Kim Hye Joon will star as people trapped in the sinkhole. Although the release date has not been confirmed yet, it is expected that it will meet with the audience during the Chuseok season along with Space Sweepers.
The Night of the Undead
Director Shin Jung Won, who introduced a unique world in works like To Catch A Virgin Ghost, Chaw, and Ghost Sweepers, will return. The Night of the Undead, which confirmed its release in September, depicts an uproar that happens when a newlywed wife discovers the shocking identity of her husband who works nonstop. Based on the script written by director Jang Hang Joon, director Shin Jung Won directed it, and Lee Jung Hyun and Kim Sung Oh will appear as a couple who are after each other, heralding a comic performance.
Hero
Ode to My Father director Yoon Je Kyun’s new film Hero is the first Korean film to move an original creative musical to the screen. It depicts the last one year of An Jung Geun, Korean-independence activist, who was sentenced to death after killing Ito Hirobumi in Harbin in October 1909. It was originally scheduled to be released in the summer, but it is highly likely to be released during the Chuseok season or the end of the year due to the spread of coronavirus.
Diva
Diva, which is scheduled to be released in September, is a mystery thriller that takes place with the awakening of latent desire and madness after the “diving diva” Lee Young was involved in a mysterious car accident. Shin Min Ah returns to the big screen after a long time by playing the main character Lee Young, and Lee Yoo Young stars as Soo Jin, who goes back and forth between a friend and a rival.
Mogadishu
It is a new film by director Ryu Seung Wan, known for Veteran and The Battleship Island, and depicts the escape of diplomatic officials from South and North Korea, who got isolated in the middle of Somalia civil war in the 1990s. Jo In Sung and Kim Yoon Seok star as ambassador Han Shin Sung and councilor Kang Dae Jin, showing their wit and skills in dangerous situations. They filmed the entire film in Morocco, and it is said that the movie has been rescheduled to be released this year.
Pawn
A movie that will warm the hearts of the audience is coming this fall. Pawn, which confirmed the release in September, is about a man, who would do anything for money, and his colleague raising a child who they took as a collateral. It is directed by Kang Dae Kyun, who delivered a deep echo in the movie Harmony, and Sung Dong Il and Kim Hee Won will star as private moneylender duo. With Ha Jin Won, child actor Park So Yi, who was chosen out of 300 actors, will play the older and child days of Seung Yi, giving a heart-warming impressions.
