Korean films set for back-to-back release after 'The Odyssey,' 'Spider-Man' hype

Seoul, August 31 (Yonhap) - A burst of Korean films will grace local theaters in September, as they aim to capitalize on the Chuseok holiday and surpass the box-office triumphs of Hollywood blockbusters The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Six significant Korean films are slated for release throughout the month, spanning from the Korean adaptation of the 2016 Hollywood hit The Intern to Lee Chang-dong's first feature in eight years.

The lineup includes a poignant family drama, a remake of a popular Hollywood film, and three films set to premiere just before the four-day Chuseok holiday.

Kicking off the September screenings is director Lee Ji-won's emotional family drama, Portrait of a Family, scheduled for release on Wednesday. The movie, starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Ha Ji-won, and Kim Si-a, delves into the resilience of a fractured household reunited after a shocking incident. Ryu and Ha portray a former baseball star and actress couple whose marriage falls apart due to the revelation of the actor's affair with Dong-ju, played by Kim.

On September 16, the Korean remake of The Intern starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway takes the stage, with veteran actor Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee stepping into the roles. Director Kim Do-young explains that the remake incorporates Korean elements such as generational conflicts and office culture, rendering the characters as grounded and relatable figures.

Three Korean films are set to vie for attention on September 23, just a day before the Chuseok holiday. The three movies - Possible Love, The Assassin(s), and Tazza: Song of Beelzebub - are generating anticipation ahead of the holiday weekend. Possible Love, starring a star-studded cast including Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Zo In-sung, is a chosen pick for the Oscars by the Korean Film Council.

The film explores the subtle emotions and relationship between a laid-off worker and his wife and a documentary maker and her affluent husband. The Assassin(s), also invited to the Toronto International Film Festival, is a historic drama centered on a 1974 assassination attempt against former President Park Chung-hee, which instead resulted in the death of the first lady.

Tazza: Song of Beelzebub is the final installment of the 20-year-long crime franchise, featuring Byun Yo-han in an independent universe separate from the previous three films.