'The Intern' Korean remake tests legacy of beloved original hit

The Korean remake of The Intern secured the number one spot at the local box office, marking the first time a domestic film has achieved this feat in 50 days by ousting a lengthy-running foreign hit. Released 11 years after the original, the remake instantly captured attention, providing a comforting sense of familiarity for returning fans while simultaneously attracting new viewers with its warm emotional appeal.

However, adapting a critically acclaimed and beloved classic comes with the burden of high expectations, inevitably leading to more critical scrutiny and comparisons to the original.

The film premiered on September 16 and maintained the top position for two consecutive days, thus ending the week-long reign of The Odyssey. Early audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with the film garnering a 95 percent score on the CGV Golden Egg Index and an impressive 9.0 audience rating at Lotte Cinema. The narrative follows the daily life of Gi-ho, an intern possessing 37 years of professional experience, who joins a fashion startup led by Seon-woo, a CEO who rose to prominence as a breakout entrepreneur just three years after starting his company. The movie was directed by Kim Do-young, a director already known for Kim Ji-young.