Korean films rush to capitalize on Chuseok holiday as six major Korean releases target September box office

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A cornucopia of Korean films are set to hit local theaters in September as films rush to bank in on the Chuseok holiday and exceed the big-screen success of Hollywood hits "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

The slate is full and diverse, with six major Korean films set to open throughout September, ranging from the Korean remake of the Hollywood hit "The Intern" (2016) to modern auteur Lee Chang-dong's first feature in eight years.

Kicking off the roll is director Lee Ji-won's poignant family drama "Portrait of a Family," set for release Wednesday. Starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Ha Ji-won and Kim Si-a, the film portrays the solidarity that reunites a fractured household following an unexpected incident.

Ryu and Ha appear as a former baseball star and former top actress couple, whose seemingly happy marriage collapses after the sudden appearance of the former's extramarital daughter Dong-ju, played by Kim.

On Sept. 16, the Korean remake of the "The Intern" that starred Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway will hit the theaters, with veteran actor Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee taking their place.

While the film takes its premise from the original work, director Kim Do-young said the remake version blends in Korean elements, such as generational clashes and Korean office culture, and renders the two characters as realistic figures firmly rooted to the ground.

Three Korean films are set to square off on Sept. 23, just a day ahead of the four-day Chuseok holiday: "Possible Love," "The Assassin(s)" and "Tazza: Song of Beelzebub."

Anticipations are high for "Possible Love," featuring a star-studded cast of Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo In-sung, which has been selected as the Korean Film Council's pick to represent South Korea at the Oscars.

The film by Lee Chang-dong, which has also been invited to the Venice International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), follows the subtle feelings and relationship between a laid-off worker and his wife and a documentary maker and her affluent husband.

"The Assassin(s)," which has also been invited to TIFF, is a historic drama that centers on a 1974 assassination attempt against former President Park Chung-hee, which instead led to the death of the first lady.

It also features a star-studded cast, including Yoo Hae-jin, the lead for this year's most-watched film in South Korea "The King's Warden," Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho.

"Tazza: Song of Beelzebub" is the final sequel of the 20-year-long "Tazza" crime franchise. While it still sticks to the world of gambling, the upcoming film, featuring Byun Yo-han, unfolds in an independent universe that is not connected with the first three films.

It remains to be seen whether the upcoming Korean films can overcome the relentless run of the Hollywood blockbusters "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and emulate the success of the Korean film "The King's Warden" that ruled the New Year holiday earlier this year.

The historic drama "The King's Warden" is the top-viewed film released in South Korea this year at 16.9 million admissions, followed by "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" at 8.86 million and 8.55 million admissions, respectively, according to the data compiled by the Korean Film Council.