Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
‘Omniscient Reader’ film draws mixed fan reactions, earns praise from author
Ahn Hyo-seop in a scene from "Omniscient Reader" / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
By Baek Byung-yeul
As Korean blockbuster fantasy "Omniscient Reader" sees strong ticket sales amid a sluggish domestic box office, the film has stirred debate among fans of the original web novel — particularly regarding the differences between page and screen.
From reimagined creatures to altered character dynamics, the film took creative liberties to adapt the expansive source material into a two-hour cinematic experience.
While the film has largely garnered positive reviews from audiences new to the "Omniscient Reader" universe, longtime readers of the original work, which has garnered over 240 million views and was adapted into a web comic, had mixed reactions.
Many fans pointed out significant deviations from the original source material, expressing disappointment over the simplification of world-building and character portrayals to fit the two-hour adaptation, especially given the novel’s layered plot and emotional arcs.
The film throws a fantasy novel reader, Kim Dok-ja (Ahn Hyo-seop), into a real-world apocalypse where he must navigate deadly scenarios alongside the novel's protagonist, Yoo Joong-hyuk (Lee Min-ho), and other characters like Yoo Sang-ah (Chae Soo-bin), Lee Hyun-sung (Shin Seung-ho), Jung Hee-won (Nana), Lee Ji-hye (Jisoo) and Lee Gil-young (Kwon Eun-seong).
A particular point of contention for many original readers is the portrayal of the protagonist, Kim Dok-ja. In the web novel, he is depicted as a cool-headed and strategic individual. However, fans note that the film emphasizes his emotional aspects, leading to a sense of disconnect.
Similarly, the character of Yoo Joong-hyuk, who is notably more violent in the original web novel, is presented with greater kindness in the film. This led to mixed reviews, with some praising actor Lee’s portrayal for the more humane interpretation, while others feel that the film failed to fully capture the character's multifaceted nature.
A scene from “Omniscient Reader” / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
Despite these changes, the writing duo behind the web novel, known as singNsong, publicly embraced the adaptation, calling it a "meaningful reinterpretation" of their globally beloved work.
"I was a rookie back then and honestly, I never imagined receiving a film adaptation offer," the authors said in an interview facilitated by the movie’s distributor Lotte Entertainment. "Adapting the original into live-action carries significant risks, so I was initially hesitant."
The authors described watching the film as a "mysterious feeling," despite some differences from the original vision. They specifically highlighted how the film concentrated on delivering a concise message within its two-hour runtime, rather than attempting to cover all parts of the novel.
"It seems the film focused on delivering a message within two hours, rather than covering all the themes from the web novel original," singNsong said. "As a reinterpretation of the original work, I think it was a meaningful attempt."
One notable divergence for singNsong was the depiction of the creatures in the film.
"The creatures appearing in the film are somewhat different from what I imagined," singNsong explained. "I believe there were various considerations during the live-action adaptation process. If the original creatures were closer to the emotion of 'horror,' the film's creatures are closer to the sense of 'mystery.' I think the film's creatures might appeal to a broader audience."
Among the diverse cast of characters brought to life on screen, 10-year-old child actor Kwon Eun-seong playing Lee Gil-young stood out, with SingNsong finding the character's slightly altered personality endearing.
"It's portrayed with a slightly different personality from the original, but it made me think that such a cute Lee Gil-young could exist in another timeline,” the authors said.
Jisoo in a scene from "Omniscient Reader" / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
"Omniscient Reader" is a successful example of how an original work can expand into another platform, making the leap from web novel to webtoon and now film. SingNsong attributed the success to good fortune.
"I often think this even now, but I believe we were lucky," the authors said. "There was demand for a certain story at a certain time, and we happened to write that story, and by sheer luck, good people read that story together."
Though it covers only a portion of the sprawling 20-volume novel, the film has already emerged as a box office contender since its release Wednesday.
Beyond domestic success, Lotte Entertainment is actively pursuing overseas sales, aiming to capitalize on the global popularity of the original web novel and the growing international interest in Korean content. The film's star-studded cast and high-quality visuals are expected to be key selling points in international markets.
SingNsong expressed gratitude to their dedicated fans and hoped that the film will offer both old and new audiences a unique experience.
"Because there were fans who loved the story, the 'Omniscient Reader' of today exists. It's a lifelong debt. I am always just grateful,” the duo said. "For readers who have already read the original, I believe this film will be an experience of rereading 'Omniscient Reader' from a fresh perspective and for audiences encountering this world for the first time, I think it will be remembered as a unique and new cinematic experience."