'The Intern' remake to offer fresh Korean twist on hit Hollywood film
Summary
Director Kim Do-young said the Korean remake of The Intern aims to reflect modern Korean sentiment and workplace culture while keeping the story relatable across generations. She discussed the film at a press conference in Seoul on Monday. The film stars Han So-hee as CEO Sun-woo and Choi Min-sik as Gi-ho, a veteran worker who becomes a senior intern. It is scheduled to open in local theaters on Sept. 16.
Key Facts
- Kim Do-young has previously directed Kim Ji Young: Born 1982 and Once We Were Us.
- The film pairs Han So-hee with Choi Min-sik in roles originally played by Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro.
- Gi-ho is described as a veteran worker with 37 years of experience who joins Sun-woo’s company as a senior intern.
- Han said she drew inspiration from office workers and startup employees to portray the balance between a CEO’s responsibilities and personal ambitions.
- Kim said the remake uses modern workplace slang and focuses on workplace anxieties and isolation today.
Actors Choi Min-sik, left, and Han So-hee, pose during a press conference for their movie "The Intern" at a theater in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Remaking a beloved Hollywood film was a daunting task, but director Kim Do-young focused on highlighting the unique charm of her Korean cast and adapting the story to reflect modern Korean sentiment.
Speaking during a press conference in Seoul on Monday, the director, known for her empathetic storytelling in films like "Kim Ji Young: Born 1982" (2019) and "Once We Were Us," (2025) shared her approach to bringing the 2015 hit film "The Intern" to Korean audiences.
"Because the original was so widely loved, remaking it was not easy," Kim said.
She said her focus was on making the original narrative feel relevant to modern Korean viewers.
"Since the original came out over a decade ago, times and perspectives have changed. I tried to reflect Korean cultural nuances, such as modern workplace slang, while capturing a relatable office life story for audiences across all generations."
Actors Choi Min-sik, left, and Han So-hee in a scene from "The Intern" / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
The upcoming film, scheduled to hit local theaters on Sept. 16, follows Sun-woo (Han So-hee), the passionate CEO of a fast-growing fashion startup. The story unfolds as Gi-ho (Choi Min-sik), a veteran worker with 37 years of experience, joins her company as a senior intern to start his second career.
Choi steps into the lead role originally portrayed by Robert De Niro, while Han plays the young entrepreneur originally performed by Anne Hathaway.
Choi admitted feeling pressure about taking on such a famous role, but said the uniquely Korean story drew him to the project.
"It would be a lie to say there was no pressure because the original film and its actors were so outstanding," Choi said. "However, I felt that translating the story through a Korean lens, incorporating our local struggles, intergenerational conflicts and reconciliation, would bring a fresh flavor."
Han stressed that she deliberately stepped away from the original portrayal to craft a performance of her own.
"I tried hard to forget the original film," Han said. "As I focused on interpreting Sun-woo through my own lens, my actual personality naturally blended into the character. Since many of my friends are office workers or startup employees, I drew inspiration from them to portray the fragile balance between a CEO's responsibilities and personal ambitions."
Actors Choi Min-sik, left, and Han So-hee in a scene from "The Intern" / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
Beyond emotional storytelling, Kim emphasized that the relationship between Gi-ho and Sun-woo focuses on greater grounded realism than the original, highlighting the workplace anxieties and isolation people face today.
To visually convey the pressure of leading a startup, Han also paid close attention to her character's wardrobe.
"I spent a lot of time thinking about outfits that could project charisma while remaining practical for a young CEO," Han said. "Rather than following quick fashion trends, I picked timeless outfits that reflect her professional image."
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