Which Korean films are opening around Chuseok 2026?

Three films are scheduled for Sept. 23, just before the four-day Chuseok holiday: Possible Love, The Assassin(s) and Tazza: Song of Beelzebub. Earlier in the month, Portrait of a Family opens Wednesday and The Intern remake follows on Sept. 16.

Why are Korean filmmakers targeting September releases before Chuseok?

The films are trying to capitalize on holiday moviegoing and challenge the box office momentum of The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The article says the lineup is positioned to chase the kind of success The King’s Warden achieved earlier this year.

What is special about Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love and The Assassin(s)?

Possible Love is Lee Chang-dong’s first feature in eight years, stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo In-sung, and follows two couples whose lives intersect. The Assassin(s) is a historical drama about a 1974 assassination attempt against former President Park Chung-hee that instead led to the death of the first lady.

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

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Summary

Korean films are lining up for September releases in theaters, aiming to ride Chuseok demand and compete with Hollywood hits The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The slate includes Portrait of a Family on Wednesday, a Korean remake of The Intern on Sept. 16, and three films opening Sept. 23. Those Sept. 23 titles are Possible Love, The Assassin(s) and Tazza: Song of Beelzebub. The article says the success of The King’s Warden will be the benchmark to beat.

Key Facts

Six major Korean films are scheduled to open throughout September, covering a wide range of genres from a remake of The Intern to Lee Chang-dong’s first feature in eight years.
Portrait of a Family stars Ryu Seung-ryong, Ha Ji-won and Kim Si-a, and centers on a fractured household reunited after an unexpected incident.
The Intern remake opens on Sept. 16 with Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee, and director Kim Do-young said it blends Korean generational clashes and office culture into the premise.
Possible Love was selected by the Korean Film Council as Korea’s Oscar contender and has also been invited to the Venice and Toronto film festivals.
The King’s Warden drew 16.9 million admissions this year in Korea, while The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day drew 8.86 million and 8.55 million admissions respectively.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 31, 2026 11:47 am KST

Actors Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee pose during a press conference for the Korean remake of 'The Intern' at CGV Yonsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, Aug. 24. Yonhap — Actors Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee pose during a press conference for the Korean remake of "The Intern" at CGV Yonsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, Aug. 24. 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.

Director Lee Chang-dong, center, and the cast of his upcoming film 'Possible Love' pose during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. YOnhap — Director Lee Chang-dong, center, and the cast of his upcoming film "Possible Love" pose during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. YOnhap

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 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 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 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.

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