Korean films take center stage this Chuseok as Hollywood steps aside

After a summer dominated by Hollywood blockbusters, the Chuseok holiday season is shaping up to be a showcase for Korean cinema. With director Na Hong-jin's "Hope" winding down its run, domestic films are stepping in to fill the void — bringing the finale of a beloved long-running franchise, the return of a master filmmaker and a clash of some of the country's biggest acting talents.

Leading the charge is "The Assassin," starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho — the first film to dramatize the Aug. 15, 1974 assassination attempt on South Korea's first lady.

Director Heo Jin-ho, known for "Christmas in August" (1998), "One Fine Spring Day" (2001), "The Last Princess" (2016) and "Forbidden Dream" (2019), traces the truth and forces behind one of modern Korean history's most shocking events through the eyes of those who witnessed it firsthand.

"The Assassin" fired the opening shot in the autumn box-office battle on Monday, becoming the first fall release to hold a production press conference. The production team's confidence in the film is clear, and a revitalized moviegoing atmosphere has raised expectations for a Chuseok season stacked with Korean titles.

"I think it is a wonderful thing that Korean films are welcoming audiences with such a varied spread after a long time," said Park Hae-il. "Above all, I hope many audiences will come to the theaters."

Yoo Hae-jin said he could not predict which Korean film would come out on top, but added: "For audiences, it will be a good opportunity to pick and choose. I expect there will be a real pleasure in coming to the cinema after such a long time."

"The Assassin" has been officially selected for the Gala Presentations section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, opening next month, where it will have its world premiere. Production company Hive MEDIAcorp said Tuesday that director Heo and lead actors Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho are all expected to attend.

Also entering the Chuseok fray is "Tajja: Song of Beelzebub," the final installment of Korea's longest-running film franchise. It opens during the Chuseok holiday, setting up a direct head-to-head with "The Assassin."

The film adapts the final volume of Heo Young-man's original comic series. It follows Jang Tae-young (Byun Yo-han), who believed he had the world at his feet through an online casino empire, and his best friend and namesake Park Tae-young (Noh Jae-won), who stripped him of everything — the two reuniting for a high-stakes game of revenge on the global gambling circuit.

While the three previous films over the past 20 years shared a common universe, "Tajja: Song of Beelzebub" stands on its own. The distributor said the film "inherits the originality of the existing Tajja series while unfolding the deepest and most expansive world of poker in the franchise's history," promising audiences "a feeling entirely different from any 'Tajja' they have encountered before."

A week before Chuseok, audiences will get an office comedy to lighten the mood: "The Intern."

A remake of the Hollywood film of the same name, "The Intern" follows the office life that begins when "Gi-ho," a silver intern with 37 years of career experience, joins the company of "Seon-u," a dark-horse sensation who has taken the fashion world by storm in just three years.

Director Kim Do-young, who showed a deft touch with this year's "What If We" starring Goo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, helms the film. Veteran actor Choi Min-sik and rising star Han So-hee play the intern and the rookie CEO, respectively — roles originated by Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway in the original.

The production aims to deliver a lively K-office ensemble that resonates with audiences through the chemistry of two actors who transcend generation and rank.

Director Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love" will also be in theaters over the Chuseok holiday. The film is set for a Netflix release in November, but recently confirmed a two-week theatrical run beginning Sept. 23 — a qualifying run for awards consideration that gives audiences a rare chance to see it on the big screen.

"Possible Love" is Lee Chang-dong's first film in eight years since "Burning" (2018). It follows two couples — a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary filmmaker and her husband — who meet while making a documentary and come face to face with each other's contrasting lives and hidden desires.

The film has drawn considerable anticipation for its cast of celebrated actors: Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung and Jo Yeo-jeong. Jeon, who won Best Actress at the 60th Cannes Film Festival for "Miryang," reunites with Lee Chang-dong in the role of "Mi-ok," while Sul returns for a third collaboration with the director — following "Peppermint Candy" and "Oasis" — as "Ho-seok." It is also the fourth time Jeon and Sul have appeared together on screen. Jo In-sung and Jo Yeo-jeong play "Sang-u" and "Ye-ji," a couple whose lives stand in sharp contrast to the other pair.

"Possible Love" has also been officially selected for the Special Presentations section of next month's Toronto International Film Festival, where it will screen for international audiences ahead of its wider release. Lee was also named recipient of the TIFF Ebert Director Award, the festival's tribute honor — making him the first Korean to receive the prize.