Choi Yebin X Kwon Heesong 'Hurdle' Released Today, 3rd Nationwide in Theaters, Revealing 3 Viewing Points!

The story of high school hurdle athlete ‘Seoyeon’ (Choi Yebin), who dreams of joining the Hurdle professional team, facing the harsh reality as she becomes the only guardian of her father (Kim Youngjae), who suddenly collapsed due to a stroke 〈Hurdle〉 is released today, the 3rd (Wednesday), drawing attention by revealing 3 viewing points that will provide heartfelt emotions through deeply relatable direction.

#1. The harsh reality faced by a young guardian standing on the track of reality!

The first viewing point of the movie 〈Hurdle〉 is the story of a high school hurdle athlete, who is called a promising player in the region, suddenly becoming the only guardian of her family and facing the higher wall of reality than the track. The protagonist ‘Seoyeon’ is a promising hurdle athlete dreaming of a hopeful tomorrow by winning local competitions. However, she gradually drifts away from her dreams as she alone bears the gap between livelihood and dreams to care for her suddenly collapsed father. The movie 〈Hurdle〉 provides a deep resonance by calmly reflecting the situation of ‘young caregivers’ in our society through the reality faced by the protagonist ‘Seoyeon’. Director Han Sangwook, who wrote the script and directed the film, revealed that he was inspired by the reality of ‘young caregivers’ through news in 2022, stating, “At that time, there was not even a name to call them. I thought that what I could do to inform these stories was to make a movie.” He sharply addresses the realistic issues existing in our society, raising expectations for the movie 〈Hurdle〉, which will provide deep empathy to audiences by the end of this year.

#2. Authenticity captured through meticulous direction and sincere messages!

The second viewing point is the shining authenticity and solid completeness contained in the original script, which won the 2023 Korean Film Council screenplay competition. Director Han Sangwook, who has gained experience in various commercial films such as 〈On the Way Home〉 (2012) and 〈Tunnel〉 (2015), presents his feature debut 〈Hurdle〉 by thoroughly researching various materials from the scriptwriting process to genuinely portray the reality of ‘young caregivers’. It is not just a story that reproduces reality but depicts the protagonist ‘Seoyeon’s story with love for her father, the pain of reality, friendship with friends, and the limitations of an unprotected young guardian, providing narrative depth and emotional impact that only film can deliver.

#3. Heartfelt empathy and emotion completed by a solid cast!

The final viewing point is the powerful performances of a solid cast that complete heartfelt empathy and emotion. The actors of 〈Hurdle〉 perfectly express the vivid characters as if they are breathing beside us, delivering a profound resonance to the audience with their convincing performances. First, actress Choi Yebin, who proved her presence in the drama [Penthouse], leads the film as the protagonist ‘Seoyeon’, delicately portraying the young guardian who has become a protector. Following her, actor Kim Youngjae, who plays ‘Seoyeon’s only family, father ‘Moonseok’, delivers a soft and calm performance that will resonate deeply with the audience. Additionally, the supporting cast’s performances also capture attention, from actress Kwon Heesong, who perfectly embodies ‘Minjeong’, ‘Seoyeon’s only best friend and rival’, with a stable performance that is hard to believe is her first film appearance, to actor Lee Joongok, who plays ‘Director Park’, who wants to help ‘Seoyeon’ but struggles with his own limitations, adding emotional depth to the story as he moves between the screen and television, establishing himself as Korea’s No.1 scene-stealer. Thus, the 〈Hurdle〉 completed by the actors’ passionate performances will leave an unforgettable aftertaste for the audience.