‘Hope’ by Na Hong-jin Enters Cannes Competition…Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Colony’ and Jun Ji-hyun’s Return Film Invited to the Non-Competition Midnight Screening

A Glorious Comeback for Korean Cinema, Taking Over the 79th ‘Cannes Film Festival’

Korea’s film industry sent a triumphant signal at the 79th ‘Cannes Film Festival’, marking a spectacular return. It erased last year’s painful slump—when not a single invited title made it—in the ‘Competition Section’, as director ‘Na Hong-jin’’s 500 billion-won blockbuster ‘Hope’ secured a place on the lineup.

After 10 Years Away, ‘Na Hong-jin’ Returns to Cannes’ Biggest Stage

Director ‘Na Hong-jin’ has come back with a new work of massive scale that more than matches the reputation of his previous films. Following ‘The Chaser,’ ‘The Yellow Sea,’ and ‘The Wailing,’ his feature-length films—now arriving as a complete set—have all earned calls from Cannes. It sets a record for the director and once again proves that he is Korea’s distinctive cinematic voice. “It’s an honor. I’ll work harder for the rest of the time,” he said, sharing his heartfelt thoughts.

After Four Years, Back in the Competition Section—K-Movies Shake Up ‘Cannes Film Festival’

Korean films’ standing was reaffirmed at the executive committee press conference held on the 9th local time. After director ‘Park Chan-wook’’s ‘Decision to Leave’ in 2022 and director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s ‘Broker’, Korea returns to the Competition Section for the first time in four years, drawing strong attention from filmmakers around the world.

‘Hope,’ a 500-Billion-Won Blockbuster Built on a Global Cast and a High-Stakes Standoff

The new film ‘Hope’ follows a large-scale battle against an unidentified presence that appears near a port town in the vicinity of the Demilitarized Zone. Along with major Korean stars including Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Hoyeon, Hollywood actors Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander have also joined, raising expectations for a powerful on-screen synergy. Thierry Frémaux, the festival’s executive director, praised it highly, saying, “It’s an intense action film, where the genre is continually reworked over a running time of more than two hours.”

Evolving ‘K-Zombies’: Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Colony’ Invited to a Midnight Screening

Director ‘Yeon Sang-ho’’s new film ‘Colony’ has been invited to a non-competition midnight screening, delivering yet another round of good news for Korean cinema. Set inside a sealed building, the film depicts—at breakneck speed—the brutal struggle between evolving variant zombies and survivors, and is expected to open up a fresh horizon for Korean genre films.

Jun Ji-hyun Returns to the Screen After 11 Years with an Impressive Ensemble

Actor Jun Ji-hyun returns to the screen for the first time in 11 years as Kwon Se-jeong, a professor of life sciences who leads the group of survivors. With a strong lineup including Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, and Go Soo, the film is expected to draw viewers deeper into the story. Director ‘Yeon Sang-ho’ said, “I’m proud to introduce Korea’s genre films to the world,” outlining his clear ambition.

The First Big Milestone in Asia: Park Chan-wook as Jury Chair

At this year’s ‘Cannes Film Festival’ Competition Section, a total of 21 acclaimed works—including ‘Hope’—will compete fiercely for the Palme d’Or. In particular, it is a major milestone that master director ‘Park Chan-wook’ will be appointed as the first Korean to serve as Jury Chair for the Competition Section. This is the second time an Asian director has achieved such a distinction—following director Wong Kar-wai in 2006—signaling that Korea’s global film standing has reached a peak. The 79th ‘Cannes Film Festival’ will be held in Cannes, a resort city on the French Riviera in southern France, from the 12th to the 23rd of next month.