Short-Drama Boom! Director Lee Jun-ik’s “Father’s Home-Cooked Meal” and Director Lee Won-seok’s “Beloved Death” Take Part in Bucheon Release Event

The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, is a leading domestic festival that has actively introduced new formats and content, focusing on genre films. The two works were invited to [Platform Planning Exhibition: Short-Form Cinema] within the Fantasyscape section. This special exhibition expands the vertical short dramas that were consumed in mobile environments onto the theater screen, presenting shifting trends in the content industry and a new viewing experience. 

〈Father’s Home-Cooked Meal〉 is a story about how a husband, “Ha-eung,” begins cooking home meals for the first time after his wife, “Soon-ae,” becomes unable to cook, and how it transforms the dynamics of the family. The film, featuring the meeting of South Korea’s leading director Lee Jun-ik—who has directed films 〈King and the Clown〉, 〈The Throne〉, and 〈A Hard Day〉—with actors Jeong Jin-young, Lee Jeong-eun, and Byeon Yo-han, has already drawn intense buzz. Based on the webtoon of the same name by author Kim (the title is treated as the same-name webtoon), it maintains the original work’s warm tone from everyday life, while strengthening immersion by adding narration and character interpretation tailored to the visual medium. In particular, director Lee Jun-ik’s careful perspective—who is taking on short-drama directing for the first time—and the solid acting ensemble of actors Jeong Jin-young, Lee Jeong-eun, and Byeon Yo-han combine to deliver a high level of immersion. Upon news of the festival invitation, director Lee Jun-ik said, “What a fresh shock it is when short-form content, something you normally see within the palm of your hand, unfolds across a massive theater screen! At the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, I hope you can experience with your whole body the unfamiliar yet overwhelming immersion that comes with a vertical screen.” 

〈Beloved Death〉 is a mystery fantasy drama in which three friends who decide to die together begin a deal with a mysterious being called “Death.” It is a story about characters who choose death but cannot die, as they launch a strange pursuit to reclaim the right to die. The work has a distinctive world, with its own creative setting. Based on a webtoon of the same name by writer Lee-eon, the film is directed by Lee Won-seok, director of films 〈Killing Romance〉, 〈The Attorney〉, and 〈Man in the Mirror〉, who blends his signature humor and sensibility into the direction. The three friends who have decided to die—Seemingly—will be played by singer-actresses Sim Ja-yoon of the girl group STAYC, actor Min Ga-rin, and Jo Chae-yoon, presenting lively, standout characters. Actor Yoon Sang-hyun will play “Seon-ho,” the only witness at the scene, while actor Nam Jung-woo will take on the role of “Death,” personified as a human, bringing a distinct presence. Director Lee Won-seok said, “I’m grateful and honored that I can present a new-format work to viewers at a theater. I also thank the festival officials for choosing a strange, new kind of work, and I hope it becomes a festival that everyone enjoys.” 

In addition, Kim Hyeong-seok, a programmer at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, said that “〈Father’s Home-Cooked Meal〉 isn’t changing ‘Lee Jun-ik’s work’ just because the look has changed, and the director’s distinctive emotional sensibility is still there. It’s a story you can follow in one breath without feeling bored,” and that “〈Beloved Death〉 is a work that’s hard to define clearly in terms of genre, which is precisely why it’s interesting. It starts with a lively tone and you might think it’s a comedy, but crime elements come together. The screen composition that cleverly fills the vertical short-form layout stands out.” He added that the two works are expected to broaden the foundation of short drama, underscoring anticipation for the genre. The directors and lead actors of the two works are set to attend the opening ceremony on Thursday, July 2 to light up the red carpet. On Saturday, July 4, a GV event will also be held, and festival officials expect audiences to share deeper, more meaningful conversations about the works. 

At the 25th New York Asian Film Festival, [Beloved Death] was selected for the Korean Horizons section as the first-ever Korean film invitation for a short drama, adding to the significance. The New York Asian Film Festival is known as North America’s leading Asian film festival held every year in New York, and it selects outstanding films across a range of genres. With [Beloved Death] invited to the 25th New York Asian Film Festival, it shows that the short-drama genre has moved beyond simply being mobile content to become a culture product with competitiveness in the global market as well. It is also a meaningful achievement that indicates Korean short dramas are beginning to be recognized internationally as an independent genre of content.

The short-drama platform Resin Snack continues to discover and produce works with solid storytelling and distinct worldbuilding based on its in-house webtoon IP, presenting a new standard for the short-drama market. Resin Snack original short dramas 〈Father’s Home-Cooked Meal〉 and 〈Beloved Death〉 are scheduled for exclusive release through Resin Snack in the second half of 2026.