As the Sunset Soaks Dadaepo, Catch Movies in ‘Hansan’ and ‘Smuggling’… ‘Dadaepo Sunset Film Festival’ Runs Sept. 14-16

Three days starting Sept. 14 as a special stage goes live… Independence Day opening ceremony and red carpet confirmed

Busan’s “Dadaepo Beach” will be transformed into a massive open-air screening venue. “The 4th Dadaepo Sunset Film Festival” will be held for three days from Sept. 14 to 16, showcasing major box-office hits from Korea’s film industry in succession amid the natural scenery created by the setting sun.

The festival, co-hosted by the Saha District and the event organizing committee, will hold its official opening ceremony on Independence Day, Sept. 15. The organizing committee said it goes beyond a simple viewing experience, promising a distinctive cultural moment in which cinematic emotion is heightened against a backdrop of a sea tinted red.

This year’s lineup targets both mainstream appeal and artistic merit. The opening feature is “Hansan: The Appearance of the Dragon” (2022), directed by Kim Han-min, which brings to the screen Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s overwhelming victory during the Imjin War era. It will be followed by “Smuggling” (2023), a maritime action thriller by director Ryoo Seung-wan, and “Firefighter” (2024), director Kwak Kyung-taek’s new work, among other major masterpieces that will take the special stage by the beach, grabbing viewers’ attention.

Just before the opening ceremony on Sept. 15, the red carpet event will draw a large gathering of key figures representing the domestic film scene. Actor “Yoo Jae-myung”, “Kim Gyuri”, “Kim Myung-gon”, “Kim In-kwon”, “Jung Tae-woo”, and “Choi Daniel” will lead the way, joined by directors “Kim Han-min”, “Yang Yoon-ho”, “Lee Jang-ho”, “Lee Taeri”, and “Jung Choshin” as they visit Dadaepo to raise the festival’s stature. In addition, special guest performances by singer “Ali”, known for explosive vocal power, and “Seongri” will further build up the energy on site to its peak.

On Sept. 14, the day before the official opening, the festival will kick off with screenings of short-film competition winners selected after fierce competition. During the event period, “Dadaepo Pojangmacha” stalls will also operate along the beach. A tight lineup of side events—street performances (busking), citizen-participation dance contests, and a song festival—will come together to complete a full-scale cultural festival where both local residents and tourists enjoy the occasion in harmony.