Busan International Film Festival to world-premiere 3 new Korean drama series in 'On Screen'; new projects starring Shin Min-a and Son Suk-ku make global debuts

K-content's triumphant return: A star-studded battle to light up screens worldwide

The 31st Busan International Film Festival, which opens Oct. 6, has announced a powerhouse lineup poised to draw the attention of movie fans around the world. Three new Korean drama series aimed at the global content market will make their debut as world premieres, further underscoring K-content's unparalleled standing on the international stage.

Festival organizers on the 25th finalized the official lineup for 'On Screen', a section dedicated to showcasing a handpicked selection of the season's most anticipated titles. The three featured works are director Kim Da-min's 'Honey Job', director Cho Soo-won's 'The Remarried Empress' and director Han Jun-hee's 'Blue Road.' 'On Screen' is a section that screens highly anticipated new drama series. All three titles in this year's selection will be presented as world premieres.

The biggest draw is undoubtedly the star-studded cast set to command the screen. The romance-fantasy epic 'The Remarried Empress' brings together Shin Min-a, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk and Lee Se-young in what promises to be a seamless ensemble performance. 'Honey Job' pairs Lee Jae-wook with Go Min-si, Kim Min-ha and Lee Hee-joon for an explosive on-screen chemistry, while 'Blue Road' delivers weighty suspense led by Son Suk-ku, joined by acclaimed Japanese actor Eita Nagayama and Kim Shin-rok.

The 'Korean Cinema Today: Special Premiere' section also boasts a strong lineup, offering a snapshot of the state of South Korea's mainstream commercial cinema. Three films await the close scrutiny of audiences and critics: director Lee Hu-bin's 'Sapiens,' director Kim Sung-yoon's 'Generational Regret' and director Kim Ji-hyun's 'The Jung Family.'

The 'Korean Cinema Today: Panorama' section, which surveys the aesthetic currents shaping contemporary Korean cinema, features six major works. The lineup includes director Lee Yong-jae's 'CSAT, The Secret of the Questions,' director Song Il-gon's 'Still Radiant,' which has drawn attention with the return of beloved veteran actor Kim Hye-ja to the screen; director Hong Sung-min's 'In My Own Handwriting'; director Yoon Dan-bi's 'First World'; director Kim Jung-hoon's 'The Final Interview'; and 'Hope,' the latest film from internationally acclaimed auteur director Na Hong-jin.