First Review: Korean 〈The Intern〉 Leans on Choi Min-sik’s Appeal; Inside the Press Screening and News Conference

The Hollywood hit 〈The Intern〉 returns as a distinctly Korean remake, folding in local workplace culture, marital realism, and a stronger emotional through-line. Due to open September 16, 〈The Intern〉 begins when Gi-ho (Choi Min-sik), a 37-year veteran "silver intern," joins Sun-woo (Han So-hee)’s company U2U2, which emerged as a dark horse in the fashion world three years after its launch. The film follows office life that cuts across generations and job titles.

The Korean film 〈The Intern〉 is a coming-of-age drama about a young woman seeking stability amid instability. Sun-woo, the CEO played by Han So-hee, feels far more flesh-and-blood than Anne Hathaway’s Jules. She comes across as a thirty-something who sometimes quietly bursts with joy over her achievements, soothes loneliness with song, can be fragile and precarious, and at times cannot contain her emotions and breaks down in tears.

In the film, startup survival formulas like "exit" and "tax incentives" come up in dialogue. The movie depicts scenes familiar to Korean workplaces: a boss who slips away after handing over the corporate card at a dinner, a superior who takes credit for a junior’s work, employees fawning over celebrities tied to the company’s image, and coworkers who avoid eating lunch with people they feel uncomfortable around. Running alongside those workplace depictions is Sun-woo’s marriage and its realistic conflicts.

However, the episodes the film presents feel somewhat fragmented rather than organically connected. What bridges those gaps, though, is Choi Min-sik’s deeply compelling presence. As Sun-woo gradually shifts from an anxious type to a more stable one, Choi’s Gi-ho, in the autumn and winter of his life, offers deep comfort simply through his presence.

On the afternoon of the 4th at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan District, Seoul, the film 〈The Intern〉 held a press screening and press conference. Director Kim Do-young joined lead actors Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee, Kim Jun-han and Ryu Hye-young to discuss the unique charms of the Korean version of 〈The Intern〉 and share behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Kim Do-young, who directed 〈Kim Ji-young, Born 1982〉 and 〈Manyak-e Uri〉, said he aimed to preserve the original’s message while grounding it in Korean experience. "I wanted the characters to feel much more rooted in reality than in the original," he said, adding, "I wanted to create a growth narrative in which Sun-woo’s anxiety—constantly blaming herself or feeling inadequate in her marriage and relationships—is gradually overcome." On generational conflict, he said, "These days people label one another. At first, someone with a different label can feel awkward and unfamiliar, but a story about building friendship and becoming good friends can deliver a positive message."

Asked about comparisons with the original, Choi Min-sik answered with humor and firmness. "I don’t even want to compare myself with De Niro, and it feels almost irreverent for me to mention him," he said. "As an actor, no matter how excellent the original is, using it as a reference would be like cheating on an exam by placing the answer sheet next to you." He said the production team debated intensely up to the crank-up, agreeing to "hold on to the original’s scent for a while, and then tell our own story." Han So-hee said, "I did start out with a heavy burden, but that worry disappeared during filming." She added, "There were clear points we could adapt to Korean sensibilities, and I trusted those." Han said, "Choi Min-sik had his own philosophy and style, so the original actor never crowded his performance," and expressed special affection, noting, "The final scene looking over the company as a whole was uniquely ours — something you don’t see in the original."

Choi Min-sik, who plays the warm senior intern everyone wants to lean on, confessed he still hasn't settled on a definition of what makes a "good elder" in real life. "I don't think being liked by young people or fitting in makes someone a good elder," he said. "I think someone who studies values to become a better person, who can admit mistakes, and who does not neglect that kind of self-reflection will, as they age, be called a good person."

Han So-hee said she learned while playing Sun-woo that if you try too hard to do everything alone, you reach overload: adults’ help, colleagues’ help, and seniors’ help are all necessary. Kim Jun-han, who plays Young-hwan, U2U2’s pragmatic vice president, confessed he sobbed after watching the film and described the various farewells in the movie as "not simply punishment but a parting in growth when people’s thinking diverges." Ryu Hye-young, who plays Min-ah, an AI-obsessed head of management support and Gi-ho’s workplace mentor, said her real-life use of AI increased while preparing for the role. "Every night before going to sleep I chat with AI and even ask it to read my fortune. I got a paid subscription to immerse myself in the character," she said, drawing laughter from the room.

The film 〈The Intern〉 opens on September 16.