‘The World of Love’ Set for Release in the UK, Japan and North America, Extending Its Global Run Into 2026–27

When it opened in South Korea in 2025, 〈The World of Love〉 drew an impressive 210,000 moviegoers. It went on to become the first Korean film invited to the Platform competition at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, it has earned international recognition, winning two awards at the 9th Pingyao International Film Festival, the FIPRESCI Prize at the 41st Warsaw International Film Festival and the top prize at the 47th Nantes Three Continents Festival, among others. The film has continued to draw attention with invitations to more than 40 leading film festivals around the world.

Its overseas releases have also been warmly received. The film opened in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and France in the first half of 2026, winning over audiences in both Asia and Europe. It had an extended 15-week run in Hong Kong, where it opened on January 29, and an 11-week run in France, where it opened on May 6. French media and audiences joined the chorus of praise for 〈The World of Love〉, calling it “delicate, intelligent and deeply moving,” “a film imbued with profound humanity” and “a film that stays with you long after the screening ends.”

The film’s global rollout will continue in the second half of the year. It is set to meet even more audiences in theaters with releases in the UK and Japan in November and December. Expectations are especially high in Japan, where distribution is being handled by Bitters End, a leading Japanese distributor known for carefully selecting films that combine artistic merit and broad appeal, including 〈Parasite〉, 〈Drive My Car〉 and 〈Still Life〉. Bitters End president Yuji Sadai said, “We are very pleased to bring the new film by the outstanding director Yoon Ga-eun, 〈The World of Love〉, to Japanese audiences.” He added, “The film demonstrates an exceptional approach to its subject. Audiences responded very warmly at its Japanese premiere at last November’s Tokyo Filmex, so we are looking forward to its theatrical release in Japan on December 11.”

In North America, the film has partnered with Kino Lorber, a leading U.S. distributor specializing in arthouse films. Kino Lorber has introduced internationally acclaimed titles such as 〈Bacurau〉 and 〈I Killed My Mother〉 to North American audiences. Following its releases in Asia and Europe, the film is expanding its presence in the global market with a distributor that brings extensive experience and expertise to North America. Meanwhile, the global rollout of 〈The World of Love〉 will continue next year, with releases planned in Italy, Australia, Israel and other territories in 2027. Expectations are building for the strong interest and response from audiences around the world to continue through the end of this year and into next.