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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-09-07 14:52:50
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has countless new terms referring to specific generations and genders, such as "Lee Dae-nam," "MZ generation," "youngkk," and "neulkk."
These labels, which are mainly used to distinguish people who are different from oneself, are sometimes turned into derogatory or contemptuous terms by adding suffixes such as "-chung." The proliferation of such labeling may also symbolically reflect how Korean society is divided along gender, generational and other lines.
That may be one reason why the film "The Intern," a remake of the Hollywood film of the same name released 11 years ago, could resonate with today's audiences. The movie depicts a meeting and companionship between older and younger generations.
"We live in a society where we put names on people and label them. I think 'The Intern' is a story about people with different labels clashing, then coming to understand and accept each other and building a friendship."
Kim Do-young, director of "The Intern," said the remarks in an interview at a cafe in Seoul's Jongno District on Sunday. "I wanted to convey the message that when you look at someone with a label different from your own and approach them warmly, something almost miraculous can happen."
Opening Sept. 16, "The Intern" follows Gi-ho (Choi Min-sik), a retired office worker with 37 years of experience who joins a fashion startup as a senior intern and meets Sun-woo (Han So-hee), the company's chief executive officer.
Like the original, the film portrays the process in which the two people, who differ in age and position, grow closer and form a friendship.
At the same time, the remake reshapes the story for contemporary Korea. Seoul's cityscape is woven into the interactions between Gi-ho and Sun-woo, deepening the emotions between them.
"I wanted to include as much of a Korean feel as possible because the film will also be released in other countries," Kim said. The movie is scheduled to open in nine Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia, next month.
The story also differs from the original. Gi-ho struggles to adapt to his new workplace, while the conflicts Sun-woo faces at work and at home, as well as the choices she makes, offer other major points of difference.
"I think Gi-ho's struggles may remind audiences of our fathers," Kim said. "I wanted Sun-woo to grow into an independent person on her own."
Sun-woo's choice in the latter part of the film leads to a message that she can trust herself a little more.
The casting was one of the biggest points of interest after news broke that "The Intern" would be remade in Korea. The roles originally played by Hollywood stars Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway are taken by Choi Min-sik, one of Korea's leading actors, and Han So-hee, who made a strong impression in the 2020 drama "The World of the Married."
Casting Choi was also the reason Kim, who was working on post-production for his film "Us, Our" (2025), accepted the offer to direct the project. Although he felt some pressure about working on another remake after "Us, Our," he took on the project because he saw it as "the only opportunity to work with senior actor Choi Min-sik."
Kim, who also has a background as a theater actor, spoke highly of working with Choi.
"I felt that when a talented person adds passion to that talent, they can stay at the center of the stage for their entire life," he said. "He doesn't force anything, but his performance is full of power. It was an honor for me to say 'OK' after his takes," he said with a laugh.
Kim recalled that Choi's many ideas on set made the production easier. He said lines spoken by Gi-ho in the film, including "sending out a cuckoo" and "sungguridangdang," incorporate Choi's ideas.
Kim also praised Han, calling her "an actress who can draw on her own deep emotions." He said the casting of Choi and Han "felt unfamiliar, which actually made it feel fresh," explaining the thinking behind the pairing.
Before "The Intern," Kim received considerable attention this year for "Us, Our," a remake of the Chinese film "Us and Them." Released Dec. 31 last year, "Us, Our" drew more than 2.6 million moviegoers in South Korea.
Kim said many people at the time predicted that the film would not perform well, but its success gave him greater faith in the power of cinema.
"I thought it was important to make a film with the belief that it would reach and touch someone, anyone," he said. "I believe the energy of 'The Intern' will also be clearly conveyed."
After directing two remakes in succession, Kim said his next project will be an original work rather than another remake. He is currently writing the screenplay.
"Being called a master of remakes puts a lot of pressure on me," he said with a laugh. "I think what's more important than whether it's a remake is whether the story remains relevant today. But we also need to tell new stories. I'm preparing an original work, so please look forward to it."
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