Choi Ji-woo returns with indie film about family battling diabetes

▲ Actress Choi Ji-woo (R) poses for photos with Min Jin-woong (L) and Go Dong-ha at a press conference for the upcoming film "Sugar" in Seoul on Dec. 18, 2025. (Yonhap)

▲ A poster for "Sugar" is seen in this image provided by Message Film. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Korean film-press conference

Choi Ji-woo returns with indie film about family battling diabetes

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Dec. 18 (Yonhap) -- Actress Choi Ji-woo makes her return to the big screen after three years with an independent film based on the true story of a family navigating life after their son is diagnosed with diabetes.

"I was cautious because I had to portray a real-life figure," Choi said during a press conference Thursday for the upcoming film "Sugar."

A mother of a young daughter herself, the actress said she could immerse herself in the role more easily than she would have before experiencing motherhood.

"I tried not to appear too emotional on screen and actually had to hold back my feelings throughout the performance," the "Winter Sonata" star said.

She explained her character, Mi-ra, as a mother who bravely accepts a new reality: Her 12-year-old son, active in his school's baseball club, is suddenly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes -- a chronic autoimmune disorder that stops the body from producing insulin to regulate blood sugar.

Mi-ra, an engineer, secures a device from overseas that can measure blood sugar without drawing blood, sparing young patients from painful finger pricks required multiple times throughout each day, and develops technology to connect it with smartphones. But she encounters numerous legal and regulatory obstacles along the way.

Admitting she knew little about the disease before shooting, Choi said she now understands that it can strike anyone "like a car accident," since the disorder isn't caused by diet, age or lifestyle.

"The disease hits when you're completely unprepared, and suddenly your entire daily life comes to a halt," she said. "As a parent, you can't let your guard down for even a moment, not even when your child is asleep.

"It must be incredibly painful to go through all of this. While raising awareness about the disease is important, we focused more on how the family navigates this journey together," she said.

The film's director, Choi Sin-chun, who was not present at the press event due to a personal matter, has lived with Type 1 diabetes herself since being diagnosed in sixth grade. She began writing the script in 2019 and secured funding from the Korean Film Council in 2023, receiving 300 million won (US$202,900) in production support.

"The film made me rethink how I live my life. It is a warm and hopeful family movie that will make you cherish every moment of your life," the actress said.

"Sugar" is set for release Jan. 21.

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