In South Korea's film industry, where massive budgets have traditionally been seen as the key to box office success, two small independent films are completely changing the game. 'The World of Love' and 'The Ugly' are proving that compelling storytelling and authentic filmmaking can defeat huge marketing campaigns through powerful word-of-mouth recommendations from audiences.
'The World of Love,' an independent film that hit theaters on October 22, has been gaining incredible momentum since its release. The movie reached over 30,000 viewers within just five days of opening, and is now approaching the 50,000 viewer milestone in less than two weeks. This achievement is particularly impressive considering the limited number of movie screens across the country that are showing the film.
The film tells the story of Joo-in, an 18-year-old high school student who becomes the target of disturbing anonymous messages after getting into an argument with her classmates about a petition they were passing around. Director Yoon Ga-eun, who received widespread praise for her sensitive and thoughtful storytelling in previous films 'The World of Us' and 'The House of Us,' returns with this new feature film after a six-year break from directing.
The movie has earned tremendous support from both critics and fellow filmmakers, who have praised its emotional accuracy and genuine approach to storytelling. Several prominent Korean actors including Kim Hye-soo, Kim Tae-ri, Park Jung-min, and Go Ah-sung have publicly expressed their support for the film. Even Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho showed his endorsement by appearing at a special talk event for the movie. Popular actress Jung Yu-mi also showed her appreciation by posting on social media, writing 'I'm thankful I got to see this film.'
Unlike typical commercial movies that follow predictable formulas, 'The World of Love' focuses on capturing quiet but profound emotional truths that deeply connect with audiences. In an entertainment landscape dominated by big-budget genre films, this movie offers viewers a thoughtful and reflective examination of ordinary teenage experiences, delivering its message with subtle but powerful impact.
The film is also attracting significant attention from international audiences and critics. Before its release in South Korea, 'The World of Love' became the first and only Korean film selected for the competitive section of this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, the movie has been invited to screen at several other prestigious international film festivals, including Pingyao, Warsaw, BFI London, Tokyo Filmex, and Hong Kong Asian Film festivals.
Another remarkable success story is 'The Ugly,' directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who is best known for creating the massive blockbuster hit 'Train to Busan.' This low-budget film was made for only 200 million won (approximately $145,000), but has earned around 10.2 billion won at the box office, representing an incredible fifty-fold return on its original investment.
'The Ugly' follows the story of Im Dong-hwan, a man who is trying to solve the mysterious circumstances surrounding his mother's death that occurred 40 years ago, while living with and caring for his blind father, who works as a master craftsman specializing in engraved seals. The film stars talented actors Park Jung-min, Kwon Hae-hyo, and Shin Hyun-been, and has attracted more than one million viewers thanks to excellent reviews and strong word-of-mouth recommendations.
Director Yeon produced the entire movie using only 20 crew members and completed filming in one-third of the typical number of shooting days required for a standard commercial feature film. Lead actor Park Jung-min demonstrated his commitment to the creative project by agreeing to take the starring role without receiving any payment, showing the entire team's dedication to artistic experimentation over financial gain.
Yeon explained that he deliberately chose to work with such a low budget in order to break away from conventional film production systems that often limit creative freedom. The tremendous success of 'The Ugly' now serves as a quiet but powerful criticism of South Korea's risk-averse film industry, which frequently chooses safe, predictable projects over diverse and creative storytelling.
Cultural critic Jung Deok-hyun shared his thoughts with the Hankook Ilbo, explaining that 'We're no longer living in an era where only big multiplex blockbusters can achieve success. Even films made with small budgets can deeply move and impact audiences.' He continued by noting that 'The old formula of depending on mega-trends and massive marketing campaigns no longer works effectively. In today's era where personal taste and individual preferences are so important, movie theaters must embrace diversity and variety in order to survive and thrive.'
