Korea's film market barely managed to maintain 100 million cumulative admissions this year, largely thanks to strong second-half performances from Walt Disney films and Japanese animation. With forecasts suggesting conditions will remain challenging next year, major domestic distributors have finalized their 2025 film lineups.
Korean films yielded the top two spots at the domestic box office to foreign films this year, and no Korean movie reached the 10-million admissions milestone. Yet industry observers remain hopeful, citing confidence in Korean cinema's underlying strength. The optimism stems from the return of "10-million directors" — filmmakers whose previous works drew over 10 million viewers — including Yoon Je-kyun, Yeon Sang-ho, and Ryoo Seung-wan. Distinctive storytellers such as Na Hong-jin, Jang Hang-jun, and Im Sang-soo are also set to release new works, alongside "10-million actors" including Hwang Jung-min, Choi Min-sik, Lee Sung-min, and Yoo Hae-jin.
According to industry sources on Monday, Lotte Entertainment was the first distributor to finalize its 2025 lineup. The company will release 14 films — six domestic and eight foreign titles — the largest slate among distributors. Starting with "Heartman" in January, the first half will feature "Resurrection Man" and "To the Land of Happiness," followed by "Gyeongju Trip," "Wild Thing," and "Jeong Family Ranch."
"Heartman" reunites director Choi Won-sub and actor Kwon Sang-woo, who previously achieved commercial success with "Hitman" 1 and 2, for a new romantic comedy. "To the Land of Happiness," directed by Im Sang-soo, tells the story of "203" (played by Choi Min-sik), a prisoner who escapes to die properly, and "Nam-sik" (played by Park Hae-il), who gets caught stealing medicine to live properly. The two accidentally come into a large sum of money and begin an unexpected journey together.
"Gyeongju Trip" follows four mothers and daughters on a special family trip to Gyeongju to seek revenge on the day the murderer of their youngest daughter Gyeongju is released from prison. The film stars Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon, delivering a powerful female narrative.
Showbox will release "The Man Who Lives with the King" on February 4, targeting Lunar New Year holiday audiences. The film draws attention as the only Korean movie to focus on King Danjong, with the Gyeyu Rebellion as its motif. It depicts the story of young King Lee Hong-wi (played by Park Ji-hoon), who is exiled to Yeongwol in Gangwon Province, and village chief Eom Heung-do (played by Yoo Hae-jin) and villagers who care for the deposed young king.
"Swarm" is director Yeon Sang-ho's zombie film set in his apocalyptic universe, depicting survivors trapped in a sealed building during an unidentified infection outbreak fighting against infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways. The film stars Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, and Shin Hyun-been.
CJ ENM plans to release "Ode to My Father 2," "Tazza: Song of Beelzebub" (the fourth installment in the Tazza franchise), and "Paradise Lost." Scheduled for the second half of next year, "Ode to My Father 2" is the sequel to the 10-million hit "Ode to My Father," directed by Yoon Je-kyun. Centering on Korean miner Seong-min (played by Lee Sung-min) dispatched to Germany and his son Se-ju (played by Kang Ha-neul), the film covers major events in modern Korean history, raising expectations among audiences thirsting for period dramas.
Director Yeon Sang-ho, who wrote a new chapter in ultra-low-budget filmmaking by generating 11 billion won in revenue with the 200-million-won production "Face," will present "Paradise Lost," a mystery film made with a 500-million-won budget. The story begins when a child who had gone missing nine years ago in a camping school bus incident returns fully grown to the mother who lost the child. The film stars Kim Hyun-joo and Bae Hyun-sung.
"Tazza: Song of Beelzebub" is a crime film in which Jang Tae-young (played by Byun Yo-han), who thought he had it all through poker business, and his former best friend Park Tae-young (played by Noh Jae-won), who took everything from him, reunite at a high-stakes global gambling table to risk their lives.
NEW, which defended Korean cinema's pride this year with "Zombie Daughter" drawing 5.6 million viewers, will release "HUMINT" on February 11. The action drama depicts four individuals with different objectives clashing in Vladivostok, where secrets and truths are buried in the cold sea. Director Ryoo Seung-wan helmed the project, with Jo In-sung, Park Jung-min, Park Hae-joon, and Shin Se-kyung starring.
Plus M Entertainment will release "Project Y," which was originally scheduled for this year, and "Hope" next year. "Hope," directed by Na Hong-jin of "The Chaser," "The Yellow Sea," and "The Wailing" fame, tells the story of Beom-seok, head of an outpost in Hopo Port located in the demilitarized zone, who hears from local youths that a tiger has appeared. As the entire village goes on emergency alert, he faces an unbelievable reality. The film stars Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon.
