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The Korean remake of “The Intern” has taken an early lead among domestic films targeting the upcoming Chuseok holiday season, signaling strong audience interest ahead of its September 16 theatrical release.
“The Intern” Leads Korean Movie Advance Sales
According to Korean Film Council advance ticket data reported on September 2, “The Intern” recorded an advance reservation rate of approximately 8 percent with around 44,000 tickets sold.
That placed the movie second overall at the time while making it the strongest performing Korean title among the upcoming Chuseok releases.
The film narrowly moved ahead of fellow holiday contender “The Assassin(s),” which had recorded approximately 43,000 advance reservations.
Choi Min-sik Becomes a 37-Year Veteran Intern
Choi Min-sik plays Gi-ho, a veteran worker with 37 years of professional experience who unexpectedly begins a new chapter of his life as a senior intern.
His new workplace is WOO22, a rapidly growing fashion company led by young CEO Sun-woo, played by Han So-hee.
The unusual relationship between an experienced older intern and a much younger CEO forms the heart of the film.
Han So-hee Takes Over the CEO Role
Han So-hee's Sun-woo is a driven entrepreneur whose fashion brand has become an industry dark horse only three years after launching.
Her demanding work life begins to change when Gi-ho enters the company, bringing decades of experience and a completely different perspective into her fast-moving workplace.
Their differences in age, position and experience set up a story about workplace relationships that cross traditional generational boundaries.
A Korean Remake of the Hollywood Hit
The movie is a Korean adaptation of the 2015 Hollywood film “The Intern,” originally starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.
Rather than simply recreating the original, the Korean version adapts the story around Korean workplace culture and generational relationships.
Director Kim Do-young has emphasized that the remake aims to create characters and conflicts that feel grounded in contemporary Korean life.
Choi Min-sik Tries Something Different
The project is also notable for Choi Min-sik, an actor internationally known for intense films including “Oldboy,” “I Saw the Devil” and “Exhuma.”
“The Intern” gives him an opportunity to step into a warmer workplace comedy, showing audiences a considerably different side of the veteran actor.
20 Million Trailer Views Before Release
Interest in the remake has already been visible online.
The movie's first two trailers have surpassed 20 million combined views ahead of the theatrical release.
That online attention, combined with its early advance ticket performance, has positioned “The Intern” as one of the Korean movies to watch during this year's competitive Chuseok season.
When Does “The Intern” Premiere?
“The Intern” opens in South Korean theaters on September 16, 2026.
The movie will arrive ahead of several other major Chuseok releases, giving Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee an early opportunity to establish momentum at the holiday box office.
Whether the film can maintain that lead after audiences see it remains to be determined, but its strong advance sales suggest that the unusual pairing of Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee has already captured plenty of attention.
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Sources: Korean Film Council, SBS Entertainment News and Warner Bros. Korea. September 3, 2026.
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