The Journey to Gyeongju (경주기행) is a 2026 Korean crime drama about a mother and her three daughters who kidnap the man responsible for their youngest sister's death and take him along on what looks, from the outside, like an ordinary family road trip to Gyeongju. Directed by Kim Mi-jo, the film opens in theaters on August 26, 2026, blending a dark family revenge plot with pointed comedy — a combination the director has described as building the story around four ordinary women who'd never so much as harmed an insect, forced into carrying out justice themselves.
Plot
Eight years after their youngest daughter Gyeongju never returned from a school trip, mother Ok-sil and her three surviving daughters — Jang-ju, Yeong-ju, and Dong-ju — set off on what appears to be a warm family vacation to Gyeongju, complete with matching T-shirts for the trip. In the trunk of their van, however, is the man they believe is responsible for Gyeongju's death. The trip serves as both an alibi and a cover for the family's real purpose: carrying out the revenge they've waited eight years to take. Complications arise almost immediately, including a wrong highway turn that throws off their carefully timed plan, setting up a story that mixes tense pursuit with darkly comic mishaps along the way.
Cast and Director
The film stars Lee Jung-eun as mother Ok-sil, driven by grief and guilt into planning the family's revenge; Gong Hyo-jin as eldest daughter Jang-ju, who prioritizes her mother above all else but privately worries about the risk to her own family; Park So-dam as second daughter Yeong-ju, a law-school graduate turned strategist who designs the plan's logistics despite her doubts; and Lee Yeon as youngest surviving daughter Dong-ju, described as someone who acts on instinct before thinking things through. Lee Jung-eun and Gong Hyo-jin previously played mother and daughter in the 2019 drama When the Camellia Blooms, while Lee Jung-eun and Park So-dam previously appeared together in the 2019 film Parasite. The Journey to Gyeongju is director Kim Mi-jo's first commercial feature, following her acclaimed 2020 debut Gull, which won the top prize in the Korean competition section at the Jeonju International Film Festival and received a special mention at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Festival Buzz Ahead of Release
Before its domestic theatrical release, The Journey to Gyeongju was invited to screen at several international festivals, including the Hawaii International Film Festival, the Florence Korea Film Festival, and the Barcelona Korean Film Festival, winning the audience award at the Florence event. That early festival reception has framed the film as one of the more distinctive entries in Korea's August 2026 theatrical lineup, standing out for the fully female-led creative team behind it — director, screenwriter, and all four leads are women.
The Journey to Gyeongju at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Director | Kim Mi-jo |
| Genre | Crime, dark comedy, family drama |
| Runtime | 110 minutes |
| Korean Release | August 26, 2026 |
| Lead Cast | Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, Lee Yeon |
| Notable Festival Recognition | Audience Award, Florence Korea Film Festival |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Journey to Gyeongju about?
It follows a mother and her three surviving daughters who kidnap the man they hold responsible for their youngest sister's death and disguise their revenge trip as an ordinary family vacation to Gyeongju.
Who stars in The Journey to Gyeongju?
The main cast includes Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon as the mother and her three daughters.
Is this director Kim Mi-jo's first film?
No, it's her first commercial feature, following her acclaimed 2020 debut Gull, which won the top Korean competition prize at the Jeonju International Film Festival.
Is The Journey to Gyeongju a comedy or a drama?
It blends both, using dark humor and awkward mishaps within an otherwise serious family revenge story.
Has The Journey to Gyeongju played at any film festivals?
Yes, it screened ahead of its theatrical release at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Florence Korea Film Festival, and Barcelona Korean Film Festival, winning the audience award in Florence.
Screening schedules and box office figures can change after release — check official theater listings for current showtimes.