The Korean remake of "The Intern," releasing September 16, 2026, reworks Nancy Meyers' 2015 Hollywood comedy-drama into a domestic office story, casting Choi Min-sik as a 37-year veteran of the workforce who joins a fast-growing fashion startup as its newest, oldest intern, working under CEO Han So-hee. Combining multiple Korean entertainment outlets, the film marks the first pairing of Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee on screen, adapting a well-known Hollywood premise around Korea's own generational and workplace dynamics rather than simply translating the original story beat for beat.
Story and Setup
The film follows Seon-woo (Han So-hee), a young CEO who grew her fashion brand, WOO22, into a fashion-industry dark horse with roughly 10 billion won in revenue within three years of founding it — success that has come at the cost of a relentless, overloaded pace of life. Into her company arrives Ki-ho (Choi Min-sik), a senior intern with 37 years of professional experience who, despite his veteran status, struggles to adjust to an unfamiliar digital work environment and the company's freewheeling startup culture. As the story develops, Ki-ho's sincerity and warmth begin to reach Seon-woo, and the two — different from each other in nearly every respect — start exchanging perspectives and experience neither had access to on their own, adding unexpected warmth to a life Seon-woo had been running through nonstop.
Cast and Character Mapping
Choi Min-sik plays Ki-ho, and Han So-hee plays Seon-woo, joined by a supporting cast including Kim Jun-han, Ryu Hye-young, Kim Geum-soon, Kim Yo-han, Park Ye-ni, Yoon Sang-jung, Han Ji-eun, Lim Sung-kyun, and Kim Tae-jun as figures inside and outside the company. For anyone familiar with the original, the character mapping is fairly direct: Ki-ho occupies the role Robert De Niro played as Ben Whittaker, Seon-woo takes on Anne Hathaway's Jules Ostin role, and a cafeteria owner character named Hee-sook corresponds to Rene Russo's Fiona from the 2015 film.
Behind the Scenes
Director Kim Do-young, known for "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982," which drew more than 3 million admissions in 2019, and the film "If We Ever Meet Again," leads the remake. Choi Min-sik has said in promotional interviews that the project actually traces back further than its current production — an earlier version of the Korean remake had been planned with director Kang Yoon-sung, known for "Casino" and the "The Roundup" franchise, and Choi Min-sik had been actively involved in revising that earlier script alongside the director. That version had reportedly received a green light from Warner Bros Korea before the studio's Korean operations were scaled back, shelving the project until it was revived under its current creative team. Filming for the current version ran from September 29 to December 6, 2025, and the finished film runs 132 minutes.
The Intern (Korean Remake) at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Director | Kim Do-young |
| Lead Cast | Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee |
| Original Film | "The Intern" (2015), directed by Nancy Meyers |
| Runtime | 132 minutes |
| Distributor | Warner Bros Korea |
FAQ
Do I need to have seen the original "The Intern" to follow this remake?
No — the film tells a complete, self-contained story, though viewers familiar with the 2015 original will recognize the core setup and character dynamics reworked for a Korean office setting.
Who plays the lead roles in the Korean remake?
Choi Min-sik plays senior intern Ki-ho, and Han So-hee plays young CEO Seon-woo, marking the first time the two actors have appeared together on screen.
Is this the first attempt to remake "The Intern" in Korea?
According to comments from Choi Min-sik, an earlier version of the remake was planned years prior with a different director attached, but was shelved before production began; the current film represents a revived, recast version of that earlier effort.
Sources: Namu Wiki, Sisun News, and Korean-language film release guides.