The Korean remake of the popular Hollywood film The Intern is officially coming to theaters. Warner Bros. Korea confirmed on August 4 that the movie will release on September 16, 2026, just in time for the Chuseok holiday season. Along with the release date, the studio dropped the first poster and a teaser trailer, giving audiences a proper look at Choi Min Sik and Han So Hee in their lead roles.
The film is a remake of the 2015 American comedy-drama directed by Nancy Meyers. The original starred Robert De Niro as a 70-year-old intern and Anne Hathaway as the young CEO of a fashion startup. That movie earned $194 million worldwide and sold over 3.6 million tickets in South Korea alone. The Korean version puts a local spin on the beloved story while keeping its core theme of an unlikely workplace friendship.
First Poster Shows the Lead Characters Walking Side by Side
The newly released poster features Kim Gi Ho (Choi Min Sik) and Sun Woo (Han So Hee) walking toward the office together. Gi Ho appears confident in his suit, while Sun Woo shows a firm expression as the head of a growing fashion company. The image captures the contrast between the seasoned intern and the determined young CEO.
The poster does not give away too much of the plot. But it sets the tone for a workplace story where two people from different generations must learn to work together. The visual chemistry between the two leads is already drawing attention from fans online.
Teaser Trailer Shows a Senior Intern Trying to Fit In
The teaser trailer runs for about a minute and gives a clear idea of what to expect from the film. It opens with Gi Ho attending an interview with Vice President Young Hwan, played by Kim Jun Han. When asked about his strengths and weaknesses, Gi Ho gives a straightforward answer: “My strength is that I have a lot of experience, and my weakness is that I am old.”
That line sets up the film’s main humor. Gi Ho is a 37-year industry veteran who decides to restart his career as a senior intern. He joins a fashion startup called Woo22 (or Wootutu), which is run by Sun Woo, a CEO who built her company from nothing in just three years.
The trailer shows Gi Ho setting up his desk in an old-fashioned way. He brings a cream bun, a goldfish, a thermos, a desk clock, and a pencil case. His desk looks completely different from the modern setups of his younger coworkers. In another scene, he searches his phone for “how to work with young generations” and struggles to understand modern slang.
There is also a funny moment when Sun Woo looks at Gi Ho’s resume photo on a tablet and asks, “Who is this scary looking person?” She later says, “I don’t get along with all the elders in the world, you know that!” Gi Ho simply introduces himself with a polite bow, saying, “I’m Kim Gi Ho, the new intern.”
Choi Min Sik and Han So Hee Take on Iconic Roles
Choi Min Sik plays Kim Gi Ho, the role originally played by Robert De Niro. Choi is one of South Korea’s most respected actors. He is known worldwide for films like Oldboy (2003) and The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014), which remains the most-watched film in Korean box office history. He also appeared in the supernatural hit Exhuma (2024) and the Netflix series Notes from the Last Row.
Han So Hee takes on the role of Sun Woo, the CEO originally played by Anne Hathaway. Han became a household name after the 2020 cable drama The World of the Married. She later starred in Netflix series My Name and Gyeongseong Creature. Her most recent project was the crime film Project Y, which released earlier this year.
The supporting cast includes Kim Jun Han as Vice President Young Hwan, Ryu Hye Young as secretary Mina, and Kim Geum Soon.
Kim Do Young Directs the Korean Adaptation
The film is directed by Kim Do Young. He previously directed Once We Were Us, a romantic drama that sold 2.6 million tickets and performed well against major Hollywood releases. He also worked on Kim Ji Young: Born 1982, a film about the pressures faced by Korean women in the workplace. Kim has experience with remakes, as Once We Were Us was itself a remake of the Chinese film Us and Them.
The production is handled by Anthology Studio and Warner Bros. Korea.
Release Timed for Chuseok Holiday Season
The movie is set to release on September 16, 2026, which falls during the Chuseok holiday season. Chuseok is the Korean harvest festival and one of the biggest holidays in the country. It runs from September 24 to 26 this year. The holiday period is traditionally one of the busiest times for movie theaters in South Korea.
Releasing during Chuseok gives the film a strong chance at the box office. The studio is clearly aiming for a wide audience during the holiday week. The film will compete with other local releases like Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub and REAWAKEN MAN: THE RED.
What the Film Is About
The story follows Kim Gi Ho, a man with 37 years of work experience, who joins a fashion startup as a senior intern. The company, Woo22, is run by Sun Woo, a passionate CEO who has built her brand into a rising force in the fashion industry.
Gi Ho’s decision to start over as an intern creates awkward but funny situations. He is older than everyone else in the office. He does not understand modern workplace culture or the slang used by younger employees. But he brings decades of experience and a different perspective to the table.
Sun Woo, on the other hand, is a hardworking CEO who does not easily get along with older people. She is focused on growing her company and does not have time for office drama. The film explores how these two very different people learn to understand each other and build a meaningful connection.
The original film focused on the friendship between Ben Whittaker and Jules Ostin. Ben becomes a mentor to Jules, helping her balance work and personal life. The Korean remake is expected to follow a similar path but with Korean workplace and cultural elements.
Fan Reactions to the Trailer
Soon after the trailer dropped, fans shared their excitement on social media. One fan wrote, “Whoa, the remake of The Intern, it was a good movie. Veteran Choi Min Sik is working with new gen now as leads. His last drama, Notes From The Last Row with Choi Hyunwook was a good combo and chemistry too. Look forward to this version with Han Sohee.”
Another fan said, “The intern remake yaaasssss they did this for ME (the intern is such a comfort watch for me).” A third comment read, “The original #TheIntern is such a heartwarming and amazing movie! I really hope this Korean remake captures that same comforting vibe.”
Many viewers are curious to see how Choi Min Sik and Han So Hee will bring new life to the beloved characters. The trailer has already built strong anticipation for the September release.
The Original Film’s Legacy
The 2015 film The Intern was written and directed by Nancy Meyers. It starred Robert De Niro as Ben Whittaker, a retired executive who joins an online fashion startup through a senior intern program. Anne Hathaway played Jules Ostin, the company’s founder and CEO.
The movie was a commercial success. It earned more than five times its production budget at the global box office. It also received positive reviews for its warm and funny take on workplace relationships across generations.
The film has remained popular over the years. Many viewers still consider it a comfort watch. The Korean remake aims to bring that same feeling to a new audience while adding local flavor.
Indian Remake Also in the Works
An Indian adaptation of The Intern was announced in 2020. The film was initially set to star the late Rishi Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. After Kapoor’s passing, Amitabh Bachchan was brought on board in 2021. However, Padukone later stepped away from the acting role but remained attached as a producer. There has been no major update on that project since then.
The Korean version is moving forward with a clear release plan. It will be the first major remake of the film to reach theaters since the original.
What to Expect from the Korean Version
The Korean remake stays true to the core idea of the original. It tells the story of an older intern and a younger boss who form an unlikely bond. But the film also adds elements that reflect Korean corporate culture.
The trailer shows Gi Ho struggling with terms like “gam-da-dwii,” a Korean slang term that confuses him. It also highlights the generation gap in a workplace setting. These small details make the story feel more local and relatable for Korean audiences.
Director Kim Do Young has experience with character-driven stories. His previous films focus on real-life struggles and relationships. That background suggests the Korean version will have emotional depth alongside its comedy.
The film is produced by Warner Bros. Korea, which gives it the backing of a major studio. The release date during Chuseok shows confidence in the film’s appeal to a wide audience.
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Final Details
The Intern will release exclusively in theaters in South Korea on September 16, 2026. There is no official word yet on an international release. But given the popularity of both leads and the original film, the Korean remake is likely to attract attention from global audiences as well.
The first poster and teaser trailer are already available online. Fans can watch the trailer on various platforms to get a taste of what the film has to offer.
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