Choi Min Sik and Han So Hee Star in Korean Remake of The Intern

The Korean remake of “The Intern,” a fresh adaptation of the Hollywood film bearing the same title, presents an intergenerational workplace story centered on late-career employment and generational perspective. The film reunites leading actor Choi Min Sik and actress Han So Hee, with director Kim Do Young steering the production. A newly released poster and behind-the-scenes video titled “Orientation” offer audiences their first substantial glimpse into how the cast and crew approached this ensemble narrative.

The Central Story and Its Characters

Gi Ho and Sun Woo: The Generational Pair

At the heart of the film sits Gi Ho, played by Choi Min Sik, a man entering the workforce for what amounts to a second chapter. Unlike traditional interns fresh from education, Gi Ho arrives with 37 years of accumulated professional experience, seeking engagement in the working world despite his age. He enters Woototo, a fashion company operating under the leadership of CEO Sun Woo, portrayed by Han So Hee. Sun Woo represents the opposite end of the professional spectrum—a young executive whose fashion brand has reached market prominence in merely three years. Her expertise in business and brand building, however, does not extend to her personal life, where she functions as something of an amateur.

The Supporting Cast and Office Ecosystem

The film’s design around a complete ensemble gives each character distinct professional and personal dimensions. Young Hwan (Kim Jun Han) functions as the pragmatic vice president who manages the company’s operational necessities. Min Ah (Ryu Hye Young) leads the management support team and channels her energy into artificial intelligence integration, symbolizing forward-thinking workplace culture. The office extends beyond corporate roles; Hee Sook (Kim Geum Soon) works as a barista and brings romantic sensibility to the workspace. The merchandising department relies on Yoo Jin (Park Ye Ni), whose passionate commitment to MD strategy drives marketing decisions, while Jun Hyung (Im Sung Kyun) combines merchandising expertise with political awareness necessary to navigate office hierarchies. Two additional interns complete the picture: Joo Sung (Kim Yo Han), characterized as outgoing, and Yoon Hee (Yoon Sang Jung), whose candid and bubbly disposition offers contrast to more reserved colleagues.

Cast Chemistry and Production Atmosphere

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Choi Min Sik’s Reflective Approach

During filming, Choi Min Sik grounded his performance in personal imagination, explaining, “I filmed while thinking about what I would have done if I had joined Woototo.” This method suggests he drew from contemplation about how a career spanning decades might shift perspective on contemporary workplace dynamics. Director Kim Do Young observed the impact of watching Choi Min Sik integrate with the younger cast, finding it “moving just to watch Choi Min Sik blend in with the younger actors.” Beyond the thematic significance of age difference, Choi Min Sik earned recognition as “the mood maker on set,” indicating his presence shaped the emotional environment during production.

Han So Hee’s Contradictory Character

Sun Woo demanded Han So Hee explore opposing dimensions simultaneously: professional authority combined with personal uncertainty. Director Kim Do Young emphasized her dedication, stating that “Han So Hee worked hard to give everything she had to offer.” Han So Hee herself reflected on the dynamic with her co-star, describing Choi Min Sik as possessing “both a cool side and an untainted innocence.” This observation captures how contrasting energies between the two leads functioned as a production asset, creating tension and warmth within individual scenes.

Ensemble Dynamics and Supporting Cast Perspective

Ryu Hye Young, embodying the AI-focused Min Ah, articulated the ensemble’s collective goal by hoping “the audience can enjoy Woototo’s fun vibe along with us.” Her statement reveals that the cast viewed their work not as individual performances but as a collective transmission of workplace atmosphere to viewers. The behind-the-scenes video was designed specifically to document this chemistry and allow audiences to observe how the cast functioned together during production.

The Creation of Woototo’s Visual Identity

Research in Actual Fashion Companies

The film’s production design emerged from deliberate research rather than imagination. Director Kim Do Young visited working fashion companies to absorb their atmosphere, design choices, and daily rhythms. This ethnographic approach to filmmaking ensured that Woototo would not feel like a generic corporate space but rather a recognizable reflection of how contemporary creative industries actually function. The research translated into specific architectural and design choices that anchor the story in observable reality.

Office Design and Material Culture

The physical office space incorporates phone booths—a contemporary design element that serves dual purposes within modern workplaces, offering both accessibility and private conversation zones. This detail signals to audiences that Woototo operates as a modern company balancing openness with individual need for privacy. Beyond architecture, the wardrobe department designed costumes that extended character development through clothing. Rather than dressing the ensemble uniformly or generically, each character’s outfit reflects personality, professional role, and generational positioning within the company.

Gi Ho’s Suit as Symbolic Object

Among all wardrobe choices, Gi Ho’s suit carries particular thematic weight. Unlike his younger colleagues who dress in contemporary, relaxed fashion, Gi Ho maintains formal attire. Choi Min Sik explained this choice by describing the suit as “the battle uniform of countless ‘Gi Hos’ who have endured harsh years in the workplace.” The garment transcends personal characterization to become a symbol addressing broader themes of generational experience and workplace survival.

The Film’s Emotional Intention

Both leads articulated what emotional experience they hoped audiences would derive from the film, framing it around warmth and human connection rather than cynicism or competition. Choi Min Sik offered a poetic comparison, saying the film resembles “the gentle ripples that spread when you throw a stone into water.” This metaphor emphasizes subtle, cascading influence rather than dramatic rupture or transformation. Han So Hee complemented this vision by expressing that she hoped “it’s a film that will make audiences leave the theater feeling happy.” Her statement positions “The Intern” within a tradition of cinema that prioritizes emotional uplift, suggesting the production consciously avoided narratives of workplace disillusionment or generational conflict.