The Korean remake of The Intern opens Wednesday, pairing veteran actor Choi Min-sik with Han So-hee in a story about age, workplace hierarchy and generational clashes. The film reimagines the 2015 Hollywood hit for a Korean setting, with a fashion company at the center of the action.
Choi plays Gi-ho, a 37-year publishing veteran who retires, loses the people closest to him over time and then takes on a silver intern role. On his first day at a company filled with employees in their 20s and 30s, he tries to use trendy slang he practiced the night before, only to be told the expressions are already out of date.
Han plays Sun-woo, a 30-something CEO who has risen quickly as a dark horse in the fashion industry. The office tension grows as staff members and the young boss react uneasily to having an older intern in their midst, setting up the film’s main conflict.
Like the original, the remake flips the familiar setup of an older male subordinate and a younger female boss, but it adds Korean sensibilities and workplace culture. The film will also be released in nine Asian countries, extending its audience beyond South Korea.
