The Korean Film That’s Been Rumored for 4 Years Finally Sets a Release Date

The highly anticipated film ‘The Match’ is finally hitting theaters on March 26.

On February 17, distributor By4M Studio announced the news and unveiled a new movie poster featuring Lee Byung-hun, reigniting excitement for the project.

The film tells the story of Cho Hun-hyun (played by Lee Byung-hun), South Korea’s greatest 'Go' master, who, after losing a match to his protégé Lee Chang-ho (played by Yoo Ah-in), reignites his competitive spirit to reclaim his position at the top.

Directed by Kim Hyung-joo, the film boasts a strong ensemble cast, including Go Chang-seok, Hyun Bong-sik, Moon Jeong-hee, and Kim Kang-hoon. The screenplay was co-written by Yoon Jong-bin, a director known for his work on major Korean films such as ‘The Spy Gone North,’ ‘KUNDO: Age of the Rampant,’ ‘Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time,’ ‘Beastie Boys,’ and ‘The Unforgiven.’

From Netflix to Theaters: A Delayed Journey to the Big Screen

Originally filmed in 2021, ‘The Match’ was initially set for a 2023 Netflix release. However, the film’s schedule was put on hold following legal controversies surrounding Yoo Ah-in’s propofol use, which led to his ongoing trial. As a result, the movie was pulled from Netflix and will now be released in theaters instead.

Yoon Jong-bin’s Legacy: From ‘The Unforgiven’ to ‘The Match’

Writer Yoon Jong-bin made a name for himself with his 2005 debut film ‘The Unforgiven’, which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 10th Busan International Film Festival.

‘The Unforgiven’ explores the psychological and social impact of military life, centering on Tae-jung (played by Ha Jung-woo), a former soldier who has long buried his memories of the army. His peaceful civilian life is disrupted when Seung-young (played by Seo Jang-won), his former junior from the military, suddenly reappears.

Tae-jung and Seung-young were once middle school friends who later reunited in the army as senior and junior soldiers. Tae-jung initially helps Seung-young adjust to the harsh military environment, but as time passes, Seung-young changes—his promise to improve the toxic culture once he gains rank fades, and he begins conforming to the system instead.

He further explained, "I wanted to explore human nature and how social structures influence individuals. I wanted to focus on the people caught in between those forces."

With ‘The Match’ finally set for release, all eyes are on whether this long-awaited film will live up to the anticipation surrounding its journey to the big screen.