“What’s Up With Seohyun?” Why This Film Might Just Save Korean Cinema in 2025

South Korean action star Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok) is back — this time, fighting demons instead of gangsters. The upcoming film ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’, co-starring Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun, has already sparked massive online buzz following the release of its main trailer and poster on March 24.

Set in a city thrown into chaos by a cult that worships demonic forces, the film follows a special task force called “Holy Night,” equipped with supernatural abilities, as they battle the forces of evil in a genre-blending occult action adventure.

Lee plays the lead role of Bau, a dark-world fixer who takes down demons with his bare fists. Seohyun portrays Sharon, a woman gifted with the ability to sense demonic presences, while rising actor Lee Da-wit plays Kim Gun, a tech-savvy team member who documents their every mission.

The plot kicks off when a young woman named Eun-seo (Jung Ji-so) falls prey to a demonic cult. Her sister Jeong-won (Kyung Soo-jin) reaches out to the “Holy Night” team for help, setting off a fierce showdown between good and evil.

Don Lee’s Next “10-Million Movie”?

Don Lee, known for revitalizing Korean box office with his signature blend of brute force and humor, is once again setting the stage for a potential blockbuster. Produced by Big Punch Pictures — the studio behind the The Outlaws franchise — Holy Night: Demon Hunters features Lee not only as its star, but also as a producer and co-creator of the story.

Lee has built a reputation for delivering crowd-pleasing action hits, even during the pandemic. His past three films in The Outlaws series (The Roundup, The Roundup: No Way Out, and The Roundup: Punishment) collectively drew over 30 million moviegoers in South Korea.

Audiences have long praised his signature “one-punch justice” storytelling — swift, cathartic, and morally clear. That same formula, when applied to supernatural enemies rather than real-world criminals, could refresh Korea’s action genre and broaden Lee’s appeal even further.

A New Genre, Same Knockout Energy

Holy Night: Demon Hunters marks Lee’s first major foray into occult action. Facing down demons instead of thugs, Lee’s presence is as commanding as ever — the movie’s poster shows him standing front and center, fists clenched, with his trademark intensity.

Lee has previously stated that he distinguishes between mass-appeal projects and more experimental roles. His mainstream hits include The Outlaws, Unstoppable, and The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, while more personal projects include Start-Up and Men of Plastic.

Fan Buzz, Seohyun Spotlight, and Genre Hype

The film’s trailer has prompted an outpouring of excitement online. Comments like “I know exactly what this tastes like, but I still want it,” and “Don Lee went from beating up gangsters to zombies — now he’s punching ghosts too” highlight his consistent appeal.

Seohyun, once the youngest member of Girls’ Generation, is also drawing attention for her transformation into a demon-hunting heroine. Fans are flooding social media with messages like “Our maknae is taking down demons now!” and “Seohyun looks amazing!”

Fans of the genre are equally hyped: “Finally, a Korean occult action movie that looks this good,” one comment read. “I’m calling it now — 10 million tickets!”

Expanding the Universe with Webtoons

Ahead of the film’s release, a prequel webtoon titled Holy Night: The Zero is being serialized on Naver Webtoon. The comic delves into the backstory between Bau and the archdemon Yosep — providing additional context that complements the movie.

This multimedia strategy echoes Hollywood’s IP-building approach, seen in Marvel and DC universes, signaling a growing ambition for Korean films to extend their stories beyond the screen.

As Korea’s theatrical market continues to recover from a post-pandemic slump, Holy Night: Demon Hunters is being hailed as a possible box office “savior” for the first half of 2025. Aside from a few notable hits like The Outlaws series and The Point Men, Korean cinema has struggled to produce breakout successes in recent years.

With star power, genre freshness, and strong audience anticipation, Holy Night: Demon Hunters is poised to reignite excitement when it hits theaters on April 30, 2025.