Pingyao, Warsaw Winner ‘The World of Love’ Makes a Mark at Korean Box Office, Earns Industry Acclaim

Yoon Ga-eun‘s “The World of Love” has emerged as a breakout success in South Korea‘s independent film sector, drawing widespread praise from top-tier filmmakers.

“The World of Love” has surpassed 100,000 admissions at the Korean box office as of Nov. 14, and the film’s box office is north of $700,000.

The feature has attracted notable support from prominent figures in the industry, including Bong Joon Ho, Kim Jee-woon, Yeon Sang-ho, Kim Tae-ri, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Jia Zhangke, BTS member RM and Greta Lee.

Director Bong hosted a talk session focused on the film, building on his long-standing admiration for Yoon’s work. He has previously described her as one of three masters at directing child actors alongside Abbas Kiarostami and Kore-eda.

During the session, Bong said the film qualified as a masterpiece after his second viewing. “There was so much to dig into in this film, and I even felt professional jealousy,” he said. He highlighted Yoon’s distinctive approach to storytelling, noting that she allows audiences to gradually understand the narrative through extended observation rather than direct explanation. He singled out the car wash sequence as particularly striking, calling it “the sequence of the year.” Bong jokingly referred to himself as the “Seoul Branch Chief of Director Yoon Ga-eun’s Fan Club.”

Other industry figures have added their endorsements. Kim Jee-woon called it “this year’s best independent film,” praising Yoon’s perspective as warm and profound while declaring her the future of Korean cinema. Yeon Sang-ho described it as a masterpiece from a filmmaker who “walks to a different rhythm.”

Chinese director Jia Zhangke added: “As one of the very first audiences of the film, I would confidently recommend it.” Actor Kim Tae-ri said the film was extraordinary and hoped more audiences could experience it, while Park Jung-min remarked that “something incredible has been born.” Greta Lee simply called it “a perfect film.”

The title has gained traction on the festival circuit, collecting jury and audience awards at Pingyao International Film Festival’s Crouching Tigers section, along with the Fipresci Award at the Warsaw Film Festival. The film recently played at the Cork International Film Festival’s Momentum section.

Upcoming festival appearances include competition slots at QCinema International Film Festival’s Asian Next Wave section, Festival des 3 Continents Nantes, Tokyo FILMeX, Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival and Red Sea International Film Festival. The film has also earned a nomination for Best Youth Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.