Because I Hate Korea
{{short description|2023 South Korean drama film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Because I Hate Korea
| image = Because I Hate Korea poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{Infobox Korean film name/auto|hangul=^한국이 싫어서}}
| director = Jang Kun-jae
| producer = Youn Hee-young
| screenplay = Jang Kun-jae
| based_on = {{based_on|{{ill|한국이 싫어서|ko}}|Chang Kang-myoung}}
| starring =
{{plainlist|
- Go Ah-sung
- Joo Jong-hyuk
- Kim Woo-gyeom
}}
| music = Kwun Hyun-jeong
| cinematography = Na Hui-seok
| editing = Lee Yeon-jeong
| studio = {{ubl|Mocushura |Cinematic Moment| Indiestory|Sidus}}
| distributor = {{ubl|NK Contents|D-Station}}
| released = {{film date|2023|10|4|BIFF|2024|08|28|South Korea}}
| runtime = 106 minutes
| country = South Korea
| language = Korean
| budget =
}}
Because I Hate Korea ({{korean|한국이 싫어서}}) is a 2023 South Korean drama film directed by Jang Kun-jae and starring Go Ah-sung and Joo Jong-hyuk. Based on novel of the same name by Chang Kang-myoung, it follows a woman in her late 20s who suddenly leaves her job, family, and boyfriend behind to go to New Zealand alone in search of her own happiness.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/312/0000627020 |script-title=ko:장건재 '한국이 싫어서', 28th BIFF 개막작 포스터…고아성·주종혁 개막식 참석 |trans-title= Jang Geon-jae 'Because I Hate Korea', 28th BIFF opening film poster… Go Ah-seong and Joo Jong-hyuk attend the opening ceremony |author= Lee Ha-neul|work= Ten Asia |publisher=Naver |date=September 6, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023|language=ko}}
It premiered at 28th Busan International Film Festival as opening film on October 4, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/busan-festival-selection-1235713156/ |title= Busan Festival Claims Best-Ever Selection, Sets 'Because I Hate Korea' as Opening Film |first= Patrick |last= Frater |website= Variety |date= 4 September 2023 |access-date=September 11, 2023}} It was released theatrically on August 28, 2024 in South Korea.
Premise
The film tells the story of Gye-na, a woman in her late 20s, who one day suddenly leaves her job, family, and boyfriend behind and heads to New Zealand alone in search of her own happiness.
Cast
- Go Ah-sung as Gye-na{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=076&aid=0003899930|title=[공식] 고아성, '괴이' 감독 신작 '한국이 싫어서' 출연 확정..7월 말 크랭크인|trans-title=[Official] Go Ah-seong confirmed to appear in 'Because I Hate Korea', directed by 'Georgeous'... Crankin at the end of July|author=Jo Ji-young|work=Sports Chosun |via=Naver |date=August 2, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2023|language=ko}}
- Joo Jong-hyuk as Jae-in{{Cite news|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=477&aid=0000404677 |title=[단독]'우영우' 주종혁, 차기작은 '한국이 싫어서'…고아성과 호흡 |trans-title=[Exclusive] 'Woo Young-woo' Joo Jong-hyeok's next project is 'Because I hate Korea'... orphanhood and breathing |last=Jang |first=Jin-ri|date=January 10, 2023 |access-date=September 11, 2023|work=Spotv News|via=Naver |language=ko}}
- Kim Woo-gyeom as Ji-myeong
- Oh Min-ae as Min-ae
- Bang Jae-min
- Kim Ji-young as Kim Tae-eun, the director of the study abroad center{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001549826|title=김지영, '한국이 싫어서' 합류…고아성·주종혁과 호흡 [공식입장]|trans-title=Kim Ji-young joins 'I Hate Korea'... Breathing with Go Ah-seong and Joo Jong-hyuk [Official Position]|author=Hwang Soo-yeon|work=X-ports News|via=Naver|date=January 25, 2023|access-date=September 11, 2023|language=ko}}
- Morgan Oey as Ricky
Production
Release
Because I Hate Korea had its premiere at 28th Busan International Film Festival as opening film on October 4, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/421/0007031629 |script-title=ko:'한국이 싫어서', 제28회 BIFF 개막작 선정…고아성·주종혁 등 개막식 참석 |trans-title= 'Because I Hate Korea' was selected as the opening film for the 28th BIFF... Go Ah-seong, Joo Jong-hyuk and others attend the opening ceremony |author= Jeong Yu-jin |work= News 1 |publisher=Naver |date=September 6, 2023|access-date=September 12, 2023|language=ko}}
It was released theatrically on August 28, 2024 in South Korea.{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/movie/article/144/0000984806 |script-title=ko:'한국이 싫어서' 오늘 개봉, 관람 포인트 3|trans-title='I Hate Korea' Opens Today, 3 Things to Watch |author=Ahn Byeong-gil |work=Sports Kyunghyang |publisher=Naver |date= August 28, 2024|access-date=August 28, 2024|language=ko}}
Showbox acquired international sales rights of the film in January 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/showbox-boards-because-i-hate-korea-ahead-of-efm-exclusive/5178179.article |title=Showbox boards 'Because I Hate Korea' ahead of EFM (exclusive) |first= Jean |last= Noh|date=January 17, 2023 |access-date=September 11, 2023 |website=ScreenDaily |language=en}}
Reception
=Box office=
The film was released on August 28, 2024 on 588 screens.{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20226545|title=KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The box office Because I Hate Korea (2024)|access-date= September 1, 2024|work=KOFIC}}
{{As of|2024|9|8|df=US|}}, the film has grossed {{USD|347,051}} from 54,048 admissions.{{Cite web|title=KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2024|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/boxOffice_Yearly.jsp?mode=BOXOFFICE_YEAR&selectDt=2024&category=ALL&country=K|work=KOFIC|access-date=September 9, 2024}}
=Critical response=
Lee Marshall reviewing for ScreenDaily at Busan International Film Festival commented on the performance of Go Ah-sung as "The edgy, restless central performance of her brings some dramatic ballast". Marshall found the soundtrack of the film "Muzak" and character of Joo Jong-hyuk "zany". Concluding he wrote that "the film's strongest card is the nascent feminist perspective of a young woman who wants to make her own mistakes – not the ones that [people in her life] impose upon her."{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/because-i-hate-korea-busan-review/5186208.article |title='Because I Hate Korea': Busan Review |last= Lee |first= Marshall |date=October 4, 2023 |access-date= October 6, 2023 |website=ScreenDaily|language=en}}
James Marsh of South China Morning Post rated the film 2/5 and criticized it writing, "Unfortunately the film doesn't live up to its promising start, and delivers a string of ill-conceived culture-clash vignettes and stereotypes".{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3236920/busan-2023-because-i-hate-korea-movie-review-muddled-addition-trend-films-about-korean-diasporic |title= Review – Busan 2023: Because I Hate Korea movie review – muddled addition to trend of films about Korean diasporic experience sees Ko A-sung play a free spirit |first= James|last= Marsh |date=October 5, 2023 |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}
=Accolades=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominee / Work ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="1" | Blue Dragon Film Awards
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | 2024 | {{nom}} | rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/movie/article/076/0004210927|script-title=ko:[청룡영화상] 1312만 '서울의 봄'부터→ 컴백 '베테랑2'까지..스크린 빛낸 韓영화 청룡으로 집결|trans-title=[Blue Dragon Film Awards] From 13.12 million 'Spring in Seoul' → Comeback 'Veteran 2' Korean films that lit up the screen gather at Blue Dragon|work=Sports Chosun|via=Naver|date=October 30, 2024|access-date=October 30, 2024|language=ko}} |
|---|
References
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