{"id":2612,"date":"2025-04-26T11:04:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T02:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/?p=2612"},"modified":"2026-02-21T15:36:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T06:36:21","slug":"20250426","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/en\/blog\/20250426\/","title":{"rendered":"The Korean film \u201cA Big Family\u201d \u2014 A Quietly Moving Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><center><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6192b0e3cebdb9274fe7205259a3a16d.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:500px;\" \/><br \/>\n<\/center><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div style=\"line-height:1.8em; margin:2em 0;\">\nThe Korean film <i>\u201cAbout Family\u201d (\ub300\uac00\uc871 \/ About Family)<\/i>, released in South Korea on December 11, 2024, is a human comedy that portrays family bonds and reconciliation.<br \/>\nDirected by Yang Woo-seok, known for <i>\u201cThe Attorney\u201d<\/i> and the <i>\u201cSteel Rain\u201d<\/i> series.<br \/>\nStarring the acclaimed actor Kim Yoon-seok and the versatile Lee Seung-gi, this is a gem of a film that will make you laugh and cry.\n<\/div>\n<h3>Story Overview<\/h3>\n<div style=\"line-height:1.8em; margin: 1em 0 2em 0;\">\nThe story is set at \u201cPyeongmanok\u201d (\ud3c9\ub9cc\uc625), a long-established dumpling restaurant tucked away in a corner of Seoul.<br \/>\nFor 38 years, the father, Ham Mu-ok (Kim Yoon-seok), has run the shop on his own.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, his only son, Ham Mun-seok (Lee Seung-gi), once a promising elite medical student, suddenly abandoned everything to become a monk and left home.<br \/>\nOne day, young people claiming to be his \u201cunknown grandchildren\u201d appear before Mu-ok. They are searching for their father, Mun-seok.<\/p>\n<p>The arrival of these grandchildren creates a small crack in the fractured family ties that were on the verge of breaking, gradually restoring the warmth of what it means to be a \u201cfamily\u201d once again\u2500\u2500.<br \/>\nThere is no flashy drama. Just quiet, careful storytelling.<br \/>\nWithin the ordinary flow of daily life lies a gentle, heartwarming emotion that slowly lights up the soul.\n<\/div>\n<h3>Direction and Screenplay:<br \/>\nA Perfect Balance of Realism and Humor<\/h3>\n<div style=\"line-height:1.8em; margin: 1em 0 2em 0;\">\nDirector Yang Woo-seok, known for his sharp, politically and socially charged works, takes a different turn this time, focusing on an almost miraculous story about ordinary people.<\/p>\n<p>While grounded in realism, subtle touches of humor are delicately woven throughout, bringing warmth and comfort to the audience.<br \/>\nAt first glance, it may seem like nothing much happens\u2500\u2500<br \/>\nYet the film gently reminds us that the most important things in life are quietly hidden within such everyday moments.\n<\/div>\n<h3>Main Cast and Characters<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<b>Kim Yoon-seok<\/b> (as Ham Mu-ok)<br \/>\nOwner of the traditional dumpling restaurant \u201cPyeongmanok.\u201d Gruff and awkward, yet harboring deep love for his family beneath the surface.<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cThe Chaser\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201c1987: When the Day Comes\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201cHaemoo\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>Lee Seung-gi<\/b> (as Ham Mun-seok)<br \/>\nMu-ok\u2019s only son. A man who turned his back on society\u2019s expectations and chose to live as a monk named \u201cMue (\ubb34\uc560).\u201d<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cVagabond\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201cGu Family Book\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201cLove Forecast\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<li>\nKim Sung-kyun (as Bang Jeong-hwa)<br \/>\nGeneral manager of \u201cPyeongmanok.\u201d A presence who supports Mu-ok more than family.<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cThe Heirs\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201cElegant Friends\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>Kang Han-na<\/b> (as Han Ga-yeon)<br \/>\nMun-seok\u2019s former girlfriend from his university days. A woman who knows a hidden side of him.<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cMr. Sunshine\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201cStart-Up\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>Park Soo-young<\/b> (as Monk Inhaeng)<br \/>\nA junior monk to Mun-seok. A supportive presence who stands by him in difficult times.<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cSteel Rain\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201cThe Good Detective\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>Kim Si-woo<\/b> (as Min-guk)<br \/>\nA boy claiming to be Mun-seok\u2019s son. He approaches Mu-ok with pure innocence.<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cFlower of Evil\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>Yoon Chae-na<\/b> (as Min-seon)<br \/>\nA girl claiming to be Mun-seok\u2019s daughter. Together with her brother, she meets Mu-ok and gradually deepens their bond.<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cHospital Playlist\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>Lee Soon-jae<\/b> (as the Head Monk)<br \/>\nThe senior monk of the temple where Mun-seok serves. A mentor who guides him on his life path.<br \/>\n(Selected works: <i>\u201cYi San\u201d<\/i>, <i>\u201cHigh Kick!\u201d<\/i>)\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Conclusion: A Quiet, Lingering Warmth<\/h3>\n<div style=\"line-height:1.8em; margin: 1em 0 2em 0;\">\n<p>This film never tries too hard to move its audience.<br \/>\nInstead, the awkward exchanges and subtle shifts in expression among the characters gently melt the viewer\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n<p>Family is not defined by blood alone.<br \/>\nEven when broken, human bonds can be gathered and restored once more.<\/p>\n<p>What remains at the end is a quiet yet warm afterglow\u2500\u2500<br \/> <i>\u201cAbout Family\u201d<\/i> is that kind of film.<\/p>\n<p>After watching it, you will likely feel the urge to see someone dear to you.<br \/>\nWithout a doubt, it is a highly recommended movie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"height:6em;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Korean film \u201cAbout Family\u201d (\ub300\uac00\uc871 \/ About Family), released in South Korea on December 11, 2024, is a human  [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/?p=2213","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[70],"class_list":["post-2612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-korean-films","en-US"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2612"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2625,"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612\/revisions\/2625"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itaba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}