Korean film 'The World of Love' sparks conversation in China after years of hallyu ban

Gentle, yet uplifting and empowering. These are among the reviews flooding Chinese social media after “The World of Love,” a Korean independent film directed by Yoon Ga-eun, began making waves internationally. The film, which opened in Korean theaters in late October, has already garnered critical acclaim abroad, including in China — a market that has been largely closed to Korean films and cultural products for several years due to political tensions. A touching and nuanced exploration of resilience and agency in the aftermath of trauma, “The World of Love” swept two major awards at the ninth Pingyao International Film Festival in late September. Last week, the film also made a splash at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. Since then, it has gained significant traction in China, with enthusiastic word-of-mouth propelling its popularity. Discussions about the film’s themes and positive reviews continue to grow on RedNote, a leading lifestyle-sharing platform in China. The film begins with a depiction of Joo-in’s seemingly ordinary daily life, gradually revealing the traumatiWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times