The World of Korean Film and Drama

Road to Boston is an upcoming period sports film starring Ha Jung-woo, Im Si-wan, Bae Seong-woo and Kim Sang-ho. It is written and directed by Kang Je-gyu .

Kang Je-gyu is considered one of the most important directors of Korean cinema. His 1996 debut film Gingko Bed, a Korean fantasy melodrama that combined mythical and supernatural elements, featured advanced CG and impressive special effects. Kang’s next film, Shiri, was the first Korean-made blockbuster, when it was released in 1999. The multi-award winning film pioneered a new genre of espionage action movie, including shooting action scenes that were easily a match for Hollywood action movies. In 2004, the largest blockbuster film in Korean cinema history, Taekgugki – The Brotherhood of War, focussing on the tragedies of brothers embroiled in the Korean War, became a huge box office success, surpassing 10 million viewers in Korea alone. The film was re-released in 2021. Kang’s most recent work as a director was the romantic comedy Salut d’Amour in 2015.

Director Kang Je-gyu now returns with Road to Boston, a sports film based on the true story of Korean athletes who competed in the Boston International Marathon in 1947, the first international marathon held since World War II. For the first time in many years, Korean athletes were able to compete in an international competition displaying the Korean flag. Kang Je-gyu’s film tells the story of their thrilling journey.

The film focuses on the rather bumpy relationship between marathon head-coach Son Ki-jeong (Ha Jung-woo), who trains runners to participate in international competitions, and marathon runner Seo Yun-bok (Im Siwan). These two characters need to trust each other and rely on each other to reach their common goal: a victory for Korea at the 51st Boston Marathon. Son Ki-jeong won the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, but with Korea being occupied by Japan at the time, he was forced to wear the Japanese flag on his chest. Son hopes that a Korean runner will win at the Boston Marathon, displaying the Korean flag, but the road to Boston is fraught with obstacles.

Actors Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan met the Korean national marathon coach and several athletes to prepare for the film. Im Si-wan did his best to match Seo Yun-bok’s solid physique by taking on 60-70% of the training load of real marathon runners and lowering his body fat to 6%. The actors seem to have good chemistry together and show mutual respect.

From his debut film The Unforgiven (2005) to Nameless Gangster (2011), The Client (2011), The Handmaiden (2015), Tunnel (2016), Along with the Gods (2017, 2018), and Narco-Saints (2022), Ha Jung-woo has shown his impressive acting skills. Im Si-wan convinced in the dramas Misaeng (2013) and Strangers from Hell (2019) and the movies The Merciless (2016) and Emergency Declaration (2022).

Featuring a renowned director and an impressive cast as well as an exciting storyline, this is definitely a film to look forward to.

The film will be released in South Korea on 2023/09/27, for Chuseok, which is one of the most important holidays in South Korea.