Yeon Sang-ho’s ‘Paradise Lost’ Hits Busan Film Fest

As of October 10, 2026, director Yeon Sang-ho held an official press conference for his new film 'Paradise Lost' (Korean title: 'Sillagwon') at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The psychological thriller stars Kim Hyun-joo and Bae Hyun-sung, and it opens in Korean theaters on Oct. 21.

Oct. 21Scheduled Korean theatrical release date

316 filmsTitles screening at this year's Busan International Film Festival

59 countriesCountries represented at this year's festival

9 yearsHow long the son has been missing in the film

Key points

'Paradise Lost' is an invited title in the Gala Presentation section at this year's Busan International Film Festival.
Yeon, Kim and Bae met the press on the morning of Oct. 10 at BIFF Hill, part of the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae.
The film is a psychological thriller about a mother whose son vanished, only for the boy she thought was dead to turn up again.
The film opens in Korean theaters on Oct. 21.

'Paradise Lost' is a psychological thriller from director Yeon Sang-ho. Its heroine, Ryu So-young, lost her son nine years ago when a camp school bus disappeared. Then Ryu Sun-woo, the boy she believed was gone for good, suddenly resurfaces, and that's where the story kicks into gear.

Yeon and stars Kim Hyun-joo and Bae Hyun-sung held their press conference on the morning of Oct. 10 at BIFF Hill, the Busan Cinema Center's press venue in Haeundae. The day before, Yeon and Kim met fans first at an outdoor stage greeting, and the Loop Theater was packed with barely an empty seat. After the press conference, the team heads to the film's second screening and a Q&A with the audience (called a GV in Korea) to round out their Busan schedule.

Yeon said the project began with a question: what is still human in the age of AI? The title, he explained, comes from the idea that a being cast out of paradise will long for it forever, which he sees as the root of human identity. He sounded confident about the two leads, calling their performances the film's biggest draw.

Kim said playing a mother who has lost a child felt daunting, but she was drawn to a story that digs deep into a single side of one character. She found it fascinating to pull out her own darker side and push it to the extreme. Having to hit peak emotion within a short shooting schedule was hard, she said, but also fun. Her favorite scene is the first meeting between So-young and her son at the front door, with So-young wearing AI glasses. She described Yeon as a director who lets an actor's emotions surface naturally instead of piling on instructions.

The festival runs through Oct. 15 and is showing 316 films from 59 countries. Once it wraps, 'Paradise Lost' meets the general public on Oct. 21.

In Korea right nowRight now in Korea, Busan festival season means new-film launches and star schedules dominate the buzz. 'Paradise Lost' filled the house at its outdoor stage greeting on Oct. 9, and having the director and both leads at the Oct. 10 press conference has built anticipation ahead of release. Its theme of humanity in the AI era also taps into what many people in Korea are thinking about these days.

FAQ

What is 'Paradise Lost' about?

It's a psychological thriller about Ryu So-young, a mother who lost her son in a disappearance, and what happens when Ryu Sun-woo, the son she thought was dead, comes back. Yeon Sang-ho directs, and Kim Hyun-joo and Bae Hyun-sung star.

When can I see it in Korea?

After its Busan International Film Festival screenings, it is scheduled to open in Korean theaters on Oct. 21.

How big is this year's Busan International Film Festival?

The 31st edition runs through Oct. 15 and is screening 316 films from 59 countries.