July Jung’s award-winning drama will be released in 2025
Echelon Studios has acquired North American rights to July Jung’s powerful Korean drama, Next Sohee.
With Jung’s directorial debut A Girl at My Door (2014) selected for Un Certain Regard section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, her second feature Next Sohee returns to Cannes as the closing film at Critics’ Week section. Staring the renowned Bae Doona, known for her collaborations with directors Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and standout performances in The Host (2006), Cloud Atlas (2012), Netflix’s Sense8 (2015-2018), period zombie thriller Kingdom (2019-2020), and most recently Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic Rebel Moon (2023).
The film also features breakthrough star Kim Si-Eun, whose emotional performance as Sohee earned her a slew of awards, including Best New Film Actress at South Korea’s Baeksang Arts Awards 2023. Kim is set to star in the second season of the hit Netflix series Squid Game.
Next Sohee follows the intense story of a high school student who takes on a call center internship that spirals into a series of tragic events. The film exposes the devastating realities of exploitation and mistreatment within South Korea’s corporate system, shedding light on the harsh conditions many young people face. Next Sohee is a testament to resilience and survival, illuminating the darker corners of modern society while posing a pressing question about accountability and the cost of ambition.
“We are incredibly honored to bring Next Sohee to our diverse slate of quality titles,” said Sandro Gohoho, President of Licensing and Operations at Echelon Studios. “July Jung has crafted an emotionally charged and socially resonant film that goes beyond traditional storytelling to deliver a profound and unforgettable message about the human experience. We look forward to sharing this award-winning work with audiences everywhere.”
With this acquisition, Echelon Studios continues to expand its prestigious film catalog, adding boundary-pushing titles that not only entertain but provoke meaningful dialogue. Next Sohee is expected to premiere on digital in early 2025.