The Intern Korean Remake Finally Takes the No. 1 Spot at Korea’s Box Office

Sometimes, a remake really does deserve a spotlight of its own. That seems to be exactly what is happening with The Intern, the Korean remake of the 2015 Hollywood movie of the same name.

Titled 인턴 in Korea, the film finally claimed the No. 1 position at the domestic box office after opening on September 16. Its rise is especially notable because it took an impressive 50 days for a Korean film to reach the top spot after HOPE.

The achievement also means that The Intern has successfully dethroned The Odyssey, which had been dominating Korean theaters for months. With strong audience reactions and a cast led by Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee, the remake is proving that a familiar story can still find a fresh audience.

The Intern Opens at No. 1

Upon its release on September 16, The Intern immediately made an impact at the Korean box office.

The movie took the top spot on its opening day, ending The Odyssey’s long-running dominance of domestic theaters. While reaching No. 1 is already an achievement, the timing makes the result even more interesting.

According to the information available, this is the first Korean film to reach the top of the domestic box office in 50 days, following HOPE.

That gives the remake an extra reason to celebrate. It is not simply another new release entering the weekly box-office race—it has become a notable moment for Korean cinema after a relatively long wait for a local title to take the No. 1 position.

A Korean Take on The Intern

For anyone familiar with the original The Intern, the basic premise may sound familiar.

The 2015 Hollywood film starred Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway and centered on an older man who becomes a senior intern at a rapidly growing fashion company.

The Korean version keeps the core idea while adapting the story for a local audience.

In this remake, Choi Min-sik plays a 37-year veteran who decides to take on a senior internship at a fashion startup. The company is led by a character played by Han So-hee, creating an interesting relationship between two people from very different generations.

Rather than simply focusing on workplace comedy, the story uses their generational differences to explore warmth, connection, and the ways people can learn from one another.

Choi Min-sik Takes on a Different Kind of Role

One of the biggest reasons to pay attention to the Korean The Intern is Choi Min-sik.

Known for his powerful performances, the veteran actor takes on the role of a man with 37 years of professional experience who enters the workplace again as a senior intern.

The premise alone creates an interesting contrast. Someone with decades of experience is suddenly placed in a position usually associated with young people who are just beginning their careers.

Instead of treating age as a limitation, the story appears to use it as a source of humor, wisdom, and emotional depth.

Choi Min-sik’s presence also gives the character a different energy from the original version, allowing the Korean remake to establish its own identity.

Han So-hee Brings a New Generation Into the Story

Opposite Choi Min-sik is Han So-hee, who plays the leader of the fashion startup.

Her character represents a very different generation and professional experience. While Choi Min-sik’s character has spent decades working, Han So-hee’s character is part of a younger business world that moves at a completely different pace.

That generational contrast becomes one of the key elements of the story.

The dynamic between the two characters creates opportunities for both comedy and emotional moments. They may approach work, success, and life differently, but their relationship gradually shows that different generations can still understand and influence each other.

Audiences Are Loving the Remake

The box-office performance is only part of the story. The Korean The Intern is also receiving strong reactions from audiences.

The film currently has a 95 percent audience score on CGV’s Golden Egg Index, while Lotte Cinema gives it a rating of 9.0.

Those numbers suggest that moviegoers are responding positively to the remake, particularly after watching the story adapted through a Korean lens.

For a remake, audience reception is especially important. Viewers who already know the original may naturally compare the two versions, while newcomers can experience the story without any expectations.

The strong scores indicate that the Korean adaptation is managing to connect with audiences on its own terms.

Why This Remake Feels Different

Remakes can be tricky. When audiences already love the original, there is always a risk that a new version will feel unnecessary.

However, The Intern appears to benefit from something that many successful remakes have in common: a familiar foundation combined with a different cultural and emotional approach.

The central idea remains recognizable, but the Korean version introduces its own actors, workplace environment, and character dynamics.

The generational relationship between Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee becomes an opportunity to explore the story in a way that feels relevant to Korean audiences.

Instead of trying to completely reinvent the original, the remake gives the familiar story enough room to become something of its own.

A Small Box Office Victory With a Bigger Meaning

The success of The Intern comes at an interesting moment for Korean cinemas.

After 50 days without a Korean film reaching the No. 1 spot, the remake’s achievement offers a welcome boost for domestic cinema.

Its success also demonstrates that audiences remain interested in stories centered on relationships, work, and different generations.

Not every successful movie needs a complicated concept or huge spectacle. Sometimes, a warm story with recognizable characters can be enough to bring audiences into theaters.

In the case of 인턴, that combination appears to be working.

Final Thoughts

The Korean remake of The Intern has officially made its mark at the box office.

Opening on September 16, the film quickly reached No. 1, ending The Odyssey’s long reign at the top and becoming the first Korean film to achieve the position in 50 days since HOPE.

With Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee leading the cast, the movie brings a familiar story into a new cultural setting while exploring the warmth and humor that can come from generational differences.

Its 95 percent CGV Golden Egg audience score and 9.0 rating from Lotte Cinema suggest that audiences are embracing the remake.

Sometimes, a remake does not need to replace the original. It simply needs to tell the story well enough to become its own thing—and The Intern seems to be doing exactly that.

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