The World of Love


The World of Love is a 2025 South Korean drama film written and directed by Yoon Ga-eun. The film follows Ju-in, a 17-year-old student, confused by love, unleashes chaos with some words spoken in a moment of anger.
The film had its world premiere in the Platform section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2025, where it competed for Platform Prize.
It was released in South Korean theaters on October 22, 2025 by Barunson E&A.

Cast

  • Seo Su-bin as Ju-in
  • Jang Hye-jin as Kang Tae-sun, Ju-in's mother
  • Kim Jeong-sik as Jang Su-ho
  • Kang Chae-yoon as Gong Yu-ra
  • Lee Jae-hee as Lee Hae-in
  • Kim Ye-chang as Park Chan-woo
  • Go Min-si as Han Mi-do
  • Kim Suk-hoon as Lee Ki-dong

Release

The World of Love had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2025 in Platform section. The film is eligible for People's Choice Awards, which is decided by audience voting.
It was invited to compete in the Crouching Tigers section, the international competition for new filmmakers at the 9th Pingyao International Film Festival on September 2025. It was nominated in three categories for the Roberto Rossellini Awards: Best Film, Best Director, and the Jury Prize
It also competed at the Warsaw Film Festival in the International Competition section on 11 October 2025.
It was also selected to compete in the Official Competition section of the 2025 BFI London Film Festival for the best film award and had the screening on October 14, 2025. On October 25, 2025 it was presented in International Perspective section of the São Paulo International Film Festival.
On November 2, it was screened at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival in Cineaste Delights section. In November it also competed at the Three Continents Festival in the international competition and won the grand prize the Montgolfière d’or.
It competed in the 20th Jogja-NETPAC [Asian Film Festival] on 5 December 2025 and then in the Red Sea: Competition strand at the Red Sea International Film Festival on 6 December 2025.
In February 2025, the film was presented at the European Film Market, which is held in Berlin, in conjunction with the Berlin International Film Festival by the South Korea’s sales and production company Barunson E&A, who have acquired world sales rights of the film.
It was released on October 22, 2025 in South Korean theatres.
The film has distribution agreements with Japanese distributor Bitters End, Hong Kong’s Edko Films, and Taiwan’s Andrews Film. It has also entered into distribution agreement with the Chinese distribution Light Films Limited on October 19, 2025.

Reception

Box office

The film was released on October 22, 2025 on 358 screens.
, the film has grossed from 139,312 admissions.

Critical response

Shim Sun-ah of Yonhap News Agency, reviewing the film praised it for its carefully constructed storytelling and lifelike characters. Shim wrote, the film "weaves together seemingly unrelated events into a cohesive, resonant narrative," with early moments that seem minor eventually connecting to the central theme and sustaining a quiet sense of tension. Shim commended Seo Su-bin's debut as "remarkable," noting her ability to portray a wide range of teenage emotions—from "radiant, carefree charm" to the "raw devastation of a complete breakdown." Jang Hye-jin was also praised for her "magnificent performance" as Joo-in’s mother, a character who supports her daughter's trauma and joins her on the journey toward healing.
Wendy Ide senior International critic of ScreenDaily at the BFI London Film Festival, reviewing the film praised it for its unique storytelling style, noting that director Yoon presents the narrative in "fractured glimpses," which Ide said mirrors the restless nature of teenage attention. Ide noted a key emotional moment set in a carwash, where Yoon Ga-eun "leaves the camera running when it counts," allowing the scene to unfold with raw intensity because of Seo Su-bin's powerful performance. While Ide felt that not every creative choice was successful; describing the repeated use of a "twinkly piano rendition" of Johann Sebastian Bach’s "Sheep may safely graze" as a "tonal mismatch" with the film's "dynamic energy". Ide concluded that overall, the film "works well," offering a story that "takes its time to piece together and is all the more rewarding for its gradual reveal."

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResult
Toronto International Film FestivalSeptember 14, 2025Toronto International Film Festival [People's Choice Award|People's Choice Award]The World of LoveNomitated
Toronto International Film FestivalSeptember 14, 2025Platform PrizeThe World of LoveNomitated
Pingyao International Film FestivalSeptember 30, 2025Roberto Rossellini Award: Jury AwardThe World of LoveWon
Pingyao International Film FestivalSeptember 30, 2025Audience AwardThe World of LoveWon
BFI London Film FestivalOctober 19, 2025Best FilmThe World of LoveNomitated
Warsaw Film FestivalOctober 19, 2025Warsaw Grand PrixThe World of LoveNomitated
Asia Pacific Screen AwardsNovember 27, 2025Best Youth FilmThe World of LoveNomitated
Three Continents FestivalNovember 29, 2025Golden MontgolfièreThe World of LoveWon
Red Sea International Film FestivalDecember 13, 2025Yusr Best ActressSeo Su-binWon
Korean Film Producers Association AwardsDecember 18, 2025Best FilmThe World of LoveWon
Korean Film Producers Association AwardsDecember 18, 2025Best New ActressSeo Su-binWon
Chunsa Film Art AwardsDecember 23, 2025Best DirectorYoon Ga-eunWon
Chunsa Film Art AwardsDecember 23, 2025Best New ActressSeo Su-binWon