In the frame: Ji Chang-wook (left) and Jun Ji-hyun (right). Photo: Disney+; Netflix, courtesy of Han Cinema.
A film with a director like Yeon Sang-ho and actors like Ji Chang-wook and Jun Ji-hyun is a diamond in the rough. Following his global hits, including Train to Busan (2016) and Peninsula (2020), Yeon Sang-ho returns to apocalyptic horror with a new thriller flick, Gunche (in Korean), tentatively titled Colony (in English).
Yeon is known for his gripping and thought-provoking storytelling, which navigates complex social issues through genre fiction; Gunche, in that vein, implies visually stunning experiences—if anything, another addition to Yeon’s impressive oeuvre.
An article from The Korea Herald states that the project has hit the floors already, slated for a 2026 release. It also happens to be top Hallyu star Jun Ji-hyun’s comeback movie since her An Ok-yun in Assassination (2015), the acclaimed spy action thriller, regarded as one of the highest grossers in Korean cinema.
Together with Jun Ji-hyun and Ji Chang-wook, Gunche features Koo Kyo-hwan, Shin Hyun-been, Kim Shin-rok, and Go Soo in various roles. Its plot seems similar to the K-zombie series, Happiness (2021). Much like Happiness, Gunche has a building that’s blocked when a strange virus infects its inhabitants. Those who contract the virus turn into deadly, inexplicable creatures—something that also evokes the happenings in the apocalyptic horror drama Sweet Home, Season 1 (2020).
As per media reports, the film’s distributor, Showbox, informs that Gunche is the “culmination” of Yeon Sang-ho’s cinematic realm. In essence, it’s said to bring together ingredients from his previous works, “spanning from Train to Busan to Peninsula,” connecting the stories and characters from them and aiming to expand this intriguing world Yeon has created.
While specific character details have yet to be revealed, the cast is a winner for me, and a big highlight is Jun and Ji sharing screen time; it only hints at gripping interactions between their characters, making the collaboration a focal point. And based on the fact that Gunche bridges Yeon Sang-ho’s much-appraised zombie stories, I think the new film will be another stellar title in the archives of K-zombies or monster tales, perhaps a more layered and interconnected viewing experience.
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