he inaugural LA Korean Film Festival (LAKFF), highlighting new perspectives and possibilities in South Korean cinema, kicked off on the 24th at the LA Harmony Gold Preview House.
Hosted for the first time by the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (Director Lee Hae-don) under the theme ‘New Flows, New Voices,’ the festival showcased a total of 19 films through the 26th, ranging from South Korean art and independent films to genre shorts and artificial intelligence (AI) films.
The opening ceremony was attended by Maggie Kang, director of ‘K-Pop: Demon Hunters,’ director Kim Jee-woon, actor Yoo Ji-tae, director Yoon Ga-eun of the opening film ‘The World of Love,’ and actor Seo Su-bin.
Director Maggie Kang stated, “As a Korean-American filmmaker, I have experienced how our stories deeply resonate with global audiences, and we need to make more stories into films.”
The opening film ‘The World of Love’ (‘세계의 주인’ in Korean) was invited to the Platform competition section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Warsaw International Film Festival. At the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards this year, director Yoon Ga-eun won the Best Director award in the film category, and Seo Su-bin won the Best New Actress award.
Following the screening of the opening film, director Yoon Ga-eun and lead actor Seo Su-bin held a Q&A session with the audience, sharing insights into the work’s themes, characters, the casting process, and the meaning embedded in the film. Below is the Q&A.
Q. Why did you focus on life after trauma rather than the violence itself?
Yoon Ga-eun: “Violence and wounds were topics I wanted to address for a long time. Through research and interviews with trauma survivors, I came to believe that what comes after the tragedy is more important. I wanted to focus on how people live day-to-day carrying pain, and I thought it was necessary given that such stories haven’t been told much yet.”
Q. How did you interpret the director’s intention and build the character ‘Joo-in’?
Seo Su-bin: “I believed the director’s words that ‘Joo-in is already inside you.’ Joo-in’s heart and actions were naturally understandable, so rather than creating a new persona, I drew upon aspects already within myself to act.”
Q. What is the significance of Joo-in’s independent life?
Yoon Ga-eun: “Even those who have experienced terrible things live their daily lives carrying their pain. I wanted to portray a character who confronts daily life and moves forward amidst suffering. I think perhaps all of us are taking such independent steps in our own lives.”
Q. What are the meanings behind the Korean title ‘The Master of the World’ and the English title ‘The World of Love’?
Yoon Ga-eun: “‘Joo-in’ has a dual meaning as both the protagonist’s name and the master of her own world. I really wanted to keep the word ‘world’ because it encompasses both what Joo-in has experienced and the future she will move toward. While pondering the English title, I decided on ‘The World of Love’ because Joo-in is a character who seeks and desires love, and strives to attain love in her own world.”
