The Korea-Vietnam co-produced human drama “Leaving Mom” is set to hit Korean theaters in November.
The film follows Hoan, a street barber who has been caring for his mother as she battles Alzheimer’s. With no options left, he undertakes a poignant journey to Korea to take her to an older brother he’s never met.
A newly unveiled poster shows Hoan carrying his mom on his back, with the film’s buzzy milestones splashed across the background to stoke anticipation. After opening in Vietnam in August, “Leaving Mom” sparked strong word of mouth and has emerged as one of 2025’s most talked-about cross-border crowd-pleasers.
The numbers tell the story: the movie topped Vietnam’s box office for 15 consecutive days and surpassed 2 million admissions by its third week, after breaking even just three days into its Aug. 1 release.
The poster also touts its K-movie pedigree, highlighting that writer-director Hong Jin and a team of seasoned Korean filmmakers shaped the project―lending credibility to a special collaboration that blends both industries’ strengths.
Unlike a simple technical partnership, “Leaving Mom” was co-developed from the story stage by Korean and Vietnamese creators. Its universal themes―transcending generations, borders and language―helped it draw 1 million viewers in Vietnam in its first week and cross the 2 million mark by week three.
Vietnam’s box-office favorite Tuan Tran leads as Hoan, delivering a finely tuned portrayal of a son caring for his ailing mother. Beloved veteran Hong Dao plays his mom, Le Thi Hanh, shifting seamlessly from childlike innocence to fierce maternal instinct. Korean star Jung Il Woo appears as Jeong-min, a gentle husband and father, showcasing a different side of his range.
The Korea-Vietnam co-production “Leaving Mom” opens in November.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)