# Yeon Sang-ho's 'Paradise Lost' Sold to 118 Countries, Overseas Sales Top Production Cost

- URL: https://unnienote.app/en/news/yeon-sang-ho-paradise-lost-118-countries-sold-ef487e
- Published: 2026-10-21T04:59:18.335Z
- Publisher: Unnie Note

> Distributor CJ ENM says director Yeon Sang-ho's low-budget film Paradise Lost has been sold to 118 countries and has already earned more overseas than its net production cost.

## Key points

1. Paradise Lost was sold to 118 countries, according to CJ ENM.
2. The film's net production cost is reported at around 500 million won.
3. Korean theaters open the film on October 21.

## What is Paradise Lost about?

Paradise Lost is a film by director Yeon Sang-ho, known internationally for the animated horror film *The Ghost Story*? No, he is best known for *Train to Busan* and the Netflix series *Hellbound*. The new film follows So-young, a mother who lost her son in a missing-child incident. Nine years later, her son Sun-woo returns, and the story unfolds around their reunion. Kim Hyun-joo plays So-young and Bae Hyun-sung plays Sun-woo.

## How has the film sold abroad?

According to CJ ENM, the film has been sold to 118 countries, and overseas sales revenue is larger than the net production cost. The film is reported to have a net production cost in the 500 million won range, which makes it a low-budget project. It follows Yeon's previous film *The Face* from last year.

## Where has it been screened?

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last month and was shown at the Busan International Film Festival earlier this month. It is also invited to the Korean Film Special Screening at the 46th Hawaii International Film Festival, which opens on October 21, with screenings on November 1 and November 4.

## When does it open in Korea?

The film opens in Korean theaters on October 21.

## For international fans

If you follow Korean genre cinema, Yeon Sang-ho is a familiar name for *Train to Busan*. Paradise Lost is a more intimate, low-budget work centered on family and motherhood, and CJ ENM says that emotional core is what has drawn interest across different countries.

## FAQ

### When can international audiences watch Paradise Lost at Hawaii International Film Festival?

The film is scheduled to be screened in Hawaii on November 1 and November 4 as part of the Korean Film Special Screening.

## Sources

- [Yonhap News](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261019093800005)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._