This year, once again, there are films being released during the Lunar New Year season. Among them, “Dog Days” is likely to be the movie that best captures the essence of the Lunar New Year season.
In East Asian cultures, a cultural tradition known as the lunar calendar persists. While its significance has diminished over time, the first day of the lunar calendar, commonly referred to as Seollal, continues to be one of the major traditional holidays in Korea. Spanning a holiday period of around 3-4 days, the Lunar New Year, or Seollal, holds a significant place in the film industry.
Unlike big-budget blockbusters and action genres that often target the summer season, movies released during the Lunar New Year period are generally comedies or family-friendly films suitable for all ages. Representative examples of films that surpassed 10 million viewers, such as “Miracle in Cell No. 7” and “Extreme Job,” were released during the Lunar New Year season.
“The film “Dog Days” is set to hit theaters on February 7, 2024, with a runtime of 120 minutes.
There’s a certain vibe in the poster that reminds me of the movie “Love Actually.” Why does it evoke a Christmas movie feel?”
official trailer of “dog days”
synopsis of “dog days”
Min-sang, a meticulous and organized single man, encounters daily headaches as his tenant, Dr. Jin-young, transforms the building he bought with a large mortgage into a chaotic space for dogs. Amid their routine banter, Min-sang stumbles upon the world-renowned architect Min-seo at the animal hospital. Seeking Min-seo’s assistance for an ongoing project, Min-sang embarks on a mission to impress Jin-young and her furry companion, “Chajangnim,” in hopes of leaving a positive impact on Min-seo.
casting of “dog days”
Yu Hae-jin Portrays Min-sang
The landlord of the animal hospital building, Min-sang, is a meticulous individual who is disgusted by dogs, leading to frequent clashes with Jin-young, the veterinarian.
Youn Yuh-jung Portrays Min-seo
Renowned for her sharp personality, Min-seo is a top architect in South Korea. She lives alone with her companion dog, Wanda.
Kim Yoon-jin Portrays Jeong-a
Jeong-a is Sun-yong’s wife, and together they are novice parents eagerly awaiting the arrival of their adopted daughter.
Jung Sung-hwa Portrays Sun-yong
Sun-yong is Jeong-a’s husband, sharing in the excitement of becoming novice parents through adoption.
Kim Seo-hyung Portrays Jin-young
Jin-young operates the animal hospital and is a veterinarian. Possessing a modest and humane personality, she often finds herself at odds with Min-sang, the landlord.
Daniel Henney Portrays Daniel
Daniel visits Hyun to see Sting, his ex-girlfriend’s dog, and Hyun happens to be another one of her ex-boyfriends.
Lee Hyun-woo Portrays Hyun
Hyun, a guitarist and a novice in dog care, takes care of Sting, his ex-girlfriend’s dog.
Tang Jun-sang Portrays Jin-woo
Jin-woo is a young delivery rider living a fast-paced life, and his chance encounter with Min-seo sets the stage for unexpected connections.
Production crew of “Dog Days”
“Dog Days” is the debut feature film directed by filmmaker Kim Deok-min.
behind the scene of “dog days”
- The character of Hyun was initially assigned to Kim Sun-ho, but due to personal reasons, he withdrew from the role, and Lee Hyun-woo took over the part.
- In the film, actor Yoo Hae-jin, who plays a character with a dislike for dogs, is, in reality, a dog owner. His widely known pet, a Welsh Corgi named Gyeoul, recently passed away. However, he hasn’t been able to part with Gyeoul’s food bowl, collar, toys, and other belongings, as shared on the variety show “Three Meals a Day” in 2016.
- During the production announcement, Youn Yuh-jung shared insights into her connection with director Kim Deok-min and the motivation behind her involvement. Recalling their earlier collaboration when both were relatively unknown, she humorously mentioned that they were both treated like dogs at that time. With a strong resolve, she pledged that if Kim Deok-min ever became a director, she would definitely participate in his project. True to her commitment, she embraced the opportunity to work together in “Dog Days” as an expression of camaraderie.
