Cover Lee Chang-dong’s return to cinema brings together a powerhouse cast to dissect class divisions and unspoken desires in ‘Possible Love’. Here is your definitive look at who is who, from long-time collaborators to rising stars, and how their characters shape this tense, layered drama (Photo: IMDb)
Lee Chang-dong’s return to cinema brings together a powerhouse cast to dissect class divisions and unspoken desires in ‘Possible Love’. Here is your definitive look at who is who, from long-time collaborators to rising stars, and how their characters shape this tense, layered drama (Photo: IMDb)
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Discover who stars in Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love’ with our guide to the cast and characters of the Korean drama
After an eight-year break following Burning, South Korean director Lee Chang-dong returns with Possible Love, a drama about class, money and the complicated ways people connect. Known for his unflinching portrayals of human vulnerability and social tensions, Lee turns his attention to two married couples whose lives unfold on opposite sides of the economic divide. A working-class family struggling in the aftermath of a violent industrial strike crosses paths with a wealthy documentary filmmaker and her husband. As their worlds collide, tensions simmer and unspoken desires begin to surface.
The film premiered in competition at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize. Featuring a cast of established names in South Korean cinema, Possible Love marks another chapter in Lee’s exploration of the forces that shape human relationships. Here’s what to know about the film, from its plot and director to the cast and characters.
What is the plot of 'Possible Love'?
Above Watch the trailer for 'Possible Love', which follows two couples brought together by a documentary project that slowly unravels hidden desires, class disparities, and silent boundaries
Possible Love examines economic precarity through two contrasting households. The story begins following a violent crackdown on a metalworkers’ union strike at SP Heavy Industries. Ho-seok, a former welder, loses his livelihood along with his peers. Two years later, Ho-seok and his wife Mi-ok, a mask factory worker, struggle to maintain stability while raising their young son Cheol.
Their trajectory changes when they encounter Lee Ye-ji, an ambitious documentary director, and her wealthy partner Sang-woo at a co-worker’s funeral. Intrigued by the couple’s public arguments and personal struggles, Ye-ji decides to make Ho-seok and Mi-ok the focus of her next documentary project. To facilitate filming, Ye-ji invites the family to stay at Sang-woo’s luxurious coastal estate. As interviews progress, private trauma is exposed for the camera, while quiet flirtations and mistrust surface among the adults, illuminating the clear division between observer and subject.
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Who directed 'Possible Love'?
Possible Love is directed and co-written by Lee Chang-dong, alongside screenwriter Oh Jung-mi. A prominent figure in South Korean cinema, Lee began his career as a novelist and literary critic before transitioning to screenwriting and directing in the 1990s. His previous filmography includes critically acclaimed features such as Peppermint Candy, Oasis, Secret Sunshine, Poetry, and Burning.
Lee served as South Korea’s Minister of Culture and Tourism from 2003 to 2004. Over his career, his films have consistently competed at major international festivals, earning honors such as the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes for Poetry and the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize for Burning. With Possible Love, Lee continues his exploration of social stratification, psychological tension, and moral ambiguity.
'Possible Love' cast and characters
Jeon Do-yeon as Mi-ok
Jeon Do-yeon portrays Mi-ok, a factory worker attempting to sustain her household after her husband is laid off. Mi-ok agrees to participate in Ye-ji’s documentary project, sharing personal memories from her upbringing. As the filming progresses at the coastal estate, Mi-ok becomes wary of the director’s intentions while navigating interactions with Ye-ji’s husband, Sang-woo. Jeon previously starred in Lee Chang-dong’s 2007 drama Secret Sunshine, a performance that earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Sul Kyung-gu as Ho-seok
Sul Kyung-gu plays Ho-seok, a former welder at SP Heavy Industries who experiences severe trauma following a violent police raid on his union’s strike. Unemployed and resentful, Ho-seok harbors deep anger toward his former union and struggles with panic attacks. Though initially hostile toward Ye-ji’s camera, he eventually sits for interviews that capture his psychological state. Sul previously worked with director Lee Chang-dong on Peppermint Candy and Oasis.
Zo In-sung as Sang-woo
Zo In-sung takes on the role of Sang-woo, the wealthy partner of documentary director Ye-ji. Sang-woo hosts Ho-seok’s family at his secluded estate, where he strikes up a flirtatious connection with Mi-ok. Zo is widely recognized for his leading roles in recent hit projects, including Disney+’s global breakout series Moving, Na Hong-jin’s sci-fi film Hope, and Ryoo Seung-wan’s spy action film Humint, alongside classic dramas like It's Okay, That's Love.
Cho Yeo-jeong as Ye-ji
Cho Yeo-jeong plays Lee Ye-ji, an ambitious documentary filmmaker seeking to document the personal fallout of industrial labor disputes. Ye-ji inserts herself into the lives of Ho-seok and Mi-ok, using her resources to gain access to their personal trauma for her film project. Cho gained international recognition for her performance as Mrs. Park in Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning feature Parasite, and has starred in films such as The Servant and Obsessed.
When is ‘Possible Love’ coming out on Netflix?
Following its run on the autumn film festival circuit, Possible Love begins its rollout in domestic cinemas across South Korea on 23 September 2026. Regional theatrical engagements follow shortly thereafter, with theatrical screenings commencing in Australia on 22 October 2026, and expanding to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Japan on 23 October 2026. For home viewers, the feature completes its distribution timeline with a global streaming debut on 6 November 2026, when it becomes available exclusively on Netflix.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
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