[Edaily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] In November, movie theaters are competing to attract audiences with new Korean and foreign films. As this is typically considered the off-season for the movie industry, all eyes are on whether films featuring a variety of genres and star-studded casts will be able to draw audiences into theaters.

In October, the box office was dominated by fan-based content such as *Chiikawa: The Secret of the Mermaid Island* (theatrical version), as well as Korean films like *Assassins*, *Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub*, and the long-running hit *Odyssey*. In November, a lineup of new releases featuring distinctive genres—including mystery, black comedy, and thriller—will hit theaters, awaiting audiences’ choice.

Among Korean films, the lineup begins with the black comedy *The Secret Behind the College Entrance Exam*, starring Lee Sun-bin and Yoo Jae-myung, followed by director Kim Jong-kwan’s *Day and Night Are for Each Other* and *The Final Interview*, featuring rising stars. The mystery drama *Heavy Snow*, starring Kim Yoon-seok and Koo Kyo-hwan, and director Park Hoon-jung’s new film *Sad Tropics* are also set to hit theaters.

“The Secret Behind the College Entrance Exam,” which opened on the 28th of last month, is a film timed for the college entrance exam season. It delivers a humorous yet sharp satire through the misadventures of a Korean language teacher who joins the exam-setting headquarters, which is cut off from the outside world.

On the 4th, two films will open simultaneously. “Day and Night Belong to Each Other,” the opening film of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, tells the stories of four couples: Kim Min-ha and Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa and Jang Ryul, and Shim Eun-kyung and Lee Hee-joon. Also opening that day is “The Final Interview,” a locked-room mystery in which job applicants gathered for a final interview begin to suspect one another after discovering a mysterious envelope. The film stars Jo Yi-hyun, Kim Jae-won, Shin Seung-ho, Kang Yu-seok, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Bae Kang-hee.

On the 18th, “Heavy Snow” hits theaters. It is a mystery drama depicting events surrounding a mysterious corpse at a train station isolated by heavy snowfall. “Sad Tropics,” opening on the 25th, is a genre film directed by Park Hoon-jung, starring Lee Shin-young, Kim Myung-min, and Park Hae-soo, and is drawing attention from genre film fans.

A variety of foreign films across different genres are also set to be released. Films set to reach audiences include “Wild Horse Nine” (directed by Martin McDonagh), which won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival; the thriller “Mother Mary,” starring Anne Hathaway; and the horror thriller “Paul 2: Deadpoint.” It remains to be seen whether the genres and buzz surrounding these films will translate into audience choices during this off-season.

A new variable has also emerged in the theater industry. Director Lee Chang-dong’s new film “Possible Love” will reach global audiences through a distribution method different from that of typical theatrical releases. After premiering in South Korean theaters on September 23 for approximately two weeks—during which it attracted a cumulative audience of 230,478—the film will be released worldwide on Netflix on the 6th.

With the buzz surrounding it as Director Lee Chang-dong’s new film, its Silver Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival, a star-studded cast including Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Jo Yeo-jeong, and its upcoming global release on Netflix, all eyes are on the trajectory of “Possible Love.”

Whether new releases can win over audiences during the off-season will depend on the box office performance of each individual film. Attention is also focused on how the genre, target audience, and release timing of new films will affect their box office performance, as well as how theaters and distributors are forecasting audience demand for November.

A distribution company official stated, “Since November is traditionally the off-season for the theater industry, a large number of releases does not automatically translate to an increase in audience numbers,” adding, “It is crucial to develop promotional strategies tailored to each film’s target audience and release timing, and to create compelling reasons for audiences to watch them in theaters.”

A film industry insider also noted, “Unlike periods when major blockbusters drive overall theater attendance, audience response to individual films is crucial during the off-season,” adding, “The key is for new releases across various genres to steadily attract audiences and extend their runs through word of mouth.”