Switch (Korean스위치; RRSewichi) is a 2023 South Korean comedy-drama film written and directed by Ma Dae-yun. Starring Kwon Sang-woo, Oh Jung-se, and Lee Min-jung, the film depicts the story of Park Kang, a top star who enjoys a splendid single life, a top star who is a recognized scandal maker, and faces a moment when his life changes 180 degrees when he meets a taxi driver on Christmas Eve.[3]

Switch
Official poster
Hangul
스위치
Revised RomanizationSewichi
Directed byMa Dae-yun
Screenplay byMa Dae-yun
Starring
Production
company
  • Hive Media Corp
Distributed byLotte Entertainment
Release date
  • January 4, 2023 (2023-01-04)
Running time
112 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$3.1 million[1][2]

It was released theatrically in South Korea on January 4, 2023.[4]

Cast

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  • Kwon Sang-woo as Park Kang, a top star
  • Oh Jung-se as Jo Yoon, friend of Park Kang and an extreme job manager[5]
  • Lee Min-jung as Soo-hyun, an art instructor
  • Park So-yi as Ro-hee, Kang and Soo-hyun's daughter[6]
  • Kim Joon as Ro-ha, Kang and Soo-hyun's son[7]
  • Cha Hee as Woo Hee, Park Kang and Jo Yoon's junior[8]
  • Kim Mi-kyung, Park Kang's mother

Special appearance

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  • Kim Ha-young as bride[9]

Production

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Switch marks the comeback of Lee Min-jung in films, her last appearance was in rom-com Wonderful Radio (2012).[10][11] Principal photography began on January 17, 2021,[12] and was wrapped up on March 29, 2021.[13]

Release

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On November 16, 2022, the distribution company Lotte Entertainment released the first multiverse poster and trailer, announcing the title of the film as Switch, which was previously known as "The Christmas Present" (크리스마스 선물, keuriseumaseu seonmul).[14] On December 5, 2022 it was announced that the film will premiere on January 4, 2023.[15]

On January 3, 2022 a special money-back guarantee screening of the film was held. A full refund of the admission fee was offered to the audience in case they were dissatisfied with the film and presented the ticket at the box office within 20 minutes after the screening of the film.[16]

Reception

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The film released on January 4, 2023, on 912 screens. It opened at 5th place with 30,513 admissions at the Korean box office.[17][18]

As of December 31, 2023, with gross of US$3,050,961 and 422,417 admissions, it is at 24th place in the Korean films released in 2023.[2][19]

Critical response

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Choi Jeong-ah reviewing for Sports World praised the performance of Kwon Sang-woo writing, "Kwon Sang-woo's calm and restrained acting in the second half of the play stimulates the audience's tear glands". Choi concluding, opined, "It is an above-average work in all aspects of acting and directing, fun and emotion, message and sound."[20] Kim Yu-jin reviewing for Xports News praised the performance of the cast. Kim appreciating acting of Park So-yi and Kim Joon wrote, "Child actors Park So-yi and Kim Joon's performance are a vital force that disarms the entire generation." Kim quoted director Ma Dae-yun's contention that "it's a movie that's good to watch with your family and is like a gift."[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Switch (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2023". KOFIC. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Kim Nara (December 5, 2022). "권상우→이민정 '스위치', 2023년 1월 4일 개봉 확정 [공식]" [Kwon Sang-woo → Lee Min-jung 'Switch' confirmed to be released on January 4, 2023 [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Park Pan-seok (December 5, 2022). "'스위치' 권상우X이민정X오정세, 하루만에 180도 바뀐 인생..극과극 라이프" ['Switch' Kwon Sang-Christmas Evewoo X Lee Min-jung X Oh Jeong-se, life changed 180 degrees in one day]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Kang Hyo-jin (November 16, 2022). "권상우·오정세·이민정 주연 영화 '스위치', 2023년 1월 개봉[공식]" [The movie 'Switch' starring Kwon Sang-woo, Oh Jeong-se, and Lee Min-jung will be released in January 2023 [Official]] (in Korean). Sports TV News. Retrieved November 16, 2022 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Kim Seon-woo (December 7, 2022). "아역계의 아이유·박보검"…'스위치' 박소이·김준, 대세들의 만남" [IU and Park Bo-gum of child actors"... 'Switch' Park So-yi and Kim Joon, the meeting of the big trend]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Lee Seon-hwa (November 23, 2022). "하루 아침에 인생이 180도 달라졌다!…영화 '스위치' [TF사진관]" [Life changed 180 degrees overnight! Movie 'Switch' [TF Studio]]. The Fact (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Park Yoon-jin (January 10, 2023). "'스위치' 오정세 짝사랑녀 차희, 보이시한 매력으로 '눈길'" ['Switch' Oh Jeong-se's unrequited love girl, Cha-hee, draws attention with her boyish charm]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Lee Ji-hyun (December 28, 2022). "'서프라이즈 여자걔' 김하영, 권상우와 영혼결혼식 "또 시집...여한이 없네요". Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved December 28, 2022 – via Naver.
  10. ^ Pierce Conran (February 8, 2021). "KWON Sang-woo, OH Jung-se and LEE Min-jung Open CHRISTMAS PRESENT". KOFIC (in Korean). Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  11. ^ Kim Jeong-jin (December 29, 2022). "'스위치' 이민정 "11년 만 스크린 복귀…긴장보다 설렘 커"" ['Switch' Lee Min-jung "Returning to the screen after 11 years... Excitement is greater than tension"]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  12. ^ Bae Hyo-joo (January 20, 2021). ""종합선물세트" 권상우X오정세X이민정 '크리스마스 선물' 크랭크인(공식)" [“Comprehensive gift set” Kwon Sang-woo X Oh Jeong-se X Lee Min-jung 'Christmas Gift' crank-in (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  13. ^ "이민정, '크리스마스 선물' 크랭크업 "끝나니 뭔가 아쉽네요"" [Lee Min-jung, 'Christmas Gift' crank-up "It's a pity that it's over"]. Herald POP (in Korean). Naver. March 29, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Bae Hyo-joo (November 16, 2022). "권상우X오정세X이민정 '스위치' 2023년 1월 개봉[공식]" [Kwon Sang-woo X Oh Jeong-se X Lee Min-jung 'Switch' to be released in January 2023 [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  15. ^ Kang Min-kyung (December 5, 2022). "[공식] 권상우·오정세·이민정 '스위치', 내년 1월 4일 개봉 확정" [[Official] Kwon Sang-woo, Oh Jeong-se, and Lee Min-jung's 'Switch' confirmed to be released on January 4 next year]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  16. ^ "[POP초점]"호평에 자신감"..'스위치', 100% 환불보장 상영회 개최→입소문 날까" [[POP focus] "Confidence in favorable reviews"..'Switch', 100% money-back guarantee screening held → Will it go viral?]. Herald POP (in Korean). Naver. January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  17. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Daily Box office: Korean films of 2023". KOFIC. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  18. ^ Kim Yu-jin (January 5, 2023). "'스위치' 새해 첫 韓 영화 포문…'평점 4.46' 입소문 호평 본격 시작" ['Switch' New year's first Korean movie... 'Rating of 4.46' Word-of-mouth reviews begin in earnest]. Xports News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "Switch 2023 at KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Korean films". KOFIC. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Choi Jeong-ah (January 5, 2023). "[리뷰] '스위치' 권상우가 권상우했다…티켓값 안 아까운 웃음·감동" [[Review] 'Switch' Kwon Sang-woo played Kwon Sang-woo... Laughter and emotion worth the ticket price]. Sports World (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  21. ^ Kim Yu-jin (January 5, 2023). "권상우→박소이, 빈틈 없는 웃음·공감 버튼…100% 힐링 보장 (리뷰)['스위치' ON②]" [Kwon Sang-woo→Park So-yi, a tight laugh/empathy button… 100% Healing Guaranteed (Review)['Switch' ON②]]. Xports News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
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