South Korea selects Possible Love for Oscars

South Korea has selected director Lee Changdong's new film, Possible Love, as its official submission for the Best International Feature category at the 99th Academy Awards. The announcement was made by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) on August 25, 2026, ahead of the movie's world premiere in competition at the Venice International Film Festival on September 6. The selection marks the fourth time Lee has represented South Korea at the Oscars, following his films Oasis in 2003, Secret Sunshine in 2008, and Burning, which made history in 2019 as the first Korean film to be shortlisted for the award. KOFIC's selection committee praised the film for its cinematic completeness, the clarity of the director's message, and its excellent mise-en-scène, highlighting Lee's portrayal of multidimensional characters and complex relationships. Possible Love is Lee's first feature film in eight years. It explores the intersecting lives of two married couples from different social strata. The story follows a laid-off worker, Hoseok, and his wife, Miok, who works at a mask factory. Their quiet struggle changes when they meet a documentary filmmaker, Yeji, and her wealthy husband, Sangwoo.