Ryu Seung Ryong and Ha Ji Won Film Portrait of a Family Sets September Premiere

Ryu Seung Ryong and Ha Ji Won’s upcoming Korean film Portrait of a Family has officially locked in its theatrical release date, setting the stage for a September 2 premiere. The film has also introduced new teaser materials that frame the story as a family drama built around a sudden rupture, a hidden truth, and the effort to protect a young girl caught in the middle of a crisis.

Directed by Lee Ji Won, whose previous work includes Miss Baek, Portrait of a Family centers on Joong Goo, played by Ryu Seung Ryong, and Nam Mi, played by Ha Ji Won. The two are described as a once-glamorous star couple whose comfortable life begins to fracture when Joong Goo’s daughter Dong Joo, played by Kim Si Ah, unexpectedly enters their world.

The premise moves beyond a simple domestic conflict. According to the film’s newly released setup, Dong Joo later becomes swept up in an unforeseen incident eight years after her arrival, prompting the characters around her to chase the truth in order to save her. That structure points to a drama with mystery elements, where family ties are tested not only by emotion but by the pressure of an urgent external event.

A Crisis Framed Through Family

The film’s launch poster reportedly draws from the image of the bi gwang card in hwatu, the Korean card game also associated with go-stop. The phrase connected to the poster, translated as a brilliant hand in a moment of crisis, suggests that the movie will use the card as a symbolic image for families forced to rely on one another when their lives become unstable.

That symbolism fits the roles introduced so far. Ryu Seung Ryong’s Joong Goo is a former baseball player whose life changes sharply after Dong Joo appears. The character is described as someone who gives up everything to protect his daughter, positioning him as the emotional anchor of the film rather than simply a fallen celebrity figure.

Ha Ji Won’s Nam Mi adds another layer to the family dynamic. Once a top star herself, Nam Mi is now shown as someone trying to make a living after losing her former status. Her relationship with Dong Joo appears complicated but not distant; the character is said to see something of her younger self in the girl, making it difficult for her to turn away.

A Veteran Cast With a Younger Center

The casting gives Portrait of a Family one of its clearest selling points. Ryu Seung Ryong remains one of Korean cinema’s most recognizable actors, with a filmography that includes major box office and critical titles such as Miracle in Cell No. 7, The Admiral: Roaring Currents, Extreme Job, and Masquerade. He has also continued to reach global drama audiences through projects including Moving.

Ha Ji Won brings a similarly long screen history, with audiences knowing her from dramas and films including Secret Garden, The King 2 Hearts, Curtain Call, and Climax. In Portrait of a Family, her role appears designed around restraint and emotional detail, as Nam Mi must confront both her own changed circumstances and the vulnerable child who disrupts the household.

Kim Si Ah’s casting is also notable because she previously worked with director Lee Ji Won on Miss Baek. This reunion places the young actress at the center of the new film’s emotional stakes. Dong Joo is described as carrying anxiety and wounds after becoming connected to an incident following the death of a friend, suggesting the character will be more than a plot device for the adults around her.

The supporting lineup further broadens expectations for the movie. Kim Hae Sook, Kim Sun Young, Kim Young Min, and other cast members are set to appear as characters who gather around Dong Joo. With that ensemble, the film seems positioned as a story about protection, responsibility, and the uncomfortable truths that can surface when several people are tied to one child’s fate.

What the September Release Signals

The September 2 release date gives Korean moviegoers a clear calendar marker for one of the season’s family-centered dramas. While the early teasers emphasize emotion, they also hint at suspense through the search for truth surrounding Dong Joo’s later crisis. That combination could help the film reach viewers who respond to intimate character work as well as those drawn to mystery-driven storytelling.

For international fans of Korean film and drama, Portrait of a Family will likely attract attention because of its lead pairing. Ryu Seung Ryong and Ha Ji Won each carry strong name recognition across different generations of Korean entertainment audiences, and Kim Si Ah’s presence links the project back to Lee Ji Won’s earlier filmmaking strengths.

More promotional materials are expected before release, but the first details already outline a film built around a difficult question: what makes a family hold together when reputation, grief, and danger all collide? If the finished movie follows through on that promise, Portrait of a Family could become a September title watched closely by both domestic audiences and overseas Korean cinema fans.