The Match (2025 film)

The Match
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
승부
Hanja
勝負
Lit.The Game
RRSeungbu
MRSŭngbu
Directed byKim Hyung-joo
Written by
Produced byKim Tae-won
Starring
CinematographyYou Eok
Edited byKim Sang-bum
Music byJo Yeong-wook
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • March 26, 2025 (2025-03-26)
Running time
115 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$14.6 million[2]

The Match (Korean: 승부) is a 2025 South Korean biographical sports drama film directed and written by Kim Hyung-joo, based on two real-life notable Go players Cho Hun-hyun and Lee Chang-ho. It stars Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Ah-in, Ko Chang-seok, Hyun Bong-sik, Moon Jeong-hee, and Kim Kang-hoon.[3][4] The film was released theatrically on March 26, 2025.[5]

Synopsis

Set in the 1980s-1990s and based on two real-life notable Go players, the film tells the story of Cho Hun-hyun, a Go champion who discovers a gifted but untrained young boy Lee Chang-ho in an amateur contest. He takes him under his wing to turn into a professional player. Conflicts arise when the protégé later turns against his teachings.

Cast

Production

Casting

In October 2020, Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in joined the cast of the film, followed by Moon Jeong-hee and child actor Kim Kang-hoon.[7][8][9][10]

Filming

Principal photography began on December 17, 2020.[11] Filming took place in Yeongnam, Gyeongsang Province and Gangwon Province, and wrapped up in July, 2021.[12][13][14][15]

Release

The Match was scheduled to be released on Netflix in 2023.[16][17] Prior to the release, the film launched international sales and was screened at the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market in October 2021.[18] However, it was delayed following Yoo Ah-in's drug use charges.[19]

In February 2025, it was reported that The Match would to be released in theaters in the first half of 2025 after its Netflix release was delayed.[20] The film will finally be released on May 7, 2025 on the platform in selected regions.[21]

Reception

Box office

The film was released on March 26, 2025, on 1,638 screens.[22] It opened at first place at the South Korean box office with 91,471 admissions.

The film has grossed US$14,382,747 from 2,146,284 admissions.[23]

Accolades

Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards 2025 Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Nominated [24]
Best Screenplay Kim Hyung-joo, Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2025 Best Screenplay Won [25]
Best Editing Kim Sang-bum Nominated
Best Art Direction Jung Eun-young Nominated
Buil Film Awards 2025 Best Director Kim Hyung-joo Nominated [26]
Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Won
Best Art/Technical Award Jung Eun-young Nominated
Director's Cut Awards 2025 Best Director (Film) Kim Hyung-joo Nominated [27]
Best Screenplay (Film) Kim Hyung-joo, Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Best Actor (Film) Yoo Ah-in Nominated
Lee Byung-hun Won
Golden Cinematography Awards Best Picture The Match Won [28]
Best Supporting Actor Ko Chang-seok Won
Korean Film Producers Association Awards Best Actor Lee Byung-hun Won [29]
Best Art Direction Jung Eun-young Won

References

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  2. ^ "The Match (2025)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  3. ^ Jo Hyun-na (January 13, 2022). 2022년 한국영화 신작 프로젝트: '승부' 김형주 감독 [A new Korean film project in 2022: 'Game of Thrones', directed by Kim Hyung-joo]. Cine21. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Jeon Hyung-hwa (December 16, 2022). 이병헌x유아인 '승부' 넷플릭스 영화로 공개..공식 발표 [Lee Byung-hun x Yoo Ah-in's 'match' released as a Netflix movie... Official announcement] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022 – via Naver.
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  6. ^ Yoo Su-yeon (March 7, 2025). '승부' 이병헌, '내부자들' 이어 조우진과 호흡.."편하지만은 않아" [Oh!쎈 현장] ['Match' Lee Byung-hun, 'Insiders', and Jo Woo-jin's chemistry... "It's not comfortable" [Oh! Strong scene]]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  7. ^ Merican, Sara (October 27, 2020). "Yoo Ah-In In Talks To Join Lee Byung-Hun In New Film About Go Players". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 16, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
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  19. ^ Kang Hyo-jin (March 27, 2023). 넷플릭스 "유아인 출연 '승부'·'종말의 바보' 공개 잠정 보류 결정"[공식] [Netflix "Temporarily postponed release of Yoo Ah-in's 'Match' and 'The Last Fool'" [Official]]. SpoTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Naver.
  20. ^ Park Jung-hoon (December 14, 2024). [단독] 유아인 마약에 발목 '승부', 내년 상반기 '극장 개봉' 초읽기 [[Exclusive] Yoo Ah-in's Drug-related Ankle 'Competition', Countdown to 'Theatrical Release' in the First Half of Next Year]. MTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
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  24. ^ Jeong, Han-Byeol (April 7, 2025). 다음 달 열리는 제61회 백상예술대상방송·영화·연극 부문 후보 발표. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  25. ^ Kim Na-yeon (October 21, 2025). "46회 청룡영화상 최종 후보 공개..'어쩔수가없다' 12개 부문 노미" [The 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards final nominees have been announced. "Inevitable" wins 12 categories]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  26. ^ Kang Hye-min (July 24, 2025). 이병헌, 현빈→김고은, 이혜영...제34회 '부일영화상' 주인공은?. MHN (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on August 23, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  27. ^ Kim Mi-hwa (April 22, 2025). 유아인, 남자배우상 후보→여자배우상은 김고은vs김고은 [디렉터스컷 어워즈]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  28. ^ Jang Min-su (October 3, 2025). 추창민 감독 "故이선균-송영규에 영광을"→곽선영 "데뷔 첫 수상"...45회 황금촬영상 주인공은?. MHN (in Korean). Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  29. ^ Park, Se-yeon (December 18, 2025). '세계의 주인' 작품상→이병헌·이혜영 남녀주연상…제12회 한국영화제작가협회상의 선택 [종합] ["Master of the World" wins Best Picture → Lee Byung-hun and Lee Hye-young win Best Actor and Actress… Selections from the 12th Korean Film Producers Association Awards [Comprehensive]]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved December 18, 2025 – via Naver.
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