Seoul Searching

Seoul Searching
Film poster
Directed byBenson Lee
Written byBenson Lee
Produced byAndrea Chung (producer) (produced by)
Benson Lee (produced by)
Brigette Noh (co-producer)
Starring
  • Justin Chon
  • Jessika Van
  • Teo Yoo
  • Esteban Ahn
  • Rosalina Leigh
  • Kang Byul
  • Albert Kong
  • Cha In-pyo
CinematographyDaniel Katz
Edited bySteven M. Choe
Benson Lee
Music byWoody Pak
Production
companies
Bowery Hills Entertainment
Mondo Paradiso Films
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
Running time
105 minutes
CountriesUnited States
South Korea
China
LanguagesEnglish
German
Korean
Spanish
Budget$2.1 million

Seoul Searching is a 2016 American comedy-drama set in Seoul, Korea written and directed by Benson Lee and starring Justin Chon, Jessika Van, Cha In-pyo and Teo Yoo.[1][2][3][4]

Premise

A group of overseas high school kids of Korean decent from North America and Europe land in Seoul in1986. They arrive for a government-sponsored cultural immersion summer camp. Many of them have never visited South Korea before or even speak their parents’ native language. What ensues is a summer of partying, mishaps, mistakes and fun. Along the way they learn how to communicate with the culture around them and each other, find friendship, love and manage to absorb some of their ancestral roots.[5]

Cast

Release

The film made its worldwide premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015.[6][7][8]

The film was then released in theaters in New York City on June 17, 2016.[9] It was also released in theaters in Los Angeles on June 24, 2016.[10] The film was also shown at the Regal Medlock Crossing 18 in Johns Creek, Georgia from August 5 to August 11 of 2016.[11]

Netflix acquired the streaming rights of the movie in Winter 2016 and released it December 2017 worldwide. It has been dubbed and/or subtitled in over 15 languages.

Reception

Since its release in December 2017 on Netflix, the film has topped over 30 the "Best of Netflix" lists and in 2021 alone it topped the "Best of Netflix" lists in over 10 publications including: PopSugar, OprahDaily.com[12][13]Oprah Magazine,[14] Town & Country (magazine), Seventeen (American magazine), Teen Vogue[15]

The film has a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[16] Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com awarded the film three stars.[17] Stephanie Merry of The Washington Post gave it two stars out of four.[18] Timothy Tau of IndieWire graded the film an A−.[19]

The New York Times gave it a "NYT Critics Pick" in 2016.

Justin Chang of Variety gave the film a positive review and wrote, "A unique portrait of the Korean immigrant experience distinguishes writer-director Benson Lee's messy but endearing '80s-set comedy."[20]

Josh Terry of Deseret News gave it a negative review and wrote, "In better hands, Seoul Searching might have been a nice balance of ’80s nostalgia and sincere coming of age. Unfortunately, what we have here is a missed opportunity."[21]

Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter gave it a positive review and wrote, "Lee’s most accessible film yet looks poised to capitalize on enduring 80s nostalgia and a refreshingly appealing premise that could see the film crossing over from niche bookings to much broader appeal."[22]

The movie was the first mainstream feature to highlight the Korean adoptee experience and diaspora in America. The film became a flagship movie for Korean adoptees which director Benson Lee said he included as they were part of the diaspora Korean adoptees experienced in their respective countries.

References

  1. ^ Watercutter, Angela (January 28, 2015). "How Throwback Flick Seoul Searching Puts a New Spin on Teen Comedies". Wired. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  2. ^ Lee, Traci G. (July 24, 2015). "'Seoul Searching' Remixes Classic Summer Camp Teen Films". NBC News. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Karen Grigsby Bates (April 25, 2013). "Benson Lee Goes 'Seoul Searching'". NPR. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Weintraub, Steve "Frosty" (February 12, 2015). "Director Benson Lee Talks SEOUL SEARCHING". Collider. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Lowe, Justin (January 23, 2015). "'Seoul Searching': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  6. ^ Mike Fleming Jr. (January 23, 2015). "'Seoul Searching' Helmer Benson Lee Signs With WME – Sundance". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  7. ^ McClintock, Pamela; Ford, Rebecca (January 26, 2015). "Sundance: 'Seoul Searching' Director Met With Consultants Familiar With North Korea". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Johnson, G. Allen (March 6, 2015). "'Seoul Searching': A John Hughes-inspired South Korean film". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Weintraub, Steve "Frosty" (June 10, 2016). "Exclusive Clip From 'Seoul Searching' Tells You to Think with Dick". Collider. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Eric Ortiz Garcia (June 16, 2016). "Interview: Ken Jeong On Why SEOUL SEARCHING Is His Favorite Korean-American Film Of All Time". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  11. ^ Dixon, Kristal (August 4, 2016). "'SEOUL SEARCHING' Comes to Johns Creek". Patch. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Nicolaou, Elena (April 22, 2021). "29 Best Foreign Films on Netflix to Watch Now".
  13. ^ La Jeunesse, Marilyn (April 29, 2021). "33 Best Summer Movies to make your Summer All-Time".
  14. ^ Chon, Monica (June 17, 2022). "The 16 Best Korean Movies You Can Stream on Netflix Right Now".
  15. ^ La Jeunesse, Marilyn (April 29, 2021). "33 Best Summer Movies to Make Your Summer All-Time".
  16. ^ "Seoul Searching". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Allen, Nick (June 17, 2016). "Seoul Searching". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  18. ^ Merry, Stephanie (July 7, 2016). "'Seoul Searching': A hint of John Hughes in South Korea". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  19. ^ Tau, Timothy (June 20, 2015). "LAFF Review: Hilarious And Heartfelt 'Seoul Searching' Is A Throwback To '80s Coming Of Age Films". IndieWire. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  20. ^ Chang, Justin (January 23, 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'Seoul Searching'". Variety. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  21. ^ Terry, Josh (February 13, 2015). "Disappointing 'Seoul Searching' isn't what audiences are looking for". Deseret News. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  22. ^ Lowe, Justin (January 23, 2015). "'Seoul Searching': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
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