South Korean Films Overlooked for 2025 Cannes List: A Look from The Journey to Gyeongju to Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

On April 11, 2025, Times Now News reported that BLACKPINK’s Jisoo and Lee Min-ho, star of the highly anticipated film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, have been notably overlooked at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.

The festival, set to take place from May 13 to 24, 2025, revealed its official lineup on April 10. This year’s selection showcased a rich tapestry of international cinematic works; however, it glaringly lacked South Korean entries among the nominees.

Films That Missed the Mark

A few significant titles that faced exclusion from the festival include:

  • The Ugly directed by Yeon Sang-Ho
  • The Journey to Gyeongju directed by Kim Mi-Jo
  • Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint directed by Kim Byung-Woo

Led by notable figures like Lee Min-Ho and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint also features an impressive cast, including NANA, Ahn Hyo-seop, Chae Soo-bin, and Shin Seung-ho.

This year’s Cannes attracted attention globally, particularly due to its complete omission of any South Korean films across all categories, which include Un Certain Regard, Competition, Out of Competition, Midnight Screenings, and Cannes Premiere.

Three Consecutive Years of Snubs

Historically, South Korean cinema has earned a plethora of accolades at Cannes. Noteworthy successes include Park Chan-wook’s Best Director win for Decision to Leave in 2022 and Song Kang-ho’s Best Actor recognition for Broker, both highlight the artistic significance and global appeal of Korean films.

In stark contrast, no South Korean films contended for the coveted Palme d’Or this year. However, two entries did secure spots in the non-competitive sections, which includes:

  • I, the Executioner, a crime action film by Ryoo Seung-wan, featured in the Midnight Screenings.
  • Walking in the Movies, a documentary by Kim Lyang, was scheduled for the Cannes Classics slot and delves into the life of Kim Dong-ho, the inaugural director of the Busan International Film Festival.

It is essential to note that the 78th Cannes Film Festival marks a disheartening trend, with South Korean films missing nomination chances in major categories for the third consecutive year.

Exploring Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint: A Journey from Web Novel to Film

Originally serialized from January 2018 to February 2020 on the Munpia platform, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (ORV) follows the story of Kim Dokja, an ordinary individual who discovers he is the sole reader of a web novel titled Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World. As reality converges with the plot of the novel, Dokja’s ability to recall its details becomes crucial for survival in this transformed landscape.

The novel resonated strongly with audiences, resulting in various volumes and translations across multiple languages. Its success paved the way for a webtoon adaptation, illustrated by Sleepy-C, which has reached vast audiences in South Korea via Naver Webtoon and internationally through Naver and LINE Webtoons.

The action now extends to a live-action film adaptation, set for release in July 2025. Directed by Kim Byung-woo, and produced by Realize Pictures, the film has generated significant buzz, supported by extensive marketing among fans.

Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint boasts a stellar cast, featuring Ahn Hyo-seop as Kim Dokja, alongside Lee Min-ho as Yoo Joong-hyuk, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, NANA, Park Ho-san, Choi Young-joon, and Jisoo. Despite the excitement, fans have voiced concerns regarding potential deviations from the source material, particularly related to character representation and historical accuracy.

Producer Won Dong-yeon addressed these concerns, underscoring the necessity of certain changes for the cinematic format while assuring the preservation of the original’s essence. He confirmed that the original author was involved throughout the adaptation process, ensuring that fans’ expectations were respected.

“Before making the movie, we showed the entire script to the original author in advance and explained all the adaptations. The author fully understood and accepted them. […] We hope for the strong support of the original fans. This is the version with Yoo Joonghyuk holding a sword. When adapting an original work into a film, cinematic modifications are always necessary.”

The film, initially dubbed Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, was ultimately rebranded to Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. With filming wrapping up in May 2024, promotional materials have begun circulating, further ramping up excitement as the adaptation aims to faithfully represent the intricate narrative and vibrant characters, bringing the intricate and apocalyptic world of ORV to the screen.

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