Park Joon Ho delivers a fascinating, deeply poignant story of one man’s search for fulfillment. An escapee from North Korea, Cheol-jun (Cho Youhyun) is having trouble adjusting to life in Seoul. Shy, socially awkward, and deep in the closet, Cheol-jun is advised to join a social group for young gay men, but venturing into the subculture of open homosexuality, he finds its customs and codes hard to understand. Hiding his true self from his fellow “defectors”, Cheol-jun tries his best to gain admission to university, while holding onto the hope of reuniting with his parents…
As the confused, unformed protagonist, Cho gives a superb performance. From his restrained body language to his halting speech and perplexed, almost blank facial expressions, he radiates innocence and honesty — qualities that work against him in a social scene defined by brashness and irony. Park’s film walks a fine line: the writer-director is humane enough to avoid cynicism, and honest enough to reject false uplift.
Oct 6 & 7: Q&A
Cooperating Organizations
![]()
Media Partner
Community Partner
Youhyun Cho, Hyeonmok Kim
South Korea
2025
In Korean with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Credits & Director
Producer
Lee Hyein
Screenwriter
Park Joon Ho
Cinematography
Han Sangkil
Editor
Park Joon Ho
Production Design
Choi Junsik
Original Music
Lee Soobin
Park Joon Ho
Born in Yeosu, South Korea, Park Joon Ho studied film directing at the Korean National University of Arts, where he made several short films, including EUNSEO (2019) and Almond: My Voice is Breaking (2017). Before directing his debut feature 3670 (2025), he worked as a screenwriter.
Filmography: Almond: My Voice is Breaking (2017)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
The Adventures of Prince Achmed Live Scored by Gordon Grdina & Hamin Honari
A handsome prince with a flying horse befriends a witch, meets Aladdin, and battles demons to win a princess' heart. Celebrate the centenary of the first animated feature film, with a new, improvised score.
Emergence: Women in the Storm
Stories of resistance and recovery, courage, creativity and community in the face of the climate emergency gleaned from women first responders and those impacted in Western Canada, particularly Lytton and the Fraser Valley.
Muzizi
From the director of the award-winning film Union Street, Jamila Pomeroy, Muzizi embarks on a great culinary adventure through Vancouver’s African diasporic culinary scene. Muzizi explores powerful stories of immigration, resilience, and joy.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
In Eliza Hittman's powerful slice of social realism, 17-year-old Autum is unable to get an abortion without parental consent in Pennsylvania. She persuades her bff Skylar (Talia Ryder) to come with her to New York where she hopes it will be easier...


