Four girls choose rescuing small animals over the CSAT in new film

In South Korean society, where fierce competition for college entrance exams is a daily reality, there are girls who choose to rescue wild small animals instead of focusing on the CSAT or university admissions. Director Yoo Jae-wook's new film, 'The Gorals', is set to hit theaters on July 29. The film follows four high school girls living as outcasts who create their own sanctuary in the wild, and their subsequent adventure to rescue small animals in the school's enclosure that are facing culling.

Director Yoo Jae-wook revealed the inspiration behind the project during a recent press conference held at CGV Yongsan IPARK Mall in Seoul. "I felt there were no adventure films in Korea where girls are the protagonists, so I had a desire to claim that space," Yoo said. He added, "Beyond just a story of young women adapting to the wild, I wanted to explore the friendship between high school girls."

Beings capable of going anywhere, like Gorals

The title 'The Gorals' refers to the name of the girls' group and symbolizes the girls becoming beings capable of going anywhere, much like the Gorals that leap across cliffs. Director Yoo recalled being impressed by the sight of Gorals running along cliffs during a past visit to a Goral protection center. He explained, "Even if the girls seem lost, it was beautiful that they are beings capable of going anywhere, just like the Gorals."

Unlike the trend of modern society where excessive education is the norm, the students in the film show little interest in the CSAT or college admissions. Instead, through their journey to save animals, they each encounter a wider world in their own way. Director Yoo expressed his hope that audiences will find courage and comfort in watching the four friends blaze their own trail.

Survivalist Seo-hee and the ensemble of four unique girls

The film unfolds around characters reflecting survivalist traits. The aspect of a survivalist—someone who learns to use equipment to sustain their own life in extreme situations like disasters—is projected onto the character Seo-hee. Seo-hee has an eccentric personality, carrying a knife and attempting to test it on actual animals. Actress Lee Seung-yeon, who plays Seo-hee, received the Best Actress award at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival for this work.

Actress Choi Su-in takes on the role of Su-min, a student under special management who is prickly yet honest. Choi previously played the lonely girl Seon in her debut work 'The World of Us' and portrayed Yumi, an out-of-school teenage single mother, in 'My Best, Your Least'. In this film, Choi portrays Su-min, who continues her school life without a set career path until she hears the news of the culling of the enclosure's small animals and joins the rescue mission.

The other characters are equally distinct. Actress Park Hye-jin, who plays In-hye, a girl passionate about caring for animals, said, "'The Gorals' is a refreshing film. I hope audiences enjoy the four lovely girls together." The film features the chemistry between the innocent and lively Jeong-ae and the prickly yet reliable Su-min. Actor Lee Hyo-je, who plays Chan-young, In-hye's boyfriend and the student council president, is a winner of the Best New Actor award at the 2022 Buil Film Awards. Director Yoo remarked, "Rather than giving specific acting directions, I trusted the actors. I am proud that their chemistry turned out so well."

Film festival awards and screening information for Cinema Space Juan in Incheon

The film 'The Gorals' has proven its artistic quality by winning the Best Actress award in the Vision to the World section at the 30th Busan International Film Festival and the Independent Star award at the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival. Lee Seung-yeon, who plays Seo-hee, said, "I felt the filming site was a sanctuary. I hope audiences feel the theater is a sanctuary as well."

Meanwhile, Cinema Space Juan, an art house cinema located in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, will showcase works including 'The Gorals' starting on the 30th. Screening alongside it is 'How Should We Have Done It?', a family documentary that records for over 20 years the lives of a mother and father coping with a daughter showing symptoms of schizophrenia. This work ranked number one at the mini-theater box office for three consecutive weeks upon its release in Japan and was officially invited to the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival and the Taiwan International Documentary Film Festival.

Admission fees for Cinema Space Juan are 7,000 KRW on weekdays and 9,000 KRW on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Detailed screening times and reservation information can be found on the Cinema Space Juan website.