Actors Kim Hyun Joo and Bae Hyun Sung are uniting on screen for director Yeon Sang Ho’s next feature film, Lost Paradise. Distributor CJ ENM confirmed on the 27th that both stars have officially joined the cast, with production set to begin next month.
A Mother’s Nightmare Revisited
Lost Paradise is a mystery thriller centered on a mother whose life completely shifts when her long-lost child suddenly returns home. The film begins with the aftermath of a chilling case: a camping school bus disappearance that occurred nine years earlier, during which the protagonist lost her young son.
Kim Hyun-joo takes on the role of Ryu So-young, a mother consumed by grief and unresolved trauma. For nearly a decade, she has retraced every step of the day her son vanished, clinging to hope while battling the haunting mystery surrounding the incident. Her world is shaken when a grown version of her son unexpectedly reappears — forcing her into the heart of an unsettling truth.
Kim Hyun-joo & Yeon Sang-ho: Their Third Collaboration
This marks the third collaboration between Kim Hyun-joo and director Yeon Sang-ho, following their successful work together on Netflix’s Hellbound and the series Goodbye Earth. Their established trust and creative chemistry are expected to add depth and intensity to the film’s emotional core.
Bae Hyun-sung as the Returned Son
Bae Hyun-sung transforms into Ryu Sun-woo, the boy who mysteriously disappeared in childhood after an unexplained accident. Nine years later, he returns older, changed, and wrapped in unanswered questions. His reappearance triggers a psychological whirlwind for both mother and son, raising suspense about what truly happened during those missing years.
A production insider noted, “Director Yeon Sang-ho is known for pushing boundaries with every project. Lost Paradise will once again showcase his signature storytelling while offering audiences a fresh, gripping cinematic experience.”
Production Timeline
The film has completed casting and pre-production and is now preparing to begin filming next month. With a powerhouse creative team and a compelling premise, Lost Paradise is already building strong anticipation within the industry.