Having recently had the privilege of watching the Korean film 12.12: The Day, and being ecstatic at just how damned good it is, I cannot be happier that the political drama has officially been chosen as South Korea’s official Oscar entry for Best International Film.
12.12: The Day was not only the highest-grossing film at the South Korean box office in 2023, and well into 2024, actor Park Hoon was given the Best Supporting Actor award at the 17th Asian Film Awards for superbly portraying Moon Il Pyeong [Chief of Staff to Jeon Doo Gwang] in the film.
In addition, Hwang Jung Min won Best Actor award at South Korea’s Baeksang Arts Awards, and 12.12: The Day also won the Grand Prize for Film and the award for Best Film during the same awards ceremony.
Director Kim Sung Su lost out to Exhuma director Jang Jae Hyun for Best Director (erroneously as, while Exhuma was definitely superb, 12.12: The Day was still an even better film)
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) also announced their decision to choose 12.12: The Day as South Korea’s official Oscar entry was unanimous.
Something that, anyone who has watched this phenomenal political thriller, would not be surprised about at all.
12.12: The Day goes up against 17 other international films
12.12: The Day follows the real-life events of South Korea’s December 1979 military coup and, if you are looking for a sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat movie featuring performances by some of Korea’s most talented actors, this is most definitely the one to watch.
The Korean film goes up against films like Austria’s The Devil’s Bath, Cambodia’s Meeting with Pol Pot, Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and Japan’s Cloud among 13 others who have also been submitted for Best International Film Oscar approval.
12.12: The Day stars the aforementioned Hwang Jung Min, alongside Jung Woo Sung, Lee Sung Min, Park Hae Joon and Kim Sung Kyun, and is easily one of the best films out of South Korea in a long time.
The film is produced by Hive Media Corp and distributed by Plus M Entertainment.
We will keep you updated here at Leo Sigh as to how 12.12: The Day fares at the Oscars, which will be held on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025.
You can currently watch 12.12 The Day on Viki.