Park So-dam Reunites With 'Parasite' Director Bong Joon-ho for 'The Journey to Gyeongju' Screening

Actor Park So-dam is back on the big screen, and she is bringing a familiar collaborator along for the ride. Her new film "The Journey to Gyeongju," directed by Kim Mi-jo, opened in South Korean theaters on August 26, and she is set to reunite with "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho for a guest visit screening the same day.

"The Journey to Gyeongju" follows a family that lost their youngest daughter on a school trip eight years earlier. As the man responsible for her death is released from prison, the family travels to Gyeongju. Park So-dam plays Yeong-ju, the calm and level-headed second daughter.

The role marks a full return to promotional work for the actor, who has been packing her schedule since the film wrapped. "I was so happy I woke up early. I wanted to throw myself into it," she said recently, describing her mood heading into the press run.

In the lead-up to the release, Park So-dam appeared across a wide slate of television, radio, and digital shows. Her stops included MBC's variety program "Playlist 109," the YouTube channels "B tv Lee Dong-jin's Piarchia" and "channel Jo jung seok," KBS2's "The Seasons: Sung Si-kyung's Eardrum Boyfriend," SBS Power FM's "Park Ha-sun's Cinetown," and KBS Cool FM's "Paul Kim's Gayo Plaza." She also sat for round-table press interviews, joined a group fashion shoot for Elle magazine, and attended a local government screening in Gangneung.

On August 26, she is scheduled to appear on SBS Power FM's "Cultwo Show" before heading to a guest visit event with Bong Joon-ho, her "Parasite" director. According to reports, Park So-dam reached out to Bong directly to set up the conversation.

The promotional run does not stop at opening day. Park So-dam is set to greet audiences in person at weekend stage greetings on August 29 and 30.

Her push around "The Journey to Gyeongju" reflects how much weight Korean actors still place on the theatrical release cycle, even as streaming continues to reshape the industry. For a performer whose profile grew alongside one of the country's biggest global films, a small, grief-driven family drama is exactly the kind of project that benefits from a hands-on promotional push and a familiar face in the director's chair.