The owner of the world entering Toronto competition for the first time...Director Yoon Ga-eun's "The Meaning of Love" (Roundup)

By Soyoon, Ahn

Oct 15, 2025

The owner of the world entering Toronto competition for the first time...Director Yoon Ga-eun's 'The Meaning of Love' (Roundup)
Photo provided = Barunson ENA



The movie 「The Master of the World」, which first attracted attention abroad, finally meets with Korean audiences.

The press and distribution preview of the movie 'Master of the World' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Actors Seo Soo-bin, Jang Hye-jin and Yoon Ga-eun attended the scene.

Released on the 22nd, 『The Master of the World』 is a story between an insider and an attention seeker, an unknown 18-year-old high school girl owner begins to receive mysterious notes after rejecting a signature campaign involving all students alone. Director Yoon Ga-eun of 『Us』 and 『Our House" grabbed a megaphone.




Even before its release, "The Master of the World" received a lot of attention from all over the world. In addition to being officially invited to the platform section, which is the first and only competition section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, the 9th Pingyao International Film Festival's international rookie competition section, the Krouching Tigers section, the 69th BFI London Film Festival competition section, and the 41st Warsaw International Film Festival international competition section.

Yoon has long held in mind the Korean title of the film 'The World of Love', which is the English title of the film 'The World of Love', and he felt it fit for the story. But when I tried to change the title to English, it couldn't be translated well into the name of the actual protagonist, the person who owns something that means 'master' in Korean. After a long thought, I finished making the movie and made a funeral. The owner of the movie is a friend who has been hurt by people, but he is a child who bravely recovers well with the help of his own surroundings. He is still a friend who craves love, and experiences not only romantic love but also colorful love. When I made the English title, I wanted the owner to experience the world of love endlessly", he explained.

The owner of the world entering Toronto competition for the first time...Director Yoon Ga-eun's 'The Meaning of Love' (Roundup)
Photo provided = Barunson ENA
Seo made his screen debut through The Master of the World. Playing the owner of an 18-year-old high school girl who doesn't know where she's going to stand in the play, she said, "I was a huge fan even before I met the director. Even before the first meeting with the director, I was happy to hear that the new work was coming out. The meeting was held three times like a blind date. In the first meeting, I had a casual conversation with the director for 20 minutes. I honestly couldn't believe it because you said you'd call me next time, but you contacted me right away on the day, so I auditioned for the second time the next day (laughs). In the second audition, about a dozen great actors of their age were called out, and they gathered together in the practice room and improvised like a workshop training. At that time, I was trying to look good, and the director said 'No matter what you're trying to show, you're not trying to see it. After hearing that, I emptied my mind and worked comfortably. Then, we met for the third time, and we talked for about two hours at the Indian curry restaurant in Hyehwa. I told you what kind of life I've lived, and we moved around and talked for about two hours at a cafe. "I got the scenario right at the next meeting, and I still can't believe it and I still feel like I'm in a dream."I expressed my emotion.




The owner of the world entering Toronto competition for the first time...Director Yoon Ga-eun's 'The Meaning of Love' (Roundup)
Photo provided = Barunson ENA
Jang Hye-jin, who played Taeseon, the owner's mother, had a relationship with the director "We" and were in contact with each other frequently. The director is my most contacted acquaintance and colleague. We tell each other everything" he said.

Then, about how he joined the film "In fact, I knew director Yoon was writing a new script, but I didn't ask what kind of movie it was. But the director suddenly sent me the script and said 'You don't have to do it if you like it, but Taesun in my heart is older sister ' (laughs). I also told the director that it would be disappointing if there was an actor who received this scenario before me. I read the script, and it was so much fun. As I read the scenario, I became curious about what kind of kid the owner was. I also felt that I was fortunate to have formed a relationship with the director for a long time," he said.

Regarding the part that focused on acting, he also said, `I wanted to look like Tae-sun as much as possible, and I wanted to put down a lot of my usual self and naturally pretend it wasn't acting.'




Director Yoon responded, "'I was proposing politely, but I didn't know that I was pressured by my senior.'" From the time I wrote the script, my senior had already been cast in my head. If I say this, I think it would be burdensome, and 'You can refuse because you are a world-class actor, but now that I see it, I think I did well to put pressure on you unintentionally.'

The owner of the world entering Toronto competition for the first time...Director Yoon Ga-eun's 'The Meaning of Love' (Roundup)
Photo provided = Barunson ENA
Finally, director Yoon said, `The movie was released on three continents, and Korean audiences were the scariest and most nervous. They are the smartest and have the most cinematic experience, so I'm scared to be here. I was looking forward to it, but thank you for sharing good questions and stories with me. I want to share things that I couldn't say later" revealed the wind.





antahn22@sportschosun.com