Virus () is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Kang Yi-kwan. It stars Bae Doona, Kim Yoon-seok, Chang Kiha, and Son Suk-ku. The film was released on May 7, 2025.
Plot Taek-seon, a translator drained of energy, motivation, and any trace of romance, is going through a lifeless routine. After a disastrous blind date with Su-pil, a socially awkward researcher who proposes marriage on their first meeting, Taek-seon's world suddenly turns rosy the very next day. She finds herself smiling for no reason, drawn to flashy dresses she would have never looked at before, and even the daily texts from her old classmate Yeon-woo feel endearing.
But when she learns she has been infected by a fatal virus and meets Lee Gyun, the only researcher capable of developing a cure, Taek-seon realizes all these changes are symptoms of the virus.
Cast Bae Doona as Ok Taek-seon Kim Yoon-seok as Lee Gyun Chang Kiha as Kim Yeon-woo Moon Sung-keun as Professor Sung Kim Hee-won as Director Oh Hyun-kyung as Choi Young-hee Min Jin-woong as Jeong Hoon Yeom Hye-ran as Yeom Mak-soon Yu Soon-Woong as Na Jeong-bae Lee Kyung-jin as Taek-seon's mother Kwak Min-ho as Kim Cha Jung-won as Policeman Son Suk-ku as Nam Su-pil Choi Hyeong-in as Lee Gyun-mo Kim Ye-won as Ok Ji-seon Park Hee-von as Lee Joo
Production Development The production of Virus began when director Kang Yi-kwan, seeking a more playful story after his previous work, Juvenile Offender, was recommended author Lee Ji-min's novel. Though the exact title suggested was unavailable, Kang discovered Lee's Extreme Youth at the library and was immediately taken by its imaginative concept. The film's early working title was Love Is a Virus. Although Kang initially entertained outlandish variations of the virus's effects, he ultimately chose to ground the story in a more intimate, character-driven journey.
Filming Production was completed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A reference to COVID was added via post-synced dialogue in a blind date scene, otherwise the film remained unchanged. Kang acknowledged that the pandemic might lead audiences to interpret the film differently, given the global experience of living through a real virus outbreak.
Release
Virus premiered in South Korean theaters on May 7, 2025, distributed by By4M Studio.
Reception
The film was released on May 7, 2025, on 555 screens. It opened at fifth place at the South Korean box office with 11,453 admissions.
, the film has grossed from 71,330 admissions.
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