By Kim Hyelin
Photo and video = Lotte Entertainment

"Concrete Utopia," a disaster film released on Aug. 9 and directed by Um Tae-hwa, will represent Korea at next year's Academy Awards of the U.S.

The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) on Aug. 17 on its official website said the movie was selected to compete in the International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards in March.

Each country can submit one film for the category. Director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" was Korea's candidate last year.

"An apartment is an architectural structure and the most Korean thing that symbolizes social class and wealth," KOFIC said in explaining its selection. "The struggle for survival by residents of Hwanggung Apartments, the only building left intact, effectively shows the various desires of the group of characters, and an original story was born led by the protagonist played by actor Lee Byeong-hun."

"Instead of heroes, the film features everyday people who struggle to survive, deals with the topic of class found in the movie 'Parasite,' which moved the Academy, and has an ending just as valuable," it added. "We tried to select a movie that is Korean but oriented toward global standards, balances artistry and popularity well, and unhesitatingly appeals to the Academy Awards, which are considered somewhat conservative."

"Concrete Utopia" shows the plight of survivors at the only apartment building in Seoul left standing in the wake of a massive earthquake. Lee plays the protagonist, who had just moved in before the disaster struck, and is joined by fellow cast members Park Seo-joon, Park Bo-young, Kim Sun-young, Park Ji-hu and Kim Do-yoon.

Presold in 152 countries, the movie has received invitations to cinematic events abroad such as the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, 56th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (Spain) and 43rd Hawaii International Film Festival. 

This is a promotional poster for the film "Concrete Utopia."