Global IP content studio IOP Content Group has achieved a remarkable feat by having its film 'The Ghost Game' officially invited to the Korean Fantastic (Feature) section of the 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

'The Ghost Game' is a high-teen mystery horror thriller featuring rising stars such as Kim Ye-rim (Red Velvet's Yeri) and Lee Chan-hyung, and it contains a mysterious story that unfolds as they begin a forbidden séance that answers all questions.

This year's Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival announced during an official press conference on June 10 that it will screen a total of 217 films from 41 countries, of which 8 films have been selected for the Korean Fantastic feature competition section.

In particular, programmer Lee Jeong-yeop noted regarding 'The Ghost Game' that it 'faithfully follows the horror formula while delivering an immersive fear experience akin to being at a séance, thanks to the actors’ performances,' expressing high expectations for the film.

Actress Kim Ye-rim (Red Velvet's Yeri), who plays the role of Ja-young, takes on the responsibility of portraying a warm and responsible class president in 'The Ghost Game'. Kim Ye-rim, who gained acclaim for her strong charisma as Baek Je-na in the previous work 'Cheongdam International High School', is becoming the industry’s spotlighted blue chip, showcasing stable performances in various works alongside her singing career.

Actor Lee Chan-hyung, who gained attention for playing a role that captivates schoolgirls in the movie 'Victory', has been cast as Dong-jun. He is expected to showcase a new side in his unrequited love for Ja-young, demonstrating both robust masculinity and delicate emotions as he faces genre dilemmas.

Seo Dong-hyun, who is set to take on the role of Gi-ho, showcased his high acting ability in the 2023 Netflix Korea drama series 'It Became Night', which ranked first, revealing his 15 years of acting experience. Actress Oh So-hyun, who plays the role of Yeo-eun, demonstrated stable acting through dramas such as 'Understanding of Love', 'In our Neighborhood', '18 Again', and 'The World of the Married', successfully fulfilling her role as a scene-stealer.

Here, newcomer actress Kim Eun-bi is expected to elevate the genre film’s atmosphere by appearing as the prickly model student Mi-yeon. Actress Park Seo-yeon, who has built her profile through multiple works, will show diverse aspects through her role as Ja-young’s younger sister Seo-woo.

With the extreme horror genre of séance and the popular theme of high-teen death games supported by a solid script and the chemistry of various characters, the film 'The Ghost Game' is set to meet audiences with its theatrical release in August this year.

IOP Content Group, which has shown strengths specialized in high-teen thriller genre works through the immensely popular drama 'It Became Night', which ranked first in December 2023 on Netflix Korea’s TV series, Japan's Amazon Prime Video, and on major OTT platforms such as VIU (view) in Indonesia, MONOMX in Thailand, and K+ in Vietnam, plans to captivate domestic and international audiences once again with this film 'The Ghost Game'.

CEO Oh Eun-young stated, 'There is a stable market for high-teen mystery horror thriller genres both domestically and internationally. We plan to produce continuous format-type seasonal films through new concepts and well-made productions,' and expressed ambitions to push for the theatrical releases of another completed horror thriller film 'Focus' and 'Underground' within the year, while preparing to produce various genre works with unique themes to become a hub for K-genre productions.

IOP Content Group led the success of the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Love Scout', the movie 'The Noisy Mansion' in February, and participated in the co-production of the Netflix original drama 'Dear Hongrang'. Additionally, they are set to air the tvN drama 'Gyeonwoo and the Fairy' at the end of June, creating box office successes that span both film and drama.

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