Lee Kwang-soo’s new survival rom-com, 'Love Barista,' has set a Nov. 19 theatrical release, dropping its main poster and trailer to mark the date.
The film follows Kang Jun-woo (Lee), a celebrity dubbed the “Asia’s Prince,” who finds himself stranded in a foreign country with no manager, no phone, no cash and no passport―kicking off a fish-out-of-water scramble that blends laugh-out-loud chaos with a dash of romance.
The newly unveiled poster shows Lee standing solo inside a gleaming golden crown, chomping on unfamiliar street food―teasing a royal out of his element. With multiple versions of Lee’s character popping up across the key art, the tagline hints at a globe-trotting misadventure where anything can and will go wrong.
The trailer amps up the energy, charting Jun-woo’s spur-of-the-moment “vacation” that leaves him literally on the street in a far-off land. From makeshift meals to madcap close calls, the clips promise unpredictable gags and high-spirited set pieces as he hustles to eat, drink and, most importantly, make it through the night.
Rounding out the ride are scene-stealing characters orbiting Jun-woo: his bickering best friend and manager Jung Han-cheol (Um Moon-suk), a rising star rival Cha Do-hoon (Kang Ha-neul) threatening his “throne,” and revered auteur Lee Won-seok (Yoo Jae-myung), all injecting extra spark―and trouble―into the journey.
Jun-woo’s path also collides with Tao (Hwang Ha) through an unexpected twist of fate, while a dangerous fixer known as Boss Han (Jo Woo-jin) sends the adventure into full-on mayhem, ratcheting up the stakes and tension.
Lee Kwang-soo, who’s delivered crowd-pleasing comedy in 'The Pirates : The Last Royal Treasure', 'Sinkhole' and 'The Accidental Detective 2: In Action'―and showcased broader range in 'Inseparable Bros', the award-winning transformation in 'Karma', and the forthcoming 'The Manipulated'―once again leans into a role tailor-made for his everyman charm.
The film is directed by Kim Sung-hoon of 'Confidential Assignment', which drew 7.81 million admissions in Korea. Lee and Kim reunite here for the first time in 12 years since 'My Little Hero'.
'Love Barista' opens Nov. 19.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
