{ "id": "ep9shs9ehb", "slug": "count-2023-film", "title": "Count (카운트) (2023 film)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical", "label": "Drama and biographical films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2023-and-2024", "label": "Drama films 2023 and 2024", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2023-and-2024" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2023-and-2024.alpha-a-to-g", "label": "Titles A to G", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2023-and-2024.alpha-a-to-g" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical", "label": "Asia (other) · 2021 and later: Drama and biographical films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical", "path": [ { "id": "geo.asia", "label": "Asia (other)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021", "label": "Asia (other) · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical", "label": "Drama and biographical films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Count (카운트, also Countdown) is a 2023 South Korean boxing comedy-drama directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, starring Jin Sun-kyu as Olympic gold medalist Park Si-heon, based on the 1988 Seoul Olympics Roy Jones Jr. controversy; released February 22, 2023 by CJ ENM.", "snippet": "Count (카운트, also Countdown) is a 2023 South Korean boxing comedy-drama directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, starring Jin Sun-kyu as Olympic gold medalist Park Si-heon, based on the 1988 Seoul Olympics Roy Jones Jr. controversy; released February 22, 2023 by CJ ENM.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2023-and-2024.alpha-a-to-g", "markdown": "# Count (카운트) (2023 film)\n\n**Count** (카운트), also released internationally as **Countdown**, is a 2023 South Korean comedy-drama sports film directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, loosely based on the real-life boxer Park Si-hun, who won a controversial middleweight gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706) • [2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe). It was released in South Korea on February 22, 2023, distributed by CJ ENM[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original title | 카운트 (Ka-un-teu); also known internationally as Countdown[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706) • [3](https://tv.apple.com/kr/movie/count/umc.cmc.4jn66znjpk0izeq5rj9skv75i?l=en) |\n| Director / writers | Kwon Hyeok-jae; screenplay by Kim Jin-A and Hong Chang-Pyo[4](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Count_(Korean_Movie)) |\n| Release | February 22, 2023, South Korea; distributor CJ ENM[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706) |\n| Running time / rating | 108 minutes; rated 12 in South Korea[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706) |\n| Basis | Real-life story of Park Si-hun, 1988 Seoul Olympic boxing gold medalist[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe) |\n| Box office | 398,692 admissions on 946 screens; total gross $2,766,891[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706) |\n| Production | filmK; co-produced by 26 Company and Film Tong[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706) • [5](https://www.two-rabbit.co.kr/mailing/bodo_press/press.html) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise\n\nThe film is set in 1998 in the southeastern port city of Jinhae. Park Si-heon (Jin Sun-kyu), a former Olympic boxing gold medalist, now works as a high school physical education teacher whose stubborn, eccentric discipline style has earned him the nickname \"crazy dog\"[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe). At home he deals with a son who wants to see his gold medal and a wife pressing him to move to a new house using his pension payments from the medal[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe).\n\nThe turning point comes when Park stumbles across a high school boxing contest in which the talented Yoon-woo (Sung Yoo-bin) loses his bout because of match fixing. Yoon-woo quits boxing and transfers to Park's school, and Park creates a school boxing team to persuade him to return to the ring, training him and other underdog students in his own way[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe) • [4](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Count_(Korean_Movie)). His wife Il-sun (Oh Na-ra) and the school principal (Ko Chang-seok) oppose the decision[4](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Count_(Korean_Movie)). Other students join the club, including Hwan-joo (Jang Dong-joo), who takes up boxing to avoid becoming a delinquent, and the timid Bok-an (Kim Min-ho)[5](https://www.two-rabbit.co.kr/mailing/bodo_press/press.html).\n\n## The real story behind the film\n\nThe film takes its premise from Park Si-hun's real career. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Park won the light middleweight boxing final against American fighter [Roy Jones Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/roy-jones-jr) by a 3-2 decision, a result that placed him at the center of widespread controversy and accusations of corruption[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe) • [6](https://letterboxd.com/film/countdown-2023/). The real Park quietly retired from boxing and worked as a physical education teacher in his rural hometown for 13 years before returning to competitive boxing as a coach[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe).\n\nThe film does not dramatize the Olympic bout itself; instead it offers a personal perspective on Park's life after retirement, looking back on the controversial win through a fictionalized underdog story with rebellious high school students[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe).\n\n## Cast and production\n\nJin Sun-kyu, known for the hit action comedies *The Outlaws* (2017) and *Extreme Job* (2019), plays Park Si-heon. The role was his first lead in a film in 19 years of acting, a milestone that moved him to tears at a press conference after a screening[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe). The part overlaps with his own background: he is a Jinhae native, had dreamed of becoming a physical education teacher, and boxes as a hobby[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe).\n\nThe supporting cast includes Sung Yoo-bin as Yoon-woo, Oh Na-ra as Il-sun, Ko Chang-seok as the principal, Jang Dong-joo as Hwan-joo, Ko Kyu-pil, and Kim Min-ho[3](https://tv.apple.com/kr/movie/count/umc.cmc.4jn66znjpk0izeq5rj9skv75i?l=en) • [5](https://www.two-rabbit.co.kr/mailing/bodo_press/press.html). Filming ran from February 25 to June 24, 2020[4](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Count_(Korean_Movie)), and locations included the Jinhae area and Gunsan, where the former Gunsan Elementary School served as a shooting site[7](https://www.gunsan.go.kr/_cms/board/eFileDownload/377/1069478/9e05d8c111fc9c31e6db0325b1c56a9b).\n\n## Reception and box office\n\nCount opened on 946 screens and recorded 398,692 total admissions for a gross of $2,766,891[1](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706). It was one of five Korean films CJ ENM invested in and distributed in 2023, a slate in which none crossed its break-even point; trade reporting cited Count's total at about 390,000 admissions[8](https://www.newstomato.com/readnews.aspx/ReadNews.aspx?no=1217926).\n\nCritics noted that the film assembles the standard elements of the sports genre, an underdog story, thrilling boxing matches, and characters who grow through crisis, while finding the familiar structure and characters somewhat flat and predictable[9](https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0117_202302141108182375). The Korea Times described it as a comedy that offers slapstick laughs while also exposing the corrupt side of the boxing world, following the familiar formula of an inspirational coach training an underdog despite setbacks, and doubling as a family story in which the coach tries to prove himself to his family[2](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe).\n\n## References\n\n1. [Count (2023), Korean Film Council database](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20193706)\n2. ['Count' tells scandal-ridden boxer's redemption story with comedy vibe, The Korea Times (February 14, 2023)](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/films/20230214/count-tells-scandal-ridden-boxers-redemption-story-with-comedy-vibe)\n3. [Count, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/kr/movie/count/umc.cmc.4jn66znjpk0izeq5rj9skv75i?l=en)\n4. [Count (Korean Movie), AsianWiki](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=Count_(Korean_Movie))\n5. [<카운트> press kit, First Look](https://www.two-rabbit.co.kr/mailing/bodo_press/press.html)\n6. [Countdown (2023), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/countdown-2023/)\n7. [Gunsan city pledge implementation report (filming location support)](https://www.gunsan.go.kr/_cms/board/eFileDownload/377/1069478/9e05d8c111fc9c31e6db0325b1c56a9b)\n8. [CJ ENM's 2023 Korean film slate underperforms, News Tomato (January 31, 2024)](https://www.newstomato.com/readnews.aspx/ReadNews.aspx?no=1217926)\n9. [Y Review: 'Count' has all the sports film elements but lacks a knockout, YTN (February 14, 2023)](https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0117_202302141108182375)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 2023 and 2024 › Titles A to G*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/count-2023-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/count-2023-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Count (카운트) (2023 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/count-2023-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Count (카운트) (2023 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/count-2023-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/count-2023-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/count-2023-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Count (카운트) (2023 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/count-2023-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Count is a 2023 South Korean boxing comedy-drama directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, starring Jin Sun-kyu as Olympic gold medalist Park Si-heon, based on the 1988 Seoul Olympics Roy Jones Jr. controversy; released February 22, 2023 by CJ ENM." }