# Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman
**Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman** (천박사 퇴마 연구소: 설경의 비밀) is a 2023 South Korean fantasy action film directed by Kim Seong-sik about a fake exorcist who does not believe in ghosts until he encounters a genuine case of possession. It stars Gang Dong-won, Huh Joon-ho, Esom, and [Lee Dong-hwi](https://www.edgepedia.org/lee-dong-hwi), and it was released in South Korea on September 27, 2023, running 98 minutes.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410) • [2](https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LKFF23_BROCHURE_WEB.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Korean title | 천박사 퇴마 연구소: 설경의 비밀[2](https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LKFF23_BROCHURE_WEB.pdf) |
| Release | September 27, 2023 (South Korea); October 6, 2023 (United States, Well Go USA)[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_cheon_and_the_lost_talisman) |
| Source material | Webtoon *Possessed* by Huretsha and Kim Hong-tae[4](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315) |
| Director | Kim Seong-sik, in his directorial debut; former assistant director on *Parasite* (2019) and *Decision to Leave* (2022)[2](https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LKFF23_BROCHURE_WEB.pdf) |
| South Korean box office | 1,916,497 admissions; $13,477,949 gross on 1,511 screens[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410) |
| Reception | 70% Tomatometer from 10 critics; 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes; 5.9/10 on IMDb[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_cheon_and_the_lost_talisman) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29005755/ratings/) |
| Rating | Certified 12 in South Korea; unrated in the United States[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_cheon_and_the_lost_talisman) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Dr. Cheon (Gang Dong-won) is the grandson of a famed village shaman but does not believe in ghosts. He makes his living performing fake exorcisms on camera, running an online exorcism channel called "Heavenly Cheon TV" with his partner In-bae (Lee Dong-hwi).[6](https://wellgousa.com/films/dr-cheon-lost-talisman) • [2](https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LKFF23_BROCHURE_WEB.pdf) A client named Yoo-kyung (Esom), who can see spirits, offers a large fee to save her possessed younger sister, and Cheon accepts.[4](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315)
His usual staged tricks fail against the girl, who is possessed by a dark spirit called Beom-cheon (Huh Joon-ho). Cheon wields a broken sword inherited from his late grandfather, and it emerges that his grandfather, a well-known shaman, once tried to seal Beom-cheon inside a talisman but failed while trying to save Cheon's younger brother. Cheon then pursues the spirit to complete his grandfather's mission and trap it in the talisman.[4](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315) The talisman of the title, Seolgyeong, is described in promotional material as a mystical object intertwined with Cheon's own destiny.[7](https://open.tving.com/en/featured-contents/drcheon-and-the-lost-talisman/)
## Production and background
The film is based on the webcomic series *Bingui*, translated as *Possessed*, written by Huretsha and illustrated by Kim Hong-tae.[4](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315) It was produced by Filmmaker R&K with CJ ENM as distributor, and its producers include [Kang Hye-jung](https://www.edgepedia.org/kang-hye-jung) and actor-director Ryoo Seung-wan; Park Joong-seop is credited as screenwriter.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_cheon_and_the_lost_talisman)
**Directorial debut.** Kim Seong-sik built his career as an assistant director on Bong Joon-ho's *[Parasite](https://www.edgepedia.org/parasite-2019-film)* (2019) and [Park Chan-wook](https://www.edgepedia.org/park-chan-wook)'s *Decision to Leave* (2022) before directing this film.[2](https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LKFF23_BROCHURE_WEB.pdf) Yonhap's review notes that viewers of those two films may find scene-stealing cameos from their casts, and the film blends demonic possession and Korean shaman ritual exorcism with comedy and fantasy-game action rather than playing as straight horror.[4](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315)
The cast also includes Kim Jong-soo and Park So-i, with special appearances by Jisoo, Park Myung Hoon, Lee Jung-eun, Cho Yi-hyun, and Park Jung-min.[6](https://wellgousa.com/films/dr-cheon-lost-talisman)
## Release and box office
The film opened in South Korea on September 27, 2023, timed to the extended Chuseok holiday from September 28 to October 3.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410) • [4](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315) It drew 1,916,497 admissions and $13,477,949 in South Korea.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410) Box Office Mojo records a South Korean gross of $14,160,266 and a worldwide total of $14,574,445, of which the United States and Canada accounted for $84,362 after the October 6, 2023 limited release by Well Go USA Entertainment.[8](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt29005755/)
It served as the closing gala of the 18th London Korean Film Festival, screening on November 16, 2023 at BFI Southbank with a question-and-answer session with the director.[2](https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LKFF23_BROCHURE_WEB.pdf) It was also invited to the Paris Korean Film Festival (2023), the Florence Korea Film Fest (2024), and the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (2024).[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410)
## Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 70% Tomatometer from 10 reviews and a 76% audience score; IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_cheon_and_the_lost_talisman) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29005755/ratings/) Critics generally praised the performances and tone while finding the plotting conventional. Tom Spoors of Loud and Clear Reviews called it "a likeable and fun blend of genres that suffers from an overly safe second half."[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_cheon_and_the_lost_talisman) Yonhap's Kim Eun-jung judged the exorcism plot predictable but entertaining, singling out Gang's shift from smooth-talking swindler to genuine exorcist, Huh's villain, and the cave fight staged as a "Battle of Light and Dark."[4](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315) Jennie Kermode of Eye for Film described it as a supernatural thriller with a healthy supply of laughs, noting that enough of the shamanic mythology is explained for international viewers to follow the story.[9](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/dr-cheon-and-the-lost-talisman-2023-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) [Roger Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/roger-moore)'s review was more negative, calling the plot threads untidy and criticizing the CGI-heavy final act.[10](https://rogersmovienation.com/2024/02/12/movie-review-ghostbusting-and-sorcery-in-korea-dr-cheon-and-the-lost-talisman/)
## References
1. [Dr. Cheon And The Lost Talisman (2023), Korean Film Council database](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20227410)
2. [London Korean Film Festival 2023 brochure, Closing Gala page](https://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/LKFF23_BROCHURE_WEB.pdf)
3. [Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dr_cheon_and_the_lost_talisman)
4. [Kim Eun-jung (2023). "(Movie Review) 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' blends exorcism with action comedy," Yonhap News Agency](https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230920001100315)
5. [Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman, IMDb ratings](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29005755/ratings/)
6. [Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman, Well Go USA official site](https://wellgousa.com/films/dr-cheon-lost-talisman)
7. [Dr.Cheon And The Lost Talisman, CJ ENM / TVing](https://open.tving.com/en/featured-contents/drcheon-and-the-lost-talisman/)
8. [Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman, Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt29005755/)
9. [Jennie Kermode (2023). "Dr. Cheon And The Lost Talisman," Eye for Film](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/dr-cheon-and-the-lost-talisman-2023-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)
10. [Roger Moore (2024). "Movie Review: Ghostbusting and sorcery in Korea," Movie Nation](https://rogersmovienation.com/2024/02/12/movie-review-ghostbusting-and-sorcery-in-korea-dr-cheon-and-the-lost-talisman/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Horror films (individual works) › Supernatural horror films › 2020s supernatural horror films › Titles symbols to L*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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