Film 'Broker' sold to 171 countries

"Broker," invited to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, has been sold to 171 countries.

The movie's distributor CJ ENM on May 23 said, "'Broker,' the first Korean movie by world-class master Hirokazu Kore-eda, was sold to 171 countries in the world," adding, "This achievement is on par with those of 'Snowpiercer,' 'The Handmaiden' and 'Parasite,' all of which raised the global status of Korean movies through record sales."

"Broker" has gained wide attention from cinematic pundits abroad before this year's Cannes thanks to Kore-eda's directing skills as shown by his Palme d'Or-winning film "Shoplifters" and high expectations of the synergy among the "Broker" cast of leading Korean actors including Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Bae Doona and Lee Ji-eun (aka IU).

Park Jung-min, head of the overseas distribution team of CJ's movie business department, said, "The film has earned huge expectations as a work having both cinematic and commercial value through the collaboration of a world-class director and renowned Korean actors," adding, "It saw brisk sales in the regions of Asia, Europe and North America."

The film centers on the unique and unexpected journey of people involved with an infant abandoned in a baby box. Its release in Korea is slated for June 8.