Yeon Sang-ho's 'The Ugly' Earns 10 Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominations Despite $150K Budget

Director Yeon Sang-ho's micro-budget thriller has defied industry expectations by securing ten nominations at South Korea's prestigious Blue Dragon Film Awards, proving that compelling storytelling can triumph over financial constraints.

Low-Budget Film Makes Big Waves

"The Ugly" (Korean title: 얼굴, Face) has become one of 2025's most talked-about Korean films after the Blue Dragon Film Awards announced its nominations on October 21. The ceremony, scheduled for November 19 at KBS Hall in Seoul, will determine whether this ultra-low-budget production can convert its critical acclaim into major wins.

What makes this achievement remarkable is the film's production budget of just 200 million won-approximately $150,000 USD. To put this in perspective, that's considered ultra-low even by independent film standards in South Korea.

The Story Behind the Mystery

The film follows Im Dong-hwan, whose life changes when police discover skeletal remains belonging to his mother, missing for four decades. His father, Im Young-gyu, is a blind master of seal engraving-a traditional Korean craft of carving stamps. Together with documentary producer Kim Su-jin, the son begins investigating what really happened to the mother he never knew.

What unfolds is a layered mystery that explores how society judges people based on appearance, and how those judgments can destroy lives.

Production by Design, Not Default

Director Yeon Sang-ho, best known internationally for "Train to Busan," deliberately chose this stripped-down approach. The production employed roughly 20 crew members-one-third the size of typical commercial films-and wrapped filming in just 13 days over three weeks.

Actor Park Jung-min worked without his usual fee, taking on the challenge of dual roles for the first time in his career. He portrays both the young Im Young-gyu and his son Im Dong-hwan. Remarkably, Park himself proposed playing both characters after reading the script.

The supporting cast also believed in the project's vision. Kwon Hae-hyo plays the elderly Im Young-gyu, delivering what many critics call a career-defining performance as a blind artisan. Shin Hyun-bin made the bold choice to play Jung Young-hee, the deceased mother, in scenes where her face remains deliberately off-camera-a artistic decision that reinforces the film's themes about beauty and perception.

Box Office Success Against the Odds

Since its September 11 release, "The Ugly" has attracted over 1.07 million viewers as of mid-October, generating approximately $7.7 million USD in revenue. The film claimed the top spot at the Korean box office in its second weekend, overtaking the Japanese anime "Demon Slayer."

Industry watchers have called it one of the most successful low-budget Korean films in recent memory, with its profit margin far exceeding typical commercial releases.

Recognition Across Ten Categories

The Blue Dragon nominations span nearly every major category:

Acting Categories:

• Best Actor: Park Jung-min
• Best Supporting Actor: Kwon Hae-hyo
• Best Supporting Actress: Shin Hyun-bin

Creative Categories:

• Best Film
• Best Director: Yeon Sang-ho
• Best Screenplay
• Best Cinematography and Lighting
• Best Art Direction
• Best Editing
• Technical Award

This places "The Ugly" second only to Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" sequel, which received 12 nominations. Other strong contenders include "Harbin" with eight nominations and "Zombie Daughter" with six.

International Festival Circuit

Before its theatrical release, "The Ugly" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, screening in the Special Presentations section. This marked Yeon's third TIFF selection, following "The Fake" and "Hellbound."

International critics have praised the film's intimate approach and powerful performances, with particular attention to Park Jung-min's nuanced portrayal of two distinct characters.

Themes That Resonate

Based on Yeon's 2018 graphic novel of the same name, the film examines how appearance-based discrimination shapes relationships and self-worth. Throughout the investigation, characters describe the mother as ugly or even monstrous-looking. The eventual revelation-that she possessed an ordinary face, neither beautiful nor ugly-becomes a devastating commentary on society's cruelty.

The film's Korean title translates simply as "Face," while the English title "The Ugly" captures the social judgment at the story's heart.

What Sets This Apart

"The Ugly" represents Yeon Sang-ho's return to his earlier, more visceral storytelling style reminiscent of his animated films "The King of Pigs" and "The Fake." After the commercial success of "Train to Busan" and "Peninsula," this intimate thriller shows a director more interested in psychological depth than spectacle.

The cast also brings natural chemistry from previous collaborations. Park Jung-min and Im Seong-jae have worked together on five previous films, while several actors previously appeared in Yeon's projects.

Industry Impact

Beyond awards recognition, "The Ugly" has sparked conversations about alternative production models in Korean cinema. Director Yeon stated his hope that the film proves "storytelling power matters more than budget size."

With streaming platforms and international markets increasingly dominating industry discussions, this film's success suggests audiences still value character-driven stories that challenge them emotionally and intellectually.

The Blue Dragon Context

Established in 1963, the Blue Dragon Film Awards stands alongside the Grand Bell Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards as one of South Korea's three major film honors. In recent years, Blue Dragon has arguably become the most prestigious, maintaining stronger integrity and attracting consistent attendance from top filmmakers and actors.

The awards ceremony broadcasts live on KBS2 and has become a major cultural event in South Korea's entertainment calendar.

Looking Ahead to November

Whether "The Ugly" wins in multiple categories or walks away empty-handed, it has already succeeded in proving a point: great cinema doesn't require massive budgets. With passionate performances, bold artistic choices, and social commentary that feels urgent, the film has earned its place among 2025's most important Korean releases.

The November 19 ceremony will determine if voters agree-but regardless of the outcome, "The Ugly" has already changed the conversation about what's possible in Korean filmmaking.

The 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards will be held November 19, 2025, at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, with live coverage on KBS2.