Zombie Daughter: When Zombies, Fatherly Love, and Laughter Unite in Korea’s Most Beloved Summer Film

A Father’s love survives even the end of the world,
Where laughter blooms in the face of decay,
And a zombie child becomes a symbol of hope.

The summer of 2025 is filled with big-budget releases, yet an unexpected title has stolen the nation’s attention—Zombie Daughter. Slated for release on July 30, this emotional comedy-drama tells the story of a devoted father who undergoes secret training to protect his daughter, the last remaining zombie on Earth. Starring Jo Jung-seok and rising young actress Choi Yu-ri, Zombie Daughter blends horror, comedy, and heartfelt family drama into a refreshing and meaningful experience. Just one day before its release, the film has already broken this year’s presale ticket record, selling 273,354 tickets, according to the National Ticket Sales Network. This number surpasses even high-profile blockbusters like Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 (244,159 tickets) and Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning (255,213 tickets), which had dominated public attention earlier this year.

Based on the globally beloved Naver webtoon of the same name by Lee Yoon-chang, which has amassed over 500 million reads worldwide, Zombie Daughter has a deep emotional resonance. Director Pil Gam-seong revealed he was captivated by the philosophical questions posed by the webtoon: “Can a zombie still be family?” and “What would you do if the person you love most became a zombie?” As the father of a teenage daughter himself, Pil felt a strong emotional bond with the script. He described directing this film not as a burden, but as a joyful challenge, since he approached it as a fellow fan of the original work. In adapting it for the screen, he made sure to preserve the webtoon’s cheerful and heartwarming tone—even in the midst of tension.

It’s no surprise then that fans of the webtoon have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. On global forums like Reddit, positive feedback poured in from the moment the first teaser dropped. One fan wrote,

“I was waiting for this to be made into a K-movie and they delivered. The vibe is perfect, the casting is perfect and the comedy is perfect. Literal perfection of a movie based off a webtoon.”

Amid growing criticism of Korean webtoon adaptations that fail to capture the essence of their source material, Zombie Daughter stands as a rare success that fulfills fan expectations. Even quirky details have sparked excitement, such as the beloved cat character receiving its own solo poster.

“Love that the cat also has a solo poster lol,”

wrote one user, while another added,

“The cat getting its own poster makes this movie seem even better lol.”

Praise also extends to the cast, particularly Lee Jung-eun, whose charm won over audiences in Miss Night and Day.

“I absolutely love the premise,” one Redditor summarized—echoing many who felt the film had already earned their trust.

One unique production choice was casting a real cat named Geumdong as the character “Aeyong,” rather than relying on CGI. Geumdong was selected through a national audition of cream tabbies for his calm temperament and naturally expressive face. “Aeyong is the identity of Zombie Daughter, so I couldn’t compromise,” said Pil Gam-seong. That choice paid off—Geumdong has quickly become a fan favorite and may be Korea’s next animal film icon.

The film also received glowing endorsements from Korean celebrities and directors. Actor Shin Ha-kyun called it “beautiful and touching”, while Jeon Mi-do praised Jo Jung-seok as “a man of summer I can always trust to watch!” Ji Chang-wook, Song Eun-i, Jung Eun-ji, and Simon Dominic shared their delight at the movie’s heartwarming yet hilarious tone. Top directors like Hwang Dong-hyuk (Squid Game), Nam Dong-hyeop, Han Jun-hee, and Um Tae-hwa also expressed admiration for the film’s emotional depth and strong character chemistry. Zombie Daughter delivers not just laughs, but also tears and a lasting message about love, loss, and family.

You can view the official teaser trailer with English subtitles here:

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Jo Jung-seok & Choi Yu-ri: A Father-Daughter Chemistry Born from Fate

For Jo Jung-seok, Zombie Daughter is more than just another summer release—it’s a project that came into his life at a deeply personal time. “I found the script just as my love as a father was growing. I knew it was fate,” he shared. He even urged his agency to secure the role for him. His character, Jeong-hwan, is a clever, loving single dad—so naturally suited to Jo’s persona that he was considered for the role before the webtoon was even serialized. In the film, Jo doesn’t just portray a father; he channels vulnerability, warmth, and raw emotion with striking realism.

Jo confessed that many scenes made him reflect on his real-life role as a father. Married to singer Gummy since 2018, the couple welcomed a daughter in 2020. During emotional scenes with Soo-ah, he said he often couldn’t hold back tears, even imagining what it would feel like to love a child turning into “something unrecognizable.” “I asked myself, ‘Is this the limit of my love as a father?’ I was overwhelmed,” he said. The film, he added, taught him that love doesn’t grow with time, but with the awareness of presence and responsibility.

Meanwhile, Choi Yu-ri, who plays Soo-ah, redefined what a zombie character can be. Drawing inspiration from her pets—feral cats and her own dog—she added unexpected charm, emotion, and even cuteness to the undead role. “Whenever my dog growled, I’d imitate him. But he’d end up getting scared of me,” she joked. One of the most fun yet challenging moments for her was dancing to BoA’s “Number One,” a song released before she was born. But the effort paid off—audiences have embraced her performance with warmth. During filming, she even regarded Jo Jung-seok as a real-life father figure, saying, “He’s the kind of dad I’d want to follow everywhere.”

With Zombie Daughter, Jo Jung-seok not only reclaims his title as the “Man of Summer”—after hits like Exit (2019) and Pilot (2024)—but also delivers the most emotionally resonant performance of his career. At the same time, Choi Yu-ri proves she’s a rising talent with remarkable emotional depth. Backed by a production team that truly respects the heart of the original webtoon, Zombie Daughter has become a rare adaptation that satisfies longtime fans while reaching new emotional heights.

In an era where many Korean webtoon-based films face criticism for deviating too far from their source or lacking soul, Zombie Daughter stands out as a funny, moving, and deeply human exception.

Source: Daum