Ode to My Father

Ode to My Father follows a man who bears the weight of a country torn by war. Duk-soo loses his father and younger sister during the chaos of the Korean War, and the harsh memories push him to seek a new life abroad. He travels to Germany to work in the mines, hoping the labor will bring him closer to his missing sister. His trek does not end with one miracle; instead, it spans decades and continents as he is swept up in the Vietnam War and the long reach of history. Across decades and continents, his search tests memory and loyalty. Despite hardship, a thread of family ties keeps him moving. For many, it traces a nation's memory deeply.

Directed by JK Youn, the film assembles a broad cast led by Hwang Jung-min and Yunjin Kim. It draws on a story by Park Soo-jin, presenting a sweeping family epic rooted in modern Korean history and memory for many generations.

Box office performance was strong, with a worldwide gross listed at 105,365,782 dollars. The film proved a major commercial success for a Korean drama, reflecting wide audience appeal across domestic and international markets and cemented Korea's place globally and beyond.

Culturally the film resonated as a family saga that mirrors Korea's turbulent mid 20th century. It sparked conversations about memory and lineage, with audiences connecting a father's endurance to the broader history of migration and the costs of war. Its visual scope and performances deepen the sense of time passing.

Reception generally praised the performances, especially Hwang Jung-min who anchors the film with quiet resilience. Critics highlighted its themes of memory, family obligation, and the sacrifices made across generations, framing it as a humane meditation on the reach of national events into private lives for a wider audience worldwide too.